CHAPTER 20
A Week Later;
"Babe, no." Santana said to me sternly as I leaned on the kitchen counter across from her. "Just no."
"Please.." I begged sweetly, batting my eyelashes, as I pushed the two color cards from the pile Kurt had laid out together. "See, doesn't that look pretty?" San stared down at the colors with furrowed brows and slowly shook her head before looking back up at me.
"Not really, no." Santana chuckled. I let out a deep sigh as she sat up straight on the bar stool while I rearranged some more color cards.
"Okay, I'm confident with this one." I said cheerfully as I pushed two colors together then looked up at her with a hopeful grin.
"B, we're not going to have the color scheme of our wedding pink and green.." She sighed turning my hopeful smile to a pout.
"But why not?" I whined and separated the colors as I felt my shoulders drop.
"Firstly, I hate the color pink and though I love you enough to put up with you changing our bed sheets to baby pink, I just can't do it for our wedding. Second, I let you pick the venue, the time, the day, the chairs, the invitations designs.." She replied as she leaned in to rest on the counter on her elbows and look up at me with her deep brown eyes. "I'm putting my foot down right here, no pink."
"Hey!" I gasped, "I didn't pick all those things, we agreed on them." She tilted her head to the side as her lips curled into a tiny grin while I just looked towards the color cards and shrugged innocently, "You could've said no at anytime, but you didn't."
"Yeah, because you would've pulled the freaking pout that I'm pretty sure you know I'm defenseless against so I might as well just give up now.." She teased as her hand snuck its way into mine causing me to look up at her. "But this time is different; I can resist your adorable ways. No pink." She said sternly causing me to giggle a little.
"Well, what's wrong with purple then?" I asked quickly as I pushed the pink and purple cards together.
"Stop using pink, B, it isn't happening!" San laughed as she snatched the card away and stuck it in her bra.
"Like that'll stop me from reaching in there and getting it!" I giggled and leaned across the table but she just swatted at my hands.
"Hands off my tits!" San yelled through a breathy laugh as I practically climbed over the counter towards her.
"That's not what you said last night!" I laughed as I strained to get to her.
"Britt, you're gunna fall!" She giggled as she continued to fight off my hands, "Crazy!"
"You're the one that put the card in there!" I yelled back as she wrapped her fingers around my wrists to keep me from digging in her shirt. I was starting to lose balance though so I tried to brace myself but since she was holding on to my wrists I couldn't and we both toppled to the floor.
"Ow." I pouted.
"You okay, B?" She asked worriedly from on top of me.
"Mhm.." I mumbled with my eyes closed trying to ignore the throbbing pain at the back of my head.
"You hit your head." She said and brushed the hair from my face.
"You fell on me.." I huffed.
"Well, you tried to attack at me."
"Well you put the card in your bra.." I sighed as I finally let my eyes flutter open.
"Maybe now you'll stop trying to pick pink." She replied sweetly then leaned into press a kiss to my forehead and as she did that I swiftly picked the color card out from her bra and smirked.
"Got it!" I laughed and tried to hide it from her taking it back which ended up to us rolling on the kitchen floor giggling.
"Uh, what the hell is going on and why are you two on the floor?" Kurt snapped as he came from the hallway bathroom. "God, I'm away for 3 minutes and you guys are already trying to go at it." Santana and I quickly separated and went back to trying to agree on a color scheme.
"This is hopeless." I sighed as I dropped my head in my hands about 10 minutes later.
"Agreed." Santana said as she rubbed at my back. "Kurt can't you give us some like suggestion or something?"
"Fine, okay." Kurt said as he started pairing different colors together, sending the crumpled up pink card a weird look before presenting a new pair. The first few matches weren't approved of, but just when we all were about to give up, he frantically pushed together another pair. "What about this?" He asked as he pushed the yellow card and the red card together.
"Hm..well, I do love red.." Santana sighed then looked to me, "And yellow's like your favor-I mean, most liked color.."
"Yeah, one of them.." I nodded as we both stared down at the pair. "Uh, I don't know San, I like it and all, but it seems like too different you know?"
"Well, they are two different colors, Britt.." Kurt said as he quirked a brow making Santana narrow her eyes at him.
"She knows that, smart ass." She huffed then smiled down at me sweetly, "She means they're too drastic. Right, babe? Like one's too bright and the other's too dark?"
"Yeah, exactly! There needs to be like a balance or something." I cheered and pressed a kiss to her cheek, "See this is why I love you." Her cheeks flushed as she mumbled an I love you too back.
"There's too big of a contrast?" He muttered to himself as he stared down at the cards, "Alright, what if we add a third color? Most wedding color schemes try to keep it within two, but this wedding isn't most weddings." Kurt shrugged and started searching the other colors before pushing an orange card between the previously selected ones. "How's this?" Santana and I both stared down at the trio with wide smiles. "I love the warm colors, especially with summer coming, don't you think? They blend really well together." San and I stared down at the trio, surprised that we hadn't thought of orange before even with all the history we have connected to the color.
"Oh babe, remember when you first took my order at The Coffee Shop?" Santana grinned as she stared down at the cards, "I asked you what your favorite drink was?"
"Mhm." I smiled affectionately as I watched her grin grow.
"But you said you didn't like picking favorites," she giggled at her own thoughts, "But you really liked Pumpkin Spice because it was orange and orange is one of your most liked colors since you said you liked all the colors equally." She looked up at me, her dark brown eyes sparkling as she spoke, "I thought that was the cutest thing I had ever heard." I felt my cheeks heat up as I recalled the memory.
"Then you said that orange was your second favorite color, the first is red." I replied confidently. Kurt looked to us both with an adoring smile.
"I think orange fits the occasion, don't you think?" She winked, repeating my words from so long ago. I smiled at her lovingly and nodded.
"So a blend of red, orange, and yellow." He said, breaking our trances on each other, "Agreed?"
"Mhm, it's perfect." Santana nodded and smiled to me. "What do you think, Britt?"
"Yeah, it's the perfect blend for sure!" I cheered and cuddled into San's side.
"Ah, finally we've come to an agreement!" Kurt laughed as he scooped up the color cards and placed them in his special wedding planning folder then checked his phone. "Quinn and Miss Bella will be over in 10 so Britt go get ready to leave.."
"What?" I asked confused, "W-Where am I going?"
"I said you were going to be first when we dress shop." Kurt laughed, "Geez, you guys really weren't listening when I went through all the details." San and I looked to each other and shrugged, guess not. "Quinn's coming over with Bella because Sam's working. Satan, you'll babysit while Quinn and I take Britt out to look around."
"Oh.." I sighed then hopped off the bar stool, "Well, I guess I'll go get ready then." I shrugged and poked my finger at San's side making her jerk away with a grin, "Awh, babe, you're going to babysit Bella all by yourself." I cooed.
"It's not like I haven't before.." She shrugged nervously, "I've picked her up from school by myself, that's like the same thing."
"It really isn't.." I teased as I walked off to the bedroom.
20 Minutes Later;
"Alright baby, be good for San okay? If San's mean to you, you have my permission to kick her, kick the crap out of-"
"Q.." I sighed, "San's never mean to Bella.."
"Better not be."Quinn said as she kneeled in front of her daughter, cupping her cheeks, then went to kiss her forehead before standing up to look at Santana. "And you, make sure she doesn't act up."
"But then she'll think I'm being mean.." Santana replied sarcastically making Quinn roll her eyes, "Just kidding, Bella never acts up!" Santana laughed as she looked down at the younger blonde. "We'll be good, promise." She winked then turned to Quinn, "I'll call if she needs an ass whoopin' but I doubt it."
"Okay, we gotta get going; the appointment I've scheduled for a fitting is in 20." Kurt said as he taped at his wrist watch. I nodded and went over to kiss Santana goodbye.
"Have fun!" I cheered as I walked away.
"You too!" She laughed as I shut the door behind me.
5 Hours & A Million Dresses Later;
"I'm tired.." I groaned as I sat on the ottoman in nothing but my bra and panties with my elbows resting on my knees and my chin in my hands. We had been going through dresses like crazy, but none of them seemed to jump out at me and as the time went on, the less I cared.
"There's just a few more, Britt, stay with me here." Kurt sighed as he placed another failed dress on the rack and left the dressing area with one of the employees. Quinn came and sat next to me then patted my shoulder comfortingly.
"I'm sure Santana wouldn't care what the dress looked like, as long as I meet her at the altar." I shrugged and turned to look at Quinn, "Right?"
"Yeah, true." Quinn nodded, "She might actually rather you just wear what you got on now." I looked down to remind myself what I was wearing then shot my head up and laughed.
"I'm not walking down the aisle in my undies, Q!" I giggled and nudged Quinn with my shoulder, "She wouldn't survive and we'd have to be running off somewhere for a game of Uno before we even made it halfway down the aisle!"
"Ha, gross." She laughed then nodded over to the dress rack, "I'm sure we'll find something soon. Kurt's going to the ends of the Earth to find the perfect one." She said with a reassuring smile. "I'm just anxious for when we have to take San out, that'll be hilarious. I can already hear the arguments her and Kurt will have."
"She better not be mean to my unicorn," I huffed with a serious face, "We already talked about that." Quinn just laughed and shook her head as Kurt walked back in with another dress draped over his arm.
"Okay ladies, I'm super confident about this one." He said excitedly as he handed it to Quinn who stood up as he reentered the room. "Come Britt, let's get this baby on you." He chirped as he held out his hands and hoisted me to my feet. There was a little work that had to be done before I was finally standing on that little circular stage thing with the dressed zipped up. I wasn't facing the mirrors yet, too afraid that, yet again, this dress was a dud, but the looks on Quinn and Kurt's face as I stood before them were priceless.
"How does it look?" I asked hesitantly, still trying to decipher their stares as I ran my hands down my sides. "Is it alright?" Kurt clasped his hands together and held them to his chest with a tight lipped grin as Quinn just folded her arms over her chest and smiled sweetly.
"Wow, Britt, I think this is the one." Quinn nodded as Kurt stepped forward with his hand held out to balance me as I turned to face the mirrors.
"Woah." I gasped as I took in the sight, "I'm hot!" Quinn and Kurt both laughed as I twirled around trying to see all aspects of the dress. The top half was this strapless beaded bodice that made this like heart shaped curve over my boobs making them look way bigger than they really were. Santana's gunna love that, I thought with a smirk. There was this shimmery effect the material had so when the light caught it just right, it almost looked like I was sparkling! The rest of the dress hugged my sides perfectly and really showed off my hour glass figure as Kurt described. Then as I looked lower, I saw that the dress sort of flowed off my hips making it look like a princess's dress, but less fluffy. I ran my hands down the sides of the dress admiring how well I looked in it, when suddenly all the emotions of getting married hit me and I just slumped down to my knees and cried.
"Woah hey, B, it's okay don't cry." Quinn cooed as she wrapped me up in her arms while Kurt dabbed at my cheeks with his handkerchief. "Easy, Britt.."
"Holy shit, Q, I-I'm getting married.." I gasped between shuddering sobs, "It just hit me like right now, oh my God. Wh-What if she doesn't want to marry me anymore? What i-if no one shows up? Wh-What if I forget to wake up on time? Wh-What if she forget to wake up on time? What if her dad yells 'objection!' right when it's about to happen? Wh-what if-" Quinn just laughed lightly and rubbed at my back.
"Hey-hey, calm down." She whispered, "You don't have to worry, Britt, San loves you. You love San. Kurt and I and all your friends and family love both of you. Everything is going to work out fine, you've got Kurt in charge, remember?"
"I won't let anything go wrong, Britt, I swear it." He promised as he kneeled on the floor in front of us. "Well, wedding wise." Quinn shot him a glare and shook her head.
"Kurt, not helping!" She huffed and went back to comforting me. "Don't cry, B, just breathe." She said as she rocked me back and forth until my surprise meltdown passed. "It's just the nerves.."
"Okay, I think I'm calm now. Th-Thanks, guys." I mumbled as I smiled weakly at my two friends. "Geez, that was so embarrassing..I hope that doesn't happen on our wedding day." Quinn and Kurt just laughed and reassured me that it was normal for brides to have a little breakdown.
"Well at least, I caught all your tears before they fell on the dress." Kurt teased as he helped me back up to a standing position and smoothed out the sides of my dress. "How do you like it anyways?"
"I love it." I shrugged with a smile as I stared at myself in the mirror. "Quinn's right, I think this is the one."
"Really?" Kurt gasped excitedly, "I agree, I really think this is the one Britt. You look absolutely stunning! I can already see your hair being up, maybe a braided bun? Yeah, with a few curly strands here and there, and pearls! How do you feel about pearls? Or maybe diamonds? I'm thinking pearls. Or may-"
"Okay, take it down a notch; you're going to make her freak again." Q laughed as she pressed on his shoulders causing him to ease up.
"I'm just excited, can't I be excited?!" He said throwing his hands up in defense before letting them fall to his sides, "Britt, you're going to look so beautiful! You and San with both look absolutely beautiful. God, I'm so anxious for this now." Kurt hopped around excitedly before stopping in his tracks and turned to face me with his shoulders dropped and his face looking very grave. "It's San that I'm worried about; she might take longer than you did and I don't think she'll be as -uhm- cooperative as you have been." I went to protest, but San's generally very picky about what she wears so I couldn't really disagree.
"Yeah, that's true.." I giggled, "I miss San now. Can we go home?" I pouted making the two laugh.
"It's only been a couple hours, Britt, time apart makes relationships stronger!" He laughed as he unzipped my dress then helped me step out of it so he could properly put it back in its protective bag.
"Actually, it's been 5..that's enough separation for one day." I shrugged. Once I was dressed back in my usual clothes, the three of us were out near the register with Quinn toting the dress when I noticed Kurt reaching for his wallet.
"Woah, wait, what are you doing?" I said as I saw him take out his credit card and hand it to the woman behind the counter. "Y-You're not paying for my wedding dress, Kurt, I-I can't it's too much!"
"Easy Britt, this is your dad's card." He laughed as he showed me the name on the card: Daniel Pierce. "He gave me it last time they were in-"
"B-but, they-he doesn't have enough to pay for this.." I stammered.
"Britt, they've been saving up, it's okay." He sighed and patted my back comfortingly, "You have a lot of people wanting to contribute to the wedding and all its expenses." He replied as he stuck the card back in his wallet, "Even I have made my generous contributions." I still didn't feel right about my dad paying for the dress, I didn't know how much it was, but seeing where we were dressing shopping it, it had to cost a lot. But Kurt refused to let me feel sad about it, "Quinn's helping out too.."
"Mhm, Noah and I have already planned a day to meet about the bachelorette party, which you will not pay for at all." Quinn said sternly as she hooked her arm with mine and handed the dress to Kurt as we exited the building to head for Kurt's car.
"I feel so bad that everyone's paying for so much.." I sighed.
"Nonsense, Britt, you and San shouldn't have to pay for anything.." Quinn shrugged as we separated to hop in the car.
"Plus, the couple isn't really meant to pay." Kurt replied, "Well, that's how I see it at least!" I let out a deep sigh, there was really no use fighting with them, but at the same time I couldn't help but feel loved that all these people were so supportive of San and I. If only the one San really wanted to be supportive actually was. Then again, this plan I had secretly been coming up with is for sure going to help things move along! Well, I hope. It'll at least be a push in the right direction.
20 Minutes Later;
Kurt decided that he'd hang on to the dress which I didn't mind, because if he left it with me I might've just shown San ahead of time just because of how excited I was for her to see it! Once upstairs, I unlocked the door for Quinn and I, Kurt had to get back to Showtimes to get Rachel ready for the show later on, and was met with the cutest thing I'd ever seen. Well, maybe not as cute as watching San interact with Mason, but it was pretty up there.
"Awh, look at that." Quinn grinned as we both peeked over the back of the couch down at San and Bella napping. "Ugh, where's my phone! I need to take a picture!" Quinn huffed quietly as she scurried back to the kitchen table where she set her purse down. I stayed put though, too smitten by how adorable the two of them looked to go for my phone too. They were both lying on their sides, San furthest back while Bella snuggled in against her chest. Bella was always a big snuggler. San's arm was draped protectively around Bella while their chests rose and fell as they breathed softly. The sight just melted my heart and I couldn't help but picture that instead of Bella, one day it would be one of our own. I always liked how pretty Santana looked when she's sleeping, always so peaceful and calm. As creepy as it sounds, watching her sleep was like one of my favorite things. I shuffled around the couch and kneeled before them. Bella had her face buried in the throw blanket, her blonde her in a messy nest as she hugged her Pink Panther tightly to her chest, giving me a clear view of San. Just then, Bella shuffled in San's embrace making San subconsciously tighten her grip on the little girl. I thought she was waking up, but Bella just wiggled a bit before settling again causing a few strands of hair to fall across San's face. I smiled to myself when I saw her scrunch her nose up at the unexpected tickle.
"Geez, you're so cute." I sighed softly as I leaned forward to brush the fallen strands away from her face, my fingertips tingling at the feel of her warm skin. A small grin curled at her lips as my fingers left her face and I sank back down to my sitting position.
"Got it." Quinn squeaked as I heard the shutter sound go off on her phone and quickly looked up at her with flushed cheeks; I didn't think she was watching. "Don't worry, Britt, the three of you look cute. See." She held out the phone for me to look. She was right, she caught San smiling in her sleep while I just look so in love it hurt and Bella, well Bella's always adorable.
"Send that to me." I replied then went back to look at San.
"Hmkay, done. Oh! I've got to get to work." Quinn sighed as she looked at the time, "I was going to have Marley watch Bella but she can stay with you two if you want." I shrugged as I watched the two sleeping peacefully.
"Yeah, just let her stay here." I shrugged, "Let her finish her nap. It'll be another Britt/Bella night; we haven't had one in awhile." I answered. Quinn nodded and we said our goodbyes and I was back to sitting on the ground in front of San and Bella, only this time I was facing towards the tv. I think I was sitting there for about half an episode of Storage Wars when I felt fingers running through my hair. I leaned my head back a little as San's fingers scratched at my scalp before tangling through my hair again. She did that a few times before I shuffled around to face her to find that she was already smiling at me sleepily.
"Hey."
"Hi."
We grinned dopily at each other before she propped her head up on her hand and looked down at Bella then back up at me. "You been home long?" She asked, her voice a little raspy sounding from just waking up.
"Nope, maybe 20 or 30 minutes?" I shrugged, "Kurt and Quinn went to work." San just nodded slowly.
"You find a dress?"
"I did." I replied confidently and wiggled a bit in my spot anxiously. "Oh San," I sighed dramatically, "I really want to describe it to you, but I know Kurt will get so mad at me if I tell you what it looks like.." I sighed but she just laughed a little.
"That's okay, baby, I can wait a few more months." She winked still giggling.
"Why are you laughin', Sanny?" Bella mumbled as she lazily picked her head up from the blanket and searched around before her eyes landed on me, "Oh Britty, hi!"
"Hey Peanut, have a nice nap?" I giggled at the girl's sudden excitement.
"Mhmm, Sanny's so soft." She grinned and wiggled her way back against San's chest.
"Don't say that out loud, you'll ruin her fake tough exterior." I joked making San shake her head at me and Bella quirk her brow, "Your mom's gone to work but guess who gets to hang out with me and San for the rest of the day?" Bella instantly bounced of San and threw her little arms around my neck.
"Me! Me! Me!" She cheered making San and I both laugh.
"Mhm, and I don't know about you but I'm in the mood for some chocolate chip peanut butter cookies..how about it?" I teased knowing Bella never turns down cookies.
"YES!" She yelled and went to pull at San's arm, "Sanny you have to get up so you can watch me and Britty make cookies!"
"How someone can have so much energy after just waking up, I'll never know." Santana sighed sleepily as she let Bella tried pulling her up from the couch. "Okay-Okay, I'm getting up.." She laughed and extended a hand out to help me up as well. "Come on, babycakes."
"Yay! Cookies!" Bella cheered as she pulled both of us by the hands towards the kitchen.
"Alright, let's wash our hands then we'll do this!" I clapped my hands getting Bella even more excited before hoisting her up to reach the sink.
30 Minutes Later;
"So Bella, now that you've got your cookies, Britt and I want to ask you something." San said as we all sat around the coffee table in the living room with our glasses of milk and the big plate piled with cookies. Bella's eyes went wide as she looked to me then back at San nervously.
"A-Am I in trouble?" She asked with her bottom lip jutting out. "Whatever it was, I'm sorry..I'm really really sorry. Don't be mad at me Sanny." San and I looked to each other as the little blonde stared down at her lap shamefully.
"Peanut, we aren't mad at you." I sighed as I tilted her chin up so she could see San and I weren't going to yell at her. "We just wanna ask you something special.."
"Ohhh.." She mumbled as he cheeks tinted pink. "Okay."
"So, you know Britt and I are going to get married soon. Right?" San asked cheerfully as she nibbled on a cookie.
"Mhm! I'm so excited!" She answered happily.
"Us too." I nodded and smiled to San, "But we wanna know if you would like to be our flower girl?" Bella's eyes went wide, in a good way this time, before she tossed her cookie to the coffee table and lunged at both of us with opened arms. San and I laughed as she screamed about how happy she was. "So, is that a yes?"
"YES!" Bell squeaked as she dropped her arms from us and sat down in my lap looking between us.
"Nice, you'll make the best flower girl." Santana complimented as she ruffled the blonde's hair. We went back to happily munching on our warm baked cookies when Bella piped up again.
"Mm, I have a question.." She said softly as she turned to face us, her hazel eyes darting between us as she fiddled with the hem of her shirt.
"And what's that?" I asked.
"D-Does it have to be flowers I throw?" She asked hesitantly, "C-Can it be like somethin' else? Like-I don't know-candy?" Santana and I looked to each other with quirked brows then just rolled back on our backs laughing. "What? What's so funny?" Bella pouted then tried climbing over us as San and I huddled together still trying to control our laughter, "Seriously guys, I wanna laugh too!"
Friday, Breadstix;
"I really appreciate how well you two having been handling things at the studio since lately I've been swamped at SnixxJuice." I said as Colton and Heather sat across from me. I made it a weekly thing to have lunch with the two every Thursday to catch up on things, but with Kurt hounding San and I with wedding stuff, I had to push it to today. "I'm really proud of you guys, but I feel bad trying to split my time between studios. I never thought it was going to be this hard, you know?" Heather and Colton exchanged knowing looks before nodding to me.
"Yeah, we totally understand." Heather answered, "It's really cool that Colton and I play such big roles at the place, but it gets a little hard sometimes when you're not there to give us that extra direction."
"True," Colton nodded, "I mean, Heather and I don't bump heads as much as we used to when it first started, but we sort of feel-" He began but quieted down and stared down at the table top.
"Go ahead, I won't get mad." I reassured him. His head popped up, his lips pressing together as her brows furrowed, then nodded.
"Well, sometimes it seems like you just left us to fend for ourselves.." He said softly. I instantly felt a pang of guilt hit my chest because he voiced the only thing I've been thinking this whole time. "Please don't be mad.."
"I'm not, I totally understand." I nodded, trying not to let my voice crack.
"C-Can I say something?" Heather asked nervously, I nodded. "Don't get mad."
"Guys, when have I ever gotten mad at the two of you voicing your opinions?" I laughed causing the two to share a nervous smile. "Go ahead, Heather."
"You're a great choreographer, but I think the reason why you're studio is so popular is because they want you to teach the classes, or someone with just the same amount of experience, not just some young kids." Heather added, "And I really like teaching the kids, both Colton and I love it, but it's getting really stressful." I agreed with everything Heather said, I just didn't want to admit to myself that I might've bit off a little more than I could chew with this whole dance program thing. I really had no idea what I was doing, plus I was too busy to even sit in on practices.
"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing." I sighed as I twirled my straw around in my glass of water. "I really don't want to give up on it though, you know?"
"And we don't want you to give up on it either.." Heather replied confidently.
"Yeah, I mean, going there after school is like the best part of my day." Colton shrugged, "Everything I have to deal with at home, at school, on the streets, in my life, anything, seems to disappear as soon as I step foot in there. I need that place and I know there's a lot of kids there who feel the exact same way."
"And that's the reason why I started the thing," I replied, "To reach out to kids, to give them a place they could go when everywhere else seemed to be a nightmare. Geez, thank you Colton! I needed a reminder of why I started this whole thing." I cheered as the gears in my head began to grind. "Since I'm always so busy, we need to find another person, someone like me who can give their time and effort when I can't." I began to ramble aloud, "Someone who's got the passion and the skills.."
"Totally agree!" Colton chimed as he began to leave his chair, "I'm just going to go to the bathroom really quick before things really start going, don't wanna miss the good stuff!" Heather and I both laughed; kid was always a goofball.
"Uhm, do you have anyone in mind?" Heather asked as I ran through a list of people in my head, but only one kept resurfacing. Only one screamed perfect.
"I think I do, but I know he's already got a job." I sighed, "It's only part time, but still. I don't know how well his boss will take that I'm taking another one of his choreographers away..or at least Santana will be." I giggled, "I don't think I've got that intimidating factor like she does to sway him into letting another choreographer split their time."
"Yeah, I don't see you being mean.." Heather grinned bashfully down at her plate. "It's like you can't be mean. You're always super nice to everyone, even if they aren't nice to you." I wanted to laugh at how nervous and shy she was becoming, but I knew that wouldn't be very helpful in her situation.
"Well thank you, Heather; that's really kind of you to say!" I shrugged with a happy grin, "I pride myself on being friendly to get my way." I joked as Colton came back from the bathroom and sat down so we could continue talking about other things we usually discussed on our weekly meetings. About 20 minutes later, I was up saying my goodbyes before rushing over to SnixxJuice to meet Santana. We had to be at the airport in an hour to pick up Bryce who was staying with us for the weekend.
SnixxJuice;
"Hey San, ready to go?" I asked cheerfully as I pushed San's office door open and poked my head in. She was sitting at her desk surrounded by stacks of paper, like always, with her glasses resting at the tip of her nose. Ugh, so damn sexy. I looked to my side and saw Jenna typing frantically at her laptop at her own desk. "Hey Jenna!" I greeted, but she just gave me a nervous smile before getting back to work. I quirked my brow at her but just ended up shrugging her off as I took a step closer to San who still hadn't acknowledged me. I just thought that she was really deep in her work, she gets like that sometimes, and her thoughts sort of blocked out other noises. I sat down in one of the chairs she had in front of her desk and rested my elbows on my knees with my chin in my hands as I stared lovingly at her. "You should wear your glasses more often, it's cute." I winked, but she just clenched her jaw and kept her eyes focused on her papers. That's weird, I thought, she always likes when I compliment her on her wearing glasses. "Babe? Is everything okay?" I asked lightly at which she slammed down her pen and folded her hands on top of each other then finally looked up at me with furrowed brows.
"I don't know, Brittany, is it?" She snapped, making my body tense. She never says my full name..
"Uhm, no? I guess not.." I replied hesitantly, "B-But I'm not really sure what I did wrong.." She sat back in her chair and folded her arms over her chest before rolling her eyes. I really didn't know what I did wrong, seriously! Usually I know when San gets mad at me mainly because I do it on purpose, sometimes she's too serious and she needs to have a little fun so she'll get mad when I come in her office and turn off the lights on her or randomly have a dance party. But it was just a normal day so far, our morning went well, really well considering she forgot to put on her contacts again, and I dropped by with some coffee from The Coffee Shop for her before heading to lunch. I looked to her to find her still glaring at me and tried to laugh her off. "Are you messin' with me?" I teased but she remained stiff. "Huh, guess not.." I mumbled and bit on my bottom lip trying to remember if I had done something, but nothing came to mind. "San, I really don't know why you're mad at me.." I said softly as I shrugged, my bottom lip involuntarily jutting out as I spoke. I saw her stance falter a bit and it almost looked like she was about to smile, but she kept her self emotionless.
"Jenna, pull it up on the big screen." She said sternly making Jenna quickly nod and run to the projector to hook some wires up. Soon the screen illuminated with a video from TMZ showing me and Heather having lunch not an hour ago. Suddenly I realized why Santana would be a little upset with me, they recorded the video of Heather and I when Colton had gotten up to use the bathroom so it just looks like it was only me and Heather having lunch. "You enjoy your little lunch date?"
"Are you serious?" I sighed as I stared at the screen with a nervous smile then back to Santana, "You're going to let the paparazzi get to you?"
"Well when some shit like this pops up how else am I supposed to react?" She huffed bitterly.
"San..it's not-this is really just a big misunderstanding." I tried to giggle as I stared up at the screen then went to look at San who was not amused. "Seriously, baby, why on Earth would I be alone with Heather knowing how jealous you get of her?"
"Jealous?!" She gasped and laughed devilishly, "I'm not jealous of that little whore." Her name she gave my assistant made me tense again; I hated when she'd call my employees names like that.
"Santana." I said sternly, "She is a very nice person; that was mean." She just shook her head with furrowed brows. "Take it back."
"Whatever, I can say whatever I want about her when it's all over the news that my fiancée is out on a fucking date with another girl."
"It wasn't a date, you know we have weekly lunch meetings, Colton was there too!" I argued tiredly as I brought my hand up to kneed at my brows.
"Really, Britt?" She replied, "Then where the hell is he because he obviously isn't sitting with you two." I let out a deep sigh and shook my head at her craziness.
"You're being silly right now." I groaned, "He was in the bathroom, Santana." I replied trying to keep from getting angry, "You want me to show you the receipt? There's three people on there."
"No." She huffed bitterly then looked toward Jenna who was waiting by the projector. "Jenna, turn that shit off I'm tired of looking at it." Jenna just nodded and shut the projector off before scurrying back to her desk. I folded my arms over my chest as I stared back at Santana, matching her glare.
"Uhm, should I leave?" Jenna asked nervously.
"Yes." I answered.
"No." Santana quickly added. I stared back at San then looked to Jenna with a reassuring smile.
"Yes." I said as sweetly as I could because I wouldn't want to take my frustration out on her, she didn't do anything wrong here. "Just give us a minute or two. Thanks Jenna." She nodded and left the room. I turned back to Santana with my lips parted to speak but I couldn't really wrap my mind around what Santana was accusing me of, I was just so shocked. I sat there a couple minutes trying to gather my thoughts before finally saying something. "I don't know why you still get so insecure about this, Santana, have I not made it clear enough that I love you and only you and I would never ever cheat on you?" I replied sternly as I leaned towards her, almost sitting on the edge of my seat. "Do you not remember who listened to all your stories about Brooke or who held you when you cried about all the things she did? Did you forget that it was always me who came to your rescue when she'd hurt you because of the same thing you're accusing me of right now?" Santana's eyes softened as she took in her bottom lip and stared down at her desk. "Do you really think I'd evertreat you the exact same way she did, Santana? If you do then I've failed, all that progress I thought we've made the past three years was complete bullshit." I snapped as I stared down at the floor, shaking my head, and then looked back up into her dark stormy eyes. "Honestly, do you really think I would even think about cheating on you? Let alone with my assistant choreographer, who let me remind you, is like 6 years younger than me! That's weird." I asked and looked towards her, my eyes finding her stormy brown. She gnawed on her lip again, her tensed shoulders dropping, as she slowly shook her head no. "Then, baby, stop thinking that I would." I sighed as I reached across the desk and took her hands in mine. She looked hurt, and I just wanted to wrap her up in my arms and hold her tight but I had to make this point. I had to make it clear that she couldn't keep blowing up on me like this. She can't keep punishing me for things I'd never do."You can't keep accusing me of something like that, honey, I know you went through some things, but you're with me now and you're hurting me too. Don't you see that?" We were silent for a good 5 minutes, my eyes searching her for some type of answer and her averted from my gaze, before Santana finally spoke up.
"I know.." She mumbled, "I'm sorry, I just- It's like I get these flashbacks and I just remember having her do that to me all the time and I-I just I don't want that to happen a-again, I can't put myself through that again. I-I just, I really love you a lot a-and I get s-so worried you'll figure out that I'm not as great as you th-think I am. You'll find someone b-b-better a-and-" She stammered as tears began to trickle down her cheeks. I moved around the desk and kneeled in front of her, spinning her chair so that I could set my hands on her thighs. "I-It's hard, B, sometimes I-I get so proud of myself of how far I-I've come but then something will just set me off and I-I revert. I go right b-back to thinking h-how I used to, b-b-but I can't help it, Britt, I-I-" She brought her hands to shield her face from me as her body trembled with how hard she was sobbing. My heart broke seeing her so conflicted. I couldn't keep my distance any longer and stood up to wrap my arms around her, brushing through her hair and kissed her tears away.
"Baby, shh, it's okay, stop crying." I cooed as she mumbled more about not wanting to treat me the way she had because of things Brooke's done and how she didn't want to hurt me like this. "Honey, I love you, I'll help you. I'll always be here for you, no matter what. We can get through anything, okay? Just stop crying, San, I don't like when you cry.." I whispered as I started to rock her a little in my arms.
"I-I-I'm such a bitch." She stammered as hot tears drenched my shirt, "You deserves someone so much better than me, I-I-I'm so-" She trailed off as she buried her face in the crook of my neck. I felt my stomach twist at hearing her say something so ridiculous as that.
"You're not a bitch; you're the most sweetest, caring, beautiful, loving woman in the world." I replied as I held her tighter, "I wouldn't want anyone else, you're perfect to me. Baby, you're the best I'll ever have." I continued to whisper sweet things to her until her body stopped shuddering and her breathing returned to normal and all that she did was sniffle. "I love you, Santana, I'll always love you." She pulled her head away from my neck and looked up at me with red eyes. I went up and wiped away the rest of her tears with the pads of my thumbs and smiled down at her reassuringly.
"I love you too, Britt-Britt." She mumbled then averted her eyes again, "I-I'm sorry I blew up on you earlier, y-you didn't deserve that.." She admitted. "I-I just get so worked up sometimes I-I don't know what to do with myself.."
"That's alright, honey, just talk to me first next time okay?" I asked as I cupped her cheeks, "I can't read your mind, though I think that would be super cool and much easier, I don't know when I've done something to upset you. We've got to work on communicating, honey, that's all I ask, that's the only way we can beat this. Okay?" She nodded knowingly and gave me a weak smile. "Okay, let's head to the airport before Bryce thinks we've forgotten about her." I sighed and pressed my lips to hers softly.
"Britt, you're so smart." She said as we pulled away from each other and gave me a genuine smile, "I'm so lucky to be marrying such a genius."
"That you are." I winked as she gathered her belongings and we were out the door to head to the airport after telling Jenna it was safe to come back in.
Later That Night;
"So.." Bryce drawled out, "Word on the street is Bella's going to be the flower girl. What up wit dat?" Santana and I exchanged amused grins as we all laid out on Bryce's temporary bed. "Am I not good enough to be the flower girl?" She teased trying to sound as hurt as possible but I could tell when my sister was joking.
"Well, you two are about the same height.." Santana joked as she rolled to her side and smirked at the younger blonde making her scrunch her nose.
"Oh that's new, short jokes!" She laughed sarcastically, "Haven't heard that before." I giggled at the pair continuing to tease each other causing Bryce to attempt to kick me off the bed.
"Hey-Hey, don't make me put you in time out!" I teased as I caught her ankles and leaned up on my knees like I was about to throw her off the bed.
"Britt!" She yelled as her face started turning red and half her body was hanging off the bed, "I'm not trying to get dropped on my head!"
"Again.." I laughed making San turn to me with a quirked brow.
"Again?" She gasped as I pulled Bryce back up on the bed. "What?" Bryce and I looked to each other, our lips curling in devilish grins, before looking back to Santana nodding our heads.
"Yeah, Britt dropped me.." Bryce sighed, "That's why I'm not tall like her and dad, she probably stunted my growth I bet!"
"Yeah, probably." I shrugged casually, "Makes sense why you've always been a little off.."
"I've been a little off?" She laughed, "I'm not the one who'd complain about the garden gnomes stealing your panties!" Santana rolled on to her back griping her stomach as she laughed the hardest she had all night. "Even Quinn thought you were weird, she just didn't have the heart to tell you! But I will, Britt, you're so freaking weird!"
"What?" I shrugged innocently, "Who else could've taken them? They're the only reasonable suspects!" I argued making Santana laugh even harder. It was nice hearing her laugh, she had been a little on edge since the argument we had earlier even if I had assured her that I wasn't mad at her. I could never be bad at her, or rather stay mad at her so hearing her finally laughing and having a good time made me feel a little better.
"God, you two are going to kill me.." San sighed a little out of breath as she sat up on her forearms a little trying to gain some air. Bryce and I just smiled at each other before we went into Bryce telling us more stories about school and life back home. It was about midnight when we started getting to the really good stuff..
"So, because you two are like my awesome big sisters," Bryce shrugged as she drew patters on the comforter, "Well Britt, you are my awesome big sister, but yeah, I don't think you guys would get mad if I-uhm-if I told you that I might have gotten a hold of some alcohol last weekend..would you?" San and I looked to each and shrugged, we were kids once, we know what teens like to do.
"Hey, as long as you had a designated driver and you were somewhere safe then yeah, we're totally cool with it." I replied as I rolled on to my stomach and propped my chin up in my hands.
"Oh okay, cool." Bryce nodded then continued to stare down at the bed. San and I waited for her to continue with the story, but nothing happened. I was cool with moving on with a different subject, but San obviously caught on to something that I didn't, like always, and began to press for a story.
"So, did you have fun?" She asked lightly, "I remember my first party with alcohol; I was hurting so bad the next day. Worse hangover of my entire life!" She laughed, sort of easing Bryce out of her shell. "How about you?"
"I-uhh-I actually didn't get that drunk.." She muttered. "I think I only had a little buzz," She shrugged, "I mean, I felt good but I still remembered what happened.." I watched as a smirk formed on Santana's lips. Yup, she was definitely on to something that I seemed to have missed.
"Yeah, you probably didn't have the right drink." San replied casually, "What all went down?" She asked, "I assume Kenzie was with you?" I saw Bryce tense at the mention of her best friend's name and I instantly caught on, but I didn't want to seem noticeable since Bryce hadn't told me herself that she was in love with Kenzie.
"Y-Yeah, she was with me.." Bryce stammered.
"Oh that's good, did she drink too?" I asked as I tried to wiggle my way in the conversation without seeming like I knew a little more about Bryce and Kenzie's relationship than I'm supposed to.
"Oh yeah, she drank alright..she drank a lot." Bryce chuckled then moved to sit up and looked between San and I. She stayed quiet for a bit like she was trying to gather her thoughts. "You know what they say about drunken minds speak sober thoughts or some crap like that?"
"Mhm, I've heard that a couple times." San and I both nodded. "Why?"
"No reason." Bryce shrugged then went on telling about all the funny things she saw her friends do when they were completely shitfaced.
"How'd you get home?" I asked, "You better not have drank and drove." Bryce just shook her head as she laughed.
"I only have my permit; I'm not allowed to drive by myself yet." She sighed with a smile.
"Didn't stop me and Quinn, "I shrugged. "How'd you get home then?"
"Uh, one of my sober friends drove Kenzie and I back home." She answered, "Kenzie stayed the night, there was no way I'd let her go home acting the way she was."
"Oh? And how was she acting?" San asked as she rested her chin in her hands.
"She was acting crazy, like crazier than her normal crazy self." Bryce laughed, "It was pretty funny, she was so drunk."
"Where were mom and dad?" I asked knowing that they probably weren't being quiet.
"Out of town," Bryce answered, "Thank God."
"So what else happened?" San asked, I could tell she was getting impatient since I kept butting in, but you can't really just straight up ask Bryce without us getting side tracked. That's just how we are.
"Uhm, well-uhh-she started being extra cuddly.." Bryce said, her body sort of tensing as she started to get into the real story San was waiting for. "She kept stumbling around the house talking about whatever while I just sat on the couch and watched her. San, she was so drunk! She came over to me and I told her she should probably lay down before she gets sick, but she didn't want to. She wanted to dance." I felt my insides warm at the thought of Kenzie trying to dance with Bryce, because Bryce was a horrible dancer. I just imagined a drunken Kenzie trying to teach her and Bryce probably getting all nervous because she's in love with her and dancing can be a very intimate thing. I could just picture Bryce's cheeks turning all red and her getting flustered.
"Uh huh, go on." Santana said with a polite smile. "You get up to dance?"
"There wasn't any music, so I had to plug up my ipod and she got impatient." Bryce replied, "But we danced, sort of. She mostly stumbled around, but that's okay since I suck at dancing. Then she just wanted to cuddle, she was very cuddly that night."
"Mhm, you said that already." I nodded and I watched Bryce gulp, something she did when she was nervous. Or guility.
"Oh, well, I was telling her she should take it easy but then I got a text from Heather-"
"Wait, Heather?" I gasped, "My assistant choreographer, Heather?" Bryce nodded with furrowed brows.
"Yeah, we text sometimes..It's nice to have a friend who's gay, she's really good at pep talks and stuff like that. So when I feel down about being comfortable with my gay, and Kenzie isn't really a big help, I text her." She shrugged.
"Oh good, you told Kenzie!" Santana cheered, "Felt good telling someone else, right?"
"It did," Bryce nodded, "One confession down another to go." The two shared a knowing look, little did Bryce know, I caught on as well. "But yeah, when Kenzie saw that I had a text from Heather, she flipped out! She kept saying how she hated me talking about her all the time and I just stared at her like confused." She sighed, "Heather is a friend, but even if she was something more, Kenzie can't have a say because she's still with Jase. She can't have us both.." San and I looked to each other as Bryce said that last part; she was about to come out with it, I thought. "She can't be all touchy and affectionate and shit with me and then do the same with him, it's confusing! Really confusing!"
"Yeah, that definitely is-"Santana answered and rubbed comfortingly at Bryce's knee.
"A-And then when I was putting her to bed, she tried kissing me!" Bryce exclaimed causing San and I both to look at each other with wide eyes. "Best friends aren't supposed to do that; they aren't supposed to try to make out with you like that."
"Well, she was drunk.." I sighed, "People act really different when they're drunk.."
"She straddled my legs and tried grinding on my thigh, Britt, I don't know how to feel about that!" Bryce snapped, "She kept saying how she loved me and how cute I am and she kept trying to kiss me but I-I couldn't let her do that, not when she was drunk.."
"Wow," San breathed, "She said she loves you? That's a good thing!" But Bryce just shook her head.
"I mean, even when I told her I was gay she still kept it coming! Doesn't she think I'd come on to her? I'm gay and she's a pretty girl who acts like that with me, does she think it won't take its effect on me? Did she think I wouldn't fa-" She stopped with her ramblings and looked to me with her lips pressed tightly together.
"Wouldn't what, Bryce?" I asked, already knowing the answer, "It's okay, sis, you can tell me."
"Fall in love with her.." She sighed and hid her face in her hands. "I'm so damn stupid, why'd I have to fall for her?" I let out a deep sigh and pulled her to me, wrapping her up in my arms.
"We can't pick who we fall for, Bryce." I said comfortingly, "I mean, look who I'm stuck with.." I teased and smiled over at Santana who was grinning from ear to ear.
"That doesn't count; you and San are perfect for each other." Bryce said sadly as she shook her head against my lap. "God, she doesn't even know, Britt, she doesn't even know that I feel all these things and she just walks all over them." Bryce huffed, "She doesn't even know.."
"Calm down, Bryce, it's okay." I cooed and brushed through her blonde hair. "She's missing out on a great person; she'll see it one day."
"She's right, Bryce, Kenzie is missing out!" San replied happily, "You care about her enough to not take advantage of her when she was like that, that's love." Bryce just shrugged.
"But what's worse is, the next day; she-she didn't remember a thing." Bryce mumbled, "She didn't remember a damn thing; she didn't remember her trying to kiss me, she didn't remember practically humping my leg, she didn't remember getting jealous of Heather, she didn't remember saying she loved me. She didn't remember any of it." Tears began to trickle down the corners of her eyes, "And I do, I remember it all and now I'm stuck here knowing how her lips felt on my skin and I-I can't push the thoughts away, I'm stuck with them and she's so lucky because she-she doesn't remember.." Bryce doesn't cry, like ever, but when she does it has to be for a damn good reason. When I felt her tears soaking through my sweat pants, I knew that this whole thing was really hurt Bryce and if it hurt Bryce, it hurt me too. I held her close to me, brushing through her hair, as she cried it out with San rubbing at her back comfortingly. I couldn't think of something to say, I really couldn't, I was just as confused as Bryce. I looked to Santana for support, but I think even she didn't know it was like this.
"Bryce," Santana said softly, "it's just like you said earlier, drunken minds speak sober thoughts."
"She's not gay, San, she's told me." Bryce muttered.
"Yeah, maybe not, but there's always an exception to the rule." San sighed, "Mine's Robert Downey Jr." My gaze shot up from Bryce to San as I quirked a brow but she just smiled and winked. "What? He's a handsome man, babe." She teased and pressed a kiss to my cheek, "Don't worry, I like blondes much more. He's just an example."
"I don't understand.." Bryce mumbled.
"Maybe you're her exception, her one exception." I answered, "Maybe she's really straight, but for you, she'd make an exception."
"Mhm," Santana nodded, "You're a very special girl, Bryce, who wouldn't want you to be their exception?"
"Really?" Bryce asked in the voice that sounded like a little girl's as she picked her head up from my lap and stared up at San and I.
"Most definitely!" Santana nodded with a grin.
"Huh, I-I never thought of that before.." Bryce sighed, her brows crinkling in thought. "Makes sense, kidna."
"You totally have a chance, I believe it!" I cheered as I wiped at her tears. "Come on, let's get some ice cream or something!"
"Yeah, you need a little cheering up!" Santana added, "I need to get the image of Bryce actually crying out of my head, complete shocker.." She teased making Bryce laugh.
"Yup yup, get up!" I said and swatted at Bryce's butt, "We're going out!" San and I both shuffled off the bed leaving Bryce there staring at us like we were crazy. "Come on, free ice cream! You never pass up free food!"
"You guys are crazy, it's like 2 in the morning I don't think anything's open.." Bryce said, but San and I both shrugged and exchanged smirks.
"You're in New York, kid, the city that never sleeps, there's always somewhere open!"
A/N Super long chapter, I don't know where it came from honestly LOL. I'm drafting the bachelorette party and I'm sort of stumped, anything in particular you want to see? Tell me on here or message me on Tumblr. Oh, I kinda fangirl'd a little when I finally mentioned the title, that wasn't planned either. Anyways, hope you liked it! Let me know ( :