Fic: The Epic True Impending Love Story of Fishlips and Ladyface (Part Thirty-Nine)
In Which Sam Has the Time of His Life
Sam stood in the wings of the stage. This was it.
“And now for last year’s Sectional winners, The New Directions!”
The beginning chords of Time of My Life started up. He could imagine Finn and Rachel preparing to make their dramatic entrance from the back of the auditorium.
Now I’ve had the time of my life…
There was Finn, voice surprisingly strong in the loud auditorium. Sam smiled. Right now, he was appearing from one of the two doors to the lobby. According to Quinn, Rachel had done that at last year’s Sectionals and it was a big crowd pleaser.
“Puck! Shut up!” He heard Quinn hiss behind him. He shook his head. They really were awesome together, Quinn and Puck, but like all couples, sometimes they got on each other’s nerves. It was sort of adorable actually. Sam wondered if he and Kurt would ever have anything like that.
He watched the spotlights flash from the other side of the curtain. Crap. It was almost time for them.
This could be love.
The curtain rose and he danced out, desperately trying to remember the moves that Kurt had taught him. Kick, kick, kick. Left, left. Point.
He tried not to look out to the audience. It was pointless, really. The spotlights were so bright on them, blinding almost, that it was impossible to make out more than shapes. He knew that Mr. Schuester was somewhere out there. He also knew that Puck and Quinn’s surprise was as well. He chanced a side glance at them. Sam hoped that they would like it.
Finn and Rachel reached climax the climax of the song, raising their arms proudly as they belted the last note. The club held it for a moment before cutting it off.
The audience rose to their feet applauding. Sam panted, a bright grin lighting up his face. This is what it was about. This must be why they put up with Rachel, the bruised egos, the stubbed toes. In the meant, where the audience cheered, Sam felt invincible. He snuck a glance to Kurt who was sharing a pleased expression with Blaine and felt his smile slip. Not quite invincible then.
The bouncy intro to their next song began playing. Sam smoothly crossed the stage to take his dance partner’s, Tina, hand. He didn’t know much about the girl, but she seemed sweet enough and didn’t mind the countless times he messed up during rehearsal.
Santana started singing. He had been pleasantly surprised at Schue’s decision to give her a solo for Sectionals. Of course he had thought, it should have gone to Kurt, but it was at least a nice break from the constant stream of Rachel songs. Sam barely kept up with the tempo, leading Tina through spins and the box step.
Why don’t come on over, Valerie?
He heard the audience exclaim. He knew it was for Brittany and Mike doing some sort of complex dance move, but it gave him the confidence to push through and somehow avoid making a complete fool of himself onstage. He spun Tina out one final time and held their final pose. The audience once again leapt up. The club froze to receive their applause for several moments before retreating backstage.
“Sam?” He turned at the brunette’s voice.
“Yeah Kurt?
The younger boy smiled shyly. “You didn’t embarrass yourself. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.” He flushed slightly in the low light.
“Anytime.” Sam watched Kurt jog to catch up to where Blaine was waiting. He sighed.
“Cheer up, emo kid.” Two arms snaked around his shoulder.
Sam rolled his eyes. “Yeah because it’s just that simple. Get off of me, Puckerman.”
“But Sammy, you’re just so irresistible. I need you.”
He ducked to escape Puck’s arms and glared back at him. “You’re a bastard. This is why I like Quinn better.”
Puck’s expression changed immediately, going from mock seductive to protective, and he grabbed Quinn, who had been standing off to the side, by the waist. “Mine.”
She smacked him lightly. “Neanderthal.”
“Your Neanderthal.”
She smiled, pleased. “Yeah.”
Sam cleared his throat, effectively ending the moment. “Can you guys come with me for a second?”
They both blinked at him, surprised. “Yeah, I guess?” Quinn answered, grabbing Puck’s hand and following Sam down the narrow hall that extended from the backstage.
“So, you guys have been helping me a lot lately and I’ve been really grateful to you. I wanted to do something to repay you.”
“Sam, you didn’t have to do that.”
“Yeah, I did, Quinn. You’ve dealt with more than anyone should have to deal with from me. You deserve this.”
He stopped at the door to the lobby. “I hope you like it.”
“Is it a car?”
“It’s not a car, Puck. I hope it’s better than a car.”
Puck and Quinn exchanged a confused glance. Sam smiled and pushed open the door to the lobby. He could see their surprise waiting, nestled safely in the arms of her adoptive mother. “Go.”
They turned slowly to face the lobby. Quinn’s eyes doubled in size and she ran over to them. Puck hung back for a second, tears in his eyes.
“Beth?”
Sam nodded. “Yeah, I got Rachel to give me Shelby’s phone number and talked to her about it. She’s more than willingly to make this an open adoption if you want. She wants Beth to know her birth parents.”
Puck almost tackled Sam into a hug. “Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to us.”
Sam patted his back. “You’re welcome. Now go see your daughter.”
Puck wandered over to Shelby and Quinn almost in a trance. Sam watched him, feeling as if he was intruding an intimate family moment. He sort of was really, he noticed. He slipped from the door and made his way back to the green room, ready to change back into his normal clothes. His work was done.