The treehouse became what you might call our refuge for the next few weeks. Santana's parents weren't easing up - she was still banned from seeing me. But they were not aware that their child was climbing out of her window every night to visit me.

Sometimes, I'd let Santana in. My mom usually went to bed early so we usually went unheard as we climbed the stairs and snuck into my bedroom. I doubt she would have minded that Santana was round, but then again, she didn't know about our secret romance.

Jamie knew just as little, though we both guessed she must be getting suspicious. She spent every day blowing up Santana's phone with texts and phone calls, and sometimes Santana would text back, but not often. I was happy that Santana told me when Jamie invited her out - I helped her come up with good excuses. But they were getting more and more wearisome, and repetitive. We both knew the game was nearly up.

Which is why I decided to let Santana meet with her.

I knew it might be crazy - so many things could go wrong. Santana could change her mind and go back to Jamie. Or, even worse, she could let slip about me, and then Jamie would know everything.

But on the other hand, if Santana kept ignoring her, she was going to assume the worst.

'Are you sure, B?' Santana asked worriedly. 'You're sure I can meet up with her?'

We were sitting in my kitchen, on the table. My parents had been out all day, at a dinner party tonight, and Santana had convinced her dad that she was studying at Quinn's. It was dark outside, already - and slightly eerie-looking.

'You don't need my permission, San,' I said, faking a smile. 'This is for the best. Go meet up with her, see what happens. Just... Be careful.'

Santana watched me, looking upset. 'B, I don't want to...'

'I trust you,' I said. And it was the truth. 'I trust you not to get back with her, or anything. I just know you aren't ready to break up with her.'

'I'm ready,' she corrected. 'She's the one who isn't.'

'Well, I know you care about her enough... To not want to hurt her. I know how it feels. I've been there.'

Artie flashes into my mind briefly. I suppose Santana was in a similar situation.

'With Artie, right?' Santana reaches out and touches my arm.

'Yeah,' I said, smiling sadly. 'It's the same situation. But at the end of the day, I love you more.'

Santana reached up and pressed her lips against mine softly.

'Thank you,' she whispered.

Then she was gone.

I watched her leave out the kitchen window, my stomach feeling queasy. She disappears into the night before she's reached the gate.

I trust her, I thought in my head, sitting down on the sofa. I trust her...

I pulled my knees up to my chest and closed my eyes, sitting like that for at least half an hour without moving.

Eventually, I felt Lord Tubbington jump onto the sofa beside me, and I opened my eyes to watch him.

He looked at me sadly, and I rolled my eyes.

'Don't look at me like that, Lord Tubs,' I said, peeved. 'I know what you're thinking.'

He meowed softly, his eyes narrowing.

'Yeah, well,' I said, turning away. 'Think what you like. I know I'm doing the right thing.'

He just watched me.

'Will you stop it? I want to be alone, okay.'

He turned and jumped off the couch. I watched him until he turned the corner, out of sight.

'Stupid cat,' I muttered angrily.

I wonder what San's up to now, I thought.

I could almost see Jamie running towards her, arms outstretched. And I could see Santana running back to her, taking Jamie in her arms, holding her tight... I could see Santana reaching up and kissing her girlfriend, the same way she had kissed me this morning.

'NO!' I shouted, before I could stop myself. 'Stop it, Britt.'

I looked around for something to take my mind off it, but I couldn't find anything. I got up and paced the room nervously, opening and shutting cupboard doors, trying to keep the images out of my head.

It wasn't long before I spotted the bottles above the fridge - perched carelessly, almost waiting to be opened.

It might help, I thought. Maybe I'll forget about Santana. Just for a little while.

I reached for one, not checking the label before opening it and pressing it to my lips.

This wasn't the type of drinking you did at parties - not the type of drinking I did at Rachel's house party, or any of Puck's. This was different. It was a way of dealing with pain I felt, over something stupid, insignificant.

I suppose a part of me wanted to prove to Santana that I needed her more than Jamie did.

I reached the end of the bottle and I felt it drop from my hand and smash on the kitchen floor.

Then there were tears. I had felt them building ever since Santana had told me Jamie wanted to meet her in town tonight. And now they burned on my cheeks, but I didn't try to stop them flowing. I let them fall. In a way, it helped.

I felt myself sink down against the wall and curl up there, crying. Waiting for Santana's return.

Santana POV

By the time I left Jamie by her bus stop, I felt sick.

We had gone to see a film - I'd let her pay. I had tried to act normal, but it was hard when I felt so fricking out of place. Things weren't as they used to be. I wanted Brittany to be there instead, more than anything. So, when Jamie reached in to kiss me, and I had no way out, I let her. I closed my eyes and saw Brittany's face burning against my eyelids.

It was just like old times, when I would kiss guys and just see Brittany. Though, I never knew why.

I walked hurriedly down Britt's street, breaking into a run when I got near enough.

I sprinted to her door and rang the bell, waiting.

No one came.

I waited. Rang the doorbell again. Still no one.

'Britt!' I called nervously. 'B, you in there?'

I knocked on the door. Pressed the doorbell over and over.

Maybe she's upstairs and can't hear you, I thought.

Hurriedly, I walked around the side of her house so I could see her bedroom window. I picked up a pebble and chucked it. Still nothing.

'Britt!' I called, more worriedly now. 'Brittany!'

I ran back to the front, desperately searching for a spare key. It didn't take me long to find one - it was under a flowerpot beside the door.

I shoved the key into the lock and turned, pushing the door open.

'Britt?'

Where is she? I thought, and I felt scared now.

I ran through into the living room to find the TV on, but no Brittany.

I called out again, but I wasn't expecting to hear a reply any more.

I ran into the kitchen, and gasped.

She was there. Curled up against the wall, throwing up into a bucket, broken glass covering the floor all around her.

'Brittany!' I yelled, kneeling down beside her.

She looked up, her ocean eyes finding mine.

'Santana,' she croaked.

'What happened, Britt!' I shook her but her eyes were closing. 'Britt!'

I looked around for some sign of what had happened, and saw the bottles on top of the fridge. I put two and two together and everything snapped into place.

'Fuck!' I yelled, standing up and reaching for a phone.

I dialled the emergency number, but then hesitated. If an ambulance came... My parents would eventually find out I was here. It was selfish, stupid, but I pressed cancel, and started again, dialling Mrs. Pierce's number.

Brittany had mentioned that she was at a dinner party tonight, but there was no time to hesitate.

'Hello?' Mrs Pierce's calm voice met my ears.

'Mrs Pierce, it's Santana,' I said hurriedly, 'You need to come home now.'

'What?' she said, her voice rising in alarm. 'What's happened? Is Brittany -'

'I - I don't know,' I said, holding back tears. 'I just came in, she was lying on the floor, I think she's been drinking something -'

'She's what!'

'What do I do, Mrs Pierce? Should I call an ambulance?'

'No,' she said, sounding worried. 'You need to move her, though. What room are you in?'

'Th-The kitchen,' I said.

'Carry her to the couch, and keep watch over her until I get home.'

'How long will you be!'

'I don't know, ten minutes? Please look after my daughter, Santana.'

'Always,' I whispered, and I heard her hang up.

I threw the phone back down and kneeled beside Brittany again.

'Britt, I need to move you,' I said. But she was long gone.

I put my right arm around her back, and my left arm under her legs and heaved. It was a good thing I'd done all that cheerios training.

I hurriedly lifted her over to the couch and placed her down carefully.

She stirred, and opened her eyes.

'Santana,' she said, her eyes full of tears. 'Sorry.'

'It's okay, Britt,' I said, feeling like a hole had been punched through my chest. 'I'm sorry, too.'

This is my fault, I thought, the realisation hitting me with the force of a train. It's all my fault.

I sat down on the floor, against the coffee table, and watched her as the tears began to fall once again.

'I'm so sorry.'

Brittany POV

The first things I noticed when I woke up, were that I was lying in my bed, and it was morning.

I looked around, confused. Not remembering how I ended up there.

Then I spotted Santana, curled up in the chair beside my bed.

'Santana!' I cried, not knowing why she was here. Then I realised she was fast asleep.

Suddenly, my door opened, and my mom came in.

'Mom... What...'

'Do you remember what happened last night?'

I frowned.

'What happened with what?'

My mom watched me, looking upset.

'You don't remember anything, do you.'

I frowned, trying to think of what happened yesterday. Santana was round... And then she met up with Jamie... And then... Oh.

'Oh,' I repeated, out loud this time.

'Oh indeed.'

'Mom... I didn't... I'm sorry -'

'Brittany,' she said, moving closer. 'What made you do it?'

I looked into her eyes, and then my eyes darted to Santana.

Mrs Pierce frowned. 'Santana had something to do with this, didn't she?'

'No, it's not like that... I was just sad.'

'You were sad,' Mom repeated.

'Y-Yeah... Really sad.'

'About what, exactly?'

I looked down, not wanting to meet my mom's eyes.

'You can tell me, Brittany,' she reassured. 'I'm here for you. Whatever it is.'

'I dont know if you will be...'

'I will,' she said firmly. 'I promise.'

I sighed. 'Fine... I'm... In love.'

She frowned. 'Right... Who is he? And what does Santana have to do with it?'

I looked away, waiting for it to fit into place in my mom's mind, as I knew it would.

'Oh my God.' There we go.

I looked back at her, defiant.

'You're in love... With... Her?'

I nodded slowly.

'Mom, I should have told you sooner, I just... Couldn't.'

'It's okay,' she said. 'I get it.'

I watched her carefully.

'You're okay with it?'

She sighed.

'Well, I'm not overjoyed or anything,' she said. 'But... If that's what makes you happy, then I can only be happy for you. And I can't pretend I didn't see this coming.'

I looked up. 'You knew?'

'You two were crazy about each other,' she said, smiling sadly. 'Always together. Inseperable. Two halves of one person.'

I felt tears coming, and pulled her in for a hug.

'Thank you,' I whispered softly.

'Yeah, well,' she said uncomfortably. 'You're my daughter.'

She pulled away, standing up.

'What you did was really stupid, Brittany. Like, really stupid. Consider this a warning.'

I nodded.

'I hope things work out with Santana.'

She left.

I looked over at Santana, who was smiling.

'Hey!' I said, throwing a pillow at her. 'You were awake?'

'Maaaaybe,' she said in a sing-song voice, moving closer.

Then I remembered that she was the reason it had happened last night.

'I'm sorry,' I said quickly. 'I overreacted. I know you wouldn't do anything with Jamie, I just kept thinking it, and... Lord Tubbington told me you would and...'

Santana looked hurt.

'You obviously didn't trust me... And you were right not to.'

My eyes widened. 'What?'

'She kissed me,' she said, the words tumbling from her mouth. 'She kissed me, there was nothing I could do, I'm sorry -'

'You kissed her back, didn't you,' I said, feeling suddenly sore and tired.

She hesitated. It was the confirmation I needed.

'Right,' I said, feeling sick. 'Right then.'

'It didn't mean anything, B -'

'I'm tired,' I said firmly, even though I wasn't. I turned over so that she couldn't see the hurt in my expression.

I heard her muffled footsteps as she walked over to the bed, and sat down on the edge. By the sound of her breathing, I knew she was facing away from me.

'Nothing,' she said. 'I felt nothing, when I kissed her. Just emptiness.'

I turned back to watch her.

'B... I realised how wrong I was to ever start dating her. It wasn't fair - this isn't fair. I'm sorry for ever starting this.'

'So what are you going to do?'

She took a deep breath.

'I'm breaking up with Jamie. Tonight.'

Puck POV

She had called me that afternoon, sounding upset.

I felt elated when she told me she wanted to meet up - she had something to tell me, something important.

I mean, we'd been meeting up in town for the past couple months, ever since I was introduced to Jamie by Brittany and Kurt. I still dunno why they did that, but boy am I not complaining. The girl's hot.

'What's up?' I said, when I spotted her in our usual meeting spot. I strode over and sat down beside her on the bench, not looking at her. I pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

'You need to stop doing that,' said Jamie, still not looking at me.

I eyed her curiously. 'And why's that, Jams?'

She glared at me now. How she hated that nickname.

'It's not exactly good for you... Or legal.'

'Piss off,' I said, grinning. 'You just can't handle this amount of badassness.'

She snorted. 'Please.'

We sat in silence for a few minutes.

'I... have something to tell you, Puckerman.'

'How many times, it's Puck,' I corrected her. 'But fine, I have something to tell you too.'

She looked sideways at me.

'You first, then.'

I rolled my eyes and looked away.

'Ugh, right,' I began. 'I... wanted you to know that, I like you. A lot. And... I want us to start dating properly.'

She just stared at me blankly.

'Huh?'

Before I could stop myself, I leaned in, trying to kiss her. But she pushed me away, and laughed.

'Hey,' I said, angry. 'What's funny?'

'Puck...' she said hesitantly. 'I'm seeing someone.'

What.

My turn to laugh.

'Stop lying,' I said, nervously. 'You would have told me.'

'She made me keep it a secret.'

'She?'

'S-Santana..'

My eyes widened.

'Hold up,' I said. 'You're dating Satan Lopez?'

She nodded. 'I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, I -'

'Hang on. You're dating Santana. Brittany introduced us. Oh, holy crap.'

She frowned. 'Huh?'

'Brittany introduced me to you because she wants you and Santana to break up. Brittany is in love with Santana. Sweet Cheesus, I knew they'd had a thing, but -'

'Wait, Brittany couldn't have worked out that plan by herself,' said Jamie. 'She's not that clever.'

I pondered on it, the answer coming to me quickly. 'Kurt.'

'Who?'

'Kurt helped her! Oh my God, we need to tell Santana...'

'Santana wouldn't break up with me over Brittany,' Jamie said. 'Britt's been wasting her time.'

'I'm not so sure,' I said. 'Hang on.'

I stood up and walked a few metres away, pulling out my phone.

Hurriedly, I dialled Brittany's number, and pressed Call.

A/N: Ooh, drama chapter! How exciting. Sorry this was so depressing. Aaand sorry that it took such a long time. Remember, more reviews means faster updating.