AN: Hi again! Chapter 12 is finally here. The support like always has been awesome!

SPECIAL THANKS to: Readers that have shared personal stories with me. Please know that I value all your honesty greatly and it gives me a lot to think about while writing. I think it was chapter 1 that I wrote this story would be a big stretch for me and I don't think I even realized how true that statement would be. Obviously, if you've been reading my authors notes you know that I'm not a lesbian, bisexual or even a women for that matter. (Just a guy that likes Glee- particularly Santana and Brittany-can you blame me? :D) So with that in mind there are many aspects that I'm writing about that I will NEVER truly understand even though I'm trying. Plus, when it comes to the business of escorts I know nothing. So if I make mistakes I hope they are mistakes you can excuse. I'm trying to make this story as realistic as I can without having any real life experience in anything that I'm writing about so please be patient with me and know that I am trying to get the details as right as I can. I know that was a really serious author's note, but I just wanted to clarify a few things that have come up recently.

And now for something that is ALMOST as serious and something that should never be joked about… :p To the anonymous reviewer that said "It would have been less painful to kick Puck in the nuts" last chapter :( Speaking from experience, NO it wouldn't. :( There should be no talk of nut crackin in this story. Puck's or anyone else's, PARTICULARLY MINE! ;) ;)

Thanks and I hope you enjoy Chapter 12! :)

Disclaimer- I don't own much, but I do own more than a lot of people. (Which is sad, but true) So I'm very lucky in many ways, but not as lucky as Ryan Murphy because he owns Glee and I don't. (Come to think of it I'm not sure if he owns Glee…) hmmm… anyone?

Previously on Playing With Fire

Brittany's POV

"Oh my God…You sooo don't get it Puck! The only reason this didn't go horribly wrong was because you were right about one thing and that's that Santana is a good person. She's the only reason I'm not standing here crying telling you how much I regret my first time. I can't believe you thought this was a good idea!" I said shaking my head and backing towards the door. "I can't be here right now. I can't look at you…"

"Brittany wait!" he said, leaping forward and grabbing my wrist.

I looked down at his hand wrapped around my wrist and I felt anything but timid as I yanked it away. "Don't touch me!" I said, looking at him with more disgust than I ever thought possible.

"Britt, I promise I thought I was doing something good for you and Santana." He announced looking like he could cry at any moment. "I never wanted you to get hurt."

"Well you have a funny way of showing it." I said opening the door and running out, tears streaking down my face.

And now Chapter 12- You Have Some Explaining To Do- Part 2

Brittany's POV

I made it back to my apartment in record time thanks to the extreme need to get away from Puck. He had always been a safe place for me, but with this new revelation I now felt vulnerable with him. I had some minor trouble with my front door since my vision was clouded with free flowing tears, but eventually I managed to get it open before collapsing against it in a heap of uncontrollable sobs. 'How could he do this? How am I ever going to be able to trust him again?' I thought as my body quaked in emotional agony.

I sat on the floor for God knows how long as tears ran down my face collecting at the collar of my shirt. 'Puck is such an idiot!' I thought, moving past shock and pain straight to anger. Not only were his actions stupid and reckless, but they could have led to any number of terrible endings. So many what ifs were going through my mind that I was actually starting to feel physically ill picturing the worst case scenario. Not only did every scenario I thought of end with me in tears, but a few could have potentially ended way worse. 'Jail, injury, or a few other unpleasant possibilities' I thought. But out of all of the possible what ifs the one that was causing the most problems currently was, 'What if Puck was right?'

In my mind I hated Puck for his irresponsible plan, but there was also a small part of me that was wondering if he was right in some small way. Of course he had been wrong to set me up the way he did, there was no question there. He used my virginity as a way to entice someone to go out with me. Which was messed up, no doubt! But, could he have been right to hid Santana's job? Could I have allowed something like that to cloud my judgment and prevent me from seeing the real person behind the job? I went back and forth several times thinking there was no way I could judge someone off of their job alone, but then something like the thought of constant danger or potential arrest would spring to mind causing me to switch my thinking before feeling shameful and switching back again.

Finally, I came to the conclusion that I had been right all along. 'There was no way I could judge Santana or anyone else strictly because of their job. That's not the type of person I am!' I said reassuring to myself. 'People are more than what they do for a living. Quinn is a buyer for Macys, but she is more than just a good shopper. Rachel is an aspiring Broadway singer, but she is more than just a pretty voice. Sam is a personal trainer, but he is more than a tight body. Even Puck' I thought, seeing past my anger if only for a minute, 'is more than just a mechanic and Santana I'm sure is no different. She is more than an escort.'

Obviously, if she's an escort, something must have gone wrong somewhere in her life. I can't imagine anyone willingly go into prostitution unless they have no other choice. No child wants to be a prostitute when they grow up; something has to force a person into it. Maybe they have no other choice and that is the only option they have left in order to survive. It saddened me to think that anyone would have to live that lifestyle, that anyone would have to sell their bodies in order to live. I hated myself for scrutinizing these people, for scrutinizing her without knowing the background information. Santana is a person with hopes, fears and pains and she deserves to be treated as such.

Santana said she would try and be honest with me about things. 'Maybe I can just ask her?' I know she wasn't entirely honest about her and Puck's plan, but I guess that is kind of understandable at least from her side. She didn't know me yet and she did tell me the part that was most relevant to her.

At some point while sitting on the floor I managed to stop crying; probably since I was trying to avoid thinking about Puck and what he had done. Puck was a problem that I wasn't prepared to deal with at this point. It was too raw, too fresh and it would be too hard to try and be objective at this point. Santana on the other hand… I had made some progress in understanding at least the things that I did know about her. The rest I could find out in time, but one thing I had to know now was, 'Is she interested in me for real or is this still just a job to her?' I thought.

'Let's find out!' I said pulling my phone out of my pocket and trying to be courageous.

Before I could rethink and lose my nerve I hit send, dialing Santana's number.

"Hello…"Santana said after a few rings sounding groggy.

"Hey…" I said knowing I had probably woken her up.

"Hey… I'm glad you called."

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"I'm okay…" she replied nonchalantly, "still a little sore and tired and DEFINITELY not as good as I was when you were here laying with me and showering me with TLC, but I'm feeling better I guess."

"Well that's sort of what I'm calling about… How would you feel about having some company?" I asked.

"I'd love some. Come over whenever!" she responded.

"Okay, I'll be there shortly."

"Sounds good! Just come in. I'll leave the door open cause I will probably still be in bed."

"Santana…" I said, hesitating slightly feeling even more unsure than I was a moment ago about Santana's motives, "you're not just trying to get me to join you in bed, are you?" I asked trying to sound playful, but honestly wondering if the answer was yes.

"Maybe…" she said flirtatiously "is it working?"

"I guess you'll have to wait and see…" I responded not wanting to get into anything further over the phone and still trying to stick to this little game we were playing.

"Okay, I'll see you soon."

"Bye" I said hitting the end button and putting my phone back in my pocket.

Slowly, I picked myself off the floor and took a glance in the hall mirror. "Uggg…" I groaned, 'I look a mess' I thought, grabbing a tissue and blotting under my eyes trying to wipe away the streaked mascara that had run down my face. Quickly, after feeling satisfied that I had masked my tears as best I could, I threw my hair up in a ponytail and grabbed my purse before heading out the door.

'Here goes nothing." I thought.

Santana's POV

After hanging up the phone I knew I had a huge grin on my face that I couldn't manage to wipe away.

"So that was your honey dip…" Tina stated with a smirk, obviously overhearing at least part of my conversation with Brittany and bursting my joyful bubble.

"You know it's not polite to eavesdrop" I said after rolling my eyes.

"Who cares about being polite?" Tina said leaning against the door frame. "It's fun and how else am I going to learn anything about you? You never tell me anything…" she said walking towards me and sitting on the bed.

"Maybe I would tell you more if you weren't such a gossip and didn't always tell everyone my business when I told you stuff."

"Please… I don't always tell people what you tell me." Tina said sounding insulted.

"Are you kidding me?" I said cocking my eyebrow suggestively. "You do remember the time that I told you my secret celebrity crush was the progressive insurance girl, Flo?"

"Oh yeah…" Tina said in between giggles as her laughter shook the bed. "That was hysterical! I had to tell Lauren it was too funny not too."

"Well now…thanks to you and your big mouth…" I said glaring at Tina who was still laughing, "every day I get a new letter in the mail trying to get me to switch insurance companies because Lauren thought it would be funny to put me on their mailing list."

Tina started laughing equally as hard yet again. "Oh come on that's funny." She said.

'I guess it's a little funny' I thought secretly, knowing there was no way I would ever tell Tina or Lauren that.

"Anyway…" I said rolling my eyes signaling it was time to move on. "Yes, that was Brittany and she's coming over so that means it's time for you to go."

"Fine…" Tina said looking disappointed, "but you better give me the scoop on this new girl of yours!"

"Sure…" I said sarcastically, "that's next on my to do list after I tell Figgins he can take our jobs and shove em up his ass."

"Whatever…" Tina said knowing it was a losing battle and rising from the bed to walk towards the door.

"Tina…" I said with a chuckle trying to stop her before she left. "Thanks for taking care of me."

"No prob…" she responded knowing I was sincere, catching the change in my tone before turning and leaving my apartment.

After Tina left I was left alone with my thoughts. I was glad that Brittany was coming over again and didn't just call to check on me, but something about Brittany's tone seemed off. 'I hope she isn't having second thoughts' I said to myself.

After nervously wondering for about 20 minutes what Brittany's motives were I heard the front door open and a few seconds later the beautiful blonde walked through my bedroom door.

"Hey…" I said nervously, noticing her oddly stiff body language.

"Hi" she said emotionlessly back, standing firmly planted in her spot practically across the room.

"Do you want to come sit?" I asked hesitantly.

She stood there for a moment expressionless and I began to think the worst. 'She must have had time to think about everything and decided that she couldn't handle my life. I couldn't blame her. Look at me' I thought glancing down at a few of the bruises along my forearms. 'Who would want to willingly get involved with someone they had to constantly worry about getting attacked, raped, or even worse.' I thought.

"Brittany…" I said hoping to break the hold that particular piece of flooring had on her, "are you okay?"

Still nothing…the tension watching her stand there was killing me.

Finally, after what felt like a lifetime she took a few slow exaggerated steps toward me. Now she was standing about a foot away from the side of my bed.

"Can I ask you a question?" she said breaking her agonizing silence.

I attempted to take in a calming breath, but somehow I only managed to make it harder to breathe because now there was zero oxygen left in my lungs as I tried to speak. "S-Sure" I finally breathed out.

"Do you like me?" she asked seriously, not breaking her statuesque stance.

The question was so ridiculous I actually scoff out of habit. "Of course I like you!" I replied scrunching my forehead in confusion.

Her posture and features had yet to soften like I had hoped after my declaration.

"And this isn't just about sex?" she asked standing intimidatingly over me.

"What…?" I asked not understanding the direction of this conversation. "No! Of course not! If this…" I said pointing back and forth between us "was only about sex I would have somehow gotten you to sleep with me the night of your party. I like you Brittany and I want more than that."

Brittany looked like she was considering my answer because for the first time her expression slipped. Watching the normally happy, bubbly, beautiful girl standing above me, pulled so taunt like she could snap at any moment like a rubber band, was torture to me. I couldn't stand not knowing what was coming next. 'Where did this conversation even come from?' I thought. 'This is not what I was expecting when she asked to come over.'

And just then Brittany did something even more unexpected.

"Good!" she said before reaching up, grabbing the zipper to her jacket and slowly pulling it down before removing the jacket entirely and discarding it to the floor.

Before I could even process what was going on Brittany had also discarded her tank top and was now standing above me dressed in only her jeans and bra. I could say nothing as I took in the sight of her bare skin.

'She's beautiful!' I thought gazing upon her soft, smooth, warm body.

At some point during the time I spent ogling her body she somehow managed to climb onto the bed to straddle my legs.

"What are you doing?" I asked studying her expression.

"What's it look like I'm doing." She said leaning forward to kiss along my neck.

Brittany's lips inched agonizingly slow along my neck probably trying not to apply too much pressure for fear of hurting me. She was succeeding if that was her goal, but a new ache was starting to rise and that was the aching beginning to deepen in my core. I felt her lips ghosting over my pulse point causing my breath catch and my heart rate to quicken. 'Oh God' I thought as she continued to kiss upward trailing the tip of her tongue towards my ear.

'Fuck' I thought as she sucked my earlobe into her mouth. The shock of Brittany's action caused me to grip her hips forcefully trying and failing to suppress a moan.

Before I could recover, feeling dazed after Brittany let go of my ear, I watched her pull back to a sitting position and reach around for the clasp to her bra.

'What the hell is going on?' I thought trying to catch up and find my better judgment. Brittany's actions were making it difficult since my body was already buzzing with arousal and I knew if I didn't stop and figure it out now I would never be able to stop her.

"Brittany wait…" I said reaching around her back to still her hands and prevent her from exposing her breast.

"What is really going on here?" I asked after getting Brittany to stop her efforts to undress.

"What?" she asked looking upset "You don't want me?"

"Yes! Of course I want you," I said cupping her cheek in an effort to reassure her since it seemed like my actions had offended her, "but I'm just trying to catch up and understand what's going on here. I thought you wanted to wait."

"I did. I mean I do!" she said shifting off of my legs and sitting with her back to me on the edge of the bed.

"Then what's going on?" I asked reaching out to stroke her back.

In response to my question Brittany dropped her head and looked at her hands in her lap.

"You can talk to me…" I pleaded, sitting up and inching closer so I could really rub her back. She looked so lost sitting there playing with her fingers.

"Hey…" I said reaching for her hands. "You can trust me."

"Can I?" she asked weakly watching our joined hands.

"Yes!" I responded easily knowing it was true for probably the first time ever.

Brittany sat pondering my response as I waited for her to continue. It wasn't easy sitting there knowing I just had to wait until she was ready to speak, but I had to try. I needed to be patient.

"Puck told me about your deal." She finally said turning to face me.

The shock of the moment caused me to drop my hand from Brittany's back and sit there in stunned silence.

"He told me that he asked you to take my virginity."

The silence was suffocating and I was at a complete loss for what to say considering Puck swore to me he would never breathe a word of this to anyone.

"Brittany…" I said realizing she was waiting for me to say something. "I-I…don't know what to say."

"How bout the truth! You said you would try and be honest with me and yet you were okay with hiding the fact that you knew I was a virgin the night of my party."

"Well kind of a lot has changed." I said feeling like it was an unfair comparison. "I hardly knew you then, but I'm trying to be honest now. I told you about my job which was possibly the hardest thing I have ever done. I told you that I want to pursue a relationship with you which is completely outside my character. I told you I like you and this isn't about sex for me. What more do you want?"

"I need to know that I'm not a job to you."

"Is that what this was all about?" I said finally starting to catch up. "Was this like some kind of test to see if I would go through with my part of the deal?"

"No, it's not like that…" Brittany said turning quickly to look me in my eyes.

"Cause it kinda seems that way." I said trying to quell the rising anger.

"I didn't mean for it to come across that way." She said starting to pout.

"So that IS what you taking your shirt off was all about?" I said trying to remind myself to stay calm.

"I'm sorry!" she said dropping her shoulders. "I'm just really confused right now. My best friend lied to me and was completely shady about this whole thing and then he told me about the original plan and I just… I didn't understand so I went a little crazy I guess."

Trying to keep my anger at bay I sighed deeply hoping the deep breath would help me and keep me from saying something I would regret.

"Britt…" I said reaching out to hold her hand. "If this is going to work we have to trust each other."

"I agree!" she said gripping my hand tighter. "But that's kinda hard to do when you have one person you just met telling you one thing and someone you've known practically all your life telling you something different. How was I supposed to know what's true and what's not? You're right we hardly know each other and that's why I went a little crazy today. I didn't know who to believe."

'Wow…' I thought. 'This is insane!' But the more I thought about it, the more I thought that she might have a point.

"I'm not mad." I said hearing the strange words come out of my mouth and realizing the even stranger thing was that they were true. "I get it. I would have doubted me too, but how bout from now on we try and trust each other. What do I have to do to get you to trust me?"

"Just be honest with me." She said. "Are there any more surprises I'm going to get hit with?"

"Well…" I said trying to think. "You know about my job. You know about the original plan. You know that I got beat up. You do know that I'm a lesbian, right?" I asked trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah…" she said giggling, "I kinda guessed that part."

"Well then, I can't really think of any other bombs off the top of my head." I said smiling. "But if I do I promise I will tell you."

"That's all I'm asking for." Brittany responded happily.

"Okay…" I said finally starting to relax. "I can try to talk to you more about my feelings and be honest about my job and my life, but I need you to know that it's not easy for me and that I might mess up from time to time."

"That's okay as long as you're trying I can be happy with that."

"Good! So now that that's settled, what now?" I asked.

"It's getting pretty late and it has been an extremely long day so I think I better head home and try and get some sleep. Besides you need your rest too."

"You can stay here if you want. No funny business I promise." I said holding up my hands and smiling.

"Okay…" Brittany replied with a smile of her own.

I scooted over to give her room while she took off her shoes just like we had done last night and this time she easily accepted it tucking herself in next to me under the covers. I was facing her unlike last night which gave me the perfect opportunity to do something I had wanted to do since the morning after meeting the gorgeous blonde.

"Britt, I hope you don't think this falls under the category of funny business," I said feeling nervous for some reason "but can I kiss you?" I asked. "I feel like we haven't really kissed and I think we can agree that first night shouldn't count since there were too many secrets preventing it from really being real and ever since then it has always been you kissing me due to my injuries."

Brittany smiled and even in the dim lighting of my bedroom I could plainly see how bright it was.

"I think we can make an exception this once." She said causing me to breathe a sigh of relief.

Feeling confident that she wanted this as much as I did I reached up and tucked some stray blonde hair behind her ear, letting my hand linger to cup her cheek. Her skin was warm and smooth to the touch, so I gently stroked her cheek with the back of my fingers before slowly leaning forward to capture her lips with mine.

I wanted this kiss to last forever. The feel of her lips gliding against mine and the touch of her tongue felt amazing. The kiss was soft and tender, partially because I knew I couldn't put too much pressure thanks to my busted lip, and partially because there was no reason to rush. This would be the first of many kisses to come and it felt great knowing that I had finally found someone I could be myself around and I wanted to savor this feeling and make it last for as long as humanly possible.

AN: Wow this is the first chapter in awhile that didn't end with at least a little cliffhanger. Enjoy it; there will be more cliffhangers to come in later chapters. But, rest easy for now knowing that the secrets I laid out from the beginning are more or less done and over with. :D

Hope everyone enjoyed this first portion of my story! It was a lot of fun to write and I feel like I have grown as a writer in the process (a little) thanks to a few people that know who they are. (If any of you have read Becoming the Lopez Pierce Family (my first story) you know how true that statement actually is) :) I don't want you to think that I'm trying to pimp that story because I'm not. Actually, looking back on it now it's kind of a hot mess, even though the storyline was cute I guess.

Also, I'm wondering if anyone caught a hidden secret of mine in this chapter. Start the guessing game in the review section. I have a feeling now that I told you it's a SECRET it won't be too hard to figure out. LOL

Thanks as always for reading and send me a review if you feel I deserve one.

THANKS!

Over and out for now. ;) Next up… chapter 13- The first REAL date (Might not mean what you think it means…) SORRY- I had to tease at least a little. ;) ;)

Take care!

Drew