Imagining Tigers

Chapter 2:

Monday went by and I haven't even noticed it. I have been working all day, I had so much paperwork to do that I didn't even find time to eat. I just got home, threw my keys and bag on the table by the front door and took my heels off, going to the kitchen to find something to eat. I took a frozen pizza and threw it in the oven and went to find my phone. Quinn has been calling me all day but I hadn't found the time to answer her. I put the phone on speaker and went to my bedroom to change from my work clothes. Quinn picked up on the third ring.

"Finally!" She exclaimed.

Quinn has been my best friend since high school. Granted, back then we were more like frenemies but she was there for me when I was outed as a lesbian at the whole school and helped me get my bitchy reputation back. And I was there for her when she fell pregnant and then gave her child for adoption. We moved to New York together after graduation and became close really fast. We studied law together and took internships at different law firms.

"Hey Q, I'm sorry. I was drowning in work today. What's up?" I said all in one breath, trying to avoid her ranting about me ignoring her.

"Yeah, yeah. You are a very busy woman, I know." She huffed and I rolled my eyes, because yeah, I am."I was wondering if we are going to that dinner tomorrow night or if you'll be 'busy' and 'tired'." She emphasized the words to make sure I understood her sarcasm. I always did.

"We can go to dinner Q." I rolled my eyes. I missed her, though I would never tell her that. But I was pretty sure she knew it. We didn't see each other very much, so I agreed having dinner with her.

"Great!" She exclaimed."I'll be at the dance studio until 7 and we can meet and go from there." She said. I rolled my eyes again.

"You know, you should try talking to him instead of stalking him." I teased. Quinn had this huge crush on a dance teacher at a dance studio and had been taking classes there just to watch him dance. She was too shy to talk to him apparently. Although shy is not a word I would use to describe Quinn, there must be something about this Asian guy making her all mushy and sappy.

"I know, I know. Next time I'll talk to him, I promise." She said quickly. Already knowing my reply she added, "And I mean it this time, I will."

"Ok…"I said hesitantly, afraid she'd chicken out again."So anyway, I'll see you tomorrow then?"I asked.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow San. Bye!" She said and hang up before I could reply. I shrugged and went back to the kitchen to eat my pizza.

After I ate I sat on the couch with more paperwork and turned on the TV for background noise. It made me feel not so lonely, just hearing the crappy shows and working on my cases. It was relaxing and comforting, completely different from all the noises and interruptions in my office at work.

I worked for another three hours before closing my papers and head to take a shower. Once I forgot all about my cases, my mind was invaded by a blonde beauty called Brittany and left me wondering if I was ever going to see her again. I hoped the answer was yes.

…

I arrived ten minutes earlier at the dance studio. It was a big building, and what I've heard from Quinn, a very successful dance studio. I waited for Quinn outside, leaning against the wall. We were heading to a little diner a few blocks down the street so I was dressed casually. I heard the door of the dance studio open and steps coming to my direction but I didn't pay much attention. I was checking my emails when a voice called my name. Or last name.

"Lopez, right?"

I straightened up from my leaning position on the wall and looked up from my phone to meet those familiar, cat-like, blue eyes that had me drowning in them. This time she had her hair down and she wore jeans and a black t-shirt so her tattoos were hidden, (I briefly wondered if she had any more than the two I already saw), but her piercings weren't hidden. I found myself staring at her pink lips and the piercing on her bottom lip again. She cleared her throat and arched an eyebrow in question. I decided to not be intimidated by her this time, it wasn't like me to be afraid of people.

"You know I have a name, right?" I asked, trying to get my voice to sound strong.

"I know."Brittany smirked and stepped closer to me, making me notice our height difference. She was taller than me by a few inches. She rendered me speechless again and that said something, I'm a lawyer for God's sake, I speak for a living.

"Then why are you calling me Lopez?" I found my voice again though it was a little shaky due to the proximity of the blonde. I was trying to understand why she liked last names so much. But she just shrugged and looked away like she didn't care. I sighed, clicked my tongue and looked away too before turning my gaze back to her again.

"So what are you doing here?" She asked.

"What are you doing here?" I retorted in my lawyer voice.

"Just stuff." Brittany shrugged.

"Stuff?" I queried.

"Yeah." She shrugged again. She was eyeing me curiously and I shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. "So, Sugar told me you guys are friends for years." She stated. Wait, did she ask Sugar about me? I nodded anyways, because we are friends for years." Then how come I only get to meet you now?" She arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"I don't know." I shrugged but she was waiting for more so I said, "I don't really hang out with Sugar outside the firm." She nodded at this.

"Yeah, I don't really hang out with Sugar inside the firm." She said and I chuckled. She snorted a laugh too. But then she turned serious again."So…you didn't tell me what you are doing here." She stated, looking around and then back at me again.

"I'm waiting for Quinn." I answered then realized that she wasn't supposed to know Quinn."A friend of mine. She's taking dance classes here." I said and nodded towards the entrance of this big dance studio. I wanted to know what she was doing here as well but I figured from her cryptic answers that I wouldn't find out anyway. She nodded and smirked.

"That girl is as subtle as a fly in the milk." She stated, smirk still on her face. I was confused by this and it was probably visible on my face because she shrugged and added."Mike is single, she should just talk to him already."

"Wha..Wh- H-How do y-you…?" I tried to formulate coherent thoughts and words but my brain wasn't helping me. Did Brittany know Quinn? Did Quinn know Brittany? For how long? And how did Britanny know about Quinn's crush? Then again, Brittany said it herself, Quinn is as subtle as a fly in the milk. Weird comparison.

"I just know stuff." She interrupted my stuttering.

"Right." I mumbled and eyed her curiously. "So, you didn't tell what you are doing here." I mimicked her statement from earlier, deciding to let it go for now and ask Quinn later instead.

"Is that a lawyer thing or a Lopez thing?" She asked. I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"What thing?" I asked.

"That you want to know everything." She replied calmly, shrugging a shoulder and looking around before her gaze settling on me again. I chuckled in embarrassment, looking away from her, thanking whoever created me for my dark complexion hiding my blush.

"I guess it's a little bit of both." I replied finally, looking back at her. It's not like she didn't want to know anything but I decided to not call her on it. She was obviously not an open person. She nodded and half-smiled and half-smirked.

"Well, I'm not going to be your favorite person then." She said. Her answer was cryptic, like everything in her eyes and behavior and that just made me want to know her even more. Before I could reply though her phone rang. "Yes." She answered. I didn't want to eavesdrop so I looked at my phone again but she was standing right in front of me, her back now to me."Put her on."She said, then she surprised me with her sweet voice."Hey, baby." I could hear the smile in her voice."I'll be home soon sweetie, ok? I love you so much." I felt a weird sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach at those words. It was confusing and frustrating. She hang up the phone and turned around."So…" She trailed off.

"So…" I mimicked her. She arched an eyebrow and looked around again before returning her gaze at me.

"I gotta go." She said, making my face fall in disappointment. I didn't want her to leave, I enjoyed talking to the blonde. "I'll see you around." She waved and turned away from me, leaving before I could say anything.

I stare at Brittany's retreating form, her ass, the way she swayed her hips and wondered if she was a dancer at this studio. With that body and that gracious way she was walking, she definitely could. I was still staring down the street where Brittany vanished off when someone nudged me on my shoulder.

"You ok?" Quinn asked.

"Yeah." I tried to smile, still trying to get out of my Brittany daze. "You ready?" I asked. She looked a little hesitant, studying my face but then just shrugged and looped her arm around mine and dragged me down the street.

…

"So did you talk to him yet?" I asked once we were sited at a table in a corner at the diner.

"Hmmm?" Quinn pretended she didn't understand what I was talking about, not looking up from the menu the waitress gave to us not too long ago. But I knew she wasn't really reading.

"Q!" I whined. She chuckled and rolled her eyes setting her menu on the table in front of her and leaning on her elbows, cradling her head in her hands and looking at me.

"Yeah, I did." She smiled dreamily. I smiled too, Quinn had been through so much in high school and I just wanted her to be happy again."I didn't ask him out or anything but I talked to him, that's a start, right?" She asked hesitantly. Then she breathed, "Baby steps."

"Yes, baby steps." I nodded and chuckled with her."So…" I continued, trailing off.

"So what?" Quinn arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow. I decided to just go for it.

"Do you know Brittany?" I asked not looking at her, afraid she might see my fascination with the mysterious blonde. Quinn could always read me so well, sometimes it was frustrating.

"Brittany? The blonde dancer?" She asked frowning.

"Yeah, I guess." So, she is a dancer I thought.

"I don't know her exactly, I never talked to her. She just replaced Mike a couple of times, teaching instead of him." Quinn said, eyeing me curiously. "Why? How do you know her?" She asked. Before I could answer, the waitress came to take our orders. I didn't even open the menu so I just ordered something randomly. After the waitress left I turned my attention to Quinn who was still expecting my reply.

"I just met her at Sugar's on Sunday and saw her outside of the studio today while I was waiting for you, and I was wondering if you knew her." I shrugged. I decided not to tell Quinn that Brittany knew about her secret crush, she would be really embarrassed.

"Hmmm, well she taught the class I take a couple of times but she is around often. I don't think she's a teacher at the studio though and that's weird." She said.

"Why?" I asked.

"I don't know. She is a really good dancer. I like Mike, I really do, and there are a lot of good dance teachers at that studio, but she's on a different level. That's why it's weird she's not a teacher." Quinn said. I could definitely imagine Brittany being a very good dancer. I wanted to see the blonde dance. But I found that weird too, if she was such a good dancer then why not teach? I shrugged, figuring I will soon discover the mystery that is Brittany. Hopefully.

"Anyway, we should just eat." I said as the waitress brought our orders.

A.N.: Should I continue with this?