The Way We Were

The Way We Festival

"I'm so glad the school year is over!" Quinn yelled.

"It's been entirely too stressful." Mercedes agreed.

"This bites." Marcy pouted.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't even do anything." She sulked. "I'm too pregnant for all of these rides."

Mercedes and Quinn looked around the festival streets. Every June, there was a festival downtown that they and their siblings went to before camp. "You're right."

"This is bunk." Marcy sat down at a picnic table.

"Well you can always eat." Quinn sat across from her.

"We don't eat this food. It's too greasy, processed or sugary."

"We can find something. Remember the veggie wrap from last year?" Mercedes reminded her.

Marcy shrugged. "I want Mal."

"He's buying the twins t-shirts." Quinn pointed them out.

"I'm sick of being pregnant."

"Marcy, you love being pregnant."

"Not anymore."

"I think you're just cranky over glee still." Mercedes knew.

"I'm not cranky."

"It's okay to be upset. We really wanted it. But we lost and have to deal with that."

"I'd rather hate Rachel forever."

"It's tempting."

"But?"

"No buts. It's tempting."

Marcy and Quinn giggled.

Mercedes pinched her yellow sister's cheek. "There's a smile."

"Thanks, Mercy." Marcy leaned against her. "I don't think I'm going to quit glee. I just want things to change."

"Mr. Shue has to see us now. If he doesn't, we might have to quit."

"I really hope he sees us." Quinn fretted. "I love glee too much to quit."

The others agreed.

W.W.W.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Mal asked.

"I don't want to watch you have fun." Marcy monotoned.

"Do you wanna go home?" He put his arms around her.

"I don't want to stop your fun." She patted his chest. "Go on the bumper cars. Have fun for me."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." She smiled.

"Alright." He kissed her quickly before whistling for the twins. "We're going on the bumper cars!"

"Yay!" The two ran off towards them.

Mal ran behind them. "Wait for me!"

Marcy giggled as she pulled out her phone to video them.

W.W.W.

"I feel so bad." Mercedes whispered.

"No one's ever going to know." Mike chuckled.

"Somebody's bound to see us." Quinn looked over her shoulder.

"Who's going to tell on us? We're just eating a deep fried strawberry for heavens sake."

"But you know we can't have sweets." Mercedes reminded him.

"If you don't tell, I won't."

"You're starting to sound like Tommy, Phil."

"Stop being Chuckie and take a bite. I do miss my Tommy though." He seemed wistful.

"She'll be back when she gives birth." Quinn rubbed his arm.

"I like that she laughs at my jokes though."

Mercedes smiled. "She laughs at everything."

"I know. I don't even have to think of anything clever."

"Lazy."

"Yup." He kissed her cheek.

Quinn leaned against his side and laughed. "Let's just eat these strawberries before someone sees us!"

They each bit into one. "Wow!"

"I didn't think I'd like this so much." Mike finished his in three bites.

His wives took more but were no less pleased. "Yum!"

"We should get another stick."

"Just one more." Mercedes compromised. "Then we'll have to go to the dancing tent to work it off."

"Agreed!" Mike and Quinn nodded.

"Let's go!"

W.W.W.

"Look at that skyline." Marc pointed.

Laura snuggled up under him. "It's beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you."

She smiled. "Oh, Marc."

He lightly kissed her as the ferris wheel came to a stop at the top. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

W.W.W.

"Jude, can I ask you a question?" Maddie asked.

Jude nodded. "Sure, little brah."

"What would you do if your girlfriend was poor?"

"Poor compared to me or just poor?"

"Both."

He thought about it. "If she was a good person, I wouldn't care. Especially if I loved her."

"What if she was homeless now?"

"I'd try to be there for her and help her as much as I could."

She smiled and gave him a hug. "Thanks, Jude!"

"No problem, little brah." He messed up her hair before she took off.

W.W.W.

"Mommy, dance with us!" Mally yelled.

"I don't think so, buddy." Marcy pouted.

He pouted, too. "Please?!"

"Mommy can't move the way she used to."

"Come on, Marce." Mal cajoled. "I don't think a two step is going to hurt the baby. We're about to leave and you haven't done a thing fun."

"I don't know." She didn't want to hurt her baby.

"Please, dance with your family."

"But you hate dancing."

"I'm terrible at dancing. But I love dancing with you."

Marcy melted. "Okay."

"Yay!" The twins jumped around.

Marcy took each of their hands and Mal took their other ones. They formed a tight circle and swayed together to the mellow beat from the outside band.