Brittany waved as Santana dropped her off at home, and she walked inside and greeted her mother and little sister. ''I'm going upstairs to make some homework,'' she said and her mother smiled and nodded, and her sister moaned. Brittany smiled at her sister, she knew her sister had wanted to play, but she didn't have the time.
''Tomorrow we'll play, I promise, Michelle. And Santana is going to be here tomorrow so she can play too,'' she told Michelle, who jumped up and down at the promise. Brittany winked at her mother and walked up the stairs, and then she closed the door behind her when she arrived in her room. She really wasn't planning on making any homework, but her mother didn't have to know that.
So, as she laid out her dress, a tight yellow dress that flared at the hips, she hummed a song that kept stuck in her head after Glee practice. She didn't even remember what it was called, but Rachel had been singing it all week and now it was stuck. Then suddenly her phone rang and Brittany pulled it out of her pocket.
''Noah, what's going on?'' she asked, and she heard Puck chuckle.
''Well, I thought I'd ask you about what happened this morning after you texted me and I called Lopez, but I also wanted to know if you know what Lauren's going to be wearing,'' he said, and Brittany rolled her eyes.
''Okay, um. I don't know what Lauren's going to be wearing,'' she replied, and then she told him all about what happened that morning. ''So she came to pick me up and she had this strange conversation with my mom, but then we made up and we moved on,'' she finished, and Puck hummed.
''Well, that's good right? You know you're the only one she makes up with when she knows it's her fault. She keeps saying how much she loves you, Britt, I think you should be proud of that.''
''I am proud of that, but I'm not the only one though, she loves you too, and she loves Quinn. I'm pretty sure she loves Glee club and everyone in it,'' Brittany replied, feeling a little defensive toward her friend, but Puck didn't say anything. ''You know, just ask Lauren what she's wearing and if you really don't want to do that, you don't do it,'' she added when he didn't say anything for a long time, and he sighed.
''Sure, I'll ask her. See you tonight B,'' he said, and with that he hung up. Brittany sighed and laughed a little and then she threw her phone on her bed and lay down next to it. When she closed her eyes, she fell asleep right away.
Prom. Santana hadn't even wanted to go to prom, but after Dave had told her to be ready when he picked her up, she knew she didn't have a chance to get out of going. She knew Brittany was going, even though Brittany was going alone, and it would be the one light in her night. So she decided to go to her mother's room, and pick out a dress. But when she arrived home, and walked up the stairs and opened the door to her parent's room, her mother was sitting on the bed pulling on her shoes.
''Hey mama. Can I borrow a dress for prom tonight?'' she asked, and her mother looked up with a frown. Santana never asked something, she did what she wanted. Normally, she would've gone out to buy a dress, but she didn't feel like it.
''Well sure Santana, you can borrow that red dress I have, it's on the right side, and don't touch anything else,'' her mother said, and she went back to looking down at her feet. Santana knew the dress her mother was talking about, it had been her mother's own prom dress and it was gorgeous. It had double shoulder straps that crossed on the back, and it was long and tight. Santana opened the door of the closet and still, after all the years of looking around in her mother's closet, had to gasp when she saw the amount of clothing. Her mother loved clothes, and Santana knew there were a lot of clothes her mother didn't even wear anymore.
''Thank you mama, I just didn't have time to go to the stores. You know I love to shop…'' Santana said softly as she pulled out the dress, and her mother grinned at her. Santana didn't see that grin often, and she didn't mind because she really didn't like it.
''Yeah, I know. You're just like me,'' her mother replied, and Santana blinked and stepped out of the room. She didn't want to make small talk with her mother; she didn't bother to answer as her mother called out, ''I'm going out, see you tonight.'' Santana wouldn't see her tonight, because she would stay over at Brittany's, but her mother didn't bother to ask about it so Santana didn't bother informing her.
She hung the dress on the door and sighed, she still had a couple of hours before she had to get ready and she didn't know what to do. Her phone buzzed and she took it out of her pocket to see she had a message, and because the number was unknown she knew it was from Dave.
I'll be at your place at 9. Wait outside 'cause I don't want to come in.
She sighed and threw her phone on her bed, and then she lay down. She was so tired of acting like she was his girlfriend after what happened, she just wanted to get it over with. She wanted him to figure out this wasn't what he wanted so he could let her go, and she wanted to have someone at her side. She didn't have anyone though, because she couldn't tell anyone about it.
She closed her eyes and fell asleep right away.
Brittany was ready to go at 8PM, but she didn't want to go yet. She walked down the stairs and looked at her mother, who was grinned up at her. ''Mom, I don't want to go, actually.'' Her mother stopped grinning and held out her hand. Brittany walked the last steps down the stairs and took it, and let her mother lead her to the living room, where her father was waiting for her to come in.
''You look absolutely stunning,'' he said, and Brittany smiled at him. Of course she knew she looked stunning but after waking up from her nap, she suddenly didn't feel like going away. ''What is it honey? Karen, what did you say to her?''
''What? I didn't say anything John, she says she doesn't want to go,'' Karen replied, and Brittany rolled her eyes when her father sat down again and sighed. ''Look, honey, you said you'd go for Santana and you can't forget that,'' her mother said after turning around to her, and Brittany nodded.
''I know, but I'll be alone tonight and she has…'' Brittany widened her eyes and suddenly she got it. ''I'll go, it's just…'' she trailed off again and shrugged.
''I know honey, but you promised her you'd be there and you actually made plans of coming home here with her right?'' her father said, and she nodded again. She would go, she never said she wouldn't go, but she hated the fact that Santana would be with Dave all night.
''Can you bring me dad?'' she asked, and her father stood to his feet and nodded. ''Thank you. And thanks for telling me I look stunning,'' she added with her signature grin, and her father smiled at her.
''I'll always think you look stunning, sweet heart,'' he replied, and then he took her hand. ''Come on, I'll bring you to the dance and I'll come pick you up,'' he said, and Brittany kissed her mother before nodding to her father. She was ready to go even though she didn't feel like it. It would be one long night, she was sure of it.
Santana was ready and waiting at 9PM. She felt pathetic, because she was never ready when someone said she had to be ready, but she was scared. She was scared of what Dave would do if she weren't waiting outside when he told her to. The door opened behind her and her father walked out. He wasn't much better than her mother at the emotional front, but Santana had always liked him more. She didn't know why. He stood next to her, and he didn't say anything for a long time.
''Why are you waiting outside?'' he asked, and Santana shrugged. She didn't want him to know what was going on. She felt on edge, and talking to her father only made it worse, so when a car drove in the street she was actually relieved to see it was Dave. She wouldn't be alone with him for very long tonight, because she actually had some friends, or at least she hoped so.
''I'm not coming home tonight, daddy.'' She turned her head to look at her father just as Dave stopped the car in front of her. Her father just nodded, and then he walked back inside. Santana stared at her father for a while before turning around and opening the door, stepping in and slamming it behind her.
''What was that?'' Dave asked, and Santana turned around and sent him a scowl. She didn't feel like talking. She was way to scared to say anything over the lump in her throat but she wasn't about to make small talk with him either, she didn't want to ever talk to him. She wished she could say that to him, but she couldn't. ''I asked you a question.''
''And I chose not to answer it, deal with it,'' she replied, and she actually smiled at her own comeback. Even though she was scared, she could still talk shit, and she knew it would be going fine tonight. Except she was wrong and when she looked at him, she could see it. The anger showing on his face was nothing compared to what her father sometimes showed, but it was scaring either way.
''You're a bitch, and you really need to learn your place,'' he said, and he gripped her chin in his hand in a bruising hold before he pulled her against him and kissed her hard. When he pulled back, he didn't let go. ''I'd behave tonight if I were you, because you don't want to mess with me,'' he growled into her ear, and she shivered. He let go then, and he started the car. Santana felt a tear slip down her face, and she knew it was going to be one long night.
Brittany didn't know what Santana was doing, but prom had started at 8PM and even Brittany had been late. Santana liked being late – but only fashionably late. Now, she was just way late, and Brittany didn't know what to do.
''Have you seen the Latina?'' Brittany heard his voice before she saw him and she turned around to see Puck standing behind her. She shook her head and he sighed. ''I need to ask her something, and Lauren is acting all bitchy about it,'' he said, and Brittany frowned.
''Maybe you can ask me,'' she replied, and he looked at her and shook his head. ''Okay, then you'll just have to wait for Santana because I don't know where she is,'' she added, and she walked away from Puck. She saw Artie rolling around the dance floor and she actually felt kind of sorry for him, but then she realized what he had said to her and she turned around toward the door. She was just in time to see Santana walk in at the arm of Dave, who looked smug. Before she could move, she saw Puck running toward Santana and she could see the relief in Santana's eyes from afar, and she wondered what that was all about. She made her way toward the three and listened in to what Puck wanted to ask.
''So I thought of the flower, or corsage, but she didn't like it, and now I don't know what to do!'' he rambled. He was actually kind of cute when he rambled but Brittany would never say that out loud. She looked at Santana who looked a little amused too, and then she looked at Dave who just looked pissed about being interrupted.
''Say you're sorry and dance. I don't really care,'' Santana replied, and Dave pulled her away from Puck and Brittany. Santana looked at her apologetically and Brittany just shrugged, knowing she had to spend some time with her date and all.
''Go and find Lauren, do what Santana told you to do, and it'll all be fine,'' Brittany said to Puck, who nodded and left her alone again. Brittany looked around one last time before just deciding she would dance alone tonight. It didn't matter that much.
Santana hated prom. Everything went wrong for her tonight. First, Puck comes storming at her making Dave even worse than before, and Brittany just stood there. She didn't know what her friend had wanted to say, and she wouldn't find out because Dave didn't let her go. He wanted to dance to every song there was, and if they didn't dance he would just stand there holding her against him. She would stand in front of him, her back pressed against his chest, and she would have these flashes. Flashes of what happened the week before.
''I have to go to the bathroom,'' Santana said after the second memory flash, and she pulled out of his grip before he could say anything and walked away, feeling like she was going to sink to the floor if she stopped now. She didn't look back but she could practically feel his eyes burning holes in her back. She made it to the hall and closed her eyes as she leaned against the lockers. Would this night ever end?
''Santana?'' it was Brittany, and Santana opened her eyes and stared at her best friend. Brittany was flushed from dancing and Santana couldn't help but admire the blonde. She looked so happy; it hurt to look at her sometimes. Santana nodded, indicating she had heard her friend, and then she felt her knees give out and she sank down on the ground, her knees up against her chest. She wrapped her arms around them and looked up. ''Are you okay?''
''I'm fine, Britt, don't worry,'' she replied, but she didn't sound fine. She sounded like she was about to cry any moment, and she worried that Britt would hear. ''I mean, I'm tired after the week I had,'' she added, and her voice shook. She closed her eyes again and felt her friend sit down next to her.
''If you want to go home, you can tell me. I'll go with you, we promised to stick together tonight, right?'' Brittany said, and Santana nodded. She loved her for the way she was. Brittany was always there for her even though she didn't understand some of what Santana was going through.
''Thanks Britt, I appreciate it. I just can't leave without telling Dave,'' she said, and Brittany nodded. The girls didn't say anything for a long time, and then Brittany kissed Santana's forehead and stood. Santana looked up and saw her holding out her hand, and she smiled and took it. Brittany pulled Santana up and hugged her, but then the door to the gym opened and Brittany was pulled off of Santana.
''Get off of my girlfriend, you dyke,'' Dave snarled at Brittany as he pushed her against the locker next to Santana, and Santana widened her eyes. She knew she didn't just see Dave push her friend, didn't she?
''What the fuck, Dave,'' she screamed, and then she pushed him. He glared at her and before she knew it, his fist shot out and he hit her in her stomach. She doubled over in pain but stepped to her side, standing in front of Brittany. ''What the fuck is your problem with her?''
''She was… she was hugging you like she's your girlfriend, bitch!'' Dave was stuttering, and it was the first time Santana saw him as a real person after the rape, and not as a monster.
''I don't care what it looks like, Dave. She's my best friend and I haven't had much time to spend with her so back off and go back to the dance,'' she said, standing straight again even though she held her hand pressed against her stomach. It hurt like a bitch, but she wouldn't tell anyone that. Dave turned around on his heels and walked back into the gym, and Santana turned around and grabbed Brittany's hand. ''Are you okay?''
''I'm fine, but what about you?'' Brittany asked, and she stared down at Santana's hand clutching her stomach. Santana shook her head and sighed. She didn't know how to get out of this situation, because she still couldn't tell Brittany what was going on, but she could at least tell her half the truth.
''I'm okay. Listen, this has never happened before, okay? And this,'' she said pointing toward the door indicating Dave, and then at herself, ''is just something that's not really important. All I want is for you to be safe, okay?''
''Okay, but I don't understand,'' Brittany said, and Santana sighed and closed her eyes. Her stomach felt like it was on fire but she needed to explain. She just didn't know how.
''He never hit me before. But he's just… he was already angry when he came here and tonight hasn't helped much, so please just forget about this,'' she said, and Brittany shrugged. Santana knew she wouldn't forget about it, but she would at least keep it to herself until she had it figured out. ''All I ask is that you… you keep this to yourself, okay? Please,'' she added, and Brittany nodded.
''Okay, I'll keep it – for now,'' she replied, and Santana nodded in relief. ''But we're not getting back in there, we're going home,'' Brittany said, and Santana nodded. She really wanted to go home.
''Yeah, sounds like a good plan,'' she replied, and Brittany pulled out her phone and called her father.
Brittany stared at Santana as they changed into PJ's. She hated it. She hated that she had promised to keep it to herself and forget about it, because she wanted to know what was going on. Her dad had come to pick them up, and she had wanted to ask if he ever hit her mother, but she knew he hadn't. He wouldn't do that; it wasn't normal. Santana hadn't said a word except 'hi' to her dad, and Brittany wanted to ask her what else was going on between her and Dave. Something was going on, because Santana seemed to be overly protective of Brittany and it confused the blonde to the point of frustration.
''Santana?'' she whispered in the dark, and she could hear her friend hum. She was still awake, and Brittany knew she should just ask, but she couldn't. All she could do was step in the bed and pat next to her. Santana stepped in next to her and snuggled close. ''I'm here whenever you need me,'' Brittany whispered instead of asking Santana all the questions on the tip of her tongue, and she felt Santana's lips against her collarbone.
''Thank you, Britt-Britt,'' Santana mumbled and she snuggled in even closer, her head on the blondes shoulder. Brittany didn't know what to do anymore. Santana had been pushing her away and then pulling her back and she was getting extremely tired of it, but she couldn't just drop her best friend when she was acting like that. Her mother had told her Santana had a lot to deal with, and even though Brittany didn't understand that, she knew she just had to be patient. The problem was, with Santana she was never patient because it had never gotten her anywhere before.