Santana slammed the tray down as soon as she walked into the kitchen. She was having the worst day. She had tried to talk to Brittany, but got ignored as she was used to by now. Brittany was hanging out with the Battle boy every day. To top everything off, she had forgotten to finish an important assignment and got a failing grade.
"Table 22's order is ready. You ok Santana?" David, the cook, asked taking in the way her head was down and her hands were rubbing her own neck trying to relieve some of the stress she was feeling.
"Yeah just peachy, D." Santana grabbed the two plates and took them to the table.
"Hey Santana, we sat someone down in the back room."
"Ok, on it." Santana straightened her tie and plastered a smile on her face. Looking down she pulled her pad and pen out of her apron and stops as she approaches the table. She begins her speech without looking up from flipping her pad. "Welcome to Taboo, I'm Santana and I'll be your server tonight." When Santana looked up she was met with a familiar face.
"Well hey Santana."
"Hi Mr. Pierce." Santana noticed the disapproving look he was giving her. "I mean Jeff."
"Much better, I haven't seen you at the house."
"I don't… Brittany doesn't want me there. We are more acquaintances than friends, not by my choice." The last little bit of that was mumbled as Santana pulled out a straw and placed it in front of him. "What can I get you to drink?"
"Can I get a jack and coke? It's been a long day."
"Yes sir, I'll return with your drink." Santana walked to the bar and asked Janelle for the drink. She walked back to the kitchen to pick up another order and place it on the correct table before going back and getting the drink. She walked into the back room and placed the drink on the table smiling at Brittany's dad. When she stepped back, midturn, her body collided with another. Instinctively Santana wrapped her arms around the person to catch them. "I'm sorry." When she opened her eyes she was met with bright blues.
"No… I should have watched where I was going." Brittany's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. The two just stared at each other for a moment before the sound of a throat being cleared sounded from behind them.
"I mean yes you two are cute, but I'd prefer to not watch whatever it is you two have going on." Jeff smiled at the embarrassment the two now shared.
"Ms. Pierce, what would you like to drink?"
Santana served the two. After the initial awkwardness wore off it was the same as serving any other customer, even if she was a little more joking with the two. Santana tried not to let it bother her that Brittany still didn't really talk to her. Her dad seemed to not notice which only let Santana breathe a sigh of relief. Even though Santana knew how Brittany felt it was the draw of her that made Santana willing to set aside what she knew about the girl and want to forge at least a friendship with her. She knew she would have to do something and even if this didn't work, it was worth a shot and she did want to do something nice for her.
"Santana, may we have our check?"
"It's on the house, Sir." Brittany looked thoroughly confused at the girl's words and she watched as Jeff raised an eyebrow. "My guardian owns the restaurant and it is on me. We take care of law enforcement and I like to take care of pretty girls." Santana winked at Jeff causing him to smile.
"I do not expect free meals every time I come in here, I don't do my job for favors. I do it because I believe it was my calling to serve and protect."
"Well Sir to be honest, it is usually law enforcement in uniform, but this one is on me, I insist."
"Thank you, Santana." Santana went to grab the plates from the table.
"Lopez, when do you get off tonight?" Another waitress asked from the doorway into the room.
"Nine, do you need me to cover until ten?"
"No, I was going to see if you wanted to hang out tonight. I'm off at ten thirty."
"I'll text you when I'm done with my homework and we'll see." Santana placed the plates down in the kitchen and went about the rest of her work. At nine Santana went to clock out and checked the office to say bye to Estefan, but he had already left.
When she went outside she unbuttoned her shirt and loosened her tie. She had decided to walk to work today to take her mind off of things. She got to the edge of the building before she felt a hand grip her arm. Her automatic response was to reach for her gun in the back of her pants, but instead she grabbed the arm that held hers tightly and lifted her left hand to throw a punch. When her brain caught up with what she was doing she was met with Brittany who was leaning back to avoid the blow.
"Brittany you scared the hell out of me. I'm sorry." Santana quickly dropped Brittany's arm and let her hands fall to her sides.
"No it's my fault." The girl let out an exasperated sigh. "I shouldn't have snuck up on you. I just wanted to talk to you."
"Did you walk here?"
"Yes"
"Do you feel like walking and talking? We could go to my house, get my bike, and go somewhere."
"Sure" Brittany smiled stepping to go in the same direction Santana was headed. The two walked the distance to Santana's house in what started as an awkward silence, but quickly became more comfortable. As they walked one would bump into the other causing them to blush and smile.
"I need to change, so you want to come up?"
"Well personally I like the tie, but if you have to." Brittany bumped the shorter girl with her shoulder.
"Santana dinner is on warm in the oven, if you're hungry. Estefan went out of town, won't be home until midnight."
"I'll probably eat when I get back home Tracy. We just stopped in so I could change."
"Ay Dios Mio, are we back to parading females through my house? What did I tell you about that?" Tracy asked rounding the corner throwing her long curly black hair over her shoulder. "Well she's pretty."
"Trace!" Santana shrieked upon hearing what Tracy said to begin with. "THIS is Brittany."
"Oh the girl from your birthday party last year?" Santana threw her head in her hands embarrassed. For Tracy to not be her mother she was sure good at embarrassing the girl. Her reaction was all Tracy needed to see to get her answer. "Well, it's nice to finally meet you Brittany. For the record, Santana hasn't brought anyone over here since before her and her ex broke up, just a little playful banter."
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Tracy."
"and she's polite? Santana you can parade this one around the house at any time. Now, where are you going?"
"Brittany and I are going to the lake."
"I may not expect much out of you little Lopez, but you better be respectful and have that girl home at a decent hour." Tracy attempted a glare at the girl before she broke out into a smile. "You two have a good night."
"Nice to meet you." Brittany smiled as Santana gave Tracy a hug and then followed Santana up the stairs to her room. "Well this is dark, I like your zebra rug."
"I like the color black, besides its good for sleeping in." Santana went into her walk in closet and pulled out some jeans and a tee shirt. She grabbed two hoodies and threw one at Brittany. "You're going to need that on the bike, it'll be cold by the lake." Santana got changed quickly and she and Brittany walked downstairs and out the door into the garage. Santana hit the garage button and handed Brittany her extra helmet. Santana hopped on the bike and waited for Brittany to get settled against her before taking off.