Chapter 3: Halloween
You look in the mirror and sigh.
For the first time since you've been working here, you're finally starting to feel like a wolf in sheep's clothing.
It's Halloween and unlike everywhere else in the world, Brittany told you that GCA celebrates this particular holiday by dressing up as their favorite bible characters.
It actually surprises you that although you're not as religious as you once were, your mind doesn't even hesitate when thinking about who your favorite is. Growing up, you've spent endless nights thinking about the 'thief on the cross'.
A nameless criminal, a nobody, seeking repentance and forgiveness with his last, dying breaths. There, on the cross beside Christ, he found redemption in the end. He found forgiveness. Something about that always resonated with you. It's not a story of heroism or courage, but one of sin and salvation. A story of the flesh.
Definitely not something to dress up as at a children's school.
When you mentioned your dilema to Brittany, her eyes softened at the recognition of the story. Thankfully, she didn't push further or ask questions about why that particular tale has such a hold on you. When you asked her for ideas on what else you can dress up as, it actually almost scared you how excited she had become.
We can do a pairs costume!
Brittany was practically jumping up and down at her own suggestion. You tried to turn her down but when she pouted and told you the other teachers never want to couple with her, you reluctantly agreed.
And that's how you found yourself standing in front of your mirror, dressed like a lion.
You're starting to see why the other teachers turned Brittany down.
You straighten the cat ears on your head and adjust the belt around your waist that's holding your tail in place. It could be worse, you tell yourself. At least it's not the full body suit that Brittany originally suggested, which you quickly shot down, no matter her pout.
You throw on your faux fur coat and inspect your outfit one last time. You have to admit you at least look cute. And it's an easy cop out because Brittany will do all the talking if anyone asks about your costumes.
Your phone chimes at you from your bed and you roll your eyes at Brittany's message.
Britt: People are starting to show up and I'm missing my lion.
San: Maybe you should've been the lion then.
Britt: I can't just be a lion with no Daniel, San. That's even more confusing.
San: I barely look like a lion. If anything, I look more like a giant kitten.
You look at the mirror do a little growl with claw hands. You look absolutely ridiculous.
Britt: Well then, can my giant kitten please hurry it up?
San: Ugh, fine. I'm on my way.
As soon as you walk through the school doors you immediately realize why the other teachers don't pair up with Brittany.
None of them are dressed up.
"You fell for it didn't you?" A voice asks and you turn to see Emma, the English teacher. She smiles softly and pats you on your back. "It's okay, her pout can be quite powerful."
You're about to go back to your car for your change of clothes - because of course you brought some just in case - when Brittany appears beside you with the biggest smile you've ever seen.
You take in her outfit and she's covered in robes that make her look like she's literally straight out of the bible. The only thing unchanged is her hair, blonde locks falling over her shoulders. She looks radiant.
Before you know it, the both of you have gathered an audience and a few of the teachers are looking at you with apologetic smiles.
"Britt, I thought you said the teachers dress up, too?" You whisper through your teeth as you smile awkwardly. Some of the kids already pulling out their phones to take pictures.
"Did I?" She doesn't meet your eyes as she poses for the photos, her smile still just as wide. You frown at her words and when she sees it she scolds you to stay in character.
"Don't look so upset, San. The lions don't harm Daniel." She turns to you fully when your face stays unchanged, "I promise, I'll make it up to you. Just let me enjoy this, please?" She pouts again and you can't help it when your resolve crumbles.
"You owe me for this." You nudge her lightly and she squeals beside you, happy that you'll play along.
Throughout the day, the two of you are the talk of the school. You actually enjoy it more than you would ever admit. Even though the teachers keep looking at you like you're a sucker for being pulled into one of Brittany's traps, the look that she gives you every time you see her across the hall is worth every bit of it.
At lunch, after a few students ask for more photos of the two of you, Brittany apologies for tricking you.
"I'm sorry I did this to you. You must be so miserable right now." She frowns, making you feel like a horrible friend for allowing her to think you're not happy.
"No, I'm okay. Really." You try to tell her but her frown deepens. "Don't look at me like that, Britt."
"But I feel so bad now." She mumbles and you shake your head. You can't have her feeling like this.
"Hey, I'm pretty sure every other teacher in here is jealous right now because they were dumb enough to turn you down before." You motion to your outfits, "Look at how cute we are. We're killing it."
That earns you a small smile from the blonde and you're glad. "We do look cute."
"We really do." You smile back and she holds your eyes for a few seconds before you look away, turning your attention back to your lunch.
Next thing you know, Brittany's reaching over and grabbing the cat ears on your head, placing them on her own. You can't help but laugh at the sight before you. Ms. Brittany Pierce, looking like a biblical cat, her chin tucked into her shoulder, posing as she bats her eyelashes.
You shake your head, smiling before grabbing your ears back and placing them rightfully on your own your head.
"I still can't believe I was able to trick you." She laughs.
"Yeah, well I packed a change of clothes in the car." You shrug, "Just in case I got cold feet."
"You would have left me hanging like that? Daniel with no lion?" Her mouth agape, making you smirk.
"I also packed a little stuffed toy lion."
She narrows her eyes, challenging you, "You did not."
"I did." You smile wider, chuckling, "I swear. I even went to some random toy store just to buy it."
It takes her a few seconds but eventually a small smile forms on her lips. The way she's looking at you, it's as if you're special but only she knows it. "You know, you're a really good friend, Santana."
Her words stun you. You had best friends in the past but your pretty sure you would've never done something like this for any of them. There's just something about Brittany that makes you want to ensure her happiness.
"I try." You brush off her compliment, pushing aside the thought that you might be getting a little ahead of yourself.
The rest of the day passes quickly and before you know it, the last bell rings. You pack your things slowly, hoping that Brittany will visit you before leaving.
When you realize you've been sitting at your desk with your purse on your shoulder for the last 10 minutes, you decide she must still be busy in her classroom. You turn your room lights off on the way out and make your way down the hall.
As you get closer to Brittany's classroom, you can faintly hear her singing. You smile as you imagine Brittany sitting there, grading assignments as the words of her favorite song float from her lips. It's always the same song. Always her favorite song. When you reach her door, you slowly turn in, hoping to catch her without being seen.
When your eyes find her, you lean on the frame and smile at what you see. It's so much better than what you had imagined.
Brittany has her hair up in a messy bun, one hand holding the side of her robes like a ballgown, and the other collecting papers off the students desks, as her feet glide along the floor. She's honest-to-God waltzing by herself and for a second you think you might be witnessing a real-life scene from an actual disney movie.
She spins as she picks up the last paper and when she does, her eyes catch yours and she stumbles back.
"Oh my god. You scared me." She holds the papers to her chest and you do your best to hide your chuckle.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
"How much of that did you see?" She blushes, moving back to her desk in the front to collect herself.
"Not much," You lie, not wanting her to feel anymore embarrassed than you're sure she already is.
Brittany glances at the clock on the wall and changes the subject, "You're leaving late." She says as she begins to put her papers in order on her desk. When she looks up at you again, her eyes run along your outfit and she smiles, "Did you really have fun today? It won't hurt my feelings if you didn't."
You move further into her classroom and take a seat at one of the student desks in the front. You smile at her genuinely, "I had so much fun today, Britt. Honest."
Her smile grows at your confession and you're happy she's happy again. She moves towards you and reaches for your headband again. But instead of grabbing them off your head, her hand rest slightly above, just caressing your 'ears'. You can't help but feel the gesture as a little intimate, and it causes you to shift below her.
She notices your reaction and steps back to a more comfortable distance. "Thank you for allowing me to humiliate you."
"It was only humiliating because I was caught off guard." You shake your head, "I would've never agreed to this if I knew none of the other teachers dress up."
"I know that's why I had to trick you." Brittany smiles proudly, "But now that you know," Her smile turns to a smirk, " We can prepare earlier for next year's costumes."
"Oh no." Your eyes widen, "Britt, I am definitely not going through this again."
"But you said you had fun."
You shake your head at her attempt to pout and pull you into this again, "Nu-uh. That face won't work on me a second time. I am not dressing up as a giant cat again."
"Well obviously. We're not going to do the same costume twice in row, San." She crosses her arms over her chest, "I was thinking…" she pauses, her smirk returning, "Jonah and the Whale."
Your jaw hits the floor.
"Am I supposed to be the whale?" Your mouth still wide open and Brittany holds her hand up to her mouth to hide her laughing, "I can't believe you just called me a whale!" You jump out of your seat and Brittany yelps when you try to reach for her.
You both laugh as she dodges the pens you throw at her from across her classroom. When you run out of ammo, she holds up a white sheet of paper from where she's crouching.
"Okay, okay." You laugh, walking up to her and offering her your hand. She takes it and you pull her to her feet.
"We don't have to dress up next year." Brittany tells you as she picks up a few of the pens on ground. "I guess one day of torture is enough."
You help her grab the last few, "Oh, I don't know." You smile, handing your portion of pens to her, "We could do Sleeping Beauty?"
Brittany's eyes widen as you mimic her earlier motions, waltzing - or attempting to waltz - as you hum Once Upon a Dream.
When you reach the front you end with a twirl and catch Brittany's eyes. You're grinning at the way she looks absolutely stunned. You take a final bow and end it with a wink. Next thing you know, the entire collection of pens is being thrown at you and you're running out the room laughing.
Happy Halloween! Stay safe everyone :)