I wake up to a rustling noise somewhere around the room. It's still dark, so that means it's either really late or really early in the morning. I turn over to make a grab for Brittany, but when I do, I am met with cold sheets. Confusion sets in as I wonder where she went, but then I feel the bed dip and a warm palm press against the small of my back.
"Hey," she says softly from above me. I groan and turn over to find Brittany dressed in sweat pants and a long sleeve t-shirt with her hair up in a messy pony tail. "You can go back to sleep," she combs through my hair, smoothing her thumb across my cheek.
My eyes fall closed at her touch. "Where are you going?" I mumble into the air.
"Work. I'll be back later," she leans down to give me a kiss before she gets up to grab a sweatshirt off of her desk chair.
"Wait," I say as she is about to head out the door. I sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes. Brittany walks back over to the bed and I pull her down, capturing her lips in mine for a deeper kiss. "Have a good day," I mumble against her mouth.
Brittany smiles at me before getting up to leave again.
I check the time on my phone and see that it's five in the morning. My eyes fall shut as I grab the pillow Brittany was sleeping on last night and pull it close to my body, breathing in her scent.
/
The next time I wake up, it's to the sound of a vacuum. I check the time again and see that its only eight. Who vacuums at eight in the morning? What could possess someone to vacuum this early?
Then I remember who's apartment I am at.
I push myself out of the bed, ripping the bedroom door open and storm down the hall.
"Rachel Berry!" I yell, pulling the cord to the vacuum out of the wall.
Rachel spins around and yanks one of her headphones out of her ear.
"What the hell?"
"What are you?" I say, my voice low and threatening.
"What?" she asks innocently.
"Its eight in the morning. How you have not been kicked out of this building is beyond me. You have neighbors, who are probably sleeping still." I throw the cord to the floor.
"They all go to work early. I checked," she smiles at me. I roll my eyes at her and scoff while walking to the kitchen to find a pot of coffee already made. "Brittany made that for you before she left," Rachel calls.
I smile to myself and grab a mug from the cabinet. I pour the hot liquid in the cup and don't even bother putting a splash of milk in there like I normally do. I just bring the cup to my lips and let it burn down my throat and settle in the pit of my stomach. I let out a loud sigh as I take another sip.
"So, is this going to be a reoccurring thing now?" Rachel walks into the kitchen and sits down at the table.
"Is what going to be a reoccurring thing?" I ask.
"You coming over here all the time," she clarifies.
"Why? You are always at my apartment, so it cancels out." I grab a bowl and a box of cereal and join Rachel at the table.
"Are you giving me permission to be at your apartment?" she asks with her eyebrows raised.
"If it means that I get to be alone with Brittany, yes."
"I'll remember this," Rachel narrows her eyes at me.
"Please do," I smile sarcastically at her, taking a spoon full of cereal into my mouth.
I would love to have a night alone with just Brittany and I without having to worry about Rachel or Quinn lurking around the corner.
/
Rachel went to go take a shower a few minutes ago and thank god she did because I was certain that if she told me one more story about her auditions, I was going to kill her. I really don't think people understand that when I say I am not a morning person, I mean I am not a morning person. I don't do mornings, for anything (except school. that doesn't count) and I was already grumpy because Brittany wasn't there to snuggle with and then I had to deal with the vacuum incident and, on top of that, Rachel's pointless stories.
It's amazing how quiet it got when she left the room.
I am flipping through the channels on the TV, when the front door swings open and Brittany stumbles in.
"Oh. My. God." Brittany sighs. "Rachel, Sugar is crazy," she says shrugging off her coat. It has gotten really cold lately for this time of year. Its only mid-October and I'm not ready for the cold weather to set in. "Oh, hey Santana. I thought you would still be sleeping." She says.
I smile at her in greeting, but then I feel my head start to pound again and my face scrunches up in pain. "Well, I would be," I say, bringing my fingers up to rub at my temples, "but you know Rachel."
"Aww," she coos, coming to sit next to me on the couch, "did she wake you up?" I puff out my lower lip while nodding my head. Brittany pulls me into her side. "I warned her about that before I left."
"Rachel needs more than a warning, she needs a smack down." Brittany giggles a little at my side. "Does she always vacuum at eight in the morning?"
"Well, not every morning, but when she does, it's always early."
"I'm so sorry you have to live with that," I say while leaning my head down on her shoulder.
"She's not that bad," Brittany pokes my sides. "Besides, I've learned to tune most of what she says out. And always, always, always have headphones handy for when she gets in those moods."
I assume Brittany is talking about Rachel's singing moods. I don't really think you could call it a mood, she does it all the time.
"I ran into Quinn this morning," she says after a few moments.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, while Sugar and I were out running. We saw her."
"I didn't know Quinn ran," but then again I have no idea what she does in the morning.
"Me either, but I guess she does." She shrugs. I let out a hum in response. "Sorry I had to leave this morning. Sugar said it was an emergency. Apparently she is accompanying her father tonight and wanted one last workout to look extra good."
Extra good for who?
How dare she take Brittany away in the early hours of the morning. I went to bed with Brittany and then she wasn't there to cuddle with when I woke up? That's just a world I don't want to live in.
"It's fine Britt," I say, despite my self-pity. She was just doing her job.
I snuggle closer into her.
"I probably smell, I don't know if you should be all up on me. Maybe I should go shower," she insists, trying to pry herself away from me. I just wrap my arms around her torso and pull her closer.
"Rachel is in the shower," I tell her, "and you smell like flowers and sunshine."
"Okay, liar." She starts to try to get up again.
"No!" I laugh. "You owe me sweet lady kisses," I smile over to her, batting my eyelashes.
"Oh yes, I really missed my sweet, sweet lady kisses with you."
"Well, here I am," I lean back dramatically. "Take me," I say bringing my arm to rest over my eyes.
Brittany giggles, but slides over to me nonetheless. She hovers over my body, bracing herself with a hand on either side of my head. She brings one hand up to pull my arm away from my face.
She leans forward and takes my lips in hers, her tongue sliding into my mouth, "mmm" she hums, "cocoa puffs." Brittany deepens the kiss, "lucky for you, I'm crazy for cocoa puffs."
One second I am enjoying kissing Brittany and the next I hear Rachel's annoying voice coming from the hallway. Brittany pulls away before I have time to protest. She scoots to the other side of the couch with her hands folded in her lap and her head hanging low like she was doing something wrong.
Rachel and Quinn are always around at the wrong times.
Always.
Rachel comes traipsing down the hallway as if she didn't just ruin my sweet lady kisses with Brittany.
"Ooh, la la, Rachel Berry in a towel," I call from the couch.
Rachel stops and gasps, "what are you still doing here?" She asks trying to cover herself up. "I took an extra-long shower in the hopes that you would be gone when I got out," she huffs.
"And yet you still manage to ruin my moment," I motion to Brittany.
"Oh, hey Brittany," Rachel smiles at her.
Brittany gives her a short nod.
"Quinn called, she said she needs you," Rachel says to me.
I let out a loud and dramatic groan. I look over to Brittany to give her an apologetic look, but she has already gotten up and is making her way down the hall.
"Wait," I call out to her. I shoot up off the couch, tripping over the pile of blankets that fell off my body. I stumble down the hall, but eventually catch myself on the wall. I grab Brittany's arm just as she is entering her bedroom.
She turns around with a gentle smirk playing at her lips, like she wants to laugh, but she is trying to hold it in. "I'll see you tonight," I say, a little out of breath. I lean up and place a kiss upon her lips, soft and gentle.
I walk back out to the living room, where Rachel is still standing in her towel, "smooth, Santana," she calls.
I don't say anything, I just point my finger at her.
"Here," she walks over to me, "give this to Quinn." Rachel hands me a hair clip. I stare down at it in confusion. "It's my lucky hair clip. This clip," she takes it back in her hands gingerly, "is the clip. The clip that-"
"Yeah," I cut her off, "I'm sure it's a lovely story, but you know, I just don't care." I grab the clip from her hands. "I'll be sure to get this to Quinn."
"Wait," she grabs my wrist, "so, I was going to take Quinn out tonight, you know to celebrate."
"Okay," I say slowly, narrowing my eyes.
"Well, you and Brittany can have your place to yourselves."
That would be perfect. Then no one could interrupt us. I hate having to worry if someone is going to show up. I guess it could be worse though. It could be my dad or something I'm worrying about.
"Uh, thanks?" I say uncomfortably and reaching up to rub my neck. I nervously rub that spot for a couple of seconds, mulling over in my mind whether or not I should ask this question.
"What?" Rachel asks.
"What?" I say back.
"You're doing that thing."
"What thing?"
"Where you get all weird."
"I'm not weird."
"Yes you are."
"No, I'm not."
"What do you want?"
"What makes you think I want anything?" I snap.
"I have a sixth sense."
"What?" I say furrowing my eyebrows together. Rachel folds her arms across her chest, waiting for me. "I need your help," I finally blurt out. Hopefully I don't end up regretting asking Rachel for help.
/
"Quinn!" I shout as I enter my apartment. "What's the emergency?" I step into the living room.
No answer.
I walk down the hallway. Quinn's bedroom door is slightly open. I peek my head inside and see clothes flying in every direction.
"Whoa," I laugh, "what's going on in here?"
"I need my pencil skirt, Santana," she huffs, still tossing clothes everywhere.
"Which one, you own like a thousand of those things. Oh, is it the one with black and white pin stripes?"
"That's the one!" Quinn snaps her fingers.
"I borrowed it the other day. Sometimes I like to look professional." I shrug. "Why, do you need it?"
Quinn gives me a dumbfounded look, "no," she says sarcastically.
"I'll go get it," I huff. I rush into my bedroom to get Quinn's skirt and hurry back into her room. I toss it onto her mattress, but Quinn is still swirling around her room, rifling through her things. "Missing something else?"
"Yeah, my mind."
"Can't help you there Quinny, that's been missing for quite a while now."
Quinn ignores my stab at her and holds up a shirt and a pair of pants to her body, "does this look like I'm trying too hard?"
"Yes," she tosses it aside. "I thought you were wearing the skirt," I say.
"Oh you found it?" She asks, throwing a dress she just pulled out of the closet to the floor.
"What is up with you? You're giving me a headache." I don't think I have ever seen Quinn this worked up before. She is always so calm and collected.
"I have been working on this project for a year. A year! And then Brittany tells me Al Motta is going to be there. Santana, this could be huge. Do you know who he knows?"
"Um... No?"
"Me neither, but I'm sure they're rich and famous art people." Quinn walks over to me and grabs my face between her hands, "this could change my life Santana! Do you understand?" She asks, shaking my head.
"Quinn," I say, grabbing onto her wrists and lowering her hands from my face. "I'm gonna need you to breathe because you are scaring the shit out of me, okay?"
She nods her head, placing her hands on her hips and begins pacing back and forth.
"Shelby called me," she says suddenly.
My head snaps up to look at her. "Shelby called you?"
"She called me."
"Oh shit," my eyebrows shoot up to my hairline. "What did she say?"
"Uh-, she told me that if I wanted, I could visit Beth this summer." Quinn looks down to the floor.
"That's good right? I mean, that's what you wanted."
Quinn takes a deep breath, running a hand through her hair and takes a seat on the edge of the bed. "I don't know, Santana. I want to be a part of Beth's life, but I don't know if I'm ready for that." She worries her lip between her teeth. "I don't want to make her life harder, and I don't want to invade on Shelby's life, I just want to know her."
I sit there for a while, mulling over what Quinn is saying. I wish that I could help her out, but I really have no idea what she is going through.
"Quinn," I finally speak up, "you wanting to get to know who Beth is and be around for her is the best thing that you can do. I think it shows a lot of character, that you don't just want to forget that part of your life."
Quinn lets out a sob from next to me, "but it's never going to be enough," her voice cracks. "I'm always going to want her to call me mom, or to let me teach her how to tie her shoes, or braid her hair before school. I have to sit here knowing that Shelby gets to do all those things for her because I was a stupid sixteen year old girl, who listened to her misinformed parents and gave the only good thing in my life away."
I move to sit next to Quinn in her bed. I can feel my throat closing up. I can't imagine what this must feel like to her. Part of me thinks it would be easier to never get to know Beth, but another part thinks that having even just a tiny amount of contact with her would be the greatest thing in the world for Quinn.
"Quinn," I say, "You have a lot going for you and if Beth never knows that you're her mom, well, at least she can say she knows one of the most driven and caring person this planet."
I pull Quinn into a hug. I can hear her sniffling against my side, "it's so weird when you are nice," she laughs out.
"Had to ruin the moment." I look over to her and see a small, but still sad smile on her face. "Hey, if you want me to cancel my plans with Britt tonight, so we can veg out and eat ice cream, I will."
Quinn smiles a little brighter now, "hell no," she exclaims. "You are taking Brittany out and you are going to like it, I will not let you crap out on asking her to be your girlfriend."
"Well, good because I was just bluffing," I lightly shove her shoulder, but a sudden uneasiness sets into my body. I have been playing the scene in my mind since I asked her to go with me. There is a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when I realize that she could say no.
"She's gonna say yes, Santana," Quinn assures me, as if she just realized the thought that passed through my mind.
"How do you know?" I ask timidly.
"I can just tell," she shrugs.
/
"This is so fancy," Rachel says, reaching out to touch a sculpture.
"Rachel, no," I say. swatting her hand. "Can't you read?" I point to the sigh in front of her. "Why do we bring you out in public?"
"I've gotta go find my professor to prove that I was here," Quinn says, waving a paper in front of her. She looks over to Brittany and I and then to Rachel. "Rachel come with me," she says and pulls her off into the room.
"This place is so beautiful." Brittany takes a look around the room, spinning in a circle as she takes in the surroundings.
I stand there for a moment, watching Brittany survey the room and realizing that all the most amazing sculptures in the world, all the paintings and landscapes, have nothing on her. She is the most beautiful person I have ever met, in every way possible.
As I am staring there watching her, I want nothing more than to kiss her senseless in front of the whole room, to let them know she came with me. I feel myself stepping forward, my feet leading me where my head can't, but as soon as it starts, my movements come to a halt.
Baby steps.
I should probably ask Brittany to be my girlfriend before I start making daring public displays of affection.
As soon as I think about it, my stomach feels like it's going to implode. My hands get clammy and I can feel the back of my neck start to sweat. I nervously twist the program I got when I entered the building in my hands, just to take my mind off everything.
"San?" Brittany calls from next to me.
"Hmm?" I look over to her. Her face is scanning mine with a worried expression.
"I asked if you wanted something to drink," she states.
Just the mention if liquid makes me realize how dry my throat is right now. I reply to Brittany's question with a slight nod of my head, feeling that if I try to speak right now, nothing will come out.
"Okay, I'll be right back," she walks past me, purposefully running her hands across my shoulders before she makes her way to the bar.
In the absence of my friends, I find myself going from exhibit to exhibit. I stop in front if one in particular that catches my eye. I look at it for a moment with my arms folded across my chest.
It's intriguing and there's just something so tragically beautiful about it. I get so lost in the painting that I don't realize someone is standing next to me until they start speaking.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" The voice pulls me out of my trance.
I turn toward the sound and see a woman standing there in a pant suit, wearing the same awe struck look I just had on my face.
"Yeah," I breathe, turning back to look at it.
"You just don't see art like this anymore. Such passion behind every stroke. It's as if I can feel it." Okay, she must be one of those artsy people. She turns to me and is wearing the brightest smile I have ever seen, it's almost blinding. "I'm Bette Porter," she says extending her hand.
"Santana Lopez," I grab her hand to shake.
"Nice to meet you," another woman with blonde hair comes up next to Bette and whispers something in her ear.
"Alice, this is not that kind of party." She says with her eyes widened.
The blonde looks in my direction and eyes me from head to toe. "Well hello there," she twirls a piece of hair between her fingers.
"Uh- hi." I say awkwardly.
Where the hell is Brittany?
"And who are you?" She asks, her voice high and her tone flirtatious. I've hit on guys before and that is definitely the type of voice you use.
"Santana," I state again, growing more and more uncomfortable.
"I am Alice, Bette's date for the evening," she says hanging off the other woman's shoulder.
"Yeah, unfortunately," Bette responds, "my wife is at home. She couldn't make it out tonight."
Wife?
They're-?
I see a flash of blonde in the corner of my eye before I am greeted with the beautiful sight of Brittany. She hands me a glass.
"I didn't know what you wanted, so I just got you a water. Is that alright?" She asks as she slides up next to me, snaking her arm across my back.
I smile to her, momentary forgetting about the nut cases in front of me. "Yep," I say simply.
"Well, this party has all the pretty ladies here tonight. Am I right girls?" Alice raises her hand in an attempt to give a high five, but me and Brittany just look at her, confused.
Alice gives herself an awkward high five before walking away from us.
"I'm sorry, you'll have to excuse my friend. She is a bit crazy." Bette slides past us to go catch up with her.
Brittany and I turn to each other at the same time and bust up laughing.
"Who were they?" She gets out through a fit of giggles.
"I have no idea," I laugh and turn back to the painting.
Brittany turns with me, "oh wow," she breathes.
"I know," I agree.
/
By the time Rachel and Quinn find us, Brittany and I have made our way around the whole place. There were more than a few times where I have questioned the definition of art, thinking that I could sneeze out a better piece. Brittany assured me that it was actual art every time and that I need to put my "art goggles" on, as she called them.
"Jesus, where have you two been?" I ask. Brittany is hovering close to me, but I can tell she is being careful about how she touches me. I want so bad for her to feel comfortable with whatever, but I know it's my fault that she is hesitant.
"Sorry we were gone so long," Quinn finally speaks, "Rachel got side tracked," she rolls her eyes in the direction of Rachel.
"It looked just like her! Same nose and everything!" Rachel exclaims, pointing toward the doors.
"But you didn't have to chase the poor woman for two blocks, even if it was Barbra."
"Quinn, you need to be one of the crazies if you ever want to meet your idol. That's just how the world works now."
"Ah, she finally admits she's crazy," I chime in.
Brittany stifles a laugh at my side.
As the mocking of Rachel subsides, I can hear that familiar shrill of a voice that can only belong to one person.
"Sugar!" Brittany cheers when she sees her coming. I internally roll my eyes, trying as hard as possible to be polite and to show that I don't actually loath her company.
"Brittany!" Sugar squeals, with equal excitement, coming over with her arms outstretched and places a kiss to each one of Brittany's cheeks. I look over to Quinn and give her a pointed look. Who does that with their 'friends'? Quinn rolls her eyes at me, mouthing that I'm crazy.
After what feels like a century, Sugar finally steps away from us to go stand more toward Rachel. I see Sugar eyeing Brittany still out of the corner of my eye.
In a bold move, which I am still surprised I am doing, I reach my hand out, wrapping it around her elbow and running it down to her hand, until our fingers interlace. It's not a move that goes unnoticed by either Quinn or Rachel as I can see the subtle smiles appear on their faces. I look up to Brittany to gauge her reaction and she has her bottom lip between her teeth, biting down as if she is trying to hide her smile as well.
Then I look over to Sugar and see that she has a smile playing in her lips too. It's not exactly the reaction I thought I was going to get from her.
"So, does anything actually happen at these things? Or do people just look around?" I ask, feeling Brittany's thumb smooth its way over the back of my wrist, it sends a jolt of electricity straight through my body. I don't think I've ever held hands with someone before, which seems impossible, but I was never the touchy feely type of person.
"Well, a little later there will be a moment where all the artists have to stand by their work. There will be like a Q&A type thing where we explain our piece to whoever is interested," Quinn informs everyone.
"So, I will finally get to see what you have been working on?" I ask excitedly.
"You already have," Rachel cuts in.
"We have?" Brittany whispers into my ear. "I had no idea." I pull back to look at Brittany's face and see an evil smirk. We both laugh to ourselves.
"I know that Rachel," I say turning back to her, "but I mean, I don't know which one it is."
"You'll just have to wait and see," Quinn smirks.
"I'm gonna go get another drink," Brittany whispers into my ear. I give her a nod and a second later Sugar announces that she is going to get a drink too.
I try as hard as I possibly can to not look in the direction of Brittany and Sugar, but eventually my eyes wander that way on their own. When I look over to the bar, there is no sign of Brittany. I quickly look around. Maybe she is walking back? As I am scanning the room, my eye catches onto the familiar blonde hair and there is another head of hair, too.
Sugar is holding both of Brittany's hands in hers, smoothing her thumbs out over the edge of her wrists and making my stomach drop straight to the floor. Brittany gives Sugar a timid nod and then Sugar is pulling Brittany into a hug.
I feel my throat close up and my eyes sting a little. I tear my gaze away when I see them walking toward us again. Sugar is wearing a huge grin on my face like she just didn't make a move on my date and Brittany is being uncharacteristically jittery. She is wringing her hands together in front of her.
When she gets closer to me, she grabs hold of my hand. It settles something inside of me, but Brittany is still acting all nervous and its making me nervous.
Brittany gives a little tug on my hand, pulling me off to the side while Quinn, Rachel and Sugar continue to talk. I can still see the looks that Sugar is throwing our way and it's starting to make me really uneasy.
I grit my teeth together, my fists balling up at my sides.
"Santana I-" Brittany begins, but I just need to get away for a moment.
"I gotta go to the bathroom," I mumble and step away from Brittany before turning to walk toward the restroom.
When I get into the bathroom, I walk over to the sink, bracing myself on its edge. I turn on the water and splash a little on my face. I don't know what's wrong with me. I just get this weird feeling about Brittany and Sugar's relationship. She is always with her and I know that she is Brittany's best client, and if I were Brittany I would take all the sessions with Sugar too just to get the extra money, but why is Sugar paying her so much more money than the rest of Brittany's clients?
Is it so she can spend more time with her?
I need Quinn.
I walk out of the bathroom and back to where the group is standing. I grab Quinn's arm and drag her away. I briefly see Brittany flash me a concerned glance, but I'm not thinking clearly right now, so I just ignore it and ignore the feeling in my stomach that tells me that was probably a shitty thing to do.
"What the hell?" Quinn screeches, tearing her arm away from my grip.
"Tell me you don't think there is something up with Sugar and Brittany," I say, pacing back and forth across the empty hallway.
"Santana, calm down," Quinn starts to say.
"Did you see the way she was looking at her?" I ask. "She kept looking at us, like she was going to off me so she could have Brittany."
"Okay, look you want my opinion?" Quinn asks sharply. I stop pacing when I hear the tone in Quinn's voice. It's her 'no bull shit' tone. "Even if Sugar has a 'thing' for Brittany, it doesn't matter." I am about to protest that it does matter, but Quinn speaks again before I have the chance. "It doesn't matter because Brittany came here with you," she jabs me in the chest with her finger. "I know you are afraid Santana and you are trying to find a reason to back out of asking her to be with you, but you need to stop it. Don't deny yourself happiness just because you think Sugar might like Brittany."
She finishes with her chest heaving up and down and my head hangs down in embarrassment. It is a little foolish, but I can't help the way I feel.
"Are you good now?" she asks breathlessly, still breathing heavy from her rant. I nod my head sheepishly. Quinn comes up and puts her hands on my shoulders. She looks me dead in the eye. "Just talk to her woman!" Quinn steps away from me and starts walking back out to the gallery. Before she makes it to the end of the hall, she turns around. "For what it's worth, I think you are just being paranoid."
I take a few moments to collect myself, trying to calm myself down. With the way I am acting, you would think that I was going to purpose to Brittany tonight. I have never been this nervous about anything before in my life.
When I walk back out into the main room, I find Rachel and Brittany standing off to the side by themselves.
"Where did Quinn go?" I ask, sliding up next to Brittany and nudging her with my shoulder.
"She went to talk to a friend," Brittany answers, then she turns into my side and leans up closer to my ear. "Are you all right?"
I pull back to take a look into her eyes. "Yeah," I breathe, chanting Quinn's words in my head that she came here with me, as my date and it makes me feel all warm inside, like nothing else matters because she came with me. "Yeah," I repeat again, a smile stretching across my face.
/
"You hungry?" I ask, twisting my key in the door to my apartment.
"Very," Brittany says, grabbing her stomach. I open the door and motion for her to step inside.
"I ordered Chinese, is that okay," Brittany slides her coat off and I extend my hand, reaching out to take it from her. Rachel told me Brittany loved Chinese, which I should have already known, seeing as her favorite restaurant is Chang's, but I blanked.
"I love Chinese," she states as I hang her coat up on the rack by the door. Brittany walks over to the couch and takes a seat. "How cool was tonight?" Brittany calls.
I grab two sodas from the fridge and join her in the living room. I set the cans on the coffee table and drop down next to her, letting out a loud sigh in the process.
"It was so cool," I say remembering the night.
"I bet Quinn is still flipping out. Did you see the look on her face? Priceless."
"Yeah," I laugh. "I still can't believe that happened." I run my hand through my hair. I hate the way it feels after walking outside on such a windy day.
It turns out that that woman I talked to while I was looking at, what I later found out was Quinn's painting, is actually some sort of art guru. She said she was in town to talk business with Al Motta to see if she could get some funding from his company and he invited her to the art show this evening. She ended up buying Quinn's piece for seven hundred dollars.
It was beautiful, don't get me wrong, but I could never pay that much money for a painting, let alone a painting from a random college student, but whatever. Quinn is happy and now she and Rachel have spending money for their night out tonight.
Brittany sits back, opening up her can of soda and taking a long sip. I look over at Brittany, sitting peacefully not more than a foot away from me. What happened earlier is still burned into my mind.
I don't have time to dwell on it in the moment because the buzzer sounds, meaning that the food has arrived.
We sit around the coffee table on the ground to eat our dinner.
Just talk to her, Quinn's words echo in my mind.
Thank you, Jedi master Quinn. If it were that simple, then all the mystery in the world would be gone. I decide that I should just ask though.
"So," I begin. I have to make this sound causal, like it's no big deal, even though on the inside I am dying to know. "Does Sugar have a crush on you, or something?" I take a bite of food, looking at the noodles as if I don't care what her answer will be.
It never occurred to me, until this very moment, that maybe Brittany likes Sugar. The way she is always talking about her and spending time with her, sure she is her personal trainer, but you never know. It's not like I could be mad at her if she did like Sugar though, we're not together. Although, we are something, just not technically exclusive.
Brittany throws her head back in laughter. Taken aback by her response, my face scrunches up. "I'm sorry," she waves her hands in front of her. "No, she doesn't." I relax in my seat, letting out the breath I was holding in. "She is actually pretty adamant about us being together though, which I find a little strange, but whatever," she shrugs.
"Then what was that earlier, when you guys were talking she was hugging you and stuff." I ask.
"Oh that," Brittany wrings her hands together, "she was giving me a pep talk," she admits nervously.
"A pep talk?" Why would Brittany need a pep talk.
"Yeah," she rubs the back of her neck, then her eyes snap up to mine. "Were you jealous?" She asks.
It's my turn to squirm under her gaze.
Was I jealous?
About my date hugging another woman?
Of course I was!
"No," I say through a scoff, "I mean, we're not technically together," I point out, immediately regretting it as I see Brittany's face fall ever so slightly. "If you want to see other people,-"
"I don't," Brittany interjects.
"Okay, good," I breathe out, "because I don't want you to." I feel my palms starting to sweat. "And uh- I don't want to either," I add.
Brittany's face turns up, a small smile playing at her lips. "You don't?"
I shake my head, biting my lower lip. "So, I was wondering," I start, feeling my voice quiver as I bring a hand up to run through my hair again, a nervous habit surfacing, "if maybe, you would, you know, be my girlfriend?" I finish the last three words quickly.
"Girlfriend huh?" She asks. My heart is hammering in my chest as I wait for her answer.
The silence is too much as I am just sitting here, so I start backtracking. "If you don't want to that's fine. I just thought that since we-"
I am cut off by a pair of warm lips against my own. Brittany kisses me soft and slow, drawing out every movement with care and patience, until I feel my whole body relax into her. Her hands are cupping my checks, thumbs smoothing over my cheek bones, causing me to melt into the floor. She pulls away slowly, my eyes peeling open, one by one, until I find a deep blue staring back at me.
"No," she says slowly, "I don't want to be your girlfriend." I stare at her, mouth agape as I wait for an explanation, but it never comes.
Brittany leans back and I feel my heart sink into my chest. I can't even move as I watch her bring her chopsticks up to her mouth to take another bite.
"Can you get me another soda?" She asks, like she didn't just blow me off. My mind is still flooded with confusion and a second later she adds, "girlfriend."
I lunge forward and pepper her face with kisses, causing her to fall back onto the floor. I lean up and slap her shoulder, "why the hell would you do that?" I say, my heart still beating widely from the fear of losing Brittany. I cross my arms over my chest and look away from her.
A few laughs bubble out from deep within her throat. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that," she reaches up, peeling one arm away from my body, causing me to unfold my arms across her chest. I reluctantly let her grab hold of my hand. "Ask me again," she begs, "please?"
I roll my eyes at her, but look down at her face, she is wearing that damn pout again. The one that makes my heart clench in my chest. I smile despite myself, seeing the corners of her mouth twitch up ever so slightly.
"Fine," I huff. "Will you be my girlfriend?"
Brittany pulls me down by my arm, so that I am hovering over her again. She leans up, so that she is almost touching my lips with hers. "Yes," she breathes into the space. I lean forward a fraction of an inch, until or lips finally touch.
"Yes?" I mumble against her mouth.
"Yes," she sighs back. Then she pulls away, searching my eyes with hers. "You're cute when you're nervous," she boops my nose.
"I wasn't nervous," I scoff.
"It's okay Santana," Brittany coos. "Can I tell you a secret," she asks, playing with a strand of my hair. "Sugar kept telling me that I should just ask you to be my girlfriend. But then I kept telling her that I wasn't going to push you into anything because I wanted you to be ready. Oh and I accidentally told Sugar that I liked you, and I was going to ask you out tonight and that's why I was all fidgety."
I smile down at her. "I wasn't nervous," I repeat, brushing my nose against hers again and again, until I stop to take her lips between mine.
"So, how bout that soda?" Brittany nips at my lower lip, catching it between her teeth and pulling gently.
"Seriously?" I groan.
"Girlfriend duties," she says sitting up, so I roll off of her and onto the floor.
I peel myself off the floor before I get up and start making my way into the kitchen to get Brittany her much needed soda except that I don't make it past the couch before Brittany is grabbing my wrist and pulling me back into her. Our bodies crash together, one hand immediately coming up to warp around my neck, the other cups my cheek.
"Soda-" I manage to get out, pointing behind me to the kitchen.
Brittany guides my mouth to hers, shaking her head in the process. "Forget about the damn soda," she husks against my lips. Her hands trail down my sides, as she deepens the kiss, moving past the sides of my breasts and past my waist where her hands wrap around the back of my thighs.
In the next instant, I am lifted off the ground, my ankles wrapping around Brittany's waist and a surprised squeal escaping my lips. A new heat is blooming throughout my body, but especially between my legs. Brittany walks forward until I feel my back slam against the wall.
I hiss at the pain and Brittany mumbles an apology as she continues to kiss me desperately and full of want. Brittany kisses from my lips down to my neck and begins sucking and nipping at the flesh there.
"Bedroom," I groan and Brittany pushes off the wall, one arm coming to wrap around my back as she walks toward my bedroom. When we stop at the door, I reach down with my hand and turn the knob, causing us to stumble into my room and toward the bed where Brittany lets me fall gently to the mattress.
She crawls on top of me, ridding herself of her shirt in the process and bunches mine up and over my breasts, until I have to sit up to get it the rest of the way off. Brittany leans down right away and begins kissing and kneading my chest. Her hands smooth over my sides, down my abs, until she is fumbling with the zipper of my pants.
My mind doesn't even have time to register what is happening before all of my clothes are discarded onto the floor. Only when Brittany moves away from me to remove her own clothes do I even realize that mine are off, except for my underwear.
"Fuck," Brittany whispers with her back to me. I lift my head off the mattress, my chest still moving up and down rapidly.
"Need some help?" I offer, noticing that she is having trouble with the zipper on her jeans.
"I got it," she waves me off.
Instead of listening to her, I crawl over to the edge of the bed, sliding my arms around her torso and stopping the motion of her hands.
"I bet you do," I husk into Brittany's ear, moving my hands to cover hers. I stay like that for a while, holding her from behind.
I remove my hands from hers and begin tracing the outline of her jeans until my fingers find the belt loops. I hook my fingers in the loops and pull Brittany closer against me. She feels so good pressed up against me like this. As her body collides with mine I hear her breath catch in her throat. I smirk a little to myself, knowing that I am the one doing this to her.
Brittany spins around to face me, her hand coming up to trace across my jaw. She leans in and kisses me, more tender than before, but still with the same desire. My hands move to undo the button on her pants, popping it open and pulling the zipper down ever so slowly. When it reaches the bottom, I pull away from Brittany, breaking our kiss, to give her a satisfied smirk.
"Thanks," she smiles at me, resting her forehead against mine.
Something changes in the room, it's no longer frantic, though my heart is still beating as fast.
I take a breath and swallow hard, trying to mentally prepare myself for this.
Even though Brittany and I have already slept together, I still haven't pleasured her. I have wanted to, so bad, ever since that night. Now I finally have the opportunity, but the nerves are staring to sink in.
Like with everything though, Brittany is there to take the bad feelings away and replace them with butterflies and racing hearts.
Brittany grabs my face in her hands again, connecting our lips and smoothing her thumbs over my cheeks. She starts moving forward, gently pushing me back with the force of her body until we are kneeling in front of each other on the bed.
Brittany pulls away from me, breaking the kiss and resting her forehead against mine. Her breath is still heavy, hitting hotly against my face.
My hands, which are still on Brittany's hips, start roaming over her body, lightly tracing her soft skin. I bring my hand up between our bodies, placing it above her heart and flattening my palm against her. I can feel her erratic heartbeat, which makes me feel a little better knowing that I'm not the only one who is feeling like this, so breathless and unable to control my heart.
Brittany grabs hold of my hand that resting over her heart and laces our fingers together as she lays me down on the bed.
I lean up, bringing our mouths together. Brittany palms my breast, kneading the flesh between her fingers and pinching my nipple lightly. My back arches up into her touch as she pushes her hips down into mine, hitting my center in just the right spot.
It's too much and not enough at the same time.
The need to touch and feel Brittany becomes too overwhelming as I hook my finger in her belt loops again and pull her into me at the waist. We start rocking together, my hands eventually making their way into the back of Brittany's pants, trying to lower them, though not really succeeding. Brittany wiggles her hips, trying to help me out. I get the down past her ass and she kicks them off the rest of the way.
I flip us over so that I am on top of Brittany now. She is wearing a curious look. I smirk at her, lifting up one of my eyebrows, then I start kissing down her chest and make my way to one of her breast where I kiss around the soft mound. My hands roam down her sides, feeling each one of her ribs, and then across her toned abs. Each time I go lower Brittany's chest rises and falls a little faster.
I finally make it to where I wanted, ghosting my hand across her center ever so lightly. A frustrated moan leaves Brittany's mouth. My mouth is still working on Brittany's breast, as I press a little firmer with the tips of my fingers while swirling my tongue around her nipple.
Brittany's hips rise off the mattress as she begins pulling her underwear down her legs. When I finally realize what she is doing, I lean back on my heels and help her take them off the rest of the way and toss them somewhere on the floor.
I take this moment to look over her body. She is so beautiful right now that my breath actually catches in my throat. My room is dark save for a tiny sliver of light that is coming in through the window, lighting up the room just enough.
Brittany is staring up at me, biting her lip with her hands nervously fidgeting with the blankets at her sides. My heart beats wildly as I crawl back on top of her, our bodies fitting together perfectly as our mouths connect once more.
I know Brittany must be dying for me to touch her because I feel the same way. My core is throbbing. I reach my hand down, smoothing down her stomach, feeling each twitch and change in breathing the lower I get.
When my hand finally reaches Brittany's center she lets out a loud sigh, her breath quivering. Brittany's eyes fall closed when my hand brushes across her clit and down to her entrance.
My mind goes blank as I realize just how wet she is. I coat my fingers in her wetness before sliding them back up to find her clit again. My movements are clumsy at first, but eventually I fall into a slow rhythm as I make slow circles and just get lost in the moment.
Brittany pinches her eyes shut and turns her head to the side. I have never seen anything so sexy in my life.
I reach out with my other hand, running my fingers across her jaw until I cup her cheek. I guide her face back to mine so I can kiss her again, pushing my tongue into her mouth and licking around her teeth. Needing to ease some of the tension in my own body, my hips start grinding down on Brittany's leg.
Brittany's hand sneaks its way into my underwear, causing me to let out a low moan, my hand momentarily stops moving. It becomes heated quickly, as we begging grinding up into each other's hands.
I start making tighter, firmer circles between Brittany's legs. She starts squirming beneath me and pressing her mouth harder against mine. Brittany takes my bottom lip between her teeth and tightens her grip around my shoulder. As her breathing gets faster and faster, she stops moving her hand between my legs. I pull back to look at her when her body suddenly freezes and a strangled moan escapes her lips. Her legs start shaking and I can't help but look at her in wonder, this is seriously the hottest thing I have ever seen.
I slow the movement of my hand as I watch her body relax and her breathing get a little deeper.
All is still for a few moments, the only sound filling the room is our heavy breathing. Then Brittany is flipping me onto my back with an impressive amount of strength as she starts working the hand between my legs even faster than before.
My toes curl as I feel my orgasm approaching, but the movement around my clit stops just as I'm about to come. I let out a frustrated groan as I open my eyes to see Brittany smirking on top of me.
The look in her eyes makes my stomach flutter. She leans in closer to my face, "can I try something?" She breathes, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. As she says this, her hand moves lower and I feel a slight pressure against my entrance.
The look on Brittany's face is so gentle and trusting that I find myself nodding and rolling my hips forward so that the very tips of her fingers enter my body. My eyes widen at the feeling. Brittany pushes two fingers in slowly, pulling a groan out from deep within my chest.
She never breaks eye contact as she slides her fingers all the way in, until they can't go any further. Then she is pulling them out, just as slow, causing my mouth to fall open and my brows to furrow together.
After a few moments Brittany starts to pick up the pace getting faster and faster. I can feel my walls squeezing around her fingers. Brittany reaches for one of my hands that is holding onto the sheets beside me and laces our fingers together, bringing it up to rest above my head.
"Britt!" I gasp when Brittany's thumb comes to rub at my clit. She curls her fingers inside of me, hitting a spot that makes a tingle spread down to my toes. She keeps curling and rubbing and I am getting closer and closer almost to the point where it's painful, but in the best way possible. She goes just a little faster and rubs just a little harder and it's enough to cause my entire body to convulse as I come hard against her hand. As hard as I try to contain the cry in the back of my throat, I can't. It just spills out of me, echoing throughout the room.
Brittany kisses down my neck and rests her head against my chest, turning her head to press a lingering kiss above my heart. She stays like that until my breathing is back to normal.
When she looks up at me, it's with a new light in her eyes. "hi," she says simply, running her finger tips up and down my arm.
"Mmm," I mumble, "hi yourself," I pull her closer to my body. I feel Brittany shiver on top of me. "Let's get under the covers."
She rolls off of me and I grab the corner of the comforter and pull the cover back. Brittany snuggles in close to my side. I let my hand comb through her hair. A few minutes later I hear her breathing get deeper. I let out a yawn, finally closing my eyes while breathing in the sweet smell of Brittany.
The last thought to play through my mind is that she said yes.
Thank you guys for the kind words. It makes me smile.
As always, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it
:)