Imagining Tigers

Chapter 3:

My alarm going off woke me up on Friday morning. I groaned and rolled on my stomach to turn it off. I buried my face in my pillows and let my mind wander again. Between Tuesday, and my encounter with Brittany, and today, I often caught myself thinking about the blonde. What was her job? Was it something to do with the dance studio? But Quinn said she was not a teacher, so why be there often if she was not teaching? Or maybe it was something to do with the papers she gave Sugar the first time I saw her? But she didn't even get paid. Maybe it was because Sugar was her friend. Then again what could those papers have on them?

I groaned and got up. All these thoughts were so confusing for me. Brittany was confusing for me and I just wanted to get to know the blonde. Finally, I decided that it didn't really matter, what mattered was if and when I was going to see her again.

I went to the kitchen to make some coffee and get ready for work. Today was going to be another difficult late night working at the office.

…

I made my way through the streets of New York, the few blocks from my apartment to the firm. I was not looking forward dealing with the paperwork that will be on my desk, but that's why I went early and left late. My phone ringing startled me and I reached for it to see who was calling me.

Puck.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Where are you?" He asked.

"I'm just outside the building." I told him, I figured he would be bringing me info on one of my cases.

"Alright, stay downstairs. I'll be there in 10." He said and hang up.

As I neared the building I saw a figure leaning against a wall on the side. I got closer and recognized a tattooed tiger staring at me on a left thigh. My fascination with Brittany's tattoos was unhealthy. I knew they meant something, they weren't just for the beauty of them, although they were very impressive. Again I wondered how many tattoos she had but that quickly left my mind once Brittany looked up. She was looking me up and down, observing my tight skirt and shirt that showed enough cleavage but still remained professional. She didn't look like she wanted to ravish me, more like she was admiring. I blushed under her gaze and cleared my throat.

"Hi." I breathed when I was closer to her. I noticed that she was holding a bunch of papers again and she was smoking.

"Mornin' Lopez." She replied in that bored but sweet tone of hers, taking a drag of her cigarette but I could tell my presence was definitely not bothering her. I tried to hide how happy I was to see her and I hoped I did it successfully. I didn't know if she wanted to talk to me, but I wanted to talk to her so I did.

"What are you doing here?" I asked and stood in front of her, a good few inches between us. I didn't want to make her uncomfortable now that she started warming up to me.

"You keep asking that." She mumbled and rolled her eyes but I could tell it was playful. I chuckled and ignored the excitement I felt because she remembered our last conversation.

"You never answer though." I stated. She shrugged and took another drag, turning her head away from me to blow the smoke but kept her eyes on me. Her piercing gaze sent shivers down my spine.

"I'm waiting for Motta but she's late, so…" She trailed off and looked away. I wanted her attention on me though so I spoke again.

"So, how do you know Sugar?" I asked. She looked at me and blinked in surprise, then relaxed again and started playing with the piercing on her bottom lip with her tongue. It was very distracting.

"She hasn't told you?" She asked, breaking my staring contest with her lips. She sounded bored but I could tell she wanted to know.

"No." I shook my head." She never talked about you actually and you guys are best friends and I've known her for five years." I stated, frowning.

"Motta thinks we are best friends." Was her vague reply. I didn't ask what she meant with that, if she wanted to tell me she would. After several uncomfortable seconds she spoke again."You know Sugar for five years and never met me and then we meet three times in one week." She said. I furrowed my eyebrows at her statement, she was right but I didn't know where she was going with this."Do you think it's a coincidence?" She then asked leaning closer to me. I immediately shook my head.

"I don't believe in coincidences. I believe that everything happens for a reason." I told her shakily, trying to ignore my fast heartbeats. She was so close to me. She stared at me for a few seconds, studying my face and then nodded her agreement and leaned away from me again."So…"I trailed off when I could speak properly again and she arched an eyebrow at me."Sugar…"I prompted her and raised my eyebrows, wanting her to tell me how they met. She chuckled.

"I was her dance teacher a really long time ago. She kept talking to me but never asked questions so I guess that's how we stayed friends."She said shrugging and I nodded. It made sense. But then I remembered Quinn telling me that Brittany was not a dance teacher. I frowned.

"You are not a dance teacher though." I stated and she smirked and arched an eyebrow, like she knew I would figure it out eventually.

"No, I'm not. I'm a mathematician." She told me and waved the papers that she was holding with her free hand. My eyebrows shot to my hairline.

"Oh, wow." I breathed."So, you are like a genius." I teased her.

"So I've heard." She smirked again.

"Yo, Lezpez." A rough voice interrupted me when I was about to ask Brittany about the dance studio. I rolled my eyes at Puck's lame excuse of a nickname and Brittany's arched eyebrow. I turned just in time to see Puck's gaze shifting towards Brittany. He smirked flirtatiously and looked her up and down.

Brittany furrowed her eyebrows, finished her cigarette in two more drags and flicked it across to Puck, the butt landing by his feet.

"What are you looking at?" She asked, disgust and venom dripping from her voice. My eyes widen in surprise at her reaction. But Puck didn't even flinch.

"Your bangin' body." He replied lamely eyes glued on Brittany's legs and then at her chest. His disgusting smirk was still in place.

"Fuck off." Brittany barked threateningly. I noticed the warning in her voice and the anger in her eyes and I could tell that she was holding back because I was there, if the way she kept glancing at me was any indication. Her free fist was clenched tightly and her nostrils flared. I knew that the next time Puck was to open his mouth, Brittany was going to punch him. Although it would be nice to see Puck getting his ass kicked, I decided to step in.

"Just give me the info and go Puck." I said and threw him a warning look while holding my hand up. He nodded, handed me the folder he was holding, sent a wink in Brittany's direction and left. I turned my attention back to her and she was leaned against the wall again, playing with the papers in her hands nervously, lost in her mind.

"You ok?" I asked her. She startled and looked at me and then huffed.

"Fucking asshole." She muttered.

"I'm sorry about him." I told her softly and she nodded. Her behavior was odd but I didn't push her with any questions. She was clearly feeling uncomfortable and I didn't want to put any more pressure on her. After a few seconds of awkward silence she spoke up.

"You know, Lopez" she started, getting my attention," once upon a time, someone told me that a lawyer is the only profession that doesn't exist in heaven." She shrugged, looking at the folder I was holding and I frowned.

"Why?" I asked. She looked at me pointedly.

"Because they lie and that's a sin." She deadpanned and looked away from me and up at the sky. She took a deep breath and I sighed.

"That's my job, Brittany." I told her calmly. She turned to look at me when I called her name."I'm not saying it's the most innocent job, because it's not. I use someone's past and dirty little secrets to bring them down." I said and showed her the folder I was holding."But I don't lie, I just twist the truth for my client's benefit."I finished.

"That's wrong." She said in a strong voice with fire in her eyes."You can't judge people based on their past. You don't know why they do what they do." She finished, her voice wavered at the end. She was getting upset. I guessed she was talking about herself but I didn't know what she was talking about.

"I don't judge people. I just use their secrets against them." I shrugged. I knew it would make her mad but I was being honest with her.

"It's still wrong." She spat. Before I could protest or defend myself another voice interrupted me once again.

"Hey, Britt. Hey, San." I turned to see Sugar coming towards us with a huge smile on her face.

"Motta." Brittany said and pushed the papers in Sugar's hands, effectively causing Sugar's smile to disappear."This was the last time. If he wants to continue doing this, he can go on the website." She told her, anger still evident in her voice. Website? She looked at me one last time before pushing herself off the wall and leaving.

I heard her mumbling a 'Bye, Lopez'. It occurred to me that the reason she called me by my last name was maybe because she wanted to keep me at arm's length, like a formality between us. But she was calling Sugar by her last name too. I frowned. I decided then and there to make the blonde call me by my first name, no matter what.

Then I remembered what just happened. First, Brittany's reaction at Puck's flirting, then her talks about heaven and stares at the sky and finally, and most importantly, her reaction about people's past.

Clearly the blonde had a shady past to be reacting this way. Maybe she got angry because she thought that I would judge her. But I wouldn't do that. Sure, I was a judgmental bitch back in high school, but not anymore and certainly not with Brittany. Brittany was different from anyone I've ever talked to. And she said so herself, she had her reasons for doing whatever she did.

"What just happened?" Sugar wondered frowning, breaking me out of my thoughts. I shrugged because I didn't know what happened.

…

I arrived home late that night, threw my keys and bag on the table, took off my heels and went to the kitchen to throw a frozen pizza in the oven again. I should eat healthier but I was too busy and tired for that. I made my way to my bedroom and stepped out of my skirt and shirt. I was getting ready to take a shower when my phone buzzed. I looked for it and found it in my bag by the front door. I had one text message.

From Quinn: Hey, San. Guess who I get to see tomorrow again!

I chuckled at the message, picturing Quinn fist pumping the air. I decided to tease her.

To Quinn: A little birdie told me that Mike is single

You didn't need to be a genius to know that the little birdie was Brittany but I doubted Quinn would make the connection. After all she didn't know that Brittany knew about her crush.

Brittany. My thoughts went to the blonde again. Why did she seem so uncomfortable with Puck's flirting? I understood that he was being a pig and eyeing her like a piece of meat and who'd like that? But it was more than that, it was evident in her behavior. She was uncomfortable and aggressive, like Puck was taking something from her just by looking at her body and wanting her.

And a mathematician? I'd never guess that. I guessed all those papers were mathematical problems. Hmm, interesting. And what about the website?My thoughts were interrupted by my phone buzzing.

From Quinn: OH MY GOD! Are you fucking with me San? This isn't funny!

I chuckled again and shook my head. Quinn is always so composed and serious, seeing her acting like a high school girl was a nice change.

To Quinn: I'm not, I promise. x

I dropped my phone on the bed and put on some sweats and went to the kitchen to eat my healthy pizza. I heard my phone buzzing again. Figuring it would be Quinn, I ignored it and went to take a shower.

After I finished, I put on some pjs and went to bed. I grabbed my phone and checked to see the message.

From Quinn: I'll definitely keep that in mind then!

I shook my head smiling and turned my alarm on and went to sleep. I was pretty sure my dreams were going to be consumed by blonde hair and blue eyes.

A.N.: Tell me your thoughts about this chapter.