Santana had only been home for a little while before she jetted off toward Brittany's dance studio. She couldn't wait to see Brittany dance. She knew that Brittany believed that dance was the only real thing that she had going for her. Santana believed that Brittany has much more potential than people give her credit for.
Santana passed the funny looking building with the weird top and saw the dance studio with the awkwardly large letters spelling "DANCE" across the front. She pulled into one of the parking spots and walked inside. A bunch of people were inside dressed and ready to go. Santana looked around and spotted Brittany.
Brittany spotted Santana at the same time and ran over to her. "Hey! Thanks for coming," Brittany hugged Santana.
"Yeah, of course," Santana said as the two released from their hug.
"People, people, please people. Let's get this on party started. We're going to start with Bust Your Windows," someone yelled. Santana simply assumed it was the person in charge. Santana quickly found a seat and watched as everyone got in position. A hip hop version of Bust Your Windows came on that Santana had never heard before, but she really liked it.
Everyone moved to the beat flawlessly…Well, at least Santana thought that everyone moved flawlessly. Then again, she wasn't really looking at the other dancers, just Brittany. Brittany moved to the beat like she was born to dance. Every move was precise, perfect, flowing. Santana wanted to give the other dancers a chance and watch them for a moment or two, but she couldn't seem to take her eyes off of Brittany. It was like she was mesmerized by Brittany's movements.
The song was over too soon. All Santana wanted was to watch Brittany dance forever, but that dang song stopped. All the dancers dispersed for a quick moment, grabbing drinks of water and wiping sweat off their bodies. Brittany waltzed over to Santana.
"So?" Brittany wondered as she took a swig of water.
Santana stood up and wrapped Brittany into a hug, "You were amazing!"
"So you liked it?"
"I loved it! You're an amazing dancer."
"Thanks, Santana. Well, if you liked that, you'll love this," Brittany stated as she set her water bottle down and walked back onto the dance floor with a sinister grin on her face.
She walked over to the man in charge and whispered something to him. The man looked over toward me and then nodded. "Okay, okay, people, we're going to do Tik Tok. From the top!" Mr. In-Charge yelled.
The music began and it was then that Santana realized that Brittany had the lead in the song. Brittany was the lead dancer and everyone else was just there for support. Every movement was thought out, executed faultlessly. It was really amazing. Actually, when Santana thought about it, Brittany kind of looks like Ke$ha, if she caked on all of that slutty makeup that Ke$ha wears. Brittany fell into the splits and slid back to her feet, fist pumping her hand into the air as she stood to her feet.
Every chance that Brittany got she shot a glance over toward Santana. She noticed that Santana was staring. Despite the fact that this might make most people uncomfortable or self-conscious, Brittany felt motivated. She wanted her friend to know that she wasn't just the stupid girl, there is more to her than that. Brittany concentrated on each move, she knew that she was hitting all of her cues, but she didn't really care about being perfect so much as she cared about what Santana thought. She just wanted her new friend to be impressed by something that she does.
Little did Brittany know, Santana was impressed, extremely impressed. Santana wished that she could move her body like that. Santana wished that she had the amount of talent that Brittany had. Santana had assumed that Brittany would be a good dancer, but what Santana hadn't expected was for Brittany to be an amazing, So You Think You Can Dance-winning-worthy dancer.
Brittany trotted back towards Santana again. Santana handed Brittany her bottle of water and patted the seat next to her. Santana wasn't sure how long in between songs that they usually took for a break, but she just wanted to sit and talk with Brittany.
"You're a superstar," Santana smiled as Brittany sat down.
"I'm okay," Brittany attempted to be modest. She knew that she was good, but she wasn't the best or anything.
"No, really, you're the best dancer I've ever seen."
"You're just saying that," Brittany blushed.
"I mean it."
"Hey, people, people, remember, today is a short rehearsal. We don't have time to dilly dally. Actually, I think we only have time for one more number. Sorry that we couldn't look at new choreography, but hey, that's life, get over it. Let's get this show on the road. I'm thinking we do I Gotta Feeling," the man running the show said.
Brittany patted Santana's leg and stood up like a soldier on a mission and ran out to the dance floor. Before the dance started, Brittany looked over towards Santana. The two locked eyes and Brittany missed the first beat. Santana couldn't help but smile at the mistake because she is the one who caused it.
It was just the same as the last two dances. Brittany was utterly perfect. The only difference is the choreography and the song. Santana couldn't help but wonder why Brittany hid the fact that she's an amazing dancer from everyone.
After the number was finished, Brittany grabbed all of her things. Before Brittany and Santana could talk at all, the man running the lesson shuffled them outside. Clearly he had to be somewhere in a hurry. Once they were outside, they sat down on the curb.
"Why don't you tell your friends about your dancing?" Santana had to know.
Brittany thought about it for a minute. "Dancing is what I love; it's the one thing that I understand. I guess I just wanted to have something all to myself. Dancing is something that I can get lost in, something that I don't have to worry about what everyone else thinks when I do it. Plus, you're my friend, I told you."
"I meant like your other friends," Santana knew that Brittany knew what she was talking about.
Brittany looked at her feet, "I don't want them to know. I don't want them to be in every aspect of my life. I just feel like I need something where I can be one hundred percent me. Dancing is like breathing. You don't have to think about it, you just do it."
"I understand. It's like that with me and music and writing. I don't share that with anyone. I mean, I share some music stuff with my band, but not the real stuff, not the stuff that I write from the heart. And I never share my writing with anyone. I guess I'm afraid of what people might say. Everything that I do always has to be perfect and I write just to write. I don't care if it's perfect and I don't want someone to ruin how much I love writing, you know? It comes from somewhere deep within, from the soul, and I'm afraid to let people see that," Santana tried to relate.
"I feel the same way. Hey, thanks for being someone that I can let in. I've never had that with anyone before," Brittany leaned her head on Santana's shoulder.
"Yeah, maybe I'll play one of my songs for you," Santana suggested. "Because I want to let you in too."
"I'd like that," Brittany said as she starred off into nothingness.
"It's getting late, maybe we should head home," Santana suggested as she realized that it was really dark outside and not a soul roamed about the streets.
"Do we have to?" Brittany groaned.
"We really should," Santana started to stand up. Once on her feet, she offered her hand to Brittany who hoisted herself up.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow and maybe you can help me understand history," Brittany laughed as she slipped into her car.
"Yeah, I'll see you later," Santana hopped into her fire engine red Volkswagen Beatle.
Santana slipped her key into the ignition and the car roared to life. As she pulled away from the small dance studio, she couldn't help but think of Brittany. Brittany was so good at dancing; she was exact and fluid. Brittany also really grasped the material that they covered in tutoring. Santana thought about how Brittany speaks and how she doesn't always say the words she needs, but talks around them, or sometimes says really outlandish things, or makes weird connections. She then thought about how Brittany always understood better when things were written out - and put to colors and diagrams - and not just said.
As Santana slid deeper in thought, she realized that it is quite possible that Brittany has a learning disability. She knows that Brittany is NOT stupid. Brittany works really hard, yet she still doesn't understand. Santana knows that Brittany is really just in tutoring so that Santana can keep an eye on her while she works. Her parents probably think that since Brittany is in the popular crowd that she just doesn't care enough to do her work. They couldn't be more wrong. Brittany wants nothing more than to be able to understand the material like everyone else, but she just can't.
For some unknown reason, Santana wants, no needs, to help Brittany. Santana knows that she can help Brittany by helping her with her school work, but she needs to make sure that's she's doing the right things. Maybe if I do some research, I can figure out what this is, and what I can do to help her. Santana doesn't understand her need to help Brittany, she just does, and she will do everything in her power to make sure that Brittany succeeds.
Santana pulled into her driveway and practically ran out of her car and into her house.
"Hey honey, do you want some dinner?" Santana's mother asked.
Santana gave a brief response whilst running up the stairs to her room, "No, I'll grab a snack or something later."
Santana continued running until she plopped herself into the seat behind her desk. She frantically typed out "Learning Disabilities" into Google. Despite the fact that Santana has a personal rule to never trust Wikipedia, she decided that it would help her narrow the list of disabilities down so she could do a more in depth search.
Santana searched the internet for hours, looking intently at each disability and the symptoms, trying to find something that made sense. Santana really needed for something to make sense. She needed for Brittany to have a reason for not understanding. Santana knows that Brittany is a good, hardworking student. She doesn't deserve to just not understand, Santana's thoughts plagued her.
Finally a particular disorder appeared in her research that seemed promising. The name of the disorder is Dysnomia. This learning disability is characterized by symptoms that consist of a difficulty in both verbal and written expression. As she read more into the learning disability, she realized that she had struck gold. People who have Dysnomia can't always recall or spell words correctly, they don't use common synonyms for words, they find it hard to understand concepts easy for others to understand, they have problems finishing tests in time, and they exchange simple words with words and phrases that don't always make sense (sometimes with nonsensical jargon). This defines everything that Brittany finds difficult about learning. When Brittany speaks, she can't always find the right words, simple words, that she should be able to find. She doesn't understand concepts that others understand the first time through the material. And she always uses nonsensical phrases to describe things.
For the first time in three hours, Santana believed that she had actually stumbled onto something. Santana had thought that she was just being hopeful that Brittany's inability to understand wasn't her own fault. Now she knows that it is quite possible that Brittany has a real, medical problem preventing her from learning like everyone else.
Immediately, Santana looked for ways to help people with the Dysnomia. There is not a whole lot known about the disorder, but after some research, Santana found that doing word association exercises and exercises that associate words with things easier to locate help the patient to remember or recall missing pieces of information.
Then it hit her. Santana had been using pictures and color codes to help Brittany remember concepts in class. Santana had been unknowingly helping Brittany in the way that she needed it without really knowing that Brittany need help in this way the most. Santana leaned back in her seat a little proud of herself. She decided that she had to continue to tutor Brittany like this if she wanted Brittany to succeed.
Then another thing hit her, Santana had been spending so much time worrying about Brittany that she hadn't done any of her homework. She panicked and started frantically ripping her homework out of her backpack.
Then another thing hit her, or rather she hit her head. Santana hit her head against the desk laughing when she realized that it was Friday and that she didn't have to get her work done until Sunday night. Plus, it's not like she has a lot of work. They hadn't even really learned a whole lot yet. They mostly just had a few pieces of "refresher" homework (so the teacher can know how much everyone forgot over the summer).
All she had was some math homework and a safety contract to get signed by her parents for biology. She started laughing at herself hysterically and decided that she needed a brain break. Santana got back on the internet and logged onto Facebook. She saw that she had a couple of notifications and a friend request. She clicked on the friend request; it was Brittany. Santana unconsciously smiled widely at the request and immediately clicked "Accept".
Santana then had a serious debate in her head, Should I tell Brittany about the whole learning disability thing? There were two serious arguments, one for, and one against. First, Santana thought that she should tell Brittany because then Brittany would know that her inability to understand isn't her fault. Then again, Brittany would definitely be offended if Santana told her that she thought that she had a learning disability. Brittany would think that Santana was calling her stupid. Plus Brittany wouldn't like the idea that she was a special needs student. So in the end, Santana decided to keep this discovery to herself; at least for now.
Then, exhausted from research and the day she'd had, Santana decided that it was time to give up on the day and say hello to a hopefully peaceful night. She slipped into some comfortable pajamas and slid into bed, pulling the covers tightly over her head, begging for sleep to come.
Brittany came bouncing up to Santana. Santana had no idea where she was. She looked around and she noticed that they were…on the beach? They lived in the middle of Ohio; they couldn't be on a beach, at least not one that's attached to an ocean. Santana looked around confused for another moment before Brittany embraced her in a tight hug.
"What are we doing here?" Santana couldn't help but wonder.
"We live here silly," Brittany giggled into Santana's neck.
Santana felt a shiver go up her spine. "Where is here?"
"California," Brittany took a step back and looked Santana in the eyes. "Are you okay, baby?"
"Baby?" Santana whispered to herself.
"You look like you've just seen a… scary spook," Brittany finished her sentence in her usual Brittany way.
Santana smiled at the word replacement, "Why are we in California?"
"And they say that you're the smart one," Brittany rolled her eyes as she leaned up and kissed Santana on the lips. Santana tensed. Sensing her apprehension, Brittany pulled away.
"San, are you feeling alright? Did I do something wrong?" Brittany continued to make no sense to Santana.
"I just don't understand," Santana started before Brittany's lips found hers again.
Santana shot up in her bed. Her breathing was labored, her body covered in sweat. What the hell was that? She thought to herself. Santana knew that she liked Brittany, but she liked Brittany as a friend, and not a kissing-type-of-friend. At least, she thought that she didn't like Brittany in that way. She doesn't like girls. This is ridiculous, it was just a stupid dream, she reasoned.
Santana tried to get back to sleep, but she couldn't. Her mind kept wandering with thoughts about the totally wacky dream she just had. But she didn't really think about the wacky parts of the dream; like how they lived in California, that they seemed like a couple, or that they were on a beach. The only part of the dream that she really thought about were Brittany's lips and how good Brittany's lips felt on her own.
I just need to stop thinking about it…Pretend that the dream never happened. Santana forced her eyes shut and attempted to drift back to sleep. After an impossibly long amount of time, Santana managed to get to sleep.
Brittany has just arrived at her house from her dance studio. She practically skipped up the stairs to her front door. She looked down at her keys and in that moment she realized that she couldn't remember which silver key fit the key hole. She stared at her keys for a few minutes frustrated at herself because she couldn't even remember the most basic things.
Brittany couldn't understand herself. She was so happy just moments ago when she was with Santana. Santana makes me feel so unbelievably spectacularis! Like a unicorn! She laughed at her own thoughts as she realized which key was the right one. She quickly slid the key in the lock and unlocked her door. See, she even helps me remember which key is the right one when she isn't even here.
"Brittany, is that you?" Brittany's mom wondered as she appeared from the hallway.
"Yeah, it's me," Brittany replied as she took off her shoes. She couldn't wait to see Santana again. It was weird how close they had gotten in just a couple of days, but Brittany didn't care.
"Dinner's on the table," Brittany's mom said as she turned back down the hallway.
"Alright, I'll be right there, I just got to do something really quick," Brittany ran upstairs and opened her laptop. She opened the internet and logged onto her Facebook. She then found Santana Lopez and sent a friend request. She then hopped back down the stairs to eat dinner.
"So how's school going?" Brittany's father wondered. Brittany is an only child, so she knew that the question was directed at her.
"It's better," Brittany smiled as she chewed on some corn.
"How's your tutor?" Brittany's mom pried.
Brittany looked up and smiled at her mother. "Oh no, it's not some cute boy is it?" Brittany's father wondered worried.
"No, it's not a cute boy. Her name is Santana. She's really awesome and I'm totally learning more stuff when she teaches me," Brittany replied as she took a sip of water.
"I've never heard of her before," Brittany's mom frowned.
"She's like the smartest girl in our class. We just never really hung out before she started tutoring me. But now, we're like best friends. We understand each other," Brittany informed her parents.
"Best friends?" Brittany's dad wondered.
Brittany played with the food on her plate, chasing some peas around with her fork, "Yeah, she's cool. I mean, she is really nice to me. Most people aren't. I mean, they know that I'm stupid and they treat me like I'm stupid. Santana, she treats me differently. I don't know how to explain it. She's just really cool. She actually came to my dance class today."
"Really? You never invite people to your dance classes, not even us," Brittany's mom replied almost offended.
"I told you, we're totally best friends now."
"Well, I'm glad," Brittany's dad broke the silence. "This Santana girl sounds like she's a good influence on you."
Brittany rolled her eyes, "She didn't give me the flu, I'm not sick."
Mr. and Mrs. Pierce exchanged a knowing look.
After dinner, Brittany waltzed up to her room where she immediately got ready for bed. She was really tired. She was mentally and physically exhausted from school and dance class. She jumped into her bed and pulled the covers up. Sleep came easily.
"You're so stupid!" Sugar yelled so loud that the words rang in Brittany's ears.
"Yeah, you're an idiot!" David joined in. Brittany felt tears well in her eyes. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to stop the tears.
"How are you still passing school?" a random girl asked in passing.
"How can you be so dumb?" Azimio asked.
"Yeah, no one is as dumb as you," Sugar chimed in.
Tears began to flow freely from Brittany's eyes. She covered her ears with her hands and fell to her knees, a knowing pain shooting through her entire body. Then, Brittany felt a hand on her shoulder.
"You're not stupid Brittany, they're stupid. You're amazing," Brittany could hear Santana's voice. She opened her eyes. When she looked up, she was staring deep into Santana's beautiful brown eyes.
"They all know that I'm stupid, I know that I'm stupid, you should know too! You're the smartest girl in school, how do you not know that!" Brittany couldn't believe that she was screaming at Santana, but she was so frustrated.
Santana helped Brittany to her feet. She then wrapped her into a tight hug. "You are not stupid, baby."
"What did you just call me?" Brittany wondered through teary eyes.
Santana took Brittany's face in her hands and pulled her into a kiss. Brittany couldn't believe what was happening, but didn't fight it. "You are the smartest, bravest, and most amazing person that I've ever met," Santana practically whispered as she pulled out of the kiss.
Brittany looked around and noticed that Sugar and the others all disappeared, "Where did everyone go?"
"Does it matter?" Santana wondered through sincere eyes.
"No," Brittany replied as Santana leaned in for another kiss.
Brittany woke up with a start. That was weird, she thought. Brittany knew that she wasn't gay. Then again, Brittany knew that she didn't really know much, so what if this was just another thing that she didn't know? She got out of bed and walked to her bathroom. She threw some water on her face as she tried to figure out what that dream was about. She teared up as she remembered all of the people calling her stupid, but the tears were wiped away by the second part of the dream. Brittany focused hard on Santana and how safe Santana made her feel, but more than that, she thought about the kiss. The kiss was good, not weird, but it felt wrong, but at the same time, it felt so right. It was just another thing that Brittany couldn't put into words.
Instead of dwelling on the fact that the dream confused her to no end, Brittany decided that it was probably just best to try to get back to sleep. On her way back to bed, Brittany couldn't help herself. She walked over to her computer and pulled up Facebook. She had a single notification "Santana Lopez has accepted your friend request". A smile grew across Brittany's face. She then slipped into her bed, content. Sleep came easy once again.
Authors Note:
"Dreams" by The Cranberries