A/N: I've never actually written or read Brittberry before, but after listening to "My Cup" too many times at work, this idea formed in my head and I haven't been able to get it out. Next chapter will be up tomorrow. Rating is for future chapters. I hope you enjoy and like always please R&R.
"And here we are, the same bathroom I drop you off at everyday during your third period spare," Santana said to me as we stopped in front of the door to the girl's bathroom.
"Thanks, San," I replied with a big grin, shifting my books to one arm as I used the other to give her a hug, "The school's so big and confuses me."
She smiled back at me as I pulled away and checked the screen of her phone, "Do you need me to wait and take you to the library?"
I had a free period, but Santana didn't and I knew she was about to be late for hers so I shook my head, "No, it's okay. If I get lost I'll just stay in one place until you find me when your class is finished."
She laughed at that remark, "Alright, Britt, just don't walk away with any strangers. I still don't understand why I have to take you to the far bathroom everyday."
I liked the bathroom at the far end of the second floor because no one used it. It was my only time during the school day when I could just relax and be myself and not have to worry about being who everyone thought I was. Most days I spent my entire free period in there.
"I heard someone say there's a beastus in the downstairs bathroom," I replied with mock fear.
Santana raised her eyebrow and shook her head, "I think you mean asbestos, Britts, and there isn't."
I just shrugged in response as she checked her phone again and began backing away, "Alright I gotta go. See you after class and remember, if a stranger asks you to help him find his lost puppy, shout 'no' and run until you find an adult."
"Okay, San," I replied, watching as she turned and began to sprint down the hallway. Being late for Mrs. Peterson's class was never a good idea, she had a habit of taking off her heels and throwing them at unsuspecting students.
I waited until she had disappeared around the corner of the hallway and sighed as I stepped into the girl's washroom. Pretending to be stupid was a lot of hard work. I know how that sounds, but it really is tiresome coming up with all the stupid remarks and putting up this show for everyone. It had been fun when school started and I was a little freshman. People always got a kick out of my snappy remarks and it was so easy to get away with anything because 'Stupid Brittany' doesn't know any better. But three years later and the joke was up. Now I just wished that there was one person in the world that I didn't have to act like an idiot around.
I listened for the familiar click as the door closed behind me, placed my books on the counter next to the sink and immediately began to sing 'The Pi Song' that I had made up when I was child. It was actually just reciting pi to a catchy tune that I had made. "Three-point-one-four-one-five-nine-two-six-five-three-five-eight-nine-"
A toilet flushed and I abruptly stopped singing, freezing in place and holding my breath until I could see who caught me. I had forgotten to check the stalls today. I hadn't needed to check them in so long, why was someone using this bathroom?
The stall door opened and Rachel appeared from behind it, a look of shock appearing on her face when she saw that it was me singing the song.
"Hey Rachel," I said with my bubbliest voice, trying to distract her from my blunder, and then added in a calmer voice, "I'm still more talented than you."
I thought maybe the remark would distract her enough to start a disagreement over who sang better, but she completely ignored it.
"What were you singing," she demanded as she washed her hands in the sink, eyeing me suspiciously through the mirror.
"I dunno," I shrugged, "Something I heard that nerd in Algebra singing. Kinda catchy, huh?"
"Yes," Rachel admitted and her eyes softened as she fixed her hair in the mirror, a clear tell that she had fallen for my lie, "You know, if you can remember that, you should put all your school subjects to song. I'm sure you'd excel in a lot more of your classes."
"Making songs is hard," I lied again, scrunching my nose to indicate my disapproval. I remembered how much fun it was to write 'My Cup' knowing full well about its sexual undertones and then watching everyone's faces as they listened in disbelief to the lyrics. Being 'Stupid Brittany' had its perks sometimes.
Rachel stopped playing with her hair and looked at me through the mirror again before glancing back at her reflection, "I could help you, if you'd like. Song writing is kind of my specialty."
I wanted to say 'no'. I wanted to tell her that if I wasn't purposely failing school I'd be doing better than she was. I wanted to at least tell her that cheerleaders don't hang out with dwarves, just to get her off my back, but her eyes were filled with so much emotion that I just couldn't let the sharp words out of my mouth. She was so filled with hope, begging for acceptance and popularity and I could see just how badly she craved the attention of the popular crowd. It was quite laughable how I achieved my status by faking stupidity and her unbelievable god given talent and drive were holding her back. It didn't make any sense. But then again it was high school and nothing ever made sense.
I realized she was still waiting for an answer as she lifted her head and feigned indifference, and I quickly switched back into stupid Brittany mode.
"Sorry, I forget what the question was. I was imagining what it would be like if a bunny and a frog had babies," I kept my voice steady as I watched my own reflection and released my ponytail from its elastic band. My hair fell down over my shoulders and I glanced over at her in the mirror.
Her eyes were on me, watching my hair fall, and her mouth had dropped open slightly. When she noticed my eyes on her she quickly turned back to her own reflection and the tips of her cheeks reddened, as if I had caught her doing something wrong.
I smirked internally, although I still hadn't figured Rachel out. I knew I thoroughly enjoyed playing for both teams, though I did tend to lean more towards girls than boys, but Rachel was a mystery. On the one hand, she chased boys like it was going out of style, and yet the looks that she gave the Cheerios when she thought no one was paying attention to her, looked a lot like lust. It was possible it was a look of longing, wishing to be popular, wishing to have that support system that the Cheerios provided, but I had my doubts. Something about the way she would lick her lips every time a Cheerio twirled or was hoisted into the air and something about the way she bit her lip when she was watching the Unholy Trio performing a number in Glee. Most importantly, something about the way her body tensed and her face turned a deep shade of red every time I surprised her with a hug during a group number, and maybe brushed my hand against her ass, accidentally.
Not to mention, why was she still a virgin when she acted so boy crazy, unless it was really all an act. She had made a big speech during her first meeting at celibacy club where she informed the boys about how girls wanted sex just as much as boys did, and yet every time a boy got near her she shot them down. It's like she changed into a completely different person since then and went from choreographing 'Push It' to becoming abstinent. I guess you can't really 'become' abstinent if you've never had sex in the first place, but her open view on sex had shifted since then anyway.
She had gotten two of the most popular guys at McKinley and the most popular boy at Carmel, although I'm still not entirely sure how, all in her bed and refused to sleep with any of them. What was she really waiting for? I get that not everyone is as open as I am to sex, but her sudden embrace of abstinence sounds more like a cover up to me.
"I said, I could help you put your school notes to song," Rachel repeated, her voice sounded sweet, but I could tell she was trying so hard to pretend she didn't care one way or the other.
"Thanks, Rachel, that's so sweet of you," I grinned at her, watching her smile widen and she seemed to glow with excitement. I combed my fingers through my hair and re-tied my ponytail back in place, apprehensive of the words to follow, but knew I had to say them, "I don't understand why everyone calls you a selfish glee-bitch behind your back."
Her smile faltered and her eyes saddened as her gaze dropped to the sink. I gave my ponytail one quick tug to tighten it and then threw my arms around her, pulling her against my body in a tight hug. Like always, I felt her body tense and she glued her arms to her sides.
I held on longer than a normal person would for two reasons; one, because her body actually felt pretty good against mine, and two, because I was Brittany and Brittany is too stupid to realize when a hug has gotten awkward. She never relaxed, her body stiff and her arms still stuck at her sides, but what caught me completely off guard, was the unmistakable feel of her pointer finger stretching out and lightly grazing my thigh twice before retreating and pretending she had never done it at all.
Rachel Berry was definitely an enigma.
I pulled back from the hug, purposely dragging my hands over her shoulders and letting them rest at the top of her chest with my finger tips on her collarbones, causing a slight tremor through her body, which I definitely felt.
"What was that for," she asked softly, her eyes nervously shifting between mine and the stalls behind me.
"For helping me out, silly. You're such a good friend, Rachel," my face was starting to hurt from all the smiling. I watched something in her eyes shift and I quickly understood my mistake.
"Friend," Rachel repeated the word as a question.
Whoops, that had slipped out way too easily, "Yeah, but my secret little hobbit friend, like the leprechaun that lives in my panty drawer."
She nodded and turned away, attempting to hide her disappointment, "Right, of course."
I gave her chest a little pat and then took a step away from her, reclaiming my space and picking up my books from the counter. I felt the need to give her something, like I always did after I insulted her. I wasn't built to be a mean person, but being a Cheerio I had to deal my fair share of insults. There was no rule, however, stating that I couldn't give them a compliment after I did. I leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "Don't worry, I actually think hobbits are sexy."
There was that blush again, so deep and red I thought she might faint right there. I heard the bell ring and realized that I had just spent my entire free period talking to Rachel and hadn't gotten any alone time at all. I turned around and opened the door an inch before adding, "Give me a ride home after school and you can help me with my homework. My parents say I'm not allowed to learn to drive a car until I understand the difference between red and green."
I didn't wait for a response because it wasn't a question and I left the bathroom.
"Britt, did you spend your entire free period in the bathroom," Santana questioned, appearing beside me as I began to walk down the busy hall.
I shrugged and cast a dreamy look up at the ceiling, "I couldn't remember how to open the door."
"Britts, you pull," Santana replied, rolling her eyes but was still grinning anyway.
"Well I know that now."
