"Okay, well, why don't we start with the little things?" Brittany asked brightly, bouncing up and down slightly with excitement. "Actually, I've got an idea. How about, I'll ask a question, then you answer, and then I'll answer the same question. That way, we can learn loads about each other!"
Santana giggled at the enthusiasm in Brittany's voice and nodded.
"Awesome!" squealed the adorable blonde. "Okay, first question. What's your favourite colour?"
"Hmm. I think I'd have to go with... red. Yours?"
"Baby blue." Brittany smiled. "Okay, now you ask one!"
Santana nodded earnestly, before pausing for a second to think of a question.
"Okay, I've got one! What type of music do you like?"
"Ohh!" Brittany squealed. "Well, I like loads of different types to be honest. I like pop, rock, a bit of country, some punk. What about you?"
Santana smiled timidly, before answering quietly.
"Well, like you, I enjoy different types of music. But, there is a genre that I prefer over all the others..."
Brittany nodded, encouraging Santana to continue.
"I have quite a soft spot for... show tunes."
Brittany frowned, her confusion evident in her sky blue eyes.
"You know... Broadway songs? Musicals? That kind of stuff."
Brittany froze for a second, before collapsing forward into a fit of giggles.
"What's so funny?" Santana demanded, although she too was fighting to keep the smile off her face.
"It's just... the idea of you, sitting at home, belting out the lyrics to America from West Side Story, or If I Can't Have You from Saturday Night Fever... I just never pictured you as a musical kinda girl!" she gasped, in between giggles.
"Well, sounds like I'm not the only one here who likes musicals." Santana stated, winking cheekily. "And besides... I do an amazing Danny Zuko impression, if I do say so myself."
She then leaned back, pretending to run her hands through slicked-back hair and doing her best impersonation of the leather-clad student from Rydell High. Brittany was now doubled over, still laughing hysterically at the mental image of the tough Latina strutting around while singing Greased Lightnin', while Santana's head was thrown back in ecstasy, her laugh echoing around the room.
"Okay, okay, next question!" Brittany said, a large grin now dominating her striking features. "Where did you grow up?"
"Lima Heights." Santana answered, albeit slightly reluctantly. Brittany noticed the hesitant tone in Santana's voice, and gripped her hand harder, smiling encouragingly at her. The Latina couldn't help but to smile back, before replying,
"What about you?"
"I grew up in Connecticut, then I moved here with my dad after my mom passed away."
Santana nodded, forehead creased sympathetically at the way Brittany's eyes clouded over with sadness at the mention of her mother.
"Alright, I'll ask the next question." Santana volunteered, as Brittany smiled gratefully at the welcome distraction. "What do you do? Like, as a job?"
"Oh! I'm a garden planner, sort of like a decorator!" Brittany exclaimed. "I designed my own garden y'know."
Santana's jaw dropped open in surprise.
"Dios mio! You did all that?" she said, pointing at the magnificent garden that was visible beyond the large windows situated across from where they were sitting.
Brittany nodded shyly, her cheeks tinted the most adorable shade of pink Santana had ever seen.
"Wow. That's amazing Britt."
Brittany grinned at the compliment and the unexpected nickname, and then turned her attention back to Santana.
"So, what about you, Santana? What's your career?" she questioned curiously.
Santana paused for a split second, her mind racing, desperately searching for an idea to cling to.
"Umm... I'm, uh, kind of in-between jobs at the moment." she muttered, dropping her gaze and fumbling mindlessly with the tassels of one of the embroidered cushions that adorned the couch.
She glanced up, expecting a look of disdain from Brittany, but was shocked to find the blonde watching her, her head tilted to one side, a small smile on her face as her eyes met Santana's.
"What?" Santana said, the hint of a smile playing on her perfect lips.
"Nothing." Brittany murmured. "I just... you're just so beautiful."
Brittany then reached forward unexpectedly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind Santana's ear.
Santana inhaled sharply, as she felt her heart begin to thump wildly against her ribcage, until she was sure it was going to explode out of her chest. She swallowed nervously, the gulp audible in the sudden stillness that surrounded them. Brittany leaned forward slightly, eyes locked with Santana's, lips parted slightly, until Santana could hear each little breath ghosting past the blonde's inviting pink lips.
Santana leaned in more too, intoxicated by Brittany, as the blonde's hand moved down to cup her cheek gently. As their faces got closer and closer, Santana's mind began to fill with a jumble of voices, the most prominent being Blaine's and Brittany's...
'Damn right, you'll get the diamonds back...'
'...do whatever you need to, become her friend, pretend you're a newcomer to the neighbourhood...'
'...you're just so beautiful...'
Santana then pulled away from Brittany abruptly, coughing lightly and running her hands through her hair. Brittany's face dropped slightly at the sudden rejection, but then she was back to her normal self in a flash, giggling quietly and blushing, which once again made Santana smile.
"So... you were saying something about me being beautiful?" Santana smirked, attempting to regain some of her cocky arrogance that she had never had trouble with, that is, before she had met Brittany.
Brittany beamed at her, and Santana felt her stomach clench, but in a good, strangely pleasant way. She didn't know what it was about the blonde... something about her made Santana feel... different. When she was with Brittany, she felt like she could just be herself, and not worry about Blaine or the diamonds or anything.
The diamonds.
She had to keep reminding herself that they were why she was here. She was here to get them back and then get out of there as fast as she could. It wasn't difficult. She could do it, no problem.
But why did she feel something pulling her, something that was beginning to make her doubt whether she could do this?
'No. Snap out of it. This is not like you. Come on, you can do this. All you have to do in keep this up for a couple more days, then get the damn diamonds and get out of here, and you'll be off to Mexico in no time. Just a couple more days..."
She kept repeating it to herself, 'just a couple more days', the mantra swimming round her mind like a shark confined to a tank that is much too small for its immense size. But, no matter how much she tried to convince herself, there it was, that nagging feeling, that feeling that told her that maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to... no, didn't want to do this.
She was torn, the struggle raging on within her savagely. Brittany, meanwhile, had noticed the conflicted look on Santana's face, and reached over, stroking Santana's forearm gently, nibbling her lip in concern for the other girl.
Santana jumped, startled out of her reverie by Brittany's unexpected touch. Brittany had her eyes fixed on Santana, watching her inquisitively.
Brittany then took Santana's hand once again, using her other hand to tilt the brunette's face towards hers until they were gazing into each other's eyes.
"I've got another question for you." murmured the blonde. "Are you seeing anyone?"
Santana shook her head slightly, and Brittany had to battle to stop herself from grinning like a maniac.
"No... boyfriends then?"
"I haven't had a... boyfriend."
"...Ever?" Brittany gasped.
"Never."
"But... how? I mean, you're so nice, and funny, and gorgeous..." Brittany's cheeks flushed as she bit her tongue, willing for Santana to fill the silence that she had just caused with her candid words.
"But I have had girlfriends in the past though, so it's not all bad." Santana replied wryly, watching Brittany to gauge her reaction. Brittany smiled a little, playing with the hem of Santana's t-shirt.
"Oh I see. So... you're gay?"
Santana nodded, before replying quietly,
"What about you?"
"I'm... undecided. I believe that everyone can love anyone they want, regardless of gender. It just takes that one special person to make you fall in love, and it shouldn't matter if they're male or female."
Santana smiled adoringly at Brittany, the blonde's honest words creating a fuzzy, happy feeling that flowed warmly through her body.
Santana's eyes then travelled over to the ornate clock that was positioned above the mantelpiece, and she gasped involuntarily when she noticed the time.
"Oh crap! Is it four fifteen already? Oh, I'm sorry Brittany, but I have to go!"
Blaine had left a message on her answering machine the night before saying he was going to beep her at precisely four thirty today for an update on the diamond-retrieval situation. She knew she had to get out of there before that happened, or she would be in serious trouble.
Brittany pouted, her disappointment evident, but stood up and smiled at Santana graciously.
"Well, before you go, I have to say thank you for stopping by. I... I had a really lovely time getting to know you."
Santana blushed furiously, and was grateful for her tan skin, as it made the blush almost imperceptible.
"Uhmm, well, thanks for having me over."
She attempted to remain composed, not wanting to get any more attached to Brittany than she already had, but she couldn't resist striding over and wrapping her arms briefly around the startled blonde. Brittany raised her arms and looped them around Santana, pulling her in tighter and holding her. They stayed like that for a few seconds, until Santana pulled away and smiled ruefully.
"Alright, well... I'll see you around?"
Brittany nodded, before taking Santana's hand gently and walking her over to the front door. Brittany opened it courteously for Santana, and the brunette bowed grandly with a flourish, eliciting the cutest of giggles from Brittany.
But, just as Santana was about to make her way down the paved path that stretched out in front of her, she felt a warm hand on her arm hold her in place.
"Wait."
Santana turned to face Brittany, eyebrows raised curiously.
"Umm, Santana? Can I... do you think I could get your number?"
Santana nodded far more eagerly than she wanted to, and Brittany delved into her pocket excitedly, pulling out her phone and handing it to Santana.
"Put your number in here, then I'll text you and then we'll both have each other's numbers. Y'know, if that's okay, or whatever."
"Of course it's okay." Santana replied softly, letting her fingertips linger for a second longer on Brittany's hand as she took the phone from her.
She typed her number in, added her name, and then handed the phone back to Brittany.
"Thanks!" Brittany said, her mouth stretched into a wide smile. Santana beamed back, before waving one last time as she turned and walked away.
Santana reached her apartment quickly, not wanting to be late for her verbal 'meeting' with Blaine. She flopped down on her couch, waiting for her watch communicator to beep, signalling that she was being contacted. But, just as the clock changed to read 16:28, two minutes before her meeting was scheduled, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
She pulled it out roughly, wondering who would be texting her – she didn't have many friends, thanks to her line of work.
-Hey! Umm, it's Brittany here. But you probably already guessed that :P Anyway, I just wanted to say that I had a really great time with you today, and, umm, I hope we can do it again sometime. Maybe you can come over one day this week and we can watch a musical together? :D –B.
Santana knew what she should have done.
She should have told Brittany than she was busy, that she didn't have time, that she didn't think it was a good idea. Anything to stop them growing even closer than they had in one simple afternoon.
But she didn't.
Instead, her fingers began replying of their own accord, and had sent a text back before she even had time to fully register what she had said.
-Hey Brittany. I had a great time today too; I was just disappointed that I had to leave so quickly. Yeah, that sounds awesome! How's Friday for you? I can bring Hairspray, Chicago, any film you want! You just make sure you get loads of popcorn ;) –S.
She set her phone down on the coffee table, but it buzzed less than a minute later.
-That sounds amazing! :D Okay, what flavour popcorn do you like best? –B.
-Hmm, I think I'd have to say sugary, 'cause it's so nice and sweet. –S
-Just like you then :) –B.
Santana felt her stomach do an excited flip at the unanticipated compliment, and the thought of spending another day with Brittany.
But she kept trying to convince herself that she was just eager to complete her mission; she told herself that she was only getting closer to Brittany to get the diamonds back faster, but she knew that wasn't true.
She was falling for Brittany, and she knew it. She was falling hard.
Crap.
Sorry I took a while to update, I've got A2 exams in about 2/3 weeks, so I've been studying for them quite a lot!
So yeah, the time periods between my updates are going to be slightly longer than usual, until my exams are over, but I will try to update as often as I possibly can.
Anyway, I hope you're all enjoying this fic so far, and remember, reviews make me a chipper lass, so don't be shy, let me know what you think! :D