an: hello hello here we are enjoy and review!

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tw: not much abuse in this chapter

THREE YEARS AGO:FRESHMAN SUMMER

Santana's POV

Life is really perfect right now. I have amazing friends. I've been having an great summer with them. I even came out to my parent's and my mom is okay with it but my dad may take some time to get there but he said he still loves me so that counts for something. Of course Quinn and Britt were okay with it I knew if my parents didn't accept me at least they would.

I've only had one thing on my mind and that is to tell Brittany that I like her which may never happen since she's still making heart eyes at Quinn. I couldn't be too upset about it though, they've known each other since they were little. Quinn hasn't told us her sexuality, which may be the reason Britt hasn't told her.

We wouldn't want to assume and mess up our friendship. I'm at my house with Brittany and Quinn. We've been hanging out all summer.

"So I have an idea." Quinn said. "We should all join the cheerios when school starts again!"

I shook my head and answered almost immediately "No way those girls are horrible people!" I couldn't believe Quinn wants to be apart of that.

"Yeah I have to agree with San here I mean they bullied me for being gay." Brittany said.

"Most of them were seniors so they're most likely gone by now and my sister was one when she was in high school and she said it's actually really fun." Quinn attempted to reason.

Me and Britt were still unconvinced.

"Oh come on you guys I want to join but it won't be fun without you two."

I shrugged I guess it wouldn't hurt to experience it. "Fine ill try out."

"Yay!" Quinn smiled and turned to Brittany "Britt?"

Brittany sighed "Well I mean I would but that would take so much time from LT and you know how he gets when I'm not around." Its so adorable how much she loves that fat cat. "Cant go back to him selling drugs and all..."

"Britt he will be fine." Quinn rolled her eyes.

"Yeah" I said "He won't go back to selling I'm sure of it."

Brittany smiled softly at me"If you say so...ok yeah I'll do it."

Quinn cheered "Yeah! Come on group hug!" Quinns stood up and held out her arms.

I chuckled as me and Brittany joined in the hug.

"I love you guys."

PRESENT

My heart is pounding out of my chest, my ears are hot, and I am on the verge of crying. I'm trying so hard to come up with an excuse. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

Quinn eyebrows furrowed "You know what. I heard everything she said to you."

I took a deep breath. "I don't know what you thought you heard but fuck off. What you heard has nothing to do with you." I began to walk away.

"Is she hitting you?"

I turned back to Quinn quickly and looking around to make sure no one heard. "No. why would you think that!"

She rolled her eyes "San I heard her, I saw how she looked at you and how...scared you were."

"Shut up!" I say irritated "You didn't hear shit, you didn't see shit so just stay the fuck out of my life."

"San if she's hurting you..."

I shook my head "What Quinn? What you're gonna be knight in shining armor? What the fuck will you do? Nothing. Nothing at all and you don't need to because she's not hurting me and she never has nor will."

"You're lying." She looked me in the eyes and I looked away. "I know what she's doing, what she said just confirmed it for me, was she the one who gave you that black eye?"

"Will you stop being a paranoid freak? I'm fine and she is not hurting me!"

"Santana." The bell rung for class and I have never been more thankful in my life.

"I have to go." I said quickly as the halls filled up with students.

No ones POV

After school Santana met Brittany by her car.

"Hey baby." Brittany said.

"Hey." Santana half smiled.

They got into the car and Santana started thinking about Quinn just like she did yesterday. This was getting really bad, first she sees her eye then she heard what Brittany said.

Santana didn't know what would be worse: Her telling Brittany and she gets angry and beats her or Brittany hearing it from Quinn.

"We're here." Brittany said and Santana looked confused until she looked out the window. Oh yeah she had to pick up her brother. Once again she forgot about that.

"Oh right I'll be right back thanks again." Santana said before getting out of the car.

She walked to the entrance and told the lady she was here to pick up her brother.

A few minutes later he ran from the classroom to Santana. "Sanny!" The young boy shouted.

Santana chuckled and picked him up wincing slightly from the bruises on her torso. "Hey Mario. How was school?"

The boy gave her a toothy grin "Awesome we had cake today!"

Santana smiled and kissed his head. Normally she wasn't so nice to her siblings but lately she's been feeling well uncertain about life at the moment. She would never commit suicide though she's thought about it many times. If there was one thing keeping her alive it was her family. She feels this because of Brittany, what if one day things go too far? So far to where it can't be undone. She doesn't want her brothers to remember her as an mean older sister.

Santana walked outside with him. "Mami had to work late so Britts gonna take us home today ok?"

"Yay! I love Britt Britt!" The boy cheered. Mario was Brittanys biggest fan since, of course, he never knew what Brittany was really like.

Brittany was actually really kind to Santana's family members which was one thing she loved about her, but she knew that Brittany was only nice to them because of what she does to her.

They went outside and she put Mario in the backseat. "Hey Britt Britt!" The boy grinned at her.

"Hey bud!" Brittany smiled and turned to high-fived him.

"We had cake today!"

"Oh you did? I'm jealous."

Mario giggled "I would've saved you some if I knew you were gonna be here."

"Oh you'd save Britt some but not me?" Santana said in mock offense.

"Well Britt Britt is more nice to me than you."

Brittany chuckled and Santana tickled him. The boy squealed "It's true!" He said between laughs.

Brittany pulled into Santana's driveway. "Go inside Rio I'll be in in a few."

"Otay!" The young boy said before jumping out of the car and running in the house.

Santana reluctantly turned to Brittany. She decided this was for the best and that this would be the best time to tell her considering her brother is with her now. Brittany wouldn't do anything too drastic.

"Britt?" Santana said hesitantly.

"Yeah?" Brittany looked at her.

"I just...how long have you been with Rachel?" It's been tearing Santana apart. The girl she's been in love with for years had just cheated on her out of nowhere and it's taken awhile to actually process. Quite frankly Santana didn't think it was fair, but when is Brittany ever fair to her?

"Not long. Actually not at all. She just was flirting with me in class, so I ignored it at first then she approached me at lunch, one thing led to another and I don't know..."

"Wouldn't...wouldn't you be equally upset if you found out I was cheating?" Santana said carefully, she was incredibly upset and the old Santana would be shouting right about now, but of course things were different now.

Brittany shrugged. "Well I don't have to worry about that considering you know what is at stake if you do."

Santana just nodded, she'd never cheat on Brittany, no matter how much the girl hurts her she never once thought about it. She thought Brittany felt the same until today. Their relationship is a disaster and completely unhealthy but Santana thought they had an understanding of only loving each other through it all.

Santana took a deep breath "I-I think Quinn knows..."

"Knows?"

Santana nodded.

"About what?"

Santana didn't say anything she just tried her best to not breakdown.

She saw the look on Santana's face and figured it out.

"What the fuck Santana."

"It's not my fault honestly she o-overheard us in the hallway today and c-confronted me about it I'm so sorry Britt I don't know what happened and I told her that it w-wasn't what it looked l-like and-and-" Santana rambled as Brittany glared at her.

"Stop. Just. Stop." Brittany went quiet for a few minutes as she looked out the window.

Santana shook slightly in fear of Brittany being quiet for so long. Brittanys grip tightened on her steering wheel.

"Be fucking lucky you're not alone right now. Get out." She said still not looking at Santana.

Santana just nodded and stepped out of the car. She knew something would happen soon. It's the knowing and waiting that's the worse.

She went inside wiping her tears quickly and she saw her brother eating a PB at the table.

Santana smiled, he was getting more mature by the day. She went over to him and kissed his head. "I love you Mario."

"Love you too hermana." He said with a smile. Santana chuckled at his adorableness.

"Now I'll go get changed and how about me and you spend some time at the park huh?"

Mario practically fell out of his chair "Yeah! I don't like when we go with Santiago and Diego they always play monkey in the middle with me. It's not my fault I'm small." The boy pouted.

Santana ruffled his hair. "Yeah I know but guess what when you're all older you're gonna be taller than them and then you can get revenge."

Mario smiled "Really!"

"Of course just wait." Santana winked and the boy laughed.

SOPHOMORE YEAR

Sue Sylvester stared at the three young girls in front of her. Santana, Brittany, and Quinn were all waiting to hear if they're a cheerio or not. Santana honestly didn't care. Brittany didn't seem to care much either. Quinn though, she was incredibly anxious.

Sue smirked "Welcome to the Cheerios."

Quinn squealed "Yes!" She hugged Santana and Brittany "Oh my god we did it! Thank you guys for trying out with me this is so awesome!"

Santana chuckled "Of course Quinn."

Brittany just smiled softly.

"Ooh I'll be back I have to tell my mom the news!"

Sue shook her head "Girls..." she said before walking away.

Santana looked at Brittany who was sort of staring off into space. "Hey?"

Brittany looked up and smiled softly. "Hey."

"You okay?"

"No yeah I'm fine. I'm good ha." Brittany stretched her arms. "Quinn is sure excited."

Santana nodded "Yeah. I guess I am too kind of. I've never done cheerleading before so this should be fun."

Brittany chucked "I did it once when I was like three so I barely remember it. Maybe LT does. You know he's a time traveler I could ask him to go back for me."

Santana chuckled "I'm sure he would Britt." Santana paused before debating if she should ask something that's been on her mind. "Hey so I know it was like months ago but do you remember telling me that you liked Quinn?"

Brittany nodded "Oh yeah. I um I don't really like her all that much anymore. That way I mean. I think I just thought I liked her because she was my sort of "gay awakening" you know?"

"Yeah I know what you mean."

"Well...actually there's another reason..." Brittany said looking a bit flustered.

"Yeah?"

"I think- I um I think I like you."

Santana was dumbstruck and excited. Her heart was beating out of her chest. She felt so lucky, how many people can say their crush liked them back?

"W-what?"

"I mean it's okay if you don't feel the same but I just-"

"No no I like you too...I always have. How long have you?"

"Pretty much since the day I met you. You looked so cute getting frustrated with your locker and when I get nervous around pretty girls I just start to talk about LT as you can see." Brittany said with a smile.

Santana blushes remembering how she met Brittany last year. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Well honestly I thought you were straight until you came out to us. Plus." Brittany looked around despite being in an empty gym. She leaned in and whispered "LT suspected you liked me but said I should wait for you know the anticipation."

Santana looked at the girl with a smile curiously. When she says things like that you can't help but wonder if LT is really talking. "Only straight I am is straight up bitch."

Brittany laughed "Hm there's a new mlp coming out this Friday wanna see it?"

"What's mlp?"

"My little pony." Brittany said "You don't know!?"

Santana shook her head "No?"

"Wow...you know what I just may revoke my liking of you." She said jokingly.

Santana faked gasped "You wouldn't dare."

Brittany smirked "Try me shorty."

"Shorty? Ok I'm not that short."

"Ah I don't know San you're pretty short for the average teen girl. LT says so."

"That fat cat isn't right all the time."

"He knows everything. He's going on a diet so you know."

Quinn came running back in "Guys! Guess what!"

Jeez why does she have so much energy "Yeah?" Santana said.

"Justin Bieber is having a concert next week and my mom said she'll take all of us!"

Santana had a deep hatred for Justin and Brittany well...pretended to like it to make Quinn happy.

"Yay!" Brittany exclaimed semi enthusiastically, Quinn was too excited to notice. After hugging the girls looked at Santana awaiting a reaction.

"Will there be food?" Santana

"It's literally Justin Bieber." Quinn said.

"Ok...but will there be food?" Santana questioned again.

"Yes San." Quinn deadpanned.

"Great I'll be there." Santana smiled and the two blondes laughed. More of the reason she was smiling is because Brittany actually liked her back. This girl was going to make her so happy she knows it.

PRESENT

Quinn was home sitting on her bed thinking about Santana. Was Brittany actually hurting the girl? Had she heard wrong? She was anything but dumb, she heard correctly. She had too.

She just couldn't believe it. What do you even do when you know someone is in an abusive relationship? Your ex best friends at that. Not only that but the abuser being your friend that you've known since you were little.

The Brittany she knew hates violence. She'd know because her motto was usually "Stop the violence." Though she may not have been serious.

Quinn put her head in her hands. She really wants to help Santana but how? She can't just tell a cop because they would need proof and no doubt Brittany or Santana would cover something up.

She can't tell her mother because well she's an alcoholic and wouldn't even care. She can't tell Santana's or Brittany's parents, that would just lead to a lot. Besides they're almost adults now so what would anyone else care. Especially in Lima.

Quinn decides she should get more information before making assumptions though she knows she's right, but if there's the slightest chance she's wrong things could go south.

an: hi hi hope you enjoyed and again sorry it's taken me so long to updateeee

i now have more time these days so this will be updated more frequently.

constructive criticism always welcomed and appreciated!