I remember the first time I met Brittany.
I walk into room twelve like I own the place. Hell, I'm five now, and I know that soon everyone will be under my thumb. Like every normal kid I know my name, and quickly see my seat, Santana Lopez it says in loopy grandma writing. My neighbor is already sitting there, quietly coloring. The first thing I see is her long blonde hair. I sit down and she turns and looks at me. I'm usually pretty good with this stuff, but something about this little blonde girl gets to me. I've no idea what to say so I just look at her drawing. Having no idea what it is I ask.
"I like your drawing. It's really colorful. But, um, what is it?"
"It's a pony, silly" She quickly responds.
"A pony? But it's green. Ponies. No, horses aren't green. They're brown or white. Not green. And they certainly don't have wings or rainbow manes." I snap. I instantly regret it. This is just a sweet, innocent blonde haired, blue-eyed little girl and I'm being a total jerk to her.
"Why can't my horse be green? Is there something saying that horses can't be green?" She asks, completely ignoring my biting tone.
"No reason, I've just never seen a green horse before. I'm Santana Lopez by the way. And you are?"
"I'm Brittany! It's nic-"
"Class, can everyone please come to the rug? We are going to play a get to know you game so we can all make friends with our new classmates. I just want you to say your name and your favorite animal. Does that sound alright to everyone?"
"Mm, hmm" replies the entire class in unison.
"Finn, why don't you start?"
"Alright Mrs. B! My name is Finn. And my favorite animal is a monkey.
It goes around the circle with very kid saying their name and a typical favorite animal like dog, or cat, and even the occasional hamster, and then it gets to Brittany. Brittany's staring off into space. It takes a couple rounds of "Brittany it's your turn" and "Time to go Brittany" before her mind is back in the circle.
"My name is Brittany and my favorite animal is the green horse."
I giggle. Then it's my turn. I typically have no trouble making friends, but there's something about this girl that makes me want to be her friend.
"I'm Santana and my favorite animal is a pony." I quickly reply. I believe I've just made my first friend in kindergarten.
A few weeks later I became friends with Quinn, and the three of us were ruling Mrs. B's kindergarten class. We were who every little girl wanted to be. We were seen as perfect… Well Quinn and I were. Brittany was only seen as such because she hung out with us. When Puckerman would get the balls to pick on her I would scare him off. Brittany would brush it off at the moment, but as soon as we were alone she would always give me a big hug and thank me. Britt and I really were best friends. I hadn't realized it yet, but I loved her, which explained my desperate need to protect her and keep her under my safe wing.