Okay so here's the deal I divided this chapter into two parts. The second part isn't written yet and it would just delay this even longer so I decided to cut it into two chapters and get the first part out now. The first part is shorter but I hope it's worth it. I just wanted to post something instead having to wait until the whole chapter is finished. Enjoy.
Chapter 24 Part 1: No, No
I feel something gently tracing up and down my arm first. Up and slowly back down then slowly up to my shoulder again.
The tracing stops and I hear her quiet voice second. "Britt-Britt." She whispers. It's quiet and I barely hear it. I'm not entirely sure if I'm awake or not. This could just be a really good dream.
The slow tracing starts again and its now that I realize that I am not sleeping and this isn't a dream. As the sleep starts to drain from my body and I become more awake I feel the tracing as Santana's fingers and hand that are moving across my skin.
I smile. This is a great way to wake up. The best way. I wouldn't mind waking up like this everyday for the rest of my life. Waking up to a beautiful woman, my beautiful woman. Waking up to Santana lying next to me or curled up against my side or half on top of me. Waking up to her still sleeping and just watch her in her blissful dream state.
Santana's fingers graze down my side. Her finger run across my naked skin sending a shiver through my body.
Waking up naked with an equally naked woman in my bed. That is definitely something I could get used to.
"Britt." Her voice whispers again. Like honey. Thick and sweet. She must have been awake for awhile cuz her voice doesn't have that rough first waking sound to it.
I peek open an eye and as I expected Santana is looking straight at me. Her eyes widen out a little and a smile takes over her face. "Good morning." She says and scoots in, closing the two inches of distance between us, and pecks me on the lips.
"It is." I hum happily. It's the best of mornings. Santana giggles and I smile at her. "Good morning babe." I add. "So, what are we doing today?" I ask. I don't know why but it's the first thing that comes out of my mouth. I am also taking a leap with assuming we are spending the day together.
"I have something in mind." Santana says and I mentally do a fist pump. Score. Today is gonna be great no matter what we do. I get to spend the day with Santana and there is nothing better than that.
After spending the whole day together we find ourselves again in my bedroom. Tomorrow is Monday which means Santana starts her new job. Which means I am excited for her.
I pull my shirt over my head and throw it on the floor against the far wall and grab my pajama shirt to pull it on.
Santana is in the bathroom taking her turn to get ready for bed. I went first and brushed my teeth and washed my face and whatnot.
I look around the silent room. I'm not sure what I'm looking for but I glance around the room then shrug and climb into bed to wait for Santana. Today with her was another great day. And now we are going to spend another night together. I really like the idea of spending days and especially nights together. It doesn't have to mean sex or doing something special just to be in her presence is enough.
Speak of the devil. Santana's head pops into the doorway and she looks around smiling coyly.
"Get in here, ya goof." I tell her through a chuckle and lift the blankets for her to slip into bed.
"Okay." She grins brightly and tiptoes into the room.
I love this. When Santana is here and we can just cuddle together and sleep and just generally be in the same bed. I voice my opinion on the subject. "I really like this." I say as Santana hops into bed.
"What?" She asks before kissing me on the cheek.
"This." I gesture to the bed and the room. "Sleeping with you." Santana's eye widen and I hear the words that just left my mouth. "That's not what I meant. I meant sleeping as in actually sleeping not fooling around. Cuddling together in bed and just being."
"Britt." Santana tilts her head to the side, her eyes tracing all over my face. "You are amazing. I love you."
I grin like a fool. "I love you too San." I reach an arm out and pull her into my side. "I'm just saying-"
"I know what you're saying and I totally agree with you. I love spending the night with you. I love staying over and getting to sleep next to you and getting to wake up to your adorable face in the morning." Santana smiles warmly up at me.
It's like she can read my mind. "Move in with me?" It's out of my mouth before I even realized I was speaking. My eyes go wide in shock of my own words. I look over at Santana and her mouth is hanging open and she is staring straight at me. "I- uh-" I stutter trying to recover but Santana cuts me off.
"No."
"I didn't- I mean- wait, what?" I stutter some more before my brain can catch up.
"No." She says again and she finally starts blinking again. She shuts her mouth and her face finally comes back to life. Santana shakes her head back and forth lightly. "No. I can't. I couldn't."
Oh. My heart sinks a little. Even though I didn't mean to ask her to move in with me, at least not right now, I was still hoping she might say yes. The more seconds of time that pass, the more I realize that is what I think I want. For Santana to move in with me and be here all the time and to sleep in my bed every single night.
"Britt, I just- I can't." She says sadly.
I nod and accept this. "Okay." I say equally as sad. Part of me is relieved but the other part is sad that she said no. It was so out of the blue, I think, I surprised myself. I totally ruined the vibe in the room and the great day that we had. I should have just kept my mouth shut and there wouldn't be this silence in the room with us staring at each other awkwardly.
"Are you excited for tomorrow?" I ask changing the subject in the hope that the awkwardness leaves the room and Santana and I can continue our night. God, I hope she doesn't get up and leave. That would be devastating.
"Yeah." She says quietly breaking our strange staring contests, sighs, and rests her head on my shoulder. She wraps an arm around my waist and I instinctively hold her tighter to my side. "I'm excited for this new opportunity and to do something that I am gonna love."
"That's great. I'm happy and excited for you." I tell her and rub my hand up and down her arm.
I've been thinking about it for the last couple of days. Sunday night when I asked Santana to move in with me, that is. The more I think about it the more I realize that is exactly what I want. I want Santana to live with me. I want her to sleep in my bed every night. I went all of her things to mix with mine. I want her favorite food in my cupboard and in my fridge. I want all of her, all around me, all the time.
Santana is coming into the bar after she is done with work. We are going to have supper together and then I am gonna go back to work. I don't know if she will stay and hang out after that or not. I would love for her to. If I have to I might beg her to.
It's nearly dinner time and I am getting more excited by the minute. I haven't seen Santana since Monday morning before her first day of work and we only talked on the phone once since then. There have been a lot of texts though.
Not too much later the bell above the door chimes and I look up to see Santana walking into the bar. I jump a little in my spot before my feet are moving and I am walking at a fast pace over to where Santana is walking towards the bar.
I get to her and wrap her up in a big hug and press a kiss to the skin just below her ear. "I missed you." I whisper in her ear. She giggles and I pull back a little, my arm still around her middle, holding on to her.
Santana's arms are around my neck her fingers playing with the tiny hairs on the back of my neck. She smiles. "I missed you too, Britt. It's been a long four days."
"It has." I say and lean forward until I can connect our lips in a slow, tender kiss.
"Mmm." Santana hums. "Britt." She breaks the long kiss. "People are staring." I pull back from my close proximity to her beautiful face and look around the bar. They are- staring. I duck my head and drop my arms from around her. I find her right hand with my left and tug her behind me as I walk over to the bar. I let go when I have to go around the bar and Santana goes to sit at her usually spot at the end of the bar.
"So, what'll it be this evening beautiful?" I flirt.
"Oh, how charming?" Santana teases.
I shrug and cross my arms over my chest. "I try." I wink at her and she giggles that adorable giggle that I love so much.
"All just have water for now. And food."
"You got it babe." I give her my best smile then turn and go get her a glass of water.
I bring the glass back and set it down on the bar top. Santana doesn't pay any attention to me or her new glass of water. I turn to where she is looking. The tv, of course. Some sports show is on. Sports Center, I assume.
"What's so interesting?" I speak up and Santana turns her head to me.
She shakes it. "Oh, nothing. Just trade talk." She waves it off and reaches for her drink. "Thanks." She says and takes a sip.
"So, what's for supper?" I ask. I'm starving. Usually I would eat supper before I start my shift but since Santana was coming I waited.
"I was thinking maybe pizza. Is that alright?"
"That's great. I love pizza. We have pretty good pizza here. I wouldn't say it's as good as like homemade pizza or anything but it's good." I explain as I wipe down the countertop around where Santana is sitting. It's not dirty or sticky or anything but it's just something I do to kill time sometimes. Wiping down the bar seems to happen at least a few times an hour with me.
"Well, good, cuz I'm in the mood for pizza." Santana chuckles. "I suggest sausage and fungus."
I raise an eyebrow at her and rest my hands on the bar in between us. "Fungus?" I question.
"Ya know, mushrooms."
I laugh. "Funny. That can be arranged my dear. I'll be right back."
"Okay." Santana says and I grab an order pad and start scribbling on it as I walk back into the kitchen.
"Hey, Will. Special order." I tear the slip off the pad and hand it to him.
"Is this for you?" He asks as he looks over the order.
"Sort of. It's for me and Santana." I grin like a fool. "She came by and we are having dinner together."
"Aww. That's nice."
"It is."
He hangs the order up on the little thing for the orders. I don't know what it's called. All I know is that it's where all the order go while the food is being prepared and once it is ready the slip gets pulled down and it's on to the next slip.
"I'll get this out as soon as I can." He says and returns to his work.
"Thanks."
I go back into the bar and a group of three is just walking in. Two guys and a girl. They sit down next to Santana at the bar. A guy right next to her, the girl in the middle, and the other guy on other side of her.
"What can I get you guys?" I ask as I approach them. I set three drink napkins down, one in front of each person.
"What do you want babe?" The guy on the right side of the girl asks.
"Just a beer is fine." She says.
"Two Buds please. What about you Justin? First rounds on me." He asks his buddy.
"The same." The guy, Justin, sitting next to Santana, says.
"Okay. Coming up." I tell them with a smile. I reach in the cooler and pull out three beer bottles and set them on the bar. I reach for the my bottle opener and pop the tops off the bottles and set them down on each napkin. "There ya go."
"Thanks." The guy hands me his credit card. "Start a tab please."
"Sure thing." I say taking the card and going to the other end of the bar and enter it into the till.
I'm on my way back with the card when I hear Santana's voice. "Oh, I broke my hand." I look over in her direction and the guy sitting next to her is looking at the cast on her hand intently.
"How does a pretty lady like you break her hand?" Justin's voice asks her, clearly flirting with her.
"Here's your card." I grumble to the guy and turn my complete attention to his buddy. I narrow my eyes at the man and fold my arms over my chest.
"I mean, it should be against the rules for you to be injured in any way shape or form." The guy grins cheesily at Santana. She seems to be taking it in stride. I, however, am about to blow a fuse.
"That's nice of you to say." Santana smile politely at this Justin guy. "But, I brought this upon myself." She lifts her casted hand in the air. "I have some anger issue but I'm trying to work through them."
"Oooh, fiesty. I like it." He comments. My fists ball up in frustration with this guy and the words coming out of his mouth about my girlfriend. Sadly, there is nothing I can do about it. I can't just punch his lights out or anything. It would not only reflect poorly on me but on the bar as well.
"Don't get too worked up." Santana tells him and rolls her eyes and looks away from the guy. She looks over to me, actually, and I see her half smile at me. I claim down a little bit and smile back at her, feeling a little at ease. Just a little.
"What?" He squaws and I turn my eyes back to him. He seems to not be paying me any attention cuz if he was would have just seen my little exchange with Santana. Either that or he doesn't care or is completely oblivious.
"Calm down, don't get your panties in a twist. You can try and flirt with me all you want. It's not gonna happen, okay? You're not my type and- I'm taken soo…." Santana tells the guy.
The smile on my face widens until my cheeks hurt from the pull.
"So, where is this guy cuz if I was your boyfriend I wouldn't leave you alone in bars to get hit on by other guys?" He asks and looks around the bar trying to pinpoint where Santana's 'boyfriend' could be.
I scowl some more as the words leave this guys mouth. My smile forgotten and my eyes narrowed again.
"Hey, Justin, leave the poor woman alone." The girl sitting between the two guys speaks up. I turn to look at the her. She leans forward so she can look around Justin and make eye contact with Santana. "Sorry about him, he's kind of an idiot."
"Hey!" Justin nearly yells.
"That's okay." Santana tells the girl. I turn to her when I hear her voice. She is speaking to the girl but isn't looking at her. Instead she grins at me and gives me a wink.
"Yeah, don't be a toolbag, Justin." His buddy chimes in, looking around his girl to get Justin's attention and then he nods in my direction. "Or this bartender is gonna beat the shit out of you."
Shit. He turns to look at me and I quickly divert my eyes. A few seconds of silence go by before I hear Justin's voice again. "You protective of your customers or something?" He asks and I bring my eyes back to him.
With my arms folded over my chest and still angry eyes I take a step forward. "No. Not my customers." I smirk. "Just my girlfriend."
"Whoa." He breathes out and pops up from his barstool holding his hands up in front of him. He glances from me to Santana. She nods and smiles at him and then he looks back at me with apology written all over his face. "Sorry." He ducks his head and backs from this barstool and then moves to the barstool next to his buddy and sits down there.
His buddy starts laughing and the girl just shakes her head at the guy. "He's kinda full of himself." The girl comments.
"I can tell." Santana says and we all chuckle a little at his expense.
The little bell dings to signal that a food order is ready. I turn to see that it's mine and Santana's pizza. "Yummy." I mumble and step over to get it. I turn around and Santana's mouth is practically watering. "Sugar, Santana and I are gonna eat now. Cover the bar." I tell the younger woman.
"Gotcha." She says with a nod of the head.
"Come on." I say and step into the dinning room with Santana following behind me.
We dig into our pizza and it's quiet while eat but after a few minutes Santana breaks the silence. "Why did you just sit back and watch as that guy hit on me?"
Oh. "Well, first of all, I didn't know what to do and second I wanted to see how you would handle it." I shrug cuz that's basically the truth. What was I gonna do? Start a bar fight.
"Oh, and how did I do?"
"Marvelously." I grin. "You didn't take that guys shit and then you shot him down. Saying you had a girlfriend, ya know, in not so many words."
"You seemed pretty mad though."
"I was but-" I confirm.
"It was hot. You being all jealous and mad." Santana says and then causally takes a bite of her pizza.
I sit there with my mouth hanging open. Sooo not fair. How can't she just say that and then eat her pizza.
"Santana?"
"Yeah B?"
"Move in with me." I'm more than serious this time when I ask. I'm not just blurting this out. I've thought a lot about it and I really want Santana to move in with me.
"Brittany." She sighs. "It's too fast." Is her reasoning. Or excuse. Or whatever.
"I know we haven't been dating for very long. But, it just feels right to me. We've known each other for many months and I honestly feel like this thing between us is going to work and going to last. Why not? Why not get a jump start on everything."
"Brittany, I feel it too but it's too fast. Too soon. There are other things too. It's just not- I can't- it's too soon." Santana says shakily.
I duck my chin to my chest in disappointment. If she feels it too then why doesn't she want to move in with me.
"Britt." Santana says softly. I raise my head to look into her eyes. "It's not that I don't want to. Now just isn't the right time. Ask me again in six months when I have my life more together."
"Okay." I mumble. I understand, I do but I'm still bummed out.
"How about we finish our supper and you can go back to work and I can sit at the bar and distract you from working." That gets me to smile. "There's that beautiful smile." Santana coos making me blush and duck my head. She giggles.