Chapter 28: Glitter and Crimson
After Brittany's Birthday, summer was seeming to fly by and before Santana knew it signs for back to school shopping were hung in every storefront.
"I am so not ready to go back to school." she groaned as her and Brittany walked Asher through the park. The next day was his test to get certified and she knew the park would be abuzz on a nice sunny day.
"San, I thought you liked school." Brittnay asked as they made their way to the duck pond. A crowd was gathered on the bridge tossing bread to the birds. Santana bravely weaved through with Asher. Brittany followed behind as they made their way to a more secluded edge of the water.
"I do. I love to read and write and learn but this summer with you has been really nice." Santana laced their fingers together "Going out on dates, walking in the park, sitting in your treehouse- it's been a nice break from everything. Especially after your party." Santana leaned her head on the blonde's shoulder.
"My love, that was a perfect day. Your father is locked up. Isn't this what you wanted?" Brittany rubs the Latinas back.
"I wanted him to accept me, not go to jail." Santana admits "I was hoping one day I'd have my family back."
"You have a new family now babe. Me and Liv and Pops and mom and Diego and your Tia. We're all your family." Brittany kisses a tan cheek.
"I know I just...it still stings. That he'd rather kill me than live with my "sin". she shrugs, Asher nudging her gently. She pets the dog, calming down a bit. "Asher's test is tomorrow." she says after a few minutes.
"He's going to do fantastic, Santana. He's so ready. Right Ash?" Brittany asks and the dog let's his tongue hang out.
"Yeah. I'm just glad Ali got him certified as a therapy dog too so others can pet him. He deserves it." she smiles.
"Well, let's go get him all handsome for his test then?" Brittany asks and Santana nods. They walk to the pet store and check Asher in for his second haircut of the summer. The husky fur had proved a little too thick in the heat.
"My favorite dog!" the groomer says as Asher greets her "Another haircut for the handsome boy?"
"Yup. He's going to his test tomorrow and I want to make sure he looks absolutely perfect." Santana admits.
"Well that shouldn't be too hard. He's already a gorgeous pup. I'll have him done in about an hour. Is that alright?" the groomer says taking Santana's information.
"That's perfect. We'll see you in a bit." Santana sighs as they leave. Ever since the party, Asher has rarely left her side. The shooting had left her more shaken up than she'd let on. The girls head back to Santana's house while they wait, and the Latina picks up her old violin. She excuses herself and Brittany watches her play it with ferocity through the glass door. The shorter girl doesn't return until her bow is in shreds.
"We need to go shopping." Santana sighs, putting the violin away.
"How'd you do that?" Brittany asks, looking at the shredded bow.
"Played fiddle style. Tends to do that." the Latina admits. Brittany picks up her hands and clicks her tongue at the way she's dug into the calluses in her fingertips and the bright red mark from gripping the bow too hard in the other hand. She takes her to the bathroom and cleans her up.
"I'll take you to the music shop soon. We'll get you a new bow." Brittany says as Santana puts the violin back in the case.
"We can't go to any shop B. We have to go to the shop in Columbus. Nothing else will do." the latina says.
"Tana, I'm not sure we should…" Brittany says quietly.
"It has to be there." Santana says. "We should go pick up Asher."
"San? Are you okay?" Britt says as she tries to keep up with the unusually fast pace of the Latina.
"My abuelo personally strung that bow for me. He carved it too. The shop in Columbus helped him out. They'll know who I am. Just trust me." she says.
"Wouldn't it be bad if they knew you?" Brittany asked as they slow their pace as they make their way to the groomer at the back of the pet store.
"They're good guys Britt. You'll see." Santana promises as she makes her way to the counter. It isn't long before Asher is back with them, sporting a cute little bandana. They make their way home and Santana goes out back to practice with Asher. Brittany sighs as she picks up her guitar.
So, can we close the space between us now?
It's the distance we don't need
Yeah, you're everything I love about
The things I hate in me
So come on, come on, come over now and
Fix me with your grace
'Cause I'm not too far and you're my favorite place
Santana comes in the door and leans against the door frame, Asher stood patiently at her side as she listened to Brittany sing. She knows it's her fault that the girl is hurting,although she's not sure why, and yet the blonde is so in love with her.
"Babe" Santana says softly and Brittany looks up a bit surprised "Talk to me. Tell me what's wrong."
"You're always shutting me out and not telling me the whole story." Brittany says "And not just with the music shop. You won't tell me how nervous you are about the test tomorrow, why you're dreading school starting back up, and why you haven't seen anyone besides me since my birthday."
"Britt, it's not that I want to shut you out. I don't. With the shop, I just want you to experience it first hand. I'm not telling you how nervous I am because it makes my nerves real. And the other two have a similar answer. I don't know how to face everyone after my freak out." Santana admits.
"So don't address it then. If someone asks just say you don't want to talk about it." Brittany encourages.
"Quinn will want to talk…" Santana admits "She sorta froze."
"I can deal with Quinn." Brittany offers "But maybe talking to her would be good for you."
"You might have a point. But let's put it all aside. I want to make sure I'm well rested for Asher's test tomorrow." the Latina says.
"Is Ali going to be home soon?" the blonde asks.
"Mhm. Diego too. You should stay. We're going to talk about Asher's future." Santana says.
"Okay, but I think Lady Domino should be part of the discussion." Brittany says.
"Good thing you've been keeping her here so you "have a cat no matter where you sleep" you dork". Santana teases. Brittany rolls her eyes as she goes upstairs to get the cat. At the same time, Diego walks in, Kelsey not far behind. Brittany came down stairs, Lady Domino peacefully purring in her arms. Kelsey immediately began cooing over the tiny cat.
"Santana really knows how to do presents right." Brittany smiled and Kelsey nodded.
"Lopezes seem to have a knack for gifts."
Ali walked in the door only a few minutes later, a bag if Chinese food in her hand.
"Good the whole gang's here! I've got takeout." Ali hoists the bag onto the counter and reads out the contents. It isn't long before Santana is trying to teach Brittany to use chopsticks. She has little success seeing as they have opposite dominant hands and she can't just guide Brittany with her own. After too much struggle the blonde grabs a fork. Once their meal is finished and terrible fortunes read, they get down to business.
"So are you ready for the exam tomorrow Santana?" Ali asks from the kitchen, turning a pot of hot water for tea.
"I think so. I know Ash is though. He's a superstar." Santana pats the dog's head.
"That's for sure." Diego says "He's super sweet and friendly, but totally business too. He's really a perfect fit for San."
"I thought I was the perfect fit" Brittany pouts."But in all seriousness, I agree. You two are one helluva team." Santana smiles and blushes, scratching behind Asher's ears thankfully. Ali returns to the table with the kettle and mugs and pours everyone chamomile tea.
"So" Ali takes a few files from her brief case "Tomorrow they'll test Asher's ability to perform tasks as well as his ability to ignore distractions. They'll also test your ability to command clearly and have him perform an alert. If you both succeed, he'll be certified as a PTSD service dog. You'll be able to bring him anywhere and everywhere with you. You'll be able to get a vest and marked leash while you're there."
"Okay. I do think this'll be really good. I'm ready for him to be fully certified. I'm so glad you helped get us here Tia." Santana smiles.
"Of course Santanita. I just want what's best. And now what's best is for you all to finish your tea and head to bed."
The next morning Santana and Ali head to Columbus to finally get Asher certified. Santana shakes off her nerves and passes with flying colors alongside Asher. She leaves with a blue leash and vest. The vest is already adorned with the usual "Do not pet" and "service dog" patches, but Santana was thrilled to know she could add her own touches to it as well. Being handy at not only embroidery but sewing, she was excited to make it know that Asher was super cool just like his moms.
When they arrive home, Brittany, Diego and Kelsey present Santana with a iced Carmel macchiato and Asher with a puppicino as a congratulations. However, Santana is quick to make her way to her sewing machine.
"Ashers gonna be the coolest kid in school San." Brittnay says, watching Santana sew a pride patch onto the vest and an All Time Low Patch.
"Gotta make my boy handsome as a devil." Santana grins. Finishing her final stitch, she put the vest on Asher.
"He looks so professional." Brittany says "I'm so glad he's going to be there no matter what to keep you safe, even when I can't be."
"You're not going somewhere are you?" Santana asks, chewing on her lip nervously.
"Of course not baby, I'm just not always around." Brittany kisses the Latina's cheek.
"Good. So uh, now that this is done, I was thinking tomorrow we go to the mall with Quinn and Rachel and let Asher try this out?" Santana asks.
"That sounds great baby. I'm not sure they'll be very cheerful though. I get the sense they're in another rough patch." Brittnay sighs.
"Seriously? What's the complication that keeps happening between them?" the brunette asks, taking Asher's vest off so he can relax.
"Communication error." Brittnay sighs "They've both got the same problem and it's causing rift after rift."
"Have they tried singing more? It works when I can't get things across." the Latina plops down at the piano.
"You got an idea?" Brittnay asks, grabbing her guitar.
"There's a song that sort of always makes me think of them."
It's a typical story, three in the morning
You're holding my head
Caught in the tension, silent confessions
At the foot of your bed
Glitter and crimson, fighting the friction
What a perfect mess
Brittany smiles "Glitter and Crimson. That does fit them. But don't they need to sing to get the communication to work?"
"I think you and I can serve the message they're both trying to send. Sometimes a little help is all you need." Santana smiles "Besides, those two would never agree to sing it."
The next day finds Santana and Brittany caught in tension between Quinn and Rachel the entirety of the mall trip. Thanks to that, Asher is on serious edge the entire trip. Santana keeps an eye on him, noting his defensive posture beside her. She knows part of its the crowd, but it's a relatively slow day at the mall.
"Alright that's it. Whatever is going on between you two is not going to be solved by new shoes." Santana says, and she leads them all to the music store. She asks the clerk if it's okay to try out the instruments, and with the go ahead she sits at the piano, Brittnay picking up a display guitar.
Heavy as ever, light as a feather
I'm caught in between
Hard to stay focused, process the progress
How long can we be
Happy if happy ain't meant for us
'Cause being less ain't good enough
But being us feels good to us
Santana stares at Rachel and Quinn the whole time, but they're only looking at each other. She keeps going, seeing them respond.
No compromise and no second best
There's no stopping now this weight on my chest
I won't settle down, won't settle for less
I won't settle for less, I won't settle for less
Santana watches, as she sings the last chorus, them move closer and grab each other's hands tenderly. The shift in their emotions is palpable as she plays the last note. Asher visibly relaxes and Santana gives him a small scratch on the head.
"Thank you guys." Quinn says after a few moments "How is it you always know what we need to say?"
"Because they're the perfect version of us." Rachel sniffles "I keep messing this up Q."
"That's not true Rach. We're both responsible. We have to communicate. Right?" Quinn looks at Santana and Brittany who nod.
"We are far from perfect." Brittay squeezes Santana's hand "But because we keep our communication going, we make it through thick and thin. And you can too. Just talk."
"Britt's right. And if you can't find the right words, I guarantee someone else has written them. Lyrics are one of my greatest tools." Santana admits.
"I guess you're right. I always think lyrics are cheesy, but they work." Rachel admits "Gosh ,we ruined the trip didn't we?"
"Not if you let me keep shopping you haven't." Santana smirks.
"Right. She hasn't been into Hot Topic yet." Quinn rolls her eyes "Okay. Let's get it over with nerds."
More chilled and relaxed, the teenagers leave the mall armed with quite a few bags. After all, they'll be back at school in the blink of an eye.