A/N there is a little bit of a time jump here. Thank you for reading and reviewing we are getting closer to the end :)
4 years later
"Get up, sleepy head! You have class soon!" My shoulder gets roughly shoved. I peek my eyes and see short blonde hair shutting them instantly again.
"Ugh just let me sleep." I groan, hiding my head in my pillow further.
"This is exactly why I came home early from the bar last night. You should have left when I did." She groans then rips my pillow out from under me.
I let out a pained noise then peaked my eyes open and grinned at her. "And this is why I love you Quinn, you are like my personal alarm clock. Loud and shreaky."
She hits me in the head with the pillow. "Why didn't I just get a new roommate this year? It would have been a lot easier." She rolls her eyes then slaps my butt. "Now get your ass up, you are going to be late for your first day of class." She leaves my room.
"You know you love me, Quinn!" I yell out after her.
"Unfortunately!" She yells right back causing me to laugh.
Quinn and I got really close throughout senior year of high school after Mike introduced us. We then found out we were going to NYU together as well, so naturally we became roommates not wanting to get roomed with a random person.
The gang really split up after graduating, well most of us.
Sugar ended up not going to college but taking an internship in her dads company because "that is we're the money is B. Oh and it has nothing to do with the mafia." I'm still not convinced. We still stay in contact but she is working out in LA but she allows time to visit every once in a while, when I least expect it.
Mike decided to go to Chicago to dance. I told him New York was better and he should come here, but he was fond of Chicago. We still talk every once in a while, about dance pieces and what not, but it has been a little strained since him and Quinn broke up last year. It was a mutual decision, but I can see they are both still hurting over it.
Puck, what can I say about Puck, that meat head, well he followed me to New York, "I'm gunna make it big here Britt I just gotta get out of that small town. Besides you know you would miss me way too much Brittany." I have to say he has done pretty good for himself too. He struggled at first, bartending, but somehow got a lucky break and the bar owner took him in like a son. Now Puck runs the bar and is working his way to pay off the guy to fully own it. It is a really popular bar here too and the reason for my headache this morning.
Lastly Skylar, we got really close my senior year, her sophomore year in college. She was there for many crying nights and was a shoulder to cry on. We stayed just as friends besides one drunken night after 'she' called and never called back. I was devastated and went on a drinking bender. Well one thing led to another and we got drunk together and ended up making out. I felt like shit after and we both agreed it was a huge mistake. She decided her junior year to go back to Chicago and we kind of lost touch after that.
I groan as I pull myself up and hop in the shower. Today is the first day back at school I get dressed in loose sweatpants that are low on the hip and a cut off shirt. I have my dance class today and math class. It was a pretty easy day today.
I head into the kitchen in the apartment to see Quinn already has two coffee cups out. She also has a plate of bacon in front of her that I know I can't touch and an egg and toast for me with a banana on the side. I gotta say I love this girl.
I plop down and brace my head with my hands. She slides two aspirin over to me which I gracefully take with my coffee.
"Thanks." I get out as I start to eat.
"No problem. Puck really did a number on you last night, not to mention all those girls who were fawning over you."
I lift my head and smile.
"Anyone special?" She says and I laugh.
"Na, you know I am waiting for the one." I point to my wrist.
"Yeah yeah the one who shall not be named. I just don't get it Britt. You will flirt with other girls and guys, hell you have even kissed some, but that is it. Why not just give someone the chance."
"Aww are you offering Quinn? You know you are my number one girl. Are the others making you jealous?" I wink at her.
"No ass." She throws a rag hitting me right in the face. "I just think you should be open to the possibility of someone. Give it a try."
"Well would you look at the time. I gotta go."
"You don't even have a watch. We are not done with this conversation."
"Sure Quinn, see you later! Love you!" I yell as I practically run out the house, grab my bag and shut the door. I walk to campus because it isn't very far.
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The whole day is pretty boring, going over syllabus, teachers trying to scare you, saying hi to a few people you haven't seen over the summer, all about the same. When I get done with my last class I head home and get a workout in before work. Being a dance major, I have really taken to running a lot more for cardio. I get inside and head for my shower. Once I am clean, I see have a message on my phone thinking it is Quinn, I quickly open it and look at the message.
From Puck: you hitting my bar tonight?
From Brittany: it is Monday.
From Puck: is that a yes?
From Brittany: that would be a no.
From Puck: common you are like my main source of entertainment
From Brittany: I'll be there Friday. I have to get to work.
From Puck: you should just work for me. You would make a super fine bartender, or waitress, oh wait I could buy a pole and you could be my personal pole dancer huh ;)
From Britt: pretty sure that is what strip clubs are for Puck and no way am I working for you thanks though. If I get fired I'll keep you in mind for the bartending position.
From puck: I'll hold you to it Peirce, but I think pole dancing would be a lot better :) Have fun at work!
I laugh and shake my head. He is ridiculous. I check the time and quickly get ready in my barista outfit. Work is right on the corner of our block, so I quickly head out the door but not before leaving a note for Quinn letting her know and hoping she had a good first day.
I make my way through the coffee shop called The Royal Bean. The door chimes and I greet Brent, my coworker of the day.
"Hey Brent." I say as I make my way to the back to put away my personal items in the staff room.
Brent has been working here as long as I have. He has shaggy brown hair and blue eyes and is well built. He is quite handsome, but extremely shy and gets nervous frequently. He likes to read and is stuck most of the time in a book when we aren't busy.
Work was slow because it was the afternoon. The only people to come in were some college students meeting up with friends and a few people after work. Luckily, we close at 6 making it the perfect job to have while I'm in school so I still get time to study.
I lock the door and turn to Brent who closed with me. "Well, I hope you have a good rest of your afternoon Brent." I tell him and start to walk away.
"You too Brittany, it is always a pleasure working with you."
I turn and give him a kind smile and wave as I walk backwards a few steps. His cheeks turn red as he waves back. I turn back around and head home. I feel sticky and gross after working, I may have split a little on myself today, and I am starving. I wonder if Quinn has food already or if we will just order out. I take the stairs two at a time up to our floor and open the door quickly. I let out a breath just glad to be home. I don't see Quinn, but I hear talking.
Quinn squeals so I walk quietly through the kitchen and to the living room not seeing who she is taking to yet.
"So, when are you and the girl from the cafe going on a date?"
I see the back of their heads because the couch back is facing our dining room. I am about to walk past and just head to my room so they can talk when her voice stops me dead in my tracks.
"I think Friday is what she said." The sexy raspy voice says, and it can only be one person. My heart starts to race and I feel a little dizzy. How did I not notice the tingle on my wrist? It had been so long I just ignored it.
"Oh Britt! Your home I want you to meet a friend of mine from high school. She left junior year but we were like best friends before that. I ran into her today at school and apparently, she transferred this year." I can hear the excitement in Quinn's voice.
I turn around and they are both standing up and looking at me. I take her in, and she is still just as beautiful as the last time I saw her, just a little older and maybe longer hair that flows perfectly down her back. Mocha eyes show shock as she looks at me but I can't help my eyes from wandering. She is wearing black short shorts and a red v neck that accentuated her breast perfectly and her tan legs are to die for. I look up and catch her checking me out as well… wait fuck! I am in my barista outfit! 4 years since I have seen her, and I am in a fucking barista outfit with coffee stains everywhere.
"Uhh I'll be back!" I book it to my room to change practically stumbling over my feet to get in my room to hide.
I hear Quinn out in the living room laugh then say "Yep that is Britt for you. And before you even think about it, because I saw that look in your eyes. She will not fall for your sexy advances like you pulled with that cafe girl. She might be hot, but she won't get with anyone because she has a soulmate."
I put my ear to the door while shimming out of my jeans to hear Santana's response.
It is so husky I missed her voice so much. "Oh really? She doesn't date?" I can almost hear a smile in it.
"Yep, she is basically a nun so back off San you have no shot." Quinn says loudly. She is making me look so bad I have to get out there. I turn to go to my closet to pick out my shirt, forgetting about my pants and falling.
"Fuck!" I yell as I go down hard.
Not even 10 seconds later my door flies open as I am laying their feet tangled in my pants ass on full display thanks to my thong.
"Oh, wow Britt what are you doing?" Quinn laughs.
"You know you could just help me up."
"Hey, I can't help it, your pants just drop around me." I can't help but laugh too because this is just how we joke but I hear a voice being cleared and I turn to peek at the door and see Santana there too giving a dark look.
I quickly kick my pants off and roll over to sit on my butt and grab the sweatshirt that is under my bed throwing it over my lap.
I can't make out Santana's eyes because they are hiding so much. I look back at Quinn and she is looking at me funny then she leans down to touch my sweatshirt that is on my lap.
"I don't remember this, Britt." Quinn says in a thoughtful whisper.
I look down to see it is the sweatshirt Santana gave me the day she left. I look up to see her looking away with red cheeks. Quinn has never seen this sweatshirt because I have kept it hidden and only wear it on nights that are especially hard for me.
"Lopez." Quinn whispers then she whips her head to look at Santana. "Umm is this your San?" She asks Santana who is being very quiet.
"Yeah." She mumbles.
"Well why does Brittany have it?"
We both aren't talking or looking at her. I hear Quinn get irritated. "Okay apparently, I need some stuff explained. You two are acting so strange. Santana, go sit on the couch. Britt, get your ass dressed. I am ordering Chinese and you two are going to explain.
I quickly get up and throw on some short jean shorts and a blue crop top that I know brings out my eyes. I run to the bathroom to make sure I look okay. I fix my makeup and pull up my hair, not that I am trying to look good or anything, before making it out to the living room which is very quiet. I walk out to see Santana's head down almost in shame as she fidgets.
Quinn is sitting on the chair across from her leaving me to sit on the couch with Santana. I plop down and Santana peaks at me and throws me a shy smile that makes my heart swoon and my wrist tingle, a sensation I haven't felt in so long. I don't touch it because Quinn will catch that act right away. She has hawk-like eyes.
"Okay," Quinn says after a few moments of silence she slaps her thighs. "So you two know each other?" She raises a brow. We both nod our heads. "You," she points to Santana, "know her," she points to me, "well enough to give her your favorite cheerleading sweatshirt?"
Santana looks down, blushing "yeah." I almost swoon because she looks so cute when she is shy, but I hold back my actions trying to stay as stiff as possible.
Quinn lets out a breath. Then makes me flinch when she throws her hands up in the air. "How? When? You liked no one in high school San. You barely liked me, and I was your best friend and you told me nothing about hanging out with Brittany. Were you into her before you came out? Because I now know you are totally into the ladies. I mean like you got a date today when we went to have lunch." I flinch again at this information, and it catches Quinn's attention.
She really focused on me now. I see wheels turning and it is almost like she isn't even talking to us anymore but herself trying to figure stuff out.
"Wait, were you into Santana, Britt? You have not been into anyone since I have known you and that includes Skylar." Santana flinches now causing Quinn to pause and watch her. "You know Skylar?" She asks slowly.
Santana shrugs, "We aren't like friends or anything and you could almost say I really really dislike her." Santana gets out almost in a growl.
She then shifts closer to me. Her hand with the soulmate mark getting closer to mine and I feel my hand move closer to her just wanting to get closer. I have wanted to touch her since seeing her, so I just go for it. I slide my hand to Santana's and lace our fingers. I let out a breath and felt my heart pound my eyes begin to water as I heard Santana let out a shaky exhaled breath.
She finally turns fully looking me deep in the eyes. Hers have a little tear in them as well. She gives me a big smile.
"Hey Britt." She runs her thumb over my wrist.
I smile back and laugh. "Hey San." I say through my tears.
"Oh, hell no!" Quinn tells mouth open.
Santana reaches behind her and flings her pillow right at Quinn's face. She glares at Santana before standing up and walking over to us and gets a close look at our wrist even when we don't disconnect our fingers.
Quinn stands up slowly and puts her hand on her head. "Well, I need a drink." She walks away. "A strong one!" She yells.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
We sat awkwardly around the table eating our chines Quinn ordered, Santana and I finally let go of each other's hands as we sat at the table to eat. After eating quietly for a while, I turned to Santana, finally finding my voice.
"So, umm you have a date on Friday?" I try to hold my jealousy, but it is so hard. I haven't dated anyone since her but here she is apparently picking up women left and right.
"Umm yeah a girl I met today, nothing serious." She says with a shrug.
"You should have seen her Britt. The girl was so nervous, and Santana was so suave it was ridiculous how easy the girl swooned at her feet. It looked like you were an expert Santana." Quinn wiggled her eyebrows drinking more of her mixed drink. She has definitely had too much.
I glare at Quinn.
Her face turns red. "Right sorry soulmate. You probably don't want to hear about her picking up someone else huh." Quinn is quiet for a few minutes then speaks up again. "It is just so weird Santana comes off as a player, from what I saw, then you have Britt here who has been saving yourself for her. Shit if you would have told me it was Santana, I would have told you to just go on dates because I know she was."
"Quinn!" Santana yelled slamming her hand down on the table silencing Quinn.
"I'm just saying I saw you cheat on Sam a few times." Quinn mumbles.
I feel tears prick at my eyes. It hurts me to know all this time we have been separated. She has just been with other people.
"Umm." I look down and try not to let the tears fall. "You have been dating girls?"
"Yeah." She whispers out.
"What about your mom?" I ask almost meekly.
"When I turned 18, I took off. My dad wired me money at first to help out, but now I work and got a scholarship for school."
I nod. Feeling my stomach turn. I can't eat any more food and push the plate away. She didn't try to find me when she left her mom.
"I am..."
"What happened with your boyfriend from high school?" she asks cutting me off.
I look up at her. She has a hard look in her eyes. "I never had a boyfriend. You are the last person I dated."
She jerks back like I slapped her. "What about the boy who called you babe when I called over the summer senior year?"
I shake my head looking at her in disappointment. "That was a misunderstanding you didn't let me explain. Some guy knocked on the bathroom door thinking I was his girlfriend. I was at a party, but I never dated anyone. I tried to call you back."
Stantana looks startled like she doesn't know what to say. "Y-you haven't dated anyone?"
"No." I give her a sad look. I stand up. "Excuse me." I walk on shaky legs to my bedroom.
I hear the legs of the chair scrap then Quinn's voice. "Give her space S. She has a lot to process."
I make it to my room and collapse on my bed. This has been a lot. Where do we go from here?