Chapter 3:
"Mum I can't go to Lima and stay the weekend!" Sometimes my mother can be a little bit annoying.
"Why?"
"Because…I have things to do…. You know a life…. Plus, I went over there the last year!"
The last summer I went to my parents' hometown for a couple of days for Finn and Rachel's wedding. After spending less and less time in Lima over the last years I lost contact with some people but no with Kurt, Finn and Rachel.
Well, Rachel is a New Yorker like me while Kurt and Finn were born in Lima, but when Kurt finished high school he got into NYADA like me and there we met Rachel. One summer Kurt brought Rachel along with him to Lima. Long story short, Finn and Rachel fell in love, and Finn moved to New York.
"No, you were three days in Lima for your friends' wedding and then you came back to New York in no time. You grandma was angry you haven't stayed for long, she still is, and she wants to meet Danielle, even more since you are going to marry her."
"Grandma sounds like she never gets to see me, but that's not true, she spends winter with you and dad in New York and I almost saw her every weekend. The last summer I couldn't get more days off from work and Danielle didn't come because we agreed that in that moment was too early to attend family stuff together."
"It's so funny that you thought that and now, the two are engaged."
My mother and the wedding, she's not the biggest fan of the event; she thinks we're rushing things.
"You two are rushing things." She says like a parrot.
"You already said that."
"You two only have been together for two years."
"You and dad got married when you were 23 and I almost have 27!" I can't believe we're starting the same discussion over again.
"Nonsense, it was different times and before we marry we had been together for five years. For example, look at Santana and Puck they're together for a bunch of years and still didn't marry."
"Puck and Santana have been together for four years, besides every couple has their own timing, look Sam and Quinn married with 24 and they are living happily."
"Look, I just don't want you to get hurt, okay? You and you sister meant the world for your father and me."
My mother come next to me and hugs me, but I know her and she uses the hug thing to end a discussion that starts to lose, but I can't help it and hug her, she knows I have weaknesses for hugs.
"I understand you were winning the argument, don't you?" My younger sister appears in the living room.
I answer yes and my mother says no at the same time and Emma laughs and shakes her head. Well, I talk about her like she's still a little girl but she's all grown up with 22 years.
"Where are you going? I thought we could maybe go for a drink."
"I can't sis. I'm meeting with Marta and Janet we are looking for apartments for rent, because no way in hell I'm going to live in Lima, no offense mum. Bye!" And she's gone.
"She's right. Do you realize that you father and I will be moving back to Lima? Will you come and visit us sometime?"
I almost forget it, my parents will be moving back to Lima. New York, the city when they were so happy now is too noisy for them and they prefer the quietness of Lima.
"Maybe not as much as you or grandma want it, but of course I will." My mother rolled her eyes "What? I don't see papa complain."
"What happened? When you were little you always were eager to going to Lima during the summer and now seem the thought of staying in there more than a week spokes you. What about Santana? You two were so close!"
"Again mum? I had already told you this. Yeah, Santana and I were best friends, but now each of us has a quite different life to live, we aren't so close anymore, but of course if Santana needs my help she can count on me." I said ending the discussion.
I'm lying on bed after a quite busy day, today work was insane and I just want to sleep but I can't stop thinking. The talking with my mother, she was right with my parents moving back to Lima I'm going to spend more time in there, that's a fact, but what I'm really thinking is the reason I was trying to stay away from Lima in first place.
"Santana" I whispered even no one else is in the room.
I was in love with her and I was the one who put distance between us, trying to carry on with my life. I never thought about how she felt with us not being so close anymore, I couldn't afford that back in time. The thing is that now I'm with Dani and we are going to marry, so the reason why I wanted to leave Lima behind is gone.
"Could I try, couldn't I?"I find asking to myself and grabbing my phone from the night stand, but I dropping it back. "No, I can't… Or can I?" I miss Santana, but maybe it's too late to get things the way they were, but I really miss my friend.
I pick the phone again and write a message.
Chat: Santana
* I'm going to Lima to stay a couple of days, if you are free and want to have a drink – Brittany.
Okay, words are not my strongest point, but that question is the best I can do right now. I'm not expecting an answer, but is the least I can do for the friendship we had once. When the phone beeps right back I'm surprised.
* Of course – Santana.
And I'm going to sleep with a grin on my face.
My grandma finally got what she wanted and has the whole family In Lima for four days.
"I need to go to shopping and I decided that Danielle must drive." My grandma says getting up from the cough. "After that we are going to have lunch together."
"What? Why?"
"Women talk."
"Are you kidding right? Then I can go" I protest. "I'm a woman, too!"
"No, you can't" Grandma seriously answers.
"Don't worry is no problem, Britt" Danielle says holding my hand and give me peck on the cheek.
"We need to get going!" My mother said walking towards the door.
"Wait, are you going too? Dad, say something!" I protested again.
"Please leave me out of this." My father answers. "Sweetie you need to learn to pick the battles" he whispers to me when he's out of my mother's sight.
"Danielle, I'm sorry for whatever they are going to say to you." I kissed her. "Remember that I love you and we don't choose family."
"I hope you remember that as well, when you meet the rest of mine." The redhead said and laughed.
After that, the three were gone.
"Sis, it was nice meeting your fiancée." My sister laughs evilly while is going upstairs.
"Emma, not helping!"
I'm going sit on the sofa again since there's nothing better to do when my phone sounded.
Chat: Santana
* If you aren't too busy I thought I can pick up you after lunch I need to finish some paperwork – Santana.
* Let me take a look at my busy schedule of the day – Brittany.
* Nah, I'm free – Brittany.
* Funny pants – Santana.
* See you later – Brittany.
After lunch with my father and sister I was a little bit tired so I decided to take a nap since Santana didn't specify when she was going to pick me.
"Britt wake up, Santana is outside waiting for you!" Emma says, opening the door of my room.
Nice way to start the afternoon, I'm already late. I open the window and I can see Santana leaning in her car checking his phone.
"I'm still in pajamas, give me a minute!" I said and she lifts her head from the phone and nods.
I quickly changed my clothes and make my way towards Santana's car, she's already inside and turns on the car when she spots me. When I close my door the latina starts to drive.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"Really, do you need to ask?"
I shake my head, of course not; we're going to Lima Bean, is the only place where the coffee doesn't sucks. Then an awkward silence is made in the car and I don't like that kind of silence.
"I wasn't sure if you were going to answer my message." I blurted out.
"What?" Santana looked at me before looking back to the road.
"But I'm glad you did it. I'm glad you answered."
I look at her, she's still looking at the road in silence and I don't know what to think, it's a shame I can't read through her like I used to do it.
"I'm glad you send it." She finally says with a little smile on her lips.
And with that, part of the awkwardness was gone and we start to talk about nothing in particular, it's not perfect but it's a good start.
"I was grading some tests for Monday" Santana drinks her coffee "I'm working at McKinley high school, I'm teaching chemistry."
I can't picturing her, teaching a bunch of teenagers, Santana ran out of patience easily, but the truth she's was a great teacher, she always helped me with chemistry during the summer.
"Rachel mentioned. And how is teaching? Since that we were little you wanted to work for chemistry lab. Do you like it?" I said nonchalantly, but for Santana's expression that was a touchy subject. "Sorry I didn't want to blurt it like that."
"Not bad." She shrugged "But was the best option for a job because in Lima there zero chemistry labs or chemistry companies to work for. But I swear each year passing teenagers are dumber."
"Santana don't be evil! No more coffee for you" And I put away her cup.
"You can't take away my coffee! I'm saying a glaring truth." She laughed, grabbing her cup again. "Some of them just end up with my patience like in ten seconds, but I believe sometimes they do it on purpose."
"You two didn't wait for me, I almost feel excluded like old times." Quinn exclaimed and sits with us.
When we were younger, the three of us were called the unholy trinity, but Quinn always complained that sometimes felt excluded for how Santana and I were so close.
"Quinn bitching around, what a surprise!" Santana said faking a surprise tone. "Oh no wait, that's the usual thing."
"Santana stop it! And Quinn, don't be like that, I sent you a message and you were working."
Yes, feeling like old times when I used to be the mediator between Santana and my cousin, the two are so stubborn.
"By the way, I was expecting to see Dani." My cousin says while raises her hand to get the attention from a waiter.
"Your fiancée is in here too" Santana says, but seems she regret it saying out loud. "I meant, you didn't say anything…"
"Yes, my grandma wanted to meet her."
"And where is my soon to be cousin in law?" Quinn interjected.
"Shopping…"
"Let me guess, with grandma and your mother?" The blonde quickly said.
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Same here, when Sam and I were engaged, but was my father who went with grandma. You can't deny that my father and your mother are siblings from the same mother." She chuckled. "I believe is a family thing."
"Our family it's mafia, I knew it."
"I wasn't saying it was a good thing, just a family thing."
"Finally, she's calling." I said relieved when I see Danielle's name on the screen. "I was starting to worry."
"What you were thinking, grandma murdering Danielle? I think she isn't a murderer, not yet."
While I was talking with Quinn I almost didn't realize that Santana is gathering her things.
"Santana, are you leaving?" I make a pout "I wanted to introduce to Danielle."
We were having such a good time; I didn't want to end, not so quickly.
"Don't use your pout on me Brittany, I just remembered…"
"Since you call her Brittany?" Quinn asked amusing herself and interrupting the latina.
If looks could kill Quinn probably would be already dead, because of the glare Santana is sending to her is pretty obvious.
"Listen Britt" Santana said looking at Quinn first and after at me. "I can't, is something about work I just remembered, but don't worry you are going to stay for the weekend, I'm sure we'll see each other again." And with that she waved goodbye to us and left.
I think is the first time my pout didn't work on Santana.