All around Lima, Ohio people were stirring; some for work, and others, particularly the kids of McKinley High, for school. Coffee machines distorted blissful dreams and the smell of freshly-cooked eggs lulled many out of their beds. Summertime was over and school was just waiting around the corner, though no one is ever particularly excited for school. At least, not many would admit to being such. Things hadn't been particularly easy in the last year in McKinley High. Since the disbandment of the Glee Club and the Cheerios haven pretty much obtained their rightful place on top of the social hierarchy, some students have even transferred and others are simply hoping to wait out the obvious calamity that greeted them every time they stepped through those red double-doors. However, something about this year seems...different. Could it be the return of Rachel Berry and some of the former New Directioners? Or is it the stack of pancakes on somebody's table this morning? Who knows! The point is that it is a new year and there are new possibilities for each and every individual, whether new or old. What awaited them on their first day back, no one knew. But what happens, dear readers, is up to you.
It was only after her mother had departed for work (whatever that meant) that Lacey decided to rise from her bed. Truthfully, she had awoken some time around five in the morning, the anxious butterflies in her stomach snatching her from the remarkably dreamless slumber she had grown accustomed to. However, when she heard her mother running around in the spare bedroom that she stayed at since Lacey had begun to live with her aunt, Lacey had decided to stay as still and as silent as she possibly could, curling up beneath her blankets. She wasn't ready to face the older woman yet: she didn't want a lecture about how to act, an outfit to be subscribed to her, and she definitely didn't need any tips or anything of that nature. Her mom didn't always understand what it meant to be a mom, her Auntie had said. It was still a learning process. So, when her mother came in and pressed a kiss on her forehead, she didn't react. At least, not until she heard her own bedroom door close and felt something akin to peace.
Afterwards, attempting to get another thirty minutes or so of sleep just didn't feel right. So, she contended to hopping out of her bed, making it all over again since that was just the type of person she was, and decided to hop into the shower. Knowing her cousin, Robbie, he wouldn't be getting up until they were going to be nearly late or, at least until he was finished singing in the shower. Which usually sounded great, but it impeded upon the punctuality Lacey was known for. She rolled her eyes at the thought before lathering herself in the Warm Vanilla body wash. It was her favorite and it was her signature scent. It smelled like home and on a day when she was actually going to school - when she wasn't going to be trapped in a house with tutors, but actually being around other kids - she needed something familiar. The thought finally struck her that she was actually not going to some psychiatrist session nor was she being confined in the same four walls, and Lacey hurried up to get out of the bathroom. Suddenly the idea of her mother having helped with an outfit for the day sounded a lot more appealing to her. No, she decided as she reentered her bedroom, teeth brushed and water-slicked tanned body wrapped in a towel. We can do this.
"Lace, Robbie! I'm starting on breakfast!" She heard her Aunt Minnie proclaim and she yelled out the door, "Be down soon." There was some muffled thing going on in Robbie's room, which Lacey didn't even wanna think about. She just banged on the side of her wall that he would hear from. Afterwards, she turned to her closet to pull out something sufficient to wear. She didn't want to come off too preppy or too girly, but at the same time, girly was her staple. And before she knew it, she already had something to work with. It was still very much warm outside, so shorts were acceptable. She didn't need too many layers. After slathering herself with lotion of the same scent as her body wash, she pulled her clothes on before fixing up her hair into a simple pulled-back style, which consisted of most of her hair being left down while a few strands were pulled back from her face and tied at the back of her head with a barrette that was very reminiscent to the color of her bottoms. Considering the fact that it was the first day and school, she went light on her makeup and jewelry. Unlike before, Lacey didn't pull away from the mirror too quickly. However, a prolonged amount of time in front of her had her nitpicking and while something in her mind wanted her to find something else, she grabbed up her backpack, spritzed herself with some of her vanilla perfume, and then headed downstairs. Well, she headed downstairs after banging on Robbie's door and yelling, "Wake up, jackass. You're my ride and I'm not being late cuz you think you're Justin Bieber." Lacey didn't wait for a response. She simply jogged down the stairs lightly.
"Morning, sunshine. At least I can count on one of you to be on time," Minnie said and set a plate down in front of Lacey, which consisted of Eggs Benedict and a small bowl of sliced melons, strawberries, and grapes. Lacey giggled, shooting her aunt an appreciative stare. She knew the former pageant girl wouldn't want to eat anything too filling, but she also wasn't allowing Lacey to skip any meals. "Someone's looking cute today. Did you see your mom before she left?" A wave of guilt passed over her, but Lacey shook it away when she responded.
"Uh, no actually. I think she came in my room, not really sure," she replied and hurried to drink some of her grape juice so that she couldn't answer anything. Minnie shot her a knowing stare. Just because she and Victoria weren't getting along, it wasn't fair that Lacey wasn't at least talking to her. That was the problem, right? A lack of communication? Yet and still, Lacey pushed her problems away in favor of sinking her fork into a succulent piece of strawberry, wondering what her first day at McKinley High would be like.
Afterwards, attempting to get another thirty minutes or so of sleep just didn't feel right. So, she contended to hopping out of her bed, making it all over again since that was just the type of person she was, and decided to hop into the shower. Knowing her cousin, Robbie, he wouldn't be getting up until they were going to be nearly late or, at least until he was finished singing in the shower. Which usually sounded great, but it impeded upon the punctuality Lacey was known for. She rolled her eyes at the thought before lathering herself in the Warm Vanilla body wash. It was her favorite and it was her signature scent. It smelled like home and on a day when she was actually going to school - when she wasn't going to be trapped in a house with tutors, but actually being around other kids - she needed something familiar. The thought finally struck her that she was actually not going to some psychiatrist session nor was she being confined in the same four walls, and Lacey hurried up to get out of the bathroom. Suddenly the idea of her mother having helped with an outfit for the day sounded a lot more appealing to her. No, she decided as she reentered her bedroom, teeth brushed and water-slicked tanned body wrapped in a towel. We can do this.
"Lace, Robbie! I'm starting on breakfast!" She heard her Aunt Minnie proclaim and she yelled out the door, "Be down soon." There was some muffled thing going on in Robbie's room, which Lacey didn't even wanna think about. She just banged on the side of her wall that he would hear from. Afterwards, she turned to her closet to pull out something sufficient to wear. She didn't want to come off too preppy or too girly, but at the same time, girly was her staple. And before she knew it, she already had something to work with. It was still very much warm outside, so shorts were acceptable. She didn't need too many layers. After slathering herself with lotion of the same scent as her body wash, she pulled her clothes on before fixing up her hair into a simple pulled-back style, which consisted of most of her hair being left down while a few strands were pulled back from her face and tied at the back of her head with a barrette that was very reminiscent to the color of her bottoms. Considering the fact that it was the first day and school, she went light on her makeup and jewelry. Unlike before, Lacey didn't pull away from the mirror too quickly. However, a prolonged amount of time in front of her had her nitpicking and while something in her mind wanted her to find something else, she grabbed up her backpack, spritzed herself with some of her vanilla perfume, and then headed downstairs. Well, she headed downstairs after banging on Robbie's door and yelling, "Wake up, jackass. You're my ride and I'm not being late cuz you think you're Justin Bieber." Lacey didn't wait for a response. She simply jogged down the stairs lightly.
"Morning, sunshine. At least I can count on one of you to be on time," Minnie said and set a plate down in front of Lacey, which consisted of Eggs Benedict and a small bowl of sliced melons, strawberries, and grapes. Lacey giggled, shooting her aunt an appreciative stare. She knew the former pageant girl wouldn't want to eat anything too filling, but she also wasn't allowing Lacey to skip any meals. "Someone's looking cute today. Did you see your mom before she left?" A wave of guilt passed over her, but Lacey shook it away when she responded.
"Uh, no actually. I think she came in my room, not really sure," she replied and hurried to drink some of her grape juice so that she couldn't answer anything. Minnie shot her a knowing stare. Just because she and Victoria weren't getting along, it wasn't fair that Lacey wasn't at least talking to her. That was the problem, right? A lack of communication? Yet and still, Lacey pushed her problems away in favor of sinking her fork into a succulent piece of strawberry, wondering what her first day at McKinley High would be like.