It had been a long weekend. Well, not physically. Unlike the Cheerios, the rest of the school had to come in on Monday, but Dylan's weekend had been long for another reason. On Saturday morning she had gone with Brittany to meet up with the other Cheerios at school. She had hugged her and given her a long kiss goodbye, for this would be the longest they would be apart since they started dating. Dylan kept telling herself she was overreacting. It was just three days. But it was three days of Brittany, without her, and with Santana.
Dylan still hadn't figured out what the Latina's deal was with her girlfriend. There was some past there she didn't know about and it made her nervous. And after Santana had sung that song the week before in Glee, Dylan didn't trust her. She saw the looks the Latina was throwing at Brittany, and not one of them was friendly.
So on Tuesday morning, Dylan waited for Brittany outside at the foot of the steps leading into the main building. They had talked on the phone and texted minimally, seeing that Brittany was there to compete and not to socialize. She started feeling better when she saw the familiar bob of blonde hair on the other side of the quad. A few seconds later and Dylan found herself engulfed in a hug followed by an urgent, strong kiss.
Finally breaking the kiss, Brittany dropped her head to Dylan's shoulder and loosely wrapped her arms around the shorter girl.
Dylan sighed, "I missed you."
"I missed you too, D." Brittany lifted her head to place a light kiss on the other girl's lips before returning her head to Dylan's shoulder.
"So…"
"Hmm?" a muffled response came from the blonde.
"How'd the competition go?" Dylan had been asking the blonde since Sunday but hadn't received a response yet. She watched as Brittany lifted her head and gnawed on her bottom lip, eyes searching nervously.
"Baby? Oh no, I'm sorry," Dylan assumed the girl's silence was due to not wanting to give her bad news.
"We WON!" Brittany practically shouted before pulling Dylan into a bone crushing hug.
"Wha… what?" Dylan stammered out.
"We won, silly," Brittany said, releasing the smaller girl.
"But, you… the look..." Dylan explained.
"I was kidding," Brittany giggled, "You're cute when you worry."
"Oh, you, you are so evil," Dylan said, slapping Brittany playfully on her arm. "Come here." Brittany allowed Dylan to wrap her arms around her neck and pull her down into another kiss. "I'm proud of you, I knew you could do it."
"Well duh, so did I."
Dylan smiled at her girlfriend. "Okay, a celebration is in order. This weekend, my house, anything you want, go."
"Really?" Brittany said excitedly.
"Mhmm, whatever you want, I'll make sure it happens."
"Oh, oh… umm…" Brittany gazed off in thought for a few minutes as Dylan waited patiently for her girlfriend's response. "Oh! I know!"
"Yeah?"
"Anything I want right?"
"Anything."
"Can we have a Disney marathon?"
Dylan laughed, throwing her head back. "Yes! Of course, that sounds like a great idea. Just me. You. Cookies. And Disney."
"Well… you said anything right?"
Dylan's smile faltered a little, unsure of what the blonde was getting at. "Yeah…"
Brittany bit her bottom lip, staring intently into Dylan's eyes. "I uh, I want Santana to come, too."
"What? Why?" Dylan couldn't help herself.
Brittany released her arms from around Dylan and started walking up the stairs, a nervous look on her face. Dylan followed.
"Britt? Babe?"
"It's just, she's my best friend, and she's… I don't know, I miss her."
"Miss her?" Dylan hoped she hadn't been smothering her girlfriend. She reached out and gently pulled Brittany to a stop, now halfway up the stairs. "What's up, Britt?"
"Well, she's just been avoiding me, and it… it makes me sad," Brittany said, her gaze focused on the ground at the bottom of the stairs as opposed to Dylan's questioning eyes.
"Why?"
"I… I'm not even sure," Brittany pouted. "I don't think she approved of me dating Artie, she just, stopped talking to me."
Dylan held her breath, Brittany's answer seemed strange, almost more of an excuse than an actual reason. "Does she approve of me?"
Brittany's eyes snapped up and met Dylan's. She had pulled her lip back into her mouth and was biting it nervously again, eyes searching. Dylan couldn't read her eyes and she stood there uncomfortable knowing she had no way of figuring out what Brittany was thinking about.
Finally the blonde answered, slow and deliberate, "she hasn't talked to me…"
Dylan's face falls, she feels bad now, because it's obvious Santana hadn't talked to Brittany since the start of their relationship. She reaches out and takes one of her girlfriend's hands, giving it a light squeeze. Brittany turns her gaze away again.
"And after that song, I thought…. I thought she would talk to me this weekend…" Dylan watched her intently. "But we didn't even share a room…" A breath Dylan had been holding in was released. "We always share a room…"
Dylan was beyond curious now. In her short time of knowing the two cheerleaders she knew they weren't acting like the best friends everyone claimed them to be. The small glances, the slipped references, the uncomfortable interactions. Something was wrong.
"What happened to you two?" Dylan asked hesitantly.
Brittany's gaze returned to Dylan, slowly this time. She didn't answer.
"Britt?
She saw her girlfriend take a deep breath, slumping her shoulders. "We had a fight." She offered simply.
"A fight?"
Brittany nodded her head.
"About?" Dylan pushed further. Brittany looked away again, avoiding Dylan's eyes. She was hiding something.
"She didn't like me dating Artie." It was the same excuse as before and Dylan was getting frustrated. "Please, D, Babe." Brittany turned to face Dylan again, this time taking both of the smaller girl's hands in her own and pulling her in closer. "I want her there. She's a good person, really. Maybe… maybe you can be friends? I'd really like that."
Dylan melted under Brittany's brilliant blue eyes. She couldn't help but give in to her girlfriend's pleads. She wanted her to be happy after all. "Okay, I'll ask her."
Brittany broke out into a big smile before leaning forward and kissing her girlfriend forcefully. "Thank you! You're the best, D."
"Anything for you," Dylan responded, breaking their embrace but still holding onto one of Brittany's hands as they made their way up the remaining steps and into the building. Maybe this wasn't such a bad thing. She had been trying to help Santana with her sexual identity crisis after all. Maybe being around her and Brittany as a couple would do her good.
Dylan had been trying to grab a hold of Santana all day, but she always came into classes right after the bell rang and was the first one out. She was finding it impossible to corner the evasive Latina so when the final bell rang, Dylan made a bee-line for Santana's locker. Just as she turned into the hallway she saw Santana slam her locker shut and weave through the sea of people. Dylan chased after her, narrowly avoiding getting whacked in the face by a backpack to do so. When she finally escaped the bustling crowd she found herself at the choir room door. They still had half an hour before Glee practice so she was surprise to find Santana inside, standing next to the piano, playing with a few of the keys.
Dylan entered slowly, closing the door silently behind her. She prevent the clicking noise the door made as it fell into place, alerting the girl in front of her that she was no longer alone. Santana spun around in surprise and backed up to the edge of the piano.
"Hey," Dylan offered.
"What are you doing here?" Santana spat out.
"Um, I wanted to talk to you?"
"What?" Santana seemed shocked and looked around nervously. "About… about what?"
"Brittany," Dylan said cautiously. She saw the Latina swallow hard.
"What about her?"
Dylan took a deep breath. She didn't want to say what she had planned on telling the Latina next. In a way it actually made her jealous but she had promised Brittany she would talk to Santana, so her she was. "She misses you."
"She misses me?"
Dylan nodded.
"She told you that?"
Another nod.
"So why are you telling me this?"
"She wanted me to," Dylan moved further into the room and took a seat on the piano chair, next to where the Latina was standing. She sees Santana look up and gaze at the door of the choir room. "And she wants you to hang out with us this weekend," Dylan explained.
Santana turned to look at Dylan now, "I'm sorry?"
Dylan forced herself to laugh. "Yeah, well we're going to have a Disney movie marathon and she wants you to come too."
A small smile played across the Latina's face as some distant memory hitched in her mind.
"And she wants us to be friends too."
Santana laughed, "You're kidding right?"
"Well… no, I'm not," Dylan stated dryly. "But even if Brittany hadn't said that, I still don't understand why we can't be friends."
Santana huffed and looked away.
"Santana…"
"What?" Santana snapped.
"I'm trying to help you…"
"I didn't ask for your help." Santana cut Dylan off.
"Yeah, but… I can tell you need it," Dylan explained, kicking her feet against the linoleum tiles.
"I'm doing fine on my own."
"Are you?"
"I'm getting there," Santana crossed her arms as she spoke.
"If only I could show you how wonderful it is to just... to just be, you know. You'd be so much happier."
"Yeah well, I know. I'm working on it."
Dylan didn't say anything. She just sat and listened, giving the Latina her undivided attention, urging her to continue.
"It's just hard, you know?"
Dylan nodded, remembering the struggle she went through a few years back.
"It's all those people. The ones who say it's wrong. Why can't they just… accept it?"
"Because people suck."
Santana huffed, turning to walk past the piano towards the ugly maroon chairs that plastered the far wall.
"Hang out with us, Santana. And then you'll see what you're missing."
Santana laughed, "Yeah, really."
Dylan couldn't tell if Santana was being sarcastic or overly honest. She turned around on the piano chair and experimentally hit a note. The piano had been one of the many instruments she had attempted to learn as a kid. She had barely lasted a few months before she gave up. But there were a few songs she remembered the basic keys for. That year for Christmas, her parents had given her a book of sheet music containing all of her favorite classic Disney songs. As she plunked at the keys, a small knowing smile grew across her face.
She played the first few notes and looked up at the Latina standing on the other side of the room, he back towards Dylan. She saw Santana turn her head a little to the left as if listening to the notes Dylan was playing. She played a few more sloppy notes, trying to remember the rest of the key strokes. When she was certain she had it down good enough to make it through the song, she took a deep breath and opened her mouth to begin singing.
"I can show you the world. Shining, shimmering, splendid. Tell me, princess, now when did you last let your heart decide?" she started cautiously, not wanting Santana to get the wrong idea. "I can open your eyes, take you wonder by wonder. Over, sideways and under on a magic carpet ride. A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view," she saw Santana turn around as she listed to the lyrics. "No one to tell you no or where to go, or say you're only dreaming…"
"A whole new world," It was unexpected and Dylan's hands faltered on the keys as Santana's voice cut through the tension in the room. "A dazzling place I never knew, but when I'm way up here, it's crystal clear that now I'm in a whole new world…"
"Now you're in a whole new world," Dylan sang as Santana took slow steps towards the piano.
"Unbelievable sights, indescribable feeling. Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling through an endless diamond sky!" Santana was at the side of the piano now and Dylan struggled to keep playing. "A whole new world!"
"Don't you dare close your eyes."
"A hundred thousand things to see."
"Hold your breath - it gets better," Dylan wasn't kidding when those lines left her mouth. It was always hard at first, but afterwards, it was worth the pain in the beginning.
"I'm like a shooting star. I've come so far. I can't go back to where I used to be." There was so much pain in the Latina's voice. Dylan could swear she saw her eyes glisten with unshed tears.
"A whole new world."
"Every turn a surprise."
"With new horizons to pursue," Dylan motioned to the empty room before her.
"Every moment gets better," Santana's eyes locked onto Dylan's. It was as though the Latina was singing to convince herself that this really was the case.
"I'll chase them anywhere," their voices coming together, "there's time to spare. Let me share this whole new world with you."
"A whole new world."
"A whole new world," Santana echoed Dylan softly.
"That's where you'll be," Dylan was assuring as the words came out.
"That's where I'll be," she was singing to herself again, convincing, manipulating.
"A thrilling chase."
"A wondrous place," Santana sounded so defeated.
Knowing those were the last lines she would get out of the other girl, Dylan slowed her playing and looked up to lock eyes with Santana, changing the last line to help her prove her point. "If you will just be."
Santana's gaze faltered as Dylan banged out the last few rough notes on the piano. She turned to face the Latina, a question hanging on her lips. But before she could ask it, the door of the choir room burst open and an overly enthusiastic brunette came stampeding in.
"Was that singing I heard?" Rachel asked excited at first and then hesitant when she saw Santana standing next to the piano, giving her a death glare.
"Um, yeah. Me. I was practicing," Dylan said as she glanced at Santana who was shifting uncomfortably in her place. "I wanted Santana's opinion."
"Oh, well that's good. I didn't know you could play the piano, Dylan," Rachel said thankfully changing the subject.
"Oh, I can't. Well not really. Just a few easy songs. Basic stuff," Dylan explained.
"Well it was lovely, maybe you can sing it for everyone."
Dylan saw a look of fear appear on Santana's face briefly and she jumped to clear the air, "Um no Rach, this one's for me, ya' know. Not gonna perform this one."
"Oh, I see. Well that's okay then," Rachel said, now apparently out of things to talk about. Dylan heard Santana release a breath she had probably been holding since Rachel entered the room. An awkward minute passed as the three girls stood in the choir room. But as soon as the door opened again and a few more Glee members started filling in, Rachel excused herself and made her way over to Mercedes and Tina.
Dylan got up from the bench and turned to face Santana. "So you'll come?" she asked softly. She watched as Santana chewed her lip for a few seconds, similar to the way Brittany did when she was thinking really hard.
"I don't know." Dylan's heart dropped. "Maybe, I'll think about it," the Latina promised, walking past Dylan to take a seat next to Quinn.
Dylan signed and kicked her feet against the ground again.
"Hey, babe," a familiar voice sounded, close to her ear. Dylan looked up and was greeted with a nervous-looking girlfriend.
"Hey," Dylan reached down and laced her fingers with the blonde's.
"Did you ask her?"
"Yeah."
"And?" her voice was so hopeful it hurt.
"She said she'd think about it. I think I got through to her though," Dylan relayed to Brittany. She watched as the blonde in front of her took a hesitant look at the Latina across the room.
"Thank you, Dylan. It means a lot." Brittany said, head hung low.
Dylan reached up and cupped a pale cheek, "Shh, babe, it's okay. Anything for my girl."
Brittany looked up and smiled down at Dylan. Dylan slowly moved her hand from Brittany's cheek to the back of her neck and pulled her down slowly for a gentle kiss.
"Move it! Portia, Ellen." Dylan broke the kiss she was sharing with Brittany to look up and see no other than Sue Sylvester. She felt Brittany shrink away under her coach's glare. "I believe that is highly inappropriate conduct for two young ladies and I suggest you move out of my way before you have to call the EMS squad to administer the Heimlich maneuver."
Dylan gasped in shock. She couldn't believe what Sue had just said, it was wrong, so very wrong and Dylan was offended. She released Brittany's hand and turned to face the tall woman, teeth clenched. But before she could say anything, she felt a soft hand gently wrap around her bicep, pulling her back.
"D, don't. Come on let's just sit, okay?" Brittany's voice was soft and pleading. Dylan released her breath but held her gaze on Sue. Whatever Brittany wanted, Brittany got.
"You're right, Britt. Let's go." And with that she turned and wrapped an arm around her girlfriend's waist, leading her over to where Tina, Rachel and Mercedes were talking avidly about something. "So, what movies do you wanna watch this weekend, huh?" Dylan asked, hoping to break some of the tension.
"Oh! The Little Mermaid! I love Ariel," Brittany said as she took a seat next to Mercedes, Dylan following suit. "And the Lion King of course, I know it's your favorite."
"Oh my god, I love the Lion King!" Mercedes cut in. "It's like my favorite Disney movie ever."
"Yeah, mine too," Dylan added. "I love the Beauty and the Beast too, and Aladdin." As she added the last part she chanced a glance back towards Santana. She was met with a dead stare.
"Dylan and I are going to have a Disney marathon," Brittany added excitedly.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Rachel said, wiggling her way into the conversation. "Disney songs are a classic. I think I know the lyrics to every single one."
Dylan opened her mouth to challenge the brunette but was interrupted by the choir room door banging shut. Everyone looked up to see Mr. Schuester standing in the doorway, glaring at Sue.
"What are you doing here, Sue?" he asked and Dylan realized she had been thinking the same thing.
"Oh I just wanted to come and see how the bottom feeders are doing," She explained happily. "As you may have already heard, my Cheerios won their Regionals this year. Again," she added as a cherry on top.
"Yes, congratulations, Sue, but why are you here?" Dylan could tell Mr. Schue was getting frustrated.
"Oh, well considering your Regionals performance is coming up in the next two weeks, I just wanted to stop by, and remind you of our little agreement last year."
Dylan perked up. Since she was new this year, she had only heard of the horrors this woman put the club through last year, and she had yet to experience any. She felt the blonde next to her fidget and she looked up at the rest of the room. They were all shifting nervously. Mr. Schuester stared passively at Sue.
"I managed to scrounge up an extra year for this club, Will, but it is my duty to remind you that if you fail to place at Regionals… Again… Glee club will officially be disbanded." Her words oozed in hate.
"I am aware of that, Sue. But I am proud to say, we have never been stronger. We're going to take Regionals this year. I promise you that."
"Well, Will, you only tied at Sectionals, so you're going to be competing against one of your very own, again, as well as Vocal Adrenaline. All of the blogs have chosen you to finish last. Sorry buddy."
"Now hold on just a minute," it was Mercedes and everyone turned around to face her as she got up out of her seat. "Who are you to come in here and tell us what will or will not happen? We got this this year, and there is nothing you can do to bring us down this time."
"Mercedes is right!" Rachel said as she jumped up to stand next to Mercedes. "It doesn't matter what coach Sylvester says. I know we can win this."
Dylan watched as more members of New Directions stood up from where they were sitting. She felt Brittany give her arm a tug and she soon found herself on her feet as well.
"As a matter of fact," Rachel added, standing tall and looking around the room, "I believe a new change of royalty is in order. Pretty soon we will be ruling this school and the Cheerios will have to step down off of their throne."
"I will die before the day that happens," Sue sneered at the small brunette.
Dylan watched as Mercedes took another step forward, on par with Rachel. "Yeah we can barely wait for that day; we can't wait to be king of this school."
Rachel snaps around to face Mercedes, back going impossible straighter. "Mercedes! That is the perfect way of putting it!"
"Well, yeah, wait what?" Mercedes threw Rachel a questioning look.
Rachel just smiled and walked over to the band, whispering into the bass player's ear. He laughed and nodded his head in understanding. She turned back to face the remaining members of the Glee club, "Dylan, Brittany, ladies, if you may." Brittany gave Dylan a small confused look as she watched Rachel move a chair to the center of the room. "Ms. Sylvester, would you be so kind?" Rachel asked offering her a seat.
Sue looked around the room and back at Will who just shrugged showing he was not involved in the current happenings in any way. As Sue took a seat, Rachel turned once more towards her teammates, who all still wore confused looks. Until the music started.
Dylan started laughing. She couldn't help it. It really was perfect. She looked up and met Brittany's excited expression and grabbed her hand, pulling her forward as the flute started.
Rachel laughed enthusiastically as the girls got up to join her. The band hit the last note of the intro and paused. Rachel smiled at Dylan and spun around, to face Sue as she started singing. "I'm gonna be a mighty king, so enemies beware!"
Sue huffed at the girl in front of her, "I've never seen a champion, with winning being so rare."
"I'm gonna be the main event like no king was before," Brittany jumped forward, holding up both of her arms, pretending to flex her muscles.
Dylan smiled at her girlfriend before turning around and jumping up a level on the risers, "I'm brushing up on looking down, I'm working on my ROAR!"
Sue just stared at her unimpressed, "Thus far a rather uninspiring thing..."
"Oh, I just can't wait to be king!" Mercedes cut in.
"A rather long way to go there… if you think…" Sue tried to cut in but she was cut off by Rachel.
"No one saying do this!"
"Now when I said that…" Sue attempted to defend herself.
"No one saying be there!" It was the first time Quinn had spoken up, but her voice filled in the void.
"What I meant was…" Sue was obviously addressing Quinn, but Dylan cut her off again.
"No one saying stop that!"
"What you don't realize…" she was attempting to blame the new girl, but Mercedes wouldn't let her.
"No one saying see here!"
"NOW SEE HERE!" Sue shouted over the music.
"Free to run around all day," Dylan watched as Tina jumped into the mix.
"Well that's definitely out," Sue deadpanned.
"Free to do it all my way!" Quinn sang at her cheerleading coach.
With that Sue turned to face Mr. Schuester, a threatening look in her eyes. "I think it's time that you and I arranged a heart-to-heart…" Mr. Schue just held up his hands, dusting himself off from the situation.
"Kings don't need advice from other coaches for a start," it was Santana, and Dylan could tell everyone was just as surprised as she was that she had the guts to get up and sing that to her coach.
Sue was fuming. She stood up and shouted over the music. But everyone just decided to keep dancing, ignoring what she was saying. "If this is where McKinley is headed, count me out! Out of service, out of Ohio, I wouldn't hang about. This club is getting wildly out of hand!"
Everyone joined together to stand up to the conniving coach. "Oh, I just can't wait to be king!"
Sue turned around to leave but Dylan ran around to stand in her way. When she attempted to get around her she was greeted by a nervous but giggling Brittany. She turned around and was met with Tina's voice.
"Everybody look left!"
Sue turned around but was halted by Brittany. "Everybody look right!"
Growling, Sue turned yet again but Dylan jumped in her way, throwing her arms up. "Everywhere you look I'm…"
"Standing in the spotlight!" Rachel finished her line and Sue spun around to see Rachel standing at the top of the risers.
"NOT YET!" she shouted before finally shoving past the girls in her way.
Just before she made it to the door the boys gathered their strength and sang loudly in her direction. "Let every person go for broke and sing! Let's hear it in the halls and on the wing! It's gonna be King William's finest fling!"
The girls joined the boys, "Oh, we just can't wait to be king!"
Rachel walked down from the platform and motioned towards Mr. Schuester. "Oh, he just can't wait to be king!"
Mr. Schue clapped, a huge smile plastered on his face as the entire group came together in the center of the room, belting out the last lines of the song. "Oh, we just can't wait... To be king!"
Dylan was doubled over in laughter when she felt strong arms wrap around her. She stood up and allowed herself to be properly engulfed by one of her girlfriend's infamous hugs, sighing into the hold. Brittany was giggling uncontrollably and it was contagious. After they finally calmed down, Dylan felt herself being pulled forward and happily accepted the heated kiss Brittany was offering.
But after a few moments, when the excitement had died, Dylan felt Brittany's eyelashes flutter against her cheek as she kissed her. Dylan's eyes snapped open and was surprised to see Brittany's eyes were also no longer closed. But she wasn't looking at Dylan as they kissed, rather, she was looking at something behind the shorter girl. Dylan immediately broke the kiss, giving her girlfriend a questioning stare before turning around to see what the blonde had been looking at.
The Latina shifted nervously under her gaze, realizing she had been caught and made to seem as though she had been rummaging through her bag. Dylan snapped around to look at her girlfriend. "Brittany?" she questioned harshly.
"Hmm?" Blue eyes met hers again and she was captivated.
"What was that?"
Brittany smiled and Dylan watched as her eyes began to darken. "Nothing," she said deeply, leaning in to kiss Dylan once more. Breaking apart, Brittany placed a wet kiss at the side of Dylan's moth before making her way up to the short girl's ear. "Come over tonight."
Dylan felt her breath hitch.
"My parents are taking my sister to her recital," she informed with another well placed kiss against Dylan's ear. "We'll be alone."
Dylan pulled back, meeting her girlfriend's gaze, "Are… are you sure?"
Brittany didn't answer, not verbally anyway. But the look in her eyes spoke more than words. They were dark, aroused and seductive. Dylan couldn't help but plunge forward and kiss her girlfriend forcefully. Glee club and Santana be damned, she just couldn't resist those eyes.
Her room was cold but she didn't even care. She let out a deep sigh from where she lay on her bed, hands tucked neatly behind her head as she stared at the ceiling. She had been that way ever since she had gotten home, her bags thrown haphazardly in the corner next to her desk, forgotten. There was only one thing on her mind: her.
The look she had given her from over Dylan's shoulder as she watched the two girls kissing had sent shivers down her spine. The blue eyes that had met hers were filled with a burning lust and Santana had felt her cheeks turn a shade of bright red under the seductive glare. What was the girl getting at? It wasn't fair. First Artie, then Dylan and now she wanted to her to watch Disney movies with her and her girlfriend? All while staring at her like that.
Once they had been caught staring at each other, Santana had tried her best to hide her intensely blushing face but couldn't help but look up again as Brittany whispered into Dylan's ear. She met the blonde's eyes once more before she watched her best friend kiss another girl with a ferocity that had once been theirs. She had run then, not even bothering to see if there was anything left for rehearsal, and she had come home. She was now in the same spot she had found herself in hours before, searching her ceiling for answers.
She hadn't even realized it had grown dark until she heard her phone vibrate from where it was concealed in her deserted bag across the room. She groaned and brought an arm around to cover her face, not having the strength or will to get up; whoever it was could wait. A few more minutes passed before she heard her phone go off again. She groaned again but this time curiosity got the best of her. She couldn't even remember the last time she had gotten two texts in a row within a 5 minute period. She had actually considered just turning off her phone and leaving it at home when she went to school because she barely used it anymore.
So she got up and dragged her self over to her bag near her desk, adjusting her Cheerios top on her way, wishing she had at least had the strength to change out of it earlier. She dug out her phone and turned back towards her bed as she flipped it open. She had barely taken two steps before she froze in place, heart racing rapidly. She looked down at her phone and willed herself to start breathing as she saw the name that flashed across the screen: Brittany 3.
Santana closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Why was Brittany texting her? She was certain the blonde was with Dylan. Santana knew the look Brittany had given her like the back of her hand. Surely Brittany had conveyed that to her girlfriend and dragged her back to her house. She found the will to walk again and made her way back towards her bed, sitting cross-legged in the middle, still looking down at the device in her hands.
She was hesitant to open the messages, not wanting to be hurt more than she already was. Not being on the receiving end of Brittany's affection was torture enough. Santana was struggling to keep her cool together just being around Brittany and Dylan, but having Brittany flaunt her and then text her was just cruel. But she was trying to be supportive of her best friend and if Brittany needed her, she wouldn't hesitate to come running. With the sudden fear that her blonde might be hurt, physically or emotionally, Santana quickly opened her inbox and scrolled through the messages.
Santana's eyebrows furrowed together as she looked down at her phone. 'Are you busy?' was the first message she had gotten from the blonde. It was simple enough and Santana wondered why Brittany would even bother asking something like that. It had never mattered whether or not Santana had been busy before, she never hesitated to come at Brittany's beckoning.
Curious to see what else the blonde had said, she scrolled down to the next message. Santana sucked in a breath when she saw what Brittany had sent her, 'Come over.' While her first text had been shy and hesitant, Santana could almost hear the persistence in Brittany's voice if she had said it directly to Santana. This text wasn't a question, it was a command. Anger started boiling in the pit of her stomach and Santana opened up a new message to send a reply to the blonde.
"Why?"
Her phone buzzed almost immediately after hitting send. 'I want to see you.'
Frustrated, Santana typed out the same reply as before, "Why?"
'Please?' Santana let out a whimper. This wasn't fair. How was she supposed to work through her feelings for the blonde as well as not chop Dylan up into little pieces and hide the body parts if Brittany was talking to her like this? She threw herself backwards on her bed, pulling a pillow over her head as she let out a muffled scream. She didn't reply to the text. She didn't have the strength to.
But a few minutes later, she felt her phone buzzing from where it had dropped out of her hand. Removing the pillow from her face, Santana grabbed her phone and brought it up so she could read the new message. Squinting against the bright back light she read out Brittany's newest text, 'I need help with Spanish.'
Santana had to resist the urge to throw her phone across the room and smash it into a million smaller pieces. Now Brittany was just manipulating the situation. The blonde knew Santana would gladly help her with the language any day. Except now she had Dylan, and seemed to be going to her for help, so she typed out her new reply. "Don't you have Frosty to help you with that?" It was harsh, she knew it, but her anger was starting to get the best of her.
'I want you to help me.'
Santana blinked at the message. She had too many options in her head at the moment. She knew it was probably best if she just stayed away, save her the pain of being so close, yet so far away from the girl she was in love with. But Brittany was asking her for help, and she wanted to be there for her friend, in whatever way she could. So taking a deep breath, she typed out her next message, "I'll be right there."
She stood up off the bed and immediately felt weak on her knees. She took a moment to steady herself before walking over to her dresser. She needed to get changed out of her confining, polyester Cheerios uniform. She already felt trapped enough with the situation, she would be damned if she had to sit next to Brittany for the next few hours in the red and white uniform. She opted instead for an old pair of battered, grey sweats and Cheerios t-shirt. She grabbed her jacket and keys before running out the door, not even bothering to check her reflection in the mirror. There was no one to impress tonight, and frankly, she didn't have the strength to care.
It took Santana barely 5 minutes to drive the distance to Brittany's house but she soon found herself parked in the familiar driveway. She paused to compose herself before she got out of her car and made her way slowly up towards the red door. But as she lifted her hand to ring the bell, the door opened and she was left standing face to face with a tall, beautiful blonde.
"Hey," the girl in front of her said quietly.
Santana felt herself grow hot as she stood in her place on the porch, "Hey."
"You came."
"I came," Santana answered the statement, meeting Brittany's bright blue eyes.
The blonde didn't say anything else but turned slightly, allowing space for Santana to pass by, into the house. Santana hurried past, trying to avoid brushing against Brittany as she entered. She heard the door click shut behind her as she stood in the entrance way. It had been a few months since she had been here, sadly remembering the last time she had gone running from this very spot. She shivered.
"Cold?" Brittany's voice was soft and inviting as she placed her hands on Santana's shoulders from behind.
Santana jerked away, it was too close for comfort, "Um, no… well it was cold outside. I'm fine now," she lied.
"Okay," Brittany made her way past Santana and headed up the stairs. Santana reluctantly followed, stopping at the entrance of Brittany's room.
Santana watched Brittany happily jump up, onto her bed, crossing her legs and staring intently at the Latina's position at the door. She slowly entered, door snapping shut in her place.
"So… I thought you and… Dylan had plans tonight," Santana offered as she made her way over to Brittany's desk and commandeered the chair. She couldn't sit next to the other girl right now.
"We did. She just left," Brittany stated matter-of-factly as she continued to stare at Santana.
Santana shifted uncomfortably. The idea that Dylan was just in this very room was unnerving. "And she couldn't help you while she was here?" the words came out harsher than she would have liked but Santana was on the defensive now.
Brittany turned away and Santana could swear she saw the blonde blush. "She wasn't here to study, silly," Brittany giggled out.
Santana's eyes widened in understanding as the blonde flashed her a brilliant smile, eyes clouded over in suggestion. Santana jumped out of her chair so fast she actually knocked it over in her haste. "Wha… wha… you slept with her?" Santana was backed up against the desk, as far away from Brittany as she could get, gripping the edge of the wood in an effort to stay standing.
Brittany smiled at her before she stood, taking slow, tantalizing steps towards the Latina. "Santana," Brittany stated, looking at her with hooded eyes, "She's my girlfriend. I have sex with my girlfriend."
Santana couldn't breathe. She struggled to suck air into her lungs but she just couldn't do it. She had to get away from the blonde in front of her. She turned and practically fell against the cold glass of the window, leaning her head against it, eyes screwed shut. This wasn't happening. Out of all of her hook ups with random girls at parties or cheer-events, Brittany had never slept with any of them. Only Santana. The fact that Brittany had shared herself with another girl made her want to hurl. She stood there, against the window until she remembered how to breathe again. She had brought this upon herself. It was all her fault, and now she was going to have to live with the consequences.
She heard Brittany shift her weight and begin to walk towards where Santana was slumped against the window. Santana stiffened as she felt small hands grip her shoulders and experimentally begin to knead.
"Please," Santana's voice was weak, "Can we just, can we just study… I... I can't stay here." She tried to ignore the burning feeling on her skin wherever Brittany touched her.
"Santana," Brittany stated again. Her hands had stopped their massage and were now heavily resting on the smaller girl's shoulders. Without warning, Brittany spun Santana around, almost forcefully. "I didn't ask you to come here because I needed to study…"
Blue eyes met brown and Santana saw a familiar lust lingering in behind the quickly deepening cerulean color. She opened her mouth but no words came out. She shouldn't have come. It was obvious that Brittany had only told Santana she needed help with Spanish as an excuse to get her to come over. But this was the last thing she had expected. And it wasn't fair! None of it was.
She swallowed hard as she saw Brittany give her lips a quick glance before locking eyes with her again. She watched as the blonde began to slowly lean forward, never breaking their stare. Santana longed to feel the blonde's soft lips against hers again. Not being able to kiss Brittany could be compared to a chain smoker attempting to go cold turkey. But she couldn't do this; she couldn't allow this to happen. So just before Brittany closed the distance, when she could feel the blonde's breath against her lips, she pulled back and turned her head to the side causing Brittany to kiss her cheek instead.
"No," Santana breathed out. Brittany pulled back and looked at her curiously. "Don't do that. You can't do that. We can't." Santana was stumbling out her words now.
Santana turned to face Brittany again, who was now standing a little further back, a look that contained a mixture of anger, confusion and frustration plastered on her face.
"Don't do this," Santana was practically begging the girl in front of her. Brittany came at her fast, pushing her hard against the cold glass, pinning her. "What the f-" Santana was caught off guard, the weight of Brittany's body against hers. She thought she heard a growl emitting from the blonde as she lowered her head, aiming for Santana's lips once more.
Santana couldn't take much more of this, her defenses were wearing thin, so she pushed Brittany back, hard, before she got the chance to claim her lips. "Stop it! Jesus Christ, Britt. What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Santana rushed to stand up and ran to the door in an effort to get away from the blonde.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Brittany asked her from where she had landed, slumped against the side of her bed.
"No. no, you don't get to do that. You have a girlfriend, Brittany. Did you forget about that?"
"How could I forget, San?" Brittany was standing now and walked forward slightly.
"You… you… you are NOT allowed to do that, Brittany," it was wrong, so wrong. She was torturing Santana now and she knew it; punishing her. "You're with Dylan now… I, I have to go." Santana turned to leave but was stopped by a soft hand grabbing her bicep.
"Don't go," Brittany's voice was soft now.
"I can't stay here, Brittany," 'I can't trust myself,' Santana finished in her head.
"Then," Brittany paused and Santana turned her head to glance over her shoulder, "come over this weekend? To watch Disney?"
Santana sighed, "No, I can't." and with that she ripped her arm from Brittany's grasp and bolted out of the room, down the stairs and out the front door. She nearly hit the car parked across the street from her in her haste to pull out of the driveway and get back to the safety of her own bedroom.
Dylan couldn't help the grin that was plastered on her face the next day as she walked down the halls of McKinley. Yesterday had been… amazing. Brittany was amazing, and she couldn't understand how she had gotten so lucky. Her girlfriend had erased all of her suspicions regarding Santana the second she had Dylan pinned beneath her on the bed. She had been pissed when her dad had called her asking her to come home for dinner. She still didn't have a car and her dad didn't like her walking around in the dark. All she had wanted to do was curl up next to her equally naked girlfriend and enjoy the new sensation of skin on skin contact.
Brittany hadn't been too happy with the prospect of her leaving either but eventually convinced her it was probably for the best. Her parents would be home soon and Dylan's father had asked nicely. So with one last intense kiss, Dylan said farewell to her girlfriend and headed home.
As she walked to her locker between classes she felt her phone buzz. When she checked it she was surprised to see it was a text from Kurt. She dragged the lock on her screen open and checked the message. "Hey! Meet me in the auditorium after school. I have to tell you something." Dylan smiled and locked her phone and slipped it into her jacket pocket and smiled. Today was a good day.
After the last bell rang, Dylan picked up her books from her locker before heading to the auditorium. But when she got to the main entrance, she found the doors locked. Pausing out of curiosity, she shrugged and decided to try the stage entrance. It probably wasn't unusual for the entire auditorium to be locked when they didn't have a practice scheduled.
She made her way around to the back of the auditorium and was able to wedge the stage door open. She had only used this entrance once before, while setting up for their Man in the Mirror performance, but she remembered it well. It was a maze of props, curtains, pulleys and instruments back stage. It was also dark, so Dylan proceeded cautiously, not wanting to disturb anything. As she started hearing muffled voices, she knew she was close to her goal. As the voices grew louder she recognized the voice of her girlfriend followed my Kurt's own distinct voice. A smile grew on her face and she proceeded forward until she heard Brittany say her name.
She was still well behind the main curtain and was certain Brittany hadn't realized she had come into the auditorium, so Dylan froze. Brittany's tone was sad as she spoke to Kurt. Curious, Dylan inched forward until she could clearly hear what the two friends on stage were saying to each other.
"But you slept with Dylan?" Dylan peaked around the curtain to see the pair standing next to the piano, stage riddled with props. She saw Brittany nod her head.
"And she's the only other girl you've ever?" Kurt asks cautiously. 'Other girl?' Dylan asks herself.
"Yeah," she heard Brittany tell Kurt.
Kurt chuckled, "So what then? Was she not good or something?"
Dylan sucked in a breath. This was obviously not a conversation that was meant for her ears.
"No, oh god, no," Brittany said. Dylan released her breath. "No, she was amazing, actually. She does this thing, with her ton-"
"Brittany! Please, too much info," Kurt cut in. Dylan smirked at herself. Damn right she was good with her tongue.
"Sorry." Brittany's voice was quiet. Kurt moved closer to the blonde.
"So, what's the problem?"
"I miss her." Dylan barely heard her. Her face scrunched in confusion. Why did Brittany miss her? She hadn't gone anywhere. Sure they hadn't spent a lot of time together today, but she had just seen her girlfriend in art class, so why did Brittany miss her? Unless… she looked up, back at Kurt.
"She never apologized, did she?" They weren't talking about her. Dylan clenched her jaw as she watched Brittany shake her head. "Have you told her the truth?"
"I can't. I tried to show her, but I can't tell her. She'd leave me for good." Dylan could hear the quivering in her girlfriend's voice.
"How do you know that?"
"She already left once," Brittany explained. 'Left? Who left her?' Dylan thought to herself. She wracked her brain trying to put the pieces together, until something clicked. Her mind drifted through the sly glances and possessive attitudes. She remembered the picture that received a longing look from Brittany in her room, the "fight" Brittany had told her about. She ran through the tail end of Blaine's and Kurt's conversation she had overheard at the mall… 'She walked out… Santana.'
"But maybe, if you told her outright?"
"I can't, Kurt," Brittany turned and walked towards the front of the stage before turning back to the small boy. "I don't understand. Why can't I just get over her?"
"You can't control what your heart feels, Britt," Kurt soothed. Dylan shrunk back further into the shadows, praying the two in front of her didn't see her. She couldn't believe the conversation she had stumbled upon.
"But why not?" Brittany's voice was stronger now. "Why can't I be happy? I have Glee, I have you, I have Dylan!" Brittany lowered her head and bit her lip and Dylan could tell she was biting back threatening tears. "She's an amazing girlfriend, Kurt. She treats me right. She cares about me. So why can't I be happy with her?"
Kurt walked forward and took one of Brittany's hands in his, "Because you want more. You want something you can't have. You just want it to be normal, natural." Dylan felt the wetness that was accumulating at the side of her eyes.
"But it's so natural with Dylan. I don't get it."
"I do. You want it with her. The same way I just wish I could walk down these halls with my boyfriend. And that no one would care. That's what she wants too, I'm sure of it."
"So why doesn't she see that we can have what Dylan and I have?" Dylan hadn't even realized she had stopped breathing until her lungs started hurting. She turned her head away, willing them to stop talking. Wishing she could erase the conversation from her memory. But she turned back when she heard Kurt's voice waft through the auditorium again.
"She needs the confidence. The same way I needed the confidence."
"We need to show her it's okay, Kurt. She needs to understand," Brittany whimpers audible, "What if it's me? What if she doesn't want me? What if I'm the problem?"
Kurt lifts Brittany's chin with his free hand, "It's everyone else. They're the problem. They're the ones who say it's wrong."
"But why is it wrong?" Brittany asks quietly.
Kurt reaches up and places a finger over Brittany's lips, quieting her, "Maybe they're right. Maybe there is something the matter with us." Dylan cocks her head. She had heard those lines before.
A small smile appears on Brittany's face in understanding. "I just don't see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be bad," she says sadly.
Kurt drops her hand before turning and walking back over to the piano. Dylan quickly slips behind the curtain, praying Kurt didn't see her. But when she hears him fumbling with an iPod dock, she chances another peak and sees Kurt hit play. He turns around to face Brittany.
Dylan understands as she hears the song begin and locks her eyes on the cheerleader standing on the edge of the stage. "Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?" the blonde motions to the props scattered around the stage, "Wouldn't you think my collection's complete? Wouldn't you think I'm the girl, the girl who has everything?"
A sly smile appeared on Kurt's face. "Look at this trove, treasures untold. How many wonders can one cavern hold?" He walks up and nudges Brittany in the arm, "Looking around here you think. sure, she's got everything."
"I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty. I've got whozits and whatzits galore," she broke free from her stance next to Kurt and hopped around stage, picking up odd props here and there. "You want thingamabobs? I've got twenty!"
"But who cares?" Kurt's voice is soft, gentle, soothing even, "No big deal."
"I want more!" Brittany's voice is stronger now, wafting through the entire auditorium.
"I wanna be where the people are, I wanna see, wanna see them dancin'," Kurt called after Brittany as she twirled around the stage.
Dylan watched as Brittany came to a halt, tilting her head sideways. "Walking around on those - what do you call 'em? Oh - feet!"
"Flippin' your fins, you don't get too far legs are required for jumping, dancing!"
Brittany jumped over to Kurt and sung back to him, "Strolling along down a - what's that word again?" she paused for a second, "Street."
"Up where they walk, up where they run!" Kurt held out his hand to Brittany.
She smiled and reached out to grasp his as they sang together, "Up where they stay all day in the sun!"
Brittany turned to face Kurt, "Wanderin' free."
"Wish I could be."
"Part of that world!" They both held their hands up towards the empty audience. Dylan felt a tear escape and slide slowly down her cheek.
Kurt broke away and walked forward to the edge of the stage. "What would I give if I could live out of these waters? What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand? Bet'cha on land they understand," Dylan tilted her head curiously. Kurt wasn't singing about Brittany anymore, "That they don't reprimand their daughters, bright young women, sick of swimmin'" he turned to face the blonde, standing up impossibly straight. "Ready to stand!"
Brittany matched Kurt's stature, "And ready to know what the people know, ask 'em my questions and get some answers! What's a fire and why does it - what's the word?" she released her tight posture and gracefully twirled around, "BURNNNN!"
"When's it my turn? Wouldn't I love, love to explore that world up above?"
"Out of the sea," she faced Kurt again.
"Wish I could be," Kurt met her gaze.
"Part of that world…" they sang it into each others' eyes, clutching at one another's hands.
Dylan turned away. She couldn't bare to watch anymore. She wasn't enough for Brittany. She had tried to give her everything, to be there whenever she needed her.
"I'm coming back, Britt," Dylan hear Kurt's voice and she turned to face the pair, cheeks now wet with the tears she couldn't contain.
"Back?"
"Back to McKinley, I'm ready. I don't want to run away anymore," he led Brittany over to the piano bench and sat down, patting the space nest to her. "And besides, I have you. You've shown me that I can do this. I shouldn't be afraid to be myself. I shouldn't have to run."
"Really?"
"Yes, Britt."
Brittany engulfed the small boy in a tight hug. Pulling back she looked into her eyes. "I'm moving on Kurt, I have to let her go. Dylan, she's there for me, she cares about me. And I care about her."
Kurt reaches out and grasps Brittany's hand, nodding in understanding.
"Maybe? Maybe Dylan is my more, maybe she can become what San used to be," Dylan heard Brittany say. She felt some of the pain subside at her girlfriend's words. "Come on, we should go. D will be worried."
Dylan's head snapped up as she realized her position between the pair on stage and the only exit to the auditorium. She turned hastily and made her way as quickly as possible, knocking over a few chairs along the way. She managed to scramble her way out of the auditorium and back to her locker when she stood, trying to catch her breath. She brought her hand up to her cheeks and wiped away any remaining tears.
As she ran through Kurt and Brittany's conversation in her head she stopped for a second remembering why she was there in the first place. Kurt had asked her to come to the auditorium, had he not? So why did she walk in to find him having an intimate conversation about her with her girlfriend? Dylan sniffled, maybe he hadn't meant to text her? Maybe the text had been meant only for Brittany.
"Dylan?" She heard her girlfriend's voice approaching from behind.
Dylan took one last breath to compose herself before turning to face her girlfriend. "Hey, Britt."
Brittany came up and wrapped her arms around Dylan gently. "Are you okay?"
Dylan pulled back from the hug and looked into Brittany's eyes. She pondered what to say next for a few minutes before finally answering. "You know I would do anything for you right?" Brittany nodded. "I care about you, Britt. But all I want is for you to be happy."
Brittany leaned forward and pressed their foreheads together, "Shhh, baby."
"I'd do anything to make you happy," she held back the tears. Dylan didn't want to make it obvious she had overheard Brittany's conversation.
Brittany pulled back and stared directly into Dylan's eyes. "You make me happy, D. So, very happy."
Dylan didn't want to believe her but there was so much honesty in the blonde's eyes that she couldn't help but figure Brittany was telling the truth. She fell forward into her girlfriend's arms, holding her tightly around the waist. Brittany held her just as tightly.
She felt lips graze her ear as she rested her chin on Brittany's shoulder. Dylan felt her throat tighten and she screwed her eyes shut. Even if she did make Brittany happy, she couldn't erase the knowledge that the blonde had feelings for someone else. But she swallowed back the tears, and shifted to whisper into her girlfriend's ear, "You make me happy too, Britt."
She felt Brittany smile against her cheek, still holding her tightly. "Come on, let's go to your place. We can watch Hercules. Mr. Schue wants us to learn that song for Glee."
"Zero to Hero?" Dylan asked as she loosened her grip on the other girl and leaned back to meet her eyes.
"Yeah, that one. Because we're going to be on top soon. I can feel it."
"Me too, Britt. Me too."
Brittany leaned forward and rested her forehead against Dylan's and they just stood there for a few moments, listening to one another's breathing. Finally, they turned and started walking towards the parking lot. "Hey, guess what?" Brittany asked.
"What?" Dylan asked, attempting for it to sound authentic.
"Kurt's coming back! Back to New Directions!" She was so excited, Dylan couldn't help but smile even though she already heard the news.
"Really? That's awesome, baby. We're definitely going to take Regionals now."
"Well, yeah, but I already knew that."
"'Cause you're amazing," Dylan said. But she was pulled to a stop by Brittany who turned to meet her eyes once more.
"No, because you're amazing. And we have you. I have you."
Dylan surged forward, kissing her girlfriend passionately. She couldn't help herself. Brittany was so sincere in her statements and she felt a tear escape her and slide down her cheek. Dylan couldn't possibly image how someone could mistreat the girl in front of her. So she promised herself she would never let that happen. She would do everything in her power to make Brittany happy. But as they stood at the end of the hall, lips locked in a warm embrace, Dylan thought to herself. She really didn't know anything about Brittany's past with Santana. What type of relationship had they had and what had Santana done that was causing Brittany so much anguish? Placing one last kiss on her girlfriend's lips, Dylan decided it was time to figure out the rest of the story. If she was going to fill the hole in Brittany's heart, she needed to know what was missing. The answer lay with a small, Latina cheerleader and she was going to find it.
Songs: I Can Show You the World – Aladdin
I Just Can't Wait to be King – The Lion King
Part of Their World – The Little Mermaid