Thank you for the reviews, favorites, and follows. I very much appreciate it and hope you enjoy this next chapter. Sorry for the delay on my other stories but I have a bit of writers block with them. I will update though :)

Age 16 Continued

Santana walked through the McKinley hallways with her head held high on her return to school . She evilly smirked as certain students cleared a path for her or avoided eye contact. Obviously word traveled fast about her encounter with Karofsky. Just before she reached her locker, a gentle hand cupped her shoulder. She immediately put her bitch glare on and turned to the intruder.

"Santana we need to have a word," Mr. Pierce said while guiding her in the direction of his office.

Her look was replaced with confusion, not understanding why Brittany's dad needed to speak with her at school. He could have talked to her this morning when she and Brittany had left for school. Sighing, she followed him into his office and lazily took a seat in one of the cushioned chairs, resting her feet on top of his desk.

Will shot a similar look he did with Brittany about feet on his desk, only Santana didn't seem to be intimidated or care at all. He pushed her feet from the desk and took a seat on top of it inwardly smiling at the annoyed look on her face.

"Mr. P what is this about? I'm gonna miss class," she said, not really caring about the class part.

Will sighed. "Look Santana, Holly and me are a little concerned about Britt. She's been real closed off lately and she's having a hard time focusing again. Has she been taking her medicine?" he asked, hoping she would have some information on his daughter.

Santana narrowed her eyes in mystification. "I don't know. Shouldn't you ask her that?" she retorted, not liking anyone ganging up on Brittany.

"You know how she gets when she thinks we're not treating her like an adult. I'm just really starting to get worried. She barely slept all week, ever since she visited you that night," he informed, wondering if the two had gotten into an argument.

Santana took in the information, thinking about the night Brittany had left her house. Everything had been good, they read the Hunger Games and then Brittany returned the favor as she liked to call it. 'She did look a little down when she was leaving,' Santana thought. But she's been fine with her on the phone ever since. 'This morning she was a little off too,' she remembered.

"We didn't get into a fight or anything. I think she's just stressed with school work," she explained, not wanting to tell him she was failing, but wanting to give him some kind of heads up.

Will bit his lip in contemplation. "I've spoken to her teachers. She seems to being doing okay," he believed. "Do you think it could be about a boy? Has she been seeing anyone?" he asked, desperate to figure out what's wrong.

Santana's eyes enlarged at the question. Was his daughter seeing someone? Lately Brittany's been seeing a bunch of someone's and gender didn't matter. Not to mention she spent most of her nights with Santana not doing homework in one of their bedrooms.

"Nah Mr. Pierce, she's not serious with anyone," she answered, hoping he would get off the subject.

Will nodded. "Well if she says anything to you, could you let me know? I mean I don't want her to have a meltdown like a couple years ago," he admitted while trying to shake his memories.

Santana nodded numbly. She had never seen anything so scary in her life as a couple years ago. Brittany's energy level peaked so high she had to be hospitalized to keep her under control. It started because she was stressed about her dance recital and soon took off to a whole other level.

"Thanks San," Will said softly well writing out a late pass.

Santana accepted the pass and went to leave, but stopped herself. "Mr. P," she asked almost innocently.

Will looked up, giving her his attention.

"You don't have to worry about Britt, I got her back," she offered, hoping the sediment would ease his nerves. She knew he constantly worried about Brittany and as much as she gave him attitude, she cared about him.

Will smiled tearfully, holding his hand to his heart in gratitude.

Brittany turned her head to the side, trying to enjoy what Matt Edwards was doing to her neck, but she couldn't. She didn't understand why nothing felt as good as it did when she and Santana did stuff. She tried with other girls and much like now, she was left unsatisfied. She and Santana were at one of Puck's parties. His mom went away at least once a month and he usually threw award winning parties. Brittany didn't even want to go because she had been so tired lately, but Santana had begged her. She didn't understand why because Santana pretty much ditched her as soon as they entered the party.

"You wanna do it?" he whispered what he thought was sexily in her ear.

They had somehow made it into Puck's little sister's room and Brittany had spent the majority of the make out session looking at the cartoon figures on her wallpaper. She had been anything but turned on. Brittany wiped the wet patch he left on her neck before meeting his eyes.

"What?" she asked, not have been paying attention to what he had said. She only knew he was waiting for an answer.

Smiling, he reached his hand under her skirt to show her what he had said. Brittany swallowed hard, not prepared for the intrusion. She continued to stare at the wall while he explored below her panties, wincing every time his inexperienced fingers went awkwardly. She tried to just let it happen like she had so many times before, but she couldn't even pretend.

"Let's go back downstairs," she said while pushing against his chest.

Matt frowned as he removed his hand from her underwear. "You've done it with everyone else," he snarled, not believing she was refusing him.

Brittany winced. She had a reputation for sleeping with half the school, but it wasn't true. Yes she did sleep with a lot of people, but after a while of rumors spreading around, guys just started saying they slept with her to get a reputation and unfortunately was believed.

"Look I'm not in the mood," she said more roughly, trying to sit up but was pushed back down.

"Come on Brittany. Why would you come in this room with me? What did you think was gonna happen? Don't leave me hanging here, please," he begged in almost a childlike fashion.

Brittany tried to calm her racing thoughts. She didn't even know they were upstairs until they hit the bed. She had had a few drinks and her medication wasn't cooperating with the alcohol. Sighing, she realized she was too tired to even move.

"Just be fast," she said quietly, turning her head back towards the wallpaper while he manipulated her body.

"Where's Britt?" Santana asked while sitting next to Quinn on the family room couch. Puck had been bothering her since she got there and she had lost Brittany along the way. She finally gave into Puck's pleads just to shut him up. She rarely got off with him and when she did she was fantasizing about Brittany.

Quinn looked around the room for their friend but was in quiet a drunken haze to spot her. "Not sure," she answered, leaning her head on Finn's chest. Finn rubbed his hand up and down her back while handing her a bottle of water to sip.

"She was with Matt Edwards before. Saw them go upstairs," Finn, in his sober mind answered for his girlfriend. He figured it was okay to let her go because that was what she usually did at every party, especially when Santana was off with Puck.

Santana rolled her eyes. "Of course she did," she mumbled, not understanding how Brittany could hook up with someone no matter where they went. Sighing, she saw Puck hanging on some girl in the corner. She didn't care, but she had to keep up appearances so she took off hell bent in their direction.

"Off my man bitch," she yelled aggressively.

Brittany sat lifelessly in the backseat of Finn's car. She had taken it upon herself to hideout there until her friends were ready to leave. After Matt had thanked her and left, she spent an hour in the bathroom trying to look at herself in the mirror. Every time a person passed the car she tensed, and when the doors finally opened, she was thankful it was time to leave.

"Britt we've been looking everywhere for you," Santana yelled, pushing Brittany over so she could get in. She disregarded her slow movement, and continued to release her annoyance on the subject. "What the hell were you thinking, why didn't you answer your phone?" she continued disbelievingly.

Finn helped Quinn into the passenger's seat before getting in and starting the car. He looked back to Brittany and saw the spaced out look on her face.

"You okay Britt?" he asked, knowing even for her she didn't look right.

"I feel sick," Quinn whined from her seat, too drunk to even notice Brittany.

Brittany felt like their voices were miles away as she stared back and forth between the two. Santana sighed loudly and slammed her door closed.

"Just drive Finn," she answered for Brittany while continuing to stare her down. After she took a moment to calm down, she studied Brittany's disheveled form. Her annoyance soon turned to worry and she leaned in close to her friend so the others wouldn't hear. "Are you okay?" she whispered worriedly.

Brittany nodded and rested her head against the window, relishing in the coolness the glass gave off. She closed her eyes and when Santana's hand grabbed her own she almost felt better. The car ride was silent and when Finn pulled up between their houses, Santana pulled Brittany towards her house, not even giving her the choice as to where she wanted to go.

They both took turns showering and Santana sent a text to Holly that Brittany was spending the night at her house. They told their parents they were hanging out at Quinn's and would text where they were staying for the night. When Santana got into bed next to Brittany and tried to lay on her chest to cuddle, she was surprised to see Brittany turn away. Leaned on her arm, she stared at the back of Brittany's head for what seemed like hours before placing her hand on her shoulder. It immediately stiffened so she retracted.

"Are you mad B?" she asked, moving in closer to Brittany's body. She wanted to comfort her the only way she knew how, but Brittany wasn't having it.

Brittany closed her eyes tightly, silently begging herself to fall asleep so she didn't have to deal with the night any longer, but Santana kept trying to get her to talk. Her mind repeated the night over and over and she wished she could go about her normal nightly ritual looking for lost socks or making lists for the week that she never followed or practicing her dance routines for Lord Tubbington. But her mind wouldn't shut off. She felt sick to her stomach and her legs felt like they were shaking even though she was purposefully keeping them still.

"Britt you making me worry. What's going on?" she asked again, this time forcing Brittany's body to lay flat so she could see her face. Her eyes widened at the tense look on Brittany's face, as if she were waiting to be punched or hurt.

Brittany took a deep breath before opening her eyes. She saw the concern on Santana's face and inwardly felt happy that she even cared. Her eyes began to glaze over and before she fell asleep she faintly whispered "It was too hard."

Santana spent most of the night watching Brittany sleep, wondering what she had meant before she fell asleep. What was too hard? She was afraid to touch her for fear of waking her, but she couldn't help but still Brittany's fidgeting legs that repeatedly kicked her throughout the night. When four AM came, exhaustion took over and she too fell asleep. The next time she opened her eyes, the bed was half empty with no note or picture like Brittany usually left when leaving before she woke up. Sighing, she quickly pulled on sweats and through her hair into a ponytail before going downstairs.

"Morning baby girl," Hugo greeted cheerfully as she made her way into the kitchen. Sundays were his day off and it was when he was in the best moods. Perfect moods for getting something she's been wanting.

"Morning," Santana replied with a half smile before adding, "Did you see Britt?" she asked and grabbed a muffin from the basket her mother left on the island counter.

Hugo frowned. "No I haven't. She must have snuck by; I've been up for a while. It's those dancer legs you know," he laughed while gesturing with his hands for her to hand him a muffin.

Santana tried to smile, but could only manage a smirk as she tossed a Blueberry Muffin her father's way. Something was up with Brittany and she needed to find out what. After finishing her muffin, she raced upstairs to her room to peer into Brittany's room.

"What the heck," she mumbled, noticing the shades were drawn. She and Brittany never covered their windows during the day unless they were together. Sighing, she grabbed her phone from the nightstand. After six rings, Brittany finally picked up.

"Hello?" she mumbled tiredly.

Santana frowned. "Britt what the heck, why did you leave so early?" she asked while making her way back downstairs.

"I don't feel well," Brittany replied miserably.

Santana continued out the front door. "I'm on my way over," she said and hung up before Brittany could tell her no.

"Morning San," Holly greeted from the entry way of the Pierce home. She had just come down the stairs with dirty laundry as Santana walked in.

"Morning. Where's Britt? She said she was sick?" she asked while dodging Brittany's brother and sister who came trampling down the stairs.

"Guys stop chasing each other," she yelled then added, "I thought Brittany stayed with you last night?" Holly answered confusingly while placing the laundry basket on the floor. She looked up towards the ceiling. "Britt," she called.

"I just talked to her. She must have come home in the middle of the night. She said she doesn't feel well," Santana explained while walking towards the staircase.

"I was just in her room. She wasn't there," Holly said wearily, wondering what her oldest was up to. She followed Santana to the staircase and quickly ran up to Brittany's closed bedroom door. Santana peered over Holly's tall shoulder, trying to get a glimpse inside her room, but once they walked inside, Brittany was nowhere to be found.

"Britt?" Holly called again, hoping Brittany wasn't under her bed or in the closet.

Santana pulled her phone out and sent a text to Brittany.

SANTANA: Britt where are you?

"I didn't hear her come in last night. I mean I'm used to noise around the house at night, but I would have heard the alarm beep if she came in," Holly explained, still confused as to what was going on.

Moments later Santana got a response.

BRITTANY: In your bathroom. Too sick to move.

Santana read the reply and winced. What was she supposed to tell Holly? She surely couldn't inform Brittany's mother that they had been out drinking all night. 'Why didn't I check the bathroom?' she thought while looking back and forth between her phone and Holly.

"Did she answer?" Holly asked.

Santana nodded. "She's in my bathroom. That was stupid, I didn't even think to look. She must have had too much sugar last night. We kind of went on a binge," she lied, hoping Brittany's mom would believe her.

Holly nodded. "That's because the two of you normally eat like rabbits because of that Sue Sylvester. You're bound to get cravings like that," she said, shaking her head at the thought of them starving themselves to be cheerleaders.

Santana frowned. "I guess I should go see if she's alright," Santana said, hoping Holly wouldn't come with her.

"I'll come with," Holly informed, placing her hand on Santana's shoulder to lead her out of the room.

Santana rolled her eyes. "No," she yelled, then realized she sounded like a manic.

Holly looked at her strangely.

"I mean, Britt asked if I would come alone. She said not to worry you," she lied.

"She's my daughter, of course I'm worried," Holly answered; offended that Brittany would even say that.

Santana nodded impatiently. "I know, but you know how she is. She doesn't like you and Mr. P fussing over her. I'll come get you if she's really bad," Santana tried.

Holly sighed. "Alright. Tell her I'm here if she needs me," she said dejectedly.

Santana nodded and gave a small wave before racing back down the stairs and back to her house.

"Britt?" Santana asked, slowly opening her bathroom door. Her eyes widened at the sight of Brittany curled in the fetal position on the bathroom rug near the shower. She closed and locked the door behind her and knelt down next to her friend. "Britt what's the matter?" she asked worriedly, running the back of her hand over Brittany's forehead.

Brittany barely opened her eyes but felt a sense of relief when Santana's cool hand touched her burning skin. She didn't have a fever, she was sure of that, but her skin burned from the inside out.

She had woken up a little after five in a sweat. She couldn't remember what she dreamt, she never did, but the feeling she had when she was startled awake was not pleasant. She felt as if someone had been touching her, hurting her and she couldn't shake the feeling. The perspiration only continued as she sat there trying to calm down, and her normally exuberant form fell limp, making it seem as if everything weighed a ton.

She managed to drag herself from Santana's bed, grabbing her cell phone from the nightstand, but when her feet hit the floor, her legs collapsed and she fell to her knees. She looked back to make sure Santana was still sleeping before crawling across the floor into Santana's bathroom. She managed to lift the lid of the toilet before spilling the contents of worry, alcohol, and shame into it. After countless retching moments, she collapsed against the bathroom rug where she remained until Santana's call the next morning.

"Can you get me some water?" Brittany asked, her mouth dry and stale from her night of vomiting.

Santana quickly nodded, not knowing what to do first. She wanted to know if Brittany needed a doctor, or a hot wash cloth, or aspirin. She jumped from her position and grabbed a plastic bathroom cup to fill with water. She placed it on the counter before leaning back down to Brittany.

"Here Britt, sit up," she said softly, gently pulling her friend up under her arms so she could lean against the bathtub.

Brittany hugged her knees to her chest, smiling briefly when Santana handed her the water. She tried to sip it slowly, but one the liquid touched her tongue she couldn't help but swallow it in one gulp.

Santana took a seat next to her, wrapping her arm around her to pull her to her chest. She winced when Brittany slightly resisted, but continued to pull her into her arms. The two sat in silence, both swept up in their own thoughts.

"Britt did something happen last night besides drinking too much? You've been weird ever since we left the party," Santana noted, trying to get a look at Brittany's face, but the girl had it buried in her chest.

"Nothing out of the ordinary," she mumbled, refusing to lift her head.

Santana shook her head. "Britt are you taking your medicine?" she asked and immediately regretted it. Why did Mr. Pierce have to ask her that?

Brittany's head snapped up at the question, her eyes now alert and angered. She glared at Santana as she got up, limping her way out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.

Santana jumped up after her. "Britt wait I'm sorry. That was uncalled for," she called, gently grabbing her friend by the arm.

Brittany stopped her movement, mostly because she felt too weak to move any further. She leaned on Santana as she led her to her bed.

"Get in Britt," Santana whispered softly while pulling back her sheets. Once Brittany was under, she sat on top of the blankets next to Brittany's head. "What's going on Britt?" she asked for the hundredth time.

Brittany stared up at her friend. She wanted to tell Santana she was disgusted with herself, ashamed, fed up but she couldn't. She knew Santana didn't do well with hard situations. She closed herself off and chose to make jokes or cruel comments so she didn't have to deal with her emotions. Brittany was the only one she could let her guard down with, even if it was only a little. But Brittany didn't want to burden her with her problems.

"I fell on my way out of the party last night. I guess it's not a good idea to drink while I'm on these pills," she said softly.

"Is that why your limping?" Santana asked incredulously before adding, "Are you gonna be okay for your recital?" she continued, trying to move the covers down so she could look at Brittany's ankle, but the blonde wouldn't let her.

Brittany nodded slowly. "Yeah I just need to rest a little," she said, not wanting Santana to know the real reason. After she gave Matt the go, he took what she said literally and decided to go fast, too fast treating her like a ragdoll which left Brittany bruised and sore.

Santana accepted Brittany's excuse, but knew there was something more left out. She watched how her friend's face tensed with every slight movement and wondered if things went further than Brittany wanted with Matt last night. Shaking her head of the thought, she leaned down and brushed her lips against Brittany's forehead.

"Well you're in luck. I'm at your beck and call today missy," she said, trying to cheer Brittany up.

Brittany managed a small smile. "Thanks San," she said softly.

When Brittany walked into school Monday morning, she tried to ignore the harsh whispers of what she had done with Matt Edwards over the weekend as she walked to her locker. The words dumb slut, cheap hooker, kinky bitch flooded the hallways tagged along her name and she prayed to god her father didn't catch wind of them. She kept her head high like Santana had taught her long ago; acting as if she wasn't the one they were talking about or acting as if she simply didn't care. When she got to her locker, Santana was waiting with her arms crossed and sour look on her face. Brittany swallowed hard.

"Bathroom now," Santana said harshly while grabbing Brittany by the arm. She led them into the far bathroom ushering anyone out with a simple glare. Brittany pulled her arm from Santana's grasp, rubbing the squeezed flesh as her friend began to pace the bathroom floor.

"Do you hear what people are saying about you?" Santana finally screamed, raising her hands above her head. She hadn't been in the school for more than two minutes before hearing sleazy comments thrown out about her friend. She managed to get Puck and Finn to take of the slimy ingrate who was bragging about his night with Brittany, but she knew she would want a go herself when they were done him.

Brittany winced at the tone of Santana's voice, not expecting rage-full Santana so early in the morning. Sighing, she placed her backpack on the counter and jumped up next to it hanging her feet over the counter.

"Just like every Monday morning," she tried to play off, but even she could hear the pain in her voice.

Santana stopped pacing and stood in front of Brittany by the sinks. "No Britt, this is worse. That asshole is spreading lies about you, telling everyone that you're into submission and some shit like that," she yelled, wanting nothing more than to go all Lima Heights.

Brittany cackled. "Maybe I am," she challenged. She was tired of Santana playing games with her. One minute she acted as if she owned Brittany, she was sweet and loving and all the things Brittany could want in a partner. The next she treated her like a dumb Barbie who needed to be guided through life and was told what they do is wrong. If it was up to her, she would only be with Santana but the Latina wouldn't have it.

Santana stepped back, dumbfounded by Brittany's words. She carefully looked her friend over, from the top of her Cheerios' outfit to the bottom. Her eyes scanned Brittany's legs and although they were held together, she saw a purple bruising starting on the inside of her thigh. Leaning closer she grabbed Brittany's thigh.

"Santana what are you doing?" Brittany panicked while trying to pull Santana's hand away.

Santana ignored her and parted her friend's legs. She gasped at the fingerprint bruising across her thighs and nearly vomited when she pushed the bottom of her underwear to the side and saw how tender and wounded her privates looked. "Britt what the hell?" she yelled, raising her head to look Brittany in the eyes. "Did he hurt you?" she seethed, ready to attack.

Brittany couldn't stop the tears as she started to whimper. She didn't want to wear her uniform to school for this very reason. The bottom of the skirt barely covered the bruises on her inner thighs and she knew someone would see them. "It's okay San, I told him he could," she tried to defend, but her body began to shake and her legs began to bounce up and down against the counter in a nervous motion.

Santana wiped a tear from her own eye. "We have to tell your dad," she said in almost a panic. She didn't know what to do; she didn't know what to say.

Brittany jumped at the suggestion. "Are you crazy? I'm fine Santana. They're just bruises, they'll go away," she yelled.

Santana laughed bitterly. "What about the bruises that won't go away Britt. What about the… You lied to me. You told me you were okay, you" she tried but couldn't even finish without bursting into tears. Brittany's words replayed in her mind from the night before. 'It was too hard.' She felt herself hunch over, grabbing onto Brittany's waist as she cried into her lap.

Brittany remained stoic with her hands on Santana's back. She didn't want her friend to cry for her, she did this to herself. "It's alright San. By tomorrow they'll be talking about Rachel trying to steal Finn from Quinn again. I can deal," she admitting, moving her left hand up to stroke through Santana's ponytail.

Santana lifted her head from Brittany's lap. "You shouldn't have to deal Britt. Don't you know how special you are?" she asked deeply, wanting Brittany to see how much she cared for her.

Brittany smirked. "People tell me I'm special all the time," she joked but her smile faded at the seriousness on Santana.

"You're worth so much more than you give yourself credit for Britt. I don't get how you don't see it," she laughed, shaking her head at her friend's lack of self worth.

Brittany laughed too. "The same way you don't see it about yourself," she answered and their eyes remained locked until the late bell interrupted.

William Pierce smiled to the students he recognized as he made his way to his office that afternoon. He wouldn't say he was a school favorite, but mostly everyone that had him as a teacher respected and liked him. He passed by a group of football players, congratulating them on their almost win and when he walked by he didn't notice the sexual gestures they were making his way while mocking his daughter.

When walking by the gym he saw the Cheerios practicing some elaborate number, Sue in the corner screaming for them to work harder. He quickly searched for his daughter, wanting to see how she was doing but was left searching with his eyes again and again to find her. Frowning, he made his way into the gym next to Sue.

"Again," Sue yelled, holding the megaphone towards the perspiring cheerleaders. "You will not stop until I am impressed ladies," she yelled before turning her attention to her brillo padded friend. "Needed to see a winning team William?" she smiled while pushing her finger into the cleft of his chin.

Will shook her off and rubbed the spot she touched. "Where are Brittany and Santana?" he asked, knowing they never missed a practice.

Sue narrowed her eyes. "Blondie had an extra dance rehearsal for her recital and J-Lo had some family emergency," she said with a bored tone. "I would have kicked them off, but without them I don't have a show," she said and swiftly got in Will's face. "Do not repeat that."

Will looked at Sue confused. Brittany didn't have any extra dance rehearsal, she was golden and had her routine down by heart. And Holly never called him with an emergency from the Lopez's.

"Thanks Sue," he said smiling politely and headed back in the direction of his office. He checked his watch and grabbed his phone out of his pocket. Just as the phone began to ring to home, a voice interrupted.

"Mr. Pierce, can we talk?" a voice said.

Will sighed and closed his phone, turning towards a voice he could recognize in his sleep. "Of course Rachel," he said.

"It's about Brittany," she continued.

Will raised his eyebrows with interest. Nodding, he led her into his office.

TBC