Summary: The summer before senior year and Daniel Desario is stuck in summer school and Lindsay Weir is grounded for life. Lindsay is forced to become Daniel's tutor (for real, this time) to help him study throughout summer school and help him become a senior and eventually graduate.

Author's Note: I just recently watched and experience Freaks and Geeks for the first time and, like everyone else, am sad and upset that this show never got the additional seasons it deserved. All the characters were genuinely amazing and I wanted to continue the story with a focus on exploring what could have been of Daniel and Lindsay.

Freak 2 Geek

Chapter 1

Dead and Punished

The summer of '81 was supposed to be Lindsay Weir's greatest summer ever, the last summer before her senior year of high school. She finally took control of her life and made decisions for herself without her parents ruling thumb and it was the greatest summer ever ... until it wasn't.

You see, Lindsay's heartfelt goodbyes to her parents and her brother were so convincing that only two days later her mother tried calling for Lindsay at the University of Michigan, where she was supposed to be attending the Academic Summit, only to quickly figure out that Lindsay Weir had never shown up and that they were disappointed to not be notified sooner so they could have invited a student who actually wanted to attend. This, of course, ensued panic within the Weir household wondering where their daughter actually was and it turned out that she didn't really get very far...

The Dead Head van ended up breaking down shortly after the start of the road trip. They managed to make it to the first concert hitchhiking the rest of the way and that whole three days Lindsay did not get one chance to shower or sleep on a real bed. Kim Kelly had a blast though, she seemed to be in her element and in an overall better mood without Daniel Desario around. It was like her bitchy persona was no longer needed to frighten away other girls away from Daniel in hopes that he wouldn't cheat on her and she could actually enjoy herself. And she did just that, she actually enjoyed herself with a couple of guys on the way to the concert. On the other hand, Lindsay felt claustrophobic and scared out of her wits traveling with so many strangers, and she couldn't get over the grime on her skin, let alone make out with the random guys they meet along the way.

During Lindsay's uncomfortable road trip, back at the Weir household, Lindsay's parents filed a missing person's report, thinking someone could've abducted their daughter until Kim's mother called to rage about Kim going off with Lindsay on that Grateful Dead tour. It wasn't long after that, the police showed up just before Kim and Lindsay were about to finally go through the gates of the first show and took them both back to the station where their upset parents were waiting.

The drive back home was excruciating, Lindsay had expected her parents to yell and scream the whole way home but there was just silence. Over 200 miles and six hours of total and utter disappointing silence. At least when Lindsay had wrecked "Betty" after stealing it to drive her friends around, her parents had a lot to say then but now they just had looks of defeat in their eyes which somehow hit a lot harder.

When Lindsay and her parents got back, it was pretty late but Sam had been up with his friends, playing one of their games in the dining room. It was his extended group, including Gordon Crisp and Harris Trinsky along with Daniel sitting at the head of the table behind an upright board.

Wait a minute.

Daniel Desario was sitting around with her brother and his friends as Lindsay walked inside with her parents. He had caught her eye, smiled, and nodded at her before returning back to the game. Her father ordered her to her room, not giving her a chance to even shower before getting sent to bed.

That had been the start of summer in '81, where Lindsay took control of her life for once and felt like her world had crashed down on her and that, again, she had made one of the biggest mistakes of her life. And also, for some reason, Daniel was now hanging out with her brother.

The terms of punishment were simple. First, Lindsay was no longer allowed to see, hang out with, talk to, or even think about Kim Kelly. Second, she was grounded for the remainder of summer and isn't allowed to hang out with any friends, not even Millie. Third and final, Lindsay is only allowed outside of the Weir residence when she's working at her father's sporting shop, A1 Sporting Goods. Which, of course, she isn't getting paid for any of the work. Her father said it was to pay them back for all that gas money they spent picking her up from the concert and betraying their trust.

They had delivered the terms in such a calm manner, Lindsay felt like she couldn't fight back and argue they were being unfair. She had accepted her punishment and hoped her parents would eventually look her in the eye again.

The only friend she had some form of contact with was Daniel but only because he had been coming over more frequently to hang out with her younger brother, Sam. Lindsay learned through Sam that Daniel had been forced into the AV club by Mr. Rosso and Sam and his friends had invited Daniel over for their DnD group. Daniel was also attending summer school, still on sour terms with Kim, and since both Nick and Ken were busy with their girlfriends, Daniel was starting to become a regular within Sam's friends.

"He's actually a really nice guy," Sam explained as they were both sitting on the living room floor during a lazy summer afternoon. Sam's friends were busy until later in the day and Lindsay was still very much grounded, so they only had each other for company.

"Just be careful," Lindsay warned, "Daniel can get a bit manipulative."

Ever since Lindsay had helped Daniel cheat on his math test, their friendship didn't quite feel the same and they became a bit more distant. Lindsay grew closer to Kim and she also started dating Nick, so her crush on Daniel had started to dissipate. Plus the whole being manipulated-in-order-to-help-him-cheat experience felt gross and it was hard to look at him the same. It was like the rose-tinted glasses were shattered and that dreamy, dangerous guy turned out to be someone who was just constantly using her for his own personal gain. They were, of course, still friends but their dynamic definitely shifted.

"How you holding up with Cindy?" Lindsay inquired, wanting to change the subject away from Daniel.

"We haven't talked since school ended," Sam squirmed with discomfort at the mention of his short-lived relationship with one of the most popular girls in school. While Sam had a crush on her for ages, he soon realized that they had nothing in common and he decided to end it with her, "What about you and Nick?"

Lindsay scoffed, rolling her eyes, "We've been over, plus he has a dancing queen now."

They both giggled light-heartedly. Nick was such a confusing and conflicting subject for Lindsay. It was hard not to believe that his new girlfriend, Sara, wasn't some weird ploy to make Lindsay jealous. It wasn't working, if it was, but it was weird seeing Nick getting into disco and finally quitting pot. He seemed so much happier than he ever seemed with her.

Lindsay and Sam spent the rest of the afternoon chatting and flipping through daytime television only to find nothing to watch until it was time for her 2:00 pm shift at her father's store which her mother drove her to.

If things couldn't get any weirder, they were about to. Lindsay came back with her father from a late shift of stocking the store. She was tired and aching, still wearing the A1 uniform when they came home to find dinner ready and with an additional guest, Daniel Desario.

"Hey, Linds." He smiled, sitting in her seat at the table.

"Oh, Harold, Lindsay, let me get you guys a plate." Her mother got up and started fixing their plates. Stocking nights were usually filled with odd hours and sometimes her dad would come home late after they all had finished up dinner.

Daniel scooted his chair (well, her chair) over to make room for Lindsay to sit beside him. She gave him a weak, half-smile before pulling up a spare chair. Her mom set down plates for both Linsday and her dad and forced a friendly smile.

"Daniel is joining us for dinner, he's been trying to study with Sam for summer school. You remember Daniel, honey?" Lindsay's mom pointed towards Daniel, who then nodded towards Lindsay's father. Her father blinked, trying to remember which bad influence this was of Lindsay's and why he shouldn't like him.

"You mean Lindsay's friend? You know she isn't allowed to have friends over." Her dad narrowed his eyes, glaring towards Lindsay.

"I-I didn't invite him." Lindsay stuttered out.

"Dad, he's been hanging out with me." Sam spoke up, "Mom just said I'm helping him with summer school."

"Yeah, Mr. Weir," Daniel grinned, "Sam's a good kid."

Lindsay poked at her food, never thinking Daniel would actually end up having dinner with her family and actually being Sam's guest instead of hers.

"You know, we've been struggling on some of the stuff," Sam started, "He's a junior and I haven't learned some of the things they're teaching him yet, so it's been hard to help him some of the time."

Lindsay glared at Sam across the table, knowing exactly what was about to follow up from that comment. She just wondered if Daniel had put Sam up to this or if Sam really thought Lindsay would want to help him out.

"Oh, why can't Lindsay help Daniel study?" Her mom chimed in, smiling over the table at her father who only narrowed his eyes harder.

"We agreed she can't hang out with her friends." His tone was strict but suddenly his gaze soften a little bit, "But some summer studying could do ya both good."

"But dad?" Lindsay moaned.

"No butts," He interjected, "You are going to tutor this boy and the honest way this time, no cheating. You're only allowed to study here or at the library. You got it?"

"Hey, thanks, Linds." Daniel smiled, throwing his arm around her shoulder, "With you, I can ace summer school and become a senior."

Lindsay frowned but accepted her fate, knowing she was still on thin ice with her parents and at least the library often a bit more freedom than just staying home or working at the sporting shop. Though Lindsay couldn't help the creeping feeling that somehow Daniel was finding another way to use her and her brother, though hopefully this time it won't get her into any more trouble.