Ever since Quinn moved in, it was almost eerie how nothing seemed to really change. Rachel was still constantly over, just instead of bugging Santana, she would float towards Quinn. When everyone came over to visit, they all sat and gathered for movies in their usual places, despite the new extra. No questions were asked, it was as though it was supposed to be that way, in which no one questioned the sudden change.
She felt alone though, except with Rachel. No one else really knew her old harbored feelings except for Rachel and, of course, Brittany. B wasn't around though, not anymore, so the only person she had was Rachel. No one else but Rachel. Deep down, Santana knew eventually she'd have to tell Quinn, but everything was going so well so far, she saw no point in mentioning something that could potentially ruin their friendship.
So, the day was going as usual. Classes started a few months ago so Santana was enjoying her day free of classes, watching old cartoons on the television while Quinn was gone.
Really though, she wasn't paying attention to the cartoons. If anything, they were just a soft melody in the background as she stared at the ceiling. She needed to tell Q, at least about Brittany. She was already asking around what happened, but no one would tell her. It wasn't too awful; it was though, a memory that Santana despised living through over and over again.
Her phone began to vibrate though, snapping her out of her thoughts. A welcomed relief, really. Smiling, she shook her head down at the message from Quinn.
Q: I'm bored. Do you want to get coffee?
Rolling her eyes, Santana sat up. She wasn't exactly dressed, but she certainly could get dressed before Quinn's class ended.
S: Sure. Shouldn't you be paying attention, Fabray?
She hardly even had a second to stand up.
Q: Like I said, bored. Class will be over in forty, meet you at the usual place?
S: Always.
"I am going to laugh my ass off when you get your phone taken."
Quinn rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "Not going to happen. Unlike some people, I can hide my phone while I text."
"One time! And that was high school. They cared more back then. You're never going to let me live it down, are you?" Santana chuckled, shaking her head.
"You were sexting B during a lecture on poetry… It's hard not to tease you."
Their chuckles died down at the mention of her name. Brittany. Santana knew it was going to come up eventually. It's not that she wasn't over the incident; it was just that it still stung a bit from time to time. After all, she did believe she was marrying the dancer within a month.
"S... I know you don't want me to ask but, what happened to Brittany?"
Sighing, Santana sat up, taking a sip of her coffee. "It started after she came to New York first semester last year…"
Brittany was quieter than usual tonight. There they were, cuddled in Santana's bed, Santana playing with Brittany's hair as she sat in pure silence. It hung in the air uneasily, making it hard for Santana to even breathe at this point.
"Britt? What're you thinking about?"
Sighing, Brittany pulled away slightly, licking her lips as she sat up, resting her back against the headboard. "San, you know I love you right? No matter what?"
Santana nodded slowly, sitting up slightly. "Brittany, is everything okay? Did something happen?"
Shaking her head, she ran her fingers through her hair. "Santana, it's just… You've changed, a lot. It's weird. Back in Ohio you were the HBIC, and with Quinn and I, it just… You were fierce and I loved that. Now you're just… Weak…"
Sitting up quickly, Santana raised an eyebrow. "B, I'm still me… Ever since I've come out though, you know a lot of my pent up anger and protectiveness has worn off. What's wrong with that? I thought you liked me when I was soft."
"I do, but not when you act the same to Rachel as you do to me."
"So I can't be nice to Rachel? That's stupid."
Brittany shook her head, turning to face Santana entirely. "No, not what I meant. I mean… You treat me like a friend, not a girlfriend."
Freezing, Santana scanned her face, feeling her heart crush in her chest the more Brittany talked. "I love you, B… You know I do. That's why we hold hands, why we kiss, why I make love to you. It's why you wear that ring on your left ring finger. We're getting married; I wouldn't do that with just anyone."
"But you're doing it with the wrong person," Brittany snapped. There it was, hurt in her eyes. She knew. Brittany knew about that secret Santana had been keeping since junior year of high school.
"Brittany… I love you. This is right. I've been fighting for you since we were kids." Santana's eyes were full of tears, fighting to come out, but she held them back. She couldn't cry in front of Brittany, not now.
"I know… And that's why I came here." Licking her lips, Brittany reached down to her left hand, pulling the ring off slowly. "To let you go."
Sniffling, Santana shook her head, grabbing Brittany's hand tightly. "No, B. Come on, don't do this, please."
Shaking her head, Brittany stood up from the bed, placing the ring on the nightstand. "I can't, Santana." Leaning over the bed, she kissed her forehead gently, sighing. "I'll always be your friend though, pinky promise."
She held up her hand, extending her pinky. Santana hesitated, knowing that if she didn't fight, this would be the end. How could she though, when Brittany could see that while she did love her, Santana's heart fully belonged to someone else?
Finally, Santana took Brittany's pinky with her own, her head falling in defeat.
"I'll see you around, S." And with that, Brittany took her things, and she was gone.
Quinn frowned, looking at Santana's face. It hurt her to tell the story; she could see it, so very clearly. "Santana, I… I'm so sorry."
Shaking her head, Santana looked up to her, licking her lips. "No. Don't be. It was for the best. I text her every so often but things really have changed. She's actually off doing a tour with someone right now. She's happy."
Reaching across the table and taking Santana's hand, Quinn scanned her face. "Are you happy?"
Squeezing her hand gently, she nodded to the blonde. "Yeah, I really am."