It was Thursday and the boaters at the Lima Point Marina were preparing for the annual yacht club trip to Point Lookout. Of all the trips the yacht club planned, this one always had the best turn out. And why wouldn't it be? It was, by far, the coolest place on the river. Unlike most marinas, the docks of Point Lookout sat a hundred yards out from land. Every weekend, boaters from all over the river come and tied up to the island dock. It was party central on the water.
Brittany and the guys had been busy that week hauling people's boats, painting, and sanding them to get ready for the big weekend. After work, they worked on getting their own boats ready. Instead of all of them taking one boat, every year they took their own to Point Lookout, the more boats there were, the bigger the party. And, since it was a 4-day weekend trip, some came back earlier or later depending on their work schedules and such.
Santana was helping Brittany clean the sails on her boat. "So, I was thinking. Since Sam is going with Mercedes, and Steph's going with Quinn, I'm going to have to take my boat alone."
"Yeah, I was thinking about that." Brittany said as she lowered the rear sail. "You don't have to take your boat, but it's just tradition that you do."
"I know, I know. And I want to be a part of this tradition, starting this year, so my boat goes." The brunette smirked and gave her girlfriend a quick kiss on the cheek.
The next morning, the docks were busy with the traffic of people loading their boats for the weekend. Coolers were lugged down the docks, along with grocery bags full of enough food for the 4-day trip. Everyone was pretty excited as this was the biggest weekend for the yacht club.
An hour later, they were off to Point Lookout. Being the rear commodore of the yacht club, Brittany was responsible for booking parties and weekend trips, so this was her thing. Like every year, she led the parade of boats out of the marina, with Santana's boat to her left. Finn followed closely behind with Pathfinder. The rest of the group trailed in a staggered pattern. Some of the bigger boats like Kurt and Blaine's Sue's, stayed toward the outside of the group since their wakes were so big. Mike and Tina had gotten a late start, so they were in the back. As the group rounded buoy number 2, they saw the Lima Point Marina fading in the distance. Brittany looked over to Santana's boat and smiled, signaling an 'I love you' with her hand.
Four hours later, the yacht club was nearing Point Lookout. Brittany got on the VHF. "This is Lima Point Yacht Club calling Point Lookout, over."
"Point Lookout here, how ya doing there, Lima Point?"
'Very well, thanks. We're about to pull in, where are we this year?"
"Okay, sixteen boats, right?"
"Yes ma'am." Brittany confirmed, looking at a list in front of her.
"Ahh, we got the prime spots for you guys this year. You're on the lower side of the dock, spaces 15-31. Queen Bee should go in space fifteen or sixteen because of length."
"We're all together this year?" Brittany asked, surprised.
"Yes siree. The best spots for my best customers, as always. I'll meet you guys to help tie in."
"Alrighty, we'll see you in a few. Lima Point over and out."
Brittany called the other boaters. "You guys know where to go?"
"Of course, pumpkin, I know this marina like the back of my hand." Brittany heard Emma over the radio.
"We got it, Brits." Artie and Puck said.
The rest of the boaters responded over the radio as well. "Okay, and Santana and Tina, you guys just follow me."
"How was the trip?" The dirty-blonde dock attendant asked.
"It was good." Brittany said, hopping off of her boat. "The water was pretty smooth."
"Awesome. I see everyone is pretty much docked in. You guys ready for an awesome weekend?"
"Always, Terri." Brittany hugged the girl. She and the rest of the group knew everyone at Point Lookout. The same yacht clubs went there the same weekend every year. And Terri had been working there for years, so she was on a first-name basis with everyone.
"Okay, so everything is set." Terri said. "I trust you guys know where everything is."
"We do." Finn replied. "Hey thanks for the great spots this year!"
"No problem. The covered slips go fast, so I reserved these for you guys ahead of time," Terri added. "and they are the closest to the bath house and ship store, so everything you need is right here." She pointed along the way.
The rest of the group tied in and got situated, pulling out their coolers and grills. They, indeed had gotten a good setup this year. They had an entire end of the dock to themselves with eight slips on each side, across from each other. As most of the group went to see who else was on the dock for the weekend, newcomers Santana, Tina, Mike, and Steph looked around curiously.
This place is pretty cool, Brittany." Steph said, eyeing the ends of the dock.
"Yeah, it is." Tina added.
"So, we just kinda hang out here on the dock all weekend?" Mike asked.
"Oh no, no no. That over there is Point Lookout." Brittany pointed to land a few hundred yards away.
"It's a tiny island, only about a mile long and a half a mile wide. The outside of the island, on the beach, is lined with nothing but tiki bars and piers. There is a downtown area - if that's what you want to call it - in the center of the island with restaurants and clubs and an occasional shop or two. No convenience stores, no gas stations, no houses. The only people that live here are the ones that own the bars and such. They take weekly trips to get food and other things they need." Brittany filled the newbies in.
"So, what if we run out of beer?" Mike asked, halfway concerned.
"Well, I think between all of us, we have plenty. But then again, Finn is here, so we could run out." The group chuckled. "If we need more, we can buy some either at the bars or in the ship store over there. There's also a laundromat and bathhouse right around the corner."
"Okay, so how do we get to the island?" Santana questioned.
"There's a boat taxi service that comes out here every half-hour and runs all night. But between the group, we have five dinghy's, so we shouldn't need to use it."
"Very cool." Tina said with an excited nod.
Brittany gave Santana, Mike, Steph, and Tina a tour of the dock, along the way introducing them to a few regulars.
That evening, everyone was on their boats, getting ready to head to the island for dinner. Steph joined Quinn in their cabin. "You look wonderful." he said, almost whispering.
She flashed him a smile. "You don't look too bad yourself. You ready to go?" He nodded as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Finn and Artie came from the bathhouse with towels wrapped around their waists. "We'll be ready in ten - don't leave us!"
"We won't, we won't." Mike and Tina said, sipping on margaritas. Sue, along with Beiste and Cooter lowered their dinghies into the water. Will and Emma did the same with theirs.
Brittany and Santana emerged from Santana's boat, hand in hand. "Everyone ready?" The blonde asked.
The group did a semi-head count. Satisfied, they boarded into the dinghies. Brittany, Santana, Will, Emma and Sue were in one. Kurt, Blaine, Rachel Joe, Shannon, and Cooter were in another. Mike, Tina, Steph and Quinn took the third. Finn, Puck, Artie and Jacob took the smaller of the bunch and Mercedes and Sam took their own.
"Alright. Everyone set?" Finn asked. With nods and 'yeahs' all the way around, the group was off to the island.
"Hi, welcome to the Riverboat."
"We have reservations for twenty-one. It should be under Brittany." The blonde said, looking over the podium into the guest book.
"Ahh, yes." The hostess grabbed a stack of menus and led the large group onto the open deck outside. They were seated as the waitress came over. Santana and Brittany ordered a bottle of wine to share. Puck, Artie and Finn ordered a pitcher of beer to split while the older group, who was seated at the opposite end of the table, opted for mixed drinks. Sue scanned over the wine list and drink menu with a contemplating look on her face.
"Sorry Sue, they don't have a beer bong option available." Finn said with a smirk on his face. The group laughed.
"Very funny, boat boy." Sue said as she shook her head with that infamous Sylvester demeanor.
The group finished their dinner just at sunset. They hung around for a bit and listened to the band, relaxing from the ride over. "Point Lookout to Lima Point, over." Brittany grabbed the walkie talkie from her bag. Everyone in the group kept walkie talkies with them when they were on trip like this so they could meet up if they got separated from the others.
"This is Pierce, go ahead Terri."
"Hey, forgot to tell you guys this earlier, but the Wailers are playing on the island tonight at the Landing. Santana's eyes lit up and she finished off the last of her wine.
"It's on the north side of the island, on the beach." Terri added, giving Brittany directions.
"Great, thanks love! Over and out."
Brittany stuffed the walkie talkie back into her bag. "So, you guys wanna head over there?"
With an unaminous 'yes' from everyone, they paid the bill and were off.
Steph, Artie, Puck, Sam and Finn each drove a dinghy to the north side of the island while the rest of the group trekked it by foot.
Brittany and Santana walked arm in arm behind the others. "Good times?" Brittany asked the brunette, nudging her shoulder.
"You bet," her girlfriend said, unlinking their arms, taking Brittany's hand in her own.
Brittany led Santana down the tiki torch-lit path to the sandy-floored dance area of the outdoor bar and the others followed. They all got drinks from the far bar and mingled with each other as they listened to the band who was playing on a little platform by the beach. A few drinks later, everyone was ready to dance.
"Woohoo!" Puck shouted as he pulled Sue onto the dance floor. Mike and Tina followed suit, along with Finn and a transient he had met on the dock. The other couples joined the group on the floor. Will and Emma snuggled close as they danced, as did Kurt and Blaine. But it was Santana and Brittany that stole the show.
"Stir it up,
little darlin',
stir it up..."
Santana put her arms around Brittany's neck and moved with her girlfriend to the music. Forehead to forehead, they swayed as others looked on. The brunette pulled away from the embrace, leaving her left arm still gripping the back of her girlfriend's neck. She sang to Brittany with the music.
"It's been a long long time
since I've got you on my mind
And now we're here stirrin' together,
every minute
Let's see what we can do honey,
just me and you..."
Santana spun Brittany and pulled her in close.
"And we can stir it up
little darlin', stir it up...
and we can stir it up,
little darlin, stir it up..."
The dance became more touchy-feely for the girls. The brunette started a seductive dance as she kissed Brittany on the lips. The blonde obliged, deepening the kiss. Santana's hands moved from her girlfriend's neck to the sides of her body, still moving with the music. The onlookers were loving this and, for Santana and Brittany, it felt as if they had been dancing together for years and that they were the only people alive. It seemed that way to their friends who were looking on as well.
"Quench me,
when I'm thirsty
Won't you cool me down,
when I'm hot..."
Santana continued singing with the music, fanning herself off to match the lyrics.
"Your recipe my darlin',
is so tasty..."
Brittany, now singing to the brunette, ran her fingers over Santana's smiling lips.
"and you can surely stir me up
Come on, stir it up, litlle darlin',
stir it up..."
When the song was over, there was a roar of clapping. Santana and Brittany, noticing it was directed towards them, blushed and pulled each other in for a hug. "You sure danced better tonight than the first time I saw you on your boat." Brittany said, pulling back, offering a crooked laugh.
"Ha. Ha." Santana replied sarcastically with a soft smile. "Well, it must be my partner."
"Hey guys." Santana said, turning to Tina, Quinn, and Mercedes. "I have an idea."
Santana went up to the stage during the band's break and chatted with the members for a bit. She soon returned, doing her cute version of the cabbage patch on the way back to the girls.
"Okay, here's the plan..."
Brittany and Steph were at the bar getting another round of drinks for everyone when the band took the stage again.
"Hiya folks!" the singer said into the microphone with a Jamaican accent. "How we doin' tonight?" There was a roar of clapping and applause from the crowd in front of them.
"Ok, mon - seems that we have a few singers out there tonight. This is a special request, going out to Lima Point."
Brittany and Steph joined the rest of the group, who were scattered amongst themselves by the bar. They looked on with curiosity as the band started to play.
"Could you be loved
and be loved..."
Tina, Mercedes and Quinn came from behind the band, each with their own microphone in hand, singing. Sam, Mike, and Steph, who had all been standing together, were serenaded, Caribbean-style, by the trio. The rest of the group looked on in amusement. Brittany, who had been standing with Steph, was now chatting with Sue and Emma.
"Don't let them fool you
or even try to school ya, oh no..."
Mercedes grinded with Sam a little, forgetting that she had to sing. Tina and Quinn sang to their guys and crowd as they swayed.
The girls continued singing.
"That kinda sounds like Santana." Brittany said to Emma and Sue about the music. "Hey, where is Santana anyway?"
"It does sound like her." Emma offered.
"I think it is her." Sue said as she noticed the brunette walking towards them through a crowd of people.
"Huh?" Brittany asked.
Sue casually pointed in the brunette's direction as she sipped on her margarita through a straw.
Brittany, who was leaning against the bar on her elbows, glanced over to where Sue had pointed and saw her girlfriend walking towards her. Before she could fully comprehend what was going on, Santana was a foot in front of her, singing for all to hear.
"Don't let 'em fool ya
or even try to school ya
We've got a mind of our own
So go to hell if what you're thinking is not right
Love would never leave us alone
And in darkness they must come out to light, hey..."
Santana sang, as she placed a flower behind the blonde's ear.
The brunette leaned in and softly kissed her girlfriend on the cheek before pulling away to continue singing with the rest of the girls.
"Could you be loved
and be loved..."
It was then when everything slowed down for the blonde. Time stopped, her surroundings faded. Her smiling eyes slowly grew into a look of awe and amazement as she studied her girlfriend. Brittany thought to herself. I love this girl. I'm on this island, having the time of my life and Santana is singing with the Wailers! How fucking cool is this? Yes, I love this girl.
Brittany flashed a soft smile as Santana continued to sing.
"Could you be loved, and be loved..."
Santana took the blonde's hand and pulled her towards the dance floor. Brittany, in turn, grabbed Emma's hand, who grabbed Sue's. Before it was all said and done, the entire Lima Point crew was on the dance floor, sharing the four mics the girls had, singing the rest of the song the best they could. Soon, the rest of the people in the bar joined in as well.
The next morning, most of the group woke up pretty early. The smell of eggs, bacon, and coffee filled the air along the docks. Emma and Will piled food onto plates for everyone while Mercedes brewed coffee. Kurt and Blaine sat down with everyone, setting a large jug of pre-made bloody marys on the table. "Everybody sleep well last night?" Blaine said, pouring a drink for himself.
"Like a rock." Artie replied.
"No, that would be Finn, who's still sleeping." Puck offered with a chuckle.
Sue joined the group, setting a bag of muffins on the table. "Man, I haven't boogied like that since disco." She said as she took a seat next to Artie.
"Yeah and you girls sure can sing." Emma said, looking at Santana, Mercedes, Tina, and Quinn.
Santana playfully slapped Brittany's arm with the back of her hand. "See! I told you we should start a band!" The brunette flashed her girlfriend a crooked smile just before stealing the last piece of bacon from her plate.
Tina lifted her head from the table, obviously suffering from a hangover. "Wait. We sang?"
The group looked up at the girl and around to each other, chuckling to themselves. "Yeah, you did, sweetie." Mike said, patting his fiancée on the back.
