A/N: I screwed up with their name. It's Mattany or Bratt if you prefer.
Matt, would you like to stay for dinner?
He looked behind the coach over to Brittany's mom, looking disheveled in a white rob.
That would be great Mrs…Brenda, I'll call my mom and let her know.
It wasn't that Matt's mom couldn't cook; she just didn't do it anymore. He couldn't think of many families that still did the traditional "dinner as a family" thing anymore. It's also probably because Matt never liked what she cooked, which was always very bland and simple. He would be sure to put on a fake smile to whatever Brenda brought him though. After making the call, Matt helped Brittany set the table while Bobby was helping Brenda cook.
So Matt, the football teams not doing too well this year, anything wrong with coach Tanaka?
He's pretty vacant right now Mrs. B, I don't think he has fully gotten over losing his fiancé.
I don't know why there is so much attention on a game where the objective is to hurt. Sports should be about unity and friendship.
Yeah….that's an interesting point Mr.B. I find that I'm able to balance out the toughness of football with the more artistic glee club.
It's quite noble for you to be a part of two vastly different social classes Matt, that choice must not have been easy.
It was a little difficult at first Mrs. B, but when Santanna and Brittany joined it sort of paved the way for others to join.
That Santanna gives me the creeps.
Daddy!
I'm sorry baby doll but I can't tell you how many times I've listened to crying teenage girls talk about how Santanna Lopez made them afraid to go to school.
But she's my best friend.
I know sweetie, I'm just grateful you two have different personalities.
My husband, ever the caring child psychologist.
Matt could not picture Mr. B going to graduate school, but he could picture him playing with little kids and getting them to talk about their fears. That's what child psychologists did right?
My way of balancing out my wife, the dull CPA.
Hey I like to have fun.
Really?
You know it.
Matt had to act fast before they went for round two on top of the dinner table they were currently eating at. And Matt was really enjoying the steak too much to be interrupted by old people sex.
So, where did you guys go to college?
We met at Ohio State. I was a cheerleader, and Bobby was a hippie. Shocker I know.
Hey I was adding flavor and culture to a school that was sorely lacking it at that time.
Oh and I just love the thought of Brittany walking down the same halls we did. What college are you thinking about attending Matt?
Shit, he did not want the conversation to be focused on him, but college was the only thing on his mind so he just blurted it out. It made more sense that Brittany got in considering both her parents went there, but he couldn't tell them he didn't get in, he didn't want them to judge him.
I haven't heard back from Ohio State yet, I applied to a few other schools and I'm also waiting for a reply from them, the wait is getting pretty frustrating.
Well your last name does begin with an R, it probably takes them a while to sort through all the applications.
Thanks Mr. B, that means a lot.
And it did, even though he was lying, Matt felt instantly better after hearing Brittany's father's words. Brittany was right, he hadn't heard back from all the schools so there was no need to worry himself to death. Matt talked casually with Brittany and her parents until it was time to leave. Brittany walked him to the porch.
Goodbye Matt.
She kissed him on the check.
I'll see you at glee.
See ya, Brit.
That's right, he would see her at glee. Would she approach him? Start talking about their day together? Reference his failure to get into college? She kept her mouth shut in front of her parents, but he got lucky because she was having a telepathic conversation with a ladybug at the time. Screw it, he didn't care what people thought of him, he was going to sit next to his friend. The next day at glee club he walked right up to the back row and sat next to her.
Hi Matt!
Hey Brittany.
Don't you just love this room.
Yeah, tell you the truth I like the performing more than the practicing.
But practice is awesome; we can just be in the room together as a family.
You consider these guys as your family?
Yeah, everyone's so amazing here.
That's the exact opposite of the way he felt, but wanted to hear her explanation.
Anytime I get to spend with Santanna is fun, even though she's really mean sometimes. Watching Finn mess up dance steps is hilarious, and then when he finally gets it right he had the biggest heartwarming grin on his face. Rachel has psychic abilities; you just never know when you may need those. Tina's a vampire and I think her involvement in the club is keeping all of us safe from being attacked. Quinn's presence alone shows her inner strength and I admire that. Mercedes has a voice that can touch your soul. Kurt is just funny to watch, especially when he tries to out-diva the other girls. Artie always tries to see the best in people and Mr. Schue believes in all of us.
Matt dreaded her explanation for the last two names. Two guys she probably had history with.
Mike is…such a great person, he's a great dancer and he always makes me smile because he is always smiling.
That's one down; let's hear what she has to say about the man whore.
And Puck is… well he's the big brother I never had.
That was not what he was expecting.
You're a guy so you may not understand this, but as a girl, you have to be really careful sometimes. Even in school, it's scary sometimes to get the wrong kind of attention from the wrong guy. So seeing Puck down the hall always makes me feel safe because he'll beat up anyone for his friends, but I bet you already knew that.
He did, despite what he thought about Puck, he could not deny that there was no one he would rather have on his side during a confrontation.
Sometimes when Sanatanna and I go to concerts, Puck comes along to look out for us, even though he always complains about how the bands we go to see are "a bunch a gays."
Matt laughed at this; he suddenly saw the glee clubbers in a different light. They weren't a waste of space; they were complex kids, just like him.
Then theres you.
What about me?
When I get to dance with you during songs my whole body gets tingly.
Why would she tell him that? Is that her way of telling him that they should be more than friends? He really wants that to happen but is too afraid to make the first move. They link their arms together and she lays her head on his shoulder like she did back on the couch at her house. Mercedes arrived at the rehearsal room, saw the two of them, stared down at the floor for a minute and walked out. His heart sank a little bit as his conscience began to eat away at him. It wasn't like he was being pressured into dating a black girl, but he felt that it was sort of his responsibility. He didn't want to be another successful black man trying to assimilate into western ideals by getting a white wife. He believed in love, but he wanted it to be with a black girl that he could talk to. As nice as Brittany was, she would never understand what it's like to be black. There just weren't that many black girls were he lived. They either lived on the opposite side of the town in the "Lima ghetto" or they lived where he lived but only dated white guys.
You look like I do when I eat ice cream too fast.
Sorry about that, I'm just a little bit confused that's all.
That happens to me sometimes too.
You don't say.
Yeah, like when I forgot how to get to this room for the second time this week.
They were in glee club for months, how could she not know? Maybe Santanna was her Seeing Eye dog or something, leading her from class to class.
I find that if you are confused about something you should ask for help.
I kind of like to handle my own problems Brittany; I don't want to be a burden to other people.
But it's not a burden if people care about you. Whenever you get confused again, don't hesitate to talk to me ok?
OK.
After he said that, she gave him a short, light kiss on the lips. Maybe dating Brittany wouldn't be so bad. Sure he would like for her to be a little smarter, but she made him feel great about himself, something he had trouble doing on his own the past few weeks. And theres nothing wrong with high school dating. It's not like he was going to marry her. Wait, why was he thinking about marriage? And why is he picturing Brittany walking towards him in a long white dress surrounded by all their friends and family?
