title : every rose has its thorn
oc / pairing : sam gray and angie
rossi (samgie)
trigger warnings : a couple of f-slur scares

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VALENTINES DAY , A DAY ANGELO DREADED THE MOST .

He didn't exactly know what the big deal was. It was a false holiday. It was only a way to waste money. And the Valentines where he actually had a Valentine was awful, so he just stayed away from it all together. And unfortunately, Valentines day was a day that Sinatra loved the most, whether he had a Valentine. And this year, he had one. Tony.

Sinatra was his friend. He even saw him as a little brother. Gave him the title of colorguard captain when he was due to graduate at the end of this year. But, as much as he valued Sinatra as a friend, he couldn't stand all that talk. But, he roped him into something that he didn't really want to do. Or rather, something that he couldn't do.

A double date. How on earth was he supposed to find a date by Valentine's Day? There was no way that he was going to find a date by tomorrow.

Angelo was currently in his car, smoking what seemed to be his millionth cigarette, car heating up. He's in the school parking lot with this forehead on the edge of the wheel. No one's in the lot at the moment. He's just about the only one in his car until someone knocks on the window.

He wouldn't have seen the familiar blonde hair and blue eyes of Sam Gray if the windows hadn't defrosted. Angie doesn't know what made him roll the window down. He hated that face. At least, that's what he told himself. He told himself that so he wouldn't have to face the truth.

"What?"

"Damn, what's up your ass?" Sam asked, "well, other than──"

"Don't even," Angelo interrupted, taking a drag from the cigarette before putting it between his fingers, "what are you botherin' me for, now, cretino biondo?"

"Well, first of all, gimme one of those cigarettes you got," Sam said to him.

"Get your own fuckin' cigarettes," Angelo grumbled. He doesn't mean it, because he passed the box to him.

"And let me into your fuckin' car, too, while you're at it."

Angelo rolled his eyes. He unlocked the car doors and Sam got into the car. Iron Maiden's The Duellists playing on the radio. Sam looked shocked when he heard that playing than the usual Kiss album.

"Iron Maiden?" Sam asked.

"What, I like Bruce Dickinson's voice," Angelo told him, "why're you shocked?"

"It's just not you're not blasting Strutter again," Sam said back, "which thank god. I can't listen to that again."

"You know what? You're lucky I don't lobotomize your ass with my platform," Angelo seethed.

Sam huffed, before lighting up his cigarette. He took a puff, blowing it into Angie's face, annoying the Italian even more. Angelo gave that signature nose scrunch, looking at the blonde like he was crazy.

"Oh, I oughta──"

"You oughta what, huh?" Sam asked.

Angelo couldn't even say anything back. He had too much on his mind, too much to even think about. That's why he was skipping Algebra. He didn't need to think about numbers while he was thinking about Sinatra's Valentine invitation. He didn't even want to think about that.

It didn't go unnoticed either. Usually, Angelo ripped him a new one every chance he got. Sam looked at him, slightly tilting his head to the side.

"The fuck's wrong with you?" Sam asked.

Angelo didn't wanna tell him. It was almost embarrassing, and he knew that he would get a kick out of it if he told him. The Italian looked away, taking one last drag from his cigarette before he threw the butt of it out the window. A sigh escaped his lips.

"It's Sinatra," Angelo finally spat out.

"Oh, the glittery fag──"

Angelo gave him a glare. Sam didn't finish that statement. Instead, he cleared his throat. "Uh, Tony's boyfriend," he corrected, "what about him?"

"I told him that I would go on this stupid double date with him and Tony," he explained.

Sam raised an eyebrow. "And that's my business because ...?"

Angelo looked at him. "I don't have a date."

It's now quiet in the black Chevy Impala. The radio is still playing. Angelo leaned back in his seat, running his fingers through his hair. He was almost scared to look back at Sam, though he did. He almost looked at him like he was crazy. Angelo saw the process in his piercing blue eyes, and it looked like the five stages of grief.

"So what are you saying?" Sam asked, "don't tell me you want me to go on this date with you."

"Did I ask that, biondo del cavalo?" Angelo huffed.

"You looked like you were going to."

"Look," Angelo said back, "It's only one date, alright? And for us it wouldn't even be a date."

"Double date, dumbass! It's still considered a date," Sam grumbled.

"If you don't wanna go, fine, I'll just ask someone else," Angelo said back.

Sam sighed. He didn't want to do this. But, he could tell that Angie didn't want to do it either. The only thing he was getting out of this was seeing a familiar face, and that was Tony. So, it wasn't like he was going to suffer. Or, at least, he didn't think so.

"No," Sam replied. It was so quick that it almost confused Angelo.

"What?"

"I'll go," Sam told him, "but only because I know Tony's gonna be there."

Angelo rolled his eyes. "Fair enough," he said, "Natra said they're meeting up at seven, so I'm picking you up at 6:30 tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Sam asked, "you know it's Valentines Day tomorrow?"

"Yes, I know," Angelo answered, "you can't take it back, you already accepted."

Sam leaned back in his chair. "Fuck," he muttered.

──── ♡ ────

THEY WERE ALMOST LATE. SAM DIDN'T come out of his trailer until 6:45, which meant that they had fifteen minutes to meet up with Sinatra and Tony. It annoyed Angelo, considering he had strict punctuality. But it was Sam, so unfortunately, he had to deal with it. He knew that Sam dragged his feet, especially if he didn't want to do something.

They were on their way to some mom and pop diner. It was Sinatra's idea. Dinner and bowling. What kind of combination was that? Angelo didn't question it, simply because it was Sinatra. He was better at the romance stuff than anyone else he knew.

"Dinner and Bowling? What kind of fuck shit is that?" Sam asked, lighting up another cigarette in Angelo's car.

"Don't ask me, ask Natra, it was his idea," Angelo mumbled. Then, he thought about it for a moment. "Actually, don't ask him either."

"Whatever," Sam responded, shaking his head.

They finally pulled up at the diner a cigarette and a half later. Sinatra and Tony are waiting outside for them. Luckily, the two of them are only five minutes late. It was great, considering that this wasn't a place where you needed a reservation to get in.

They get out of the car and walk towards the door. Angelo finished his cigarette before throwing it on the ground, blowing out the rest of the smoke. He caught a glimpse of Sinatra, who waved after seeing them. He walked toward them, Tony soon following afterward.

"You made it!" Sinatra said before looking at Sam, "and ... Sam?"

"It's only this one time," Sam quickly told him, which made Angelo scrunch up his nose.

"Well, at least it's not a stranger," Tony said back.

"C'mon! This place is cool! Got the best food here, too!" Sinatra said back.

"I didn't even know this place existed," Sam muttered.

"It's kinda new. It's been here for a couple months, though. They have really good milkshakes!" Sinatra told him.

Tony is the one that holds the door open for them. The four of them walk in, and it's bright. Almost pastel blue walls, the tile floor is checkered. Blue and pink. There's a jukebox in the middle of the restaurant that's currently playing Dancing in the Street by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas as they walk in. You could tell it was a place that Sinatra would've picked, simply due to the bright colors.

They were sat in a booth that was in the corner of the restaurant near one of the windows. The four of them each have their own menu. Sinatra had to help Tony with some of the words on the menu. Something simple like that, and the two manage to make it cute. It almost made Angelo scrunch up his nose at the two of them.

Sam gave Angelo that annoying, triumphant smile of his. "Do you need help reading the menu?"

"Shut the fuck up, Gray," Angelo said back, nudging him in his side.

The four of them finally ordered their food and the waitress took the menus from in front of them. They get their drinks first; Angelo got Pepsi, Sam got a Mountain Dew, both Tony and Sinatra got milkshakes, though one almost went to waste. The two of them ended up sharing Sinatra's.

Angelo and Sam practically gave each other the same look. Side-eye, judgemental. Angelo even did one of his famous nose scrunches before they looked away from each other.

"You're not getting any of my Mountain Dew," Sam said.

"Good. I didn't want it anyway, you probably drooled in it," Angelo retorted.

"Shut up, did not."

Angelo only rolled his eyes, taking a sip from his own straw. Soon after, the food is served to all four of them. Though, he could barely eat the huge waffle that was in front of him. It was like the more time this date went on, the more he got sick to his stomach. What were the odds? Going on the date with the lovey-dovey people that he knew.

Maybe getting the waffle was a bad idea. He was already getting a toothache from watching Sinatra and Tony. He could feel his own jealousy run through his veins as he ate the waffle little by little. But he could only pick through it with his own fork.

"And suddenly, I'm not hungry anymore," Angelo muttered, before putting his fork down and slightly pushing it out.

"Not a good waffle?" Sam asked.

"Not really a fan of restaurant food," Angelo said, "it's also too sweet. I shouldn't have gotten a Pepsi."

It technically wasn't a lie. Angelo didn't like restaurant food that much. Sometimes he dealt with it if it tasted decent. Sam knew it was the couple in front of him. He doesn't say a word about it, just gives a knowing look.

Everyone else gets done, Angelo pitched in to help Sinatra with the bill, and then they were off. The next place they were headed was the bowling alley. This time, Tony and Sinatra also rode in Angelo's car since Clarence dropped him and Tony off at the restaurant.

The bowling alley was much more eighties in terms of design. It was still colorful, though messy. The floors could potentially blind someone as they walked into the building. Angelo didn't particularly like bowling. He's only been once, and he was definitely a sore loser. But, maybe this time wouldn't be as bad.

Well, he was right ... It wasn't bad. It was worse. Being teamed up with Sam brought on the best and the worst. Their score was much lower than Sinatra and Tony's, and Tony sucked at bowling.

"Shut up!"

"It doesn't take that long to throw the ball at some pins!" Sam said back, "c'mon!"

Angelo rolled his eyes. He faced the end of the lane. There are only three pins left at the end of it. He took a deep breath, before rolling the ball down the lane. Though, it doesn't stay straight. It ends up going to the side of it. A frustrated sigh escaped his lips.

"Merda," Angelo cursed to himself.

He looked back and saw Sam shaking his head at him. The Italian walked back and sat in the chair that was against the wall.

"Maybe you should aim straighter," Sam grumbled.

"You're not doing any better, stronzo biondo," Angelo growled.

"At least I can hit the pins!" Sam argued, "you can't bowl straight because you're a──"

"Watch it, cretino biondo," Angelo seethed.

Angelo heard the pins drop. He didn't even want to look, but he did, and so did Sam. The blonde shook his head at the sight. Tony, who may suck at this game just like the rest of them did better than both of them combined. The view of the two of them hanging off each other didn't make it better.

A couple hours of bowling and Angelo eventually gave up. Sinatra and Tony were still bowling, Angelo and Sam gave up and hid in the arcade until they decided it was time to leave. But not before arguing about who got the highest score on Pac-Man.

Angelo dropped both Tony and Sinatra off at the Stevens household. Tony was staying there, probably because he didn't want to face his aunt. Angelo guessed that Diogo probably lied for him again. It was routine at this point.

They finally arrived at Forest Hills Trailer Park. Angelo parked in front of Sam's trailer. He's tired. All he wants to do is go home. He was actually about to pull off, but Sam stopped him.

"Wait, hold on a second," Sam told him, "I'll be right back."

Angelo couldn't say anything back. He went inside his trailer before he could. But, he didn't leave yet, wondering why Sam could possibly want him to stay longer than he had to.

Sam came back from the trailer with something in his hand. Angelo raised an eyebrow, getting out of the car. When the blonde got closer, he could suddenly make it out to be flowers. Roses, to be exact, which confused the Italian even more.

"I ... forgot them because you rushed me to leave," Sam said.

"Roses," Angelo started, still confused, "for me?"

"You gonna take them or not?"

Angelo was hesitant to take them. He reached out, going to take them, but immediately pulling it back when he felt something prick his hand. He looked closer at the roses. They had thorns on the stem.

"Thorns on the roses? Really?" Angelo asked, licking the blood of his hand.

"I thought bringing the roses would be a romantic thing!" Sam huffed.

"Not when they still have the thorns on them, testa di cazzo biondo!" Angelo grumbled, "where'd you get these roses, anyway?"

"From Karen Wheeler's garden," Sam answered.

Angelo paused. He didn't know what to say at first. He looked at the roses, then looked back at Sam. "From Wheeler's garden?"

"Yeah," Sam answered, "I know you hate the bitch, so ..."

Angelo looked down at the roses again. An amused smile crawled onto his lips. He finally took the roses into his hand, this time carefully. "Oh ..." he managed to breathe out, "that's ..."

"Stupid, I──"

"Sweet," Angelo finished, "and devious. She loves those roses."

Sam shrugged. "Well, they're not hers anymore, are they?"

Angelo laughed. It's the first time he's done that all night. After seeing Sinatra and Tony being all over each other, the roses were just enough. It was just right. What he thought was a date that ended in disaster, the roses had definitely made up for it.

"No, they're not," Angelo answered.

He then pulled a risky move. One that Angelo thought that Sam wouldn't like. He stood on his toes, giving him a quick kiss on his cheek. Sam just looked at him, though he doesn't do anything. That was better than getting pushed away or getting punched.

"Thank you," he spoke up again, "for the roses. And for going with me to that stupid double date."

"It doesn't have to end here," Sam said back.

"You invitin' me in?" Angelo asked, "where's your mom?"

"Hospital again," Sam answered.

Angelo hummed. He doesn't say anything else about it, only shrugged. He knows not to say anything about it. Besides, he doesn't want to stir up anything. Especially not after Sam did something nice for him.

"So, you comin'?"

Angelo gave a small smile. With Sam, he walked to the trailer with him. After this, his opinion on Valentines day had changed. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all. Maybe the right time had to come for him to understand.

──── ♡ ( AUTHOR'S NOTE ! )

happy (late) valentine's day! also ... peep the new sign out gif in honor of chappell's grammy win!