As I stood in the terminal, the familiar sights and sounds of the airport filled my mind. It was a moment of great relief to realize that I was finally home after all these years of being in France. It had been a long time since I had experienced such a welcoming atmosphere, such as Lima.
The first person I saw was my older sister, Quinn, and I was greeted with a warm hug from her. She looked completely different from the person I had said goodbye to in elementary school. It made me feel extremely happy to hug her again, and it would always be a moment I would cherish forever.
"You look exactly the same as you did in elementary school." She laughed, squeezing my hands. After obviously getting a nose job, doing some drastic alterations to her appearance and losing a lot of weight, she was almost unrecognizable.
"You don't." I smiled, before pulling her into a hug again. We were interrupted by my mother, who slowly walked up to us and we broke apart so I could face her. Quinn had written me letters every week, telling me about the Cheerios and Glee Club, while my parents had not contacted me one time. I hadn't heard from either of them in four years, but it wasn't my mother's fault.
She wanted to reach out to me, but my father wouldn't allow it. He had resented me from the moment I was born, because he always wanted a boy to continue the Fabray legacy, and I was just the child he never wanted. It was extremely difficult on my mother and I, since we were always extremely close, but she was scared of what he would do to her, or Quinn if she talked to me through her letters, so she stayed silent.
My mother put me in ballet at a very young age and it became my whole life from there. I was selected to train at a boarding school in France, and as soon as my father heard of it, he jumped at the opportunity to send me across the ocean. The first time I heard from my mom in four years was the letter she sent me telling me that her and my father had separated, and that she wanted me to come home. I was extremely worried because I had become so accustomed to France, that moving back to Ohio would be terrifying, but the second I stepped off of the plane, I knew I was home.
"Hey, mom." I said awkwardly, and after a brief moment of silence, she burst into tears and hugged me tightly, catching me off guard.
"I'm so sorry." She cried into my shoulder, and I hugged back. I missed the feeling of her hugs, they were extremely comforting and made me feel valued and safe no matter what. She didn't communicate well with her words, but this hug told me everything she wanted to say to me.
"Let's go home." I smiled, and she nodded then grabbed my bags for me while Quinn and I linked arms, and she began to eagerly fill me in on everything I had missed, but I wasn't really listening. I know this is not something people say a lot, but I love Ohio. It isn't the most beautiful place, and the people aren't the kindest, and I'm pretty sure the air here is what causes most health issues, but I was raised here and it would always be my home. I wanted to remember my childhood memories, and try to imagine what my life would be like if I never left.
After arriving at my new house, Quinn led me to the front door. It was a downgrade from our old house in Fairbrook, since my mom was a single mother now, but I instantly felt at home here. Quinn showed me to my bedroom, which she had obviously decorated.
Although it wasn't my preferred style, since it was full of flowers and pastel colors, I still appreciated the effort Quinn had put in. It was still very cute and relaxing, so it would make due.
My mom put my many suitcases in my room and offered to help me unpack them, but I turned her down. Moving to a different country, even if I spent my childhood here, was an extremely stressful experience and I wanted to be alone for a while, and she had already been through a lot and done so much for me to be able to come back home and I didn't want to be anymore of a burden.
After I finished unpacking the essentials, I turned around to see Quinn leaning against my door frame, a smile on her face.
"Let's go do something." She offered her hand out, and I took it gladly.
"What's that old coffee place we used to always go to get hot chocolate? I love that place." I suggested, and her face lit up instantly.
"The Lima Bean? Do you seriously not remember anything?" She laughed, and I grabbed my shoes so we could go.
"Hey, don't judge me, I was gone for four years. But tell me one thing, is the coffee here anything like Paris?" I asked, and she immediately shook her head no.
"I haven't even been there, and I can already tell you that the coffee here is way worse." She sighed, and I walked out and linked arms with her.
When we arrived at the Lima Bean, Quinn opened the door for me, and I was instantly bombarded by the tacky Halloween decorations. As we got in line, I couldn't help but think about the times I spent here with Quinn and my mom, getting coffee and people watching. Those moments were some of the most memorable in my life, because they were when I was the happiest.
"You know, Sami, Glee Club could always use a few more members, and as far as I'm concerned you could sing. Or at least you could we were 10." She said, and I shook my head.
"Quinnie, you heard me sing to High School musical, when we were in fifth grade. Now I only sing in the shower, and I do not think I sound that good." I laughed as we moved up in the line. Quinn ordered first, then walked away to wait for her drink, and then I ordered my favorite drink, a caramel latte. Quinn got her coffee quickly after I ordered, and she walked away to go to the sugar packets. I got my drink, and I turned around and instantly started walking, but I was not expecting a boy and in
a blazer to be standing right there.
As I ran into him, my drink basically exploded all over his blazer, and onto the floor. I quickly apologized for my mistake, but I don't think he heard me because he had earbuds in. He took them out slowly, not taking his eyes off of the drink all over him. I heard a snippet of Teenage Dream by Katy Perry, and I looked up, but I was taken aback by the beauty of his hazel eyes, and his perfectly gelled hair. He was extremely attractive, and I was pretty sure he was apologizing, but I wasn't listening. I was only focused on his eyes and the small smile he had as he spoke. As I stood there and gazed at him, I couldn't help but feel very embarrassed. It was extremely awkward, and I didn't know how to form any words.
"Hello?" He asked, with a slight laughing, his tone, and I couldn't really say anything, it was the opposite of word vomit, nothing was coming out, and when I finally did manage to say something, it was extremely embarrassing.
"Hi." I muttered, and he started laughing, a very endearing smile on his face.
"Hi. I am so sorry, let me buy you another." He offered, and I looked over at Quinn, who was giving me a thumbs up.
"You really don't have to do that, it was my fault, I really should look where I'm going." I said, and he smiled.
"No, I shouldn't have been standing so close." He shook his head, and he grabbed a few napkins to dry himself off.
"I am so sorry about this, will it stain?" I asked, as he made a feeble attempt to remove the drink from his uniform.
"No, it will be all right, seriously though, let me get you another." He smiled, giving up on the drink and pulled out his wallet.
"No, you really don't have to do that." I said, and he laughed again.
"Okay, don't think of it as me buying you a drink because you spilled it on me, think of it as me buying it because I just want to buy you a drink." He winked, and I instantly turned red.
"Is that a yes?" He asked, a smug smile appearing on his face.
"Sure." I slightly laughed and he walked back into the line.
"Is that Katy Perry you were listening to?" I asked him, joining him in the line after walking past Quinn who's jaw was dropped.
"Yeah, she's kind of my guilty pleasure." He blushed, and it made me slightly turn red too.
"I love her, she is no doubt the greatest singer this year. Her newest album was perfection!" I smiled, and his face lit up at this.
"Finally, someone with taste! What's your favorite song?" He asked, and I instantly knew what I was going to say.
"Teenage Dream, obviously! I know it's basic, but just because it's basic doesn't mean it's not right." I shrugged and he practically melted.
"Yes, I love that song! It's only a little basic, being the title song and all, but it's still the best one." He laughed, and then we got up to the counter.
"Grande Caramel Latte, please." I told the cashier.
"Make it a Venti." He smiled, and took out his wallet.
"You really didn't have-" I was going to make him change it, but he cut me off.
"To do that, I know. It's my treat." He handled the cashier some money.
"Keep the change." He said, then we walked back over to the counter, where I spilled my drink on him.
"I am getting some déjà vu, I wonder why." He joked, and I pointed at his jacket.
"Maybe it's because you're still dripping?" I teased and he shook his head.
"No, I don't think so." He smiled, and then they handed me my drink.
"Looks like this is goodbye then, I see someone waiting for you." He motioned to Quinn his eyes were extremely wide as she watched us.
"Yeah, I guess. Do you want to maybe do this again sometime?" I asked, and he looked slightly confused for a second, then his smile returned.
"Do you mean you want to spill your coffee on me again, or do you mean you want to drink coffee with me?" He smiled, and I laughed.
"I think you know which one." I shrugged and he pulled out his phone.
"I'll see you around, Sami." He winked, after I put my contact info in it and he put his in mine, he turned around and walked out, and I walked over to Quinn, who's mouth wide open.
"Are you kidding me right now?" She laughed, and I sit at the table and buried my head in my hands.
"Did that seriously just happen?" I asked, and we both burst into laughter.
I walked into McKinley High, hand in hand with Quinnie, who was very popular. Everyone's heads turned to look at us, and I wasn't used to all of the attention.
I was putting up photos in my locker after school when I was approached by a very cute boy, who slightly looked like Justin Bieber but with a bigger mouth.
"Hey, I heard your Quinn Fabray's sister. I'm Sam Evans." He held out his hand and I gladly shook it.
"I'm Samantha. Or just Sammie, most people call me Sami." I smiled and his face got confused.
"Yeah, my name is Sam but please don't call me Sami. What's your name?" He asked, looking uncomfortable.
"No, my name is Sami." I laughed and I shut my locker.
"Oh, that's so cool. We should be friends, us Sam's need to stick together. Can you sing? The Glee club could always use more singers or dancers if you can't." He smiled and we started to walk out the doors.
"I don't think I'm going to join, I might join cheer though." I said, and his smile dropped.
"Don't do it, the cheer coach is evil. Like actually evil, she reminds me of a super villain that would be in a Marvel comic." He said, deadly serious.
"I'm sure I'll be fine, I went to the best ballet school in Paris. I know evil teachers." I laughed and he got excited.
"Woah, you've been to California? That's so cool!" He grinned and I didn't have the heart to tell him that Paris wasn't in California.
"Yeah, it is kinda cool." I said, and he stopped walking.
"Do you want to go get some coffee?" He asked and my heart skipped a beat.
"Yeah, that sounds great. Let me tell Quinn I don't need a ride." I pulled out my phone to text Quinn and we started walking towards the Lima Bean.
"What do you want?" He asked me, while we were in line.
"A caramel latte, but you don't have to pay for me, I got it." I said, and he quickly turned me down.
"It's my treat. Can I get a caramel latte and a white chocolate mocha?" He asked the cashier and paid for me. Men in Lima really liked to pay for women's coffee, I guess.
"Thank you. I appreciate it." I smiled as we sat down at a table.
"It's my pleasure." He grinned and took a drink of his coffee.
After several of his impersonations, and him trying to convince me to join the glee club, I saw a text from Quinn that it was time to come home and she was outside waiting for me.
"This was great, I'll see you at school tomorrow?" I smiled as I stood up and Sam also stood up.
"Let me walk you out." He offered and we walked to the door. He turned to face me and he leaned in.
"Sam, I'm not really ready for a relationship yet. I'm sorry. We just met, and I had a great time today and I think I do like you a little but I have to go." I backed away and walked out the door.
As I left Sam inside the shop, I saw a boy in a blazer and slicked back hair swiftly walking away from the Lima Bean, and my heart dropped.
(This is my first attempt at writing, I'm sorry it's kinda cringy and bad, but it's fun and I hope I can make someone happy while reading this.)