Lucy woke up at 7 am Tuesday morning and ran to her parents' bedroom. "Mommy! Daddy! It's the first day of school!" screamed the overeager five year old as she jumped up and down on the bed her mother just made. Judy Fabray simply smiled and glided past her husband into the bathroom. Russell Fabray laughed at his daughter's eagerness and swooped her up into a big hug.
"That's my smart little girl!" he exclaimed. His voice softened as he continued, "All grown up. My little girl is all grown up."
"Daddy!" Lucy giggled hugging back. A minute later she let go of him and decided, "I'm going to wake up Sissy!" She ran down the hallway to torture her older sister. Russell and Judy shared smiles as they heard the screams and laughter coming from Frannie's room.
Gripping her mom's hand, Lucy stood at the bus stop in her new yellow sundress and white shoes. They were the first ones to arrive, and all of a sudden she feared that none of her friends were coming. What if she was on the bus all alone? And it took her to the wrong school? A horrible fantasy played out in her head. The bus driver would be mean and push her off the bus at a spooky looking school. She'd wander inside and look around the hallway and only see mean big kids and scary teachers. When she would find the kindergarten class all the boys would pick on her and all the girls would be mean to her. She'd have no friends! Lost in her thoughts, she jumped when she heard her mom call out, "Hi Susan! Hi Brittany!" All fears vanished and she smiled widely when she saw her best friend in the whole wide world pulling her mom down the street.
Susan Pierce's long legs kept up with her daughter's insistent tugging, but she needed her arm for work later so she let go so her daughter could run and hug her friend. She laughed and waved back to Judy. The women shared a knowing look and stood next to each other as the two little girls chatted like they hadn't seen each other the previous afternoon.
"I like your dress!" Brittany giggled.
"I like yours too!" Lucy replied. They were wearing the same outfit except Brittany had her blonde hair pulled back into a pony tail while Lucy had her dirty blonde, almost brown, hair pushed back off her face with a yellow headband. The previous afternoon, their moms had taken them shopping and allowed them to pick out one outfit for the first day of school. Immediately, their eyes and hands landed on the yellow sundress rack.
The girls had met two years ago at Mommy and Me gymnastics. Russell had encouraged Judy to sign up after a terrifying afternoon when Lucy tried to somersault on the couch and fell splitting her forehead on the glass coffee table. The injury didn't faze the girl though as she continued doing them the next day on the carpet. They were the last pair to sign up before the deadline, and Judy hoped this would dispel some of her daughter's fireball energy. Susan and Brittany had been in the class for a year already, but Brittany's high energy and sudden growth spurts made it difficult for the blonde to keep friends. And heaven forbid if Susan had to adopt another cat that would put up with Brittany pulling its tail and cuddling it! Three had already run away in the past six months. However on the first day of class, Lucy and Brittany sat next to each other and started babbling instantly. No shyness or insecurity ever plagued their friendship. When they both asked their moms if they could have a play date soon, the women breathed sighs of relief and agreed, instantly grateful for the breaks that would be afforded to them by the girls' friendship. During play dates the tall lanky girl and the short petite girl would build up fantastical worlds together.
Just like they were doing now. The two girls held hands and chattered about being princesses who fought ogres in the magical realm of Britcy. Their mothers stood behind and smiled watching them. Judy turned to Susan, "What time did Brittany wake up this morning?"
"6:30," the woman groaned eliciting a sympathetic laugh. "I was taking a shower, and she ran into the bathroom screeching. Fred had just come home from his on call at the hospital too. At least he can sleep while she's at school." She paused smiling. "I just hope this Mr. Scheuster is prepared to handle them, and Noah and Finn," she added as an afterthought remembering the two girls' "not-boyfriends." Brittany had thrown a fit when Susan had called Finn her boyfriend one time.
"I forgot they were in the class too!" Judy exclaimed then chuckled. "This class is going to be quite the handful. He'll probably stop teaching kindergarten after this year!" Susan laughed with her thinking of the Toddler Cheer Squad instructor last year that quit after receiving an offer to coach at McKinley High School. A roaring sound pulled the mothers from their memories and the daughters from Britcy and caused them to look up. Upon seeing the school bus rolling down the street the identically dressed girls jumped up and down. Once again, Judy and Susan sighed simultaneously looking forward to the first kid free day in a while. As the bus stopped at the corner, two little boys pressed their faces against the glass. The mohawked boy stuck his tongue out.
"Noah! You're gross!" the shaggy haired boy giggled. The girls turned around to kiss and hug their moms' goodbye. Judy slid a purple and pink backpack with a monkey on it on Lucy's back before she ran up the steps. Susan slipped a red and tan backpack with a ladybug on it on Brittany's back before allowing her to follow her friend. The doors closed and the women waved as the bus pulled away.
A/N: As I started writing, I wanted Quinn to be called Lucy, but I'm working out a way to change it. In trying to capture the innocence of the kids, I wanted to keep with their original given names for as long as possible. Please don't get mad at me. :) Review with your opinion if you wish.