Title - A New Reality in Direction

It was the summer after many members of the New Directions had graduated. Everyone managed to get together to see Rachel off to New York City the day after graduation. Quinn left only a few days later so that she and her mother could get her settled in New Haven before school started in the fall. Santana and Finn both left within a week of each other and even Puck was gone though no one really knew where he was going. But for Sam, the two departures that hurt him the most were Mike and Mercedes. Mike was his best friend, his wing man, and not having him around made him feel lost. When Mercedes left, Sam's heart broke. He didn't know how to lose the girl he wanted to be with and his best friend at the same time. He was lost with no direction.

But he knew he wasn't the only one. Other members of New Directions also had similar problems. Brittany had to figure out life without Santana all the time. Tina and Mike continued to date, though long distance and he knew that was hard for them. But the one couple that seemed to handle this transition well was Kurt and Blaine. Sam hadn't seen them much since school let out. They'd actually gone to LA to visit Blaine's brother, Cooper. It seemed everyone's lives were changing and Sam was not the exception. Fortunately, Sam's dad was doing much better financially. So well, that they were able to move back to Lima as he was asked to take his old job back. Things seemed great until his parents found out how he'd made money to help the family. He's been grounded for a month and he really had contact with no one.

One day, a month and a half into summer vacation, Sam put down the controller for his X-Box when his phone rang. He was surprised to see Tina's name flash across the screen.

"Hey, Tina. What's up?" he asked.

"Sam, I'm so glad I got you. Are you at home right now?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm grounded remember," he felt like a loser saying that.

"Good. . .I mean, not that you're grounded, that you're in Lima because I'm visiting Mike in Chicago and I just heard about what happened and I can't be there to fix it and I really need your help," she spoke almost too quickly for Sam to keep up.

"What are you talking about, Tina? I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sam, Kurt got a late acceptance to NYADA and left immediately. He was so excited about the letter that he only told Blaine over the phone and then got on a plane for New York. Blaine is really upset, but I'm not there to check on him will you please go to his house and see how he is doing?" she pleaded.

"Sure, Tina. That really sucks. I'm surprised that Kurt would do that as much as he cares about Blaine. Blaine is so sweet to everyone it kind of annoys me that Kurt would hurt him like that," Sam said.

"Kurt is my friend and I know this is what he wanted so bad, but I agree that this shocked me. So you'll go check on Blaine?" she asked again.

"Yeah, I'll check on him and call you back."

Sam was lucky that his parents were understanding people. Even though, he was still grounded, after Sam told them what happened they let him leave the house, borrow the car and go to Blaine's house. Sam and Blaine never really had the chance to get close. He considered Blaine a friend and a teammate, but with him only coming back halfway through the year, and having major Mercedes issues keeping him busy, he never got the chance, but he always admired Blaine and thought he was a great guy. He kind of looked up to him.

Sam rang the doorbell, and an attractive woman in her late 40's answered the door. She recognized Sam from watching New Directions perform and was happy to hear that he came over just to check on Blaine. Having never been in Blaine's house before, she showed him to Blaine's room. The door was shut. Sam knocked on the door.

"Mom, I told you I don't need you checking in on me every five minutes," Blaine yelled from the other side of the door.

Sam opened the door, "Well I'm cute, but I'm not sure I look as good as your mom."

Blaine was in his bed lying under the comforter. When he heard Sam's voice it shocked him and he jumped out of bed. "Sam, what are you doing here?"

"I came to check on you. Tina was worried about you after you called her and asked me to see how you are doing. . .are you wearing Harry Potter briefs?" Sam got distracted.

It was at that point that Blaine realized he was standing in front of Sam Evans in his underwear, his very tight, form fitting briefs that didn't leave much to the imagination. "Oh my gosh, Sam, I'm so sorry." He ran into his walk-in closet to put some clothes on.

"Don't worry about it," Sam laughed. "And don't worry, I won't make any wand jokes about them either."

Blaine looked down and realized he did have a boner. He'd been reliving one of his favorite moments with Kurt when the knock came at the door. The shock of seeing Sam made him forget. Now not only had Sam seen him in his underwear, he'd also had a hard-on. He slipped a pair of running shorts and a t-shirt on and walked back out hanging his head.

"I'm really sorry, Sam. I'm so embarrassed."

"Don't be. Now I know one of the reasons Kurt liked you so much," Sam said jokingly while patting him on the back and sitting in the window seat overlooking the pool in Blaine's backyard.

"I thought you said no jokes," Blaine sighed.

"You're right. Sorry. I really am here to see how you're doing. Tina told me about Kurt's quick exit."

Sam immediately saw the sadness in his friend's face. Blaine tried to say something, but he just couldn't do it. Tears formed in his eyes and Sam saw them. Instinctively, he stood up and pulled Blaine into his arms and held him tightly. It was the best way he knew to show Blaine he wasn't alone.

Blaine was shocked by Sam's compassion, but grateful at the same time. He wasn't sure why he did it, but he just let himself go. He began to cry into Sam's chest. Sam held him tighter. He couldn't believe how good it felt to be held in Sam's strong arms. He felt safe.

After several minutes of this, Blaine looked up, tears drying up, into Sam's eyes.

"Better?" Sam asked.

"Yes, thank you," Blaine answered. "You didn't have to do that for me Sam, but thank you."

"Yes I did. That's what friends do for each other."

Blaine got lost in Sam's eyes and didn't answer. There was a innocence there filled with compassion and caring. It was beautiful to Blaine.

"Blaine, you okay?" Sam asked curiously as he held Blaine at arms length trying to see if something was wrong.

"He left me," Blaine finally stated.

"What?" Sam questioned.

Blaine went and picked up the letter that was on his nightstand. He handed it to Sam so he could read it. "Mr. Hummel brought it by yesterday. Said Kurt asked him to bring it to me."

Sam opened the letter and every word shocked him more.

Blaine,

You know I love you and I always will. You know me better than anyone which is why I know you understand how important moving to New York is to me. It is my dream and passion to make it on Broadway. Being a late entry to NYADA means I have to work twice as hard to prove myself that I deserve the opportunity. I have to focus on that in order to make things happen. I know I need to put my full attention into school which is why this is the hardest thing I've ever had to say.

I love you and I do hope that we end up together for the rest of our lives. I know it is your dream to go to NYADA as well and I really want that too. For that to happen, you need to focus on your senior year like I need to focus on college. That's why I think we need to take time away from each other. I don't want to call it "breaking up" but I guess that's what it is. If we are meant to be together we will be together again once you get to NYADA. I want you to experience your senior year fully and not worry about what I'm thinking all the time, and don't tell me you wouldn't do that because we both know that you would.

I hope that we find each other again and fall in love all over again next summer.

Until then,

Kurt

After finishing the letter, Sam looked up to Blaine and understood his pain.

"He broke up with me," Blaine cried as he fell back onto his bed and buried his head into his pillow.

Sam knelt down by the bed and pushed back Blaine's hair with his hand so he could make eye contact with him.

"Yeah, he did and he is a dumbass for doing that. Kurt is my friend, but he made a big mistake because you are too great of a catch to go without a boyfriend for a whole year."

"But I don't want to date anyone else. I love Kurt."

"I know you do, but maybe you should take the letter for what it really means. I mean Kurt is right. You should experience senior year fully. Make it a memorable year. We have a national title to defend. You, me, Tina, and Artie have got to step up and lead the group this year. And after graduation next year, and after you make it into NYADA, if you and Kurt are meant to be together then you will be."

"I don't think I can do this," Blaine shook his head.

"Yes you can," Sam smiled. His smile began to make Blaine smile as well. "And I'll be here to help you along the way."

"Why would you do that for me, Sam?" Blaine asked.

"Mike is gone to college. Mercedes left to start her career. I need a new best friend, and it looks like that is just going to have to be you," Sam grinned ear to ear as he messed up Blaine's hair because he knew it would bother him.

"I'd like that," Blaine finally managed a smile. He wasn't sure why he did what he did next but he leaned over to Sam and wrapped his arms around him initiating the hug this time. He managed to move to where he was sitting on the side of the bed. Sam, happy that he made Blaine fell better, wrapped his strong arms around him and joined in on the hug.

"Thank again, Sam"

"No problem, Blaine, there's just one issue we need to talk about."

"What's that?" Blaine asked not letting go of the hug.

"I know I said I wouldn't make jokes but your penis is poking me in the abs," Sam tried to say it all with out laughing but he only made it to the word penis.

Blaine let go of the hug and leaned back away from Sam.

"I guess I did make you happy, huh?" Sam laughed again and stood heading to the door. "Why don't you shower and change. Let's go to the Lima Bean and get coffee?"

Sam walked out of Blaine's bedroom to give him privacy. Blaine looked down at the hardness between his legs and couldn't help but rub it. Sam had made him happy. . .very happy. Blaine had to figure out if it was just because he appreciated the friendship, because Sam's arms were so strong and he did have a thing for great arms, or if maybe something even bigger was going on.

"There is no way I like Sam Evans. . .or do I?"

End of chapter one.