The Early Years

Chapter 1: First Meeting

Saturday 18th October 2014

I'm currently on my usual Saturday morning run but it's not as therapeutic as it usually is. I normally reward myself with a coffee and a cake after my run but the usual coffee shop I go has closed now so I don't know what to do. There is another coffee shop not far along the street and I haven't been there before but I just know it won't feel the same going there on a Saturday when I am so used to Joe's Coffee Shop. However one thing I can't survive without is my morning coffee so I'll just need to man up so to speak and go to this other place. As soon as I get inside I walk over to the counter.

"Hi what can I get for you?" the young blonde girl behind the counter asks with a smile.

"Um…a coffee to go please" I tell the girl.

"No problem, one coffee coming up" she tells me while smiling brightly.

"Oh and can I get a sugary doughnut please" I ask just before she goes over to the coffee machine.

"Sure" she replies before sorting out my order. I stand over at the side of the counter waiting for it and a minute or two later she comes back over to me. "There you go" she says handing me my coffee and doughnut.

"Thank you" I smile while taking my order and pay for it once she tells me what it comes too.

"Please come again, bye" the girl tells me and I smile at her before leaving. I'm just walking back home when I bump into someone.

"Watch it" they snarl at me and I look up recognising the voice.

"Eh excuse me Quinn" I state and she suddenly looks up.

"Oh it's you, I didn't realise. Why are you wearing a cap?" she asks me, presumably I look unrecognisable wearing the cap or something.

"Nice to see you too" I reply, not really answering her question.

"Sorry I'm just in an awful mood this morning" she sighs.

"Why what's wrong?" I ask, concerned for one of my best friends.

"Alex is acting weird again, it's like I am non-existent half the time" she replies.

"Look he's probably just stressed at work again, did you try to talk to him?" I ask.

"Yeah I've tried lots of times but he either avoids the conversation or pretends he doesn't know what I'm talking about" she tells me. "Like this morning, I thought we could take a drive somewhere and spend the whole day together but he said he was busy."

"Maybe he is just busy" I try to reason.

"He's not busy Santana, he's helping one of his friends to fix a car apparently but I don't buy it" she replies. "I mean you tell me Santana why a successful smartly dressed businessman would want to play with car oil and get their hands dirty. He hates to get messy, damn the guy wears a suit every single day whether he is working or not" she tells me. She has sort of got a point, the man hates doing anything with the slightest bit of dirt.

"Look why don't you and I have a girl's day today, I can leave most of my work until tomorrow?" I suggest. "Come on, we can invite the others and it can be like old times, we'll drink wine and order take out later and we can even read trashy magazines" I say wiggling my eyebrows to make her laugh.

"Ok fine, let's go" she says laughing. We then head back to my house with me linking my arm through hers. "Santana?" she says after a few minutes of silence.

"Mm…" I say taking a drink of coffee.

"Why are you so smiley and happy this morning?" she asks, looking at me.

"Oh you know…" I say teasingly. "I may have just found my ideal…" I stop mid-sentence to see what she'll think I mean.

"Oh my god" she says excitedly. "Who is she and where does she live? Do I know her? What's her name? How old is she? Is she hot?" ok I have to stop her with all these questions.

"Ok calm down honey, one question at a time" I tell her.

"Just tell me about her then" she demands.

"Ok well she's beautiful and hot of course" I say and Quinn nods. "She tastes amazing on my lips" I tell her.

"That was a little too much but do continue" she tells me.

"She is one of a kind, I am not joking" I say still smiling. "She is small and the dark…" Quinn cuts me off before I can continue.

"She has dark hair, I always thought you went for Blonde's" she says confused.

"The bottom line is Quinn, I want to savour every mouthful of her I have" I say and Quinn looks at me confused. I then take a drink of my coffee, "Mm…she is so good" I say smirking.

"Oh my god you ass" Quinn shrieks causing me to start laughing. "You were describing a coffee" she states.

"If you had let me finish you'd know I was going to say I have found my ideal coffee shop since the other one closed because this coffee is to die for, honestly" I say taking another sip.

"You're a fucking idiot" she tells me, quickly removing our linked arms. "I actually thought you found someone special."

"I did, I just told you this coffee is special" I say to annoy her.

"Oh fuck off Santana, you know I meant a girlfriend" she states.

"Yeah I did" I say smugly. "Anyway my love life at the moment isn't anything, I'm still single and looking for that girl" I tell her.

"We'll have you dating soon don't you worry" she reassures me but to be honest I'm happy single for the moment.

Brittany's POV

"What's going on? Why do you keep smiling?" Stacey, a fellow waitress asks me.

"No reason, I'm just happy" I reply.

"What's made you so happy?" she asks.

"Did you see that hot woman that came in ten minutes ago?" I ask.

"The one with the dark hair?" she asks.

"Yeah" I nod. "I've never seen her in before, have you?" I ask and Stacey shakes her head. "I really hope she comes back here again."

"Well you never know, she might" Stacey says before going to serve another customer.

"Hi there, what can I get for you?" I ask another customer who has just approached the counter. I serve the man and then he leaves again.

The rest of the day goes by as usual, serving customers and preparing their orders for them. Nothing out of the ordinary happens although I really can't stop thinking about that brunette that came into the café earlier. Something about her just captivated me and I really can't stop thinking about her. I've never seen her before and I didn't even catch her name so I doubt I'll see her again. I've made plans to hang out with my friends tonight so hopefully that will keep my mind off of today and I can stop thinking about this woman.

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Saturday 8th November 2014

Surprisingly for the last two weeks I saw the woman again every Saturday morning but I barely talked to her apart from saying good morning and asking her what she'd like to order. She always smiled at me and my heart melted every time I saw her beautiful smile. It's Saturday again today and I'm hoping I get to see her again.

"Hi there, next customer please" I say to the long line of customers waiting.

"Hi" my favourite brunette smiles. "Can I just get a coffee and a doughnut please?" she asks politely.

"I don't need to ask what kind of doughnut, do I?" I say smiling.

"Nope, just the usual Saturday order please" she smiles back at me and I sort out the order.

"There we go" I say handing her the coffee and the doughnut once she has paid for it.

"Thanks" she replies with that smile I love so much. "It's Brittany right?" she asks.

"Yeah" I nod smiling.

"Ok well thank you Brittany" she says as she leaves but not before smiling at me again. God I just can't handle her smiles, they make me blush so hard.

"Bye" I reply but I think it was a little too quiet for her to hear me. "Hey Stacey" I say after a moment trying to catch her attention.

"Yeah" she replies.

"I only work here on Saturdays so that's the only time I see this woman so I wanted to know if she comes in here at all during the week?" I ask out of curiosity.

"Yeah she comes here every day now, she has done for the past few weeks" Stacey replies.

"What like every single day?" I ask.

"Well I don't work every day of the week but any morning I'm here she seems to be ordering something. It's usually around eight thirty in the morning or something but she's always dressed a lot smarter than she is on Saturdays" she tells me.

"I have never got a chance to catch her name before but I feel I have seen her around, just not in here though apart from when she started coming here three weeks ago" I say.

"Yeah I've never caught her name before either" Stacey says. "Oh excuse me, another customer" she says while grabbing her pen and paper and going over to the customer.

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Saturday 29th November 2014

It's Saturday again and just like previous weeks I am waiting anxiously to see if my favourite customer will come into the café. She has never let me down once since the first day I saw her in here. Every Friday before school I don't wake up happy because it's almost the weekend, I wake up happy because I will get to see her. It's frustrating me not knowing what her name is because I find it rude saying 'her' all the time but what am I meant to do? From now on she will be known as the brunette until I find out her real name. Her hair is probably darker than brunette but who cares, I'm calling it brunette.

Sophie, another fellow waitress, is looking after the customers just now while I help through the back preparing some of the food. The owner likes to have a nice fresh selection of cakes every day on the front cabinet just next to where we serve the customers so some Saturday mornings I need to help with all the baking instead of serving. I'm worried I might miss the brunette so I keep popping my head through the door from the back to keep an eye on the counter.

"Hey Brittany can you come here for a second" I hear Sophie ask which brings me out of my thoughts.

"Sure, what's wrong" I ask coming from the back area.

"Can you give me a hand serving these customers because the queue is getting quite long" she asks and I instantly jump up and down inside because now I can see the brunette if she comes in today. I would jump up and down for real because I am so excited but then I'd look like a clown so I won't.

"Sure no problem" I say while washing my hands before helping to serve the customers. "Next please" I say with a smile and the next customer comes over and I take his order. "Is the coffee to go sir or would you like to sit in?" I ask.

"I'll sit in" he replies.

"No problem, I won't be a second" I say before preparing the man's coffee.

"Hi there can I take your order" I hear Sophie say to someone, presumably the next person waiting in line. "Hello there, can I help you?" she says but a bit louder this time. "Excuse me, I'll take your order over here" she says growing impatient.

"Oh I don't know what I want to order yet, you can serve the next person" I hear a familiar voice say.

"Alright. I'll take your order over here sir" Sophie says to the next customer in line. The coffee machine is playing up this morning so it's taking me a little longer to sort out the coffee for the man I was serving.

"Sorry about this" I tell the man.

"That's ok take your time" he politely replies.

"Can I take your order now?" I hear Sophie ask once she is done sorting out her previous order.

"I'm still not sure, serve someone else" I hear the brunette reply. Sophie then goes on to serve someone else and not much later, I manage to get the coffee machine working again and give the man his coffee.

"I'll serve the next customer over here" I say just as Sophie is done with another customer and says the same causing us both to laugh. The woman next in line starts walking towards me because she was closer to me than my colleague.

"Excuse me the girl is over there" I hear the brunette say to the customer.

"Oh right" the customer says before walking over to Sophie instead of me. I barely get a chance to take a breath before the brunette is standing in front of me smiling.

"Hi what can I get you?" I ask.

"Coffee and a doughnut please" the brunette replies smiling.

"The usual eh" I say jokingly, it's a thing I say all the time to her because she always orders this on a Saturday morning. She never changes what kind of coffee, it's always just a normal coffee.

"That's right, you know it" she smiles again. There is no way anyone would get tired of her smile.

"One coffee and one sugary doughnut" I say handing her the items.

"Thank you very much" she replies. "Have a nice day" she tells me.

"You too" I reply and then she leaves. Crap I didn't catch her name again, for the love of God.

The queue seems to have quietened down considerable now so Sophie walks over to me.

"See her you just served" she says and I nod. "She's a strange one I tell you."

"What?" I say laughing.

"I'm serious Brittany, she is weird" she replies.

"What makes you say that?" I ask.

"Well she was next in line so I said 'I'll take your order' but she didn't know what she was having so said I could serve the next customer" she tells me and I nod to show her I'm following. "So I managed to serve a few customers then when she went to you, it was like she knew all along what she wanted. I mean you were like 'the usual' and she goes 'you know it' as if to imply that's all she'll take" Sophie says.

"Maybe she just fancied something else but then changed her mind and went for what she knows at the last minute" I say.

"Or she's a stuck up bitch who wanted you to serve her and not me" she suggests.

"I doubt it" I say. I mean I may like seeing her all the time but I very much doubt she sees me as anything other than a waitress.

Santana's POV

I'm walking home with my coffee and doughnut when my phone rings. "Yo, Santana speaking" I say after accepting the call.

"Stop that" I hear Quinn sternly tell me.

"Whaz up my bestie" I say trying not to laugh.

"Don't speak to me like that" she snaps.

"I'm sorry Quinn, I'm just doing it to annoy you" I say. "Now what can I help you with?"

"Well I am inviting kitty, Eddie, Mike and Tina over for dinner tonight, I thought we could all have a catch up so do you want to come?" she asks.

"No I think I'll pass" I tell her.

"Oh please come" she says almost begging.

"I don't want to if I'm going to be the only single one there" I state. The thing is Mike and Tina are together, Kitty is dating my brother now and Quinn has Alex.

"Invite that girl along that you see every Saturday then" she says laughing, presumably joking.

"I told you before, I go to that café because they serve the most amazing coffee ever not because of the staff" I state.

"Look please just come, it'll be fun" she says.

"Fine" I say groaning. "Only because you'll shut up easier if I go than not go" I tell her.

"Seriously though you can bring someone if you want" Quinn tells me.

"Nah its ok, like I said a few weeks ago, I'm happily single right now" I answer.

"Alright well I'll see you at six tonight ok" she says.

"Yeah see you at six Quinn" I say before hanging up.

XXX

Quinn, Alex, Kitty, Eddie, Mike, Tina and I are all sitting eating dinner at Quinn and Alex's apartment.

"So I like dinner with friends as much as anyone but why tonight?" Kitty asks and the rest of us nod, wondering the same.

"Well I just thought we could all catch up, it's been a while since we all sat down and had dinner" Quinn replies.

"Ok so anyone got some news then" Tina says while eating.

"I'm still single and just working away, not much news" I reply.

"No you're single, working away and have the hots for a very very much younger girl" Quinn says smirking.

"I'll beat your ass Fabray" I say harshly. "How many fucking times, I like the coffee not the people" I say.

"Wait you hate all the staff?" Quinn asks pretending to be shocked. "I thought they were lovely."

"No I don't hate the staff" I say. "But I'm fed up with you saying I like Brittany in that way when I don't."

"Why do you always smile at her?" Quinn asks.

"Because she smiles at me and I am being pleasant, there is nothing worse than ignorant customers" I say starting to get defensive.

"Will you relax" Quinn says laughing. "I am just winding you up, of course I know you only go there for the coffee. The girl is only fourteen so I'm not stupid" she says.

"Go back a bit, I'm lost" Mike says. "Who is Brittany?" he asks.

"She's a nice girl who works in the coffee shop at the weekends where I go after my run. I think she goes to high school or something so just works a Saturday. She is always really happy and carefree which is nice first thing in the morning, it makes people feel better about their day having someone so bubbly behind the counter" I tell him. "Sometimes I will have a brief chat with her and because I really like the coffee, Quinn keeps teasing me that I like Brittany and saying I use the coffee as an excuse."

"Oh right, got you" Mike says, following our conversation now.

"The bottom line is, after my usual coffee shop shut down I went to this one and because I like the coffee I continue to go there. That's it" I say seriously.

"I know Santana but the way you get so defensive every time I tease you is adorable so I just have to keep winding you up because you're so cute when you get worked up" Quinn tells me.

"Look let's move on" I demand. "Anyone else got news?"

"No not really, Tina and I are happier than ever and just keeping quiet" Mike says.

"Kitty and I are doing well too" my brother Eddie says.

"Ok I meant news in general not relationship news. No need to brag" I say.

"Santana you just said you were happy being single" Quinn states.

"I am but it doesn't mean it's not a bit awkward being around three couples who act all lovey-dovey" I state.

"Ok we're sorry" Tina says.

We continue eating dinner in silence for the next few minutes.

"Oh actually I do have some news" I say, just remembering something. "My lawyer said my divorce should be finalised in January so I'm almost a completely free woman" I tell them.

"The sooner that Jen gets out of your life the better" Quinn states. She never did like my soon to be ex-wife.

"I know, I can't wait until I never have to communicate with her again" I say. I haven't seen her since we split five months ago but I have had to be in contact with her lawyers so as soon as that is over I'll be even happier. "Anyways no news for you pair either?" I ask Quinn and Alex.

"Actually we do have something we want to say, don't we babe" Quinn says nudging Alex who just grunts in response.

"Ok tell us then" I say.

"We're getting married" Quinn says excitedly. Everything goes really quiet for a moment, I don't think anyone knows what to say. "Guys did you hear me, I'm getting married" she says just as excitedly.

"That's amazing honey, I'm happy for you" Kitty says.

"Yeah me too" I say with a fake smile because I'm lying. Of course I want one of my best friends to be happy but Alex isn't right for Quinn. I can't say anything because it's not my business but I just wish she would see sense.

It's not that great of a first chapter, I just wanted to get the idea and a bit of the characterization out there. Let me know if the idea is worth continuing with.