Hi guys, I know it's been a while... a really long while. And you all probably think I was lying when I said I was going to finish this story. But I swear, I am determined!
Anyway, I won't waste any more of your time so here's the next chapter: (ps. I'm really really sorry)
As with every other morning, Sam was one of the first people to arrive at school. He'd taken to dropping Stevie and Stacey off first, though, because they started at 8.15am, their big brother was always early into his. He quite liked it though, seeing Mckinley this empty was eerie refreshing, and it was the only real quiet time he got. He was always busy at home, helping take care of his siblings and obviously things were never quiet at school. Though it was surprisingly loud this morning. It seemed as though the rest of his football team were in early as well. Strange.
"Hey, Evans!" One of his teammates called out.
"What's up buddy?" Sam grinned, as he did am awkward half jog half walk over to his team. He may nearly be Quarterback, but Sam was just as dorky as when he'd started at McKinley. Though he quite liked that about himself. The blond boy reached out for a customary fist bump. Though, instead of a hand meeting his, Sam found himself being slammed backwards by the shoulders. Suddenly, a tall brunette boy was standing over him, mere inches from his face.
"What were you doing last night?" Came a cold, threatening voice.
Sam frowned, "Max, I don't know what you're talking about. Look, if this is about what Beiste said about taking you off the team-"
"Shut up before I give you an eye that matches those lips," Max shouted down at him.
Sam shook his head, confused. Did Quinn tell Max about Therapy? She'd made it pretty clear that she wanted it to be kept quiet, but he supposed this jerk was her boyfriend so she probably would tell him. Sam couldn't think of another reason why Max would be so angry. Even so, he kept his word and didn't mention their weekly trips to NovaCare.
Luckily, another team mate, Jacob, clapped Max on the back with a "Hey buddy, cool off. You know you're on your last warning and you don't want to give this guy anything else." Sam supposed he should've felt wounded, three years on the team and he still didn't merit a name, though, honestly, he was just thankful that someone had stepped between himself and Max. The guy might be a douche but Sam trained with him in the gym. He was a monster and a punch in the wrong place could easily put him out for the rest of the year. Sam needed football, it was his solace. Especially as he had to skip Glee to take Quinn to therapy. He was on the verge of being kicked out though, since he'd vowed not to tell anyone about therapy. The fact that Quinn had to hide from the people who had supported her through everything upset Sam. Though, against his wishes, he respected Quinn's decision, he would not have her thinking she'd misplaced trust in him.
After a long tense pause where no one seemed to breathe, Max finally relented. He took his weight off Sam's shoulders. "You're right, she's a whore anyway." He said before stalking off, the rest of the team following like puppies.
"Wait, who's a whore? Quinn?" Sam tried to ask, but everyone was ignoring him, or had already gone.
Then he turned and got his answer. The walls of Mckinley were covered in prom propaganda posters. They lined pretty much every available space on the walls. Prom was less than a month away now and it was all anyone could really think of. Girls were constantly sticking their posters over others', in an attempt to make themselves stand out. Though, today, Sam could focus on only one set of posters, and it wasn't because of their deep red background.
There was graffiti all over the posters that Quinn had obviously spent hours perfecting. In all honesty, Sam had been wanting to do that himself for weeks. He hated how good they looked together, so regal on paper - how did Quinn even get Max to pose with her like that? What did she have to give up? Sam dreaded the thought. To him, it was obvious that Quinn didn't really like Max, so thankfully the blond boy didn't see the couple together around school much. But with these posters staring down, mocking him whenever he walked between classes, the boy constantly felt nauseous. Every time he thought that he was making progress with Quinn, breaking down those walls that she put up to protect herself, he'd find himself glancing at a poster and a wave of anger and jealous would pass through him.
That was nothing compared to what he felt now though. Quinn's face had been soiled with marker, different on ever poster - moustaches, devil horns, eyes scrawled out and every variation on the term 'whore' that one could come up with.
Sam clenched his fists as he felt a surge of heat course through him. That explained why the football team was in early for once. He didn't know what had happened between Quinn and Max, but he didn't care. In this moment, his motivations weren't even selfish. He just wanted to protect the fragile blonde girl whom he loved. He also wanted to beat Max to a pulp, but he could do that later. Moving faster than he knew was possible, Sam messily tore the poster from the wall, leaving chunks of red paper where they'd been attached. He ran down the hallway, pulling down every one of Quinn's propaganda photos. Luckily, it was still early so hardly anyone had seen the posters yet. And if Sam had anything to do with it, no one else would. Admittedly, Sam had thought some very nasty things about the girl post- their break up. But he'd kept it all to himself. It was just his way of coping, but he'd moved on now. And it was clear that Quinn had changed too. He just hated that she'd changed for Max and not for him. It didn't matter what Quinn had done now - or hadn't, which was just as likely since Max was a jerk who was only after one thing - no one deserved to be treated this way. A fierce sense of protection fuelled Sam as he raced through McKinley High School.
The boy was sweating by the time he was done. He'd run the hallway three times to be certain, plus checked every classroom and bathroom (even the girls' to much complaint) for posters. He was sure that they were all gone. Sam crumpled the final red sheet in his hand, then tore it for good measure, before throwing it into the trash.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" Came an icy voice from behind. One that he'd been hearing far too often lately, though it really did not suit its owner.
"I-" Sam broke off. Should he tell her? That would undermine the hurricane that was the last fifteen minutes of his life, but the girl deserved respect and to know the truth. She deserved to know what a dick Max was, though she probably already did which is what fuelled the attack in the first place. What happened between them? Sam desperately wanted to know, though this was not the best time to ask. At the same time, Sam wanted to shield Quinn from Max's cruelty. He wanted the girl to live out her dream, even if he wasn't the one making it happen. He wanted her to be happy, and the idea of winning Prom Queen seemed to make her so. Sam couldn't bear to take that away, as clearly she thought Max was her key to winning. But could he let her stay with him, knowing just how awful the boy was? He was getting lost in the jumble of thoughts that was his mind, when a demanding "Well?" came from Quinn's lips.
Struggling to find words, Sam's face contorted into something that might resemble a sheepish smile, but was really more of a wince. "I, er.." he stumbled again.
"Do you think everything is just a joke?" the girl snapped. She lowered her voice, though her tones remained fast and harsh "I thought you knew how important this, Prom, was to me? I thought you understood that" her voice began to tremble as her anger melted away into pure melancholy, "I know you don't like Max, but I thought you were better than this.. I don't know, I thought, now that.. you and I- finally.. well. Obviously not"
There was obviously a serious internal struggle going on inside Quinn's beautiful blonde head. Sam desperately wanted to take her hand, calm her down and help her talk through it. But he knew that she wouldn't appreciate that here, with so many people around so remained still, arms limp at his sides. "I'm sorry, Quinn" he said, eyes downcast. Of course he wasn't going to tell her. Even if she ended up hating him because she thought he was trying to sabotage her prom campaign out of jealousy. That was better than the truth of the cruelty in the world.
"Whatever Sam," the indifference of the girl's tone cut Sam to the core. Only made worse when she walked away.
Sam stood alone in the corner of the changing room. Keeping a distance from his teammates' jokes as he pulled off his casual clothes and got into his sports kit. He was so busy running through the events of the early morning - Quinn's sadness, the way her sweet voice shook, the sadness in her beautiful green eyes - and worrying that he may never speak amiably with the blonde girl again, the he didn't notice the silence falling over the dressing room.
Sam stood up after tying his laces, finding himself face to face with Max. "Taylor," he said, through gritted teeth. He could feel a heat rising over his body again, and had to squeeze his fists shut to stop himself from shaking.
"Evans," Max responded, somewhat lazily. "I hear you ruined my prom campaign. Q was devastated.. or so I hear" The boy smirked, "I want nothing to do with that bitch, so I guess you did me a favour.. what I don't like, though, is that you sabotaged my own attempt at sabotaging it. Do you love her? Is that why you did it? Do you think she'll put out for you now? I'm doing you a favour here, which you don't really deserve. Cut your losses, because she won't."
Sam glared up at Max, too angry to speak.
"Anyway," the dark haired boy continued, "That advice was because you're on my team. This is for screwing me over, last night and this morning. What happened to bros before hoes?"
Even with the warning, Sam wasn't quick enough. He moved to duck, bringing up his own first. But it was all in vain. He felt an explosion at his left temple. His legs collapsed, jelly-like, underneath him and he sank to the floor before his entire world went black.
A/N: I hope you liked it! I know my writing is very rusty but hopefully it will get better as I keep writing... I will get this done!