A/N: Just want to say thanks to Becca once again for her beta job. She makes my ramblings so much better!
Over 200 reviews wow. Once again I never thought I would get that many. Thanks to everyone for those reviews/adds/alerts and all you lurkers as well for reading. You are all great and make me want to write better and faster. So on with the show. Hope you all enjoy it."
Chapter 12
The warmth emanating from Olivia was addictive and Santana found she didn't really want to relinquish her hold. She knew that it was ridiculous and was sure that it would sound even odder than it was if she vocalised the thought. Santana could not remember the last time that she experienced the comfort and familiarity of a hug. Well, voluntarily that was.
Santana didn't remember being manhandled by the paramedics and her hospital stay was hazy. She had a vague recollection of her sobbing mother draping her body over her own and she recalled waking to find both Mercedes and Kurt holding her hands. But hugs, outside the hospital, were not something people would associate with her. She always had her arms folded across her chest as a warning that she was not to be touched. Most wouldn't even want to touch her even if they had the opportunity because her reputation as a bitch preceded her.
As a kid she had been hugged; her nanny had hugged her and she could recall that her mother had hugged her when she was really young, but at some point it had stopped. She wasn't sure when or why. Maybe she was too old, or too stubborn, but whatever the case, it had been a long time since anyone had shown such joy at just seeing her that they just had to hold her. She liked it.
She did not even hug the women with whom she enjoyed her brief and occasional dalliances. She didn't hold hands, she didn't murmur sweet nothings, sometimes they did not even share a kiss. Santana had to admit that the only types of hugs she generally received from anyone were of the naked sweaty kind. Even then she wasn't that into them lingering, she usually got rid of her conquests quickly. Intimacy had never been her strong suit and the few times that she attempted to learn it was quickly shoved back in her face.
Santana fought the scowl that wanted to overtake her features at her less than happy thoughts. Now wasn't the time to dwell upon that shit as she had more pressing matters at hand than her fucked up relationship issues and problems with intimacy. Taking a deep breath Santana pulled back slightly. After she removed one of her hands from Olivia's back Santana grasped Olivia's chin and tilted her head back.
"Where's your mom?" Santana asked as Olivia pulled her face from her grasp and resumed her previous position. Santana placed her hand back and continued to hold the little girl in her arms. Olivia didn't' seem like she wanted to move and Santana wasn't going to force her.
"At work," Olivia mumbled into her neck and Santana felt her brow crease further with that information. She didn't know how Olivia had gotten here but the helmet that Will was holding was giving Santana a clue and some very unpleasant visuals.
"Okay," Santana said, the word drawn out as she flicked her gaze towards Emma who in turn looked towards Will and then back towards Olivia, "then how did you get here?"
"On my bike," Olivia answered immediately, her breath washing over Santana's shoulder.
"On your bike? Well who brought you?" Santana asked, secretly hoping that it was Brittany who had brought Olivia with her to return her sweater and just had yet to make an appearance.
A small silence stretched out and Santana's stomach twisted violently as it dragged on. Looking up towards the doorway Santana could only see two people and neither of them were who she wanted to see. She wanted to see a flash of blonde and two beautifully captivating turquoise eyes. Instead, all she got was two faces with looks each equally apologetic and slightly uncomfortable.
"She was on her own," Will answered after a time, breaking the silence. His mouth turned down at the sides and his brow creased as he softly relayed the information in his possession.
"On her own? What do you mean on her own?" Santana demanded of Will as she allowed some of her confusion to pour into her voice.
It wasn't exactly what Santana had wanted to hear, but at the same time it was the news she had been expecting and dreading since Olivia had flown into her arms. In a way the kid was a little rebel, Santana knew it was one of the things that endeared her to her, and it was also the thing that was making her concerned.
"I mean, she was at the gate on her bike, alone. There was no one else there. She pressed the buzzer and Emma answered the intercom. She contacted me and I went down to open the gates personally as soon as I could."
Santana nodded and sent both of her two employees' grateful looks despite the frown that had now firmly fixed itself on her brow. "You were by yourself? You came all the way here on your own? Do you know how dangerous that is?" Santana asked Olivia desperately trying to keep the worry and frustration from pouring her tone. She didn't know how she could stress the danger of Olivia's actions without upsetting the small girl.
"Yeah. I had to cross two big roads," Olivia said as she pulled back slightly and looked into Santana's eyes.
"You could have been hurt Olivia," Santana told the small girl finally allowing a small sliver of her emotions to seep through.
It immediately had a reaction. Santana caught the brief shimmer of tears as Olivia's head dipped slightly, reminding Santana of that short time after they had first met, when she had taken her home and had tried to reassure Brittany that Olivia was fine.
"I was careful, honest. I rode on the sidewalk and used all the crosswalks. Besides, I had my helmet on and I didn't ride too fast." Olivia swore as she looked up again with her eyes shimmering.
Santana sighed at the given explanation. "That's not exactly what I meant."
When Olivia didn't reply and just looked away Santana resisted the urge to turn her head back. She wanted to demand that Olivia look at her and tell her she understood that her actions had been reckless. She knew Olivia was fearless and she knew Olivia was just a kid and that she probably wasn't thinking about all the dangers riding a small bike 6 miles entailed. Santana however was and couldn't seem to shake them. She could not rid herself of the image of Olivia riding all that way alone. Her stomach felt heavy and her throat seemed to tighten with every word from Olivia's mouth.
"Okay then, where is your mom?" Santana needed to know where the kid's mom was, because she just knew in her heart that Brittany didn't have a clue where Olivia was and the whole thing had disaster written all over it in a huge red letters.
"Mom is at work." Olivia nodded her head and moved closer to Santana as if seeking comfort.
"She always has extra classes on Saturdays for her advanced students, sometimes she lets me come with her."
"Olivia, your mom doesn't know you're here, does she?" Santana asked hesitantly.
"No," Olivia whispered so quietly that Santana strained to hear. But she did hear it and it caused her eyes to close as she inhaled deeply.
Santana shook her head and held back another sigh, "does anyone know you're here?" She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer, but at the same time she knew she had to find out. Unfortunately, along with any confirmation of her assumption came a pile of consequences she wasn't sure she was really equipped to deal with.
"No," Olivia whispered once more.
"Shit," Santana muttered to herself as she thought of what Brittany had been like the last time she taken home a wandering Olivia. It hadn't been pretty and Santana knew that this time had the potential to be worse.
"Santana!" The sudden shout of her name delivered with such outrage and reproach caused Santana to lift her head towards the source of the sound. Emma was still standing in the room looking disapprovingly at her employer while her husband stood slightly behind her with his free hand resting upon her shoulder.
"What?" Santana asked Emma, her brows lifted along with the question. Seconds later Emma's small hand indicated to the child in her arms which caused Santana to roll her eyes and drop her gaze to Olivia. The small girl pulled back her eyes wide and as a little smile played upon her lips. Santana shot her a wink, "I never said that okay?"
"Okay. I won't tell anyone," Olivia agreed, the small smile growing into the usual beaming one for the first time since Santana had begun her questioning.
"Do you have your cell phone on you Olivia?" Santana asked and almost immediately the smile on Olivia's face faded. Santana didn't want to upset the kid but she didn't see any other way around this situation. Olivia was technically missing and would remain that way until Santana informed her guardians of her location.
"Yeah," the small blonde nodded, "mom says I always have to have it with me if I'm outside, even when she's with me. Just in case I get lost or something…" with that, Olivia's voice trailed off and Santana's mind automatically filled in the blanks.
"Okay, hand it over." Santana held out her hand, waiting for the small device to be relinquished. She had never exchanged numbers with Brittany and therefore had no way in which to contact her. She only knew where she lived and Olivia said she wasn't there, so that left her with one other option.
"Do I have to?" Olivia asked with a pout that Santana was determined to not allow to sway her.
"Yes, I'm gonna have to call your mom," Santana explained softly.
"Why?"
Santana lifted her brows as soon as the question left Olivia's lips. She knew that the kid knew why she had to call her mom. Humouring her, Santana answered her question regardless. "Because she will be worried when she finds out you're not at home, I know that you know that."
"She's gonna be mad," Olivia stated her hands flexing where they rested against Santana's neck.
"Yeah, she is," Santana said with a nod. She had no intention of denying something that was the truth. The kid didn't need her to sugar coat it, she had first-hand experience in worrying her mom and she knew what to expect.
Olivia sighed deeply and Santana watched on as she sucked on her bottom lip. She released it with an audible 'pop' and then spoke. "She's probably going to ground me or Gran will tell her to, she did last time."
"Probably," Santana agreed. She didn't think the kid was going to get away with it this time. Last time, she had been forced to spend a week after school with the red-headed kid (which, honestly, sounded horrible). This time, Santana knew that the punishment would probably be worse.
"Maybe you can talk to her like last time?" Olivia's eyes lit up with her question and Santana couldn't help the peel of laughter that escaped her.
"Oh, you want me to deflect again, huh?"
"Yeah." As Olivia nodded and smiled brightly once more, Santana couldn't help but return the kid's grin: it was infectious.
"Hand over the phone and I'll see what I can do," Santana offered as she held up one of her hands, the palm outstretched and ready.
Olivia's mouth twisted to the right before she gave a single shrug of her shoulders. Reaching into her pocket of her blue coat she liberated a small pink flip phone. "Okay."
"Okay? Just like that?" Santana asked with a dip of a single brow as Olivia placed the cell in her hand. She had honestly been expecting the kid to put up more of a fight; she knew she would have at that age. After the worried looks and the confession about fear of getting into trouble, her ready compliance confused Santana. However, the reason was quickly revealed.
"Yep, I give you my phone and I have a milkshake while you call mom right?" It wasn't a deal that Santana recalled making, but she didn't see how she could say no. So instead she just nodded her head as Olivia started to talk again. "I'm really thirsty after my ride, it was super long and there were two hills I had to climb, actually they were more like mountains, I could swear I was in the clouds at one point. I even thought I would have to walk up them at one point they were so steep."
"Olivia you are something else." Santana shook her head along with her words.
Olivia smiled brightly at Santana's comment, which she saw as a compliment. Then she suddenly twisted her small body around as her eyes scanned the whole room. "Where's Bonaparte?"
"Should've known that was coming," Santana mumbled to herself. She still didn't know why Olivia had come all the way to see her on her own. As much as she desperately wanted to know what had caused Olivia to risk serious punishment in coming here, she didn't think she would find out the reason for at least a little while, or not until Olivia was ready. During their first meeting the kid had proven to her that she could be stubborn and evasive. The fact that a milkshake and the whereabouts of her dog had been enquired about made Santana think it wasn't anything pressing or serious. So, for the time being, she would let it go.
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
"I didn't see him when I came in." Santana nodded even though she didn't quite know which 'in' Olivia was referring to. It could be the gardens or the house and the little menace could be in either. He had taken to wandering into the woods over the last few days.
Emma however seemed to have knowledge that no one else did and didn't take long in answering Olivia's question. This, in turn, solved the two second old mystery of the missing French bulldog. "He's in the kitchens eating his lunch, why don't you come with me while I make your milkshake and you can see him and help me, if you like."
She really didn't want to talk to Brittany while Olivia was in the room because she knew that, in all likelihood, the other woman was going to freak-out and Olivia didn't need to hear that. Emma, it seemed, had also realized this fact and Santana gave a small nod of her head in acknowledgment at her housekeeper.
"Really?" Olivia's eyes shifted back around from Emma to Santana as she looked for permission. Santana nodded her head as Olivia released her hold on her neck and stepped back. Within seconds the little blonde was gone and was standing next to Emma. "Gran lets me help in the kitchen sometimes."
"Well then, I am sure you're going to be very useful to me. Strawberry right?" Emma looked down towards Olivia for confirmation that wasn't there. Instead, the girl shook her head.
"Nah, can I have something different? I was thinking maybe chocolate or banana, or maybe chocolate-banana."
"Well… we will have a look at what we have in stock."
"Okay." Olivia nodded accepting the housekeeper's words before she looked around her eyes instantly connecting with Santana's. "You'll have one to right Santana? I don't want to drink one by myself."
She knew that she probably shouldn't have one, seeing as milkshakes were definitely on her disallowed list. Then again, so was coffee and alcohol, so what the hell?
"I…err...sure, why not?" Santana stuttered for a moment before she nodded her head and allowed Olivia to have her way. She ignored the shocked look that Emma was giving her for drinking something other than her two favourite poisons of choice.
"Cool, I'll wait for you!" Olivia beamed back and Santana knew that she had made the little girl happy for the moment. At some point in the day the smile was going to have to fade which made Santana resolve to keep the kid happy for a little while.
"We can have them outside right?"
"Sure, milkshakes on the patio. I wouldn't miss it." After she received another beaming smile, Santana watched on as Emma, Will and the ever buoyant Olivia made their way from the room.
She couldn't help but smile herself at the thought of spending a little more time with Olivia - the girl was a little ray of sunshine in her otherwise grey and monotonous life. She didn't look at her like everyone else. Santana didn't know why, call it youth or ignorance, but she just didn't seem to see all the bullshit she carried around with her. It was uplifting, and while she was still shocked and exasperated at the fact the kid had just turned up she couldn't help the fact that she was glad she had.
She knew a lot of people wouldn't understand why she didn't mind Olivia's presence, or why she wasn't sending her straight back home. Santana would also admit that she was actually one of them. She didn't quite understand anything about her relationship with Olivia other than the fact that she was fun to be around and fun in every form was something that was missing from Santana's life. Other than escaping through her music and the occasional night out with Kurt and Mercedes, it had been for a long time since anything, or anyone, had made her feel insouciant. Olivia offered her something carefree and light and all she asked for in return was an ice-cold beverage, her canine and a little attention.
However, that fun would have to wait for a little while. Santana stared at the little piece of pink plastic in her hand. She wasn't really looking forward to what was to come, but she knew she couldn't put it off. She had a mother's worry to ignite and extinguish before enjoying a chocolate-banana milkshake that was waiting for her.
"Brittany?"
At the sound of her name Brittany automatically turned and found her eyes falling on the speaker, Matt Rutherford. Her fellow dance teacher and sometimes dance partner. He was currently poking his head through the door with his ever present half smile.
"Yeah?" Brittany smiled and gave Matt a small wave which he eagerly returned.
"Phone call."
"I'm kinda busy here Matt," Brittany said through her smile as she pointed to the group of teenaged girls who were still mimicking her earlier moves. They weren't too bad and it wasn't taking that long to teach them her intricate routine which was surprising her. Some were naturally better than others, but they were all giving it their best and that was all Brittany ever asked.
"I know," Matt acknowledged with a tilt his head, "it sounds important though." Brittany pondered Matt's words as he finally stepped into the room. It was rare that anyone called her when she was working. Olivia was taken care of and, as a rule, didn't call her. Her mom generally left messages with whoever was at reception and Allie texted her. The only other people she spent any regular time with also worked here. So it wasn't like they needed to contact her via phone.
"You go and I'll take over," Matt offered graciously, drawing Brittany from her thoughts.
"You sure?" Brittany asked to be polite. She knew his one on one session had cancelled this morning due to some emergency. So he had been working by himself - hard from the sheen of sweat she could see covering his sleek body. She didn't want to impose upon him more than she already had over the past few weeks, impositions due entirely to Olivia.
"Yeah, yeah, go before I change my mind."
"Ok, you remember the choreography right?" Brittany asked, knowing that she had tried it out on him before releasing it on her class. Admittedly, he had more experience than her girls, but she needed the extra input just to make sure she wasn't pushing them too hard.
"I do, go answer you call Miss Pierce." Brittany nodded and smiled as she heard Matt start to dish out orders to some of those lagging behind. Quickly making her way from the studio and into the corridor, it didn't take Brittany more than a few seconds to reach the reception of the small dance studio.
It didn't surprise her in the slightest to find Tina was sitting behind the desk. Usually a couple of their older and more advanced students manned the desk for them. They did it in exchange for some extra cash and free studio time, but the other woman was free for the day as far as
Brittany knew. She probably gave whoever was supposed to be working the day off.
To Brittany Tina looked busy and frustrated, but there was nothing surprising about that when Brittany realized what she was looking at. Tina's brow was creased and she was rapidly chewing on the end of a pencil as she stared at the large ledger open in front of her. Brittany knew that book well, it detailed their accounts and she would quickly admit to not understanding a thing that was in it.
"There's a call for me?" Brittany asked as she drew level with Tina and leaned upon the semi-circle of wood and metal that separated the two of them. "Bookkeeping?"
Tina looked up with a grimace, "yep, hey do you think you can get your mom to look at these? I try and I try, but I can't seem to make sense of it. I know it's not very Asian of me, but what can I say? I suck."
"Sure, I'll take them home with me," Brittany said, her mom was an accountant and she was a good one too. Brittany knew that the older woman would probably moan, but she would do it as long as her daughter asked. At the end of the day she didn't want her oldest daughter's livelihood to fail. The added bonus was that she would do it for free.
"Excellent, I'm just running to Flavor for lunch, you want the usual?" Tina asked as she grabbed her purse from the desk and quickly stood up from her chair.
"Yeah, that'd be great Tina, thanks." Brittany smiled, already hungry at the thought of a sandwich from the deli just down the street.
"No problem. The phone is just there. Be right back," Tina said with a point and then fled the studio. Brittany watched her retreating form for a second before she claimed her seat. She picked up the receiver with a smile, pressed the piece of plastic to her ear, and gave her generic introduction, "Dancesation Dance Studio. Brittany S. Pierce speaking, how may I help you?"
"Hello, Brittany?"
Brittany frowned at the voice on the other end. It sounded familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. Nodding her head needlessly Brittany quickly answered, "Yes, this is Brittany, can I help you?"
"It's Santana. Umm… you remember me right?" Brittany felt her heart skip a beat as the hesitant voice came over the line. It belonged to the woman she hadn't been able to banish from her mind since the first time they met, and she had asked her if she remembered her. How could she forget?
"Yeah, of course I remember you Santana."
"I'm sorry to call you at work…"
"It's okay," Brittany quickly scrambled to reassure Santana that she didn't mind. Sure, she had been dragged out of her class, but she genuinely didn't care. It was nice to hear from Santana. She had wanted to talk to her ever since that day. She had wanted to explain her actions, but her own fear and confusion had stopped her. "I have been meaning to…" Brittany trailed off suddenly as another thought occurred to her. She hadn't told Santana where she worked, never mind given her the number. "Wait, how do you know my work number?"
"Olivia." Santana gave a one word explanation that Brittany couldn't help but nod along with - it sounded just like her daughter.
"She gave you my work number? When? I don't remember that." She was sure she would have remembered her daughter passing over slip of paper with her digits on it.
"She gave it to me just now." Santana confessed to Brittany softly. The blonde's face formed a puzzled smile.
"Now? Is this a joke? Because she can't have given it to you just now, she's with my mom, at home, like miles away from both you and me." Brittany couldn't help the short bark of laughter that accompanied her words. She knew it was the truth, her sister had texted her when she had dropped Olivia home. She also hadn't had a call from her frantic mother telling her Olivia had skipped out on her.
"I don't want to worry you Brittany, but she isn't with your mom. She is here at my house with me," Santana said and Brittany felt her mouth drop open in shock before a frown created two creases on her brow.
"What? Look, Santana I don't find this funny," Brittany told the other woman. Olivia being places other than where she was supposed to be wasn't something that Brittany found humour in, Santana should know that. She had been a front row witness to her mental breakdown in regards to her daughter's behaviour.
"I'm not trying to be, Brittany." The reply was so gentle and full of honestly that Brittany instantly believed it.
"You're not joking? You're being serious?" Brittany felt her shock return full force as she allowed Santana's short statement to sink in.
"Unfortunately, Brittany, I am very serious, she rode her bike here."
"She what?" Brittany all but screamed down the phone. She couldn't believe what Santana had just told her about her daughter. Olivia had ridden her bike all the way to Santana's house. Sure it wasn't far by car, but on foot it was a good forty to fifty minute walk. "Oh my God, is she ok? She isn't hurt, is she?"
"Listen, Brittany, try and calm down. She's fine."
"I want to speak to her now," Brittany demanded, ignoring Santana's call for her to keep calm. She had already found out that she didn't handle Olivia in potentially bad situations well. Despite Santana's plea, calm wasn't something she could deal with at the moment. She could barely hear her own thoughts over the roar of panic that was flooding her chest.
"She's gone with Emma to get something to drink."
"I can't believe it, oh my god; it's really far to your house." Brittany said vocalising her earlier thoughts.
"Brittany you have to listen to me, she's fine. Nothing's wrong with her, other than a little wind burn on her cheeks." Brittany knew from Santana's soothing tone and her desperate attempt to trying to reassure her that Olivia wasn't hurt, her panic and fear must be pouring into her tone. Still, she couldn't help it. Brittany heard the words Santana was saying, but her mind wasn't processing them properly. It was like she was stuck in a tunnel without any doors or windows to actuality, all she saw was what could have happened. She felt her stomach churn as a million and one images flashed into her mind of her daughter riding her bike down car filled roads. "She could have gotten run over, or abducted, or oh my god, I don't even know what to think. It's like that day all over again."
"I can't believe she would do this, she knows better." She needed to call her mom. Brittany knew the other woman couldn't have known that Olivia was gone yet otherwise she would have called her. "My mom is going to be worried sick, I have to call her and let her know." Brittany looked around frantically for her cell phone before she remembered that it was in her bag in the studio.
She was halfway off her chair and in the process of going for her cellwhen Santana called out in a desperate attempt to try and gain her attention, "Brittany!"
It didn't work and Brittany kept rambling, "Tina's just left to get lunch and only Matt's here. I have to get my stuff and have someone cover the rest of my classes…" Brittany trailed off as she grabbed a piece of paper and the pencil that Tina had been chewing upon. She could leave Tina a message and tell Matt what happened. She knew that skipping out wasn't professional, but at this point she didn't care. Tina, Matt and her classes would understand. Olivia always came first.
"Brittany!" Santana tried again.
"I'll be right there Santana, I promise. I am so sorry that she has done this again," Brittany apologised for her daughter. She had the feeling that Olivia probably didn't think she had done anything wrong. Brittany had no doubt that Olivia had just seen it as an adventure and another opportunity to visit her new friend. She doubted her daughter thought of the worry her little trip would cause.
"Brittany, please listen to me, take a deep breath and try to calm down," Santana insisted, her voice louder and firmer and instantly gaining Brittany's attention. However, Brittany didn't think she could do what the other woman was telling her to.
"I can't calm down," Brittany insisted. She really couldn't, her heart was pounding rapidly in her chest. The more she thought of what her daughter had done, the more frantic she became.
"You can, look she is honestly fine, she's not hurt, and as long as she is here she will not come to any harm. There is no need to rush," Santana said calmly and soothingly and Brittany got the idea that the woman was trying to stop her from rushing headlong to her car and driving to her location at high speed.
The words Santana used, the placating tone and the whole situation in general caused a flash of anger to ignite in Brittany's chest. Seconds later, even though Brittany knew it was wrong, it spilled out. "No need to rush?" She asked indignantly, "of course there is a need to rush. She's my baby, the one thing in the whole world that's all mine, the one thing I have sworn to love and protect forever."
As soon as her words were out Brittany heard a deep sigh come over the line, quickly followed by Santana's voice. "Look that didn't come out right, what I meant is, you sound kind of frantic and worried Brittany. I know I don't have much experience with kids and stuff like this and probably have no right to say this," Santana paused and Brittany held her breath as she waited for Santana to continue, "but maybe you should calm down a little before you come and get her. You don't want to rush here and have something happen on the way because you are worried or angry about what is happening."
"You're right, you have no right to say that," Brittany replied softly, her voice lacking its former force. Santana's words, while harsh, rang true. Brittany licked her lips as she allowed them to wash over her.
"Brittany I'm sor…" Santana hastened to apologise but Brittany quickly interruptedher, "but, you're probably right. The other day, I have no idea how I drove home safely; my mind barely even registered anything that was happening around me."
"Take a little time to calm yourself down and then come and get her, she isn't going anywhere. I am sure that a milkshake and Bonaparte should keep her occupied long enough for you to sort yourself out," Santana offered and Brittany knew she was giving her a chance to try and sort out her feelings. Rushing over to her house blind with worry wasn't going to solve anything.
"She's really okay?" Brittany asked, needing further reassurance.
More rustling came of the line and Brittany imagined Santana nodding her head up and down. "Yes, she fine. She's a kid, they are notoriously selfish. She probably didn't understand how upset you would get."
"I just don't understand why she would do this." Brittany said more to herself than Santana, but wasn't surprised when the other woman replied.
"I don't know, but I'll try and talk to her. She might clam up if she gets shouted at."
"I wouldn't shout at her," Brittany said indignantly, more than a little annoyed that Santana would think that of her.
"Honestly, Brittany, I know you wouldn't, but kids get scared just thinking of what's going to happen with stuff like that. I bust the TV once in the family room and no amount of gentle coaxing from either of my parents could get me to own up, then I could see their frustration and it made me worse and more scared. I'm sure you had similar experiences as a kid."
"Yeah," Brittany admitted in defeat, she understood what Santana was saying. She had extremely similar experiences while being a kid.
"If you like, I could talk to her, find out what is going on for you?" Santana offered generously.
"I don't want her to be a bother, this is like the third time or so she had forced her company upon you," Brittany answered, she knew that Olivia liked Santana and she had no doubt that like for her would make her talk.
"And I have told you before I don't mind. I enjoy her company. Let me do this for you."
"I don't know, Santana," Brittany replied once again reluctantly. She didn't want Santana to feel like she had to do this, just because Olivia had come to her.
"Please?"
"Oh…okay," Brittany finally agreed. "I'll call my mom, and cancel the rest of my lessons and then I'm coming straight over." Brittany paused and looked down at where she still held Tina's pencil in her hand, "I still have something of yours."
"Yes, yes you do." Brittany heard Santana reply softly down the phone and it caused her heart to speed up as the image of Santana's soft brown eyes filled her vision and the memory of her voice so similar and close to her the last time she saw the brunette filled her mind. She knew it probably wasn't right to be having those kinds of thoughts with what was happening with Olivia, but Brittany couldn't help the way she felt.
"It's in my car," Brittany scrambled to say after she realized an inappropriate amount of time had passed without a word. "I meant to drop it the other day. I just didn't get the time." Brittany lied; she had been actively avoiding the task. She hadn't wanted to confront what had or hadn't happened.
"It's okay. Look, take your time to get your head around this." Brittany nodded as she thought about the double meaning implied in Santana's words.
"I will, just tell her she has an hour max before I come get her and I want an explanation. Oh, and tell her that while I'm annoyed, like really annoyed, I love her no matter what." Brittany requested, slightly exasperated. She received a gentle laugh from Santana.
"I will Brittany, don't worry, or worry as little as possible," Santana reassured Brittany that she would relay her message.
"Okay then, I better get back, I won't be long, I promise."
"I'll see you soon then, Brittany."
"Yeah, yeah, you will. Bye, Santana."
"Goodbye, Brittany." Brittany sighed and continued to hold the phone to her ear long after Santana's gentle goodbye faded and the line went dead. She couldn't believe what had just taken place. She couldn't believe what Santana had just told her. Her daughter sure had a lot of explaining to do. Brittany shook her head a little at what her daughter had just done. Though she wanted to be nothing but upset part of her was thrilled with Olivia's actions. Her daughter's misbehaviour was giving her a chance to do what she couldn't get up the courage for: seeing Santana. Time to get ready for butterflies.
Thanks for reading and please review and let me know your thoughts!
