"I can't get over how good she is. Did I tell you she played a bunch of sports when we were younger, too? Look at her." I hold my camera out for Sugar to see the pictures I've taken.

She sighs and glances at the camera, disinterested. "Yes, you told me that and a lot of other things about Brittany about a dozen times now. I was her friend too, you know? I probably know more about her than you do." She re-adjusts her oversize posh sun hat and leans over the railing that sits between the bleachers and the running track.

"You're so right! You can tell me so many things about Brittany. The more things I know about her the more I'll know how to make her feel comfortable around me again."

Sugar turns around and rests her elbows on the railing. "I know you said you want to be her friend now, but is that really what you're trying to do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you just told me the other day that you feel stuff for her and now you suddenly want to be her friend? Why would you want to be friends with someone who you have feelings for?"

I groan. "I knew you were going to ask me something like this."

"I think it's a valid question." She shrugs. "It seems like you're ready to put a lot of effort into being her 'friend'. I just want to understand what you're doing. You're not planning on making her your friend and then calling Quinn over so she could be her bitch self, are you?"

I roll my eyes. "I'm not that kid , you know I don't talk to Quinn anymore. And to answer your question, I honestly don't know what I'm doing." I switch my camera off and hang it's strap over my shoulder. "I just saw her the other day and felt like talking to her. What I told her is true. I don't want her and I to be two strangers who feel awkward around each other. I mean, that's all I said. She's the one who invited me here today."

Sugar considers this for a moment. "Do you think maybe she's the one with other intentions?"

I shake my head. "No way. She barely said a word to me when we talked. Plus, she wouldn't do anything like that behind her girlfriend's back... would she?" I question.

"Why are you asking me? I don't know."

"You said you know more about her than I do!"

"I don't know if she'd cheat! I just know stupid stuff like her favorite animal and her favorite color. I don't know if she'd sneak out with you to a hotel in the middle of the night!"

"Well, what is her favorite color?"

"Peach."

I scowl. "Peach? Who chooses peach as their favorite color?"

She shrugs. "I think it's pretty."

"Pretty boring."

"Whatever. So what are you going to do then? Just be her friend and ignore what you feel?"

"I guess. I just have this need to be close to her. I thought I had gotten over it but..." I look towards the locker rooms and see the first string of athletes walk out. "Who knows, maybe as I get to know her better I'll find out that she's completely different now and I'll dislike so many things about her that we can be actual friends like me and you. I mean, I already hate that her favorite color is peach, so."

Sugar gasps. "You hate things about me?"

"A lot. But it's a good thing. If I didn't hate so many things about you then I'd want to be on you and not next to you right now." I wink.

"True," she simply says. "I'm not going to lie. When you told me that she invited you here, I thought you had made it up just so that you'd have an excuse to come."

I frown. "I'm not a stalker."

"I know. But you guys had completely ignored each other not too long ago so it didn't seem believable. But then I remembered this is Brittany and I know how forgiving she is."

"Yeah... Do you think I'm taking advantage of that? Of how nice of a person she is?"

Sugar shakes her head. "No. Brittany is very forgiving, but she's not stupid. If she decided to talk to you again then you should just accept it and be grateful. By the way, It's going to be fun seeing how you act around her now.

"What?"

Sugars grins wickedly. "Here she comes. Hey, Brittany!" She waves her hand dramatically over her head.

Brittany reaches us with a toothy smile in place. And although she's got the best smile, I find it hard to keep my eyes on it while her track uniform is displaying her perfectly toned arms and legs... and well... buttocks.

"I didn't know you were coming!" Brittany says as she excitedly picks Sugar off the ground in a hug.

The little woman squeals and gets put back down. "Santana invited me."

Brittany looks at me and smiles, a little more controlled this time. "Hi."

"Hey." I smile back. "You were really amazing today."

"Oh." She shrugs, shyly. "I got second place."

"That's still pretty impressive." I motion to my camera. "I took pictures of you. I mean, of you racing. Of your race." I laugh a little to mask my nerves.

Brittany chuckles and Sugar shakes her head at my verbal judder.

"So, anyway," I continue. "I can send them to you or something."

"Yeah," Brittany nods. "Cool. I'll give you my e-mail."

"Okay," I agree.

A few seconds pass before Sugar and Brittany look at each other and giggle.

"I think she means now, Santana," Sugar explains. "She'll give you her e-mail now. Do you have something to write it on?"

"Oh! Um..." I dig through my purse. "I don't think-"

"I can save it on your phone," Brittany offers.

"Oh. Okay. Yeah." I pull my phone out and hand it to her.

"I'm just gonna create a new contact, okay?" She informs more than asks. As she types in her information I look over at Sugar who smiles with wide eyes and juts hear head a little.I shrug and wait for Brittany to be done. When she hands me back my phone she says, "I saved my phone number in there too, just in case."

Just in case of what? "Okay, awesome."

"Thank you guys for coming," she tells us. "I almost never have anyone come to my meets."

"Why?" Sugar asks. "I'm sure you have a bunch of friends."

"I just get really nervous when I know people come to watch me race."

"Then why did you invite Santana? She took pictures of you and everything!" She laughs.

I force a laugh and restrain myself from sending Sugar dagger eyes.

Brittany joins in on the chuckles. "Well, I've never had pictures of me taken during my race, but it'll be cool to have some memories of this season."

"Memories!" Sugar shouts. "We should take a picture of the three of us!" She taps the shoulder of the first guy that walks by and hands him my camera. "Can you take a picture of us, please?"

The random guy stutters an 'okay' and sets up in front of us.

Sugar stands next to Brittany, leaving her in between the both of us. She grips Brittany's waist and I feel no hesitation from Brittany when she does the same to me. Both my arms are hanging awkwardly at my sides, so I lightly place a hand over Brittany's lower back.

"Wait, I'm not ready," Sugar runs a hand over her floral dress. "We should say something funny at the count of three."

I roll my eyes. "Just take the picture."

There's a flash.

Sugar scowls at the guy holding my camera.

"She said to take it," he explains.

"Take it again," Sugar requests.

Flash.

"Not yet!"

"Oh my god, Sugar!" I cry out. "Just let him take it!"

Brittany laughs and I feel her fingers squeeze my waist a little more.

"On three we say track meet," Sugar says. "One, two, three!"

"Track MEEEEET!" Both Sugar and Brittany say in unison.

/

Hey, what are you up to?

Delete.

Hey, Brittany. How are you doing?

Delete.

Hi!

Delete.

"Who are you texting so intensely?" Sugar questions. "You look like you're trying to break some code. Did you get locked out of your phone?"

"No. I'm just texting... someone."

She takes a sip from her ice-coffee. "I know it's Brittany."

I sigh. "I'm not texting her... yet. I don't know what to say. And I don't want to come off as clingy or annoying."

"You sound a lot like a girl trying to get a date and not a friend."

I toss my phone on the table in front of me and slouch back on my chair. "I'm not trying to get a date with her. I know it wouldn't happen even if I tried. I just want to spend time with her. As her friend."

"Am I not good enough anymore?" Sugar jokes.

I grin. "You'll always be my best friend, Sugar."

"Admit it. You only hang out with me because I have stacks of money and buy you Starbucks everyday."

"Not at all." I take a sip of my over-sized/overpriced Starbucks coffee. "I'm your friend because you have an amazing personality. Didn't you know?"

"I've been told a few times." Sugar says.

My phone vibrates and I pick it up to find a new text message from Brittany.

Britt Pierce Santana?

"Did you give Brittany my phone number?" I ask Sugar. "She just texted me."

"No, I didn't give it to her. What did she say?"

"Just my name... with a question mark."

"Well, you haven't changed your number since high school. She's probably wondering if you still have the same one."

I smile. "I can't believe she still has my number."

Sugar rolls her eyes and grins. "Yeah, she must still be in love with you."

I kick her under the table and begin typing a text.

Hey, Brittany. What's up?

Her answer comes quickly.

Britt Pierce Hi! I'm glad you still have the same number! You forgot you give me it last time I saw you. Anyways, I was wondering if you've gotten a chance to send me the pictures from my race?

"She's just asking about her pictures," I let Sugar know.

"Aw, I totally thought she was going to invite you to a romantic dinner. Like, I really thought that's where this epic romance story was going."

"You know, if you're just going to make fun of me, then I won't talk to you about this anymore."

"Fine. I won't make fun of you... too often." Sugar smiles devilishly.

I roll my eyes and reply to Brittany.

I haven't sent them to you yet. Sorry. I'll do it as soon as I can. They're already in my laptop.

Britt Pierce That's okay. There's no rush. I was just wondering because my mom wants to see them.

I'll try to send them tonight. I promise :)

Britt Pierce Maybe we can meet somewhere and upload them to my flash drive? If you have time?

"She wants to meet."

Sugar raises an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah. She wants us to meet up so she can upload her pictures on to her flash drive."

"Why? Can't you just send them to her?"

"That was the plan but..." I shrug.

"What are you going to say?" Sugar asks.

Sure, Brittany. I don't have any classes today. Where do you want to meet?

Britt Pierce I finish practice at five. We can meet at my house. Do you still remember where it is?

"She wants to meet at her house."

"What? Really?"

"Sugar, stop reacting that way! You're making me nervous!"

"I'm sorry!" Sugar apologizes. "It's just surprising seeing as you've only hanged out once. If you can even call it that."

"We're just uploading the pictures. Stop overreacting."

"You're right. Sorry." Sugar finishes her coffee and sips on her straw until she's slurping. "So you're going?"

"Yeah," I say, coolly. "Why not?"

Yeah, I remember where it is. See you there around 6:30?

Britt Pierce Perfect! See you then

l l

"Here we are..." I say to myself as I park in front of Brittany's house. I kill the engine and look out the window at the middle sized house. All the blinds are closed but the front door is open which I find strange.

I grab my laptop from the passenger seat and lock my car before walking up the pebbled path to the front door.

"Hey, I was waiting for you," comes a cheery voice. I look up and see Brittany standing at the entrance in shorts, a tank top, and long stripped socks. She's also holding the most enormous cat I've ever seen.

"Whoa. Is that one cat or two?" I ask.

Brittany laughs. "I know. He's a little big."

"He's huge." I scratch underneath his chin with my finger. "What's his name?"

"Lord Tubbington."

My face scrunches.

"Don't ask," Brittany says. "Come in though. No one's home other than my mom. Do you want to meet her?"

"Oh, that's okay-"

"I think she's in the kitchen. Come on." She signals me to follow her so I do. We walk through her living-room and into the kitchen to find a brunette woman sitting at her kitchen table with a laptop in front of her.

"Mom?"

"Mhm?" Her mom replies without taking her eyes off her computer.

"Santana's here."

The woman finally looks up at Brittany then sets her eyes on me. "Oh! Santana, it's nice to meet you." She stands up from her seat and walks over to me and shakes my hand. "I've heard about you for years! I'm glad to finally get to meet you."

"Oh," I chuckle nervously and notice Brittany smiling. "It's nice to meet you, too."

"For years I heard Santana this, Santana that. I was starting to think you were just Brittany's imaginary friend," she laughs.

"Okay, Mom," Brittany sets her cat down and grabs her mom's forearm. "You're starting to embarrass me." She chuckles.

"Oh, I'm sorry. But I am happy to meet you, Santana. Brittany told me about the pictures you took of her. I'm so happy you did because she never let's me know when her meets are. At least I'll get to see some pictures now."

"Yeah, she mentioned not wanting anyone at her meets," I say. "I've got the pictures with me though." I lift my laptop a little.

"Let's go upload them," Brittany tells me and I nod in agreement. "We're going to be in my room, Mom."

"Okay! But Brittany, leave the door open."

Brittany stares back at her mom for a moment then lightly laughs and shakes her head.

/ /

"Wow." I look around Brittany's bedroom. "You're room is so..."

"Boring?"

"No, not boring. Different," I correct. "It's just different to what I expected."

Brittany pulls out her flash drive from a drawer and sits on her bed. "What did you expect?" she asks, curiously.

"Um... I don't know. Just... maybe more posters or more sports stuff?" I sit at the other end of her bed and I set up my computer in front of us.

Brittany giggles. "Well, that's pretty much all you know about me. That I like sports, so I can see why you expected that." She hands me her flash drive and I connect it to the usb port. "What does your room look like?"

"My room?" I ask to gain some time. She nods. "Messy," I chuckle. "And dark. I like to keep the blinds closed cause it keeps the room cooler. Quinn always called it a man cave."

"How is Quinn?" Brittany asks.

I shrug. "I don't really know. I haven't spoken to her in a while." The pictures begin to upload, so I lean back a little and look at Brittany.

"Are you guys still friends?"

"Well, we weren't ever really friends. I hung out with her, but it was just because I didn't have any other friends." Brittany frowns at that and I quickly change gears. "What about you? Do you still talk to Kurt and Joanna?"

"I talk to Kurt once in a while. He moved to New York, so we're not as close as before but we're still friends."

I nod. "What about Joanna? I heard you guys were really close."

Brittany smiles and her brows push together. "What do you mean by that? What do you mean really close?"

I grin and shrug. "I heard you guys made out once. At one of Puck's parties."

Brittany throws her head back and laughs. "You heard about that?" She laughs again. "That wasn't me! All I did that day was break Puck's fountain. Quinn is the one who made out with Joanna."

"What? No she didn't."

"She did! She totally did. She's the one that started that rumor and said it was me but it was her. She made out with her."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah! I'm pretty sure. I always remember who I make out with."

I let out a laugh. "Wow. Quinn made out with a girl. That's..."

"It's what?"

"It's just surprising. She was always so homophobic."

"Are you?"

"Homophobic?" I ask, almost appalled, and Brittany nods with a grin. "No. Of course not. I'm... I'm gay, so."

She laughs. "I know."

"You do?"

"Of course I know. You came out at the end of Senior year. Everyone knew."

The pictures finish loading and I take it as an opportunity to change the topic. "Do you want to see the pictures?"

"Sure." Brittany takes my laptop and clicks through the photos. "Wow, I look super hot," she jokes.

I chuckle and want to agree but keep quiet.

"These are awesome. You take really good pictures." I thank her and then she asks, "Is photography your major?"

"I don't know. Maybe? I'm still trying to figure it out."

"Well, photography is definitely your thing. So is journalism though. I loved your stories in our school paper."

"You did?"

Brittany sets the laptop back down on the mattress. "Yeah. I even saved some of the articles you wrote."

"Really?"

"Yeah," she laughs. "Why are you so surprised?"

I'm surprised because I thought she hated me. I never though she'd invite me to her home and make me feel like we've been friends for years. I never thought she'd care about what I did.

"I just didn't think my articles were that great," I lie.

"That's not true. You know you're good. You didn't get that internship for no reason." I stare at her and she looks away, shyly. "I swear I'm not a stalker. Word just got around during high school."

I nod and blush just as much as her. "So, I hope your mom likes the pictures. You should let her go to one of your meets."

"Maybe I will. I invited you and that wasn't so bad, so. Maybe next time we can go grab some lunch or something. I get really hungry after meets."

"Yeah..." I nod right away. "Yeah, definitely."

/

It's been a couple of weeks since I went to Brittany's house and I feel like we're definitely making progress. As friends of course. We've been texting back and forth and last week we started eating lunch together in between our afternoon classes. I've gotten to learned quite a bit about her in these past weeks which has served as a reminder that I don't' really know Brittany, but it's been great hearing so much about her. For example, I now know she's in junior college because her parents were about to declare bankruptcy and had to use her tuition money and just about everything else they had to save their house. She also selflessly gave her grants to her parents and pays for her own classes by assisting at a vet office a few hours per week and caring for her neighbors' dogs when they're away. I've also learned that her parents became so stressed about their financial situation that they ended up taking their stress out on each other through nasty verbal fights and separated not too long ago. Brittany's super sad about that but hopes they will fix things soon.

She's surprised me by letting me in on so many personal things. She's a completely open book and makes me feel like we have an established trust that goes back years. Or at least it feels like she trusts me that way. I haven't told her too much about myself and it's not because she hasn't asked or I don't trust her. I've just never been the sharing type. My problems are mine and I don't see why anyone else should know or even care.

"The presentations were great, guys. Remember not to be absent next week or you will get a zero on the midterm," Prof. Holliday warns the class. "No makeups!"

As I shuffle out the classroom along with students who are just as asleep as I am, my phone beeps.

Britt Pierce The craziest thing happened to me!

I begin typing a message but run into someone's back. "Sorry," I mumble.

"Hey, Santana."

I glance up and find one of my classmates looking straight at me. "Oh, hey Sandra."

"Your presentation was really good," she says. "You're so comfortable in front of people. I wish I didn't get so nervous. I don't know if you saw me, but I was about ready to pass out. I mean, my hands were literally shaking."

I smile. "There's really nothing to be nervous about. Just forget they're there and talk as if you were talking to a friend. It always works for me."

"Easier said than done," she says with a light chuckle. "You're just made for public speaking. ...You think maybe next time we can pair up and present together? It'd be so much less nerve wracking to have you up there with me."

I nod. "Yeah, we can do that."

"Awesome! You have to remember I've got you on hold, okay?" She smiles. "Don't go off and get another partner."

"I won't," I say through a chuckle. "Promise."

"Okay, good. I have to go to class, but first I want to ask if you want to get together and study for the midterm? We can meet up at the café or something."

"Yeah, let's. I really need a good study session for this test."

After exchanging numbers, Sandra walks off and I notice Sugar nearby holding two coffees and a cheeky little smile.

"That girl wants youuuu," she sings.

"What?" I take one of the coffees and take a sip.

"Oh, c'mon. She's totally crushing on you. Plus you kind of already have a date with her."

"It's not a date, it's a study session. We're going to s-tu-dy. You know, that thing that you never do."

"Are you guys going to study English or some human anatomy?" Her eyebrows shoot up a few times.

I scowl at her and shake my head. "You need to stop going there all the time."

"Well, I'm sorry for caring about you! It's just that you're almost nineteen and your woman parts haven't had any fun yet."

"Stop reminding me, okay? You think I don't know that? I already feel pressured without having you talk about it every five minutes."

"You must not feel that pressure cause you don't seem interested in dating anyone."

"It's not that I'm not interested, I'm just not interested in looking for someone. If someone happens to come along, great, if they don't then that's fine too. I don't feel a need for someone in my life right now."

"But being single is so lonely. You've only had what? One girlfriend? Don't you miss having someone to hold and talk to at night?"

"Nope. Not really. I hated having someone who always wanted to know where I was and what I was doing. I like my space, you know?"

"Yeah, but you have too much space. You need to ask that girl out on a date."

"Um... no." My phone beeps again, reminding me that I have a text.

What happened?

Send.

"Santana, you're going to die alone! I worry about you!"

"Stop exaggerating. You're single too."

"Yeah, but I'm always looking to mingle." She winks.

Britt Pierce A couple came up to me and asked if I wanted to have a threesome!

"Plus, my pleasure garden has been watered many times, which is more than you can say.

"Will you drop the virginity thing already?" I order as I keep my eyes on my phone.

Ew! You said no, right?

"I'm just teasing you! Gosh you're so sensitive. You know I support you and whatever type of drought you want to keep your garden in. No pressure. Flowers can always blossom."

"I don't even know what you're talking about anymore," I sigh.

Britt Pierce I said I'd think about it :)… But they gave me something and I want you to see you with Sugar? Both of you come meet me at the entrance of the B parking lot ASAP!

"What's Brittany saying now?" Sugar asks.

"How did you know it was her?"

Sugar narrows her eyes. "I know all your face expressions and you have your 'I'm in love with Brittany' expression right now."

I decide to ignore her comment. "She said she wants us to meet her at the parking lot."

"Why?"

I shrug.

/

When we find Brittany, she leads us back to her car with a sneaky smile and when we're all tucked into her Honda coupe, she asks if we have any snacks and frowns when we answer no.

"Well, that's okay," she says. "We can buy some after."

"After what?" Sugar wonders from the back seat.

Brittany grins from ear to ear and pulls out a small plastic bag from her backpack.

"Brittany! Is that weed!" Sugar exclaims. "You can't smoke that here!"

"Shh!" Brittany tucks the bag between her legs and laughs. "The couple that wants a threesome with me, who by the way are known as the school's dealers, gave it to me as a gift. They said I could get a lot more if I slept with them. It's actually really flattering. Do you guys want to smoke some with me?"

"A threesome! Ew!"

"I didn't agree to it!" Brittany defends.

"Well, I don't want any of that stuff. It makes you fat." Sugar lays a hand over her flat tummy. "I like my weight."

"It doesn't get you fat if you do it just once," Brittany argues. "What about you, Santana? Want some?" Her smile displays as a small plead and it makes it difficult to say no, but I force myself.

"I don't think so, Brittany. I have class in fifteen minutes.

She nods, disappointed. "Yeah, okay. It's kind of early anyway. Do you guys want to smoke it later? We can meet at my house after school."

"Count me out," says Sugar. "Why don't you ask your girlfriend to smoke it with you? And does she know you're getting offered threesomes?"

"We broke up."

"Oh..." Sugar glances at me as if I know what to say next but I obviously don't. "Sorry."

"It's okay. We weren't that serious." She stuffs the bag back into her backpack and zips it back up. "Do you guys want to hang out after school though? I don't have practice, so we can do something else."

"You guys can come to my house!" Sugar cackles. "We just got our pool remodeled and my dad had this amazing pizza oven made outside." She takes turns looking between me and Brittany. "What do you guys think? We can makes some pizza... Swim a little. Huh? Do you guys want to?"

Brittany looks as if she's ready to say yes any second now but doesn't, she just stares at me.

"Brittany?" Sugar questions, impatiently. "Say yes already! You know you want to. You love my pool."

"Only if Santana goes."

They both turn to look at me and I purse my lips just to make them wait a little longer.

"Santana!" Sugar slaps my arm.

"Ow!" I slap her back and Brittany laughs at our exchange. "Yes! I'll go! Jesus."

"Awesome! I'll meet you guys there around three. Don't forget your bathing suits!" She pushes my seat forward and squeezes out the car with out a goodbye, leaving me behind rubbing away the pain from where she slapped me. She has a very heavy hand for such a little person.

"You're getting a bruise already," Brittany notes. "I can see the outline of her hand." She reaches out and strokes my arm with the back of her index finger.

The hairs on my arm stand at the feel of her ouch and I bring my arm back down to my side. "Yeah, I have really sensitive skin. It sucks. I won't ever be able to get a tattoo. "

"Aw, man. I was about to ask you if you wanted to get matching tattoos. We could have gotten each other's names or something."

I laugh. "I think only couples do that. And only the really dumb ones."

Brittany shrugs a shoulder. "Then we could have started dating, but neither of us is dumb so that'd be a problem."

I'm caught between being surprised, blushing, and being confused by what she said, so I just chuckle and look down at my phone. "I need to get going."

"I'll walk you," Brittany offers, quickly opening her car door.

"Don't you have class?"

"Not for another thirty minutes." She juts her head towards the school. "C'mon."

/

"Sugar's College Pool Party"

"Did you really have to get a banner, Sugar?" I ask, looking at the ridiculous banner hanging over the brick pizza oven. "It's just the three us, not some crazy college party."

"My dad bought me a banner printer back in 10th grade, so I cannot let any opportunity to use it slip by."

My eyebrows knit together in astonishment. "You have a banner printer? Like an actual machine that prints banners?"

"Yeah, it's in the garage. You wanna see it?"

"No."

"Hey, can you go to the kitchen and grab the whole bag of flour. I was going to make a pizza for the three of us but it'd be so much more fun to make our own personal pizzas. Don't you think?"

"Totally," I say, dryly. I walk back inside Sugar's mini mansion and head for the pantry when the door bell rings. "Sugar! There's someone at the door!"

"It's probably Brittany! Let her in, please!"

"Si, senorita. My name is Lupe the housemaid," I murmur. I cross the entirety of the house and swing the big oak door open, finding a dopey looking Brittany in an orange bikini covered with white hearts and a New York Yankees baseball hat resting tightly on her blinks a few times and displays a lazy smile. "Hi..."

I'd be totally enchanted by her half naked body if she didn't look like she woke up thirty seconds ago. "Are you okay? Did you drive over here in your bikini?"

"Mhm." She nods, then lifts her chin high in the air and inhales deeply. "Do I smell pizza?"

"No, Sugar hasn't started cooking them yet. Brittany, are you high? You smell like skunk."

She chortles and squeezes her eyes shut."Imagine if skunks got high."

"Oh, God." I grab her by the arm and pull her with me until we get to the backyard. "Brittany's high," I announce.

"What!" Sugar walks over to us and lifts her heart shaped sunglasses to get a clear view of Brittany. "Brittany, you're high?"

"Is there sharks in your pool?" Is Brittany's response.

Sugar frowns. "What should we do?"

"Nothing." I shrug and watch as Brittany entertains herself by dipping her hand in and out of the pool."She's having a good time."

/

"Here, I'll help you."

"Oh. No, that's-" I start but stop because Brittany has already taken the sunscreen bottle from me. She squirts some of the liquid onto her palms and begins covering my back and shoulders with it. It's been nearly an hour since Brittany got here and she finally stopped talking about how colorful her surroundings are, so I think she's coming off her high.

"The pizzas are almost ready! Just ten more minutes," Sugar says.

"Woohoo! I'm starving!" Brittany runs her hands down my arms and then back up to my shoulders. "I like your bikini," she comments.

I glance down at my red two piece. "Thanks."

"Do you want me to do your legs?"

I look at my legs, then knit my brows. "Huh?"

Brittany giggles behind me and shakes the sunscreen bottle near my right ear. "Do you want some on your legs."

"Oh!" I take the bottle. "I can do it. Thanks." After I'm done covering my legs with sun block, Brittany asks if I can return the favor, so I do. Except she surprises me when she wordlessly unties her bikini top to allow me to cover her entire back. And when I look at Sugar, I find that Brittany didn't only surprise me because Sugar is wearing the same expression I feel on my own face.

Still, neither of us says anything and when the three of us are all smothered in sunscreen, we jump in the pool for a few minutes and then come back out to eat and get a little sun. Brittany sits next to me with her own personalized meat pizza, but not before running inside and grabbing some hot sauce and Sun Chips.

She dabs some sauce on both her chips and pizza and slightly blushes when she notices Sugar and I staring curiously at her. "I really like hot sauce," she almost whispers. "Do you guys want some?"

Sugar shakes her head with a mouthful of pizza.

"I'll try some," I say. "Just a little though. I'm a wuss when it comes to spicy stuff."

Brittany smiles gratefully and drops few drops of sauce on to my food.

/

When the evening arrives, Sugar's parents come home from work with an Italian feast, which Sugar invites us too, but not before forcing Brittany to borrow some of her clothes. "Do you guys want to watch a movie in the theater room?" She offers after dinner.

"I have to get going," I say. "My mom will be home soon, so I want to get dinner started for her."

Brittany smiles sweetly at that.

"Do you want a ride?" Sugar asks.

Brittany follows with another question. "You didn't bring your car?"

I shake my head. "My mom needed it to get to work."

"I can give you a ride."

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Of course."

Brittany and I say our goodbyes to Sugar and her parents and hop into her red Honda. Once we start driving down the road, Brittany lowers the volume on her car stereo and speaks up. "That was fun."

"Yeah, it was, " I agree. "Thanks for offering me a ride."

"No problem. You still live at the same address, right?"

I nod. "Yup."

A quiet moment surrounds us before Brittany asks, "So you and your mom share a car?"

"Yeah. Just for now. Her car is in the shop so I offered to take the bus this week. She works kind of far, so I rather she take my car than the bus. She says she'd be fine, but I'd be worried if she had to be out this late with out a car."

"That's really sweet, San."

I look at her and internally smile at the fact that she called me San. "What is?"

"How much you care about your mom."

"Well, don't we all care about our parents?" I chuckle.

"I guess, but it's sweet that you think about her safety and are willing to give up things for her. "

"It's really the least I can do for her."

Brittany nods. "I know you don't like talking about personal stuff, but you should know that you can talk to me about absolutely anything. I'd be to happy to hear more about you. I feel like I talk way too much," she laughs.

"You don't talk too much." I match her laugh. "I like hearing about you , but I'll try to let you in on some of my dirty little secrets once in a while."

Brittany takes her eyes off the road and looks at me with a grin. "I'd like that."