Side Effects
Chapter 13
Brittany walked inside the school early Monday morning with a smile on her face. She instantly makes her way over to Santana's locker where she sees the Latina pulling books out, and cramming them into her backpack. The blonde's smile widens as she approaches her, "Hey you." She greets cheerfully. Santana just simply glances over at the girl, before continuing her task, not speaking a word to the blonde. "What's wrong?" Brittany asks; her smile fading from her face.
Santana inhales sharply, and tries to prevent her eyes from rolling, as she turns towards Brittany. Was she really acting like everything was fine? Okay she could play this game. "Nothing." Santana says sharply, before turning back to her locker. She was done putting things in her backpack, and was now just rearranging things to keep her hands busy, and her attention on something other than Brittany. Hoping that she would just go away.
"Okay…" Brittany draws out, eyeing the girl carefully. "Hey, did you try and text me or anything this weekend? Because my mom took my phone away." She explains, making Santana's eyes widen, and her busy hands still.
The brunette slowly turns back to Brittany, "You're mom took your phone away?" She asks slowly, making Brittany nod her head and roll her eyes exasperated by the punishment.
"Yeah, because I missed curfew the other night. Also grounded." She explains with a sigh, making relief and a hint of guilt flood the Latina's features.
She should have known something like that would have happened, and Brittany wasn't just ignoring her. But that thought had never even crossed her mind. She was an idiot. She really wasn't sure where all these insecurities were suddenly coming from. She had never experienced a lack of confidence before Brittany. But no she seemed to question everything, and always thought the worst first. She would say it was because every other girl she hadn't cared if anything happened, but that would mean she'd have to admit that she actually did care about Brittany. And she still didn't want to do that. She was still a badass.
"Wait, is that why you were mad?" Brittany asks with a hint of amusement, "Did you think I was ignoring you?" She asks, smiling down at the now embarrassed Latina who had hers eyes averted down to the ground, and was fiddling with her hands nervously.
Santana stands up straight, and inhales deeply before shutting her locker, composing herself. She turns to Brittany letting out a scoff, "Of course not." Santana replies as she makes her way down the hallway; Brittany following. "I didn't even text you. I was busy all weekend." She says with a shrug, making Brittany smirk. She didn't believe that.
"Okay, so when my mom gives me my phone back, I'll have no texts or missed calls from you?" She asks with a hint of amusement in her voice, and Santana stops in her tracks.
Damn.
Santana pushes her shoulder's back, and tilts her chin into the air slightly, "I may have called you a couple of times, it wasn't a big deal. I just figured you were busy." She replies, before breezing past Brittany, walking into their math class, leaving Brittany behind with a smirk on her face. She knew Santana wasn't one to admit feeling neglected, or that she was feeling anything at all, but Brittany knew better. She couldn't help but think it was adorable, although Santana hated it.
SXB
After class Santana turns around in her seat as the others hurry out of the classroom around them. She waits for Brittany to finish packing up her things, and smiles when their eyes meet. "So test this Friday, want me to help you study?" Santana asks, causing Brittany to grin.
"I'd like that, but I'll have to ask my mom. She told me I wasn't allowed to go anywhere the rest of the week or have anyone over. But if I tell her we're studying, she should be okay with that." Brittany confirms, making Santana nod her head in agreement.
"So I guess that means BreadstsiX after school is out of the question?" She asks, although she already knew the answer.
"I'm sorry." Brittany says with a sad smile, and Santana just shakes her head with a smile, letting her no it was okay, and that is wasn't her fault. The two girls get out of their seat and Santana walks with Brittany to her next class. "I'm going to tell Rachel today." The blonde suddenly says, making Santana look over at her with wide eyes.
Santana stops in front of Brittany, causing the blonde to also stop, "Are you sure you want to do that?" Santana asks, eyeing the girl carefully.
Brittany lets out a sigh, but nonetheless nods her head, "Yes." She confirms, "Well no I don't want to, but I need to." She clarifies. Santana nods her head mutely in response, and steps out of Brittany's way as the two continue their way down the hallway. "I just don't want her to somehow find out by someone else y'know." Brittany says after a brief silence, looking over at Santana.
"You're right." She confirms, "She is your friend, and you do need to tell her, and also she'll be even angrier if she knows it's been going on for awhile before you tell her. The sooner the better." Santana explains, and Brittany couldn't help but agree.
Rachel of course was going to be angry either way, but she could see the brunette being even angrier if Brittany kept if from her for a long time. She needed to just man up and tell her. Maybe she would even understand?
Probably not.
The two girls approach Brittany's next class, and stop outside the door, turning towards each other, "Do you want me to be with you when you tell Rachel?" Santana questions, looking deep into the blonde's eyes. It was something she definitely did not want to be a part of, but if Brittany wanted her there, she'd be there in a heartbeat. She'd do just about anything for the blonde she was coming to learn. She wasn't happy with the revelation of course, but she also knew there was nothing she could do about it. She was falling, and she just hoped she would be caught, and not splatter onto the concrete.
Brittany smiles at Santana, but shakes her head, "No. I need to do this alone; she's my best friend." Brittany says with and Santana can only nod in response, and pull her bottom lip between her teeth.
She didn't want to be there; no, but she wasn't sure if she wanted Brittany having to do it alone. This wasn't all on her; Santana was a part of it, and Brittany shouldn't be the only one taking the heat.
Brittany seems to sense the Latina's thoughts, and she smiles softly at the girl, before leaning in placing a kiss on Santana's cheek, lingering there a little longer than she should. She pulls back after a few seconds, and giggles at Santana's flushed face, and wide grin. "I'll see you later." Brittany says, before walking into the classroom leaving Santana still speechless in the hallway.
Santana feels a tug on the corners of her lips, and she places her hand on her cheek. She glances in the room at Brittany's form, sitting down in her seat, before turning around, and trying her best not to skip down the hallway. Who would have thought Santana Lopez would ever be giddy? And who especially would have thought she'd be giddy by a damn kiss on the cheek.
She walks past Quinn with two other cheerio's and tries turning her head to avert her eyes, but it was too late; hazel had already met brown. Quinn gives Santana a flirtatious smile, and waves as she saunters past the Latina. Santana lets out a sigh, and shakes her head before continuing down the hallway to her own class.
SXB
Brittany walks out of class, and without even thinking begins walking towards her locker. She pauses midway when she spots Rachel at her own locker talking to Mercedes. The blonde swallows hard, and takes a deep breath, mentally pushing herself towards the two girls. "Hey Rachel, can I talk to you?" Brittany asks, nervously, looking down at the short brunette.
Rachel looks at her curiously, but smiles and nods her head in response. She tells Mercedes bye, and turns back to Brittany who had her eyes set on the floor, and she looked like she was thinking hard about something, "What is it Brittany?" Rachel asks, ducking her head, trying to meet Brittany's blue eyes.
Brittany closes her eyes, and inhales as she mumbles a few words of encouragement to herself, before looking up, and opening her eyes to meet Rachel's concerned gaze. "I really need to tell you something, but it's hard." She explains, as she tries her best to put all her thoughts together and form the correct sentences. She was never good with words, and this was one of those times she wanted to be careful and choose her words carefully. There was really no better way of telling her, but she wanted to do it in the most caring and tasteful way possible.
"Brittany, whatever it is I'm sure it'll be okay." Rachel says, as she takes one of Brittany's hands in her own, trying to comfort the clearly distressed girl.
Brittany shakes her head furiously as tears begin to form in her eyes. She clenches her jaw, and looks deep into Rachel's eyes. "It won't be okay." She whispers, as Rachel's eyes dart back and forth between Brittany's blue ones. She was started to be afraid. Brittany takes a deep breath, and decides it was now or never, "I like Santana." She breaths out, looking frantically at the brunette.
Rachel freezes, and she drops Brittany's hand from her own, just staring blankly at the blonde, "You like Santana?" She asks, after a minute, making Brittany nod mutely. Rachel pulls her lip in between her teeth, and looks down at the ground, trying to process her thoughts. After a few seconds she looks back up at Brittany and smiles softly, "It's fine." She says, making Brittany's eyes widen in shock, "I mean, I understand why you'd like her, but as long as you don't try anything then I don't care. And I know you wouldn't do that." She says, as Brittany feels her stomach drop.
Brittany opens her mouth to speak a couple of times, but closes it back quickly, not knowing what to say. She lets out a small groan, and squeezes her eyes shut. "Rach…" She says desperately, "I'm so sorry." Is all she can say, shaking her head back and forth.
Rachel looks at her confused for a few brief seconds, before realizing why the blonde was sorry, "You mean you acted on your feelings?" She asks, making Brittany nod her head slowly; her eyes flooded with guilt.
"Rachel you have to know that I didn't want to hurt you. I tried for so long not to like her, and to resist her when she would hit on me, because you of." She says as Rachel just continues to stare at her with her eyebrows knitted together as if Brittany was telling her something that was just crazy. "You are my best friend Rachel, and I don't want to hurt you, but I just couldn't stay away from her. I'm falling for her already Rach." She says, defeated, bowing her head down in pure disappointment in herself. She had never had friends, and she had finally made one, and she was screwing it up.
The two girls stand there for what felt like hours to Brittany in an agonizing silence. She knew Rachel was staring at her, even though she couldn't see because her head was still ducked down in shame; she could feel them. Her dark brown eyes were boring holes right into her skull, melting her brain away.
"Please say something." Brittany finally whispers, still not daring to look up at Rachel.
"You betrayed me." Rachel says; her voice full of hurt and a little bit of shock. "I thought you were different Brittany. I thought you were my best friend." She says, making the blonde wince at her words. She was her best friend.
Brittany slowly picks her head back up, and has to try hard to resist the urge to duck her head back down as Rachel's disappointed eyes bore all the way into her soul. "Rachel, I am your best friend, and I am so-
Rachel silences Brittany by holding her hand up in front of the blonde's face. Brittany's face falls even more as she watches tears well up in Rachel's eyes. The short brunette just shakes her head back and forth, before turning around, and practically running down the hallway.
Brittany lets out a heavy sigh, and turns around, almost colliding into Santana making her jump, and her breathing pick up. Santana's eyes look past Brittany, briefly glancing at Rachel's retreating body, before returning back to Brittany's sullen blue eyes. "I'm guessing it didn't go well?" Santana asks, although she knew the answer. She just wasn't sure what else to say. Brittany just shakes her head mutely, and leans up against the lockers. "Britt, I am so sorry." Santana apologizes, taking a few steps closer to the blonde; standing directly in front of her.
Brittany lets a small sad smile appear on her face, "Don't be sorry; it isn't your fault." Brittany says, shaking her head slightly, to emphasize her point. "This just happened. You didn't force me to want to be with you; I just do." She says, making a smile subconsciously appear on Santana's face at her words.
"Can I walk you to class?" She asks, after a brief silence. She wasn't sure what else she could say to comfort Brittany, so she figured she'd just try and make her forget. Brittany smiles softly as Santana and nods her head in confirmation, and the two girls make their way down the hallway.
BXS
The blonde makes her way into the lunch room, after getting her tray, and unconsciously begins walking to her usual table. She stops short when she realizes where she was going, and that Rachel was sitting there. She knew the girl was still pissed at her, but Brittany wanted to try and make it right. She cared about Rachel, and she really was one of the best friends Brittany had. She wasn't going to give up without a fight.
She approaches the table, and begins to sit down when Rachel's words halt her actions, "You can't sit here." The brunette says sharply, before placing her bag on the empty seat next to her.
"Rachel…." Brittany says, pleadingly. Rachel just turns and gives her a cold look, making the blonde sigh. She looks over at Mercedes and Kurt who were giving her confused looks, and just offers them a small smile, and shrugs. She turns on her heel, and begins walking away from the table, and glances around the room looking for another place to sit.
There were no empty tables anywhere, and to be honest she kind of just wanted to be by herself. She heads for the door of the cafeteria, when she feels a hand on her arm stopping her. She looks down at the hand, and immediately know who those tanned fingers belong to. She smiles, and looks up meeting Santana's dark eyes, smiling at her.
"Sit with me?" The brunette asks simply, making Brittany nod, and follow Santana to her table. Santana was sitting with the football guys that were in the glee club, and Brittany smiles when she notices Mike at the table. He smiles back at her as she takes her seat next to Santana, and across from Mike. He gives her a questioning look, glancing over at Santana who was absorbed in a conversation with Puck, before looking back at Brittany.
The blonde just simply smiles, and shakes her head, waving him off, letting him know she would tell him later. He was satisfied with the response, and nods his head before taking a bite of his sandwich.
Brittany glances over at Santana who's laugh was ringing in her ears, making those oh so familiar butterflies flutter around in her stomach. God she couldn't even describe how much she loved the Latina's laugh. And that smile she was rocking, made Brittany feel week in the knees. It wasn't her signature smirk, or a pity smile. It was her real smile, that took up almost her entire face, and made that little dimple on her left cheek appear.
The blonde pulls her lip in between her teeth, and doesn't even notice Santana turn and look at her. She had seemed to drift off into her own world; one where all she could hear was the Latina's laugh, and all she could see was that smile. "You're staring." She hears Santana whisper, snapping her from her thoughts. She shakes her head slightly, clearing the fog, and sees Santana looking at her with her signature smirk.
"Sorry." Brittany mumbles, as a blush takes over her face. She quickly turns her head back down to her food, and starts poking at the questionable meat with her fork. She hears Santana giggle beside her, making her cheeks grow even hotter. She was right; she was definitely falling for this girl fast.
SXB
"So you and Santana are together now?" Mike asks, somewhat confused, as the two sit down at their lab table. Santana had walked with the two of them too class, and it had been slightly awkward. They all got along, but nobody knew what exactly was going on, because it hadn't been discussed, and so nobody knew what to say.
"Not officially, but yeah." The blonde replies, nodding her head. Technically she still wasn't with Santana. The Latina hadn't asked her to be her girlfriend, and Brittany hadn't asked yet either. She wasn't sure if she was waiting on Santana to ask, or if she should ask. Or even is Santana wanted it to be official.
Mike nods his head slowly at the blonde, "And Rachel found out?" He asks, making Brittany look up at him confused, pulling herself from her rambling thoughts. How did he know Rachel had found out? "I noticed you guys haven't been speaking to one another, and you didn't sit with her at lunch." He says with a shrug, making the blonde nod in realization.
"Yes she did." Brittany replies with a sigh, "She was…" Brittany trails off, shaking her head as she tried to figure out the correct word to use. She was going to say angry, but that didn't even come close to describing how Rachel was feeling towards Brittany. "She was angry, and hurt, and so many different things." Brittany finally says, trying to hit every emotion, but she knew she didn't even come close. "I don't blame her though. I did a shady thing." Brittany admits, looking up to meet Mike's caring eyes.
"Yes you did." He confirms, making her let out a scoff, and give him a look as he just laughs, "I'm sorry but you did." He defends, making her just sigh and nod her head. She knew she did a shady thing, she wasn't going to deny that. "But I also know that the heart wants what the heart wants." He says, making her look back up at him once again.
She nods her head agreeing with him, "I didn't want to hurt her, I really didn't." She says, and he just nods in understanding. He knew Brittany wasn't a bad person, and would never intentionally hurt Rachel. "I just couldn't stay away from her. I really like her Mike." She confesses, making him smile softly at her.
"I believe you." He says, as the blonde grins at him.
Brittany was so thankful for Mike. She had lost one of her best friends she had made at this school; she didn't know what she would do if she lost him. He was so understanding, and not judgmental at all. She knew no matter what she did, he would be there for her, and not judge her. Whatever it was he would try and help her, and she appreciated him so much.
She looks back up at the boy, and sees him looking across the room with a shy smile on his face. Curiously, Brittany follows his gaze until her eyes land on Tina, who was looking at him, giving him a flirty smile, and a wave before turning back to Artie who was asking her a question. "What was that?" Brittany asks, turning back to Mike.
The dancer's eyes widen and he clears his throat, trying hard to prevent his cheeks from turning a bright shade of red. "Um, she asked me if we could go on that date now." He says, trying to contain his smile. "She's single now." He adds, looking up at Brittany who was smiling from ear to ear at him, making it impossible for him to not smile also.
"I am so happy for you." She exclaims, hooking her arm around his, squeezing it with both of her hands.
He lets out a laugh, "Yeah well the date is probably going to be a disaster." He confesses, making her look up at him confused, "I am beyond nervous, and I just know that I'm going to screw something up." He explains, "Every time I am around her I either say something stupid, or I get all clumsy." He says, self consciously, looking down at the table.
Brittany smiles, "It's going to be perfect, and I am going to help you." She says, making him look over at her, returning the smile. She lays her head on his shoulder, and squeezes his arm reassuringly.
BXS
Santana walks down the rows of lockers in the Cheerio's locker room, and stops in front of hers. She had just finished practice and was now all cleaned up, and ready to head out. As usual she was the last one in the locker room; which was just the way she liked it.
She opens her locker, and grabs her things out, before closing it once more, and turns to head out the door. As she rounds the corner she collides into Quinn, almost knocking her to the floor, "Quinn!" The Latina exclaims, holding her hand over her chest. Quinn just raises an eyebrow and smirks at the brunette, "I thought I was the only one in here." She explains, as her breathing returns back to normal.
Quinn smiles, and steps closer, "It's just you and me." She whispers into Santana's ear lowly. She pulls back slightly, only to lean in this time going for Santana's lips, but the Latina quickly steps back, making Quinn almost fall forward, but she caught her balance. The blond looks up at Santana confused, and slightly angry, "What the hell?" She questions, placing her hands on her hips.
"I can't do this." Santana says, calmly.
Quinn rolls her eyes, and takes another step towards Santana who instinctively took a step backwards, "That's not what you were saying last night." The blonde replies, huskily, as she continues walking towards Santana who was backing up towards the lockers.
Santana swallows hard when her back hits the cold metal of the lockers, and Quinn stops only inches away from her, "Yesterday was a mistake, and it won't happen again." She says, as Quinn just simply lets out a laugh. She didn't believe her.
"You said that last time but then there you were calling me up yesterday, telling me how badly you needed me." Quinn says, getting impossibly close to Santana, who's eyes were darting back and forth nervously between the blonde's hazel ones.
Santana closes her eyes, and takes in a deep breath composing herself. She didn't need Quinn, and she could reject her. She had Brittany, and Brittany was worth it. "Quinn…" Santana says, pushing the blonde back, getting some of her personal space back. "I really like someone, and I want to be with her." Santana explains, as she watches the blonde's jaw clench. "I was angry yesterday, and I used you." She admits, as she watches Quinn's body begin so shake.
Quinn was seething. How could Santana possibly want someone over her? There was nobody in this school hotter than her, and certainly not more popular, "Who is it?" She asks, through gritted teeth.
"That's not your business." Santana replies sharply, brushing past the blonde.
She had almost made it through the door when Quinn's voice rings throughout the locker room, "Fine!" She yells angrily, "But don't you dare call me again, because I won't be there! We are done Santana!" She screams as the brunette just rolls her eyes, and walks out the door, leaving to the blonde to seethe behind her.
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