New Directions

The stage was bare but for a few chairs , a couple of microphones, and some instruments (a piano, some drums, electric guitars, that sort of thing) and Fenton was perched on the edge. As the kids filtered in, he gave them a little wave and waited until everyone was settled into the auditorium seats.
( Once everyone was seated, he cleared his throat and spoke. )

"Okay, kids, the challenge this week is 'Your Favorite Childhood Song'," Will said, once all the kids were gathered in the room. The band and Brad were there, ready to back people up.

"Let's see what you've got."

Sam's parents were used to him coming and going as he pleased so when he left the house that night with a 'Going out, back later' they didn't blink and Sam was already in his car before anyone looked up. Being the only child left at home did have its perks, especially when your parents were still trying to make up for yanking you out of your school and away from your friends in the middle of high school. Still, for all the things he missed, Chicago had never had a Theo and it wasn't until Sam was parking outside Theo's place that he realised he literally had just dropped everything to run over to him when he asked... and he had no problem with that.

It was getting late so he decided to ignore the doorbell, giving the door a sharp knock instead.

After the debacle that had been the failed Rocky Horror Show project, Will felt that he and all the kids needed a new challenge, a new thing to work on. Something that would hopefully re-charge their batteries.

And Will needed to get his focus back on Glee and off of Emma. She was dating and happy...he shouldn't interfere with that. And Carl was a nice guy, and he was good for her.

As much as he hated to admit that.

So as he and Brad set up for the new rehearsal, Will had quite a bit on his mind, only a few of those things Glee-related.

Sam walked down the middle of the hospital corridor, hands in his pockets, having just left Kurt sitting with his dad. Everyone else seemed to hate hospitals but he really didn't have strong feelings one way or the other. He'd never had to visit a sick or dying family member (touch wood) but, being the youngest of the family, he'd never visited a new baby either. It was just a place. Still, it was pretty depressing being in that room and his stomach squirmed everytime he tried to imagine how Kurt must be feeling.

He wasn't really paying attention as he walked past the occupied rooms but the sight of a familiar blond head made him stop. He'd know that hair anywhere.

"Theo?" he asked softly from the door, not wanting to intrude but curious to see him here.

With her hands on her hips and her legs planted like tree trunks, Coach Shannon Beiste surveyed the McKinley football field like a warrior queen looking over her domain.

It looked like her predecessor's pathetic reputation was well-deserved, she thought with a sneer. She had never seen a sorrier bunch of recruits gathered in her presence - half of them looked like they would blow over in a strong wind, and the other half would trip over the goal line.

But then of course she had always coached winners.

Well, Panther, she thought to herself, think of this as a challenge to your coaching abilities. You can do anything, including turn this ragtag bunch of losers into the well-oiled destroying machine that everyone has come to expect of you.

On an average day, Sam was bouncing around happily. On his birthday, the day of his party and after a day of catching up with closest friends, he was almost literally bouncing off the walls.

He was also responsible for the whole house looking like a giant balloon (or the house from Up at least), the garden was filled with lights and more decorations and, after Lillian's party, Sam had insisted on a karaoke machine. The tables set up were packed with food and drink and the huge 'Happy Birthday' banner would have been more impressive, and more meaningful, if Sam hadn't made it himself at 2 o'clock that morning.

Sam was in his full pirate outfit and had been for most of the day. His friends from home (Lee, Andy, Ben, Rebecca and Lisa) were in the garden with him, or rather a cowboy and Han Solo were sneakily smoking his brother's cigarettes and making Sam feel like part of the Villlage People, Princess Fiona and John Lennon were surreptitiously attacking the chip bowl and Alice was not so much in wonderland as she was in the bathroom.

Sam himself was letting his mother kiss him goodbye and nodding that of course he'd behave as he waited for his guests. He was also wondering where Blake had wandered off it, wondering if he'd gone to retrieve the rum.

Mr. Schuester and Brad were all set for the kids to start performing. He knew there were some strong personalities paired up, and he just hoped that the kids would put aside their differences to do the assignment.

They had a lot to cover, so as soon as all the kids were assembled, he got their attention in order to start. "Okay, kids...what pair of you wants to go first?"

Instead of desks, there's a circle of chairs in the middle of the floor. If needed, he'll bring desks in, but Fenton prefers 'teaching in the round' as it were.

As soon as the kids are settled, he gets up from his chair with a grin. "All right. I trust everyone is by now familiar with stage directions and notable plays and playwrites and blah blah blah. I think it's time we're familiar with each other. We have to know each other to trust each other. And we have to trust each other to work with each other."

He clasps his hands together and grins warmly. "And so, today we're going to learn a bit about each other. Break the ice and all that. I'll start, and then we can work our way around the circle. Stand up, give us your name, age, grade annnnd whatever else you want to share. Favorite movie, favorite class (don't worry, I won't be offended if you don't say drama), favorite band, what you like to do in your free time. Whatever you want. Then, we'll delve a bit deeper. See where it goes."

Oh how he grins. "Okay, as I said, my name is Fenton Brookes. I'm 40 years old, which I realize is positively ancient but there's not much anyone can do about that. I've recently moved here from Columbus. I have a Welsh Corgi by the name of Milo, and he would very much like to come meet you all some time. And my favorite movie is 'Some Like it Hot.' Now for you guys. And remember, give everyone the respect and attention that you, yourself, would like to receive."

And he sits, eyes wide with rapt attention. Welcome to Drama class, kids. May everyone survive.

Lillian has been planning this for months and the night is finally here!

All of the neighbors have been warned. All the music has been planned. There is a tent over the patio, and the elephant is just outside of the tent, along with a facade of the windmill, and there are lights strung up everywhere.

Lillian has the karaoke machine set up over in a corner of the porch, and at the moment, there is old French music being played over the sound system. They'll kick it up a notch when people want to dance or sing or...well, just about any reason, really.

The guest of honor herself has worked very hard on her outfit for tonight...and, as it turns out, red is really her color.

She's terribly, terribly excited but she's trying very hard not to bounce...

Will was excited. He was going to let some people perform first, if anyone had anything they really wanted to share, but he was very excited to hand out their first song of the new school year.

When everyone had gathered, Will called the meeting to order. "Welcome back, everyone, and to our new members, welcome to New Directions. We're going to work very hard this year, but we'll have fun doing so as well."

He sat down on the stool near the piano. "So...first off, does anyone have anything to share with us?"

[ooc: people who want to be supportive also invited!]

Mr. Schuester and Brad were set up in the auditorium, ready for the new group (and old group) of Glee participants.

When everyone was gathered who had signed up, Mr. Schuester stood up and called the group to attention.

"It's great to see everyone here, and since we have so much interest this year, I'm very glad everyone is on time. It's good to see so many new faces. Now, I want everyone who signed up, even the old members, to get up and sing something for everyone. I think it's important to show everyone what you can do, and how you might have grown over the summer. It doesn't have to be much, just a little tune. Now...who's first?"

He was laying odds it would be Rachel, but it would be whoever got up fast enough.

Three day weekends were the best, and definitely cause for celebration. It could have been any holiday, no matter how insignificant, but if it called for a Monday off school that meant there should be a gathering and fun times. At least that's what Blake believed. That's why he'd arranged for this cookout. Everyone had made it through the first week of school with little to no casualties, and that was great. Definitely a reason to have hot dogs and bratwurst and hamburgers and especially smores.

He'd gotten the fire pit going early, just to have it there. As he'd said before, he was content just to have a fire pit and then sit around it playing his guitar if no one came. But he hoped people would show up. There was a lot of food and he didn't want to have to eat it all himself later. Of course they hadn't cooked any of the dinnery type foods yet, that would have been silly as it wasn't dinnertime. But there were snacks and drinks for anyone who arrived earlier than dinner.

There were balloons on the mailbox so people could find the house, and a sign out front to point people to the backyard. So he just sat on the edge of the back patio, absently playing his guitar as he waited for anyone who was going to come.

( Funky Town )