Heads Up: I don't believe in rushing stories, so I hope this doesn't go too slow for you guys. But don't worry, I don't like dragging things out either. So hang tough! We'll start getting more into the good stuff soon :) But for now, here's a little something something.
Rachel showed up to Brittany's house Saturday around noon, and like she'd done the past few days, she knocked and waited, wondering what kind of excitement would greet her today. Again, nobody's car was in the driveway, and she started to wonder if the girl's parents were ever home.
"It's open!" the bubbly voice said from inside the house. Rachel carefully turned the knob and pushed the door open before shutting it quickly behind her and making her way further inside.
"Um Brittany?" she called out. "Where are you?" She wasn't sure if the blond was upstairs somewhere or twirling around in the living room.
"In here," the dancer said, appearing in the living room doorway. "You can head up to my room, I'll be there in a sec."
The brunette nodded as she started walking towards the stairs.
"And oh yea," the blue eyed teen yelled once her friend had reached the top. "San is in there too."
"How delightful," she mumbled to herself, not at all enthused about being alone with the Latina, again. When she was outside the doorway, she paused to say a mini prayer before entering the room. She looked around briefly and saw no sign of the other girl, so she just shrugged and took a seat on the bed. She noticed the dancer still didn't have a door, and despite the unusual circumstances behind the reason why, she found herself smiling.
Her breath caught when she saw a glimpse of movement out the corner of her eye; she quickly turned her head, and stalking out of the giant walk-in closet was the large daunting cat. Its black coat glossed brilliantly in the sunlight as it prowled the room. Before her mind shut down in fear, the brunette registered fully just how large the animal truly was. It didn't seem as big when Brittany was in the room, but now that she was alone with it, she suspected it weighed well over 200 lbs.
Rachel wanted to scream but she was aware enough to know the loud noise might startle the animal and put her in more danger. She put her hands in the air like she was surrendering before standing slowly. She was hoping to maybe edge her way to the door. When the animal growled menacingly at the movement, she dropped back down to the bed and started trying to placate the animal.
"Easy girl," she said, remembering Brittany used those same words with her and it had a calming effect. Sadly, Rachel was no Brittany. The cat continued to lurk, and with each step it took towards her, the heavier her breathing got. "Think Rachel, think," she chanted to herself, trying her best to not close her eyes and have a full on panic attack.
Oh, the bow! Submission! She refused to kneel down on the floor in front of the animal (in case it did attack, she felt she at minimum had a slight chance if she wasn't on her knees), however she was willing to at least nod her head dramatically to show that she was no threat (clearly) or challenge. The giant cat paused as it watched and Rachel painfully swallowed the lump in her throat; it had now turned into a waiting game. It wasn't long before San started back her advance on the small brunette, causing her to tremble and even sweat a little. She could feel the small droplets forming on her forehead. She could also feel her heart increasing and she prayed the heart attack would kill her before the blade-like teeth did. She hoped against hope that Brittany would choose this moment to come bounding into the room. The animal sniffed at Rachel's feet, and the girl had to fight the reflex she had to kick out. It then trailed its nose up her legs and the rest of her body until finally gray eyes locked with chestnut ones.
Rachel was surprised that she didn't have the urge to look away, despite the very plausible possibility that she could be looking death in the eyes, quite literally. She wasn't sure how long the two matched each other's gazes, but she did know that the feline was suddenly close enough that she could feel its breath on her skin. Every sensible reactor in her body was telling her to run, but she remained unmoved, physically unable to and some masochistic confused part of her, not really wanting to.
A few minutes had passed when the cat's ears twitched and just like that, the spell was broken as she pounced towards the door. Rachel watched, still in a slight daze as the blonde appeared in the doorway seconds later.
"Oh San…" the blond said, shaking her head with a small smile when she saw the eager panther. She reached down to stroke its head, which led to the animal coddling her hip. Rachel found that her breathing and heart rate had long since returned to normal as she watched the interaction in front of her; she wasn't sure when the change happened.
"Excuse me, I have to use the ladies room," Rachel said quickly, standing up and heading towards the hallway. She was suddenly feeling flushed and warm.
"It's um, down the hall to your…" the blond paused as she looked down at her two hands, "right." The brunette nodded in appreciation before scurrying to the washroom. She softly shut the door and fell back exasperatedly against it. She sighed before pushing off and staring confoundedly at her reflection.
"What is happening?" she asked herself, turning on the cool water and splashing her face. "My head was just inches away from a jaguar's, and still I haven't ran screaming from the house? This defies all sense of rationalization. What is wrong with you, Rachel Berry?" She took a few more minutes to collect herself before flushing the toilet and walking back out into the hallway.
"Geeze Berry, it's about fucking time. Other people need to relieve their bladders too."
Rachel startled at the brown eyes that stood less than a foot away from hers.
"Santana, hi!" she squeaked, trying to conceal her surprise.
"Yea so did you want me to piss in the hallway like some animal or…"
"Oh, I do apologize," Rachel uttered, exiting the doorway so the Latina could enter. The cheerleader just rolled her eyes and slammed the door shut behind her. The tiny singer just shook her head as she headed back to the bedroom.
"When did Santana get here?" she asked when she saw Brittany running her fingers down the door-less doorway.
"Oh she's been here," Brittany responded absently. "Be right back," she called as she skipped out of the room and down the steps.
"Okay…" Rachel said to no one as she was the only one left in the room. She looked around suspiciously, waiting for the shadowy panther to emerge from some random corner.
She heard a few thuds coming from downstairs accompanied with the occasional grunt.
"Um, are you okay down there, Brittany?" she asked, stepping out into the hallway.
"Yes, I'm fine, just…I'm fine!" Her voice sounded a little strained but the brunette didn't question it. Still, she lingered near the top of the stairs in case her services were suddenly needed. As she waited, she felt something velvety and cool brush against her leg, causing her to let out a small yelp. She looked down to see the four legged creature walking by her and heading down the steps. Despite the wide hallway, it deliberately brushed its body against Rachel's, creating a tickling sensation that left her with goose bumps. She wasn't sure if she should feel flattered or frightened. She heard the small purr it released upon contact, and just stood stunned, watching it disappear to the first floor.
Minutes later, another booming noise shook her from her thoughts, and without realizing it, she was bolting down the steps to see what the commotion was. What she saw was alarming and amusing at the same time. Brittany was trapped in the small space between an unhinged door that was left leaning against the wall. And by the giant crack in the plaster that ran the width of the door, it wasn't intentionally propped there.
"Oh my goodness, Brittany are you okay?" the tiny diva asked as she tried to pull the door away from the wall so her friend could crawl out. It was much heavier than she had anticipated, so when she gave it a strong tug, along with Brittany pushing on it simultaneously, the heavy board came barreling down towards the brunette. Rachel screamed and tried to brace her entire frame against the falling door and push back, but she wasn't strong enough. Brittany could only scream too as she was helpless from her downed position on the floor.
The singer found herself stumbling backwards as the entire weight of the door was beginning to make itself known. She was expecting the solid hardwood floor to catch her, but as she was backed up, she was met with a soft though firm body. Just as quickly as it had started, she could no longer feel the weight of the door and instead could only feel its cold smooth texture that pressed softly against her hands.
"Shit, Berry, you fucking klutz," Santana grunted as she extended her arms above her to push the door away from both her and Rachel. "And get your hair out of my mouth!"
The brunette swiftly whipped around, sending her hair splaying across Santana's face even more as she turned to face her. Already forgetting about the door, it was a good thing the raven-haired girl had a secure grip on it because Rachel took her hands away from it and instead wrapped herself around her savior. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you," she pressed out urgently against the girl's neck.
Santana's eyes widened at the contact, and if she hadn't been too busy preventing the heavy door from crushing her, she would've surely pushed the small girl away.
"Hobbit if you don't stop touching me in the next three seconds, I will allow you that date with destiny and drop this fucking door." Rachel still didn't remove herself, and only when pale hands wrapped around her arms and gently pulled her did she let go.
Santana released a sigh of relief and then pushed the door back up so that it was leaning against the wall once more.
"Oh my goodness, Santana. Thank you so much! If it hadn't been for you, I would've surely been dead or at least severely injured! You could've left me to be crushed, and considering our rap sheet, that wouldn't have been so farfetched, but you saved me!" If Brittany hadn't been holding onto the tiny diva, she would have thrown herself into the other cheerleader's arms, again.
"Already regretting it," the Latina mumbled as she folded her arms and leaned against the wall.
"And you, Brittany," Rachel started as her voice went from grateful to disapproving instantly, "what were you thinking handling that heavy item by yourself when clearly there were two other capable bodies willing to assist you?!" Before the blond could answer, Rachel continued. "And by George, what is that door even made of? Solid gold?"
"More like solid oak," the Latina spoke up as her fingers traced the door's edge.
"Oak!?"
"Yea my parents wanted something sturdier this go around; that's kind of not the first door I've had broken…"
Rachel's mouth hung open slightly in shock as she stared at Brittany. "You were going to carry an oak door up the stairs, by yourself. And you," she turned to point an accusatory finger at Santana, "raised the door from above us like it was cardboard."
The Latina just shrugged. "Adrenaline." The tiny diva narrowed her eyes suspiciously at both girls, starting to think that she was the only sane one in the house. That included the bipolar panther…the panther!
"And where is San?" she asked frantically, looking around for the animal that she saw come down the steps. It had to be around here somewhere.
"Excuse me?" Santana asked, getting defensive that someone other than Brittany was shortening her name.
"Um Rachie, she's right here," Brittany said, walking up and placing her arm around the Latina's shoulder. "That door must've hit you harder than I thought."
"No, not her," Rachel huffed, annoyed, "the freaking panther." She watched Santana's reaction and the look that crossed her features was unreadable and brief.
"Panther huh?" The Latina smirked. "Sure you didn't hit your head?"
"Yes, I'm sure! Brittany, tell her!"
"Okay guys," Brittany said, shooting a stern look at Santana, "just help me get this door up the stairs."
Rachel frowned, upset that Santana didn't believe her and that Brittany didn't back her up. Still, she grabbed a hold of the end of the door and waited for the others to position themselves.
"Uh uh, dwarf. There's no way I'm trusting you to help carry this thing up the stairs."
"Santana, I'm quite capable. And with the added strength of you and Brittany, there shouldn't be any issue."
The Latina just rolled her eyes as she pushed the small brunette away from the door. "Sorry, I don't trust your 5 foot nothing frame to not let this 200+ lb. door come sliding down into me in the middle of the stairs. Britts and I got this."
The blonde nodded as she positioned herself on the side of the door and waited for the other cheerleader to make her move. The dark-haired cheerleader cupped both sides of the door near the bottom and pulled it up from the floor and away from the wall as Rachel watched in awe. Brittany did the same with the other end, and slowly the girls made their way upstairs and up to Brittany's room.