Chapter 30 – I can't
"What do you want to do tonight?" Daniel asks his wife in a sweet tone while they're watching TV on the couch. Seeing that Maribel isn't going to answer him, he decides to try again. "We could watch a movie or go take a walk, it's a nice night outside."
"I'm tired." Maribel says simply without taking her eyes away from the TV.
"I can give you a massage." Daniel tried once more, hope visible in his voice.
"Daniel stop." Maribel says firmly as she looks at her husband.
"What's wrong?" Daniel asks, a little thrown back by his wife's behavior.
"Do I really have to answer that Daniel?" Maribel asks incredulously.
"I don't get it Maribel, I really don't." Daniel says confused.
"Daniel do you think I can just forget the fact that you've been all happy while our daughters have been miserable, and the fact that when I try to put some sense into you, you always pick up a fight. I can't take this anymore Daniel, all the fights and seeing my daughter unhappy every single day." Maribel confesses as she stands up from the couch and turns her back to her husband.
"She will get over it eventually, you'll see." He says confidently and Maribel turns around abruptly and stares at him, not really believing that the man in front of her is the man she fell in love with. "She will get a new girlfriend and get on with her life."
"I can't believe you're saying something like that!" Maribel raises her voice, starting to feel the anger coming to the surface. "She will get over it eventually?! I know my daughter and I know she's suffering with all of this. I've never seen her like this. This is serious Daniel! What Brittany and Santana had was serious." She pauses for a second to take a deep breath and then continues. "I wanted them to be sisters too, but things don't always happen like we want them to, so then we have to adjust to the situation and accept it."
"No, I refuse to accept it. They're better apart. It's best for everyone for them to be apart!" Daniel argues back, perplexed at what he's hearing.
"Really?" Maribel says sarcastically. "Because I don't see anyone happy with this situation other than you." She points out. "This is destroying our family Daniel, can't you see that?"
"No Maribel, things will get better I promise you." Daniel says as he approaches Maribel and takes her hands in his own. "They're teenagers. Soon they will have a new crush and will forget about each other."
Maribel takes her hands away from Daniel's and looks at him disappointed. "I don't know why I even bother in talking to you. You don't listen, so what's the point?" She starts walking towards her room but then stops and turns around. "You really should think about your actions of these past few days and what better way to do that than sleep on the couch? Goodnight." And with that she leaves the room, leaving a stunned and dumbfounded Daniel behind.
After several tossing and turning on the couch, Daniel huffs in annoyance and stands up from the couch, sensing that he won't get any sleep any time soon. Almost instantly Maribel's words run through his mind 'our daughters have been miserable' and on impulse he goes to his daughter's room.
He opens the door quietly, not wanting to wake her up. He takes a sit on the bed carefully and stares at his daughter's figure sleeping peacefully. He smiles as memories of a baby Brittany appear in his mind, them playing with her little toys, them dancing around the living room with big smiles on their faces, Brittany's little tantrums when she wanted him to go with her to the park to feed the ducks.
"I'm doing this to protect you." Daniel whispers softly and caresses her cheek, putting some hair that fell onto her face behind her ear. This causes Brittany to stir and turn around but luckily she doesn't wake up. A picture falls from the bed and Daniel picks it up carefully. As soon as he sees the picture, Maribel's words from early course through his mind 'What Brittany and Santana had was serious.'
In the picture was Brittany with her bright blue eyes filled with happiness and her mega-watt smile and Santana with her arms around Brittany's waist, her head on the blonde's shoulder, her radiant smile plastered on her face, her dimples in full display and her eyes filled with joy and love. They both looked so happy and comfortable in each other's arms.
Daniel sighs and puts the picture down on Brittany's bedside table. He gets up from the bed, gives his daughter a sweet kiss on the forehead and walks out the room without any noises. He returns to the couch and waits for sleep to take over him and just forget for a few hours all the things that have been happening lately.
Weeks later Maribel arrives home from work and heads for the kitchen to prepare a little snack. She notices Santana's helmet on the table so she decides to go to her daughter's room and ask her if she wants something to eat. She knocks on the door but doesn't receive any response so she opens the door and walks in. She sees Santana lying on her back on the bed, with earpieces on and looking at the ceiling with a sad expression.
When she notices a shadow she looks to her side and sees her mother. She removes her earpieces and stops the music on her IPod. "How long have you been standing there mom?"
"Not long." Maribel takes a seat on the bed and then looks at her daughter worried. "Are you okay?" Santana simply shrugs, not really knowing how to reply to that. Actually she hasn't been fine in a long time, but she doesn't want to worry her mother, so she stays quiet. "You can't fool me Santana. You're my daughter remember? I know when you're sad. So tell me, what's wrong?"
"I can't take this anymore mom. This is torture. Why can't we be together?" Santana finally cracks and tears fall down her face. Maribel embraces her daughter instantly and lets her cry her sorrows away. "It's not fair mom. We love each other."
"I know honey, I know. You just have to be strong." Maribel says soothingly as she caresses her daughter's back.
"I saw her with a guy today." Santana confesses weakly as she pulls away from her mother's embrace after her sobbing stopped. "She seemed happy." Saying these words out loud just makes everything more real for Santana and a tear escapes from her eyes at the fact that Brittany might have moved on with her life, might have moved on from her.
"Are they dating?" Maribel asks carefully, not wanting to upset her daughter.
"I don't think so." Santana says in a quiet voice. "But what if they start dating mom? What am I going to do? I can't see them everyday all coupley with one another, that will break me."
"You don't know if that will happen honey. Brittany is just trying to distract herself from the stress at home." Maribel tries to reassure her daughter.
"This is his entire fault." Santana says with disdain. "She just wants to make her father happy and for that to work we have to be apart. It's not fair mom!" Santana says loudly.
"Daniel is just doing what he thinks is best for Brittany. You just have to understand his side." Maribel tries to reason, despite not agreeing with her husband's actions.
"Like he understands ours?!" Santana says with a scoff. "I just wished that he wasn't Brittany's father."
"Santana don't say that." Maribel scolds her. "You know I don't like you saying those things."
"But it's true mom. If it wasn't for him, me and Brittany would be together." Santana says seriously.
"You just have to be strong honey. Everything will fall into place, you'll see." Maribel says as she hugs her daughter and plants a soft kiss on her forehead.
"I hope so mom, I hope so." Santana whispers, sadness evident in her voice.
Three weeks later Brittany is standing at her locker getting some books to her next class when Adam appears beside her and kisses her cheek.
"Hey Britt." He says sweetly.
Brittany hears a locker door slam shut a few feet away and turns around to see who the culprit was. Her face falls a little when she sees Santana looking at her with a sad expression on her face, probably because she saw the little display of affection between herself and Adam. She sighs and looks back at Adam. "Hey."
"So do you want to see a movie with me tonight?" He asks nervously and hopefully.
"I can't Adam. I have plans tonight. Maybe another time." Brittany lies, feeling bad about doing this.
"I'll hold you to that promise." He says jokingly as he kisses her cheek again and walks away.
"So how's your boy toy?" Brittany jumps in surprise at the unexpected voice.
"He's not my boy toy." Brittany says seriously while facing her ex-girlfriend.
"Oh really? I would swear he is. Aren't you using him to forget about me? To forget about us?" Santana asks her.
"Not everything revolves around you Santana." Brittany says, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably.
"You didn't answer my question." Santana points out.
"Your question doesn't deserve an answer." Brittany retorts.
"Why are you hanging out with him Brittany?" Santana asks, sadness evident in her voice.
"Because he's funny and sweet and he likes me." Brittany answers her while avoiding her beautiful brown orbs.
Santana scoffs at this. "He's a dumbass." She says with disgust. "I know you're doing this to hurt me Brittany. I know you just want to keep me away from you. But stop doing it." She says in a pleading voice. "Forget your dad, forget Adam, forget everybody around us. Let's just be together Brittany. I love you and I know you love me." Santana takes a step forward and starts closing the gap between their lips. As they're about to touch, Brittany comes back to reality as she feels Santana's breath on her own lips and pulls away from the Latina. Santana looks hurt at the blonde and sighs sadly. "This was my last attempt. I guess you're really determined on your decision. So I'm gonna make you a favor and stay away from you." She says sadly. "I'm done." And with that the Latina walks away, leaving a hurt Brittany behind doubting every decision she ever made.
"You should have given in." Quinn says as she appears from behind.
"You heard?" Brittany asks but already knowing the answer.
"Yes. And I just don't get why you won't give in and tell her you want to be with her." As Brittany is about to respond Quinn cuts her off while holding her hand in the air. "I know, your parents blah blah blah… Brittany that's no excuse. You two love each other and you're suffering just because your parents can't hold a conversation without fighting?! All marriages have that phase, they will get through it." Quinn takes a deep breath and then continues. "Look, I know you feel guilty about your parents' situation but it's not your fault. You love who you love. So stop what you're doing right now and be selfish for once."
"I can't." Brittany whispers with her head downcast. She looks at Quinn's disappointed eyes and then turns around and walks away, a tear making its way down her cheek.
I'm sad to announce that this story is coming to an end... there's maybe 3 or 4 chapters left. Thanks to all of you who reviewed, followed and favorited (I don't know if that's even a word or not... :P) my story! :) Till next chapter :D
P.S.1. Thank you castlewalls7 for your advice, I owe you one ;)
P.S.2. What college do you think Santana should go to and what should she study? And what about Brittany?