Chapter Five

It's strange to think that there was a time when I felt completely at ease with Brittany. We'd spent all our time together since we were kids and I'd always thought we'd be that way forever. But now, I was sitting in her house and I'd never felt more uncomfortable in my life.

'Do you want anything to drink?' Brittany asked me as she twiddled her thumbs on the chair across from me.

'No, I'm good. This shouldn't take long', I replied cooly as I looked around her living room. I'd never been in her house for this long. It was weird to think that she had this whole other life now that I didn't know about, a life that didn't involve me.

Brittany's voice brought me out of my thoughts. 'So was there anything particular you wanted to talk about?'

I could tell by her voice that she was just as nervous as me. This was the first proper conversation we'd had in years and it wasn't a light topic.

'I guess I just want to know why you want to get divorced now. We've been separated for two years and I thought it was working out.' I tried to keep my tone impartial as I spoke. She would jump on any sign of weakness.

'It was working out, Santana, I just want to finalise it,' Brittany said as she cast her eyes down to her thumbs again.

'Finalise what?'

'Us being over, Santana. I feel like there's a huge weight over my head and I just want to get rid of it.' She was still staring at her thumbs. Why won't she look at me god dammit?

'So you think that getting divorced will make you feel less guilty for leaving me?' I asked her defiantly. She looked up at me then. 'Are you sick of explaining to people that you're married but you walked out on your wife because she was depressed and you couldn't be bothered dealing with it?'

'That is so unfair, Santana!' she shot back. Jackpot, I'd pissed her off now. I still knew the only way to find out the whole truth from Brittany was to get her angry. 'How was I supposed to stay with you? I tried to help you but you wouldn't let me! It was your fault I left, I couldn't deal with your shit anymore!'

'I wasn't in a state for you to help me, Brittany!' Great, now she'd pissed me off. 'I didn't know what the hell was going on, a bit like now! Why is it so important that we're 'officially' over?'

'Because, Santana, we are! We're not getting back together, right? So why are we still married? Do you have any idea how difficult it is to meet new people and tell them that you're married? How are we supposed to move on if we're still married to each other?' Her cheeks had gone red and she brushed the hair that had fallen in front of her face away.

'Oh, so that's what this is about. You want to meet new people and you don't want them to know that in your last relationship you turned out to be a shady bitch. And don't you dare introduce anyone to my daughter before I've met them again!' Who the hell did she think she was?

'What are you talking about? I've not introduced Tal-' Brittany stopped as she understood what I was saying. Then she laughed. 'Louise? You think I'm dating Louise? She's just a friend, Santana, just like Quinn is yours!'

'Don't lie to me, Brittany, I'm not retarded! Why would you bring her to the sports day if you weren't involved with her?' I was really pissed off now. I hate people lying to me, especially Brittany, and after all these years I could still tell when she was.

'So that Talia would know who I was going on vacation with. That's why she's staying my parents this weekend, I'm going to Lake Baldwin with Louise,' Brittany explained, 'as friends.'

'As friends? Really Brittany?'

'Yes, Santana, she's my friend and we're going away together as friends!'

I sighed and pursed my lips.

'Whatever, Brittany, I know when you're lying to me. I'll look over the fucking papers but I'm not signing them until you tell me the real reason.' Brittany looked at me defeated. I knew she was keeping something from me, I just knew it and I didn't know why but I needed to know.

I also knew that I needed a drink.

'So she's claiming that there's nothing going on with this girl but she's going on vacation with her?' Quinn asked me incredulously as she poured us another vodka. 'Is she fucking serious?'

'It's the biggest crock of shit I've ever heard,' I said as I took a large gulp from the glass that Quinn had just handed me. I'd came over to her house as soon as I'd spoken to Brittany to fill her in on what was going on. 'Does she honestly expect me to believe it? She's going to Lake Baldwin to shack up with her!'

'She's lying,' Quinn nodded as she took a sip from her own glass. 'I don't mean to offend you or anything, S, but what is it that you're actually annoyed about? That she's moving on or that she's lying to you?'

I sighed and rubbed my temples.

'Everything I guess. Probably more that she's going away this weekend to have sex and I'm stuck here in fucking Lima without even Talia to keep me company,' I said honestly. It bothered me that Brittany had found someone knew to hook up with while I was going through a 'dry spell'.

'I have an idea!' Quinn shouted excitedly as she slammed her glass down on the table, startling me in the process. 'You and I should go away this weekend as well!'

'I'm not having sex with you, Quinn. You're married and straight.' I told her exasperatedly. How much had she had to drink?

'No, I don't mean to have sex, you perv. I mean to get away. When was the last time we went anywhere without the kids?' She asked me as her eyes glinted mischievously. 'Natalia will be with Brittany's parents, I'll get Puck to look after the boys. It'll be perfect!'

'I don't know, Q, are you sure this is a good idea?' I asked her questioningly. As much fun as Quinn was, sometimes these spur of the moment ideas of hers were too much for me.

'Yes, I'm sure, Santana. Let's do it!' She squealed as she jumped out her chair.

'Do what?' Puck asked as he walked into the kitchen. He took one look at Quinn and reached for her glass before sniffing the liquid and rolling his eyes. 'You better not be trying to convert my wife, Lopez.'

'It's your wife trying to convert me, Puckerman,' I shot back. 'She wants the two of us to go away for the weekend.'

'Go away for the weekend?' Puck snorted as he looked at the two of us. 'To do what? Take a break from getting drunk in my house every day?'

Puck yelped as an apple hit his head.

'Shut up, Noah!' Quinn yelled with her arm still in the air. 'Santana and I need a break. We spend all day with the kids while you go out to work and expect everything to be perfect when you get home.'

'Lopez doesn't answer to a man, she's a lesbian,' Puck retorted. I rolled my eyes.

'That's not the point, Noah!' Quinn shot back. 'Santana and I are going away this weekend and you are paying for it!'

I looked between Quinn and Puck as they stared each other down. Eventually, Puck sighed and shrugged defeatedly. God, that boy is so whipped.

'Fine, but I'm not paying for your bar tab!' he yelled at us as he walked towards the living room to safety.

'Yes he will,' Quinn said as she shot a smirk and a wink my way.

Oh god, I groaned inwardly. What have I gotten myself in for?