A/N: Just a note that I'm still continuing with the three months earlier flashback in this chapter. Thank you so so much for your feedback!

Chapter 6

Oh shit.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

What had she just done?

Santana stood there blinking rapidly, trying to sort out the commotion in her mind as her stream of conscious thoughts churned like an angry mob; voices chanting all at once, fading in with each other and words sticking out louder than others. Her indignant and vicious demeanour collapsed with her resolve as panic swept upon her like bees to a flower.

Santana couldn't bring herself to move; she couldn't distinguish between the seconds, minutes, and hours that passed. She didn't know how long she stood there, lost in the realm of her panic, paralysed completely.

Had she really done that? Did she really just out the two of them?

"San," Brittany's voice was like a spear through the fog in her mind; drawing her back to reality, "are you okay?"

"I – um," Santana stuttered, trying to form words from her jumbled thoughts. She looked up, finding Brittany's eyes and saw every reason why she couldn't bring herself to regret what she had just done. "I'm okay." She let out a long breathe that she'd seem to be holding for quite some time.

Brittany's face lit with a dazzling smile that melted Santana's heart, she took a step forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Santana, pulling her into a hug. Her hand stroked the raven hair as she whispered, "I'm so proud of you."

Santana just buried her face into Brittany's neck, not caring for the curious watching eyes around them. She breathed in the sweet strawberry and peach smell of Brittany's skin, the scent relaxed her.

"Hey," Brittany said pulling away to look at her, "we should get out of here?"

Santana nodded silently, holding her pinkie up for Brittany to take. The blonde just shook her head and took Santana's hand in her own. Santana looked down at their conjoined hands for a moment and let out another sigh, before walking towards the doors proudly with her girlfriend.

Just as a cold, hard, dripping green slushy hits them both in the face.

"Fuck!" Brittany heard Santana shout.

It felt like she had been slapped. The small ice chunks hitting her flesh like a whip, her eyes stung as she brought her hands up to wipe the slushy out of them. Trying to blink away the liquid from her eyes she looked at Santana who was fuming, bits of green ice clinging to her hair.

"What the fuck!" Santana screamed at the boy. It was the same footballer who they had just outed themselves to.

The footballer dropped the empty cup to the floor, "how does that juice taste, dyke?"

"Cómo te atreves!" Santana hissed and Brittany, making a snap judgement, grabbed the Latina around the waist and pulled her away as she tried to launch herself at the footballer who stood there watching them with an amused smirk.

The entire hallway was silent, all the students frozen watching the scene that played out in front of them. The only sound was the dripping of green slushy, falling from the two girl's faces. Santana struggled in Brittany's arms, trying to free herself but Brittany's arms pinned the Latina's to her sides. The footballer walked off, his smirk still attached to his face.

"Let me go, Brittany!" Santana cried, shaking in Brittany's arms, rage coursing through her body.

"Stop, S." Brittany murmured into her ear, and started pulling her away towards the bathrooms. She wanted to run, run fast and hard and away from everyone. She wanted to take Santana away and never come back. They entered the bathroom as the bell rang, signalling the start to class.

The Latina was red in the face behind the chunks of green that still coated her cheeks; she shrugged off Brittany's attempts to wipe off the slushy and instead went straight to the sink, splashing the cold water on her face. Brittany handed her paper towels and then wiped her own face, she could already feel the syrup hardening in her hair, sticky and gross. She waited silently as Santana tried to slow down her erratic breathing, her back facing the blonde and her hands gripping the sink.

"Oh, San," Brittany cooed pulling Santana into a tight embrace as Santana crumpled in front of her, her quiet sobs echoing in the empty bathroom. Santana collapsed into Brittany's arms, not bothering to even attempt to carry her own weight; just standing their limply, leaning fully into Brittany.

She knew Santana felt the same as she did. Crushed. It felt like she'd been kicked in the stomach, she was gutted. But it was Santana who was falling apart, not her. And Brittany knew that was because Santana had so much more to lose.

A slushy was more than just a cruel torment. It was a symbol of your denouncement. It was degrading and humiliating and it was a public declaration that you really were worthless. It told the world that you were nothing, nobody - another Lima Loser.

What Brittany feared the most is that Santana would start to believe it.

After cleaning themselves up the two girls ditched school, neither one able to face further humiliation. Brittany drove, Santana too fazed with her emotions to take the wheel. She lead them back to Santana's house, knowing neither of her parent's would be home and practically carried the Latina up the stairs into her room. They curled up in her bed, Brittany holding Santana as her sobs turned into quiet sniffles, neither of them said a word, and eventually they fell asleep.

It was becoming more of a habit that the two girls would find themselves ditching school to fall asleep in each other's arms in one or the other's bed or head to a park where they'd sit on the swings and just breathed. Santana and Brittany's mothers were worried, concerned and disapproving, not knowing quite what to do. They scolded them but their efforts were in vain, they couldn't stop them even if they tried. And neither of the women knew that their daughters were madly in love or aware of the daily torment they were facing at school. Well, they did have some inkling of an idea that there was more going on between the two best friends but to what extent they weren't sure of.

So when the school called both the mother's at work and informed them that their daughter's didn't even bother going to school at all, they decided to draw a line. Marie Lopez called Sheryl Pierce and they arranged to have a sit down talk at the Lima Bean during her lunch break.

"I don't know what's gotten into my Santana," Marie said with unfocused eyes, recalling the way her daughter had looked like she was tearing at the seams, every day the fiery glow in her eyes faded more and more, she was more drawn in – quiet. She took a sip of her coffee and met Sheryl's eyes.

"The same with Britt, ditching school like this – it isn't like her," Sheryl sighed and turned the warm mug in her hands, "and she looks like she's in pain, she's always jumpy but every time I try to talk to her she just puts on this brave face and says 'I'm okay' and it worries me."

The two mothers had been friends for quite a while, happening to have worked as nurses at the same hospital years ago before Marie met her husband Carlos and retired. The fact that their daughters had become best friends at the start of junior high, the endless sleepovers their daughters had meaning more interaction between the two, led them to become even closer.

Marie hummed appreciatively, "I just don't know what to do, and you know Santana, she's not the kind of person to just open up like that..."

"...Unless it was Brittany," Sheryl said, finishing Marie's thought. The older Latina sighed and Sheryl spoke again slowly, cautiously, "I think you and I both know something is going on between our two girls, Marie."

Marie bit the inside of her cheek, taking in a deep breath. She knew what Sheryl was saying was right but that didn't mean she was entirely thrilled with the idea. Her throat felt tight as she responded, "do you mean to say that our daughters are..."

"Maybe," Sheryl shrugged. The thing about Sheryl was that she was just as open minded and accepting as Brittany, appearing to have the same child-like wisdom as her daughter. So the idea of her daughter being involved with another girl didn't really bother her as much as the idea of them ditching school for reasons she didn't know. The apple didn't really fall from the tree.

"We don't know that -"

"Oh c'mon Marie, don't tell me you never hear them in the middle of the night."

Marie almost choked on her coffee, spluttering and bringing a napkin to her mouth as she coughed; her eyes bugging out of their sockets.

Sheryl breathed out a shaky laugh, "thought so."

Marie swallowed uncomfortably. She couldn't deny what Sheryl was saying because she had heard the muffled moans and giggles coming from her daughter's room down the hallway in the middle of the night, but she tried to shut it out, ignored it and convinced herself that it was nothing but a figment of her imagination. "Can we not talk about this?" Talking about her daughter's sex life was definitely not something she was up to do.

"I was just saying," Sheryl shrugged nonchalantly, "you've seen the way they look at each other - they're like lost puppies following after one another."

Marie chuckled softly and relaxed a bit, she couldn't deny that either. The truth was Brittany made her daughter incredibly happy; she brought something out of Santana that Marie hadn't seen since she was a little girl. She noticed the loving gazes they shared, how they used to fall asleep hugging and the way they'd always hold their pinkies – something Marie had grown used to – but still, having her daughter called out like that still came as a small shock. However, she'd be lying to herself if she said she didn't see the chemistry between the two girls and it made her smile. Her daughter was happy and that was what matters the most.

"Why I'm saying this," Sheryl continued, "is because I think it has something to do, well largely to do, with their behaviour lately."

"What do you mean?" Marie said trying to piece together all these hints to come up with the picture Sheryl seemed to have seen.

"I'm worried Marie, I'm worried that they came out... at school and that they're getting harassed."

Marie's blood went cold with dread. Was somebody hurting her mija?

"I'm not saying physically, but you know how that school works - heck Santana used to be the harasser - but what I'm worried about is that it's all going to be too much for them, that it could turn physical," Sheryl said and swallowed, "I mean we don't know for sure that this is the case but something tells me I'm close to the mark."

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

"I don't know," Sheryl sighed, tapping her finger against her mug, lost in thought for a moment. After a moment she finally said, "first things first, we got to talk to the girls themselves."

Marie felt bad, like she was ambushing her daughter. Cornering Santana and Brittany like this was an un-motherly thing to do wasn't it? No, that's silly. It was for her well-being, she was just worrying about her daughter's safety. But she still felt like she was betraying her daughter; forcing her to come out like this when neither of them were even ready.

She stood at the kitchen bench and tried to focus on chopping up chillies and slipping them into the frying pan without cutting her thumb off.

The two women, Marie and Sheryl, had planned to confront their daughters tonight – in the gentlest ways possible, Sheryl assured – and decided that Sheryl would be invited to dinner at the Lopez's house, bringing Brittany with her. Neither of their husbands could attend, both caught up at work. Marie didn't mind this, in fact she was relieved. Something told her that, unlike her, Carlos would not take to this whole 'his daughter being gay' thing well at all.

Buzz. Buzz.

Santana picked up her phone with lightning speed, opening up Brittany's text.

Brittany: I have a bad feeling abt this xx

Santana's thumbs tapped away at the keyboard of her phone, sending her reply back quickly.

Santana: Me 2, do u no why they want 2 hav dinner together? X

The Latina waited impatiently for Brittany to reply, she was sitting on the edge of her bed, elbows on her knees and her foot bouncing up and down nervously. She held her phone in her hands, her palms sweating. Her phone buzzed again.

Brittany: Nope, she just said it'd b nice 2. This is weird. x

Santana: I no right xx

Santana paused before quickly sending another text.

Santana: u don't think they no do they? Xx

Santana was nervous. She had been nervous ever since her mother came home and announced that Sheryl was going to pop by and have dinner together with them, Brittany too. It was suspicious to say the least.

Everything felt odd, like something was planned for the two of them and she was just prancing her way into this trap their mothers had set for them. The fact that when she came downstairs, her mother seemed to be a bundle of nerves as she scurried around the room avoiding eye contact with her daughter as she frantically cooked dinner, only further heightened Santana's suspicions.

She jumped slightly as her phone buzzed again with Brittany's reply. She bit her lip nervously.

Brittany: I don't know...maybe. xxx

"So, Santana," Sheryl began, sawing through her asparagus with her knife, "Brittany tells me you've been promoted to co-captain of the Cheerios, that must be exciting!"

"Oh yeah it's good fun," Santana smiled modestly, trying to relax. She felt ridiculously on edge, and tried to shake off this nagging feeling that she was going to be blindsided and it was silly, it was just dinner after all.

Santana sat beside Brittany, across from Sheryl and Marie sat at the head of the grand dining table; the air felt tense to Santana, and she'd been holding her breath for quite some time. Brittany put her hand on Santana's thigh under the table cloth and squeezed it gently, sending a silent message to relax. The gesture made Santana jump a little but she let out a long breath.

The polite discourse continued throughout the entire meal and slowly Santana let herself relax, her rigid shoulder muscles unclenching and she finally let herself enjoy the conversation. Brittany stole a quick glance at her, giving her a bright smile; no trace of worry glinted from her blue eyes instead Santana saw relief and it was reflected in her own.

Santana smiled into her glass of champagne and took a sip, placing her hand on Brittany's thigh and rubbed gently. Santana tried to bite back a smirk as the blonde flushed a light pink over her cheeks.

Marie cleared her throat, drawing the girls attention back to her, the older Latina pretended not to notice the leg rubbing. Santana's mother's hands were shaking slightly as she rested her fork and knife on the table and she found the room to become suddenly hotter. Marie did not want to do this; the nerves were rendering her mind useless and she felt queasy.

But to Marie's relief, it was Sheryl who decided to start.

"So girls," Sheryl said her tone becoming serious, she set her glass down, "you're probably wondering why we're having this little girls night."

The two girls nodded slowly in response and Sheryl took a slow breath, hesitating before she spoke, "Well, there is a reason for this. Marie and I wanted to speak to the both of you, about something that has us concerned."

"Is this about us ditching?" Brittany said quickly.

"No, well not entirely," Sheryl answered.

It was Santana's turn to feel queasy, this was it – she was being blindsided, they were cornering them, it was all a trap. Santana felt panic sweep upon her and her stomach twisted uncomfortably. Her defensive walls snapping back up, she tensed for what was about to come.

"Girls..." Sheryl said in a low voice that ate at Santana's nerves.

"We know about the two of you!" Marie blurted out her hands reaching forward as if trying to capture the words that had slipped out. Santana's mother flushed, embarrassed.

Santana's stomach dropped and Brittany's face paled almost instantly. Santana's pulse quickened and she could feel tears stinging in her eyes, dread consuming her. Was this it then? We're they going to disown the two of them? Kick them out of their house? Scold them? Vomit? Hate them? Or worse, tell them to break up and separate them forever? The air around her seemed thicker and she felt light headed, not able to take enough air in her quick breaths and the room felt a thousand degrees hotter. Oh shit.

"W-what are you talking about?" Brittany tried, playing dumb. Santana felt warm hands clutch her own fiercely.

"Sweetie, we're not blind," Sheryl laughed. Santana glanced up in surprised, "or deaf either for that matter."

Brittany blushed a bright crimson and Santana was choking on air, she could feel her heart beat thudding in her ears. This was happening. They knew. They've always known. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Oh god what was happening. She looked desperately to her mother, expecting to find coldness, disappointment or even hatred spurring from her mother's eyes but she didn't. "Mami," Santana choked out, "I-I can explain -"

"You don't need to mija," Marie said gently, "it's okay."

"Really?" Santana asked in a quiet voice, afraid that her mother was going to turn on her at any given moment. Her eyes fell to the table burning holes in the cloth, suddenly ashamed for lying to her mother about everything.

"Mija, look at me," Santana lifted her eyes, "I love you Santana, and if Brittany is the one person who makes you happy then she could be a turtle for all I care."

Santana felt a tear slip from her lids and she quickly wiped it away with her wrist, "mami thank you. Thank you so much."

"So...are you?" Marie asked softly, reaching over to grab Santana's other hand on the table, she ran her thumb over the back of Santana's hand in a comforting gesture.

Santana swallowed nervously, trying to calm herself. Everything was going to be okay, she told herself. Her mother still loved her. She felt Brittany squeeze the hand beneath the table and she turned to look at her, her eyes didn't move from Brittany's as she answered, "I'm in love with Brittany mami...I- I'm gay."

She felt her mother's arms around her, pulling her into a hug and she sighed with relief. It felt as if a thousand weights had been lifted from her chest and she could finally breathe. She started to giggle, bewildered; this hadn't turned out like she had expected it to. She couldn't really believe it, that this was all real; it felt like something out of a dream. Her mother loved her - all of her - and she could have Brittany and still have her mother. It was all so overwhelming to her that she started to cry and her mother just held her tighter, brushing her hair back and whispering 'it's okay'.

After a few moments, the two Latina's let go of each other, sinking back to their seats and wiping away their escaping tears. Brittany and her mother just beamed at the pair, Brittany had been tearing up as well.

Santana pulled herself together and looked to Sheryl, "a-are you okay with this? With Brittany and me, I mean?"

"Of course I am!" Sheryl said with a wide smile and looked at her daughter and nodded, "Brittany's always been something else."

"Yeah," Santana agreed a little breathless and Brittany just grinned happily, "but that's not all you wanted to know is it."

"No, it's not," Sheryl nodded, "what's happening with you two? Ditching school almost every week, are those kids giving you a hard time Santana?"

Santana couldn't answer, conflicted. She didn't want to stress her mother more than she already had, telling their parents that they'd been slushied almost every day and taunted would only add to that. It wasn't anything too serious yet either, she could handle it - she had to.

"No, we're okay." Brittany answered for her, and Santana wished it was true.

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