CHAPTER 2: HOLD ONTO SIXTEEN

(SEASON 3: EPISODE 8)

Finn knew that Haley had been heartbroken for weeks after Sam moved away. Sure, they were still committed to each other in a strong relationship, but that didn't stop Haley. She locked herself in her bedroom for a week after he left. She only allowed Santana, Quinn, Brittany, Kurt, Blaine, and Finn to comfort her. And she even wandered the hallways of McKinley eating chips, and wearing pj's for an entire week. She bawled her eyes out at The Notebook every night as Finn comforted her. Truth is she was lonely. He was determined to fix her problem.

Finn had come up with what he thought was a brilliant idea. He was going to figure out a way to bring Sam back for sectionals, and to surprise Haley.

"Hey." He said as he approached Haley at her locker.

"Hey." She sighed as she closed her locker to look up at him. "What's up?"

"Oh, I'm just wondering if you know where Sam lives or works? It sounds weird, but I am just curious." Finn said, trying to cover up his plan.

Haley frowned. "I mean sure we talk every night, as every couple would. Typical relationships, but he mentioned he worked at Dairy Queen, and then as of lately he said a bar... which was confusing because he's only 17. Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering, as I mentioned before. Because you have been keeping his name out of our talks every now and then. Just wanted to make sure you were fine." Finn assured her by, bringing her into a hug, and slipping his hand into her pocket, discreetly grabbing her phone.

"Well, thank you for the abrupt and out of the blue check in. I'll have you know, I'm great!" She said, hiding her pain and loneliness she was feeling, behind her happy facade.

----

"Mr. Schue, maybe we need to concentrate on our performer problem before we set a set list." Finn said after Mr. Schue had finished talking. "I mean, at least the cheerios can dance. We need star power. We need Sam Evans"

"Finn, you do know Sam transferred, his whole family moved. We don't even know where he is."

"Yeah, but Haley does." Finn smiled, pulling out Haley's phone and reading out a past message exchange between the two. He's in Kentucky, it's just across the border from Cincinnati. It's about a four hour drive from here." And yes, this is Haley's phone.

"That would be great if you could bring back Sam." Mr. Schue said.

"Just please don't say a word about this to Haley. She's been so heartbroken and lonely. If she finds out he doesn't want to come back, she'll be ready to wallow a hundred more times." He pleaded as Mr. Schue nodded.

----

As Rachel and Finn went to Kentucky, they got out of the vehicle and entered the bar.

"Sam works in a bar?" asked Rachel.

"Well, there just aren't a lot of theatres in Northern Kentucky, so theatre groups just have to perform in whatever space they can find." Finn answered, as they looked around. "There's a lot of ladies here, like older ladies." He pointed out.

"Finn, it's no secret that dinner theatre appeals to elderly women." She answered.

Suddenly the couple heard someone making announcements. "Good afternoon, ladies! Are you read to mean the man of the stallionz? Then please welcome to the stage, cobra!" The ladies who were by the stage cheered as an older man came out.

"I didn't know backdraft was a musical." Finn commented, as Rachel looked on shocked.

"Someone get the door, cause here comes Mr. Package." the announcer continued.

"Oh god no." Rachel mumbled, in realization.

"And ladies, let's give a warm welcome to white chocolate!" And there came no one else other than Sam Evans. Finn and Rachel could tell he was dressed in what looked like a construction worker costume, but with no shirt.

"That's not an image I can ever get out of my mind." Finn muttered.

"Give me a dollar." Rachel said as Finn looked confused. "Just give me a dollar." Finn gave in giving her the dollar and Rachel made her way to the front and held her hand out to give Sam the dollar. As Sam went to grab it he noticed Rachel. "Rach-Rachel..."

----

"I tried getting a real job. DQ was great and I got two free blizzards a day, but it paid just over minimum wage. You know how much I made this afternoon? 60 bucks. 61 in 15 minutes. Am I ashamed I work here? Yeah. My dad got a job working construction to pay rent, but when my brother needs a new pair of shoes or the tv busts, these abs pay for it." Sam explained.

"You parents don't know that you work here?" Rachel asked.

Sam shook his head. "No, they just think the DQ pays really well. I'm good at this."

"You're good at it because you have that boy next door innocence that makes you approachable, okay? You're good at it for all the reasons you shouldn't be. Come back to McKinley, Sam. We need you for Sectionals, and Haley needs you, even though she says she's fine, I hear her breaking down most nights. Tell me you don't want it. Dude, you're young, you got so much potential. Working here is like, your life away." Finn begged Sam to come back.

"Okay, I want it, but my dad will never let me." Sam said.

"Don't know till you ask." Rachel said.

"Let's go then." Sam smiled.

----

As Sam prepared to ask his parents if he could help out with Sectionals, he introduced Finn and Rachel to his parents.

"Dad, mom. Meet Finn and Rachel. They used to go to high school with me when we used to live in Lima. They came to visit." He said, as Finn and Rachel waved.

"Dad, mom. What I'm trying to say is I want to go back to Ohio with them. They need me to compete at Sectionals this weekend.

"And he could stay at one of our houses, so it wouldn't be like he was homeless. Not that there isn't a quiet dignity or anything." Finn interjected before Sam's parents could speak.

"You think you two could go in the other room, making yourselves busy, please?" Sam's dad asked.

"Yeah totally. I'm really good at looking busy." Finn added as he and Rachel went into the other room.

"Son...We've had a really tough year, but now we're back on our feet. You had to become a man much sooner than other kids your age." His dad began.

"I'm-I'm proud of what we've all done. It's just that, I miss being a teenager." Sam saw his mom begin to cry, he spoke again. "Hey, hey, hey. Mom. Please don't...look, if you cry, I won't go."

"I'm crying because it just makes me so sad to think of not seeing your face everyday. Though I don't understand why the Dairy Queen makes you put that glitter all over it. Is this gonna make you happy?' His mom asked.

"You have no idea." Sam said, smiling, as he hugged his parents.

"Oh do say hi to Haley, we love that girl." His mom added. "I will don't worry." Sam assured his parents.

----

As Haley was walking from her last class of the day to glee club, she turned into an empty hallway. Just as she did, she also saw another person enter from the opposite end. She stopped immediately.

"S-Sam?" She gasped dropping her books on the ground, as she made a run towards him.

"Hey Hay." He smiled as she jumped into his arms, giving him a huge hug.

"I've missed you so much." She whispered. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I'm here for Sectionals and I'm also here to stay." He assured her, wiping her tears with his thumb, as they pulled away.

"Really?" She asked. "You're not joking right?" She sent him a pointed look, as he laughed.

"No, I'm really here to stay." He assured her again, pressing a kiss to her forehead. He then went on to press his lips to hers. She smiled into the kiss and sighed happily as they pulled away.

"You don't know how long I've waited to be back in your arms again." Haley said making him smile. He looked down at one of her hands which was adorned with the promise ring he gave her months back.

"I see you still wear your promise ring I gave you." He said, as he held her hand up to admire it again.

"Duh! Of course. A promise is a promise, you've kept it so well." She replied as they intertwined their hands, and began walking down the hallway.

"Finn told me how miserable you were." Sam mentioned as they continued walking.

"Oh." She blushed before speaking again. "Yeah I was a wreck." She admitted. "I missed you, and I still love you." She confessed.

"Well, what a coincidence, because I love you back...and I was also miserable." He smiled in return.

"Awe." She said pressing a kiss to his cheek. As she pulled away she frowned. "Uh, Sam, why is there glitter in your hair? I thought you worked in a bar."

"Oh, that's a whole other story." He laughed as she gave him a look.

-----

The New Directions had won Sectionals, while the Trouble Tones had lost, placing in second place. Haley couldn't help but feel bad for them. Her and Quinn wandered into the bathroom where Santana, Mercedes and Brittany were talking.

"Alright, ladies, girls talk." Quinn announced, as Haley nodded.

"No, don't you dare try and give us a pep talk or ask us to come back to New Directions. Not interested."

"Wait, is it even possible? Do you think they would really take us back?" Asked Brittany, as she laid her head on Haley's shoulder.

"Do you know what growing up is about? Losing things. In six months, we'll all be gone, scattered." Quinn said.

"We'll keep in touch."

"Yeah, but it won't be the same. When we see each other it'll be a special occasion. It'll be different. I don't want to grow up yet. I'm not ready to lose you girls." Haley said.

"What are we supposed to do?" Come back to Glee Club and sing background for Blaine and Berry until we graduate? I'm not doing that again. We know what it feels like to be out front now."

"What if Mr. Schue agreed to let the Troubletones sing at least one number per competition?" Haley asked.

"Well, even if Mr. Schue did agree to that, Rachel never would."

"What if I told you that they both already did?" Haley asked.

"We're listening."

"Look, I know I went a little crazy, but I'm here now. 17; I have the rest of my life in front of me. I love Glee Club. I love you girls, and when we're 27 or 87, I want us to be able to look back on these next couple months and talk about how it was the best times of our lives. Can't do that if we're not all together." Quinn explained.

"We're doing a big number in the auditorium to celebrate our victory and to prepare for Regionals. We could use a couple more girl voices. Let us know if you hear about anybody who might want to join." Haley said, as her and Quinn left the bathroom.

The other girls looked at each other and decided to join.

{WE ARE YOUNG-SUNG BY THE NEW DIRECTIONS}

After they finished, Haley snuggled into Sam's arms as she turned motion Finn over. "Oh yeah, Finn, I've been meaning to ask you, how did you get my phone?"

At that, he just sent her a panicky look but quickly covered it up with his signature smirk.

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#SALEY is reunited. I have some pretty good plans for Sam and Haley in remaining seasons.

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Extraordinary Merry Christmas, Yes/No and possibly, Michael are coming later today:)