Chapter 5 A Stepmother

*Paris's POV*

I'm standing in front of my locker and arrange my book. Back to Ohio. I had the best Christmas ever this year and now I'm more excited facing my junior year.

I turn my face and shut my locker as Sam got slushied by Rick Nelson and all his hockey player team. They laugh and then walk away.

I shut my locker quickly and walk to Sam. "Oh my God, I thought you're not gonna get that." I frown at him and wipe the slushied from his face.

"I joined synchronized swimming since coach Beiste didn't accepted me back to the football." Sam sighs.

"Come here, I'll help you clean up." I take his hand and walk lead him.

I walk lead him to the girls restroom. I wash the towel with water and clean up his face from the slushie. I take off his bag and rub his back off from the cold ice slushie.

"Glad that this is red." I said to him.

"Whether it's red or white or blue, it's slushied, it's stick on my face." Sam sighs.

"Put your head on the sink." I said to him.

Sam put his head under the sink. I turn on the tap and clean his hair from the slushied. His hair is so thick and blonde and if we didn't clean it faster, the slushied will dry and make the hair sticky.

Sam takes off his jacket. I was his jacket on the sink. "We will clean this up at home." I said to him and take out my comb out of my bag.

I dry his hair using the towel and make it sure that it won't be really wet then brush his hair using my comb.

"Now all done." I said to him. "Here is your wet jacket. You can wash it at home." I give the jacket to him. I put my comb into my bag and walk out from girl's restroom.

"Thank you. I thought I would never get one again." Sam says to me.

"It's alright." I smile at him and walk to the choir room.

I sit down on my seat on the backseat and lean my back against the chair. The others are just busy with some stuff. I take my sketch book out of my bag and start continue finishing my stripe comic.

"Finn, give me a drum roll!" Dad runs in as Finn start giving the drum roll and dad write something on the white board.

"Marry me?" I frown

"Yes, I am proposing to Ms. Pillsbury." Dad grins at us as everyone start cheering except me. "This is the kind of news that you share with your family, and you guys are my family." Dad smiles at us.

"Mr. Schue, we're so happy for you." Finn smiles at dad.

"We totally don't think you'll screw it up this time." Quinn smiles.

"Here's the thing: it's got to be perfect. I'm sitting down with Emma's parents to ask for permission, and then this proposal needs to knock her well-washed socks off. And that's where you guys come in, okay? So the assignment for the week is to come up with a proposal number. And you know Ms. Pillsbury it's got to be perfect." Dad smiles at us.

"Well, you can count on us, Mr. Schue." Artie smiles at dad.

I stand up from my seat and put my sketch book inside my bag and walk towards the others. "Where are you going?" Dad asks me.

"I'm not participating on this crazy join." I shake my head. "Why you didn't tell me at first? You talked to her parents but you didn't talk to me about this before? Who am I to you huh?" I raise my eyebrows.

"I was about to tell you but you were staying at your mom's these past couple days and I was going to tell you last night but you went to bed right away." Dad says to me.

"But at least you can tell me first before you tell other people." I sigh and about to walk away.

"Hey, look you're gonna have a step mother. Miss Pillsbury is nice. And I'm sure you will like her." Dad smiles at me.

"I don't want a step mother!" I yelled. "How can I like someone who tearing my family apart?" I raise my eyebrows at him as tears fall down. "All my friends are living with both of their parents and I don't. I'm exhausted doing custody every week, dad. I'm exhausted moving from mom's house to our house every week. Just think, if you didn't come to her we wouldn't be living like this. Mom wouldn't made a fake pregnancy just to please you and suffer from all her anxiety. But you know what? I'm just a kid. My opinion here doesn't matter. So do it. I'm not gonna participate or come to your wedding." I said to him and walk out from the choir room.

I run away from the choir room and run to the parking lot and get into my car. I lean my head and crying. I'm just hoping that this is not going to be another bad week but I was wrong. This is even worse.

~~

I'm sitting down on my desk while doing homework. I look at the window and turn my face to the house with that cute guy and he is making out with his girlfriend by the window. I roll my eyes and cover up the window with the curtain.

"Hey can I come?" Sam knocking on my door.

"Yeah." I nod. "What's up?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Nothing. You just being quiet all day and Mr. Schue didn't come out from his room since he got home." Sam sits down on my hanging chair.

"I already told him that he can do it but I'm not gonna participate on that number or come to his wedding." I said to Sam.

"But that's not fair." Sam frowns.

"Sam, when you were homeless, your parents stick together right?" I ask him.

"Yeah and it was actually makes me feel better knowing that, we didn't have money and all but we are family who stick up for each other." Sam says to me.

"And I miss having a family." I let out a sigh. "Like three of us just sitting down by the fireplace talking about our days and laughing together." I look down.

"Do you love your dad? Do you want him to be happy?" Sam holds my hand.

"Of course I do." I nod.

"Then let him. Maybe this is what makes him happy. You said that you'd rather to let them to be separate instead of listening them yelling at each other every day." Sam says to me.

"Yeah you're right." I half smiled.

"Don't be sad." Sam flip my hair back to my earlobe.

I look at him and smile at him. Sam smiles back at me and rubs my cheek until he pulls his face closer to me and a lips suddenly crash my lips. Sam kisses me softly and I can't do anything. This is first time a guy kissed me and I just can kiss him back softly.

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I'm walking into dad's office and put the lunch box on his table. I didn't talk to him since last-minute night. And maybe what Sam said last night is right.

"What is this?" Dad turns his face at me.

"Your lunch. You forgot it this morning." I said to dad.

"Okay thank you." Dad smiles at me.

"Dad, I'm so sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to yelled at you like that in front of everyone." I half smiled.

"No. You're right. The reason why your mom and I got divorced is myself."

"No, I didn't say that. Can I ask you something?" I raise my eyebrows and sits down in front of his desk.

"Of course." Dad nods.

"Do you love her? Do you want to be happy with her? Please just be honest with me. It's a yes or no." I half smiled.

"Yes I do love Emma. And honestly yes I'm happy with her." Dad nods.

"Then go for it. I don't want to be selfish but if you're happy with her. Go for it. I probably will not participating in the number but I will support you. And just remember that I don't want any siblings." I chuckle.

"Are you sure?" Dad chuckles.

"Yeah I've been thinking that you deserve to be happy too. I know you're happy but I also know that there is something missing in your life. I can't substitute a wife for you forever. Soon I will go to college and you have to take care of yourself. So maybe this is the best choice that I made." I smile at dad.

Dad gets up from his seat and open his arms. "Come here." I smile and walk to him and hug him. "Look, just because your mom and I aren't together doesn't mean that we stop loving you. We are still love you no matter what. You are our number one. We even got you the best Christmas present you could ask." Dad chuckles.

"I know. I'm sorry." I smile at him and pull away. "Don't forget to eat your lunch. Good luck for the plan." I smile at him.

"Hey, what about I invited Ms. Pillsbury to have dinner with us? Maybe you can try to keep up with her?" Dad asks me.

"Yeah sure." I nod and smile at him. "See you, dad." I wave him a goodbye and walk out from his office.

I can't thank Sam enough for this for making this such of decision even though I'm not ready. But as long as dad is happy, I'll be happy for him too. That's all.

I walk to my locker and put my book inside my bag. I turn my face and Sam is smiling at me while walking down in the hallways with all the glee guys. I smile back at him and turn my face to my locker. That kiss has magic or something.

Paris:

I can't win, I can't reign

I will never win this game

Without you, without you

I am lost, I am vain

I will never be the same

Without you, without you

I won't run, I won't fly

I will never make it by

Without you, without you

I can't rest, I can't fight

All I need is you and I

Without you, without you

Ooh

You, you, you

Without you, you, you

Without you

I can't erase, so I'll take blame

But I can't accept that we're estranged

Without you, without you

I can't quit now, this can't be right

I can't take one more sleepless night

Without you, without you

I won't soar, I won't climb

If you're not here, I'm paralyzed

Without you, without you

I can't look, I'm so blind

I lost my heart, I lost my mind

Without you, without you

Ooh

You, you, you

Without you, you, you

Without you

I am lost, I am vain,

I will never be the same

Without you, without you

Without you

I close my locker and put a smile on my face. I walk to the girls restroom and get into the stall to pee. After that I walk out and wash my hands until Mercedes, Tina, Santana, and Rachel walk in and Mercedes is crying.

"What is going on?" I ask them.

"We sang this romantic song to your dad for a proposal number but Mercedes suddenly left the auditorium after the song ended." Rachel says to me. "What's wrong?" Rachel asks Mercedes.

"That song was so It was so beautiful and moving. The first person I thought of wasn't Shane. It was Sam." Mercedes wipes her tears away. "I don't know. I thought it was in the past."

"Yeah, I think you just need to take it slow, okay? And listen to your heart. Maybe the spark with Sam is still there." Rachel says to Mercedes.

I half smiled and rub Mercedes's sleeve. I don't know why my heart seems shattered a bit when Mercedes said that she is probably in love with Sam. What is wrong with me?

~~

I'm sitting down on my hanging chair. Finishing my stripe comic. Tonight we were having dinner with Miss Pillsbury and I tried my best to like her but I can't. It's still hard for me. Maybe baby step or something.

"Can you read me this new fanfiction?" Sam standing on my door.

"Sure." I nod and get up.

I walk out from my bedroom and walk to his bedroom. I take his iPad and read the fanfiction while sitting down on the bean bag.

"Are you okay?" Sam turns his face at me.

"Yes I am okay." I nod.

"Okay is not being quiet all the time." Sam sits up. "Talk to me."

"I tried to like her but I just can't." I shake my head.

"You need time. It's not as easy as one night and you will suddenly like her. No. Everything needs step." Sam says to me.

"Sam?"

"Yeah?" Sam raises his eyebrows at me.

"Are you and Mercedes are item?" I giggle.

"No. Why?" Sam frowns.

"Today I saw her crying in restroom after doing a number with the other girls to helped dad find the proposal number and she said that what she said in her vision was you not Shane." I said to him.

"Yeah well I'm over her. I got my heart on set on someone else." Sam says to me.

"Who is she? Hold on, it's a she or he?" I chuckle.

"I'm sure she is a she. But I can't tell who is she because this person is high maintenance and I have to be really careful and if I screw things up, it will be over." Sam says to me.

I chuckle and shake my head. "Okay read it by yourself. I'm sleepy." I said to him and get up. "Good night, Sam." I smile at him and walk to his door about to close the door.

"You know I was talking about you right?"

"What?" I turn my face at him and raise my eyebrows.

"No. Nothing. Please close the door." Sam giggles.

I chuckle and close the door. I walk to my bedroom and raise my eyebrows. I didn't wrong to hear that right? Or it was just in imagination? I don't know.

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*Sam's POV*

I'm sitting down next to Mr. Schue in choir room as Rachel is singing this beautiful song. I half smiled and let out a sigh. I hope that Paris didn't realize the thing that I said to her last night. It was kind of stupid actually.

I like her. Yeah I do. But I know she has a fear of being in a relationship and if I rush in. I'm just gonna make things screw up. I have to be really careful or I will lose her.

"Nice." Mr. Schue smiles as Rachel ended up her song.

Everyone applauding then Finn walks to the front and they both start making out. I roll my eyes and turn my face around. Sick of seeing PDA like this.

"You know, I just wanted to say that I thought that you blew that song out of the water and totally nailed the assignment. Oh, no, wait, wait a second. Was the assignment wasn't "Make everything about Rachel Berry and force everyone to watch," was it?" Santana frowns.

"Easy, Santana. It's fine." Mr. Schue walks to the front. "That was beautiful, Rachel." Mr. Schue smiles at Rachel.

"So, Mr. Schue, what do you think? We've given you a whole bevy of songs to choose from, from upbeat and awesome to a little overwrought for my taste." Artie says to Mr. Schue.

"They've all been incredible, you guys. I think I just need a little more time to really consider my choices. And I think I'm not going to do it." Mr. Schue half smiled at us.

"Why is that? We spent a whole week for this." Santana frowns.

"You would understand when you are becoming a parents. A single parent." Mr. Schue says and take a seat then sits down on the front. "Couple days ago, I brought Emma to my house to have dinner with me and Paris. But nothing is happened. And I realized something ever since her mom and I divorced, she sort of changed. She didn't talk much and mostly spend her time in her room and I talked to some psychiatrists and they said that the effect of divorced to kids when they're teenager is higher than when they were kids." Mr. Schue says to us.

"So you're saying she is depressing?" Santana asks.

"No. It's just if me and Emma are getting married, it's just gonna make her feel worse and I love my daughter. She is the only one thing that I have now." Mr. Schue half smiled.

"Yeah first time I met her, she was this cheerful girl who is really fun to hangout with but now she is just a quiet girl who didn't talk much." Mercedes nods.

"Last year on Valentine's day, I asked her out on a date since she is the only one girl that didn't kiss me on that kissing both but she rejected me and said that she doesn't believe in relationship or love." Finn says to us.

"She said that?" Mr. Schue frowns then sighs. "Thank you guys for all the help this week. I appreciate all of that but I'm not gonna do it. I love my little girl very much and I want her to get better so I will talk to Terri and sort things out to makes everything better. When you become parents, remember that seeing your kids happy is the most wonderful thing that you can see, you're willing to do everything you can to make them happy because their happiness is obviously your happiness." Mr. Schue smiles at us.

"You are clearly the best father in the world, Mr. Schue." Quinn smiles at him.

"Well, thank you." Mr. Schue smiles at us and walks out.

I take my bag and walk out from the choir room as the bell rings. I walk in the hallways and see Paris is standing in front of her locker while looking at her book. I will bring her smile back. Her real smiles that she usually shows at me. I will show it to everyone.