Rubber bottomed tennis shoes squeaked across the freshly waxed hospital floors as a beautiful blonde girl made her rounds to each room she was responsible for. At first it was just a volunteer visit required by one of her high school classes, but after a few months of getting to know the patients and staff of McKinley Medical Health Center, Brittany S. Pierce had become attached. The staff took well to Brittany, impressed that such a young woman would give up her teenage hood to help others. Dressed in bright teal balloon pants that could hold more than one person and a matching top, Brittany ended her day at her favorite stop, Room 303.
"I thought I heard you coming down the hall," Marcus, a young boy Brittany looked after, laughed recalling their discussion of how Brittany's squeaky shoes kept the whole hospital up.
Brittany smiled while standing in the doorway. Every day after school she would visit the little boy and everyday she would walk away with an indescribable feeling. He was only ten years old, yet he knew so much more about life than most people. He would always tell Brittany that god made him smart young because he wasn't going to live a long life. Brittany took a seat by his bed and gently placed the back of her hand against the child's forehead.
"Your fever is gone Marcus. How's my favorite butterfly?" She winked watching a smile form in the once bright eyed boy's face.
Marcus quickly got used to Brittany's peculiar behavior, never knowing someone as eccentric as her. "I'm okay. I just wish I didn't have to spend my every waking hour in this hospital," he complained, stretching his weak arms across the bed.
Brittany smiled sympathetically. Marcus had been diagnosed with leukemia. He had been undergoing chemotherapy for two weeks and was required to stay in the hospital until his treatments were over with or a donor was found for the bone marrow transplant he needed to survive. Brittany took the picture next to his night table and compared it to the boy in front of her. Marcus was a healthy looking boy, brown hair, caramel eyes, and an energetic being. After placing the photo back in its place, a different face appeared. A lot of his hair was now gone, he had dark circles under his eyes, and he was skinny, too skinny for a boy his age.
"Well when this is all over you and me will go to that baseball park you're always talking about. Your dad told me he used to take you there all the time with your sister," Brittany said trying to get him in a happier mood.
"Will you do the batting cages? Cause I wouldn't want you to break a nail," he joked sarcastically. After getting to know Brittany, he learned that she was on the cheerleading squad and in every dance class imaginable.
Brittany stared at him shocked. Could ten year olds be sarcastic? Then she remembered her brother Dylan at that age. Smirking, she playfully slapped his arm.
"Hey I've been missing a lot of classes and practices just to see you mister. You'd think you'd be happy," she teased before adding, "You remind me a lot of my brother and sister," Brittany prided, knowing how devastated she would be if it were one of them.
"Are they older?" the boy asked interested in all things Brittany. It was hard not to crush on the blue eyed girl.
Brittany chuckled. "No he's 15 and she is 7, but they are very sneaky," she remembered looking off in the distance to think about what they've done to her.
"Sneaky how? When I get out, I need a few new tricks to pull on my sister," he asked, knowing it was hard to get anything over his older sister. She was the professional wise cracker of the family.
Brittany laughed, looking at the nearby clock. "Hey that's enough plotting for today. It's time to take your meds," she said handing him the cup filled of an assortment of pills to stop any pain he may have been experiencing. "Just think of it as a cup of skittles. That's what I do when I have to take my medicine," she coached.
Marcus' eyebrows scrunched together. "What do you take medicine for?" he asked.
"ADD. My parents say my pills are a gift from god. At least for them," she said with a faraway look.
"That explains a lot," he laughed, before swallowing the cup of pills and handing it back to Brittany.
She pulled the covers up to his chin and kissed his forehead. After turning the light near his bed off, she leaned down.
"Get some rest. Your mom and dad told me they're bringing you a surprise after they get off from work," she whispered winking at the yawning figure.
Smiling, Marcus closed his eyes, letting the medicine take effect. After she was sure Marcus had fallen asleep, Brittany turned to leave the room. On her way out of the door she collided with the person trying to enter.
"Oh I'm sorry," she said, heat immediately rushing to her cheeks. Standing in front of her was the most gorgeous set of chocolate eyes she had ever seen. After realizing she was still in her work uniform, if possible an even bigger blush crept upon her face.
The girl who usually acted as if she owned the world could only smile at the distressed figure in front of her.
"No. It was my fault. I was just checking up on my little brother," she said rubbing the back of her neck like she always did when she was nervous, which was almost never. She could have sworn an angel was standing in front of her. She had to have been the hottest girl she had ever seen.
Brittany finally mustered up enough courage to return the smile and gain her confidence back. "Santana right? Marcus talks about you all the time," Brittany admitted looking back in the room towards the boy's bed.
The girl sheepishly nodded. "You must be Brittany because whenever I talk to Marcus on the phone, you're all he talks about. I think he has a crush on you Brittany," she said causing both of them to chuckle.
"He's a great kid. I know he'll pull through. He seems like a fighter," Brittany encouraged, knowing it was just as hard on Marcus' family.
"Yeah. I don't know what I would do without him," Santana said quietly then realized she was burdening her problems on someone she barely knew.
Brittany caught her sadness and decided to change the subject.
"So your parents said they have a surprise for him. Any clue on what it is?" She asked out of curiosity.
"Yeah me. I go to college so I'm not really in the neighborhood a lot of the time, but I'm on break for school and I knew Marcus could really use me around. I basically raised him so," she said staring intently into Brittany's beautiful crystal eyes.
"Wow you're in college? I'm still in my junior year. Did you go to McKinley?" Brittany asked getting more and more comfortable around her new friend. If Tina or Mercedes had caught her dressed like this, a million jokes would have been thrown out by now.
"Yup and don't let the teachers hassle you. College is a lot easier than high school believe me. I worked my ass off in high school and once I got to college it felt like I had already been there you know," she said in shock that Brittany was only a junior. She had looked a lot older and acted a lot more mature than a seventeen-year-old.
"I'll keep that in mind. I'm not the best student as it is," Brittany admitted with a shy smile. She noticed that Santana had had the whitest teeth she had ever seen.
Glancing at her watch, then back to Brittany, she formulated a plan.
"Hey Brittany. I was thinking since Marcus is pretty much out for the night, maybe we could hang out. I'd love to hear more about the awesome girl looking after my little brother. And that's a direct quote from the boy himself," she said leaning her arm over the door charmingly.
Brittany let out a quiet smile.
"Well I was going to go to this party tonight. I'd love for you to come. Although you probably don't want to hang out with a bunch of high schoolers now do you," she joked hoping Santana would accept her invitation.
"Well," she paused. "Are all of them as cute as you?" she asked causing Brittany to blush. Normally she wouldn't be caught dead at a party filled with teenage drinking games and seven minutes in heaven, but something about the girl in front of her intrigued her.
"I'll take that as a yes?" Brittany asked, not accustomed to getting so many compliments.
Santana smiled and took out her cell phone.
"Most definitely. Why don't I pick you up around eight?" she asked, handing the phone to Brittany so she could type her number in.
Brittany lost all touch with reality when she felt Santana's hand graze hers. She wasn't used to someone being so forward with her but that made her like Santana even more. She quickly typed her number in before handing it back.
"That'd be great. Let me give you my address," she said, reaching for a notepad on Marcus' night table and writing her address on it.
Santana followed and took a piece of paper for herself before writing her number on it. They exchanged information and Santana looked at the directions and peeked in on her brother one more time.
"Great. I'll see you at eight Brittany Pierce," she said smoothly, walking back to the elevator.
As she waited, an older man began to look her up and down. She narrowed her eyes at him before saying "I know you old people like to perve on young girls, but do you have to make it so freaking obvious?" she snarled, tossing her long brunette hair over her shoulder before entering the elevator. The old man's eyes widened before he stepped back. He decided to wait for the next one.
Meanwhile, Brittany was doing a quiet happy dance back in Marcus' room. She knew she liked Marcus, but now she loved him because if she hadn't known him, she and Santana would have never met. She shut the blinds in Marcus' room before heading to the women's locker room. Once there, she changed into her school clothes which consisted of a red and white cheerleading uniform and headed to the parking lot to go home and get ready for her date. But was it really a date? As soon as she got to the car, she used speed dial to call her best friend Quinn.
"Hey bumblebee," Quinn answered with a cheery tone.
"Q, it's me. I have a big crisis," Brittany panicked, not even realizing her friend already knew it was her on the line.
"What's wrong?" Quinn worried, practically flying off of her desk chair. She wasn't used to her friend sounding the way she was.
Brittany explained the story about meeting Santana.
"So is it a date or just a buddy buddy deal where she uses me to meet other girls or guys for that matter?" she asked lacking all self confidence.
"Well from the way you described her, she doesn't seem that way at all. And by the way she was flirting with you I'm pretty sure she plays for your team. Or one of your teams. I'm pretty sure she likes you Britt. Just wear what you were going to wear tonight anyway and see what happens. That's all I can say. See you tonight," Quinn said and hung up smiling.
'This is good.' Quinn thought. Brittany hadn't been on a date in quite some time and she was happy for her friend.
"Easy for you to say," Brittany sighed.
When reaching home, Brittany was greeted at the door with her mother holding a list of phone numbers. A smile crept upon Brittany's face. She forgot her parents were going away this weekend. The smile soon turned to a frown. What about the party? What about Santana?
"Okay. Here's the number of the Spa, my cell, your dad's cell, Mrs. Robinson across the street, the police…" She rambled in a motherly tone.
"Mom. Mom don't worry. We will be fine. It's only two days," Brittany coaxed.
"I know. It's just… maybe we shouldn't go Mark. I mean there are Dylan and Emma," her mother whined to her husband, knowing how all three of her children could be.
"Honey, they'll be fine. Brittany's 17 years old. I think we can leave the house for a couple days. Besides the Spa is non-refundable," he said sounding more like himself.
Emma and Dylan entered with one of Dylan's friends from school. Emma jumped up on Mark's lap handing him the note she received from school. After placing a kiss on her forehead, he opened the letter.
"Dylan. Emma you better listen to your sister. And Dylan I want that project done before I am home. Is that understood?" Kathy scolded then turned to Brittany.
"And you. No parties, the only one who can come over is Quinn. Take your medicine and no alcohol. Got it," she said pointing her index finger as if it made her sound more stern.
"I got it," Brittany complained. She wasn't stupid, forgetful maybe, but not stupid.
"Uh. Kathy you might want to take a look at this," Mark said handing Kathy the letter.
Kathy's eyes popped when she was finished. Emma caught her mother's glare and the little replica of Brittany headed to the stairs.
"Oh no you don't. Young lady care to explain this?" She yelled.
Brittany and Dylan perked up their ears. When one sibling was in trouble the others lived for the confrontation between their parents. Emma slowly turned on her heels and gave her parents a non-convincing smile.
"Not really," she said causing everyone except Kathy to laugh.
"You stuck bubble gum in Shelly Winston's hair! Why would you do something like that?" She questioned watching the little girl shift from foot to foot like all her kids would do when getting yelled at.
"It's the name mom. Anybody named Shelly is pure evil," Dylan butted in wishing he hadn't.
His mom glared at him.
"I'm going to get ready for my date," Brittany slipped. Now all eyes were on her. Date. Did she say date?
"What date?" her father asked jolting up from his chair as if the fire alarm went off.
"Um," Brittany stuttered.
"And what about your brother and sister. Who will be watching them while you are on this date?" Kathy asked, secretly happy that Brittany had found someone she was interested in. It's been so long.
"I hadn't really thought about that," Brittany said disappointed. She finally met someone she could actually fall for, and she wouldn't even be able to see her.
"Why doesn't he come here?" Emma suggested.
Brittany's eyes bugged.
"Oh that's a great first date. Hey Santana let's play with my brother and sister all night." She mocked.
"Santana? So it's a girl date," Dylan joked.
Brittany shot him dagger eyes. "I've had girl dates before. You think you would be used to it by now," she defended.
"Oh isn't she the sister of that boy you always visit?" Kathy asked smiling.
"Yeah. She's home from college on break and she's spending the whole time here so she can be with Marcus," Brittany said liking the smile on her mom's face. Smiles were good. But then she looked to her frowning father.
"College? College? Just how old is this girl?" He asked pacing the kitchen floor.
"21. But she's a nice girl dad," Brittany said.
Mark sighed. "That's a four year age gap. You know what, I don't want to talk about this. I'm going to put the luggage in the car," He huffed.
Brittany understood her father's reaction. She recently informed her parents of her sexuality about a year ago and her relationship with her father became a little strained. Her whole family had been nothing but supportive and understanding, but things were still a little off between her and her dad.
Kathy moved closer to Brittany.
"Is she nice looking?" She asked curiously.
Brittany laughed. "Oh my god mom she's gorgeous," she cried.
"Alright. She can come over tonight. No going out because I need you to watch your brother and sister. And if I found out from my little spy over there…" she said pointing to Emma, "that she spent the night or you left this house, there will be consequences," Kathy said seriously.
Brittany could only nod. At least she would be able to see her tonight. After a few more interrogations from her mother, Brittany headed upstairs to call Santana. After the fourth ring, she finally picked up.
"Hello?" she asked politely.
"Santana? It's Brittany," she said excited.
"Hey Brittany. You're not canceling our plans are you because I spent an extra fifteen minutes on my appearance just for you?" she said causing Brittany to laugh.
"No just a change of plans. You see my parents are going away this weekend for their anniversary and I got stuck watching my little brother and sister. So I can't leave the house. So I was thinking if you're still interested, you could come over here to hang out instead," she said trying to breath from her mouthful.
"I've very interested," Santana enticed.
"Great. So I'll see you at eight?" Brittany asked tidying up her room.
"Eight it is," Santana said and hung up.
Brittany hung up the phone in la la land. She wondered if Santana was really as perfect as she sounded. Looking around her room a thought processed in her mind. Picking up the phone, Quinn answered once again on the other side.
"Yes Brittany," she laughed knowing it was her friend.
Brittany explained the whole situation to Quinn then asked the question she needed answered.
"So do I bring her in my room? Or is that suggesting that I want something to happen?" Brittany asked.
"It depends. If you're making out on the couch and you suddenly say 'want to go up to my room?' then yeah, but if you just say let's go up to my room and hangout, she'll hopefully understand," Quinn said.
"Okay. Thanks Q," she said a little less nervous.
"Anytime. And remember I want details!" she yelled before Brittany hung up.
Brittany laughed. After straightening up her room and getting ready, she found her brother and sister in the family room watching TV.
"Okay listen up. I have a friend coming over and I would greatly appreciate if you two would stay upstairs. You could do whatever you want within reason as long as you leave me alone got it," she said.
"Hey. I'm going to the movies in… five minutes." Dylan said looking at his watch.
"Do you have transportation to the movies?" Brittany asked annoyed.
"There and back," he answered getting up from the couch.
Brittany sighed of relief. One down, one to go. She knelt down in front of the girl.
"Hey Em. What do you say you grab a whole bunch of movies and snuggle up in mommy and daddy's bed? I'll make you popcorn and everything," she said in a fake excited voice that would hopefully convince her sister it was a good idea.
"I'll be good. As long as I can meet her," she bargained.
"Fine," Brittany said through gritted teeth while getting up.
"Britt. There's a girl at the door for you. I'll be back at 11," Dylan called running out to the beeping car.
Brittany leapt up, checking her appearance in the kitchen toaster. Emma giggled from watching her sister act like a total nut over someone. When she got to the front door, Santana was standing there with a bag and a box of Gummy Bears. Brittany's eyes lit up at the sight of her.
"This is for us," she said handing Brittany the bag.
"And I heard there's a little one," she called loud enough for Emma to hear.
"That's me," Emma said bombarding from the kitchen.
Brittany laughed. Santana was really sweet.
"Well me. These are for you," Santana said handing her the box filled with her favorite candy.
"Santana you didn't have to do that. That was really sweet thank-you," Brittany said hugging her.
Emma took this as her cue to be an annoying sister.
"Britt you were right when you said she was gorgeous," she said watching her sister's face turn different colors. Santana only grinned, sensing Brittany's embarrassment.
"Emma. I thought you were going in mom and dad's room," Brittany stressed not showing any sadness of her departure.
"Thanks for the gummies Santana," she said smiling.
"You're very welcome," Santana said watching the girl slowly make her way up the steps.
"She's quite a character. She reminds me of Marcus. Always out to make your life harder than it already is," she said following Brittany into the family room.
"Tell me about it. Today she got in trouble in school for putting gum in someone's hair," Brittany said watching Santana laugh. She had the straightest teeth Brittany's ever seen and white to, so that meant she didn't smoke.
Santana watched Brittany ponder. She took this moment to take in her beauty. She loved Brittany's style when she wasn't in uniform. In fact she dressed a lot like herself. Santana's eyes were transfixed on Brittany's body.
"So what's in the bag?" Brittany asked breaking the awkward silence.
"Oh right. I brought some movies. I didn't know what you were into so I brought each type… well besides porn," she joked.
"Santana!" she laughed playfully hitting her in the shoulder.
"Hey you never know. So what will it be?" she asked laying out an assortment of movies.
Brittany thumbed through and found her all time favorite.
"This one," Brittany pointed smiling.
"I was hoping you picked that one. It's my favorite," Santana said grabbing the movie.
"Mine too," Brittany said softly.
Locking eyes the room slowly faded from the couple on the couch. They were seated very close, knee to knee and Brittany's sister had been upstairs. But before Brittany had to stop whatever was starting, Santana stood up.
"So Finding Nemo it is," she said putting the movie in.
"Would you mind shutting the light over there? I hate watching movies in the light," Brittany commented.
"This one?" she asked holding her finger over the switch.
Brittany nodded.
After the lights had been dimmed and the movie had started playing, Santana sat back down in the exact same spot next to Brittany. During the movie Santana constantly made comments although it didn't bother Brittany. She had seen the movie about fifty times.
"You sure do know a lot about movies," Brittany said.
"I should. I'm a film/music major," she said smiling.
"That's awesome. What do you want to do act?" Brittany asked interested.
"Actually I'm trying to start a band. I want to have my own label one day. What about you. What are your interests Brittany Pierce?" she asked.
Brittany looked at Santana strangely. Santana caught the look and laughed.
"What?" she asked trying to hide her nervousness. Did she have something in her teeth?
"Nothing. It's just I never met someone who actually cared. You seem so sincere and interested in what I have to say. Most people I've dated just want to hook up," Brittany said slipping on her words once again.
"So does this mean we're dating?" Santana asked anxiously awaiting her answer.
Brittany looked up from her lap smiling. After a few short seconds of starring, her hand found its way to Santana's cheek.
Santana closed her eyes when Brittany's hand touched her cheek. She had only known her for not even a day yet she felt she knew her longer, like a lifetime. Opening her eyes, Santana moved so she was slightly above Brittany, sliding her arms around Brittany's waist. She smiled before leaning down to her lips.
Brittany matched her smile when their lips meant. It felt like home. She hadn't kissed many people but she could just tell this one had been different. Santana's tongue wasn't sloppily invading her mouth, and her hands weren't searching for the buttons to her jeans. It was perfect, almost indescribable. Pulling back both caught each other's smiles.
"Wow," both revealed at the same time.
Laughing Santana leaned her forehead against Brittany's. Their eyes connected and both couldn't remove the plastered smiles on their face. With all the stress and bad things happening, this is what they both needed. Each other.