Back at her apartment, Brittany bounced around in her kitchen, making dinner and humming tunelessly to herself. She had another evening with Santana outside of work to look forward to. The more time she spent with the woman, the more addicted she became.
After finishing dinner, she went to her bedroom, snatched up Maggie's journal, ran back to the living room with it tucked under her arm like a football, and dove onto the couch. After flipping over and getting situated, she opened the journal to where she'd left off before. She was dying to know the aftermath of Maggie's kiss with Grace.
Maggie's next entry was over a week after the time she'd written about their kiss.
June 14, 1941
Dear diary,
Oh my God. I just want to write everything down so quickly. I just want to tell you. But then it wouldn't make sense. So I should just start from where I left off. I hope I can do it coherently.
Well, you know Grace kissed me. Did I mention it was wonderful? That was a week ago.
I haven't really been able to see Grace much in the last week. Just once when our families bumped into each other while we were all out, so obviously we didn't get to talk, but that's okay. She smiled at me, and I knew she was thinking about it.
Because today is Saturday, a group of us (mostly the friends who came to my birthday party) decided to finally all go swimming down at the lake. It's really starting to get hot during the day, and the water is finally warm enough. Obviously Grace went. She is so beautiful.
We spent the entire afternoon down there. The girls mostly just talked in the water or lay out in the grass, while the boys played with the swinging rope since I guess that's better than just sitting around. Jimmy Crouch got sunburned.
But all of this is unimportant.
Grace stayed with me all day. When we were in the lake, she kept finding ways to touch me underwater. Either my hand, or my back, or my arm. Nobody knew, and she'd wink at me. It was our secret.
When everyone else got ready to leave, we decided to stay. We didn't even have to talk about it...we just both wanted to. After everyone left, we sat in the grass again while the sun went down.
I guess when she was sure nobody was around, she couldn't hold back anymore. She kissed me again. Only this time, it was way different.
This kiss was faster. She put her hands on me, and then somehow we went from sitting to lying down, and then she was on top of me. It all happened so quickly, it almost seems like a blur, even though I remember exactly how it all felt.
Before tonight, I always kind of thought the idea of having someone else's tongue in your mouth was gross. I was so, so wrong.
I don't know how long we were kissing. All I know is that I was starting to feel a different wetness in my bathing suit than just being wet from swimming. That was unexpected. And then we suddenly heard some people laughing on the other bank, so we had to stop. We got up and ran, and by the time we got to my house, we were both laughing uncontrollably. She makes me feel so...I don't know what the word is. I could have kept running with her forever.
She didn't give me time to say anything. She kissed me again on my porch and told me good night. Then she was gone. We'll talk next time.
What an amazing day.
Love,
Maggie
Brittany absolutely loved this story. She smiled dopily at the pages, and her heart felt so light after reading about that experience. How exciting it must have been—the buildup all day with their friends, the moment they could finally be alone, the kissing, the running. An amazing day, indeed. She turned the page and continued. She was surprised to find that there was a large gap between the two entries and that the next one was particularly short.
July 4, 1941
Dear diary,
I would have written before now, but there really hasn't been much to say again. Grace left with her family to go visit some family in Savannah a few days after we spent the day at the lake. They'll be there until the end of the month. I really miss her. We won't have much time left together by the time they get back.
Daddy's having a barbeque this evening for Independence Day. All the adults will come over and pretend we aren't about to go to war. I think it makes them feel better...
Benjamin will be here. I don't know how I'm going to avoid him this time. There won't be many young people around. He's only coming because his parents were invited. I hope he leaves me alone.
I hope the next time I write it will be with happier news.
Love,
Maggie
Brittany frowned at Maggie's handwriting and hoped for something better in the next entry. However, what she saw was the shortest entry yet.
July 18, 1941
Dear diary,
I'm going out with Benjamin tonight. My parents are thrilled. Me? I feel significantly underwhelmed. I can't wait for Grace to be back next week. I hope she isn't mad.
Love,
Maggie
"Come on..." Brittany muttered to herself, hastily turning the page. She thought the next entry looked promising.
July 31, 1941
Finally. Grace is back. I loved seeing her face and watching her walk up my driveway. I ran out to meet her, and it felt so good to hug her again. We made our way down to the tire swings instead of the lake...it's a little overcast today, and we didn't want to get caught outside, just in case it started to rain.
We sat there, just swinging and smiling at each other for a while. But I knew we had lots to talk about. Eventually, I just told her everything.
I told her how much I missed her and how much I'd really enjoyed kissing her. Both times. She seemed really happy to hear that.
I also told her about how I went out on a date with Benjamin, but I also told her that it was to please my parents and that I don't like him like that.
I think she understood...but the second I finished telling her, she asked if I'd kissed him. I'm glad I didn't.
After that, I asked her if she didn't want me to see him again. I don't particularly want to myself, but I wanted to know if she didn't want that too. My stomach kind of fluttered a bit when she said she didn't want me to.
I know my parents will continue to push it, but I'm about to leave for school in a few weeks. Surely that's enough reason not to get involved with someone right now?
I don't know what's going to happen with Grace and me. Even if we weren't going to different schools, it's not like we could tell anybody what's happening between us anyway. This is the part that confuses me and makes me sad. I just don't know.
What I do know is that it was so nice to feel her lips again. She smells so good. She makes my thoughts race, and it's exhilarating.
I know that I loved her before. She's been my best friend forever. Am I going crazy to think that maybe I'm actually falling for her now? Has it been long enough to know that? I don't know, but I think maybe I am.
I think I'm falling in love with my best friend. I'm so glad she's back.
Love,
Maggie
Feeling happy that Maggie had finally gotten her reunion, Brittany decided to stop there and pick it up again another day. She was starting to feel restless. She missed Santana, and she no longer cared if that was pathetic or not.
After taking a long bath, Brittany felt marginally more relaxed. She retrieved Maggie's journal, but instead of reading more of the 1940s love story, she turned to a blank page and wrote her own entry. She briefly thought about getting her own journal instead of continuing to use Maggie's, but this just...felt better.
Dear Maggie,
I've been reading more of your story, and the way you write about Grace is adorable. I love reading about everything unfolding and your time period. It really sucks that you had to keep everything a secret though...it's not like that anymore. In some places.
I guess you and I have that in common though. I have feelings for a woman too. She doesn't know it. At least, I don't think she does. I think she thinks I just really want to hook up with her...which is kind of sad. She's so much more special than that.
I had a non-date with her last night. It was so wonderful spending time with her. I think she's finally starting to open up to me about her life and who she is.
I guess we both have our problems, huh? You knew exactly who you were falling in love with, but you couldn't share that with the world. I can basically tell (almost) whoever I want, but I know so little about this stranger I think I'm starting to fall for.
I'm spending tomorrow evening with her, and already, I can't wait. She just makes me feel so happy...and also so turned on.
I guess you didn't need to know that...but then again, you'll never read this, so...oh well.
God, she's sexy.
And I probably just need to go to bed. I'm starting to rile myself up just thinking about her.
Until next time then.
Love,
Brittany
Closing the journal, Brittany went ahead and climbed into bed. She still wasn't quite tired, and it really was still pretty early...but the faster she fell asleep, the faster tomorrow would be here.
She started thinking of Santana again and what they might be doing tomorrow night. She wondered what Santana's idea of a non-date at her house was. Then, it hit her: Santana had very nervously asked Brittany about hanging out. On a Friday night. Was this still a non-date?
Nervousness now washed over Brittany. What if it was a date? What if that's what Santana had intended when she'd asked Brittany?
Fumbling in the dark, she reached for her phone and quickly typed out a text.
Brittany: so i want to say first that i'm perfectly happy with whatever you choose, but...is tomorrow another non-date?
She waited, holding the phone open at that screen. After a few seconds, Santana responded.
Santana: i was thinking...we could just not call it anything, and see what happens. if that's alright with you?
Brittany read it twice. Did that mean there was potential for it to be a date? She was on board with that.
Brittany: it's more than alright. good night santana.
A few more seconds passed.
Santana: i'm glad. good night brittany.
Brittany set her phone back down. It was the third night in a row that Santana had told her good night. She could get used to that too.