Just to be clear, this story takes place in England. I'm using the characters of Santana and Brittany and placing them in an English setting to make it a little different. I'm aware that American readers may not understand everything so I'll try to clear it up. Year 13 is the equivalent of senior year (aged 17-18) and takes place at college or 'sixth form college' where students spend only two years. I apologise for any confusion caused. Thanks for taking the time to read guys, I really appreciate it.

BZZZZBZZZZZ

Brittany:

"You picking me up? xxxx"

Santana blinked repeatedly as she squinted groggily at the text, then redirected her attention to the time. 6:15. She groaned as she rolled over, taking the phone with her, to savour the last fifteen minutes of the summer holidays. Her mind wandered to thoughts of her best friend, she had advised Brittany to set her alarm for 6 to allow maximum preparation time in the hope of avoiding any mishaps on their first day back.

The first day, of the last year, of the beginning of their lives.

Year 13. The last year of college was upon them which meant an unhealthy concoction of work, revision, coursework, legal alcohol consumption, driving, and pressure. Santana was a bright kid, capable of great things, but she also had a wisdom about her far beyond her age which gave her perspective. For this reason, Santana rarely holed herself up to study, choosing instead to spend as much time as possible enjoying life and living by her motto: "live hard, die pretty".

She was taking A-levels in Spanish, Economics, Maths and Physics, to keep her options open while Brittany chose Dance, English Literature and Spanish. Brittany found Spanish surprisingly easy since Santana had spoken to her in the language since they were young. It was their secret language, their way of communicating what would have been impossible in English. Santana's natural Spanish accent had influenced Brittany's and the two spoke like natives, which proved useful as they found they could even confuse the other Spanish students.

BZZZZBZZZZ

"You're still asleep? xx"

Santana jumped, startled by the vibration, and checked the time again. 6:45.

"Shit", she mumbled as she threw herself out of bed straight into the bathroom, phone in hand. Two less kisses. Even when Brittany was annoyed she couldn't bring herself to text sin kisses. The brunette tapped out a quick reply, before leaving the phone on the side of the sink and hopping into the shower.

"I'll be outside your house at 8. Don't forget your dance kit. xxxxx"

Fierce.

That was how Santana Lopez was most often described.

It wasn't that she was particularly cruel, but she was aloof, set apart from everyone else, and this scared them. The aforementioned maturity played a large part in this separation; Santana felt that their teenage problems were petty and unworthy of her attention, however she liked her image and was keen to keep it up. It stopped the drama.

Brittany made it more difficult to keep up the image; she couldn't help but crack a smile when the blonde did cute or funny things but she put this down to the fact that nobody knew her better than Brittany. Best friends from the age of 6, it was common knowledge that they were inseparable, like conjoined twins, though no part of their anatomy was fused, except their souls. Arguments were non-existent between the pair, at least, they were up until the end of last year, when they ventured out into the world of dating.

As though the paths of their lives were synchronised Brittany and Santana began dating boys the exact same week. Unbeknown to both of them, the boys, Finn and Puck, planned it cleverly to avoid rejection; it would be difficult to date one of the girls while the other was left alone. The date was the same, cinema and a meal, for both girls, though they took place on different nights. The feelings were similar. Although they enjoyed the night out there was something significant missing, though neither girl could place it. Society dictates that women go on dates with men, have a nice time, kiss, then return home to gush about it to their best friend.

So that's what they did. For days.

Brittany was the first to snap,

"If you had such a good time with Puck, why aren't you with him right now?"

Santana stopped pacing the room and froze. The two girls stared at each other for a moment before Santana wet her lips and said,

"Well, since you seem so eager to go out with Finn again, I will."

A fire burned in Brittany's chest, the flames licked at her ribcage and up her throat, enflaming an anger inside her she had never known. Why did Santana have to talk about her incredible time with Puck all the time when she was doing all she could to forget about the empty feeling she had after her date with Finn? Her anger seemed without reasonable cause but it was frustration, albeit more at herself than Santana, which fuelled her next comment,

"Good! Why don't you piss off and leave me alone then? I'm sick of you. You're not a nice person Santana and I hate being the person who has to defend you all the time, it's too hard! I just want… I just want you to go", she spat the words out as her cheeks flushed with rage.

Her words stung Santana and she stood there, baffled and upset, watching the blonde, her closest friend in the entire world, rip her apart. She felt her cheeks burn and her eyes fill up before slapping her hand to her mouth and running out of the room, tears tumbling down her face.

Brittany watched as she fled and was left staring at the open door feeling numb. She didn't know how long she stayed like that but she woke up in the same position in the early hours of the morning with eyes stinging and puffy from a night of silent weeping. Brittany crawled up to her pillows and pulled the cover over her, cradling her knees in a foetal position, and thought about Santana. Things were usually so easy with her, it was as though they were two halves of the same being. She always knew what Brittany needed and always, always provided.

That night, Santana hadn't been able to face going home. She got into her car and drove, still sobbing, her vision blurred from the hot tears, as far as she could. She thought about Brittany, the way her face displayed frustration but more importantly, anguish, and worked through their conversations to find the root of her upset. Brittany had claimed to like Finn a lot while Santana made the same claim about Puck because that's what you're supposed to do. Now, it seemed as though Brittany was jealous. Jealous of the time Santana spent with Puck? The brunette ran a hand through her hair and took a deep breath, eyes focused on the road. She had not felt an emotional connection with Puck but she had never experienced a relationship before so she had no basis for comparison. She wished she could find someone who it was easy to be around, like Brittany.

The thought stopped her dead in her tracks.

Brittany closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, listening to the sound of cars passing outside. Again, her mind drifted to thoughts of Santana, as though her subconscious was literally pushing the brunette to the forefront of her head. A sad smile played across her mouth as she remembered how Santana would comfort her, allowing her to sleep with her head on Santana's shoulder as she ran her fingers through the blonde locks, whispering soothing words into them. A single tear escaped and fell down her cheek. She blinked hard as she questioned the nature of her relationship with Santana. She could not place it, it was confusing for her. She knew that she would have had a better time on her date if Santana replaced Finn, but then, it wouldn't be a date with two girls, would it?

Would it?