Disclaimer: Please enjoy this piece that I've written in hopes that it will help you move along in love.

Sam Evans walked the halls of McKinley High School, ready to say goodbye for the summer. He would be a junior next year and he had big plans. Many students waved and shouted greetings at the young man who was somewhat of a Ferris Bueller. Sam knew practically everyone and was kind, regardless of social status. He himself was a bit of an outlier when it came to his own popularity. Sam was captain of the swim team, ranked number one in the country, avid Avatar fan, comic book lover, and amateur voice over specialist.

"Sam," a voice called out from behind him. Usually, he would just throw a quick wave since he was on his way to class and didn't have time to talk but this voice was different.

"Ryder," Sam returned as he stopped in order for his cousin to catch up.

Ryder Lynn Schuester was Sam's only and favorite cousin. Being that they were the same age made them best friends too. Ryder was a bit of a wild child who reveled in the chaos he often found himself in the middle of. He was the son of a famous actor William Schuester and national news anchor America's Sweetheart Terri Del Monico. Both parents, too busy for the day to day happenings of a fifteen-year-old, nevertheless love him dearly.

A few weeks before Christmas Ryder thought it would be funny to get drunk and go joyriding with two other friends. They totaled the car and all three ended up in handcuffs. With his parents at their wits end with his foolishness decided not to bail him out anymore. He ended up spending weeks in lockup missing school, and the holidays. It caused a real sore spot for him and his parents but in the long run, they just wanted their son to understand the error of his ways. The two others Azimio and Sebastian were quickly bailed out by their parents and returned to their lives without so much as batting an eye. Now he had hours left on his house arrest monitor and a thousand hours of community service to go but at the very least he would be able to get the leg monitor off.

"Man, I can't wait for this shit to come off. Six more hours until I'm home free," Ryder boasted as he shouldered and shoved passed other students to keep up with his taller cousin.

"Yeah, six more hours then begins the process of you paying back your debt to society," Sam reasoned as he continued his march down the hall.

"Fuck me with a butcher knife, it's the last day man, so some sympathy," Ryder argued as his cousin shrugged his shoulders.

Sam shook his head.

"You behaved deplorably that night and to be honest you could have killed someone. I'm not soothing your ego on that one cuz," Sam explained in a monotone speech that made Ryder cringe.

"I know man, I said I wouldn't do anything like that again. I'm six months clean and I plan to stay that way."

Sam laughed grandiosely.

"The only reason why you're six months clean is because they drug test you once a month and you do a breathalyzer-like every day. If nothing else, you should be really good at giving blowjobs by now."

Ryder shoved him in the shoulder playfully only to be pushed back.

"You sound like your old man," Ryder joked causing Sam to walk a bit taller if that were possible.

"When's the last time you got to talk to him?" Ryder asked in a more serious tone that Sam appreciated. Ryder knew how much Sam respected his dad, hell Ryder did too.

"When he was deployed in South Korea, and that was two weeks ago."

Ryder nodded his head and smiled, "Does he know when he's coming home?"

Sam nodded vigorously before answering. "Six more months and then he's home for good."

Ryder smiled real big before clasping a hand on his cousin's shoulder.

"I need a favor. I'm going to Marley's house tonight and it's the first time I've been able to get some alone time with her in months."

"You need what exactly from me?"

"I need for you to cover me. Just do me this solid, it's been six long months and she needs to know daddy still cares," Sam cringed and snorted in response. He shook his head began walking faster.

"Please, I need you on this," Sam stopped as he listened to the sadness in his cousin's voice.

It had always been Sam and Ryder through thick and thin, even when Sam had a moral dilemma concerning Ryder's choices. They had each other's backs.

"Listen, I'll cover for you for as long as I can but the moment mom starts asking questions it the moment when you can kiss your freedom goodbye," Sam expressed.

"Done, I owe you one," Ryder said before colliding with someone toppling them to the floor.

Mercedes Jones laid in a mess of books and papers as students stepped over her like a piece of trash.

"You need to watch where you're going," a sensual voice boomed from behind Mercedes.

Unique Adams stood in all her fabulously fashionable glory, with her hands on her hips ready to defend her friend.

"If it isn't our resident she-male. Damn girl, you've got bigger biceps than Hercules," Ryder spat out angrily.

"Better for me to knock your ass out with," Unique challenged, squaring herself with Ryder.

"I don't get it, with arms like that you could have been a defensive lineman. I bet had you asked coach Beiste she would have let you keep the dress on. We probably would have won state," Ryder chided kicking Mercedes' books to the side as if she wasn't even there.

"Ryder, stop it," Sam cut in having enough of his cousin's bullying. He knew the situation was escalating out of his control.

Even though Mercedes was the initial reason she spoke up at all, Unique too stepped over her fallen comrade.

Mercedes looked up in awe, Unique was sticking it to Ryder without fear of retribution. The transgendered sister of Azimio Adams feared linebacker often used his reputation as an intimidation tactic. It wasn't like Azimio walked behind her massaging his fist but because of him, not too many people gave her a hard time. If they did it was behind her back.

"Nah, let him finish, he would know all about my biceps. Homeboy is always staring at me, licking his lips," Unique confessed loud enough for the four to hear.

Ryder's cheeks turned bright red as he looked everywhere else but her. Sam looked between the two, not believing what he heard but still shocked all the same. Mercedes scrambled to grab her things and stand but she wasn't even a factor in the snowballing feud.

"In your fucking dreams bitch," Ryder seethed with his fist clenched. Sam nudged passed Mercedes in an effort to isolate Ryder.

Unique blew him a kiss and it was Sam who had to body slam Ryder into a locker to keep him from attacking her. Mercedes barely got out of the way in time.

"You fucking dyke bitch, I will fucking kill you! Let me go, Sam, this ain't over bitch! I ain't no fucking fagot," Ryder yelled practically foaming at the mouth as Sam drug him down the hallway and out the back door.

Unique stood there shaking her head as the two smaller boys disappeared from sight.

"You okay girl," Unique asked not even looking at Mercedes, still focused on the back door.

"Yep, thanks for all your help," Mercedes admonished.

Unique whipped around at the tone in Mercedes' voice as she watched her friend roll her eyes and retreat in the other direction.

"Mercy girl, wait, what's wrong?"

"What's wrong? I sat on that floor while y'all kicked my stuff everywhere," Mercedes shot back.

"Girl bye, I was defending you!"

"No, you were making puppy dog eyes at your boyfriend," Unique pulled back and clutched her pearls.

"Absolutely not!"

"Oh please, you so open, the way you were looking at him I was getting ready to pass you a biscuit so you could mop him up," Mercedes accused with humor lightly etched in her voice.

She couldn't stay mad at Unique, she never could. Not to mention her friend did stick up for her.

"I don't do little boys, especially not ones that small. He is a drumstick at Popeyes when I need a turkey leg," Unique announced causing Mercedes to dissolve into laughter.

"Oh my gosh," Mercedes giggled as her cheeks darkened.

"You need Jesus, girl you nasty," Unique argued falling into step with her friend as they made their way down the crowded hallway.

Unique motioned to Mercedes to stop for a minute as she made a beeline for her locker.

"Hey Unique," greeted a pale mousy young man dressed as fabulously as she.

"Hey, Kurt, how you doing boo?"

"Girl, I'm making it just fine," he said blushing.

"Oh really, you must tell me more," Unique gushed as she leaned against her and looked down at the talkative boy.

Mercedes stood off to the side and watched uncomfortably as the two talked as if she wasn't there, the students walked around her like she wasn't even there.

"Excuse me, you're Mercedes right," an Asian girl, Mercedes remembered her name was Tina. She was flanked by a Hispanic girl named Santana, white girl named Kitty and the mixed girl named Bree. All of the girls were wearing McKinley sports tracksuits, they were jocks.

Why did jocks want to talk to her? Outside of Unique, people barely spoke to her.

"Yeah, what's up," Mercedes whispered clutching her books to her chest.

"Your Aphasia's sister," Santana stated in a clipped tone as if she'd rather be anywhere else but there.

Mercedes nodded her head acknowledging that she was Aphasia's sister. Outside of Unique, people barely spoke to her but when they did it was about one of her siblings. Her older brother David or younger sister Aphasia were the only reasons why people bothered speaking.

"She told me you have something of mine."

Mercedes starred quizedly at Tina until she remembered. She thumbed through the jumbled mess of papers and textbooks. She finally fished out a crumpled stack of what looked to be volleyball tryout forms.

Tina looked disgustedly at the crumpled, dirty papers that were once pristine forms. As if on cue, all of the girls snapped their eyes to Mercedes who cowered against the lockers. She wanted nothing more than to disappear.

"I had a bit of an accident earlier, so the- " Tina raised her hand to silence her.

"Did she say anything when she gave these to you?" Mercedes looked up to the ceiling as if she was trying to remember.

"Um, numbers 2, 5, 6, 19, and 23 are a yes," she said causing Bree to snatch the forms and go through them.

"That was it, those were the only one's she said?"

"Relax B, I'm positive Sugar was number 19," Kitty cooed in a calming voice.

"Yeah," Tina and Santana were the only ones to look relieved. She smiled at Mercedes and Santana gestured for the other two to leave.

A thought crossed her mind and she called out to Tina. The girl didn't even turn around to face her, as she shifted her head ever so slightly.

"Yes?"

"Good luck at the volleyball clinic this summer, Aphasia says that you're the best on the team," Mercedes complimented offering a bashful smile.

"Thanks."

With that, the girls exited making their way through the sea of students that parted for them. Mercedes watched them disappear as she had done with Sam and Ryder minutes before and she sighed deeply.

"MJ!"

She jumped and turned to see Kurt and Unique looking at her with slightly concerned expressions.

"Huh?"

"I gotta finish cleaning out this locker, give me a minute," Unique explained before turning around to gently remove the keepsakes and trash everything else.

"So, Monique, how have you been?" Kurt asked awkwardly.

"Mercedes."

"What?"

"My name isn't Monique, it's Mercedes," she corrected causing him to blush.

"I'm sorry, I knew it was something with an M."

"It's fine, and I've been doing just fine thank you for asking."

Kurt looked her up and down with a distressed expression. He gave her a tight-lipped smile and made himself busy by studying his nails. Mercedes sighed and focused on the endless transference of bodies exchanging places in the crowded hallway.

"Okay, I am all done, what a relief. Kurt says that he and some friends are headed Lima Bean, wanna go," Unique asked with her back turned to the two.

Kurt looked distraught as he shifted his gaze from the floor to Mercedes. She knew that he didn't want her to go. She didn't know Kurt all that well but they were worlds apart. Kurt was somewhat of a popular gay guy, well at least amongst the more progressive crowds. As for Mercedes, even though her best friend was transgender, was still the fat black girl that wore baggy clothes.

"Actually, I have to get home, my mom needs me to finish packing," Mercedes claimed.

"Are you gonna be able to make it the park tonight for the bonfire," Mercedes shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, okay girl, I'll come by in the morning to see you off."

"Are you guys leaving now?"

"Yeah."

"It isn't even the lunch block yet and you're leaving," Mercedes complained causing Kurt to snort.

"I told you, that you could come with us."

"I thought that was after school."

"Now that you know it's not, you can come with us, how does that sound?"

Mercedes shot Kurt a quick glance who looked as if he was ready to vomit and it was then that Mercedes made her choice.

"You guys have fun, I'm gonna hang here, I don't need another reason for my momma to crawl down my throat."

"For as much as I see your knuckleheaded brother and Aphasia running the streets, you would think she'd give you an inch or two," Mercedes shook her head in response.

"Alright then girl, I'll see you," Unique says as she and Kurt wave goodbye. Mercedes stands there in a daze as the bell rings and she is left standing in an empty hallway.

Finn Hudson, the current AP English teacher at McKinley stood at the front of his classroom sorting stacks of papers into boxes. A classroom that adorned quotes and posters of famous writers and thinkers. Books that spanned eras and languages at the fingertips of students. The students who had invaded his classroom during his planning and lunches were nowhere to be found. All were off preparing for freedom, all but one, Mercedes Jones.

"Of all the places you could go, the people you could be with, you're here with me," Finn said smiling at his most adored student. She had been his student for the past two years and he had come to see her as a daughter.

"Mr. Hudson, you know you weren't gonna pack all these boxes yourself," Mercedes whispered her chubby cheeks flushed.

"You should be out there having fun," he stated pointing to the door that was closed with a poster of Einstein with his tongue sticking out covering it.

"If Einstein can have the time of his life in this room then so can I," she joked pointing the poster.

Finn smiled and continued to pack the boxes. The two soldiered on until the room was finished and Finn was perched on the edge of his desk studying her.

"Mercedes?"

"Yes, sir?"

"What are your plans for the summer? Have you thought more about that Broadway camp, I told you about?"

Mercedes stood fidgeting, she kept her eyes glued to the ground unable to face the man she had come to see as a father.

"Um, no I haven't thought too much more about it," Finn stands to his feet flabbergasted.

"Why the heck not? You're an amazing singer Mercedes! Probably the best I've heard in my life, that camp can give you the fine tuning you need."

"Fine tuning? I thought I was the very best Mr. Hudson," Mercedes countered with a joke only to receive a pensive look.

"Mercedes."

"Fine, my mother didn't think it was such a good idea. She feels like I have other priorities," she explained shifting from side to side as her eyes watered.

"Priorities?"

"Fat camp Mr. Hudson. I'm really overweight and I need to get some control over this before I need to roll out of here."

"That's not funny," Finn whispered feeling his chest constrict and eyes sting.

"You're right, the other students are a lot better at this than me, but that's only when they're too tired to treat me like furniture."

Finn watched as she sank into her baggy clothes, looking everywhere else but him. He swallowed the lump in his throat and took two long strides before he engulfed her in his strong arms. Mercedes allowed the floodgates to open and she dissolved into a puddle of tears and hysterics. Finn pulled her in tighter, the broad armor of his chest protecting her.

Sam strolled in the front door of his house and was tackled by two miniature versions of himself. Stevie and Stacy his twin kid siblings whom he cherished more than anything greeted him with hugs and giggles.

"Ahh! Help I'm being attacked by blonde leg warmers," Sam called out as each child took hold of his legs with no intention of letting go.

The kids giggled in response but refused to let him go.

Mary Evans entered the foyer and smiled at her children. Sam had always been amazing with his siblings ever since day one. He had been there, ready to help feed and change diapers for the two little ones. The loved him to the point that he was another parent to them, they respected him more than their parents. It was quite a few times Dwight and Mary went through Sam to get him to reason with the twins.

"I'm glad you're home, I need for you to help me get them washed up and ready for the bonfire," Mary greeted her oldest child with a light peck on the cheek.

"I'll be right on it as soon as they free me," Sam declared earning a series of chuckles from his captors.

"No problem dear."

"How was your day mom?"

"Great, these two have been on ten all day, I can't wait until they're back in s.c.h.o.o.l next year," Mary said as she made her way back into the kitchen.

"Hey, we heard that," Stevie called out as he and Stacy let go of Sam and raced each other into the kitchen.

Sam quickly followed only to find all three of them standing in front of the table in an effort to hide something, poorly at that. He furrowed his brows and looked around the three, it was a person and they had their back turned.

"Who's that mom?"

Sam frowned and squared himself ready to confront the stranger in his house. He was the man of the house while his father was away and here he was coming home to some neer do well making themselves comfortable at his grandmother's oak...oh hell no.

"Why so serious," the voice called out to him. Sam felt his throat tighten and he was instantly lightheaded.

He had waited 18 months, 9 days, 4 hours and 15 minutes to hear that voice in person. Mary and the twins parted allowing for the mystery person to rise from the chair. Sam was sure as shit that he would pass out if he didn't shit himself first. At the exact moment, the person turned to face him the sun split the room blocking out his face. Sam didn't have to squint to know who it was, his heart knew. Dressed in a blue officer's uniform stood Dwight Evans home from active duty.

A.N: Hello! So this came to me and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I swear this is the last story I'm going to start before finishing the others. It is the same drill no original characters, everyone is from glee world.