Oh my God, I finally made another chapter! That's right, I'm not dead, and I have been writing multiple fictions, which is why my speed of releasing new chapters has decreased substantially.
Anywho, I hope you forgive me, I do plan to continue this fiction no matter how long I take to update. Also, maybe a heads up for the future chapters, there will be potentially be Samtana and SpucKlaine friendships (heavier PucKurt friendship). Yay, how nice!
Also, now that there are actual subjects, God knows how I am going to make this without continuity errors. And there is no AP classes where I live, so I probably won't make any of the students take them. Also, yay for a small amount of Protective!Puck
And we may or may not be in the Hospital for a lot of this fic, because I'm full of bursting happiness! Wonderful! Also I use the words smirk and smile and beam too much god I need a thesaurus. And with these new fic covers my icon is a very big turn off ew gross.
Also, introducing Sam's mother! I have no idea her true nature in the perspective of the writers, so I just based it off some of the motherly figures in my life. Hope you enjoy the humorous yet genuinely loving character Mary Evans turned out to be!
JasonDragon64
Well, you've just have to read on and find out, won't you? There's a small part in this chapter that could foreshadow your answer, but I didn't tell you ;D
ffic4life
Aw, thank you! I'm a little nervous on the subject of writing smut, but it's still a definite possibility.
SamPuck Love
Welcome, newcomer! It's already great to see people converting to Spuck; it's such an overlooked yet promising ship. Thank you for the kind words!
And I'd just like to thank everyone that has reviewed and commented and critiqued so far - I hope my writing is improving and portraying my ideas to your liking.
And to everyone who hasn't yet - review! Anon or not, I love feedback (even on my tumblr)!
UPDATE EDIT THING
Okay, I got one of my friends to edit this, so it should make more sense. I thought I did review it a little, but maybe I was a little too sleep-deprived. Oh well. Remember to thank Pauline for withstanding my overuse of commas everyone!
Sam nervously fingered the sheets in his hospital bed, debating whether or not to share his thoughts. He and Puck had been sitting in cheery silence ever since the mutual agreement for a date.
"You know, I heard you," he said, despite prior hesitation. "What you said about me, when I was asleep. I heard."
Puck's head pricked up, a blush spreading across his cheeks. "Yeah, I have feelings... you know, sometimes."
"Well, it helped," Sam replied quietly. The sheer honesty in his voice made Puck release a smile as he dipped his head. "You should tell me your feelings more often."
"I guess I will," Puck decided. A sly grin controlled his face as he rested comfortably on his chair. It was nice to know he could still be the same Puck, even with his newly exposed 'feelings'.
"Starting with your dad," Sam said bluntly, causing Puck to avoid his eye. "Your bruises have healed, but you have to do something about him."
Sam was met with silence, so he kept talking. "If your family knew about what happens, then they wouldn't stand for it. I'm in the hospital, but you need the attention."
Puck raised a pleading hand, "Stop." His fingers were shaking slightly. "This is why I don't do feelings. Talk about anything else." Sam faltered, stopping his speech and becoming thoroughly interested in his bed sheets again. Maybe he was too insensitive? He mentally kicked himself for being so socially incompetent.
Neither of the boys noticed a lingering figure spying through the glass pane on the sterilized door.
Sensing the forthcoming awkward silence, Puck spoke up. "So, for our first date, where do you want to go?"
Sam did his best to grin and forget the preceding conversation. "I don't care," he said, nearly giggling, "You pick."
"Well, I have an idea," Puck noted vaguely, scratching his stubble. "I just need to make a few arrangements."
"Sounds awesome." Sam rested against his pillow, alleviating a huge breath that was swimming in his lungs. Squinting his eyes, he tried to identify the looming shadow at the door.
"Someone's here." Puck lifted himself off his chair, "'Bout time I left anyway; school's just finished."
Sam eagerly propped himself up in his bed as Puck walked towards him. They tried to hug, but the drip in Sam's elbow made it too awkward. Settling for a handshake, Sam gripped Puck's palm a little too enthusiastically. His fingers slipped away, lacing through Puck's and making the handshake last a little longer than one should. As Puck left Room 031, Sam couldn't help but feel a little guilt. Should he have persisted with his questioning of Puck's father? It made Puck visibly uncomfortable, but the questions needed to be answered. Sam was so lost in thought he didn't notice a blonde woman approach his bed with caution.
"Sammy? Sammy?" A hand waved in front of his eyes, and Sam blinked at the motion. Looking up, he saw his Mother gazing at him with concern. "You zoned out there for a second, I didn't want you going under again."
"I'm fine, Ma," Sam clarified with a sigh.
Tapping her fingers on his bedside table, his Mother swooped in closer to his bed. A glint appeared in her eye and she grinned, "So, who's the new boo?"
"Ma!" Sam felt a blush creeping up his cheek. It was creepy how his Mum always knew.
"Please, you can't hide things from me; I'm your mother. Besides, you held that handshake for way too long. Plus you had that look in your eye, the same you have whenever you watch a shirtless Efron scene."
"Just shut up already," Sam murmured, running a hand over his face.
"Just remember not to get hurt again, Sammy" was the terse reminder he was given. "We don't plan on moving again."
"'Kay," he mumbled, not making eye contact.
"Now, onto the more important stuff: your health. What happened?"
"I dunno," Sam shrugged. He knew the answer, but refused to say it. He didn't need to be pitied by his own mother. "I fainted because of Gym or something? I don't really know…"
Patting the creases out of the sheets, Mary swallowed. "Okay, honey… but your little diagnosis at the foot of your bed says 'Malnutrition'."
"…It might have been that."
"Honey, you know you can tell me everything, and even though you don't want to, I need to know you can be healthy as well as independent."
Sam nodded stiffly, not looking his mother in the eye. Glancing at the clock on the wall, Mary let out a sigh of frustration.
"I have to get back to work now, sweety; I had to switch my lunch break to come here. I'm sure the Doctors will take care of you."
"Sure thing, Mom, see you."
Mary exited the room, smiling supportively at her son one last time. She exited the room, walking past the Receptionists Desk before she was called back by a stereotypical counterperson.
"Mrs Evans," she started, rifling through papers on her desk. "There seems to be...um, an issue with your Health Insurance."
"And what problem would that be?" Mary asked, tapping her nails against the mahogany impatiently.
"Well... You, uh, have none."
"That doesn't seem to be a problem for me."
"Yes, but with the Ambulance Call-Out Fee, and the various tests ran, your bill will be quite substantial."
Mary froze her fingers above the table's wood, tensing the muscles in her face. "How substantial?"
"Right now I can only give a rough estimate, but that will still be somewhere in few thousands."
Mary sighed, placing a hand on her chest to calm her elevating heart beat. "Oh, that's fine! I thought you were charging me a million! I'll handle the bill when it comes in the mail. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm already late for work."
And with a defiant stroll, Mary walked out of the hospital.
Sam had to admit, he didn't really remember much of his time in hospital. Most of the time he was rather dazed, sitting cooperatively as nurses checked his blood pressure every hour. When he was dismissed, at seven that evening, he was surprised that his usual gnawing hunger pangs weren't there. The only advice he was given was just to eat, plain and simple, and something told him he was going to have to.
"Don't worry, Doctor: I'll shovel him food while he's sleeping if he doesn't eat when he's awake," was his mother's joking-but-genuine response to the medical advice.
Sam was taken home, surrounded by supportive and loving family, who understood that he didn't want to talk about why and just accepted what had happened. Sam slept well that night, considering the day of bedrest. He was so tired he didn't even hear his mother quietly gather his father in the living room and discuss how to manage the bills. He was so tired he didn't even hear how his mother lost her job, all because she went to see her son in hospital, and how the bill would drain a good amount of their savings. But it was okay though, as his father still had his job. They didn't need to worry anyone with silly financial trifles such as this for now.
Waking up in the morning, Sam was surprised that his stomach was lacking its usual guttural groan of hunger. It didn't feel normal and he couldn't stomach the feeling of guilt he had for actually eating.
It felt even weirder to arrive at school with not a single hunger pang after eating a considerable amount of breakfast. But the weirdest was the feeling he got when Puck strolled over to his locker. He just sat there and watched him retrieve his books with a dreamy look in his eye.
"Hey," Puck said as Sam shut his locker with a bang.
"Hey," he breathed. The two walked with their shoulders glued together. Puck's face had his usual smirk, while Sam was trying to mask a threatening blush. "We have double geometry together - where's your stuff?"
"I... may have sold them for dr- drums. After guitar I've always wanted to play drums."
With a sly grin, Sam replied. "I'm sure Finn would be happy to teach yo-"
"No."
Walking into their geometry lesson just in time, the two took adjacent tables at the back. Sam retrieved his worksheets from his folder as Puck grafittied his table with a pin (which was conveniently left on the floor). Sam stared at the tasks hopelessly, unable to comprehend the incoherent numbers on his paper. Drumming a pencil between his hands, he tried to plot his thoughts in chance that it might help him understand, but it didn't. With a sigh, he shifted in his seat to try and gain his teachers attention before remembering he had Mr. Plight, the only teacher worse at learning than he was. Giving up, Sam crossed his arms on his table. It created the perfect nook for his head, also giving the perfect perspective of Puck trying to engrave words on the maple wood. Being dyslexic sucked, especially when you wanted to learn. It was a frustrating paradox, one that made him want to rip his hair out and rage against a wall.
"Hey, what's up?" Puck seemed to notice how disheartened he was, as he turned to face an abashed Sam.
"Just a little stuck with this maths stuff," he replied.
"What exactly?" Puck shuffled his chair closer to Sam, spreading his worksheets about.
"Uhm, the deductive geometry has me a little... confused," Sam admitted.
"Oh, that's easy: I can help," Puck offered, making Sam blink in surprise. "What question?"
"All of them." The laugh Puck interjected lessened Sam's embarrassment immensely. It wasn't condescending, but more understanding (and a little cute, too).
"Well, it's easy: first you have to show that the triangles are similar by showing they're equiangular, then you have to divide the two respective sides to find x. Here," Puck slipped his hand into Sam's, snaking back out with his pencil enclosed firmly in his hand. Sam watched intensely as Puck drew diagrams, showing the equal angles with full working out. Once he finished the demonstration, he laid the pencil down with content.
"Make sense?"
"Yeah, a lot more than before," Sam thanked, a small smile twitching his mouth upwards. "But where'd you get 'x + 6' from?"
"Simple; the diagram shows that one side of the smaller triangle is six, and that the line continues for the larger triangle, with the leftover length being x. That means the larger triangles side must be 'x+6'."
Sam stared in bewilderment. "How do you know this?"
Puck shrugged. "Maths is easy for me."
"But I've never seen you do any homework," Sam gaped.
"Don't need to - homework is for chumps." Sam's smile faltered, making Puck soften. "I can still help you with yours though."
With the unexpected tutoring of Puck, Sam returned to his locker with newfound confidence and relief. He slotted his books in before staring at the food he was ordered to pack for recess. He jumped as a comforting hand rested on his shoulder.
"Relax, man. You should eat."
Puck reached over Sam, withdrawing an apple and trail mix from the locker. "This is bird food," he muttered, "But I still want you to eat it." Placing the provisions in his hand, Puck guided Sam to the cafeteria, growling at some insignificant freshmen to clear a table (and to scare them into giving him food).
Sam looked around nervously, trying to distinguish if he had legitimate reasons for being paranoid. He didn't. "Are you going to just... sit here and watch me?" Sam asked, bracing himself for something he didn't know.
"No. We're going to talk and eat and you'll have fun." He smiled, "I promise."
And they did.
Sam and Puck finished their recess together as the bell went, parting ways. Sam sauntered through the corridors that lead to his locker until being interrupted by Santana.
"Hey there, Lips," she smirked.
"What?"
"I think we have to call it off."
"Call what off?"
"The beard, you twit. At least try," she responded dryly. "I saw you at recess, with Puck and all. I don't think he'd appreciate sharing you emotionally - maybe in a threeway, but you can't be in a supposed relationship with him chasing your tail."
To be honest, Sam had somewhat repressed his agreement to the false relationship, so he stared blankly as Santana continued to ramble.
"And I'm going to see what I can do with my situation," she informed with a sigh. "I might be able to coax Britt if I promise to push her in a stroller all day."
Sam chuckled, "Good Luck."
"You too." With an appreciative smile, Santana turned and fluttered away, leaving Sam only for him to be stopped again by Miss Pillsbury.
"What now?" He asked with slight irritation, immediately regretting it as Miss Pillsbury awkwardly avoided eye contact.
"Sorry, Sam. Samuel?"
"Sam's fine," he cringed.
"Will you come visit me in my office? Don't worry about classes for now." Emma smiled as Sam instantly relaxed at the mention of missing his English class. Walking to her office, Emma opened the door with a handkerchief before allowing Sam to sit. Walking around her desk, she primly rested on the edge of her chair, engaging in conversation.
"So, is there anything you want to discuss?" She gazed at him expectantly, her hands neatly in her lap.
"Um, what?" Sam asked, making Miss Pillsbury twitch.
"Oh? I thought - didn't your parents...?" Shaking her hands slightly, she gained her composure. "Well, I'm sure you remember your little... visit to the hospital earlier this week, so I've organized for you and me to talk once or twice a week, just to help with everything."
"So it's therapy?" Sam said evenly. To be frank, he was surprised he wasn't hounded by people for details before. Not even Santana inquired about anything (but she could have easily been distracted by the moment of pure fluff he shared with Puck in the cafeteria).
"Not a therapist," Miss Pillsbury clucked, "Counsellor."
"But I don't want- I don't need therapy."
"Sam, sweety." Emma leaned forward, placing her hands palm-up on her desk. "This isn't therapy, and even though you may not want to admit it - there's usually a reason someone starves themselves. And I want you to know that there's absolutely nothing that should be forcing you to resort to starvation."
Sam tried to suppress the burning he felt behind his eyes as he concentrated on the perfectly aligned pamphlets dressing the desk. Sensing she was close to eroding Sam's deflection, Emma curled her hands back into her lap. She didn't want to force Sam into a nervous breakdown - that wouldn't be moral. She had to let him see that it wasn't okay to feel how he did.
"I have an idea," she exclaimed, forcing Sam to return eye contact. "You're in glee club, right? You could utilize a song, and then sing it in Glee! Come on, it'll be fun!" Emma portrayed an encouraging smile to try and waver Sam's somewhat hesitant expression. "If you want, you can stay and talk about anything you'd like or you can go and think of the song you'd like to sing."
Sam ran his hands along his thighs with a sigh, "Can I maybe just think of a song?" Taking the nod he received as a permit to leave, he exited the Counselor's Office as Miss Pillsbury made sure her pencils were equidistant.
Turning a corner, Sam ran a hand through his hair. He was surprised to see his session with Miss Pillsbury lasted for almost forty minutes. It was pointless to show up for his class now, so he settled for wandering the deserted halls. He was anxious about Miss Pillsbury's concept of pouring his feelings to the rest of the Glee Club. She had come about it so lightly, he didn't think she properly understood the gravity of it all. Sure, Rachel was known for verbally showing her feelings through music, but it wasn't as easy for him. He was slightly puzzled at why no one had actually quizzed him on what had happened - maybe people were scared of upsetting him? Or maybe the rumors were so far fetched they contorted him into something to be avoided.
Yet to be honest, the thought of revealing the problems that dwell in the darkest corner of his mind to all was something he'd like to do. To see reactions to the fact that, the supposedly at peace Sam Evans had a dark side, would be amusing. Suddenly, a contender for Miss Pillsbury's song floated through his mind and he started to sing.
"There's a place that I know, it's not pretty there and few have ever gone." The words passed through his lips barely above a whisper as he walked towards a classroom. Peering through the window pane in the door, he spied Puck, lazing about as usual.
"If I show it to you now, will it make you run away..." The thought of showing the incoherent wires in his brain to his classmates was appealing, the faces etched in sympathy and wonder, understanding that they could never comprehend him. But what if they acted differently? What if they laughed or called him weak. What if they returned with their own heartfelt story, of more intensity than his own? Or Puck. What would he do? Would he instantly detach himself; would he just leave?
"Or will you stay? Even if it hurts? Even if I try to push you out, Will you return?" Sam knew what he wanted. The ideal reaction would be for everyone to heed him and help him. As bad and as self-centered as it was, Sam wanted the reassurance that some people in his life would always be there, no matter his backlash.
"And remind me who I really am, Please remind me who I really am...
"Everybody's got a dark side, do you love me? Can you love mine? Nobody's a picture perfect, but we're worth it, you know that we're worth it." Sam just hoped Puck could see him, his raw feelings and not be frightened. In the time that was to come, he pleaded to whatever supernatural forces were out there that Puck could love something that was him.
"Will you love me? Even with my dark side?" Leaving his mark, Sam continued down the hallways, immersed in his thoughts. He could easily lose it all, being in his position. Secret relationships aren't easy, apparently. He would like nothing more to scream his affection at the top of his lungs, but he was scared of retribution. Overwhelmed, he leaned against a locker, sliding down until he was hugging his knees.
"Don't run away, don't run away, just tell me that you will stay.. Promise me you will stay." A small tear trickled down Sam's cheek. He didn't want to ruin another relationship. He didn't want to be stranded again. He couldn't take that again. More tears began to flow and his voice hitched slightly.
"Don't run away, don't run away, just promise me you will stay... Promise me you will stay." Warning him of the impending wave of students, the school bell chimed. Sam rose and dried his eyes within seconds, preparing to mask his emotions and get his History books as he always did.
"Hey," Kurt said, turning to face Sam after their History teacher stopped talking. "Why weren't you in English?"
"Miss Pillsbury wanted to talk," he shrugged, "Something about yesterday."
Kurt stiffened slightly. "What did happen yesterday? Everyone's too scared to ask, but it's listed as the Number One on Jacob Ben Israel's blog."
"I passed out."
Kurt tutted. "We all knew that much, but why?"
"There's no real reason," Sam said evenly, staring down at his notes.
"Sam," Kurt reminded, "People don't just faint. Don't be scared to tell me why."
Kurt's words rang familiar to Miss Pillsbury's, causing Sam to blink back tears again.
Sensing the discomfort, Kurt tried to placate him. "If you don't want to talk about it, then I'm sorry."
Sam nodded, scared he might sniffle if he spoke and returned to his work.
After a double lesson of hiding his emotions yet again, Sam shouldn't have been so surprised to find Jacob scouting for him by his locker.
"Sam!" He yelled, running to him and shoving a voice recorder in his face. "Rumor has it you fainted in Glee. Want to tell us why?"
Sam scrunched his face, waving the recorder away from his mouth.
"People are saying you fainted due to getting a tattoo as an initiation into a witches clan. Is-!" A powerful fist slammed down on a locker in warning, making Jacob stop his bantering and turn to see a very intimidating Puck.
"Israel," he warned, slowly stalking over to him. "Leave Sam alone or else I'll shove your little voice memo thing somewhere where you can listen to your bowel movements!"
Jacob trembled under Puck's glare before fleeing. "Thanks," Sam said feebly.
"Pleasure's mine," Puck replied with a smirk, "Now get your lunch."
"Are we eating together?" Sam asked as he retrieved food from his locker.
"You bet." Puck mirrored Sam's grin, "Under the bleachers this time."
"This is strangely romantic," Sam said, as he ducked under the stands. A checkered picnic blanket was laid out for both of them to sit on. "I wasn't expecting this."
"I can be romantic if I want to," Puck affirmed, smoothing out a crease in the blanket.
"What if someone sees us?" Sam asked, paranoidly darting his head in all directions.
"Got it covered!"
Sam jerked his head in the direction of the high-pitched voice, easily recognizing the sound.
"Oh, it's just Kurt," he exhaled in relief.
Kurt must have been sitting just outside of view as he extended a hand into the opening, his fingers forming an "okay" sign. "Just pretend I'm not even here."
"I know you just brang your own lunch - something undeniably rabbit-like-" Puck crumpled his nose at the tuna salad Sam had brought "-but I still have stuff to share. Kurt!" he called, and an arm stretched back into view, this time holding (what was assumed to be) food packaged in white paper.
"Is that..." Sam didn't finish his sentence, instead letting the unfamiliar scent of grease end it for him.
"Chips," Puck nodded, peeling the corners of the paper to reveal a large pile of deep-fried potatoes. "Don't deny they taste awesome."
"I won't, but they're -urp- fattening," Sam gagged.
"Come on," Puck said, popping one into his mouth, "Just try one." Sam shuffled away from the steamy pile of carbohydrates, shaking his head in refusal.
"Maybe... we can make it a game." Puck lied down on the floor, looking up at Sam as he traced a circle on the floor with a finger. Sam raised an eyebrow. "Eat some chips now and I'll eat something else later." The contract made Sam drop his jaw and Kurt release an uncomfortable cough from wherever he was. "So... wanna eat?" Puck picked up a chip from the pile and sucked on it.
Luring Sam closer with a wiggle of his finger, Puck watching intently as Sam shuddered. Leaning over to clasp Sam's hand, he guided it to the pile of chips then let go as Sam brought it to his lips.
Seeing Puck nodding in encouragement, Sam closed his eyes and forced his jaw down, chewing for longer than necessary. Swallowing, his eyelids fluttered open to see a beaming Puck.
"Another!" he cheered.
Beside himself, Sam couldn't suppress a smirk as he began to eat something that was unhealthy for the first time in months.
It didn't take long for the soggy tuna salad to lay forgotten and the pile of chips to reduce to salt residue. Declining backwards and resting on his palms, Puck felt accomplished. "Now, that wasn't so hard."
Giggling, Sam crawled over to him and shared a passionate kiss. He placed a hand at the nape of Puck's neck and pulled him closer, even though their bodies were already rubbing together. Withdrawing from the contact, Sam puckered his lips. "Thanks," he crooned.
"I live to please," Puck replied, getting up and dusting himself off. Helping Sam from the ground the two tried to will away the blood that had pooled downwards, heading back to the school building as the bell rang.
The song used was Dark Side by Kelly Clarkson
Well, that's it for this chapter. It may be just a little shorter than the others, but I felt it was right to stop it here. There also may be a little shock at the severity of Mary's punishment for not being at work (I mean, she did organize to shift her lunch break and everything), but there's a reason for that. It's just not relevant; only its aftermath is. I hope I'm doing everyone's expectations justice, and I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter, again, sorry for the long wait!
Please review, comment, and critique! I will plant seeds of happy dreams in your sleeps for reviews!