"So where are we going?" I asked nervously.
"Um, a planetarium," She replied.
"Oh cool."
"Is that lame? It's lame right?" Brittany started to freak out a bit.
"Mom thought it would be a good idea but my dad thought I should go the classic route and just take you to dinner. I wanted to do something that we'll both enjoy. Who goes to a planetarium on their first date?" She muttered to herself. I grabbed her hand.
"Britt, chill. It's fine. I've never been to a planetarium before," I said to her
"I rented out the whole place so we won't be bothered by anyone."
The ride to the planetarium was a quiet one. I guess the nerves were getting the best of us. We pulled up to the Lima Center Planetarium. Brittany hopped out the car and ran around the car to open that door.
"Thank you," I said.
"Okay, this might be weird but put this on," Brittany said handing me a blindfold.
"Should I be scared?"
"No. I just want to make sure everything is perfect before you see what I have planned." I looked at her and at the blindfold.
"Trust me, Santana." Brittany's blue eyes had me hypnotized. Even though my brain was screaming not to grab the blindfold, my hand moved on its own accord. I tied the blindfold and felt Brittany's hand slip into mine. We slowly started walking.
"I just want things to be perfect. I really like you," Brittany whispered as we entered the building. Soft jazz music filled the building.
"We're heading to the star room." We walked a few more feet before I felt the hard floor turn soft. Brittany's hand slipped from mine and I heard her walk behind me.
"May I take your jacket before I do a quick look through and before you take your blindfold off. " I nodded and felt my jacket being slipped off. I heard her move around the room muttering things to herself.
"Okay… You can take your blindfold off." I pulled down the blindfold and was immediately taken back. The walls of the room were completely covered in stars from the 360 projectors. The ceiling showed the waning moon and right in the center of the room stood Brittany and the largest beanbag chair I've laid my eyes on.
"I have some champagne and different little finger foods. Later on, when we're really hungry, the staff will bring in the main course. I thought we could chill on this dope ass bean bag chair and stare at the stars."
I stood there in awe.
"Wow,"
"Wow is good. It's a start," Brittany chuckled nervously, "Come lay down." I made my way over to Brittany.
"This is amazing, Brittany," I said as I sunk into the bean bag, "I've never seen a bean bag this huge before."
"This is what happens when you're drunk and find amazon shopping the most interesting thing to do. Should've seen the hassle it was to get it in my apartment." I laughed.
"So…"
"So…"
"The star room. What made you choose this room to set everything up in?"
"Oh, I love the stars. So many stories you can tell from them," Brittany said, "And it's my favorite Mac Miller Song."
"Hmmm. So you like rap music?" I asked looking at the stars.
"I love rap music. Rappers make the best music to dance too."
"So you like 50cent?"
"Girl, It's easy to love me now. Would you love me if I was down and out? Would you still have love for me? Girl, It's easy to love me now."
"21 Questions," I chuckled.
"What music do you like?"
"I like RB, and soul music. The occasional pop song here and there" I said.
"Favorite artist?" Brittany asked without missing a beat.
"Amy Winehouse."
"Favorite song from her?"
"Damn, that's a tough one. They're all so good."
"Gotta pick one."
"Ugh Brittany, why are you doing this to me?" I laughed.
"Sorry. Sorry," She chuckled.
"Valerie."
"I don't think I've heard that before."
"What?" I said turning on my side to look at Brittany.
"My dad is a big hip hop fan and my mom loves rock n' roll, so listening anything than those two genres was blasphemy in my household. Can you sing a little bit of the song to me?"
"I'm no singer," I said.
"And I'm no rapper but if you asked me to rap Big Poppa by Biggie Smalls, I would," She said laughing.
"Like at gunpoint?" I said cracking up.
"Nah, willingly." My eyes were filled with tears and I was bent over in a gut-wrenching laugh. After a while, my laughter started to die down.
"Your laugh is beautiful," Brittany said after a while.
"I sound like the wicked witch of the west."
"I always did have a crush on her," Brittany said. I chuckled.
"You're funny."
"Well, are you going to sing for me?" She asked again.
"Okay. Okay." I cleared my throat a bit.
"Well sometimes I go out by myself and I look across the water. And I think of all the things, what you're doing and in my head, I paint a picture. 'Cause since I've come on home, well my body's been a mess. And I've missed your ginger hair and the way you like to dress. Won't you come on over, stop making a fool out of me. Why don't you come on over Valerie?" I basically whispered out.
Brittany just stared at me.
"Do I have something on my face?" I asked her.
"No, I just wasn't expecting to hear such a- Why are you a doctor? Why aren't you some famous singer?" Brittany asked.
"Being a surgeon is my calling. Singing is just a hobby."
"We should've gone to karaoke! That would've been waaay better," Brittany shouted.
"Britt, everything is great right now," I said.
"But we could've sung our hearts out till the sun came up!" Brittany said jumping to her feet, "It would've been magical."
"This is magical, Britt. Stop downplaying it. We're laying in a room filled with stars and candles and champagne around us," I chuckled. She just looked down at me.
"Can I say something?"
"Sure," I said. She laid back down next to me.
"I'm sorry for what happened the other day in the OR. I just got over excited about seeing you in action and then you pull out a balisong knife from the guys' abdomen!"
"It's okay Britt."
"It's not okay, Santana. You had an episode in front of your father and a bunch of our coworkers."
"I don't want to talk about it. Especially right now," I said dismissing the topic.
"When? When are you going to talk about it?" She asked.
"Look, Britt. I was in the army for almost 20 years. 15 years in Afghanistan. I have 15 years worth of battle scars and damage. It can't just be undone in one night of talking!" I shouted.
"It's a start though, Santana. I want you to be able to trust me."
"I do trust you. It's- It's embarrassing, Brittany. I don't want to talk about it because it's embarrassing knowing that everyone thinks I'm a nutcase." I said. Brittany was fiddling with the bracelet that she gave me.
"Want to know the story behind this bracelet?" She asked. I nodded.
"I was pre-med when I was a teen. A teenager in a huge university doing pre-med. I was a "know-it-all" and the other kids in my major didn't like me. I was bullied a lot and it took a toll on me. I was only 16 and I couldn't deal. So I turned to drugs. Anything I could get my hands on. Weed, Coke, MDMA, Acid, PCP. You name it, I probably did it. I became an addict. I still did good in school and all but the drugs were taking over. I slowly stopped going to class and just stayed in my room doing whatever drug was close to me. I overdosed in my bathtub at home during Thanksgiving break. My mom was the one to find me and once I came to, I knew I needed help. I went to rehab for the next year and a half and now I'm here. 12 years sober. I had a sober companion and she gave the bracelet to me when I was having a hard time wanting to stay sober."
"But you still smoke weed."
"It really is medicinal though. It helps with my social anxiety," she said.
"Social anxiety?"
"I went to high school before I hit double digits in age. I was terrified out of my mind. Hell yea, I have social anxiety."
I grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles.
"Thanks for telling me that," I said.
"Most people go running to the hills when they find out I'm a recovering addict."
"Well, I'm not most people." Brittany smiled at me and kissed me on my forehead.
Monday
"So…"
"So…"
"How was the date?" Mercedes asked me.
"I'm pretty sure Brittany told you how it went."
"She did. But I want to hear your take on it."
I inhaled and looked up from the files.
"It was …. It was amazing. She's amazing."
Mercedes giggled at me.
"Well here comes Dr. Amazing right now," She said as she grabbed some files and walked away. I looked up and saw Brittany roller skating towards me.
"Hey 'Cedes."
"Hey girl," Mercedes said winking at her.
She rolled right up to the desk.
"Hello Dr. Lopez," She said formally, putting her hand out for a handshake.
"Hello Dr. Pierce," I replied shaking her hand, "What do I owe the pleasure?"
"I need a little consultation."
"Oh really," I said quirking my eyebrow.
"Yes. My patient has been experiencing heart flutters and tingling in their lips since Friday night. You've probably seen her actually. Tall, leggy blonde."
I stood up from my chair and walked around the desk.
"About 5'8? Blue eyes. Super beautiful?" I asked getting closer to her.
"Mhmm," she said.
"I think I know how to help your 'patient'." I got closer to her, slowly closing the gap between her lips and mine.
"Oh do you know," She whispered. I hummed in response.
"Santana!" My Mother's light but booming voice knocked me out of my stupor. I jumped ten feet away from Brittany.
"H-hola Ma. ¿Cómo estás hoy? How are you?" I said.
She just stared at me before busting out laughing. What the fuck? Brittany started giggling too. I shot a glare at her. She rolled over to me a gave me a quick kiss.
"We'll finish this consult some other time then. Maybe over some lunch? Today?" She asked.
"Sorry, Brittany, she's stuck with her parents for lunch today. You're more than welcome to join. You can tell us all about the date!" My mom exclaimed.
"Yea, no. She's not joining us," I said.
"San, don't be like that."
"How about we have dinner tonight?" I said.
"Oops sorry. Monday nights are our girl night."
"Our?"
"Mercedes, Rachel, and me. We chill at my apartment and watch Disney movies. You can join us." Brittany's pinkie found mine.
"Nah, I don't wanna intrude. That's you guys thing," I said looking down at our intertwine pinkies.
My mother just stood there watching us with a huge smile.
"You two are so adorable."
"Ma," I whined, "Why did you come down here?"
"Sue Sylvester is in a meeting with your Father. They're discussing you and your future role in the hospital."
"I should probably go," Brittany said, giving me a peck on the cheek, "Call me later."
All I could do was nod.
"Let's go into your office and discuss this."
"What do you mean my future role in this hospital?" I said sitting on the couch in my office, "This hospital, working here, is all I've ever dreamed about. All I've ever wanted."
"Santanita, Lo sé," She said sitting down next to me, "I know."
"I'm getting better, mamá. I know I am."
"Sue has said that."
"If I'm not a surgeon, I am nothing," I said solemnly, "What is dad saying about this?"
"He wants…Well you know your father," My mom said. I just stared at her. My eyes pleading to her not to sugarcoat anything.
"He wants to transfer you to Columbus Hospital and have Sebastian take your position here."
I felt my world crashing around me.
"Transfer me?"
"What happened in the OR the other day had his mindset."
"Transfer me?"
"He thinks you could get more therapy sessions in if your closer to the base and Columbus is the perfect spot."
"I don't wanna leave. My family is here. My best friend." Brittany.
"Nothing is set in stone yet. That's what they're discussing right now. Sue is pleading your case."
I just sat there. My eyes zoned in on a stain on the carpet.
"Santa-"
"Thanks for telling me this. I-I gotta go back to work now."
I sat behind the nurse's desk in the ER with a pile of broken pens in front of me.
"Feeling a little destructive today?"
"Hey Kurt," I said not looking up.
"I heard about...it."
"I guess everyone knows," I sighed.
"It's almost your lunch break," Kurt said.
"Not that hungry. I think I'm going to watch a surgery," I said. Kurt sighed.
"Santana, nothing is definite," He said. I grabbed the trash bin and tossed the broken pens in there.
"I gotta go there's an open heart surgery happening in OR 3."
I couldn't focus on the surgery being done in front of me. Am I that much of an embarrassment to my father that he rather have me somewhere else? 15 years I've been gone, out of his life and now he doesn't mind it happening again.
I felt a hand on my back. I looked up to see a familiar blonde.
"Hey, Quinn."
"Watching a surgery instead of having lunch with your parents?"
"They sent you to get me?" I asked.
"Yes and no." I looked at her confused.
"Yes, they sent me to get you after I offered to find you."
"Hmmm."
"Santana…"
I looked over to her.
"I talked to your dad."
"Oh great, another person knows."
"He's not gonna transfer you." I looked at her incredulously.
"Why?"
"Because I told him that whatever he thinks Sebastian can do here, you can do it tens times better...in due time."
I nodded.
"Let's go eat. Your parents have a surprise for you."
Quinn and I walked into the Breadstix and I immediately realized what the surprise was.
"Santos!? Santiago!?"