believe in me | santana x brittany

Chapter 2

Santana's POV

"This is so good," Brittany said, curled up in my lap as we watched Sweet Valley High for what seems to be the seven hundredth time.

"Britt, we've watched this so many times. Can we watch something else?" Quinn said with a chuckle as she popped a piece of pineapple into her mouth.

I looked at her and nodded. Brittany rolled her eyes. "You guys are boring."

We giggled and she changed it to some Disney show.

*

"Do you really have to leave?" Brittany said as I picked up my bright red duffel bag and started towards the door. I nodded sadly.

"My da-," I stopped myself. "I just need to get home. See you guys Monday."

I waved to Quinn and Brittany as I walked into the crisp evening air towards my car.

As I pulled out of the driveway, my phone rang. It was my dad. I put it on speaker and I felt my heart speed up a little bit.

"Where have you been? You didn't text me where you were." A voice growled through the phone.

"I texted mom, she didn't tell you? I was at Britt's house with Quinn."

"Come home. Now." His voice rang in my ears and he hung up. My heart raced and I pulled over to the side of the road, brushing the dark hair out of my eyes and mentally preparing myself for what will come next.

*

"You're worthless."

I lay crumpled on the floor, my cheeks stained with tears. I sobbed, clutching my knee in my hands and rocked back and forth.

"Please-please stop," I choked, staring at the figure in front of me. My dad spit on me before turning around and stumbling into my parent's bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

I cried. And cried. I cried myself to sleep that night.

*

-Monday afternoon-

"Woah, San, your knee," Quinn remarked, staring at the purple bruise just above my knee. I shrugged.

"It's nothing. I just hit it on a car door."

The end of school bell rang and us three sauntered into the choir room and sat next to each other in the front row. Once everyone sat down, Berry stood up with a huge grin on her face.

"Great. Here we go again." I whispered to Britt. She and Quinn snickered and Berry shot a stare our way.

"Hello everyone! I just wanted to say how excited I am for Sectionals coming up. I already have a set list planned out that features me heavily on the lead vocals." She started, pulling out a hot pink folder covered with hearts and music notes.

"Where's Mr. Schue?" Tina asked from the row in front of me.

"He will be about ten minutes late do to Coach Sylvester's wrath of terror. I'm the leader for now." Berry said with a painstakingly large grin. I groaned audibly from my seat and rolled my eyes.

"Why is it always you? Why can't it be someone who's actually good?" I asked snarkily, crossing my arms in front of me. She glared at me and I smirked.

"She's amazing Santana. You know that." Lady Hummel said, standing up next to Berry and putting an arm around her.

"Thank you Kurt," she said, both looking at me with a smile on their face.

"I'm leaving. C'mon guys," I said, pulling Britt's hand and motioning for Quinn to follow. As I stepped down the raised steps to the floor, I saw Puck glaring at my knee, so I shuffled away, trying my best to hide it as we flounced out of the room.

"What was that for?" Brittany said, trying to keep up with me as we speed-walked down the empty hallway towards the double doors out to the student's parking lot.

"I can't stand them! Berry makes me want to slap myself until I die. And Hummel, well, he's just annoying."

Quinn pulled at my arm, making me stop and turn to face her. "We are going to get kicked out because of you. Can't we just go back in?"

"You guys go. I'm going home," I said, a knot forming in my stomach and secretly hoping my dad's not home yet.

"No, come one Sanny, I'm not going without you," Britt whined, knowing how much I hate that nickname.

I brushed Quinn's hand off of my lightly bruised arm and turned towards the exit, not looking back. Hopefully mom is safe.

*

"Mami?" I said, creaking the front door open. Thankfully my dad's car wasn't parked on the street outside our house.

"Hola mija," she shouted from the kitchen. "Rough day?"

I sat at the kitchen table and put my chin in my hand, nodding.

There was a comfortable silence as I listened to her cooking dinner and humming.

"Mami, how's your back?" I asked. I had walked out of my bedroom a couple mornings ago at the wrong time, and I had witnessed my dad kicking my mother in the back over and over again, only stopping when he heard me scream.

She sighed, stopping. "Santana."

"Look, we've gotta address it sometime," I said, picking at my long nails.

"Can we not? Your father's about to get home. Go to your room and do your homework."

"I don't have any."

"Lying is a sin."

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my backpack, heading to my room. After changing out of my Cheerios uniform into a tank top and shorts, I sat in there until I heard the front door open. There were words spoken very softly, then silence. I crept out of my room, tip-toeing down the hallway until I reached the family room.

"I'm sorry mi amor. I'm so sorry," my dad said, kissing the top of my mother's trembling head. I accidentally stepped on a creaky floorboard, and cursed silently.

"Santana, come here," my dad said, laughing softly. His large arms wrapped around my skinny body, and I felt his hands rustle my long black hair, weaving his fingers in and out. "I'm so sorry baby."