~~Chapter 1 – the Arts Is not a Punishment, It's Empowerment~~

"You got a sec?" Logan asks as he leans against the office door.

"Mr Echolls. What can I do for you?" Vice principle Clemmons asks.

Logan closes the door, shutting it firmly behind him. "Man, I tell you Mr Clemmons, I am pissed off!" Logan grumbles as he heads for the chair in front of Clemmons desk.

"I need for you to use appropriate language in here, Mr Echolls." He scolds Logan as Logan sits and adopts an abashed demeanour. "Now, what's got under your skin?"

"It's, uh, it's that Weevil kid."

"He is no longer a student here."

"Yeah, I know. But the problem is; he's getting all the credit for sticking Mr Daniels car on the flagpole," Clemmons looks up at him in horror but Logan continues. "And all of the sudden, he's like the biggest badass in," Logan notices Mr Clemmons warning look and coughs, "rad dude," he says rolling his eyes, "here at Neptune. I mean, people are gonna be talking about that punking for years."

"I don't think I understand," Clemmons frowns as Logan gives a grin.

"I mean, I want my share of the credit."

"You're confessing to helping Eli Navarro?"Clemmons confirms and Logan smirks, "You can't just get away with this, young man."

Expelling his breath in mock contrition Logan says, "Yeah, I didn't think I could."

Logan pauses then swings first one foot, then the other onto Clemmons desk. He is wearing a pair of black boots with red stars all over them. Clemmons stares at the boots on his desk. It is the same boots that Aaron Echolls had worn and would raise the school thousands of dollars in the auction.

"So, what kind of punishment are we talking about?" Logan asks making no secret of his triumph as Clemmons stares longingly at the boots and then back at Logan. A deal is in the air.

Though it's not the kind Logan had in mind, it's the best he's going to get.

~~VM~~

"No." Both boys state their answer in union.

"It wasn't a question."

"Yeah, well I'm not obliging to your request, question or not," Logan deadpanned.

"I would like to take this opportunity to remind you both that you're getting off easy. Mr Echolls, I'm sure your parents will be proud if you follow in their footsteps."

Footsteps of a cheater and alcoholic, yeah they'd be real proud. The thoughts pass Logan's mind.

"I'm pretty sure that they were hoping I'd become an astronaut," he replies not liking Mr Clemmons ideas.

"It's that or suspension for both you and Mr Navarro." The big guy finally throws the ultimatum.

"Hell NO," Weevil growls out.

"There's no need for that kind of language. If you wish to not accept this offer, I can always call your parents and grandmother. They can decide which the best option for you is," Mr Clemmons says knowing that the boys would agree once he brought up the parent card.

"Fine," The boys grumble in agreement, their bitterness is clear in their voices.

"This will go on your permanent record but you're extremely fortunate that you're not being suspended or expelled." He reminds them, hoping this idea doesn't blow up in his face.

"Um, does it-does it go on my-my permanent record that I was un-expelled?" Weevil mockingly asks.

"Don't push your luck, Eli."

"This is a freakin' joke," Weevil grumbles when Mr Clemmons is out of earshot and Logan hates to say it but he agrees.

~~VM~~

"I usually have sweats in my locker. Sorry." Meg says sympathetically.

Veronica gives the angelic blonde a reassuring smile. It wasn't her fault that some 09er bimbo shoved her clothes in the toilet. Meg was actually the hero in this scenario for providing the petite blonde with clothes… even if it's a cheerleading uniform.

"No, this is perfect. I just have to resist the urge to do a cartwheel."

"Why don't you come have lunch with us? You're already dressed for the occasion," Meg suggested and there was a hopeful glint in her light brown eyes.

"Veronica Mars please report to the Principles office," The voice over intercom requests. Catcalls are heard and noises are made but Veronica does a dramatic sigh.

"Oh goody," she sarcastically comments. "Rain check Meg? Uh thanks for the clothes," Veronica says with relief of not having to reject Meg and confusion as to what did she do now?

"What's up Mr. C?" She plops herself onto the seat and grins a little though she's not feeling comfortable with being in the cheerleading uniform.

"It's Mr. Clemmons," he corrects her as he frowns when he looks at her attire. "I wasn't aware that you were on the cheerleading squad."

"L, E, T, S, G, O! Go Tritons!" She cheers brightly. "Who can resist?" She adds sarcastically.

"So I take it you're not on the squad?" He confirms with a somewhat relieved tone.

"No." She deadpans as she internally rolls her eyes.

"Why are you in cheerleading uniform?"

"Did you really call me in here to address me about my attire?" Disbelieve and confusion evident in her voice.

"No but Veronica, if any mishap had happened on school grounds, we will deal with it." The concerned Vice Principal informs the petite blonde.

"Don't worry about it Mr C, I'd just like to go home and change and be back before next period," Veronica replies casually.

"Very well," he lets the issue go, knowing the blonde won't provide any information, "I called you in here to discuss your lack of passion."

"What?"Her eyebrows shoot up in shock at his words.

"Last year you were on the pep squad and participated in various activities."

"So?"

"You're working towards Stanford, am I right?"

"Yeah." She looks at him sceptically not liking where this conversation is heading.

"I'm sure they are looking for school spirit-"

"I am not joining the cheerleading squad!" She shouts wide eyed her face is clearly masked with horror.

"No, it's not the cheerleading squad that I want you to join, there is a new club. It's a glee club."

"Glee club?" Veronica asks incredulously but with relief that she doesn't have to be a cheerleader.

"Yes, it is show choir."

"I know what it is, why do I have to join?"

"You're a really good singer, they need good singers."

"What a sec, are you blackmailing me?"

"No, of course not, I'm merely suggesting that your participation will higher your chances at getting into Stanford and as I see it with all your detentions you've been having, it won't be good on your record."

"Lemme get this straight, you'll clear my detentions if I join Glee club?"

"I was making a suggestion Miss Mars. You can choose to either accept or decline."

Veronica seems unsure for a few minutes, debating in her mind. She has had a lot of detentions. "You have to get me a pass too, there's no way I'm making it back in time for next period now." She finally says, seeming a bit worried about her decision.

"I take that as a yes?" He confirms feeling satisfied.

"If I get tomatoes thrown at me, I'm holding you responsible," She threatens and Mr. Clemmons visible swallows hoping that's not going to happen, and once again hoping that he has made the right decision.

~~VM~~

"So he black mailed you?" Wallace asked shocked. "I can't believe you agreed," he shakes his head.

"He threw Stanford at my face! It's my kryptonite, kind of anyway. I can't not go to Stanford, Wallace!" She looks at him wide eyed.

"Wow. I have got to see this. You singing and dancing, High School Musical Veronica Mars style!" He smirks.

"Um who said anything about me doing anything?" She shakes her head at his ridiculous statement.

"That's the point, right?" He looks at her quizzing.

"No, I just have to be there."

"I don't think that's what he meant."

"Who cares?" Veronica shrugs, "Twenty seconds baby," She says excitedly.

"You're this excited about the super featherweight crown? "

"I know I'm usually so passive. But our bond grows stronger every day, he-who-has-satellite-dish."

~~VM~~

"So you're joining?" Veronica grins.

"I knew working at the admin office would be bad for me somehow," he shakes his head.

"Uh huh," Veronica gives him the 'I-know-you-don't-wanna-be-there-either-but-I'm-so-glad-that-you-are' look.

"She's like my kryptonite," he emphasises his point, reusing her words from before.

"Wow. I have got to see this," She smiles widely as she uses his words against him, "You singing and dancing, High School Musical Wallace Fennel style!" She laughs.

"Yeah well I'm gonna take the lead from a certain tiny blonde and not do anything."

"Hey! I'm not tiny, I'm petite," She defends her weight that's picked on way to much, in her opinion.

"Whatever you say shorty," he mocks.

"Georgia's got you whipped," she smirks again and he ducks his head knowing that she's right.

~~VM~~

"Thank you, Michael. Auditions for Neptune's Glee Club will be held this Friday immediately after school. It's a show choir, where you can dance, sing and act," Meg explains.

"You're quite the actress yourself, aren't you Meg? " Lars inquires.

Meg is flustered and stammers "Uh, um."

The awkward pause continues.

"Uh, weren't you the lead in "Guys and Dolls" last spring?" Lars asks sensing the tension.

Meg laughs with a mixture of embarrassment and relief "Ah, yeah."

"So I take it, you'll be auditioning as well?"

"Why not?" She laughs nervously.

~~VM~~

"Dude! You've never been in like a club," Dick looks at Logan wide eyed at the news of Logan's punishment.

"Really? I wasn't aware of that," Logan says with an irritated expression.

"Dude, this could be like cool you know? Where the cool kid hang out, why didn't tell me sooner? I heard it from Madison, the girls want to join 'cause you're there."

Logan looks agitated and very unhappy that this news is spreading around the school so soon, he thinks that maybe it'd be a good thing if there we're a lot of people in this stupid glee club then he wouldn't need to do any work.

"Dude! I want in. I'm awesome at everything! Chicks dig dancing and singing, it'd be super cool!" Dick exclaims excitedly and Logan thinks maybe it would be to his benefit if Dick was with him.

"Uh I can't dance or sing, I uh yeah..."

"Beav! Don't be such a party popper!" Dick hits his brother on the back as if he wants to toughen him up.

"What am I gonna do at a club that I can't do anything in?" Cassidy raises his eyebrows.

"I dunno but you're coming with," Dick shrugs and then adds, "We're in!" Dick's face fills with happiness thinking of all the hot chicks that would be dancing. "Duncan, dude, are you coming?"

"I'm not really the performing type," Duncan shrugs.

"Come on man don't be a party pooper," Dick tries to encourage his friend but Duncan doesn't seem to be budging.

~~VM~~

"The arts are not a punishment," A brunette woman argues with Clemmons.

"It's not, but in order to get these particular students in, it was a necessary step."

"There are enough pupils wanting to audition, they don't need to be there."

"They are the reason for this many students wanting to attend the glee club. I thought your idea was a good one, it may help these particular students find their way as well. They have been through a though time, I'm hoping that with your help and this club they will find their way, regain their lost passion and dreams."

"Okay," She agrees with a soften face, thinking that maybe this was what Will goes on about maybe having a Glee club wasn't just to win but to help others find their passion.

As she leaves she remembers why she's going through the trouble and the pleading face that begged her to find a possible a way of getting a Glee club.

"Dad, Daddy, it's not the best educational institution for me if they don't have all the arts department present, it's adequate that they have dramatic and visual arts but the most important of all arts to me is music and the only club that will satisfy my needs and that will help reach my goal of being a Broadway sensation will be if they had a Glee club, it's the only way that they can attend to my acquired need of life. I am like Tinker bell, I need applause to live. I need to be in a glee club therefore I cannot attend Neptune High!" Rachel exclaims all in one breath all while looking wide eyed at the three adults in the room. Begging and pleading with the two that hold the decision of her future education.

She had tried her very best to reason with her dad and daddy to reconsider moving and her switching schools, she had explained about how it would affect her future, she even made charts but she had lost, she couldn't argue with their decision anymore as they had seen the action firsthand.

She couldn't lie as they had seen, she doesn't lie to her parents at all and she doesn't usually argue with them either but that would have been an exception. She couldn't argue with their tears so she had reluctantly agreed when she heard the hurt in their voice. She wanted desperately to stay here in Ohio, she finally had friends but she loved her fathers more than anything.

She agreed and now lived in Neptune; Ohio wasn't too far away from Neptune. Both states were located in California. She lived with her dad and daddy. Shelby and Beth stayed with them. She finally had a family. She would miss everyone in New Directions but she knew that her dad and daddy had taken their decision with her well being in mind so she couldn't be angry at that. But she could argue her new school.

Her new school Neptune High which she will be attending in a week, where Shelby will be teaching, did not have a Glee Club; of course this would cause Rachel to go on a rampage.

"Honey, Neptune High is the best school in all of Neptune and there is a drama club and they do participate in musicals," Hiram, her daddy had tried to calm her down.

"And Sweety, not many schools in Neptune have Glee clubs," Leroy, her dad had told her gently.

"Please, you have to do something," Rachel pleaded at not anyone in particular; just hoping one of the three adults would answer to her plea.

"Rachel..."

"Please," She begs with big brown puppy dog eyes. "Shelby! You're going to teach at Neptune." Rachel stated looking bright eyed as if an idea had struck her.

"Yes, I-"

"You can speak to the principle to form a Glee club. I can make a presentation! It will be very beneficial to the school and the students. Music is a type of empowerment and it is a language that is a universal language. They will not say no-"

"Rachel, Shelby is just starting teaching she can't make demands and changes to the school," Leroy said.

"But-"

"He's right Rachel, I can't," Shelby says and when she sees Rachel's face fall in disappointment she thinks for a moment. "I can make a suggestion and offer to coach the club, but I doubt they will agree."

"Thank you!" Rachel's eyes brighten once again. "I can make the presentation today!" Rachel once again starts to go into a speech but the three adults are happy that Rachel's eyes are bright and not sulking away as it did before.

They know she must miss her club but they couldn't risk her well being.