Hey, guys! I'm sorry for the wait, but another chapter is here! I love to hear your thoughts and feedback on the story, so if you can review, that'd be greatly appreciated! I have the next couple chapters written, so more updates should be coming soon. Enjoy! :)
Santana's sitting on the couch, staring at her finished song, contemplating any other adjustments she can make. She's tweaked nearly every line, some of the rhymes, the overall beat pattern. Santana mentally thanks Mercedes at least twice a day for her advice—the song's ten times better than it was when she started; who knew simply writing down her feelings and random thoughts would be the best starting point?
She makes changes in a few more areas before calling it good. The thought makes her giddy, but when she remembers who it's dedicated to, the butterflies in her stomach multiply. She can't wait to show it to everyone.
But first, she picks up the guitar from the corner of her room, picking at the strings to make sure it's in tune. She can't play the instrument expertly, but she remembers the few basic chords her instructor taught her many years ago. She runs through the song several times, trying to engrave the chords and strumming pattern into her memory. It doesn't take long to master, given that it's three chords repeated, but the confidence that fills her at the accomplishment compares to none other.
She did it. She did it on her own. And she did it well.
She's not going to walk into work on Monday and hand Shelby the song outright, but maybe she'll be able to bring it up in passing conversation? Or maybe she can reach out to other studios who may want to produce it.
But before all of that, there's something she wants to do first—arguably the most important aspect of this entire process. She lays the guitar on her couch and picks up her phone, pressing the first contact on her "favorites" list. She paces around the living room in excitement and nervousness, listening to the dial tones as the line rings.
"Hello?" a bright voice answers.
"Hey, Britt," Santana responds. "I was wondering…would you maybe wanna have dinner tomorrow night?"
"Time and place."
"8 o'clock. My house?"
"Perfect."
Santana can't control the smile overtaking her features as she disconnects the call. She plops on her bed with a satisfied sigh, not knowing exactly how her life changed this much for the better, but infinitely grateful it has.
/
With the food in the oven, dessert in the fridge, and the table set up nicely, Santana thinks she just about has everything to make the night perfect…not that she's put any pressure on herself—but it has to be perfect.
Tonight, she's singing her song for Brittany.
It feels right for the first person she shows it to be Brittany. After all, she's part of the inspiration. This time, no one's going to get cut trying to slice a tomato, no one's going to pick a scary movie and traumatize the other—everything's going to be straight out of a fairy tale, perfect.
When Brittany arrives, she's wearing the simplest yet beautiful dress, navy blue with long sleeves, and her hair is pulled back in a half pony. Santana opens the door with a bright smile, holding out her hand to lead the girl inside.
"Woah." Brittany's eyes widen as she takes in her surroundings. "What in the 2000s rom-com is this?" she jokes, a wide smile on her face. To say Brittany's impressed with everything would be an understatement. The setup is similar to the last time they had dinner here, but this time, there are candles on the table, painting the room with a gentle glow. Dinner's already plated, the dishes looking as if they came from a five-star restaurant.
Santana may have watched a couple of YouTube videos to prepare.
"This is amazing," Brittany gushes. Santana sidles up behind her and pulls out her chair, gesturing for her to sit.
Once she does, Santana grabs the bottle of wine and opens it, gently sliding Brittany's glass toward her. "Wine, ma'am?" she asks in a deeper tone, mimicking a waiter.
"Yes, please," she answers. Santana fills up the glass halfway before filling her own and placing the bottle back in the ice bucket. She takes her seat across from Brittany. "How long did this take you?" Brittany asks once Santana's settled.
"Just enough to make it special—like the person it's for," Santana says, smiling affectionately.
"You're being particularly sweet tonight," Brittany notices. "Should I be worried about something?" Her tone is one of amusement, but Santana can sense a hint of insecurity there.
She reaches across the table and takes Brittany's hand in hers, playing with her fingers. "It's my way of saying 'thank you,'" she says, "and much more."
Brittany purses her lips, impressed, and slyly crosses her legs. "I'm listening," she flirts.
"After dinner," Santana laughs. She taps Brittany's hand twice before motioning to her plate. "I had to call my Mami and have her help me with this over FaceTime," she admits. "So, it's got the Maribel stamp of approval—which, believe me, is hard to do when it comes to food."
Brittany unfolds her napkin and lays it across her lap before picking up her fork. "Are you and your parents close?" she asks before taking a bite. Her eyes widen momentarily as she tastes the flavors swirling through her mouth, causing Santana to laugh.
"Relatively, yeah," she answers. "They weren't so happy that I gave up college to move here, but there's no hard feelings."
"My parents weren't ecstatic about my move, either," Brittany says. "I grew up on a small farm, so my parents expected me to stay close to town so I can take over when the property gets passed on."
"A farm?" Santana asks, the shock not lost in her voice. "I didn't peg you as a farmer."
"Everyone has their secrets," Brittany jokes. "Although it's not really a secret…just something I don't disclose openly, I guess."
"Why not?" Santana asks. She can't help but picture Brittany in a pair of blue jean overalls, her hair in two pigtails, posing for a picture with a farm dog.
"It's just not something I see in myself," she explains. "I grew up with that lifestyle, but I always felt out of place. This is where I really feel I belong. Big city, big dreams, all that cliche."
"I get that," Santana agrees. "It was the same way for Rachel. She always knew she wanted to get out of Lima and make it to the city."
"Lima?" Brittany asks, the name of the city not sounding familiar.
"Ohio," Santana confirms.
"So, you guys really came a long way."
"Maybe a little," Santana chuckles. "How far did you come?"
"Idaho," Brittany winces.
"The potato state?" Santana asks.
"The potato state, indeed," Brittany says, nodding.
They continue to eat with quiet conversation, enjoying a good meal and good company. Santana refills their wine glasses as they near the end of the meal, and she can feel her cheeks starting to cramp from how much she's been smiling. She doesn't think she's ever been this happy in someone's company. Even those she considers her closest friends, she's never been this ecstatic to be around. Her social battery never stops draining for anyone—but it almost feels like Brittany recharges it. It doesn't matter how nice or calm someone is, or how much they get along—Santana always gets tired of the social stimulation after a couple hours. That's why she prefers her Friday nights spent alone, working on a puzzle or quietly reading. She's always been the most comfortable in her own company.
She never expected to find someone who would break that norm.
"So," Brittany says, clearing her throat, "what did you want to show me?"
Santana lights up and stands from her chair, walking over to Brittany's side. The nerves begin to flutter in her stomach, but she pushes them down, intent on ignoring them. She holds out her hand for the blonde, walking her into the living room and gesturing to the couch. When Brittany sits, Santana holds up a finger and tells her to wait a moment while she leaves to grab her guitar from her bedroom.
When she reenters the living room, Brittany looks thoroughly confused as Santana takes a seat on her coffee table. She clears her throat and positions the guitar comfortably in her lap, looking Brittany in the eye as she begins.
"I wanted you to be the first person I show this to. You're the reason it even exists, both for giving me the courage to chase my dreams and just…being you," she says with a nervous laugh, reaching forward to grab Brittany's hand and hold it between her own. "Thank you. So…this is for you, Britt."
Santana grabs the guitar pick positioned between the strings and begins strumming. After playing for a moment, she starts singing the lyrics she memorized.
Shadows fill an empty heart
As love is fading
From all the things that we are
But are not saying
Can't we see beyond the stars
And make it to the dawn
She's surprised at how even her voice is despite the nerves coursing through her veins.
Change the colors of the sky
And open up to
The ways you made me feel alive
The ways I loved you
For all the things that never died
I am by your side
Love will find you
She doesn't break eye contact with Brittany until she reaches the chorus, looking down at the neck of her guitar as the strumming pattern increases, requiring more effort on her part when playing.
What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late.
The tempo slows again as she segways into the next verse, flickering her gaze back and forth between Brittany's eyes and her guitar.
The sun is breaking in your eyes
To start a new day
This broken heart can still survive
With a touch of your grace
As shadows fade into the light
I am by your side
Where love will find you
She repeats the chorus and continues strumming, concentrating on the rhythm as she feels blue eyes focused on her.
She closes her eyes as she moves into the last verse of the song, emotion flooding her senses. She can feel tears well in her eyes, but her voice doesn't waver. She knows with one blink, they would fall down her cheeks, so she opts to keep her eyes closed.
What about now?
Now that we're here
Now that we've come this far
Just hold on
There is nothing to fear
For I am right beside you
For all my life
I am yours
As the note drags out, she stops playing and lets the chord and her voice carry through the apartment. When she continues strumming, it's at a much lighter intensity than before, the guitar barely making any noise as she sings the final chorus.
What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late
Baby, before it's too late
During the final sentence, she opens her eyes and fully looks at Brittany for the first time since the beginning of the song. Her eyes are red and puffy, and she has the most smitten smile on her face, beaming at Santana.
What about now?
Santana strums one final time and lets the chord ring out until it quiets. She sniffles a couple of times and swipes the tears from under her eyes as they barely escape. She fiddles with the pick in her hand for a moment before looking back to Brittany. "What did you think?" she asks timidly.
Brittany surges forward and presses her lips firmly to Santana's in response, cradling her face in her hands as she holds their lips steady. It catches Santana by surprise, but she relaxes into the kiss after the initial shock and wraps her hands around Brittany's neck. She leans forward, further into the blonde, and runs her bottom lip across Brittany's. Brittany opens her mouth and allows Santana's tongue entrance, and both girls hold each other close and revel in the feel of each other for the duration of the kiss.
When they break apart, Brittany's lips are swollen from the contact, but her eyes still hold the same adoration they did when the song ended. Santana can't help but smile fondly at the girl, thinking she's never seen Brittany look this adorable. "I wish I could freeze this moment and stay here forever," she says, a dazed look in her eyes as she maintains contact with Santana's.
Santana lets out a quiet laugh, completely enamored with the girl before her. "I don't say this enough—but I really appreciate you," she admits. "Not only did you give me courage to write this song," she looks down at her guitar," but also to stop hiding from my past—I am who I am today because and in spite of it all. So, thank you." She takes Brittany's hands in her own and kisses the back gently, running her thumb along her knuckles as she gazes at their skin marbling so perfectly together. The contrast—the way their hands fit so perfectly together—is mesmerizing, like they were always meant to hold one another. The warmth of Brittany's touch grounds her, as if they were the only ones existing in this moment.
Santana hears Brittany's breathing quicken as she plays with the blonde's fingers, linking her fingers between Brittany's completely as she looks up into clear blue eyes. They reflect clarity, but heavy emotion at the same time. Her mouth opens slightly, her lips parting and closing for a moment.
"I think I'm in love with you," she blurts.
Santana's jaw goes slack, and she simultaneously feels her heart leap into her throat and beat intensely. The world slows for a second, her eyes only focusing on Brittany—her flushed cheeks, the way her lips press together in shock, like she can't believe she said it, the way her fingers twitch in Santana's but makes no move to pull away.
Santana tries to speak, but nothing comes out. Her mind races, but her body is frozen, caught between the surprise of Brittany's confession and the overwhelming emotion flooding her system all at once.
Seeing Santana's state, Brittany pulls her hands from Santana's grasp and buries her head in them, shaking her head in embarrassment.
"Britt," Santana says softly, placing her hands on Brittany's knees and squeezing gently. She watches the blonde, the weight of the moment resting on her chest, but the last thing she wants Brittany to feel is embarrassment or regret. "Hey," she whispers. "Look at me?"
Brittany hesitantly looks up, her shoulders rising and falling with a deep breath as she meets Santana's gaze, her eyes filled with uncertainty. She gulps thickly and looks away, focusing on the leg of the coffee table as her eyes brim with unshed tears. "I-I didn't mean to freak you out," she admits. "I just…I've been feeling it for a while, and it felt like the right time to say something, but now I totally see—"
"Britt," Santana interrupts her rambling with a soft smile. She places her finger under Brittany's chin, bringing her face up until their eyes meet again. "Stop," she says gently. "Don't do that." She shakes her head. "Don't take that back."
Brittany blinks, searching Santana's face for reassurance. Her breath hitches, and her lips part slightly as she waits for Santana to continue.
Santana can see that she's bracing for hurt—rejection; the sight makes her chest ache. She takes hold of Brittany's hands again, and holds them close to her chest. "You caught me off guard, yes," she starts, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was just surprised."
Brittany's face softens at the admission.
"But not because I don't feel the same way."
Santana feels her heart quicken and nerves tingle up her spine as she speaks, watching Brittany's face morph from one of regret to sheer happiness. She can feel the smile overtaking her own features, and it's so hard to continue talking when all she wants to do is tackle Brittany in her arms and kiss her.
"I love you, Brittany."
Brittany lets out a shaky laugh, her eyes glistening as she squeezes Santana's hands. "Really?"
Santana sighs and leans closer, resting her foreheads together. "So much," Santana confirms with a soft nod.
A relieved breath escapes Brittany's lips, and without hesitation, she pulls Santana closer and connects their lips in a soft, warm kiss that's full of everything previously unsaid until now. When Brittany pulls back, she lets out a small laugh, brushing her nose against Santana's before pulling the brunette into a tight hug. She buries her nose into Santana's hair, fresh, warm tears gliding down her face from sheer love and excitement.
Santana sighs with a smile, unbelieving that this is her life. In what world would she ever get so lucky? She has to convince herself that she's not lost in a daydream—that this is actual reality. Tears fall from her eyes, and she doesn't think she's ever been this happy…not once. Santana smells the vanilla shampoo Brittany must use mixed with her perfume, and she can't help but picture her future as the scent fills her nose. The apartment is quiet, the only sound coming from the occasional sniffle from one of the girls until Brittany speaks.
"So, does this mean we're girlfriends now?" Brittany asks, not an ounce of hesitation in her tone.
Santana pulls back and brushes her nose against Brittany's, placing a chaste kiss on her lips. "I was kinda hoping so."