Santana ran frantically back towards the school prom, she was hysterically crying as she jabbed her cell phone to call her best friend.
Brittany was slow dancing with Sam, for the last dance. She had hoped to steal Santana for a quick dance, but she had lost sight of her.
"Brittany, is everything okay? Why do you keep glancing around? You're supposed to be here with me" Sam gently reminded her.
And so Brittany had stopped looking for Santana, and there she was in Sam's arms, until her cell phone started to ring. As she moved to her clutch to take out the ringing device, Sam's hand stopped her.
"Brittany just ignore it, it's the last dance together". He smiled.
Brittany reluctantly ignored the phone, and turned her attention to Sam, before it rang again. It must be important; she couldn't just ignore it.
Santana calling
Brittany looked at Sam before raising the phone to her ear, watching his face fall to disappointment.
"Santana where did you go?"
"Brit where are you?" Santana murmured, her tears and the loud music making it difficult for Brittany to understand.
"Wait, what? I can't hear you. Wait, let me move away from the music" Brittany flashed Sam an apologetic smile and headed to the foyer where she could hear better. "Sorry go on"
"Brittany, I need to see you"
Brittany's heart clenched. Santana was crying.
"Oh my god Santana, what's wrong, where are you? I'll come and get you" Brittany said frantically heading through the long hallways, desperate to find her best friend.
"There's been an accident" Santana whimpered.
Brittany's blood ran cold.
"An accident? Santana? What? What's happened? Where are you?"
"No, no sorry, not that type of accident" said Santana, sensing the panic in Brittany's voice. Brittany let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding as Santana continued "I'm outside the main doors, just come and meet me please?"
"Okay, okay just hold on a second babe. I'm going to go and get Sam, see if he can drive us home. You can come back to mine, everyone will be out. Then we can talk okay?" Brittany assured, thankful that her easy-going parents were staying away for the night, as they had silently communicated to Brittany she could use their home for an after party. This was providing she cleaned up any mess made, and nothing was damaged, and no one was too drunk. At least now she wouldn't have to worry about this, as it would just be her and Santana.
Brittany quickly found Sam and offering him little explanation told him he needed to take her and Santana back to her house. Any prom night sexpectations Sam had were quickly shattered, as he watched his 'sort of girlfriend' embrace her best friend, ushering her towards his car.
As Brittany opened the back door for Santana, Santana gulped. Staring at the back seat was conjuring images she wanted to forget.
"Brit…will you sit with me?" Santana asked in a small, childlike manner that made Brittany's heart crash into a thousand pieces. She had never seen Santana so fragile, something bad had to have happened. She looked at her best friend in confusion for a second before sliding into the back seat, pulling Santana with her.
"Of course, San" she responded, taking Santana's hand into her own, and resting it on her lap.
As they drove out of the school towards the dark Lima streets, Sam gazed at the girls through the rear-view mirror.
"Rough night then Santana?" he said, in an attempt to break the ice.
Santana said nothing, she just continued to focus her attention on her hand that was in Brittany's lap, clasping onto Brittany's own hand. Brittany shot Sam a look, and he focused his attention back to the road.
The drive back to Brittany's house was only 15 minutes but it felt like an age to Santana. When they pulled up, Brittany didn't bother going around to the front seat to kiss Sam, her attention was purely on Santana now.
"I'll text you" she simply said, before leading her best friend inside.
Even though nobody was in, they headed straight to Brittany's room for comfort, and huddled on the bed with the blankets. Brittany sat opposite Santana and rubbed small comforting circles on her arms, as Santana wiped her eyes.
"What happened Sanny?" she probed, passing Santana a tissue. Santana gratefully accepted the tissue and dabbed at her eyes before continuing.
"I slept with Puck" she sighed, face crumpling at the memory.
Brittany, knowing this was Santana's 1st time, knew how much of a big deal this was for her. She moved one hand to gently cup Santana's face, wiping away a tear with her thumb. She knew there was more to the story then Santana was letting on, and that she would have to gently coax it out of her.
"Okay" she said gently "How was that?"
Santana instantly started crying harder.
"It was horrible Brit. It was so rushed and messy. We didn't even go anywhere special we just did it on the back seat of his shitty little car. His hands were so rough and I just…I can't believe I waited 18 years for that. I thought I'd feel a sense of accomplishment after, but I don't…I just feel used."
Brittany wrapped Santana up in a hug and just held her for a minute, her heart was breaking seeing Santana like this.
"Did he know it was your 1st time?" she said softly into Santana's ear
Santana sat in silence for a moment, just appreciating Brittany's touch, before pulling away to look at her and shaking her head.
"No, in fairness, he assumed I'd done it before. And I didn't correct him".
"Honey listen to me" Brittany began, taking hold of Santana's hand and running her thumb across it "I know you had a lot riding on this, and I know you think this is going to define you, but it doesn't. It doesn't at all. I'm really sorry your 1st time wasn't as special as you deserved, but that isn't a reflection on you, it's a reflection on Puck. He's an idiot San, and he doesn't deserve to have been with you so intimately, but you have to know there's going to be plenty of other times. You're the most special person I know Santana, and one day you're going to be with someone who shows you just how special and loved you are"
The tears fell from Santana's eyes on hearing Brittany's powerful words. Her best friend could always make her feel better. Brittany was battling tears herself, as she squeezed tight on Santana's hand.
"But until then, don't let one bad night impact the way you think of yourself, or ruin your perception of sex"
Santana sniffled and nodded her head, taking everything in that Brittany was saying. She adjusted herself to gently push Brittany back on the bed, so that she was leaning upright against the headboard. Then she sidled in next to her, and rested her head on her chest, sprawling her arm across Brittany's stomach. In turn, Brittany wrapped her arm around Santana's back, whilst using her other hand to run soothing strokes down Santana's arm, the way Brittany knew she loved to be comforted. After a few moments of thoughtful silence, Santana spoke again.
"Was your first-time special Brit?"
Brittany paused for a second, as she mused how to answer this. Her 1st time with Sam had been okay, simply that. They hadn't planned it; it had just happened on a night at his when they were watching movies. His parents were out, and they subconsciously took advantage of it. When the movie stopped, he had lunged at her, and they started making out passionately which led to more. He had been patient and gentle with her, and it was his 1st time too so there were no expectations. She was attracted to him, and though she didn't find it pleasurable, that was to be expected for a 1st time. It was over fairly quick, but afterwards he had cuddled her and checked she was okay. She knew her 1st time was the ideal scenario that many would dream of. He was an attractive boy, they were seeing each other, he'd been sweet and caring throughout. But Brittany didn't feel euphoric over it, and she knew it was because she had feelings for someone else, that someone being her best friend. So, it was simply just okay. But even if it had been the best night of Brittany's life, she would have gone against her hate of lying to tell Santana it hadn't been that special. The last thing she would want to do is rub salt in her wounds.
"You know what Santana it wasn't all that. Over-rated I'd say".
Santana let out a slight giggle at that, before looking up at Brittany from her position on the bed.
"Brit there's something else".
Brittany continued to stroke Santana's arm, looking at her questioningly, silently prompting her to continue.
"The condom it…it split"
Brittany closed her eyes for a second and sighed. It wasn't fair Santana's 1st time had to be like this. What else could have gone wrong? She put her hands on Santana's shoulders to sit her up, so she was looking directly at Brittany, who kept her hands on Santana's shoulders as she spoke.
"In the morning we'll go to Planned Parenthood so we can get Plan B, it's better to be safe." she moved her hand to softly tuck Santana's hair behind her ear, bracing herself for the next bit "We should get you checked for STD's too, just to be sure, with it being Puck…"
"I know Brit, it's the sensible thing to do." Santana replied, flashing Brittany a weak smile, which Brittany returned. She felt so bad for her best friend. Her 1st time was awful and now she was having to take Plan B and be tested for STD's. She wrapped Santana into a warm hug, trying to muster as much comfort and love as she could into it.
"Thank you Brit; you always know what to do"
They stayed in their embrace for a few more minutes until Brittany stood up to retrieve her facewash. When she returned, she sat on the bed opposite Santana, and began silently removing the traces of the night from her best friend's face. When she was satisfied she had removed all of Santana's makeup, she went over to her dresser to remove her own, as Santana stripped out of her prom dress. Brittany got out 2 pairs of pyjamas, handing one to Santana, then both girls crawled under the sheets exhausted from the night's events.
Brittany had her arms wrapped around Santana all night.