Author's Note: Here's Chapter 2! Where the lives of Sam and Rory first intertwine. Please take a minute to let me know what you think. I do not own Glee nor the characters involved. This story does not necessarily reflect the sexuality/relationship of Rory Flanagan and Sam Evans (we can only dream) or the actors who portray them. Enjoy! :)
...
Sam pulled his 10-year-old, beet-red sedan into the parking lot beside William McKinley High School. The car squealed a bit when he eased it into a spot, and the handbrake made a disconcerting grinding noise as he pulled it up. Still, he was grateful to have a car; the hardship his family had gone through in the past year had taught him to be grateful for what he had.
"Hey Evans," someone called from across the lot, "wait up!"
The blond turned around and Noah Puckerman jogging over. He smiled, "Hi Puck. How's it going?"
"You mean besides the fact that, technically, I'm already failing two of my classes even though it's only been a week? Nothing much."
Sam chuckled. "You should really take school more seriously."
"Listen," Puck replied, "how about you leave the future-planning and worrying to the Senior? All you have to think about is Glee and football. Enjoy your Junior year, huh?"
"I guess," Sam admitted.
Puck smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. "It's good to have you back, buddy."
As Puck sprinted off, having spotted Finn miraculously Rachel-free, Sam headed towards the side door to the building. He was glad that Puck had actually held a conversation with him, despite its brevity. Maybe the second week of the school year would be better.
He hiked up his school bag before slipping through the door.
…
Rory was confident enough with the layout of the school, having walked its halls for almost twenty minutes. He always made it a point of scoping out his surroundings. It eased his mind to be familiar with the closest exits and places that provided a decent sense of privacy. That being said, he had noted every emergency door in the building and the location of the three boy's bathrooms.
Though, for all his careful planning, it was a whole different place once students started populating the halls.
It was overwhelming; Rory hadn't been in the company of so many people for a very long time. And they were all shouting, running, pushing, laughing. Music played from a dozen different iPods and cell phones.
Still, Rory maintained a detached expression, hidden beneath the hood of his sweater. He slipped easily through the crowd, blending in, textbooks he had found in his locker in hand.
A bell rang sharply and close by. So blaringly loud, it stirred the students into a frenzy. They hugged their friends, slammed locker doors and hurried to their different classes.
With all the bustle around him, he couldn't tell where in the school he was. Cursing under his breath, he continued pushing through the crowd.
The halls were starting to thin. Rory walked quickly, whipping his head around, searching for the biology room.
He rounded a corner—and collided with another student. A boy with blond hair.
…
The boy had come out of nowhere. One minute, Sam was coolly heading towards biology, the next—wham!
It was strange. The other boy was a good deal shorter than Sam, but incredibly solid. An impact like that should have knocked the boy right over, but rather it was Sam who was holding his bumped shoulder.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," Sam exclaimed. The boy's books had fallen all over the floor.
Ripping off the hood of his sweater, the brunet snarled, "Why don't you watch where you're going?"
"Like I said," Sam said calmly, bending down to pick up the book, "I'm sorry. It was an accident."
"Fine," the boy said, frowning. He snatched back his books.
"You're new, huh? I haven't seen you around McKinley before."
"Yes."
"I'm Sam Evans," the blond said cheerfully, extending a hand.
The new boy regarded Sam's hand carefully, before rolling his eyes and making a sour face. "Flanagan. Rory Flanagan."
Rory shook Sam's hand with surprising strength, before pulling back and standing awkwardly.
"You have an accent," Sam noted with a small smile.
"Irish."
"It's cool."
They stood facing one another for a moment, both unsure of what to say. Sam examined the boy standing before him.
For the most part Rory's face seemed boyish, from the button nose, to the bright blue eyes and the full lips. Though, the look was offset by several decidedly older features: the sharpness of his cheekbones, the slight hollowness to his cheeks, the cold expression in his eyes. The boy's skin was unmarred and displayed a shocking pallor. His hair was reddish-brown and so dark it was nearly black.
"I have to get to class," Rory muttered.
"What do you have?"
"Biology."
Sam grinned. "Me too; I'll show you the way." He put a friendly hand on Rory's arm to guide him, but the brunet jerked back with a vicious glare in his eyes.
"I can walk, you know."
"Okay." Sam answered. He started off in the direction of the classroom, and heard Rory following several feet behind him.
Sam smiled despite himself. The new kid was quirky, sure; but then again, being the new kid sucked. Obviously he had every right to be in a bit of a cranky mood. Still, he really shouldn't have been worried about how he would be received; with that adorable accent and his cute face, it was impossible for people not to—Whoa, Sam thought, what was that? 'Adorable'? 'Cute'? Why would I think that?
Shaking his head, Sam stopped in front of the biology room. He turned and flashed Rory a charming grin. "Ready?"
"Yes," the brunet replied tensely and he brushed past Sam to get to the door.