Hello everyone! Sorry for the wait. I know all us Brittana fans have been having a rough few episodes but I know that our girls will be back together soon enough! =) I mean that backstage scene alone gave this entire fandom something to hang on to for the time being. Their relationship has touched far too many people to just have it end. Anyway I decided to keep this a semi light and fun chapter for you guys.. not sure with holiday, work, etc. how long until next chapter but I'm going to try and keep it going as frequently as possible. Reviews as always are welcomed! I love hearing your input on the story! Sorry for any mistakes.
Chapter 12
It's been a few days since Santana serenaded Brittany in the cafe. After being able to open up to Brittany and having her finally know the truth was a relief but still scared her. She knew putting herself out there the way she had done left her completely vulnerable. All of her emotions were out in the open, well not all of them but for the most part. She still hadn't told Brittany in her own actual words that she loved her but she hoped that the song had gotten the message across. They hadn't yet discussed the song or her letter, which Santana was curious how she pieced it together. Especially considering she hadn't said she was her secret admirer when she sang to her but just assumed that after the park incident Brittany pieced it all together.
Santana hadn't been back to the cafe to see Brittany yet. Even though Brittany said it was okay Santana thought it was best to give her a few days for everything to set it. She really wanted Brittany to take her time knowing what she's been through with Artie. She wanted her going into this with a clear head; that is if she decided to give Santana a chance after all. She wanted to have Brittany give her a chance but needed to make sure she was over any feelings for Artie. The last thing she wanted was to be a rebound. Although knowing giving Brittany space was a good idea she missed just being around the blonde. She missed her smile, her eyes, her laugh, her...
"Damn I'm pathetic." Santana said shaking herself out of yet another day dream of Brittany. She got up from her desk in her room after putting on her shoes and grabbed her her purse on her way out of her dorm. 'Three days is enough space.' she thought to herself making her way across the courtyard towards the residential part of town to the coffee shop.
Brittany is in the cafe clearing off some tables from a few customers that just left. Tina quickly noticed that morning when she came in to start her shift after Brittany had opened the store that she was really no use behind the counter. She was completely off in her own world. Tina was unsure if it was good or bad but figured since she seems content that it was better to just leave her to her thoughts knowing, after being caught up by the guys when they left the shop, that she must have a lot on her mind.
Brittany was clearing and wiping off tables, not noticing that she was re-cleaning tables that she had already finished. She was completely lost in her head with as she wiped down the same empty table for the third time. All thoughts cut off from the rest of the world. It had been three days and still no Santana. She just wiped away at the table with her earphone in one ear, the lyrics repeating in her head. "Every little glance my way, every time you wanted to hang. You seemed so interested. Could you tell me, was it real or was it all in my head?" No other thoughts except Santana running through her mind. She was so lost in the lyrics that she didn't even notice that the girl that filled her head had walked into the shop. She doesn't even realize that she's softly singing the lyrics aloud.
Santana spotted her as soon as she entered through the front door. She approached her quietly and once she was directly behind the blonde she heard her voice singing along to her headphone. She pauses when she hears the lyrics clearly. "It was probably just a silly crush anyway. But I just can't help but think that we, we could've had something. Have I really been blind to reality?" She brought her hand up to cover Brittany's eyes causing to Brittany to stop singing, still not sure if she realized she was even singing. She leaned in toward her ear, her other hand pulling out the earphone bud at the same time.
"Guess who." she husked into the shell of Brittany's ear, not missing the visible tremble of the girl.
Brittany shivered at the sounds of the voice whispering in her ear. Even if Santana had attempted to disguise her voice just the scent of her perfume was a dead giveaway. Her voice, perfume and hold on her was like sensory overload. She hadn't seen Santana in days and just the memory of the last time she had has been running through her mind on repeat for the past three days. She breathed a sigh of relief that she had finally came to see her. Once she gets ahold of herself Brittany she pauses the music and decides to play along with the game.
"Ummm" she drags out pretending to think. "Kelly?" Brittany smirks.
"Who?" Santana asks not sure she wants to know the answer. 'Wasn't expecting that. Tina maybe, Quinn sure, but some girl I don't even know.. nope wasn't expecting that.'
"I think that's her name... Yeah that gorgeous girl in my hip hop class. You've got some serious moves." She drags out curious to Santana's reaction but she doesn't expect what happens.
Santana's feels her heart drop in her chest. "No, but I guess I'll leave you to wait for her then." Santana sighs defeatedly and takes her hand away from Brittany's face turning away from her.
"San I'm kidding, wait!" Santana stops mid step when she feels Brittany's hand on her shoulder to keep her from walking any further. Brittany moves around Santana, now face to face, a couple feet between them. "Hi." Brittany says worriedly thinking she's already messed up something and they haven't even been talking for a minute.
"Hey." responds as everything she was feeling before faded away just by looking into Brittany's pure and innocent eyes. All worry washing away when she feels that spark again just by looking into the girl's eyes.
"I knew it was you.. I was just messing around with you." she explains fidgeting with her hands suddenly nervous under the Latina's gaze.
"Messing around with me huh? Wanky." Santana grins which only spreads completely across her face when she receives the reaction she was hoping for, Brittany blushing. 'Damn I've missed that.'
"W-Well I'll take that as you forgiving me then." she replies pushing Santana's shoulder playfully.
"Maybe..."
"Maybe? Well I know something that'll swing your boat."
"Swing a boat? You mean swing my vote?"
"Ohhhh... that makes a lot more sense. I never understood how swinging a boat would change someone's mind. Or how to even swing it..."
"You're silly B. So how exactly do you plan on swinging my vote" she asks folding her arms over her chest and giving Brittany a very curious look.
"I guess you'll have to follow me and find out for yourself." She says turning around and walking across the cafe with Santana close behind. She goes behind the counter and is immediately stopped by Tina.
"Brittany I told you already you're no help back here you've been messing up orders for the past three days."
"But-" she tries to interject but Tina continues.
"Not a chance Britt. Why don't you go daydream about Santana in the stock room or sweeping the floor or something." Brittany's face heats up at the girl's comment, hoping Santana isn't close enough to hear it as well.
"Tina..." she whines and motions her heard as subtly as possible to the other side of the counter. Tina's eyes widen when they land on Santana. "Did she hear you?" Britt asks softly too afraid to turn around and see Santana's reaction to Tina's comment. Tina looks past Brittany and sees Santana staring at Brittany with a soft smile. She quickly look to Tina shaking her head before pulling out her phone to make her look busy.
Tina hides the smile. "No I think you're safe." She sees Brittany's relief on her face. "Just make your girl her drink and get out of here. It's slow and you're really no help here, no offense."
"Would you be quiet please..she's not my girl." Brittany blushes again and starts to fidget with her hands.
"Not yet but I give it a week." Tina gives her a knowing look.
"Shut up." Brittany whines hoping Santana hadn't decided to listen in on the conversation.
"Fine don't believe me." Tina raises her hands in defense and walks backwards towards the register. "Now hurry up and get out of here."
"Thank you, I owe you!" Brittany calls after her before grabbing a cup and starts making Santana's drink. A few minutes later she walks to the end of the counter where Santana is still playing on her phone. "So does this make up for it?" she asks sliding the macchiato to the other side of the counter towards Santana before walking back around the counter to stand beside her.
"Hmm..bribing me with coffee?" Santana asks with a smirk before taking a sip.
"That depends, did it work?" Brittany asks back, biting her bottom lip but Santana can see the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
Santana breathes out a chuckle at the blonde's cuteness. "Yeah Britt it totally worked."
"Phew good I was worried there for a minute." she grins as her crystal blue eyes connect with chocolate brown. She feels her heart beat pick up just gazing into Santana's eyes. Once again in this mesmerizing trance that can't be explained by anything more than a spark. She bites her lip and searches Santana's eyes for any indication that's she's feeling it too. 'It was real, it had to be.'
Santana's eyes are distracted from Brittany's when she sees her bite her lip, her eyes immediately drawn to the action. She looks back up to Brittany's eyes noticing she saw her since her eyes have darken and are now looking at her lips as well. It takes everything in her not to lean forward. She clears her throat causing Brittany to look back up at her quickly before she diverts her eyes and blushing, know they've both been caught. 'At least we were both thinking the same thing, right? She must have been thinking the same thing as me.'
It takes moment for Santana to realize they've been standing in silence for some time. "Well I uhh- I guess I should let you get back to work."
"Actually I'm done." Brittany says chancing another look at her.
"Really? It's a little early to get off though isn't it?"
"Yeah but it's slow and Tina sorta told me to leave."
"She has a good point." She pauses and Brittany looks at her trying to figure out what she's referring to. "I mean daydreamers don't really get much work done." she smirks once again at Brittany. 'I love getting her flustered.'
'Busted.' Brittany thinks as she feels her face burning up again in embarrassment. "I've.. I've had a lot on my mind recently." she says honestly.
"It's okay Britt. I've been having trouble concentrating lately too.."
"Really?" she asks looking back to Santana.
"Yeah, really." Santana smiles at her as she works up the nerve to continue her thought. "So umm.. what are you doing with your day off?"
Brittany hears the nervousness in her voice and the in her eyes. 'Her eyes really do say it all.' she thinks. "Well do you have class or plans or anything today?" she rambles.
"Nope. No, I'm totally free." Santana fidgets with her hands. 'What is she doing to you?' she thinks before halting her hand nervous hands. 'Get it together Lopez.'
"Would you maybe want to do something?" Brittany asks, swaying her footing, once again too nervous to look into Santana's eyes.
'I swear they're like middle schoolers.' Tina chuckles as she thinks it noticing the interaction between the two girls towards the end of the counter.
"Sure you don't want to ask your gorgeous dancer friend?" she questions. 'There you go, much better.' mentally patting herself on the back for getting her confidence back.
Brittany's eyes snap up to hers at the comment. "She's not the one I've been thinking about non stop for the past three days... Plus I heard she already has someone so I guess we could do something." 'Two can play this game.'
"Oh and if she didn't already have someone?"
"She still wouldn't be the one I can't stop thinking about."
"And who is?"
"You."
Santana knew what the answer what was going to be but just hearing it actually come from Brittany's mouth still makes her heart jump at her words.
"Non-stop huh?"
"Mhm. I guess I've kind of missed you."
"Kind of?" Santana pouts.
"Yeah just a littlee bit." she motions with her pointer finger and thumb almost touching sporting a coy smile.
"Just a little bit?" Santana pushes.
"Okay, maybe a bit more than that." she says putting her hands in her front pockets rocking on the balls of her feet.
"Good, me too."
"Well then why don't we get out of here. We still have a lot to talk about."
"Yes. We do."
"Let's just go upstairs."
"Lead the way." she motions her hand for Brittany to go past her but Brittany brings up her hand as she walks up next to her and links her pinky into Santana's giving her a soft smile that Santana returns as they walk out of the cafe and up the stairs to the apartment.
"Just make yourself comfortable...I'm just going to jump in the shower quick if that's okay. I smell like coffee." Brittany says closing the door to the apartment.
"I like that you smell like coffee." Santana says turning towards her.
"You would you're a total coffee addict!" Brittany jokes, "especially recently; you come in like three times a day and you usually end up getting at least one refill before you leave."
"Yeah well I think I enjoy the people more than needing the caffeine boost." Santana admits. "Can I tell you something?"
"Of course."
"I don't actually drink all of that coffee. I normally just drink the first cup but I end up giving the other one to my friend in class. I really only go there as much as I do because.. well because I get to see you." she admits shyly.
"Really?" Brittany asks in disbelief. Santana nods. "Wow that's..."
"Stalker status?"
"What? No it's actually kind of sweet of you. You continue to surprise me."
"In a good way?"
"Yes. Definitely in a good way. I'll- I'll be out in a few you can turn on the TV or music or something if you want to." Brittany says taking a step closer to her and pointing towards the living room.
"Okay, thanks" Santana says and then is taken by surprised when Brittany pulls her into a hug. "What was that for?" she asks when Brittany pulls away a moment later but remains close to Santana.
"I'm just really glad you came in today and for giving me some time even though I told you not to."
"It was a lot to take in at one time. I just thought it was a good idea to give you some space." Brittany can see the sincerity in her eyes.
"It was. Okay now I'm really going." she says but not making any attempt to move, her eyes still locked with Santana's.
"Okay." Santana replies, expecting the Brittany to leave but she doesn't.
"Okay." she replies.
"Good." Santana says back a smile pulling at the corners of her mouth.
"Yup." Brittany says back with a playful glint in her eyes causing Santana to laugh.
"Britt go take your shower or I'll drag you in there myself." Santana says trying to act serious.
"You'll drag me into the shower.." She says as she finally backs away from Santana down the hallway. "That's just... Wanky." she winks and lets out a laugh then turning around away from Santana once she sees her get flustered for a second.
"Hey, that's my line!" Santana calls out after a few seconds and all she hears is Brittany's laugh as she disappears through a door down the hallway.
Santana decides it's probably a better idea to do as Brittany had suggested. She goes to the girl's living room and turns on the TV but gets bored of flipping through channels quickly. She gets up from the couch and looks around the room realizing she didn't really tae it in the previous time she had been there. Sure it had been dark because of the storm and after that she didn't stick around long enough to make it much further than the door inside the apartment. She sees the pictures on the wall of what assumes to be her family from back home. There's one picture of a very large cat that practically takes up the entire frame. She can tell it was shot from a distance and chuckles at the overweight fur ball. Santana walks towards Brittany's entertainment center that holds her TV, DVD player and what looks like a karaoke machine towards the bottom.
The rest of the shelves are mostly random things that she looks past as her attention is drawn towards the top shelves filled with trophies and more pictures. They're all from dance competitions from all different periods in Brittany's life. The oldest picture the adorable blonde's shows, the same excitement in her face as the newest pictures. Brittany couldn't have been more any older than 5 when the picture was taken. She smiles at the thought of Brittany dominating in all these competitions. Realizing she's never actually seen the girl dance she makes a mental note to change that soon. She makes her way back to the couch and looks at the mess of papers on the coffee table. Thinking it was only notes for school until she notices a familiar handwriting on one small stack or papers.
"My letters." she gasps out hesitating before picking them up. "She kept them all. She comments to herself in disbelief. She sits on the couch and flips through them all starting with the first one.
Santana isn't even past 'Dear Brittany,' when she hears a scream. She jumps up from the couch and runs down the hallway as the sounds continues. She follows the noise and pushes through the door.
"Britt what's wrong?!" she barges into the bedroom. "Are you-" she begins but the air is literally taken from her lungs at the sight in front of her. She quickly diverts her eyes to the floor when she sees the girl is only wearing a towel.
"San!" she yells in relief, not even realizing the other girls uncomfortable state. "San there's a spider!" she squeals, her voice laced with fear.
"Seriously?" she hold back a laugh peeking up at the girl. Her eyes trained on her legs as her gazes trails up her body.
"Yes! It's over there!" Brittany points to the floor a couple feet in front of herself. "It trapped me in the corner. Can you get it out of here please?" she pleads.
"Fine. Where are your tissues?" she asks the the petrified blonde.
"Why do you need tissues?"
"So I can kill it. Don't really want spider guts on your carpet do you?"
"No you can't kill him!"
"What? I thought you wanted to get rid of it..?!" Santana is now completely lost on what her role is at this point.
"Yes just like grab it and bring him outside. You can't kill him!"
"Why not?"
"What if he has a family?" Brittany asks in a serious tone.
'She's actually serious.' The tone in her voice is the only thing keeping Santana laughing in response. "I'm sure they'll be just fine Britt."
"What if they realize he's missing then they'll go looking for him and then I"ll be have his whole family coming after me!"
"I seriously doubt it's family is going to come here and seek revenge." she motions to the eight legged creature on the floor.
"San..." Brittany whines and Santana looks up and sees her pouting.
'She already looks sexy as fuck in a towel of course she has to pout too!' "Fine!" Santana groans knowing she's won't be able to deny this girl anything. "Where are your tissues though because there's no way I'm touching that thing with my bare hands."
"They're over there." she points to the dresser a couple feet in front of her.
"Seriously Britt you couldn't just toss them to me?"
"Uh no. What if it attacks me while my guard is down"
"Babe it's a spier it can't move that fast. She says as she steps over it to get to the dresser. He eyes staying on the tissues not the gorgeous girl in nothing but a towel that's now only a couple feet away from her still backed in the corner. She grabs the tissues and turns back around to face the spider.
"It's moving!" Brittany yells and grabs onto Santana's arm, clinging to her.
Santana shivers at the contact. Taking everything in her yet again to not turn around and let that towel drop to the floor and..."San get it!" Brittany shrieks. Santana shakes her head trying to get the image of Brittany wet in another places not caused by the shower out of her mind. 'Focus damn it!'
Stepping out of Brittany's grips she grabs the tissue box and creeps towards the spider that's scurrying across the floor. She takes a tissue from the box before putting the box in front of the spider's current path. Taking her hand with the tissue to block the spider from changing it's course. It crawls onto the box and Santana cups her tissued covered hand over it so it's doesn't decide to crawl out of the box and onto her arm.
"Don't squish it!" Brittany says still cowering in the corner.
"I'm not going to squish it, relax. B you're going to have to open the window." Brittany gives her an uneasy look. "Britt it's fine the spider isn't going to get you but I can't open the window without it getting away. Please?"
"Okay." She quickly moves past Santana putting her the Latina in another daze as the scent of vanilla fills her nose.
Brittany pulls open the window with one hand, the other still holding onto her towel. Santana ducks her head and arms out of the window. Realizing it goes right onto the fire escape she puts the tissue box down and removes her other hand covering the spider. She gently takes the tissue and brushes the spider off the box and onto the landing. She returns back inside and quickly closes the window.
She Turns around to see a very relieved Brittany coming toward her with an arm stretched out, the one not holding her towel. Santana snaps back into realization and moves out of Brittany's path. Brittany stops when Santana moves towards the other side of the room.
"San, what's wrong?" confused at the distance Santana has put between them.
"B I would love nothing more than to hug you but uh.." she points to the towel, "If you get any closer with just that on I can't be held responsible for anything that happens once that towel hits the floor. She says shakily as her hearts pounds against her chest.
Brittany's cheeks flooded red and Santana could see her eyes darken at the comment as she struggled to even form a response.
"S-S-Santana you can't say things like that or I'm going to need another shower." her eyes widen and she looks down the floor.
'You keep referring to yourself in even less than a towel you won't make it two steps toward s the bathroom door.' she thinks. It takes every molecule to turn away from Brittany. 'She has this affect on me way too often. This is going to be an issue.'
"Brittâuhm.. I"m sorry we shouldn't umm.." she clears her throat. "Why don't you get dressed and I-I-I'll wait in the living room again so we can talk." She manages to stutter out, not realizing that not all her thoughts her previous thoughts weren't just in her head but said aloud. She quickly leaves the room and an extremely aroused Brittany behind.
"This is going to be a long day." Brittany breathes out when Santana has shut her door. She gets allowed of herself, convincing herself more than once to get dressed instead of running after Santana and taking her right there in the living room. "A very long day." she nods and heads over to her dresser.