Title: Ready to Love Again – Pilot
Chapter: 1. Red-Head Mystery
Universe: Ready to Love Again
Author: readytoloveagain
Rating: PG: 13 / T
Word Count: 1921
Pairings: Will/Emma, Ken/Shannon (Trust me!)
Disclaimer: I don't own glee – which is a shame because it needs sorting out at the moment doesn't it?
Story Summary: This year is going to be different for Will Schuester and all because the red-headed guidance counsellor taught him the best thing you can do in the world is fall in love with your new best friend.
Episode Summary: Usually the start of the school year is boring for Will Schuester but not this year, Glee club is up for grabs and a red-headed guidance counsellor has joined the school causing something to stir in him that he hasn't felt in a long time.
Authors Note: I have always been fascinated by AU stories (sometimes I prefer them to cannon) and this thought has been in my head for a while now – what would happen to Wemma if Will hadn't married Terri and it was Emma's first year at McKinley when Glee started? How different would Wemma's relationship be?
Chapter 1: Red-Head Mystery
It doesn't matter if you are a student or teacher the first day back at school will always be manic.
"Good morning Ken" Will greeted his friend as he walked through the door leading to the staff's cafeteria.
"I don't see anything good about this morning Schuester" Ken grumbled staring wishfully at the empty coffee station.
"What happened to the coffee pot?" Will asked.
"Budget cuts! I know for a fact that they are still getting coffee at Carmel, I think we should strike!"
"Ken" Will said a little bemusedly.
"Yeah, well you haven't gone out on a date in 3 years so..."Ken shrugged "you're not allowed to talk"
"Where the hell did that come from?"
"Sorry, the coffee is just the tip of the iceberg"
"Why? What's happened?" Will asked as he sat at a vacant table, Ken following him.
"Figgins called me into his office to me that I'm going to have a co-captain to help me run the team!" Ken replied affronted by what's happened to him.
Will nodded sympathetically but wasn't surprised since his friend was coaching the worst high school team in the state.
"Ouch – you still have your job though right?"
"Yeah, I'm a minority – I can't get fired" He assured Will "But that's not the worse part. They've brought in a chic, dude!"
Will really tried not to laugh but the look on Ken's face was just too funny.
"Did they?" Will coughed to cover a laugh sneaking its way out his body.
"Yeah, I feel like my masculinity is being ripped away from me... well you would know all about that"
"Ken" Will warned.
"Please, you're not even with Terri anymore but she is still ruling your life!"
"How?" Will asked not sure how the subject changed to this.
"Dude, she screwed you up so much that you haven't been on a date in 3 years!"
Will just rolled his eyes but couldn't dispute the fact.
"Hell she even ruined your rebound!"
"Don't call Shelby that!" Will defended.
"She was though! And then Shelby broke up with you and what did you do? Go back to Terri for a one night stand!"
"Thanks Ken, I really needed to be reminded of that!" Will dropped his head at all the mistakes he made just after he broke up with Terri, but now he was over that, his 'Terri' years fully behind him – even though Terri couldn't get that in her mind.
"She's still controlling your love life now!"
"Oh really? How?" Will asked even though he knew the answer.
"You haven't been with anyone for 3 years now!"
"I already told you this Ken – I'm not going to sleep with some random girl!"
"I know, you're searching for 'Miss Right' but still it's been 3 years!"
"Why do you even care?" Will asked with a knowing look in his eye.
"Because you are my friend and after what Terri did to you..."
"Or because you want to change the subject from you!" Will cut in, smirking at his friends face dropping.
"I..." Ken gulped "I just... I need a coffee" He looked hopefully at the coffee station almost as if a coffee pot would appear – it didn't causing him to moan in despair again.
"In need of a pick me up?" Sue Sylvester appeared holding 4 cups of Starbucks coffee in one of those cardboard holders.
"Thanks Sue" Ken leaped at the offered coffee as Will took his nodding his thanks.
"Oooo... lattés" Ken appreciated as he took a sip.
"Well the secret to the perfect latté is the temperature – I like mine scolding"
Will just nodded along to Sue's ramble while thankful that they had never had a confrontation, Sue was definitely not one you would want to cross, Will can tell that she could definitely hold a grudge when she wanted to.
He tuned himself out of the conversation Ken & Sue were talking about – it had something to do with the Cheerio's over spending their budget or something that really didn't interest him. He just sipped his latté thinking that Sue might be right about the milk temperature when she came in causing him to pause mid-sip.
His first thought was how she could easily be the most beautiful women he had ever seen.
How her red hair fell perfectly by her shoulders and swayed slightly as she moved to a free table and the light breeze from the open window continued to play with it as she sat down, Will idly thought if it was as soft as it looked and how it would feel between his fingers.
She looked towards him then almost as if she could tell he was gazing at her, she blushed slightly when they locked eyes making her face glow with the soft raising sun rays falling on her – almost as if they had been searching for her – she was literally taking his breath away from him.
He smiled slightly at her and she smiled back before reverting her gaze to something in her bag.
"Will!" His attention was briefly reverted back to Ken who was now alone – Sue must have gone while he was gazing at the mysterious red-headed women.
"Hmmm?" Will intellectually replied.
Ken whistled lowly when he saw who Will was looking at.
"Do you think she could be my new co-captain?" He asked hopefully.
"NO!" Will replied suddenly, he did not like the way Ken was looking at her, like she was just an object.
"OK!" Ken jumped slightly at Will's response "Those heels wouldn't be appropriate anyway."
Will nodded as he tried to stop looking at her – just couldn't"
He never felt like this before his heart was beating fast and he felt like butterflies were fluttering all around in his stomach.
"You think I should ask her out on a date?" Ken asked.
"What?" Will's attention snapped back to Ken who was smirking slightly.
"Actually I won't bother – wouldn't stand a chance at getting the girl with you around especially with you gazing at her like that"
"I don't know what you are talking about"
"Yeah you do Will" Ken smiled "I also know she is looking at you right now."
His gaze snapped back to her to find that Ken was right, the red-head's beautiful brown eyes widened at being caught but smiled sheepishly as Will chuckled under his breath, she was enchanting.
"God you are making me feel like I'm in high school Will" Ken complained.
"We are" Will smirked slightly.
"As students" Ken shot back "Here's a crazy idea... why don't you just talk to her?"
"I... I can't" Will replied still gazing at her smiling as she kept blushing as she tried to keep herself busy.
"Why can't you? It beats staring at her like an idiot!"
Will was just about to reply when Figgins came in with a woman behind him who was dressed in a polo shirt & shorts, she had a whistle around her neck.
Ken scowled as he came to the same conclusion as Will – this was the new football coach.
Figgins spotted Ken and Will in amongst the staff cafeteria which had steadily been filling for a while now.
"Ken, I would like you to meet your new co-captain" Figgins gestured to the women behind him.
Ken stood up to 'politely' shake her head.
"Ken Tanaka"
"Shannon Beiste – it's French"
Ken just grunted as a response as Will looked on in amusement at the scene in front of him. He turned his head and caught the eye of the mysterious red head who was also looking at the meeting with amusement as well. They shared a smile before Will was hit on the back by Ken subtly.
"OW!" Will exclaimed regrettably turning from the 'red-head' to face Figgins and Beiste looking at him strangely.
He stared at Ken evilly before giving a feeble excuse "Hit my leg on the table"
"Should be more careful William" Figgins warned as Will nodded his agreement. "Oh where are my manners?" Figgins exclaimed "Let me introduce you – Will this is Shannon Beiste the new co-captain of the school's football team, Shannon this is Will Schuester teacher of Spanish"
"Nice to meet you" Will extended his hand as Shannon shook it.
"You too"
"Well if you excuse me, I should start the meeting – oh and Ken before I forgot could you show Shannon around the school?"
"I..."
"Thanks" Figgins walked off before Ken could finish his answer.
Will couched to cover a laugh again at the look on Ken's face before turning to Shannon who was still standing up, looking a bit fierce but Will could see it was masking uncertainly.
"Why don't you sit down?" Will offered as Ken shot him a look and Shannon smiled gratefully.
"Thanks"
"First days are always hard" Will sympathized.
"At least I'm not the only one who's first day it is"
Will automatically turned to the red-headed woman who was talking to politely to one of the maths teachers – she didn't seem to like this conversation though.
"And we've lost him again" Ken muttered making at face at the back of his friends head causing Shannon to chuckle.
"Does he know her?" Shannon asked
"Nope" Ken shook his head "he's just too much of a chicken to talk to her though."
"I am not" Will turned his head suddenly back to Ken causing him to jump.
"Oh really?" Ken shared a smirk with Shannon "Prove it"
Will was about to respond when Figgins got everyone's attention.
"Welcome back to a new academic year everyone!" He said cheerfully and only got groans in response, he continued anyway though.
"Right before I start the staff meeting I want to welcome two new additions to the McKinley High family."
"Coach Shannon Beiste - who is going to co-captain the football team with Coach Tanaka."
Shannon nodded to the mummers of welcome as Figgins carried on, capturing Will's full attention as he gestured to the women he had been staring at on and off for the past minutes or so.
"And Emma Pillsbury who is the new guidance counsellor"
Will smiled brightly as Emma ducked her head blushing again.
Emma
Will can see how she's an Emma.
She looked sideways catching him looking at her again she smiled shyly again before turning her attention to Figgins who carried on with the staff meeting.
Much to Ken & Shannon's amusement Will spent most of the meeting watching Emma instead of paying attention to the meeting which caused him to almost jump out of his skin when the bell rang to signify the first warning bell before first period.
The staff quickly went their way to their way to their classrooms but Will stayed where he was nodding his goodbye to Shannon & Ken as they left to start the tour of McKinley.
Will was just about to go over to Emma when Figgins called him.
"Schue!"
He gulped thinking that he was going to get told off for the not paying attention to the staff meeting but it was that...
"You are free first period?"
Will nodded "Yeah"
"Do you mind giving a tour of the school ground to Miss Pillsbury? I would but I have a meeting with Rachel Berry soon"
He looked over to Emma who was quickly packing her things away, her hair falling in front of her face making him have a sudden urge to tuck it behind her ear.
"I don't mind at all"
So what did you guys think? Want me to continue? Please Review (NO FLAMES!) Fluffy Wemma will be coming your way =) And a HUGE thank you for Rebecca for beta'ing and Jenna & everyone of Glee forum for encouragement with this flick! :D PLEASE REVIEW! (NO FLAMES!)