A Wide Spectrum (A Community Fanfic)

Rose Joins The Study Group

Rose McKinley is a autistic young adult who got an opportunity to prove to all that she can get an education and be independent. Majoring in Writing, she got in on academic scholarship, a straight A student, scoring high on ACT and SATs, and a insanely high IQ. We'll find out more about her later. For now, she's just entering her first day at Greendale, her aunt Shayne, her legal guardian since middle school, dropped her off.

"Here we go, your first day of college, I hope your Uncle Craig treats you like any other student, a dean like him can give family special treatment. Make sure you show him, you got your marker and board, tell him you can be a college girl."

Rose nodded smiling so big. She wrote on her board: "I love you Aunt Shayne!" Her aunt smiled.

"Ok sweetie, good bye, learn and have fun."

Rose got out of the car and ran off to college. She was to start in the spring although enrolled before her high school graduation. Her first class was Spanish 101 with Senor Chang. When it was time to leave, Chang usually makes his students say see you later or something of that sort in Spanish.

"Hasta luego," Chang encouraged.

All but Rose repeated what he said, he took notice really quick.

"You, come see me for just a moment."

She walked to his desk.

"Rose McKinley, I heard about you, first time they let a retard at this college. I know what your deal is, you're the dean's niece. He'll let you be top of your class."

Rose got out her board and wrote: "He won't, I'll make sure of it Senor Chang." She then put her thumb up.

"Oh really, you clearly understand Spanish but you won't make it very far without some help. There's a study group in the library that would be more than happy to take you. They're up to Spanish 102 but you'll benefit from them in so many ways. Have a great day! Hasta luego!"

Rose waved and left.

She walked in the library to look for the study group rooms, the very first room was a group of seven, she looked closely at their textbooks, Spanish, she found them. She appeared in the doorway and gently knocked. They turned around to see her. She was clutching her board.

"May we help you?" The man at the nearest chair asked.

She wrote on her board: "Spanish Study Group?"

"Yeah that's us...oh...you're Rose aren't you?"

She nodded.

"You're here, a little late but you're here, come in."

She walked in and sat by the man who greeted her and across a brunette about her age, the only open seat at the table.

"Guys, this is Rose McKinley, it's her first day at college, she's the dean's niece, he told me about her this morning."

Rose waved, she was a little shy.

"What's wrong sweetie, cat got your tongue?" The old man in the group asked.

"Pierce, be nice to her, especially today. Rose, let me introduce myself and the rest of us. I'm Jeff, this is Annie."

"Hey," the brunette, Annie said.

"Shirley."

"Hello," the chubby black lady said.

"Pierce."

"Pleasure," the old man said.

"Troy."

"Sup," the athletic black boy said.

"Abed."

"Hi," the Middle Eastern boy said.

"And Britta!"

"Hey," the blonde said.

Rose wrote on her board: "Like the water filter, Brita?" She held it for Britta to see. She laughed.

"No, spelled with two Ts, not one."

Rose nodded in understanding then started rocking back and forth.

"I forgot to tell you guys, she has nonverbal autism," Jeff said.

"I see that, you and Abed would be perfect together," Pierce said.

Pierce always pronounced Abed wrong, A-bed instead of Ah-bed.

"Logically speaking, we might make a great pair because we're both quote on quote, quirky people. Do we have the same interests? Maybe, maybe not?" Abed asked.

"Tell us a little bit about yourself Rosie, if you like being called Rosie?" Annie asked.

Rose wrote for a moment while they awkwardly but patiently waited. She gave her board to Jeff.

"She says: 'I'm a high school graduate, majoring in Writing, I have a black belt in martial arts and I enjoy watching martial arts films, mainly Bruce Lee-"

"Bingo Abed, movies!" Britta said.

"Cool, cool cool cool," Abed said.

"As she was writing: 'Spanish is a requirement for my major, so, I need your help. I can't speak but I can write like Maya Angelou."

Shirley laughed.

"Oh I love her poems!"

"And I don't mind being called Rosie."

Jeff concluded and gave the board back to Rose.

"Well Rosie, welcome to the group. Let's get to work."

They started studying.