Tina:

Bittersweet. I guess that's how you would describe my relationship with Sam. Sam is perfect. In many ways. He's funny, he's a gentleman, he's witty, and he understands my need to side eye the majority of the people in Glee club. He walks me to class, supports me when I want to try out for a solo, even joined my Zubma class so that we can spend more time together. So why am I sitting here, crying my eyes out for someone who obviously doesn't care about me? Sam is great but Sam isn't Mike. And now I get the email from Quinn telling me Mercedes told her she'd be coming in from L.A. for the holidays and that Puck told her that Mike told him, he'd be coming home too. What a mess we've gotten ourselves into.

Sam:

The idea sounded fine at the time. Mercedes had stopped talking to me after I told her she needed to concentrate on her music career and we needed a break. Her manager had expressed his feelings towards me many times. "You're not good enough for her". "You need to let her focus on her music." She's going to be a big star someday but not with her boyfriend tagging along." I guess all his words took a toll on me. And I know what you're thinking; Sam you fucking idiot, you should have told Mercedes everything but now it's just too late. What started out with a small talk over coffee with Tina on how we both felt alone, ended up in an "agreement". We'd date so that we can fill the void of Mike and Mercy and we'd move on with our lives. It was perfect, kind of. We were really good friends and knew a lot about each other, we were very similar so why not? Truth be told, Tina is beautiful girl with everything any guy could ever ask for in girl except…she wasn't Mercedes. And now, here I am waiting for her at the Lima Bean, because she wants to talk. And we all know what that means. That's girl code for; we should go on a break. We were the perfect fake couple but we both know we don't have each other's heart.

Sam jumped as soon as Tina slapped a folded piece of paper in front of him. "Please tell me you didn't know about this!"

The girl sat across the confused boy and waited for a response. Sam picked up the piece of paper and unfolded it. He began reading the e-mail from Quinn. "Tina, how's it going? I heard about the drama in Lima, can't say I missed it. Connecticut is great. I miss Puck but I'll get to see him during the holidays. Which reminds me, I'll be in Lima for Thanksgiving…and so will 'Cedes and Mike. Okay, gotta go. Luv yah, Quinn."

Sam looked up from the paper with a look of shock. His girlfriend had obviously gotten over that stage and had moved on to the freak out stage.

"What the hell are we going to do?" She yelled loud enough for the patrons at the Lima bean to hear her.

Sam tried calming her down by taking her hand. "Babe, just relax. What can we do? We just play it cool. That's all."

Tina took her hand back and slid down her chair, covering her face with her hands. "They don't even know that we're dating!" she mumbled.

Sam nodded his head and bit his bottom lip. "They were going to find out sooner or later?"

"We're going to die. I'm going to die! What am I going to tell Mike?"

"Well, he ignored you for so long, there's nothing to really say, if you thinking about it." Sam rubbed the back of his neck.

Tina closed her eyes. "What about Mercedes? She'll finish me. I know it."

"I'll talk to Mercedes, Tina. It's going to be okay."

"How can you be so calm? Our exes and our best friends are coming back for the holidays and are going to find out we've been seeing each other behind their backs!"

"Well…when you put it that way…"

Tina reached out for Sam's hands and looked into his green eyes. "Sam, what are we doing?"

"Talking in the Lima bean?"

Tina chuckled, thinking how Sam was always good at handling major meltdowns.

"No, I mean, us. What are WE doing? This isn't real, Sam. Look at me in the eyes and tell me that you're the tiniest bit excited that Mercedes is coming to Lima."

Sam bit the inside of his cheek and looked into Tina's brown eyes. "Tina, I like you. I think you're a great girl…"

"…but…"

"But…you weren't made for me."

Tina threw her hands up. "No shit! But the guy I was made forgot all about me!"

"And the girl I was made for thinks I'm an asshole."

The two sat back and threw their heads back.

Staring at the ceiling, Tina rubbed her temples. "So are we breaking up?"

Sam shut his eyes, never thinking this would hurt AND bring him relief as well. "Yeah. I think we are."

After a short period of silence, Sam stood up and stuffed his hands in his back pockets. "Well, I think I should go then. Prepare myself for when Mercedes and Mike get here."

Tina stood up and faced Sam. She took his hands out of his pocket and wrapped her arms around him. Sam wrapped his around hers and smiled.

"You really were a great boyfriend, Sam." Tina rubbed his back. Sam tightened his grip and noticed Tina loosening hers. He pulled away to see what was wrong and Tina looked as if she had seen a ghost. She was pale white and had completely lost the ability to speak. Sam turned around to see what she was so focused on and his heart dropped.

"Sam…fancy seeing you here…with Tina." Mercedes cocked her head.

Mike handed Mercedes her coffee and stared at both Sam and Tina up and down. "Wow, funny how a summer changes you."

Mike shook his head and smiled sarcastically. "I can't say I missed Lima. 'Cedes? You coming?"

Mercedes fought her desire to cry and turned around after glaring at Sam and Tina one last time. "Right behind you."

She followed Mike into the parking lot without another word.

"I HATE SEATBELTS!" Mercedes screamed as she fought with the seatbelt in Mike's passenger seat.

"Here, let me get it." Mike reached over and adjusted the belt. With his thumb, he rubbed Mercedes' tears out of the way. "Please don't cry. I'm trying my best not to."

"I just can't help…"

Mike and Mercedes jumped at Tina knocking on Mike's window. He rolled it down so he can hear the angry girl.

"You have no reason to be mad at me! YOU FORGOT ME!"

Mercedes noticed Sam behind her and decided to look forward so that she didn't have to meet his eyes.

"Forgot you? I didn't forget you! Tina! I told you that the first few weeks would be tough! I started classed in August and I was taking 22 credits! I had dance from the ungodly hours of the morning the ungodly hours of the night! It wasn't easy! And when I tried to call you, you had changed your number! I never saw you on skype so I don't know if you just didn't go on or you blocked me! I emailed you 13 times about my schedule!"

Tina backed away from the car door and looked down. "I never got your emails."

"Not one?"

She shook her head no.

"What email address did you use?"

"My university one."

Tina pulled out her phone and looked into her spam folder. Surely enough, there they were. 13 unread messages from Mike Chang.

"Oh my God."She covered her mouth and looked back at Sam.

Mike gripped the steering wheel and looked passed Tina. "Thanks for watching over my girl, Sam. You're a great friend!"

Sam was about to speak when Mercedes cut him off.

"Oh don't you dare say anything. Is this why you wanted to cut things off? So you can date Tina? I can't believe the two of you! Mike? Can we go please? We promise Mr. Schue I'd stop by for the lesson plans."

Sam and Tina looked up. "Lesson plans?"

"Mr. Schue asked Mercedes and I to come and mentor you guys. Looks like you all need some motivation."

Mercedes scoffed. "They get enough motivation from each other."

"Mercedes…I…" Sam started but it was too late, Mike had started his engine.

"See you guys in glee club." Was all Mike said before stepping on the gas and pulling out of the Lima Bean parking lot.

Sam and Tina watched as they left, quietly, and guiltily.