We're both looking for something
We've been afraid to find
It's easier to be broken
It's easier to hide

Looking at you, holding my breath,
For once in my life, I'm scared to death,
I'm taking a chance, letting you inside.

Many people say that high school could be the worst years of your life or the best, but Sam had to disagree. Middle school takes the spot of being the worst years of someone's life even though he had yet to reach high school. The disregard for others feelings, the constant putdowns one gives in order to feel powerful and above all others, the need to find a place to belong, to become popular and to top it all off the beginning stages of hormones. Sam hated all the above and most definitely the last subject.

His eyes roamed the classroom to see his best friend Puck flirting with Santana the only Latina in the cheerleading squad. One look from her had anyone backing away from her. Even though Santana seemed intimidating Sam knew she was somewhat a softie…somewhere deep, deep, deep…deep inside the recess of her soul. One just had to really dig in order to find it, but Sam knew that maybe Puck might have been the one who did by the way Santana gaze softened as she looked at Puck as he spoke to her grinning. Feeling that he was intruding into something private he quickly looked away to see, his once crush Quinn Fabray talking to her boyfriend Finn Hudson. She was sitting on her chair, while Finn was crouched down beside her whispering something into her ear that had her chuckling.

Once a upon a time that scene would have made him feel bitter, but that was before he found out how cruel Quinn could be when she felt someone was a threat to her. It sometimes fascinated him how much her angelic looks of luscious blonde hair, golden-brown eyes, and alabaster skin betrayed her inner self and yet people still wanted to be her friend. The moment her golden-brown eyes met his gaze, Sam looked away not seeing the frown that marred her face when he did.

No matter where he was his eyes always sought her to see if she was in his class. The girl with the voice on of an angel and yet no one knew. It was only be chance he came across her singing afterschool three months ago as she waited alone for her dads to pick her up. After that day Sam tried to find out anything about her without raising any suspicion. It was as if her voice had unlocked something within him that lay hidden, his insatiable curiosity toward finding out who she really was. And it was by luck that Puck knew her.

"You mean Rachel." Puck narrowed his eyes at him. "You want to know about Rachel Berry. I have only one piece of advice to give you. She's bat shit crazy. Stay away from her."

"But why?" Sam asked confused. "I see you talk to her sometimes."

"That's different." Puck smirked. "We go to the same temple and us Jews have to stick together." With that said Puck practically forced him to change the topic.

When his eyes landed on her form he felt himself relax. The first thing he had noticed when he had taken the time to real look at her for the first time was that her looks contrasted greatly with that of Quinn. Instead of luscious blonde hair she had rich velvet chocolate locks, instead of golden-brown eyes she had caramel orbs and her skin was a slight shade dark than Quinn, but that did nothing to take from her appeal instead it made her soft to the eyes. One could even go as far as to say she looked like a classic beauty. Rachel was reading a book in her usual seat at the back of the class. No one around her bothered to talk to her, it was as if there was an invisible circle surrounding Rachel that only let daring few approach her. As if feeling someone looking at her she looked up from her book and like magnets their eyes met and held each other. Neither looked away and with that simple look Sam's heart began pounding against his chest viciously as he felt the room temperature rise. Everything around them faded away and all that he saw was her and all he could hear was a mixture of the rapid pounding of his heart and the blood coursing through his veins.

"…Sam."

A punch to his shoulder broke through the trance and caused him to crash back to reality. "What is it?" he asked Puck who was glaring at him slightly. Santana had followed Sam's gaze and saw who he was staring at. She looked at Sam amused, but decided not to comment for the time being.

"I was asking, who are you planning to take for the winter formal this Friday?"

Sam unconsciously risked another glance at Rachel. "I'm not sure yet."

Santana noticed the way her boyfriend frowned at Sam. She knew how protective Puck could be of Rachel even though many didn't have clue and he was very discreetly about it. There had been a time that Santana had been jealous about the girl and had been ready to wipe the floor with her, but Puck intervened before she act out on such violent actions and explained that Rachel and him were solely friends who knew each other since their childhood. Even though they no longer were close he still kept a close eye on her. Santana placed a hand on Puck's forearm and felt the muscle under it relax as the tension left his body. "Why don't you take Brittany?"

Sam took his gaze off Rachel and looked at Santana surprised. "I don't think so."

"Why not?" Santana raised an eyebrow. "You too good for her Golden Boy?"

"That's not the case." Sam sighed. He glanced at where the blonde, sweetheart and naïve cheerleader was talking animatedly with a boy on a wheelchair wearing glasses. "I think she might be going with Artie."

"Wheelchair kid?"

"Yep."

Before they could continue the conversation the bell rang signaling the end of class. "I'll see you guys later I have to leave a couple of things in my locker." Sam grabbed his backpack and walked away before Santana and Puck could try to suggest on going with him.

"What's up with him?" Quinn asked as she walked up to Puck and Santana.

"It seems Sammy Evans has the hots for Rachel Berry." Santana grinned when she saw Sam and Rachel bump into each other as they tried to exit out the room at the same time. They both looked at each other blushing before Sam motioned for Rachel to go first. Puck, Santana and Quinn saw the way Sam's eyes softened when she said something to him and walked out the classroom quickly. A small smile curved on his lips as walked out the classroom shortly after.

"No he doesn't." Puck grabbed his backpack. "He knows to stay away from Rachel." He said trying to cover up what they had witnessed. He glanced at Quinn to see her glaring. "Oh shit. Things are about to go down."

Santana seeing her mistake gave Puck an apologetic look, but he simply shook his head and walked out the classroom. Santana sighed as she walked after Puck.

Quinn felt an arm wrapped around her shoulders. She looked at her boyfriend and pouted. "Finn you love me, right?"

"Of course." Finn held her closer to him.

"Will you do anything for me?"

"Sure. What do you have in mind?"

"There's someone who needs to be reminded of their place."

Finn looked at his girlfriend curiously as they walked out the room.

Rachel took a deep breath to calm the rapid pounding of her heart as she put her English textbook back in her locker and took out her Algebra 1 text book and put it in her backpack. A smile curved on her lips as closed her locker. The day had been turning out really well for her. It was good enough that no one had yet to pick on her for the day and to make matters far more interesting her suspicions that Sam Evans had been looking at her had been confirmed. What she had not expected was that he would hold her gaze once she caught him staring or the feelings he would invoke from her. She had yet to truly have a conversation with him. The only things she knew of him was what she heard and what she is able to gather from the few classes she has with him.

Sam Evans is the Golden Boy of McKinley Middle School and his popularity ranked up there with Finn Hudson, Noah Puckerman, Quinn Fabray, Santana Lopez and Brittany Pierce. They were the most popular in the school and every kid in the school has heard their names at least more than once. Rachel knew Noah personally since they were almost practically raised together and go to the same temple, but they became distant once middle school started and he began growing closer to Finn and the others as well as increasing in popularity. He at the moment was going out with Santana Lopez at first Rachel had been against it, but hadn't voiced her thoughts to him about it, but she accepted it once she saw how serious Noah was about her by simply watching them interact. Even though Santana had her bitchy moments were she tore her claws into someone's self esteem and ripped it to shreds, Rachel knew she was a good person somewhere deep down. After all, Santana along with Brittany had yet to lift a hand against her which never ceased to surprise her since they were Quinn Fabray's best friends. Brittany by far was one of the sweetest people she had ever crossed paths with, which made Rachel wonder why she hangs out with Quinn. The reason she got to know Brittany was because of her assigned seat next to her in Algebra 1 and she had introduced Brittany to Artie a few months back when she needed extra help aside from Rachel helping her.

Then there was Quinn aka Queen Q. Every girl admired her or wanted to be her…well mostly every girl except for Rachel. Rachel did not hate her per se she simply disliked her…greatly. Quinn never hid the fact that she had a personal vendetta against her when Finn began to talk to Rachel in the sixth grade instead of her first. But the moment Finn and Quinn clicked she made sure that Finn cut any ties he had with her and that Rachel never forgot how low she was in their standards. She could never be one of them. As for Finn after he stopped talking to her and avoided her like a plague her opinion of him plummeted to the ground. She had thought that he was different because he had approached her first, but was glad that she found out earlier than later how he was not different as she had imagined.

As for Sam, she has only seen him and never really talked to him unless to say excuse me, or apologize if by accident she bumped into him or thank him when he was very well mannered like he was a few minutes ago when he let her pass through the door first. Just the thought of him and what he did made Rachel blush. She had heard that he was very sweet and polite, but she never truly believed it even if Puck was his best friend because he hangs out with Quinn and Finn. But to experience it firsthand Rachel would be lying if she said she wasn't a believer now. Now that she reflects back on Sam she couldn't help but remember the multiple times she thought she saw him staring at her and very scarce times it seemed he wanted to say something to her only to quickly walk the other way. "Could it be that…" Rachel gulped. "…that he wants to be friends." Rachel couldn't stop even if she tried the smile that formed on her lips at the thought of Sam Evans wanting to be friends. It didn't seem awful, not one bit. "Maybe I should say hi to him." Rachel fought back a giggle as she walked through the hallway.

Rachel was looking at the floor contemplating the pros and cons if she did gather the courage to say hi to Sam when she noticed two pairs of feet standing in front of her. Just as her gaze traveled up the forms a wave of dread had yet to hit her when the coldness of a grape slushie bit into her skin paralyzing her with shock. She had no idea how to react as she opened her eyes and fought back tears when a wave of embarrassment washed over as laughter echoed in the hallway from some of the students, while some stood looking at her in shock or gave her sympathetic looks and others whispered amongst themselves frantically. Rachel looked at her assailants to see Finn holding the now empty slushie cup, while Quinn stood next to him smirking.

"Do you real think you have a chance with Sam?" Quinn leaned forward toward Rachel grinning. "Did you forget that compared to us you are lower than dirt RuPaul?"

Rachel willed herself not cry in front of them. She couldn't even come back with a remark because she feared her voice would crack and prove to them how much this one action had cut her far deeper than ever before. Instead Rachel squeezed her eyes closed fighting back tears as her hands curled into fists. Nails pierced the skin allowing Rachel to focus on the new pain instead of what was happening to her at the moment.

"Are you going to cry treasure trail?" Quinn asked with a hint of dark amusement in her voice.

"What's going on here?"

Rachel eyes snapped open as his voice pierced through the tension and Quinn quickly moved away from Rachel. The sound of his footsteps now echoing in the dead silent hallway filled her with hope and she didn't know why. It wasn't until he was standing next to her that she felt she could actually breathe since the incident happened.

"It's nothing Sam." Finn responded before his girlfriend could say anything.

Sam glanced at Rachel drenched in purple slushie and then at the empty cup in Finn's hand. "This doesn't look like nothing."

"We were only teaching her a lesson." Quinn smiled sweetly at him making Rachel feel sick.

"What type a lesson involves a grape slushie?" Sam raised an eyebrow.

"She needed to be reminded of her place."

That simple phrase filled Sam with disgust and anger. His fist clenched. "What right do you have to judge others?" He said through gritted teeth glaring daggers at her.

"Woah Sam." Finn stepped forward trying to cover Quinn from his view. "You know the rules."

"What rules?" Sam growled. "The unwritten rules of popularity? Don't make me laugh Finn! Those rules were only invented for people who think they are better than others, so they don't feel guilty for making another's life a living hell!"

Finn tried not to flinch under Sam's anger and gulped nervously. Sam looked like he was about to blow a fuse. This was the first time he ever saw his friend this pissed. "Why are you acting this way? You never questioned the rules before! Is it because of her?" Quinn stepped from behind of Finn and pointed an accusing finger at Rachel. "She is poisoning you against us! Can't you see that?"

"Quinn!" Sam snapped. "Can you hear yourself speak? Do you know ludicrous your accusations are? What does Rachel have to do this?"

"She has everything to do with this!" Quinn snapped back glaring at Rachel venomously. Just as Quinn marched up to Rachel and lifted her hand to smack her Sam was able to step between them in time shoving Rachel behind him as Quinn's hand came down and slapped him instead of Rachel. Quinn gasped when she realized what happened and looked at Sam with disbelieving eyes. "Why her?" she whispered so only Sam and Rachel could hear.

Ignoring the sting on his right cheek Sam met her gaze. "…Because she's different and I wouldn't want to change her in any way."

Quinn blinked back tears as her fists clenched.

"I think its best you leave." Sam told her as the bell rang signaling the end of nutrition. Without waiting to see if Quinn did as he told her Sam grabbed Rachel by the wrist and pulled her along behind him until they reached the girls restroom. Sam and Rachel stopped by the sinks were Brittany was washing her hands. She took one look at Rachel and frowned. "I'll tell Mrs. Ramos you're going to be late for class. You just take your time cleaning yourself up."

Another wave of tears misted Rachel's eyes as she tried to blink them back. Brittany hadn't asked anything and instead said all the right things that would help Rachel's day set back to normal even if she would be late for class. "Thank you Brittany."

"It's not a problem compared to how much you help me in that class." Brittany smiled at her before looking Sam. "You take good care of her. She's my math partner, so try not to keep her too long from me."

"I'll have her cleaned up in no time." Sam grinned as Brittany walked passed them and out the restroom.

"Aren't you worried that your Golden Boy image might be ruined?" Rachel asked as Sam turned on the faucet.

"What's the worst that can happen?" Sam made Rachel sit on the chair he place in front of the sink and made her lean her head back so the water could wet it taking away the stickiness before grabbing paper towels and wetting them lightly. "They'll find out I'm in the girls restroom helping you clean up."

"I guess you're right." Rachel grabbed the wet paper towels Sam gave her and cleaned her face and anywhere that slushied had fallen on her. "I'm sorry about what happened."

"Why?" Sam asked curiously as he ran his fingers through her hair making sure that it was getting cleaned. He wasn't about to tell anyone that he was enjoying himself even though he was cleaning Rachel's hair at least he is able for the first time talk to her and be near her. "It wasn't your fault." "It's my fault. If I didn't have feelings for you Quinn wouldn't have done this to you."

"I highly doubt that. Quinn doesn't do anything without reason. I must have done something to set her off again and you ended up getting slapped for it."

"The slap is nothing compared to what she put you through. Quinn is a very insecure person." Sam turned off the faucet and wrung Rachel's hair. "Mostly anything can set her off and that's why she lashes out."

"I'm insecure." Rachel looked up and met Sam's gaze.

A smile graced his lips. "That may be true, but you don't let your insecurities govern your life."

"You don't either." Rachel instantly regretted her words when the smile faded from Sam's lips as he stepped away from her.

"That's not true." Sam grabbed her hand lightly and tugged her up from the chair. "I don't make anyone's life miserable nor do I really help it. I don't stop Finn and Quinn or the others from bullying others nor do I encourage it."

"That's not true." Rachel looked away from. "You helped me today." She noticed for the first time that Sam had yet to let go of her hand.

"You're one" Sam's hand held hers tighter, "of hundreds that I have yet to help." "You're an exception to me…" He looked at Rachel to see her shirt was also stained. "Do you have another shirt?"

"No." Rachel sighed. "This never happened before."

"It's ok you can use my sweater." Sam unzipped his hoodie.

"No!" Rachel said quickly.

"Do you want my shirt?"

"No…"

"So you plan on walking with a wet slushied shirt the entire day?"

"It will get dry as time goes by."

"…"

"…"

"That won't work for me." Sam took off his hoodie and hanged it over one of the stall doors before taking off his black shirt.

"What are you doing?" Rachel asked frantically when he took off his muscle shirt that he had under his black shirt.

"What does it look like?" Sam grinned unbashfully as he stood before her bare-chested showing off his leaning figure. Rachel could see the faint outline of a six pack forming. He handed her his white muscle shirt and hoodie. "Put these on." Sam commanded as he turned around and slipped his black shirt on.

While his back was turned Rachel slipped into a stall and quickly took off her dirty shirt and put on his muscle shirt and hoodie. When she came out the stall Sam's face reddened slightly as he looked at her. His eyes never leaving her form made her heart pound rapidly against her chest and her own face become warm. She silently hoped that he didn't notice her blush.

Sam could barely repress the male satisfaction he felt when he saw Rachel step out of the stall dressed in his clothing. Without thinking Sam stepped toward her and zipped up the sweater before lightly tugging her wet hair out of it. He gently ran his fingers through her hair making it fan out around her. "There you go, all better."

"Won't your sweater get wet?"

"It will dry off later." He tugged the dirty shirt from Rachel's hand and began to wash it.

"I can do that."

"Its fine I'm almost done either way."

"Sam give it here…"

"No…Rachel I need my space otherwise this won't work."

"It's my shirt."

"And I'm doing you a favor, now deal with it."

Rachel bit back a smile as she tried to glare at him, but was failing miserably.

"Look." Sam held up the now wet and clean shirt. "I'm done."

"Thank you." Rachel gave him a grateful smile as she grabbed the shirt. "I guess we should head to our classes."

"Yeah, you're right." Sam took out his cell phone and looked at the time. "Are you busy this Friday?"

"No, I don't have any plans that day." Rachel answered curiously.

"I was wondering, but it's cool if you don't want to…" Sam scratched the back of his neck nervously. "I was wondering if you wouldn't mind being my date for the winter formal?"

Rachel looked at him surprised and was speechless. She wanted to say yes, but it seemed like her voice didn't want to cooperate.

"Like I said it's cool if you don't wa-"

"I'd loved to be your date…" Rachel blushed when Sam met her gaze. "I mean it would be nice."

"That's awesome!" Sam grinned. "We can talk about the details during lunch, that's if you're not busy?"

"Sure."

"It's a date…not the lunch of course cus I can't take you out to eating during lunch, but the winter formal I mean." Sam chuckled nervously. "That's not to say that I don't want to take you out on a date for lunch."

Rachel couldn't stop the giggle that had risen from her during his explanation. "I understand Sam, it's a date."

The soft smile Sam gave her had her knees going weak, her stomach doing back flips, her heart pounded rapidly and her cheeks burning. "I'll see you at lunch." He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her cheek before he pulled away. She barely got to see his blushing face as their gaze held each other only for a few seconds before he rushed out the restroom. The only evidence other than the fact that she was wearing Sam Evan's clothing was slight the burning spot she felt where his lips had pressed gently against her cheek proved that what had happened was not a dream, but indeed something real.

Feeling alive all over again,
As deep as the sky, under my skin
Like being in love, she says
For the first time
Maybe I'm wrong,
But I'm feeling right where I belong
With you tonight
Like being in love
To feel for the first time

AN: I apologize for any grammatical errors. This one-shot is dedicated to The Wonderful Mistique. I hope this made it to her expectations and to everyone who reads this I hope you enjoyed it as well. Please be kind and drop me a review telling me what you think. You know I love hearing from you. =) The lyrics are from First Time by Lifehouse. I couldn't resist putting it in I felt the song fit their relationship.