This is a story I've been planning out in my head for about a month, I have only just gotten the chance to start writing it. I have fair bit of leeway in this story so far in the planning so if there's anything you want to see just let me know and I'll see what I can do. I hope you guys enjoy! (:

Dear Diary,

I've finally gotten all of my boxes unpacked and everything organized in my room, not without a few moments of panic I assure you. First, I had thought Dad had put my box of Captain America and X-Men sheets in storage; thankfully Judy found them mixed with boxes of Dad's things. Second, it began to pour as I took my boxes of comic out of the moving van, once I got them all into the house I checked for any damage; I was happy to find non had been hurt, they now safely rest in their new home in my room's walk in closet. Who needs that much room for clothes anyhow?

Tomorrow is my first day at McKinley. Judy said Quinn would show me around but I don't think Quinn likes me very much so I'll probably end up showing myself around and getting lost. Hopefully I'll like it there as much as I did at Carmel. I already miss glee club and comic club. Maybe McKinley might have those too. I'll find out tomorrow. Hopefully, Quinn will show me around so I won't miss my classes because I got lost which frequently occurred my first month as a freshman at Carmel. Let's hope tomorrow goes well.

Goodnight,

Brittany S. Pierce

P.S: Lord Tubbington, please stop smoking cigarettes in my new room. If you're going to smoke, smoke outside. Please.


"Come on Queen of the Nerds, you're making me late." I wasn't even half way through my bowl of Lucky Charms, cereal first and saving the marshmallows for last, when Quinn's impatient voice echoes through the kitchen.

According to the microwave clock it wasn't even quarter after seven. "How could you possibly be late? School doesn't start 'til eight-thirty." I ask, frankly quite puzzled at how it would take us a full hour to get to school before the first bell at eight-fifteen if we only lived less than eight minutes away. Driving the speed limit of twenty-five miles per hour we lived exactly seven minutes and thirty-two seconds away, barring any traffic jams or children running into traffic.

"I have Cheerios practice that starts", she looks at the microwave, "in nine minutes. So hurry up and get ready or you're walking." She walks away with a slight huff, grabbing her gym bag off the floor.

So much for saving the best for last; I rush down my lucky charms and chug my glass of apple juice before running upstairs to get ready for school. Luckily, I had chosen my 'first day at McKinley' outfit last might before I went to bed last night.

Reaching my room I throw off my sweats I had put on after my shower and replace them with a white storm trooper t-shirt and black classic fit jeans. I do a quick run through my hair with a brush, hoping to get rid of any frizziness. I grab my bag off my bedroom before rushing down the hall.

As I jogged out of the house, messenger banging into my knees as I go, I notice Quinn waving to a vehicle that just pulled away from next door.

"Took you long enough." She says before getting behind the wheel of her red Volkswagen Beetle, rolling her eyes.

Clearly I was right in my theory. Quinn Fabray definitely did not like me very much.


The atmosphere in the car on the way to school was just as uncomfortable as it had been in the kitchen. My attempt to make conversation with my new step-sister was quickly gunned down like things that got in the way when Scott Summers opened his eyes.

"Listen, I don't care if you're my step-sister or not. We're not friends. So unless we're at home with my Mom and Dan and you absolutely have to talk to me, don't speak to me unless spoken to, don't sit by me in the classes we have together or at lunch. Comprende?"

Quinn's voice was frighteningly intimidating, causing a slip in the stutter that had taken me two-thirds of junior high and freshman year to get rid off. "C-Comprende."

Neither of us spoke the rest of the five minutes it took to get there. Quinn was clearly not going the speed limit so we had managed to get there in five minutes and thirteen seconds. I would have to say it was slightly impressive given the morning commuter traffic. Once we had reached the parking lot Quinn was out of sight before I had even reached the front entrance.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the front door unlocked and the secretary in her office. Thankfully there had been arrows on the walls pointing towards the direction of the office. Otherwise I would have been waiting a half an hour until another student showed up to ask.

I had been sitting on a bench just down from my newly distributed locker comparing my schedule with a copy of Quinn's Judy had given to me after dinner the night before, we had two classes together (AP Chemistry and AP English), when a short brunette girl came into my line of sight. It became apparent that she had noticed me as well as she began to walk towards me with a large smile on her face.

"Hello there," She said as I took the time to notice what she was wearing. Her lack of fashion sense was a little frightening, especially considering the fact this was coming from a girl whose outfits consisted of comic book character or other nerdy ideas t-shirts, jeans, and workout clothes. "My name is Rachel Berry and welcome to McKinley. I've never seen you before so I would assume you're new to our humble high school."

"Uh, yes" was all I could think of to say. Her enthusiasm was a bit daunting.

"And you are?"

"Oh," I put my hand out for a handshake that is eagerly acceptable. "Brittany S. Pierce."

My name is barely out of my mouth before her eye widen in shock. "Oh my goodness, I didn't recognize you with glasses." I wasn't surprised at that, most people didn't. "You were the best dancer and assistant choreographer for Vocal Adrenaline since you were only a freshman! You're absolutely amazing!"

An undeniable blush creeps up on my face as I mumble out a thank you. If it was dancing praise that I was receiving I was always became a little embarrassed. I'd like to think it was because most people thought that self-proclaimed nerds like me had no co-ordination and could never dance themselves out of a cardboard box like I could. If I was ever grateful for my mother for anything it was for putting me into my first dance class at the age of three.

"Well as the captain of our glee club New Directions I'd like to invite you to join our club. We have a practice today after school to discus our plans for sectionals. We meet right after seventh period in the choir room."

Before I even had the chance to notice the hall was filling with students or to answer her we were both hit with a wall of liquid. It was so cold that it burned my face and my eyes, glasses could only protect me so much. As I tried to wipe it off it wasn't completely a liquid, it was grape slushy; I could taste the grape on my lips. Clearly today wasn't the best day to have worn a white shirt. I didn't get the chance to open my eyes before I heard yelling approaching.

"Azimo! Karofsky! What the hell do you think you two knuckle heads are doing?" The voice coming to our defence was surprisingly female.

"Showing the new nerd girl here what she has to look forward to if she joins that gay ass club you and your freak of a cousin Berry run." One of them snickers.

"Well the two of you better get out of here before I go all Lima Heights Adjacent on your pathetic doughboy asses. Comprende?" The use of the Spanish phrase reminds me of my conversation, or lack of, with Quinn this morning causing a shiver to go through me.

"Don't worry, we'll get you again later when the Queen's bitch ain't around." The other one says with a deep laugh. I hear the two boys' large feet scuffle away, causing me to release a breath I hadn't noticed I was holding.

I try to open my eyes to get a look at my heroine but I'm quickly stopped, "Don't open them. It will only make the burning worse." The mystery girl says, "Rachel, take her to the bathroom and help her get cleaned up. There should be two of my extra t-shirts in your book bag. It might be a little small for your friend but it'll do. I'll see you at home, tell Schue I've got practice today but I'll be there tomorrow."

As I listen to her I can feel my heart beginning to flutter, her voice is husky yet it has this smooth like honey quality to it. It makes butterflies appear in my stomach.

"Thanks S." Rachel replies appreciatively.

"No problem." She replies, suddenly I feel a hand on my damp shoulder. "Welcome to McKinley."


Except for the fact that I was walking around in a stranger's too small black McKinley Athletics t-shirt and I hadn't had the opportunity to ask Rachel who said stranger was the rest of the school day went by fairly smooth. I had only gotten lost once the entire day, which by my standards was a miracle.

The whole day I had argued with myself back and worth whether to go to audition for the glee club, I wasn't entirely sure if the slushy facials would be worth it. My mind was only made up once I overheard in the hallway at lunch. A smiling African American girl around my age and a clearly gay boy were discussing the rumour of Rachel inviting Vocal Adrenaline's best dancer and McKinley's newest student to join glee club.

"That'll show Jesse St. James not to mess with New Directions, especially Rachel Berry." The girl had said with a clear hint of disgust in her voice.

"Hail Barbra." The boy let out a laugh, "Nobody gives Rachel an egg shampoo and rinse unless it's me."

At the mention of the eggs I instantly knew who Rachel Berry was. Her name had sounded familiar this morning but after the slushy incident I never had the time to question it. They were both right, Jesse St. James was a pompous asshat that needed to be put in his place.

And I was going to be the one to help them do it.

That was exactly how I ended up standing in front of a dozen people showing off my best hip-hop moves to prove myself worthy of being a member of the New Directions. I hadn't even gotten the chance to get to my pop-and-lock before the teacher who ran the club stopped me.

"That is absolutely fantastic, Brittany! Clearly, you're very talented." Everyone in the room clapped, the football player with the Mohawk wolf whistled causing a blush to creep up on my cheeks for the second time that day.

"But what I'm sure everyone here is wondering is if you can sing? Dancing is a big part of what we do but singing is the key piece of our performance."

I can't help but swallow the lump in my throat; this had almost been a problem when I joined Vocal Adrenaline. But I had been lucky enough then that we had enough talented singers to cover the void I created when I lip-synced. But with a group this small I don't think lip-syncing was going to cut it.

"Uhm, I'm not tone deaf and can carry a tune if that's what you're trying to ask." I reply nervously. "When I was in VA there were enough of us that I never actually had to sing, so to be honest I really don't have singing experience but I can try."

He looked back to his team, earning a nod form both Rachel and the girl I had overheard in the hallway. "Well Brittany," he pauses to give me a wide grin. "Welcome to the New Directions!"


"Brittany, could you come here for a second please?" The teacher who I had learnt was Mr. Schuester called out to me just as I was about to leave the choir room.

I turned around to see him standing beside the piano with Rachel and Mercedes, "No problem, what's up?" I asked as I walked towards them.

"We were wondering if we could talk to you about the history of our glee club and why it's unique if you didn't mind." Mercedes answers with a smile.

"I'm all ears."

"Well there are three captains of the,"

"But I thought Rachel," I accidently cut Mercedes off. I forgot to mention I have a filter problem. "Sorry." I blush slightly in embarrassment.

"She is." Mercedes chuckles, "But so are me and Santana."

"Who's Santana?" I might not be great with names but that one I'm sure I'd remember.

"She's my cousin." Rachel answers, "You're wearing her shirt."

"Oh," My embarrassment levels were rising again. "Oh why wasn't she here then?" Santana's previous comment to Rachel about having practice was completely forgotten.

"She's on the varsity lacrosse team so her practices clash with glee club sometimes, usually once every two weeks." Rachel answers quickly.

"Anyways, on with the story," Mercedes chuckles again. "There used to be two glee clubs at McKinley, New Directions and an all female group called the Trouble Tones. Santana, Tina, Sugar and I used to be a part of them as well as a group of Cheerios and lacrosse players that chose to not to become part of this club when the school's budget couldn't handle two glee club. Santana was the only athlete who chose to stay. We were the co-captains of the Trouble Tones so that's why we have three captains to represent both parts of the group."

"Well that sounds pretty awesome, beating the other teams together rather than having to beat each other." I smile.

"The reason why they're telling you this is because we want you to understand that we're not trying to single you out when we ask you if you wouldn't mind the three of them helping you with your singing." Mr. Shuester finally cuts into the conversation.

"We've all worked really hard for this, as one team and as two, to not let you be an asset to this team but we need you to be more than just a dancer. We need you to be a dancer, a singer, and a team player. And we know that just by being on Vocal Adrenaline alone, not even seeing your audition today that you're willing to work hard at this." Mercedes continues on, trying to help him make his point as best as possible.

I can't help but grin widely, I know what it felt like to need to prove yourself and how hard they were working. I got the same feeling every time I took my glasses off to dance; the feeling that if you just work your ass off and make sure you have a good time doing it could make you capable of anything.

"So when do we start?" I chuckle, knowing that if this first meeting was any indication, I was in for one interesting school year.


"Dad?" I call out as I close the front door behind me. I received no answer but I could hear a small commotion coming from the kitchen, "Dad?"

I pop my head in through the doorway to find Judy managing numerous pots and pulling something out of the oven. Dad was attempting to tie the tie I had bought him last fall for receiving tenure at Ohio State.

"Dad? Why are you putting on a tie now, didn't you just get home from work?"

He clearly hears me as he turns to look at me, his face expressing a look of fear and panic, "because we're having an important dinner tonight." He says quickly before taking my elbow and ushering me out of the kitchen.

"What important dinner?" I ask as he motions for me to go upstairs, I don't speak again until we're in the confines of my bedroom. "What dinner are you talking about Dad?"

"I'm sorry, liefje. I forgot all I didn't want Judy to know I forgot. We're having a family dinner to celebrate us being finished the move and your first day of school and probably a whole bunch of other things I can't remember."

"If it's family dinner then why are you getting dressed up? Then what am I supposed to wear?"

"You're a girl, I'm sure you've got something to wear."

"Dad, the only dressy thing I own is my Padme Amidala wedding dress replica and I am NOT wearing that anywhere near food! And you didn't say why we we're dressing up!"

"Well, find something Bumble Bee. And because Quinn's girlfriend is here, so Judy's making it more fancy cause we have company. Now hurry, Judy is bound to say it's ready at any moment." He was out the door without another word.

After searching through my dresser I managed to find a pair of dress pairs from last year's dance recital number but no shirts that could have been deemed appropriate could be found. Thinking of no other option I went to my dad and Judy's room to borrow one of my Dad's dress shirts. I was lucky enough that my father was a kind of scrawny but tall guy so his shirt would only be a tad bit too big on me.

Plain white dress shirt in hand I left the room only to be stopped by my curiosity about the voices coming from behind the door of Quinn's room across from my own.

"Come on babe, please." Quinn wines ever so slightly. "Can't we just skip this dinner and go right to your place for dessert?" Quinn's voice was barely audible but even Beethoven could have heard the suggestiveness in her tone.

"No, Quinn. We've got to stay here. I've got to meet them some time and you need to learn to get along with them."

I knew that voice; it had that honey like smoothness with an edge that couldn't be replicated.

Oh my Galileo, this was going to be an unusual family dinner.