Never again (Quinntana)

Chapter 21 - Getting attached

"Enough running around for today. Come on, Fabray. Now we're gonna do some basic conditioning, and tomorrow you'll show me what you can do cheerleading-wise."

Quinn nodded and followed Santana to the gym, where they settled in the corner for their bodyweight exercises.

Two other girls had made the team, but both had already filled in in the previous years for missing girls in events or games, so the coach had already made them go through "training week".

Besides, Quinn was the only one who exhibited so much potential. Therefore, she was the only one being tested, by Santana no less. Santana rarely took care of the testing, and when she did, it meant the recruit was nothing short of extraordinary.

The team knew that, and they couldn't help but throw glances of mixed curiosity and envy Santana and Quinn's way, when they thought they weren't looking.

Training went on, then came stretching. Voices started resonating in the gym, and although the reverberation made it hard for anyone to make out anything for the hubbub, Santana knew her girls well-enough to be certain they were talking about Quinn. Apparently Quinn hadn't guessed, or couldn't be bothered. One more thing that had changed about her. She used to care about the others' opinion to the point that she would do everything she could to please them. Among which starving herself, shutting herself off, and pretending everything was alright.

Santana shook those thoughts out of her head. Good for her. I am glad she doesn't care so much anymore. She finished stretching, then looked in Quinn's direction. "Same time tomorrow, Quinn." Quinn nodded to her captain's statement, then watched her as she left for the changing rooms.

Santana was actually looking for Brittany. She followed her to her backpack. "Hey, Brit-Brit."

"San." Brittany's genuine smile made Santana suddenly warm.

"I- My parents want to meet you. Would you come for dinner today?"

"Oh! I- I'm so sorry. I can't today. I need to rehearse a dancing clip, with Mike and Kurt."

"Oh-" Santana hated that she sounded disappointed; she should have been relieved. Relieved that Brittany wasn't getting too close.

"Next week would be perfect, though!" Brittany smiled again in Santana's direction, but Santana had already backed up against the wall, rummaging through her duffle bag to find a change of clothes.

Brittany was used to those situations. She knew how hard it was for Santana to invite her, to put herself on the line, to offer someone she cared about the chance of saying no. 

So the blonde went to her beautiful, closed-up friend, touched her arm lightly, and called:

"San."

"What?" Santana's answer resembled a bark, yet her features softened at the sight of Brittany.

"San, I want to have dinner with your parents. It's just that I made a promise, and I- Kurt and Mike are really nice. But I can definitely come next week, if that's okay with you and your parents?"

Santana had never been able to resist Brittany's puppy dog eyes. And she had no reason to be mad at her friend anyway. It wasn't Brittany's fault that she had friends besides Santana, or that she was such a gifted dancer that everybody booked her for their video clips.

"Yes, of course, Brittany. Next week is alright."

Without a second glance, Santana zipped her bag and exited the changing room, taking off running towards her house. Initially she had changed, intending to take the bus, but the conversation with Brittany had thrown her off, and now running was the only option to get rid of these unpleasant feelings.

Santana resented Brittany somewhat. Not because she hadn't said yes to dinner, more so because Santana had felt hurt at the thought of Brittany not wanting to meet her parents. And Santana never felt hurt. Had she invited anybody else, she wouldn't have cared if they agreed to come. Heck, she would have prayed for them to bail on her.

Brittany's case was different. And Santana was only now realizing just how different it was.

A.N.

Hello! One more chapter out there :) 

Do you think Brittany is good for Santana? Conversely, do you think Santana is good for Brittany?

Tell me in the comments :)

Have a nice day,

Love, 

9_Alya_9

P.S. That chapter is dedicated to  whose comments bring a smile to my face every time ;) From the bottom of my heart, thank you for sticking with this book <3