Author's Note: Thanks everyone for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it!
The traffic today was unreal. There must have been some event going on, because she had been stuck on Hollywood and Highland for twenty minutes. She had already flipped the bird four times, and had gotten in a screaming match with a douchebag in the next lane in an obnoxious black Escalade. She rested her head on the steering wheel, feeling defeated by the traffic and her own stupidity.
"How could I have done this?" She said aloud. She had promised when she first put the bracelet on to keep it with her always, and now, super-responsible, always has her shit together, Santana Lopez, had lost it after 18 years. This might even be worse than if she lost her wedding ring. She remembered the look in Brittany's face when she first put on the bracelet; she knew she was going to be in trouble if she didn't find it soon.
Santana was standing at her locker, trying to determine which books she was going to need for the first two periods of the day. She was doing her best to maintain the faultless scowl that she had been working on perfecting for the last 12 years of her life. Usually the scowl was reserved for when someone did something to hurt Brittany, but the last couple of weeks she'd kept it on just so that people would leave her alone. She wasn't sure why, but she was angry, confused, and just really didn't want to talk to anyone. Basically, she was a 12 year-old-girl. She was broken out of her thoughts when she heard slow footsteps approaching her from behind and felt a hand place itself on her shoulder. So much for the perfect scowl.
"Hey, San." Her whole body relaxed and she flipped around when she realized who it was.
"Hey, Brit." Brittany was clutching her books tightly to her chest.
"Do you want to hang out after school?"
"I'm supposed to go over to Noah's after school, Brit. I'm sorry." Santana's face dropped when she saw the sadness in Brittany's eyes.
"Oh. Well, if you have anytime this week I kind of wanted to go see the ducks. It's never as much fun when you're not there." Brittany half-smiled. "Call me, maybe, when you have time." Brittany turned to walk towards the bathroom, but before she could get very far, Santana grabbed her wrist and turned her around so that they were facing each other.
"Fuck it, Brit. Noah's dumb. I'd love to go to the park with you." Brittany jumped up and down and nearly squealed. She placed a soft kiss on Santana's cheek. Santana felt the blood rush to her face. That feeling of confusion and fear that was making her so angry these days began to collect in the pit of her stomach.
"I'll meet you here after school then!" Brittany flashed Santana her usual giant grin and then practically skipped away. All she needed was that smile. One glimpse at it and that anger that was building up inside of her melted away.
Santana turned to walk down the hall towards health class. She had never been so confused in her young life. Up until now, things had been so easy. She took care of Brittany, and Brittany took care of her. In different ways, certainly, but somehow she knew that the two of them couldn't exist without each other, and no one was ever able to get between them. That was until two weeks ago at their first school dance. When no one invited either Santana or Brittany, Santana was secretly relieved that they could just spend the time together without any stupid boys. Their friend Quinn was obsessed with boys and Santana was tired of hearing her talk about it. Everything was fine until Noah Puckerman asked her to dance during a slow song and she knew that she was supposed to want to, so she agreed to dance with him, and even let him kiss her at the end of the night. Now he said she was his girlfriend and made him spend all of her time with him. Quinn wouldn't stop talking about it and didn't understand why being Noah's girlfriend seemed to just make Santana withdrawn and mean. To be honest, Santana didn't understand why either.
After school they walked with pinkies linked towards the park to feed the ducks. After Brittany ran out of bread, they laid down in the grass next to the pond. Brittany grasped hold of Santana's pinky.
"I miss you, San," she said, timidly.
"You too, Brit." They sat in silence for awhile. "I'm sorry that I've been spending so much time hanging out with Noah. It's not nearly as fun as spending time with you." Brittany didn't say anything.
"I got you a present. I bought it at the mall with my mom. I was sad because I thought you were mad at me and that's why you were spending so much time with Noah, but my mom told me that it was just that we were getting older and you had a boyfriend now. She said that you like Noah in a different way than you like me and that's why you were spending so much time with him, but that didn't mean that you didn't like me anymore." Brittany got up and went to her backpack revealing a small, badly wrapped package. Santana sat up and opened it. Inside were two identical charm bracelets, each containing just one silver heart.
"They're beautiful, Brit," Santana said, slipping one of the bracelets on her wrist and handing the other to Brittany.
"Look at the heart, San," Brittany said. She picked up the small silver heart and saw that "S+B" was inscribed in tiny letters on the back. "This way, even when you're with a boy that you like better than me, it will be like we're still always together—like my heart is always with you." Santana didn't know what to say, so she just rested her head on her friend's shoulder.
"I'll never like a boy more than I like you, Brit."
"Promise you'll wear it forever, just in case?"
"Of course. I promise." They lay back in the grass and Santana snuggled into the side of her friend. She was more confused than ever, but content, at least for the moment.
