Chapter 2 (Welcome to McKinley)
A/N: Hey guys, I'm back. We will actually be getting into the show during this chapter. I will be following canon but there will be changes. Hope you like it
Disclaimer: The song used does not belong to me nor does the Glee plot or any recognizable characters.
"Jessica!" Aunt Terri's shrill voice wakes me up. Where am I? Then everything starts rushing back. My parents, the accident. I choked back the tears, I was sick of feeling sad all the time. Today was the first day of my new life.
"Jessica." Aunt Terri calls again as she walks into the room. "Oh good, you're awake. I have to leave to go to work. Will is in the kitchen making breakfast. He took a couple of days off to be here with you, don't waste it." And with that she was off. I could just make out what she said to Uncle Will as she left, "There. Nice enough for you?" No wonder she seemed so friendly. Or less malicious I guess.
I've never liked my aunt. Don't get me wrong, I tried, I really did, but from the first time I met her she rubbed me the wrong way. I still think Uncle Will could do way better, but then again, who am I to judge? I've never even been on a date.
I yawned as I got up from the couch. I'm definitely sleeping in the guest room tonight, I thought, since my back cracked as I stretched. I stumbled my way into the kitchen, following the delicious smell.
"Whatcha making?" I asked my uncle as I entered the room.
"Your favorite, chocolate chip pancakes." He grinned as I cheered. He always knew how to make me smile.
"You don't have to take off work just for me. I'd be okay." I felt guilty for taking away from his job.
"Jessie, first of all I'm taking time off for myself too and secondly I want to be here for you."
"Thanks," I said as I hugged him. After being told where the dishes were, I grabbed two plates and brought them over. Once we each had a stack of pancakes on our plates we headed over to the table.
"Ewwwww," I said, "I still can't believe you like syrup on your pancakes. Gross."
"Me? You're the weird one." He replied as he dramatically licked the syrup off his fork. We both laughed before finishing our food.
We spent the day unpacking what was now my room together. It was tedious but we got through it, singing songs and playing games.
"Thanks for helping." I said as we sat on the couch watching TV.
"Of course. But Jessie, we do need to discuss when you're going to start going to school here. I don't want to rush you, you deserve a break, but you can't put it off forever."
"I know. Actually, how soon can I be enrolled? I want something to take my mind off everything."
He seemed surprised, but recovered quickly. "Well it would probably take a few days to get all your information transferred and the paperwork filled out, but if you're really interested I can see if I can take you in with me as a sort of tour of the school."
"Sure, that sounds cool."
"You're taking Spanish right?"
"Sí señor." I smiled as he laughed.
"Well, there you go, you already know one teacher."
We spent the rest of the afternoon watching whatever came on TV until Terri got home. We ordered Arby's so no one had to cook and once I finished my delicious chocolate turnover I decided to explore the back yard. It was small mostly just the porch and a few patches of grass, but it was so peaceful.
Now that I was alone the tears I had held in all day let themselves out. It was so hard, acting like everything was normal and okay when it wasn't. How could everyone keep going on with their lives as mine went out of control?
I wiped my eyes and looked at the sky, just focusing on my breathing. Once I managed to get my tears under control, I did what came naturally. I sang.
(A/N: What Jessica sings will be italicized, what Mr. Shue sings will be bold and when they sing together it will be underlined.)
(Drink a beer: Luke Bryan)
When I got the news today
I didn't know what to say
So I just hung up the phone
I took a walk to clear my head
This is where the walking led
Can't believe you're really gone
Don't feel like going home
So I'm gonna sit right here
On the edge of this pier
And watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
Funny how the good ones go
Too soon but the good lord knows
The reasons why, I guess
Sometimes the greater plan
Is kinda hard to understand
Right now it don't make sense
Can't make it all make sense
So I'm gonna sit right here
On the edge of this pier
And watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
So long my friend
Until we meet again
I'll remember you
And all the times that we used to
Sit right here
On the edge of this pier
And watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
Drink a beer
Drink a beer
"It's so hard." I cried into Uncle Will's shirt as he hugged me.
"Shhh, I know sweetheart, I know."
I woke up the next day to the familiar sound of my alarm. I had convinced Uncle Will to let me tour the school with him today. Though it was earlier than what I was used to for the past couple weeks, it wasn't hard to wake up since I actually had something to do today. Now the hard part was actually getting myself to get out of bed.
I got dressed and grabbed my phone before heading out and making toast for myself and my uncle. As I was buttering the bread Uncle Will entered the room, still in his pj's.
"You know we don't have to leave for another half hour right?" He asked as he stole a slice of toast.
"I know, I wasn't tired." That was a lie, part of me wanted to just lie in bed all day and cry, but I knew my parents would want me to get on with my life. That was the same reason I forced a smile on my face as we ate our food.
As Uncle Will went back to his room to get ready I laid down on the couch and played games on my phone while simultaneously snap chatting Lilly who complained about how early it was.
I managed to avoid Terri altogether, ducking down under a blanket when she passed through the room. Childish I know, but I didn't feel like dealing with her today.
"Alright Jessie," Uncle Will called. "Time to go."
I was silent for most of the ride to the school, not excited anymore but nervous instead.
"You haven't," I started, "told anyone about… about mom and dad yet have you?"
"No, why?"
"I just… I don't want anyone to know. At least not yet. I don't want to have to answer questions about it, I just wanna pretend everything's normal." I explained.
"I understand, Jessie. I won't tell the other teachers or students. However, I do think when you start that we should set up sessions for you with the guidance counselor."
I tried to protest, but once Uncle Will put his foot down, that was that.
As we entered the school parking lot, I took a deep breath. The school was huge. There were other kids everywhere, well duh, I told myself, of course there are. Uncle Will got out of the car and I clambered after him. As we headed towards the school I felt like everyone was watching me but I knew I was being paranoid. They probably didn't even notice I was there.
As we passed a group of boys, Uncle Will decided to say hi.
"Hey guys. Making some new friends, Kurt?"
"He sure is, Mr. Shue." A jock with a mohawk answered. That was obviously a lie.
Uncle Will just kept going, "Hey, Finn, you still owe me that report on-" Then he said something in Spanish. God I was rusty, I only picked out the word summer.
Finn was also confused, "What?"
"What you did last summer." Uncle Will answered.
I jogged to keep up with Uncle Will, but turned to look back at the group of boys. The odd one out, what was his name? Lucas? Curtis? I don't know, but I watched him take off his jacket and hand it to one of the other boys before being thrown in the dumpster.
What kind of school was this?
"Come on, Jess." Uncle Will called from ahead and I spun and ran to catch up to him.
As we walked down the hallways Uncle Will pointed out different room and places, though I probably wouldn't remember any of it. We did, however, stop at a portrait of a woman next to a Show Choir Championships trophy in the trophy case.
"We won this in Glee club." Uncle Will stated.
"We?"
"I was part of it."
"What exactly is Glee club anyway?" My old school didn't have a glee club, at least as far as I know.
"It's an arts program," He explained. "You sing and perform at different competitions throughout the region. You know, with your voice you'd probably be really good at it."
I shot that idea down immediately. "Uh-uh no way. It'll be hard enough to make friends and catch up on schoolwork without having to take part in some performing group."
"Well if you change your mind I'd be happy to help you get in. You know, I've always wanted to coach the glee club."
"Yeah, yeah, Mr. High School Glee Star."
After being shown around and receiving many questioning looks I hung out with Uncle Will in his classroom. I had nowhere else to go so I just sat with him as he went through his classes. Let me just say that I was very happy to escape the repetitive loop of Spanish review when Uncle Will had a planning period. Plus him having to explain three times now why I was in his room. Haven't even enrolled here yet and I was sure there would be gossip about the new girl.
Stop being paranoid, I told myself as I followed Uncle Will to the teacher's lounge.
I had been surprised that I would be allowed in the Teacher's Lounge. Yay for special advantages for being related to a teacher I guess. Or that the principal knew my situation since he had to approve Uncle Will's absence and took pity on us.
"What happened to the coffee pot?" Uncle Will asked as we entered the room.
"Figgins got rid of it, budget cuts." Some guy (gym teacher?) answered.
"Why leave the coffee machine?" I questioned, it made no sense.
"Who's this Schuester?"
"Oh this is my niece, Jessica. She's moving in with me."
"Jess," I corrected, "and it's nice to meet you." You know this fake smile thing is getting a little easier every time.
He smiled and shook my hand as a tall blonde woman in a black track suit strided into the room.
"Hello boys. Who needs a pick-me-up?" She started to explain how to make the perfect latte when she looked up and noticed me. "And who might this be?"
"I'm Jessica, Will is my uncle."
"It can't be, your hair looks nothing like the monstrosity that is eating Will's head as we speak." She replied with a smirk.
Uncle Will just shook his head so I assumed this was a normal thing.
"Hi Emma," the gym teacher chimed happily as a red head entered the room.
"Hey," she replied quietly. "Oh, are you the Jessie I've heard so much about?" And now two people call me Jessie.
"Yeah, I'm Jessica." I told her.
"Will told me you're enrolling. If you ever need anything, make sure to come see me." She must have seen my questioning glance because she explained. "I'm the guidance counselor."
"Oh okay. Cool. Hey, Uncle Will, is it all right if I look around the school? I promise I won't disturb any classes, I just want to get a feel for this place."
"You? Cause trouble?" He asked sarcastically. "Sure, just keep your phone on you."
I wandered the halls for a bit before finding a wall of informational papers. I grabbed a map, so I could at least wander with purpose.
After another ten minutes or so of that, I decided to look for the band room. Uncle Will had told me they had a really good orchestra program here and I was excited to see what it was like.
I found the band room and peered through the little windows on the sides of the doors and saw that there were a lot of people in there, must be a band class. Since I didn't want to disturb their class and felt like a creeper staring at people through the window, I continued down the hall.
I was walking down a different hallway, lost, when the bell rang and students started pouring out of their classes and into the hall.
Panicking, I reached for the first door I saw without people in the doorway and rushed through. I sighed with relief when I saw that there was no one in here. As I looked around, I realized this wasn't a typical classroom.
For one thing there were no desks anywhere in the room, just a few chairs and stools. My eyes widened as I looked at the grand piano sitting in the middle of the room. Tears came to my eyes as I approached it and I angrily rubbed them away. My mom had always wanted a piano. Dad and I were planning on getting one for her birthday this year, I was so excited to see what she would think. I guess now I'll never know.
"Who are you?" a voice startled me from behind, but I didn't turn around so they couldn't see my face.
"Doesn't matter." I snapped.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what I did to make you mad but I need the choir room to rehearse." The girl said.
Rehearse? Maybe she was in orchestra. I discreetly checked my phone to make sure it didn't look like I was crying before turning and facing her. She had straight brown hair and brown eyes, though I was disappointed to see that she didn't hold an instrument case of any kind.
"Sorry, I've had a rough day." I apologized as I realized that she was right. I was being mean.
She flashed me a bright smile and replied, "It's okay, besides I've had a lot of practice facing adversity. I'm Rachel Berry."
"Jessica Smith."
"You wouldn't happen to play piano would you? I want to practice the song I'm going to use when a new glee director is found."
"New glee director?" I asked confused.
"The old one, Mr. Ryerson, got fired."
"Why?"
"It wasn't me!" She exclaimed.
"Ooookkkaayy." I replied awkwardly.
"Okay, I did, but we needed someone new to run the Glee Club. Mr. Ryerson wasn't good enough and he couldn't see my obvious star potential."
"Okay," I replied, not sure what to think, but I had no clue who this guy was anyway. "Well, if you want, I play violin. If you have sheet music and a spare violin I can play for you."
"That would be great, look this through so you'll be able to keep up." She stated before rushing out of the room in search of what I assumed was a violin I could use. As I looked through the folder she shoved at me I saw she had the music for a couple of instruments. I couldn't help but wonder why, it wasn't likely that she played them all.
Once I found the violin 1 part I took it and looked through it. It didn't look too hard, adding in the fact that it was a little on the slow side.
By the time Rachel reentered the room with a violin case I was itching to play something.
Once I was done tuning the random violin she had found, Rachel sang a little so I could get the tempo and then we started. There were a few rough patches because I was a bit rusty but for the most part it was really good. Especially with Rachel's voice. I honestly didn't think she needed to practice anymore, and I told her that.
"You're amazing," I praised.
She smiled, "Thanks. You're not too bad yourself, not as good as me of course, but it sounded really pretty." As she took the music to On My Own back from me she continued to speak. "What grade are you in? I don't think I've seen you in any of my classes."
"Oh, I'm a freshman but I just moved here so you wouldn't have seen me."
"Well, let me be the first to welcome you to McKinley High. I hope I see you when you start classes." And with that she was gone, she had muttered something about cleaning slushy off her locker. I don't know why, she must have spilled it or something.
I was distracted as I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. Uncle Will had texted saying 9th period was almost over and that I should come back to his room.
I hadn't been sure about whether I wanted to come here or not, what with the guy being thrown in the dumpster and all, but playing with Rachel had helped. I felt like I could be something here. I just hoped it wasn't an illusion.