Imagining Tigers

Chapter 14:

A.N.: 1. Thank you guys for your great reviews. At first I was having doubts about uploading my story but then you reassured me that you actually like it. It's just that this story is very special to me on a personal level and I can't just change where I'm going with it. If you think I'm going nowhere then I'm sorry, I guess. I appreciate all your opinions though. 2. I'm sorry if you're pissed about mundial taking place in your country, I guess I'd be too. 3. Dear guest, I don't have tumblr so...what poster are you talking about?

Thank you again for your reviews and follows. Enjoy!

"Britt." I sighed. Her hands were going up and down my thighs, causing my heart to beat faster inside my chest.

"We're friends." She whispered and kept kissing my neck. I couldn't speak though. I didn't even know what I wanted to tell her. Her lips on me were preventing my brain to function. She pulled back from my neck and claimed my lips again. She pushed me against the nearest wall and brought both of her hands to cup my breasts. I pulled away from her lips panting and she tugged my tank top down and went to leave open-mouthed kisses on my collarbone and chest.

"No, we're not." I finally managed to let out. But she ignored me and run a hand down my stomach and cupped my center above my jeans, causing me to moan. I was pretty sure she could feel how wet she was making me even through my jeans. I could practically hear my heartbeats. Like someone was pounding on a door inside my heart.

"Santana!" A voice jolted me awake. I opened my eyes and looked around. I grabbed my phone and checked the time. It was six in the morning. I was in my bed and sweat was running down my neck. Not again, I groaned. I had been having this kind of dreams for five days.

It had been five days since Brittany kissed me and since I last talked to the blonde. I was in a bad mood and had Quinn coming over to irritate me even more, bugging me to tell her what Brittany did to me. I didn't even tell her it was about her but apparently she knew me too well, effectively irritating me even more. But I said nothing. Because I didn't know what to say, I didn't even know myself. I hadn't felt so short- tempered since high school. Being a lawyer required patience but apparently I had none these days.

There was another knock on my door and I groaned before getting up to change my sweaty top and going to open. I briefly wondered who was knocking on my door that early in the morning but when I opened the door I frowned at the appearance of my mother. She looked really tired and I knew something was wrong. And I knew who this was about too but I decided to hold on to that last little bit of hope that this visit didn't mean what I thought it meant. I stepped back and let her come in before closing the door.

"What are you doing in New York?" I asked and she sighed. She went to the kitchen and I followed her.

"It's your papi." She said, effectively killing my hopes. My father, Antonio Lopez, and his addiction was the cause of many arguments in the Lopez household. Usually it was between him and me, that was why Maribel was here alone. I nodded, trying to keep my composure and not snap at my own mother. But she wasn't looking at me, she started making coffee. "It's a lot." She told me shakily. I thought she was afraid of my reaction, and that was good because I had enough with that man.

"How much did he lose this time?" I snapped angrily, I was definitely awake now. It was the worst time that this could happen to me.

"Five hundred thousand." She said quietly and I stared at her. I leaned forward and side-eyed her.

"What?" I whispered, still trying to process what I just heard.

"Five hundred thousand." She said again, still not looking at me.

"Half a million?" I let out incredulously. "Half a million dollars? How did he manage to lose so much money?" I wondered angrily but I honestly didn't want to know.

"I don't know." She whispered, still not making eye-contact. I ran both hands through my hair and went to sit on a chair, holding my head in my hands.

"Please tell me you're finally kicking him out." I said irritated. I didn't hate him but I couldn't just sit and watch him destroy himself and my mother and me. Maribel swallowed nervously.

"I can't do that, Santanita. We had this conversation a hundred times. I can't kick him out, he's my husband." She said and looked at me pleadingly but I ignored her looks.

"So what? And he's my father! But where the hell am I supposed to find that kind of money?" I snapped angrily but she didn't say anything. "I'm sorry but I'm done with him." I told her shaking my head and stood up again. I wanted to punch something. "This has been happening since I can remember. And I've been giving him money for the last five years." I said as I started pacing around the kitchen. "Five years." I emphasized again but Maribel wasn't making eye-contact. It was like she was ashamed. "He needs help. I don't know. I can't find half a million dollars! That's insane!" I said exasperated.

"He'll get help. He promised." She reassured me and I rolled my eyes at her. I was still pacing around.

"He says that every time, mami." I said pointedly. "He's addicted to gambling and he doesn't even acknowledge it!" I said still exasperated.

"Santana." My mother said and I stopped my pacing at her not calling me 'Santanita'. I turned to her to see her serious face. "He understands it now. It's serious. He's in danger." She told me and gave me a mug with coffee. I gulped and felt my stomach sinking.

"He's in danger?" I asked accepting the mug and she nodded at me. It still didn't mean that he would stop though. He's addicted after all. I sighed. "This will be the last time. Then he goes to rehab." I said with finality and my mother smiled relieved at me.

"He has a deadline." She said and I sighed again. "Two weeks." She added and I nodded. I took a sip of my coffee before my mother came around the table to hug me. I allowed myself to relax in her motherly hug. I felt the irritation of the past five days vanishing, and instead it was replaced with tiredness, stress and worry. I had some money but it wasn't enough.

"When are you leaving? Are you staying here with me?" I asked her then, still not breaking her comforting embrace.

"I'm leaving tomorrow morning and I'm staying with Mario. Don't worry." She told me and pulled back to smile at me. Mario Esparza was my mother's brother and he was living in New York too. I nodded at her and she cupped my cheeks, fixing me with a serious look. "This will be the last time. I promise you." She said and I swallowed thickly before nodding again. She dropped her hands and looked away from me. "I have maybe…one hundred thousand dollars." She told me and I threw her a questioning look. "Mario and I had a house from our mother back in Puerto Rico and we sold it many years ago but I didn't tell your papi." She explained and I nodded. That was good.

"We'll figure it out." I assured her, although I wasn't sure myself. I fell back into her arms, I needed her comforting warmth at that moment.

"Tell me what's bothering you." She told me after a while.

"Papi's bothering me right now." I said coldly and pulled back to take another sip. Maribel shook her head at me.

"You know you were inside of me for nine months." She said and I scrunched my face. "I can tell something's bothering you. Tell your mami about it." She said softly and I sighed.

"When I find out I'll let you know." I told her. I didn't know how to explain to anyone what was going on with Brittany. I was confused. Maribel seemed to understand that because she just nodded and smiled weakly at me, before pulling me back in her arms.

…

Later that Tuesday I was in my office, working on a case that led me nowhere, when someone opened the door and walked in without even knocking. Only one person could do that so I didn't even bother to glance up from my notes.

"Hey, San." She said and I could hear her chewing her gum, making me want to roll my eyes.

"Sugar." I acknowledged.

"So, what's in six days?" Sugar asked me while getting a sit on a chair opposite mine.

"I don't know." I shrugged, still writing notes. "Full moon?"

"San!" She whined. "It's my birthday." She said pointedly but bored, like that was what she'd been doing all day. And I could definitely imagine that happening.

"Right." I mumbled and looked up at her. "Happy birthday." I told her with a fake smile and she huffed at me.

"Are you coming to my party?" She asked and I rolled my eyes.

"Did I ever miss it?" I asked back and arched an eyebrow. I never really wanted to go, Sugar's parties were too pink for me, but I always went. As annoying as Sugar could be, she was still a good friend. Plus, her father was forcing her to make this 'party' mostly for business, so it was kind of mandatory for me to attend. Sugar invited people from other law firms too. Quinn was going too. Or I'd take her with me even if she wanted to or not.

"No, I'm just making sure." She smiled at me and I forced a smile back before going back to my files. "So…" She trailed off but I ignored her. "Ok." She said to herself like she just found the courage to do something. "Are you and Brittany dating?" She asked me and I actually choked on nothing. I looked up at her and chuckled nervously, clearing my throat.

"I have no idea how you could think that." I said. Sugar didn't know that Brittany kissed me. Twice. She narrowed her eyes at me.

"Are you playing with me?" She asked me and I frowned.

"No, Sugar. I can assure you that Brittany and I aren't dating." I stated confidently, ignoring the irritation that settled into me. I wish, I thought then. Sugar scoffed.

"I saw her coming in your office, San." She looked at me pointedly. "And not just once."

"That was for business." I said vaguely. Sugar had no idea about Sam and the trial.

"What business do you and Brittany have?" She questioned and side-eyed me. I huffed.

"I don't think Brittany would appreciate your questions." I told her and watched her shoulders deflate.

"Right." She mumbled and looked around. "Well, I should go. Daddy's waiting for me." She said and stood up. I tried my hardest not to roll my eyes. "I'll see you at my party next week." She added then cheerfully with a wink before skipping out of my office. That was close. Thank god Brittany was pretty intimidating towards people. She was with me too at first but then I learnt how to handle her somehow. I still had a lot to learn about her though, for that I was sure. I sighed and went back to work.

...

After two hours I was on a dead end with this case and I was ready to punch anything that would get in my way. A knock on the door caused me to groan and I said loudly 'come in'. I ran both of my hands through my hair and went back to my irritating case. The door opened and then closed but there were neither movements nor voices. I looked up and saw Brittany leaning against the door, staring at me.

"Brittany?" I called her name to get her attention and watched her as she was brought out of her thoughts and she stood up straight. It was strange seeing her after those steamy dreams. But I ignored my blush and wondered what she came here to tell me.

"Uh.." She looked around nervously. "Hi." She said, not looking at me and I huffed.

"Hi." I told her and went back to my case, although I was sure I wouldn't be able to concentrate. Brittany huffed too.

"That's fucking great!" She snapped at me and I looked up narrowing my eyes.

"Aren't you tired of being angry with me?" I wondered."Because I am." I told her pointedly and watched her as she leaned against the door again and ran a hand through her hair.

"Are you mad at me?" She asked me then, her voice more calm.

"Do I have a reason to be mad at you?" I asked her back and she sighed.

"It can't happen, Santana." She told me again and I groaned.

"Why are you doing this?" I wondered frowning but she said nothing and I sighed."You know that I like you, it's obvious. I can't take my eyes off of you whenever we're in the same room. Don't tell me you didn't notice that." I said.

"I did notice it." She shrugged looking away from me. She said nothing else and I sighed angrily.

"Look, if you came here to kiss me and then tell me that it can't happen, then this is not a good time." I said and almost regretted it at the hurt look that appeared on her face. Almost.

"I'm sorry." She said and shook her head. "But I can't." She whispered and I felt the irritation coming back.

"You fucking kissed me, Brittany." I told her angrily."Why did you do that if this,"I gestured between us, "can't happen?" I asked.

"Because I wanted to." She shrugged again and looked away. I groaned.

"You're so confusing right now." I said."What is this about? I thought you trusted me." I told her.

"I do trust you." She told me quietly, still not looking at me.

"Then is it about Liz?" I asked. I had no idea how Liz could be the problem but I was desperate for an answer. Brittany huffed.

"We broke up eight years ago." She told me pointedly.

"Then what is it?" I asked exasperated."Is it about Ali? Cause I thought you trusted me with her too."

"I do." She whispered, not making eye contact.

"Then what the fuck, Brittany?" I asked angrily raising my voice.

"I'm fucking scared, Santana!"She finally exploded, turning to look at me and rubbed her hands on her face. I was startled at first but then I leaned back in my chair, staring at her. "You just came into my life being all perfect and shit, making me feel things I wasn't supposed to feel and I don't like it." She shook her head. Perfect and shit, I would laugh if I wasn't so surprised. "I don't like it because one day I'm gonna wake up to you realizing where you got yourself into and then hate me!" She exclaimed and raised her arms, letting them fall by her sides and making a loud slap noise. So, this was what was holding her back. Fear.

"I could never hate you, Britt." I whispered at her and she scoffed. She was still leaning against the door.

"You look at me like I'm perfect and I'm not." She said. You are to me, I thought but didn't say anything. "I can start naming my flaws today and finish tomorrow, you know." She told me and looked away from me. I sighed and stood up. I made my way towards her and stood right in front of her. She was still not looking at me and I took a deep breath.

"I'm so drawn to you." I whispered and felt my heart started beating faster inside my chest at my confession. If I wanted her to open up to me then I would take the first step. She turned to look at me. "I've never felt like this. With every little thing that you do, you have me captivated. You're perfect to me with your flaws. It scares the shit out of me but you know that I won't let it go." I said and she swallowed nervously. "And I have flaws too. I know there are still things I don't know about you but there are things that you don't know about me too." I whispered shrugging.

"I think that you'll be disappointed." She whispered back. I didn't think that I would be disappointed. I just thought that she was that scared that she was searching for excuses.

"Well…" I started before leaning my whole body against hers, feeling her trembling. I got closer to her ear and whispered at her. "I think that for once…" I trailed off and let my right hand trace her tiger tattoo on her left thigh without looking, feeling goosebumps rise from my touch. I ignored my fast heartbeats and the dizziness her scent was causing me. "You should fight for yourself." I finished still whispering and leaned back to see that she had her eyes closed and her breaths were uneven. "Cause I can't be your friend, Britt." I shrugged again and she opened her eyes to reveal her beautiful blue orbs, our faces a few inches from each other's. I wanted a reaction from her. She swallowed nervously again, our bodies were still flushed against each other. She glanced briefly at my lips before looking me in the eyes again.

"Santana." She sighed and looked at me pleadingly. She was about to continue but the phone ringing interrupted her. I sighed and pulled back away from her body.

"I have to get back to work." I said and gestured towards the phone."But I'll see you soon?" I asked her and she nodded at me before quickly turning to leave.

This time I wasn't irritated or confused though. I knew I got to her, she just needed time to process everything that I told her and I would give her as much time as she needed. She was too strong to let fear get in the way of what she wanted. And I had to find half a million dollars too. I sighed and went back to work.

A.N.: Let me know what you think.