High School (Quicketh)

                                    

                                          
"B, it's almost midnight." Quinn noted. "What are you doing up?"
"Getting ready for school tomorrow." Beth answered. "I have to pick out my clothes and plan my makeup. It has to be perfect."
"It's gonna be fine." Quinn promised. "Don't freak out."
"It's my first day of high school." Beth replied. "You of all people know how important high school is."
"I do." Quinn nodded. "And I also know how important sleep is, so let me help you and then we can both go to bed."
"Okay." Beth said. "Thanks, Mom."
-
"Beth!" Quinn called. "You're gonna be late. Come down and eat."
Beth came downstairs and entered the kitchen.
"I made..." Puck trailed off as he turned and looked at Beth. "Waffles."
"Thanks." Beth said as she went to take the plate, but Puck pulled it away.
"Shouldn't you go get dressed first?" Puck asked.
"I am dressed." Beth replied.
"You're gonna go to school like that?" Puck commented.
"What's wrong with that?" Quinn wondered.
"Don't you think that skirt's a little too short?" Puck asked as he looked at Quinn.
"She's in high school now, Noah." Quinn reminded Puck. "Besides, my cheerios skirt was way shorter than that."
"Yeah, and I know firsthand what kind of things go through the minds of high school guys." Puck pointed out as he looked back at Beth. "Go change."
"Dad." Beth muttered.
"Noah, she's gonna be late." Quinn said. "She looks fine. We can talk about this later."
"I don't want my daughter going to school looking like-"
"Looking like what?" Beth interrupted. "A grown up? I've been a grown up my whole life because you two were kids when you had me and I've been helping you raise my siblings since I was eight."
"Go change." Puck repeated. "We'll talk about this later. You can't be late for school."
"Fine!" Beth hissed as she stomped away.
"I'm gonna wake Hudson and Lulu up so they can come eat, too." Puck decided as he handed Quinn a plate.
"Okay, but you and I should talk about this." Quinn noted.
Puck ignored Quinn as he headed upstairs. He woke up Hudson and Lucy and paused outside Beth's bedroom door. Taking a deep breath, Puck knocked on the door.
Beth opened the door and frowned. "I thought you were Mom."
"Can I talk to you?" Puck requested.
"I'm gonna be late for school." Beth said.
"Please, B." Puck begged.
Beth folded her arms and looked at Puck.
"I know you're not happy with me right now, and I know high school is crazy and confusing." Puck began. "And if there's one thing I've learned from your mother, it's that clothes are ways to express yourself."
Beth nodded slowly.
"I don't want you dressing different because you feel like that's the only way to fit in. I want you to do it because you wanna do it." Puck continued.
"I do." Beth insisted. "I've always known who I am. I wanna express that more freely now that I'm older."
"I hear you." Puck said. "And I know you're not a kid anymore, but you're still my kid. You're my baby girl, B."
"And I always will be." Beth responded. "Although there's Lucy. And in December, you'll have another one."
"The point is, it's hard for me to accept that you're on your way to adulthood." Puck stated. "And I don't wanna think about any guys objectifying you, and I just want you to be yourself and make good decisions."
"You have to trust that you and Mom raised me well." Beth told Puck. "And you did."
Puck smiled slightly.
"And Dad, I know it's hard for you to watch me grow up, but I can handle anything." Beth promised. "You've made sure of that."
"Yeah." Puck nodded. "Yeah, you're a good kid, B."
Beth smiled.
"Wear whatever you want to school." Puck told Beth. "Well, not whatever you want."
"I'm good." Beth promised. "I'm gonna be late so I should just go."
"Okay." Puck said. "Good luck on your first day. I can't wait to hear all about it."