Chapter 3: Through Brittany's Eyes
The stars seemed brighter that night, or maybe Brittany just wanted them to be. She lay on her back in the middle of her bedroom floor, a map of constellations spread out beside her. Lord Tubbington watched from the corner, his judgmental eyes a silent reminder that she'd spent far too long staring at dots on paper.
But the stars connected her to Santana, in a way. Santana always teased her about her fascination with the universe, calling it "nerdy" but always with a smile that made Brittany feel like she'd hung those very stars herself. Tonight, Brittany needed that connection more than ever.
"You're going to shine out there," she had told Santana at the train station. Brittany knew she'd meant every word. Santana wasn't just a star; she was a whole galaxy. Fierce, beautiful, and impossible to ignore. But stars sometimes felt far away, and now that Santana was in New York, Brittany couldn't help but feel the distance.
She rolled over and grabbed her phone, scrolling through her photo gallery. There were countless pictures of the two of them: laughing at Breadstix, dressed up for prom, cuddled on the couch while Brittany wore Santana's oversized hoodie. Each photo was a snapshot of a love that felt bigger than anything Brittany could name.
Her fingers hovered over the call button. Would Santana even have time to talk? She was probably busy meeting new people, exploring the city, being amazing—just like Brittany knew she would be. Still, Brittany couldn't shake the urge to hear her voice.
Before she could overthink it, she pressed the button. The phone rang twice before Santana picked up.
"Britt?" Santana's voice was soft, tinged with surprise.
"Hi, San," Brittany said, her voice light but brimming with affection. "I just wanted to hear you."
There was a pause, and Brittany could hear the faint sounds of the city in the background—horns, voices, the distant rhythm of New York's heartbeat. "I miss you," Santana admitted quietly.
"I miss you too," Brittany said, her heart aching at the vulnerability in Santana's tone. "Are you okay?"
Santana hesitated. "It's...a lot. The city, the people. It's amazing, but it's overwhelming too."
"You don't have to do everything at once," Brittany said gently. "Just take one step at a time. And remember, you're never really alone. I'm always with you, even if it's just in your heart."
Santana laughed softly, the sound warming Brittany's chest. "How do you always know exactly what to say?"
"Because I know you," Brittany said simply. "And I love you."
The line was quiet for a moment, but Brittany didn't mind. She could picture Santana's face, the way her eyes softened whenever Brittany said those three words. Finally, Santana spoke.
"I love you too, Britt. More than anything."
As they talked about their days, Brittany felt the distance between them shrink, just a little. She didn't need the stars to feel close to Santana. She just needed moments like this—moments that reminded her their love was bigger than any city, brighter than any constellation.