Brittany was the first one to live in Lima, Ohio. She'd been there since she was born. Her parents bought the house to the farthest left, certainly not the largest, two years before she was born. She was born on June 29th. Being a loud baby, she always babbled, it becoming quite clear to her parents that she was not the brain child, like her older brother Brandon. Her father blamed it on their mother's use of alcohol during the pregnancy. Mrs. Peirce's substance abuse problems were old news in Lima Everyone knew, everyone tried to help her, and eventually, everyone gave up. Brittany never did though. She always remained happy, hopeful. It could've been the fact that she was too dense, and lived her life on a cloud, the real deal of the situation never getting to her, or it could've been that she was one of those people who never saw the downside, and who remained ever positive through anything. Whichever it was, it didn't go up against her mother's craziness, which is why she often found herself climbing up Quinn's bedroom window when she got scared at night, and Quinn telling her stories until she fell asleep, Quinn's mother often coming in to tuck the two blondes in, kissing Brittany on the forehead. It started when Brittany was six and Quinn was 5 1/2. The Fabrays knew very well of Brittany climbing in Quinn's window- never putting a stop to it, Judy even insisting a ladder be propped to the side of the house under Quinn's window.
Quinn moved into Lima the year before. They used to live in California, but Mr. Fabray's job brought the family to Lima. Quinn's older sister, Frannie, was the typical poster child. Blonde, on the softball team, perfect teeth and glowing skin- Quinn seemed to follow suit, she planned to become a cheerleader the first day of second grade. She became Brittany's rock when she moved to Lima, the two of them often talking over the white picket fence, Brittany showing Quinn the bruises on her arm when her mother got mad, Quinn showing Brittany her missing teeth and newly pierced ears. They continued to talk and play daily, making chalk murals all over the asphalt cul-de-sac. It wasn't until eight months later that Brittany started coming over at night time too. Quinn's small bed was pushed flush to the lavender walls in her bedroom, right under the window, the rest of the room filled with toys, all perfectly organized. She was half asleep, curled up with her arm around her teddy bears neck when she heard a quiet knock on the window. When she pushed it up, Brittany tumbled onto the bed.
"How'd you get up here?" Quinn shrieked in a whisper.
"I climbed the white fence up the side of the house, with the vines growing on it. My mom and dad were fighting. I was scared." Brittany explained slowly, her bottom lip quivering.
"No- it's okay! You can sleepover and I'll protect you." Quinn nodded, shutting the window and laying down next to Brittany. Nudging her tattered teddy bear, she whispered, you can hug him when you sleep, he'll make you feel better. She said, the two little girls laying in Quinn's bed, facing each other, Brittany's hand in Quinn's as they slept.