𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖 • 𝚐𝚕𝚎𝚎

𝚇𝙸

I woke up the next morning with a pounding headache and loud noises coming from downstairs. Three guys couldn't make that much noise...they also didn't bark.

I sighed. "Jesus lord." I said to myself as I walked down the steps. As I stood at the bottom of the steps, I just stared into the living room. "Is there a dog in my living room?" I asked into the living room.

Sam came running out into the living room. "Yeah. Lexie's doing this thing for publicity, and I went to the shelter with them yesterday while you were at school and I found this really cute dog." I sighed as I walked over to the sofa.

"Did you at least name him?" Sam nodded. "McConaughey." I nearly choked on the water that I was drinking (I drink water in the morning, Sam knew that. He brought me some). "After Matthew McConaughey?" He nodded. "Babe, I know you love doing your impressions, and your impression of him is amazing, but..."

He just stared at me. "McConaughey is a great name for a dog." I sighed as I watched the dog pass by our feet. "Sam, this dog is a huge responsibility. Huge. I mean, right before a dog is kids. And I love you, I do, but I don't want kids yet. And you have been so nice about it and got checked for...things. but, I'm not ready for kids yet."

"I know. A.J...you should've seen him in there. He was thin and his hair was scraggly. And he didn't have anyone. You're telling me that he isn't cute?"

I shook my head. "I never said that. But, he is your responsibility, Sam. He is yours. Not mine. Not Blaine's. Not Artie's. Yours." He nodded. I sighed. "I have to go. I have things I have to do."

I got up but stopped before I was already up the steps. "Lexie's opening night is Friday. Please wear something nice. If I have to go to Target and get you something nice, I will!" I called as I ran up the steps.

"Are you going food shopping today?" Sam called. "I went yesterday. Why? Are we out of something that quick?!" I called down. "We don't have any milk...or cereal." I sighed. I threw on a black t-shirt and some jeans and ran down the stairs. My Doc Martin's sat by the front door. I slid them onto my feet as I turned to him.

"I'll stop at WaWa on my way back from doing things." Sam stared at me for a minute . "Yes, you can come with." He smiled as he threw on a hoodie, his boots and ran out the door. I shook my head and as I followed behind him.

He stood at the bottom of the steps, waiting for me. "You're not wearing a jacket?" I sighed as I looked at him. "It's not even cold out." He looked at the ground next to me. "A.J, there is literal snow next to you." I scoffed. "So? Besides--if you're so hung up on me being cold--good boyfriends give their girlfriends their hoodies."

"You steal all of my hoodies. This the last one that's mine, that you haven't stolen." I smirked a little. "Fine. I'll give you your hoodies back. But when I'm out and I'm not wearing them and some guy hits on me, that's not my fault. It's yours. Because I wasn't wearing your hoodie."

He smirked a little. He held out his hand for me to take and I took it. With my other hand, I adjusted the bandage that sat on my nose. Apparently, I had broken it during the fight I had with Scarlett--who, might I add, was still not talking to Finn.  Finn and Lexie still weren't talking to me, I don't know why. I was the one with the broken coffee table...and nose. Scarlett would text me every so often, asking me certain things. It was a lot harder when your brother's best friend...ex best friend...whatever, would text you and ask you to tell him something or vice versa. 

We walked through pretty much the entire city, looking through stores. I spent most of my pocket money in some of the stores. "I thought this was supposed to be a meaningful trip." Sam asked me. I sighed. "Technically, I need to go to Pottery Barn and see if they have that coffee table we had. Scarlett broke it." 

"Technically, you threw the first punch after she busted your lip. Your exact words were Bitch busted my lip. All bets are off now. And then you jumped her..." 

"I don't remember any of that. Besides, you do know that I can make you single with a snap, right?" 

He smirked a little before we both turned the corner. We headed into the Pottery Barn and began to look around. Yes, I know. Pottery Barn is very expensive, but their stuff was very nice. Besides, the coffee tables weren't nearly as much as the sofas or the armchairs. 

I walked around a little bit before finding the coffee table that we had. "A.J, this is a lot of money." I turned around. "I have money saved up. I literally have a whole bank account that neither you nor Blaine or Artie know the passwords to." 

"You have a secret bank account?" I smirked. "Oh, Sam, I have so many things that you don't know about." He just stopped and looked at me. "Like what?" I sighed and thought for a minute. "I have secret boxes in the closet, I have secret Christmas things in the big closet with all the Christmas things. But, that's just the little things. Now, come on. Grab that box." 

I turned and headed to the register. Sam followed loosely behind me, due to him carrying the box. I handed the cashier my card and paid for the table. "A.J?" I turned and looked at him. "Could you take the bags?" I nodded as I grabbed them from his hands. We both turned and headed out the doors of Pottery Barn and headed home. 

**

Once we got home, Sam and I put together the table and I could finally relax without worrying about a broken coffee table. It was quiet in the apartment for nearly an hour before Sam was freaking out. 

"I'm on a bus! I'm on a bus!" 

I looked back to the window where he stood. "Sam, honey, you're in the apartment." He turned and looked at me. "No, A.J. I'm on a bus." I turned and looked out the window with him before we both turned and ran outside. "Wow. You really are on a bus. Sam. I'm so proud of you." I smiled as I stared ahead. Lexie and Finn came running out of their apartment and Blaine and Artie came out of ours. 

"This has been your dream." He nodded as he pulled me a little closer to him. "I can finally go home." I looked at him for a minute. "Go home? This is home." He shook his head. "Home home. There's nothing left in New York for me now. I can go back to Lima." I smiled a little as I just stared ahead. 

This was the end of my relationship, wasn't it?