Oh no, there are two more chapters left. That feels so weird.
To BrittanaLove93: Saying that you feel like a proud mom makes me very happy, because I feel the same. Oh, these girls have had one hell of year, and it isn't even over yet.
To playitcool: I know, right?
Brittany gets the dance solo. In fact, it's a solo. Dancing with Mike was great and Brittany would do it again in a heartbeat, but she's on her own. The New Directions start with a duet, but after that they'll move to a huge upbeat group number. Brittany will dance the entire time.
She knows Santana arranged it, but Santana pretends she knows nothing.
Their second day in New York is one big rehearsal day and Brittany wonders why they hadn't decided on the set list before they got to New York.
Their third day is Nationals day. They hired a bus service and they drove to the venue. After costumes and make-up, it was time for the show.
Vocal Adrenaline was amazing.
"Okay, it could've been worse," Rachel says, but she sounds nervous.
They go backstage and get ready. Brittany is stretching and Santana's watching her.
"What?" Brittany tries not to blush. "You're distracting me."
Santana smiles. "Did I already tell you that I love you?"
"Yes, but you can tell me that again?"
"I love you."
She watches Finn and Rachel kiss. All the other glee club members have her back turned to them, but Brittany is dance-ready. It's silent for a while, but then there's applause and the music starts again. Next to her, Santana turns around and starts to sing.
Brittany knows it's her time to dance.
She dances during the entire song. Originally, she was going to have singing parts as well, but she gave them to Kurt. Brittany wanted to focus on her dance only. She moves from glee club member to glee club member. All of them have small dance parts, but Brittany is their cue. Brittany is leading them.
Jesse asked Mr. Schue to film the performance.
Brittany takes Santana's hand and dances with her. Rachel has the lead and Brittany takes Santana with her to the centre of the stage.
The song is about to wrap up and Brittany looks to her audience one last time. She's looking for someone, but a part of her already knows they won't be there. Yet, she can't help but hope. Quinn has told her how her mother showed up out of the blue at Regionals to support her daughter, so who knows?
But as she scans the audience, Brittany notices that her family is nowhere to be seen. This isn't like one of those movies where family members finally see their child's dream and potential and where they realise they've been wrong to push the children in another direction. She's disappointed for sure, but she can't dwell on it. She has a dance to finish. The song is coming to an end and Santana lets go of Brittany. It's time for her spectacular ending.
When the song ends, the audience erupts in cheers.
They did it.
The New Directions didn't even place. Brittany's family did not show up.
Santana wakes up on their fourth day in New York, feeling bitter. She's already yelled to Rachel and Finn. They all go downstairs for breakfast and there's tension. Jesse makes it clear that he's not happy with Rachel and Finn and starts a small argument.
This is not how their trip is supposed to end.
Santana refuses to end it like this.
After breakfast, everyone leaves the hotel. It's as if they all can't stand the current atmosphere. Mr. Schue tells them the flight back home takes off around 8, so he wants all of them back at the hotel around 4. That still leaves them with enough time.
Santana, Brittany, Kurt, Quinn, and Sam group together and decide to go to Time's Square, just to take in the view again.
"This sucks," Kurt tells Santana on their way to Time's Square.
Santana nods bitterly.
"But this trip was amazing," Kurt says, and Santana must admit that Kurt does not seem bitter at all. Sure, he's as disappointed as everyone else, but this is New York.
"I guess."
"I wanna go here later, and so does-" Kurt stops mid-sentence, but Santana doesn't mind him mentioning Rachel. She's still mad at her and Finn, but life continues.
Santana looks behind her. Sam and Brittany are talking to each other and it seems like they're having a discussion about pet names, while a bemused looking Quinn follows them.
"Brittany likes Juilliard, but she doesn't know how to get in. She's got nothing to show them," Santana tells Kurt. She doesn't know why, since it's Brittany's story to tell, but maybe Kurt knows what to do.
Kurt raises an eyebrow. "Brittany and Juilliard?"
"Yes, Brittany and Juilliard," Santana says, sounding a little bit defensive, "Got a problem with that?"
"No, for my part she could be a mathematical genius at MIT, and I'd still support her. We're in glee together. I just never considered it," Kurt answers, "But you're right. She can dance."
Kurt stops and turns around.
"Hey!" he yells to the others, "We gotta make a detour."
Santana knows what he's planning.
"A detour?" Quinn asks, "Why?"
Santana turns around as well. "Because one of us is not leaving without pamphlets and information about her dream school."
Brittany's eyes widen. "Oh no, no, no, guys I appreciate it, but…" she tries to protest, but Kurt and Santana are having none of it.
"Santana, lead the way," Kurt says.
"With pleasure."
Put on nice clothes x
Santana's staring at her phone. It is a simple text message from her girlfriend, but it is also very vague.
Altho you'll look nice in anything xx
And another one.
Meet me in the lobby in half an hour xxx
And another one!
After hanging around on Time's Square for a while, they made their way back to the hotel. Brittany immediately told Santana that she has to go to her room, so Santana just followed Kurt and Quinn to the girls' room. That's when she got the text message.
"Kurt, I am going to need your fashion advice," she yells to her friend, "And Quinn, can I use your fancy make-up kit? I think my best girlfriend is taking me out on a date."
Brittany is standing in the lobby, holding flowers. When Santana sees her, she feels like it's prom all over again. Santana was lucky to find out that she had some fancy clothes with her, but it's nothing compared to Brittany.
She's wearing a blue long-sleeved dress, a shiny head band, and Santana's happy to see that her cat-earrings are back.
"Hi!" Brittany says cheerfully when she spots Santana gaping at her, "You look wonderful. I got you flowers. Or actually, Sam got you flowers, since I was too busy with my hair, but he bought them for me to give it to you."
"Flowers for me?" Santana asks and takes the flowers. No one has ever given her flowers before.
"Flowers for you," Brittany says. She holds out her arm. "Shall we?"
Santana takes it.
They walk out of the hotel and run into a couple of others.
"Where are you two going?" Mercedes asks, looking impressed when she sees them.
"Oh, I am taking Santana out on a lunch date," Brittany tells them and Santana can't believe it. They are going out on a date and it's not at Breadstix?
"Well, have fun you two!" Tina says excitedly.
Artie nods as well and Santana feels relieved. Apparently, Artie isn't going to try to stop them in order to get Brittany back.
"We'll be back before four, so tell Mr. Schue not to worry. Our phones are on!" Brittany tells them as they continue to walk. And with that, they decide they're free to go. They walk through the streets on New York together.
Santana has no idea where they're going or when Brittany planned this, but she isn't complaining when Brittany opens the door to a small lunch room.
They take their seats and someone brings them a vase for Santana's flowers.
Twenty minutes pass and Santana is positive that this is the best food she's ever eaten. Breadstix can't compare to this.
"We should do the pasta thing!" Brittany suggests out of nowhere.
Santana turns red at the thought of it. "We're in public."
"It's New York," Brittany points out, "These people must be used to crazy tourists doing stuff like this. Santana, we're going home in a couple of hours and you know what they say, right? Go big or go home."
"Then let's do the pasta thing!"
It's messy, but it's worth it. By the time their lips meet, they are laughing. Other people obviously look at them, but Brittany's right. Go big or go home, and since they're already planning on going home, they're going big. They're on a date after all.
"This is wonderful," Santana says afterwards.
"So, you're no longer disappointed about the trip? Is this the ending you wanted?" Brittany asks her.
"Are you kidding me? Of course this is the ending I wanted!" Santana leans in to kiss Brittany again. Brittany doesn't mind. "Thank you so much."
"No, thank you," Brittany says, "Thanks for basically forcing me to go to Juilliard to ask for information. I think you're right about this."
"So you're going to read the booklets?"
"Hell yeah!" Brittany exclaims, "I sure will. Honestly, Santana, it is scary to think about it, since people have always wanted a football scholarship for me, but what's the harm? I have to admit that I still don't know if I should do it, because the Legacy is a thing, but it wouldn't hurt to read a couple of booklets, right? I want to find my future happiness."
"You want to go to Juilliard? Or to any dance school in general?" Santana asks.
"Well, yeah…"
"Then screw the Legacy, Brittany."
They are back in Lima, and the glee club is obviously in a bit of an impasse after everything that's happened. The so-called The Kiss That Missed is already on YouTube, but luckily, so is Brittany's dance solo and people are complimenting her.
But glee isn't the only thing on their minds.
"Are you ready for this?" Mike asks. They're in the locker room.
Brittany nods. "Let's do this."
Outside, people are waiting for the McKinley Titans and the Carmel Camels to play a game, including Brittany's parents. It's time to win.
Guess what?
What?
I drew Brittany again. (forabeatofadrum tumblr com/post/161977100133/brittany-s-pierce-from-chapter-13-of-im-still)