February 22, 2013 – Brittany Pierce goes for a jog around L.A. Friday morning
After last night I just really need to clear my head. Not in a bad way! I just have all these kind of sudden feelings about Santana, feelings that would usually take a while to sink in for me, but with her it's like everything moves at the speed of light.
I mean I really thought I was about to scare her off when I said I wanted to see her again soon, but she didn't seem the least bit bothered by it, instead she confirmed that I wasn't the only one feeling this connection. I really want to just call her and ask her out tonight, but would definitely be moving too fast so I decide to wait.
February 26, 2013 – Brittany Pierce stops by the grocery store
Today's the day. I can't wait any longer, I have forced myself to wait to ask her out, but I can't wait anymore, I need to see her again. So I call her. Right there, in the middle of the aisle, because honestly I can't get her out of my head. Shit! It's ringing!
"Hey San I was wondering if you maybe wanted to grab dinner with me tonight… like a date?" I say all in one breath. I cringe at the nickname and wonder if it was too much.
She giggles, causing me to drop a box of crackers I was holding. "Yeah I love to!"
I do a mini happy dance while the old lady picking out tuna looks at me like I am absolutely nuts. "Okay great" I say smiling into the phone. "Text me your address and I will pick you up around six?" I ask.
"Sounds great Britt!" she says and I can just imagine her smirk plastered on her face as she hints at the nickname I gave her earlier. I blush and hang up. So she does like nicknames.
*Later that night*
God! Why am I so nervous!? She just a girl this is no different from anyone else you ever taken on a date! Who am I kidding!? Of course it's different this is Santana Lopez! She is one of the biggest names in music right now… oh god! I didn't even think about how to avoid the press, I mean they usually are pretty lackluster about me, but they are going to be all over her! Fuck it! She is waiting and we have reservations.
I pull up outside her house. It's incredible gated and completely private looking. She buzzes me in and I pull into the driveway. I get out of the car to walk to the door but she is already meeting me outside.
I notice her casual black skinny jeans and a slightly see through baby blue top, of course she has a tank top underneath but oh god how I wish she didn't. Even when I tell her to dress down, she is still stunningly gorgeous and I can't help but stare…
"Hi Britt" she says smiling.
"Hey" I say, my mouth suddenly a little drier.
I notice how we are both just standing here awkwardly so I make a move to open the car door for her. She steps in and smiles up at me as I shut the door. I walk around and get in the driver's seat. I can't help but notice she is staring at me too as I pull out of the driveway and head towards the restaurant.
We get there just in time for our reservation. It's this great little Italian place a little outside of town, owned by my friend Sugar. I think it's perfect for the date because it is cozy, but not overly romantic and it has a nice patio facing the beach so we can sit outside. I open the door for Santana and the hostess Becky, sees me and without saying a word leads us to the table I requested at the end of the patio right next to the fence facing the beach. I picked it because I thought it provided nice privacy and I am so grateful that I at least thought about that when it came to paparazzi.
"Wow B! This place is great she says looking out at the ocean.
I am too distracted to blush at the nickname as I watcher stare at the ocean and she how the wind just barely blows her hair. Stunning.
We sit down and jump right into conversation, we order our food, I get the spaghetti and meatballs and Santana gets the vegetable linguini.
"Spaghetti and meatballs huh? Isn't that kind of boring?" she asks teasingly.
"Some might think so but I just think it is a classic" I say smiling.
We continue talking lightly until our food comes. Santana takes one bite and says:
"Oh my god! That's so good! How did you find this place?" she asks enthusiastically.
I explain to her how I know the owner and why most people have never heard of it. We keep talking, just smiling back and forth at each other and occasionally making eye contact, and then blushing. Somewhere along the way the conversation gets more serious, we start talking about family, and Santana tells me about her parent's divorce and her about how her grandma disowned her after she came out.
"I mean the good thing was my parents were always supportive of me, they never questioned my choice to be who I really was, and they came together and were really there for me during that time even though they were divorced."
Hearing Santana 's stories about going through so much pain really made me like her that much more. I realized that despite these crappy things happening to her she remains happy and successful and confident. It's incredible. I feel so comfortable talking to her and every time she smiles at me I swear I could swoon right out of my chair. When we finish our food, the check comes, and I pay despite Santana's protests.
"San! It's a date meaning I pay!" I say. She just blushes as we walk out of the restaurant. Just as I suspected we are immediately warmed by reporters with cameras. There are so many flashes everywhere. It really freaks me out because I have this terrible fear of being lost in a crowd. I feel a hand grab mine and lead me out of the crowd towards the car. I realize Santana is holding my hand and suddenly I am not as scared anymore. We get into the car and I head back towards her house.
"I'm sorry I grabbed your hand so suddenly you just looked a little lost and I know how weird it can be to have all those flashes in your face at once" She says. I find it really cute that she is apologizing for helping me.
"No don't worry about it, I actually really appreciated it. Sometimes in large crowds I get kind of scared that I am going to get lost. When I was five I was with my mom at Macy's and everyone was crowding around this one clearance section and before I knew it I was lost. There were so many people and I couldn't see my mom anywhere, and I just was so scared I started crying. Anyway I appreciate you doing that for me." I didn't mention how much I liked the feeling of her hand in mine thinking that would be moving too fast.
"Wow that sounds awful, I'm really sorry that happened to you Brittany." I just shrug because the truth is it is nothing compared to the things Santana has had to go through in her lifetime.
We pull up outside her house and I walk her to the door. We stand there for a few seconds before she wraps her arms around my neck. I pull her in close savoring the warmth of her body and the scent of coconut that always seems to waft off her. This isn't like when we hugged at Quinn's. That was nice but this… this one feels like it has some substance, this one feels like it is saying the thousands of things I have wanted to say to her tonight.
"I had a really nice time" she whispers.
"Me too" I whisper back.
We stand there for several minutes before she slowly starts to pull back, I assume she wants to break the hug but instead she presses her lips to mine. I close my eyes and pull her in closer as I realize what is happening. Her lips are so soft and gentle, they don't push, they just connect. It's not heated, it's just soft and sweet, just like Santana.
She pulls back quickly, shocked by her own actions.
"Oh my god! I am so sorry!" she starts.
"I'm not" I say cutting off her rambling apology with another soft kiss. "Please don't ever apologize for telling me how you feel, especially if it's like that" I say smiling at the last part.
She smiles and blushes just a little.
"Good night Santana" I say as we finally break apart.
"Good night Brittany."