The group watched her and Brittany pass. When she was gone Mercedes turned to Rachel.
"Rachel, do you remember when Santana was nice? Like, before high school, she wasn't mean?"
"Oh man, chicken again! Mum knows I hate it!" Mercedes complained, opening her lunchbox.
"Here, I'll swap," Santana offered her cheese and ham.
"Are you sure?" Mercedes checked.
Santana nodded. "Britt and I always swap anyway. Today she has ham and cheese, same as me."
"Thanks." Mercedes took the sandwich gratefully. "You know, I'm really gonna miss this after the summer, when we're all in high school."
"Who says it's not going to be the same?" Santana demanded. "Britt and I are going to be together forever. You and Rachel can stay too."
"Yeah, I remember," Rachel said sadly. "I guess high school really does change people, but I never knew it could change someone this bad."
"Yes I would die for you baby.
But you won't do the same"
Puck finished singing Grenade to Quinn.
Mr Schue clapped Puck on the back. "Good choice, Puck. I think we all got the message there."
Puck sat down and Mr Schue paused so Santana could throw in the usual comment she would, but nothing. Santana's face was unreadable, not blanked out, or angry, or even hurt, as she usually was when Puck tried to seduce another girl.
Mr Schue dismissed them, handing out their next assignment, and Santana got up to ask him if it was okay if she stayed to use the piano for a while. Mr Schue said yes, and left the room. Santana sat at the piano, and Brittany sat beside her. She played the intro, and they began to sing.
"Regrets collect like old friends Here to relive your darkest moments I can see no way, I can see no way I like to keep my issues drawn It's always darkest before the dawn
Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, oh woah Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, oh woah And it's hard to dance With a devil on your back So shake him off, oh woah"
Mr Schue was halfway down the corridor, but when he heard the voices coming from the choir room he walked back and stood behind the doorway to listen. The music stopped and Mr Schue peeked around the doorway. Santana and Brittany were gazing at each other, odd expressions on their faces. Slowly they leaned in unti their lips met. They kissed for several seconds before pulling apart. Santana smiled at Brittany.
"I love you, Britt," she whispered.
"I love you too, San," Brittany whispered back.
Mr Schue turned away, taken aback by what he'd just witnessed. He heard the girls'footsteps and quickly slid out and walked into the choir room. "Hi girls. You done already?"
"Yes, thanks Mr Schue." Santana smiled at him.
Mr Schue almost blurted out about what they'd just done, but stopped himself before he did. He had to pretend he'd saw nothing. It was their private business, not his.
The rest of the day passed quickly, Mr Schue in a daze for most of it, still trying to forget the choir room. He had his Glee kids for Spanish last period. Santana and Brittany were last into the room, entering with linked pinkies. They took their usual seats up the back. Mr Schue couldn't help but watch the two Cheerio's and wonder the meaning behind them. The lesson was uneventful. At last the bell rang, signalling the end of the day.
