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"We need your help." Finn stated as he stood in front of Matteo. The boy let out a sigh, rubbing his exhausted eyes.
"Can it wait? I promised I would help Jay with his English homework. Guy can't read to save his life." Matteo tried to walk off, but Rachel grabbed his wrist and pulled her towards him.
"Oh my god. What. What is it that you need that you can't ask Nel for?" Matteo hissed as he wriggled his wrist out of Rachel's slimy hands. Finn explained how they needed to go to Kentucky to get Sam Evans back for the glee club. Sam was cool, and Matteo wouldn't mind having him around again.
"So are you in or what?" Rachel asked. Matteo just let out a sigh and shrugged.
"I wouldn't mind a road trip."
Turns out the road trip was complete hell. Rachel and Finn wouldn't stop singing in the car, and it made him want to throw himself out of the car. The only thing keeping him sane at the moment was texting Nellie who was back home watching Gilmore girls. She told him to suck it up and that she's been having the same problem for over two years now. Rachel hit a high note and Matteo leaned back in his seat, letting out a loud groan.
"Make it stop." He begged clutching his hair for dear life.
"Why don't you sing along Matteo? It's a nice warm up for sectionals." Finn suggested.
"You just gave me a migraine with your singing so I'm gonna pass." Matteo replied as he leaned forward and opened up the glove compartment.
"What are you doing?" Rachel yelled.
"I need gum. Gum is like my medicine to stop me from smoking a cigarette. Where's the gum?"
"Calm down. Nel told me to carry a pack with me when we took you. Here." Finn handed Matteo a pack of gum and he let out a sigh of relief before leaning back against the car and closing his eyes. The rest of the ride went pretty smoothly, until the group pulled up in front of a bar.
"Is this a joke?" Matteo questioned with a raised brow.
"Yeah. This can't be right. Sam works in a bar?" Finn added as they walked inside.
"Well, there just aren't a lot of theaters in northern Kentucky. So theater groups just have to perform in whatever space they can find." Rachel explained. Matteo looked around the bar, taking notice of all the older women here.
"Whats the deal with all the old ladies?"
"Finn, Matteo, it's no secret that dinner theater appears to elderly women."
"Good afternoon, ladies! Are you ready to meet the ken of Stallionz? Then please welcome to the stage, Cobra!" The smile immediately faded from Matteo's face as he watched a half naked guy walk out from behind the stage. He quickly put two and two together, realizing what Sam really did for his job.
"I didn't know Backdraft had a musical." Finn grinned. Rachel wore the same expression of horror and confusion as Matteo as they both stared at the stage.
"Someone get the door, 'cause here comes Mr.Package."
"Oh my god." Matteo muttered as he slapped a hand over his mouth. Sam walked out onto the stage, wearing nothing but a jumpsuit and a construction hat. Matteo looked around the bar in shock, wondering why grown women were cheering for a sixteen year old. Sam ripped off his jumpsuit and was left in underwear causing Matteo to quickly look away.
"Give me a dollar." Rachel ordered.
"What?" Finn replied.
"Just give me a dollar." Matteo dug in his pocket for a dollar and handed it to Rachel who pushed past the crowd to get to the front. That was how moments later Matteo ended up in an empty room drinking soda and eating curly fries.
"I tried getting a real job. D.Q. was great, and I got two free blizzards a day, but it paid just over minimum wage." Sam explained as Finn walked inside and placed a plate of food in front of him.
"You know how much I made this afternoon? Sixty bucks. Sixty one in 15 minutes. Am i ashamed I work here? Yeah, I'm ashamed. My dad got a job working construction to pay the rent. When my brother needs a new pair of shoes or the tv busts, these abs pay here."
"Your parents don't know you work here?" Finn asked.
"No, they just think the D.Q. pays really well."
Matteo swallowed his curly fries and cleared his throat before speaking to Sam. "Ok, do any of these people here know your own age? Because this is just wrong on so many levels."
"Come back to McKinley, Sam. We need you for sectionals. Tell me you don't what it. You're young, you got so much potential. Working here, is like, throwing your life away." Finn pleaded.
"Ok, I want it. But my dad will never let me."
"Don't know till you ask."
Matteo grinned and helped Sam up out of his seat as they walked out of the dressing room and over to his house.
At Sam's place, Matteo looked around the house in awe. It was much better than the way he's been living over the past few years.
Sam explained to his parents how he wanted to go back to Ohio and compete in sectionals. Matteo bit his bottom lip, hoping they would just say yes and get on with it.
"You two think you could go in the other room, make yourselves busy, please?" Sam's father asked causing Matteo to quickly nod and stand up, Rachel and Finn following closely behind. Around five minutes passed before Sam walked over to the trio.
"Guess who's going back to Ohio?"
********
"Heard a certain blondie was back in town."
"Hey Ellie. I really missed you." Sam stated as he held her tightly. Normally Matteo would've felt jealousy at the moment but all he felt was joy. Sam was back, so maybe that could stop all the drama and bring everyone closer together.
"Hey. I gotta head over to the troubletones. Will I see you after?" Nellie asked Matteo who nodded and pressed a sweet kiss to her cheek.
"Wait. Nel isn't in glee?" Sam questioned as they walked down the hall once more.
"It's a long story."
Kurt's voice was heard in the choir room talking about some titanic sinking.
"Not if I can help it." Sam stated as he walked inside the choir room. Jay immediately stood up and ran to hug Sam, causing Sam to hug him back. The two were close friends, and Sam slept over at his house the most.
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Finn, Rachel, and Matteo. I sort of lost my way.....but true friends help you find your way back."
"Aw. Let's hear it for Sam Evans!" Everyone in the room cheered as he put on his guitar.
[Red Solo Cup-Sam Evans and The New Directions]
When the song was over everyone cheered and Matteo watched as Santana walked inside the room.
"I just heard the news that Trouty mouth is back in town. I've been keeping a notebook, just in case this day ever came. "Welcome back, Lisa Rinna. I've missed you so much since your family packed their bags loaded them in your mouth and skipped town. Can't tell you how many times I've wanted to enjoy a crisp pickle, but couldn't find anyone to suck the lid off the jar. I assume you've been working as a baby-polisher, where young mothers place their infants heads in your mouth.....to get back that newborn shine. So glad you're back. I haven't seen a smile that big....since the claymation abominable snowman got his teeth pulled by that little gay elf dentist. Love, Santana." Santana rambled.
"I missed you too Santana." The two hugged causing Matteo and Jay to cheer once more.
*******
The next day Matteo and Nellie sat at the Lima Bean together as they just talked about anything and everything.
"I just want it to be known that I'm gonna kick your ass at sectionals." Nellie stated with a grin on her face. Matteo just let out a dry laugh and grinned at his girlfriend.
"Oh please. We got Sam now."
"Ooo, so big and scary. I'm shaking in my boots. Anyways, how have you been?"
"Peachy keens amor."
"Ok, never say that again unless you want our relationship to come to an end." Nellie said with a serious look on her face. Matteo just smiled and stared into Nellies beautiful eyes that he fell in love with as soon as they met.
"What? Is there something on my face?" The Puckerman girl asked as she started to touch all over her face. Matteo shook his head and cupped nellies cheek.
"You just look really pretty right now."
"Mmm. And you look really handsome. Especially with that scar. Super sexy."
"Gross, Nel. You don't have to lie."
Nellie threw a fry at Matteo causing him to jump back. "I'm not lying you idiot. Like I say like, everyday, I think your scar makes you look unique. Get it through your brain."
"Everyday makes me fall more and more in love with you Nel. I wanna marry you. Not today, but someday." Matteo muttered as he stared at his girlfriend with a loving look in his eyes.
"Someday." Nellie repeated, placing her hand over his. The two kissed, Matteo placing his hand on her waist and Nellie wrapping her arms around his neck. The moment was cut short by Nellie pulling away and checking her phone.
"Whats wrong?" He asked.
"Nothing. Just Puck asking me to come back to glee. He does it like, every week."
"I wish everyone wouldn't pressure you into coming back. Jay told me Mercedes was having the same problem."
"I know. But hopefully after everyone graduates the drama can stop and we can become something new. A better glee club." Nellie sighed taking his hands in hers once more. Matteo nodded in agreement.
Something needed to be done.
And fast.
********
Sectionals night had finally arrived and Matteo stood in front of a mirror as he fixed his tie.
"Hello Will." Shelby greeted as she walked inside the room with the troubletones. Matteo immediately walked over to Nellie and complimented her on how beautiful she looked.
"We just came to say May the best glee club win."
"Yes, and just in case that glee club is us, I have convinced Miss Corocran to consider a contingency plan." Santana added.
"Yes, in the event of a New Directions loss, Troubletones has voted to allow you to join us at regionals."
"Excuse me?" Mr.Shue asked.
"That is incredibly rude of you Santana."
"Who cares? You're mad you're gonna loose?" Nellie scoffed as she crossed her arms over her chest causing Matteo to look at her in disbelief.
"Thank you for the offer, Miss Corocran. But right now we're gonna focus on winning this thing." Mr.Shue said.
"And we will be winning, Shelby. We've got this in bag. Puck here is gonna come through for us. He's such a shining star in every conceivable way. Don't you think?" Matteo had no clue what Quinn was hinting at, just that they didn't have any idea for petty drama.
"Good luck everybody. See you on the ice."
The troubletones walked out of the room and so did the New Directions, making their way over to their seats. From the corner of his eye Matteo could see Nellie whispering something in Santanas ear before giggling softly.
"And now the judges for this years show choir sectional here at McKinley High. Department of Motor Vehicles employee of the month, Brandy Englebert! From the 11th district court of appealed, the honorable Judge Dorothy Saunders! And western Ohios birthday clown of the three years running, Tickles!" Each of the judges stood up causing the crowd to cheer loudly.
The unitards were the first group up, and Matteo had to admit they looked good.
[Buenos Aires-The Unitards]
"Ladies and gentlemen, from McKinley High, competing for the first time ever, the Troubletones!"
[I Will Survive/I'm A Survivor-Santana Lopez, Mercedes Jones, Nellie Puckerman and the Troubletones]
By the end of the performance Matteo stood up and gave the group a standing ovation. Jay did the same causing their girlfriends to smile and wave at them.
Finally it was the New Directions turn to perform and Matteo couldn't be anymore nervous. It was his first time performing without Nellie by his side.
"Also from McKinley High, let's give it up for the New Directions!"
[ABC-Tina Cohen Chang, Kurt Hummel, Mike Chang, Jay Parker and the New Directions]
[Control-Quinn Fabray, Blaine Anderson, Artie Abrams]
[Man In The Mirror-Finn Hudson, Matteo Gomez, Artie Abrams, Noah Puckerman, Blaine Anderson, Sam Evans]
Matteo took a deep breath once it was all over and made his way back over to the choir room. Nellie didn't care if she wasn't competing or not, because she ran in the choir room and kissed Matteo everywhere.
"Note to self, start asking you to sing MJ way more often!" She exclaimed.
"Woah now, don't get too excited. That was a one time thing."
"Right. Like you're not gonna sing MJ on our way back home." Matteo shook his head and Nellie just raised a brow at him.
"Whatever. One song, and that's it. Just it."
"Billie Jean!" She called, starting to make her way out of the room.
"Bad!" He called back with a grin on his face.
Eventually the judges made their decision and all three glee clubs were gathered onto the stage.
"As an award winning clown, I'd like to say.....that it's nice, for once, to be working with kids that are just sick with talent. Third place, the Unitards!" The unitards walked up and got their trophy before walking off.
"In second place, we have the troubletones! And in first place the new directions!"
Nellie cheered loudly before jumping into Matteo's arms and he spun her around. Jay grabbed Mercedes hands and spun her around, despite her protests.
Matteo won.
And it felt so good.
Word count:2,413
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