At around 1:00 AM, Rachel woke up in the middle of the night feeling restless. She couldn't go back to sleep despite trying her best to calm her racing mind. She decided to get out of bed and went downstairs to the living room. She turned on the TV to a low volume and lay down on the couch, hoping to distract herself and eventually drift into sleep.

A little while later, Shelby was awakened by some noise in the hallway. She quickly got up from her bed, put on her robe, and headed downstairs to investigate. Upon reaching the living room, she found Rachel lying on the couch, watching TV.

Shelby was surprised to see Rachel awake at this hour, as it was way past her bedtime. She reminded Rachel of the house rules and told her that watching TV at this time of night was not allowed. Shelby also mentioned that she found out that Rachel knew her friends were planning to go to a party, and that earlier that day, Rachel was supposed to get her phone back.

Rachel was caught off guard by Shelby's sudden appearance, and she jumped up in surprise. "You scared me half to death, Shelby!" she exclaimed.

Shelby apologized for startling Rachel and sat down on the couch next to her. She gently took the remote control from Rachel's hands, turned off the TV, and asked her what was bothering her that she couldn't sleep in her own bed.

Rachel explained that she had found out about her friends' plan to go to a party only a day before. She knew that once they had an idea, it was hard to change their minds, so she stayed out of it. She felt guilty for not telling Shelby and Cassie about it earlier but didn't want to get involved in their reckless behavior.

Shelby was incredibly angry with Rachel for not informing her about what had happened at Carmen's party. She was furious that Rachel had chosen to keep quiet about their well-being, especially when she considered herself their friend. Shelby expressed her frustration, "You're changing the subject about what you did. It was reckless, and anything could've happened to them at Carmen's party. We wouldn't have known. My daughters could've gotten seriously injured, assaulted, kidnapped, or even killed," Shelby yelled. Her disappointment stemmed from Rachel not prioritizing their well-being above anything else.

Rachel felt apologetic and guilty for not having the courage to tell Shelby about what had happened. She explained, "I'm sorry I didn't have the courage to tell you. I was afraid that you or Cassie would be upset with me or even kick me out of this wonderful home that I have come to love."

Shelby was quick to reassure Rachel that they would never kick her out of their home. She touched Rachel's hands and said honestly, This is your home as much as it is theirs." She ran her fingers through Rachel's hair to show her love and support.

Rachel, however, reminded Shelby that legally, she wasn't her mom like she was for Santana, Kitty and Quinn. "But it's not my home, Shelby, because you're not my mom legally like theirs," Rachel said.

Shelby comforted Rachel by telling her "I'll be your Mom legally soon, Rachel. I haven't gotten the papers yet. But we will get it by today or tomorrow, so don't you worry about it. Just let Cassie and me worry about it." Shelby's words brought a smile to Rachel's face, and she hugged Shelby tightly.

Rachel showed empathy towards Shelby's decision of not informing her about Santana being bullied at school. She understood that their relationship was not the best, and therefore it was understandable that Shelby didn't feel comfortable sharing this information with her. However, Rachel expressed her concern that she would have helped if she had known about the situation.

Shelby explained that not only was their relationship a factor, but also that it wasn't her story to tell. However, she acknowledged that they should have informed Rachel regardless of the decision, and apologized for not doing so. After their conversation, Shelby advised Rachel to get some rest as she had school the next day, and she had to go to work. They both went up the stairs, and Shelby asked if Rachel was feeling better after their discussion. Rachel expressed her gratitude towards Shelby for her help, and went into her bedroom while Shelby retired to her own.

Cassie woke up at the exact time of 7:15 in the morning, feeling a bit groggy from the previous night's restless sleep. She knew that she had to get the four teenage girls ready for school, so she quickly got out of bed and made her way to their rooms. She gently woke them up, and they began their daily routine of preparing for school.

The girls sluggishly made their way to the bathroom, where they brushed their teeth and took a refreshing shower to help wake them up. They then got dressed in their school uniforms and packed their school bags with all the necessary books and supplies they would need for the day.

After getting dressed, they all gathered in the kitchen, where Cassie had prepared a delicious bowl of cereal for them. They ate their breakfast and chatted about their plans for the day while Cassie made sure everything was in order for their departure.

Once they were all ready, Cassie drove Kitty, Santana, and Quinn to Carmel High, while Shelby drove Rachel to McKinley High School. Before dropping Rachel off, Shelby reminded her to have a great day and to call her if anything happened. Rachel reassured her that she would, and Shelby drove off after seeing Rachel enter the school building.

As Cassie pulled into the parking lot at Carmel High, she turned around and looked at the three teenagers sitting in the backseat. "Girls, your mom and I will be coming home around 5:30. So your grandma, Stacy, is going to pick you three up and then get Rachel from school. She's going to take you to her house, and you're going to do your homework and the chores she assigns you, without any backtalks. She has our permission to punish you as she sees fit. We're not going to have a repeat of what happened yesterday, when your mom came home," Cassie said sternly.

"Mama, we're old enough to watch ourselves," Quinn said honestly.

"I know you are, hun, but your grandma wanted to spend time with the four of you. So be on your best behavior, and we will see if we will let you all talk to your friends," Cassie replied, looking at them.

The three teenagers nodded their heads in agreement and got out of the car, rushing out to talk to their friends. Meanwhile, Cassie made her way to her dance studio, ready to teach her students.

Mrs. Corcoran was an English teacher who taught a class on Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. As part of this class, the students were tasked with writing a seven-page essay on the novel. While this assignment was already quite challenging for many students, what made it even more daunting was the expectation to read their essays out loud in front of the entire class. This requirement caused a great deal of anxiety and apprehension among the students, as the mere thought of standing in front of their peers and reading their work aloud was enough to make them feel uneasy and self-conscious.

However, Mrs. Corcoran was a teacher who was keenly aware of her students' discomfort and took it upon herself to provide them with the necessary encouragement and support to overcome their fear of public speaking. She made sure to create a safe and inclusive classroom environment where every student felt valued and heard, and where they could share their thoughts and ideas without fear of judgement.

Mrs. Corcoran was invested in the success of her students and took the time to provide constructive feedback and guidance on the students' writing. She offered suggestions on how to improve their writing skills, and provided one-on-one assistance when needed. Her support and guidance made all the difference, and the students were grateful for her kind and caring approach to teaching.

Thanks to Mrs. Corcoran's efforts, the students were able to overcome their fears and complete the task with ease. They were able to read their essays out loud in front of their peers with confidence, knowing that they had the support of their teacher and their fellow classmates. Mrs. Corcoran's dedication to creating a safe and inclusive classroom environment and her commitment to her students' success is a testament to the kind of teacher she was.

At William McKinley High School, Rachel had been uncharacteristically quiet all morning, which concerned her friends. After lunch, Mercedes and Kurt cornered her in the hallway and pulled her aside. Kurt noticed that Rachel had been unusually reserved, which prompted him to inquire about what was going on. He reminded her that she could confide in them and that they wouldn't betray her trust.

Rachel initially brushed off their concerns, saying that she had a lot on her mind. However, Mercedes and Kurt gently persisted, assuring her that they were there for her and that they wouldn't judge her.

Eventually, Rachel opened up and confessed that she had been preoccupied with Santana's well-being. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong, and she was worried that the school's hockey team might be involved in bullying someone. She turned to her friends for help, hoping that they could shed some light on the situation.

Kurt revealed that he had heard rumors that the hockey team had been bullying several students who were two grades below them, but he didn't know who they were. This revelation only intensified Rachel's fears.

Mercedes was shocked to hear that Santana had been bullied and had to leave the school. She was aware that Santana's mother had taken her out of school abruptly, but she didn't know the reason behind it until now.

Kurt expressed relief that Santana was somewhere safe and away from the bullies. The three friends agreed that it was the right thing to do, and they felt grateful that they could rely on each other in times of need.

Rachel, a high school student, had longed to be a part of the glee club for as long as she could remember. Despite knowing that she wasn't allowed to attend the rehearsals, she decided to sneak in anyway to pursue her dreams of singing with her friends and becoming a part of the group. When the club's teacher, Mr. Schue, asked her why she was there, Rachel felt a pang of guilt but decided to lie and claim that Shelby, her guardian, had given her permission to attend.

Despite her dishonesty, Mr. Schue was impressed with Rachel's singing talent and decided to let her sing. Rachel's voice was angelic as she sang "On My Own," a song that perfectly captured her sentiments of longing and unrequited love.

[RACHEL]

On my own, pretending he's beside me

All alone, I walk with him 'til morning

Without him, I feel his arms around me

And when I lose my way I close my eyes, and he has found me

In the rain, the pavement shines like silver

All the lights are misty in the river

In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight

And all I see is him and me forever and forever

And I know it's only in my mind

That I'm talking to myself and not to him

And although I know that he is blind

Still I say, there's a way for us

I love him, but when the night is over

He is gone, the river's just a river

Without him, the world around me changes

The trees are bare and everywhere, the streets are full of strangers

I love him, but every day I'm learning

All my life, I've only been pretending

Without me, his world would go on turning

A world that's full of happiness that I have never known

I love him

I love him

I love him

But only on my own

As she sang, her voice filled the room with emotion, and everyone was captivated by her performance.

With every word that Rachel sang, she poured her heart and soul into the song, conveying her feelings of love and loss. Her classmates was moved by her performance, and they couldn't help but clap for her as she finished the song with a smile on her face. Although Rachel had lied to get there, her talent and passion had won over the hearts of everyone in the room.

As the final bell rang, Rachel quickly gathered her things and rushed outside, eager to get home after a long day. Meanwhile, at Carmel High, Santana walked into her mother's English class just as her students were walking out. Her mom, Shelby, greeted her with a warm hug before Santana took her seat at her desk. As she settled in, Santana couldn't help but think about the dance class her mama was teaching at school, and how much she wanted to join. She mustered up the courage to ask her mom if she could switch one class to go to her mom's dance class.

Shelby sat down at the edge of her desk and said, "Your mama already teaches you and your sisters dancing at her studio at home, so there's no need for her to teach you at school." Shelby had a point, but Santana couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"I guess you're right, Mom," Santana said, deflated.

"You better get going, my mom is waiting for you outside, and you better be on your best behavior with grandma," Shelby warned.

"I know, I know, Mom, you don't have to repeat yourself," Santana said, rolling her eyes.

Shelby swatted Santana on her left leg, "Don't be such a smart aleck. Now go. I'll see you at 5:30 at grandma's," Shelby said, giving Santana a final hug and kiss before Santana left the classroom.

Santana hopped into the backseat and greeted her beloved grandma Stacey with a warm hello. They were on their way to McKinley High to pick up Rachel, and as they drove, Stacey asked her granddaughters how their day at school had been. They responded that it was just okay because they had to read their essays out loud in their mom's classroom. Stacey chuckled and decided to liven up the mood by turning on the radio to their favorite music station. The girls eagerly joined in and sang along with the music, creating an atmosphere filled with joy and happiness.

Santana, a vivacious high school student, was thrilled to see her beloved grandma Stacey as she hopped into the backseat of her car. They were on their way to McKinley High to pick up Santana's close friend Rachel. While driving, Stacey inquired about the girls' day at school, and Santana and her younger sister replied that it was just okay because they had to read their essays out loud in front of their mom's classroom.

To lighten the mood, Stacey turned on the radio to their favorite music station, and the girls eagerly joined in and sang along to the music. As they arrived at Stacey's house, she gave Rachel a comprehensive tour of the house, pointing out various pictures on the walls and telling her stories about each one. Some of the pictures had Santana's friends Quinn, Kitty, and Santana in them, and Stacey shared fond memories of those times. Rachel expressed her excitement and said that she couldn't wait to be in those pictures as well.

After the tour, Stacey informed the girls that they needed to do their homework. Though they groaned, they sat down at the table and began chatting with each other while they worked. They worked diligently and completed their homework in no time.

Once their homework was done, they decided to go outside to help their Grandma Stacey with her garden. They spent a few hours weeding, planting new flowers, and watering the garden, enjoying the beautiful weather and each other's company. The garden was full of blooming flowers, and they took great care in ensuring that each plant was properly tended to. The girls were fascinated by the different types of flowers in the garden and asked Stacey many questions about them.

Overall, it was a wonderful day filled with laughter, learning, and bonding. Quinn, Kitty ,Santana and Rachel felt grateful for their Grandma Stacey and looked forward to spending more time with her soon.

Santana, a vivacious high school student, was eagerly waiting to spend the day with her grandmother Stacey. She was excited to see her close friend Rachel, whom she had been waiting to meet all day. When Stacey arrived, Santana climbed into the backseat of her car and they set off to pick up Rachel from McKinley High School.

During the car ride, Stacey asked the girls about their day at school and how it went. Santana and her younger sister shared that they had to read their essays in front of their mom's classroom, which made them a bit nervous. To boost their spirits, Stacey turned on the radio and they all sang along to their favorite songs.

After they arrived at Stacey's house, she gave Rachel a tour of the house, pointing out various pictures on the walls and telling her stories about each one. Some of the pictures had Santana's friends Quinn, Kitty, and Santana in them, and Stacey shared fond memories of those times. Rachel expressed her excitement and said that she couldn't wait to make new memories with them.

The group sat down at the table to complete their homework, chatting with each other while they worked. Stacey guided them when needed and they finished their homework in no time. Once their homework was done, they went outside to help Stacey with her garden. The garden was a beautiful sight to behold, filled with blooming flowers of different types, colors, and fragrances. Stacey taught the girls how to weed, plant new flowers and water the garden properly.

They spent a few hours working in the garden, enjoying the beautiful weather and each other's company. As they worked, they laughed and chatted about their day, their hobbies, and their future plans. Stacey was happy to see her granddaughters bonding so well with each other, and with her.

Later, they were surprised to see Shelby and Cassie walking in the house. They greeted their parents with hugs, and Shelby checked their homework before telling them to go to one of the bedrooms while she talked to her mom. Once they left the room, Shelby filled her mom in on her granddaughters' crazy adventures, and how she had grounded and spanked them for it. Stacey listened intently and then told Shelby that she did the right thing because she would've done the same thing if she were in her shoes.

After dinner, they helped Stacey clean up the kitchen and then Shelby drove Rachel and Quinn home, while Cassie drove Santana and Kitty back to their house. During the car ride, the day's events had taken a toll on Santana and Kitty, and they eventually fell asleep in the car, exhausted but grateful for the memorable day they had shared with their grandmother and family.

When they arrived at home, Cassie gently woke up Santana and Kitty who had fallen asleep in the car. They followed their mom inside the house, and she helped them up the stairs. Meanwhile, Shelby and the other two walked inside, and Shelby offered to take Santana to her bedroom while Cassie took Kitty to her bedroom.

Quinn and Rachel went to their room to change clothes, brush their teeth, and get in bed. They were all feeling content, happy, and grateful for the wonderful day they had shared together. Shelby pulled Santana's covers back in and helped the girl into bed, taking her shoes and socks off. She then handed her nightgown to Santana and told her to change into it, which Santana did.

Shelby kissed her sleepy daughter goodnight and walked out of the room. Cassie walked out of Kitty's bedroom, and they both said goodnight to Quinn and Rachel's room, where the girls had already fallen asleep. Shelby told Cassie about Santana's recent interest in dance classes, and Cassie said she would teach them a new dance tomorrow, since she didn't have to do glee rehearsal with her wife. Shelby smiled and said they would love it, and they fell asleep holding onto each other's arms, grateful for the wonderful day they had shared with their family.