under co.

QUINN: Probably, however with so intense Yale is, I tend to be on the cautious side... assuming I get accepted.

QUINN: Well, since you, sunshine of the school, agree, I'm going to have to work on that, aren't I?

MCKENNA: I think you will. You're a smart girl, and I believe we're all always smarter than we think we are, you know?

Mason did his best to come off as engaged as he listened to what it was she had to say. So he tried his best to nod at all the appropriate moments. “Sounds like a good mantra to have,” Mason interjected, with a smile. He used to think that maybe he was the same way, and while he could point out the positives to other people. Mason rarely put that same effort into things for himself. “Not sure that I have a problem just really bad sleeping habits that don’t usually result in me sleeping in first period. But here we are, and I’m Mason,” it felt strange to extend his hand but still Mason found himself doing it.

McKenna thought it was a gentlemanly thing for a guy in high school to do, hold his hand out to shake like that. She smiled and took his hand, “You’re a twin, right?” She said, remembering a few passing encounters she’d had with a Madison McCarthy. “I think that’s mighty lucky for ya, it’s just me in my family. Well, me and my mama, and Memaw,” she clarified. “I mean, bad sleep schedule or not, I don’t think there’s a true lick of evidence that either of us belong here!”

Bubbly? I just wake up, drink a cup of positivity (coffee flavored with caramel, that’s the positivity) and then proceed to put my best foot forward and try to be as happy as I can be. I can’t speak for the cuteness thing - you just might be crazy!

Mason chuckled mentally when he heard the word dang. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d heard the word uttered in his presence and it was a struggle to keep from smiling at the story. “Ah, well on the bright side at least you know your friend is safe?” Mason suggested. Pointing out the positive had to be better than laughing at the girl. “Apparently my sleep schedule is worse than I realized and I slept through first period,” Mason admitted. “I’m not sure how this is meant to teach me anything though.”

“You’re right, yeah, I do always try to see the good in situations, but it’s real hard today,” she admitted. McKenna missed her best friend more than she could possibly say, and she guessed she just wished that she could’ve been there to see the shoes instead of being texted about them. “My mantra really is just be nice to people and look at the bright side, that’s how mama raised me,” she nodded. McKenna raised her eyebrows at his story, “I think it’d be better if they were to ask you, ya know, what the matter is? Have you talk to someone? Why give someone detention when they clearly could use some help? I’m failin’ to see the logic in that. What’s up with this school?” She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I’m McKenna, I’m usually much, much happier than this,” she assured him. 

“Right, then nice to officially meet you, McKenna, Kenna and sometimes Mck,” Puck smiled. He stood up and shoved his hands in his pockets, then wandered around the front of the piano to lean against it, legs crossed at the ankles. He didn’t know a lot of people that enjoyed playing classical instruments. It was pretty cool to see someone passionate about that shit.

“I’m not really an overachiever when it comes to Glee,” Puck shrugged. “I think this week’s mashup with Kitty is the first time I’ve actually tried in a while.” Honestly, Puck wasn’t sure what even kept him in New Directions. There was some fucked up sense of loyalty at first that got knocked on it’s head when half the group deflected to the Warblers. He wasn’t going to college so it wasn’t like he needed the extra curriculars. “But that sounds good. If I need a hand, I’ll keep you on speed dial. Or just wait around the music rooms for a minute. I’m sure you’ll show up sooner rather than later.”

“Usually if I hear a note from a piano, I appear out of thin air,” she joked, sitting at the piano and playing around with a random melody she’d used as a warm-up when she was a young girl, then switching into Once Upon a December from Anastasia. “This is one of my favorite melodies of all time,” she said. 

“Thank you,” Blaine said rather bashfully of her praise.  “I love making music so much.  I feel like each new instrument I learn just unlocks a little more for me musically speaking.”  He’d always been someone that liked affection, and he felt a little starved for it at the moment, grateful as McKenna leaned into him.  “Yeah, I guess that’s true,” he said softly.  “I guess some days are probably better than others.” Blaine hoped it wasn’t something he’d have to witness his own grandmother go through.  Or Sebastian’s.

“And you are absolutely right, the more you know how to play, the more stuff is open to you,” she smiled. “Plus, nothin’ looks more badass than a relatively tiny person with a big ole cello. Seriously, it’s the talk of every recital I’ve had in the last few years,” McKenna giggled, grinning up at him. “Some are better than others, yeah, and not even just days - it’s sometimes from week to week, but even on the days that aren’t so great, I like to focus on the parts that are. Like sometimes, even if she thinks I’m her sister who died years ago, it’s nice to just sit with her and paint our nails and gossip.” 

“Not the kind of funky I want to be known for,”Tina laughed.  It felt good; to laugh after the heaviness that had seemingly settled over her since New Years.  “That is so true.  If I can ever be your net, let me know.”  She tried not to giggle as McKenna stretched on her tiptoes; she knew the feeling.  “Ah the life of the pint sized in a world of average height people.  These should work great.  Thank you again, McKenna.”

McKenna smiled and tilted her head, “Deal,” she said over her shoulder as she grabbed her jeans for the other girl, handing them off to her. “Hey, you’re always welcome. Anythin’ to help out a fellow lady.” 

Back in Louisiana at my best friend’s house.

AESTHETIC 002: MCKENNA ROSENTHAL + FAVORITES PT. 2

QUINN: I suppose you're right... maybe I'll just burn all my old stats homework sheets. That'd be therapeutic as well.

QUINN: That or make me anxious that I might need to use them someday.

QUINN: Regardless I want to require some sort of end of high school bonfire. You'd be invited for keeping me on the right track, of course.

MCKENNA: That could work - I doubt you'd need them anyway. I'll burn all my math stuff along with you. Math's the thing that gives me the most trouble.

QUINN: Please tell me I'm not the only one who wants to be one of those seniors who burns her books at the end of the year and just pays the fines for them since the satisfaction will be rewarding enough?

left in tina cohen-chang’s ( @northshoretina ) homeroom on Tuesday morning:

“Tina, 

Nobody should have to have a banged up water bottle. Here’s a two for one deal - a new water bottle with some words of encouragement. 

“Really?” Tina asked surprised.  “I’d just wear my yoga pants but honestly I need to bring them home to wash them tonight, I don’t need to be the girl in the funky smelling pants.”  She looked at McKenna and then at herself; it might actually work.  “Okay, let’s try that.  Thanks McKenna that’s really nice of you.”  She laughed at the comment about the cute jeans.  “I’m sure they are fine.  Not like anyone is really going to notice anyway.”  

“Ain’t nobody need that,” McKenna agreed, wrinkling her nose as she teased the other girl, “Don’t mention it, nobody should go without a safety net in their time of stressin’.” She walked with Tina toward her locker, unlocked it, and stood on her tiptoes to reach the back of the top shelf. She unfolded them for Tina - they were dark denim with rips in the knees that McKenna had put there herself. “These good?” 

“Ah, I never thought about that,” Blaine laughed. “I thought boxing was what was giving me my arms.  Maybe the super competitive tennis games I kept getting into in the fall too.”  He reached out and touched her arm teasingly.  “I think even with girls, I’d be more into legs than arms,” the curly haired Warbler said. “I’ve been practicing a lot more this week, which you’ll probably appreciate come lesson time.  But I’m going promise you I’ll keep up on more consistent practicing too.”  At the mention of her Memaw, Blaine looked over.  From what he knew what McKenna’s  grandmother had wasn’t exactly something she’d  get “better” from.  He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.  “Is it such a bad thing to remind someone of someone else?  I mean especially since in this case it’s your mom.”   

Mason wasn’t exactly used to landing in detention. In fact it was something that he’d never honestly considered would happen, until he found himself sleeping through most of his first period class. He wasn’t exactly sure how being forced to stay after school was supposed to make sure that it didn’t happen again. 

Had he been honest with himself he had considered that maybe Sue would bail him out. Sure the punishment of missing part of Cheerio practice would more than likely worse than sitting in the now empty class room, but the thought had still been there.

Mason had waited until the sound of the teacher’s footsteps had faded some to push back the hood of his jacket and sit up. “So what did you do,” Mason asked. Until today the closest Mason had ever come to detention was watching five minutes of the Breakfast Club, and seeing as that movie was three decades out of date he wasn’t even sure if he could really use it as a barometer.

AESTHETIC 001: MCKENNA ROSENTHAL + FAVORITES PT. 1