Her early morning habit become something she was really thankful for back in LA since she used to have 7am dance class. It was early but she didn't really mind. It beats getting stuck in a traffic rush.
This morning was no different. By 6 she was already up and ready. But in a small town like Ohio, mornings like these are really quiet. There were no trickling of bedridden people who wishes that they could be anywhere than heading to their boring old job nor people who just decided to return home after a long night out. She can't even hear any cars driving pass her street or cars endlessly honking their horns.
No.
This was Lima Ohio. People stay at home on the weekends to relax and spend quality time with their family, and occasionally visit their neighbours for a much needed update on the latest news and gossips.
It was definitely different from LA but one thing good about it was that she never realized how much she appreciated the quietness and peacefulness of Lima. A thought that never really occurred to her until she was outside her house for her morning run.
She took a quick glance towards the house next door and flashes of Santana's unfriendly frown and heated glare played in her head. Brittany feels a small bubble of irritation rise through her. What is Santana's problem with her anyways? She didn't have to be so rude. Ugh. The more she thinks about it, the more she thinks that Santana's actions were uncalled for. But she guesses she didn't act that nicely too, with her throwing that box directly at the brunette and all. In her defence Santana was making her emotions go all over the place.
It's was confusing.
And overwhelming.
That before she knew it she chucked that box straight at Santana.
She shook her head ridding herself of these thoughts and foreign feelings that had started to grow within her. A good run would do her good.
Brittany continued her run, almost for half an hour now, enjoying how her muscles flex and burn with every step she took. Thoughts of Santana were now gone replaced with peaceful thoughts as she looks around her surrounding. Lima was a really nice place. Quiet but nice. It was the picture of the typical suburban home, white picket fence and all. She smiled as she kept running, her eyes soaking every place and every houses. She never had much chance to explore what Lima had to offer back when she was younger so just looking around now filled her energizing and exciting feelings. Taking a quick turn around a corner, she was surprise when she suddenly bumped into someone causing her to lose her footing and fall backwards on her butt.
"Ow what the fuck? Why do I keep bumping into things?"
Brittany looks up all too quickly when she hears the all too familiar raspy voice. The pain from the fall forgotten once she sees Santana in a similar state as she is. They must have collided pretty hard for both of them to fall back she thought. Not taking a second longer, she stood up brushing herself before extending her hands out towards the girl who has yet to notice her as Santana was busy cursing to herself.
"I'm sorry San. Are you okay?" She asked softly. Her eyes taking in Santana.
Santana's head snapped towards the voice. "You got to be kidding me," the brunette muttered quite loudly when she sees Brittany. "Do you seriously have this agenda to hurt me every time you see me?" She exasperated. Ugh. Santana is annoyed at how her morning is turning out. She doesn't need this. Its way too early for this. All she wanted to do was get her early morning run with no interruptions - especially in a form of blondie. Why was that so hard? Hasn't she suffered enough already?
After all, she had spent all day yesterday being lectured by fucking Rachel Berry about the proper ways to interact with old friends- "childhood friends"- after Brittany had left their house. She had to roll her eyes at that whilst trying her best to tune out the girl. But Berry's voice have this shrill in them that penetrates her ear drums. It's like her voice is in a different wavelength or some shit that no matter how much she tries to zone out- she even tried hypnotizing herself- she can still hear the girl's voice. Like fuck.
She's pretty sure one of her eyes were already twitching from anger. What's worse was that Rachel hijacked her laptop trying to set a PowerPoint slide in the ways of "Social Ethicacy: The Basic Human Interaction". Imagine how fun that was. As if she would take tips from Berry. Ha. That would be the day. She had to hold her inner Snixx from unleashing when she finally accessed her laptop and deleted all those 30 PowerPoint slides complete with pictures and animations that Rachel had manage to make in the span of 5 minutes.
Damn Berry for always being so fucking annoying. But what's even more annoying, if that was even possible, was seeing blondie right now. Ugh. She doesn't know why but seeing blondie just irritates her to the core. It's just seeing her all innocent like with her soft smile, tilted head and upbeat mood so early in the morning was giving her a headache. This whole thing is just not her forte.
So Brittany is definitely not what she needs, especially the way the blonde was looking at her right now, it was making her feel all kinds of things. Like her blood was suddenly pumping at maximum speed. Or how her head seems to be everywhere but she's pretty sure she's drawing blank. Or like she suddenly feels so light at the same time her heart feels so heavy. But with all of those weird feelings she feels mostly agitated. And she can't seem to pinpoint as to why her chest seems to ache every time the girl would look at her. That itself was making her more irritated.
Santana feels like she wasn't in control of anything. Perhaps it's because blondie came back to her life in a surprise and along came all these tucked away memories and feelings she had long suppressed. Sure, she had kept some memories of the blonde at bay, just cause it might have help her sleep better at night, but she wasn't ready to have everything back out in the open this fast and this soon. Blondie is rehashing and opening the box that Santana was sure she had locked, thrown away and never to be seen again. And it's irritating to suddenly feel so exposed after all the years she had spent building these walls around her. Maybe that's what infuriates her about the blonde because Brittany could always do that to her so effortlessly. It's like the blonde seems to have this secret code that's making her just want to drop all these hard facade around her and just surrender to whatever the blonde has to offer.
"Well that depends if you're being mean or not," Brittany smiled goofily, her hands still extended out before she frowned in concern seeing Santana still on the ground looking deep in thought. "But really, your not hurt are you?"
Brittany's soft voice snapped Santana out of her stupor. Her chest ached just a little bit more when she sees the blonde frowning with worry. It was annoying.
"Seriously blondie? You're asking me that after I got hit by a wall, been a victim of a box assault which was thrown by you and now this, which if I may add was also because of you. So yeah I'm fucking dandy," she exclaimed while standing up by herself causing Brittany to slowly lower her hands. Santana didn't fail to notice the small gesture. Her tummy seem to have fluttered just a little bit by it but she immediately squashed that feeling as soon as it started. She can't let Brittany know how much effect she has on her. She can't let Brittany know how she feels like she's seconds away from ripping her heart out of her chest just so it would stop aching. It would give Brittany more advantage to slowly dismantle her. She can't have that. She can't-
"I'm glad you seem fine." Brittany playfully rolled her eyes. Sure Santana was stubborn and mean. And in no doubt it irritates her. But with just one look -with Santana's messy ponytail, the visible sweat around her forehead, the slight redness of her face from running, the way Santana was frowning with her arms crossed- and all too suddenly her irritation with the girl from earlier slowly disappeared -replaced by something she wasn't sure yet.
"And for the record...the first one totally wasn't my fault." Brittany held up her hand sheepishly. "The second one, I do admit is mine. And I'm sorry for chucking that box at you. But how else am I suppose to get you to stay?"
"News flash, throwing that damn box won't help," the brunette snapped harshly, her eyebrows flushed together.
Brittany can't help but smile. "It work for a bit didn't it?"
"Yeah yeah." Santana rolled her eyes while fixing her ponytail. "Whatever blondie," she muttered. Ugh. Why is blondie smiling at her so softly like...like she sees more than she's letting on? It's fucking getting on her nerves and Santana wanted to just take off as fast as she can and never look back. But that smile, that smile that if she has to admit she really had missed because let's face it, when Brittany smiles it's as if everything in the world seems to be just a little brighter. Even years from now the blonde still had that same soft smile and it's making Santana's tough exterior softly crumble and crack.
"It's fancy running into you here though." Brittany scrunched her face cutely with a smile still intact.
"That's just terrible," Santana replied, catching on to the blonde's pun, which made Brittany smile just a little bit more. Santana feels herself slipping further and further away from her inner musings that keeps telling her to keep her distant and push the blonde away. "You need to work on that."
"I'll come up with something better next time."
Santana hummed nonchalantly in reply as her eyes meets those soft blue. She didn't know if it was by accident or if it was out of habit that she seems to still have. She would have thought that after all those years she would have out grown it. But yet here she is, after eight years, her eyes still seems to always catch Brittany's. And just like all the time she had looked directly at those eyes, she was taken aback by how truly blue they were. It was like staring at the ocean.
It was beautiful.
She kinda just want to jump right into those blues, something she thinks she would never get out of. She felt a helpless tug within her chest and she hopelessly replays the times that were just like these where she would get lost staring at those eyes she used to be so fond off. It makes her shiver with excitement despite her best judgement to look away and just shut everything out. But the swirls of blue with gold speckles clouding it was really making it hard. She knows her defences were slightly down. But it's alright she thought, maybe for just a few seconds she's going to allow herself to be lured in to what little she's letting herself feel. She'll just enjoy this rare moment that she scarcely ever experience. So with that she greedily took it all in, trying to map out the differences and similarities that blonde had from the last time she had seen her.
For Brittany, she felt that slight change. It was the way Santana's eye were gently gazing at her -into her- that it almost scared her. It made her want to take off and run to the other direction. But she remained rooted in place because deep within those layers of dark chestnut brown was something that was pinning her and holding her back.
It was the same brown hue that she always felt captivated in. The same ones she patiently waits to open up in the mornings. So it's not like she wasn't use to the way Santana would look at her almost like she's made out of rainbows and sunshine. The girl's eyes were always so honest that with almost one look she could easily read what was going on in Santana's mind. It became like her favourite book that she would spent countless of hours trying to memorize every contour and every shape, every shade of colour with every emotion, to finally knowing it inside and out. But looking at those brown eyes now, so soft and yet so guarded, it made her tremble because even if those same eyes were staring back at her, she didn't know what the girl was thinking or what to even think anymore. And it terrifies her. It was scary to be such a stranger to something she had spent more than half of her life familiarizing. It felt like she was forgetting one of the best book she's ever read and it really started to make her feel uneasy and confuse all in the wrong way.
"I didn't think you'd be up so early in the morning," Brittany commented just to relieve the tension that she could feel slowly building up inside her. "I've always had to wake you up."
Santana eyes darkened and she knew her defences were back up -more impenetrable than ever. The memory of blonde's soft blue sapphire and sweet gentle face that she had just memorized a second ago was quickly tucked inside her head, so far deep that she thinks her mind was just playing tricks on her and she had imagined it all.
"And I didn't peg you to be a nosy ass person. I'm obviously doing fine waking up without you." Santana knew what her words meant and what those words entailed but she couldn't bring herself to care. She wouldn't bring herself to care.
Brittany felt Santana's words cut her like a knife. Perhaps it's because it was the truth. Truth hurts and no matter how she sees it Santana was right. It had really been so long that things were different now. Santana no longer needed her to wake her up in the mornings. The same way she had gotten so use to dancing without looking up the front row expecting to see a set of brown eyes looking brightly back at her. Their life that was once intertwined had fully unraveled and soon they were able to learn to live their life without each other. A thought that she already knew but never really fully realized. It didn't hit her until now. There was no longer Santana and Brittany. Their whole dynamic duo was long gone. It was just a Santana and a Brittany. It was a cold hard truth that she knew and quite honestly expected. But hearing it directly from Santana, hurts way more than she thought was possible.
"I'm not that nosy," Brittany managed to say despite how her throat seems to be constricting. She swallowed the pain hoping it'll make her breathing a little easier. But the way Santana was looking at her, eyes dark and guarded, completely different to a while ago, makes it a little harder to do so.
"What?" She ask softly feeling suddenly nervous as Santana gazed remained directly on her.
"Nothing blondie." Santana blinked a couple of times almost confuse. "I wasn't sure if-" She shook her head. It reminded Brittany of a small puppy. "I was sure that you'd throw something at me again."
Brittany couldn't control the laugh that poured out of her. It's unfair she tells herself. It's unfair how Santana can easily sway her feelings like that because even with all these weird, painful and confusing feelings, Brittany still feels a sense of happiness and fondness from just seeing Santana. Because despite everything, Santana had been a huge part of her life. So even with the harsh words that were being thrown at her, it would all just be pushed to the side because Santana would do something just a little too cutely or say something a little too adorably and she'll just forget how a second ago she was upset at the girl. Her heart would start racing like it can't seem to get enough. It makes her want to talk to the brunette. It makes her want to get to know her once more.
"Stop laughing." Santana stomped while Brittany continued to laugh. "Its not even funny. Ugh. Where the fuck did you even learn to throw that hard blondie? Actually I don't really want to know."
"I'm sorry San," Brittany wheeze as her laughter dies down. "I won't throw anything at you anymore." She smiles, finally settling down while she lifts her pinky up, raising her eyebrows silently challenging Santana. "I promise."
In truth, Brittany still feels uneasy, her insides were twisting in knots that she's afraid she might never get it untangled, especially when Santana's dark eyes were boring into her, she's sure the knots just grew even tighter. But despite all of that she kept her gaze steady as her pinky stood firm.
"I don't do petty child like promises anymore," Santana scoffs while rolling her eyes. She quickly dismisses the flash of hurt that appeared in Brittany's eyes.
Even if it stings, even if the uneasiness is still clawing at her and even if her pinky felt cold from the blatant rejection, Brittany was still able to shrugged it off. "Guess I could always use some practice," she said hoping to set an easy going atmosphere around them. "Your head seems like a great target."
"Oh fuck off," Santana said glaring at her. "I should have guessed it was you who placed that water and Advil by my bedside table," the girl mumbled as she looked down brushing her shorts from the dirt that she had gotten.
Brittany felt a momentary relief when brown eyes shifted away from her. Her uneasiness slowly melting away and she could feel herself breathing a little easier. Santana's strong gaze that was drilling into her was proving to me more and more difficult for her to look at, especially with all the heighten senses she seems to be developing. It was too much yet too little that when Santana was looking at her a while ago she wishes those brown eyes weren't looking back at her but at the same time as soon as Santana's gaze strayed away from her, she instantly misses it. She just wanted to cup Santana by her cheeks and make the girl face her, just so Santana's gaze would be on her and only her. It was ridiculous.
"Uh huh. I'd figure you'd get a raging migraine after." Brittany nodded absentmindedly.
"How'd you even manage to get me in?"
"Well… Your parents still haven't figured out the back door. I could still open it the way I use to," the blonde stated distractedly as she continues to watch Santana. She smiles when she sees Santana still intently brushing her shorts. It was endearing in it's own way.
"Or you could just stop snooping around in my house," Santana suggested before looking up with her eyebrow raised.
There it was again, Brittany thought. That feeling of uneasiness coming back to her once more as soon as Santana's eyes met hers but at the same time she feels a wave of happiness course through her body. She lost track of the seconds she had counted, wishing Santana's gaze would fleet back at her because as soon as it did, all she could do was smile dopily while she mentally fist pumps.
"But thanks I guess." Santana whispered softly that Brittany almost didn't hear it. She feels a double shot of happiness and she ignores how her own breathing was getting heavier as she tries to swallow, taking small even calming breaths, "You're welcome."
"But don't think for a second that I owe you anything," Santana narrowed her eyes before briefly looking away but not a second after her eyes meets Brittany's once more. "Kapish?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Brittany said breathlessly. "You hit your head pretty bad. I couldn't just leave you."
"I wouldn't have held it against you if you did." Santana admitted willing herself to look away as she crosses her arms defensively.
"I would never do that." Brittany frowned.
Santana snorted, and she allowed a humourless laugh to flow out of her. "I guess you're the one who's been doing all the forgetting. Last time I check I'm the one who stayed in Lima blondie."
"Look San, I've never wan-"
"Ugh. It doesn't even matter anymore. I'm over it. Been so for years now. Let's just both agree yesterday didn't even happen."
Brittany wanted to disagree. She wanted to tell Santana that a part of her is not over it. She wanted to tell her how much she didn't want to leave Santana. She wanted to tell her she didn't forget her. Because god knows how many times she had wished she had forgotten all of it hoping it would take away some of the loneliness that kept aching in her heart. She wanted to tell Santana how miserable the first few years were and how she had to keep replaying the days they've spent together like a broken record, in fear that one day she'll soon forget about the way Santana looks and the way Santana feels and the way it made her feel. But it only made her more miserable. So one day she finally decided to just stop because as much as it became a comforting relief for her, like she could finally take a huge gasp of air, this small world she had created became so asphyxiating that she just ends up missing Santana even more. She wanted to tell her all of that but she feels the words get stuck in her throat and the pit inside her stomach only seems to grow.
"Uhh but-"
"Great. Well this has been a blast but Imma head out afores you change your mind and actually find something to hit me with."
Brittany didn't get a chance to say goodbye as Santana had already took off. Not that it would have mattered anyway, because she swears she probably wouldn't have been able to. She remained rooted in her spot, a small frown in her face, as she helplessly watch the brunette until she couldn't see her anymore. Her heart was beating unsteadily that if it weren't for her the same motionless surroundings around her she would have thought she had been running the whole time. Once the brunette was gone, she shook her head and started running in the opposite direction.
"Hey Quinn." Brittany smiled happily as she approached the blonde girl who was sitting at one of the tables by the window at the Lima Bean cafe. She and Quinn were quite good friends. Not as close as she and Santana were but they were pretty out there.
"Britt!" Quinn excitedly greeted Brittany, giving her a quick hug before she gestured to the seat on the opposite side of her. "Its been so long. How many years has it been? Seven? Eight?"
"Eight," Brittany replied nodding her head with a smirk. "It feels like it was just yesterday. I can still remember when I would see you and your awesome pigtails."
"Don't remind me. I was going through some fashion phase," Quinn chuckled shaking her head. "What was I even thinking? Those pigtails were hideous." She almost had to shiver at how different she looked. "Plus I totally had all these baby fats going on."
"You totally pulled it off." Brittany giggled remembering how her blonde friend used to look. "Puck even had a thing for it. I specifically remember him liking your glasses too."
"Ugh." Quinn scrunched up her nose before taking a bite on her carrot muffin. "I'm sure you've met him." She rolled her eyes thinking of the obnoxious Mohawk friend of hers.
"Yeah," Brittany hummed, casually taking a sip of her hot chocolate. "Just after my first period on Friday. He gave me a tour around school by lunch."
"I'd figure. Me and Rachel even had a bet about it. Just tell me if he goes out of line. I'm not afraid to give him a few hard slaps."
"No don't worry. I told him I was off limits."
"Oh?" That caught Quinn's attention. She raised her eyebrows intrigued. "Who's the lucky one?"
"No one." Brittany grinned. "I thought it would be the best way to get rid of him."
"Wait...You didn't leave anyone back in LA?" Quinn asked, her eyes narrowed. She finds it hard to believe that her friend who had managed to leave such a huge impression in McKinley, ignoring the fact that her school gets excited at just about anything, was completely single. Brittany was the talk of the town for god's sake, they were talking about how this family from LA had moved back in Lima. Lima of all places. And what's even better was that this family had a daughter, both talented and beautiful. Even Sue Sylvester had set her eyes on the new girl and wasted no time recruiting her. Brittany was in fact the latest gossip that people were buzzing about and looking at her friend now, she has no doubt in her mind that all the talks about the blonde were all true. She would have thought the girl would have tons of guys and even girls lining up to be with her. So it really came as a surprise when her friend told her she was single. "I would have thought you had someone."
Brittany smiled unconsciously thinking of her ex boyfriend, Jeremy. They had broken off a few weeks before she had to leave. It was a mutual decision since they both realized they were much better off as friends. Plus they weren't really up to the whole long distance relationship thing. "Nope," she said popping the p. "We broke up."
"I'm sorry Britt."
"No it's all good. We're still good friends," Brittany smiled assuring her blonde friend. "We text each other a couple of times."
Quinn looked at her for a few second before returning her smile. "Well my offer still stands. If you need me to slap him, just let me know."
Brittany nodded finishing off her chocolate chip cookie. "I'll keep that in mind. You definitely sound like you have some pretty good slaps there."
Quinn had said something in response but Brittany barely hears it as her eyes strays off to the side.
It catches her eyes so quickly that it almost surprised her.
It was Santana.
The brunette was standing casually by the wall, her running attire were gone replaced with a pair of dark skinny jeans laced with black boots and black leather jacket over top of a red v-neck shirt. Her long dark hair was free from the confinements of the ponytail she had on this morning and her hair, straighten, was now softly flowing down her chest.
Brittany's stomach did a little flip. And she feels all too warm as she looks appreciatively at her childhood friend. Santana is, in simple terms, was breath taking. It was undeniable and almost unbelievable to have someone look so causally beautiful. It makes her shiver. She could feel her knees weaken and she's thankful that she's already sitting down. Her body seems to be buzzing with excitement but at the same time she feels herself tensing, almost rigid. It's like a shot of adrenaline was flowing through her and she patiently waits for it to settle down.
It doesn't.
And it frustrates her because she really needs to get a grip. She can't always act so tense around the Santana. She thinks its because her body still hasn't caught on having Santana near her after such a long time of being without her. It would take some adjusting.
And it's not only her body she worries about. She feels her emotional well being was also at stake. Her feelings seems like a pulsating wave, constantly pushing and pulling, until she doesn't know what to feel anymore. It was overwhelming her. She's not exactly sure where their friendship lies or if they were still even friends especially after this morning with Santana's abrupt dismissal and uncaring attitude. The whole dynamic of where the line was and where she should stand was adding to all these weird effects she's been having that she couldn't focus on one thing. It was definitely messing her up.
But it doesn't take away the fact that she likes looking at Santana. She miss looking at Santana. She's sure her face was slightly red but she hopes it was hot enough she could blame it on the heat.
Quinn must have notice her attention had been elsewhere as the blonde turns around and looks back to where her eyes were softly trained.
"Oh hey it's San." The blonde said excitedly. "Wait.. Let me call her. You don't mind do you?" Quinn bit her lips unsurely. She had heard from Rachel what had happened yesterday between the two. She wasn't very happy to say the least. She would have given Santana an earful but she knows Rachel's lecture would have been enough -torturous even- for the brunette. For once she hopes that Santana would actually listen to Rachel instead of tuning her out every time. But that girl is too damn stubborn.
Brittany shook her head. "No. I don't mind." She thinks she might have croaked a bit. If she did Quinn didn't say anything.
Quinn gives her a small smile before heading out towards Santana who was still standing by the wall but was now armed with a cigarette. Brittany's eyes fixed at the two with Quinn's taut back and blonde hair towards her. She could see Quinn gesturing animatedly. The brunette definitely didn't seem please. It didn't seem to bother Quinn as the girl continued to waved her arms before aimlessly pointing towards her. Brittany guesses Quinn was now convincing Santana, who now had a frown embedded in her face, to join them. She can't see Quinn's facial reaction but it didn't matter much because her eyes were set on the brunette who had just rolled her eyes. She watches how Santana's lips moves- slow and deliberate- and it made her wish she could be outside right now hearing it. She briefly wonders what they were talking about.
At that moment, Santana's eyes flitted towards her. And like always, Brittany feels the slight tremor run through her. Instead of looking away, she finds herself quickly searching those brown eyes. She didn't even know what she was looking for. Maybe to see if Santana feels as lost and confuse as her too, or maybe Brittany just wanted to find some answers. Answers as to why she was feeling such a jumbled mess ever since she saw the girl.
It felt like an hour but it could have just been seconds before Santana's gaze drifted back to Quinn, her face set into a frown- filled with distaste.
Brittany feels her stomach dropped at the sight. She forced her attention to the cup of hot chocolate that she had been absentmindedly playing with as she tries to rid herself of a certain brown eyes, trying to forget the look of distaste it held. But the dark swirl of her sweet drink definitely didn't help her. It only made her even more aware of Santana. She sigh in defeat. Maybe Santana was suppose to be stuck in her head. Maybe Santana was suppose to make her feel this way. Maybe-
"Hey Britt." Quinn came bounding it with a big smile. "Look who I convinced to join us."
Her eyes slowly traveled from Quinn to Santana and not a moment later their eyes meets and Brittany understood. Maybe Santana is exactly where her body, mind and heart wants her to be. And she has to stop fighting for it. Even if Santana looks like she'd rather be anywhere than be with them right now, she knows she's right where she wants to be. Right close to Santana.
"More like blackmailed me," Santana huffed frowning at Quinn. "There's a difference."
"It's not a blackmail if you're getting something out of it."
Brittany raise her brows. Curious as to what Quinn had used against the sulking brunette. Maybe she needed this thing as a leverage to get Santana to talk to her. Maybe it would even make Santana be her friend again.
"Damn you and Berry for always playing this card against me. At least Puck has some decency."
"Puck's broke." Quinn rolled her eyes. "And as if you'd want anything bought by him. You don't even wanna know where his money came from. Besides," Quinn added. "It's not our fault your weak against your breadsticks."
"Bitch please those breadsticks are fucking delicious." Santana exclaimed. "But you speak some truth Fabray." The brunette nodded thoughtfully before a hint of mischief appeared, "Dem stick is the only stick I'm letting inside my body."
"Remind me again why I invited you here? And why you're even getting a breadstick out it?" Quinn scrunched her face in confusion. Ugh. Sometimes she wonders why she was even friends with the latina. But she guesses Santana has her moments too. Today just isn't it.
"Cause you love me." Santana flashed Quinn an arrogant smile. "And I'm the only one who puts up with your bacon fetishes."
"Ugh. Fine." Quinn groaned in defeat. As sad as it is. It's true. She remembers that one time in the middle of the night, she was hungry for some bacon so she went to their kitchen to satisfy her craving. And low and behold they didn't have any at home. She cried to say the least. She was on her period okay? It's just the hormones that was making her all kinds of hysterical. She remembers frantically calling Santana and sobbing about the lost of a great treasure. Santana was pissed for ruining her beauty sleep but half an hour later Santana came by her house looking disheveled and annoyed but she had two packs of bacon with her. She instantly stopped crying.
Santana grinned smugly before her eyes traveled to Brittany. She looks at the blonde almost bored before her signature smirked came about."Sup blondie?"
"Hey," Brittany smiled confidently despite how she feels like her stomach held thousands of fluttering butterflies. She briefly wonders if Santana can ever look at her without having that smirk or that glare on that face of hers.
"Stalking me again?" The brunette asked her amusedly.
She raised her eyebrows also amused, while Quinn shook her head at Santana, chastening her from saying anything rude. "San be nice."
"Fuck off Fabray. This is me nice."
Quinn rolled her eyes as she sits across from Brittany, resuming the same spot she had awhile ago. Brittany's body suddenly tensed, finally realizing the situation. With Quinn on the opposite side of her, it gave Santana an option to sit beside her or the other blonde. She holds her breathe, her heart racing, when Santana stood lingering beside their table. From this short distance, she could smell the sweet smell of vanilla coming from the girl. It surprised her because she swears Santana was just smoking just a minute ago so why does the brunette smelled so heavenly like she had just showered and bathe in a sea full of flowers? Was that even possible? Is it crazy for her to hope that the girl doesn't sit beside her? She doesn't think she can handle being assaulted with so much Santana. Because just the smell of Santana from that distance was already making her deliriously crazy. What more if she sits right next to her? She thinks she'll go insane.
"Well I'm gonna order." Santana pointed towards the counter causing Brittany to release a small breath of relief. "God knows I need something to stomach this."
"Oh San, can you get me another muffin?" Quinn half shouted to the brunette who was on the way to the counter.
"First of all wanky. And second of all you might want to rethink that Q. You might just topple the whole pyramid with that weight of yours."
Quinn rolled her eyes once more at the retreating Santana who was looking please with herself. "Sorry about her Britt," the blonde sigh apologetically once the brunette was gone.
Brittany smiled hearing the same apology from yesterday. "That's the same thing Rachel said."
"Well Santana is being an ass again, like usual. So I'm sorry about that."
"It's okay. Like I told Rachel it's not your fault. So don't apologize."
"I still feel like I need to."
"No it's really okay. At least you were able to get her to hang with us."
"Ugh I had to bribe her with breadstick just to get her to come here. You'd think I had held a gun against her."
Brittany chuckles, her eyes glancing towards Santana, who was just paying at the counter. "Well...She's-" She started as she continued to watch Santana who has now on the side typing on her phone. "She's Santana." She nodded finding a lack of better way to describe the girl.
Quinn hummed in approval. "I never really get her. I mean sometimes I think I do but next thing I know she does something completely un-Santana like." She pauses before flashing Brittany a small smile. "You're the one who could always figure her out."
Brittany wishes with all her heart Quinn's words held some truth. It scared her to think that if Quinn had said that to her eighth years ago she would have smiled and agreed wholeheartedly, but hearing those words now, it seems nothing more of a hopeful dream that she could only wish would come true.
She was glad at the sudden intrusion of Santana, which had stopped her from voicing out her fears. And she was even more grateful when Santana had chose to sit beside Quinn. It would probably make her breathing a little easier. That is until she realized the brunette would be directly in front of her. And she silently had to rethink all her life choices. She gripped her drink a little bit more tightly, slightly thankful for the small warmth that it could offer her seemingly cold hands.
"Here you go Fabray." Santana rolled her eyes. "Eat up."
"Thanks San." Quinn said excitedly ripping the bag open.
It made Brittany's heart flutter just a bit more and she feels her chest warming up -definitely not from the hot chocolate- when she sees Santana handing Quinn the muffin she had ask for. It was then something inside Brittany clicks. Sure Santana was different: her actions, her mannerisms, her words and even the way the girl carried herself had changed but within those tough exterior she could still see Santana's heart remaining the same. Always so fierce, always so loyal and always always so giving in her own little ways. They were both different person now than they were eight years ago. But that's okay, because she realizes that even if she doesn't understand Santana now, which initially terrified her and it kinda still does, it doesn't mean she can't anymore. She just have to relearn it, like reading another book from her favourite author, and it doesn't matter how long it would take because if discovering the little bits, crevices and corners of Santana would make her feel this, she's not sure of what it was yet, but she thinks it's good. Then she thinks she wouldn't mind getting to know her friend all over again. Because learning Santana the first time around made her the happiest person. So why should the second time feel any different? She kinda feels like she's on a treasure hunt and she suddenly can't wait to unravel the little parts and pieces of Santana. It would be worth it because Santana was someone that, at one point, had made her feel so special and she would always cherish that.
"Ugh. Just eat it before I change my mind and chuck that thing out of the window."
"How'd you even get this choco muffin? I asked for this earlier and that girl told me it was sold out."
"Let's just say I have my ways Fabray. Don't underestimate the Lopez charm." Santana said smugly as she wiggled her fingers in front of a disgusted Quinn.
"That bitch was hiding it from me. But ugh. I really don't need to know what you did to get this."
With this, Brittany feels a turmoil inside her chest when she hears the conversation between the two. But she easily brushed it aside when she sees the brunette taking out a cheese bagel causing her to suddenly feel giddy. It was the same cheese bagel Santana used to ask for. It was something small and maybe even insignificant but seeing Santana with that same order after all these years made her smile all the more.
"You've really changed San," Brittany said with a hint of smile playing on her lips. "But at the same time you're still the same."
The brunette looked at her, almost surprised, before she meticulously raised her left eyebrow. "And you're still just the same blondie, except a whole lot more...you."
Brittany beamed. "Thanks."
"Totally wasn't a compliment." Santana frowned munching on her bagel.
Quinn snorted. "Totally was."
"Seriously Fabray you should get the snort fix. People might think you have a problem."
"Shut up," Quinn huffed. "You're lucky you gave me a muffin even if it came from whatever sketchy thing you did."
"Anyways," Santana rolled her eyes ignoring Quinn. "You never answered my question blondie." She turned and fixes her direction to Brittany. "You stalking me again?"
"I think you must have hit your head," Brittany raises her eyebrow challengingly, watching Santana eyes widen slightly before it flickered with amusement. "Because it's the other way around."
"You don't say?" Santana hummed. "I-" Before Santana could continue her phone rang instantly snapping her attention away from Brittany. "Riley where the hell are you?" She exclaimed as soon as she picked up. She was secretly thankful for the timing of the girl but at the same time she kinda wants to choke her cause if Riley came in time she wouldn't have to be in here right now having to deal with Fabray and blondie's presence.
Brittany was curious as to who Santana was talking to. But she didn't dwell much on it as her eyes drifted to Quinn who simply shrugged while mumbling, "her friend" and continued to eat.
It wasn't till a few seconds after that that Santana hung up and quickly stood up saying how she needs to get her drinks on so she's leaving asap before she gets blinded from the blondies surrounding her.
Quinn just waved her off while Brittany just nodded. She feels slightly sad seeing Santana's retreating back once again.
NOTE: Thank you guys for all the fav., follow and review. It means a lot. :) Sorry for all the typos and grammatical errors. English is my second language so I know there's tons of it in there. Anyways I hope you like this chapter. It's kinda long. It took a while for me to upload it cause I've been busy with exams. :S I know this story is progressing rather slow but I'm a sucker for buildup in the stories. And oh I don't own any of the characters. I wish I did though. hahaha