After finishing up breakfast, the group made thier way around the docks to catch up with other groups that were in town for the weekend. A little later in the afternoon, they took the dinghys to the east side of the island for a swim on the beach. It was a peaceful, very relaxing day for all of them. Here and there, a few people in the group made new friends along the way - some at the docks and others on the beach.
Around sunset, Brittany and Santana, Mike and Tine, Steph and Quinn, and Mercedes and Sam were finishing up dinner on the end of the docks. They had called in a couple of dozen crabs and corn and had them delivered to the end of the dock where they were staying. The rest of the group had gotten a head start on the festivities on the island. Puck, Finn and Artie had left earlier in the afternoon to catch happy hour and the others had departed in the remaining dinghys a little bit ago.
"So, what's the plan for tonight?" Sam asked.
"I dunno." Steph responded, cracking a crab leg. "I was thinking about taking Quinn out for a few drinks, just us perhaps?" he said, looking at his girlfriend.
"Yeah, maybe we could do our own thing for a little bit and then meet up later." Sam said, smiling at Mercedes. Brittany and Santana nodded in agreement with the others. A few beers and a shower later, they were off to the island.
Stepping out of the dinghy, Santana asked, "So, does everyone have their walkies?"
With nods all the way around, she said, "Okay, let's turn them on around,say, ten? That sound good with everyone?"
"Yep."
"Alright, stay on channel 9."
"Roger." Steph said, changing his channel.
Once they got into town, the four couples split up and went their separate ways. Brittany and Santana were walking down the main strip that was crowded with people, most of which they had recognized as being guests at the docks. Santana took the blonde's hand and laced thier fingers together. Brittany looked over at the brunette and smiled, squeezing her hand softly.
They walked along the streets, passing bar after bar, restaurants and clubs. The streets were lit with white Christmas lights and colored with a diverse crowd. They passed a solo guitar player who had his guitar case open for donations. Brittany pulled a few coins out of her pocket and tossed them in the case. There were a few stands here and there that sold beer and jello shooters. Just as every moment she spent with the blonde, Santana took it all in.
"I love this place," the Latina said.
"I thought you might." Brittany replied with a smile as they continued walking.
Rachel, Kurt, Blaine and Joe were at the Riverboat with Sue, Will and Emma, enjoying the last of a very long happy hour. "Are we meeting back up with everyone tonight?" Rachel asked as she finished the rest of her beer.
"Probably so." Sue said. "We usually do our own thing on Saturday night here, in the beginning anyway. Then, we usually meet up later in the night. But with this group...oh, well you just never know what's going to happen."
Santana stopped in her tracks as Brittany kept walking.
"What's wrong, Santana?"
"Umm, nothing. Hey, that little rainbow symbol thing," Santana pointed to a sticker on the door of a bar called '1722'. "Doesn't that mean it's like a 'gay' place?"
The blonde couldn't help but smile. "Yes, it does." Then she thought about it for a minute. "Oh, wow, there's gay place on the island now. It must be new."
"You wanna go in?" the brunette asked with excited eyes.
Brittany smiled. "Actually, yeah - I'm kinda curious to see it."
"Ha, you'recurious?" Santana mumbled underneath her breath, linking her arm with her girlfriend's. "Let's go."
Back at the Riverboat, everyone was, well, drunk.
"Let''s call the others on the talkie walkies!" Sue stumbled with her words.
"Walkie talkies you mean?" Rachel asked with a laugh.
"Oh, you know what I meant!" the feisty blonde said, shaking her head.
Mike and Tina walked in, noticing the foursome at the bar on the deck. "Heeeeeyyy guys!" Sue yelled from across the room waving her hand.
"Hey!" they said in unison as they joined the others. "How ya guys doing?"
"Great, happy hour's almost over, want a drink?" Sue asked.
"Hell yea!"
Sue looked at the bartender and order two more rounds for the group.
Santana and Brittany walked into '1722', hand in hand. They went straight to the bar and ordered drinks. Santana scanned the bar curiously for a few minutes, noticing women with women, men with men, women with men. The bar was small, but she noticed a bigger area designated to be the dance floor, equipped with a few pool tables and a DJ to the side. After a few more glances, her eyes locked on a pair of familiar faces.
"Uhhh..." She nudged Brittany's side without looking at her. The blonde had been talking with their bartender, but quickly averted her attention to her girlfriend.
"Hey." Brittany said, tippy toe-ing up a few inches to Santana's ear.
"Uhhh..." was all the brunette could manage as she pointed to the dance floor.
Brittany took a sip from her drink as she scanned over Santana's shoulder to the dance floor in the direction her girlfriend had been pointing.
"What the-?'
"Uh huh." Santana muttered
"Wow." Brittany said with a blank face.
"Yeah."
"Okay, so... "
"So let's go say hi." Santana looked at her girlfriend, who was in a little bit of shock. She took Brittany's arm and led her to the dance floor.
Steph and Quinn were at the Lighthouse, a small bar off of the main strip. They sat in a corner away from the drunken chaos. "So, when do you have to leave?" the blonde asked.
"In a few weeks." Steph said, looking down at the beer he clenched in his lap.
"Oh."
"Hey, how bout we not talk about this tonight." Steph asked kindly.
Quinn agreed with a half smile. "Alright."
Santana walked toward the couple on the dance floor, with Brittany very, very hesitantly in tow. "Hey guys, funny seeing you here."
Puck and Finn jerked away from each other. "Uh, oh, hey girls."
"It's okay, Finn. We've been here for awhile." Santana stated matter-of-factly.
Finn gave Puck a 'we're caught' look and responded. "I see."
Brittany took her brother aside. "Finn Pierce, what the fuck is going on?"
"Well..." he said, looking over at Puck.
"Well?" Brittany asked with an assertive demeanor.
"Well, maybe we need to talk."
"Ya think? No, you know what - I'm not talking to you right now," the blonde replied. "Santana," She looked at her girlfriend. "We're leaving."
The Latina said nothing, but took Brittany's offering hand in her own and followed her out of the door. On their way out of the door, they ran into Artie, who was juggling three fresh drinks in his hand.
Brittany spoke up angrily. "Oh, are you gay too, Abrams?"
"What, me" Artie laughed. "Britts, you know I love the ladies. I'm just here for support."
"You knewmy brother was gay before I did? You knew and you didn't tell me?" Artie began to respond, but was interrupted by the blonde. "You know what, no. Don't answer that." With Santana following her, she stormed out of the door.
Once outside, they walked away from the bar.
"Brittany, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong? Finn was in there with Puck, kissing and dancing and hugging him!"
"I saw that."
"He didn't tell me about any of it. I tell him everything! When I started my period, I told him, when I had my first beer, he was with me." Brittany was mad. "When I first knew I was in love with you, it was him I went to. He should have told me about this."
"I understand, but maybe he is deal - wait, when did you know when you were in love with me?"
Brittany managed to crack a smile. "When you put that rose in my ear, the night Finn and I came back early from Maryland." The blonde looked down and blushed, but quickly looked back up. "But that's not the point right now."
Santana thought to herself for a minute and smiled, then took a deep breath. "I love you, Brittany. Everything will be okay."
The blonde nodded with a smile, silently telling Santana she loved her too. Even finding out her brother had been hiding something so big for so long was not going to ruin her weekend.
"You and Finn will talk, alright? But, right now..." Santana didn't know what to say.
"Let's get out of here." the blonde said.
Brittany leaned in and kissed Santana softly on the cheek. "I'd like that."
Later that night...
"Ok, so I'm not going to worry about this whole Finn thing tonight. We'll talk about it sometime I guess." Brittany said to Santana as they walked through the crowded streets of Point Lookout.
The brunette linked her arm with her Brittany. "Yep, you will."
"And it's such a gorgeous night."
"Yep."
"And I'm here with you." Brittany looked up at her girlfriend.
"Yep, you are," Santana said with a smile.
"And all of our friends are here."
"Yep."
"And we came here to party."
"Yep, we did."
"So, we're gonna have fun!"
"That's the spirit, love. But you know, Brittany, you've never really needed a reason to party."
"Ha. You're funny."
"Yep…I am."
Sue and Co. were still hanging out at the Riverboat when Emma noticed the time. "Hey guys, it's after ten. Shouldn't we turn these things on now?" She said, waving her walkie talkie in the air.
"Yessss, I think that'll be jusst fine, baby doll. We neeed to hook up with the ressst of the group." Sue said, putting her arm around Rachel.
Blaine looked over at Sue and then said to Will as he drowned the last of his crown and coke. "I think tonight is going to be…one of those nights."
"Yo this is Artie, anyone there? Over."
"Abrams! My maaan. Overrr."
"Yeah, who is this? Over."
"Who do you think? It's Sue effing Sylvester, bitch!."
"Oh, Suuueeee. Yeah, I knew that. Hey, where you guys at? Over."
"Hey Artie, this is Ben. We're at the Riverboat, just leaving actually. Over."
"Alright, why don't you guys meet us in the center of town, say at…Buddy's. Over."
"Sounds good. We'll be there shortly."
"So, we're all meeting outside of Buddy's?" Quinn said into her walkie talkie.
"Yeah yeah yeah! Quinny poooo, this is Sue. Over."
"Oh hey! Ok, well, Steph and I will be there soon. And we're on channel 9. No need to keep saying 'over'."
"Oh. Okayss then, but I do what I want. And sounds good. Hey, have you guyssss seen Brittany and Santana? They're not comings over the radio."
"No, but we'll keep an eye out on the way over."
"Cool cool. See you in a bits."
"Alright, my lady. Where we headed?" Santana asked her girlfriend as they kept walking.
"I dunno. I guess we should meet up with the group and I can tell you - everyone's gonna want to go to Tiki Bob's."
"Tiki Bob's?"
"Uh huh. The infamous Tiki Bob's Cantina. We go there every year - lot's of fun, really loud…realllly crazy."
"Well, crazy can be fun. You did say you wanted to have fun tonight, right?"
"Right."
"Brittany! Santana!" Quinn yelled tipsily, running across the street with Stephan in tow.
"Hey guys!" The foursome exchanged hugs.
"I'm glad we saw you two." Quinn said as the group started walking together. "We're all meeting up at Buddy's to figure out what we're doing for the night."
"Shit, we forgot to turn our radio on." Brittany said, patting the lump in her back pocket.
"So, Tiki Bob's again this year?" the blonde asked.
"You know it, baby!" Quinn said, finishing off the rest of her drink she'd taken with her from dinner.
"Alright, so everyone's here, yeah?" Rachel asked, doing a semi-head count.
"Hey, wait. Where are Puck and Finn? And Artie?" Mike asked.
Santana noticed her girlfriend look away to avoid the question. "I think they're running a little late from dinner." she said, taking Brittany's hand into her own.
"Well, we can't go without them. This is group night!" Quinn noted.
"Fabray, we go to Tiki Bob's every year." Blaine said. "I think they'll both figure it out."
Brittany spoke up. "Yeah guys, they know we'll be there. Let's just go."
With almost everyone in agreement, the group hit a beer stand for refills and made their way to the north side of the island. Kurt and Mike led the pack while the couples followed behind. Santana gave Brittany a reassuring smile as they walked hand in hand.
"Besidesssss, guys." Sue started. "Puck and Finn know allll of the girlssss who wanna get laid are at that Tiki place. Those fools will be there.
Brittany let out a sarcastic chuckle along with the group.
"On second thought, maybe they won't figure it out."
"Woooohoooo!" Sam yelled as he jumped into the water. Splash!Mike, Tina and Mercedes followed.
The group had quickly made their way to the bar and wasted no time settling in to party. Tiki Bob's was the most popular bar in town, mostly because of the 'no-holds-barred' reputation it had. The main part of the establishment was a large, screened-in porch that had three bars - one in the front, one in the back, and one in the middle. There was a stage for the nightly gigs they held as well as a dancing area.
The only light in the main room was fueled by white Christmas lights that hung on the ceiling in no particular pattern, and miscellaneous neon beer lights that hung behind the bars. The outside, waterfront deck is where most of the patrons chose to party. The were four levels to the deck, the largest being where the fourth tiki bar sat. There was an upper level on each side, with bar tables, chairs and tiki torches that fueled the soft light. From the tiki bar level, the were two sets of stairs that led to a huge lower platform that people could swim from. On the platform were lounge chairs, tables, and two girls that sold beer, one at each end.
"You guys coming in?" Mike yelled from the water.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. We'll be there in a minute!" Brittany screamed back.
"Hey, isn't it kinda dangerous for all of these drunk people to be swimming out there?" Santana asked her girlfriend as she pointed to the water.
"Lifeguards." Brittany said as she sipped her beer, pointing to the numerous girls decked out in skimpy swimming attire.
"Ahh. I see."
Back at 1722, Finn, Puck, and Artie were semi-arguing.
"Finn, we can't just miss Tiki Bob's this year. It's the whole reason we come here!" Puck downed the last of his drink.
"I know, man. I just…I don't want to do this whole thing with Brittany right now."
"You don't have to. I know Britt and I know she's upset, but I do know that you guys will work this out…later."
"I know."
"And you two are tight, so you guys will be fine. It's not like you killed her dog!"
"But it is, Puck," Finn chugged the rest of his beer as he continued. "You don't understand, guys. Until tonight, she knew I told her everything. She's always known me. Right now, she feels like she doesn't. She's upset."
"I'm sure she is! I would be too." Artie shot his friend a look. "But she's here to have fun, just like all of us are! Right?"
"Right?"
"I bet you she's at the bar right now, happy with Santana and everyone else. Brittany's not going to get crazy on you, not until we get home anyway."
"You're funny." Finn chuckled and then got serious. "But you're right."
"Go Emma! Go Emma! Go Emma!" The group yelled as the blonde flashed a group of guys for beads. Will looked on with his head in his hands in embarrassment.
"Emma! You're being, I don't know…crazy!"
"Yes I am baby doll, that's the fun of it! Didn't I teach you anything?"
Emma walked over to Sue. "Darling, you…" She cupped a breast with her right hand, taking a sip of her drink with the other. "…have some wonderful tits!"
Blaine saw this from afar, along with pretty much the entire group. He looked at Will. "I told you this was going to be-"
"One of those nights?" Will finished his sentence for him.
The group partied and swam. Rachel won first place in the weekly Tiki Bob's wet t-shirt contest, though she had made it very clear that Emma was not to touch her 'tits'. Santana and Brittany had earned beads with an occasional boobie flash while Artie had moved from one pretty girl to anotherFinn and Puck eventually showed up to the bar, but no words were exchanged within the group about the night's previous events. Everyone, as planned, just had fun. As things began to die down, the group decided to head back to the dock. Once there…
Finn passed out.
Puck followed.
Emma and Sue made out.
Mike and Tina went to bed.
Will, Sue, and Emma went to Sue's boat.
Kurt and Blaine went to bed.
Sue threw up.
Artie, Sam and Mercedes went down the dock for a late-night swim.
Sue passed out.
And then, there were two.
Brittany and Santana were sitting on the bow of the Latina's boat, wrapped in a blanket. The brunette was the first to speak. "Sue was soooodrunk tonight!"
"Aw, come on Sue, just one little kiss…I just wanna try it!" Emma pleaded with the blonde before turning to Will. "You don't…mind or anything, do you? No, okay, I didn't think so." She hadn't waited for an answer.
"Emma, you are being baaad!" Sue said under her breath.
"Oh, hell! Where's one on those beer bongy thingies when you need one? This girl needs a drink!"
"Ha! Yeah, she was - I've never seen her like that!" Brittany replied, pulling her side of the blanket into her chest. "It's a little chilly tonight."
"A little, but lots warmer than Chicago." Oh, Santana why did you say that? The brunette looked down and cupped her hands between her legs, having no idea what to say next.
"Santana?"
"Yeah?"
"Why the long face?"
"I shouldn't have said that. I shouldn't have brought up Chicago."
"Why?"
"What do you mean, wh-?" Santana interrupted.
"Santana, we both knew going into this that you would be leaving at the end of the summer. Brittany looked out into the water while the brunette stared blankly at her hands. "Santana?" When no words came, Brittany improvised.
"I'll be right back." The blonde disappeared to the lower cabin, emerging minutes later setting down a stereo and popping in a CD. She sat down in front of her girlfriend, handing her a case. "I made you a copy too. You know, of the cd you made for me."
"This year's love had better last
Heaven knows it's high time
I've been waiting on my own, too long..."
"Thanks."
Santana thought for a bit before she spoke. "Brittany," She took her girlfriend's hands into her own. "I," She paused. "You know how sometimes, ya know, when the wind blows a certain way, or when you see, like, the most amazing sunset - you know how those moments kind of, I don't know, take your breath away?"
The blonde looked up and met Santna's eyes. "Yes."
"When you hold like you do
Feels so right, oh now
Start to forget how my heart gets torn
When that hurt gets thrown
Feeling like you cant go on..."
"You do that to me." The brunette looked away for a minute and the back to her girlfriend. "You take my breath away, Brittany. Sometimes I feel like I love you so much that I cannot breathe."
"Santa-"
"But I feel when I am with you, I love…and understand. Sometimes I don't know what I understand and I don't even care…I just know that I do. And I don't think I can part with that."
Santana looked at her girlfriend, slowly brushing a strand of hair from her face. "But, I have a life in Chicago. I have a house, and a car, and a job…I know I can live without those things, but how do I just leave an entire life behind? How-"
"Santana," Brittany started, cupping the brunette's cheek with her hand. "Let's…not talk about this anymore, right now."
The Latina reluctantly nodded in agreement and softly kissed Brittany on the cheek."I love you, you know. I reallly do."
Brittany flashed a soft smile. "Ditto." The blonde turned around and laid her head in Santana's lap.
"Turning circles time again
Cuts like a knife, oh now
If you love me, got to know for sure
Cause it takes something more this time
Than sweet, sweet lies, oh now
Before I open my heart, losing all control
Every dream inside my soul..."
And for the rest of the night, nothing was said between the two. Instead, they stayed just as they were, thinking about the incredible summer they had had together.
"When you kiss me on that midnight street
Sweep me off my feet
Singin ain't this life so sweet..."
"Wanna go swimming?" she asked the brunette.
"Yes, that'd be nice."
"Ok, on the count of three. One. Two…"
"Wait! We're gonna jump from up here?" Santana asked with concern.
"Yeah, why not?"
"Well, it's high up, that's gotta be like 25 feet at least!"
"Yeah. Actually it's about 30. And it's fun." Brittany took Santana's hand into her own.
Ready?"
"Alright, alright. I'll go." Santana said, trying to hide the fact that she was a little scared.
Brittany counted "One."
"Two." Santana said.
"Three!….."
Their first date...
"Santana, are we going to Captain John's by any chance?"
"Yes, we sure are." Santana looked at Brittany with a smile.
"This is my favorite place to come over here, how did you know?"
"I just know these things."
"Have you been here before?" Brittany asked.
"Nope."
"Oh Santana, you'll love it." the blonde said, grabbing her arm. "They have a reg-"
"Reggae band, every night?"
Santana's first's sunrise...
"This is pretty cool, isn't it?" Santana asked.
"Yes, it is. The sun should be coming up soon, right over there I think." the blonde replied, pointing a little to the right of the brunette.
Santana stole a glance of Brittany as the blonde was still looking for the sun.
A tear escaped Santana's eye as she thought about their summer. She looked up aimlessly and shook her head with sadness. Then she let out a small laugh.
"Santana, take this." Finn said, handing her the glass of water. "I'm gonna turn this siren on. When I do, throw that water on her face."
"What?" the brunette replied.
"Throw the water on her face" Artie added.
"I can't do that, she'll get mad at me!"
"It's the only way she wakes up. Trust us."
"This year's love had better last
This year's love had better last
'Cause who's to worry if our hearts get torn
When the hurt gets thrown
Dontcha know this life goes
Won't you kiss me on that midnight street
Sweep me off my feet
Singing aint this life so sweet..."
"Hey." Santana said, nudging her girlfriend a little.
"Mmm hmm?" Brittany semi-responded with a mumble.
"I'm not waking you in the morning."
Both girls let out a small chuckle and Brittany added, "I'm not that bad."
"Uh huh."
Brittany nudged herself closer to the brunette, hugging her waist. "Love you Santana."
The brunette slid down a bit to get comfy for the night, finally settling on her back. "Love you too, Brittany. So much."
"This year's love had better last..."
The following day, the group got off to a late start. Almost everyone woke up either hungover or still drunk from the night before…with the exception of a few. Nevertheless, everyone on the docks had a joint-cookout, just as they did every year.
Most of the day, however, was spent packing up for the trip back to Lima Point. Brittany took Santana inland once more to get postcards and miscellaneous souvenirs while Finn, Artie and Puck went to the north side of the island to stock up on more beer for the ride home.
Around five in the afternoon, the guests from Lima Point pulled out of the marina.
"This is Night Moves to Point Lookout, over." Brittany called from her radio.
"Pierce! You guys have a safe trip back home, okay? Over."
"Will do. Thanks Terri, as always, for an awesome weekend!"
"Of course! See you next year!"
"This is Queen Bee, thanks Point Lookout!"
"Yeah, Pathfinder to Point Lookout…Thanks!"
"Glamorous to Poin-"
"Thanks Point Lookout, this is-"
As the boaters scrambled their thanks to the marina, Santana, who was riding with Brittany in her boat, thanks to Artie offering to captain her boat back, walked up and linked her arm with her girlfriend's. "Good times."
"Yeah." The blonde replied with a smile.
A few hours later, the fleet was back at the Lima Point Marina. Everyone pulled into their slips and helped each other tie in. Finn stepped off of the last boat and cracked open a car of beer. "Man, it's good to be home! Who's ready to party?"
Everyone chuckled and, of course, everyone was in…except for Sue.