So here's the deal. I got a job, finally, after months of searching in two different countries. But what that means is that I will have a lot less time to write, so I won't be able to write any more chapters for this story other than what I said I would write: Will, the Warblers and possibly one more follow up style chapter. So I'm sorry to the people who wanted to see other characters - and I think you managed to cover pretty much every other character in your requests! - but I won't be doing any others.
But when I mentioned to my beta, Angela/SquirrelzAttack that I got a lot of requests, I mentioned Brittany and she latched onto the idea and asked if she could write the chapter herself. Of course I said yes, so she sent me this over and I love it :) I hope you guys do too! And if you do, go and check out her work :)
Brittany
As Mercedes and Sam hurried out of the room, Brittany's frown deepened. She didn't understand what was going on, and Mercedes's little speech hadn't helped her confusion either. What was happening? Why was Kurt so upset? And why was Mercedes freaking out?
Turning to Santana, Brittany whispered, "What's going on? What did Kurt mean about bullies and leaving and stuff?"
Santana was rather ashen-faced, but she swallowed and managed to reply, "Britt…it's hard to explain. We, uh, well, the whole Glee club basically just betrayed Kurt and ruined his relationship with us."
"Betrayed?" Brittany hated it when people used long words.
"Yeah, it means we screwed up big time and now he hates us."
"He hates me?" Brittany's eyes began to water. "But – but I don't know what I did! I don't want my Kurtie to hate me. I just don't understand!"
"I know, boo." Santana wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close.
Brittany impatiently wiped at her eyes. Normally, she would be fine with Santana comforting her, but she felt differently now. She still wasn't all that sure what had gone down with Kurt, but apparently he hated her. And she needed to put that right, even if she didn't know how or why.
"I still don't get it." Brittany said, biting her lip.
There were several sighs on the other end of the phone, and it just made Brittany feel stupid and useless. After school, all of the ND girls, sans Rachel and Mercedes, had called each other. They'd tried to explain it to Brittany, but she was having trouble processing it all. It was a lot to take in, and the whole thing just seemed so surreal in the worst way.
"Let me get this straight." She said, laying down on her bed, stroking Lord Tubbington with one hand. "Kurt's been hit and abused and bullied…and we haven't done anything about it?"
"That's about right." Quinn said quietly, her voice wobbling.
"But why? Why didn't we do anything? And why didn't I know sooner?" Brittany felt tears of frustration welling in her eyes, and she let them fall, breathing hard through her nose. "How could we do this?"
Silence. It was like none of the other girls breathed. Brittany couldn't believe what she was hearing. This was terrible!
Choking back a sob, she said, "I'm going to find him and apologize. I don't want him to hate me forever."
"Britt, wait – "
She didn't wait. She hung up before Santana could try and stop her. Glancing at her alarm clock, she was relieved that it was only four. She still had time. Time to try and mend things. Time to get forgiveness.
She could barely see as she stumbled out of her house and into her car. Starting the engine, still swallowing rapidly, she pulled out onto the street. In the cup holder, her phone vibrated insistently, begging to be picked up. But Brittany ignored it and focused on the road, trying not to let her hysteria get the best of her. She really didn't want to crash into anything. Then she would be dead and Kurt would hate her for eternity.
It was hard to say exactly when she pulled up to Kurt's house. She wasn't sure how long it took, or exactly how she'd gotten there, but before she knew it she was knocking on the door, her hands trembling uncontrollably.
A large, burly man opened the door. He stared at her for a second before saying, "You in that Glee club?"
She nodded vigorously, looking at her hands, shaking. "I – I want to talk to Kurt."
The man's glare turned thoughtful and a little suspicious. "Your name?"
"B-Brittany." She stuttered, desperately wanting to back away but knowing she had to stay strong for Kurt. He nodded once, stepping back to let her in. She did so with trepidation and some major doubts; she didn't even know what she was going to say. She was led into a living room, where she was instructed to sit on the couch and wait.
"He's just upstairs – wait one second."
Brittany hiccupped quietly in response and folded her hands together, her eyes fixed on the stairs. It was a moment or two before Kurt appeared at the top, that dark-haired guy behind him. What was his name again? It started with a B…Blair? Blake? Brian?
"Who is this?" the shorter boy asked, glaring fiercely at her.
Kurt took his arm and led him the rest of the way down. "Blaine, this is Brittany." He said flatly, his eyes giving away his surprise at seeing her in his living room.
Brittany stood up, her courage wavering in and out. That Blaine guy was still glaring at her. It was extremely disconcerting, and she nearly lost it all over again. But now was not the time to hyperventilate. She took a deep breath, pulled herself together, and started talking. She meant to be articulate and heartfelt, but it all sort of came out in a rush.
"Kurt, I'm sorry." She said, standing up from the couch and taking a couple of steps closer to him. "I'm sorry, boo."
Kurt eyed her, bitch, please look firmly in place. "Brittany, do you even understand what I've been through?"
"No." she admitted, sniffling. Blaine snorted, and she wanted to be mad at him but couldn't bring herself to be. Instead, she fixed her gaze on Kurt and said, "I don't understand anything, and I'm sorry for that. But I don't want you to hate me. I just feel so stupid. Why am I so stupid? If I hadn't been stupid this never would've happened."
Brittany lowered her head to wipe away her fast-flowing tears. She wished that she was smart. She wished she could find a way to express how she was feeling. When Kurt didn't say anything, she pressed on, her voice a half-octave higher than usual. "I don't know what to say. But I don't understand how this could've happened without me noticing it and now you hate me and everything's just so screwed up. And I'm so sorry. I am so sorry."
"How could you not notice? Blaine asked disbelievingly, his arm tightening around Kurt's waist. "You were there every day. You must've seen the bruises just like everyone else. And yet you did nothing."
"Blaine," Kurt murmured, "she doesn't understand."
"How could she not understand?" Blaine's tone turned incredulously angry. "Kurt, you shouldn't try and defend her. What do you mean she doesn't 'understand'?"
"I don't understand." Brittany said brokenly, choking on her own sobs. "And I know I'm stupid, but you don't have to rub it in my face. I'm just so confused. How could this have happened? I can't believe it. And I don't know what to do. And I'm sorry, Kurt, I'm just so sorry. And I don't know what else I can be right now."
Kurt still didn't speak. He just stared calmly at her with an unreadable expression. Brittany felt like his gaze was piercing through her, and her already unsteady breath caught. She gasped and tried to get herself under control, but she'd pretty much jumped off of that cliff by now, and she swallowed roughly. She searched for the right words, and when she spoke again, her voice was quiet. "Kurt, don't hate me. Please don't hate me. You're my baby dolphin, and I'm your boo. I don't know what I'd do if you hated me forever. Please don't. Please, please don't. Forgive me."
By this point, she sounded a lot like a mouse suffering from a bad head cold, but she could really care less. All Brittany wanted was for that mask that Kurt had on to break. She wanted him to show some emotion. She wanted him to let her know that he wasn't going to hate her forever.
"I forgive you, boo." Kurt said softly a few moments later, looking straight into her eyes.
"Wait – Kurt." Blaine touched his arm. "Are you sure?"
Kurt nodded decisively, slowly unfolding his arms. "Britt, I don't hate you."
"You don't?" she asked through another sob, almost unable to believe her ears.
"No." Kurt said simply. "I don't."
Letting out a half-gasping, half-bawling sound, Brittany lunged forward and pulled Kurt into a hug, wrapping her arms around his slender shoulders and squeezing him tight. She buried her face into the side of his neck, knowing that he would kill her if she got tears on his shirt.
There was an outraged exclamation somewhere off to her right, and she heard Kurt murmur, "It's fine."
The countertenor slowly raised his arms and awkwardly patted her on the back as she managed to gain a little self-control and stem the endless river of tears a little.
Pulling back from the hug, she gave him a small, watery, hopeful grin. "You're sure you don't hate me?"
"Positive." Kurt said, nodding slowly. He didn't smile, but Brittany thought she could detect a kinder look in his eyes. "You should probably get home now, Britt. Besides, Blaine and I need to finish packing my stuff and get on the road before Finn gets here."
Sniffling, she nodded and turned towards the front door. Opening it, she turned to glance back at her porcelain-skinned dolphin.
"Kurt." She said uncertainly. He looked away from Blaine, raising an eyebrow. Taking a deep breath, she said. "I'm going to miss you. Can…" she hesitated briefly. "Can we still talk?"
Kurt nodded slowly. "Sure, boo. Maybe in a couple of weeks, okay?"
"Okay." Brittany said, giving him another watery smile. "And thank you, Kurt. I love you. I'm glad you don't hate me."
With that, Brittany closed the door behind her, unsteadily walking down the driveway to her car. She wasn't sure if she felt much better. A little of the weight that had settled uncomfortably in her stomach had disappeared, and she supposed that that was the best she could hope for. Giving herself a firm shake, she pulled out onto the street and started to make her way home.
The only thing that mattered was that Kurt didn't hate her. She had expected him to. She probably deserved it. But he had forgiven her, and even said they could talk. And that was the best she could hope for. Brittany sighed. She had a feeling that, even though she had his forgiveness, she wouldn't feel better about herself for a long time.
There's just no way Kurt could hate Brittany.
Next Chapter: Will. (I promise this time!)