A/N: The final two chapters will come next Tuesday and Wednesday!
"Got Dancing Shoes to Fly Away"
4. Four Steps, Revealed
Brittany (+ New Directions & Will)
They had kept the secret within their trio for so long, so all along it felt… contained, and small, and safe. Now that the choice was made though, it was time to crack the shell open and let everyone know. They would let her do it, though they had needed to explain that she had to tell the others. They could tell she didn't want to do it. She didn't want to upset anyone, especially them. Still, she had to do it… she couldn't just go. So at the next Glee Club practice, Brittany sat there, watching, waiting… wanting to step up but needing just one more little… "Mr. Schuester?" Santana spoke, raising her hand. As he turned to look at her, she turned to look at Brittany.
"Yes, Santana?" he asked. Brittany looked to her friends, who gave her a nod. "Do you have something to share?"
"A-Actually, I do," Brittany spoke, looking at the teacher. He signalled for her to take center stage. The others weren't sure what was going to happen, if the blonde was about to start singing… The thought had crossed her mind, although she wouldn't really know of a song to say 'I'm going away to a dance school'… She had thought about doing that goodbye song by the Spice Girls…
"Brittany?" Mr. Schuester spoke, and she looked at him. She must have been silent for a while.
"There was this guy, he saw me dancing, and he wanted me to audition, for a school," she started.
"Wow, really?" Rachel spoke up. The others looked at her. "I mean, I didn't think they would come to Lima…"
"Please, small cities are like gold mines for those people," Mercedes pointed out.
"Well, that's great," Will brought them back. "So they'll want you to audition, that's… is that what you had to say?" he asked.
"Yes," Brittany nodded, then got a 'go on' signal from Santana and Mike. "Oh, but I already did my audition, in Boston."
"When?" Quinn asked.
"Weeks ago. It was fun," she smiled, reminiscing. "We took a train to Boston, and we waited… I almost got sick…"
"Get to it," Santana urged, before the explanation degenerated.
"Right, sorry," Brittany nodded, then paused. "I got a letter…" she looked to the others, who awaited the answer, almost like she had. "I got in," she smiled. The reaction was immediate, congratulatory. People got up and came to hug, shake hands, high five… It made her feel so good, so loved, she sort of forgot the other part of this… just like they had. It was Tina who made the leap first.
"Wait, does that mean you're going?" Everyone got quiet, as they caught on as well.
"You're leaving?" Mercedes asked. Brittany looked down for a moment, feeling that sense like she was abandoning them again.
"I'm starting in a couple weeks."
"But we…" Rachel started, and Santana resisted smacking her upside the head by speaking up.
"Brittany made her choice," her voice was higher, to draw their attention. "And it wasn't easy," she toned down. "So watch it," she turned to Rachel now.
"No, but I'm going to say it," Rachel insisted. "You're going to say that I'd complain about losing one of if not our best dancer and also our twelfth member, and yes that is part of it, but…" she looked back to Brittany. "What I wanted to say is… we'd miss you," she bowed her head, and she smiled when Brittany did. The blonde moved up to hug her.
"Thanks, Rachel," she told her, and it got the others smiling again… except Santana, who only looked sadder now that they'd gone and made it more real. "But you're right about the twelfth," Brittany told Rachel. It was one topic they had talked about on the train back from Boston a few weeks before. "I can help you guys find someone, before I go," she suggested.
"If you're up for it, that would be great," Mr. Schuester gave her a pat on the shoulder.
"And I was thinking… Maybe I could take something from each of you, to bring with me to Boston so… I won't forget you," she smiled slowly.
"Definitely," Quinn gave her a smile, and the others gave her nods.
"Like what?" Puck asked. Brittany looked around, then stopped at Mr. Schuester.
"Can I have one of your vests? You have plenty," she pointed out. There were some chuckles trying to subtle at that, while Will looked down at himself.
"Uh… sure, if that's what you want," he blinked.
"I know what we should do," Rachel spoke, and the others turned to her. "We'll have a party, a going away party, and we can bring those things there."
"That sounds good," Will agreed, looking to the others, who also gave their approval. That left one person, and they turned to her. "How about it, Brittany?"
"How about what?" she asked.
"The party," he explained, and she smiled.
"Oh, right," she nodded. "I'd love that…" she was a little more excited now, even if she could feel deep down that it would only drive the point home that she'd be leaving her world behind.
TO BE CONTINUED (TUESDAY)
Question: What do you think the club would/should bring her? :)
