Graduation day was here, and the girls had a bittersweet feeling sitting inside the pits of their stomachs. Yeah, they still had the entire summer to go. They still had time together, however things were about to change.

No more were the days of getting on the bus and sitting next to each other. Or meeting up at their regular bench to talk after class. No more frantic pleas from the girls to Quinn as they attempted to finish homework the morning it was due.

Life moves unforgivingly. It travels fast and within a blink of an eye- it changes.

There stood Santana, Brittany, and Quinn – looking at each other in their caps and gowns. Quinn dawned the valedictorian stole, unsurprisingly. She was always way ahead of the game and knew all the answers before the question was asked. In Santana fashion, she began to tear up.

"Fuck man, my make up." She said as she looked up towards the ceiling. "It took me forever to do this shit this morning."

Brittany reached into her pocket and pulled out a tissue. "I came prepared, softie."

Santana chuckled before taking the tissue from her best friend. "I'm not the only one who's a baby this morning." They both turned to see Quinn's back faced towards them – her hands up to her eyes to stop the tears from falling.

"I'm sorry okay. This is just a big moment for us you know?" Quinn said, turning around. Brittany took another tissue from her pocket and handed it to her. "Thanks, Britt."

The trio had spent countless hours talking about this moment. The last four years had been building to this one day. And within two hours, it would all be over. Graduation is a big step, but the girls were ready.

Once the commencement ceremony began, that's when it started to hit Brittany as well. Quinn was sitting in the bottom row while Santana was two rows behind her. Brittany was a few rows behind Santana. She was always a little behind her two best friends, they just understood things a little faster than she could.

Quinn's valedictorian speech was flawless, thanking everyone for their support over the years and of course- giving a shout out to the two people who meant the most to her throughout the four years of high school.

Once it was over, everyone walked outside and began to congratulate each other. The girls took many pictures with family and friends before heading to BreadStix to have dinner. Quinn rode with her parents while Santana and Brittany rode together since their parents had to go to work.

"Hey San?"

"Yeah, what's up B?" She answered. Santana was at a stoplight now, and turned towards her friend who was looking out the passenger window. "You okay? You've been really quiet this whole ride."

"I- don't know, how I'm going to do this without you guys. Especially you, San."

Santana's heart hurt in that moment, knowing that the pair had spent nearly every day together since middle school. Brittany relied heavily on Santana. Which isn't a bad thing, but in all realities? Santana relied on Brittany too. Because what would best friends be if not to have each other through everything? And it would be a lie to say that Santana hasn't thought the same thing.

Brittany had been her rock for the last seven years. Through thick and thin. Through all the highs and lows. She was there when her abuelo passed away, and that was something she could've never got through without her.

You could never find one without the other. Two peas in a pod, you could say. Even when their parents would be looking for them, the first place would be at each other's houses.

Santana pulled into the parking lot and parked a little further from the restaurant. Without turning the car off, she put the car in park and turned to her friend.

Brittany was quietly wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Britt.." Santana said as she placed her hand on Brittany's. "Look at me."

Brittany turned towards Santana. She didn't say anything, but her face said it all. Tears falling from her eyes. Her nose a little red.

"B, you know that I'm always going to be here for you no matter what. Louisville isn't that far away, and I'm always a call or text away."

Sniffling, Brittany wipes her eyes. "I know. But we won't have moments like this anymore you know? I won't be able to just walk down the street to your place when I just want to be around someone. Things are changing, and I'm just scared."

"Don't be scared, B." Santana reached into her backseat and pulled up a bottle of Crown. Attached to the bottle was a little drawstring bag with the letter B on it. "Here. I was going to give this to you at the same time that I give Q hers, but I think right now is a better moment."

Brittany took the drawstring bag off and opened it. Inside, was a shot glass that had Brittany's name engraved. When you turned it a little more, there was a picture etched. One that meant a lot to Brittany and Santana. Crown was a drink they both liked. It was a Pierce family tradition, something that Santana came to love solely because of how much time she spends with her family.

2 Years Ago

Brittany and Santana were hanging out together after a softball game. Quinn had to leave to go to a family party, so it just left the two girls together at Santana's house.

"Come on, B." Santana said as she held her hand out to Brittany. She was standing outside the window of her room.

It was a little cold that night, and Brittany was nice and warm inside. On top of that, she had just woken up from a nap. "Saaaan please I don't want to go up on the roof tonight. It's warm inside. Come back in."

"Please B. Trust me." She told her.

Defeated, Brittany gave in and took her hand as Santana helped her out of the window. They both climbed onto the roof and that's when Brittany saw the blanket and pillows on their normal spot.

"San, you did this?"

"Of course. I knew you'd be cold, but tonight is a full moon. And one of the clearest nights of the year. Look at all the stars."

Brittany looked up, and she was not disappointed. Stars covered nearly every inch of the sky.

"B, I did this because I realized something tonight." Santana said as they walked towards the set up. "I know we're only sophomores. But I want to be able to look back to nights like this and remember it. You know? Imagine in like, ten years' time. We can be like 'oh man remember that one time we were star gazing from my roof?'"

Brittany smiled, knowing that Santana had such a soft side. She didn't show it often, and most times it only came out when it was just the two of them. Santana was sentimental, and so her thinking of something like this really wasn't all that surprising.

"Do you like it?" Santana said as they sat down. "I know it isn't much but still."

"It's perfect, San. Thank you for making me come up here."

They sat for about an hour, just watching the stars, and talking. High school was flying by, and the girls cherished every moment they could spend together.

Santana reached under her pillow and pulled out a small bottle of Crown with two shot glasses.

"One for the night." She said as she poured each of them a shot.

Brittany took her phone out and the pair took a picture of them before taking the shot.

"Never above you," Santana began.

"Never below you." Brittany added.

"Always beside you." They said together before cheering and taking the shot.

"And I mean that, B. Don't ever forget that I'm always going to be here for you. No matter what."

.

"I love it, San. Thank you." Brittany said as she traced the picture with her thumb. "I promise, I'll make good use of this."

Santana took the cap off the bottle of Crown, reached into her middle console to grab her shot glass as well. She poured each of them a shot.

"Here's to us, B."

"Thank you, San. For just- always knowing what to say."

Santana placed her forehead gently on Brittany's. "I'm always here, Britt. Don't worry too much, okay?" She smiled. "Never above you."

Brittany smiled back. "Never below you."

"Always beside you."

The cheered and then threw the shot back.

"Now, let's go inside before Quinn goes crazy and thinks we landed in a ditch."

Dinner went great, and the girls decided to head down to the park near the softball field.

The girls went to the park on days where they had double headers at home or on the weekends when they had nothing else to do. It was like their spot to vent or just to get away on days when they were stuck in the house.

It was the park that Brittany and Santana grew up in. Countless scrapes, bruises. But overall good times. Once they got to high school and Quinn joined their group, they spent late afternoons and nights there as well. It was in a good part of the neighborhood, so they were never worried being out there late.

They parked in their normal spot and walked over to the swings. Quinn taking a solo one while Brittany and Santana sitting on the tire swing together.

"Do you guys remember when we came down here junior year after prom?" Quinn says, breaking the silence.

"Hell yeah. I was so fucked up." Santana said as she thought back to prom night. "We hung out here, so I had a chance to sober up before going home. Britt had to carry me in her house to sleep."

Brittany started laughing, because it was the night that Santana fell off the bed and didn't even move after she hit the floor.

"Shut up Britt I know why you're laughing." Santana said as she held back laughter of her own.

"This is what I'm gonna miss. Just being around you guys." Quinn added, once the laughing had died down. "I know we have all summer. But once summer is over, that's it you know?"

There was a silence that fell over the girls. They knew that their time together was coming to an end, and none of them were ready for it. Santana was going to be the first of them to leave, being that her parents wanted her to get settled at Louisville without having to rush. A week after she leaves, Quinn goes off to Yale. And that leaves Brittany in town, she was planning on attending a community college until she was able to take her SATs again and try to get into Louisville with Santana.

"We still have the summer. How about, we make the most of that first and then deal with the emotional goodbyes later? Graduation was less than 6 hours ago Q."

The difference in the pep talks that Santana gives to Brittany and Quinn were based solely on their personalities. Santana knew Brittany long enough to know that she would need reassurance while Quinn needed more of an upfront reminder that she's thinking too far ahead. Something that she did quite often.

After about an hour more at the park it began to rain so the girls went their separate ways. Quinn headed to Puck's house while Brittany and Santana went back to Santana's place for the night.

"Hot chocolate for you," Santana says while handing Brittany a mug. "Extra marshmallows, extra whipped cream."

She goes back into the kitchen to grab some napkins and her cup. "While I have my cup of vanilla ice cream."

For best friends, the girls were complete opposites. Santana was extremely outgoing, while Brittany was more on the quiet, shy side. When it was cold outside, Santana would always give her jacket up to Brittany because she was always hot and enjoyed the cool breeze. Santana was a little cocky, while Brittany was humbler about things.

On rainy nights, Brittany always wanted hot chocolate while Santana preferred ice cream. But besides all the differences, they made a great duo.

Per the usual, the girls were cuddled up on the couch sharing a blanket, watching re-runs of Friends. They've tried to watch something new but every time that happens, they get distracted by talking or looking at people's profiles on Myspace. On this night, they were looking through everyone's graduation posts. And that's when it hit them.

"We don't have a picture of the three of us in our cap and gowns." Santana said, disappointed. "What the actual fuck."

"I mean, it was hectic right after graduation San. And with all our families and everyone else wanting to take pictures it just slipped our minds probably." Brittany answered, facepalming. "But even I really wanted that picture."

They went through most of their classmates' pages, the ones who had time to post. Most of them were out drinking at graduation parties already. The girls weren't too big on the party scene with their class, they decided freshman year that they didn't want to do anything that would get them into too much trouble. And the number of times that student parties have had to be broken up by police was way too many for their liking. And that was just the first half of freshman year.

When Quinn started dating Puck, she started to go to a few more parties. Tonight, was one of those nights. Finn was having his graduation after party at his house and invited everyone over including the Glee club, but it had already been a long day- so Brittany and Santana opted out.

The last time the girls had gone to one of the parties, some freshman girl bumped into Brittany on accident which ended up with Brittany spilling her drink. When the girl went to apologize, a drunk Santana thought she was mouthing off to Brittany and pushed her up against the wall. Brittany was able to pull her off her, apologizing to the girl before taking Santana out the front door.

"We have all summer to take more pictures. Especially with you, since you want to dip on us early." Brittany said sarcastically. "I need to get ready for classes. Louisville. Blah blah."

Santana playfully pushed Brittany. "It's my dad's idea, okay? Not mine. If I had a choice I'd stay until the end of summer like a normal person." She looked distraught. "You know I didn't want to go without you."

The truth was, Santana didn't even want to go to Louisville until next year. She had asked her parents if she'd be able to defer for a year, work, and then go the following fall semester but they said no. She wanted to be in charge of her education. She didn't want to go and start without Brittany. But they were paying for her college. And it was either she goes this fall or not at all and she'd have to figure out how she was going to pay her tuition all on her own.

Santana didn't come from a wealthy family. But her parents had started her college fund from before she was even born. They wanted to give her everything they never had, and a college education was at the top of that list.

Don't stay back just because Brittany can't start this year, mija. Is what they would tell her all the time. They knew the friendship that the girls shared but Santana was their daughter, and that's who mattered the most to them.

But Brittany mattered to Santana. And starting this year only meant that they wouldn't be graduating together again.

A silence fell amongst the girls for a few minutes.

"I know San." Brittany said, breaking the silence.

When it was time for the girls to take their SATs, Brittany didn't follow the directions and forgot to bring her ID. It was the last test before the applications for Louisville were due and she ran out of time. It was her fault and there was nothing either of the girls could do.

The silence engulfed them once more, with Santana's arm wrapping around Brittany's shoulders and pulling her closer. "It's okay, B." Is all she said.

And it's all that had to be said because the day was already an emotionally packed one. The adrenaline and excitement from today was finally dissipating and everything was going to hit them soon.

Santana took a deep breath, squeezing her best friend a little tighter. She never blamed Brittany for her mistake or held it against her. It was an honest mistake, and they didn't think that it would affect them to this extent.

Nothing had to be said at this point. Being in each other's presence was good enough.

AN: Thank you so much for all the feedback and everything! Reviews make me so happy and when I came online to check on the story I saw I had a few and decided to post this chapter a little earlier than I had originally planned.

This fic is based really loosely on real life / what I wished would've happened. LMAO.

Reviews, comments, complaints, etc. All welcomed. They make for a happy writer.

P.S. I'm working on the next chapter for Paradise as well. I didn't forget about any of my other stories at all.