Marcy leaned over & brushed her hair into a high ponytail. She straightened & brushed her strands out before slipping on her big shirt. It was tie-dyed from two summers ago at camp & almost reached her knees.

She slipped on blue jean shorts that were kind of really short but at least covered everything. She put on special lotion that covered her tattoos then pulled on blue girly socks & white knee high chucks with song lyrics written around the edges.

She fit white & silver bangles over her right wrist with her wedding rings on her left hand & her rosary around her neck. She sprayed on more perfume then looked in the mirror. It was as good as it was going to get.

She grabbed her backpack & purse before grabbing her dressed kids & going downstairs. She set her bags on the counter & put the twins in their highchairs.

She looked around the kitchen. "Where's Daddy?"

"He has a conference so he had to leave last night." Mercedes sipped her juice. "Are you not wearing pants?"

Mal looked down immediately.

"I'm wearing shorts." Marcy loaded up her plate & began eating.

Mal pouted. "Dang!"

Marcy blushed. "You really want me to walk outside without any pants on?"

He thought it over. "I guess not."

"You're such a freak." Mercedes rolled her eyes.

"Are you taking us to school?"

She was sure he was going to deny the claim but switching the subject threw her off. "I could."

Marcus had bought her a car for her birthday.

"You don't want to ride with Mikey?" Marcy swallowed.

"He's taking over taking Maddie to school." Mal shrugged.

"You know I'm taking driver's Ed this semester." She kicked her feet happily.

"I'll be able to take it next. Will you let me drive Travis?"

"I don't know." Marcy said slowly.

"I can't drive your car?!"

She pursed her lips. "Maybe."

Marcus taught the eight everything he knew about cars & when he felt they were ready, he bought a frame & parts & had them build their dream car from the tires up. They couldn't have any help & he'd buy all the parts necessary.

Mal frowned. "I might finish my car & it'll be so cool, you'll want to drive it."

"You're not going to finish your car." She rolled her eyes.

"You don't know!"

Mercedes laughed. "You hate working on cars!"

He pursed his lips. "Shouldn't we be going?"

Mercedes looked at the clock. "We should. Thank you, Mrs. Parks. See you later!"

The trio waved goodbye to the housekeeper & kissed the twins before grabbing their bags & leaving the house.

Mercedes drove around to get Quinn then drove to school. She parked & showed the freshmen to the gym, where they'd be getting their class schedules.

Mal & Marcy stood in line to get the pieces of papers & found they had most of the same classes. Again.

They met back up with Mercedes, Quinn & Santana & Brittany.

Brittany hugged Marcy. "This is so exciting! You're going to be captain!"

"I have to make the team first." Marcy unwrapped her arms from around her.

"You will." Santana waved a hand. "Oh! There's my man!"

"So you asked him?"

Santana blushed & glared. "Yes!"

"Good for you." Mercedes said.

Matt walked over with Mike, who'd gotten him, Finn & Puck. "Hey!"

Mal & the girls spoke.

Puck went straight to Mercedes & kissed her.

Quinn kissed Finn chastely.

Santana went to town on Matt.

Brittany & Mike kissed.

Marcy & Mal looked at their group & shrugged before kissing, too.

W.W.W.

"Next!"

Marcy walked into the gym & stood before the table & blonde coach.

Sue looked up. "You're already on the team, Aretha. You don't have to try out every year."

"My name is not Aretha. It's Marceline Anne." Marcy spoke.

Sue frowned. "You look like-"

"So all black people look alike?"

Sue scowled. "No!"

"I'm assuming Aretha is Mercy since Santana calls her that, too but I'm her sister. Santana calls me Patti."

"Patti? Why?"

"Patti LaBelle."

"Can you sing?"

"Yes."

"Sing something."

"I don't do requests."

Sue gave her the stink eye. "Do your routine, Patti or get out."

Marcy put the tape in & went through her routine then did a difficult cheer from Sue's own playbook.

Sue nodded. "We meet here after school & you'll get your uniform."

Marcy nodded & left. When she made it outside, she went to her friends.

"What happened?!" They shouted.

"I made it."

Mercedes, Quinn, Brittany & Santana hugged her.

W.W.W.

Marcy stood in the gym filled with boys & girls waiting to get uniforms.

"My name is Sue Sylvester & I now own you! You will do what I say when I say it, because I say it & the way I say it! Is that clear?!"

Affirmations rang out.

"Line up by size & get your uniforms!"

Marcy walked to where the bigger students were getting their uniforms & stood in line.

Someone tapped her on the shoulder & when she turned around, waved. "Hi! I'm Anna Picos."

Marcy wasn't much for touching people but the men in her life taught her the importance of a good first meeting so she reached a hand out. "Marceline Anne Chang."

"Your middle name's Anne? Cool!"

"My middle name is Eve."

"Oh. You have two first names. That's even cooler. My middle name is Edith." Anna stuck her tongue out.

Marcy ran a critical eye over the girl. She was blonde, grey eyed & taller than Marcy. She was skinny though so Marcy didn't understand why she was in this line. "Why are you over here?"

"Huh?" Anna cocked her head.

"This line is for plus sized. You're a twig. No offense."

"The lines were too long. Some of us have to come over here."

"Oh. Well welcome to the line. Estimated wait time is the next four years."

Anna laughed.

The two talked all the way through getting their uniforms then Marcy introduced her to her friends.

"What are you about to do now?" Anna asked.

"My little brother is trying out for football." Mercedes said. "We could go cheer him on."

Santana shook her head. "Why did Marc have to graduate?"

Brittany giggled. "He was so cute trying to show the newbies how to play."

"Stop drooling over my brother!" Quinn snapped.

"Don't you have a boyfriend?" Mercedes added.

Santana made a face. "Matt's fine but he's a kid. Marc is a man."

"He's eighteen." Marcy pointed out.

"My point exactly."

Mercedes stuck her tongue out. "Gross! Come on, Anna! We'll introduce you to our brothers & leave these two thirsty girls to their daydreaming."

Anna giggled as they left the gym & walked to the field. They sat in the bleachers with other girls & a few guys.

Mike, Matt, Puck, Finn & Mal waved to them as soon as they spotted them.

The girls blew kisses.

"Who belongs to whom?" Anna asked.

Marcy pointed out Mal. "He's mine."

Santana pointed out Matt. "Mine."

Quinn pointed out Finn. "His name is Finn."

"I have Mike." Brittany pointed him out.

"& I have Puck." Mercedes pointed to his Mohawk.

"Cute. I saw a guy today that I thought was cute. He has brown hair & blue eyes & wears glasses. He's so cute." Anna said.

"Well, Patti here can set you up." Santana hit the mom's knee. "She's good at that."

"I am not matchmaker." Marcy moved her hand.

"You could be." Brittany said. "You helped all of us."

Marcy rolled her eyes. "I thought we were cheering on the guys?"

W.W.W.

Marcy kissed Mickey's cheek as the phone rang. Someone picked up. "Hello?"

"Laura? It's me." Marcy kissed her again.

"Hey, Marce. What's up?" Laura adjusted the phone.

"I made the team."

"Really?! Congratulations!"

"Quinn said she wanted me to go out for captain."

"You should! You have good leadership skills."

"Thanks. How was your first day?"

"College. Tell me about your first day! How is high school?"