"Hey, Mercedes!" Quinn runs to catch her friend. "Wait up!"

Mercedes waits for Quinn before setting off for her locker again. "Hey."

"Hey." Quinn bites her lip.

"What's wrong, Quinn?" Mercedes reaches her locker and puts in the combination.

"Nothing's wrong per se." Quinn leans against the locker next to Mercedes'.

"Then spit it out, girl!" Mercedes takes out her things for her morning classes and puts them in her backpack. She throws her coat on the hook inside her locker and hangs her purse over it to rifle through it easier. "You're acting like you have to testify!"

"In a way I do." Quinn takes a deep breath. "Puck and I teamed up."

Mercedes stills. "What?" I can't possibly be hurt! Her eyes mist but she blinks back the tears, pastes on a smile and turns to give Quinn a bright smile. "I'm happy for you guys."

"No! No, Merce! It's not like that!" Quinn waves her hands to show that wasn't what she meant. "We're not together romantically. At least not for each other. Oh my! I'm explaining this wrong!"

Mercedes takes her cell phone and puts it in her back pocket and closes her locker. "I really don't understand." She leans against the hard metal.

"I mean we teamed up to have you." Quinn knows that sounds awful but it's as honest and not confusing as she can get it.

"Have me?" Mercedes is totally lost.

"I know you are having a hard time with choosing between Puck and Sam and I'm telling you that we could enter a thruple. Me, you and Puck. We had a good time on Saturday. It could be like that all the time." Quinn holds her breath.

Mercedes raises an eyebrow. "That's crazy! Why would you want to enter a thruple?! You can't stand Puck!"

"I can stand him when you're around. And you were right. He does have good qualities. Qualities that I think are better than Sam's."

"Quinn..."

"No! Hear me out. It'll be like before but serious this time. I think this could work."

"Before was different!" Mercedes stops. "How? How could this work? We're straight." Quinn gives Mercedes a look. "What about Sam? I still love him. After everything that happened, I don't want to let him go."

"Let who go?" A voice behind Quinn asks. "Puckzilla?"

Quinn scowls. "Not even. Puck is very much in."

"Hey, Santana!" Mercedes greets her TroubleTone sibling. "Quinn has just lost her mind! She thinks we should be in a thruple!"

"I guess postpartum gave her a few good ideas, Wheezy. I think a thruple is a lovely idea!" Santana tosses her head.

"What?!"

"Think about it, Cedes. Me, you and Sam. It could work!" Santana cajoles.

"You? Sam? What is going on with my friends?!" Mercedes slaps her hands over her ears.

Santana grins. "I thoughtfully suggested we have a battle of wills." She shrugs as if it's no big deal.

"A battle of wills? Am I not a human being anymore?!" Mercedes pulls down her hands. It's not like they're blocking Santana's words anyway.

"Of course you are, honey!" Quinn puts an arm around her waist. "In fact, you're the best human being we know. So much in fact that we kinda want you to ourselves."

"This is about you being wanted. You're in high demand, Aretha!" Santana cuddles up to Mercedes' other side.

"Why do you guys want to be in a thruple?" Mercedes sighs. She's going to give in eventually but she's trying her best to stall. Why does she have to be such a pushover for her friends?

"To get closer to you, silly!" Santana laughs.

Quinn agrees. "Everyone else has time with you. We want time, too! You and Sam are always together."

"Or you're doing something with Puckerman." Santana says with a bite.

"Or you're with Tina."

"Or Fairy has kidnapped you and forced you to endure the Hobbit."

"Point is, you're bending over backwards for all these people yet no one is trying to be there for you. We want to be there for you."

"Girl Chang won't notice cuz she's stuck in Chang Squared." Santana reasons.

"Kurt really is over involved with Blaine and Rachel. Not to mention Finn. I know that's his brother but they act its only them four in the world."

"Mr. Shue is stuck on them, too. You'd think he shot all their sex scenes, he's so involved!" Mercedes and Quinn stare at Santana. She shrugs. "It's true. We might have a TroubleTones number at competitions but that's not the same as having a solo or duet."

"She's right." Quinn tries to refrain from grinding her teeth. "What if other people want to sing? What if you and Artie wanted to sing something? Would Mr. Shue ever give you something? Not likely."

Mercedes nods silently. They're making a ton of sense. She keeps forgetting why this is a bad idea.

"So what do you say?" Quinn squeezes her softly.

"Are you in?" Santana lays her head on Mercedes' shoulder.

"It sounds… promising but what about the guys? I doubt they'd be into something like that. Just because you've talked me into it, doesn't mean they'll go for it." Mercedes points out.

"Oh that's taken care of!" Santana waves a hand.

"What?!" Quinn and Mercedes are shocked but for very different reasons.

"Check it out!" Santana pulls off her sweater. The pair had wondered why she isn't in her Cheerios uniform and this explains it. Santana is wearing a blue shirt that proclaims TEAM LOVANS in big red block letters. "I got it yesterday."

"That's insane!" Mercedes gushes. "I totally love that!"

Quinn narrows her eyes. "She's not the only person who went to the printing shop last night." She unbuttons her light blue button up working man shirt to reveal her own creation. Mercedes had wondered why the blonde isn't in her uniform either. She knows how much Quinn wanted back on the squad and figured the girl would never take it off. Atop her pastel dress is a black shirt that bears the words Team Quick in shiny silver letters.

"I really like those colors, Q-Card!" Mercedes' eyes round in delight.

Quinn smirks at Santana. The brunette frowns. "You want to head to glee club now?"

"What about the guys? I haven't talked to them in two days. I tried to talk to Puck yesterday but I kept missing him."

Santana grins brightly. "Oh that's a shame!"

Quinn tries to keep her face from showing her anger. "The boys will be fine. I promise."

MJ

Things are not fine... The boys certainly aren't. Mercedes closes her eyes against the pandemonium surrounding her.

"Take that off!" Sam yells at Puck.

"Not a chance, Evans!" Puck snaps back.

It has been like this since both boys walked into the choir room. They took one look at each other's shirts and lost it. The rest of the boys are keeping them apart but it doesn't keep them from arguing.

"We are supposed to be making Mercedes feel better; not giving more fuel for the rumor mill." Mr. Shue reprimands.

"We're not trying to stir up gossip, Mr. Shue." Quinn stands. "We wanted Mercedes to know we care about her but obviously the boys are too thick to get that!"

"What?" Puck glares at Quinn.

"I do care!" Sam exclaims.

Puck swings his gaze to encompass Sam as well. "I care about her, too!"

"Then act like it!" Santana stands, too. "We are sitting here comforting her while you two are going at it like two little old ladies!"

The boys grumble then approach Mercedes to apologize. "Sorry, Mercedes."

Mercedes gives them bizarre looks. "Are you kidding me?! What's wrong with you two? You're always fighting. What part of stop fighting was too difficult for you to understand?!" The boys wince. "I don't hear anything!" She cups her ear. "That's what I thought."

"We're sorry, Mama!" Puck frowns. "Okay, okay! We're cool. See?" He raises a hand for Sam to slap.

Sam eyes him dolefully. Puck shakes his hand and narrows his eyes. Sam rolls his eyes and gives the high-five.

"Yeah, we're cool. No more fighting. We promise." Sam agrees.

Mercedes is unimpressed. "I don't believe you." The boys huff. "Hug!"

"What?!"

"Hug! I want you to hug. That's the only way I'll believe you." Mercedes crosses her arms.

Each boy eyes the other. They shake their heads.

"Just do it!" Mike snaps. "I'm sick of this stuff. Just hug it out and go back to being bros before we all get sick of you!"

Mercedes smiles but has to bite her lip so she doesn't accidentally laugh. The class agrees with Mike wholeheartedly.

"Fine! We'll hug." Sam snaps.

Puck gives the room the stink eye before complying. He and Sam embrace for exactly two seconds before sitting on opposite sides of the classroom.

"What is this even about?" Mr. Shue asks. "I thought everything was going well." He adds sadly, thinking about the peace of yesterday.

"We've thought about this thoroughly and came to a decision." Quinn starts.

"It'll be easier for her to choose who she wants in her life with wingwomen." Santana finishes.

"What does that even mean?" Rachel asks.

"We're in a two part thruple." Mercedes shakes her head and laughs. "This is insane!"

"What in the Donna Karan fall collection is a two part thruple?!" Kurt's jaw drops.

"Team Lovans is against those two." Santana points to Quinn and Puck. "Evans and I are in a relationship with Aretha."

"But!" Quinn snaps. "Puck and I are in a relationship with her, too."

Both girls show off their shirts. Sam and Puck do the same.

The class roars with laughter.

"Are you kidding me?!" Artie exclaims. "I've never heard of such a thing!"

"Thanks a lot, Artie!" Mercedes twists her mouth. "Your support means the world."

"I'm not throwing shade, MJ. I guess I'm confused as to how it'll work." Artie adjusts his glasses. "If it makes you happy, I'm with it."

"Hopefully it will." Mercedes nods.

"Team Lovans gots this! Everyone loves us together!" Santana smiles.

"Please! Team Quick is amazing. We look better with her." Quinn crosses her arms.

"I kind of like Sam and Santana with Cedes." Kurt says slowly.

"Oh no." Mercedes whispers.

"Ha!" Sam and Santana high-five. "Lady Hummel is totally Team Lovans."

"I am, too." Blaine decides.

"That's two!" Sam cheers.

"I'm Team Quick." Mike offers.

Quinn and Mercedes give him an odd look before softly smiling. Puck fist-bumps him.

Sam, however, is less than thrilled. "What?!"

Mike shrugs. "I'm Team Quick."

"I can't believe this!" Sam runs a hand down his face.

"So am I!" Rachel perks up.

"What?" Finn looks shocked.

"As much as I think Team Lovans is adorable; I support Team Quick fully." The small girl wraps her arms around herself. "Their kids would be super cute."

"Rachel!" Finn pouts. "How could you? Puck and Mercedes?"

Rachel narrows her eyes. "One of my dads is Jewish like Puck and the other is part African American like Cedes. I totally ship them. Long live Team Quick!"

"I'm Team Lovans." Finn declares.

"So am I." Brittany smiles at Santana.

"I'm Team Quick!" Artie throws in.

"Me too!" Sugar giggles.

"It's tied. Joe, Rory and Tina need to decide." Quinn looks at the students in question.

"Team Lovans." Joe strums his guitar. "You look like my parents anyway."

"I guess I choose Team Quick." Rory says, gazing at Sugar.

"Tina?" All eyes turn to the girl.

"Um… um… um…" Tina runs from the room.

"Great! Chinese Fire Dragon split! Who's going to be the tiebreaker?" Santana crosses her arms.

"Mr. Shue!" Quinn yells.

The kids advance on him as he looks in horror. It's the first time ever he's thought of Sue Sylvester as a godsend but saving him from these teenagers could have made him weep with joy.

"Why is Chin Chang running down the hall, crying?" Coach Sue Sylvester hooks a thumb over her shoulder.

Dammit! Mike runs from the room.

"Is there anything you need, Sue? Anything at all? Please?!" Mr. Shue is desperate and it shows.

"What's got your panties in a twist, curly top?" Coach Sylvester says snidely.

"Will? Why is Mike trying to get Tina to open the janitors closet?" Ms. Emma Pillsbury asks. She looks very concerned.

"Three adults!" Santana cheers. "That way it can't be a tie."

Mr. Shue reaches for his phone and shoots Coach Beiste a text as covertly as possible.

"Choose!" Quinn demands. "Team Quick." She points to herself and Puck proudly. "Or Team Lovans." She wrinkles her nose and points to Sam and Santana.

"What in the hell are you talking about, Q?" Coach Sylvester shows no concern.

"We are in a two-way thruple with Mercedes and exactly half of glee supports either couple- thruple." Quinn shakes her head as she corrects herself.

"A thruple?" Ms. Pillsbury's eyes widen. "Aren't you a little young for that?"

"What exactly is a thruple, Irma?" Coach Sylvester takes a seat and the class follows her lead.

"A thruple is a relationship with three people instead of the customary two." Ms. Pillsbury explains patiently. "How is it a two-way thruple?"

"Santana and I are Team Lovans. We are with Mercy." Sam says.

Puck sits up. "Q and I are Team Quick. We are with Mama!"

"There are five for Team Quick." Quinn starts.

"And five for Team Lovans." Santana finishes.

Rachel, Sugar, Rory and Artie huddle around Quinn and Puck on one side of the room. Finn, Brittany, Joe, Blaine and Kurt surround Sam and Santana on the other.

Mercedes is in the middle looking exasperated by the whole thing.

"So what's wrong with Pork Fried Rice?" Coach Sylvester asks.

"She couldn't make a decision." Mercedes fills her in. "So they wanted Mr. Shue's opinion but you two came in.

Ms. Pillsbury claps. "I wanna be on Team Lovans!"

"Emma!" Mr. Shue's eyes widen. "We can't be in the middle of this!"

"What's wrong, William?" Coach Sylvester mocks. "Competition is good for the soul!"

"How would you know?" He mutters.

"Lady Lips looks good with Aretha. And Satan can surely take her far. Girl is conniving!" Coach Sylvester looks to Team Lovans. "But Q is my number one. And Apache is certainly rough enough. The three of them could take over the world!" Sam winces at the "rough enough" comment. Quinn beams. "William, you choose first!"

"I'm not getting in the middle of this!"

"What's going on, Will? Why'd you send me a S.O.S. text?" Coach Shannon Beiste asks, walking into the room.

Mr. Shue quickly fills her in, adding, "I don't think it's appropriate!"

"I like Team Quick." Coach Beiste says in her no nonsense yet innocent way.

"No, Shannon!" Mr. Shue looks sad.

"Puckerman is a good player." Coach Beiste tries to explain.

"But he is a player." Ms. Pillsbury reminds her. "He's been with a lot of girls."

Puck's jaw drops. Everyone but Mercedes chuckles.

"So's Sandbags but you're rooting for her and Guppy Face." Coach Sylvester points out.

Sam touches his face. Mercedes reassures him quickly. "You don't have a guppy face."

"Love has made you blind, Aretha!" Coach Sylvester shouts.

Mercedes rolls her eyes and faces Puck. "And you're not a manwhore!"

Mike and Tina walk back into the room before an angry Coach Roz Washington. "Why are Korea and Japan in the halls so early in the morning, crying about a thruple?!"

Mr. Shue shuts the doors so no one else will walk in and quickly explains the situation.

Coach Washington purses her lips and carefully runs a hand through her short blonde hair. "Easy! Team Lovans. Evans is a damn fine swimmer for a white boy with huge lips and crooked nipples."

"Baby, you're nipples aren't crooked!" Mercedes says. She quickly amends her statement to be more truthful. "They're slightly uneven."

Sam pulls a face before brightening. "Wait! Coach Roz and Ms. Pillsbury are Team Lovans along with Finn, Blaine, Kurt, Joe and Brittany. We win!"

"I don't think so!" Quinn hops up. "Coach Beiste, Mike, Rachel, Artie, Sugar and Rory are Team Quick. Coach Sylvester, Tina and Mr. Shue haven't voted yet."

"I vote Team Quick." Coach Sylvester makes a decision. "When you take over the world; name me the Empress of Germany, will ya?"

Quinn nods.

"I'm Team Quick, too!" Tina squeaks out and hides her face in Mike's shirt. Mike walks her to Team Quick. Coaches Beiste and Sylvester join them.

Coach Washington and Ms. Pillsbury sit with Team Lovans. Everyone looks at Mr. Shue, including the band. He grasps at straws. "The band! What about the band?!"

There's six band members and once again it's a tie. Mr. Shue can't hide any longer. As he opens his mouth, the bell rings for first period. He blows out a breath in relief. "Go to class!" He rushes off to his own.

Team Quick eyes Team Lovans and walks towards the left exit, while the latter team heads for the right. Mercedes shakes her head. These people are crazy!

As she heads out, Quinn and Puck are waiting for her. Quinn speaks. "I'll see you at lunch right?"

Mercedes nods. She smiles shyly. "Do you wanna come with us, Puck?"

He grins widely. "Sure do, Mama!"

"Won't you be bored?" Quinn sneers.

Puck frowns at her. "No. Mama is a great tutor. Our Trig. teacher blew a gasket Monday when I turned in my homework in on time and correct. I think I'll like to do that to the rest of my teachers."

Mercedes hugs him. "I'm so happy for you! I'll help you study anytime!"

Puck kisses her softly. "Lunch in the library then."

Quinn kisses her, too. "See you later."

Mercedes keeps her surprise to herself. She jumps when someone clears their throat. Sam and Santana are behind her.

"If they get lunch, we want dinner!" Santana demands.

"I'm having dinner with my mom. I haven't seen her a lot this past week."

"How about study hall?" Sam suggests.

"You still need help with your Spanish?" Mercedes asks him. He nods. "Well you are lucky cuz Tana and I are the best Spanish speakers in this school!"

He grins. "Love you, Mercy! See you fifth period!" He kisses her.

"We have AP English for third, crazy!"

"Oh right!" He hits his forehead. He kisses her again. "See you third period!"

"I'll see you in fourth period." Santana kisses Mercedes. She and Sam walk off.

Mercedes is stunned. She's never kissed Santana before…

"Better be careful or you'll get mono again!"

Mercedes whirls around. "Mike! Stop that!"

He laughs. "Can I walk you to class or will Team Lovans lynch me?"

She loops her arm through his and sets off down the hall. "You know this is crazy, right? I can't believe everyone chose sides!"

"Kurt opened the floodgates."

"I know! I was hoping no one would say anything and then BOOM! It's a full out war."

"I doubt it'll be a war, Merce." He shakes his dark head to hide his laughter.

"You know how the club is. And Coach Roz and Coach are crazy!" She shudders and walks through the door of their class. She finds an empty table and sits. "I just know this is going to end ugly."

He says nothing as he sits beside her. She stares at him weirdly. "What?"

"Why are you Team Quick?"

"Puck's my bro." He shrugs simply.

"So is Sam."

His eyes are troubled. "You know why."

She turns him so that he's facing her. "I'd rather hear you say it."

He takes a deep breath to do just that when their Calculus teacher bursts into the room, apologizing for being late. They both face the front as the moment is gone.