"Don't think you will ever make it as a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader, you creation of the devil. You disgrace your family and the Lord... And for the last damn time Santana, stop calling my house."
The line went dead and the young woman dropped the phone in unison with the tear rolling down her cheek. She wondered what made this time any more painful than the last, as she had wondered the previous time and the times before... Calling to wish her abuela a Merry Christmas had ended her with a scolding for even celebrating Christ at all, again earning her the title of 'creation of the devil.' Calling to see how her brother was doing, who had accepted her and emailed her from time to time, had ended badly when her mother answered the phone by mistake. And on one occasion her own father had simply called her to wish her the worst of luck wherever she was. She had become accustomed to the hate.
Then why is it I can't stop crying each time?
Santana Lopez let out a soft sigh as she furiously swatted at her tears and fell into the comforting embrace of her pillows. Working part time at a coffee joint, McDonald's, and as physical trainer for kids at the gym hardly got her enough to keep herself from starving and to pay the rent on her apartment. Why did she think she was so ready to pay the fees for Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader training?
In a cloud of thought, she returned the phone to its dock as she rolled over to check the time. It was 6:00, and if she wanted to stop by the gym before her morning shift at Simply Caffeine, she would need to hurry.
"Love you too, mom."
Brittany ended the call on her cellphone by pressing the small red button. She took a look around the grandeur living room, her eyes scanning over a plasma television and a million dollar chandelier as she let out another sigh. Another day spent living in her mother and sister's shadow, expected to become either the next Dallas Cowboy Cheer Squad coach or a beautiful blue-eyed blonde model. Though she knew she wasn't the smartest, she still wished she had a choice.
"Oh!" she gasped, the wild beeping of the smoke detectors shocking her out of her thoughts. She hurried into the kitchen, weaving her way through the granite topped counters as she rushed for the oven, "Oh dear, oh dear..."
She pressed the off button on the smoking appliance before opening it, coughing as she got a face full of thick gray smoke. Once the air cleared she reached in, her fingers only lightly grazing the metallic pan before they jerked away in shock, "Ow!"
This time before pulling out the pan, she slipped an oven mitt over her hand while bracing herself for the worst. When she opened her tightly closed eyes, she found yet another ruined batch of muffins. She let out a huff as she set the tray of inedible substances on the counter.
She had just begun to go over the things she may have done wrong when a plump woman turned the corner, her dark eyes meeting the muffins, "Another batch, Miss Pearce?" she laughed lightly, "Shall I cook a decent one?"
"Oh, no thank you, Minerva," the blue-eyed girl smiled, "I think I'll be going out for breakfast. Eating your muffins sort of reminds me of how many times I fail to cook my own, so..."
"Understandable. Will you be walking or shall I call in Eddie?" the cook asked with a gentle smile, referring to the chauffeur who lived in the guest house along with herself.
"Walking, thank you," Brittany answered, grabbing her purse before she headed out of the door, Minerva's shouts of, "Be careful!" and "Watch for cars!" following her on her way out.
"Thank you, Stacy," a sweaty, disheveled Latina said gratefully while she rushed in just a few minutes before the shop opened. The brunette behind the counter just nodded, tossing Santana her apron and baseball cap.
"Welcome as usual, Sannie," she replied, flipping on the switches of the numerous coffee machines before she washed her hands, "but Roderick is beginning to get a little skeptical of your constant absences. You might want to hit the gym earlier or quit working out for so long."
Santana nodded as she tied her apron and pulled her ponytail through her hat. She hurriedly washed her hands and replied with a distracted, "Yeah, I'll try."
Her friend looked her over with a hand attached to her hip and her eyebrow raised, "What's got your mind?"
"Nah, nothing," Santana assured, "Just... thinking."
"About...?" Stacy probed with a poke to the Latina's shoulder, "C'mon, you know you aren't getting off that easily, babes."
"Really, it's nothing."
A sharp voice from the back cut in, "Girls, quit the chatter and restock the cups! We only have five minutes until we open!"
Stacy rolled her eyes and Santana leaned into whisper, "If that guy's penis were as big as his mouth, maybe someone would actually listen to him."
The brunette snickered and replied with a, "Damn straight."
The conversation ended while the two girls worked to set up, Santana busy with the cups and Stacy with the spoons, forks, napkins, and other miscellaneous items. It wasn't but a few minutes until the manager came out, eying the two before he walked over to unlock the door.
It was only then that the two girls at the counter noticed the ditsy blonde who had been tugging furiously on the door. Roderick looked her over before turning, muttering something about a dumb blonde and a broken door.
Stacy leaned over to Santana as the young woman strolled curiously into the shop, glancing around, "You've got this one. This is payback for all the time you turned over the dummies to me," she whispered.
Nodding, the Latina turned to the pretty girl as she finally reached the counter. Their eyes met, blue against brown, and Santana just managed to stutter, "M-may I take your order?"
A/N: I'm actually very proud of this first chapter. :) Remember, this is an AU story and doesn't relate to the episodes. Takes place in Dallas, Texas. Read and review, please and thanks!