Sorry about the lack of updates. Weekends are always super busy and this week is just packed. Hopefully I can get another chapter out in the next few days.
Thank you for the comments! Feel free to leave your thoughts/suggestions. There is still a lot of story left.
Individual training was always the most exhausting week of camp. It was during the first week so it helped prepare the campers for the coming weeks. The individual training day consisted of three different sessions: technique, dance, and fitness. Fitness was last each day and always left everyone tired and weak. The Cheerios were never as exhausted as the rest of the campers due to one ruthless Sue Sylvester.
During individual training the campers were mixed in with different squads. The counselors/coaches taught different technique or dance classes that groups rotated from day to day. Since there are so many campers and groups there is more than one coach teaching a certain technique or dance class, which allows having smaller groups.
The list of which group each Cheerio was in was posted on their cabin door the next day. Santana grabbed the list in the morning and read off which group each Cheerio was in.
At breakfast the dining hall was buzzing about the first day of camp. Everyone was eager to see who would all be in their group. After breakfast all of the campers were instructed to go to their designated area with the corresponding number of which group they were in. Santana was in group 13 so she walked over to the area with a '13' posted on the wall and waited for all of the members to arrive. No other Cheerio members were in her group but she knew this prior. She was actually thankful that she did not have any of her fellow team members in her group; she could just focus on herself.
Kate read the list to the girls, telling them what group they were in.
"Rachel 8! Sarah 23! Sherri 3! Brittany 13!"
Brittany looked for the '13' and scanned to see who was in her group. She saw Santana standing there with her hand on her cocked hip. The blond interrupt Kate with a nudge and pointed in the direction of group 13. Kate smiled and said, "Well, it looks like fate has laid a hand."
Santana saw the blond bouncing over in her direction with a goofy smile on her face. The Latina put her head down avoiding eye contact with the exuberant girl. Brittany saw that she purposely put her head down so she placed herself to the side of Santana. To Santana's surprise the girl stayed silent. Finally, their coach for the week arrived and took role call. Once they were all accounted for the coach led them to part of the field where they were going to be learning today's lesson in technique. As they walked Brittany stayed right next to Santana. Santana glanced at the girl who was walking with way too much pep in her step.
There was something that Santana could not place her finger on about this girl. Was she always so bubbly?
When they arrived Brittany spoke to Santana.
"Are you excited?" she asked happily.
Santana tried to ignore the girl yesterday and realized if they were going to be in the same group all week she would not be able to avoid conversation with her…but she could sure try.
"We don't need to make small talk," replied Santana bluntly.
Brittany just looked at Santana, wondering what made her so…unhappy. Maybe unhappy was not the word, perhaps dispirited? She was the saddest cheerleader that the blond has ever laid eyes on. Cheerleaders were supposed to be light-hearted and full of spirit. This girl seemed to be full of distress and gloom.
The coach began to go on a whole spiel about today's technique and the girls listened intently. She then wanted the girls to partner up to work on it together.
"Partner?" Brittany asked Santana with a wide grin on her face.
Santana let out a heavy sigh and a slight nod before following Brittany to an open space for them to work together.
The two girls worked for about an hour, Brittany perfected the technique first, followed closely by Santana. The coach checked on them and allowed them to go and get something to drink while they waited for the rest of the group to finish.
Santana sat on a bench near the water and Gatorade station. Brittany grabbed two cups of Gatorade and offered one cup to Santana. The Latina accepted the cup with a slight smile and a quiet 'thank you'. The blond sat next to her while sipping her drink.
"Can I ask you a question," the blond said before taking another drink. Santana did not reply so she continued on, "Why?"
The head Cheerio was thrown off guard by the girl's question, so she turned her head in her direction for her to elaborate. The blond picked up on the confusion started to explain what she meant.
"I mean, you just, I dunno. Why are you a cheerleader?" she finally managed to get out.
Santana looked at Brittany; it was the first time she actually made eye contact with her. She just stared into her bright, blue eyes. Brittany tried to hold her gaze but she felt oddly intimidated when Santana was just sitting there, staring at her. She looked down into her cup and muttered, "Forget it." So Santana did, for now.
The two girls went back to sitting in silence before they were whistled over by their coach. Their coach talked about some stories about when she was a cheerleader 'back in the day' and before they knew it, it was lunch.
Santana made her way towards the dining hall with Brittany at her side. The Latina tried to take slower steps but the blond stayed in sync. She then quickened her pace but it did not stop the girl from quickening her pace also. Santana stopped and turned to the blond practically yelling at her, "OKAY! What gives?"
Brittany jumped back at the sudden outburst but she expected it sooner or later. The infuriated Cheerio stood there with her arms crossed and her eyebrows furrowed. Brittany found it adorable in some strange way but she just stood there and smiled at the girl.
"What? Why are you smiling at me like that?" demanded Santana.
"You intrigue me." Brittany smiled with an innocent smile.
Santana took a step back, "I what? Do you even know what that means?"
"Do you?" said Brittany taking a step to closer.
Santana choked on words but somehow managed to get out, "I think you need to brush up on certain words before you use them."
"Oh Santana," said Brittany playfully, "calm down, I just want to get to know you better."
Santana raised an eyebrow.
"We should hang out," proposed the blond.
"Why would you want to hang out with me?" questioned the Latina as she subconsciously wrapped her arms around herself. She was not used to anyone wanting to hang out with her unless they wanted to use her mostly for her popularity or sex, well anyone besides Quinn.
"Just think about it, ok?" said Brittany touching Santana's arm. Santana immediately jerked away from her touch. Brittany eyed her but did not comment.
"Let's go eat; we can chat more during the next session."
"I'm actually not going to lunch," Santana explained, of course she was just making this up now. "I'll see you soon." She quickly turned in the direction of her cabin, her mind racing, and Brittany just staring after her.
Brittany walked into the dining hall and met up with the rest of the Ravens.
"How'd it go?" questioned Kate.
Brittany just shrugged while she pushed the food around on her plate.
"What is that supposed to mean, Britt? Did you talk to her?"
Brittany nodded.
"What did she say?"
"Nothing really."
"Did you accomplish anything at all?"
The blond just shrugged her shoulders again.
"Well, we still got time. Just show her the Brittany we all know and love."
Brittany offered a weak smile but sat there silently with her thoughts. She sat there wondering if Santana would love the same Brittany that the Ravens apparently "all know and love"; the innocent but bitchy, dumb, and sometimes floozy Brittany who did not have a care in the world. Brittany knew that there was something deeper to Santana and she needed to figure it out for not only Kate's sake but her own.