AN: Oh my God, I am so sorry. I know that I have apologized throughout this fic multiple times, and at this point it probably holds no weight. But, I promise you. I'm in a writing mood, and this fic? Should be done by the end of the month! Yes. It's been a very long time coming, 7 years basically. But thank you for sticking with me. So without further adieu!
Everything following states was a complete dream. Along with getting the koa trophy, came the banner for the armory. Whenever a team won any BIIF or State tournament, the team got to go up on the banner for everyone to see. It wasn't anything that looked to special, but classes to come would see them and know what the team that year accomplished so for the girls it was extremely special. It was their way of leaving their mark before graduating.
The day following the teams return from Oahu, Santana and Brittany spent nearly that entire day sleeping and resting at Brittany's house. They were welcomed home by Brittany's parents with a cute little banner that said Congratulations accompanied with balloons and the girls' favorite meal, lasagna.
Sometime around two in the afternoon, Santana's phone began to ring.
"Hello?" Santana said, not even bothering to check who it was. It had been raining all day which made for the perfect cuddle weather. Brittany was snuggled up against Santana's back, perfectly nestled in the comforter.
"San!" Rachel yelled. "We made the all-tournament team."
Santana shot up in the bed, her body filling with excitement. "Are you serious?!"
"Why would I lie to you about something like this? Dude!"
Brittany woke up now, propped up on her elbow looking at Santana with confusion. "Everything okay babe?"
"Yeah yeah, I'm sorry baby. I didn't mean to wake you." She gently ran her hand through Brittany's hair. "Lay back down. Everything's okay."
"Wait what the fuck? You guys are still sleeping?"
"Yeah dude, I don't know why you aren't. We've been wiped since this weekend. Thank God it's Sunday because we'd be tired if we had for go school."
"Okay well I just figured I'd tell you the good news. I'll let you guys rest more. Talk to you later San."
"Shoots."
Santana put her phone back down on the nightstand and snuggled up to Brittany. As her arms made their way around Brittany, she smiled.
"What was Rach saying?" Brittany said, eyes still closed. Her smile was growing, as Santana's embrace became stronger.
"Oh no nothing baby me and her made the all-tourney team for states that's all." Santana had become perfectly comfortable when Brittany immediately sat up and faced her. "What babe?"
"Are you serious?! Why are you so calm?"
"Oh babe, it isn't a big deal. All I really cared about winning and we did that. Getting on that all-tourney team is nothing. What team matters to me, is the BIIF all-league team. Guarantee you going be on there too baby." Brittany smiled, realizing that Santana had said all of this with her eyes closed. She layed back down and allowed Santana's arms to wrap around her once more. "Alright, alright. A hour or so more babe. That's it."
A slight tighten gave Brittany all the answer she needed and she allowed herself to fall asleep once more.
The next day at school, the girls were getting congratulated by teachers and other students.
"Can you guys believe? We getting one banner for us." Kama said as they approached the stairs they always hung out at.
"Hell yeah. It'll be the first softball banner hanging and we can say we did that." Angel replied. They high fived each other as everyone else began to walk over. "There they are. All-tourney's."
Rachel, Santana and Brittany were walking over now.
"Rach what did Q say when you told her?"
"She was stoked. Said I deserved it especially because of the championship game." Rachel smiled.
The girls in Oklahoma had called Brittany on skype when they had gotten back to the hotel. It was the first time that both teams were going to meet and it was a big moment. Brittany introduced everyone, and it was sort of nice because these two teams meant the entire world to her.
"She's right though, you guys do deserve it."
Coach Sue walked out of the Armory and looked up at the team. "Hey guys. Can you come down here real quick?"
The team made their way down the stairs and into the Armory and sat on the bleachers.
"Okay. So- the editor of the paper sent me a copy of the article coming out tomorrow. It announces the BIIF all-league team. So to start, I got Coach of the Year." The girls went crazy. But before they could get up to hug her, she stopped them. "Wait wait wait. Let me finish."
"So, this season, we landed five of you on first team. Which might I add, is unheard of. First off, Nalani." Kama shook Nalani by her shoulders while others gave her high fives. "Next, Angel."
"Oh what? How?" Angel said, laughingly.
"Don't do that to yourself Ang, you did super good this season." Santana told her. High fives were passed around once again."
"And you all should know the last three. Rachel, Brittany and Santana."
Santana turned to Brittany, giving her the I told you so look.
The team was congratulating them when Coach Sue went to calm them down again.
An older gentleman walked over from Holly's office, as Coach Sue waved him over. "Guys this is Mr. Akiona, he's one of the writers for the sports section of the Tribune Herald. He came down today to interview the player of the year."
Brittany's stomach started to flutter because she knew exactly who was going to be.
"Santana, I already let your sixth period teacher know that you'll be a little late."
"AYEEEE! There you go cap!" Nalani said as Santana stood up.
"I couldn't have gotten it without all of you." Santana said as she playfully bowed in front of everyone. "But foreal. Without you guys, I wouldn't have gotten this. Promise kine."
"Go already and do your interview no need get sappy right now." Angel told her.
Santana bowed one last time before walking into Holly's office with Mr. Akiona.
"The article is going to be printed in tomorrow's paper, just in time for the sports banquet and the revealing of our banner that'll go right up there." Coach Sue said as she turned towards the empty spot up on the armory wall. "I'm proud of what you all have accomplished this season. Thank you for all your hard work this year."
"Nah, thank you Coach because without you we wouldn't be state champs baby." Kama replied.
Everyone cheered as the bell rang that indicated that recess was over. Brittany walked up the stairs with the rest of the team, Santana's jacket draped over her arms.
It was a weird moment for her, it had been a while since she walked uphill by herself. Honestly, the entirety of the school year she had Santana so she felt a tiny bit out of place. Before getting too far she looked back at the armory to see if Santana was running her way but she wasn't.
"Sooner! You good?" Angel said. "Is it your back?"
"Oh nah, I'm okay Ang. I was just waiting to see if San was done but she's not. I gotta start walking uphill."
"Oh okay rajah. Catch you after school." Angel said as she walked towards her next class at E Building.
Ensembles was preparing for the end of the school year so most of the classes they had were spent just jamming out for no particular reason. Just to have fun. Mr. Shuester was gone for the rest of the year, his wife just had a baby.
About fifteen minutes into class, Santana finally walked in. Her smile was huge- and Brittany couldn't help but notice the new glow that had overcome her girlfriend.
Santana's eyes wandered the room and spotted Brittany in their regular spot of the room.
"Hey baby." Santana said as she sat next to Brittany on the piano.
"Hey, how was the interview?"
"Good! Mr. Akiona said it's gonna be in tomorrow's paper, so I'm excited."
Brittany gently grabbed Santana's cheeks and kissed her. "I'm so proud of you babe."
"I'm proud of you too baby. I told you that you was gonna make the team."
Brittany moved over on the piano bench to let Santana center herself.
"Did the girls tell you what we're doing afterschool today?"
Confused, Brittany turned towards Santana. "No, they didn't."
"Good. It'll be fun, don't worry." Almost immediately, Santana started swaying to the music.
Brittany couldn't help but smile, seeing San in such a good mood always made her happy. The last few weeks had been filled with stress and anxiety, leading up to the big championship game. Injuries, setbacks and yet nothing stopped them from achieving their goal.
When school finally ended, the team met up by the stairs as usual. Kama walked over to Brittany and nudged her shoulder.
"You ready for today?"
"Kama! No don't. It's a surprise." Santana said.
"Ahhh. This going be real fun then." She replied with a grin on her face.
"What are we doing?" Brittany asked, running through all of the places she had been in her head.
"It's nothing spectacular, just a last minute team bonding that we decided on. You'll like it, don't worry." Santana said as a smile broke through.
What more could she possibly show Brittany? She had been in Hawai'i for almost a year now, and she felt like it was a never ending adventure. Not that she was complaining or anything. It was just so much more than she ever imagined.
If someone would've came up to her last year and told her that this was what Hawai'i was going to be like, she would've laughed. But from the moment she stepped onto campus, her life changed. All because of the beautiful brunette who introduced herself to her on the first day of school.
Brittany watched as her girlfriend was talking to her friends. Her smile was beautiful, and it never ceased to her amaze her.
"Come on everyone let's go. We don't want to get up there too late." Kama said as they walked towards the parking lot.
"Babe, we go. We have to stop at your house real quick." Santana said as she held out her hand for Brittany to grab. "We gotta grab clothes and stuff."
"Where are we going?" She asked, knowing that she wasn't going to get an answer.
"Don't worry. Have I ever let you down before?"