The first day of school went surprisingly well. As it turns out Santana and I have pretty much every class together; except math. Because she's in like super honors trig and I barely passed algebra 1 last year. After spending pretty much the entire day with Santana, I decided that I think I'm gonna like having her around. She's really easy to talk to and doesn't even seem the least bit confused when I talk about Lord Tubbington's problems. I like that she doesn't look at me like everyone else in this town does. She doesn't think I'm insanely stupid like they all do.

My only problem with Santana was at lunch, she sat with all the soon to be cheerios and me. Which I didn't mind because I asked her to sit with us because I knew she wouldn't wanna sit with Mike and the football team. But now thinking back on it, I really regret it. Those Cheerios girls are such rude people. I really didn't want Santana to think that I'm anything like them. The head Cheerio, team captain, is Quinn Fabray. Quinn and I were pretty close during season last year, and I know that she would always have my back even outside of cheerleading. But I still don't like how she treats other people here at school.

"So those girls are your friends, huh?" Santana asked as she arched her eyebrow.

"Yeah, they're really sweet once you get to know them," I lied.

"And they're all Cheerios? Because I kinda liked them. Plus I heard that joining cheerleading is like the perfect way to get popular at this school." She replied knowingly.

I mean yeah I guess the cheerleaders and the football players run this school, but I joined cheer because it's the only extracurricular at this school that involves dance, not because it's how to get popular. "I guess so, but being a cheerio isn't really all fun and games. It's mostly super intense 2 hour practices everyday and being yelled at by Coach Sylvester for every little thing you do."

Santana smiled at me like I had literally just made her day. "Well yeah, but Quinn Fabray said that if I don't join cheerios then I'm pretty much a Lima loser like the rest of the kids here." Before I could even argue Santana turned and walked away.

The next few days were normal. . Mike drove us to school, Santana and I walked to class together. All except math. We even made it a regular thing to save a spot for Santana at the Cheerio's table, right in between Quinn and I. Santana and I have been hanging out every single day after school. We pretty much just go to the gym for an hour or so and then go back to her house to watch Kardashians. Which is cool because she's really funny and super down to Earth. Except for when we're with the other Cheerios; I pretty much want to just shut my ears and climb into a cave. Why does she turn into such a shallow ego maniac around them?

It's been two weeks since the first day of school and Cheerios tryouts are tonight. Santana didn't get a ride to school with Mike and I this morning because she said she already had plans. Which probably means her parents are just gonna take her. I climb into Mike's truck and my phone starts to buzz.

The screen reads "1 New Text Message". So I open it,

Santana Lopez: Hey Britt sorry that I ditched you guys this morning. This guy Noah and I have been talking for the past like 2 days or so and I just figured it'd be fun to skip first period and spend the morning with him!

For some reason I was really angry about reading this. It's probably Noah freaking Puckerman. Ew. I read the text over a few more times contemplating whether or not I'm gonna answer, when I hear the phone buzz again.

Santana Lopez: Ps. can you cover for me in English? Thanks you're a life saver B! Just tell her that I'm sick or something. I owe ya one!

Before I could even think about an answer my thumbs started clicking away.

Me: No.

Sent. In the blink of an eye there was a response.

Santana Lopez: Okay Brittany. Whatever.

What did she just say? How is me not wanting to lie to a teacher so she can run around with some guy mean that I'm in the wrong.

The tardy bell rang and Mrs. Davis began to read out the attendance list.

"Artie Abrams"

"Here"

"Azimio Adams?"

"What"

"Rachel Berry"

"Present, and good morning Mrs. Davis. How was your.." Rachel replied before she was interrupted by the next name on the roll.

"Mike Chang?"

There was no reply so she repeated herself. "Michael Chang?" She said right as the door opened. Mike hurried into the classroom handing Mrs. Davis a note before taking his usual seat in the front row.

"Quinn Fabray?"

Mrs. Davis continues calling out names until she gets to...

"Santana Lopez?" She says and everyone looks around. She marks Santana absent and continues down the list. Mike looks to me questioning where Santana could be and I just shrug my shoulders. Though I do know exactly why she's not here.

After class, I wait for Mike to finish talking to the teacher and then drag him out of the classroom and to my locker.

"You know how Santana isn't here because she's hanging out with Puck? Should I have covered for her in class or no?" I asked him, without taking a breath for air.

"Honestly, no I think that if she's gonna skip class intentionally then that's her issue, not yours." Mike finishes right as I feel a hand rest on my shoulder. I spin around to see not only Santana leaning against the neighboring lockers, but Puck's leaning over her smiling like an idiot. He pecks her on the lips before stepping in front of me to talk to Mike.

"Looks like you to hit it off! What'd you end up doing this morning?" Mike interrogated the couple.

"Well when I got to Santana's house she was sitting like out on her front porch texting someone and then as soon as I sat down next to her she deleted the whole message." Puck whispers, almost as if he's hiding something.

"Oh? That's kind of weird bro. She was just like sitting there on her porch?" Mike questioned.

"Yeah and the weirdest part is like all throughout the morning she kept typing out long messages on her phone and then deleting them without sending.. Like who does that." Puck snarls sarcastically.

"Chick logic my friend. Chick Logic." Mike replies while putting his arm around Puck's shoulder and pulling him away.

Throughout their entire little conversation about Santana, I had managed to keep my head in my locker, as if I was looking for a textbook, just so that I didn't have to make eye contact with Santana. But now that the boys are gone, I guess It's just awkward if I stay like this any longer.

I lift my head from inside my locker and look left toward Santana. Who for some reason is still just standing there, still leaning against the lockers, staring at the ceiling.

"So Puck? Really...?" I asked. "I'm more shocked than anything. I kind of thought you were like..." I trailed off trying to collect my thoughts... "I mean I guess I just thought you were too good for his games." Though I'm not really in a place to judge, I don't even really know her.

"Brittany, listen," She begins, and then looks around as if she didn't remember that we're in school. "Follow me." Is all she says before heading down the hallway, toward the auditorium. And I follow. "Listen Britt, Puck and I are nothing. Sure, I had fun hanging out with him this morning, and he's an amazing kisser, and it was so nice walking into school with him and catching everyone staring at us enviously. But seriously, between you and I, it's nothing."

"Well from what you just described, that doesn't sound like 'nothing'. Wait, why are you telling me this?" I ask her quizzically.

"Because of the 'you're so much better than his games' lecture you almost gave me in the hall, and because when he kissed me, you looked so baffled. I just wanted you to know that, obviously I know his games. I've dealt with Puckerman types before, and I know all their tricks." She continues.

"So if you've already played the Noah Puckerman type games, what's the point in going through it all over again?" I questioned her.

She responded as if it was the simplest thing in the world, "Because Brittany, if someone challenges you to a game you've already won before, why would you say no?"