Her Smile Heals Me (part 7)
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. "Girls…Are you two up?" " Mrs. Pierce asked loudly through the closed bedroom door, "…I don't see lights on?"
The loud banging startled Brittany awake, jolting the blonde teen upright in bed. She instinctively glanced over at her nightstand in her haze of grogginess, looking for familiar green, digital numbers, but her clock was blacked out.
"Brittany? HELLO?" she heard her mom yell from the other side of the door.
She rubbed at her eye with one hand while reaching in the dark for her phone on the small bedside table. Not finding it, she patted around the bed until her hand landed on the warm body sprawled next to her.
As Brittany's senses slowly returned to her in the early-morning hour, she remembered Santana was in bed with her and they were to be somewhere today…somewhere important. "Oh crap…," Brittany finally recalled, "Tan, wake up!"
Soft groaning was the only response from the sleeping Latina.
"Santana," the blonde shook her bed partner, "Get up and get dressed…hurry!"
"What…?" the brunette finally stirred, unaware of any urgency.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. "BRITTANY SUSAN," her mother yelled louder.
Brittany jumped out of bed. "We're up, Mom!" Brittany assured her through the door, as she flipped on the bedroom light and searched for her shorts from the night before, hoping to find her phone.
"Get moving, girls! We have to leave in the next ten minutes," Mrs. Pierce told her, "Your dad is already putting stuff in the car so Santana needs to bring her bag down as soon as possible."
Santana turned over on her back, shielding her eyes from the harshness of the overhead light. She looked across the room, seeing the naked form of her girlfriend moving around the foot of the bed, bent over, searching for something on the floor.
"What are you doing…?" Santana mumbled.
"Looking for my phone…do you have yours?" the blonde asked her, desperately needing to verify the time. She looked up, realizing the brunette had drifted back asleep. Brittany picked up a throw pillow from the floor and tossed it at her, "Santana, wake up…please."
Santana sat straight up. "What's going on?"
"The alarm didn't go off…we're late…Mr. Shue is going to kill us!"
The Latina threw off the blanket that was covering her, moving swiftly toward her suitcase and pulling out her cell phone from the side pocket. "6:10…OH FUCK!"
"My mom's already in the car…please move quicker." Brittany grabbed panties and a bra from the top drawer of her dresser and ran into the bathroom, turning on the light and pushing the door closed while Santana unzipped the top of her bag, removing underwear, a pair of jeans and a gray t-shirt.
Santana quickly pulled off her clothes from the night before and stepped into fresh underwear then shoved her long, thin legs into the baggy, denim pants before searching the floor for her bra, hearing water start running from inside the bathroom. She knocked on the door and said, "Britt…I need to pee!"
"Then come in and pee…," the taller girl answered her.
Santana opened the door, finding Brittany washing her face with a soapy washcloth.
"Are you going to shower?" the Latina asked her.
"There's no time…," she responded, brushing her long hair and pulling it up into a pony-tail. Quickly putting toothpaste on her toothbrush, she turned around to find Santana standing behind her, just smiling.
"What…?" she asked, suddenly realizing she was completely naked.
"I was just…remembering…," the dark-haired girl said sweetly.
Brittany removed her toothbrush from her mouth and leaned to kiss Santana on the lips, leaving an outline of blue foam, "I love you…now hurry and pee please."
Santana laughed out loud, "Wow…so romantic!"
Brittany spit out the excess foam from her mouth, "Santana!"
"Ok, ok…I'm hurrying."
"Good morning…," Rachel Berry beamed as Quinn walked up to the yellow school bus.
"Is it…?" the former head Cheerio grumbled.
"Aren't you excited? By lunchtime, we'll be in THE greatest city in the whole world…," Rachel could barely contain her enthusiasm, wrapping her short arm around Quinn's waist and attempting to sway and sing, "Start spreading the news…we're leaving today…."
"Rachel…PLEASE…dial it back a few notches…you're going to have a stroke before we even board the plane," Kurt interrupted her.
"Or we'll strangle you…," Tina warned, yawning.
The petite brunette frowned and moved over toward Finn who was standing in a small circle of sleepy Glee members.
The phone in Quinn's shoulder bag started ringing. She pulled it out and looked at the incoming caller…SANTANA (HOME)…before answering it, saying, "Hey…what are you doing at your house? You should be here already!"
"Excuse me…?" an older voice asked.
"Hello…?" Quinn's face contorted, "Mrs. Lopez?"
"Quinn…where is Santana? She's not answering her cell?"
"Oh…um…," the young blonde hesitated, stretching her neck to check for any sign of the Latina's arrival in the parking lot.
"Isn't she with you?" Santana's mother questioned, "She said she was staying at your house last night."
"She did? I mean…yes, she did stay with me," Quinn lied, quickly trying to figure out the cover story, "We're at the school now…we're about to leave for the airport."
"Well, let me talk to her a moment."
Holy fuck…Quinn's mind was racing…where are they? She assumed Santana was with Brittany, but Brittany was not at the school either. She made eye-contact with Puck, covering the phone and mouthing, "Where's Santana…?"
Puck panned the outer parking lot then shrugged in Quinn's direction.
"Quinn…? I want to speak to my daughter…now," Mrs. Lopez repeated authoritatively.
"She's not here at the moment," Quinn was getting flustered.
"She's not with Brittany, is she?"
"She went inside the building to use the restroom," Quinn made up then added, "She must have left her phone in her bag."
"Oh…well, why didn't you say that to begin with? Just ask her to call me before the bus leaves."
"Sure, no problem" Quinn sighed with relief. Once the former cheerleader captain ended her call with Santana's mother, she scrolled her contacts and dialed SANTANA (CELL). It rang once then went to voice mail. Quinn looked at the time. 6:33…Shit.
Mr. Shuester surveyed the gathered group of teens, noting two were missing, then said loudly, "OK, let's go ahead and load up."
Quinn's phone rang again…BRITTANY PIERCE…thank god. "Britt?" she clarified this time.
"We're late…," Brittany announced on the other end.
"Yeah, no kidding…we're boarding the bus now…is Santana with you?"
"Yes."
"She needs to call her mom…like, right now…she called me, looking for her."
"Ok…tell Mr. Shue we'll be there in a few minutes."
"What happened?"
"The alarm didn't go off…please don't let him leave us!"
"He won't…just hurry!"
Will Shuester stepped toward Quinn, hearing the last bit of conversation on her end. "Are they at least in the car?"
Quinn gave the Glee Club director her sweetest smile, "Of course…they're right around the corner."
"The Captain has turned off the seatbelt sign, so you can now move about the plane," a young male flight attendant announced over the speaker.
Brittany unlatched her lap belt and said, "I'm going to the restroom…will you ask for some juice if they come by with the cart?"
"Sure," Santana told her, moving her legs to the side so the tall blonde could push past her and step into the aisle.
Quinn closed the book she was reading and moved from her window seat to Brittany's vacated middle seat, sitting next to Santana. "Sooo…why exactly were you staying at my house last night?"
Santana turned toward the shorter blonde but did not answer.
"It's ok, San…you can 'stay at my house' anytime…just give me a heads up, ok?"
"What did my mom say to you?" Santana sounded worried.
"She was just trying to track you down when you didn't answer your phone."
"Thanks for covering for me."
"What's going on with her?"
"She doesn't want me staying at Brittany's house overnight," Santana leaned toward Quinn and whispered.
"Does Britt know that?"
"No…and I don't want her to find out…it'll just upset and worry her."
"Ok…," Quinn agreed, "But…does somebody need to worry about what's going on over at your house?"
"I'm fine," the brunette looked back down at her magazine.
"Santana…?"
She shifted in her seat to look directly at Quinn. "Please don't say anything to Brittany…but my mom won't allow me to see her anymore."
"Like…at all?" Quinn tried to clarify.
"After this trip…never."
"So clearly she knows about you two."
"She's so pissed she's hardly speaking to me…she said if she catches us together, I'll lose my car, my computer…everything."
"Then I guess you and I will be spending a lot of time together this summer," Quinn winked at her.
Santana shook her head in defeat. "I'm just so tired of all the lies," the Latina confessed sadly, "…and the shame."
"Santana, you know that I understand what it's like to get that sort of response from a parent…but this is your mom's problem…not yours, ok?"
"According to her…my relationship with Brittany is an 'abomination against God'."
"Hey, look at me…you need to hear this from someone…you haven't done anything wrong," Quinn linked her arm through the Latina's which was resting on the divider between their seats, "We should all be fortunate enough to have something like you and Britt have together."
Santana leaned her head over on Quinn's shoulder, "I really appreciate the support, Q."
Will Shuester entered the hotel lobby and took a deep, settling breath when he saw the buzz of activity from the dozens of excited teenagers and the spattering of adults who appeared to be shepherding groups of them to various parts of the hotel. He unconsciously ran a hand through his thick, wavy hair then flattened out his buttoned, brown-tweed vest and tightened his maroon tie, stepping back outside to check on his motley crew of thirteen who were still helping each other out of the shuttle van and loading luggage onto a gold, metal cart.
"Ok, guys…I'm going to check us in. Whenever you get everything off the van then please find a spot in the lobby and wait for me," he instructed, "Please stay together!"
The group nodded and grabbed their suitcases to follow him back inside the hotel, becoming increasingly wide-eyed as they watched swarms of spirited show choir members flitting around them in the lobby.
"Oh wow…no turning back now, I guess," Kurt stated with a look of dread across his cherub face.
"There are just…so many of them…," Mercedes observed, her mouth opened in awe.
"Why do they all look like they're in college…?" Tina asked in dismay.
"Or on steroids…," Santana added sarcastically.
"Ok, stop with all this negativity, you guys…," Rachel turned to face her fellow New Directions members, "We earned the right to be here just as much as they did. We're in New York City! We made it to Nationals…let's find some enthusiasm!"
"Rachel's right," Finn said supportively, putting his arm around his Glee Club co-captain, "Let's enjoy the experience…whatever the outcome ends up being."
The petite brunette smiled up at him in appreciation as the rest of the group nodded and smiled at each other.
"We need to find a restroom…like now," Brittany announced.
"Yeah, ok…you girls go first, we'll watch the bags," Puck agreed, taking her bag from her.
The guys found a nearby couch that was empty and sat down to chill. It wasn't long before Mr. Shuester returned with their room information.
"We're in rooms 721 and 723," Will told them, shuffling two long, cream-colored envelopes in his hands.
"Wait, we're all supposed to cram into just two rooms?" Puck questioned.
"I know it'll be a tight squeeze…but it's all we're budgeted for," he confirmed with an awkward smile, "So we'll do guys in one room…girls in the other."
"Seriously…? Mr. Shue, that's like…six of us," Finn asked, looking around at his male classmates to confirm his math on his fingers, "Where are we all going to sleep?"
"Seven…I'm staying with you guys," Will adjusted, "…but don't worry about places to sleep, because the rooms have pull-out couches, and the hotel is putting an extra roll-away bed in both rooms."
"That seems fair, Mr. Shue," Sam added with a smile, feeling grateful just to be able to participate in their New York trip.
"That's the spirit…thanks, Sam!" Will tried to amp up his students' excitement.
"Um, Mr. Shue…," Artie raised his hand cautiously, "Does that mean…Kurt will be staying in our room?"
All the guys looked over at Kurt.
"He's one of the guys, is he not…?" Will had already worked this out in his own mind, "Besides, even if that's what you'd prefer, Kurt…that would end up being more over in the girls' room."
"Well…maybe Santana should be in the guys' room," Artie added, still privately tortured with jealousy over any time the Latina spent with Brittany.
"Hey! Not cool, dude…," Puck chided him with a scowl, "These are our friends…and you're being a douche."
"Ok, enough! We are all mature members of this club...," Will reminded them, "…we are splitting up guys in one room and girls in the other…end of discussion." Will turned to find the girls walking up behind them.
"What's going on?" Tina asked, putting her arms lovingly around Mike Chang.
Sensing tension, Quinn prodded, "Is there a problem with the rooms?"
"Not at all…grab the bags and follow me…girls, you'll be in room 723," Will handed Rachel the envelope with that key card.
Finn and Sam pushed the luggage cart ahead of the group as they all moved toward the wall of elevators.
Puck shifted the two shoulder bags he had slung over his broad shoulders and looked down at Artie who wheeled his chair beside him, restating under his breath, "So not cool."
"Sorry…," Artie responded meekly.
Brittany spread out the beige blanket she'd brought with her from the hotel, kneeling down to flatten it out on the plush grass below, before glancing back toward the paved path, looking for Santana. She noticed so many types of people around her, all enjoying the sunny day in Central Park. The giant park was stirring with midday activity, bike riders, joggers, lovers walking hand in hand, friends playing frisbee, people lying on the grass, reading books or typing on laptops.
The Glee Club had toured Manhattan together the afternoon before, all the way from Washington Park up to Lincoln Center. Today though, everyone decided to split off and do their own things, trying to enjoy the city before competition started on Saturday.
When Santana asked her what she wanted to do, Brittany knew immediately that she wanted to have a picnic in the infamous park. The tall blonde removed her lime green jacket, tossing it to the side, and pulled off each of her sneakers, removing her socks too, then stretched out her long legs in front of her, crossing them at the ankles. She leaned back behind her on her outstretched arms and turned her face up toward the bright, blue sky above.
"Ok, my love…lunch is served," Santana announced, coming up behind Brittany and kneeling down next to her, "Two of the finest kosher hot dogs that can be bought from a cart."
The blonde's face lit up, "They look delicious!"
"They better be at $7 each," the brunette grimaced.
"We're paying for the experience, Santana," Brittany took her hot dog and lifted it to her nose, "Just smell it…it smells like New York City."
"New York smells like a hot dog to you?"
"It smells like a carnival," Brittany laughed, "Just look around…it's like being at the county fair…every single day."
Santana looked around them, seeing street vendors set up on the pavement next to the food carts. They were selling jewelry, and t-shirts, and artwork, and anything else you could possibly want to buy. There was even a clown tying balloon animals for spectators who were congregated near a large fountain, listening to a man who was playing steel drums.
"You're right, Britt…it is like the fair." The Latina smiled broadly, looking back over at Brittany and feeling happy and carefree for the first time in a very long time. She removed her sandals, setting them over onto the green grass, then sat cross-legged, facing Brittany, and took a bite which left a smear of yellow in the corner of her mouth.
Brittany popped the metal tab on her can of Dr. Brown's Black Cherry soda, pointing out with a smile, "You've got a little mustard on your lip."
Santana wiped at her mouth with a white, paper napkin, "Gone?"
Brittany leaned over and licked at the yellow spot, leaving a kiss behind before straightening back up.
"Brittany…." Santana quickly looked around them with wide eyes.
"What…?" the blonde asked innocently.
"We're in public," the Latina reminded her.
Brittany craned her neck to look to her side and back behind her, seeing the same people she saw previously, still typing on their laptops or reading their books or napping in the sunlight. "Santana, relax…nobody is paying us any attention," she finished the last bite of her hot dog as she continued to gaze around the park. "Look over there, by that tree…what do you see?"
Santana wiped her hands and took a sip of Brittany's soda, turning her head to follow Brittany's gaze. She saw a handsome brunette in his early 30s who was leaned back against the broad trunk of an oak tree, reading a book, as a younger guy with a backward-turned ball cap leaned casually against his chest, typing on his iPad.
"They're just enjoying the day…like everyone else in the park."
Santana took a deep breath. She wished so much that she could push those thoughts from her mind so that her first reaction was not who might be looking or what anyone watching might be thinking. She looked around the park again, this time with fresh eyes, seeing two girls cuddling on a nearby bench, and two other young guys lying together on a plaid blanket. She reminded herself that she was in one of the largest cities in the world, one that had a huge gay population, and that seeing two young girls sharing hot dogs and kissing in Central Park was probably the least offensive thing most New Yorkers would see all day.
"You're right," she said as she leaned forward and kissed Brittany firmly on the lips, plunging her body into normalcy, hoping her thoughts would follow.
Brittany smiled, her blue eyes sparkling in the bright sunlight, "I love you." The tall blonde pulled Santana into a tight embrace.
The Latina pulled back to announce, "You know…we should move here after graduation…together."
"Really…? You'd want to live here?"
"Yeah…wouldn't you?"
"Definitely…I would really like to dance on stage."
"You totally should, Britt…you're amazing!" Santana encouraged her, "I wonder if I could get into college here…or maybe…I could just try out for something like…I don't know, like…off-Broadway or off-off-Broadway."
"Rachel told me Rent's opening again…at an off-Broadway theater…it would be so cool if you got a chance to try out for something like that," Brittany's excitement was growing, "I've always thought you'd make the most awesome Mimi!"
"Aww, thanks…I didn't know you knew so much about Rent."
"Are you kidding? I love that show…the message is so powerful." Brittany looked into Santana's dark eyes and confessed cautiously, "The songs mean a lot to me actually…especially No Day But Today…I kept playing that one over and over after what happened on the bridge Tuesday night."
Santana diverted her eyes. "I hate that you were there that night…I'm really sorry."
"Hey, don't be…I'm glad I was there, Santana," the tall blonde assured her, "I don't even want to think about what might have happened if I wasn't there."
The young Latina reflected quietly for a moment then smiled at her. "Forget Regret, right?"
"That's right! There's only us…There's only this," Brittany pulled Santana toward her until she had the brunette positioned with her head turned upward in her lap, "Just feel the sun on your face and let your mind go blank." Brittany caressed Santana's forehead and down the side of her face with the back of her soft hand.
The two of them rested silently on the blanket, basking in the bright sunlight, for several minutes before Santana spontaneously opened up to Brittany, saying softly, "I just shut my mind off that night…when he was on top of me…."
Brittany looked down at Santana. Unsure as to what to say in response, she sat quietly, continuing to caress the Latina's raven hair.
"…I just mentally went to the safest place I could think of…it was one summer in your backyard…when your mom let us make that giant tent out of sheets…do you remember that?" Santana looked up into the blonde's caring blue eyes.
Brittany nodded, thinking back in time, "We had all those pillows and blankets inside of it."
"But that night, you wanted it to be lit up…like the fireflies out in the woods, you said…so you asked your dad to string christmas lights all around it…inside even," Santana laughed, losing herself in the memory.
"It ended up looking like a big circus tent," Brittany laughed too.
"Yeah, but you loved it!"
"I remember being sad when it rained a few days later, and we had to take it down."
"It was magical for those couple of nights though…sleeping outside…next to you," Santana said softly.
"Yeah," Brittany agreed sweetly.
The two fell silent again for a moment, and Brittany watched as Santana closed her eyes.
"That's what made me fall in love with you," the brunette revealed.
"Really…? Way back then?" Brittany sounded pleasantly surprised, "We were what…? 13?"
Santana opened her eyes again, looking up into Brittany's eyes, "I guess I didn't really understand what it was at that point, but I'll never forget how your eyes sparkled those nights…under all those lights."
Brittany smiled broadly at her.
"That's what I thought of…during…," the Latina trailed off, tears escaping her brown eyes.
Finally hearing Santana's thoughts from that night ripped at Brittany's heart. "I would have attacked him with my own hands to protect you that night," she said harshly.
Santana sat up and wrapped her arms tightly around Brittany, "You did protect me, Britt…thinking of you is the only way I made it through."
Kurt was seated at a table in The Lima Bean coffee shop Monday after school, flipping through a special edition magazine with pictures of the royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton.
"Grande Nonfat Mocha for you, my royal Queen," Blaine said with his best attempt at a British accent, sitting down in the chair across the table from Kurt.
"Thank you," Kurt looked up for a second to take the paper cup from Blaine, "The detail on Kate's wedding gown is spectacular…have you seen these new photos?"
"I agree…now continue with what happened at Nationals," Blaine prodded.
"Oh my god…you should have seen it," Kurt closed the magazine to continue his full account of the tragic events that took place during Saturday's competition in New York.
Kurt had already given Blaine the short version over the phone the night before when he called him to tell him they were all back safely. The Glee Club's hopes at a Nationals win had been dashed in a nanosecond. Before their first song was even completed, Finn, caught in a moment of intense feelings, pulled Rachel into a kiss…in front of everyone in the audience. Talk about creating one hell of an awkward moment, Kurt thought back to New Directions' three minutes of almost-fame…that even trumps my Prom Queen announcement.
"We all look at the top ten list for showcase…and we all just went numb," he described to Blaine, "…And Jesse just kept going on and on about how Rachel and Finn's kiss is what cost us Nationals…"
Blaine interrupted him, "While I understand passion…I do think that was unprofessional…but sorry, keep going…."
"Ok, but then…we get back to the hotel…and Santana loses it…she was livid, screaming at Rachel and Finn in Spanish," Kurt was amused in his account of the scene, "seriously, Blaine…it took three people to hold her back from strangling Rachel."
Blaine laughed, "You don't really think she would have physically harmed Rachel…do you?"
"YES! Without a doubt…," Kurt assured him, "Even Brittany knew to keep her distance until Santana calmed down."
"I definitely want her on my side then if we ever get in a street fight."
"There was so much tension that the plane ride home was complete silence…nobody said a word…we all just sat there with our faces buried in our complimentary copies of SkyMall."
"Wait…I don't get it…you don't seem that sad at all…?"
Kurt took a sip of his mocha, pondering his feelings on New Directions' loss at Nationals, "Well…it was still amazing…I flew on a plane for the first time in my life…I had breakfast at Tiffany's…sang on a Broadway stage…."
"I love you," Blaine smiled sweetly at him.
Kurt paused at Blaine's spontaneous sentiment, smiling back at him, "I love you too."
Santana set her chemistry book inside her locker then removed her history book and slid it down into her backpack Tuesday morning. She took a moment to do a face check in the small mirror that was attached to the inside of her locker door, smiling when she spotted the souvenir Rent magnet she placed there the previous morning. Her smile broadened as she thought about the special meaning behind it and the fact Brittany had one just like it on the inside of her locker.
"Hey, guess what…?" Brittany said excitedly as she walked up and turned the dial on her lock until she was able to pop open her locker door.
The clang of the metal door snapped Santana out of her reminiscing, "Ok…what?"
"On the way to school this morning, my mom reminded me that this weekend is their 20th wedding anniversary."
"That's cool."
"That's not the cool part…," Brittany beamed, pulling out her history book for second period, "…the cool part is…they're flying to Chicago for the weekend to celebrate."
"Seriously…?" Santana's eyes lit up and her lips curled mischievously upward.
"Yep…and…it gets better…because my sister has an end-of-the-year slumber party Saturday night," she told her, "So that leaves…you…me…and an empty house."
Santana's excitement grew just from seeing how elated Brittany was, internally though her stomach instantly knotted with what cover story would be believable enough that her mom wouldn't ask too many questions.
"Awesome," she hid her anxiety behind a toothy grin.
"We could have like an actual date night," the tall blonde suggested, shutting the door to her locker, "We've never done that…like ever."
"We've never been on a date…?"
"Not you and me…together…alone."
"Hmm…I guess we haven't," Santana thought back, "Well…we will change that this weekend."
Brittany practically jumped up and down with joy, "I've got to run to the restroom before class…let's talk more about it later, ok?"
Santana smiled at Brittany as she ran up the hallway. The Latina turned back to her locker, running her index finger over the black and white magnet as she tried to calm her thoughts with her new mantra…It's only us. It's only this.
"Santana…," Rachel Berry walked up behind the taller brunette just as she closed her locker door and turned around, "…oh god, please don't hit me." Rachel instinctively closed her eyes and drew both hands up to block her prominent nose.
"Open your eyes, Berry!" Santana told her, brushing past the diminutive teen to walk to her class.
Rachel opened to find Santana already several feet away. She quickened her pace to fall in step with the long-legged Latina, "I wanted to assure you that I hold no ill-feelings toward you for attempting to kill me in New York."
"Oh good…I'll finally sleep tonight," Santana rolled her eyes.
"I'm glad we could clear the air then," Rachel shook her head in agreement, "I was just starting to feel like maybe we were…friends…maybe?"
Santana stopped at her classroom door and turned toward the shorter brunette, "We are…I guess."
"Oh…ok, great," Rachel sounded relieved.
"Actually, Rachel…you might be able to help me," Santana pondered aloud.
"Me? Sure…whatever I can do, Santana."
The bell to start second period rang out. "I'll call you tonight, ok?" she told Rachel before walking into her history class.
"Um, yeah…I'll be at home," Rachel hollered after her, "Just call me!" The tiny Glee Club co-captain tried to step out of the doorway as two larger students bumped her, pushing past. "Sorry…I'm moving," she told them as they looked down at her then she added proudly, "I was just talking to my friend!"
Santana sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the coffee table in her living room, typing on the laptop in front of her. She took a bite of her PB&J sandwich then washed it down with a sip of milk when the door bell rang. Setting the glass down on the square coaster, the Latina stood up and walked toward the door. She raised up on her toes to look out the peephole, seeing a familiar tall blonde.
"Britt…what are you doing here?" Santana asked as soon as she opened the wooden door.
"Hi to you too," Brittany laughed in slight confusion.
"I'm sorry…hi," the brunette smiled slightly, craning her neck to see out to the driveway. Seeing only her Mustang, she asked, "How did you get here?"
"I told you my mom was dropping me off while she goes to the mall to pick up her dress," Brittany said.
"You told me…?" Santana tried to clarify.
"I texted you like thirty minutes ago…didn't you get it?"
Santana reached into the pocket of her black jeans, pulling out her cell phone and seeing an incoming text from Brittany. "Oh…I accidently had it on silent…sorry."
"No problem…are you studying yet for the history final?" the tall blonde said as she started to move inside the house.
"No, I was working on something for calculus," Santana stepped in front of the door's opening, blocking her.
"Santana…?"
"It's just that my mom will be home in an hour."
"So?" Brittany tried pushing past her.
"Let me just grab my keys and let's go to your house, ok?"
"Santana…why are you acting so weird?"
The young Latina paused, reminding herself to calm down or Brittany would want details of everything that's been going on with her mom.
"Sorry…I just thought we'd be more comfortable over at your house," she lied.
"It's my dad's poker night…remember?"
"Oh, right…," Santana's stomach knotted as she stepped aside to let Brittany enter the house. She looked down at her watch…forty-seven minutes to convince Britt to let me drive her home, Santana took a deep breath…ok, I can do this.
Santana followed Brittany into the living room as she sat down on the couch, "Is this your dinner?"
"Probably," the Latina predicted.
"Santana…you need to eat better…when's the last time a vegetable has passed through these lips…?" Brittany pulled Santana backwards into her lap, kissing the side of her mouth.
"I had a salad while we were in New York," Santana recalled victoriously, "Lettuce counts as a vegetable, doesn't it?"
"It does if you're a rabbit…or a turtle…," Brittany squeezed her playfully, "Besides…that was six days ago!"
Santana couldn't help but giggle as Brittany tickled her, her stress lifting for the moment, pushing thoughts of her mom to the back of her mind. "So what do you want to do on our date, Miss Pierce?"
"Hmm…I've been thinking about that," Brittany paused a moment to think, "…how about Chinese takeout and a DVD?"
Santana turned herself around on the couch, repositioning herself to face Brittany, straddling the tall blonde's lap. She leaned in and kissed Brittany then pulled back, saying, "We don't have to stay in, Britt…the whole point of a date is going out, right? What about Breadstix and a movie?"
Brittany smiled, appreciating Santana's recent efforts, "That sounds fun…but another weekend, ok? I really was looking forward to having alone time with you."
"Alone time, huh?" Santana said in a low guttural tone, leaning forward to whisper in Brittany's ear, "Would you like a repeat of last time?" She followed her question with a slow trail of kisses down Brittany's long neck, circling around her throat, then trailing back up the other side of her neck until she reached the sensitive spot right below her earlobe, sucking gently until she heard a soft moan escape the blonde's mouth.
Brittany opened her eyes and looked into Santana's brown eyes, smiling up at her, "Actually…I was hoping for a chance to show you how much I enjoyed it."
Santana's face turned serious, and she straightened her back to sit up.
"Santana…," Brittany knew instantly she had hit a wall, "Don't shut down on me again…I thought we…nevermind."
The brunette internally chastised herself. "Thought what, Britt…?"
"I thought you had reached a point…where you could trust me."
"I do trust you, Britt…it's not a trust issue, I promise."
"Then what is it…please help me understand…cause I just…," Brittany's eyes glossed over with tears, "…I just don't know what to do anymore…and I feel like you're never going to let me…touch you…ever again."
"Stop, please…it's not you," Santana assured her, "It's me…I mean, it's him…I mean, it's what he did to me."
"But I'm not him…I'm not even a guy."
"I know that, Brittany," tears escaped from Santana's eyes too, "In my head, I know that…but it's not really about being a girl versus being a guy."
"I'll be gentle…I promise."
"I know." Santana started to feel her anxiety rising again, her breaths becoming more shallow.
Brittany saw the distress the Latina was experiencing, "Ok…I'm sorry…we don't have to talk about it anymore."
Santana swallowed hard, trying to slow her breathing, thinking of the prescription in her backpack that she'd started taking, "Don't be sorry…I love you…I want to be able to talk to you about all of this…I want you to know what he did to me, Britt…I want you to know so you understand."
Brittany sat still, her hands gently resting on Santana's hips, internally hoping that if she didn't make a sound, if she didn't even take a noticeable breath, that maybe this would be the moment she'd waited weeks for…that this would finally be the turning point for the two of them.
"He couldn't…," Santana stopped, her mind spinning from memories of the rape, unsure of exactly how to word the details of what happened, "He couldn't…."
Brittany couldn't bare seeing her love in such distress, but everything in her wanted to know what happened that night. "He couldn't…what, Santana?" she prodded, "Just say it."
"He used his fist," she choked out.
Brittany's eyes went wide in horror. That was the furthest thing from what she had ever envisioned happened that night. Santana broke into a sob as the release of finally giving voice to the most intimate details of her attack washed over her. Brittany pulled her into a tight embrace and cried with her.
"I love you, sweetheart," was all the blonde knew to say to her.
Santana wrapped her arms tighter around Brittany's neck, "It hurt so bad."
"I understand," Brittany assured her, rubbing gentle circles on Santana's back.
The two of them held each other as reality around them ceased. Their connection was unexpectedly broken when the front door slammed shut and a loud, accented voice yelled, "What the hell is going on here?"
Santana pulled away from Brittany so quickly she fell backwards onto the floor below, landing hard on her tailbone and knocking over the half-empty glass of milk which was still on the coffee table.
"Daddy," Santana acknowledged, standing up as fast as she could.
Brittany grabbed at the laptop to save it from the path of white liquid moving in its direction.
"Get a towel from the kitchen and clean your mess up, Santana," Dr. Lopez instructed, looking over at Brittany.
"Yes sir," the Latina moved swiftly toward the kitchen, returning a few seconds later with several paper towels. She kneeled down at the cherry-colored table and began wiping at the spilled milk.
"Do you need a ride home, Brittany?" Santana's father asked her.
"My mom is supposed to pick me up in a little while."
"I think you should probably leave now…get your things and I'll drive you."
"Daddy…," Santana stood again, balling up the soiled towels.
"This is not a discussion, Santana," he told her, "You need to wait in your room until your mother gets home."
"Brittany," Santana moved toward her.
The front door opened and shut as Santana's mother walked into the house. She paused at the gathered group in the living room. "Santana, what is she doing here?" Mrs. Lopez demanded to know.
"What exactly is it that I've done wrong?" Brittany defended herself, confused as to all the tension in the room.
"Don't try that innocent routine of yours on us," Mrs. Lopez scolded.
"Don't talk to Brittany like that," Santana spoke up, "She's right…she hasn't done anything wrong…and…neither have I."
"The things you two have been doing together are…disgusting," the older Latina condemned them.
"Disgusting…?" Brittany was offended, "What we have together is special."
"Britt, please…," Santana's face flushed as she looked over at her father.
"What are all of you even talking about?" Dr. Lopez demanded to know.
"They are sleeping together," Mrs. Lopez revealed.
"Mom!"
"I love your daughter," Brittany stepped closer to Santana, linking her arm through hers, "There's nothing disgusting about that."
"You love her?" Dr. Lopez wanted clarification.
"Yes," Brittany confirmed.
"And you love her…?" he looked at Santana.
"Yes…," Santana answered cautiously.
"Wonderful…," he said, calmly walking over to the coffee table, closing Santana's math book, sliding it down into the backpack he picked up off the floor. He then calmly picked up the green, spiral notebook off the coffee table and slid it down into the backpack then he picked up a small calculator, putting it in and zipping the bag closed.
Santana and Brittany watched him in confused silence then looked over at Santana's mother. Mrs. Lopez crossed her arms and shifted her stance.
Dr. Lopez handed the backpack to Brittany, "…then she can go with you when I tell you to get the hell out of my house."
Brittany looked at Santana, stunned, not knowing what to do.
"Was my English unclear?" he asked sarcastically, walking over to the front door and opening it, "Leave this house…now."
The two teens moved silently toward the door.
"Keys…," Dr. Lopez stuck out his large palm.
Santana unzipped the side pocket of her backpack, pulled out her car keys, and set them in his hand.
"You should be ashamed of what you're doing to your family," Santana's mother told her as they passed through the doorway.
"You know what…," Brittany turned back around, "You two are the ones who should be ashamed…for turning your back on your own child."
Santana pulled Brittany by the arm. The door closed hard behind them as the girls stepped off the porch and into the driveway.
"Let me call my mom," Brittany said, pausing briefly. The tall blonde had rarely felt this much anger, making her unsure of what to do next.
"Just keep walking…please."
"Santana…where are we walking?"
Santana stopped and turned around to face her, "Brittany…have you told your parents about us?"
"No," Brittany looked down.
"Exactly…so if they react the same way and throw you out…then what would we do?"
"I'm so sorry, honey."
Santana paused, pulling out her phone and appreciating the fact her parents forgot to ask for it, "I think I know just who to call."
Author's note: Ok, I know this chapter took a long time to complete and post. Sorry about that! Life got in the way the last couple of weeks. Please continue to let me know what you think as you read this part. I really appreciate your feedback. Thanks, KB