A/N: I meant for this to be a very, very long narrative with story lines for the members of glee club. So, you won't see any stories about Will or Emma or Sue here unless it has something to do with the kids at glee. Ashley Abrams is a figment of my imagination. Although she's a main character here, not everything in this novel-length story is about her.
Also, please note that this story is in progress and was started after Season 1's Sectionals Episode, so it totally goes against the show's other details (like Quinn's baby's name, etc.).
Okay. So, here we go...
Chapter 1
Artie's Cousin
It was 7:40am and the halls of William McKinley High School were crawling with teenagers that walked to their classes, gossiped by the lockers and held impromptu meetings. Ashley Abrams strode along with her flowing hair carrying only a gray leather clutch tucked under her arm. She wore an opened red trench coat that ended a few inches above her knees. Behind the ruby-colored hide was a black and white dress that was cut shorter than its cover. High-heeled black leather boots completed the whole ensemble.
Noah Puckerman, who was volleying a scrawny boy back-and-forth between his chest and his teammate's, tilted his head to see behind the huge sophomore varsity player. "Wait," he said holding the scrawny boy's shoulders. "Scram. Take little Harvey with you," he told the sophomore.
The two boys left without another word. Puck eyed the fashionista with a smirk and one eyebrow in the air. With his signature Mohawk and the way he stood, hands in the pockets of his faded jeans, there was no way to miss him. It was logical for her to notice.
She met his stare and curled her lips to a timid smile. But, her eyes showed no shyness, it burned against Puck's. Ashley stopped a couple of feet across him.
"You look like someone who frequents the Principal's Office," she said.
"You need a guide?" he asks in his most debonair tone.
"You can just point to me the right direction."
"It's a big school. Wouldn't want you to go missing now. I can be your escort."
She took a deep breath to maintain herself in check. She didn't associate herself with boys like this one. She doesn't even care to know his name. This is what you get for trying to be sassy, she told herself. And then, salvation. A wheelchair appears from the corner at the end of the hall.
Her eyes brightened as she looked past Puck. Realizing that he was no longer her focal point of view, he followed her gazed and turned to look behind him. His shock-stricken features returned to face Ashley.
"Never mind that. I just saw something I like." She, then, walked past him.
"You've gotta be kidding me," escaped from his lips as he turned to watch her walk towards the decrepit.
She paused and looked back at him with a sly smile. "There's nothing sexier than a guy with hot wheels," she pointed out matter-of-factly.
Puck felt dizzy with confusion. He stared, mouth-agape, as this insanely hot girl glided toward Artie Abrams. He and the other students who couldn't help but stare in the same level of bewilderment, watched as Artie flashed a sneaky smile before turning his chair and rolling beside Ashley. They turned to the corner and then they were gone.
Everyone scattered about to their classrooms. Puck, on the other hand, just stood there. Multiple questions came rushing into his head, but the one that ultimately lingered was 'Who was that?' The bell for first period rang, and it was only then that he strolled to his classroom.
Quinn Fabray smiled at a poster by the door of the Principal's Office. It was a week before Valentine's Day and everywhere announcements for the first dance of the new year was scattered about. She entered and greeted the secretary with a smile.
"Hi, Mrs. Pearson."
The woman, in her mid-50's, reciprocated the same warm greeting. "Hello, Quinn. Have a seat, Mr. Figgins will be with you in awhile."
Quinn turned to look behind the clear glass wall and saw Principal Figgins speaking to a dark-haired girl, whose face she couldn't see. The Principal caught a glimpse of Quinn and motioned for her to enter. Quinn looked at Mrs. Pearson, and the mature woman nodded.
"Good morning, Principal Figgins," Quinn said as she opened the door to his office.
"Quinn, come. Let me introduce you to a new student."
The girl across the table looked up at Quinn, flashing her perfect smile and her clear blue eyes. Up close, Quinn realized that she had deep dark red hair, which was not easy to spot unless cast against strong lighting.
"Ashley, this is Quinn Fabray. She's the student council president," Principal Figgins started.
"Fabray?" Ashley asked. "You were head cheerleader of the Cheerios."
"I was," Quinn answered with a smile. She then turned to Principal Figgins to continue with the introduction.
"Quinn, this is Ashley Abrams," he said.
Quinn turned to Ashley with an expression that is one of delighted surprise. "Abrams?"
Ashley nodded. "I'm Artie's cousin. You're friends with him?"
"Well, yes. We're in Glee Club together." Quinn confirmed. Ashley's eyes brightened at this news.
"Ahh... a common ground," Principal Figgins declared. "This is very well. I'm giving Quinn free pass this morning to help you settle in," he said to Ashley.
"Oh, but she might be more comfortable if Artie—"
"No, this is fine." Ashley said, interrupting Quinn. "I would love to meet new people," she told the principal.
"Wonderful!" he said. "So, Quinn?"
Her pink lips curled up in an honest smile. "Of course."
Ashley and Quinn spent the morning together for a personal orientation of everything McKinley High. Ashley asked questions about the students, the teachers, glee club and the Cheerios. She was especially interested in the Cheerios.
They stopped side-by-side in front of the glass cabinet that housed trophies of arts-related achievements, several of which were won by glee club over the years, including those of New Directions. "That's our first," Quinn pointed to their Sectionals trophy the year prior.
Ashley nodded but her thoughts were somewhere else. "Quinn?" she started.
"Hm?" Quinn replied without taking her eyes off the evidence of their first win.
"I've been meaning to ask… Why did you leave the Cheerios?"
"I didn't leave," she said nonchalantly. "I was kicked out."
"Why?"
Quinn turned to Ashley with a smile on her face. "I got pregnant." The whole town practically knows about it already, she didn't see the point of concealing anymore. Besides, Ashley is Artie's cousin; it's only a matter of time before he'd tell her.
"Well, you're not pregnant now. Don't you want to come back?" Ashley asked, not the least bit rattled by the pregnancy news.
Quinn shook her head. "I think my time there is over."
"The entire school in exchange for the Cheerios."
It was a statement meant only for Ashley's consideration, but Quinn affirmed with a laugh "You could say that."
Getting pregnant and giving birth to the baby changed Quinn in so many ways. She's more attuned to real life now, and not just life in high school. Popularity is still something that she finds important, of course, but she found out that she can be popular in the way that she chooses.
So she ran for president. There were those who thought that her star had faded because of getting knocked up; but for some reasons, students had found her more appealing. Maybe it was because she ceased being ashamed of what happened to her and just embraced it. She didn't know what it was about her, really, let alone those people around her. But it was there. And she won in a most surprising landslide.
"So, you know her?" Mercedes Jones shot at Artie.
"Ashley," Artie said before sticking a spoonful of chowder in his mouth.
"It's been echoing all around that she ditched talking to Puck for you. True?" Kurt Hummel asked curiously. Artie nodded. "Wow" was all that escaped from Kurt's lips.
"She's my cousin."
"You're related to that?" Mercedes said pointing to the person who just entered the cafeteria. As if they were part of the conversation, everyone else in the room turned to look.
Ashley stood sans the red coat and bit her lower lip as she made a quick scan of the room. She was fully aware that all eyes were on her, but her concern was mainly on finding Artie. And when she did, she flashed her brilliant smile and walked to his table.
Kurt's jaw dropped as he stared at this… this… model, it seemed to him. She had a perfect stance and her walk was meant for the runway. It was the shoes, he thought. They were Jimmy Choo. Not many teenage girls in Lima walked around wearing high heels, let alone designer shoes. And as she came closer to them, he was met with familiarity on her.
"Donatella Versace!" Kurt exclaimed in a whisper as he stood. Everyone at the table looked at him.
Brittany leaned closer to Tina Cohen-Chang and in a low voice said, "I thought her name was Ashley." Tina shrugged, just as confused.
"Yes," Ashley said to him with a grin. She eyed Kurt and gave him an impressed nod. "Alexander McQueen. Very snazzy… I love it."
The students witnessed the exchange with murmured confusion. The names were alien to most of them. Could they be speaking in codes?
"Hey, Ash," Artie said unbothered.
"Artie!" She went behind his chair and bent down to wrap her arms around his neck.
Eyes widened anew.
"I love your vest," she said as she straightened herself.
"You bought it," he pointed.
Kurt scooted over to allow Ashley to sit down between him and Artie. She smiled at everyone. "It was a good choice, right? The vest?" The others nodded, surprised this time because she spoke to them as if they knew each other.
"Ash, these are all my friends," said Artie and proceeded to introduce them by their full names, beginning with Kurt and ending with Tina.
"Ahh… Tina," Ashley said under her breath as she eyed at the girl. Artie shot Ashley a look, which made her turn away to the others.
"It's nice to meet you," she began. "I'm Ashley, Artie's cousin. You can call me Ash. Are you all in Glee with him?"
They nodded.
"I've met Quinn Fabray. She's really nice."
Mercedes was the one to break the group's silence. She inquired into Ashley's perception of the school, since she obviously didn't look like a small town girl. "I just like dressing up, is all," she said.
She told them that she's not really new in Lima. She had spent summers here before and is fairly familiar with it. Although, she had to admit that it was the first time that she enrolled in a small-town public school.
Ashley considered herself a nomad of sorts—not really having a permanent home. Her mom's job didn't allow for them to stay at a city for long periods of time. In the past five years since her mom got her job, Ashley had been in three different schools in three different States. McKinley High is the fourth.
"What does your mom do?" It was Tina.
"Oh, you know, something in the government." Ashley waved a hand as if it was of no significance.
Just then, howls filled the already crowded cafeteria as boys in red and white football jerseys burst through the doors. Instantly and without another word, Brittany stood and sprinted to their direction. And then, a group of hooting girls in Cheerios uniforms emerged. Brittany was lost in them.
A/N: If you got this far, maybe you could leave a word or two for me. I'd really appreciate that. :D
Next Chapter: Ashley Abrams