"Good morning," Rachel's voice was the first noise across the cabin the next morning. "It's 7 am, ladies. Time to rise and shine. Last day of staff training!"
"Too loud," Brittany whined.
Santana realized immediately that the girl was still wrapped around her. Brittany's head was nuzzled into her neck now, even closer after Rachel's announcement. Brittany held onto Santana a little tighter, not wanting to get up anytime soon.
"Agreed," Santana replied. She didn't make and effort to move. Brittany's lips were intoxicatingly close to her skin. Santana was an absolute sucker for being kissed on the neck.
"You smell nice," Brittany whispered and her lips traced Santana's skin with her words.
Santana couldn't manage a response. The girl was unknowingly assaulting her senses. She was hardly coherent enough for this right now.
"Shampoo," Santana deadpanned awkwardly.
All of a sudden there was a choked-back laugh from above them. Quinn had tried her best not to alert the girls that she was awake but this was just too much. Santana nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound. Quinn continued to giggle at the lack of prowess exhibited by Santana. The Latina was never this awkward. It was the most fantastic thing that Quinn had ever witnessed.
"I need a shower," Santana blurted, suddenly moving. Brittany grumbled but rolled off of her.
The last day of staff training felt the absolute longest. They spent the entire day recapping every single rule that they had gone over all week. Santana and Quinn spent the day making a shopping list for the party. The two were both wealthy and had daddy issues. The combination made for some kick ass parties. Quinn had like 250 in cash from her dad trying to make amends that she handed to Sam for booze. Santana decided that food, mixers and anything else that they desired was going on daddies card. He left her credit line open and maybe this would make him shut it off but it'd be worth it. The plan was to get trashed, crash and show up to camp on Sunday ready to work their asses off.
"So, pretty much everyone is coming," Quinn informed Santana. "But I'm kicking them out Saturday. Only ones staying into Sunday are the boys, Sam, Blaine and us."
"Why Sam?" Santana grumbled.
"Because he's boozing us up and Puck asked if he could," Quinn replied steadfastly. "Don't be a bitch about it."
"That's like telling a fish not to swim," Santana rolled her eyes. "Okay so we're feeding like twenty-something people? I'm thinking hotdogs."
"Yeah, Puck said he'd set up the grill," Quinn agreed. "Make sure we grab a ton of Gatorade and pedialyte."
"Spending a lot of time planning with Puck lately?" Santana quirked an eyebrow. The two had a messy history but she did like them together. They were more honest around each other.
"Need to pick up shampoo?" Quinn retorted, referencing Santana's totally awkward encounter with Brittany earlier that morning.
"Honestly? Thank god you interrupted," Santana groaned and put her head down onto Quinn's shoulder dramatically. "You know exactly what touching my neck does to me."
"Yes I am intimately familiar," Quinn teased.
"I'm sure you miss it," Santana bit back.
"Everyday, Lopez," Quinn laughed.
When things were good, they were so good. Their friendship was one of those super charged things; Explosions were simply a byproduct of something as dynamic as them. Quinn and Santana were both very reactive and overly competitive. The mixture didn't always work. They were working for a common cause this summer and it felt good, though neither would admit it.
"And that is the end of training," Will and Emma announced in synch. They creeped Santana out.
"Be safe, see you by noon on Sunday," Emma continued. "I'm on duty this weekend so if you need anything just call."
Everyone got up and filed out. They scattered to their cabins to waste time before the nights party. Quinn got numbers and texted the address. Santana got a strange wave of pure energy; she had been so exhausted before they had said the weekend began. She loved parties, the unfiltered peers and messiness of it all. Made her feel less alone in her own personal messiness.
"We've got to pick up Britt, Tina, and Blaine," Quinn threw a tote full of clothes over her shoulder.
Santana threw on the last of her makeup on. She packed her black dress away to be changed into later. She also threw a jersey knit blanket in her bag, just in case all others were taken tonight. A hoe didn't get cold because she came prepared.
"Why are we taking Tina?" Santana asked, pulling on her sandals.
"She didn't have a ride," Quinn replied. "You better not stick me in the back so that your girl can sit shotgun."
"Not my girl," Santana elbowed the blonde. "Quit that shit. I'm pretty sure nothing is happening there, she seems too innocent."
"Innocent?" Quinn snorted. "Girl has some stories. You missed em when you stormed off the other night."
"Like what?" Santana was curious.
"Like her body count," Quinn replied simply. "Brittany is not all that innocent."
The conversation was interrupted by Blaine Anderson making his way down the path. He was wearing pastel shorts and a matching polo that made Santana laugh. They made their way together towards the girls' cabin. They were waiting on the porch and ran over.
"I'm so excited!" Brittany greeted them enthusiastically. She hugged everyone but also pressed a kiss to Santana's cheek. Her attention never failed to blush the Latina's skin. "You look so pretty!"
They made the mistake of giving Blaine the aux on the way to the store and suffered through one too many Katy Perry songs. Santana hardly noticed the music as Brittany hung out her sunroof. She kept her left hand on the wheel and her right on the girl's leg, to steady her. Santana glanced up as she let her hair down in the wind. It was some movie-level bullshit and it had her stupid little heart beating against her chest. Santana put her eyes back on the road but she could still hear Brittany's singing and laughter. As much as she tried to contain herself, a smile pushed its way to her face.
The second mistake they made was letting Brittany go to the toy section once they got there. Santana swore this girl was on some next level shit as she swooned over how cute stuffed animals were. She bounced from aisle to aisle, touching every button that said 'try me'. Even Quinn giggled at her. When she left the aisle, Santana did some good old Lima Heights Adjacent 'borrowing'. She pocketed a little pink stuffed cat that was in the shape of a marshmallow. It was dumb but the girl wanted it so she would get it. And, yes, Santana could have afforded to buy the stuffed animal but it was in the precedent of the thing. Chains were fair game, corporate suits didn't need her money. Plus she was pretty sure her dad owned stock in Walmart so fuck them. You weren't important to Santana Lopez until she went out of her way to steal something for you. In the tenth grade, Santana stole Quinn a mug from a gas station, that just said 'Queen Bitch' across its front. Quinn still had it.
"Puck wants, and I quote, as many red bulls as we can get," Quinn rolled her eyes as she pushed the cart.
"Oh! I need stuff for tie dye!" Brittany piped up after seeing a little girl in a cart wearing a rainbow swirl T-shirt.
"You guys go grab that and we'll start the food shopping," Blaine suggested.
Everyone seemed to know that 'you guys' implied Santana and Brittany. The former wasn't sure how that was. Was she really that obvious? Unfazed, Brittany took Santana by the hand and pulled her across the store. Santana's hand was still bandaged so just Brittany's pinky looped into hers. Santana had no idea where they were going but Brittany bee lined for the men's section.
"Have you been here before?" Santana asked. Even as Brittany scanned the packs of white undershirts, her pinky didn't leave Santana's.
"No, but every Walmart is the same," Brittany replied. "Kinda the only place we could afford to go at home."
"Oh," Santana was unsure of what to say to that. "Alright."
"We ate a lot of Kraft and all of my clothes were sparkly so it was cool," Brittany grabbed a pack of shirts off the shelf. "This one has enough shirts to make us all matching cheer shirts."
"Matching tie dye?" Santana laughed. Only Brit could get Quinn and her to wear tie dye. If she made them, they'd have no choice. Neither could say no to the girl so far.
"It's gonna be great!" Brittany grinned. She began to tug Santana down the aisle again. "Oh! Funny boxers!"
Santana watched as the girl rifled through patterned cotton briefs, missing her hand the moment she let go. Brittany grabbed a pink and blue pair of boxers that had little bananas all of them.
"Do you wear these?" Santana questioned, picking up a pair with Sesame Street characters on them.
"Yes!" Brittany jumped up. "They're the best for pajamas! Have you never tried them?"
"No," Santana giggled at her bewildered tone. "I'll buy a pair."
"You should get these," Brittany picked up two pairs of the same pink briefs covered in rubber duckies. What was with this girl and her ridiculous fashion sense? It was... cute.
"Gimme," she snatched the pairs and pack of shirts from Brittany to buy them. "I got this stuff."
"Are you sure?" Brittany looked concerned. "Yup," Santana agreed. "Let's go find the rest of them before they buy shitty snacks."
Santana was relieved when Brittany's pinky slipped into hers again. She made Santana feel so much lighter. She actively ignored Quinn's teasing looks and Blaine's smirking as they found the group, still hand in hand. Brittany went straight for the peanut butter Oreos and mini m . The cart was filled with solo cups, all the makings of Jell-O shots, hydrating fluids aplenty, chips and energy drinks. Tina came waddling back towards them after a few minutes with her arms full of hotdogs and buns. Quinn added a bulk box of toaster waffles and three jugs of OJ for the morning after. They checked out and Santana swiped her dads card with a smug smile.
Quinn's lake house was absolutely gorgeous. Her dad had made some probably corrupt fortune in oil and if Quinn had a brother, Santana would definitely sell out on her identity to get a slice of the family fortune. There were at least a dozen beds, countless couches, a game room complete with a pool and bar, and a huge pool in the backyard. They stuffed the fridge and countertops with their grocery haul.
It wasn't long before Sam, Finn, and Puck showed up with a truck full of booze. They had a keg, cases of mixed drinks, and several handles of vodka, tequila, and rum. Apparently, everyone attending had chipped in. They we're sitting on about 400 of alcohol. They all gathered around to get things inside and refrigerated. Brittany started hiding Smirnoff ice around the house. Brittany informed the house that if you found one, you hand to take a knee and chug it. Santana had never heard of the game but they all agreed to it.
"Follow me cheerios," Quinn announced as they unloaded the last of the trunk.
Brittany and Santana followed her upstairs to the master bedroom. It was a huge room, the only thing on the third level of the house. There was an en suite bathroom with a huge jacuzzi tub and a California king bed. The three girls could comfortably sleep together on it for the weekend.
"Nobody else is allowed in here," Quinn told them. "I'm hanging on the precipice of disownment as it is so this room has to stay nice. Mostly, for my mom."
"You got it princess," Santana replied, walking over to one of the many windows. There was a brilliant view of the forest and lake.
"This room is the size of my house," Brittany blinked. She was still frozen in the doorway like she was afraid to touch anything. "I've never seen a bed that big."
"Make yourself at home, Britt," Quinn assured the girl. "What's mine is yours. We're a team now, that's how we're going to roll."
"Come on," Santana launched herself onto the plush bed. "I know you want to take a nap on this."
Brittany giggled and made her way over to the bed. She threw off her hoodie to reveal a cute cropped tank top. Immediately, Brittany crawled onto the bed with Santana. She pretty much knocked the brunette down so that she could cuddle her. Santana didn't even fight it.
"I didn't know until right now that I always wanted to sleep on a marshmallow," Brittany yawned.
That reminded Santana and she reached over and pulled the stuffed cat out of her bag's pocket. She handed it to Brittany, whose face was priceless. She smiled so big and Santana knew she would do anything for the girl if it meant seeing her happy. Brittany hugged the stuffed animal and then Santana.
"You're the best, 'tana."
"Usually I would call out your lazy asses but I need a nap too," Quinn rolled her eyes at the girls. She sprawled out over the other side of the bed.
"Britt," Quinn spoke softly after a moment. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Mhm," Brittany replied with no hesitation.
"Why don't you sleep well at night?" Quinn turned on her side to look at the other two.
"It's a long story," Brittany started fidgeting with the hem of Santana's shirt, nervously.
"You don't have to tell us," Santana reassured her. "But we are here if you need to talk about it."
"I don't sleep good anywhere or anytime," Brittany nuzzled closer to Santana. Her voice was impossibly soft now, "I told you guys that my mom left but she's actually in jail. It's just a lot to explain to people."
"That's a lot to deal with," Santana nodded understandingly. She didn't like to advertise her business everywhere either.
"She used to hit my dad and drink and stuff," Brittany sounded sad. "They'd fight a lot in the middle of the night so it's hard for me to relax."
"I had no idea, I'm sorry if I pried too much," Quinn frowned.
"I'm sorry, Britt," Santana squeezed the girls shoulder. "You seem pretty relaxed now though."
"Yeah, because you're here," Brittany yawned again.
"You need someone around to sleep?" Santana asked curiously. When Brittany yawned in response, Santana opened up her arms and the girl crawled into her. "Sweet dreams, cutie."
"I'm a little jealous I don't get my own personal pillow," Quinn laughed.
"Come on, then," Santana lifted her other arm for Quinn. "There's enough Lopez to go around."
"You're an idiot," Quinn rolled her eyes but curled up anyway.
Quinn only stayed with them for about fifteen minutes. She didn't sleep well around others. Santana understood completely. Neither of them trusted people enough to sleep around them, with the exception of each other after all the years they had been friends. Santana had recently found Brittany to be an exception as well but it wasn't a surprise. The girl was so damn sweet that it was hard to hold any suspicion against her. Santana played with her hair as they sat in a comfortable silence. Neither fell asleep this time.
"What are you thinking about?" Santana asked after noticing Brittany's eyes still open.
"That Sour Patch Kids are just Gummy Bears that turned to drugs," Brittany answered immediately.
"Hmm," Santana replied in thought. Well, she wasn't wrong. "Is a nerd's rope a train for nerds or a harem type situation?"
"Oh it's for sure sexual, nerds usually are," Brittany didn't miss a beat. "Did you know that most teenage pregnancies are actually band nerds?"
"Is that true?" Santana asked.
"Oh, I have no clue," Brittany shrugged. "I get all of my information from ABC family. Apparently playing a French horn gets you laid."
"Seems improbable," Santana laughed. "Although, I have caught some marching band freaks under the bleachers doing some nasty stuff."
"Nasty?"
"Yeah like real slobbery, tongues down each others throats kind of nasty," Santana grimaced. "This one dude was sucking on a girls mouth while he, like, patted her boob. Did not look pleasant or even very sexual at that. It was kind of like CPR with extra steps."
"What candy do you think would be the worst in bed?" Brittany asked.
"Oh definitely those butterscotch things that old ladies keep in their purses," Santana replied easily.
"No way!" Brittany protested with a laugh. "Old ladies that hand out candy are total MILFs."
"Brittany!" Santana exclaimed. Then, "Okay, which do you think then?"
"Raisinettes for sure," Brittany was solemn.
"Oh man, you're totally gonna make fun of me then," Santana giggled. "I love raisinettes."
"Oh my god, that's undoubtedly the least sexy candy ever," Brittany picked herself up on her elbow so that she was angled towards the Latina. "How can it be your favorite when you're so hot?"
"I, uh-"
Before she could recover from her fluster, Brittany continued, "Now you have to tell me all of your favorite weird snacks."
"Rasinettes, iced coffee," Santana thought aloud. "Oh! And pickles. But like the whole ones that come in a super big jar or like from a deli."
"Maybe you eat too many pickles so you're salty," Brittany giggled. She rested her weight onto Santana, still looking up at her. "Do you wanna know my favorite that I never tell anyone?"
"Absolutely."
"Oreos dipped in fruit punch," Brittany whispered dramatically.
"That's repulsive," Santana smirked.
"Almost as gross as raisinettes."
"Touché."
They sat for a moment just looking at each other. Both had stupid grins on their faces. The sun was hitting Brittany's blue eyes just right that they were almost a glowing blue. She looked tired but mostly relaxed. Her freckles had jumped out on her face more and more as the week in the sun had progressed.
After a moment, the two were startled by Sam barging into the room. Santana jerked upwards, causing Brittany to yelp. The blonde boy looked flustered and confused. He was holding a swimsuit in his hands.
"I'm so sorry!" He exclaimed. "I was just looking for a place to change."
Brittany sat up and rubbed the sleepiness from her eyes. She pointed, "There's a bathroom."
Sam scurried off to change but Santana just sat staring at Brittany. She was so damn cute all the time. Right now her voice was groggy and cheeks pink. Her hair was all messy where it had been laying against Santana.
"You're a good pillow," Brittany yawned with a smile. She leaned over and placed a kiss on Santana's cheek. She had done this before, but this one was slightly different. Brittany's soft lips lingered on Santana's skin longer than the previous peck. It was slow and Brittany's bottom lip dragged lightly across her cheek as she pulled away. Santana had never felt so flushed by a kiss on the cheek before. Before she could act on her impulse to kiss the girl right then and there, Sam walked in again.
"Corgis!" Brittany exclaimed with delight.
After a moment of confusion, Santana realized that there were puppies on the boys swim trunks. God, this girl was way too adorable.
Santana went into the bathroom once Sam left. Brittany said she didn't mind if they changed together but Santana couldn't handle anymore at the moment. A single kiss on the cheek had sent heat through her body.
Santana had reached a point in this crush that she knew she needed to figure out her next move. It was horrifying to even admit she had a crush. She felt like she couldn't just hook up and run away this time: she liked Brittany's company way too much. She knew that Brittany had hooked up with girls but she didn't know if she dated them. Quinn had hooked up with Santana but wasn't by any means looking to be with a girl. Hooking up didn't mean much for whether or not Brittany was in her dating pool. If Brittany was into her, Santana needed her to make the first move.
It wouldn't hurt to move things along a bit, so Santana put on the hottest swimsuit she had packed. It was a bandage halter top with low rise bikini bottoms, all of it black. Santana looked at herself in the mirror and spun a bit. She'd already started to tan with all the time they had been spending outside. She threw her hair up into a messy bun with a bandana, like she had it the first day of camp. She wasn't planning on getting wet but she sprayed a bit of waterproof setting spray on her face.
When she was done, she went back into the room where Brittany had finished changing. Her back was to Santana and she was glad for the moment to compose herself. In contrast to her own black suit, Brittany's was a pastel blue and pink. The bottoms were high waisted and the top tied around her neck. Every time Santana got a peek of the girls body, her own body went insane. All she wanted was to pin this girl to a wall and kiss her from head to toe right now.
"You look super good," Brittany smiled, bringing the brunette out of her thoughts.
"So do you," Santana smirked. "Let's go hang out before the rest of the geeks arrive."