Chapter 7

The rest of Saturday went as planned; it was lazy and spent in track pants. Sunday came and again, I snuck out in the morning to head to work and came back just as Santana was waking up. She received a phone call from her mother not long after, letting her know they were on their way home and she was expected at Sunday dinner. We lounged around a little more before she packed up and I drove her home. She thanked me for helping her out this weekend and said she looked forward to hanging out again sometime. This fact scared me a little considering it would probably be with Brittany. I'm just hoping I'll be able to control this goofy smile that always seems to appear around her girlfriend.

Sunday night ended with me cleaning up and finishing homework. Sunday's were always my homework days. I had to be ahead because with lacrosse practice everyday until 5pm and work until 11pm, I rarely had time to think let alone focus. I really need this lacrosse scholarship; I just hope all my hard work pays off.

Monday comes and I'm kind of excited to get to school and hopefully see Santana. I wasn't sure how I would approach her again, until, I found her tank she must have forgot. As I'm walking up the stairs into the school, I'm definitely in my own world. I almost make it to the doors before I hear her, "hellllloooo! Earth to Jamie!" I look around and find Sugar and Marley right next to me on either side. "Are you new to the cell phone party? I've been texting you all weekend, I thought for sure Santana attacked you when she woke up!"
I shake my head laughing at her "uh, no, I had a pretty good weekend. Just busy I guess." As I check my phone and see one message I had missed from last night.

From Sugar M.
Hey Jamie! Hope Santana didn't go too
Lima Heights on your ass. See you tomorrow.
Sug xxx

"I missed your one text message that you didn't send until last night. What if she had gone Lima Heights, not that you wimps were there to have my back or anything" I ask.
Sug and Marley look at each other. Then Marley asks, "So what did happen?"
Oh no, I think, here it comes again. That stupid smile when I think about her. They've noticed. They're looking at each other and smirking.
"Oh ya! Out with it!" exclaims Marley.
"Really guys? Nothing happened. For one, she has a girlfriend. For two, a trip to the emergency room is exactly romantic and three, not much can happen after that when she had a concussion." I explain.
Wait, they're looking at each other again. What did I say? I didn't give anything away. Did I?
"What?" I ask, hoping they're just glad to see me.
"What could happen after the hospital if you guys weren't together?" Marley asked with her smirk growing by the minute.
"It was nothing. Her parents weren't home and Brittany was away. She had no one to wake her up during the night." I tried to rationalize.
"1. Brittany was away. 2. During the night? 3. She spent the night? 4. Shut the FRONT door!" said Sugar, getting louder with every word.
I could feel my face getting more and more red by the second.
"You guys are reading into it. Nothing happened. I'm going to class, I'll see you at lunch" I said, as I practically ran away to class. That's all I need, Brittany hearing some rumor that will be much more exaggerated by the time she hears it. Come to think of it, the only thing I've heard about Brittany, besides the fact that she is the luckiest girl in school, is that she's huge.

School seemed to drag all day. I didn't mind though, my mind was anywhere but. I couldn't get Santana out of my head. Finally, as I started running the track after school for practice, it came to me. I would respect the fact that Santana had a girlfriend. If I could get away with being friends, that would be good enough for me. As if the world was sending me a huge wake up sign, Roberta, the biggest girl on our team ran right into me with her lacrosse stick. I don't know how that happened. One second I'm thinking about Santana, the next, I'm flat on my back gasping for air. Coach Beiste was by my side in a second. She was probably the best coach I've ever had. She helped me up, trying to get me to catch my breath. "Maybe you'd be best to sit this one out sport!" she suggested. I couldn't. I couldn't miss a practice, what about the scouts? "I…can't…coach" I managed to get out between gulps of air. She shook her head, "Listen Punkin, you've been killing it out here everyday, one day off won't hurt" she said. As I tried to protest, she looked at me and smiled "don't make me bench you, that will really throw a wrench into your day". Knowing she was right, I headed off to the locker room. My ribs were killing me. As I was headed to my locker to grab my books, I rounded the corner and ran right into Santana and another girl.
"Hey, watch it!" Santana exclaimed. I sank down against the locker, holding my ribs.
"Oh my god, she's going to die!" exclaimed the girl next to Santana. "Quick San! Give her CDR" she went on. Santana knelt down realizing who it was and put her hand on my shoulder. I am going to die I thought. I can't breath and she's touching me.
"Are you okay? What happened to you?" Santana asked, looking concerned, which in a weird way made me happy.
"Yeah, I'm good. No worries" I lied, hoping to sound better than I felt. "Just a little run in during practice."
"Are you going to make it? Do you need a lift home?" She asked, helping me up.
"Uh, San, mom says not to talk to strangers and this one looks like she's about to croak, and you know what mom says about zombies so…" Santana shook her head as she smiled at this girl. Maybe it was the pain or the nausea but I couldn't put two and two together. "Jamie, this is Brittany, my girlfriend" she introduced. Oh shit, I thought. I straightened up, looking at her. Huge? What the hell was huge about her? So she's a couple inches taller than me, I could probably break her in half.
"Jamie? Hey? Maybe I should get the nurse." Santana was looking at me.
"No, I'm good. Really. Sorry, it's nice to meet you Brittany" I said, as I extended my hand. Brittany took my hand and gave it a hard shake. My ribs that were bruised before felt like they broke after that. I muster up a smile and head to my car. Santana follows me out.
"Hey, sorry about Brit, she sometimes goes off on rants" she smiles.
"It's all good. She seems nice" I said. Santana smiles again, I would do anything to see that smile.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay? You don't look so good" the look on her face shows the other side I'm sure not a lot of people see at school.
"Absolutely, just a little knock. No big deal, I'll see you tomorrow" I lied, I didn't want to leave her but I was sure I looked like a baby sitting in my car. Just as I was about to leave, Santana reached into my car through the window and grabbed my phone from the cup holder. She played around with it before saying "if you need anything, I mean anything, call me, I'll come right over" she said, handing me my phone back. "But don't call or text while driving. It's not safe," she reminded me. I had no words. Did Santana Lopez just give me her number? I couldn't breathe again.
"Thanks" I manage.
"Text me when you get home, I'm a little worried" said Santana. I nod and start my car. When she's back in the school, I punched my fist in the air and then immediately remember why shouldn't have. But nothing can wipe the smile off my face now!