Started my daily ficlets to make the hiatus pass, then decided to keep going with a 2nd cycle, and then a 3rd, 4th, etc through 35th cycle. Now cycle 36!

Had the idea for this cycle back in July or August where I thought it'd be interesting to do a set inspired by tarot cards. My initial research then directed me to the cards of the Major Arcana, of which there were 22, so I combined two, which got me to 21, making this a cycle-long set of stories. Then I did more research, to find out about each of those cards, and what they can represent. Now I need to point out that it's a more or less basic approach. I don't go into the reverse meaning or other things, just this part. ** If you would like the document of info I've collected and based myself on, let me know and I'll send it, since it covers the next three weeks' worth of stories. ** Lastly, in connection to the first card, 'The Fool', and the journey through those other cards, this entire cycle will feature, in lead or supporting form, one Brittany S. Pierce...

"Never Flew So High"
Brittany, Brittana, etc
Boston Britt series #3 (sequel to "The Home Wall")

1. To the Skies
or 'The Hanged Man'

Dear Brittany,

Happy five-month Bostonversary! We still can't believe it's been this long since you've been with us in the choir room. You'd think we would have gotten used to it by now, but every time we sit in those chairs, we remember when you were with us. I guess you'll have heard about Alexandra and her 'fabulous exit.' We don't really miss her, and Santana hasn't stopped smiling all week. At least she helped us get through Sectionals, now we just need to find someone else so we can go to Regionals… just don't remind Santana, she's in a good place right now without having to think about yet another person coming in to join us that isn't you. Kurt insists he's trying to talk Blaine into transferring, so maybe we won't have that problem anymore. I'm not sure how she feels about him though…

Thank you again for coming down to see us at Sectionals! You were our good luck charm, and we heard you scream louder than anyone in that audience when they said our name. And we're already working out the trip to come and see your showcase in a few weeks, so don't worry, we'll be there… We can scream loud, too!

Mike's going around taking pictures of everyone while I'm writing this, and I've had to stop a few times to pose already. You'll find all those along with the letter, and I hope they'll make you happy. In the meantime, you just keep going at that school, we keep saying it but we're so proud! For Lima!

Take care, can't wait to see you,

Tina

X

Brittany could feel her sides cramping from laughter as she sat up on the top bunk which was her bed, watching below as Aimee chased Tessa around the room, trying to get a box of cookies from her. They both laughed, too, so it wasn't like Aimee was upset, she just really wanted those cookies… Finally she'd tricked Tessa, tackling her on to the single bed and pinning her while she victoriously wrenched the box from her hands and held it up in the air. Brittany clapped and hollered while her roommates collapsed back with chuckles. Aimee ate one cookie, then passed another to Tessa. Brittany smiled, turning back to stick Tina's letter on the wall before looking through the pictures. It was weird to say it like this, as it had just been five months since she'd left, but they all kind of looked older, like they'd changed. A haircut here, new clothes there… Kurt looked taller every time she saw him, though maybe that was just his hair giving him the edge.

She stuck the pictures up, having to take a few down. They had sent her so many over the last few months, her poor Home Wall couldn't support them all anymore. So she'd invested in a photo album. When she would take pictures down to make way for new ones, she would put them – usually the oldest ones – into the album, which she kept on the book shelf they'd installed, just within her reach.

She couldn't believe it had been five months either. The first few weeks had been so hard that she felt the passing of each day, of each hour almost, like they couldn't end… But then her friends had come to visit her, then her mother, her grandfather, her father and stepmother and sisters… Even Brad had come, once, with his wife and daughters. And though she did continue missing them every day, it wasn't the same… It didn't make her feel like crying anymore, just anxious to share with them how things were going, finding out how things were on their end… and the days had turned into weeks, which turned into months, and there she was… Her classes had become more interesting to her all of a sudden, which Santana would tell her was because she was finally letting herself enjoy it, wasn't worrying about the rest so much. And that was completely true. She was happy, and that made her soar… Others noticed, too.

A few days had gone by since she'd gotten Tina's letter, when she started to notice something. It was oddly reminiscent of the feeling she'd had when she kept seeing James Maurizio, formerly referred to as 'Green Scarf Man' before she found out he was there to invite her to audition for the school. But she was already at the school, so why would anyone be looking at her like that now?

Apparently her guardian angel in the green scarf wasn't done looking after her, because he'd spoken of her to an old friend who was now in charge of a dance company looking for 'new blood, fresh talent.' And now the woman, later identified as Sherry Weston, had come in to observe her in action. It hadn't sunk in, what it could mean for her, not until Sherry had taken her aside, and they sat together, and then they talked. She was very impressed with Brittany, had been hearing from others too who said that as good as she was when she'd come to them, she had gotten so much better over just a few short months. Obviously she wouldn't dream of intervening when the girl was on such a climb already and could climb further and further, but if Brittany was interested, she would put the wheels in motion, make arrangements with the school so she could share her time to some degree, until such a time, after graduating or maybe even before, when she could come and join them… permanently.

Brittany was speechless. Sherry gave her a smile and her card and told her to think about it and get back to her… and then she was gone. Brittany walked like she was on auto pilot, back to her room, still staring at the card. People bumped into her a couple of times, and she absently excused herself before going on. When she got back to the room and opened the door she heard a gasp and saw the comforter on Aimee's bed spasm with motion underneath. "S-sorry, didn't mean to…" she turned back to the door, auto pilot telling her to just get out of there.

"No, it's, uh… okay," Tessa's voice called her back, slightly out of breath.

"Just give us a minute?" Aimee's voice followed. Brittany stood facing the door until she was told to turn around. The two girls sat back on the bed, still straightening up their clothes, taming the dishevelled hair. "Everything alright? We weren't expecting you until…" Brittany didn't say a thing, instead presented them with the card.

"Holy sh… Sherry Weston?" Tessa startled, seeing the name. "She was here?" Brittany nodded. "What did she want?" Brittany retold the whole encounter, sitting on the edge of the bed when Aimee invited her to. When she was done, her roommates looked about to congratulate her, but she must have been wearing her hesitation on her face, because they went another way. "Brittany, you have to do it. If Weston wants you…" Aimee put her hand on Tessa's shoulder as though to say 'stop, before you pass out.' "It's a great opportunity," she still put in.

"No, I know," Brittany nodded.

"So what's the problem? Do you want to go?" Aimee asked.

"Of course I do…" there was no hesitation on that part. If the first few weeks had been hard for her to get past her doubts over herself, over pursuing this, the last few months had helped her in asserting herself, in growing more confident. But it didn't change the other part, the one that felt such a strong connection with her roots. "But if I do this…" she paused, her eyes turning up to the walls that surrounded her bed up above before they turned back to her roommates. "Then I'm never going back to Lima, am I?"

TO BE CONTINUED (TOMORROW)