It was the longest drive I'd ever been on, or at least that's how it felt. Actually the distance between Lima and Louisville wasn't that big, but it seemed endless when the one you loved, the one in so much pain, was where I was headed. I had caused this misery. I'd made her love me and then I'd sent her away to a place where she didn't really wanted to be. I could hear it in the occasional crack in her voice, the longing, the agony, but yet she stayed. She did it for me.

After what seemed like days, maybe even months I arrived at the University of Louisville. It was perhaps three times as big as McKinley, maybe even bigger, and I had trouble finding my way around a school I actually knew. How was I supposed to find her in this mess? I'll tell you how. Somehow, no matter what Santana and I did, we somehow always found each other. Wherever we'd go, we'd always end up together. Instinct.

Carefully – very carefully because Quinn had just gotten this car – I parked the silver Ford Fiesta in one of the empty lots. Okay, now where would she be? I walked slowly towards the entrance when I discovered a map hanging on the side of what looked like the main building.

"I want to shine like the star I am"

Her voice rang in my ears as I tried to figure out where she would be; the dramatic arts building, of course. She was a star, my star. She would sing to me whenever I was being panda and she would make everything better with every word she sang. I needed her, forever she was my other half, and I think it was as much my own selfishness conquering me as I walked towards a giant red-brick building.

"Excuse me miss" a male voice said behind me. I turned and saw a tall man looking at me with a gentle smile. "Can I help you?"

"No thank you sir, I'm merely looking for my girlfriend" I answered him. I noticed the usual flash of confusion at the word girlfriend. I didn't care. Santana was my girlfriend and I was damn proud. I didn't care what they thought about me, I just wanted to love her.

"Oh, what's her name?" he asked kindly. The confusion was gone, replaced by a genuine benevolence. That was my gift; not dancing or singing, but the ability to tell the emotion in people's eyes, in the way they smiled, in a twitch of an eyebrow. I could dance and sing and even act to a certain point, and they came to me naturally, but I still had to train to improve. But my knowledge about people and their feelings had been what had saved me so many times.

"Santana; uh, Santana Lopez. She's a freshman – a cheerleader" I explained.

"Oh yes, clever girl. She's in my English class. I think looking in there is a good idea, she had multiple classes in there from what I hear. She's a very talented singer, that girl of yours" He said. So he was a teacher – good to know.

"Yeah, that's my San." I said in awe. "Well, I've got to find her, so if you don't mind, I'll be going now"

"That's quite alright Miss…"

"Brittany. Call me Brittany" I said and shook his outstretched hand. He smiled.

"Take care Brittany" he said and then he was off, towards what I believed to be the main building. Whoever said that there weren't any nice teachers? I got back to my mission; finding Santana – bringing her home. I had to make right what I had done wrong. As I walked down the halls of the building, the people seemed to fade into the dusty blue walls, the minute I'd confirmed that none of them were my girl. I turned a corner, scratching my head as I tried to decide which way to go now.

There she was – right there in the middle of the hallway – looking mistily at the surroundings, clutching her computer cover in her arms, the Dinosaur dangling slightly at the edge. I saw how she held her hands, her left under her right and her pinkies locked as a silent comfort. Despite the sad reminder of what I felt I had forced her to do – to leave me – I felt my lips curl into a smile none the less at the sight of her. She stopped dead in her tracks, her empty eyes suddenly wide and clouded with tears. For a long moment we both just stood there, unsure of what to do.

Tryingly I opened my mouth. "Hey Santana" I said. Her eyes darted between mine as she tried to figure out whether she was dreaming or not. Daringly, almost afraid, she took a step forwards and confirmed that I wasn't going to disappear. She then broke into a run, releasing one hand from the grasp on her computer. Jumped and almost made me topple as tears streamed down her cheeks. I felt how she locked her arms and legs around me and buried her head in my hair, sobbing furiously. Trying to hold her steady, I let one hand tangle in her hair and the other support her back as she hugged me as tightly as she could with her computer still dangling from one hand. She gripped at my shirt with the other as she managed to choke out a few words.

"I missed you so much… Don't ever let me leave again, Britt"

I let my hands stroke her back and her hair calmingly whispering sweet nothings. She tightened her hold on me using both arms and legs to hold me as tight as she could.

"I don't belong here, Britt" she said shakily and I felt how she loosened her grip around my neck to look me in the eyes. I smiled up at her and wiped her tears away with my thumb. She let out a nervous giggle and pressed her forehead to mine.

"I'm so glad you're here" she whispered. I smiled in response. People always said that I didn't say much, but that was mostly because I didn't feel the need. Whatever I could say to Santana right now wouldn't matter. She could read me the same way I could read her, because somehow we were the same, even if we were so different.

I worried for a second whether or not I could kiss her. I didn't really know if she was out or not here. Like if I had expressed my worry audibly she nodded against my forehead, permitting me to lean forwards. I did so, tilting my head slightly, I let my lips press gently to hers. Content, excitement, longing and electricity boiled up inside me in that one perfect kiss as I sighed against her lips. She smiled into the kiss and tightened her arms around my neck again, pressing her lips hard against mine. I don't know how long I stood here, carrying her as her lips moved against mine, as if it had been forever since our last kiss, or like this was our last kiss. I ignored the back of my mind informing me that people were wolf-whistling around us. I didn't care; I let the world disappear. Only she and I were left on this god forsaken planet, and she was the only thing I'd ever need. I think I'd survive without oxygen if I had her; I was so sure of it.

Finally she broke the kiss, breathing heavily, letting her nose nuzzle against mine as her forehead once again had come to rest on mine. She smiled at me, her eyes teary and glinting happily.

"Let's get you home" I said quietly.

"I am"

"What?"

"Home… With you" she said and pressed her lips to mine again. I chuckled under the kiss and tapped her thigh informing her that I couldn't hold on to her much longer. She kept moving her lips against mine, even as she unlocked her legs and let her feet touch the ground again. I let both hands cup her face.

When we broke apart again I remembered her gesture of self-comfort and took her pinky in mine. She giggled slightly at the childish motion and unhooked them, only to tangle her fingers with mine, clasping my hand tightly.

We said nothing, because nothing was necessary, connected by our twined hands. She started walking and led me back outside, into the sunshine that had broken free of the otherwise heavy clouds.

I didn't know where we would go, or what she would do, but this was enough for now.