After our first encounter, Brittany and I parted ways to go to our classes. My body still ached from the kicks as I walked to my English class. When I opened the door, every student turned his or her head to stare at me. Some mournfully and others hatefully. The teacher, Mr. Johnson, a stout man with a fat moustache, nodded at me sympathetically to let me know that I wasn't in trouble for being late. Very aware that thirty sets of eyes were still watching me, I walked to my seat, wishing to be swallowed up by Mother Earth.
I didn't pay much attention during class. I couldn't get the image of Brittany's face out of my mind. Her kind eyes and her sweet smile. Her perfectly aligned nose and the freckles that covered it. The way her golden bangs integrated with her eyelashes. She was perfect.
It was obvious to me that I was very attracted to her. Maybe even in love. This was an unexpected and pleasant feeling that I had never experienced before. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I thought about her and the future we may have together.
I had come to another conclusion. She cared for me. The way she looked at me was undeniably affectionate. I cherished this new feeling of being truly loved by someone. A feeling I hadn't felt since my mother passed.
I was surprised when all of my classmates got up abruptly and stood by the usual traffic of the doorway. I shook my head, picked up my things, and left the classroom.
It was lunchtime now, so I walked to the cafeteria. I picked an abandoned table in the corner of the outsized room, sat down, and extracted a brown lunch bag out of my backpack. I unfolded the tinfoil and uncovered my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I was about to bite into it when someone sat down to my left.
I looked sideways. Brittany beamed at me. I smiled bashfully and said, "Hey."
"Hey," she chuckled. "What do you have there?"
"Oh, um, nothing, just a peanut butter and jelly sandwich," I said timidly.
"Just a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? San, I don't think you understand the power of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich," she grinned.
I giggled. "What?"
"You see, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich was created in ancient Egyptian times by the pharaoh himself."
"Really?" I asked naively.
"Well, no, but just go with it," she smirked.
I nodded eagerly and she continued, "So the pharaoh was hungry one day. His two absolute favorite things on earth were peanuts and strawberries. 'But how do I combine these two delicious goodies?' he thought to himself. So he had his servants create butter out of the peanuts and jam out of the strawberries. He used a knife—a wooden one, of course, because they didn't have proper silverware back then—to spread them out on two crunchy pieces of toast. And thus was created," she opened her arms widely, "the PB&J."
I let out a hearty laugh. Two girls who were walking by my table looked at me like I was deranged. I ignored them and turned back to Brittany, sniggering, "Well, now I will appreciate this peanut butter and jelly sandwich a lot more."
"Good," Brittany said, gleaming with joy.
We chatted cheerfully while eating our lunches. I couldn't help but notice, however, the incredulous glances of my peers.
After we devoured our food, Brittany brought up a new idea. "I was thinking…we should join Glee Club."
I looked at her hesitantly and bit my lower lip. She continued, "I think it would do you some good. I've heard that you're a great singer."
"How—where did you hear that?" I asked in disbelief.
She shrugged. "I don't know, just around. Come on," she grabbed my hand. The butterflies in my stomach were manic. "Let's go talk to Mr. Schuester."
We left the cafeteria and headed toward the choir room. Mr. Schuester was engrossed in his paperwork. I knocked lightly on his door, and he looked up. "Come in," he said kindly.
Brittany and I sat in the two chairs that were situated in front of his desk. I looked at Brittany uncertainly. She nodded, urging me to speak up.
"Um," I began. "I was wondering if Brittany and I could join Glee Club."
"Brittany?" Mr. Schuester said questioningly.
I motioned at Brittany. He looked at her, then at me, then back at her. "Oh," a smile formed on his face. "Of course. Brittany. Well, yes, anyone's welcome to join our Glee Club. We'd love to have you and Brittany."
I beamed at Brittany. She smiled widely back.
"Actually," Mr. Schuester continued, "We're currently holding auditions for West Side Story. Would you like to try out for a role?" he directed his question at me.
"Yeah, San, you'd be a great Anita!" Brittany said enthusiastically.
I turned to Mr. Schuester and nodded. "Can I audition for the role of Anita?"
"Absolutely," he grinned.
Rejuvenated, I left his office with Brittany. We were to return tomorrow morning and be introduced to the Glee Club.
Brittany and I met again after our last classes. We walked out the front doors. Suddenly, Brittany grabbed my arm, her eyes shining, and said, "Let's go somewhere."
"Where?" I asked eagerly.
"I know a cute little place in the forest," she held my hand and, together, we ran until we reached the woods.
Evergreen trees stood tall in the clear day. Without letting go of my hand, Brittany led me through the thicket, deep into the forest.
At last, we arrived at a pond. It was green and mossy, but perfect nonetheless.
I looked at Brittany. She batted her eyelashes and said, "Wanna get in the water?"
I nodded, despite the chilly air. We undressed until we were only in our bras and underwear. I shivered and hugged my arms around me.
"Last one in the water is an alien monkey!" Brittany yelped and jumped in the water, splashing water everywhere. I laughed and followed her.
The water was freezing, but I didn't care. We splashed at each other, laughing joyfully and carelessly. I hadn't been this happy in God knows how long.
Brittany sent a great wave at me. I shut my eyes, and when I opened them again, she was so close to me that I had to gasp for air. She put her arms around me and looked keenly into my eyes. Then she leaned in and put her lips to mine.
It was magical. I was swept by feelings of love and desire and utopia. She pushed harder and harder into the passionate kiss. I felt her tongue on my lips and opened them to allow her to lose herself. I moaned as her tongue felt the roof of my mouth, the insides of my cheeks, underneath my own tongue.
Finally, she pulled back. She stroked my face lovingly. "You have no idea," she said, "how much I love you."