My Sam-Sam

Sam Evans was not a happy camper. He sat frozen in the driver's seat of his newly acquired 1993 Ford Pick up Truck. He had finally earned enough money for reliable transportation, it wasn't a beauty but it was his. Sam sighed as he placed a strand of stray hair back behind his ear. He glanced in the rear view mirror and studied his features carefully. His hair was longer now almost to his shoulders, it was almost all brown with only hints of the bleach blonde it used to be. "It makes your eyes more emerald and you don't look like a dumb blonde anymore." Mercedes would say of his hair change whenever Sam felt the need to go back to the hair color in a bottle. Sam licked his pouty lips and the pursed them shut into a thin line. "Fool, u better show off those sexy ass lips. Not many white boys can claim lovelies like those!" Mercedes would snap whenever Sam tried to hide his full lips. Sam laughed at the memories of his Ex-girlfriend. His smile quickly faded when he realized she was gone, like so many things before her and after her…gone.

Sure Mercedes and he had decided they should just be friends, which in translation meant; they would never speak and only smile awkwardly at each other when immediate contact was required. Still, even though it was confusing she was still there. Still there for him to steal glances and touches whenever he could, she wasn't his girl but she wasn't a memory either. Now she was gone mentally and physically. Two months ago Mercy had started her first year at UCLA majoring in musical composition. Sam was happy for her, but sad for himself. "No more chocolate diva." He said out loud to himself. Mercy was only the Second girl he had ever really loved, mind body and spirit. The only difference was that the first time he was the one who left his love behind, this time he was the one left in the dust. "Now I finally know how she felt" He said again thinking about the girl he had once left behind in Tennessee.

The big clock towers' bell was ringing, signaling the top of the hour and also snapping Sam out of his self pity session. Sam exited his car and looked up at McKinley High, once it was one of his favorite places, now it was just memories of things lost. Sam smoothed out his tan chinos, and white wife beater. He grabbed his gray hoodie and quickly put it on not bothering to zip it up. He then took one final glance at his black chucks and started toward his school.

He still had so much on the brain, he hated to admit it but Mercy and his ex girl in Tennessee were the least of his issues. Sam was notified over the summer, that he would not have enough credits to be considered a senior this year. Apparently with all the switching back and forth between schools it's impossible to complete a single class. And just like that Sam was a Jr. again and even further from joining Mercedes at UCLA.

But still that wasn't the worst part. To stay in Lima Sam had to really become independent. Since Kurt and Finn had graduated, Burt and Carole had decided to permanently move to DC to focus on Burt's budding political career. This meant that Sam was again homeless. Sam was hell bent on not going back to Tennessee and another new school. So Sam did the only thing he could. He filed for emancipation from his parents. They did not take the news well, and vowed to fight Sam every step of the way. Sam kept his part time job at the pizza place and also talked Burt into making him the weekend shift manager at the mechanics shop. Thanks to Kurt, Burt was also talked into renting Sam the Studio Apartment above the shop for a wopping 150$ a month. "Dad it's only gonna be used for storage anyway. Besides wouldn't you want someone there to over see the shop while you are in Washington? Its just smart business dad!" Kurt argued for a whole month until Burt finally caved. The day of the court date, Sam arrived in one of Mr. Schuster's hand me down suits and all the required documents needed to move forward with the emancipation; including proof of employment, and residence and a whole host of witnesses including, Burt, Carole, Mr. Shue , Mr. and Mrs. Jones and even principal Figgins. But the nail in the coffin for Mr. and Mrs. Evans was the fact that Sam and his siblings had moved four times in two years, the judge felt that Sam may be more stable on his own. Sam hated seeing his mom cry, but in his heart he knew Lima was where he needed to be. He couldn't explain it but he was supposed to be there, even as most of his friends moved on. He wasn't happy at the moment and he knew it would be hard being a teenage adult but Sam had made his peace with it.

When Sam arrived at his locker he finally was able to pull himself out of his depressing thoughts.

"Evans don't forget that we start after school practice an hour earlier to accommodate your work schedule" A very enthusiastic Coach Beiste said as she slapped him hard on his back

"Got it coach." Sam said giving a lop sided grin

"That may work on the sistahs and the Latinas from LHA but not me. We did a lot of finagling to change our practices to cater to you, so you and your arm better be worth it" she smiled as she took her exit slapping him once more time on the back for good measure.

"Really coach, really?" Sam said more to himself than her.

Walking to his first class Sam started to relax, School hadn't change much and that made him feel a bit safe. Out of the corner of his eye Sam had to do a double take. That girl looked hell of familiar. "Couldn't be…"Sam chuckled. He kept on moving toward class. The he stopped dead in his tracks he heard it…her voice….

"Really Artie, Really?" You did say your name was Artie right? The girl laughed

Without having a choice in the matter Sam found himself gliding over to the melodic voice that haunted him from the past…