"Let's just get this over with," Brittany sighed to Quinn.

Quinn nodded vigorously as she followed their real estate agent into yet another apartment building in New York City. Apartment hunting, as exciting as it sounded, was hot and tiring. It didn't help that the summer sun was blasting in the sky.

Brittany was flushed red from the heat, her blonde hair sticking to her neck, but she had given up caring about her appearance about three apartment buildings ago.

Likewise, Quinn's cheeks burned red and sweat dripped down her forehead. It was gross, but it was worth it. As long as Quinn could remember, Brittany and she had dreamt of moving into the city, and the time was finally here. Having graduated from college back in Lima, Ohio, they had their whole futures ahead of them—a blank canvas just waiting to be filled with the most vibrant colors and the most wonderful drawings.

"Brittany," Quinn said, "let's go."

Brittany stared at the endless flight of stairs and groaned. Here we go again.

Their real estate agent flashed them a rigid smile and led the way.

Taking a deep breath, Brittany lugged her heavy legs behind Quinn who skipped up the steps daintily and somehow managed to maintain her cool poise despite the heat. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, they reached their floor.

"Here we are," the agent said, slipping her key into the knob.

Brittany looked around. It was an old apartment, but she liked it—it had character. The brick walls, the chipped paint, and every dent on the steps of the staircase told a story. Even though the sun was still as bright as ever, the dark colors inside the building made the place dim and cool. Thank God, Brittany thought.

Just as the agent finally opened the lock and pushed the dark green door open, Brittany heard the gentle footsteps of someone else coming up the stairs. She turned toward the source of the sound and unknowingly stared. The woman walking up the stairs was pretty, very pretty—no, beautiful. She had perfect tan skin and flowing black hair. Her eyes twinkled and her lips curled naturally into a knowing smirk. When she noticed Brittany's gaze, she smiled at her, albeit a little confusedly.

Seeing the woman's lips shift, Brittany realized that she had been staring and quickly flicked her eyes away—way too conspicuously. Brittany thought she might have heard a quiet chuckle.

The woman reached the floor they were on and made her way to the apartment right next to the one they were looking at. Brittany peeked at the woman again who met her eyes immediately. Catching Brittany staring again, the woman smirked this time and winked at Brittany playfully. Then, she unlocked her door and slipped in, bringing her bags of groceries with her and smiling as she clicked her door closed.

"Brittany!" Quinn called, nudging Brittany out of her daze. "C'mon," she said, gesturing at the apartment before them with her eyes, "let's go look at the apartment."

"Right," Brittany managed to say as she dumbly stumbled into the apartment.

Quinn scoffed.

"What?" Brittany asked, turning around to look at Quinn.

Quinn shrugged.

Narrowing her eyes, Brittany turned back to listen to their agent explain why this apartment was really the one for the fifth time.

"Thanks so much," Quinn drawled with a beaming smile. She extended her hand to the agent who shook it firmly.

Brittany shook the woman's hand as well. "Thanks," she said, smiling politely.

Together, the two blondes left the real estate agent's office and made their way to the elevators. Quinn hit the down button silently. After several seconds of waiting, Brittany spoke up. "That last apartment was pretty nice, wasn't it?"

"It was okay," Quinn said with a shrug.

"Really? I liked it," Brittany explained.

The elevator doors opened, and the two of them entered.

Since Quinn remained silent, Brittany spoke again. "I thought the apartment really had character, you know?"

Quinn smiled sweetly at Brittany—too sweetly.

"Quinn," Brittany said unsurely, "what is up with you?"

Quinn grinned. "Nothing."

Brittany squinted her eyes. "Quinn."

"What?"

Brittany raised her eyebrows, as if to say, "Spill."

Quinn sighed. "Do you like the apartment because it has character, or do you like it because of a particular character residing there?"

"What are you saying, Quinn?"

The elevators doors opened. Quinn stepped out ahead of Brittany. "C'mon, Britt. We've been friends since we were five. I know you better than you know yourself, and you were totally checking that girl out."

Brittany quickly caught up to Quinn's brisk pace. "Quinn! What the hell?"

"What?" Quinn asked.

"I wasn't checking her out! I'm not…you know…"

Quinn turned around. "Hey, it's okay, Britt."

"Quinn!" Brittany exclaimed, exasperated. "You know I'm as straight as they come!"

Quinn lifted her arms. "You never know."

Brittany hit Quinn's arm. "I can't believe you're saying this."

"Ow," Quinn said, clutching her arm where she was hit. "You are being awfully defensive."

Brittany rolled her eyes. "Let's just go."

"Fine."

"Fine."

Regardless of what Quinn said, Brittany really did love the apartment. So did Quinn. That was why they found themselves at that dark green door again two weeks later with boxes after boxes piled around them.

Brittany grasped Quinn's hand and gave it a soft squeeze. She turned to Quinn and raised her eyebrows excitedly. "We're really doing it."

Quinn nodded. "Yes, Britt, yes, we are."

Soon, they were halfway unpacked. Their apartment was still a mess, but it was so much fun. As for Brittany, she felt like a schoolgirl again. As she put her books in the shelves, she kept coming up with scenario after scenario of how she was going to run into her hot neighbor. Maybe they would meet in the elevator. Maybe they would run into each other in the morning and go grab coffee together. A smile crept onto her face as these thoughts ran through her mind until finally Quinn interrupted with a cough.

Brittany looked up. "Yes?"

"What were you thinking about?" Quinn asked, her eyes suspicious.

"Nothing."

"You were thinking about the hot neighbor."

Brittany blushed. "No, I wasn't."

Quinn rolled her eyes. "Whatever. We need scissors, Britt. I just broke these."

"Okay?"

Quinn opened her arms, as if what she was implying were obvious. "So? Go next door, and ask for some."

"What?" Brittany squeaked.

Quinn chuckled. "You want to talk to the neighbor, don't you?"

"No…," Brittany mumbled unconvincingly.

"Whatever. Just go and ask for some scissors, would you?"

"Alright." Brittany felt her heartbeat speed up as she neared her door. What was she going to say? Did she look okay? God, what if she makes a bad first impression? As she was already at her neighbor's door, she decided to stop thinking too much and just ring the bell. So she did.

There was no response.

Brittany was just about to knock when she heard a muffled voice. "Wait a minute!"

Brittany stayed still for a moment when suddenly the door flipped open to reveal the woman she saw two weeks ago; only, this time, she had no clothes on except a blanket wrapped around her body. Her face was flushed, and her dark hair hung messily around her neck. What she had been doing was really no mystery. "Hi," she panted.

Brittany remained silent, unsure of what to do. Finally, she said, "Hi, I'm your new neighbor. I was about to ask for scissors, but you seem to be, er, busy right now, so I'll just go…"

The woman winced. "Sorry. I'm totally excited about having a new neighbor, though," she said with a shrug. "Let's just say that the lady who lived in your apartment before was not the nicest person."

Brittany smiled politely.

"And it doesn't hurt that you're totally cuter, too."

Brittany raised her eyebrows slightly, surprised by the remark.

"Babe!" a raspy man's voice from deep inside the apartment called. "Don't leave me hanging here!"

"Oops," the woman said to Brittany. "Gotta go." She moved to shut her door, but, before the door was fully shut, the woman gave Brittany a quick wink through the narrow gap.

Then, the door clicked shut.