The bell for the next class rang and I still couldn't get a hold of Santana. Quinn and I had looked for her everywhere around the school and could't find her.

"We should go to class," Quinn said, "She probably went home for some reason."

I knew something was wrong, I felt it.

"But, why would she do that, Quinn? And even if she did, she wouldn't leave without telling me."

"I don't know," Quinn said softly,

"I…."

My phone went off, alerting me to a text. I unlocked the screen and saw it was Santana. "It's her. She…she did go home." Quinn moved to look over my shoulder at my screen.

Quinn put her hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "She says she's fine. Whatever happened, she probably just needs time alone. You know how Santana is, Britt. Go to class and we'll go visit her after school."

"Maybe I should go alone." I put my phone away. "If something did happen, it'll be easier to get her to talk if it's just me."

Quinn nodded. "You're right. But, call me if you need me, OK?"

"I will."

I went to class and finished out the day even though I couldn't concentrate. As soon as the last bell rang, I ran out of the school and jogged to Santana's house. When I got there, I was out of breath and sweating.

"Santana?" I shouted as I opened the front door, "Are you here?" I ran up to her room and I found her sitting at her desk. "Santana?"

She looked up and I could tell she had been crying. She got up and came to me and pulled me into a hug.

"Honey," I whispered, "What happened?"

She hugged me tighter and it just made me want to cry but I held it back. After a while, I heard her speak.

"Do you…do you love me?"

I pulled away from her so I could see her. "Of course! Santana, I love you. You're scaring me, what happened?"

She closed her eyes and breathed out. "I…" She opened her eyes. "I went to talk to Finn and Rory, you know, call a truce and…I was trying to be nice and I just lost it and then Finn just shouted across the hallway that I should come out of the closet and that you didn't love me. In front of everyone!"

"Oh, no." I could feel her fear and I wish I could take it away.

She shook her had. "I know I was mean. You know I can't deal with feelings and I just lash out. With my Abuela here…I just….I couldn't stop myself. Maybe I deserve…"

"No. Don't you say you deserve this." I said, sternly, "No one deserves this. He didn't have to do that."

"How the fuck did he know?" Santana sniffed and I could tell that she was trying not to cry again. "Maybe it didn't matter my being in the closet because, apparently, it's not a big secret. Fucking Finn knew! I feel like an idiot walking around scared that people would find out…"

"Santana, stop it!" I put my hands on her shoulders to try to calm her down. "You're not an idiot. You were supposed to decide when to tell people and even if they knew, they should have keep it to themselves. This is your thing to tell, no on else's."

"How did he know? We're not even friends. I mean, Glee friends but that's it. And don't even tell me he had gayer be….Eva!"

"What? Eva? What does she have to do with anything?"

Santana walked away from me and started pacing, now looking angry. "She must have told him at some point. They hung out a lot when we went out after the play. It's her, she…she said something."

I knew in my heart Eva didn't say anything and Santana just needed someone to blame. "She didn't."

"Don't defend her!" Santana shouted, "Unless you think Quinn told him? She would never do that to me."

"Neither would Eva!" I shouted back. "Look, I know this is scary but the only person you should be blaming is Finn for outing you. Eva is gay too, or half gay, so she would never do that. If you want to know how Finn knew, we need to ask him."

Santana let out a frustrated groan. "This so fucked up."

"Look, maybe no one believed him. Quinn said she only heard like three students talking about it so maybe it'll be forgotten by tomorrow. My next episode of Fondue for Two and PNN segment are filled with all that regular high school gossip. And there's a lot!"

Santana went to her desk and took out her phone and opened up her text messages. "Here," she said, handing me the phone, "Check out the twenty texts I got once school ended." I took the phone and began to read, my heart dropped. "See that?" she went on, "People asking me if it's true. People telling me I don't look like a lesbian. Frank from the hockey team telling me all I need is a real man. So yeah, it's not just three people Britt. It's the whole damn school."

I threw the phone on the bed and my shoulders slumped. I didn't know what to do and I hated the feeling. "How can I help?"

She took a couple of deep breaths. "You can go home and tell your parents about us," she said with a small smile, "Tell them we're girlfriends and that we're in love. I don't want them to hear it from some gossipy parents."

"And you?"

"I'm going to wait for my mom and tell her." Tears fell from her cheeks and she wiped them away. "I don't want her to hear this from those gossipy parents either."

I went to her and gave her a kiss. "Everything is going to be OK, Santana."

"I hope so."

###

As soon as I got home, I told my parents about Santana and they were so happy. My mom kept asking me questions about me and Santana and I told her as much as I could. Well, all the PG rated stuff anyway. My dad had assumed Santana and I were dating already. I really loved my parents and I knew how lucky I was that they were so accepting and supportive.

Around 10 at night, Santana called me and filled me in on her talk with her mother. I smiled listening to Santana say how Maribel had listened to her without getting mad or upset. How Maribel had cried when Santana had started crying when she told Maribel that she had been so afraid to be kicked out of the house or deported. Well, not deported but a fancy word for getting disowned. Maybe that would be a calendar word one day.

"So you two are OK?" I asked.

I heard her chuckle. "Yes, Britt. We're OK. More than OK actually. It felt really good telling her and…I don't know, things feel different with her. A good different."

"That's awesome Santana."

"And she told me that one of Hugo's nieces is also a lesbian," Santana said, "And they have a great relationship so I know I don't have to worry about him."

"See," I said, smiling, "I told you things would be fine."

"You did," she laughed, "You're a genius and I should always listen to you."

"You should. So, are you ready to go to school tomorrow?"

She stayed quiet for a moment and I only heard her breathing. "I…I'm going to skip school. I just need time to mentally prepare myself for the onslaught of lesbian questions.'

I had a feeling she would say that. I couldn't blame her though, since she was forced out before she was ready. "OK, but you will have to face everyone eventually"

"I know, I know."

She couldn't hide anymore. I hated how she had been forced to reveal this about herself before she was ready. However, I couldn't help that part of me was glad she wasn't in the closet anymore. I just really wish it had been her choice.

###

As soon as I stepped into the main McKinley hallway, people started looking at me. Some smiled, some looked confused and some I couldn't read their expression. I didn't like it. I ignored them and headed to my locker and began taking out my books.

"Is it true?"

I put my math book in my bag and turned to look at Kitty, one of the new Cheerios that had joined over the summer. "Is what true?"

"That Santana's a full on lesbian," Kitty smirked, "I had a feeling. Now I wonder if she ever checked me out in the locker room."

I rolled my eyes and closed my locker. "Bitch please, don't flatter yourself. Anyway, she left Cheerios way before you even joined."

Kitty shrugged. "Hey, maybe she snuck in for a peak."

"She didn't," I said, now getting mad.

"So you're a lesbian too, now?" Kitty crossed her arms, "It's no secret you play, or played, for both teams. Does this mean you decided?"

"What?" This girl was so dumb. "I didn't decide to be anything."

"I heard you and Santana are a thing, so I figured you'd made up your mind about what team you play on." Kitty shrugged again.

"OK, you need to stop talking because you have no idea what you're saying," I snapped, "Why don't you worry about how Tina is going to kick your ass for putting the moves on Artie, you know, her boyfriend."

That seemed to shut her up and she now looked really uncomfortable. "Whatever," she said, and walked away.

The rest of the day was like that. Dumb people asking me if I caught being a lesbian from Santana. Asking me if this meant I didn't like boys anymore. Asking me if Santana and I would make out in front of everyone at the next party.

I was back at my locker to put away my books before lunch and I could still feel like people were talking about me. Quinn had come up to me earlier and asked me if I was OK and if I wanted her to walk me to my classes the rest of the day. I told her no. Now, I wish I had said yes.

"Are you OK?"

I automatically got frustrated before realizing that it was Rachel asking me that question. "Oh hey. Uh, yeah."

Rachel looked worried and I really appreciated that she cared about me. "You're not." she said, "I heard what happened and I have to say, this whole situation is abhorrent."

"That was a calendar word a few weeks ago."

"Santana should have come out on her own…"

"Wait, you knew?"

"Sort of. I knew she wasn't entirely straight and it was especially evident when she was around you. Sometimes I'd catch her looking at you in a….non-heterosexula way." Rachel looked around as if she had said a big secret she didn't want anyone knowing. It actually made me smile.

"It's OK, Rachel," I said, "And you're right, Santana should have come out on her own."

"And you too," Rachel added, "You were outed too Brittany. I mean, yes, you're open about your bisexuality but you've never officially announced it and you defiantly didn't announce your romantic relationship with Santana. This whole mess isn't just about Santana, it's about you too."

I felt my chest get really tight listening to Rachel. She had a point. I never hid anything, but I never made an official announcement either. I didn't know you were supposed to do that. Were you? Like send out a press release? But she did have a point. I was outed too and my relationship with Santana was put out there before we were ready. "Thanks Rachel, for checking on me. I'm going to be OK."

Rachel sighed and squeezed my arm. "Finn had no right saying that. I wonder if he even knew what he was doing."

"Are you defending him?"

"No, no, what he did was wrong but you should talk to him," Rachel said.

I took a deep breath because I was getting angry just thinking about Finn. Rachel did have a point. "You're right. I should take to him."

###

After the last bell rang, I wanted to jump for joy. Today was not a good day. I opened the folder I was holding to check and make sure I had all of Santana's assignments. As I was walking down the hallway to the exit, I herd that mumbling voice I had heard for weeks now. Then I heard his voice.

I made a turn and saw Finn and Rory talking. I stared at them for a bit and the more I did, the more angry I got. I walked up to them and before I knew it, I was standing in front of them. "Why? Why did you do that?"

"Huh? Do what?" Finn asked.

"Whadayatalkinbot Brittny?" Rory mumbled.

I pointed to the foreigner, "You stay out of this." I then pointed to Finn. "You know what! You outed Santana! In front of the whole school Finn! Why would you do that?"

"What are you talking about?" Finn looked like her really didn't understand what he had done.

"You shouted in front of everyone that Santana should come out of the closet. You told her I didn't love her."

"Oh, that. I was just so tired of her attacking me and everyone else. She needs to own up to who she is and maybe she won't be so mean all the time. I did her a favor."

I dropped the folder on the floor and pushed him. "A favor?" I shouted. "A favor? It wasn't your decision, Finn. She was so close to telling people and you ruined it! She was doing so good and you just ruined everything!"

"Oh come on, Brittany. It's not like Santana liking girls was a big secret," Finn said, "Since I meet the two of you, you've been all over each other. You guys are practically on top of each other in the choir room. Come on, everyone knows. It's not a huge shocker."

I was so angry. He didn't get it. I shoved him again. "It wasn't your thing to tell!" And again.

"Stop shoving me!" Finn stepped back away from me and Rory followed close.

"CalmdownBrittany." he mumbled.

Before I could step closer again, I felt someone pull me back.

"Whoa, Britt." It was Quinn, "Come on, shoving him isn't going to solve anything. Besides, you always want to stop the violence."

I took a few deep breaths to get my anger under control. I hated getting made because it turned me into The Hulk. I could seriously hurt someone one day. "Bruce Banner would not approve," I said.

"Maybe you should go with Quinn and cool off," Finn said, "We can forget this happened."

This time, it was Quinn who got mad. "You seriously don't have a clue, do you?" Finn just shrugged. "Well, Kurt is pissed at what you did and you can bet your gay brother will explain it to you." She turned her attention back to me. "Come on Britt, let's go and check on Santana."

I just nodded. Quinn bent down and picked up the folder I dropped before we started walking towards the exit.

"But everyone already knew!" Finn shouted as we left.

We ignored him.

###

By the time we got to Santana's house, I was a lot calmer and back to my old self. I told Quinn all about everyone's dumb questions all day and what happened with Finn. Talking to her made me feel better. She was a totally different person than she had been when we were in Cheerios. She was calmer, more mature and didn't care about popularity anymore. I liked this Quinn. This Quinn and I were good friends.

"You should have told me," she said as she parked her car in Santana's driveway, "I could have been with you all day. Or you should have told Rachel. She was really worried about you."

I don't know why, but hearing her say that almost made me cry. "Thank you. I promise that if the dumb questions continue, I'll tell you."

"Good."

We got out of the car and went to the front door. I used my key to get in and saw that the living room was empty. We heard a noise in the kitchen and when we went to go check it out, we found Santana at the counter eating cereal.

"Santana!" Quinn practically shouted.

"FUCK!" Santana jumped up, almost knocking over her bowl. "What the hell? You scared the shit out of me!"

"Where the hell were you today?" Quinn asked, sounding mad.

She picked up her almost empty bowl and put it in the sink. "I just needed a day to figure out how to deal with this."

"Oh really?" Quinn put her hands on her hips which was a sure sign she was upset. "Did you think, that you not being at school today, that all the attention would fall on Brittany?"

That seemed to get Santana's attention. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, all day Brittany has had to deal with ignorant assholes who asked her if she contracted the half lesbian part of her from you. Or asking her how lady sex life was. Or…"

"OK, stop!" She walked to me and brought me in for a hug. "I'm so sorry Brittany. Why didn't you tell me? When I kept texting you, you kept saying you were fine."

"It's OK," I whispered in her ear and hugged her tighter.

She pulled back. "No, it's not. I should have been there and not left you to face this alone. I'm so sorry. I'll be there tomorrow and I swear I'll mess anyone up who upsets you."

I shook my head. "No violence. We have to be Bruce Banner about this."

"Did you get mad?" Santana asked and I loved that she knew exactly what I meant.

"Did she ever," Quinn said with a soft laugh, "She practically beat up Finn! Who knows what would have happened if I hadn't pulled her away."

"You did?" Santana asked with a small smile.

I shrugged. "I don't know what happened. I just saw him and got so mad. I know I shouldn't have but…"

"I probably would have done the same," Santana said, "But, how about you not get into fights?"

"OK, I won't." She looked really worried and I probably should have told her what everyone was asking but I didn't want her to get even more upset.

"Tomorrow," Santana went on, "We handle this like Olivia Pope."

"Perfect." I smiled.

"You guys watch way too much TV," Quinn said, "Anyway, now that that's settled, are you going to feed us or what?"

Santana rolled her eyes and went to open the drawer near the kitchen sink where she kept her collection of take-out menus. "Here," she said, dropping them on the counter, "But keep your order under $10."

###

The next morning, Santana and I stood in front of the school doors ready to go in and walk through the main hallway. At this time, it would be full of people.

"Are you ready?" I asked her.

"Almost." She reached for my hand and intertwined our fingers. "OK, now I am."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded and sighed. "No more hiding."

She opened the door and we walked in to the crowded hallway, Santana with her head held high. People stopped to look at us and I just hoped Santana didn't freak out. We were the center of attention. I heard some guy whistle and a bunch of people whispering but there were some people who didn't even give us a second glance. That was good.

"Hey, Santana, is that why you never went out with me?" some guy shouted and Santana ignored him

We made it to her locker and it wasn't until she had it open that she let out a huge breath and dropped her head a little. "Shit that was exhausting," she said softly.

"Are you OK?"

"I'm fine. How are you?"

"Fine. Better today now that you're here."

"I really am sorry about being MIA yesterday," she said, "I should…"

"Stop, Santana. It's OK. I'm sorry I didn't tell you when we were texting."

"We both messed up," she said with a smile, "But if we can get through today, we'll be fine."

We were always a team and this time we were going to be a different kind of team. A girlfriends team.

###

After everyone got their first look at the lesbian and her girlfriend, the interest seemed to die down a lot. There were still some idiot jocks who made gross comments but we just ignored them. Santana still wasn't comfortable and said she felt like people were watching her all the time. I couldn't tell her she was just imagining that because I felt it too. Oh, and I actually saw people staring at us.

When it was time for Glee, we felt better. Those were our friends and I knew they wouldn't judge Santana or me. When we stepped inside, Rachel came up to us.

"Can I just say that I think you two make a cute couple," Rachel said, with a big smile, "It's unfortunate how this was revealed but I am glad that you are not hiding your relationship from your friends."

She looked at me when she said the last part and I got the sense she was mostly talking to me. She and I had gotten really close and I'm sure she was upset I didn't share this with her. "Rachel," I said, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about me and Santana but I couldn't. Not without outing Santana and…"

"It's OK, Brittany," Rachel interrupted, "You're right. But, just know, you can come to me for anything. That includes you too, Santana."

"Pffft," Santana scoffed, "If you think I'm tell…."

"Santana! Remember our pact." I said. Since Rachel and I got to be good friends I made a pact with Santana that she would be nice to Rachel. Or try to, at least.

"Sorry," Santana said, "Thank you Rachel."

Rachel lunged forward and hugged us both at the same time making Santana groan. "This Sapphic connection is just as I envisioned it, adorable."

"So you've fantasized about us?" Santana teased when Rachel let us go.

"If you mean fantasized about you two being one of the top couples of McKinley? Then, yes." Rachel smiled.

Mr. Shue came in and told everyone to sit down. I noticed Finn was the only one missing.

"Mr. Shue?" Santana stayed standing and I knew she wanted to tell everyone now. I started to get up too but she gave me a look that told me I didn't have to be up there with her. "I'd like to make an announcement."

"Of course, Santana." He stepped to the side and let Santana stand in front of the classroom

She took a deep breath and stood up straighter, playing with her hands. I thought about that one night a long time ago when we were hanging out in my room and she suddenly asked me if I wanted to practice kissing. Man, that felt like decades ago. I never thought I'd see Santana in front of our friends about to tell them we were girlfriends.

"OK, so," she began, "I've struggled with this for a long time and I was making progress in accepting myself and coming out…but, recent events have forced me to do this before I planned…."

"I'm sorry, Santana," Kurt said, sounding sad.

Santana smiled and shook her head. "It's fine. Anyway, it's true. I'm a lesbian and Brittany and I are together."

"Wait what?" I turned around and saw Puck, looking totally surprised. "Were you a lesbian when we were dating?" he asked.

"Yes Puck, I was," she said.

"Well, that explains a lot. Wait, I didn't turn you, did I?"

"Good grief," Santana groaned, "No, you idiot. I was born this way."

"Oh thank God,"he sighed, relived.

"So, that's it." Santana crossed her arms. "I'm a lesbian. Brittany's my girlfriend. If anyone here has an issue, you can go fu…"

"Santana!" Mr. Shue shouted.

"…fudge yourself," she finished with a sweet smile.

"Well said, Santana," Quinn said.

"Thank you, Santana," Mr. Shue said coming back to the front of the class, "I can assure you, that in this room, you will be supported and we are all here for you."

I was surprised when everyone clapped and cheered.

"Britt?" I looked up to see Santana standing in front of me. "Do you want to say anything?"

"Come on Brittany!" Mercedes said.

I got up and faced everyone. "Thanks everyone. I'd like this to serve as my official announcement that I am a bisexual. So there, I've made an official declaration. Calendar word."

"Calendar word?" Sam asked, "What does that mean?"

Santana grabbed my hand and pulled me to sit back down. "Official."

"Official." I repeated.

Halfway through class, Finn finally showed up and as soon as he entered, the room got really quiet.

"Sorry I'm late Mr. Shue," he said, standing in front of the class, "I need to say something." Mr. Shue nodded and stepped away. Finn stood in front of Santana and me. "I'm sorry. I had a long talk with Kurt last night, and I realized what I did. I was trying to help you but I did it the worst way possible. I just thought if you just admitted who you were, you'd be nicer. And to show how sorry I am, I'd like to sing you both a song…Cyndi Lauper's…"

Santana held up her hand. "Hold up. Don't you dare sing. Look Finn, you forced me to do this before I was ready and a song won't fix that. But, I do appreciate your apology and I'm sorry I called you a whale."

Finn smiled and looked so relived that his apology had worked. "And I'm sorry I almost beat you up," I added.

"I really am sorry," Finn said, "Can we just move on from this?"

"We have to," Santana said, "But I swear, if you out anyone else, I'll let Brittany lose on you."

I heard Puck laugh. "Wait, Finn, did Brittany really beat you up?"

"No," he said, quickly.

"Quinn stopped me," I shrugged.

"I thought you were anti-violence?" Rachel asked.

"I am! Except when you make Santana upset. All of you, just keep that in mind."

Santana leaned in and kissed my cheek. "My knight in shinning armor."

"I don't have any armor," I said, "I have catcher's mitt from when I played softball that one summer. Does that work?"

Santana laughed. "That works." She turned back to Finn. "Did anyone tell you? About my being a lesbian?"

Finn shook his head. "No. You and Brittany have always been close and always acted like a couple that I just thought it was obvious."

Santana groaned a little. "Apparently this was the worst kept secret ever."

"Brittany was the kink in your armor," Rachel said, "You could never hide how you felt about her very well. At least not to us."

Santana turned to me and smiled. "I guess not."

The bad and hard part was over. Now, for the first time, I only had the good and easy stuff to look forward to.

"Oh!" Quinn suddenly stood up, "Not to steal anyone's thunder but I just wanted to say that I got an early acceptance letter to Yale yesterday!"

Everyone cheered and congratulated Quinn.

Maybe the hard part wasn't over. I had to tell Santana about not going to Chicago. Soon.

-tbc-

A/N: It's not Sunday but I just wanted to get this out there. Thanks everyone for continuing to read this story. For the person who asked, I deleted "The Cat Sitter". I'm gong to clean that one up and rework it and post later.