Chapter 3 - The test

Brittany…

The days seemed to pass by so slowly. She couldn't wait for the school year to begin. Not that she was a great student. Not at all actually… but she longed to be around people her age.

Aunt Patty hardly ever spoke to her. There was a moment last week when Brittany thought that the ice was melting. She had cooked some pasta for the both of them but must have read the recipe wrong because when they tried a bite while sitting outside, they both spat it out on the ground. There was way too much spice in it. It was the grossest thing Brittany had ever tasted.

They stared at each other for a second and then both burst into laughter. Luckily aunt Patty still had some pizzas in the freezer, so they didn't have to go to bed hungrily.

Brittany admitted that she never learned how to cook because her mom always bought them instant meals. Aunt Patty said something about how that was all they knew when growing up, too so Brittany thought she'd take the opportunity to ask about their childhood.

Aunt Patty didn't want to talk about it though… so they ate their pizza in silence. That's all they ever did when they ate together. Brittany accepted the fact that they weren't going to become super close and that was why she longed to make new friends.

She went to the Schuester's bar again twice but nobody seemed to be interested in getting to know someone from out of town. She had kind of hoped to see the friendly waitress but she wasn't working then so Brittany just drank her hot chocolate and left.

Luckily she was allowed to take aunt Patty's old truck sometimes so she could drive around a little. That was the best part of her day. She just stepped on the gas, rolled the windows down and enjoyed the moments of freedom on those long and dusty roads. She even found her favorite spot. It was on one of those abandoned parking areas on the side of the road. On the right she could see hills and on the left nearly endless vast. One time she stayed there so long until she could see the stars. It was incredible. To be surrounded by those sparkling dots… almost like she was sitting in a snow globe.

It made her breathe easy whenever she just sat there for a while to breathe in the air and let her mind wander to places she'd never been to.

One day she'd be able to go see the ocean. To get coffee in New York City. To hop over the pond and travel through Europe. One day…

/

Driving up to her new spot was her second favorite thing to do those days. Her most favorite thing however, was to dance behind the trailer. At first she had felt silly. But it was the only option. She put on her earphones, pushed the play button on her Walkman and forgot everything around her. Aunt Patty didn't mind. She never seemed to care what time Brittany went to bed as long as she didn't wake her up when sneaking inside. Brittany spent hours behind the trailer, imagining she was standing on a stage instead of the dry dirt. It made time go by just a little bit faster.

When August finally came and school started, Brittany was excited for the first time in her life to sit in class. But her motivation quickly died when Brittany realized that making friends wasn't exactly easier just because she was back in high school. In fact, it was the complete opposite. Some students were even mean to her.

At least she was a senior… all she had to do was sit in there for one year and then she'd be free. Her mom wasn't going to be there to decide on her plans for the future. Nobody was. She alone was responsible for what she wanted to do in life. She didn't need anyone to start her career in dancing but herself. Who needed friends anyways? Friends weren't going to make her dance better. Friends weren't going to make her successful. If one thing; they'd only keep her from practicing.

She was more than fine on her own. She had proved that she was perfectly capable to be alone all through childhood so it wasn't going to be any different now.

She acclimated to the fact that she had no one quickly. She sat in class, took notes, ate lunch alone at a table while reading in a book and she went straight home right after the last period and used the remaining sunlight in order to dance behind the trailer.

It had become her ritual. It was fine.

So when she was forced to interact with someone out of the blue, it was almost a shock to her system. She had lived in her cocoon for almost three weeks of not speaking to anyone but teachers or aunt Patty, when one day she stepped into the ladies' room and heard someone crying in one of the stalls.

Brittany already wanted to turn around and leave but then she felt bad. She wasn't a crier herself. In fact she didn't remember the last time she cried. She hadn't even cried the day her mom had to go jail. But the desperation in those gentle sobs nearly broke her heart. She took a breath before knocking on the stall she believed to be the one with the crying girl inside.

"Do you need anything?" Brittany asked. She thought to herself that it was probably hopeless. Nobody wants to talk when they're crying in the bathroom. That's why go there. To cry alone.

"I'm ok. I just need a minute."

Brittany thought of some soothing words to say because the girl was obviously not ok but nothing came to her mind. Instead she leaned against the sink, trained her eyes on the door and waited. A minute was going to be over soon. She just wanted to make sure that the girl came out before the last period of the day was going to be over. The thought of someone accidentally getting locked in school overnight made her uncomfortable.

When the door opened, a girl with smeared make up all over her cheeks appeared. Brittany swallowed at the sight. She didn't know why the girl had been crying but she could tell it wasn't just about a bad grade. There was something written across her face that Brittany could only read as hopelessness.

"I'm sorry, I waited", Brittany muttered. Suddenly she realized that this was the first time she was about to talk to another student face to face ever since school had started. "I heard you cry and wanted to make sure that…" She trailed off because she didn't actually know what to say.

The blonde-haired girl tried to give her a smile but she just looked so endlessly sad. She seemed familiar though Brittany didn't share any classes with her. She had probably seen her around town before.

"It's nothing. My dog has to go to the vet today and I'm really worried so… I just had to cry", the girl explained. Brittany almost believed her for a second but then the blonde lifted her bag to put it over her shoulder. Something fell out and landed right in front of Brittany's feet.

They both stared down at it for a couple wordless seconds.

"Your dog isn't by any chance pregnant, huh…" Brittany mumbled when she bent down to pick up the test. With one closer glance at it she knew why the girl had been crying in there.

Brittany handed the positive pregnancy test back to the girl standing in front of her. She tried to make eye contact but the blonde avoided her look in embarrassment. Her chest started heaving when a fresh wave of tears came streaming down her cheeks. Brittany didn't know what to do. Normally people hug other people when they're sad but she didn't know the girl. Instead she grabbed one of the paper towels, held it under water and reached it out to the girl.

Brittany watched how she dabbed her cheeks but it was hopeless. The tears kept rolling.

"I don't know what to do" The blonde's voice was heartbreaking. Brittany nearly regretted not having stepped out of the bathroom earlier on. She wouldn't have to be in this situation if she had just left. But that would mean the girl would be all on her own. Which was a lot harder than having to watch someone cry and endure the painful view.

"Can you talk to your parents about it?" Brittany tried eventually. The girl quickly shook her head. "Ok… maybe a teacher?"

The blonde shrugged.

"Maybe… but right now I just need to get out of here."

Brittany watched how the girl put the pregnancy test away and was about to turn around.

"Wait" Brittany stopped her. "I feel terrible knowing that you're going to be alone now. Are you sure there's nothing I can do? I could give you a ride home if you want. I came here with my aunt's truck today because I was super late…"

Apparently the warm tone in Brittany's voice did something to the other. Another sob erupted from her when she cluelessly raised her shoulders.

"I guess that would be very kind. Thank you…"

Brittany already wanted to lead the way outside when the girl stopped again.

"No, wait. I'm supposed to walk home with my best friend. We made plans to do homework together. If I don't show up then she's gonna be worried…"

Brittany thought for a moment.

"Well, how about I give both of you a ride home? It wouldn't be a problem."

The girl thanked her with a nod before they made their way to the school's exit.

"I'm Quinn, by the way", the girl said when they stepped outside.

Brittany introduced herself, too and then gave Quinn the key to the truck. She explained where she'd find it in the parking lots and grinned embarrassedly when she added: "You won't miss it. It's the ugliest truck you'll ever see."

It caused Quinn to smile again and honestly, that had been worth it. In exchange, Quinn described the place where Brittany would find her best friend. Brittany felt weird to go out there to look for someone she had never even talked to before, only to let them know that their best friend was waiting in Brittany's truck. But she couldn't step out of it now. Quinn still looked so miserable. Brittany had offered to help out and that was exactly what she was going to do.

"Her name is Santana" Quinn said when Brittany was already about to leave. She came to an abrupt stop. "You won't miss her. She's the prettiest girl you'll ever see."

/

Brittany was waiting by the school's main entrance, asking herself what was going to happen next. She was waiting for Santana, the waitress from Schuester's bar. Brittany had wondered if she'd run into her at school one day. It also dawned on her that Quinn was probably in a lot of trouble if she couldn't even tell her parents about the pregnancy. Her whole life just got turned upside down. Brittany couldn't imagine what she would have done in Quinn's situation. She seriously had no idea. How was anyone supposed to be able to know what to do in a situation like that? When you're just a teenager?

Her concerned thoughts came to an end when the heavy doors got opened and students came storming out of it. Brittany's eyes roamed all over the moving bodies, careful not to wave at the wrong person.

The waving wasn't even necessary though. When the crowd parted after a few seconds, Brittany swallowed emptily. The girl with the unusual name appeared from the center and somehow found Brittany's eyes right away. Slowly she came over as if she knew that Brittany was waiting just for her.

Surprise as well as confusion was written across the brunette's face when Brittany eventually did wave at her, just to make sure.

"Uhm… hi" Santana said when she came to a halt in front her. Brittany tried to smile at her.

"Hi" She pointed over her shoulder into the direction where the parking lots were. "I've got your best friend in my car."

Santana's eyes widened.

"What?!" She exclaimed. Brittany realized that it must have sounded very wrong.

"Oh – I mean she's there voluntarily! She needed a ride home so I offered-"

"Why would she need a ride home? What happened?"

Brittany speechlessly watched how Santana made a couple steps towards the parking lots, then turned around once more.

"She…" Brittany trailed off because she didn't think she was supposed to be the one to spill Quinn's secret. "Just… come on."

With quick steps she gained up on Santana in order to guide her to her friend. Thankfully the brunette followed her without any further questions. When they made their way through the remaining students who obliviously headed off to a probably joyful weekend, Brittany only then realized the heat in her face and the nervous excitement in her chest. She didn't know what she had gotten herself into but she couldn't help but wanting to know more.