Author's Note: YAY! PROCRASTINATION! I have an assignment due this week and I haven't even started it. Oops… hopefully this chapter will be worth it though. Enjoy! ~ KennyEchelon

I sat in school, not looking forward to going to dance that night. I was half tempted to skip it but my mom would know. She had her ways of finding out where I was. Last time I skipped a class I got punished so bad. To say my parents are overbearing is an understatement but I suppose they're just ambitious. I know they expect me to become a doctor like my dad but pressuring me to focus on my studies isn't going to help. I valued my education already so pushing me to get better was just making me hate it.

They made the mistake of sending me to that school. Lima Heights was actually a shithole and the teachers didn't even care. I know they wanted me to toughen up because I was too fragile and submissive to stand up for myself. My mom is free-spirited and my dad's totally the same so I think they just wanted me to be like them. I couldn't help the fact I used to be really shy. I just accepted verbal abuse because I got it from Abuela all the time.

I actually couldn't wait to get out of there. I wanted to go to high school and actually like my education all over again. I didn't want to worry about anyone messing with me. I only hoped I'd have true friends like Britt there.

I tapped my pen against the desk, feeling very bored. Nothing the teacher said was going in and I kept finding my mind drifting back to Brittany. I imagined her smile, feeling sad that I hadn't seen a 100% genuine one in a while.

I'd let her down.

Before I even realised it my pen travelled across the page, doodling little hearts in the corner subconsciously. The class actually took forever. Thank God it was the last one of the day or I swear I would've fallen asleep right there from pure boredom rather than actually feeling tired.

Eventually, the final bell rang and I packed all of my stuff up and hurried out of the door. I kept my head down so no-one would ask me to hang out that night, because I didn't fancy answering why I couldn't go. Making it out of the building like a ninja, I breathed a sigh of relief. I'd managed to get my change of clothes and shoes for dance out of my locker and past everyone so I figured I was safe. Putting my headphones in my ears, I made my way into town but not without making sure no-one I knew was following me.

I entered the dance academy, bracing myself for the sideways glances and muttering behind my back. This wasn't easy without Britt. But I had to do it for her. She wanted me to compete. She wanted me to show everyone what I could do. I remembered our conversation and blushed at the fact that she'd noticed my flexibility. I just gotta dance twice as hard for the both of us.

I got changed into my dark green leotard and ballet tights, putting a pair of light gray sweatpants over the top and rolling the bottoms up to just under my knees. My hair was smoothed into my familiar cheerleader ponytail and I inspected myself in the mirror, checking that my make-up was good enough to pass. I applied an extra coat of lip gloss before giving a satisfied smirk. I was quite clearly the hottest girl in that room.

Well, I was, until I spotted a familiar flash of long blonde hair enter the room. She literally attacked me, picking me up in a massive hug so my feet actually left the floor. I could see my shocked face in
the mirror.

Brittany squealed excitedly into the back of my shoulder while still holding me in mid-air. Her arms were so tight it was hard to inhale.

"Um... Britt? Kinda. Can't. Breathe. Here" I gasped and she put me down, still making very excited noises. "What are you doing here? I didn't expect to see you today!" I beamed, my massive grin erasing any sign of confusion from my face. "It's a long story, but I'll tell you later, 'kay?" she giggled in reply, bouncing on the balls of her feet. She looked so adorable I could barely stand it. Taking a breath, I attempted to calm down but I was honestly just too happy to see her.

She quickly got changed into a powder blue leotard and I had to deliberately avert my eyes and remind myself not to act like a pervert. I didn't understand why more people there weren't checking her out; she was stunning. Then again, they probably had had a long time to deal with their jealousy of her body.

She jumped up to me with a cute expression on her face and stuck up her pinky finger in my direction which I took in my own and squeezed gently.

After the class was over, Britt-Britt and I returned to the changing rooms and she moved her bag over to mine in the corner. "Care to tell me your long story?" I said, starting to feel a tiny bit of disappointment and jealousy because whatever the reason why she was back, it wouldn't be me and I wanted to prove that I could be a good best friend. I know I shouldn't have felt like that because she was happy and dancing again but I couldn't help it.

Britt tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and looked me straight in the eyes, her face slightly surprised. "But I thought you already knew?"

That confused the hell out of me.

"No… Britt, what's going on?" My voice sounded worried. I really had no clue what was happening and I didn't like being in the dark about things. She turned her head to check no-one was listening before saying: "It was you, San."

"What?"

"Your dad came over to my house last night and wrote my mom a check for my dance fees for the rest of the term. I know it's not permanent but at least I can do the competition and finish off the year with a bang, right? It's better than I hoped for."

My face must've been a picture. "But, but when I talked to him he didn't agree! He totally dismissed the idea!" I replied, barely believing what she'd just said. He'd practically waved me away!

"Looks like your daddy moves in mysterious ways. Whatever you said, you must've won him over."

A grin spread across my face. I did it, I actually did it. I mean, it was only until the end of the term but she looked so happy in that moment that it didn't matter. My chest tingled as her eyes sparkled in absolute joy. Seeing her that happy actually hurt, but it was good pain.

I didn't care what anyone else would think, so I gave her a very enthusiastic hug and held on tight. My heart actually felt like it was trying to escape my body and relocate into Britt as she uttered the words:

"Thank you Santana, I love you."