16

Brittany's POV

Ninth grade was finally over. I was mostly relieved, especially since I had passed all my exams (with a lot of help from Santana), but I was also a bit sad. Even though I'd never been the best student (except for maybe some science classes), I always loved school. I missed it during the summer because I couldn't be in my ideal environment: surrounded by people. I knew I wouldn't get to see Santana as often, and I knew I would miss her.

Summertime did bring some good things, though. Such as: my birthday, Santana's birthday, more time to dance, and cheerleading camp. Cheerleading camp was only two weeks, though, and I knew that I would spend a lot of the summer bored.

The first week after school was over, Quinn invited Santana and me to her house to swim. Unlike Santana and I, she had a pool in her backyard. Plus, her parents were almost always gone, and her older sister was gone on a graduation trip with her friends.

I spent a lot of time with both of them during the first few weeks of summer. Santana was a different person in summer. She was happier, but the walls around her true feeling seemed to be getting higher and higher. I couldn't understand her; I just wanted to be her friend and know things about her.

Well, what I wouldn't tell her is that I wished we could be more than friends, but I knew Santana wouldn't want that. She made it clear to me when she turned down my pinky the one time that I tried initiated linking pinkies.

My birthday was two days before cheer camp started, on July 16th. I spent time with my family the day before my birthday, so that I could have my party on my actual birthday. I'd invited the Cheerios and the football team. I had originally wanted a party with just Quinn and Santana, but in order to be popular, one needed to invite the popular kids to their birthday party.

My parents and sister went to a hotel for the night, so I could have the house for my party. Santana and Quinn came over right after lunch to help me set up. They both brought alcohol because I didn't have access to it like they did.

Everyone started arriving around 7 o'clock. There were some people that I definitely didn't invite, so obviously the people I'd invited had started inviting people as well. I needed to keep the party under control; otherwise, my parents would not let me have the house for another party ever again.

I didn't drink as much as I would if the party had been elsewhere. I didn't want to get as out-of-control as I had many times before.

I forget exactly what happened after 10 o'clock. People only started leaving around midnight, when the drinks started to run out. I'd locked the bedrooms, so people started to get bored.

Once everyone left, Santana and Quinn locked the front door.

"We should clean up," Quinn said. Her face was red; she got very mad when she was drunk, especially at Finn. I could tell that they'd had an argument.

"In the morning," I argued, feeling much too sick to do anything then.

Santana was almost crying. "Everyone ignored me tonight. Am I not pretty enough?"

We were a mess, so I said that we should go to bed. Quinn passed out on the floor; her alcohol tolerance was the lowest of all of us. Santana and I slept in my bed. I was so tired, I forgot to kiss her cheek.

It was bright by the time I woke up. Santana was still sleeping, but Quinn was gone. She'd texted me saying that she had to go home, but that she'd left my birthday gift in my room. I opened up the gift to reveal a rainbow-colored stuffed bear and a gift card.

I texted Quinn back, "Thank you for the gift."

Santana was still fast asleep, so I went to the bathroom before going downstairs.

My parents and sister were eating breakfast, and the house was spotless.

"You did a great job cleaning up," my dad said.

I was surprised to say the least. Quinn must have cleaned the house before leaving. I would need to thank her; I could have been in a lot of trouble if my family had seen the mess.

"Are your friends still here?" Mom asked.

"Just Santana," I replied.

"You can bring your breakfasts upstairs."

I thanked my parents and took two plates of French toast back upstairs to my bedroom.

Placing the plates on my bedside table, I walked over to my bed. "Wake up, Santana," I whispered in her ear, gently touching her arm to try to wake her up.

She groaned and stretched, finally waking up.

"What time is it?" she asked, her voice raspy.

"It's 10:30," I replied. "Do you feel sick at all?"

"Just a headache."

I got some Advil and took one for my own headache before giving one to Santana.

"Where's Quinn?" she asked.

I said, "She had to leave, but she cleaned the house up before she left."

I sat down beside Santana and gave her a plate of French toast before putting the other one on my lap to eat.

"I haven't had French toast in forever," Santana said. "It's amazing."

"Thank my parents," I replied. "I can't cook."

"Really?" Santana asked. "I should help teach you sometime."

After we finished eating, Santana gave me a gift bag.

"I wasn't sure what to get you," Santana said. "I hope you like it."

"I'm sure I will. You got it for me." I smiled and took the bag from Santana before taking out the tissue paper.

Inside, there was a short-sleeved jean jacket and a box of Lucky Charms.

"It seems random," Santana said, "but I-"

"It's great," I cut in. "I love it! Thank you, Santana."

"No problem."

"How long can you stay over?" I asked.

"Until lunch."

"Do you want to go to the park and feed the ducks?"

"Feed the ducks?"

"It's fine; I promise. Come on, Santana."

"Okay..."