18

Brittany's POV

After Santana got injured, cheer camp was a lot less fun. She couldn't participate in the majority of the activities, but she still had to be there watching us. A few times, I sat out with her, but the point of being there was for me to improve.

I knew she was upset at her situation, so I tried my best to make it more bearable for Santana. She had to use crutches that made her a lot slower, and I always stayed back with her, left out of the group. I carried her food at meals, and I went everywhere with her. Usually, she acted grateful for my help, but when I touched her in front of other people or even tried to help her more than what she absolutely needed, she got upset.

All I wanted to do was help Santana, but she didn't want to appear "weak" in front of the other girls at cheer camp. I tried telling her that needing help wasn't weak, but she wouldn't listen to me.

On an even worse note, being at cheer camp reminded me of the previous summer when I was raped. It wasn't as though it was traumatic to me at the time, but I was on edge every time that the few boys at cheer camp were in our presence. I wondered if it ever happened to anyone else.

I also really missed dancing. Even though cheerleading is similar to dancing, something about dance just entices me more than cheerleading. Plus, dancing is usually less dangerous.

As cheer camp came to an end, Santana started walking around without her crutches. She still needed her ankle to be wrapped in a tensor band, but thankfully, she was getting better.

My mom came to pick Quinn, Santana, and I up from cheer camp on the last day. We had a showcase as usual, and then we packed our things into my mom's car.

"So, how was it?" Mom asked.

"It was fun," I said, "except Santana sprained her ankle."

"Oh, that's too bad. What about you, Quinn?"

"It was alright," she replied.

I leaned forward to turn on some music from the backseat. Sitting between Quinn and Santana, there wasn't much room to maneuver, but I didn't mind.

My playlist consisted of a lot of pop songs, songs from Disney movies, and some songs that Santana had showed me. She seemed surprised that I added those songs to my playlist.

"This was on the zip drive you gave me," Santana said when one of my favorite Disney songs, "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat" started playing.

"I'm surprised you didn't know this song before then," Quinn pointed out.

I glared at her. She shouldn't be mean to Santana when she's the one who's injured.

My mom dropped Quinn off at her house first, then Santana, then we went home.

"How is Jessica?" I asked.

"She's missed you," Mom replied. "She's at dance class right now."

"Can I come with you to pick her up?"

"Of course."

The next day, I already missed Santana. It was only August 2nd, so there was a while to go yet before school started and Santana's birthday came. I wondered how her ankle was doing and if she missed me too. I texted her, but it wasn't the same. I couldn't wait to see her again.

I danced a lot in my bedroom, as well as went to a few parties that the older cheerleaders were throwing.

Santana, Quinn, and I made some plans for the upcoming school year, well mostly just Quinn and Santana. We were obviously going to stay on the Cheerios, but Quinn wanted us to join the celibacy club. The President of the club had graduated in spring, so Quinn wanted to become the new president. She said that the club was usually just another excuse for the cheerleaders and football players to spend time together at school.

Quinn spent a lot of time with Finn over the summer as well. They were still dating; I didn't think it would last, though. Especially if Quinn wanted to stay celibate; most boys couldn't do that for so long.

I started preparing for tenth grade earlier than Quinn and Santana. I'd always been obsessed with school supplies, even though they never really helped with my grades.

School was starting on August 21st that year, but Coach Sue wanted us to start Cheerios practice two days sooner. That way, we could prepare for "new blood." I was surprised that she didn't make us come to practice all through the summer.

By the time August 7th rolled around, I was full-out bored. I loved school, especially being with my friends, and I wished I could see them everyday in summer.

I called Santana and asked if she would like to come over.

"I'm home alone," she said. "Is there anyway you could pick me up?"

So, my mom and I drove to Santana's house to pick her up.

Back at home, we played Twister with Jessica. She loved Santana and didn't want to be left out. I obviously won since I had the height and the flexibility advantage to both of them.

Afterwards, Santana and I went to my bedroom, leaving Jessica to play by herself.

"Is your ankle completely better?" I asked, noticing that although she was still wearing a tensor band, Santana hadn't been limping.

"Almost," she replied. "I still have about a week in this thing."

"Are you excited for school to start again?"

"Are you kidding me? I wish it never would."

"I thought you liked school."

"Yeah, but cheerleading is exhausting," Santana said.

She looked sad, but I knew not to question it. She hated talking about her feelings.

She changed the tone. "Have you added anyone else to your bedpost this summer?"

"No," I said. "Have you?"

She shook her head.

"What are you planning for your birthday?" I asked.

"It's after school starts, and my parents would never allow me to have a party at our house, so probably just invite you and Quinn over for a sleepover or something."

"Well I already know what I'm going to get you," I said.

"What is it?"

"I can't say."

"Fine. Do you want to watch a movie?"

"Sure."