The first thing Quinn noticed once inside was that the ceiling was high. Ridiculously so. Like six-times-her-own-height high. Her eyes automatically made their way upwards. It was all made of wood with large beam for support that were crossing themselves perpendicularly. She could only hope there would be no fire during her time there.
The front doors they came through brought them inside a hall that went all the way across the building. From where they were standing, they could see the windows on the other side, still a good fifty feet away, open to a large field accommodated for different sports. Quinn could see a soccer field, a track and farther away, something that look like baseball, or softball field.
They took a few steps inside on the broad flagstones the floor was made of. It wasn't marble, or anything like that, but it was a nice light grey, very pleasing to the eye. One of the stone near the center of the room was engraved. The inscription read: St-Colette's School for Girls founded in 1867 Operantes in amore et sapientia. Quinn had made her research and she knew that the school renamed itself in the 1980's due to the fact that no sisters taught there anymore, and probably to broaden their cultural horizon as well. But they did keep the original values of the community: hard work, love and wisdom.
Portraits and pictures lined up the walls. Probably famous alumni that graduated from the school. There were a few boards that spelled the names of honorary students, or winning teams.
She turned to her mom who was taking in the details as well. Once she noticed her daughter looking her way, she smiled.
"Now I understand why that school cost so much."
"Yeah, and the fact that it's always ranked in the country's top 30 academically has nothing to do with it."
"That must help also. Where to now?"
"Mom, you are aware that this is my first time here too, right?"
"Oh yes, sorry, it's just that I'm a bit disoriented."
The two blonde women looked around again, trying to get an indication as to where they should go. There was a corridor on their left and one on their right as well as a large staircase on that side. It led an overhead balcony that seemed to be part of the second floor, sort of like a bridge between the two parts of the building divided by the great hall. Quinn realized it meant the hall's ceiling was two stories high.
"What do you think, up?" Judy asked.
"I think our best bet is this way." Quinn pointed to the corridor on their left.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because it's written Administration above it."
"Good thinking. See, I always knew you were bright, you'll fit right in."
Judy walked with a decided pace towards the archway, leaving Quinn behind to roll her eyes and follow her mother.
Their research were quickly over because the first thing they encountered was a large counter on their right and behind was a woman who must have been in her fifties. She was occupied with her computer and didn't notice the two blonde women at first. Judy cleared her throat. Nothing. She tried again. Still no response.
"Excuse me."
Startled, the woman brought a hand to her heart and finally turned around.
"Dear, I really didn't see you there, you both scared the death out of me."
Quinn looked perplexed.
"Don't we usually say: scared the life out of me?"
The woman got up from her chair, came closer to her and gave her all her attention.
"I always thought that expression made no sense. When your heart jumps like that, isn't it a clear sign that you're alive?"
Quinn's eyebrows bunched while she took in what the woman said.
"I guess. I've never seen it that way."
"Don't worry about it. Now, what are you two lovelies here for?"
She looked between the two of them. Judy put an arm around her daughter's shoulder spoke up again.
"We are here for her. She is transferring an another school."
The woman's eyes lit up in understanding. She sat back in her chair and browsed paper on her desk.
"Ah, yes! We were waiting for you. I have everything you need right here, somewhere, if I can find it…"
She went through her whole desk, lifting papers, the phone and even her keyboard.
"Where did I put that thing?"
She stopped searching. Her index went to her temple as her eyes closed. Then, suddenly, she shot up straight and went to her sorter.
"Of course, I put it right there to be sure I wouldn't forget it."
She took the folder that was sitting by itself on top of the furniture.
"All right, Fabray, is it?"
"Yes, Quinn Fabray."
She put the folder on the counter and opened it explaining what everything was.
"So in here you've got your basic schedule. It goes from 8am to 2pm with an hour at lunch. It's all the classes you already chose. For the rest of the afternoon, until 5, you will have to choose one art and one sport class. Here, this is the list of your choices and where they take place in the school, so you can try whichever you'd like before you make your decision. We do ask that you hand in your choices for next Monday."
Quinn glance at the list briefly but noted that cheerleading was not one of the sports she could take part of. Great, she thought, I'm gonna be the new girl that nobody wants on their team. I've never tried anything else, what if I suck?
"Quinn, are you listening to the lady?" Her mother brought her out of her thoughts.
"Yeah, of course, sorry."
"It's quite alright my dear. Now, we've included a plan of the campus. It's not that big but it can be intimidating for new girls. We are here right now. In this wing you'll find most of your daily classes. The others will all be in the Matthews where you'll also find the library. This building is where the rooms are, with the cafeteria. Over here you've got the gyms and the training room, and the Belleville is the arts pavilion."
Quinn's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"You guys have a whole pavilion for arts?"
"Yes, well the original school was a lot smaller and its vocation changed a bit to include a heavy accents on arts and sports and not just academics. So they build an auditorium, which was required anyway because there were to many students to still do the school's gathering in Charity Hall, and at the same time they added music rooms and smaller practice rooms for drama etc. Anyway, back in the present, this is the school's rulebook. It is required for you to read it carefully and once you've done that, we ask you to sign this here."
"Am I selling my soul here?"
"Lucy Quinn Fabray! Don't be so condescending!" Her mother said indignantly.
"Sorry, it just seems so formal."
"It's just a contract of sort that you make with the school so we know that if you break any of the rules, you've done it knowing what you were engaging yourself into."
"That is a very sensible thing to do." Judy agreed.
"Inside, there's basically all the information about the inner workings of this place, like what time curfew is and how to have authorization to leave school grounds, etc. So, do you have any questions so far?"
Quinn thought about it. She did have questions, lots of them, but she didn't know by which end to start. Anyway, most of them she'd rather ask to a student.
"Where do I put my luggage?"