Author's Note: Okay I may be a tad past my 24 hr mark, but as promised another update. I enjoy the comments and love everyone's support. So anyways, ENJOY : )

Chapter Twelve

Brittany's POV

I can't believe Santana would do something like that. I mean it just doesn't…I don't know I'm so angry at her right now that I can't think straight. I'm looking for Courtney because the look on her face read 'I'm going to murder Bryan'. It took everything I had to convince her the first time not to kill Bryan, but now it's a whole new game. I finally find Emily and Courtney out behind the school. Courtney is pacing and I can hear Emily talking. I get closer to hear, but not close enough so they can see me.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Courtney yells.

"I'm so sorry. I just didn't know how since you weren't talking to me after I said Bryan and I slept together," Emily explains.

"No! Why didn't you tell me Santana was blackmailing you? I would've taken care of her," Courtney yells. Her arms are crossed over her chest and her pacing has become more angry and frantic.

"Santana said if I told anyone she would still get me kicked off the team. If you knew you would've beaten her up then she would've definitely known."

"So, you get kicked off the cheerleading squad big deal. You're smart you could've gotten academic money anywhere," Courtney says.

"Not to anywhere you were wanting to go," Emily says and Courtney stops dead in her tracks. She turns to look at Emily for further explanation. "Courtney you're a wonderful athlete and you were talking about all these huge universities that were interested in you, but none of those schools offered enough academic money. I wanted to go somewhere close or to the same college as you because I loved you. Hell I still love you and those schools you wanted to go to offered full cheerleading scholarships."

Tears were flowing down Emily's cheeks and Courtney looks like she's about to cry as well. How could Santana's actions screw up two people's relationship this badly? I can see Courtney trying to form words, but nothings coming up. She looks down to the ground for a few minutes then lifts her head and I can see a tear roll down her right cheek.

"I'm sorry," I hear Courtney barely whisper.

"Oh sweetheart it's not your fault," Emily says, heartbreak evident in her voice. She pulls Courtney into a hug. Courtney puts her head on Emily's shoulder as Emily wraps her arm around Courtney's shoulder and Courtney grips Emily tightly by the waist.

From my spot I can hear Courtney's quiet sobs. A tear rolls down my cheeks at this heartbreaking moment. After a few minutes, I come more into view and clear my throat. Both look up at me with red swollen eyes. When Courtney sees me she changes her position so her head is held higher, but her grip around Emily has become tighter.

"I just wanted to see how you were doing?" I innocently ask.

Neither one answers my question. Courtney gives me a look that says 'we need some time before I can answer that'.

"Okay, if you need anything just let me know," I say.

Before I leave Courtney speaks. "Keep Santana away from me. I won't hurt her because she's your girlfriend, but if she comes within thirty feet of me I can't promise anything."

I nod my head showing my understanding. School has ended and I decide to go home. It's been an emotional day so I hop into the shower and allow the water to rinse off this awful day. I haven't seen nor talked to Santana and honestly I still don't know what to say to her. I don't want to break up with her until I hear her side of things. I'm a fair person and I love her to death so I'm not about to just give up on someone I love over something in the past, but this is big.

Santana may have not hurt me, but she hurt one of my best friends. Courtney is the only person at this school, other than Santana, that hasn't treated me like some little kid. She looks at me like she looks at everyone else with equality. She's never seen me dumb.

After my shower I finish my homework. My mom had to work late so I make pasta for dinner and sit down with my bowl in front of the TV. I just want to watch something funny and relaxing. It's a little after six when the doorbell rings. I'm not expecting anyone so I don't really know who it is. I answer the door and standing there is Santana. I'm a little shocked. She looks up at me with puffy eyes; so I know she's been crying, and this sadden face.

Before I say a word Santana speaks. "Can we talk please?"

I sigh and step aside allowing her in. I'm still not ready to talk because I don't know what to say, but I can at least listen to her story. We move to the family room and we sit on the couch. I see her take a deep breath and then she talks.

"First, Brittany I'm so sorry."

"Don't apologize to me. It's Emily who deserves the apology."

"I know. I know and before coming here I went to house and apologized and I really apologized. Brittany, what I did last year I did out of anger and jealousy. I was angry because of my feelings for you and I got angrier when you started dating Artie. It worsened when I saw how happy Emily was and found out her happiness was because of a girl. I blackmailed her because I was scared of being gay because I thought it wasn't normal and I needed everything and everyone around me to be normal. I was incredibly stupid and this reasoning sounds awful. At the time it made sense to me, but I see now how awful I was. I know what I did was wrong and I know I can't change anything. I know I ruined Courtney and Emily's life and the guilt alone is killing me and I will live with that guilt for the rest of my life."

Santana finishes her speech and I take a few minutes to allow the words to soak in. I look into Santana's eyes for any reasons to doubt her and I find none. She's telling the truth.

"What you did hurt two people I care about. I saw Courtney after their break up and she was devastated. I've never seen so much hurt in someone's eyes. I know you didn't cause the rape, but your actions set these unfortunate events into play. I'm never going to understand fully why you did this." I can see tears rolling down her cheeks. "But I can see that you honestly feel awful about this, so I will forgive you. I love you, San, but if you ever pull a stunt like this again we're over." I warn.

Santana let's out a breath that I know she's been holding and a small smile appear on her face. "Babe, I promise on our love that I will never do anything like this again."

I believe her because I believe the love she feels for me. She kisses me and we snuggle on the couch.

Please R&R it's most appreciative : )