Chapter 9
"Why are you late?" Rachel Berry questions the moment Quinn and Phoenix enter the choir room, narrowing her eyes at the duo.
"Phoenix had her first taste of being slushied," Quinn says before the redhead can talk, walking towards her designated place next to Santana, gesturing to Phoenix to take the seat beside her.
Phoenix just shakes her head at Quinn, laughing silently before sitting down.
"That should've been interesting," Mercedes chuckles.
"You don't seem like the type to take that without reacting," Kurt raises an eyebrow at the redhead.
"Who says I'm planning to do that?" Phoenix smirks, causing everyone to laugh and a few heads to nod approvingly.
"At this rate, I think you'll fit in here just fine," Kurt smiles.
"I think you're right," the redhead winks.
"You're wearing the same shirt you got slushied in?" Brittany asks Phoenix.
"Yep. I ran it under water though. Quinn helped me out," Phoenix reassures, smiling at Brittany's concern.
"Quinn Fabray, shame on you," Brittany states, shaking her head at her blonde best friend, as Santana watches the interaction suspiciously and Phoenix frowns in confusion.
"What? Why? I didn't do anything," Quinn defends.
"You should've given Phoenix one of our cheerleading jackets at least," Brittany says disappointedly, "Her boobs will freeze and no one wants that happening."
Quinn and Santana's eyes grow unbelievably wide at Brittany's bluntness, whereas Phoenix just smirks, an impressed look on her face.
"I like you, Brittany Pierce," Phoenix laughs.
"Lucky for you, you're not too bad yourself," Brittany winks back, causing Quinn to smile and Santana to shrink back in her seat.
She should be the one Brittany was shamelessly flirting with. She should be the one on the receiving end of those utterly special smiles. She should be the one those blue eyes sparkled at so much. She should be the one taking Brittany out on ice cream dates.
No one else.
And definitely not Phoenix Winters.
"I'm flattered," Phoenix blushes, putting a smug smile on Brittany's face.
Their conversation came to a close when Mr. Schue entered, babbling on about a routine to put up for the next assembly. Most of the time was spent with Rachel screaming out suggestions with Kurt and Mercedes trying to shut her down. The others paid attention for a while, before getting distracted in various things out of boredom.
Brittany and Phoenix spent the next hour and a half just talking to each other, wrapped up in their own bubble, Santana watching them jealously and Quinn smiling at how happy they both were looking.
In their own different ways, Brittany and Quinn felt like they finally found something that always seemed missing from their lives and Santana had no idea how to feel about that.
"Is Rachel always that loud?" Phoenix asks, causing Quinn and Santana to chuckle.
"That's nothing really. It was one of the good days," Quinn says.
"You're almost scaring me," Phoenix laughs.
"It was only your first day, you have no idea what you're in for," Brittany teases.
"Well, it's definitely not all that bad," Phoenix winks, "You have practice now?"
"Yep," Brittany hums.
"And you actually enjoy the whole cheerleading thing?"
"It's not that bad," Quinn shrugs.
"It's the ticket needed to go to the top of the food chain," Santana says, barely the second time she had talked since Glee.
"Ahh," Phoenix chuckles as realization dawns upon her, "That's why you joined, isn't it?"
"You got us there," Quinn says sheepishly.
"Hey, it's not that bad!" Brittany defends.
"You only feel that way because you could dance before you could walk," Quinn deadpans.
"I have no choice but to second that Britt-Britt," Santana says with fake sadness, wanting the blonde's attention on her.
God, she never realized how desperately she craved for Brittany's constant attention.
She had been taking her best friend for granted for so long.
"Don't listen to them," Brittany says, "They're just always brooded."
"Broody," Phoenix corrects with a small smile, making the blonde blush.
"We have to go now," Santana says suddenly.
"Oh okay," Phoenix replies, "I'll see you tomorrow then?"
Quinn starts to reply but before she can, Brittany beats her to it.
"Why don't you stay?" Brittany offers, "We could have our ice cream date once I'm done?"
Hope was apparent in Brittany's voice and with that sparkle in her blue eyes and a pout gracing her lips, there was no way anyone could say no to the blonde.
Santana's eyes widened, a gasp almost escaping her lips.
Brittany's words felt like a slap in her face. She knew that this time when Brittany said that she was done waiting, she actually meant it, but not once did Santana think that she would ask someone out on a date two days later.
With another girl.
What was so difficult for Santana to not be able to do that?
Quinn simply smirks, happy for both Phoenix and Brittany but also impressed with the latter. She knew Brittany was straightforward and honest, clear about what she wanted, but this was something else.
It dawned upon Quinn that just like her, Phoenix had enchanted Brittany too.
The blonde actually liked Phoenix.
"Well..." Phoenix starts, "How about a proper date instead? Tonight?" Phoenix offers in a burst of confidence.
Brittany just smiles excitedly, nodding her head in agreement.
"I think that sounds like a pretty good plan."
" I'm glad. I'll pick you up at 6," Phoenix grins.
"We have to go! Like, now," Santana exclaims abruptly, breaking the moment between Brittany and Phoenix.
Quinn discreetly smacks her friend, before quickly grabbing her arm and dragging Santana away.
"We'll wait for you in the locker room B. And I'll see you tomorrow Phoenix," Quinn smiles.
"Okay, thanks Q," Brittany smiles, sending a grateful look in her direction and frowning at Santana, who refuses to look at her.
"Bye Quinn," Phoenix says quietly, frowning at Santana.
After the two head cheerleaders are out of sight, Brittany turns back to Phoenix with an apologetic smile on her face.
"I'm sorry about that, Santana is just...Santana sometimes."
"No, that's okay, I understand. It has to be a little weird when your best friend goes on a date with someone she's known only two days," Phoenix says abashedly.
Brittany just nods, internally sighing. If only Phoenix knew.
"Hey, that doesn't matter," Brittany reassures, "We're going to have an amazing time together."
"Definitely."
"Well, I really have to go now too, so I'll see you at 6?"
"Yes, you will," Phoenix smiles.
"I'm glad I met you Phoenix Winters," Brittany says honestly.
And she really was. Phoenix made her heart flutter. Phoenix looked at her like she was the most special thing she had ever seen. She listened with completely attention when Brittany talked and always looked happy to do that.
She might have not known her for too long, but there was just something about Phoenix that made her feel...safe. And if she could do that in hardly two days, Brittany could only imagine how things would be with the redhead in the long run.
She couldn't wait to find out.
"I'm so glad I met you too."
Quinn drags Santana into the locker room, slamming the door behind her and sending the other Cheerios a death glare. They quickly scramble out, towards the gym, leaving only the head cheerleaders behind.
"What the hell was that Santana?" Quinn demands, looking accusingly at the Latina.
"Nothing! I….I just….don't think it's good that Brittany is going on a date with somebody she knows nothing about!"
"Are you being serious right now? We did that regularly when we first joined the Cheerios," Quinn says impassively.
"It's different!"
"How is it different? Because she's a girl? You already knew that Britt's bisexual."
"No, that's not it."
"Then what is it?" Quinn exclaims, getting exasperated with her friend.
"I don't think Phoenix is someone you can trust," Santana lies.
As a matter of fact, even Santana was forced to realize that Phoenix seemed mysterious alright, but there was definitely something genuine and honest about her.
"Seriously?" Quinn says in disbelief, "That's what you're worried about?"
"Yes."
"In that case, I can personally vouch for Phoenix. She's amazing, and she could be really good for Britt," Quinn explains softly.
"And you know that about a stranger how?" Santana challenges, making Quinn internally groan.
Leave it to Santana to dig into every single detail about things that bothered her.
"I ran into her over the weekend and I got a chance to know her a little," Quinn says confidently.
That was kind of true, wasn't it?
"I still don't like it," Santana says stubbornly.
"Well, Brittany likes Phoenix, so at least try to be happy for your best friend Santana," Quinn accuses, making Santana frown.
All she wanted to do was make Brittany happy.
She was failing miserably at it.
Santana opens her mouth to try and defend herself, but before she can, Brittany walks into the locker room, a thoughtful look on her face. She looks up to see that only Santana and Quinn are in the room, causing her to sigh, mostly at the Latina.
"Quinn, can I talk to Santana alone for a second?" Brittany requests quietly.
"Sure B," Quinn says, sending a meaningful look in Santana's direction before leaving to go for practice before Sue did and started causing mayhem.
Brittany waits for Quinn to leave before she sits down, bending down to tie her shoelaces again, looking up at Santana.
"Santana, what was that?"
"I don't want you to go on a date with her," Santana says honestly.
"Well, are you going to take me on a date then?" Brittany challenges.
Santana says silent, looking down at her feet, a sad smile on Brittany's face at her actions.
"Then don't tell me that I can't go with someone who is ready to."
"But don't you love me?" Santana says desperately, "Why would you go on a date with her if you love me?"
"Because she's ready to give me what you can't San. I've waited for you for so long, but you can't even hold my hand in front of Quinn."
"Just wait a little longer. Please."
"I deserve to be treated better than a dirty little secret Santana."
"You know it's not like that Britt!" Santana defends.
"It sure feels that way," Brittany says sadly, "Look, I don't know if this date with Phoenix will lead to something more. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. If it doesn't, then I'm always waiting for you. But if it does, then you and I are just friends. Nothing more."
Brittany stands up and walks towards the door, looking back at Santana with a sad smile.
"Just let me be happy with someone else if I can't be happy with you."
Brittany walks out, Santana's eyes filling with tears at her words.
Santana thought that she knew what disappointment and hurt felt like, but watching Brittany walk away from her had made her realize exactly what she had given up simply because of the fear of not being accepted.
Was that really worth losing her soulmate over?
Phoenix dumps her bag on the floor and immediately heads to the couch, grabbing her laptop from the table. She had spent most of the weekend unpacking all her stuff and was mostly settled in already. However, it struck her two seconds too late that she was new to Lima and had absolutely no idea where she could take Brittany for a date and she definitely did not want to make a mess of her first date with the blonde.
She spent the next hour looking at the different places in and around town, but nothing caught her eye or seemed interesting enough for her. She didn't want to take Brittany for just an ice cream date or dinner. The blonde was definitely worth more than that.
Lima really was a very small town.
Phoenix sighs in frustration and tosses her laptop aside, running a hand through her hair before getting up. She goes to the kitchen and grabs a bottle of water before heading to her bedroom. She switches her music system on and it wasn't too long before she starts singing along.
She was having no luck with where to take Brittany yet, so she decides to choose what to wear tonight instead.
Phoenix starts digging into her closet, analyzing her limited options and then proceeding to throw it behind her. Soon enough, she had exhausted most of her options and her room was pretty much covered with different items of clothing everywhere. Phoenix lets out a groan of irritation before falling down flat on her bed, burying her face in her pillow.
This was getting her nowhere and she desperately needed help but who was she supposed to call in a town where she knew practically no one?
Phoenix kept lying on the bed for a few minutes, feeling utterly hopeless, before she suddenly remembers of who is capable of solving her problem. She scrambles to find her phone, quickly dialling the person in question, impatiently tapping her foot while she waited for them to pick up and internally cheering when they did.
"I need your help. Desperately."
I am so, so sorry for the delayed update! There's no justification for me taking over a month for the new chapter but I was just so busy with school and exams and a musical to write and direct that I barely had time to breathe. I'm definitely going to try and start updating every week now.
Review, favourite and follow and let me know how you liked this chapter and if there is anything specific that you'd like to see happen!
If you have any questions, my twitter is sanquittany and you can let me know there :)