The thoughts had been rushing through Santana's mind for months. It's like, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get them to stop.
They couldn't have been right. She had tried convincing herself it was just a phase; something she would get over in a few weeks, or maybe months. But then one month passed, and then two, and then four. And day-by-day, Santana started to lose confidence in that statement. It seemed that the more she thought about it, the more she realized that it was true.
She liked girls.
She was gay and there was absolutely nothing she could do about it.
Brittany was visiting her grandparents in Holland for the entire summer break. Her parents had a 'no phone policy' so her and her little sister got their phones stored away before they left for the trip.
Santana was slowly going insane. Everything felt weird. Sure, she could've gone to any party she wanted with anybody she wanted, but Brittany was her best friend. It felt weird not talking to her everyday, not being able to just go over to her house and walk inside.
She was lonely. She was lonely even though it was only a week into summer.
"Santana!" Her mother called from downstairs. Santana knew she was probably screaming, but she couldn't hear her over the music she was blasting. Her mom regretted buying her those speakers.
Santana groaned, staring up at the ceiling, before rolling off of her bed and trudging to the door.
"Yes, Mami?" She answered.
"Come down here." Maribel said firmly.
Santana turned her music off and grumbled in annoyance as she walked downstairs and into the kitchen.
"Yes?" She replied.
Maribel finished wrapping something in plastic wrap before turning to Santana. "I need you to take these to the new neighbours." She said, handing Santana what the younger girl noticed was a tray of brownies. She started lifting the cover to take one, but her hand was smacked by her mother. "No." She reprimanded.
"We have new neighbours?" Santana asked.
"Yes. If you'd come out of the dark cave you call a room or even opened your window once in a while, you would've known that. They have a daughter your age, I was talking to her mother. I want you to be nice to her. She doesn't know anyone here. Now, go." Maribel pushed Santana outside. "And smile!"
Santana walked right through the lawn, something she knew her mother would hate. She stopped at the, rather large, gap between the two houses and shoved a brownie in her mouth defiantly. "I'll smile if I want to." She grumbled around the brownie. She noticed that, if she indeed had opened her window, she would've seen them moving in. Her window was on the side of the house that faced the neighbours. Their houses were the same size. Two of the largest on the street, actually.
She walked to the front door and knocked. Suddenly feeling relived that she had changed into denim shorts and a tank-top when she woke up instead of staying in her pyjamas. And actually straightening her hair instead of leaving it messy.
Nobody answered. Santana looked around and saw that the garage doors were open, no cars. And there were none in the driveway either. She thought nobody was home. She rang the doorbell.
Maybe I can eat all of these and say I gave it to them, Santana mused.
She was just about to do that when the door opened and she was met with the sight of a slightly panting, hazel-eyed, blonde girl in denim shorts and a black v-neck. The girls hair was braided to the side and it went down her shoulder.
"Hi. I'm sorry, I didn't hear the door." The blonde said. Santana noticed the the splatters of lavender paint on the girls shorts.
"It's totally okay." Santana said. She didn't know why her heart was beating so fast, or why her hands were getting so sweaty. "I thought nobody was home." She shrugged, hopefully nonchalantly.
"My parents are gone right now, they probably won't be home for a few hours because they told me I might as well start painting my room." Then she blushed. "Sorry." She gestured to her pants and Santana chuckled.
"It's fine. It means you're a hard worker. I'm Santana, your new neighbour." The latina shifted the tray so it was balanced on one hand and reached out with her right.
The girl reached out with her left hand, before noticing and quickly switching hands. "I'm Quinn, and you're left handed." Quinn chuckled.
"Oh yeah. I forget that I'm supposed to use my other hand for that stuff." Santana laughed. "Anyway, my mom made brownies and I was not allowed to eat any, so they are for you." She pushed the brownies towards Quinn.
"Well, if you want some, you could just eat them here. It's not like she'd know." Quinn giggled.
"That's true."
"And it would be nice to have some company while I painted. Music can only do so much." Quinn pointed out.
"Wait, you're not, like, a serial killer right? Cause I'm totally not down with that." Santana teased.
"I don't know, am I?" Quinn asked jokingly. Santana pretended to be in deep thought before she shrugged.
"Either way, the brownies are worth it." Both girls laughed and Quinn led them upstairs.
The room was almost the size of a master bedroom, but not quite. Just like Santana's. Then the latina noticed that if Quinn looked out of her window, she'd be able to see Santana's room and vice-versa.
"Hey, that's my window." Santana pointed out the window.
"Don't worry, I'm not a perv." Quinn laughed as she continued the half painted room.
"That's not what I meant." Santana snorted. "I was just saying."
Santana's phone started ringing and she rolled her eyes when she saw her mom's name.
"Hello?" She said.
"Santana? Where are you?" Maribel asked. Her tone gave away that she thought Santana was off doing something bad.
"I'm with Quinn, she's painting her room." Santana explained.
"Who's Quinn?"
"You know, new neighbour." Santana laughed.
"Oh! You're talking to her? Wow, Santana. That's a new record." Maribel chuckled. Santana rolled her eyes.
"Whatever mom, I have to go. Bye." And she hung up without hesitation.
"Your mom sounds funny." Quinn giggled.
"She's annoying. Anyway, want some help?" Santana asked, standing up and walking to the blonde girl.
"Sure. Wanna start on that wall?" She asked, gesturing the the wall beside her.
"M'kay." Santana hummed. Quinn bent down and turned her iPod on, letting it play music, loud enough to hear, but not enough for them to have to shout over.
Santana laughed at the first song that came on. "Maroon 5?" She asked.
"You don't like them?" Quinn asked with a pout.
"Are you kidding? I love them!" They both sang along as Moves Like Jagger played and Santana honestly loved Quinn's voice.
Then the chorus came on and they stopped actually singing, instead choosing to belt out the lyrics in between fits of giggles. When Christina Aguileras part came on, Santana went full out.
She blushed when she saw that Quinn was looking at her.
"That was great." The blonde said honestly.
"Thanks. You're not too bad yourself, Blondie." She winked. But then she wondered if it was too much. Would Quinn think she was flirting and be disgusted? Was she even flirting? Would Quinn catch on that she thought she might've been gay?
But Quinn only chuckled and Santana remembered that it was normal for friends to do that with each other. Even if she couldn't technically call her and Quinn friends yet.
It seemed like in a blink of an eye, they were done the two walls and were moving on to the trim around the door, painting it white. Santana had always loved art. She loved to draw, paint, take pictures. So it was a lot of fun for her. She was being a perfectionist, never letting the white paint get on the green tape they had put where the wall met the trim.
When she looked over, it seemed like Quinn was doing the same thing. The music was playing still, and they would softly hum along, but other than that they were silent. It was nice, Santana thought, to be content with someone just being with you. Without having to keep up conversations.
Just as it was getting dark out, ye two girls finished the trim around the main door, closet door, and windows. Santana hadn't realized she spent so much time there. They heard the door opening and Santana thought it must be Quinn's parents.
Somewhere between them painting, they had started playing around and got white paint on their clothes. Neither girl really cared though, because it was a lot of fun.
"You should stay for dinner." Quinn suggested.
"Aren't I supposed to invite you guys over for dinner?" Santana laughed.
"You can do it another time." Quinn shrugged, smirking.
They walked downstairs and Santana saw two older blondes putting bags on the dining room table, one of the few pieces of furniture that was assembled.
"Mom, dad. Can Santana stay for dinner?" Quinn asked. Both of the adults looked at the girls and the woman smiled.
"Of course. You live next door, right? I talked to your mother the other day." She said.
"Are you sure? It's your first night here. I don't want to impose-"
"Nonsense." Quinn's father interjected. "It would be a pleasure."
"O-okay. I'll just call my mom and let her know." Santana said.
"Can you call us when dinner is ready?" Quinn asked, already pulling Santana upstairs and towards her room.
Santana pulled her phone out and called her mom's number.
"Hey, mom." Santana greeted. "Can I stay over for dinner?"
"O-oh. Of course, Santana. This is very strange." Maribel chucked. Santana rolled her eyes.
"You make it sound like I hate everybody." She grumbled.
"Mija, you do." Maribel said, feigning seriousness.
"Mom! Okay, bye." She snapped, hanging up and looking at Quinn, who was failing at hiding her smile. Her body was shaking with withheld laughter before she caved.
"Your mom is so funny." She chuckled.
"Shut up." Santana mumbled childishly. "I swear I don't hate everybody." She promised.
"Of course you don't. Because you freaking love me." Quinn bragged. Santana's heart stopped. She knew she was being paranoid, but that didn't stop the thoughts from coming.
Then Quinn gave a nervous laugh and looked at Santana weirdly. "I'm kidding, San." She chuckled.
"I know you are." Santana smiled. She was honestly so confused as to how she got here. Quinn made her feel so comfortable, even though they only met a few hours prior. She felt like she had known her almost as long as she knew Brittany. It was weird. But she liked it.
The two girls laid on Quinn's floor, after laying a sheet down, and showed each other their favourite songs. They ended up having almost the exact same playlists. As they did so, Santana noticed that Quinn was wearing a silver bracelet on her left wrist that had a letter 'D' charm hanging from it. Her heart sunk because, did Quinn have a boyfriend back in Chicago? Were they still together? She didn't even know the girl properly and she already had feelings for her.
Hormones, Santana. She mentally chastised herself.
About half an hour later, they were called downstairs for dinner.
"Sorry it's not a big meal. We haven't gotten the proper things so you're stuck with this restaurant called Breadstix. We asked around and apparently it's good so-"
"Say no more, Mrs. Fabray. Breadstix has the best breadsticks in the history of breadsticks. I will literally bow down to you." Santana said seriously.
"No need for that, Sweetie." Mrs. Fabray giggled. "I like her." She said to Quinn as Santana helped Mr. Fabray set the food on the table.
Quinn laughed and joined Santana.
When they sat down to eat, Santana and Quinn sat next to each other. "So, Santana. You have siblings?" Mrs. Fabray asked.
"Yes. I have an older brother and sister." Santana nodded.
"Oh, where are they?"
"Well, my sister is away in California right now. She's helping our cousin with her twins. My brother is coming back from a trip to Miami in a few days too." Santana informed.
"Oh, are they younger than you?" Quinn asked this time.
"No. My brother, Marcus, he's 23. And my sister is 21, Shay." Santana continued.
"And they're both going to college?" Mr. Fabray asked.
"Shay is. Marcus works a lot." Santana said quietly.
They slipped into more casual conversations after that. Talking about why the Fabrays decided to move from Chicago to Lima, about some of Santana's hobbies, things like that. And then it came to the topic of cheerleading.
"Yeah, the summer is going alright." Santana lied. "But it might be cut short."
"Why is that?" Mrs. Fabray, who asked Santana to call her Judy, asked.
"Because our crazy cheerleading coach might decide to start cheer camp." Santana shrugged.
"There's a cheerleading team at McKinley?" Quinn asked. When Santana nodded, she practically squealed. "Oh thank god. I wasn't sure if there would be one here or not."
Santana wanted to tell her not to get her hopes up, but Quinn was so excited. "Yeah, you should totally try out."
The rest of dinner was nice and Santana felt extremely comfortable with the Fabrays.
When she was leaving, she thanked them for the meal and Quinn walked her to the door.
"You should come over tomorrow. You can help me finish my room."
"What, am I your room decorating slave now?" Santana asked with a smirk.
"Oh, it was just that we had fun and I don't know I-"
"I'm joking, Q." Santana didn't know where the nickname came from. But she had a feeling it would stay. "Sure I'll come over. I have nothing else to do anyway."
They said goodbye and Santana walked over to her house with a smile on her face.
"I'm home!" She called out to no one in particular as she entered the house.
She walked in the living room and saw her mother watching tv. "Had fun?" She asked when she saw her daughters face.
"Yeah, they're really nice. I'm going over to help Quinn finish her room." Santana shrugged, hopping upstairs and towards her bedroom.
The first thing she did was grab her iPod and get all the songs that Quinn showed her. She was totally looking forward to the next day.