A/N: Quinn finally makes it to McKinley! Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or it's characters. Glee belongs to FOX and its creators.
In Melliville Quinn hadn't been the most popular girl in school but she was well known and well liked by many and was likely the most popular Sophomore aside from her closets friends. Grade school and the beginning of middle school had been rough. Quinn had been different from most of the kids in school, she liked to read and kept to herself. However eventually she learned that to survive in school you had to socialize, friends also meant more time away from home so at the end of sixth grade she began to change herself. She forced herself to hang out with the other kids at school, she joined some school clubs including cheerleading, and slowly but surely she turned from the loner to one of the most popular kids at Mellville Middle School. Of course it helped that she was really really good at cheerleading as well as dancing. She was also just nice to people, for the most part. Many of her cheerleader friends weren't exactly mean but not friendly either. A select few thought being a cheerleader made them special, better than everyone else in the school, Quinn didn't hold this belief. So she talked to anyone who'd approach her and was kind. Her sarcasm and cutting whit was only ever released on those who deserved it, who were mean to her or one of her friends. So she got the reputation of being the nice cheerleader that you didn't want to cross. With her status and friends already established she had thought she would be able to cruise through school and then graduate and get out of Ohio, but now everything had changed.
Now she stood in front of McKinley High, her new school, the school she was starting at almost halfway through the school year and pregnant. She had heard Rachel talk about McKinley and the hierarchy here rivaled the one at her old school. She thought no where could be as class based as Augustus Whitehead High School, but from what Rachel said she may have been wrong, Quinn prayed that Rachel was just being over dramatic, like usual.
Sighing Quinn shut the door to her car and threw her backpack over her shoulder. Judy had offered to come in with her for the first day, for the meeting with Principal Figgins, but Quinn declined the offer. If she wanted to at least have a chance at surviving McKinley she did not want to start with her mommy taking her to school. She had thought that Rachel would drive with her but the brunette had said "believe me it would be better for you to go by yourself for the first couple days, I'm kind of a social status killer." Quinn had said she didn't care, that it was stupid for Hiram to take Rachel to school or for her to take the bus when Quinn had a car. But Rachel had been insistent on giving Quinn at least the tiniest of chances of not becoming a loser like her. It hurt Quinn's heart a little to see Rachel talk so, to say such horrible things about herself. Rachel maybe annoying as hell but she wasn't a loser. She was driven and that was an admirable quality. Quinn however was proud to see Rachel leave for school in one of her new outfits, maybe that would help the girl.
Entering the school she first noticed the girls running around in the their cheerleading uniforms Quinn couldn't help but roll her eyes. Whitehead High had won the National Championship last year under her Captaincy and she had never nor thought to make her girls run around in their uniforms all the time. To Quinn cheerleaders represented the school spirit, the whole school, and wearing the uniforms constantly created segregation, and cheerleaders should not be segregated from the student body, how could they represent the school accurately if they were separate from them, put on a pedestal above. It made sense to wear uniforms on game days or competition days but not everyday.
Narrowly missing a jock in a hockey jersey Quinn made her way towards the main office. When she got there she saw Rachel waiting. She gave Quinn a big smile. "I wanted to wish you luck before you started. Hope we share some classes, even if you are mostly in seminar classes."
"Thanks Rachel. You look great by the way. See you later." Rachel looked around and then quickly gave Quinn a hug before scurrying away. Quinn shook her head at the girl's antics before heading inside the office. There were three people waiting for her. The first was an Indian man Quinn knew to be principal Figgins, next to him was a red hair woman in a cute dress, and next to her was a taller gentleman with short tight curly hair and in Quinn's opinion an oversized chin, though he was still handsome, for a teacher anyway.
"Lucy Quinn Fabray it is nice to meet you." Principal Figgins shook her hand and then ushered her to take a seat. "Just Quinn please, sir."
"Of course. We received your schedule from Whitehead High and have matched it to our classes the best we could. You are in seminar classes for everything but Math. Unfortunately psychology isn't offered this year, rather it is sociology, we have enrolled you in that class. The teacher will help you catch up, likely with extra work over Christmas break. You are more than welcome to continue psychology when it is offered next year. We also manage to enroll you in photography. We see that you were in French 5 at your old school. The highest we offer here is French 4. We offer Spanish, Latin, and German if you'd like to take one of those. We do require two years of language regardless of the level you enter the school at. "
"I'm already fluent in Spanish and Latin so I guess German, I've always been interested in it."
"You're fluent in Spanish and French?" Principal Figgins looked shocked. Quinn wasn't surprised. Most people were surprised. Learning a second language at a young age in America was rare, but her father had thought it was important. Though he didn't like Latinos he wasn't a dumb man and knew it was important for Quinn to know how to speak the language so he'd enrolled her in Spanish lessons at five and then in second grade she discovered Latin and asked for lessons in that, in sixth grade she had taken up French because she'd taken all the Latin levels offered. Quinn loved language so she was actually excited to take something new, specifically language that was not a Romance language.
"I'm really good at languages and I started at five."
"Alright I'll have you enrolled in German 1 today. This is Miss. Pillsbury she is school counselor she can help sign you up for extracurriculars and should you need to talk about your situation," he motioned towards her stomach, "she can speak with you. "
"We can meet after school today to go over the clubs. It is nice to meet you Quinn." Quinn gave the woman a firm handshake and smiled, "Thanks."
"And this is Mr. Schuester. Spanish teacher, Glee Club coach, and your homeroom teacher. He will take you there now. Do you have any question for us?"
"No. Thanks I'm good."
"Great. Welcome to McKinley High Ms. Fabray."
The walk to homeroom was mainly quiet except for when Mr. Shuester pointed out some of the classrooms. "That's the choir room, we have Glee club there. Rachel tells me you sing." Quinn shook her head and held back a groan. She should have expected Rachel to tell the glee coach that she was a singer, all Rachel had done since the mall was beg Quinn to join the club.
"Yes, I sing some." Quinn replied.
"Think you will join our club?" Mr. Shuester looked excited at the possibility of another student in his club, but Quinn couldn't do it. She really didn't sing anymore. She'd only done it at the mall as a way to survive. There had been a time when she'd sing constantly, but that had ended years ago.
"No, I'm think I'll only join one or two clubs and then get a job." Mr. Shuester visibly deflated, but there was nothing Quinn could do for him. She was not going to join that club.
"Here we are, room 213. Homeroom starts at 7:35. First period at 7:50. You can take any seat you like in there, but once you pick a spot I would appreciate it if you would remain there for the rest of the year. It makes it easier for attendance."
Taking a deep breath Quinn entered the room after Mr. Shuester. He quickly introduced her to the class and then told her to take a seat. Scanning the room she saw an open spot next to a tall boy with spiky hair and a dopey grin on his face. For such a big kid he had the babiest face she'd ever seen on a sophomore maybe even a freshman. Sliding in her seat she saw a hand come into her line of vison. "Finn Hudson. My mom is friends with your mother." Looking up Quinn met his eyes. They were kind and soft pools of blue. Gently she took his hand. "Quinn."
"Yeah, my mom told me you'd be in school today. Your mom called last night, I think she wanted me to look after you."
Quinn groaned and rubbed her face, "I can take care of myself, I don't need a babysitter."
"Didn't think you did. But if you need anything I am here. McKinley it can be…" He paused a second.
"Like shark invest waters." Interrupted a thin brunette boy in front of Finn. His voice was soft and almost feminine in quality. He wore, what Quinn knew was name brand, high end clothes, that normally she would have thought looked stupid together but somehow he pulled off the black combat boots, skinny jeans, t-shirt, and vest look.
"I was going to say lion's den but that works too. Quinn Fabray this is Kurt Hummel."
Quinn gave a small smile and shook his hand as well, "Nice to meet you. So what do you two do here?" Quinn was pretty sure Finn was a jock as he was in a jersey, but she wasn't sure about Kurt. He looked bored with this place, she knew the feeling.
"I'm starting quarterback for the football team and co-captain of the glee club." Fin said proudly.
"I'm in glee club and the drama club." Kurt relied. Quinn wasn't surprised, his whole persona screamed 'dramatic' or 'diva' and she'd only know him about fifteen seconds.
"So you guys know Rachel?" Quinn said. As much as she didn't want to talk about Rachel, it was much easier to talk about her than to have the two brunette boys start asking about her life.
"Ah, our resident diva. Yes we know her well. Annoying." Kurt smirked at Finn who just looked away. Well that was interesting.
"You live with her right?" Finn asked instead.
"Well yes and no. I live with my mom now, and she lives in there garage apartment."
"Oh you poor thing, I can't imagine spending that much time with Rachel. Her ego must be suffocating." Alright, now Quinn wasn't the biggest Rachel fan in the world, but she didn't appreciate this boy making fun of the girl. Though Quinn hated it she had to admit that Rachel loved her mother and thought the world of her and for that Quinn guessed she had to be grateful to the brunette, to all the Berries, at least her mother had had a good family all these years.
"Just because you a pissed that she is not only a better singer but a better person than you doesn't give you the right to trash her. She's driven that's all, maybe you could learn something from her instead of complaining." Quinn bit out. She could see Finn trying to hold in his laugh. It looked as if Kurt was going to reply but the bell rang and Quinn exited the room quickly.
By lunch time Quinn had had three classes, seminar english, history, and sociology. She'd noticed two people who were in all three classes with her. A tall Asian boy that she thought the teacher called Mike and a Latino girl in a cheerleading outfit, who's name she'd yet to catch. Quinn had kept to herself in each of her classes, not wanting to get into anymore fights with people who may think Rachel was annoying.
Now it was lunch and apparently half the school had lunch fourth period, William McKinely was so much smaller than Whitehead had been. Walking into the room she saw that it was pure chaos but she instantly recognized the class system at work. Out in the courtyard she could see a see of different types of athletic jersey's and cheerleading outfits. On the steps she saw small groups of kids dressed either like Goths or Emos. Inside were the rest of the students. It was harder to determine the groups in here because all these kids dressed in average not distinguishing clothes. Deciding that she wanted sun and she didn't care what anyone thought Quinn headed outside. She could feel eyes watching her as she did so, like she'd felt them all day. Everyone was interested about the new girl but no one wanted to speak to her, well except Finn and Kurt. Finn had passed her a few times in the halls and waved to her and Quinn waved back, of course the cheerleader on his arm didn't seem to appreciate that much.
Quinn stopped a moment as the sun hit her face. Granted it was rather chilly this time of year outside, it was one of the warmer days and the sun felt strong. Walking towards and empty spot on the steps Quinn pulled out her lunch and book.
"What do you think you're doing out here?" A clip high pitched voice invaded Quinn's quiet.
Glancing up barely Quinn saw six or so cheerleaders standing in front of her, one was the Latina from her classes and the other was the girl on Finn's arm from earlier. Internally Quinn groaned. She hadn't been here a day and she was already being singled out by the cheer squad.
"Eating, what are you doing?" Quinn replied as she took a bite of her sandwich and leveled the girl in front of her with a disinterested glance. The girl with Finn and strawberry blonde with long legs shifted her weight and crossed her arms.
"Okay, I'm going to be nice here, because your new and clearly no one has told you the rules, but this area the courtyard is reserved for the athletes. No geeks aloud."
Glancing up at sea of black behind her Quinn smirked, "They don't look like athletes."
"They don't come based the second tier, they know there place. Now its time for you to leave." The girl demanded. Quinn instead of listening took another bite of her sandwich and then opened her vitamin water and took a sip, "Nah, I'm good. See I like the sun and since its not minus a million degrees today I am going to enjoy it. Now if you'd excuse me I have some reading to do." With that Quinn lent back against the concrete step behind her and pulled up her book and started reading.
She could hear some huffing and puffing, quietly she waited for the explosion she expected to come. Pissing off the cheerleaders on her first day probably wasn't the best idea, but she was Quinn Fabray and no one told her where to eat.
"How dare you. You will pay for talking back to me, do you know who I am."
Quinn didn't even look up from her book, "No and I don't care. Can you have your tantrum somewhere else your starting to annoy me."
This time she heard gasps come from the silent cheerleaders behind her. "Why you…"
"Hey Quinn, Marsha I see you met Quinn. She's my mom's friends daughter. She's really cool." Quinn was actually thankful for Finn's interruption. This Marsha girl didn't seem like she got told no much.
"Quinn you should come sit with us. I can introduce you to some of my friends." Finn smiled happily at her and then gave her a wink. Quinn had thought his timing was coincidence but clearly he had planned it at least a little. Quinn wanted to decline she did actually want to read, but she wanted to see the look on Marsha's face when she sat down at one of her all athletes tables.
"Sure Finn, thanks." Getting up Quinn smirked at Marsha as she followed Finn over to his table. There she saw the Asian kid from her classes along with a tall kid with a mohawk and a blonde kid with the biggest lips she'd ever seen. "Hey guys. This is Quinn she is new here. Quinn these are the guys. Mike, Puck, and Sam." Puck, the kid with mohawk slid closer and wrapped his arm around Quinn, "Welcome Quinn. Since your knew I can give you the tour, the grand tour, it includes everything every girl would want to see in Lima." Quinn shrugged him off, "I think I've seen all I want too." Standing again Quinn threw her bag over her back, "Sorry Finn but I can't breathe with all the ego wafting around here. Talk to you later." There was no way she was getting involved with Puck, no matter how good looking he was. He was clearly on the football team and Quinn was done with footballers, especially ones like Puck.
The rest of the day dragged on slowly. Quinn loved her photography teacher. There was this kid in a wheelchair, Artie, in there and he seemed pretty cool. He told her how he was in the AV club and the glee club. Quinn was starting to wonder if everyone was in the glee club, but she knew that wasn't so, because glee club was apparently not cool. She'd been walking down the hall only to see a short African American girl and Kurt get hit with what looked like slushies. Artie had been wheeling next to her and explained, "We, the glee club, are the targets of school. Only the jocks like Finn, Sam, and Marsha, don't get slushied, but they still get made fun of a lot for being in the club. Of course they probably won't last much longer in the club. Everyone already knows the Marsha is only in the club because of Finn. Sam I think actually likes the club."
Artie had also revealed that Marsha was the head cheerleader that was giving Rachel such a hard time, of course Arties said that it was obvious that Rachel had a crush on Finn. Quinn didn't comment, she didn't want to get involved. The apparent love triangle of Marsha, Finn, and Rachel was none of Quinn's business. Mike was also in Quinn's chemistry class but that was it for the rest of the day. Rachel had Math with Quinn as did Kurt, Santana, and the African American girl Artie said was Mercedes. In German her last class of the day Marsha was there also with Puck, Sam, and a blonde cheerleader named Brittany who didn't seem she knew what was going on at all. Finally it was the end of the day. Marsha had shot Quinn dirty looks all day but Finn had kept his girlfriend by his side the whole day.
All Quinn wanted to do was go home but she knew she had to meet with Miss. Pillsbury. She headed to the office just in time to see Mr. Schuester leaving. "Oh, hello Quinn. How was your first day?"
"Fine."
"Sure you won't change your mind about glee club?" He smiled at her kindly but Quinn still refused. "Sorry but its just not my thing."
Once in Miss Pillsbury's office Quinn knew instantly the woman was a clean freak, especially when she whipped off Quinn's chair with a whipie. "So Quinn have you given any thoughts to what clubs you would like to join? We have club time ever week on Tuesday's home room is an extended period until 8:05, you report to your club instead of homeroom if you have one. Then most clubs meet one or two times a week after school. You can choose multiple clubs, you just let your supervisor which club you will be going to for the extended homeroom period."
"Um… I guess the photography club. I was in it at my old school."
Miss Pillsbury wrote down her choose, "Any other clubs or sports. I know you can't play at the moment but they may let you be a manager."
Quinn shook her head, "No I will be getting a job soon, so I doubt I'll have the time. Thanks though."
"Would you like to talk about anything else. Your first day?"
Quinn folded her hands in her lap and shook her head, "No I am good. Thanks."
"Alright. Well if you need to talk ever feel free to come to me. Also photography club meets once a week after school on Wednesday."
Quinn left quickly and headed towards her car. As she left she noticed the cheerleaders practicing in the stadium. Curious she sat at the bottom of the furthest bleachers and watched. Marsha was good, but she didn't seem to have the greatest command of her team, they were often out of sink with her instructions. Then her round offs were low, she could get higher, and her landings at times were shaky and unsteady. As captain she should be much better, of course she was still a lot better than the rest of the squad, except for two. Santana and Brittany who were relegated to the back of the routine looked sharp and skilled. Quinn couldn't figure out why they weren't being featured more.
"Spying or wishing you could be as talented as my crew?" Quinn spun around to see a tall blonde woman glaring at her. She instantly knew who it was. Sue Sylvester had been the top coach in cheerleading for years, her squad at McKinley had won the Nationals year after year, that was until Quinn's team won last year. Sue had thrown a fit at the Championship and nearly had McKinley banned from this years tournament. Quinn had heard several of her best cheerleaders had transferred out after that.
"Even if you could call that talent I'm not spying." Quinn replied and walked away. She miss cheering a lot more than she liked to admit and watching the Cheerios as she learned they were called, made her wish for her old life, her old friends. Winning Nationals had been one of the best moments of her life. Now she'd probably never get to do it again. Stopping only briefly at her car Quinn watched as Brittany pulled off a perfect triple round off into a back hand spring. Sue Sylvester had lost her mojo if she wasn't featuring Brittany. Instead of dwelling on it any longer though Quinn got in her car and headed home, it was time to start looking for a job. She needed money incase things went sour with Judy and the Berries.
The knock on her office door startled Judy as she looked up from the rental papers she was going through. She was a little behind due to everything that had happened with Quinn coming back into her life. Judy was more than thrilled to have her little girl back, but backed up paper work was always hell.
"Come in." The door opened and Carol walked through with a smile on her face a small cake in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other.
"Carol, what?" Judy was confused as Carol placed the wine and cake on Judy's desk and then preceded to take out two plastic wine glasses from her bag.
"We are celebrating." Carol replied. "Your daughter is home Judy. Lucy is home. You've wanted this for ten years and now it is here and you've yet to properly celebrate." Carol poured both glasses to the top and handed one to Judy.
"Well I've…"
"I know you've been preoccupied with the problems that come with Lucy,"
"Quinn." Judy corrected.
"Quinn sneaking to your house entails. Like getting her school records with out tipping off Russell and dealing with her pneumonia, and the fact that well she doesn't exactly trust you."
"She doesn't trust me at all." Judy replied.
"For now. Anyway my point is, that Judy your little girl, the only daughter you have left, is safe and in your house. Take a moment and let that settle. Celebrate that your wish for the last ten years has finally come true. Celebrate that you are getting a second chance with you beautiful daughter. Celebrate that despite the pneumonia she is healthy. Celebrate that you, with time, can make her happy show her how much she is loved. Celebrate Judy."
Judy cracked a smile and then she started to beam. As much as she loved Lee, sometimes you needed a girlfriend, and Carol was the best. Yes it was time to celebrate. Quinn was home. "Cheers then to Quinn being home."
Carol clinked her glass to Judy's, "To my best friend getting her daughter back." The two laughed and downed their glasses. Carol filled them back up while Judy cut the cake and Judy finally got the chance to gush about how amazing her daughter is.
"She's gorgeous Carol," Judy said sliding over her smartphone which had a picture of Quinn smiling gently while she watched a movie on the couch. "Wow she is stunning." Carol replied.
"And so smart. She's in all seminar classes except for math which is honors. She likes photography and old movies. She is an advit reader, she rarely watches television, its books or old movies, or the news. She was the president of her class and Head cheerleader her freshman year." Judy smiled at all her daughters accomplishments.
"Sounds like a great kid. I wish Finn would have a little of her motivation to do well in school."
"Finn is a good student. He is quarterback and has glee." Judy reminded as she took a bite of the delicious red velvet cake. It latterly melted in her mouth. Carol was a great baker.
"I know, but he's grades could be better. Marsha has him on such a small leash. My son is whipped and I can't stand the girl." Carol admitted.
"Speaking of Finn I told him about Quinn and told him to look out for her." Judy smiled. She had a feeling Quinn didn't or wouldn't need the help but it made her feel better. She knew how cruel McKinley kids could be. They'd been slushieing Rachel for over a year now.
"Good, thank you she'll need all the friends she can get soon." Judy mumbled.
"Why? From what you said, Quinn should be ruling that school in days."
Judy sighed and ran her hand over he face as tears began to rise in her eyes again. Every once in awhile when she would think about it, Judy would be brought to tears. It was hard to adjust to the harsh reality that in six months she would be a grandmother no matter if Quinn kept the child or not. It would always be there, in their minds in their reality. "I haven't told you everything."
Carol reached out and placed a hand over Judy's. "What is it sweetie?"
"Quinn, she's she's three months pregnant." Judy heard Carol breath hitch. "It's why she's here. Russell kicked her out. She, she lived alone in her car in the Mellville parking lot for a month. She sang in front of the mall for money." Carol was shaking her head the entire time Judy spoke. "He just kicked her out, gave her fifteen minutes, like she was nothing, Carol. She got pneumonia in that damn car, she could have died or the baby could have if she hadn't found me. I just I don't know what to do for her. She is so angry and so sad. And, the father of the baby, he threw her away too to keep his OSU scholarship. And the way Quinn talks, I can't be sure, but I'm not sure of the circumstances around this conception. Quinn, she's so religious, like Russell, and I don't see her having sex just to have sex, or even before she is in love. And then, then here is the claustrophobia."
"Claustrophobia?" Carol was confused and overwhelmed and was desperately trying to keep up with Judy's train of thought.
"Yeah we got stuck in the elevator at the mall, and she had a horrible panic attack and I swear I heard her murmuring that she 'wasn't there'. There where? What does it mean? I know nothing about my own daughter, Carol. I don't know how she got pregnant. I don't know why she is claustrophobic, or why her beautiful eyes look like they belong to a woman triple her age, I don't know why she cries every night when she thinks I'm asleep. I don't know anything."
"You do, you know she's smart and like photography and cheerleading and…"
"That's all trivial things Carol. I don't know the life experience that made my daughter who she is now. I don't know why she is so closed off and so scared all the time. She hides it well, like a true Fabray, but I know, she's dying inside, she's terrified and I can't help because I don't know how this all happened to her, because she won't let me in."
Carol pulled Judy closer and Judy relaxed into her friends as she rubbed her back. "But you will Judy. None of the is your fault. That is the firs thing you need to accept and when you do, then Quinn can start too. I am sure she can tell you feel guilty and that gives her reason to think your at fault. Your not, Russell is. Next you need to continue to be there for her and be her mom. God Judy it's only been a week or so since she appeared. Your both just still adjusting. I know you can do this. I know because you are a great mother. I've seen how you are with Rachel, she isn't even your daughter but you treat her as such and your great at it. You were great with Frannie, I know it, even if I didn't know you then. And soon Quinn will see it too. And as for this baby, I don't know what to day because I've never been in your situation but I imagine, especially with how Russell reacted, Quinn just needs to know your not going anywhere, whether she keeps the child or not. She needs to know that you'll love her no matter her choice and that you will support her through either decision. I know you will, you know you will, now it is time to let Quinn know that. Give it time honey. She'll open up to you, I know it."
Judy rubbed her eyes as she pulled away from Carol. "Thanks, so much for celebrating."
"Who says we are done? We still have a half a bottle of wine and half a cake to eat, come on girl. So tell me more about your amazing strong daughter." Judy complied and told Carol all about the mall trip and anything else she could think of. It felt good to just talk and Judy finally realized that she could celebrated despite the hardships Quinn was going through, because Quinn was home and Judy would help her no matter what. Her baby was home and she was never letting her go again.
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