Sam and Mercedes sat in her car outside Kurt's house going over their plan. They had driven there separately, but Sam had hopped in Mercedes' car once he got there to make sure everything would go smoothly. Kurt had invited Mercedes earlier, and she took the opportunity to bring Sam by claiming she was already hanging out with him. She was not, of course, but she immediately contacted Sam to get him to Kurt's.

"Look, boy, I know you and Kurt ain't hardly ever hung out before, but hopefully this won't be too awkward or nothin'."

"Yeah, I know. This is just me gettin' my foot in the door," Sam recited back to Mercedes what he had been convincing himself of all week.

"Sometimes I feel like I've been trying a little too hard to be matchmaker for you two," Mercedes said with an eyeroll that was more for herself than Sam, "but I know Kurt's dissatisfied with Blaine, and I know you're an amazing gentleman who's been secretly pining for my best friend for months. I guess what I'm saying is, it might take a while, but go get 'im."

Sam just grinned at Mercedes, and the two of them got out of the car and headed to Kurt's.

Kurt bounded to the door after hearing the doorbell ring. He had invited Mercedes over but was not surprised to see Sam with her. She said she had been hanging out with him, and Kurt did not expect her to ditch anyone.

"Hey, boo!" Mercedes came in for a hug.

"Hey, Kurt," Sam gave him a self-conscious smile, "I hope you don't mind I tagged along?"

"No, of course not. We're friends too, aren't we?" Kurt gave Sam a friendly smile then led his two guests inside. He was a little surprised when he texted Mercedes and she told him she was hanging out with Sam, but did not say anything at the time. He had never simply hung out with Sam before, but it did not bother him. Kurt was not too prone to awkwardness.

Kurt gave Sam a quick whirlwind tour of his house since he had never been there, then the three settled in the living room. Over the course of the afternoon, Kurt and Mercedes got absorbed in their own topics only the two of them could follow, and Kurt could not help noticing that though Sam seemed pretty good at getting in a comment or a laugh here and there, he was obviously feeling a little left out. Kurt felt bad, but Sam had tagged along and presumably knew what he was getting himself into. Kurt had not been joking when he said one must always be a good host the other night, though, so eventually he found a good opportunity to draw Sam further into the conversation.

"So you two have been hanging out a lot lately," Kurt said in a tone that he made sure would not sound too accusatory. Sam and Mercedes looked at each other and laughed.

"Yeah, I guess so. We've sorta become good friends since prom," Mercedes explained.

"Good friends?" Kurt insisted playfully.

Sam smiled and nudged Mercedes next to him. "Naw, nothin' like that," he answered confidently, "we're friends. I guess you could say Mercedes is my confidante now."

Kurt raised an eyebrow, but saw that neither of them had acted awkwardly after he implied anything about their relationship. He was not sure he could believe that Sam Evans, quarterback and once Ken to Quinn's Barbie, could have a female best friend, but here it was in front of him. It somehow made Kurt more comfortable around Sam, though. And Sam seemed looser now that he was being included, too, and that pleased Kurt as well.

The three of them spent the afternoon together, and after Kurt brought up Sam and Mercedes' friendship, Sam was much more involved. Sam and Mercedes had a secret plan to execute, though. Just as it was getting dark, Mercedes went in the other room to take a call. When she came back, she told the boys that had been her mom on the phone, reminding her she had to come home soon because they had family coming into town that night.

"So you have to go?" Kurt was disappointed.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, Kurt," Mercedes was genuinely sorry to see him disappointed when she was actually lying to him, but she had to stick to the plan.

"Okay, it's fine, I understand," Kurt looked around at Sam, "Did you come together?"

Sam had been looking away during Kurt and Mercedes' exchange but looked up at Kurt to answer him, "No, we took separate cars, so I don't have to go. I mean, if you want me to, that's fine too," Sam blushed as he started to get flustered with himself, "but I just mean I don't have to, I mean, I don't know."

It was all Mercedes could do not to laugh. Sam was bright red. Kurt just smiled and looked questioningly at Mercedes. "Sam, calm down. You can stay."

Sam buried his head in a pillow while Kurt went and saw Mercedes off. "So what was that?" Kurt had come back, and Sam turned to look when he heard his voice.

"Sorry," Sam forced out a laugh. "I just, I don't know, I didn't wanna be a bother." He stole a sidelong glance at Kurt.

"For goodness sake, Sam," Kurt huffed as he plopped onto the couch next to the other boy, "Don't you remember when I gave you my clothes? And you're worried about being a bother by hanging out here?"

"Yeah, I know. And I hope I wasn't a bother then, either. I'm sure I already said my piece about it, but you don't know how much I appreciate all your help when I was staying in that motel."

Kurt looked at Sam closely while he spoke. Sam was not looking Kurt in the eyes while he said all this, and Kurt could really see the shame the boy next to him still felt about his family's problems. Sam was such a charming boy. Kurt remembered too how sweet Sam had been to him at the beginning of the year when all he knew about Kurt was that he was the token gay boy. It was strange. They had only meaningfully interacted a few notable times over the school year, but those times had been potently meaningful to Kurt: being accepted unquestioningly by Sam and supporting Sam during a troubled time for him. And now here they were, hanging out alone in Kurt's living room.

"Yeah, I know you appreciate it, Sam," Kurt told him and put his hand on Sam's shoulder, "but I couldn't just leave a friend in need without helping out."

"Thanks, Kurt. And you know, I'd do the same for you any time. You're a good guy, and I wanna return the favor. If you ever need help with anything at all, I'll be ready to help in a heartbeat, even if it's just as a shoulder to lean on," Sam smiled at him.

Kurt was touched by Sam's sincerity.

"I…well I may take you up on that offer sometime, Sam."

Kurt knew Sam's coming over with Mercedes was fortuitous because he felt something new in this boy across from him. From that moment on, something changed between Kurt and Sam. Kurt knew Sam meant what he said when he offered his hypothetical support, and he made a mental note to get closer to Sam. He saw something new starting between them.