#para.sam

LAUREN: The music wasn't so loud there, in the den. Lauren had stumbled upon it after pushing her way through the kitchen and ducking into the doorway to avoid a couple attached at the lips in the crowded hallway. Her teammate had long disappeared into the party atmosphere as soon as they'd arrived, tugging her boyfriend along, with a promise to meet up with Lauren later, but she wasn't pressed for company. She'd helped a drunk girl in crisis and then decided her good deed deserved a reward, which prompted her journey. Still clutching a red plastic cup with the hastily made Jack and ginger concoction from the kitchen, she plopped down on the empty couch, thankful for the seat and the relative silence. Save for a few people wandering in and out of the room, and engaging in conversations that ranged from funny to slightly awkward, she was left to her own. There were enough texts from people she actually knew and liked, to save her from having to deal with small talk from strangers. Cup perched on the arm of the couch, she scrolled through her phone, the sound of approaching footsteps completely lost in the muffled thump of the base.

SAM: After the whole disaster with Rachel had gone down, Sam had found himself outside, getting some fresh air. How he'd gotten out there, he had no recollection of, but it had been nice. He'd been chatting with Quinn Fabray for a while, until he felt like he needed to just go back inside and find somewhere that he could relax for a bit; the cold air becoming too cold for him and making him feel sick. He'd managed to stumble back inside, supporting himself against tables, walls and several people who were clearly pissed off at him for being leant on. He'd drunkenly apologized and moved on, until he reached the kitchen, where he grabbed a cup of something and continued onwards - past the kitchen, and through to a small den where other people resided. The music wasn't as loud there, which was nice, and people weren't yelling at each other. He quickly scanned the room for an empty seat, and saw a couple getting up from a couch. Sam smiled to himself and instantly moved towards it, stumbling slightly before flopping down on it, his head hitting what felt like a pair of legs of someone sat on the other end. Looking up, Sam instantly recognized Lauren and grinned, his hand moving up to poke her chin gently. "Well, hello there," Sam said, slightly snickering. "I didn't know you were here."

LAUREN: Glancing up from her phone, Lauren had just enough time to shift her cup to the side table, startled by the dip in the couch and the flash of hair that appeared in her lap. "Whoa!" It took her a minute to register what exactly had happened, and who was now occupying her personal space. Dark eyes glanced down, meeting a pair of bloodshot olive ones that were vaguely familiar. "Sam?" She glanced up, seeing his long frame sprawled on the couch, his head nestled atop her thighs and she met his gaze again. "I didn't know you were here," she told him. Her fingers brushed back stray strands of hair that had fallen in his face and she eyed him curiously. "Funny meeting you like this. Having a fun night?"

SAM had made quite a few entrances that evening, and it was all because of his drunken state. He'd done this a few times before: gone out the evening before and then just continued on with it, because of some party the next evening. But he'd never been as drunk as he was that night, and it was all because of his stage fright and the fear of letting Rachel down during their performance. Really, there was no excuse for his behavior, but he was finding it difficult to switch it off, and so he'd decided to just go and find somewhere quiet to rest a bit. And there he was, Lauren touching his face so gingerly and it made Sam's finger that was near her chin graze up and down her jawline almost ghost-like. His grin faded as he stared at her, his eyes moving over her face in search for something that he didn't quite yet know. Her question brought him out of it, and he just nodded, before licking his now dry lips to speak up. "You look amazing." His voice came out rather hoarse, and he quickly cleared his throat. His finally brought his hand down and instead decided to take her hand in his and brought it down to his chest so it could rest there, his eyes following to look at them. "I've held a lot of hands tonight. But yours is my favorite."

LAUREN’S momentary confusion had faded, leaving slight concern in its wake as she peered down at Sam. He was drunk, sure, but pretty lucid, judging from the way his finger brushed her skin. The touch was surprising but sweet, and the warmth from the contact only grew when his hand covered hers, pressing both to his chest. "Thank you," she replied, savoring the genuine compliment even as her cheeks flushed from it. Drunk as he was, he managed to be smooth with his words and Lauren still wasn't entirely sure what to make of him...but it was a very intriguing puzzle all the same. "You've been busy with a lotta hands tonight, huh?" she asked, a teasing lilt to her raspy husk. Her free hand raked through his hair, soft strands sliding against the gentle graze of her fingers. "I bet you say that to all the girls you fall into."

SAM: Seeing Lauren's cheeks go red made Sam grin and scrunch up his nose. He liked having that effect on the girl, whether he was drunk or not. Her voice caused shivers to grow on his arms, and he chuckled at her question, nodding. "Mhm-hmm, I have," He said, smirking to himself. Sam rarely pulled when he was drunk. He used it as a time to just be himself and let him have an adventure. He also felt that it restricted him from performing well...sexually. But Lauren and him had their banter going on, and Sam played along with it. "Actually, no, I usually ask them if they have their library card 'cause I'm checkin' them out," Sam joked and looked up at Lauren with a huge smirk. It all felt so natural and easy with Lauren, it was so nice. The way that she just went on to play with his hair...it sent shivers down Sam's spine, and he squeezed her hand softly as a reaction to it. Snapping out of it, Sam's smirk turned to a smile. "But I'll remember it in the future, it's a pretty damn good line, don't ya think?" He asked, his accent more southern with the alcohol in his system. "How long have I been without you, Lauren? How long have you hidden from me, at this party?" LAUREN’S laughter was loud enough to draw the attention from the few others in the room, but her focus remained on Sam and that terrible, terrible pick up line. "That was so corny, Evans. Has that ever actually worked on someone? 'Cause I think the joke itself's on thin ice, but that mug of yours saves it." He reminded her of home, in a way. And it wasn't just the twang that seemed more pronounced now that he was sloshed and settled in her lap. The easy-going nature was so damn southern, with charm that seemed second nature, with a sprinkling of nerd that should have worked against his good looks but definitely didn't. All part of his appeal. "Boy you are trouble, talkin' like that. I've been here a good while. Made my rounds but I'm keeping a low profile. I never feel like I party the way I should. Been a minute since I really let loose."

SAM: It was almost melodic, Lauren's laugh. He liked it, a lot. He liked that he made her laugh. Sam actually didn't care what he had to do or so, just as long as it made people find a little joy or amusement in it. It was enough to make him heart feel all warm and nice. "Nope, never has," He started, a laugh coming out of his mouth too. "But it made you laugh, so I've already won," He was flirting hard with Lauren and he didn't even care. The two had chemistry, so of course Sam was going to explore it a little bit. As long as Lauren wasn't uncomfortable with it, he was determined to keep going. He wanted to get to know Lauren more, in ways that he didn't already. And finding out what made her laugh was one of the things that Sam wanted to know about her. "How should you party?" Sam asked, looking down at their hands again and beginning to run his index finger down hers smoothly. "Teach me your ways, I'll be the padawan to your Jedi," He grinned and looked up at her, locking his eyes with her dark and mysterious ones.

LAUREN: "All part of the plan, huh?" She really enjoyed his vibe, it was just so damn easy to get along with him, putting her at ease amidst the noise of the party that had faded into the background. Lauren had always been a lowkey flirt, and she liked that he was so receptive to their banter. The back and forth was fun, and only highlighted the fact that she wanted to hang out with him more often. The question of 'how' was an interesting one, and Lauren shrugged, fingers briefly stilling in his hair. "I guess be more social? I'm chatty to a point but I don't need to be in a big crowd, y'know? I like a small group. Or a one on one. I love dancing too, but I think tonight's a good night to just chill." She smiled down at him, unable to stop her laughter at the Star Wars reference. "Do you really need my help, young padawan? I think you know how to party better than most people here." Her fingers went back to brushing through his hair. "What about you? Do you dance? Am I missing out on some epic moves?"

SAM: Nodding, Sam smirked. "Oh, for sure," It really wasn't, but if Sam could turn around and act smooth in any situation, he would. Looking up at her, he was finding it really difficult to take his eyes off of her. Her eyes were so dark, and filled with so many different ways of looking at things that Sam was hoping for just a tiny little glimpse of it, whenever he looked into them. He could get lost in them, if she let him. Clearing his throat, he snapped out of it again, as he listened to Lauren talk. He nodded, agreeing to what she was saying. He could see how attractive it was to just chill and get to know a few people. They'd talked about it, and while Sam loved doing that, there were times when he couldn't be stopped. A laugh escaped his lips and he grinned up at her, feeling her fingers moving in his hair again. It was such a soothing feeling and it made him feel less like the room was spinning, and more like he was flying around on a cloud. "Oh, girl..." He started, grinning. "I dance like you've never seen dancing before. I wish I could show you, but I don't really want to because I'm so damn comfy here, and I like being this close to you," Sam admitted to Lauren, not really caring if it was too soon for him to say something like that. "If you get me drunk enough some other time, I'll definitely show you my Posh Spice moves though, I promise."

LAUREN: "I saw the way you spun into here, I should've known" Lauren joked, ruffling his hair a little bit. "We can put those dance plans on pause for now. 'Cause I'm pretty comfortable too, chillin' here with you." She wasn't entirely sure if it was the liquor talking or his general charm but the honesty surprised her. He'd rambled enough in their previous conversations for her to pick up on that just being his thing, but it seemed more...direct? Focused, maybe. The way his gaze lingered on hers, slightly dazed and searching, she was certain he wasn't doing it on purpose. And it was admirable, his openness. "I didn't think Posh had a lot of moves, more than her Blue Steel stare but I'm all about seeing this at another time. We won't even need to get you drunk to do it, I'm just really good at being convincing. You'll be zig-a-zig-ah-ing in no time."

SAM: This was probably the most chill that Sam had been in the past 36 hours or so, and it was all thanks to Lauren. He hadn't had much sleep except for that one hour in the bush somewhere on campus, between Friday and Saturday, and then after that, he'd gone straight home to shower and then off to the game - all with alcohol in both his hand and very clearly in his system. He'd run around town with Jake on the Friday, trying to convince strangers to take their clothes in some kind of weird bet, and he'd panicked about Rachel's performance all of Saturday. This was what Sam needed. To just be right there with Lauren, relaxing, talking about things that weren't really important, and just getting to smile with her. And seeing her smile as well. It warmed his heart when she told him that she was comfortable too. It meant that he wasn't forcing her to stay there, just because his drunk ass had suddenly decided that this was where he wanted to be. No, she didn't mind it. That meant a lot to the young man. "Okay, but add a feather boa, and you've got Posh Spice actually doing something with her arms," Sam grinned, before letting out a laugh at her pun. "You're such a nerd," He let out in between the laughs. Sighing deeply, Sam looked down at their hands again, his fingers finally intertwining themselves with hers. "I've really enjoyed this, Lauren," He admitted sincerely, his voice a bit low. He bit his lip softly before looking up at her again for a reaction.

LAUREN: "There's plenty of boas, both feather and fuzzy, in the prop department. I'll hook you up." Her experiences with party atmospheres this semester were a far cry from freshman year. Feeling far too much in her head and out of place in the machine of it all, the greek bashes and house parties that seemed crammed with people and yet awkward at the same time. This year, it was less so. Mostly because she'd found spot and decided she didn't give a shit about people's opinions, but it was made all the better by the many new faces she'd met. One of those faces in question was currently in her lap, laughing loudly, the vibration of it causing a shiver to race down her spine. The sensation was heightened more so when Sam's fingers threaded through hers. "That's high praise, comin' from the king of nerds himself." She gave his nose a gentle tap and returned to his hair, smoothing her fingers through it, letting her nails graze his scalp. "Yeah, I did too. Almost lost my drink in the process of it, but, it's been really good, hanging with you." His quiet tone wasn't lost on her, almost bordering on shy and that made her smile. Leaning down, she pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. "You're really good company."

SAM: "Woah, woah, hold up...I didn't even think about the prop department," Sam started, his mouth opening slightly at the revelation. This was like a whole other world opening up for the boy, in terms of how much fun he could have now. "Do you have access to it? What else is in there?" He asked, growing more and more interested in it and the shenanigans that Lauren and him could get down to in there. He'd already told Lauren that she could count on him for any kind of adventure she wanted to go on and he'd meant it. She seemed like the kind of girl who liked having fun, and Sam wanted to spend more and more time with her as well. Her lips on his forehead felt so soft and good, and almost melted Sam into a puddle right there on the couch. And then adrenaline soared through his body and he suddenly felt the need to stand up. Having trouble balancing on the soft cushions, Sam stretched his arms out and raised his voice, getting everyone's attention in the small den. "I'm the king of nerds!" He shouted, grinning as he looked down at Lauren. His drunkenness had taken over, but he quickly sat back down again, this time upright next to Lauren and looking over, his eyes locking with hers again. He hesitated slightly before moving his hand up to cup her cheek, his thumb ghosting over the silky smooth skin. "This was the best part of my night. Being here with you."

LAUREN: "Oh yeah, arts majors usually have access to it," she told him, delighted by the enthusiastic response. Sure it could have been the alcohol but Sam's energy was pretty evident when they'd hung out before on the field, and he was (she assumed) sober. Still, a sober Sam would've executed a couch move with a bit more grace and Lauren barely missed colliding with him when he shot up and onto the couch cushions. "Whoa, Sam" her hand reached out in a vain attempt to grip his calf to steady his wobbling when he shouted out, much to the amusement of the small gathering of people in the den. But thankfully he was back down, butt on the couch cushion and cupping her cheek before she could even register what was going on. His touch brought her into the moment though, the jolt of it a welcome one. His hand was warm, large palm cradling her face in his sweet, drunk way and Lauren smiled. "Best part, huh? Well I'm happy to contribute to the Sam Evans party experience. It's not every day a hot guy literally falls into my lap. Makes for a great story, though."

SAM: The thought of the many different ways that Lauren and Sam could have fun in the props room was starting to blow the boy's mind. If there was just a small fraction of what they'd used for the Shakespeare production in his freshman year, he knew that they would have their own little adventure, and he was starting to look forward to it. As he was sat there, next to Lauren, just a few inches away from her face, he got a good look of her. Everything else in the room was becoming a big blur to him, but Lauren's facial features stood out. The way that her eyes smiled when she also smiled. How her eyelashes curled up enough to make her eyes look bigger and darker. Her cheeks becoming more full and her lips still plum and full when she spoke. The way that the mood-light hit the right angle made it look like there was a little twinkle in her eyes, as sappy as that was. Sam's grin had turned to a small, soft smile as he kept looking into her eyes and down to her lips. "Thank you," He said, his voice low, before leaning in and giving the girl a tiny peck on the cheek. He could smell her perfume. It was so sweet. As he moved away again, he also brought his hand down and moved to stand back up. "I should probably get home, but, uh..." Clearing his throat, he scratched the back of his head, thinking about the best way to word it. "Let me know if you ever want to hang out again, yeah? You've got my number."

LAUREN: As easily and randomly as Sam had breezed into her personal space, he'd pulled back, but not before leaving a kiss to her cheek and the warmth of it still lingered as he made to stand. His gaze had been so intense, the kiss so sudden, and just as quickly as he moved closer, he'd stumbled back, leaving her to wonder about the reason for switch up. She'd hardly had time to register the press of his full lips to her skin, or the loss of his hand, and the heat in his eyes had cooled slightly, enough that she didn't feel so...flushed when she watched him speak, talking about getting home and Lauren nodded. Perhaps that was for the best. He was drunk and she was still trying to work out what exactly happened. She could chalk it up to just being in the moment, or the alcohol in his system but it was tough to say, especially with him looking as good as he did, while looking at her like that. Getting a read on Sam proved harder than she thought but a party probably wasn't the best place to figure that shit out at all. "Are you gonna be okay to get home," she asked, getting off the couch and onto her feet. While he didn't seem as drunk as he'd initially been, she wanted to be sure he wasn't planning to wander off alone on the darkened streets. "How far do you have to go? Let me get you a Lyft or something."

SAM had no idea where the affection came from all of a sudden. Maybe it was the fact that Lauren hadn't pulled away when he first crash landed in her lap. Maybe it was because of the way that she was being really attentive with him as well, running her fingers through his hair and kissing his forehead. Or maybe it was because he really felt a connection with her. He didn't know what it was, his mind wasn't really functioning at the moment. But he knew that he wanted to do it. He knew that he wanted to show her some appreciation of letting him into her life, and not being annoyed by his antics or pushing him away because he was too much. Swaying a little as he stood there in front of the girl, Sam was still very much drunk. But he hadn't kissed her cheek because he was drunk - he knew if he'd been sober, he'd have done it as well. "Yeah, I'll be fine," Sam assured her, giving a little dismissive wave of his hand. He smiled at her, still swaying slightly on his legs. They really weren't strong enough to hold him up in that moment, but he was stubborn and stayed on them, not wanting to fall over and embarrass himself in front of Lauren. "I'll get an Über, it's just a few blocks from here," He didn't actually want to leave. He wanted to spend more time with the girl in front of him. But he'd been drinking for over 36 hours, and he figured that if he didn't get back soon, there'd be no way of recovering from the hangover he'd have. "What about you? Will you be fine? How are you getting home? Do you have anyone to follow you home?" He started asking her, suddenly growing concerned if she was going to be okay. He wasn't going to just leave her alone - no, that wasn't the way that Momma Evans had raised him.

LAUREN saw the swaying and instinctively reached out, bracing a hand to his broad chest in an attempt to steady him. Sam didn't exactly paint a picture of 'fine', but she wouldn't press him too hard about it.  But then he was asking questions of his own and Lauren almost laughed because as sweet as his concern was, he could hardly hold himself up. Still, the gesture was appreciated and she smiled up at him. "I came with my teammate and her boyfriend. I'll head out when they do. Or leave with Rachel, since she mentioned something earlier about sharing a ride with her and Blaine. I wanna make sure you're good, though. Let me walk you out." Her tone was gentle but brooked no argument, the decision made to see him out safely. Her jacket and purse had been beside her on the couch and she grabbed both, draping them over one arm while her other hand reached for his. "Ready?"

SAM: Lauren's hand was so small against Sam's chest, it made his heart feel all warm and fuzzy and it caused a smile to grow on his lips. He knew that she was doing it to support him as he was struggling to stand there, but it was also just such a nice feeling. He listened as she spoke, nodding and smiling, feeling more assured that she'd get home safely. Until he heard her mention Rachel. He gulped hard, the guilt of messing up her performance hitting him again. "Um..." Sam started, clearing his throat a few times as he furrowed his eyebrows. "Okay, but, um...if you see Rachel, will you give her a hug from me, please?" He asked her, as he watched her grab her things. Looking down, he saw that she was offering her hand to him, and it didn't take him long to grab it, smiling at the feeling. It felt right. His big hand with his calloused fingers were enveloping her tiny soft hand, and it was all that Sam could feel as he walked through the kitchen and then through the house, towards the entrance. He said goodbye to a few people by briefly waving at them or patting them on the shoulder, but he didn't stop and talk to anyone, his focus mainly being on Lauren as she made sure that he got on his way safely. He grabbed his phone out of his pocket, and quickly booked himself an Über to come and get him. "Text me when you've gotten home, so I know that you're safe?" Sam asked, leaning against the doorframe as he waited for the car to arrive.

LAUREN: The switch up in Sam's expression was curious, and the request that followed made her wonder what happened with him and Rachel but again, probably not the best time to ask. "No problem," she assured him. "I can do that." With her hand in his larger one, Lauren led the way, past groups of people til the noise of the party was behind them as the cool  night breeze touched her face. She shrugged into her leather jacket while Sam arranged his ride, smiling at his request. "Stealing my lines now? I was gonna tell you the same thing." Her concern had faded slightly now that he would be on his way home to sleep it off, but she appreciated him looking out for her, only solidifying her impression that he was a good guy. "I'll text you, I promise."  There was a thoughtful pause, brief as Lauren considered her words in the silence before she spoke again. "This has been such a weird night. But I'm glad I got to spend time with you."

SAM: It had been a long time since Sam had spent time with someone who'd made him feel so at ease and who he found it so natural to just talk about anything with. But Lauren made it a hell of a lot easier! There was no trying with her; he just did it. And it felt really nice. Laughing at her comment, Sam nodded to himself. The fact that she was going to ask him the same thing only solidified his feelings about her. That she was definitely a person to keep in his life. "I'll text you as soon as I've stepped inside," Sam promised her and held out his pinky for her to wrap hers around too and they could promise it together. Sucking in a deep breath through his nose, he let it out again through his mouth and saw how chilly it had actually gotten outside. Looking over at Lauren, Sam smiled. "Definitely up there with some of my weirdest nights," His smile grew to a grin for a bit. "But a good note to end on. A really good note," He trailed off before he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out and checked it, confirming that the driver was waiting for him. "Well, that's me," Sam moved in to wrap his arms around Lauren's body, giving her a gentle hug. "Thanks for looking after me, gorgeous," He said, moving back and winking, before making his way to the car. Looking back at her, Sam blew her an overly dramatic kiss, gave a small wave and then got into the car to finally go home and get some proper sleep.