School mornings were always busy in the Schuester household, and now even more stressful for Will without Emma's help. At least he had his routine down pat. And as of today, it was made even easier now that Colleen would officially be attending McKinley. He put a pause on making breakfast to go make sure his girls were awake.
He checked on Lillibet first with a knock on her door. Once Will heard a muffed come in, he opened the door and poked his head in.
"Breakfast is almost ready," Will said to his oldest, who was already dressed in her Cheerio's uniform and putting the finishing touches on her high ponytail. "Are you excited for the first day back?"
"Mmm," Lillibet mumbled through a mouthful of bobby pins, doing her best not to burn herself on the curling iron. She spat the pins out. "I have a meeting with Coach Sylvester this morning, can I drive myself?"
"Of course," Will replied, thankful that Lillibet had at least asked before racing off.
Stepping out of Lilibet's room, Will made his way to Colleen's. Her door was open - as it should be - unless she was changing. He knocked on the doorframe, then flicked on the light. "Morning, sleepy head." Will teased her, taking in the sight of her messy hair and bedsheets.
Colleen groaned and pulled her blankets over her head. The day she dreaded was finally here, the day she started McKinley. Her stomach, despite her medication, was a bundle of nerves. She had been up half the night doom scrolling on TikTok or Instagram, until exhaustion finally took over and she fell into a fitful sleep.
"Come on, Leena," Will said more seriously. "Your sister's already ready."
"Good for little miss perfect," Colleen grumbled under her breath as she pushed her blankets away and sat up in bed. "Do I have to go?" She whined.
"Yes," Will replied matter-of-factly. "And remember, you see Donna after school." He reminded her.
Colleen groaned loudly. "I don't want to see Donna. What if people want me to hang with them after school? Come on Dad!" She protested the appointment, serious about not wanting to go anymore.
"You should have thought about that before you stopped eating, Leena," Will informed her as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Lately it felt like every conversation with Colleen was a steeper and steeper uphill battle.
Crossing her arms with a roll of her eyes, Colleen replied bluntly. "Whatever, like I said last week I'm not talking to her."
"This again?" Will sighed heavily, not understanding why Colleen was fighting him so much over this. "Colleen, you are going to see Donna whether you like it or not and you will talk to her. It's for your own good." He insisted.
"This isn't fair!" Colleen protested as she crossed her arms. "Shouldn't therapy be my choice? Besides, you can't make me say anything to her."
"Well, you are going anyway." Will replied, leaving no room for argument as he exited her room. Why did Colleen have to make everything such a struggle?
"Ugh!" Colleen groaned again. I hate this, she thought as she grabbed some clothes from her dresser and went to her ensuite to change. She pulled on her green denim overall shorts, paired with a grey tank top underneath. Then she brushed her teeth quickly and ran a brush through her hair.
"Breakfast!" Will called again from downstairs.
Colleen rolled her eyes and returned to her room, making her bed, and throwing her dirty pyjamas in the laundry hamper.
Heading downstairs, she stopped outside of her older sister's room. "Lilli?" She interrupted, stepping into the doorway of the room. "Can you help me with something?"
The cheerleader didn't even look away from the mirror as she applied mascara, the only makeup Lillibet wore regularly to darken her naturally red eyelashes. "What?" She snapped, too busy concentrating to think straight.
"How do I get dad off my back?" Colleen asked, leaning against the door. "He's driving me crazy!"
"Depends," Lillibet replied uncaringly. "What is he nagging you about?" She placed the mascara back into her penholder, turning to face Colleen. "Because there's only so much you can get space from. There's things in life you're not going to want to do, like school and therapy, but have to do anyway. It's not going to last forever and fighting it is only going to make it worse." She leaned in a little closer. "Take my advice Lee Lee, put your foot down. Negotiate what you want but be prepared to give a little. So, he wants you to do something, what can you get in return." Lillibet straightened up to her full height and flicked her ponytail menacingly. "Okay bye." She raced down the stairs, her car keys jingling the sound of freedom and independence.
Colleen let out a sigh, this is so freaking stupid, she thought miserably as she slowly walked downstairs.
"Lilli, I made you breakfast!" Will called to his oldest, sliding a container of pancakes across the bench. Tiny containers filled with jam and syrup were squeezed in there alongside a fork. "At least take something with you."
"Thanks dad, loveyoubye!" Lillibet rushed as she grabbed the container before racing out the door.
How early was this meeting with Coach Slyvester? Will asked himself. But it didn't matter, because now he didn't have reinforcements to help with Colleen, who had just appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
"Your breakfast is on the table, I expect you to eat something," Will said to Colleen sternly as he fixed himself a plate.
Colleen rolled her eyes and filled the kettle with water. "I'm not hungry." She mumbled as her stomach did a nervous flip.
"You know, this isn't how I envisioned your first day starting off, Colleen," Will lectured lightly.
"Me neither." Colleen muttered under her breath. "I'll just walk." She added, not wanting to get in a car with her father.
"I am driving you," Will said, a hint of finality in his tone.
"Oh my god, do I get a say in anything?" Colleen complained as she threw a tea bag into a mug, waiting for the kettle to boil.
"Yes. You can choose what clubs you want to join… that is if you even want to." Will pointed out as he packed his lunch and a refill of Lillibet's nice coffee. "You can pick some of your classes and choose who your friends are."
"Gee, lucky me," Colleen muttered under her breath sarcastically. "This house is a prison. Tell me again why I can't walk? Oh wait, you didn't even tell me why I can't in the first place."
"Because you'll be late, Leena," Will replied with a heavy sigh, wondering if he should pack more coffee. "If you woke up on time, I would have let you."
"Then maybe wake me up on time," Colleen snapped.
Deciding to pack more coffee, Will retorted. "You're fourteen now Leena, you know how to set a phone alarm. And I did, you just rolled over and went back to sleep."
Colleen rolled her eyes. "Then let me actually close my door from now on, I'm fourteen now, dad, I deserve some privacy." She said, mocking his tone.
"We'll have this discussion after school, now let's go Leena or we'll both be late." Will snapped his bag closed, grabbing his keys, and ushering his youngest out the door. While he was happy that Colleen was standing up for her boundaries, he just wished they weren't the ones he needed to know she was safe. Ever since the school shooting, Will would wake up at all hours and need to check on his daughters. Lillibet quickly rebelled, instead promising to always say goodnight and good morning. But little Leena, she had been right there trapped in Will's office with her. And Will had been prepared to sacrifice himself for her.
Instead, Emma paid the price and Will was left struggling to raise their two daughters.
"How convenient," Colleen said moodily. Of course, he'd brush her off, like he always did whenever she actually wanted to talk about something. "It's not like we're about to get into the same car."
"Colleen, that is enough." Will snapped back, almost dropping his keys. "I would like to concentrate on driving, and you need to be in the right headspace for school. Arguing on your first day is just going to put you into a bad mood." He reasoned as calmly as he could, not wanting to give Colleen something to disagree with. They had to get to school, and Colleen had a freshman assembly to attend.
I'm always in a bad mood, Collen thought to herself, but decided to drop the matter, clearly what she felt didn't actually matter.
Colleen glanced at her class schedule, to check where her homeroom was. Luckily for her, she was familiar with the halls of McKinley and didn't look like a lost puppy, like some of the other freshmen did. She eventually found her classroom and stepped inside. Her stomach felt tight, and she couldn't believe that she was forced to attend the school where everything happened, she honestly didn't know how Lilibet did it.
"What's your name?" Her teacher, Mrs. Wilson asked. She was on the older side, with greying hair. Though she must have been new or outside of her parents circle of friends, as Colleen didn't recognise her.
"Colleen," she mumbled.
"Ah, Miss. Schuester." Mrs. Wilson nodded as she looked through the role for Colleen. "As you can see, we have assigned seating in my class, please take your place," Mrs. Wilson instructed.
"It's Colleen," she corrected, annoyed, as she scanned the classroom. There was only one empty seat, leaving a reluctant Colleen to sit beside a boy with dark brown curly hair. "Why do we even have assigned seating?" She muttered under her breath. "What is this? Middle school?" Luckily, her seat was near the back, and she knew her teacher couldn't overhear her.
"Colleen, if you want me to treat you with respect," the old woman called out, looking disgruntled, "then you must also treat me and my classroom with respect."
Colleen rolled her eyes and buried her face in her hands. I hope she doesn't know whose kid I am, she thought. "Whatever." She mumbled into her hands.
Luckily, Mrs. Wilson ignored her this time.
Her seatmate leaned over. "Lucky, Mrs. Wilson is a dragon." He whispered as Mrs. Wilson started talking.
Colleen smirked. "Clearly. I mean how do they even let her teach? She's so old."
"Maybe she'll keep teaching as a ghost." He giggled, holding out a hand. "I'm Bailey. Looks like we're stuck together for the year."
"I guess so," Colleen said as she shook his hand. She glanced around the classroom nervously for any signs of danger, but of course, she saw none.
Bailey seemed to notice, following her gaze. "It's all good, Mrs. Wilson doesn't booby trap her classes."
Colleen smiled slightly, and nervously scratched her thigh. "Right, cause why would she do that?"
"So, Colleen, it is Colleen, right?" Bailey teased her. "No relation to Mr. Schuester I hope?"
"Unfortunately, he's my father," Colleen said. "Why? Do you have him as a teacher?"
"Thankfully not. Just lucky to have had insider info." He winked.
Colleen smiled slightly. "Good, cause he's driving me crazy, and I'd hate for him to drive you crazy too."
That made him laugh, earning a stern look from Mrs. Williams. "Don't worry about me," he laughed, a knowing smile fixed on his face. "I'm already crazy."
Colleen smiled, then of course Mrs. Wilson had to scold them for talking during her precious homeroom. Colleen sighed and slumped in her seat, impatiently waiting for the period to end.
Luckily, she didn't have to wait long before the bell rang loudly above her.
Bailey leaned over, "Think the bells at your old school were bad, these take the cake." He stood up, slinging his backpack over his shoulder as he stood up. "What class do you have next?"
"Uhm, English." Colleen answered as she stood.
"Damn, I have maths now." Bailey shrugged disappointedly. "Well, see you later Miss. Schuester." He grinned, quickly taking his leave.
Ugh, why did she have to out me as a teacher's kid? Colleen thought as she made her way out of the classroom. She knew exactly where her English classroom was, the other side of the school. She started walking towards it, only to freeze when she saw her father's office. Her heart was racing in her chest, and suddenly she was twelve years old again with her father barricading her under his desk. Colleen tried to shake off the memory but somehow, she just couldn't. It was there playing over again and again in the front of her mind.
Wanting out, Colleen spun on her heel and took off in the opposite direction, doing her best to keep her tears at bay.
Maybe if I talk to dad he'll transfer me to a different English class, she thought as she slipped into the girls' bathroom. Colleen's breathing hitched and she felt like she couldn't breathe. Try as she might to focus on her breathing like Donna had taught her, she was too overwhelmed and emotional to keep those red hot tears at bay. After locking herself in a stall, Colleen sank into a crouch and started crying with just the sound of her rapid, shallow breaths for company.
Mr. Schuester pursued the club sign-up board outside the cafeteria. It was a new year, with a new batch of freshmeat, uh freshman and transfer students looking for clubs to join. Which meant the possibility of new members for the New Directions, who were sorely lacking in numbers. More than half the previous year's members had been seniors who'd sung their last song and bowed their final bow. And now Mr. Schue was left with the mammoth task of trying to replace them.
Browsing the other clubs, Will noticed a record number of sign-ups on the marching band's sheet, and the sports were doing well for prospective students too. Will noted to ask Coach Beiste later about her football tryouts. Glancing at the Cheerio's, he wondered who this year's captain would be. As proud as he would be of Lillibet for getting the job, Mr. Schue also shuddered at the thought of one Sue Sylvester having yet another way of getting under his skin.
Seriously, she was worse than a spider.
Finally, Mr. Schue dared himself to look at the glee club's sign up form. There were only two names so far, and he was pretty certain one was a fake name. Any basic Spanish speaker would know that Carotte La Crosse sounded like an insult, and Mr. Schue knew he was far from the best Spanish teacher but still he wasn't that obtuse. Was he?
But still, only two names compared to the numerous other names on the other clubs. Even the mathletes had more names than the glee club. No one liked the mathletes, not even the mathletes!
It's only the first day, Mr. Schue consoled himself sadly. There were hundreds of students in the arts department and even more throughout the school, which meant at least twelve of them would be willing to join the New Directions.
"Well, well William," Coach Sylvester's gravelly voice said from behind the show choir director. "Looks like I might finally get to witness the downfall of the glee club."
"I'm surprised you're still waiting Sue," Mr. Schue shot back, not daring to turn around and face her wrath. "It's been how many years, I thought you'd given up?"
Coach Sylvester raised an eyebrow. "Come now William, you know I have more patience in my little finger than you do in your whole being. Seriously, moping in front of the club board just hoping more students will magically sign-up? The glee club's days are numbered, mark my words." She told him darkly. "Walk with me William."
Relenting, Mr. Schue followed the cheer coach down the hallway. "You're going to have a tough time with your tryouts, there's a lot of interest."
"Of course, there is William," Coach Sylvester snapped as if insulted by his words. "Cheer will always remain popular, unlike your little glee club." She turned down the hallway that led past Emma's old office, leaving Mr. Schue tense. "But don't worry about me William, you've raised an excellent candidate for cheer captain. I would even argue that my little Queen Bee is far better than one Quinn Fabray could have ever been. Because she was smart enough not to join your little glee club with delusions of grandeur. Clearly, she got that from her mother and not her father, SpongeHair SquareChin." She stopped out front of the old guidance counsellor's office, now belonging to a young, perky, and pleasant adolescent psychologist.
Holding back a sigh, Mr. Schue just crossed his arms over his chest. "Lillibet loves singing, she's just…"
"Embarrassed by her man-child father?"
"No," Mr. Schue snapped, hiding his hurt. "She's got a lot on her plate and wants to focus on her long-term plans. And I accept that."
"Unlike Little Miss. Annie Sullivan?" Coach Sylvester countered knowingly. "From what my little Queen Bee has been telling me, Miss. Leena seems far from interested in spending any more time with you then necessary." The cheer coach pulled herself up to her full height, glaring at her long-time rival. "You need to learn to loosen up if you don't want those girls resenting you." She threatened darkly before leaving.
Watching her go, Mr Schue sighed to himself. But before he could collect his thoughts from where Coach Sylvester had scattered them over the hallway floor, the office door in front of him opened.
"Everything okay Mr. Schue?" Dr. Phoebe Cheung asked, the new guidance counsellor poking her head out from her office having witnessed the entire encounter.
Shaking his head, Mr. Schue replied. "Yes, thank you. Coach Sylvester was just being her usual self."
"Ah," Dr. Cheung nodded knowingly. "She's a bit of a menace sometimes, but don't tell her I told you." She giggled lightly.
"I promise I won't." Mr. Schue agreed with a small smile.
But Dr. Cheung didn't smile back. "Actually, can I talk to you for a moment?"
Mr. Schue blinked in surprise, realising he hadn't actually spent that much time with the new guidance counsellor. "Of course, what's up?"
"Colleen didn't go to English today." Dr. Cheung replied distantly. "We're not sure why, but it's unlikely she got lost since you've been working here her whole life." She looked over at Mr. Schue cautiously. "Don't punish her or anything, but if you could find out why and let me know that'd be great. We just want to make sure her time here at McKinley is a positive one."
Nodding distantly, Mr. Schue hummed in agreement. "All right, I'll have a talk to Leena after school. Thank you, Dr. Cheung."
"Anytime, and please call me Phoebe I hate Doctor, it feels so stuffy." She smiled warmly as she stepped back into her office.
But Mr. Schue's mind was left spinning. First Sue was accusing him of being a bad father and saying that Lillibet wanted nothing to do with him or the glee club but worst of all was the idea of his precious Leena not only skipping a class on her very first day but that she too wouldn't want to join his glee club and spend time with him. After all they'd been through, Will felt protective of his youngest and desired nothing more than her safety and well-being.
With a deep breath, Mr. Schue headed back to his office, he knew he had work to do.
Colleen sighed as she left Donna's office after school. Her father was sitting in the waiting room, and he stood and went directly to talk to Donna. Colleen groaned as she waited for the adults to stop discussing her. As soon as Will finished, he walked back to Colleen, an annoyed expression on his face.
"We'll talk when we get home." Will said, a hint of anger in his tone.
"I told you I didn't want to see her, you never listen to me!" Colleen exclaimed.
Will ignored his daughter and made his way out of the building, and Colleen, left with no other choice, followed behind him. She sat quietly in the car on the ride back to their house, scrolling through her phone. She saw that she had a friend request from Bailey on Facebook and a follow request on Insta. Colleen smiled slightly, and accepted both of his requests, following him back. Colleen glanced up when the car came to a stop and slowly slid out of the passenger seat. Once inside of their house Will ushered her into the living room.
"Take a seat," Will said, disappointment written all over his tone and face.
Colleen rolled her eyes and took a seat on the couch. She rested her elbows on her knees and her chin in the palm of her hands.
"You expect me to let you close your bedroom door, and you don't even do the bare minimum that's required of you?" Will lectured.
"What part of I didn't even want to go are you not understanding?" Colleen complained, growing frustrated at never being actually heard by her father.
"I understand that, but it's still important regardless." He stared at his daughter in disappointment. "Much like attending all your classes, which I hear you didn't do despite it being your first day."
Colleen sighed and looked down, of course he heard about that. She bit her lip, unsure of how to explain herself, wondering if he'd even listen if she tried to. "I'm sorry, it's just that-"
"Just what?" Will asked, interrupting her. "There's no excuse for cutting class, Colleen."
"Forget it, then." Colleen muttered out as she crossed her arms. Of course, he wasn't going to hear her out, he never did. But if it was Lilibet then it wouldn't be so much of a witch hunt. Because he'd hear her out and let her give a proper reason.
Will crossed his arms to match. "Well, you didn't tell me why you skipped class?"
"Do you even care?" Colleen demanded angrily. "God, just get the lecture over with!"
"It will be when you tell me what happened, Colleen." Will replied, trying to hold in his frustration. She was better than that, so there had to be a reason.
"I don't know." Colleen said, as she slumped in her seat. He doesn't actually care why, she thought.
The front door opened as Lillibet arrived home. "What are we yelling about?"
Will glared at Colleen. "Leena skipped English."
"Oh. Don't you have Ms. Guiterrez? Like even I would skip her classes, she terrifies me." Lillibet sympathised as she dumped her empty container of pancakes. "Thanks for the pancakes too dad." She said as she left, shooting Colleen a small smile and a thumbs up.
"Okay, you yelled at me, can I go now?" Colleen asked impatiently.
Her father's attention turned back to her. "Only if you tell me why you skipped? Was it because of Ms. Guiterrez because you are better than that?" Will interrogated harshly.
"I said I don't know why, I was just being stupid." Colleen said, over her father's witch hunt. Maybe if he had been nicer about it, she would have told him the truth.
"Then don't do it again." Will rented, and Colleen just knew he had another lecture prepared. "I expect perfect attendance for all classes in this house. Lillibet has had no issues in the past, so you can do the same."
Colleen scoffed loudly. "Sorry that I'm not more like little miss perfect." she snapped as she stood. She was so over being compared to Lilibet, it wasn't fair. She didn't understand how her sister could just act all cheery like nothing happened. "But whatever, you've made it clear who you prefer." She added as she walked towards the staircase.
"I do not have preferences, Colleen." Will called after her as she stomped up the stairs. "I love you both and I want you both to succeed, starting with attendance."
"Oh, just shut up!" Colleen snapped, turning to face her father. "I'm so sick of you constantly on my case. Do this, do that, it's exhausting! Just leave me alone!" She shouted as she ran up the stairs.
Throwing herself onto her bed, Colleen sobbed as quietly as she could into her pillows. Her orange and white cat, Coma had snuggled up next to her, and Colleen had her warm wrapped around him.
But it wasn't quiet enough as a soft teddy bear was placed beside her.
It was Lillibet sitting on the floor beside her bed, hiding underneath her ginormous white teddy bear Colonel with only her hands visible as she hugged her Colonel.
Colleen glanced up at Lilibet and forced herself to stop crying. "What do you want?" She asked as stroked Coma's back.
"That sounded like a bad argument. I just wanted to make sure you're okay, Leena." Lillibet answered as she pushed Colonel down to face Colleen. "So, are you?" She asked quietly.
"Yeah, I'm just fabulous, thanks for asking," Colleen said sarcastically.
Her sister didn't budge. "Lee Lee, I taught you sarcasm. Try harder." Her voice held no malice, just quiet concern for her baby sister.
Colleen sighed as she sat up in her bed, drawing her knees up to her chest. "I'm fine, I'm just mad at dad."
There was a sigh as Lillibet buried her head into the Colonel. "There's been a lot of that lately? But that was really bad, like what happened?" She asked curiously as her gaze returned to Colleen.
"You heard dad, I skipped class. God, it's one class and I'm pretty sure all we did was review the goddamn syllabus, it's not like I'm out doing drugs."
Lillibet smirked. "And get your very first assignment. I swear, Mr. Guiterrez is a zealot when it comes to assignments. But why'd you skip, other than the fact that she's a dragon of a teacher?"
Colleen shrugged. "It doesn't matter."
"It does to me." Came Lillibet's quiet reply. "And it does to you."
"I don't wanna talk about it, god everyone's always on my case, dad told freaking Donna about it too, so I'm over the lectures." Colleen nearly snapped.
"I'm sorry about that. I really don't know what's gotten into Dad lately," Lillibet shrugged, squeezing the Colonel tighter as she sighed. "But I'm going to promise you Colleen, as your sister, that anything you tell me I will keep in confidence. I promise you." Her blue eyes remained fixed on Colleen's, full of earnestness and determination.
"It's fine, dad just hates me now, whatever." Colleen mumbled with a sigh as she ran her hands through her hair. "I'm over it."
Lillibet sighed again. "Dad doesn't hate you. He's just being weird. It's like he's got PMS or something." She giggled at the thought of her dad having hormonal mood swings. "Goodness he's worse than me and I'm the drama queen of this house."
"Well, he can stop taking it out on me." Colleen said, resting her chin on her knees. "He treats me like I'm five." She added, scratching her thigh.
"Stop that," Lillibet gently whacked Colleen's hand away. "And yes, Dad does for some stupid reason. Like, why though. You're fully capable of looking after yourself, right?" She mused idly, side eyeing Colleen. "Even if we're both allergic to eating."
Colleen rolled her eyes. "Don't even start with that."
"Food is effort and so are dads." Lillibet smirked teasingly. "Want me to talk to dad about your door? I'm on your side, you deserve privacy."
"I don't even do what's expected of me, I don't get privacy," Colleen retorted, mocking their father.
Lillibet looked at her seriously. "Leena, privacy is not a privilege. It is a right. And it's one you deserve no matter what." She sighed, leaning her head against Colleen's beside table and staring at her ceiling. "So, you skipped a class, you probably got lost or something which even I still do because fuck maps I can't read." Lillibet looked back at Colleen suspiciously. "Did you get lost though, cause you're better with directions than me?"
It was Colleen's turn to sigh. "It doesn't matter, I'll just go tomorrow, it's fine. Besides, if I don't, I'll never hear the end of it."
"Well take my advice Lee Lee." Lillibet started as her gaze returned to the ceiling. "Don't take the first floor, everyone uses it. Go up to the third and then back down, it's way faster plus the stairs help you burn calories so that Coach Sylvester won't yell at you about your weight." Lillibet rambled, more to herself than Colleen. "And for all that is good and holy on this Earth do NOT go past mum's old office."
Like I have time for that, my classes are too far apart, Colleen thought. "Sure, thanks."
"Trust me, it works even if you have to go from history to science because heaven forbid that we give kids classes on the same side of the school nah let's make them do a half marathon to get between classes in oh-point-five seconds!" She threw her hands up in the air in mock frustration.
"Right." Colleen mumbled, causing Lillibet to pout as her joke failed to hit home. "How can I get out of therapy this Friday? I mean, I went today…"
Her sister's eyes grew wide with excitement. "You could come to Cheerios' tryouts with me! That's bound to get you out of therapy since Coach Sylvester never lets anyone try out outside of that time!" Lillibet suggested enthusiastically, bouncing in place.
"Me? A cheerio? Yeah, right." Colleen said as she crossed her arms. "Serious suggestions only."
"But I'm a cheerleader?" Lillibet looked at her in confusion. "And besides. It's just tryouts. I never said you had to join." She held up her hand. "And, I'm running it with Chelsea Kaialiilii so you won't even have to deal with Coach Sylvester!"
Colleen shook her head. "I'm not going to make a fool of myself."
"Come on." Lillibet encouraged. "You're way better than that. Besides, cheer isn't the only sport having tryouts Friday? There's the girls soccer team right after cheer, as well as the netball team and the track and field team. Or if you really feel like torturing yourself, try out for the golf team."
Colleen sighed, she used to be on the track team in middle school, until, well her life fell apart. "I'll see if he'll let me skip for track…"
Lillibet nodded her enthusiasm. "Track is a good choice. I'll talk to Nico and Adrian, they'll for sure let you onto the team if you want."
Colleen nodded, she did still jog, but she wasn't sure if she was in shape enough for the track team, but if it got her some space from her dad, then why not?
A moment of comfortable silence passed between the sisters as they contemplated other options. Lillibet broke the silence first. "Did you still want me to talk to dad about your door? I'm sure he'll listen to me…"
"You can try, I kinda wanna go for a run, but it's not like he's gonna let me go out…" Colleen trailed off, she really just wanted to get out of the house.
"Then go," Lillibet encouraged her gently. "Take Obe, he'd appreciate it and I'll distract Dad until you get home." She grinned teasingly, poking Colleen's stomach. "Might want to get that into shape too. Nico is a ruthless coach when he wants to be."
Colleen groaned. "You know I can't just go, I have to ask."
Lillibet glared at her. "Fuck Dad. Just go. And if he asks, say you were doing me a favour or whatever." Her eyes turned serious. "I'm not going to let him yell at you over a simple jog with my dog." She giggled at that. "Jog with my dog, I'm a poet and I didn't know it."
Colleen shook her head. "He's already mad at me, I don't wanna make it worse."
Standing up, Lillibet held out her hand. "Then let's go ask together. You don't have to say anything, I'll do the talking."
"Fine." Colleen relented as she took her sister's hand and was pulled to her feet. "Just let me change, I'll meet you down there."
Sure," Lillibet agreed as she picked up the Colonel. "I'll grab Obe too." She raced out of the room, leaving Colleen to her thoughts.
Colleen closed her bedroom door and sighed. It was nice to know Lilibet was at least on her side, since their father actually listened to her. She just wished he'd treat her with the same respect. But of course, why would he? She changed quickly, opting for capri leggings instead of shorts, leaving on the grey tank top that she wore to school, too excited to get out of the house.
By the time Colleen made it downstairs, Lillibet was already talking to their dad. Obe, Lillibet's golden cocker spaniel, was sitting at her side, leashed up and excited to go on a third daily walk. "So, if she wants to join the track team, she needs to start jogging more and if she takes Obe that means he's getting more exercise! It's a win-win for everyone."
"Lilli, you already walk Obe twice a day. Isn't that enough."
"Nope," Lillibet replied quickly. "Cocker spaniels are hunting dogs. They love to run and it's good for their health to be running more than two hours every day."
"After how she spoke to me, do you really think she should be rewarded with going out for a run?" Will demanded. "Besides, the track team meets on Fridays, and she has therapy."
"This isn't a reward, Dad. This is Colleen being proactive about her extracurriculars and her health. And if Leena keeps this up all throughout high school and is good enough, there's plenty of D1 schools who will give her a scholarship. Future, secured." Lillibet argued convincingly.
"She's not even eating," Will pointed out as Colleen entered the kitchen, pulling her hair in a ponytail.
Lillibet glared at him. "Well maybe a jog will make her hungry enough to eat. Besides, I'm making chicken parm, Bingeing with Babish style."
Will glanced at Colleen lingering in the doorway. He let out a sigh. "If I let you go running, you are going to eat all of your dinner."
"What about Friday? Can I go to track tryouts?" Colleen asked, crossing her arms.
"Yes." Will sighed heavily, rubbing his face with his hand. "I said you were free to make your own decisions on your extracurriculars and I am going to stick to that."
Colleen stared at her father in shock, surprised that it had actually worked. She could always skip the tryouts and say she didn't make the team, she wasn't sure that she actually wanted to go, but still it got her out of seeing Donna. "What about my door?"
Lillibet looked away sheepishly as Will sighed again. "We will discuss this over dinner when you get back Colleen. Have a nice run." He looked down at Obe, who's tail began wagging even harder at his last word. "And you, Count of Foix, behave yourself."
Colleen scoffed. "Whatever." She mumbled, then turned her attention to Obe. "Come on, Obe." She called as she grabbed his leash from Lillibet. With that she took off, letting the heavy front door close loudly behind her.
Immediately, Lillibet shooed her father out of the kitchen so she could start cooking leaving Will to retreat to his office. After emptying the dishwasher and setting the table, the eldest Schuester sister resolved that she was going to make the tastiest damn chicken parm that she could muster. From double breading the very pounded chicken to using her secret stash of fresh mozzarella to hand making the tomato sauce with the tomatoes Lillibet had been growing on the windowsill. It had to be perfect so that Colleen would be hungry enough to eat what was in front of her.
But deep down, Lillibet knew it was more than an eating disorder that her baby sister was struggling with. Her nerves had to be fried, attending the same damn school their mum died in. All because the shooter wasn't getting to graduate. But that was then, and this was now and Lillibet had to be strong for Colleen because it was what Emma would want her to do. And Lillibet just wanted to make her mum proud of her. Eventually, Lillibet let herself become lost in the zen of cooking as she fought Coma for the scraps of chicken.
Colleen returned from her jog hot and sweaty, and slightly out of breath. She couldn't push herself as much as she wanted to because she had Obe slowing her down. Entering the house, Colleen took out her ear buds and unclipped Obe's leash.
"Go find Lilli." She told the happy dog as Will came into the foyer.
"So, what's with your sudden interest in track?" Will asked demandingly, folding his arms across his chest.
Colleen shrugged. "I don't know." Why does he care? She thought, it's not like she had never been on a track team before.
"Fine. Since the team meets every Friday," Will announced in the same tone. Colleen felt her shoulders drop as he continued. "I took the liberty of changing your appointments with Donna to Thursdays, starting next week."
"Oh my god, shut up about Donna, I don't care." Colleen snapped harshly, throwing her hands up in the air.
"Well then you should." Will retorted just as quickly, glaring down at his youngest. "Now please go wash up, I don't think Lillibet will be much longer."
"Do I have time for a shower? Or do you need to run that past Donna too?" Colleen asked moodily.
"YES!" Lillibet shouted from the kitchen, answering for Will. "I DON'T WANT TO SMELL YOU, YOU TRASH PANDA!"
Will sighed at his eldest's interruption, just wishing Lillibet would butt out which was odd considering how he wanted her input that morning. "No, I don't, and yes you may have a shower." Will added sourly.
"Gee, thanks dad, what a benevolent dictator you are." Colleen shot back with a roll of her eyes as she shoved past him to go upstairs. With a loud sigh she ran the water for her shower. She was still very pissed at her father.
After her shower, Colleen trudged back to her room grateful that no one was upstairs. Normally she'd have brought her clothes with her to the bathroom, but this time she didn't need to. In the solace of her room, she closed the door and glanced at the self-inflicted cuts on her upper thighs. She sighed, opting for a pair of leggings and a t-shirt. How am I supposed to wear those short track team shorts and hide these? She thought nervously.
Returning downstairs, her feet growing heavier with each step towards impending doom, Lillibet smiled up at her. "I fed Coma, don't listen to his lies." She informed her sister with a giggle. "I won't be offended if you aren't that hungry."
"Thanks for feeding Coma," Colleen said to Lillibet as she took her normal seat at the table. Her father sat across from her, placing down the salad bowl as he did. Colleen rolled her eyes at the sight. It wasn't like she cut food out entirely, she still snacked. And they were Lillibet's healthy snacks too, so how bad could it be?
"Dîner de jour!" Lillibet announced as she placed down a heaping plate full of chicken parm and pasta for herself and her father. "Be right back." She grinned at Colleen again as she raced back into the kitchen to grab the last plate.
Colleen started at the small serving with wide eyes. On one hand, she was grateful Lillibet had given her less to eat, but on the other hand… she still had to eat it.
"Thanks." Colleen said quietly, not quite meaning it, staring at her food as she hesitantly picked up her fork.
Lillibet beamed happily. "You're welcome!" She looked down at her own food excitedly. "Grace!" She said to herself, signing the word amen as she did before digging into the pasta.
Colleen felt a set of eyes on her, only to look up and see her father staring at her expectantly.
"Can I help you, Dad?" She asked curtly, narrowing her eyes on her father.
"Dad, let Colleen eat in peace." Lillibet rebuked through a mouthful of pasta. "Eat! Before Obe does." She pointed out Will's food expectantly. "And if you just want to savour the smell, then tell me about your day."
Will let out a sigh as he cut into his chicken, he had no intention of letting Colleen leave the table until her food was gone. Not when she had only just picked up her fork.
"Yes, Colleen, what did you do during English?" Will asked knowingly, his stare intensifying.
Colleen rolled her eyes. "Yes, and what about my door?" Colleen demanded loudly, her tone matching his. "You said we'd discuss it during dinner, and it's dinner." She said, motioning to the food on the table.
"Hey!" Lillibet butted in, glaring at the both of them. "No arguing at my dinner table. Let me eat in peace, then you two can argue." She snapped, aggressively stabbing another piece of chicken.
"I don't recall you furnishing the house." Will countered dryly, shooting Lillibet a quick side eye.
She stuck her tongue out in reply. "Maybe not, but I cooked dinner, and I would very much like to enjoy my last good meal before cheer season begins." Lillibet replied grumpily as she speared a tomato in the salad bowl.
Colleen let out a dramatic sigh. "Can I go eat in my room?"
"No, you may not." Will answered, slowly taking a bite of his own dinner. It was good, great even as Lillibet's cooking always was. But his mind was too distracted by Colleen's behaviour to enjoy it right now. Though he still needed to eat to set a good example for her.
"I bet you'd let Lilli." Colleen grumbled, as she pushed the food around on her plate.
"No, I would not. That's how you get cockroaches." Will replied quickly, praying Colleen would just eat her food for once. "Now please eat Leena. Just a couple more bites."
Colleen resisted the urge to smirk. She knew distracting her dad would work as she hadn't even touched her food yet. "Whatever." She muttered, picking up her knife to cut into the sauce covered chicken.
Her father pointedly ignored her, turning to Lillibet. "How was your meeting with Coach Sylvester?" He asked her pointedly.
"Coach is happy. I can't talk about it until after Friday though." Lillibet answered cheerfully, holding her head up proudly knowing that she was entrusted to keep the maniac cheer coach's secrets.
Will raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Well, tell me then… Have you decided if you're going to join the glee club?" He asked her teasingly, side-eyeing Colleen. "Leena, eat some food, I see what you're trying to do."
Lillibet sighed quietly. "Dad, it's my senior year. I'm going to be busy and stuff. And I just don't know if I want to yet, it hasn't even been a day," she told him, doing her best to stall for more time to say no. She really didn't want to join her father's stuffy glee club, no matter how good it once was. And Coach Sylvester would kill her if she did.
"That's fine, I get it's a big decision." Will assured her calmly, also knowing that she was just waiting for the right moment to say no. Which he really didn't need right now.
Glancing back at Colleen, Will watched her sigh and intensely force a piece of chicken into her mouth. This is so stupid, she thought as she chewed. "There, I ate something. Now let's circle back to my door."
"Eat something more please, I'm still talking to Lillibet." Will replied gently, turning back to Lillibet who was glaring at him. He ignored her. "Did you have an A.V. meeting yet this week? I've heard of a few new freshman who were interested in joining."
"Ugh, please don't." Lillibet groaned loudly and dramatically. "I swear, Sheldon is going to murder the next inexperienced freshman who asks him to join because they think they can screw around and call it an extra-curricular. Like, I have a musical to produce here!" She grumbled, shoving more chicken into her mouth before waving her fork. "And if Sheldon doesn't kill them, I'll feed them to Obe."
"Obe's had enough food for one night," Will replied dryly, noting to have a word with Sheldon Lettiere's mother, a sweet English teacher in his department, about her son's threats. "Enjoying Mr. Palmer's Literature class?"
Colleen sighed as she listened to her sister and father talk, she wished she had that relationship with her father again. All they did was bicker as all he did was order her around instead. It wasn't fair. She shovelled another piece of chicken into her mouth. "Am I done now?" She interrupted.
"No, empty plate please," Will reminded her, pointing at her plate of mostly uneaten food.
"First off, I'm not five, secondly, I didn't actually agree to that deal." Colleen pointed out, loudly dropping her fork onto the plate.
Will glared at her. "By going for that run, you agreed to the terms set," he informed her on no uncertain terms. "Now finish your meal or I'm not even going to discuss your door with you."
"Oh my god Dad! Why can't I close my freaking door?" Colleen demanded, not letting him drop the topic. "Why do you need to know what I'm doing every second of the day? If you're that curious just put a damn camera in my room!" She shrieked at him, rising up in her chair.
Will bit his lip, willing himself not to lash out at her. "I don't, Colleen. I just prefer to know that you are safe during the night." He leant back in his chair, forgetting all about his own plate of food as he stood up. He needed to distance himself from Colleen before his emotions took control and he said something he would regret. He might not be Best Father of the Year, but he was not going to be the worst either.
"Bull shit!" Colleen snapped as she stood up. "You don't let me close it during the day and god forbid I take too long to change, surprised I can even close the bathroom door!"
Will spun around angrily. "I'm doing this for your own safety, Colleen!" He yelled loudly, causing Lillibet to jump and Obe to run upstairs. He took a deep breath, resolving himself to just calm down. "You know what, you are right Colleen. Maybe I am being a little too overprotective. You're fourteen after all, maybe I should treat you like one. But right now, you are acting like you are five. I shouldn't be doing this, but from now on you may close your bedroom door." He sighed, slouching where he stood and stretched his head idly. "Know that if you keep acting like this, all snarky and sassy, to me or any of your teachers that I will take that privilege away. Understood, Colleen?"
Colleen let out a sigh as she sat back down, she supposed this was the best she was going to get. "Fine."
"Uh Dad?" Lillibet piped up nervously, eyes darting between him and her sister. "Privacy isn't something you can take away. Like, I appreciate the creativity, but it makes for a terrible punishment."
Worst part was, Will knew that Lillibet was right. He was being too harsh on Colleen, but God damn it he just wanted to make sure his baby girl was safe and sound at night when his nightmares were at their worst.
"Lillibet has a point. Colleen." Will turned to stare at her pointedly. "If you misbehave, I promise I won't force you to keep your door open. But promise me too, promise me here right now with no tricks or crossed fingers, that you will start behaving."
Colleen merely nodded uncaringly. "Can I go now?" she asked, not quite believing her father.
"Promise me, Colleen." Will asked again, stressing each word.
Then give me some God damn space, she thought as she bit her lip. "What does that even mean?" She asked instead, doing her best to not sound too snarky. "Because we both know you have way different rules for me than Lilli."
Her father sighed heavily. "Firstly, please attend all your classes. Secondly, please stop sassing me out all the time. You might think it's cute, but it comes across as rude. Lillibet can give you proper sass lessons if you want. And thirdly, please for the love of all that is good and holy stop please just finish your dinner."
"Maybe if you weren't down my throat all the time, I wouldn't be rude." Colleen pointed out harshly, running her hands through her hair.
"And if I promise to try to back off, will you promise to stop arguing?" Will shot back quickly.
"Yeah. Okay, I will." Colleen relented, turning back to her food. As terrifying as the plate still full of food seemed, it was not where near as bad as the thought of her dad making all those promises. Not when she knew deep down that he was just going to break them. Will was never able to keep any promise he made with Colleen, so what difference was this lot of garbage promises going to make?
How long would her father last before he broke those promises, and her heart too.
Lillibet smiled sadly up at her father, giving him a thumbs up.
Will returned it, not feeling it deep down. "I am going upstairs. Colleen, please finish your dinner. Lillibet is going to watch you." He nodded at the girls before retreating upstairs. Maybe he was too harsh on Colleen, but how long did he have until she started breaking her half of the deal. Sure, she'd promised not to. But Colleen was the absolute worst at keeping promises. He was hard on her because she needed that extra push that Lillibet never needed.
Back downstairs, Lillibet eyed Colleen's plate of food suspiciously. "Hate to break it to you Lee Lee, but can you please eat a couple more bites. Obe isn't allowed cheese, and I can only eat so much."
"It's fine." Colleen mumbled, as she forced herself to eat another bite of food. "How long do you think this truce is going to last?"
Lillibet shrugged, returning to her own food. "If you keep up your end, I swear to you Colleen I'm going to do everything I can to make sure Dad keeps his."
Colleen merely nodded. It's not going to last, she thought miserably as she slowly forced more food down her throat. "Don't put yourself in the middle, it's fine. I'd hate for him to turn on you too." Colleen told Lillibet as she scratched her thigh. At least one of them had a good relationship with their father.
"Leena, I don't care what Dad thinks of me." Lillibet replied pointedly. "I've had mum and that's enough. I can always move out if he gets unbearable. But you can't. So, I am going to put myself into the middle because I want to. I want you to be happy Leena, not constantly fighting with Dad over everything."
Colleen sighed to herself. "Seriously, don't bother Lilli. It's not going to get any of us anywhere. Dad's gonna wake up as demanding and controlling as ever tomorrow and then boom there goes my door."
"Have a little faith, Colleen." Lillibet looked at her pleadingly. "If we say this is the start of something good, then it will be. You just have to believe it is."
"Everything good died with mom." Colleen said miserably as she finished the meal. Taking her plate to the kitchen sink, she dumped it there before retreating to her room.
Left alone in the dining room, all Lillibet could do was pray to her God that things would get better before cleaning up the kitchen. It was the least she could do to help Colleen.
After Will had calmed down with help from Obe, he decided to go grab a cup of coffee and continue his planning. He was far from tired, and he needed to spend his pent-up energy on something. So why not use it for some glee club planning?
Walking past Colleen's room, he noticed her door was closed and he breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Coma lounging at the top of the stairs, Will resolved to get a cat door for Colleen to solidify his promise. A cat door, so she wouldn't have to keep getting up to let Coma come and go, would definitely show his determination to keep his promise.
With a heavy sigh, Will walked into the kitchen and began gathering the things he needed to make coffee. It was still early in the evening, and despite the quiet house, his mind was noisier than ever. There had to be something going on with Colleen's recent behavioural changes, she'd never been like this before. In fact, she used to cling to him so much, even before the shooting. But especially after, when Leena seemed so dependent on her father in Emma's absence. And it made Will all the more protective of her. That day in his office reminded him just how horrible the world could be and how much Leena needed him to keep her safe and happy. Why couldn't Leena just see that?
"I smell coffee." Lillibet's voice startled Will out of his thoughts, causing him to spill some grounds. "Hey, don't spill my precious coffee!" She snapped playfully as she placed the baskets of neatly folded laundry onto the dining table.
"Sorry Lilli," Will apologised distantly as he wiped up the mess and put the coffee machine on. "You just scared me a bit."
She hummed in agreement. "You and Colleen have fought quite a bit today." She commented idly as she leant up against the fridge.
"Well, it's Leena's first day and she already skipped a class. This just isn't like her." Will vented, hoping that Lillibet would see his side of things even if she kept taking her sister's side for everything.
She didn't. "Sounds like Leena's overwhelmed. This was the school where her mom died, of course she was going to skip a class inevitably." Lillibet pointed out logically.
"That was two years ago though Lillibet." Will tried to rationalise, seeing her point.
"Yeah, and in those two years I haven't been able to go near the bathrooms I watched Emily Page die in." Lillibet added quietly, crossing her arms defensively. "Two years and I can't go past mum's office because it's just another reminder that she's gone."
"I know. I feel the same way." Will mused sadly, remembering just how panicked he felt when he and Sue ended up outside of Emma's old office earlier that day. He couldn't even bring himself to call it Dr. Cheung's office even, because that meant he'd replaced Emma and Will wasn't ready for that yet. "I guess Leena just needs time."
Lillibet just nodded as she took over making the coffees. "She also needs a supportive dad. You can't keep this up." She reminded him.
"I know. It's just, why can't she be more responsible?" He asked, already suspecting what the answer was.
"That's because you don't give her room to be responsible. I understand the door Dad, I can hear you at night time." She sighed, grabbing her cup of coffee, and moving to the dining table. "It's just, Adelaide told me I have to be patient. That I have to give Colleen space and time to come to me." She looked up at Will with a small smile of reassurance. "You need to do the same Dad."
"I'll try," Will promised his daughter. And damn it he was going to try. He was going to do everything he could to be the best dad he could be. "But seriously, how was your day?" Will asked as he took a sip of his own coffee.
"It was good. The best first day ever." She cheered teasingly
"I'm glad to hear that. Now," Will sized his daughter up, keenly aware that she was catching up to him in height even as she sat elegantly at the table. "I have a bet for you."
She glared at him suspiciously. "What are the terms?" Will knew Lillibet liked bets, even if she tried to hide her involvement in the McKinley High betting pool from him.
Will shrugged nonchalantly. "If you win, I'll buy your next supply of Turkish Kurukahveci coffee."
"That sounds expensive." Lillibet reasoned, doing the mental maths in her head as she sat down at the table. "Tell me dad, what happens if I lose?"
"I still buy your coffee, but you join glee." He told her matter-of-factly. Lillibet's favourite coffee was expensive due to the price of shipping it from Türkiye, but she loved it all the same and worked hard at her job to afford it.
Lillibet mused over her father's request as she swirled her coffee. On one hand, free coffee. On the other, she had to risk spending the rest of the year in the purgatory. Groaning as loudly and dramatic as she could, Lillibet banged her forehead against the table, not daring to look her father in the eyes. "What do I have to do?"
A smile crept onto Will's face. "Are you sure?" He teased gleefully.
Muffled curses answered him.
"Fine." He smiled wider, knowing he was about to secure victory. "I need another member for the glee club. Find me one, and I won't make you join." He informed her. There was no way Lillibet would be able to find someone. All her friends were too cool and popular for the glee club and everyone else wouldn't be interested. Will Schuester had this in the bag.
Because there was only one person who Lillibet might be able to convince to join.
Just one.
And it meant that Will would have at least one daughter join the glee club.
"So, Lilli? Do we have a deal?" Will asked, barely able to contain his laughter.
Elizabeth Eileen Schuester peeled her face off the table, his mother's blue eyes staring into his brown ones. "I'll do it."