Chapter 1 (New and hopefully improved)
25th May 2012
"Ladies and gentlemen I give you McKinley High School's Graduating Class of 2012!" Principal Figgin's shouted out from his place behind the podium at the left of the stage.
Hats flew in the air, cheers echoed and tears began to stream down half the girl's cheeks. In the midst of the chaos several students slipped quietly out of the crowd and took their places on the raised steps at the rear of the stage. Keeping their heads down the close knit members of Glee Club kept themselves composed as the familiar introduction of their most poignant number filled their waiting ears.
Each individual took their solo confidently each voice being showcased perfectly in front of the captivated audience. Parents and peers alike watched as the odd bunch sang their hearts out together for what would most likely me the last time.
The group moved flawlessly into a second number even though the music had long sing faded the desire to carry on clear in their shining eyes. Movements became jerky and voices cracked as Rachel Berry, Santana Lopez and Mercedes Jones tore up the last few notes of one of the most powerful songs ever written.
Then in that one moment of time
I will be... I will be
I will be free
Unconventional as the three voices combined should have sounded; they were easily able to follow the others as they finished with a few longs improvised notes. When they finally stopped singing they were quickly swallowed up by a crowd of their friends all hugging and swearing they wouldn't lose touch.
A blonde and a brunette could be vaguely seen in the centre of the melee arms wrapped securely around the other and lips meeting as though their lives depended on the contact. Two sets of parents watched the contact with looks of uncertain apprehension unseen by their children
After three years of constant drama and fighting, the Glee Club had finally learnt to tolerate each other. It was unfortunate that this miracle had to happen only a month before they were due to graduate but they had vowed to make that one month the best of their lives so far. In a way they had achieved that goal spending lots of time as a group on various outings that had been surprisingly successful.
"Party at miiiiine tonight!" Rachel sang in her shrillest voice.
"Yay I'm just about wetting my panties with excitement." Santana's insult would have been scathing had she not been swaddled in her girlfriends arms their hands tangled against her stomach.
"Lighten up Lopez you know you love Princess Jew's parties." Puck spoke up surreptitiously wiping tears off his rosy cheeks.
"Yeah girl Berry's got booze for tonight too so stop your complainin'! Mercedes snapped her fingers diva style and winked at the open mouthed Latina.
"Berry; if I had any respect for you I'd be a tiny bit impressed." Santana said surprise evident in her features.
"Wow Santana that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me." Rachel replied with tears in her eyes.
"Nicest thing she's ever said to anyone." Finn muttered darkly.
The beamed blonde behind Santana raised her head quickly taking immediate offense at the comment.
"Santana is the best person ever, way better than you at everything including being in a friend or being in love." Brittany said smiling proudly at her shocked girlfriend.
"You're right Brittany," Rachel coughed pointedly, "...and Santana I'm sorry." Finn said grudgingly.
"I don't..." Santana began an insult but was stopped by a hard squeeze from her girlfriend and she sighed in resignation. "Fine, I'll let it go but I'm kicking his ass next time." She huffed out and Brittany nodded and smiled in agreement.
"So everyone, enjoy your dinners with your families and come round at about 9ish my dad's will be gone by then." Rachel announced and the group reluctantly parted ways. Just because it wasn't their last time seeing each other they all felt a sharp tug in their chests at the fresh loss.
"San my chest feels weird." Brittany said sadly as they walked hand in hand towards their parents who were watching the couple with hawk like stares. The analysis went unnoticed by the upset teens.
"Mine too Britt, I don't like it." Santana hummed.
"I'm gonna miss them." The blonde said.
"We have all summer except for..." Santana said determined not to let her voice shake as he said the words she knew would set off a chain reaction.
"DISNEYWORLD!" Brittany shouted excitedly jumping up onto Santana's back laughing delightedly as she was spun around her gown whipping around her.
Santana laughed out loud something that used to be a rare occurrence but was now happening more and more as she gradually let her walls down in the run up to college. Since Britt had mentioned she wanted to go, the two girls had been persuading the Pierces that a trip to Disneyworld Florida would be perfect for a summer holiday after graduation.
Now that it was all planned the plane and park tickets all pinned to Santana's cork board Brittany was free to celebrate the future with as much glee as she wanted. Those tickets had become a shining beacon of hope that got them both through some hard times the last few months.
"Girls please calm down we have to get to our reservations." Santana's father chastised the pair with a stern brow.
"Sorry Papa," Santana said disappointedly letting Brittany down gently. "We're ready to go if you are?" She said bowing her head confused as to why her parents didn't seem happier that their daughter had graduated fifth in her class (behind Quinn, Mike, Tina and of course Berry) with no blemishes on her record.
"We are let's get going." Mr Lopez commanded with a small smile and the girls followed their parents shooting the other confused glances as they went. Something was definitely off.
Shockingly the meal went off without a hitch after the car ride and both girls left feeling buoyed up and relaxed. Leaving the random restaurant with hugs and kind words they took Brittany's little sister home where her Grandma took her from them allowing them space to get ready for Rachel's graduation soirée.
"There's something wrong with our parents." Brittany announced from her position on the bed sorting nail varnishes.
"You sure?" Santana checked looking at Brittany in the mirror in front of her.
Brittany didn't have to say a word, her eyes caught Santana's in the mirror and she raised her eyebrows her eyes laughing.
"Alright alright you're people smart I know." Santana laughed getting on with her eyeliner ignoring the giggling from the bed behind her.
"I think it's us." Brittany admitted causing Santana to spin around curiously. "I think we're doing something wrong." The blonde frowned.
"Oh Britt are we too happy or something?" Santana came over to sit with her arm around her girlfriend hugging her close.
"No," Brittany laughed, "I am happy though." She looked up from under Santana's chin almost shyly.
"Good, I'm happy too, I'm sure they're just sad that we're going to college in a couple of months." Santana reassured her.
"Yeah I bet that's it." Brittany nodded her head wobbling as Santana pulled her in repeatedly. She kissed the top of the blondes head lovingly before getting up and grabbing her purse. "Let's get our graduation on BrittBritt!"
"Whattup Lesbro's?" Puck called out high fiving a smirking Latina and a grinning blonde as they walked into the Berry basement dressed to kill.
"We're awesome Pucky." Brittany shouted over the pounding beat hugging him with one arm the other around Santana.
The girls headed to the busy dance floor, it seemed quite a few of their year had been invited to join the party or had just crashed. For once Santana didn't give a damn about how many people would see her and her girlfriend dancing and holding each other. Instead she let her mind go free and just enjoyed being happy for one day.
Grinding up against her willing girlfriend Brittany thought her heart would burst with happiness or she would have a heart attack from all the love she was feeling. Incredibly when she spun round to face the smaller girl she was pulled into a deep kiss full of want and love.
Whistles and whoops echoed in their ears but they gladly accepted the admiration in favour of the disgusted looks they were both now afraid of. At college they both hoped to rid themselves of the homophobic chains of Lima Ohio.
The next four hours were a blur of shots, fruity vodka and dancing. At nearly 1:30am the gleeks were the only ones left swaying around on the dance floor in a large circle holding each other upright. Though the closeness was partly due to the alcohol they all felt needed as they sang softly with their eyes closed, swaying slowly until Rachel of all people broke away and shouted.
"Let's play a game!"
They all groaned and rolled their eyes dramatically but the music was still turned down and they all sat down maintaining their circle as the discussed game options.
"I never." Puck said waving his bottle of whiskey.
"Hide and seek." Mercedes giggled.
"Oh spin the bottle." Sam was shocked at the disapproving looks he got for that one.
"Celebrity?" Finn asked and people nodded a little.
"Truth... or...TRUTH!" Brittany shouted happily over everyone.
"Great idea." Santana agreed predictably causing everyone to roll their eyes and smile.
"Whachoo." Puck made and exaggerated whipping motion towards the now scowling Latina.
"Shut up dickface, it's a good game, bet we've all got stuff we'd like to know about one another." She defended looking around at the interested faces.
"Okay Brittany how do we play?" Rachel asked clinging to Quinn as she spoke girlishly.
"I ask someone I choose a question and they have to answer or take a shot then they get to ask someone else." Brittany explained chirpily.
"Sounds wonderful, you first Brittany." Rachel grinned.
"Alriiight," the dancer fist pumped. She eyed each person carefully as if assessing their weakness. They all shifted nervously in their seats except for Santana who sat with head on Brittany's slim shoulder smiling smugly.
"Hmm Tiiinaaa," The drunk Asians head snapped up uncomfortably fast as her name was called, "How many people have you had sex with?" Brittany asked a mischievous grin on her face.
"Three." Tina almost whispered the word her face turning purple and she downed half her drink anyway. The circle gasped and whispered.
"Wow Britt don't hold back." Santana whispered to the smiling blonde. Brittany eyebrows knitted together.
"I didn't?" She mumbled.
"It was a joke B, no worries, your question was ace." Santana assured her swinging her arm around to scratch softly at Brittany's back. A gesture that always calmed her down.
"Your turn Tina!" Rachel sing-songed and everyone held their breath this was now a no holds barred session.
"Um let's see, Santana." Tina addressed the startled Latina confidently, "How long have you loved Brittany?" She said triumphantly.
"Hang on we need to discuss this on second?" A red faced and drunk Santana stalled as she shuffled herself and Brittany backwards away from alert ears.
"What was the date we met again?" Santana asked in a hushed voice.
"September 3rd 2000." Brittany whispered back beaming as she got where this was going.
"Okay people let me do some maths real quick." Santana said before muttering under her breath as she counted frantically, not easy while drunk.
"I have the answer you losers," Santana held a finger up proudly, "I have loved Britt for eleven years, eight months, twenty two days and," she glanced at her watch, "one and a half hours."
The whole room went completely silent at her affectionate announcement and watched as the two girls kissed deeply.
"Wow that's very honest of you Santana." Rachel sounded impressed but the Latina didn't seem to hear her. "Santana, it's your turn." Rachel tried to say as the two girls got up and scampered up the stairs giggling.
"Let's hope they don't use your parent's bed." Quinn smirked at Rachel's appalled expression. "Or worse yours."
"Thank goodness I locked my door I'm sure they'll find the guest room I labelled it correctly." Rachel shrugged.
"You did WHAT now?" Mercedes cried.
"I put a sign on the door so they would know which room it was okay to have intercourse in, Quinn warned me that they always need alone time at parties." Rachel explained obviously.
"Wow, they are totally going to ignore that sign especially if it has stars on." Tina giggled with Mercedes as all the guys faces went suspiciously blank except for Kurts.
"Oh god." Rachel's face paled.
"Wait a second, turn the music down I think I hear something upstairs." Kurt shouted and Puck pegged it over to the sound system pulling the plug out quickly.
"Ew Kurt we should not be listening to them doing it." Mercedes held a hand to her chest dramatically.
"Wait if we can hear them they must be in the lounge, my sofaaa!" Rachel wailed but Quinn held her down by her shoulders when she tried to get up.
"Wait, I think Kurt's right, they're... shouting?" Quinn said nervously and the club quietened down to listen out. A collective gasp rang out as they heard loud voices arguing above them.
"Mmmm I love you." Santana slurred as she pressed a giggling and half naked Brittany down onto the Berry's couch. She didn't want to wait until they got upstairs after the shirt came off.
"I love you toooooo; your answer was so shweet." Brittany giggled. She sighed as Santana kissed her neck softly.
"I can't wait to be at college with you, our place is gonna be awesome." Santana hissed as Brittany's nails unexpectedly dug into her back.
"What place, I thought we said we would wait and see what we wanted?" Brittany asked nervously shaking her head to try and clear it. The fuzziness only got worse as she tried to concentrate.
"Oh my bad I juss kind of assumed you would want to live with me, the love of your life?" Santana said bitchily, her anger swelling despite it not being warranted. She rolled off Brittany and landed heavily on the floor breathing hard.
"Don't be like that, how would we pay? How would we get to school? There's so much to think about it hurts my head." Brittany explained to thin air raising her voice slightly. The drinks were definitely having a bad influence on their attitudes and balance as Santana struggled to stand.
"We could find a place; Juilliard and NYU are practically the same thing anyway." Santana almost shouted finally getting up she felt like she was hanging by a thread above a black hole, ready to swallow her the moment the string snapped. She wobbled around as she tried to pace in straight lines but failed miserably. Brittany stayed sat on the sofa swaying stiffly against the arm bouncing off it every now and then.
"We never talked about it!" Brittany pointed out but Santana ignored her.
"I want to live with you; you want to live with me what's the big deal?" Santana's insecurities blazed to life inside of her.
"It's far away and you said we'd talk about everything, like a real couple." Brittany said still confused at her girlfriend's sudden mood swing. Her emotions began to mirrow Santana's and her mood became volatile.
"What is there to talk about? Do you even want to be with me in New York?" Santana asked bursting into tears. Her head span and she felt dizzy.
"Santana I love you." Brittany spat now equally annoyed that Santana wasn't listening to her. All she wanted to do was talk about how they would pay for everything, adult stuff. Santana was just making a mountain out of a molehill.
"Really Brittany full naming me is not going to help." The angry girl sobbed angrily. Even she knew she was inventing problems now.
"Well you don't listen to me when I say anything else!" The blonde snapped back uncharacteristically.
"That's so damn untrue, all I ever do is listen to you, I'm so fucking whipped by you it's unreal!" Santana argued her voice getting hoarse from shouting. She felt her throat scratching and briefly thought about Brittany needing a glass of water. Caring about the blonde just made her even more pissed off at that moment and she finally snapped.
"You know what FINE, fucking fine, if you want to take your precious dancing feet and swan off to the other side of New York City without me that's fine, but don't expect to see me Brittany. Oh no! Living apart will mean long train journeys, no dates, no time for each other. You will be busy being you and I'll be busy being miserable without you so fucking FINE!" Santana screamed/slurred at Brittany. She had her eyes shut now to block out the spinning room and she felt like she would be sick at any moment.
Brittany sat on the sofa wide eyed as she stared at her panting girlfriend. 'Why does Santana have to be so hot when she's angry?' She thought drunkenly. By the time she opened her mouth to speak the drunk blonde found she was too late as Santana raced from the room and slammed the front door behind her.
Downstairs in the basement the gleeks sat in shock, staring at the ceiling.
"Oh shit." Someone giggled. Everyone murmured their agreement.
Thank heaven for reviews, I apologise to everyone for the appalling lack of research done when I was writing this chapter, it will never happen again. Hopefully this new one is better, let me know.
Curly Wurly Me; Thank you for the very first review, smiley faces rock.
Intrigued but confused; You were so right about the contrived part, it's meant to be a drunken argument that is really just pointless because both parties have the same issue but can't express it while inebriated.
ArtisticJen; Maybe they will, maybe they won't.
mindconfession; Sorry for the confusion, I'm happy you enjoyed it :)
pheonix4725;Teenie weenie bit of build up before the shit hits the fan. I felt it needed some background.
Orange Bulldog; Thank you so much for you review, very constructive, it really helped. In my experience drunk fights come out of nowhere and you're in them before you can take a breath, I've tried to put that across more this time. I've used Tisch before but I've changed it to Juilliard after a little bit of research on distances etc (more development next time). No more mentions of breaking up, when I read it back it sounded awful. I've changed Disneyland to Disneyworld and the living situation is built on throughout the rest of the story, I may have to use artistic license on when they can make final decisions. Thanks again :)