Hey again! I finally finished the second chapter, in which Santana explains to Brittany some stuffs. Of course she hasn't explain everything yet, but it will probably explain things for those who haven't read the novel.
Thanks to whoever reads this, you're awesome!
But please please please, if you do read this, leave a review because I'd really really appreciate it. It'd help me a LOT. It'd probably help me ease my anxiety about this story too, so...
Sorry for the lack of Brittana (for now), Brittany is still trying to figure things out anyway ;)
Chapter II – The Explanations She Needs
Brittany blinked at the woman in front of her. She was still holding her grand hand gesture, smiling widely like a lunatic.
Peculiars?!, Brittany thought, what the hell is that supposed to mean?!
"…Okay. And what do 'Peculiars' stand for?", Brittany asked, making an air quotation mark when she said the word peculiars.
Miss Kestrel seemed confused by Brittany's lack of amusement. She cleared her throat while she wiped an invisible dust from the coffee table near them. "Peculiars meant different. We're different from other people"
Brittany narrowed her eyes, "I'm very well aware of what that means. But, what makes you different? Is it like… down syndrome?"
Miss Kestrel's eyes widened, as if it hurt her to hear Brittany accusing them of being down syndromes. "No! We're much more special than that, Miss Pierce. You don't look like someone who had Down syndrome, either"
Brittany's head was spinning; it was kind of hard to keep up with all the weird things that came out of the woman's mouth. "I'm… different?"
"Different. Special. Peculiar. Yes, whatever the term you prefer, Miss Pierce. We are that", the older blonde nodded as if it was the most absolute thing to say.
"I don't… understand", Brittany shook her head slowly. She felt the urge to just run out of the room, to escape this lunatic in front of her. But she stood still, because her curiosity was much bigger than her fear.
She watched as the woman sighed, wiping an imaginary sweat from her forehead. She then looked into Brittany's blue eyes deeply. "I'll show you then"
Brittany waited again. The woman crossed over the room to make a space between them. "You might want to sit down", she said as she took off her hat then throwing it across the room. Brittany didn't do as she was suggested though; she simply stood there as she watched Miss Kestrel took a deep breath.
Then in a blink of an eye, after spinning in circle, the woman in front of her turned into a Kestrel. A bird.
At first, Brittany thought that she disappeared because only her clothes remained on the floor right after she spun around. But then there was some small movement underneath those piles of clothing, before a kestrel bird hopped out from under it. Thinking she had disappeared was much more acceptable than seeing a full-grown woman turned into a bird.
"What the f—", Brittany's hand instantly covered her own mouth, she was so surprised that she stumbled back on her feet, landing ungracefully back on the armchair. The kestrel bird flew to the back of the armchair across from her and as fast as she did it first, turned back into her human form. Her naked body was blocked from her sight only by the armchair.
Still wide eyed, she attempted to stutter out a question, "How—I don't—"
Miss Kestrel blushed then dismissed her stuttering with a wave of her hand, "Forgive my lack of clothing, Miss Pierce. Birds don't wear clothes after all"
"Holy sh—Damn—what the hell?!", Brittany pushed herself up from the armchair, pacing back and forth as her mind tried to process the whole thing. Was that some sort of magic trick?
"You still have a lot more things to process, Miss Pierce. I suggest you find Miss Lopez downstairs, she could explain some things to you", Miss Kestrel said, tucking her chin on the top of the armchair. "And I'd love it if you keep your promise"
"I—", shaking her head to try to clear the webs in her mind, she sighed then looked back to the headmistress, who was still hiding behind the armchair, only her head was visible to see. "I don't—"
"Please, consider staying. Tell me what your decision would be after you talk to Miss Lopez"
Brittany didn't really know what to do. All of the events happened too fast and too bizarre for her mind to really compute. She hadn't been there for an hour and all of the things she learned there was something she was raised to think as a fantasy. But deep down she also knew that she had to give the headmistress a chance, she was the one who wanted to give her shelter after all. She also knew she needed a place to stay. My, how all the things she had just learned was giving her a major headache.
"Fine", Brittany sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose to try to ease her headache. "Alright"
"Wonderful!", Miss Kestrel practically squealed. But then she cleared her throat then gestured towards the door, "Now if you'll let me be, Miss Pierce. I need to get dressed"
Brittany nodded absently as she crossed the room toward the door. She placed her hand on the handle, taking a deep breath before opening the door to let the woman be. After she closed the door behind her, she thought of the thing she should be doing next. Find some answers.
She needed to find that Lopez girl.
She watched as Noah gulped down the rest of his lemonade down his throat, rolling her eyes at how ridiculous the boy seemed. He then put down the glass with a light clink against the counter, grinning widely at her.
"You sure made the best lemonade on earth, Quinn"
"Dios, why do you have to be so dramatic?", Santana commented from behind him, not even bothering to look up from the book she had read a thousand times already.
Quinn snorted her agreement, taking the glass he just used to put it on the sink. Noah and Santana had always teased each other ever since they got here, but they actually got along really well. Maybe because they were both the oldest ones here, making those two seemed almost like siblings.
"I'm sure you've tried Quinn's lemonade, it tasted way better than yours. No offense", Noah chuckled, pulling out a chair on the opposite side of Santana's. Quinn leaned in on the counter, watching those two throwing remarks at each other. Their cat fight had always been something she found rather amusing, even more amusing than Rachel Berry's voice.
"Shut your mouth, Noah. I'm not going to make you look dazzling in front of your crush", Santana looked up briefly from her book to throw Noah a smirk. Noah's eyes widen as his cheeks burned red at what Santana had just said. Did she just imply that Noah had a crush on Q—
"Wow! Well! Quinn! What do you think of that new girl?", Quinn swore she could see Noah kicking Santana's foot from under the table, but paid it no mind because Santana didn't even flinch. In fact, she saw Santana's smirk grew even wider behind the book she was holding.
Quinn rounded the counter to sit near them, pulling out a chair to put beside Santana's. She straightened her dress before answering, "She seemed sweet, but she did dress funny"
"Who knew that girls dress like boys in the future?", Santana shrugged, closing her book before putting it on the table in front of them. "Dresses are way more beautiful than those pair of trousers"
"Well do you expect me to wear dresses now, Santana?", Noah snorted, leaning back against his chair.
"You'd look absolutely stunning in dresses, Noah", Santana mocked, before gesturing to Quinn with her hand. "Maybe you could borrow one from Quinn"
Quinn rolled her eyes, taking the book Santana had just read earlier to absently look at the cover. "I'm pretty sure Noah would do just fine in trousers"
"Thank you, Quinn", Puck bowed his head exaggeratedly. "You're the only girl that seemed to have a brain. Santana's clearly had broken down"
Quinn laughed at that, watching as Santana pushed Noah by the shoulder playfully. Noah only flashed them a smirk, clearly satisfied with himself for giving a really good retort for Santana. They fooled around a bit, laughing every so often until they were disturbed by a sound of someone clearing her throat.
"Ugh, what do you want, Ber—", Santana rolled her eyes, turning on her chair to see the figure standing by the door to the dining room, only to stop at the sight of the new girl standing nervously there. "Oh, Miss Pierce"
"I'm sorry to bother you", she said sheepishly, her eyes flicking back and forth between the three of them. Fiddling with the hem of her T-shirt, she licked her lip before continuing, "Miss Kestrel told me that I could ask you questions… can I call you Santana?"
Her eyes were fixed on Santana's; her long fingers never stop moving nervously against the hem of her T-shirt.
"Just call her The Mean Lady, it suited her well", Noah said, trying to ease the tension on the room. The Brittany girl didn't seem to be as comfortable as she was when she was drinking Quinn's lemonade.
Quinn tried to stifle her giggle as Santana shot him a glare. The brunette then turned her attention back to the newbie by the door, "Did she really tell you to do that?"
"Why would I lie?", Brittany furrowed her brows as if the question hurt her pride.
Santana then shook her head then sigh, "I'm sorry. I—okay, very well. Let's go outside then? There are too many ears in this house"
The tall blonde just nodded. Santana then stood up. Quinn couldn't help but snatched her hand before she goes. She squeezed the other girl's hand for some sort of reassurance, smiling encouragingly as if answering some of Brittany's questions would be the hardest task to do. Santana sent her a thankful smile before turning to Noah to give him a warning glare. Noah only chuckled in amusement in turn, waving his hand as Brittany and Santana left the room.
As soon as both girls left the room, Noah turned his attention back to Quinn. He grinned from ear to ear before saying, "So, how about some secret telling about your famous lemonade?"
Brittany followed Santana out the door to a garden. She walked in silence as Santana led her past two other teenagers, who stared at her with an amused look painted over their faces. Santana glared at them immediately, making both of those teens scurried inside. Smirking triumphantly, she led Brittany again as the door shut close behind them.
"Why did you glare at them? They seemed nice", Brittany asked, taking a few long steps forward to catch up with Santana.
"But their leering wasn't nice at all, Miss Pierce", Santana glanced at her briefly before looking straight forward again.
Brittany couldn't help but stare at Santana after that. She had thought that Santana was beautiful right after her eyes landed on her earlier. Her tan skin looked as if it glowed underneath the sunlight. Her dark hair curled perfectly, falling down gracefully on her back and shoulders. With the perfect scenery around them, the perfect weather, and how almost… heavenly the place seemed to be, Brittany was sure that Santana was just an angel leading her way to heaven.
"You're staring, Miss Pierce", Santana stated evenly.
Brittany snapped out of her trance then ducked her head down, feeling her cheeks burned in embarrassment. "Sorry"
"You're not", Santana said, amusement laced her voice. Brittany looked up to find those brown eyes looking right into her blue ones, "So, what was it that you want to ask me, Miss Pierce?"
"Ah", Brittany looked away, finding her sneakers more interesting than just seconds ago. "What is this place? Miss Kestrel said that… this place is a safe haven"
"Yes", Santana nodded. "But I don't think I understand what you're trying to say here, Miss Pierce"
Brittany rolled her eyes then kicked a stray rock in front of her, "Quit with the formality, just call me Brittany. I asked to call you Santana anyway"
The girl beside her chuckled while tucking her hair back behind her ear in the process. She looked back at Brittany, "Okay, Brittany"
Brittany looked up to her, smiling widely before saying, "See? It's way better. I like how you say my name"
"I—", Santana gaped, she felt her cheeks burned but then shook her head, "I just did say it the way you want me to"
"Except that it's better", Brittany grinned, oblivious to the fact that Santana was trying way too hard to look like her words doesn't affect her. She looked around again, scratching her head in confusion, "Alright, honestly? I've got tons of questions. I don't know where to start. How about we start by you asking me questions? Maybe it'll trigger something"
"Very well", Santana sighed. Brittany watched as the darker girl looked absently forward, deep in her own thought. She watched Santana bit her lip in thought, chewing slightly as her mind trying to think of something good to ask. It wasn't long before her eyes snapped back into Brittany's and she started to ask, "Are you from The Other Side?"
Seeing Santana's eyes sparkled at her own question, Brittany couldn't actually make out what the other girl meant. But she seemed so hopeful, Brittany hated herself for saying the next words, "Sorry Santana, I don't understand what you meant"
"Oh", Santana breathed, the sparkle in her eyes slightly dimmed. She sighed before shaking her head, "My apologies, Brittany. It was a silly question"
"No, no, no! That's not what I meant", Brittany shook her head furiously, making her blonde hair whipped around her face. "I just—I don't know what 'the other side' meant"
Brittany then realized that they had come into a halt. Santana smiled at her, gesturing around for her to take it all in. Brittany did as she was suggested, looking around in amusement. It was the same lake Brittany was in just hours ago, but somehow it looked more… stunning. The reflection on the lake surface seemed clearer, the sky seemed brighter, and even there are some frogs hopping here and there every once in a while. Brittany could hear the birds chirped from all around her. She could also see the flowers had bloomed all around her in the meadow, all bright colors and beauty. She could've sworn there wasn't any meadow when she was there hours ago, or flowers, or even frogs.
"There", Santana pointed at the cave near the lake. Brittany narrowed her eyes at it, not sure she of what Santana was pointing at.
"The cave?", Brittany asked in a squeak, not sure of what she was supposed to see there.
"That is where The Other Side is", Santana explained matter-of-factly.
"I—", Brittany shook her head then sighed, "Are you asking me if I live in the cave?"
"Pardon?", Santana furrowed her brows, looking as confused as Brittany. Brittany only waited for Santana to process everything. As she expected, Santana seemed to get it eventually, "Oh! No, Brittany, that's not what I meant!"
Brittany couldn't help but smile a little when she saw Santana giggled at her own stupidity, "Then where is it?"
After her laughter had subdued, Santana cleared her throat. Her cheeks were flushed red from her own giggles, she looked like she had a great time. "The Other Side, as we call it, is on the other side of the cave—"
"But—"
"I'm not finished, Brittany", Santana touched the blonde's wrist to stop her from interrupting, smiling all the while as she waited for Brittany to calm down. When Brittany finally stared at her, waiting, Santana continued, "It is very hard to explain, to be honest. There is some kind of portal in the cave"
"Portal?", Brittany croaked.
Santana nodded, watching as the blonde looked down to Santana's still lingering hand absently. She tried to process what the other girl just told her.
Portal?
Santana felt like her explanation wasn't good enough for Brittany to process, so she added, "There's a portal in there, from the future. Miss Kestrel explained to us that it's the only way into the loop"
"Loop?", Brittany asked automatically.
Santana tilted her head, confused as to why Brittany didn't get what she was explaining. "Yes, Miss—I mean, Brittany—loop"
Brittany only shook her head. Santana huffed internally. Of course this was going to be hard.
"This place is a loop, Brittany. A loop is an occurance which only a ymbryne can conduct. In a loop, a past date exists and repeats over and over, though the experience of it by those who are Peculiar differentiates" Santana explained slowly, but softly. Brittany smiled at her, impressed by how gentle she was. Other people would've brush her off when she asked for an explanation, claiming that she's probably too stupid to understand.
But that didn't make her feel less guilty when another question bubbled up her throat, "What's a… ymbryne?"
"Miss Kestrel is a ymbryne. A ymbryne can manipulate time and can take form as a bird", Santana paused, waiting for a sign from Brittany for her to continue. Brittany nodded slowly, so she continued, "Only women are born as ymbrynes, their main purpose is mainly to keep other peculiars save by creating a stable time loops that can only be accessed by other peculiars"
There was a silence hanging between them immediately, but it was more like a relaxing kind of silence. Brittany looked at the lake absently, watching as its water splashed when one of the frogs there hopped into it. She took a deep breath, finally starting to understand what Santana was trying to explain. She turned her head to look at Santana, only to find the other girl was also looking at the lake with a content smile across her face.
Santana wasn't aware of Brittany's stare. She was too caught up in the scenery before her. She would never admit it to anyone in the house, but she loved being in the meadow, facing the lake. When the sun was about to set, though, was the time when the lake was at its most beautiful.
Brittany bit her lip, chewing slightly as she considered whether to bother the girl or not. But Santana finally looked back at Brittany, feeling a little bit caught when she found that the blonde was already staring at her. She must've gasped because Brittany quickly ducked her head down, her hair curtaining her face when it burned red from embarrassment. Normally, Santana would throw some mean remarks to the people who stared at her, but Brittany was new. So instead, she sighed then reached out to tuck the taller girl's hair behind her ear.
"It is quite alright, Brittany", she chuckled airily, "You just caught me off guard"
"What? Other people don't stare at you?", Brittany tilted her head in interest. Her heart thumped at the thought that she could also get to know Santana. She could use a friend in this strange place.
Santana chuckled again and Brittany swore if she was the one who did that, she would sound like a choked cat. But Santana managed to sound graceful. "Some of the boys are still staring at me, though not only to my face. I normally snap at them instantly"
"Then why don't you snap at me?"
The brunette furrowed her brows at that, of course it was because she was new…? Or not? "I don't…", she trailed off. Brittany looked at her expectantly, so she sighed and continue, "You are quite new to this place, having people being mean to you is not going to help. I'm quite sure you were doing that because you were just trying to memorize my face, or else maybe you'd forget. It's quite alright to try to adapt to your surroundings, Brittany"
Brittany smiled at Santana, knowing from that moment that Santana was not only beautiful, but also smart. She then thanked her for explaining, to which Santana nodded and smiled back. They sat beside each other for awhile after that until Santana broke the silence.
"Don't you have other questions?"
Brittany didn't hear any accusations in her tone, so of course when she looked at Santana, she only found plain curiosity on her face. Brittany smiled then slowly shook her head. Santana smiled back at her before standing up gracefully. She held out a hand to help Brittany to her feet, giggling a little when Brittany couldn't get to her feet as gracefully as Santana. Brittany watched in awe as she watched Santana struggled to stop herself, still finding her whole being so amusing.
Santana caught Brittany's stare then only simply smiled at her. With their hands still linked together, Santana tugged on Brittany's hand lightly. "Come, you are about to witness something wonderful only ymbrynes can do"
Brittany let Santana led her a few steps before she asked, "What is it?"
Santana only glanced back at her over her shoulder, throwing Brittany her dimpled-smile, "The Changeover"