I'm surprised at the amount of reviews, thanks guys! I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint.

Some people were asking about their ages and the answer is that you'll find out :P


Chapter 2

Feelings

Santana's phone rings just as she steps out of her car onto the sidewalk. She decides to climb back into the car because it's really cold; her nose is already feeling numb.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Santana?"

She smiles when she hears the voice of her old friend. They talk for a few minutes before Santana hangs up. She walks confidently to the door this time and knocks. Brittany opens the door and lets her in, taking the coat off her shoulder to hang up. There's no sign of Mrs. Pierce today.

"Hey, it's nice to see your face again." Santana follows Brittany into the kitchen where she's looking into the fridge. To be truthful, Santana can only see her butt sticking out from behind the fridge door.

"Nice to see you too. Chocolate?" Brittany offers her open palm where some Hershey kisses lay at different angles.

"Only because it's polite," The chocolate gets popped into Santana's mouth. Brittany looks satisfied. She asks if Santana wants to sit on the couch again but then pauses like she's having second thoughts. "You want to see upstairs?"

Santana's still getting used to hearing Brittany talk. There are no signs of hesitancy like yesterday. She says yes and follows Brittany's lead. There's only two bedrooms upstairs, just enough for mother and daughter. A bathroom connects them. One door is plain like the rest of the house but the other has a flower. It's hardly a decoration but it makes Santana's heart leap just a little bit to see something personalized, something that says Brittany on it.

Walking into Brittany's room feels like going to another planet. Santana nearly pinches herself to make sure she's not having an out of body experience. Where the house lacked life, life found its way into this one small space. Santana feels like she's standing in a workshop rather than a bedroom.

Everywhere there are pencils of all thickness and lengths. Paint brushes scatter across a stained wooden table that's seen much use. And most amazingly there are pictures of everything under the sun Santana can imagine. Some large scale paintings are showcased on the walls, some charcoal drawings with perfectly etched lines fill one whole side of the room. There are more wonderful works of art but Santana can't tell what they are. Just that they are out of this world.

"Wow, Brittany they're… amazing." It takes all of Santana's breath to say. Brittany scans her room like its nothing, but a secret smile plays on the corner of her mouth. She knew Santana would be surprised.

Brittany sits on her cushioned bench right next to the window and watches Santana as she spins in circles seeung everything yet not knowing what to look at next. It's when she looks up that Santana practically loses her ability to form words or even move.

"It's better with the lights on because the light actually comes out from the sun, but outside has to be dark first." Brittany explains.

Santana doesn't think better is possible. "You have the universe on your ceiling Brittany." It nearly comes out as a laugh. People say Brittany has problems; Santana doesn't think Brittany has any at all. Maybe they should try painting their ceiling.

"It's heaven. It's the best place." Brittany grins. She doesn't look at her masterpiece though; she looks at Santana and the way her cheek caves into a tiny dimple when she smiles.

"I feel like there's so much to ask, but I don't where to start. Who are you?" Santana walks up to the girl and sits next to her smiling answer she receives is simple, "I'm Brittany, and I do what I love."

"Do you love a lot of things?" Santana's heard Brittany say the word 'love' twice already and she's proven to be good at both.

"I guess I do, but love is so difficult to understand. It's such a passionate word yet can be used for the simplest things. I like it because … it sounds nice." Brittany drops her gaze to the floor for a brief moment and her smile disappears but then it comes back in full force. "What do you love?"

Santana has never had trouble answering questions. She's natural with and quick to respond with tongue and she has a brain to match it in sharpness but Brittany's question throws her for a loop.

"I love…" she thinks about going the easy route like saying her parents or her job. "I love…books." She finally says.

Brittany breaks into a laugh. It took Santana that long to answer her simple question and books are all she can say.

"I like books, I don't love them…but maybe I could. I think people are more interesting than words even though they are really special too."

"You know, your mom wasn't lying when she told me you were special. I've never met anyone like you Brittany." Santana is surprised yet again when Brittany takes her hand and rubs her palm with her thumb.

"Did anyone ever tell you that you were special? My dad said one time that everyone is special in their own way and no one is more special than someone else; and that if you're the right type of special for someone than maybe you fall in love." Brittany lets go of Santana's hand and folds it in her lap, Santana misses the feel of Brittany's gentle touch.

"So, I think you should take me on a tour of your room Brittany. I'm sure the stories behind these works of art are just as interesting as the pictures themselves." Santana hopes Brittany will tell her, if only to find out why Brittany is the way she is. So enthusiastic about things like painting and dancing but not school or socializing. Santana thinks in the back of her mind that Brittany used to enjoy those things but something changed along the way.

"One day. I'll think of the right time. I just wanted to show you today." Santana's a little disappointed, but she knows it's only right for Brittany to tell her when she feels ready.

"So, you know it's six again. Are you going to eat? I hope you don't mind if I stick around today."

"Aren't you going to be hungry? I'd offer you food but I'm on Ms. Sylvester's cheerio diet." Santana follows Brittany into the kitchen. Brittany dives into the fridge and emerges with four cups of yogurt. She puts them on the counter then opens a cabinet and pulls out a blender.

"Strawberry yogurt huh?"

"It's my favorite," Brittany says plugging the appliance in the wall plug. "Can you open the cups for me?"

Santana rips the tops off all four cups and brings them to Brittany two at a time.

"Thanks"

Brittany puts ice into the jug and asks Santana to pour the yogurt in while she gets the honey. She opens the cupboard above her head and reaches up on her tippy-toes for the top shelf. Santana tries to be discreet, only stealing glances at the amazingly toned muscles on Brittany's stomach.

"Gotcha," Brittany twists the cap and lets a good amount of honey drip out of the bottle and coat the pinkish ice. She starts the blender and concentrates on keeping the lid from blowing off. The lock stopped working a long time ago when Brittany dropped it.

She has to press the lid down extra hard when she almost loses grip. Santana's bending down, looking for glasses in a cupboard. Her skirt rides up dangerously high and Brittany gets distracted by her long legs and slim thighs. Santana is oblivious to Brittanys leering, she scoots to another cabinet and finally hits jackpot. There aren't any glasses but there are several plastic cups, none of them the same color.

"I couldn't find any glasses," Santana says putting the cups down so Brittany can pour the drink in; first the yellow cup and then the red.

"We don't have any," Brittany puts the jug in the sink and fills it with water to wash later. She picks the cups up and hands Santana the red cup. "Here's my very special strawberry-honey smoothie." She beams.

It tastes good, not exactly special but Santana would drink it every day if Brittany made it for her. Maybe it's special because Brittany put some of her specialness into it.

"How did you know I like red?" Santana leans against the counter when Brittany hops up onto it. "The way you know I like yellow."

For a moment Santana locks her eyes with Brittany's as if by looking she'll find the answer. She chuckles and takes another sip as her eyes move away. There isn't an answer. It must be coincidence.

"Now that I've seen your art, I'd love to see you dance. You must really like it if you're willing to put up with Sue's crazy." Santana returns from her faraway look and plays with the edge of her cup. It's a topic she doesn't find particularly fond. She remembers how being a Cheerio afforded her the best high-school life but at a high cost as well. "I only stayed because it made popular."

"So you didn't really like it?" The concept is almost foreign to Brittany. She's never done anything she didn't want to do. Brittany gets down off the counter to stand in front of Santana. Santana has never felt so small. Not only because Brittany towers a good foot over her but also because Brittany's pointed out what has been Santana's problem her whole life. She always did the thing she thought would make her happy, but she's 26 now, she has a master's degree, she's got a house that belongs to her, a mercedes benz, a job doing what she likes, woman online begging for a chance to show her a good time. She thought she'd be happy.

"I don't do things I don't like. I don't see the point. It never turns out good anyways because your hearts not in it." If Brittany thinks of all the things she does with absolute passion, she can say without a doubt that she's happy doing them.

Santana feigns a smile. Her supposed to be student is doing better at life than she is.

"You don't really want to be here do you? I bet a beautiful, smart person like you could find a better teaching job then in this town." Brittany takes the empty cups to the sink and begins washing. "You should go, do what your heart says to do. I'll be fine, Lima will be fine, but you won't be if you stay."

Last night Santana had restlessly rolled around in bed trying to sleep. She felt like she was making the wrong decision staying in Lima for another year. It'd be a waste. But then there was Brittany, every time. This Brittany was telling her to follow her dreams but the one in her dreams needed her to stay. And if Santana's honest with herself, she knows she wants to stay for more than just the job of seeing Brittany through to graduation. There's something about Brittany that tugs at her heart. Like the moment she met her, Brittany found a place in there. So if she takes Brittany's advice, then she knows what she wants is to stay- stay with Brittany.

"I'll be perfectly fine if I stay," Santana's face lights up. Brittany sees as she towels off her hands. "I love teaching and I look forward to teaching you. I have a reason to stay Brittany."

"You know, I don't really need a tutor. I can get good grades if I want." Brittany silently asks if Santana wants to sit on the couch with a tilt of her head. They settle down and listen to the wind howling and hitting against anything obstructing it.

"You don't want good grades?" Santana doesn't understand why Brittany would be careless about something as important as finishing school. When she's done she'll be free to do whatever she wants. No one would judge her for not going to college or university.

"I don't want to, I mean, I want to but right now there are other things that are more important."

"Like what?" Santana can't believe her ears. What could be more important to Brittany right now than finishing her studies?

"Stuff," Santana pleads with her eyes for Brittany to continue but she purses her lips not willing to say anything more. Santana lets out a sigh of defeat.

The moment of silence is broken by the buzzing of Santana's phone. It lays on the coffee table right in front of Brittany so she grabs it and shoves it to Santana quickly not before seeing the caller's name. She didn't mean to but it happened and now Santana is smiling and getting up to talk in the corner with the person named 'Kurt.'

One minute later Santana finishes her conversation and she apologizes for the interruption. There's a smile still playing on her face, she looks happy, something Brittany's seen only now. It should make her happy to see Santana smile from her eyes but Brittany feels another emotion instead; it's a lot like jealousy. Like the time her neighbor got what she asked Santa for at Christmas.

"Hey, so where were we up to?" Santana sits back down but a little bit closer to Brittany this time. She already feels comfortable around her, and she almost forgets that they are teacher and student.

"You were going to give me a speech about the all the reasons I should focus on school," Santana chuckles at the joke. She wasn't going to do any such thing but she might as well say something now. It's her job to.

"Well, let me just say. If you don't like studying then I'm going to make you like it. I don't care what I have to do, everyday you are going to be happy to see me and happy do whatever I have planned. You can't leave me with a challenge and not expect me to do my damn best Brittany."

"I'd like to see you try," Brittany taunts. Santana has no idea what she's getting herself into. But neither does Brittany, she doesn't know how stubborn and hungry to win Santana can be.

"So tell me, what subject do you find the most difficult?" Santana knows Brittany's struggling with English the most but she wants to hear it from Brittany.

"Honestly? English."

"Well your just in luck, I'm an English teacher." Santana loves to say that. It's the only dream she actually accomplished so far.

"You can't teach me how to write what Mrs. Hilfberg wants to read. Believe me, I've tried. I'll show you." Brittany gets up and dashes up the stairs. She's down in half a minute holding a piece of paper with red marks that stand out like whip lashes.

"Read it."

Santana takes the paper and scans through the thick paragraphs. There are problems with the structure and organization of thought but the content seems to be fine, interesting even. Brittany's opinions and persuasive arguments are beyond what she'd expect from a twelfth grader.

"I'd give this a solid B, Brittany. You have potential."

"Mrs. Hilfberg doesn't agree, she said the writing is messed up and the ideas are too fantastical." Brittany's voice is deflated.

"You should transfer to my class then. I don't want to criticize any of the faculty, but I think you'd benefit more if you studied with me." It's a thought. Brittany would jump at the chance to spend more time with Santana; she would if it weren't for one thing. She doesn't think she'll be able to learn if Santana is teaching her.

"I promise you won't regret it. I know, you're already going to spend so much time with me but think about it." Brittany nods even though she already knows tomorrow she'll be going to Mrs. Pillsbury to ask for a transfer.

Santana looks at her watch and clears her throat. "Well, it's seven and I have a dinner thing at seven-thirty so I've got to go. I really enjoyed spending time with you Brittany"

"Oh," Brittany says almost inaudibly. She understands; the phone call, the smile on Santana's face. "Good luck," She smiles and tries to mask the disappointment already seeping to every part of her heart.

"I'll see you tomorrow Brittany, and don't forget – think about transferring." Santana's in a hurry to slide her coat on and get to her car.

Brittany can't let this happen, not yet, not until she says something. She runs out after her. She has to do this, not that she has much chance of changing anything but she'll feel bad if she doesn't try. "I …"

Santana waits patiently with her hand on the car handle. She raises her eyebrows, encouraging Brittany to say what's on her mind.

"I like you."

Santana lets out an airy laugh. "I like you too Brittany."

Brittany thought she'd be happy to hear that but she frowns. It didn't feel like how it was supposed to when you tell someone you like them.

"No, I really like you." She tries again, hoping she's getting through to Santana somehow what she means.

"I know Brittany, and I like you too." Santana smiles when she says it and Brittany thinks her heart could melt because that smile is directed towards her - the same one that was on Santana's face when that guy called her.

Santana gets into her car and turns it around so she's on the opposite side of the street from where Brittany is still standing. She rolls the window down and waves, Brittany waves back.

Brittany runs back up the porch but doesn't go back in the house yet. She watches Santana drive down the lane; but she doesn't expect to see the car stop only a few meters from her house.

Brittany sees a man wearing a suit come out of the Auto repair shop just down the street. He gets into the car with Santana and they drive away. Brittany's smile drops off as she heads into the house, head hanging.

"I am so sorry Santana. I was having my dad look over my Ferrari today, you know I always wanted shiny hubs and the ones I ordered just got in but anyways my dad decided to do a check of the whole car and guess what? The engine wouldn't start. And this is fifteen minutes before our dinner so you are an angel for picking me up. And I never thought I'd call you that." Santana throws her head back in laughter, thoroughly enjoying Kurt's company already. She missed his pizzaz and dramatic flurry.

"I told you, it's no problem. I was just down the street."

"Ok, first let me ask you. What did you do with the bitch who tortured me in high-school? I'm not saying I miss her but this girl is something new." Santana didn't think she'd miss his smile or his voice this much.

"She grew up and found out being a bitch wasn't the best way to succeed in life, although, Snixx is still in hiding. Don't make me let her out." Santana smirks. She turns out of the avenue and takes the road down to Breadsticks.

"Ah, old times." Kurt shakes his head and holds that far away look.

Santana can't remember the last time she enjoyed dinner. The whole time was spent catching up with Kurt on their lives and achievements so far. There were so many stories, many causing the duo to end in laughing and tears. Santana missed having a close friend who she could share things with.

"So, Santana, what are you doing at that house anyways? Who lives there? Is it someone special?" Kurt lets his voice drop dramatically as if they are talking about a forbidden topic.

"Definitely special," Santana smiles. There really is no other word to describe Brittany. "I'm her tutor."

"Well well, what could you possibly be teaching her? You sounded in a very good mood on the phone." Kurt pours them another glass of wine. Dinner is on him tonight and he insisted they drink the restaurants best. Santana's heard his life story; he can more than pay for a bottle of less than premium wine.

"It's not like that Kurt, I have standards." Santana says softly. She's not actually sure what those standards are though. Should she have been clearer with Brittany about where they stood?

"Santana how old is she? I can see very clearly that you have a soft spot for her but I'm just telling you, teacher – student relationships are messy." Kurt has the best intentions and he's not exactly saying she shouldn't see Brittany. Santana's not sure herself, she doesn't know if she wants to see Brittany in that way. She doesn't even know how old Brittany is for that matter. It's like she doesn't know any of the things she should know right now. She's confused.

"I'm not in a relationship with her Kurt, and yes I am fond of her but anyone would, even you, if you really got to know her." Santana sips some wine, hoping it'll take down the feeling of guilt that's already building inside her chest. It'd be bad and unmoral for her to like Brittany in that way, but Santana has to admit she's drawn to her.

"And as I said Santana, I'm not judging you. I know you can handle things and not let it get out of hand. I'm just trying to be a good friend here and tell you the drawbacks." Santana thanks him and they have another glass of wine as they move on to other topics. Thoughts of Brittany stay with Santana all evening.

An hour later and Santana has dropped Kurt off at the Autoshop. She's just running the hot water in her bathroom and can't wait to take a nice long bath.

While waiting she checks her inbox for any new messages. There's one from Mercedes that came twenty minutes ago. Santana opens it, excited to hear any news from her best friend.

Hey Gurl,

It's been far too long since we've hung out, that's why I have a surprise for you. You know how you were talking about moving here to LA three weeks ago? Well, I think this is the perfect opportunity to check it out for real. You are cordially invited to a week of Award's after parties, everything on me. You'll get to see the place and I'm sure you're going to fall in love with it. I can't wait for your answer and it better be yes gurl because you don't want to miss this.

Mercedes,

PS: You won't believe who else is coming, Rachel and Quinn. They already confirmed so you better not keep my ass waiting too long.

PSS: Flight information is attached to this email; bring someone along if you want. I bought you two tickets just in case there's a lady you want to introduce.

Santana doesn't think this day can get any more perfect. There is no way in hell she is turning down the opportunity to see her friend. But now that she's flying across the country in less than a day, she freaks out as she lists in her head all the things she has to prepare and do.


Dear Papa,

I'm sad.

I was happy all day, especially when Santana Lopez came over. I made her my favorite smoothie and now she's totally addicted to it, I'm sure. She was really nice again; I don't think I've met anyone in this town as nice as her. And to think we were in the same place every day for months. You could have made me meet her sooner Papa, that way I would have had a friend the first day we got here. Except, I think I like her as more than a friend.

Today I told Santana I liked her and she said it back as soon as I said it. That's supposed to be good right? But I wasn't sure so I said it again and she said it again and then I was almost sure she understood. I hope she does because I don't understand it and she's a teacher so she probably does.

But then I was sad Papa because she went to dinner with her boyfriend. I mean I think he is her boyfriend since he called her and she was smiling the whole time and doing a cute giggle. I just wish she'd giggle like that when I say things, I think I'm jealous Papa. I know you told me we shouldn't want what other people have because if we were meant to have it then it'd already be ours but I really like Santana. I want her to be mine. She said she liked me too and she even wants me in her class, it's not jealousy if what you want also wants you right?

Well, I'm getting dizzy now, the light on my solar system burnt out so I'll have to fix it. Good thing I didn't try to show it to Santana today – it would have been a big flop and I would have been so embarrassed. I got another paycheck in the mail though. That makes me happy. I know you are blessing me from where you are. Now if you can work on Santana as well, that'd be great because I really do like her. Can you do that for me?

The moon is pretty tonight. It reminds me of your smile. I love you Papa

Britt


I'll try to update soon even though I have tons of work and another story to keep up. Tell me what you think