Brittany's alarm jolted her awake. It felt like she had just fallen asleep, and all of a sudden, it was morning. Brittany looked at the clock and did the math; four hours of sleep. She sighed and pulled her tired body out of bed and into the bathroom. As she showered, she gave her self a pep talk. It's just nerves, she thought. She had so much trouble falling asleep last night. She tossed and turned, worried that everything she and Quinn and Santana reviewed would be forgotten the second she walked into the summer school classroom. It's just nerves, she reminded herself.

Brittany dressed and grabbed her backpack and crept across the hall to Santana's room. Inside, Santana was on her back, arms splayed, snoring away as usual. Brittany gave her a peck on the forehead. Santana didn't stir. Her snoring tempo never faltered. In the kitchen, Brittany found the coffee pot hot and full, but no sign of Mrs. Lopez. She poured herself a cup, and went to the fridge for milk. As she reached for the milk, she noticed a brown paper lunch bag with her name written in beautiful script. She pulled it out and opened it on the kitchen counter. Inside were, a sandwich, an apple, a snack pack of cookies and a note. Brittany pulled the note out and unfolded it. She took a sip from her coffee cup and grimace. She forgot the milk and sugar. Once her coffee was to her liking, she returned her attention to the note.

Brittany,

Have a great first day at school. I know you'll do fine.

Love,

Maribel

Brittany sighed and smiled and put the note in her backpack. He finished her coffee, ate her bowl of Lucky Charms and headed out the front door. As she approached her car, she saw a note under her windshield wiper. She pulled it out and pouted at the black marks the wipers left. She sat in her car and read it.

Britt-Britt,

You're a genius Britt. Don't forget that.

I love you.

Santana

Brittany slipped the note in her backpack with the one from Maribel and looked up at the Lopez home and smiled. She wondered how she ever got so lucky to have such a wonderful second family.

It was mid-morning when Sue Sylvester strolled down the empty hallways of William McKinley High School. She passed empty classroom upon empty classroom. She heard the murmurs of the summer school chemistry teacher. Sue looked through the meshed glass window of the classroom door and nodded with proud smirk. There was Brittany, diligently taking notes. Her Koosh pen wiggled, her tongue peeked out between her lips in concentration, as she listened to the teacher.

Santana's ring tone tore through her sound sleep. Santana blindly reached for her phone and answered the call.

Quinn heard a grunt through her cell phone and she chuckled. "It's 10 Santana," Quinn stated plainly.

"Fuuuuuck. Why you callin' me?" Santana whined.

"I was checking in on you. Thought you'd be up pacing waiting for Brittany to call and tell you about her classes," Quinn explained.

"I finally passed out around 6," Santana confessed.

Quinn nodded into the phone. She understood. She was nervous for Brittany too.

"Come keep me company. There's no one here."

"I'm not getting out of bed," Santana sighed.

"Get your ass over here. I already texted Brittany to come here when she's done with school."

"I'll see you in 30."

Quinn saw the bags under Santana's eyes when she removed her sunglasses in the bookstore.

"You look like shit," Quinn said, handing Santana a cappuccino. "It's a triple shot."

"Thanks," Santana whispered.

Quinn led Santana to the end of the counter and offered up a stool. Santana sat and sipped. And sighed. And sipped. She leaned her head back against some hardcover books on the shelf behind her. Quinn sat and waited for the caffeine to kick in and bring Santana half way back to life.

"So, why did you wake me up again?" Santana asked.

"I was bored," Quinn shrugged.

"I hate you," Santana grumbled.

"I'm sure you do. And that's why you're sitting here with me keeping me company," Quinn replied.

Santana huffed into her mug. "I couldn't sleep."

Quinn nodded. "I'm nervous for her too."

"Think she'll pass?" Santana asked.

"I think Brittany can do anything she puts her mind to. I mean, she waited for you, didn't she?"

Santana chucked. "And people think I'm the stubborn one."

The doorbell chimed, alerting Quinn of a customer. Santana looked away from her book and down at her phone: 2pm. Brittany.

Santana walked quickly to the front of the store and saw Quinn talking animatedly with Brittany. Santana shoved Quinn out of the way and hugged Brittany. Brittany took a step back to steady herself from the crushing hug.

"I missed you too?" Brittany chuckled, rubbing Santana's back.

"How did go?" Santana asked as she pulled away to study her girlfriend's face; looking for signs of disappointment.

"Not bad. All of Quinn's reviewing really paid off. And Lit was fine. You did great honey. Both of you actually. It's not as scary as I thought," Brittany grinned.

"Helps that these are your only two classes. Between Cheerios, Glee Club and all your other classes, something was bound to give last year," Quinn reasoned.

Brittany nodded. Santana couldn't wipe the smile off her face.

"I'm so glad it was good Britt," Santana said, giving Brittany a kiss.

"It was only the first day," Brittany reminded her. "But we got right into the work and so far, my brain hasn't exploded. So I have hope."

"Do you know anyone in your classes?" Quinn asked, walking them back to the table where their tutoring session would be for the afternoon.

"I don't know anyone except one kid. He was in my mechanic class sophomore year," Brittany shrugged. "But we just nodded to each other. Not like we're friends."

Quinn raised a questioning brow.

"My dad was sick of paying to fix my bike. He said, if I was going to do motor cross I had to fix it myself," Brittany reminded her.

"Mechanic Brittany is hot," Santana teased, rubbing her hand down Brittany's arm.

"You just like to get all the grease off me," Brittany joked.

"I think it's time Britt and I start our tutoring session," Quinn suggested, interrupting Santana's flirting.

Santana scowl only lasted a second, before she relented. Quinn reviewed Brittany's notes and they talked over what was coming up for the rest of the week. Santana kept herself busy surfing the web on her laptop and judging Quinn's coworker's outfit after he came in to relieve her.

The week carried on much as it did Monday. Brittany went to school, Santana hung out with Quinn at the bookstore. Quinn helped Brittany with Chemistry, then Santana and Brittany would study English Literature in the evening. Every Friday Brittany had a test in Chemistry and English on the week's work. Thursday evening, both Quinn and Santana were huddled around the kitchen counter, watching Brittany work through equations and talk about themes and character motivation in MacBeth.

"I'm not going to pass with you two hovering over me. You're making me nervous," Brittany complained.

Maribel entered the kitchen and gave both Santana and Quinn a light smack on the back of their heads.

"Come on you two. Leave her alone," Maribel demanded as she walked toward the back door.

Quinn and Santana followed her outside and sat in the patio chairs with Mrs. Lopez.

"You've been spending a lot of time at the bookstore Santana," Maribel remarked. "You should work there."

"That's what I said," Quinn replied. "But Santana has an aversion to customer service."

"People are jerks. They're all entitled, thinking you're practically their book slave. It's disrespectful," Santana reasoned.

"That was only one customer. And it was Coach Sylvester, so what did you expect? Look, you already spend the whole day there with me, you might as well get paid for it. Jimmy is leaving in a couple of weeks for Magic Camp."

"Which one is Jimmy?" Maribel asked

"The one who buttons his shirt up all the way and tucks in his sweater vest. I mean, he's really just a vertical Artie," Santana grimaced.

"Be nice Santana," Maribel chided. "Quinn, what do you mean 'Magic Camp'?"

"Oh it's a summer camp for kids that want to learn magician stuff. Magic tricks. There's a club for it at school."

"Wow, and I thought Glee Club was the bottom of the barrel. Those guys are so lame, I didn't even know that club existed," Santana chuckled.

Maribel sent Santana a warning glare. It was a silent, 'What did I say about being nice?'

Santana sat silently contemplating working at the bookstore. I would be good for her to earn some money this summer, before moving to New York. She wouldn't have to tap into her New York money. It wasn't at the mall, so that was a big bonus. She actually liked reading and the coffee was free. Plus, having Quinn as a co-worker wouldn't suck.

"How much does it pay?" Santana asked.

"$8.50 an hour," Quinn replied with a smile.

Santana did some quick math in her head.

"Fine. I'll do it," Santana relented.

"You have to apply first," Quinn teased. "I'll talk to my boss, and let her know you'll be applying and I'll make sure I lie and tell her you're super helpful."

Santana reached over and smacked her arm. "I can be helpful if I want."

"Well you're getting paid to be helpful, so you better want to. We're doing some inventory and moving some sections around too this summer, so you may be doing more physical labor than explaining to distraught parents that Fifty Shades of Grey, though written for adults, will not be wrapped in brown paper and hidden behind the counter." Quinn explained.

"I love that parents think one book in a store is going to ruin their children. I mean, have they seen the internet? If they want to worry about something, worry about the porn and smut there," Santana reasoned. "That shit is insane."

"Is that so?" Maribel asked.

She gulped then tried to shrug it off. "I've heard, you know, from…people."

Maribel just shook her head and stifled a smile. The older Santana got, the worse a liar she became.

"Are you staying for dinner Quinn? It's just leftovers, but you're welcome to stay," Maribel offered.

"I'd like that, thanks. I already warned my mom that we'd be working late helping Brittany prepare for her test tomorrow."

After dinner, Quinn helped Santana quiz Brittany on MacBeth. After Quinn left, Brittany talked to her family and was glad to hear her grandmother was continuing to slowly get better. Brittany decided to go to bed early, and get as plenty of sleep before her exams. Santana was too nervous for Brittany to sleep, so she ended up in the living room idly flipping through TV channels. Maribel soon joined her on the couch. She took the remote from Santana's hand and turned the TV off.

"So, you're actually going to get a job for the summer?" Maribel asked.

Santana shrugged. "I need a distraction. I don't have anything to do and I need the money for New York."

"You don't think the graduation money is enough?" Maribel asked.

"It might be, but I just want to be sure. And Dad's taking us to New York when he gets back to look at apartments. I just have a feeling I'm going to need every dime I can get to afford it," Santana admitted.

Maribel gave Santana's hand a squeeze. "You're doing great. I'm proud of you. I think you worry too much, but it's good to see you getting prepared. It's hard work living on your own."

"But I won't be alone. I have Britt," Santana smiled.

"Yes, but you always do the work of two people when you get worried. Don't forget, Brittany is going to work too, and split the bills with you."

"I know," Santana forced a smile. "But that still might not be enough. I don't want us to be constantly struggling and worrying about how to pay for everything."

Maribel quietly laughed. "Oh sweetheart. It took your father and I years to stop worrying about that, so you might as well get used to the idea."

Santana frowned. "It thought you were supposed to make me feel better."

"Look, you're going to make mistakes. It's going to be tough the first few months you're there. Learning a new city, working, taking classes, and then things will settle down. All your planning in the world, though smart and admirable, doesn't always measure up to reality, and I want you to be prepared for that. That's all. Moms aren't always supposed to make their daughters feel better. Most of our job is simply loving you and teaching you everything we can, so you can go off on your own and make your own life. I want you to be happy Santana. Of course I do. But I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't give you a few healthy doses of reality."

Friday morning Brittany ran Chemistry formulas in her head while she showered. She talked herself though MacBeth symbolism as she picked up her backpack and headed downstairs. Her mental test review suddenly halted as did her feet, when she arrived in the kitchen to find Santana cooking at the stove. She was still in her pajamas and the "Kiss the Cook" apron was a nice addition to the outfit.

"What are you doing?" Brittany asked as she sidled up next to Santana.

"Making you breakfast. Scrambled eggs. Just how you like them," Santana explained, giving Brittany a kiss on the cheek.

"I usually have cereal," Brittany replied. "You don't have to…"

"Eggs are brain food Britt. You need the extra boost for your test today."

"You don't think I'll pass?" Brittany asked, a little offended.

"No, no, of course not. Of course you'll pass," Santana soothed. "I just thought it would be nice to make you a good breakfast. Keep your energy up. Eggs are just going to keep those smart brain cells of yours going."

Brittany nodded and smiled, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Did you sleep well?"

Santana shrugged. "Sure."

"Liar."

Santana sighed and brushed it off. "I'm fine. Just got a lot on my mind," Santana said as she put a plate of eggs on the table in front of Brittany.

"Like what?" Brittany asked between mouthfuls.

"New York, job, apartment, money…you know, the usual."

"We'll find a place. April will get you a job. I'll be working too. We'll be fine Santana. Promise," Brittany grinned, her cheeks full of food.

Santana forced a smile at Brittany's optimism. "Anyway, we can talk about it later. All I want you thinking about is Chemistry and MacBeth right now."

Brittany straightened up and gave Santana an exaggerated salute. "Yes ma'am."

Brittany walked into the bookstore and saw Quinn handing over a bag of purchased books to a customer.

"Hey Quinn!" Brittany greeted.

"Hey Britt, how did the tests go?"

"Not bad. There were a few things I didn't know. But I'm sure I got like, 75% of them right," Brittany replied with a smile. "Where's Santana?"

"Back there with my boss," Quinn pointed.

Brittany saw Santana with her arms folded, nodding and gesturing toward a corner of bookcases.

"What are they doing?" Brittany asked.

"My boss is renovating the store. Well, moving sections around and putting in some new shelving. She showed Santana the plans and asked her opinion. They haven't stopped talking for the past two hours," Quinn rolled her eyes.

Brittany giggled. "Well, Santana is a planner."

"And opinionated," Quinn smirked.

Brittany snuck up behind Santana and listened to Santana and Quinn's boss debate how many religions the "Spirituality" section should have and where to put it.

"Book nerd," Brittany whispered in Santana's ear from behind.

Santana's speech stumbled mid-sentence. Quinn's boss chuckled.

"Britt," Santana smiled and turned. "Um, sorry, this is Jill, Quinn's boss. We were just…"

"Santana was helping me rearrange the bookstore. She is quite the planner. She's got some good ideas," Jill praised.

"She's the best girlfriend ever," Brittany grinned giving Santana a peck on the cheek.

Santana stiffened and turned shy all of a sudden.

Jill leaned in and lowered her voice to Santana. "I know and I don't care," she said with a knowing smile.

Santana let a breath out, "Sorry, it's just that you never know and…"

"I told you, you were hired an hour ago to help me work on this project for the next month. I'll see you here Monday, 9am sharp," Jill said as she turned and went to the office.