A/N: Hello Hello. I am currently working on my other fic Frozen Roses so no worries. I hope this fic is successful. I got the inspiration from... bullying awareness week, but don't worry it's very good. It has a plot and everything.

Enjoy.

Brittany rested her head against the car's window as her family pulled out of the parking lot. This is it. This was the last time she would see the place that she had been calling home for her entire life. And on top of that it was raining. Nice. As if this day couldn't get anymore depressing.

Her mother looked at her in the rear-view mirror and Brittany held her steady gaze. It was something she was really good at, these silent battles with her mom, but it was definitely not something she enjoyed.

She didn't care if her mom was elected freaking president of the United States, no job offer that she ever got would ever make her feel better about leaving.

Her friends threw a going away party for her the week before. She can swear that she had never seen so many tears in her life, and that included the time her ex-boyfriend took her duck hunting. Poor baby ducks...

They exchanged many good-bye's. The next more heartfelt than the other. It was like she was on automated pilot, saying the standard 'I miss you already.' and 'Be sure to keep in touch'. It was like she was already gone after that. It was a regular party. And even then she still had to clean up after them.

Brittany smiled at the memory of her best friend staying behind to help clean up. Carlos. She sighed. She would miss him the most. He was the most funniest, corniest guys she had ever met. It was as if everyday was an adventure with him. He got into more trouble than she ever did, and that was definitely saying something. She giggled when she thought back to the time that the two of them placed purple dye (The colour of their school. Yeah! Go, Dragons!) into the cheerleader's shower heads. It was hilarious seeing them walking around with purple hair for the rest of the day.

"You better stay in touch, you here? Or else imma have to come down to that hick town of yours and chew you out." he mumbled into her hair as he hugged her good-bye. It was nice hugging someone taller than her. Especially Carlos. He was always so warm. He joked that it was because of his fiery latin blood.

"No worries. I wouldn't forget about you in a million bajillion years."

Brittany glared out the window as raindrop after raindrop hit the window, racing till they hit the bottom. She watched as the car drove past Carlos' house. Her eyes started to water.

"Honey, please tell me you aren't crying again?" Brittany's mother asked exasperatedly as she fiddled with the GPS. "We're still going to come back to visit your grandparents, and like your grandparents, I'm sure he'll still be here."

Her mom and her are more alike than she would like to admit. They both had a knack for reading people's emotions. It gave her the reputation as a freak at school. Nobody wanted to be around her in fear that she would spill their most deep and darkest secrets. It wasn't until Carlos took her under his wing that she had a group of friend's to hang out with.

"Your mother's right dear, you should be exited! New places, new opportunity! I even found a dance studios that you could participate in! It'll be as if you never left." her step-dad Paul said encouragingly.

Paul was average. Just average. Salt and Pepper hair that was balding, olive skin, dull brown eyes, and he was starting to get a gut. He always smelled of Axe hairspray. And he always smiled too much. Probably because never in a million years did he think he would ever get a girl as good looking as her mom.

Okay, so the thing about Paul is that he is just too am happy, and this is coming from a girl who dreams of riding unicorns through fields of dandelions. She knows that it's typical for a teen to hate their step-parent but Paul will never compare to her dad. Never in a bajillion years.

Brittany silently gagged as her mother flashed him the famous 'Pierce Smile' and squeezed his hand that was clutching the steering wheel, mouthing 'thank you'. It was like a totally disturbing version of Beauty and the Beast. God, she would never be able to watch that movie again without thinking about this disgusting moment.

"Paul is correct. I think that you've been focusing on your friends to much. This can be a perfect opportunity to get your head back in the game, and quiet frankly, I think those kids are a bad influence on you." her mother added.

Brittany scowled. Her mother wouldn't know a bad influence if it forced her into a game of beer pong and passed her a joint. Her friends were normal by high school standards. And so what if they pulled a couple pranks now and then, it was all in the name of good fun. Well, for them it was fun. It was definitely fun when her and the Johnson twins, Lisa and Lily, slipped some hot sauce on the football captain's burger. It was no purple hair, but it was simple and classic and the three girl's appreciated the way the jock ran around the room screaming soprano while searching for something to cool him down.

Her mother never had a problem until she got suspended. But really, it was just a matter of time. She wasn't book smart like her mother. She jokingly put that the square root of four was rainbows and answered every question on her Spanish test with a drawing of a sombrero. Her, Carlos, and the Johnson twins thought it would be hilarious (which it most definitely was) to pull the fire alarm during an assembly and watch the chaos. For better lack of a word, it was glorious. A giant stampede that would go down in history as the "March of the Dragons". The entire school fleeing as if there were hot coals under their feet. Geeks and Jocks alike getting trampled in the mayhem. The twins got off with a warning because of first time offence (They are usually much more stealthier with their pranks), Carlos got detention, and she was suspended. Carlos yelled and said he should be suspended too, but alas I was the one who pulled the alarm, so therefor it was my punishment to carry alone.

My mom was furious. We got into this enormous fight, witch Paul quickly sided with my mother on, and I was grounded for two weeks with no phone. Mom thought it should've been three weeks and no electronics, but Paul being the awesome daddy that he is, talked her down and that's what I got. She still let me hang out with them after that, but she was definitely watching us more closely. And in all honesty, I think that it's a plus that she no longer has to worry about Carlos and the twins.

"I never gave up dance for my friends. It's just that before I didn't have any friends and I danced like 24/7. I still love dancing, my friends never took that away from me." Brittany muttered angrily.

"Honey, what I think your mother is trying to say is that you have certainly became more... rebellious since you started hanging out with them. I'm not saying that they are bad kids, I'm just saying that you seemed perfectly content before with it being just you and dancing. It wouldn't hurt for you to rebuild that passion." Paul replied, looking over to her mother, smiling. Barf.

"And maybe develop a passion for school work while you're at it." her mother added. "Seriously, would it kill you to at least try to study this year. This is the time you should be thinking about college. It's your senior year. Did I ever tell you about my last year of high school?"

Yes. Yes she did. Every time she wanted to tell her just how much of a disappointment she was she went straight to the high school tales. Her being the head cheerleader, winning prom queen and homecoming queen, president of the ballet club, and she was class president on top of all that. Her mother was the definition of the teenage dream. The perfect popular girl. Everything that Brittany was against.

She spent most of her freshman and sophomore year being jerked around by people like that. She was mocked for being stupid and ditzy. They laughed at her and called her weird. Told her that she was a freak whenever she called them out on their own insecurities. All up until her guardian angel flanked by a set of twin girls swooped down and protected her. But they were at the bottom. The so-called losers that everyone hated. Those three made half of her sophomore year and all of junior year like a dream to her. She had friends to joke around with. People to hang out with and dance with during the summer days.

Brittany smiled. She remembered urging Carlos to take dance classes with her. He was a natural even though he was freakishly tall. Not too long after the twins joined. It was a common interest besides pranking the jocks and the cheerleaders that they all shared.

The three of them made them feel like home when the rest of the school was trying to make her feel like she had no place. She knew in the back of her mind that her mother was like them too. Teasing and bullying people that weren't Pod People like themselves. Carlos taught her to take pride in being different. To speak her mind. But she feared that since she no longer has him, that she is going to fall back into the scared, ditzy girl routine.

"Yes, mom. In fact, you've told it so many times, I think even dear old Paul is getting tired of hearing it. Imagine that." Brittany replied sarcastically.

The car was filled with an awkward silence that Brittany ignored. Paul shifted uncomfortably in his seat while Brittany and her mom locked eyes once again in the mirror. The two pairs of crystal blue eyes were glued together until Paul coughed awkwardly. Her mom squeezed his arm reassuringly and whispered in his ear, just loud enough for her to hear.

"This is exactly the kind of behaviour that Dr. Phil was talking about last Tuesday. First it's talking disrespectfully to your parents, then it's drugs, and then it's rehab and all the neighbours start talking." she paused to look at Brittany who was pretending not to hear before continuing. "I've rifled through some of the yellow pages in the Lima phone book. There are only two therapists. I think it's worth a shot..."

Blood boiled in Brittany's ears. Therapy? You do not send your own daughter to therapy because she talks back. She can imagine it now. Her sitting on one of those long brown couches, explaining to her therapist about why she's there and how ridiculous. Maybe she'll get some sympathy from them. Someone to tell about how stupid her mother is for someone who is supposedly smart.

"Maybe... But it's a bit harsh don't you think. She's 17, Jen. It's not like we never had arguments with our parents when we were younger." Paul whispered back quieter than Jen so she had to strain to hear. "I think you might be overreacting a bit, Hun. But you're right, I have a feeling this place will be good for her. It'll be good for all of us."

Jen nodded silently and turned the radio on. Brittany's fleeting smile turned to a frown when her mother changed it from a channel that had one of her favourite Britney Spear's songs to a channel playing some old country song that was mot definitely not sung by Taylor Swift or Rascal Flats. Paul however smiled and started drumming lightly on the wheel while humming quietly.

Paul. Why does he have to pretend to be all caring and supportive of her and her mom? It's not like he knows anything about her. She doesn't need his help. She doesn't need him to talk to her mom like he knows exactly why I'm behaving like this.

Brittany felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She pulled it out and he face broke into a smile. She had forgotten that she hadn't checked her phone since she left her- the house. She wanted to save the charge.

From: Latino Giant (Carlos)

Ohla, how is my fave blonde doing? Is she bored yet. Let me know. I will rescue you ASAP. Just text me the safe word ;)

From: Thing One (Lisa)

Why aren't you answering your phone? You better call when you get there, byatch or else Im gunna go all incredible hulk on your sweet ass!

From: Thing Two (Lily)

I apologize for Lisa. She's... well she's just plain weird. Family Can't live with 'em, Can't live with 'em. But she's right you should totally call us, or skype :)

Brittany smiled. Wanna guess witch one's the mellow twin? She giggled quietly and shot back texts to all of them.

To: Latino Giant

Which safe word? We've had so many ;) xoxo

To: Thing One

Miss you too, freak. I'll skype with yall tonight at 8 if my internet gets set up :P If not I'll call you :)

To: Thing Two

So true. I have to share a car with Paul and my mother for the next three hours. KMN!

PS: Check Lisa's texts.

Brittany slipped her phone back into her pocket and stared out the window longingly. She could be back home right now. Hanging out with the twins and Carlos, getting into trouble and all the usual crap they did. But instead here she was. Watching various farms and fields of wheat pass by... OOH Horses!

0o0o0o0o0o0

"Come on kiddo, wake up. We're here."

Paul's gravely voice jars her from her blissful sleep. She was dreaming about a magical leprechaun, that looked exactly like Lucky the Leprechaun, granted her wishes. She wished that Paul would disappear and she would magically get her dad back. She wished that she could have a pet unicorn. And lastly she wished that Lord Tubbington could poop chocolate bars. She really had no idea what her subconscious was trying to tell her there.

Her stomach growled obnoxiously.

Well, that answers her question.

Paul grins knowingly at her and pulls something out of the glove compartment. He slips it into her hand.

"Erm... a Mars bar?"

He looks around before whispering to her.

"Your mom is allergic to peanuts, so I have to eat these in private then wash my hands religiously afterwords. Don't worry your mom is checking out the house right now. You should be safe." he finished with a cheesy wink.

"Umm... thanks..." she took the first bite of the bar cautiously, as if someone was trying to poison her. Her stomach rumbled appreciatively when the taste of chocolate filled her senses. She groaned appreciatively. Chocolate...

"Now that's done, your boxes are outside the car. All you have to do is carry them up to your room. Then you are officially done for the day." he says happily and gets out of the car and exits into the house.

Brittany gets out of the car and stretches her limbs. Oh, God. The last four hours have not been kind to her. In other news, the house is fucking huge! It was like a Victorian mansion. She could fit a hundred homeless children in here. Just the thought of that makes her sad. Brittany balances one of her lightest box on one arm and grabs Lord Tubbington's cat carrier in the other hand. The cat meows loudly.

"I know that you don't like it in there. I'll let you out very soon. Just wait till I get in my room."

The house is even more big on the inside. Brittany climbs the winding stair case to the top and quickly locates her room. The walls are dark purple with black stripes. The large canopy bed has matching decorative sheets. From what she could tell, she seemed to have a walk in closet and her own bathroom. She was definitely going to take advantage of that. She placed the box on the bed gently and opened Lord Tubbingon's cat carrier. The fat cat stretched appreciatively and looked at her as if to say, "What kind of owner are you! Letting them put me in there!"

It took Brittany around one hour to get all her boxes upstairs and unpack everything, along with putting her own finishing touches on the place. Such as her signed Britney Spears poster, Lord Tubbingtons cat toy shrine, Carlos' old skateboard that he gave her when he got a new one, purple pom poms that she stole from the cheerleader's locker room, and a picture of her and Carlos along with the twins scattered around the room. As Brittany walked past the only window in her room she paused and looked out it. Her window was directly across from someone elses window which seemed to lead into someone elses bedroom. She frowned. There were no curtains. Oh well, as long as she remembered not to change in front of it, everything should be fine.

Brittany flopped down on the bed, bouncing a few extra times for good measure. It was a really comfy bed. She rolled around on the bed and was greeted with a sight that made her heart stop. Along the head board, were clearly visible notches, witch she was pretty sure she knew what they were for. She swallowed thickly. How had she not noticed these before? It's not like the idea of sex bothered her. She'd been there, it wasn't horrible... well then again she was drunk. But sex with that many people.

She wondered how many times the person who lived next to her saw random people enter this room. And on the off chance she did make friends here, she would never be able to entertain them in her room. Well not that kind of entertain...

Mind out of the gutter Brittany!

"Brittany, come down stairs. We have guests." her mother called. Brittany's heart sank. Already? She had to socialize already? Her mother must really hate her today.

Brittany cautiously descended the stairs, just in case she needed to bolt back up them as soon as possible.

"Brittany, honey, these are the Fabrays, our new neighbours." her mother introduced in her best polite voice. Brittany tried to smile like her mother was at the family in front of them.

The man, which she assumed was Mr. Fabray, had combed over blonde hair with stormy grey eyes. He looked as if he was a lawyer or someone who possessed a lot of power. His head was held high and he had a superior look about him. As if he thought he was naturally better than anyone else.

The blonde woman, who must be the wife, was smiling unconvincingly. Her hair was also blonde and she had dark green eyes. She seemed to wobble slightly on her feet. Really? Tipsy at four in the afternoon? She passed her off as a typical drunken housewife.

The girl, however, was what held most of Brittany's attention. She instantly felt cautious around her. She was stunning. She had her mother's good looks except her hair was shoulder length and her eyes were a nice hazel. She had the same superior smirk as her father. At least it was genuine... She was dressed as an innocent school girl in baby doll dresses but Brittany noticed the flash in her eyes. It was cold and not at all warm as she pretended to be.

"Nice to meet you." No it's not. Go away.

The girl held her hand out.

"Hi, you seem to be my age. Is this your senior year? Are you going to McKinley next week?" the girl spoke as if she was speaking to a startled deer.

Brittany's mouth was dry. She spoke just like the rest of them did. Slow and condescendingly.

"Yeah."

"My names Quinn Fabray. Welcome to Lima." she shook Brittany's hand lightly, her nails slightly scratched her palm.

"It was a pleasure meeting you Pierces, but we should let you get back to settling in." M. Fabray flashed a fake smile and shook hands with Paul. "We hope you have a great time here. It's a good town."

"It was nice of you to stop by. We really should have dinner some time. And Brittany and Quinn are both in the same class, so I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of each other." Paul said enthusiastically.

Mr. Fabray nodded less enthusiastic.

"Judy. Quinn." he signalled and the two Fabray girls exited the house after him, not before Quinn shot her a mean smirk.

"Well they seemed nice." her mom stated.

No. No they didn't.