Santana tapped her foot against the concrete as she stood in Brittany's backyard. She stared at her best friend, who had somehow managed to get stuck on the roof. Brittany's eyes darted all over the place, refusing to make contact with Santana. It was Santana who broke the silence.

"Brittany, what are you doing on the roof? How did you even get up there?"

"Because I'm a ninja…" Brittany mumbled.

"Brittany." Santana said firmly.

"So, did you bring the ladder?" Brittany asked casually, trying to change the subject.

"Yes- but that's not the point. Tell me why you're sitting on your roof at 8:00 at night," Santana wouldn't leave the subject alone.

Brittany wouldn't answer. After a few minutes of an unofficial staring contest, Santana gave up and went to get the ladder. The two friends didn't speak to each other through the whole car ride to Santana's house.

Once at Santana's house, they lay on her bed. Brittany looked deep in thought, which was rare for the ditzy blonde cheerleader.

"Would my sweet lady kisses make you feel better?" Santana offered. She knew her friend never said no to those.

Brittany shook her head. "Actually, I think I want to talk." Santana's jaw dropped. She wondered if her friend had been abducted by aliens and replaced by this creature who liked to talk about her feelings rather than have sex.

"Well, my mom's in rehab," Brittany began. Santana nodded.

"So I'm kind of stuck with just my dad. He kind of… gets a little mad sometimes…"

Santana knew where this was going. "Oh no Brit, he doesn't… hit you, does he?"

Brittany didn't answer for a few seconds. Then she nodded slowly.

"Is that why you were on the roof? To escape from him?" Santana felt bad for assuming her best friend had just been… being Brittany.

"Uhhh… yes, but as I said before, it was also to demonstratate my awesome ninja skills. Brittany laughed nervously.

The only thing Santana could manage to say was, "It's demonstrate."

The two cheerios stared at their laps for a while. Then Santana remembered how to talk and asked how long this had been going on.

"Oh, about two weeks," Brittany said, but quickly added, "But, you know, only when he gets mad."

Santana looked her in the eyes and said, "It. Is. Still. Not. Okay."

"Just don't tell anyone, or else he will get mad, and…" Santana shuddered as Brittany said it. Who knows how far Mr. Pierce would go if anyone knew?

The girls sat in silence for a few minutes longer before Brittany turned to her friend. "You know, I think I just might take up your offer… your sweet lady kisses would be nice right now."

"Sure." And with that, the two friends with benefits went into their usual routine of neck kisses, as if nothing had happened.

…

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