Santana came to McKinley High with hes head still spinning, she had tried to talk to Brittany, without success, since the other went wildly from hes home hours ago and there was no car available in the Lopez's house, till her father got home in the morning. she just relaxed when she passed in front of the blonde's home in hes father's car on the way to school and saw her car in the garage, parked in a horribly-the-drunk-way, by the way, but it was intact – And if the car arrived in on piece, she did too - the brunette thought of ringing the bell, but after 107 ignored calls and texts, she thought was better give her a break, maybe Britt was needing space or not in condition to talk yet. Anyway,shewas definitely going to the Pierce's residence after school and talking to Brittany. She had to ask what

meant all the things she said, find out what was delirium of alcohol and what was from heart; Santana could not stop thinking about Brittany saying that she loves her, that she was herhappyness and kissing her, all that was making butterflies give somersaults in her stomach. However, what most tormented the girl were things that the other said about being haunted, about living in a dark place, about the joy that she apparently hasis fake, but mostly how vulnerable, sad and desperate she was, she didn'tlooked like Brittany she knows, Brittany she ever had seen was that cheerful, full of itself, which never saw the bad side at nothing and seemed that nothing would never let her down, but all Santana saw was a Brittany... Broken. And it scared and worried her, she wants now more than never to find out what iswrong.

...

Brittany woke up completely destroyed in the middle of a tangle of blankets and pillows on he bed, wearing only her jeans and her bra. Her first thought was why the sun has to shine so much and who opened the damn curtains of the room, then all she could notice was the throbbing pain in her head, so she got out of bed slowly and painfully, put on the sweatshirt she found thrown a chair and walked, or rather crawled to the bathroom, with a sneaking suspicion that wasn't morning anymore, took two very welcome pills for migraines, then looked in the mirror and almost startled with the girl with tired eyes and full dark circles aront the eyes that was staring at her, her hair was a big blonde mess and her face looked swollen and older. After entering the shower, she spent a good time just standing there with closed eyes beneath the ice water while organizing her thoughts and tried to remember what happened after finding a cursed canteen that probably some force of darkness wanted her to found; She remembered being in the Santana's house, remembered having said something and remembered... a kiss? Yes, Brittany remembered well had pulled the brunette in her arms and kissed her with all the desire he felt, sadly, she, once again, freaked out and fled, she now fears that Santana thinks she's crazy or something.

She left the bathroom already feeling a little better, which was very good because, coming into the bedroom, Brittany found her father waiting for her, sitting on the dresser in front of the bed, which made her remember how she came home completely drunk and waking the whole family this morning, after having driven madly from Santana's house. The lucky it was that they do not live realy far from each other.

Brittany lives only with her father, Daniel Pierce, and her little sister, Anne, since the death of her mother and no family get along better than these three; Daniel - Broker homes, fully fit, dark blond hair, unshaven, almost always wearing some stylish dark jeans and a social blouse with sleeves rolled up - If you see him with Brittany'd think they were best friends rather than father and daughter, the playful father always tried to take it easy with his daughter, mainly because he never knew what to do after all that happened, he had to learn how to create the two girls alone and of course also because he knows how teenagers are, still remembers the follies, drinking and sleeping with more girls than he can remember when he was in high school, but also knows how to give a good scolding when you need.

- Good morning, young lady, I thought it would hibernate all winter. Like a bear. A very drunk bear. - The man said with a smile, already trying to make clear the reason for that conversation.

- I think I will not be able to skip the sermon, right? - The blonde tried as she sat in the bed in front of her father.

- Well, let me think ... You tell your old pro parent saying thatyou'll spend an innocent night in the quiet house Lopez's house, leaving me as a peaceful and proud father, on the other hand, in the middle of the night you cruelly runs over half of the garage trash cans and enters the house like something else, completely drunk, babbling something between ghosts and Britney Spears, before ripping your blouse, commenting how you hated it, and lie, that is, faints upon your bed.- He says, crossing her arms and wearing his serious face.

- Yeah, with you saying like that actually looks pretty bad...

- Yeah, because it's bad. Driving drunk, serious, Brittany? I know that you are more responsible and smart than that, you have no idea what could have happened?

- Yes, I know, I know.- She begins, kind of ashamed - Sorry Dad, I promise I will never do nothing like that again, really, I learned my lesson ... I just found the flask Puck left in my car and I was with a full head and did not think right, I don't know why I did it, really, sorry to disappoint you. - She pouts.

- Yes, that better be, and something tells me you were'nt at Santana's, which makes me curious about where you really were.

- I was in Trish's house in Pittsburgh.- Brittany said, lowering her head, leaving a worried look on her father's face, because he knew that his daughter going to look for the other meant that something wasn't right.

- Why? Honey, there's something wrong? - He spoke now in a low voice, soothingly taking a few steps forward and kneeling before his daughter, trying to see her eyes. Her mother's eyes.

- I'm... - She almost said that she was fine, as usual, but decided to tell the truth, just this once. - I needed help, I needed to talk to her.

- What is going on, love? - Daniel was already nervous, his daughter never spoke about it, never asked for help, even though he knew she needed, but as she always refused, he never forced.

- I ... I just can't pretend that I'm ok anymore, that's disturbing my life. But I want to really get better this time, I swear.- The girl's voice trembled and if he were not so close to her, the man wouldn't even have heard it, then the father got surprised to see a tear running down her face, it terrified him because one of the things that left him puzzled and worried the most was that Brittany never cried for anything that happened, not even in her mother's funeral, where he watched that little girl with a straight face, trying to be strong, so much stronger than he was; Daniel just felt so helpless to see her like that, s o he sat on the bed beside his daughter and hug her tight wishing he could erase all her memories of that terrible year, wishing he was able to absorb the suffering and couldn't help but start to cry too when he felt the daughter sobbing in his arms.

They stayed there for a while, until Brittany finally composed herself, wiped the tears and looked his daddy - I love you, old man. - The girl said.

- I love you too, princess, a lot. - He said giving a kiss on the daughter's forehead - What can I do for you?

- Nothing. - She said - There's nothing you can do, you or anyone, just me. I'm the only one who can help me righ now, but just you being here is already all I need.

- I will always be here for you, Brittany, I promise. Now, let's go, I will prepare something for us to eat, it's not good to stay on an empty stomach after so much drink. - The man laughed at her and they went down the stairs, still embraced.

...

While she was not released to finally go to see Brittany, Santana spent the day pretending that paid attention in class, fell twice during the Cheerios's training from asbecause of as far away her head was, heard Coach Sue scream into the megaphone about how she would bring suffering and unhappiness for Brittany's life by missing training, and she can't not help but feel a slight twinge of pride at how the dancer was needed as the best of that team, she also thought it funny how people got surprised wjen the asked where the blonde was and she replied that she didn't knew.

...

Brittany and her father ate together, he has supported all the time while his daughter had abouther talk with Trish and how she was feeling, he even wanted to miss work to be with her, but she knew he had an important meeting today then insisted that he was to work.

After changing clothes and take her little sister to school, she had an incredible urge to go running to the MH, find a way to kidnap Santana from class and explain everything, but she decided to wait, because they needed to talk somewhere more private and calm, and not hidden in some empty classroom of the school until a teacher or a inspector busted and send them to the Figgins' room, since it was surprisingly complicated escape from that school during the time when they should be in class, but it was hard, Brittany wanted talk to her friend as soon as possible to end this once and for all.

When she finally found her cell phone, which was lost on the car floor, saw all the missed calls and messages from Santana then a wave of guilt washed over her, the other must be worried sick and thinking she was being ignored, s o Brittany sent a text to the brunette. - "I'm fine, I'm sorry for this night. I didn't went to school today, but really wanna talk, can you stop by my place later?"- Before she could save the device, it began to vibrate and she saw the name on the screen "Gabe "- Gabriel Scott was the Pierce's lawyer, one of the people who helped Brittany and her father the most after all of there, well, after all, he already was, indeed, a great friend of the family - Brittany like Gabe, he is a great guy and always gave a huge support for her, despite not talking much lately, they still care a lot about each other and usually you are happy when a friend calls, the problem is with Gabe calling from nothing, Brittany did not knew if it was her friend Gabe or advocate Scott and, if were the lawyer, it meant something related to a certain subject that she was trying to overcome.

- What's up, big G - She answered trying to sound cheerful to relieve any tension.

- Hey, Britt - He answered and she somehow managed to realize a smile autumn sectio end. - Are you home?

- Yes, why?

- Yeah, there's... thing ... I would not tell you, but I guess now I have to ...

- Gabe. Do not forget that four years ago you promised me that you would always teuu me the truth, no matter how hard it was. - She reminded him, realizing the nervousness and hesitation in the guy's voice.

- Josh's mother is sick and he got permission to go visit her this morning at a hospital in Detroit, accompanied by police officers.- Gabe spoke at once, so fast that Brittany could hardly understand, but unfortunately, she did.

- What? - She almost cried - I thought he would never be able to have anything like that, you said you would not let him breathe the same air as the rest of the world never again!

- I know! I know, Brittany, and believe me I'm hating myself righ now for not having been able to avoid this. I've struggled with his lawyer against this at a time already, but he managed. I honestly do not know how, but he managed. Justice is not always fair, I guess, but, believe me, I did everything I could to try stop that, B... - He said almost desperate and she knew it was true, Gabe always did everything for her and he hate that man too, she had no doubt that he did everything he could.

- I know you did, Gabe, that's okay... - She speaks in a whisper.

- I do not want to tell you, because if you did not know, would not feel all the angry in the world that I felt when I heard, but ... S-Something happened, Britt ...- He begins to stutter and Brittany sits harder on the car seat, starting to really worry. - When they didn't return on schedule, the prison sent more police to check the delay and ... and they found 4 of 5 policemen who were accompanying Josh passed out in the car on a side of some street, while he and another officer were... Gone. - Gabe finished speaking in a barely audible voice, but she still says nothing, she doesn't move, she didn't even breathe, because it just could not be happening. - The police are not sure of anything, they have not idea how they put out the others, but they think this fifth police his accomplice. - Gabe continued, but Brittany still could not do anything, just face the steering wheel in front of her, the only movement she did was raise an eyebrow when a scary thought crossed her mind. - Brittany, I could not even be telling you this before the police talk to your father, what they should already be going to do... I just felt I owed you that. Then they will send police to patrol your home, but it is important that you lock up now and do not leave home for anything. Brittany, please do not do anything crazy, are you listening?

No, Brittany was no longer listening, because she knows Josh's mind as anyone; He's smart. Cruel and insane, sure, but also smart. She knew he's smart enough to, at that time, already know where Brittany was at this time, if she hadn'tgot drunk the day before, he probably knows a lot more than you should know, she also knew that he would not be looking only for and that he would attack the first of his targets he saw.

Without thinking twice, she started the car and sped off.

Curious to know the boy Josh?

And, yeah, I know that this chapter was maybe a bit boring sometimes, but the next one will have more action and some things will start to be revealed :)