A/N: Prompt from spoondance; thistles (no, I can't explain why it inspired this). Thanks!
Sam liked to think that what he didn't achieve with school smarts, he made up with his personality and impressions (which were both awesome). And, depending on the girl or the group of guys he was with, he felt perfectly secure in that.
Rachel, however, was different. Maybe it was how he felt about her. Or how electrifying it was to have her full attention on him. He didn't know.
One thing he did know, he thought as he watched her wait in line for use of the public showers, having insisted she didn't want to walk around with sand caked all over her feet and legs, was that he didn't have a problem with sticking around until he figured it out.
Stretching, feeling the sun's heat on his neck and shoulders, Sam shielded his eyes as he glanced up at the sky. No clouds in sight. Awesome. That probably meant hours of rain-free time. Damn, but whoever decided that celebrating their Nationals win in Florida was a fricken' hero.
Not only was it away from school, but it helped foster… Potential.
"Hey, playin' pack mule?" Puck said, coming up behind him. He was referencing the backpack and sun bag Sam held.
"Something like that." Moving his gaze from Rachel, Sam grinned widely as he noticed the white sunglasses with rhinestones his friend was wearing. "Dude, who'd you steal the frames from?"
Puck smiled smugly. He crossed his arms across his chest. "Sugar. She kept going on about wanting to get some obnoxious new ones at Disney, so I made my move back at the hotel; doubt she even noticed they were missing. I'm just that good."
"Well, you're rocking them," Sam laughed, shaking his head. "Must be the mohawk." He shifted, lips unconsciously curling up at the sight of Rachel bending over to scrub her ankles and legs, wiggling her flip-flops in the water to finish up, "Think I should try it?"
"A mohawk?" Puck clapped his hand on Sam's shoulder, playfully shoving him forward on his feet, "Or my Jewish American Princess?"
His? Pursing his lips, Sam stared at the older boy, trying to read his expression. "You two're dating?" He didn't like how that thought made his stomach curdle. He also tried to ignore how his voice had sounded on that last word.
Smirking as if he had just been proven right, Puck raised an eyebrow at him. "Dude, you should look at yourself right now. You're transparent. Nah," he shrugged, pushing his hands into the pockets of his board shorts, lifting his chin to motion at the girl now making her way back to them, "That already happened. Though, you know, I could do worse than her. Damn, can that girl kiss!" He shook his head, elbowing Sam as he turned to slip back towards the others behind them, "Go for it, bro."
Watching him walk off, his heart beating harder for some reason with what felt like... Hope? Sam jerked a bit when soft fingers brushed against his bicep, sending goosebumps racing up his arm.
"Hi!" Rachel smiled up at him, palm put out to take her bag back, "I'm ready now."
Relinquishing her bag, Sam smiled at her thanks. "No worries," he slid his backpack on, shuffling his shoulders to settle it correctly, "You hungry? I noticed a beach-side cafe on our way down here that looked like it probably had vegan options. I mean, it had giant vegetables and fruit on the sign, so, that's a good indication, right?"
Rachel beamed up at him. Tucking wind-blown hair behind her ear, she started towards the others, pulling her bag in close to her side; Sam couldn't help admiring how the sun played across her bare shoulders and back, making him swallow and avert his gaze, "That's a good bet, yes, Sam, thank you. What do the others think?"
"That even if they don't want to go, I'd be happy to."
Rachel's laugh was a mixture of surprise and being pleased. "Why, Mr. Evans," she practically hummed, slipping closer towards him to take his arm, pressing her side into it and smiling up at him, eyes sparkling, "I do believe you're being very charming."
Sam automatically flexed, thrilling at the feeling of her bare skin and loose tank and bikini top. "You haven't seen anything yet, darling," he drawled, dredging up one of his ever available impressions to cover how ecstatic he was actually feeling.
Taking a couple of seconds to answer, Rachel's smile softened, her expression quietly nuanced, hopeful as she met Sam's gaze again. "I hope not."