It was hardly the first week into the semester and Darcy, Ariela, and Madeline had already been caught smoking on school grounds, and the principal had called them in for a lecture.
The three of them sat in the office, nervously waiting for the principal to arrive. The room was filled with a heavy silence, and the only sound that could be heard was the ticking of a clock on the wall.

Darcy studied the carpet, her hair falling over her eyes. Ariela was staring off into the blank wall, her eyes focused on nothing in particular. Madeline was the only one still smoking, taking slow, deliberate drags off her cigarette.

The door opened, and in walked the principal. He didn't even look at the students as he silently rounded his desk and took a seat.

"Do you three know why you're here?" he asked, his voice stern.

Darcy, Ariela, and Madeline all shook their heads. in unison. Although, they knew exactly why they were there. It was the same reason they were here three times a month last school year. 

"You're here," he said, "because you were seen smoking on school grounds." Principal Figgins deadpanned, in which Ariela only continued to chew the piece of gum in her mouth; her arms crossed over her torso. 

"I am not going to just let this incident go," the principal continued. 

"You three are going to have to do something extra for me to make up for your mistake." 

The three of them looked up, curious. "I'm sure you've heard about the school's glee club." Principal Figgins said. "I want you three to participate."

Ariela threatened to laugh. "Glee club?"

october 8th.

Darcy lit his cigarette, handing the lighter to Ariela, "so why'd you apply again?"

Ariela huffed, "my dad threatened to send me off to that fucking boarding school in Maine, he cant afford it anyway, but still, I'm not about to have that argument with my dad. we fight enough as it is."

Darcy chuckled, "your dad's a bitch."

Ariela snarled, "really?" she asked in a sarcastic tone, he smiled mockingly back causing her to wink at him, taking another puff of smoke, "Darcy Ellis, Madeline Ailey and Ariela Bliss, please report to my office, now." Principal Figgins announced over the intercom, the trio groaned, Madeline stood up, opening the door for Darcy and Ariela, they followed her in and made their way to his office. Mr Schuester sat in a chair, Figgins eyed the three, they squished in the doorway, closing the door behind them as they stood against the open wall, Darcy clenched his jaw when the three older role models gave them a disappointing look, Ariela reclined her head back, leaning it on the wall, "can we get this over with?" she whined, "Ariela, Darcy, Madeline, a student reported that you were all smoking on school property." Figgins retorted,

Darcy rolled his eyes, "its not like we were hiding,"

Mr Schuester's face palmed,

"either way, smoking on school property is prohibited!"

"Come on, It's the last day of school." Ariela tried to push,

Madeline was now the one to roll her eyes, "just give us our punishment so we can leave."

Figgins sighed, "two weeks of summer detention."

Darcy snarled, "we spend the whole school year in detention anyway."

"and this fall, join the glee club."

𓈈
october, 20

Ariela set her guitar back in her guitar case, making sure all of the coins and paper - that she had earned that day from strangers on the street - were inside.

Ariela walked into the library and printed her sheet music she would need for the next few days, she didn't have a printer at home so she had to go to the library each week.

She walked out, papers in hand.

"Ariela, right?" a voice asked, she looked up to see a guy with brown hair and blue eyes, a sculpted jawline and a devilish smirk, "that's me," she confirmed, "and you are.."

"Jesse St. James, the male lead of vocal adrenaline," he replied,

she nodded, "of course you are," she huffed, "can I help you?"

"probably not, your performance was decent, your personality while performing is okay, you're all cons. the only pro would be your looks."

Ariela scoffed, "excuse me?"

"cigarettes are bad for you, you know," he told, ignoring her completely.

"and how would you know I smoke? Are you a stalker too?"

he rolled his eyes, "no, you just smell like fresh cigarette buds."

"Why are you here?" she cut to the chase,

"no reason, I was just heading into the library but saw you and figured I'd say hi." he grinned sarcastically, "would you like to sing with me?"

"I just put my guitar away."

he shrugged, "We don't need it."

she sighed, giving in, "fine, one song."

he smirked, "good." he scanned over the sheet music he had just taken from Ariela's hand, handing it back to before beginning.

I fell in love with the only girl
Who knows what I'm about

I fell in love with a boy
And I can't tell if I fell out
After all said and done
I can't just pretend I'm movin' on

Is it just a part we're playing?
'Cause it don't feel like we're faking

When we're underneath the lights
My heart's no longer broken
For a moment
Just for a moment
When we're singing side by side
There's so much left unspoken
For a moment
Just for a moment A moment in love (Just for a moment)
A moment in love (Just for a moment)
But is a moment enough?

Way, way back then
Always dreamed it's you and me until the end

Now, we can't play pretend
And I'm scared to talk to my best friend
Should I stay or let you go?
Will you love me when the curtains close?

Is it just a part we're playing?
'Cause it don't feel like we're faking

When we're underneath the lights
My heart's no longer broken
For a moment
Just for a moment
When we're singing side by side
There's so much left unspoken
For a moment
Just for a momentA moment in love (Just for a moment)
A moment in love (Just for a moment)
But is a moment enough?

Maybe
Your heart still stops when you see me
Maybe it's worth another try
Better place, better time

When we're underneath the lights
My heart's no longer broken
For a moment
Just for a moment (Just for a moment)
When we're singing side by side
There's so much left unspoken
For a moment
Just for a moment
A moment in love (Just for a moment)
A moment in love (Just for a moment)
But is a moment enough?
When we're underneath the lights
My heart's no longer broken
For a moment
Just for a moment

He grinned, thanking the group of strangers huddled around them,

"how's friday night?" He spoke softly to Ariela.

she knew what he had been implying, "I barely know you."

"that's why we should get to know each other over dinner."

"dinner? you don't seem like the dinner type."

"I'm a lot of things I don't seem."

"fine."

he cocked his head, raising an eyebrow, "give me your phone."

"cliche," she said, pulling her phone out of her pocket, handing it to him, skeptically.

"stop by practice on Friday, see me in action," he winked, handing her phone back.

"It's summer."

"That doesn't stop us. How do you think we're so good? hint: we aren't slackers." He winked before waving her off.

𓈈

october, 24

Ariela walked into Vocal Adrenline's Auditorium, where they happened to just start to begin their song. She leaned on the wall behind her, watching them start.

Livin' easy
Lovin' free
Season ticket on a one way ride
Askin' nothin'
Leave me be
Takin' everythin' in my stride
Don't need reason
Don't need rhyme
Ain't nothin' that I'd rather do
Goin' down
Party time
My friends are gonna be there tooI
'm on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell
No stop signs
Speed limit
Nobody's gonna slow me down
Like a wheel
Gonna spin it
Nobody's gonna mess me around
Hey satan
Payin' my dues
Playin' in a rockin' band
Hey mumma
Look at me
I'm on the way to the promised land
I'm on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
Don't stop me
I'm on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell
(Highway to hell) I'm on the highway to hell
(Highway to hell) highway to hell
(Highway to hell) highway to hell
(Highway to hell)
And I'm goin' down
All the way
I'm on the highway to hell

"stop, please. Dear god, just stop. seriously, guys? its like watching beige paint dry. look at jesse, Jesse, give us a show face." their coach pleaded,

Jesse smiled widely, causing Ariela to chuckle,

"thats a show face, guys. you want to look so talented, its literally hurting you. i want a look that's so optimistic, it could cure cancer."

they all mimicked the smile,

she clapped, "that's what I'm talking about! see you Monday. drink a red bull."

✰

Ariela waited outside for Jesse, texting Darcy and Madeline while exhaling the smoke from her cigarette, "we talked about this," a voice said, taking the cigarette out of her hand, she put her phone in her pocket and looked up to see Jesse, glaring at him, "these are bad for you." he threw the cigarette on the ground, smashing it underneath his foot, he smiled sheepishly at her, "lets go, shall we?"

she rolled her eyes playfully, following him to his car, he tried to be polite, opening the door for her, she cocked her head to the side while her eyebrows furrowed together, she had heard of his reputation from asking around when he asked her out and she had heard that he was a jerk that broke every girl's heart and to stay away unless you want to be just a hookup with no feelings involved. The Jesse St James she was seeing right now, was nothing like the rumors.

✰