Mourning

Mourning is the ninth episode of Season One. It aired on November 28, 2017.

Synopsis
Three days after Zandra and Arden end things, Mina asks Zandra out on a date. She says yes and they decide on going to Breadstix for dinner. Throughout their few hours together, they learn more about each other. Mina realizes she's falling for her and confesses. Zandra feels the same, but thinks she's moving too fast. They agree to take things slow for a few weeks before getting serious. While Mina is walking her home, she mentions Arden and asks if anything went on between them. Zandra says no as she doesn't want to out her and tells her they had always been friends, but time had brought them a part. Mina believes her and kisses her cheek before dropping her off at her house.

In other news, Brendon surprises Kitty with a four day trip to Miami, Florida for their one month anniversary. Kitty thinks that it's too much so fast, but agrees to go. She grows hesitant when he shows her the tickets and sees that the trip will land through the day of regionals. Brendon feels horrible about Kitty possibly missing her own competition, but guilt trips her into still wanting to go. The following day, Kitty informs the club of her and Brendon's trip, upsetting all of them. Regionals is exactly one month away and the last thing they wanna do is compete in their second competition without her. Knowing she'll feel horrible for letting Brendon down, Kitty still plans on doing something about it.

Rebecca's parents show up to the hall where Michael is being held at and inform him that the man he claimed to have shot was indeed her. They also disclose his real name, Markus Brown, and proceed to telling Michael about his past. Markus was adopted at six and ever since, he's been trouble. He was bullied all throughout middle school and decided to toughen up and do same to others when he reached high school. Markus had been suspended far too many times to continue his education and dropped out halfway through his senior year. During his time at home, he got so bored that he would create fake accounts on several social media websites and message people in the area while posing as a random woman. That being said, they weren't surprised when they got the call that he had been shot and killed. When Michael's parents get to the hall, Markus' parents offer to bail him out and drop all of his charges. They agree, but Michael is grounded for the rest of his life.

The New Directions finally decide on a setlist for regionals and begin practicing. After rehearsals, everyone gets into small groups to make campaign posters for Maddie. Gina interrupts their fun by walking in and demanding her team to hang up posters around the choir room. Kitty informs her that she's not allowed to put things up on the walls unless she has permission and asks her to leave. Zandra emphasizes her words and steps up to Gina. She gets in her face and tells her to stay in her place and leave Maddie alone or she'll snitch to Will about her bullying. Gina doubts she'll go that far and refers to herself as McKinley's future homecoming queen as she leaves the room. Maddie thanks Zandra for standing up for her and hugs her.

When Kitty gets home, she finds Brendon in her living room. She asks how he got in as they don't live together and he says he found the backup key under the doormat. Spooked, Kitty advises him that she wants to be there for the New Directions at regionals before politely asking him to leave. When Brendon refuses, Kitty takes matters into her own hands and breaks up with him. She runs upstairs to find all of his gifts to return. When she gets back, he slaps her in the face and tells her that she can't break up with him or he'll kill himself. Kitty feels horrible and decides to stay with him. The last thing she wants is to be responsible for someone's death, but she now has a bigger problem to worry about - the bruise on her cheek.

After dinner, Tanisha and Malaki sit Glen down in the living room. Glen is terrified as they describe it as serious, but knows he deserves to be yelled at. Instead of coming at him, they reveal that Malaki was once incarcerated. At his same age, he was unknowingly involved in Ohio's biggest drug cartel scandal to date. Malaki was arrested and thrown in prison for four years without hesitation, a huge part of the reason why being his skin color. Him along with sixteen other inmates were freed after a worldwide protest took place in support of the wrongly jailed minors. Glen understands and explains why he shot the gun in the first place as he never got the chance. While Tanisha grounds him for two months, Malaki forgives him and hopes he can learn from such a scary experience.