Here's chapter 2!
I'm focusing on serious character development for both of them, you'll see as you read further.
The Wonderful Mistique: No it isn't. Yes, they start out as friends a little bit, but there's obviously some attraction between them. I just hate it when it skips straight from meet again and BOOM! love. It's pretty unrealistic to me.
Thank you to all the reviewers, glad you like it :)
If you have any questions/comment/concerns/compliments please make sure to let me know. I'm open for opinions and am always looking to improve!
I'm nowhere near perfect, I make mistakes. My apologies.
Also, did anyone notice my SNL reference? :P
Anyways, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
It turned out that the trip to Homelessville was only about 20 minutes long. Not as bad as I thought, Rachel said to herself.
However, on the drive there she had more than enough time to wonder whether she'd be as easily accepted into this new location as she was in the last one. The last one has taken her in with open arms, much unlike the students, and sometimes teachers, at McKinley high school. She truly hoped they'd be friendly, or at least decent towards her. She found herself shaking as she stepped out of her hybrid car. She told herself to relax as her rain boots stomped on the slush leftover from winter. Once she had reached he big wooden doors of Homelessville, she let herself take a big breath.
Rachel was welcome by the familiar smell of chicken soup, but this chicken soup had a little burn to it. Literally. The place looked the exact same, except everyone was running around frantically, faces flushed.
"Rachel?" a red-faced blonde appeared into her view; her eyes seemed huge and desperately bore into hers.
"Uh, yes…"
"THANK GOD!"
The blonde grabbed Rachel's hand without hesitation and led her into the kitchen.
"We're opening in an hour and we've done absolutely nothing! The soup's cooking but that's pretty much it. We need you, Rach"
Before Rachel could even open her mouth, the blonde pulled her into a tight hug. She is obviously not familiar with boundaries.
"Oh gosh, I always forget this part. I'm Patty, the supervisor. Not a very good one by the way" Patty pursed her lips and lowered her head in shame.
"Nice to meet you"
Patty gives her a beaming smile for one second, but her face soon goes right back to frantic.
"The bread! I forgot about the bread!" She blots out the doors, leaving a dazed Rachel behind and off to her own devices.
"Patty freaks everyone out, don't worry, you'll get used to her"
Rachel freezes. That voice, it's familiar.
She forces herself to turn around and face the source of the voice. Only one person could have that friendly voice, but no, it can't be…
Sure enough though, she finds herself face to face with an equally as shocked green eyed, sci-fi lover.
Sam Evans.
She never thought she'd see him again. Sam Evans! She half thought she'd imagined him.
"Rachel?"
"Sam…" the brunette couldn't help but smile.
"Rachel!" Sam returned the smile, but only for a fraction of a second, his face turned showed worried, with eyes bulged out he said, "Rachel?"
"What are you doing here?" he urged. It dawned on her that maybe he wasn't happy to see her at all. His tone was nowhere near friendly.
"I was transferred…" she stammered out.
He's tall, she observed. But he's always been tall. His hair's different; it's brown and short. He has a sort of rock hairstyle. His sense of style is completely different. Leather jacket, white v-neck, and grey faded jeans. He's mature. And sexy.
He punched his thigh and let out an exasperated sigh while Rachel regained herself.
"I should ask you the same thing"
"I- well- I moved back to Ohio at the end of summer break"
"That's great! Why didn't you tell us?" she asked with a huge smile.
"I didn't think anyone cared…" he admitted.
"I care! I've missed you…" she trails off, telling herself to shut up.
"Really?"
A small and shy smile appears on his face.
She nods vigorously. She'd said the right thing.
"Cool", he replies, now back to his rock star pose. "How's McKinley these days?"
"Same as always", she replies sadly. "But I'm hanging on"
"Ah", he goes into thought. Rachel has half a mind to ask him what he's thinking about, but chooses to change the topic instead.
"So how have you been? Which school do you go to?"
"Riverdale"
That school's only 5 minutes away from here, I passed by it on my way here.
"Oh, so you live near here?"
"Not exactly"
He's playing with his hands now, avoiding eye contact with her.
"You know, McKinley really misses you. We could use an extra member."
He shakes her head before she even finishes speaking.
"No, I just wanted change", he shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly before adding, "I should get started on dessert"
He turns around before Rachel can utter out a goodbye. He's halfway out the door when he notices that Rachel's following close behind.
"Let me help"
"This is really a one person job…"
"I insist. I have no idea what I should do, Patty bolted before giving me any instructions"
"Uh, ok. Follow me"
He leads her to the back room, where they fetch different types of fruits, cutting boards and knifes. They go back to the kitchen and start slicing. After what seems like an awkward eternity to Rachel, Sam breaks the silence.
"How are you? Still wowing everyone with that amazing voice?" he teases with a smile.
It's Rachel's turn to feel uneasy. She doesn't want to tell him that she's right back to being ignored and dumped. That everyone hates her again.
"You bet", she mumbles out, with a forced smile.
"You ok?"
Sam has always been the kind to notice when something's wrong. She curses him for that before responding with a more dramatic, "Of course".
Sam either fell for her act or decided to drop it, because he doesn't ask about it further.
They make small conversation as they finish the fruit salads and set the tables with a few other volunteers.
"Hey Rachel, can you please not tell anyone you saw me?"
"Sure, but why would-"
"How are we going to get through tonight?" Patty interrupts as she enters the kitchen with a few bags of bread. She went to the store to get some bread to substitute for the other burnt bread.
"Pat, relax. We finished the rest of the work"
Sam walks over to her and gives her a one-shouldered hug for comfort. Rachel can't help but sulk when she returns the hug. Are they an item?
"Sorry you had to see me like this Rach"
"No problem, Patty. We all have our days", she responds.
"Thank you for coming hun, but sadly, this place is hopeless"
"I'm sure that with a bit more work and people we could really get somewhere", she offers encouragingly, which makes Sam smile and remember that Rachel's never been one to give up. It's an admirable quality.
"Could happen. So, have you two met? What do you think of my Sammy boy?"
Her Sammy boy?
"He's great. We've actually met before"
"Oh great! Isn't he cute? Best build I've ever seen"
Sam turns several shades of red but lets out a faint smile.
"He sure is", she responds.
Sam turns an even deeper shade of red, if it's possible. Their eyes lock and Patty doesn't skip a beat.
"Oh, I see. You've got the hots for each other. Cute couple. Anyways, we've got to serve the food in about 5 minutes so you can flirt all you want with my cousin after feeding the homeless"
It's Rachel's turn to get red. She's happy Sam and Patty aren't an item. Cousins! Great!
They follow Patty out of the kitchen, both red and smiling. While serving soup, Sam observes Rachel and realizes isn't great to see her again. Rachel observes him too, smiling every once in a while they make eye contact. She too realizes it's great to have him back, but he's changed. She can't help but wonder, what happened to the Sam Evans that went to McKinley, and why doesn't he want to go back?
Chapter 2 should be up either tomorrow or the next day. Hope you all had a great christmas and boxing day (if you live in Canada like me) !