"I'm not for sale." The words rang in his ears.

Sam Evan's first thought - he wanted to wipe the smirk off that pompous asshole's face, whoever the hell he was. Get suspended on the first day back? So worth it to kick the crap out of this guy wearing a month's rent on his back. Bet he never had to worry about money to buy his little brother a pair of shoes.

His second thought - why is everybody looking like "I can't believe he said that out loud" and not like "what's he talking about?" So everybody in this room knows about White Chocolate. Sam wanted to beat the shit out of Finn Hudson.

His third thought – does Mercedes know? She had this new boyfriend people keep talking about but still, she should hear it from him. He picked up his things and walked out. Of course, he had no idea where she was so he sent her a text. "911. SE" A reply came back almost immediately. "317" He walked to the classroom and heard the TroubleTones practicing inside.

"What's the emergency?" Was she flushed from practice or excited to see him? "I can't stay out long. Sectionals, you know." She smiled, a smile more beautiful than he remembered.

"I need a favor." Do the easy thing first, he thought. 'Course in his life there are so few easy things left. "I'm staying with Finn and that's not working out. I need a place to live. Can you please help me?"

"Okay." He could tell she wanted to ask why but she didn't. "You can use my dad's office. It's private from the house and there's a bathroom. He's cutting back on his practice and never uses it anymore. I'll tell them you're coming. Come around six and everything will be set." She glanced back into the practice room and then at him. "Anything else?"

"No, that's it."

"Are you sure? I have a little time." She looked at him with concern radiating from her deep brown eyes, and gently laid a hand on his arm.

"I'm sure." he said turning away. "Thank you."

"Anytime." she said wearing a sad expression.

Sam looked around his new home, aka Mercedes' dad's office. It had a separate entrance off the front porch so he had his own key. It was a decent size room, enough room for a pull out sofa and a desk. There was a row of cabinets against the back wall was a kitchenette. The refrigerator was clean but empty. He decided to pick up groceries tomorrow. There was also a full bathroom. This was a nicer setup than Finn's house.

He was surprised by a knock on the door, he hoped it was Mercedes but found himself looking up at the Shane Tinsley, the guy he had heard so much about.

"Mercedes asked me to invite you over for dinner." he said and started walking away without waiting for a reply. "Her folks are out so..."

Five minutes later Shane was sitting at the dining room table, glaring at Sam, a white boy that can't take a hint. Didn't he know he wasn't wanted right here, right now?

"So why are you here, exactly?" Shane asked.

"Here as in Lima," Sam asked "or here as in this house?"

"I have a good idea of why you're in this house, as opposed to Hudson's. Here in Lima is what I meant."

"I came back for New Directions. To sing in Sectionals." Mercedes looked at him and then quickly back to her plate.

"And that's it?"

"Yes." Sam said. So that's that, Mercedes thought.

"I thought you and Mercy were close, back early summer." She looked at Sam and then at Shane, studying him.

"Yes, we were." Sam said. "Very close."

"Then why is it..." Shane picked up a forkful of mashed potatoes, chewed and swallowed, making them wait until he finished. "Why is it you came back specifically to take away one of the few things at that school that makes my baby happy? And you're doing that for Hudson? After all the smack he-" Shane stopped suddenly and smiled at Mercedes. "Sorry, it was just some locker room trash talk. Not worth repeating."

"That's okay, honey." She smiled at him. "Just wanted to know if you wanted desert?"

"You know I do!" He gently stroked her cheek. "Did I smell pie when I came in?"

"Sweet potato. It's actually Sam's grandmother's recipe."

"Oh." He paused, dramatically, significantly. "You made pie together, too?"

Mercedes and Sam both blushed. Shane did not like that reaction at all. It was time to reinforce the point he was making. "So, Evans, you're competing against Mercy at Sectionals, just to make Hudson happy? Guess it doesn't matter much to you if..."

"I'm not competing at Sectionals." Sam interrupted.

"You're not?" Mercedes asked, shocked. "You love to sing!"

"There are some things more important that a singing contest. I don't owe Finn anything, not anymore. He bounced his friendship check. They can draft another band kid. They don't even bother to learn their names, like they're disposable, worthless, nothing. They treat them like a piece of meat." He looked at Mercedes. "I'd rather see somebody I can trust win, somebody who'll help without question and want nothing in return."

"I'll get the pie." Mercedes said standing up abruptly.

"I'll help." Shane and Sam said at the same time. She looked from one boy to the other.

"You're company." she said to Sam. "Thank you. Shane." They left the room, holding hands.