The rest of the evening was a blur. The girls had been handed more shots. Finn found a Smirnoff ice in the cabinet and had chugged it so fast he immediately threw up in the sink beside him. There was more dancing, someone had ordered a pizza, and Santana was pretty sure there had been some sort of fight. She was trying to piece the evening together as she woke up groggily in the master bedroom. Brittany was right beside her, sleeping soundly. Her head had a dull pounding but she didn't feel nauseous as she sat up so all in all, not the worst hangover she'd had. Santana did, however, feel disgusting. She was a sticky with the sweat of the night before and her mouth was as dry as could be. She made her way into the shower and changed into a a fresh pair of sweatpants and a clean tank top. The bathroom was filled with steam, covering the mirror, so she didn't bother with her hair. It was thrown into a damp bun on the top of her head.
When she stepped out of the bathroom, she was surprised to see that Brittany was gone. She checked her phone, it was already ten in the morning. She wondered where Quinn was; maybe she'd gotten up before all of them. Santana made her way downstairs and into the kitchen.
"Good morning sunshine," Quinn was stood in the kitchen, making a pot of coffee.
"Holy shit, Santana, what ate your neck?" Sam looked genuinely concerned from where he sat next to Brittany.
Santana put her hand on her neck. She hadn't gotten a chance to look at herself before she came down. She didn't feel anything.
"Do I have a bug bite or something?" Santana knit her brows, looking to Quinn.
"Or something," Quinn confirmed without even looking.
"Sorry about that," Brittany grinned through a bite of toaster waffle.
She didn't look a bit sorry and Santana felt her blood go cold. Santana fled immediately to the nearest bathroom to look into a mirror. Along the base of her neck were three hickeys, two light and one pretty dark. She was standing there staring in disbelief when Quinn walked in behind her. She was holding two mugs and nodded her head towards the porch.
"I'm guessing you remember what happened to my neck then," Santana sat down on the porch steps beside Quinn. It was drizzling but a large overhang kept them dry.
"That I do," Quinn took a pensive sip of her coffee. "You want me to tell you now or you want some caffeine in your system first?"
"Good call," Santana sighed.
She took her coffee and held it to her lips. She wracked her brain for any sliver of memory that involved Brittany Pierce and her neck. She remembered dancing very close together, grinding into each other. That had obviously been hot but that was all that she remembered in intimacy. At some point there had been a fight in the living room and Santana had gotten involved. She looked down to find her knuckles a tad bit swollen. She flexed her fingers and winced slightly. As if the scabs from days ago weren't bad enough, seemed like she had punched something again.
"Explain," Santana deadpanned.
"The dance floor got a little hot and heavy," Quinn started slowly. "You were both a little... stripper drunk. Brittany started kind of nuzzling your neck and you like, full on moaned."
"Ah, fuck," Santana swore in a rare bashful moment, meant only for Quinn's eyes.
"She seemed really into it so she started to kiss along your neck while you were dancing," Quinn seemed completely unfazed as she spoke. "That sports counselor Karofsky started making some homophobic remarks about you guys though. He was super sloppy drunk and loud. Puck beat the shit out of him, held him for you to take the last blow."
"How the hell do I not remember this?" Santana shook her her and pressed her palms to her eyes.
"You were pretty much a goner before that happened and then you celebrated with tequila," Quinn laughed. "Found you puking in the bushes out back while Brittany held back your hair."
"I hate everything," Santana groaned. "Anything else I don't remember?"
"I slept with Puck," Quinn all but whispered.
"Oh my god, is this becoming a thing Fabray?" Santana turned suddenly to watch her friend. "You like him don't you?"
"I'm being cautious," Quinn shook her head. "He still has some growing up to do."
"Fair, but you know he'd do anything for you," Santana assured Quinn. "I think you guys bring out the best in each other."
"We'll see," Quinn sighed as she stood up. "Now come on, let's go face our suitors."
"You really think-"
"Santana Lopez, you are the most fucking useless lesbian I have ever met!" Quinn interrupted, pushing open the door. "The girl was sucking on your neck and you still think that this shit is platonic?"
Girls who experimented in college kind of ruined Santana's gaydar. She quickly realized that once a curious girl found out she was gay, they would do anything to try and seduce her. It was like some weird ego thing. They used Santana to feel more attractive and then they went back to fawning over crusty boys. Brittany had found out that Santana was gay only a few hours before she had made a move in her. This left Santana wary. She wasn't good with trust or unspoken things. She'd have to get answers from the girl herself.
Brittany and Sam sat in the kitchen, looking vaguely uncomfortable. Finn and Puck had emerged accompanied by Rachel. Santana groaned. She was supposed to leave but the dwarf refused to give Santana a moment of peace. Continuing her disappointment, Kurt walked down the stairs with Blaine. It was almost noon now so everyone who wasn't staying another night had head back to camp already. Santana was stuck with the Broadway buzzkills for another day.
"Why are they still here?" Santana hissed to Quinn.
"Be nice," Quinn shook her head. "You can deal."
Suddenly Brittany stood up and walked over to Quinn and Santana. She tugged on Santana's tshirt like a little kid. Santana was used to it by now; she did it every time she was nervous. Santana wasn't sure what had happened but she was worried it was regret, hitting the girl. For whatever reason, some alone time with Sam had made her uncomfortable. Santana was going to get to the bottom of it.
"Can we watch cartoons?" Brittany asked quietly. "Rainy days are for cartoons."
"Cmon Brit, I'll show you down to the basement," Quinn ushered the girls towards their entertainment room. She sensed Santana's venom and was trying to minimize the damage.
The entertainment room was just four giant leather armchairs and a huge television on the wall. It was dimly lit like a movie theater. Large fuzzy blankets were hung on the back of each chair. Brittany grabbed Santana's hand and dragged her over to the chair that Quinn sat on. They squeezed onto the chair together, Santana and Quinn wrapped around Brittany. The girl seemed to relax instantly.
"What did Sam say?" Santana asked after a moment.
"He told me that I led him on," Brittany mumbled. "I'm so tired of boys telling me that. I'm nice to everyone."
"You don't owe them shit," Santana surprised herself by seeking out the girl's hand to hold.
"I just danced with him," Brittany continued. "I thought we were having fun. But I guess I teased him."
"You're not accountable for his assumptions," Quinn shook her head. "You promised him a dance and that is all. It's his fault if he expected more."
"He wasn't very nice about you," Brittany turned to Santana. She kissed her cheek. "But I don't care what he says. I like you."
Santana was blushing heavily and Quinn stirred, feeling slightly awkward sharing a seat with this moment. Luckily, several feet sounded down the stairs and Quinn got up to see who it was. Blaine and Kurt came around the corner.
"It got a little bit awful up there," Kurt stated.
"Puck took Sam for a drive and Finn and Rachel started making out in the kitchen," Blaine explained. "Can we join you?"
"Sure," Brittany smiled at the two. "I'm gonna put on Mulan."
The girl did just that and everyone just settled into their seats. Quinn made her way to another chair, leaving Santana alone with Brittany. She was relieved to have a moment to relax with the girl again. This past week of naps and running around together was so much fun but they were going to have way less time together this week. Between the kids on camp and schedule differences, they wouldn't get much downtime from here out. Santana was going to take full advantage so she curled up with the girl. Her head lay in the crook of Brittany's neck and their fingers stayed interlocked.
"So Shang is definitely a little fruity," Blaine spoke up as the character started to take a liking to Mulan.
"I've always thought so," Quinn agreed solemnly. "He was in love with Mulan way before he realized she wasn't a dude."
"Maybe he just loves people for who they are," Brittany shrugged.
It was just that easy for her. Santana smiled and nuzzled into the girl deeper. She could be tough later. Right then, hidden in the dark, Santana Lopez was going to cuddle the hell out of this adorable girl and let her smile be wide while her cheeks burned bright. Santana brought their tangled hands up to her face and pressed a light kiss the the girls knuckles. Brittany smiled at her and got impossibly closer.
Thirty minutes in, and Santana couldn't focus on the movie at all. Brittany's hand had fallen onto her thigh. At first, she thought it was just where her hand had happened to fall but then Brittany's fingers started moving intently along her leg. It was slow and calculated. Every so often her fingers would creep a bit higher on her thigh. Heat was pulsing through Santana's veins as Brittany gripped her leg possessively. As her breath grew slightly choppy, she glanced up at the blonde to catch a small smirk on her lips. Well, fuck. She knew exactly what she was doing.
Santana shifted her hips towards the girl, allowing her more access to move along her leg. She suddenly wished she was wearing shorts but the skin contact would have had her going crazier than she was now.
Eventually, Puck and Sam found their way downstairs. As Sam passed Brittany dug her fingers into the Latina's flesh, causing her to gasp lightly. Sam definitely noticed the position of Brittany's hand and Santana turned her face into Brittany to hide her blush. Santana couldn't catch her breath for the rest of the movie. Brittany's wandering hands did not relent. When she got to the top of the girls thigh, she had paused for a moment to make sure it was alright. When Santana didn't stop her, her hand stayed there tracing persistent circles. If Brittany moved her hand even an inch upwards, she would be fully fucking Santana in a room full of people. Unfortunately, her hand stayed just at the top of her thigh. Credits rolled and Brittany had to move her hand to grab the remote. Santana shifted, head spinning in the best way.
"What's next guys?" Brittany asked the room.
"I happen to have packed a copy of the seminal movie production of Grease starring John Travolta," Rachel announced as she entered the room. "I happen to think that the soundtrack is a fantastic homage to the effects of a truly inspired summer like we're about to have."
"Yes we have to watch that!" Kurt exclaimed. He turned to Blaine, "We simply cannot leave without watching it."
"Okay," Blaine sighed as he looked at the other disgruntled people in the room. "If we watch it, Chinese food is on me."
"Sweet," Puck grinned. "I could go for some lo mein."
"Honestly," Sam spoke lightly. "I like grease."
"No snark, Santana?" Rachel spoke up as she made her way to sit on the empty chair with Finn. The DVD she had popped in was starting up.
"Huh?"
Santana hadn't heard a single word of the conversation. As soon as Brittany had stopped the last movie, she had sat back and put her arm around Santana. The pad of her thumb had been running up and down the brunettes neck, especially where she had left marks the night before. It was rendering her completely thoughtless. Quinn had an undeniable smirk on her face and Blaine chuckled lightly. Santana blinked.
"Whatever, just play the movie," she stammered, crossing her arms.
Brittany giggled and pulled the girl in. She kissed the top of Santana's head and continued to drag her fingertips up and down the girl's neck. Santana wanted more than anything to completely zone out to Brittany's touch again but the music dweebs were screeching out the lyrics to the opening song.
"Summer sun, something's begun," Brittany sang through giggles at Santana's evident displeasure. "But, oh, oh, those summer nights!"
As she sang, she got close to Santana's face. Her nose pressed to the Latina's cheek. Santana rolled her eyes with a smirk and playfully shoved the girl away. Okay, so maybe she could tolerate this movie if it was watched with Brittany. When Santana sang the line "Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee, Lousy with virginity", Quinn shouted "Bullshit". Brittany dramatically sang 'Hopelessly Devoted to You' to Santana and Quinn. Puck lucked confused at what was happening but proclaimed his desire to be a greaser. He claimed he would make a stellar Danny Zuko in a remake.
"You better shape up, 'Cause I need a man," Santana sang to Brittany. She could see Quinn singing with Puck behind them. "And my heart is set on you."
"If you're filled with affection you're too shy to convey," Brittany sang a few lines later, hand on Santana's cheek. "Meditate in my direction, feel your way."
Feeling a bit bolder, Santana smirked and placed a kiss on Brittany's cheek as the song ended. She caught the corner of the blondes mouth and shivered at the contact. She nuzzled her head into the blondes shoulder and let her hand drop to Brittany's thigh. Brittany was wearing shorts and Santana's fingers snuck just below the hem to gain more access to her skin. She copied the girls actions from before but occasionally dragged her nails over the girls skin. Santana smirked as she heard Brittany's breath hitch and the singing cease.
"Chinese food!" Puck and Sam started chanting as the credits rolled.
Brittany looked incredibly smug as she stood up to stretch. Her abs were on display as she stretched backwards so Santana was instantly distracted. The group took turns demanding food and Blaine called in an order. He paid over the phone but told Puck he'd have to go get it because his car wasn't there. Brittany and Quinn joined him as the only two dressed enough to go out in public. As soon as they left, Kurt and Rachel started playing some sappy musical with some bitch who coughed up blood every other scene.
"Yeah, fuck this," Santana announced after about twenty minutes. She made her way upstairs and wasn't surprised to hear Blaine following suit. "What do you want, helmet head?"
"Oh, I just thought that you might be itching to talk about what just happened down there," Blaine smirked.
Santana had to admit, one of her favorite thing about this relentless gay man was that he was completely unfazed by her shitty burns on his appearance.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Santana huffed. They were standing in the kitchen now, Santana leaned against the counter.
"Oh please," Blaine laughed. "You're not even a little subtle. You want Brittany so badly."
"Shut up," Santana narrowed her eyes. "How the hell was I supposed to react to the girl man handling my leg?"
"Exactly how you did," Blaine shrugged. "Brittany is kind of a sneaky top, huh?"
"Oh my god," Santana blushed hard. She really didn't need the mental image of a dominant Brittany in her head- she was hardly handling herself as it stood.
"Why haven't you made a move?" Blaine pressed on with the questioning.
"Honestly," Santana shook her head, "She's lonely. I don't wanna be another person to mess up a friendship for her. If she wants me like that, I'll be waiting. "
"Playing the long game," Blaine nodded. "I don't get the vibe that's necessary though."
"I just... really like her," Santana laughed at herself. "I don't want to lose her. If friendship is all I'm given, I will take it..."
"I think it'll work itself out," Blaine answered, sounding so sure that Santana almost believed it.
By then, Pucks truck rolled into the driveway loudly. Santana looked up at the clock, wondering why a trip for food had taken an hour. Brittany busted through the door, arms filled with bags from Walmart. She let it all clatter onto the kitchen table with a thud.
"We got candy and juice and popcorn so we could have a fun game night!" Brittany exclaimed with pure excitement. "I even got you raisinettes."
"Thanks Brit," Santana smiled and helped the girl unload her bags. She had gone crazy with the snacks. There was a ton of rainbow sour candies and more twizzlers than they could possibly eat. Santana was wondering what army this girl was planning on feeding when Quinn came up behind her.
"She was so excited about a game night that I just handed her my card and sent her into the store," She laughed. "She's so cute, I couldn't say no."
"Truer words have never been spoken."
" I'm not cute!" Brittany protested to the other Cheerios. "I'm tough and stuff."
"Okay, buff guy," Santana giggled, putting up her fists. "Let's brawl then."
Brittany joined in but quickly dodged all of Santana's halfhearted blows. She swooped under the Latina's arm and threw her over her shoulder seamlessly. As the blonde paraded around the house with her unwilling captor, Puck and Blaine cheered her on.
"Put me down!" Santana whined, no seriousness in her voice. In fact, she was an embarrassingly giggly mess. "You all suck."
Brittany swung Santana down, so that the girl was wrapped around her like a koala. Santana was holding on for dear life as the girl spun around, fingers gripping taught muscles. Santana moved her arms to the girls shoulders to steady herself . This close, Santana noticed every freckle on the girls face. Santana's wondered when her brain would stop screaming 'shit she's cute' everytime she laid eyes on Brittany.
"I couldn't take anymore of-" Sam faltered when he came upstairs to see Santana and Brittany nose to nose. "Oh, uh..."
"Santana couldn't beat me in a fight," Brittany grinned over to the boy.
"She looks okay with that," Sam replied flippantly.
"I'd be okay with Brittany beating me up," Puck tried to recover the mood with a joke, but Sam's awkward had permeated the room.
Eventually, Brittany put Santana down and they gathered the music nerds for an early dinner. Santana gritted her teach and cornered the blonde boy. She had had enough of his crap this weekend. He could hate her, she didn't give a shit. What she did care about was how awful he was making Brittany feel. He went to the bathroom mid-dinner and Santana followed to trap him alone in the hallway.
"What's the problem?" Santana pressed her finger into the boys chest. "You've obviously got an issue.
"I'm just processing," Sam shook his head. "It's nothing."
"Bullshit, what's there to process?" Santana snapped.
"I have to process that someone like Brittany, who is love and sunshine, is spending all of her time with you," Sam was annoyed now. His face blushed. "You're miserable and you use people."
"No," A frightening calm took over Santana. "I set very clear boundaries. You do not know me. You don't get to make me feel like shit. And you DEFINITELY do no get to make Brittany feel like shit."
"I didn't-"
"You are. You're awkward and bitter and it shows. Every time you speak to her, she tenses up. Cut the crap, just be her friend," Santana was in full protection mode.
"If she's happy with you, that's fine by me. I just need a second to adjust," Sam shook his head.
"Take time to adjust some other time," Santana took a step back from the boy. "Tonight, we play games and make her feel like she has a room full of friends- no strings attached. That is all that girl needs right now."
Sam nodded and Santana respected that. They had that one thing in common- wanting the best for Brittany Pierce. For now, it would do. Santana watched as he sat beside Brittany and tried to act normally. She seemed happy.
Once everyone had eaten, Brittany declared the evening a pajama party. Nobody fought because why wouldn't they want to lounge around in PJs all night? Everyone scattered to their rooms to change. Santana pulled out the boxers she had bought and tossed a pair at Brittany. Her face lit up and she came back moment later in the rubber duck briefs and a baby pink tank top. Santana had the same bottoms and a black crop top.
"Oh my god," Quinn laughed at the two. "Aren't you guys the cutest."
"Mhm," Brittany agreed happily. She immediately pulled the Cheerios downstairs hand in hand.
They found the boys downstairs, pouring liquor into plastic cups.
"You didn't get enough last night?" Santana quirked a brow.
"You only live once, babe. Let's put that mouth to good use," Puck grinned. He tossed Santana a bottle of Mikes that she caught deftly. Santana bit off the cap, a task that Puck had dubbed her 'party trick'.
"That's fun," Brittany giggled. She went and grabbed a can from the countertop. "Can you do this?"
The blonde proceeded to shotgun the huge beverage in her hand. It took her about six seconds. Puck and Sam hollered at the sight. Quinn shook her head with a laugh.
"You know that was a four loko, Brit?"
Brittany looked at the can and shrugged, "I do now."
The group played an intense game of uno, followed by the breaking out of rock-band on the Xbox. Santana watched as Brittany danced and sang the lyrics on screen. The girl was very tipsy, having chased her Four Loko with two more drinks. Only Rachel Berry was more drunk, with only a wine cooler in her system. Quinn and Santana sat back and watched with a smile.
"We gotta finish this tequila," Puck announced from kitchen and Brittany ran in.
"Your girl is a boozehound," Quinn giggled.
"Not my girl- and let her have her fun," Santana swatted at her counterpart.
There was a burst of laughter from the other room and the girls turned around to see everyone in a line down the counter. There was a lime between each of them.
"I know what you're thinking," Puck raised his hands as if to plead innocent. "This was totally her idea."
"Come on 'tana!" Brittany giggled. "Puck said he never did a shot brigade."
"I haven't either," Quinn shrugged. "What're the rules?"
"You take the salt off the person to your left, take your shot, and then take your lime from their mouth," Brittany pulled them along the countertop. "Then you set up for the next person."
They poured out a shot for each person, even Kurt. Blaine passed to Kurt, who a little too enthusiastically passed down to Finn. The giant baby looked aggressively uncomfortable and it was everything Santana never knew she wanted. Brittany had positioned Santana at the end, so she watched everyone go before her. Quinn winked at Santana subtly after Brittany took the lime from her mouth. The blonde then leaned forward and planted a wet kiss on Brittany's lips, which made the dancer holler. She was an adorable, giggly mess. Santana glared playfully at Quinn. Quinn had quite the pension for kissing girls when she was tipsy, especially if Santana was obviously into them.
"Your turn, San," Brittany placed a lime wedge in her mouth lined the web of her thumb with salt.
Santana leaned forward and took the salt from the girls skin. She made sure to drag he tongue steadily over the girls skin and swore she heard her breath hitch. She threw back her shot, then poured herself two more rapidly. She got a chorus of whoops from Puck. She had some catching up to do. Santana leaned forward and wrapped her lips around the fruit held by the blondes teeth. Their lips brushed and it sent a shiver down both of their spines.
"Another shot please!" Rachel pipped up, interrupting Santana's moment.
They played a few rounds of quarters after that. When the game playing started to fall apart a bit, Finn started up the fire pit on the back yard and they sat around chatting. It was only around eight at that point, everyone comfortably buzzed and cheeks rosy. Brittany was perched on top of a stone wall near the pit but she shivered.
"Are you cold, Brit?" Santana asked from where she was sat, curled up a blanket. They were not wearing very much and she had to have been freezing.
"I was thinking about your lips," Brittany replied in brutal, drunken honesty. "They look so soft and nice to kiss."
Santana's face went completely red. She shrunk down into her blanket, unsure of how to face her words.
"Oh, they are," Puck laughed. He was obviously having fun with this. "In fact, I could go for a little mackin out right now, Santana."
"I don't think you're Santana's type," Brittany crossed her arms, as if she was Santana's body guard. "Plus, I'm not sharing."
"The girl knows what she wants," Finn laughed.
"I want 'Tana," Brittany whispered loudly across the fire pit. "Are her lips as awesome as they look?"
"Find out for yourself," Sam surprisingly egged her on.
Santana felt like she was about to die of embarrassment. She couldn't decide if she was grateful or about to kick all of these dude's asses. She decided on the former as Brittany settled herself onto Santana's lap. Brittany's lips were pink and Santana wanted to kiss them so fucking badly. The girls eyelids were slightly hooded as she wrapped her arms around the brunettes neck. Santana was hit with the sharp smell of alcohol on the girls breath. Shit, she couldn't do this.
"Brit?" Santana spoke softly. She put her hands on the girls hips. "I really wanna kiss you but not like this."
"Whats wrong?" Brittany pouted.
"I need to know you want me when you're sober, okay?" Santana frowned slightly. As much as she wanted to take advantage of this moment, she just couldn't. Brittany meant too much to her to be a drunken urge. To soften the blow, Santana kissed the girls forehead. "Will you still stay and cuddle?"
"Mhm!" The girl bounced from a pensive look, right back into her goofy grin. Santana loved that smile. Oh my god, no, liked. She liked her smile. Shit. Brittany swung her body over and curled up against Santana's chest. Santana cradled her with a soft smile. She made eye contact with Sam, across the pit. He seemed a lot better than earlier but it may have just been the Smirnoff in his veins. He gave her a nod, almost to say that she had won fair an square. Santana could keep denying it all she wanted but she was falling hard for the girl in her arms.