Author's note: Thanks for reading my story. Here's chapter 2. I hope you enjoy!
Monday 6th of September
Santana always hated the first day of school. After spending the summer relaxing, socializing and getting a tan, school seemed that much more miserable. This year though was filled with promise of a new friendship.
Santana woke up to her Ma throwing a pillow at her face.
"OUCH!" Santana shouted dramatically
Maribel just shrugged with a smirk. "Get up, you have school today" she stated before walking downstairs.
Santana made her way to the bathroom to shower and get ready. 20 minutes later she's dragged her feet across the kitchen floor in search of some much needed coffee.
Santana climbed into her car and made the short drive to school with some coffee in her system and music blasting through the speakers. When she arrived she was immediately greeted by her best friend Quinn.
"Hey Q" she greeted the blonde with a smile and a short hug
"Hey, how was your weekend?" Quinn enquired. Santana and Quinn had spent most of their summer together chatting, lounging by the pool, soaking up the sun and sipping on lemonade.
"It was fine. We met the new neighbours. They're a married couple with 2 kids; A 6 year old - Zoe and the other is our age and starting school today." Santana stated while she glanced around her surroundings in search of her new next door neighbour.
"And her name is..." Quinn further questioned.
"Brittany" Santana replied, liking the way the name felt on her tongue. A smile crept onto her face as she said her new favourite word.
Quinn quirked her eyebrow in her signature way and looked at Santana with a smug smirk knowing very well how her best friend was feeling.
"And is Brittany nice? What does she look like?" Quinn enquired.
"Yeah, she's really sweet. She has luscious blonde hair, dazzling blue eyes and the cutest smile ever." Santana said in a Brittany-induced haze.
"And do you like her? Do you like like her?" Quinn questioned while wiggling her eyebrows in a suggestive manner.
"No... Kind of... Yeah" Santana admitted to her best friend. Her cheeks turning a subtle pink colour in embarrassment. "But I don't even know if she likes girls" Santana admitted, feeling a little down.
Santana came out to her friends and family about a year ago. When she figured out she was a lesbian, she told her parents. It was a terrifying experience but they were both so supportive of her and said they had their suspicions. She's still grateful for her parent's reactions and how loving they were.
Her Abuela however had a different view on the matter. She decided Santana being a lesbian was a 'sin'. Santana ran home that afternoon - after being kicked from her Abuela's house and life - in pieces. She was so upset. It is something that still haunted her to that day.
Quinn dug her elbow into Santana's side which caused her to snap out of her haze. "Stop daydreaming, we've got class to get to" Quinn states with a smile.
After school was Cheerios tryouts. Coach Sylvester insisted on the girls trying out again each year even if they were the head cheerleader. Santana arrived at the gym and was greeted by Quinn along with many other girls she knew from last year's squad.
After some chatting she glanced around the room and saw Brittany stretching and preparing to tryout. Just as she was about to walk over and greet her, Coach Sylvester began shouting about how hard she was going to push the girls. Santana rolled her eyes when one girl ran off crying.
All the girls had learnt a routine and we're now performing one at a time to showcase their talent. Santana was one of the first to go and she aced the routine. She ended it all with her signature hair flick. Quinn was equally great and got a thumbs up from Sue's assistant Becky Jackson.
The last performer was Brittany. Santana loved watching her dance and really hoped Brittany would make the squad. She was amazing, she performed the routine perfectly and even added in a no handed cartwheel to show off a little. Santana gave a cheer when she finished and Brittany smiled at her. That smile made Santana's stomach turn and do a little flip.
While Sue and Becky were discussing the potential Cheerios, Santana introduced Brittany to Quinn.
"Nice to meet you" Brittany said as she went in for a hug. Quinn happily accepted.
During the hug, Quinn looked at Santana with her head resting on Brittany's shoulder and nodded in approval while wiggling her eyebrows.
"Yes, it's lovely to meet you too Brittany. I've heard a lot about you" Quinn said with a smirk playing at her lips. Brittany moves her gaze over to Santana in a curious manner.
Santana's eyes widened and pink crept into her cheeks and up to ears. She stared at her feet in embarrassment. "I mean...only that your n-new and need some f-friends" Santana quickly came up with an excuse. "I thought you could hang out with Quinn and I."
"Aww thank you!" Brittany said with a cheek-bunching smile as she drew Santana into a hug.
Santana's stomach flipped again. The hug made her feel warm but not the regular temperature kind. It was an emotional type of warm.
A few minutes later the girls were all lined up being shouted at by Coach Sylvester. She was going on about how hard this will be and that she will push them to their maximum physically, mentally and emotionally. The new girls all seemed so scared whereas Quinn and Santana were used to it; they got this talk every year.
Santana whistled as she finished getting changed back into her regular clothes. She pulled her hair up into a ponytail and began walking out of the changing room when she heard a sniffle. She poked her head around the locker to see Brittany sat with her head in her hands.
"Brittany?" She asked
"Oh Santana, Hi" Brittany replied. She quickly wiped her nose and eyes and put on a smile.
"What's the matter?" Santana asked empathetically
"It's just Sue. She's so mean and harsh" Brittany replied letting her eyes fall down to her toes
Santana took a seat next to her and rubbed her back as she let out another sniffle.
"I'll take care of you. She's really not that bad, she just likes to seem scary" Santana reassures her. She then offers Brittany her left hand and extends her pinky finger. Brittany looks at her with confusion and then takes her right hand and wraps her pinky around Santana's. The girls share a smile and walk out the changing room with their pinkies linked.
In the car park Santana finds Quinn waiting for her. She walks over to her with Brittany following closely behind.
"Hey Q, need a lift?" She offers her best friend.
"No thanks, I'm actually going out with Puck, wanna come?" Quinn asks her politely. Santana scrunches up her face in disgust but fails to say anything.
"I'm not going to make you come" Quinn says, reading her friend's facial expression.
"Wanky" Santana giggles just loud enough for Brittany to hear. Brittany stares at her with a confused face and Santana just shakes her head telling Brittany not to worry about it.
"I'm fine Q. Have fun with Puck though" Santana said. Puck was Quinn's new boyfriend, although he seemed hard and scary to everyone, Quinn saw a softer, sweeter side to him that no one else knew.
Quinn walked off leaving Brittany and Santana alone.
"Want a lift?" Santana offers with a shrug.
"Yes please!" Brittany replied eagerly.
The girls climbed into Santana's car and made their way home. The car ride was full of small talk about school and Cheerios.
Santana parks outside her house and the girls say goodbye with a wave as they head their separate ways.
As Santana climbs into bed that night she receives a text.
From Brittany Pierce [22:27]
Thanks for helping me out by the lockers!
Santana smiled at her phone and typed out a reply
To Brittany Pierce [22:18]
Anytime Pierce :) see U tomorrow
She turned off her phone and rolled over. For the first time in years, Santana Lopez was excited for school.
