Sorry for the inconsistent updates, everyone! I've been caught up with summer activities and such (really just my girlfriend), and so I try to update when I can. Enjoy!
…
The bliss of their day at the races didn't last long, they seemed to fall back into their daily routine when they returned home to prepare for their fourth of July celebration. It was the morning of the 3rd when Santana and Brittany were sitting in the kitchen, eating breakfast in a comfortable silence when Susan strided in looking excited and chipper as ever.
"Good morning girls!" She chirped as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
"Hey mom…" Brittany eyed her suspiciously, "what's got you in such a good mood? It's like…a million degrees outside."
"Well, I just happen to be going shopping for your birthday present today!" Susan laughed like Brittany should have known what she was going to say. Santana looked up from her dry toast and looked at her girlfriend.
"Britt, you didn't tell me your birthday was coming up. What day is it?" Santana asked, now suddenly weighed down with the task of getting her girlfriend a present on top of her mother's illness.
Brittany shrugged, "The eighth…It's no big deal."
Susan interjected as she sat across from them at the table, "Sweetie, of course it is! It's your eighteenth birthday!"
"Yeah B…We have to celebrate somehow," Santana nodded.
"You don't have to do that, San…you've got enough on your plate!" Brittany's tone was insistent.
"At least let me invite a few of your friends over or something," Santana offered.
"It'll just turn into a big thing!" Brittany whined grumpily.
"I'll make sure it doesn't. C'mon, it'll be fun!" Santana cooed. Brittany groaned.
"Sweetie, listen to Santana! She's right! You two both need it!" Susan nodded in agreement.
"We're already having a fourth of July celebration, why have another one four days later?" Brittany asked, pushing her Lucky Charms around in her bowl.
"Britt," Santana looked at her, "they don't have to stay long. How about they come over for a little while and then I'll take you out to dinner, okay? Just you and me?"
Brittany sighed and looked up to meet Santana's soft eyes and she couldn't fight the smile that formed on her lips. "Okay."
Santana's face lifted, "Yeah? Great! You'll love it!" The brunetted hopped up from her chair and kissed Brittany's cheek as she took her dishes to the sink. Susan beamed at the two.
"Oh, wonderful! Well, I better go shower! I need to get out and go find you a great present!" Susan got up from the table and started towards the living room.
"Um, Susan?" Santana called after her.
"Yes?" The bright blonde woman returned to the kitchen.
"Could I…maybe come along? I need to get a gift too, now that Brittany's told me about it!" Santana teased. The athlete pouted.
"Of course darling! Just be ready to leave in…and hour and a half?" Susan offered.
Santana nodded and smiled, "Sure, thanks."
As soon as she was gone, Brittany stood up and took her bowl to the sink before turning back to look at Santana, her arms crossed. "San.."
"What?" Santana asked lightly.
"You really don't have to get me anything," she insisted.
Santana chuckled, "Why don't you want a gift? It's your birthday, silly!"
Brittany smilied a little and shrugged, "I don't need a gift. Having you is enough of a gift already."
The way Brittany said it as if it were something she said all the time made Santana's heart swell with emotion. She gave a touched smiled and stepped over to wrap her arms around Brittany's waist. "Well, too bad. Cause you're getting a gift and you're going to love it!" Santana smiled and leaned forward to kiss Brittany's nose, which the blonde scrunched up shortly after.
"You're so cheesy!" Brittany laughed a little. Santana smirked and leaned forward to kiss her.
"But you love me," she mumbled against Brittany's lips.
"Mm…yes I do." Brittany was about to deepen the kiss when they heard someone walk into the kitchen.
"Gross! People eat in here!" Braden scolded, feigning disgust as he walked past them to the fridge. Brittany blushed and Santana laughed a little as she pulled Brittany towards the living room.
"Get over it, toothpick!" Santana called over her shoulder, leading Brittany into the living room and up the stairs towards her room, noticing that Brittany was still pouting. "Someone's grumpy this morning!"
Brittany sat on Santana's bed and sighed, "I'm not a morning person, okay?"
Santana smiled and walked over to her girlfriend, sliding onto her lap, a leg on either side. "So I've learned!" She chuckled and brushed some hair from Brittany's face. "But I think I can fix that…"
At this, Brittany's eyebrows shot up curiously, "How do you plan to do that?"
Santana grinned mischeivously, "Well…Your dad is at work…" She kissed the corner of Brittany's mouth, "Your mom is in the shower…" She kissed down Brittany's jaw.
"And Braden—," Brittany began, but was cut off by Santana's kiss.
"Braden is going over to his friend's house. Which means, you can join me in the shower…" Santana smirked and kissed Brittany's nose befor getting up and grabbing her towel from the back of her desk chair before going towards the door, adding, "Up to you," as she left Brittany in awe.
Brittany sat there for a minute or so before she heard the shower start. She stepped out into the hall and down to their shared bathroom and smiled a little as she cracked the door open. She was greeted by the sound of Santana humming behind the semi-transparent shower curtain.
Fairly certain that the Latin beauty hadn't noticed her yet, she quietly stripped off her Disney pj pants and tank top before stepping into the shower behind Santana. She let her eyes wander over the smooth expanse of wet skin before her as Santana spun around in realization that she was no longer alone. The tan girl grinned and shamelessly eyed Brittany's body as well.
"I knew you couldn't resist…" Santana's voice was cocky and Brittany shook her head, stepping closer to her lover, slipping her arms around her toned body.
Santana ran her hands up Brittany's upper arms and around her neck, pulling her down for a long, deep kiss. It was broken by Brittany, who gave her a sexy smile as she reached for the shampoo, squeezing some onto her palm and lathering it into her girlfriend's raven hair. Santana closed her eyes and leaned her head back with a soft moan as Brittany massaged her scalp.
As soon as Brittany rinsed the shampoo from Santana's hair, she started on the body wash. She squeezed some onto a wet washcloth and lathered it up before running it all over Santana's lean form. Once her body was covered in suds, Brittany rinsed out the towel and placed it aside before running her hands over tan flesh.
"Britt…" Santana was beginning to regret her offer because she knew they couldn't do stuff right now. Brittany chuckled as she washed Santana's body completely clean. Then, to Santana's surprise, she placed a kiss on her lips, and got out of the shower, just like that. Santana started to protest, but Brittany was already wrapped in a towel and out the door.
"Tease…" Santana muttered under her breath as she reached for her conditioner to finish her shower alone.
…
"Ready to go?" Susan asked as she strode into the kitchen about forty five minutes later.
Santana hopped off her place from the counter and grabbed her purse. "Yep! Let's do this."
Susan picked up her purse as well and checked to make sure she had everything before stepping into the hot early afternoon heat. They climbed into Mrs. Pierce's white Toyota Sienna and started off towards the mall in town.
"So, are you enjoying working with us?" Susan struck up conversation. She was good at that. Come to think of it, Brittany was too. Brittany was a lot like her mom. Santana found that their shared qualities made it easier to talk to Susan.
"Yeah…I mean, obviously, because of Brittany and all…but I really do like being a mechanic." She nodded as she looked over at the older Pierce woman.
"Did you always plan on that or…?" Susan trailed off.
"No…I was told to go to medical school, like my father…but it just didn't fit…and plus, my parents and I haven't been on the best terms since I came out a few years back, so…" She shrugged, "I found a new path."
"Well, I think that's just great, Santana. It shows how much responsibility you take for yourself. And I respect that," Susan nodded admirably at the young woman.
"Thanks, Mrs. Pierce," Santana smiled a little.
"I've told you a hundred times! Call me Susan!" The mother teased her before continuing, "So do you know what you want to get for Brittany for her birthday?"
Santana thought for a moment and shrugged, "Nothing too big…I know she's trying to play the whole thing down so I don't want to over step with a big gift."
"Don't say anything…but James and I found a small space for rent in one of the strip malls in town and we converted it into a dance studio for her. Her dream has always been to have a dance studio…and we got her one!" Susan revealed.
"Wow…Susan…" Santana had to take it in for a moment, "That's amazing…I think she'll seriously love it."
"We sure hope so!" Susan nodded with the same enthusiasm Brittany had when she was excited about something.
Suddenly, an idea struck Santana, "Susan…I think I know what I want to do for Britt's birthday, but I'm gonna need your help."
…
"San! Help! I can't pour this charcoal and people are going to be here soon!" Brittany whined as she stood over their grill with a bag of charcoal in her arms. Santana chuckled and got up from the lawn chair she was sitting on on Brittany's back deck and walked over, taking the bag and pouring some charcoal into the pit of the grill before replacing the bag down and lighing the grill.
"There you go, babe. Still sure you wanna cook?" Santana was teasing her and she pouted.
"No…" Brittany's mumble was almost too quiet to hear.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Santana asked jokingly.
The blonde huffed, "Can you cook?"
"Maybe if you say please!"
"Santana…"
"Say it!" Santana poked her ribs.
"Santana, will you please cook the burgers and hot dogs?" Brittany rolled her eyes.
"Yes, I would love to!" Santana kissed Brittany's cheek and suddenly came the sound of an obnoxiously loud male voice.
"Yo yo yo! Puckerman in the house!" The mowhawked guy came onto the back deck holding four two-liters of varied soda. "Britt, where do I put these?"
"In the kitchen, Puck!" Brittany skipped over to the table and made sure there were plates, napkins, plastic sliverware, buns, and condiments all ready to go as Santana waited for the fire on the charcoal to die down a little.
"I'm gonna go get my fireworks from my car!" Puck said once the soda was in the kitchen.
After Puck arrived, Rachel and Quinn came bearing sliced watermelon and some potato salad. Then came Sam, Mike, and Tina, all bringing chips, then came Mercedes, who had homemade guacamole and queso dip with a large bag of tortilla chips, then Kurt and Blaine, who made apple pie for dessert, and last to arrive was Sugar Motta, who had insisted she come, only because Puck told her about it. She didn't bring anything.
With Santana cooking and music playing and the boys shooting off firecrackers on the far side of the yard and music playing, the atmosphere quickly reminded them of the summer they had to enjoy.
Once the food was all done on the grill, Santana called out for everyone to come eat and they scrambled over, making a mess of the food and finding any place they can to sit and eat as fireworks went off in the sky. Once they all finished eating, Brittany turned up the music and pulled Santana out to the middle of the yard, dancing goofily with her.
"Britt! This is embarrassing!" Santana tried to resist her girlfriend's dancing.
"No it's not!" Brittany giggled, waving over to the others. "C'mon guys! Come dance with us!"
Mike and Tina were the next to join the dancing couple, both beaming at eachother as they danced.
"Get some, Sam!" Puck yelled ask the blonde asked Mercedes to dance. Brittany laughed as she held Santana's hands and watched her friends having a good time. Blaine and Kurt started laughing and dancing here and there, and Rachel and Quinn too. Brittany found it cute because of their height difference. And even Puck and Sugar were dancing in a funny manner. She liked when Puck's genuine side showed. He was nicer than people thought.
"San, it's so pretty…" Brittany stopped for a second and looked up. Santana looked straight at Brittany as she replied.
"Yeah, it is."
Brittany looked down and bit her lip shyly under Santana's gaze, "I love you San…"
Santana leaned in and kissed her tenderly, "I love you too."
A shriek rang out after the loud crack of a firecracker. They looked over and saw a terrified Rachel hiding behind Quinn and Puck nearly in tears from laughing so hard.
"Puckerman! I swear to God if you light another one of those things next to us one more time…" Quinn growled defensively.
"Sorry! Jeez! I'm just having a little fun!" Puck held his hands up in defense. Quinn scowled and turned to wrap her arms around Rachel, apologizing on Puck's behalf.
Santana laughed at the whole scene, mainly at Rachel's terrified face. Brittany smacked her. "San! That's not funny!"
"If you'd known Rachel when she was in high school, you'd be laughing too!" Santana chuckled, earning another stern look from Brittany. "Fine! I'll stop!"
"Brittany!" Kurt called as he made his way over, "Thanks for having us over! This is really fun!"
"Thanks Kurt! I'm glad you came! I haven't seen my unicorn in forever!" She playfully nudged him. "Have you formally met my girlfriend, Santana?"
Kurt looked at the Latina and smiled, "I don't believe so. I'm Kurt, and I think you met my boyfriend, Blaine, over there." He pointed over to the dapper guy, who was laughing with Mercedes and Tina.
"Yeah, I did meet him. Nice to meet you too," Santana nodded quaintly.
Kurt smiled and looked back to Brittany, "So, I didn't know Quinn playing for the ladies…" He nodded over his shoulder towards where Quinn and Rachel sat in the swing under the large tree in the corner of the yard.
"I didn't either…but I guess Rachel was enough to change her mind…she's really happy with her," Brittany nodded and smiled, looking over at the couple.
"Yeah, I went to high school with Rachel..." Santana added, "And she has two gay dads, so I'm not surprised she's open minded about her sexuality."
"You did?" Kurt asked.
"Yep, we graduated a year ago."
"How'd you both end up in Lima?" Kurt asked.
"I guess Rachel got a job at the local theatre and as you know I work for Britt's family, so…" Santana shrugged. "Coincidence I guess."
…
"So…It's funny how you and Santana know eachother…" Quinn stated as she and Rachel sat on the tree swing together.
"Oh…It's quite the conincidence that we ended up here in Lima," Rachel nodded in agreement.
"Rach…I have a question…" Quinn began slowly. The small brunette looked at the taller girl nervously.
"Yes?"
"Did anything happen between you and Santana back in high school? It just…seems like something happened…" Quinn trailed off, looking at their interlinked hands.
Rachel shifted nervously and looked down. Quinn tried to catch her gaze and when she couldn't, she looked over at Santana, who was chatting with Brittany and Kurt.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Quinn asked, almost to herself.
"Yes…" Rachel nodded, "But not like you. You're the most beautiful person I've ever met."
"Did something happen between you and Santana in high school?" Quinn asked again.
Rachel sighed, "Yeah…"
"Did you..?" Quinn trailed off.
Rachel blushed and looked away again, "It didn't mean anything…I mean…we were eachother's first time with a girl…but we never dated or anything…it was a one time thing…"
"You two went all the way?" Quinn asked quietly. She wasn't angry, just slightly jealous that Santana got to be Rachel's first time with a girl and not her.
"Yeah…b-but it was nothing like you and I, Quinn, okay? I'm not going anywhere." Rachel leaned over and kissed Quinn gently.
"Okay. I believe you…thank you for being honest with me," Quinn smiled, kissing her again. "I'm going to go to the bathroom okay? Be right back." The green-eyed girl got up and headed into the house.
…
"Hey, San, I'm going to go get a drink inside, okay?" Brittany asked.
"Okay, I'll just be talking with Mercedes," Santana nodded and kissed Brittany's cheek.
"Be right back," Brittany smiled and walked inside. As she stood in the kitchen, pouring herself a cup of soda, Quinn came in and smiled in surprise.
"Oh, hey Britt!" Quinn smiled, leaning against the counter.
"Hey! Having fun?" Brittany asked.
"Yeah! Um…actually, I was talking to Rachel and she told me something that I wanted to ask you about…"
Brittany furrowed her brow and turned to fully face her best friend as she spoke. "What is it?"
"Did you know about Rachel and Santana's past when they were in high school?" Quinn asked.
"Yeah, I asked San about it at your party and she told me they like, made out and stuff, but nothing else, so it's all good," Brittany nodded.
At this, Quinn bit her lip and felt her chest tighten, "Oh…That's odd…"
"What do you mean?" Brittany folded her arms.
"Rachel told me another story…" Quinn trailed off.
Now Brittany was nervous, "What did she tell you?"
Quinn paused and looked at her friend sympathetically, "She…she told me that her and Santana went all the way…"
Brittany froze. Had Santana lied to her? "What?"
"I'm sorry…" Quinn said sadly.
Brittany took a deep breath and only nodded before taking off towards the back door.
…
"I need to talk to you," Brittany hissed under her breath when she found Santana again. The mechanic gave her a confused look.
"Okay…What's wrong, B?" Santana asked. The blonde tugged her by the arm over to a secluded area.
"You lied to me, Santana." Brittany had her arms crossed. Santana was about to speak when she continued, "You told me that you didn't go all the way with Rachel. You lied. You had sex with her didn't you?"
Santana swallowed hard and looked away, "Who told you that?"
"Quinn." Brittany said sternly. "Rachel told her. Is it true?"
Santana remained silent.
"Santana, look at me and tell me the truth." Brittany's voice was more demanding than Santana had ever heard, and she felt like crying when she looked into Brittany's eyes.
"It was a long time ago…"
"Answer the goddamn question, Santana!" She said in a low voice.
"Yes."
Brittany looked away, her hand coming up over her mouth, "I can't believe you…You lied…I wouldn't have cared if you'd have been honest…"
"I'm…I'm sorry," Santana said weakly.
"Just when I thought you would never lie to me…"
And then Brittany stormed off into the house, leaving Santana to sulk in her actions. She was startled out of her stunned state when her phone rang in her pocket. She pulled it out and looked at the caller I.D.
Sergio.
….
Oh no! Trouble! Sorry for the cliffhanger everyone! I'll update sooner the more reviews I get!