happy unicorn day! haha. i personally loved tonights episode. but i'll bore you with my thoughts on it on my tumblr:)
just a little FYI about this chapter is that, i want you to kind of think about it as a two parter if you will. truth be told, i had planned on it ending differently, but it was literally like a novel and so decided to cut it into two. hopefully, you are okay with this because, it's fun to leave a little to the imagination for a bit:)
so, read and if you want review and let me know what you think so far or about this chapter or if you've now realized that your favorite treat ever is actually unicorn poop.
Santana's feet shuffle down the hall of their very quiet apartment. It's around noon but she's just now decided to finally get her ass out of bed because she's got work at 4:00pm and she doesn't want to be over tired from too much sleep. She rolls her eyes at herself because truth is, she wasn't even sleeping for the past two hours she was lying in bed, too busy tossing and turning her body over the entire bed because she couldn't get comfortable.
Sleeping itself sucked too. She woke up well over five times, once to go to the bathroom, once to get a bottle of water and three times to watch reruns of That 70's show. Her bedroom was too quiet and normally the sound of Brittany's even breathing sends her right back to dream land or the simple feel of her skin or body close to Santana's. It's already been five days since her girlfriend left for Christmas break and it's been five long and torturous days that Santana wishes would speed up and come to its full eight days.
Her hairs a mess, the ponytail she's thrown it up in doing nothing to help the birds nest it formed into from lying in bed for so long. Her sweat pants, well, Brittany's sweat pants, are a little too big around her waist, falling just slightly but she doesn't really give a crap about that. Of the fact that she has one of the pant legs pulled up to her knee and she is currently sporting one sock. For some reason or another, her tank top grew two sizes since last night and is loose around her stomach but whatever, the only other person who will see her like this is Quinn and she's not even home.
She opens the fridge, eyes scan over the shelves passed the juice and milk taking space up on the top one and down to the bottom where she spots a box of devil dogs. With a slight smirk and a quirked eyebrow, she bends down and reaches her hand down and into the box retrieving one of those plastic packages that is keeping the delicious treat fresh.
"Hello chocolate." She greets the pastry in her hands, eyeing up all it's so bad for you goodness and with her hip, shuts the refrigerator door.
She shakes her head at herself and chuckles, Brittany is so rubbing off and her. In fact, there are so many things she finds herself saying and doing since being alone that she notices are traits of her blonde girlfriend. Her lips twist in thought as she watches her fingers pull at the sides of the package finally releasing her afternoon snack and walks into the living room. Taking a bite out of the devil dog, she pushes herself back up from the couch where she is in mid sitting position and hustles to her bedroom to grab her phone.
Just as she hoped, and suspected, there are two text messages from the blonde herself. With a grin and some chocolaty goodness stuffed in her cheek she opens the first message. It's a picture of Brittany, smiling at the camera with one of those goofy holiday hats the Pierce's always have lying around the house at this time of year. She giggles because face it, her girlfriend is the cutest fucking thing to ever walk the planet, she just wishes she was there instead of here. The second message is in text and her eyes scan over the length of it before she brings her eyes up to the top to read it from the beginning.
Morning baby! I miss u so much n I kno we were on the phone just a few hours ago but I wish u were here. I went 2 the mall w my sister yest to take the kids to c Santa. Yes, I sat on his lap… no he didn't touch me;) I asked him 4 u. I kno u cant come here cuz of stupid work but… I wanted u 2 kno Im thinkin about u, everyday. I cant wait 2 come home so we can get our cuddles on;) call me b4 work. I love u.
Santana sighs, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips and she tilts her head as she reads over the text message again. Sure, she'd give anything to be able to take the next flight out of New York and into Ohio but, it's just not going to happen. The worst thing she could possibly do is quit her job, especially since in only a few months she and Brittany are going to be packing up their stuff and shacking up at some new, much quieter and only them apartment. So cash flow is a must.
But, if she didn't have her stupid job, there's no doubt in her mind where she would be right this second. The thought of being in Brittany's arms, probably naked, makes her cheeks grow hot and she pushes her thighs together because now is so not the time to get all hot and bothered. Not thinking about sex has been rather difficult, especially when she is on the phone with Brittany and her girlfriend whispers sweet nothings and dirty something's into the phone. The thought itself sends shivers down her body.
Totally over her need for chocolate, she tosses her half eaten devil dog onto the coffee table in front of her and reaches for the remote. Television sucks this time of year, more so for those who are far from their loved ones, sitting all alone on a couch with only the sound of a dripping faucet to keep them company. She contemplates settling on A Christmas Story but shrugs it off, it's not the same if she's not watching it with Brittany. Hell, she'd even settle with watching it with Quinn. The city has done wonders for the other blonde in her life, her snark is snarkier and she curses a whole lot more. She grins at that because a cursing Quinn is her type of Quinn.
Brittany is sitting on the sofa in her parent's living room, one foot tucked under her and the other resting on top of the coffee table. She aimlessly flicks through the channels, coming up empty on what to watch because everything on only reminds her of the fact that her girlfriend is in New York, in their apartment, alone. Sure, she has Quinn but, it's not the same and she is pretty sure that they only work the same hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays which means today Santana has work at 4:00pm.
The sound of her little sister in the kitchen catches her attention but she is quick to tune it out when she stumbles on A Christmas Story. She pouts, this reminds her of Santana a lot. They used to watch this movie all the time, every year around Christmas. Mostly because it played nonstop and because Santana would always impersonate all the characters during the commercial break. She chuckles because she knew the Latina only did that to make her laugh and smile.
"Sweetie, did you want to come to the store with us?" Mrs. Pierce asks as she enters the room, going straight for her coat hanging up by the front door.
Brittany turns around in her spot and twists her lips, definitely contemplating the idea but settling for a shake of the head and a 'no thanks mom'. Mrs. Pierce slows her motions down and sends her daughter a small smile.
"Brittany, now don't you be all mopey. Nana's coming over later." She reminds the young blonde who smiles a bit at the sound of her Nana coming to visit. "How's Santana?" The older woman tentatively asks. Brittany shrugs her shoulders and drops the remote to grab her cell phone and stares at it.
"She's fine. Just working." Brittany tells her mother, even though they both know that Mrs. Pierce is privy to this information.
"Well, tell her I said 'hello' when you talk to her later." Mrs. Pierce offers her daughter a final smile before moving her stare from Brittany and onto her husband who is heading for the door.
"Be back in a little bit Britt." He winks before walking out the door with his wife and youngest daughter close behind him.
Brittany sighs, turns her head back towards the television letting her phone fall to her lap and picks the remote back up. Maybe she'd settle for whatever marathon is playing on MTV instead of all of these Christmas shows.
"You know, it's not very New York of you to be spending the holiday in small town Lima." Kurt says before bringing his latte up to his lips for a quick sip. Rachel sends him a tight lip smile and playfully rolls her eyes.
"But then I would not have had the chance to come and play dress up with you Kurt." She reminds him, he feigns surprise at himself as if thinking 'how could I forget'. They chuckle at the simplicity of their humor. "Have you gone to see Brittany yet?" The diva asks, quickly making a right turn into one of their favorite stores.
"I went by there yesterday, stayed for dinner." He informs her, she nods her head and they go about browsing through the racks of never ending clothes. "Are you sad they are moving out at the end of the school year?" He inquires, his fingers scanning over brightly colored shirts, eyeing them up before finally pulling one out. Rachel pushes her bottom lip out and furrows her brow, as though thinking deeply before shaking her head and glancing up at Kurt.
"I think it's a rather fantastic idea." She admits with a little too much enthusiasm which garners a suspicious look from her fashion partner in crime. Kurt lifts his head a bit and scrunches his nose as he sniffs the air.
"I smell a plan or an idea of sorts Rachel Berry." He raises an eyebrow at her and she can't fight her smile any longer.
"Well, Kurt, if you must know of my thought process as of late, considering that Santana and Brittany decided on their move before even telling us." She takes a deep breath and moves from the rack to stand in front of him. "Taking into account that them leaving would leave me with…" Kurt clears his throat. "Ahem, Quinn and I with a much bigger closet and space for me to practice scenes and things of the dramatic nature. Quinn and I had actually come up with a grander plan and, it involves none other than Kurt Hummel." She claps at herself and her well thought out speech, which she feels came out flawless minus the tiny hiccup where Kurt interrupted her. He raises both eyebrows and his mouth hangs open in confusion. "What do ya say Kurt? New York or bust?"
"Miss?" The old woman at 23 calls out. Quinn turns her head in her direction, blows some hair out of her face and slaps a smile on.
"Yes?" She replies in the kindest voice she can muster after being here for nearly four hours already. The old woman brings her hands around her coffee cup, stares at it for a bit and then looks up to Quinn who is shifting from foot to foot impatiently.
"My coffee is ice cold." The woman explains, a not very happy line creasing at her brow.
Now in the back of Quinn's mind she is screaming, seething even. This woman has been sitting here with the same cup of coffee for over an hour and a half, hasn't even touched it. Of course it's cold! But instead of being honest and informing her guest of her neglectful ways, Quinn clears her throat, tilts her head and smiles sweetly at the old woman as she leans down to remove the mug.
"I'm so sorry about that." She lies. "I'll make a fresh pot for you." She lies again because they don't have pots of coffee. It's made in one of those ginormous metal containers that catering halls have or people who throw massive but inexpensive parties for their families in their backyard.
"Oh thank you sweetheart." The old woman smiles, reaches out to gently pat Quinn's hand and nods.
"Of course." Quinn nods in return before quickly turning around and stalking her way back to the kitchen.
She grunts in displeasure as soon as she is behind the two swinging metal doors. Tossing the woman's stupid mug into the dish bin she hauls ass over to the coffee machine to see that, yes, she does have to make a fresh batch of decaf coffee because everyone here is lazy and doesn't know how to press a freaking button.
Her order for table 24 is up so she grabs that and tells the woman at 23 that they are brewing that fresh pot and it should be out shortly. The woman nods again, smiling from ear to ear and Quinn wonders if the old man sitting with her is going to tell her that her magenta colored lipstick is all over her teeth. Whatever, not her problem.
Table 24 seems happy with their food and after she drops off a steak knife for the gentleman in the suit she realizes she has two minutes for a breather. She tells Tony, one of the managers in charge today that she's going out for a smoke. She doesn't really smoke, but it's the only for her to get a couple of minutes to herself.
It reeks of cigarettes and she scrunches her nose at the stench of smoke and trash. It makes her wonder why her and Santana even get cigarettes when they have their 'alone' time. This only makes her think if they are going to get a pack of cigarettes for tonight when they go out.
They'd made a deal that since they both only had work tomorrow's day shift that they would go out tonight, to prepare themselves for tomorrow night. Day shifts are never difficult to work when hung over and they both agreed that Christmas day would most likely be as slow as shit. Besides, their girlfriend's are gone and they can't just sit around like zombies all day long until they have to go to work. Quinn chuckles because she knows that Santana is doing exactly what she did yesterday, sit in front of the television and think about her girlfriend.
"I wish you were here too." Santana says into the phone, so softly and gentle it surprises her that Brittany even hears her. But when she hears the faint, 'mhmm', she smiles a bit because even just sounds from the blonde gives her butterflies.
"Are you and Quinn going to Mick's tonight?" Brittany asks curiously and Santana tilts her head from side to side, well, as much as she can considering she is sitting upside down on the couch with her head pretty much hanging off of the cushion and her feet over the back.
"I'm not too sure." She shrugs and lifts her free hand up to her face to inspect her cuticles. "I don't know when I'm getting out of work, or how I'll feel." She explains her uncertainty for her plans with Quinn later in the night. "Who knows, we may just sit around here and watch movies or some shit." Santana tells her because at this moment she can totally see that happening.
"You guys should go out and do something." Brittany says happily causing her girlfriend to smirk.
"Oh yeah?" She playfully responds.
"Yeah, I don't want you guys sitting around staring at each other. And even though you're both, like, super crazy pretty, it would get really boring." Brittany clarifies her reasons as to why the two friends should go out on the town. Her enthusiasm makes Santana chuckles, her head shake from side to side and she kicks her feet around a bit. "Just don't look at anyone's butt, touch anyone's butt… or boobs and we're good." She finishes and Santana can just picture her nod at the end of her sentence. She grins wildly as she shifts around on her back, letting her legs hang over the back of the couch more comfortably.
"I only want your butt and boobs babe." Santana breathes into the phone, rolling her eyes at herself because she forgot she is home alone.
"Oh, Santana, Nana just got here." Brittany exclaims and the Latina can hear the excitement in her girlfriend's voice at the arrival of her grandmother.
"Tell her I say 'hi'."
"I love you hun." The blonde says sweetly into the receiver and waits patiently for Santana's reply.
"I love you." Santana smiles as she speaks. "I'll call you after work."
They say their goodbyes and Santana suddenly finds herself bored once again as well as extremely lonely. She glances at the clock on the cable box only to find that she cannot read it upside down so she lifts her phone to her eyes and sees that she still has another hour until she has to get ready. Tossing her phone to the side she reaches above her head onto the coffee table where she had placed a nail file just before her phone call with Brittany.
"Oh my God." Kurt mumbles, his eyes wide in shock and his mouth opening and closing in sheer excitement and reality because, how the hell is he going to afford New York.
"I believe this is a turning point in your life Kurt. We can walk among the stars of New York City and go to see shows and live our dreams trying to make it on Broadway. Try being the operative word." She says the last part quietly but keeps her smile plastered on her face. "We'll have an extra room, perfect for another roommate. Also, this will not in any way deter you from your current higher learning experience. You can finish out your first year in Lima and move to New York for the summer and if you like, which I have no doubt in my mind that you will not only find it exhilarating but, absolutely perfect for your fashionable eye and flashy ways, you stay." Rachel claps again, finding her plan not only extraordinary but flawless as well.
Kurt stands still for a while longer, his lack of movement and frozen facial expression a little uneasy for the tiny diva, so she moves around him towards another rack of clothes. Her words sink into him like the way Titanic sunk hard but slow into the ocean. This is his moment, his chance, his lifetime opportunity to do what he has always dreamed of; get out of Lima. The fact that it's New York is merely a bonus and all he sees is flashing lights, glitter and sequins.
"I've taken the liberty to discuss this with your father and he thinks that this is a wonderful idea and great for your future." Rachel adds as an afterthought, her eyes never leaving the slew of clothing she is going through at a rapid pace.
Quinn trudges up the hall that leads to their apartment. She turns her nose at the smell seeping from her jacket, pores and hair. The shower is so desperately calling her and if she weren't so exhausted she'd run into the apartment. When she pushes the door open she finds the television on and two feet hanging off of the back of the couch. With a quirked eyebrow she tosses her keys on the table, takes her coat off and hangs it on the rack and moves slowly around to the front of the couch.
"What are you doing?" She asks curiously. Santana is lying upside down on the couch, her hair cascading towards the ground, eyes on the television as she files her nails.
"Playing soccer." Santana says flatly, not taking her eyes off of the screen or stopping with the filing of her nails.
"Cute." Quinn rolls her eyes, chuckles and shakes her head. She takes the hair tie out of her blonde locks, releasing the tight ponytail it's been trapped in for about five hours.
"How was work?" Santana asks, watching the top of a blonde head move around to the back of the couch.
"Stupid." The blonde says before opening the refrigerator.
"Word." The Latina grunts and hums in agreement. Work is stupid, always.
"You wanna get forties tonight?" Quinn asks, her head popping up over the refrigerator door finding Santana's eyes looking back at her from her upside down position. The shorter girl contemplates the suggestion, pushing her bottom lip out in thought and then shrugs with a nod.
"Okay."
"Beautiful." Quinn cheers with a tired enthusiasm and lets the refrigerator door shut as she shuffles down the hallway towards the bathroom. "You should start getting ready for work." She calls out just before she closes the bathroom door behind her.
"Don't take too long in the shower bitch!" Santana yells, lifting her head slightly from the couch and eyeing the top of the hallway. "I gotta get ready for work!"
The doorbell to the Pierce residence rings and little Jaime Pierce rushes by her Nana and other old relatives towards the front door and yanks it open. There she finds a very happy looking Rachel Berry, holding a bowl of some sort of treat in her hands. Jaime eyes her up curiously before shrugging her shoulders and yelling out for her sister.
"Britt, your weird friend that sings about everything is here!" Jaime calls out and she turns to the diva who is now sporting a perplexed look on her face. "Come in." The little girl tugs on the sleeve of her coat, making the brunette come inside by sheer force.
"Thank you." Rachel politely says to the tiny blonde.
"Rachel!" Brittany cheers as she comes bounding towards the shorter girl. "I'm so glad you came." She pulls her into an awkward hug considering Rachel is still clutching on to her Tupperware bowl.
"Thank you so much for inviting me Britt." The diva smiles back at her friend and hands her the bowl she carried over. "I made some dirt dessert. I remember hearing Santana say something about you loving it." She motions towards the bowl and watches as the blonde's eyes go wide and pull the dish closer to her chest.
"Thanks Rach." They stand there in silence for a bit, because Jaime has decided to start play wrestle with Brody and they knock off a vase from a shelf. "Oh boy." Brittany chuckles, shaking her head at her friend who giggles at the sight as well. "Here, put your coat over here." She points towards the hooks on the closet door and Rachel does as she is instructed.
"How's Santana doing?" The diva inquires as she follows Brittany into the kitchen where the rest of the Pierce's are.
"She's good. Working tonight though." Brittany tells her and she shrugs her shoulders. "I think her and Quinn are planning on going out tonight."
"Yeah, Quinn said something about that during our last phone conversation." Rachel sighs, missing her girlfriend just as dearly as Brittany is missing her own.
"I wish I could leave after tomorrow." Brittany admits to her friend in a hushed voice just before they enter the kitchen. "I mean, all we do is open presents and eat food." She explains with a roll of the eyes. "And I only wanna open and eat…" Rachel claps her hands before Brittany can finish her sentence causing the blonde's head to jerk back.
"Best to keep that stuff between you and Santana." She winks with a playful grin and Brittany nods in agreement. She really doesn't need her whole family knowing that she'd rather be eating her girlfriend out on Christmas morning than her Nana's casserole.
Five hours goes by fast when it's busy as fuck. Unfortunately this is not the case for Santana. The walk home is horrible because tonight's shift actually bordered on disgusting. So much for being available for holidays because work was God awful tonight so much so that she actually considered going out to the streets and bribing people with sexual favors to come in to the restaurant. Well, maybe she wouldn't go that far but, it was that dead.
She stops by the tiny convenience store by them because the guy in their totally sells her booze and cigarettes and she buys three 40oz, one for her, one for Quinn and one to share. The cigarettes, as always, are because they are badasses and Santana needs to be a bad influence on at least one person. At least it's not snowing, that's the only plus to this scenario.
There's a buzzing in her pocket and with her free hand she reaches in for her phone to see she has a text message from Quinn. The blonde is just letting her know that she ordered pizza, half bacon and half mushrooms for them and to hurry it along with the alcohol. She turns down their block and before putting her phone back in her pocket she decides that she might as well call her girlfriend like she promised she would.
b-'Hi Brittany this is Brittany call me back…'
s-'B you're not leaving a message you're making a message.'
b-'But I thought you left a message after the beep.'
She sighs through a smirk when she gets her girlfriend's voicemail and instead of leaving her a message there she ends the call and types her out a quick text. When she's done typing with one thumb, she realizes she's reached their apartment building and she jostles the bag of goods in her arms to yank the door open.
The smell of fresh pizza having just been delivered fills her senses and she almost drops the beers to the ground. Her legs drag her into the kitchen and she takes a bigger whiff, letting the smile of happiness fill her up. Quinn tells her to take a quick shower and she'll set them up in front of the television with their food and drinks. Maybe it's not the classiest, or the best way to spend Christmas Eve but neither can complain because they have each other.
"So Rachel, how are you liking New York so far?" Mr. Pierce asks as she grabs the bowl of mashed potatoes being handed to him. All Pierce eyes turn towards her, except for Nana of course, she's too busy eyeing the bottle of wine on the other end of the table trying to use her mind to move it closer to her.
"Well," She beings and wipes the corners of her mouth ever so politely. "I am enjoying it very much so. The city is just as I had always imagined it to be. Free, exciting and it really is one of the most beautiful places in the nation." She smiles at the simple thought of her times spent walking along the sidewalks going to school and hand in hand with Quinn around Central Park.
"That's just lovely dear." Mrs. Pierce chimes in, handing the biscuits over to Brittany's aunt when asked. "Brittany had told me that Quinn is now living with you?" It comes out as a question which Brittany finds odd, only because she had told her mother. But, regardless, it's unimportant and she continues to work on her food.
"Yes, she… as you know she had a bit of a falling out with her mother and, well, we," She motions between her and Brittany and is clearly speaking for Santana as well. "Decided it'd be best for her to live with us." Brittany's mother nods and takes a bite from her fork telling her sister that her yams are delicious.
"It must be cramped there." Laurie, Brittany's older sister comments as she tries to get her son to stop playing with his food and eat it. Brittany shakes her head and swallows her food before she eats it.
"It's really not. We all get along." She shrugs her shoulders and glances over at Rachel who gives her a strange look. "Well, for the most part." They chuckle between them and the rest of the Pierce's politely smile at their obvious inside joke.
"Besides," Rachel speaks up, catching Laurie's attention once more and she smiles. "By May, it'll be pretty spacious and it'll only be three of us there." She explains and goes right back to eating her salad because unfortunately Mrs. Pierce had forgotten about Rachel being vegan.
"Oh, is Quinn moving back in May?" Mr. Pierce asks as he cuts into his turkey, eyes focused on the task at hand. Rachel looks up from her salad, glances at the older man and then shoots her eyes beside her where Brittany is. The blonde's head is lowered and her eyes are to the side looking back at Rachel.
"Uh, I…" For once in her life, Rachel Berry is at a loss for words. She can't read Brittany's thoughts or the way she is looking at her so she shakes her head, sits up straighter and giggles to clear her throat. "No, umm, Santana and Brittany are moving out." Her eyes go from Brittany to Mr. Pierce who has stopped cutting his meat and is now looking over at his daughter with a curious eyebrow raised.
"Are you coming back home sweetie?" Mrs. Pierce asks, her voice hopeful and her smile just the same. Brittany clears her throat and shakes her head, slowly lifting it up to send her mother a sweet smile.
"No, actually, Santana and I found an apartment." She explains to her parents, trying to give both of them equal amount of attention. "When the second semester is over, we're moving in." Her grin widens because it's actually kind of exciting to talk about and when she turns to Rachel its clear her friend feels the same way.
"But what about… so you're not coming home for the summer?" Laurie asks, her head tilting to the side in confusion at her sisters announcement. Brittany shakes her head at her sister.
"You can totally come visit." Brittany assures her sister with that innocent smile of hers. "We have a guest room and it would be so awesome for you to come and see us. Santana would love it."
"What about rent? I mean, surely it's a bit more expensive split between two people than it is three or four." Mr. Pierce points out and moves back to his plate where he had almost forgotten about his food. Brittany shakes her head again and takes a sip of water.
"Santana like, works with the girl who is giving it to us. She said we can afford it." The blonde explains simply.
"Oh." Mrs. Pierce says, lifts her wine glass in both hands as she rests her elbows on the table and glances at her husband sitting across the long table. "Well, then…" She shrugs her shoulders and smirks. "Maybe your father and I can arrange to come visit sometime during the end of spring." Mr. Pierce nods, agreeing with his wife's idea and making their daughter smile brightly.
The family continues on eating and talking, Rachel is thankful that she did not just start a world war at the Pierce's, Santana would not be too happy to find out that she had gotten Brittany in trouble because of her big mouth. But, in her defense which she will refer to at a later date, she had no idea that it this move for the couple was 'hush hush'.
"Brittany I am so sorry." Rachel whispers to the blonde as she puts her coat on. Brittany grins and shakes her head as she stands in front of the brunette. "I had no idea that you hadn't told your parents about you and Santana getting your own place." She lifts her hands to under her hair and flips it out from the inside of her jacket letting it fall to her back.
"Don't worry about it." She says softly and glances over her shoulder to see her mother helping her Nana down the hall to the den where she is staying. "I was gonna tell them tonight anyway, you just helped me out." She tells the diva who lets out a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness, I was almost afraid to go back home and face the wrath of Santana." Brittany giggles and crinkles her nose because she knows that even though Santana may have yelled and stomped around she would never physically harm Rachel, well, she doesn't think so anyway.
"When is your flight?" She asks, tilting her head to the side as they walk closer to the front door.
"Saturday." Rachel tells her. "You?" Brittany bites her lip because if she had it her way she would be on the first flight after their opened their gifts tomorrow.
"Friday." She replies, kicking her foot into the carpeting by the door.
"We'll probably talk before either of us leaves. Maybe we can go do something with Kurt." Rachel suggests to which Brittany nods her head in agreement. As long as she is in Lima she may as well make the most of it and hang out with one of her good friends. "Thank your parents again for inviting me. Dinner was fantastic."
"Thanks for making that dirt dessert." The blonde grins widely and holds the door open for the brunette as she leaves.
"Merry Christmas Brittany." Rachel calls out before she gets into her car and drives away.
Brittany slowly closes the door, locks it up and shuts the light off to the porch. When she turns around she finds her parents standing in the kitchen talking to her sister with a very passed out Brady in her arms. She makes her way into the kitchen, scanning the room and how clean it already is considering it looked like a train wreck only hours earlier.
"Are you staying over?" Brittany asks Laurie curiously as she brushes some of Brady's blonde hair from his face. Her older sister smiles at her actions and nods.
"I think I'm going to go put this one down and then call it a night." Laurie announces quietly which is followed by a yawn. She says goodnight to her parents and her sister, giving each one a kiss on the cheek before vanishing behind the basement door where her husband has apparently already gone.
"So, you and Santana living alone." Mrs. Pierce breaks the sudden silence catching her daughter's attention instantly. The younger blonde blushes, smirks and nods all at once and her mother chuckles.
"Had we known that we may have not gotten you this." Mr. Pierce says in a playfully stern voice and he stretches his arm out, a white envelope in his hand. Brittany quirks an eyebrow and slowly reaches out for it.
"But, we clearly are not about to take it back so, Merry Christmas dear." Mrs. Pierce leans in and kisses her daughter on the cheek as the younger girl stares blankly at the envelope.
"Well, open it. The suspense is killing me." Her father points at the paper in her hands and they all laugh at his antics.
Carefully Brittany slips her fingers into the open flap of the envelope and pulls out what's inside. She stares at it for a few moments, reading it over and over not sure she is seeing it correctly. Her jaw drops slightly and her brow furrows. She looks up at her parents with uncertainty but their smiles haven't wavered a bit.
"We thought long and hard on what you'd want as your 'big' gift this year and, well, we both agreed that it would be this." Mrs. Pierce explains proudly, leaning into her husband who puts his arm around his wife lovingly.
"Seriously?" Brittany breathes out, still not quite believing her eyes.
"We can always return it if you don't like it." Mr. Pierce tells her, ready to reach out and take it but Brittany brings it closer to her instead.
"No." She quickly blurts out. "I… thank you." She throws herself into her parent's arms, kisses their cheeks and squeezes them tightly.
"Oh and one other thing, though, this is not really a Christmas present really." Mr. Pierce clears his throat and glances at his wife who nods. "We've also decided that, we are going to help you and Santana out for the time being." Brittany feels like she is going to be dizzy because she keeps going back forth between looking at her mother and then to her father just waiting for the 'just kidding' to come out of their mouths.
"Obviously, after dinner we figured that, since you are going to be getting your own place you need to save up and, it's not right for Santana to be working her little butt off for it." Mrs. Pierce explains, reaching out to squeeze her daughter's hand. "And you'll be finishing your first year and won't have time for a job. So, until May we are going to pay your rent." Brittany's eyebrows shoot straight up to her hair line and she once again launches herself into her parents.
"I love you guys so much." She mumbles into her mother's hair and her father's shoulder. "You guys are the awesomest!"
"Did you know that," Santana hiccups and tosses a bottle cap across the living room to where Quinn is sitting with her back up against the door. "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings?" She quirks an eyebrow as she lifts the bottle to her lips, taking a sip but makes sure to keep an eye on the blonde in front of her.
Quinn tilts her head, looks down at her beer and squints her eyes. Her lips twist in thought as she reaches down for the bottle and takes a swig.
"It's a Wonderful Life!" She shouts with excitement. Santana groans and tosses her head back in defeat. "You suck at this game. That was totally easy." Quinn waves her off and takes another sip from her beer bottle.
"No, I don't suck. We've just been playing this stupid made up game for like, three hours." Santana reminds her with annoyance and glances at the clock to see the time. "Oh, Merry Christmas fucker." She sends Quinn a phony smile and flips her the bird causing them both to break out into hysterics.
"You too douche bag." The blonde gives her the finger in return making them laugh harder.
When the laughter subsides silence takes them over and they sit there, with their backs against separate walls, staring at their feet and their 40oz beers that are almost finished. Quinn sighs as she takes one final sip which turns into a chug and lets the glass hit the ground hard as she sets it down. Santana takes note that her friend has finished her beer and does the same but has to chug for a bit longer.
"This blows." Quinn mutters.
"I know, we are like, horrible, gross, drunk messes who miss their girlfriend's." Santana comments in utter agreement and then lets out a loud belch.
"When's Britt coming back?" The blonde asks, pushing herself up from the wall and she stumbles a bit before making her way towards the refrigerator where their last beer is being held captive.
"Friday." Santana hums out, following her friend's lead once again and needing to grab onto the counter to aid her into a standing position. "Whew, that was hard." She says under her breath. "Berry?"
"Saturday." Quinn replies sadly.
Again the quiet comes over them and they find themselves sitting on the couch in front of the television which is on mute and they rest their feet on the table. They pass the bottle back and forth, taking tiny sips here and there with no words except the ones in their heads. The sound of a phone vibrating catches their attention and Quinn realizes it's hers and she leans forward to grab it.
"It's a text from Rachel." She squeals and quickly, even through her drunken state, pops open the message with ease. "She misses me and she says Merry Christmas." She smiles at the screen and strokes her fingers over the message her girlfriend sent her. "I miss you too. I love you like crazy. Kisses and shit." She says as she types out those exact words into her phone and hits send.
"You disgust me." Santana tells her which she receives a slap in the arm for almost instantly. Just as she is about to complain about domestic abuse her phone goes off and she jumps up to get it. "It's from Britts, 'I'm sorry I missed your call baby," She grins at the 'baby' part. "'Rachel came over for dinner tonight and we were hanging out. But, Merry Christmas! I can't wait to cuddle you up in my arms and kiss your face and everywhere else.'" She whispers the last part but since there's nothing but quiet and her voice, the blonde beside her hears the whole message being read and she snickers to herself. "Fuck off Fabray, not only is my response gonna be better than yours, it's gonna be way hotter."
She sits up, clears her throat and opens up a new message to reply to Brittany.
"Merry Christmas my sexy little Christmas elf." She says as she types it out, glaring at Quinn in the process. "I love you and when you get home I'm going to…" She stops talking out loud but continues to type, chuckling to herself as she does so because she can feel Quinn's eyes on her. After pressing send and setting her phone back onto the coffee table she finally looks over at the blonde. "I'm not letting you hear my macking skills so back up Q." She waves her friend off playfully and they sit there and nudge each other for a little while until the thrill of fake fighting loses its excitement.
They finally opt to turn the television on, ending up on a stupid Hallmark channel that is playing a Christmas movie, of course. When the first commercial break comes on they both let out a sigh and start passing the bottle back and forth.
"This Christmas is gonna suck balls." Quinn lets out, grabbing the bottle from Santana.
"Word. Serious reindeer balls."