"And that's it, we are done!" Santana breathed a sigh of relief as she threw the cloth she had been using to wipe down tables down on a nearby counter and sat herself down on the steps to the diner's stage. Dani smiled at her from across the room as she finished stacking some cups behind the cash register.
"It wasn't that bad today." She walked across the room towards her new friend. "You only had to stop Karl from hitting on you like what, three times?" Dani laughed at the look of disgust on Santana's face at the mention of the diner's sleaziest customer whose daily visits usually left her feeling like she needed to take a 2 hour long shower just to get his stink away from her.
"I swear if I wasn't basically living off his tips I'd have gone all Lima heights on his creepy ass the first time he opened his mouth." Dani shook her head as she sat down with her on the stairs.
"I mean it's not like he's the only one in the diner that notices you." Santana could feel her heart beat getting faster at Dani's words. Saying that she was attracted to this girl was a major understatement. Ever since Dani had started working at the diner a week earlier, she seemed to be a permanent fixture in her mind. Santana swallowed as she struggled to get out her words a little bit.
"Yeah?"
"Well yeah, you make more money in tips than anyone here and believe me when I say it's not because of your excellent customer service." Santana knew the blonde was joking with her and gave her a playful push to the shoulder. Since the two girls had met they had fallen very easily into this jokey, flirting banter thing they had going and Santana would be lying if she hadn't been incredibly happy when she had met the gorgeous girl.
"Lopez, front and centre!" Santana rolled her eyes at the sound of the voice of the owner's idiot son Erik barking at her from behind the counter.
"Oh the joy you're here, to what do we owe the pleasure."
"Hey zip it girlie! Pops left me in charge while he's in Atlantic City for the weekend alright so less of the lip." Santana put on her best fake smile which he seemed to buy just forever carving into her mind that this guy was indeed a first class idiot. "Pops hired a new waitress and wanted me to you know show her the ropes but seeing as I'm the boss right now and I don't have time for that crap, you're gonna do it for me."
"Super." Santana mustered up all the fake enthusiasm that she could as Erik beckoned for her to follow him into the back room. When she walked in Santana was stunned as she set her eyes on the new waitress. It had been a while since Santana had felt instantly attracted to someone without knowing anything about them. In fact, there was only one other person that had happened with and that was Brittany, even if when they had met she had been too scared and insecure to realise what was happening, this time it hit her will full force. Santana's mind was running a mile a minute as she inwardly processed these feelings she was having. Telling herself to stop staring before she freaked the other girl out.
"Santana this is Darcy."
"Dani." The blonde corrected him.
"Dani, whatever." Erik waved his hand in the air dismissing his mistake completely. "This chicks gonna show you the ropes. You girls play nice now." He shouted over his shoulder as he left them alone.
"So you're the famous Santana." Dani said with a smile holding out her hand. "Dani."
"I'm sorry?" Santana laughed nervously as she shook her hand.
"I know your roommate Rachel, we take classes at NYADA together." Santana's eyes opened wide as realisation hit as just who this girl was. For the past two months Rachel had been going on and on about a girl called Dani in her class and how she would be perfect for Santana and no matter how much she explained to her that Santana Lopez does not do blind dates, Rachel Berry would not let it go.
"Let me guess, Rachel got you the job here?" Dani nodded.
"She sure did, she's a great friend. A little pushy but a great friend nonetheless."
"Try living with her." Dani laughed and smiled at Santana making her heart beat even faster than it already had been.
"Well she's told me a lot about you and you know what I think I'm gonna like working here." Santana felt a smile grow on her own face at the other girl's words. Dani walked over to the door and held it open. "Ready when you are teach!" Santana walked over and made to leave the room, her eyes locked with Dani's and she had one thought in her head. I'm in trouble.
"Earth to Santana." Santana was brought out of her head by Dani waving a hand in front of her face. "Hello? Girl are you even listening to me?" Santana blinked and turned her head to see that Dani now had her guitar out.
"What? Sorry, totally spaced out there for a second."
"Yeah I noticed." They both laughed and Santana nervously tucked a piece of hair behind her ears. Stop being so lame, be cool Lopez she kept telling herself in her head.
"What's with the guitar I thought we were gonna just lock up and leave?"
"Well the truth is Santana, I have a little confession for you." Santana's heart started racing and she could feel her palms getting sweaty and gross, she casually wiped them on her skirt.
"Oh?" Dani nodded
"Ever since I heard you sing Valerie on my first day last week I've been dying to ask you if you'll sing with me and seeing as no one is here I thought that if I ask you now and you said yes we could have a little practice and if we sound good together then we can do it for the customers tomorrow. So what do you say?"
"Yes." Santana cursed herself for answering so quickly. "I mean, sure we can do that. Did you have a song in mind?" Dani nodded and put her guitar strap over her head. "What song?"
"Don't worry, you'll know it." She started and Dani was right, instantly Santana knew exactly what song it was.
Here comes the sun (doo doo doo doo)
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
Santana was mesmerised by Dani's voice as she had been since the first time she heard her sing. Dani's voice had a way of captivating her like nothing else ever had before and even though this new feeling was exciting, it also scared the hell out of her. Santana ignored her inner turmoil and joined in with the song.
Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
The whole time she was singing, Santana could feel Dani's eyes watching her, taking in everything she was doing and it made her incredibly nervous.
Here comes the sun (doo doo doo doo)
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
Their voices mixed together and Santana knew they sounded great singing together, it was like their voices were made to sing together. She could feel her alter ego Snix inside of her screaming at her to stop being so damn pathetic and corny but for once Santana ignored it and went with the moment. She hadn't felt this at ease with someone in a long time.
Little darling, the smiles returning to their faces
Little darling it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun (doo doo doo doo)
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right.
For most of the song it felt like Santana's body was on auto pilot as she sang along with Dani and her guitar. For the first time in what felt like forever Santana felt she could truly be herself around this girl. She didn't have to hide behind her typical bitchy persona. Yes she was and always would be a bitch deep down but here was Dani, tearing down her walls one smile and flirtatious comment at a time and Santana was in many ways shocked that she was doing it so easily. Breaking up with Brittany and trying to get over her had hurt like hell and while she knew deep down that she would always love Brittany as her best friend, Dani made her feel like she could finally fully let go of the romantic side of that relationship and remember it as what it was, her first real relationship. The one that had helped her to see who she truly was and she would always be grateful to Brittany for giving her that courage and despite the end of their love story she had hundreds of happy memories with her first girlfriend that she wouldn't trade for anything, she felt like she was ready for something new.
Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun (doo doo doo doo)
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
The guitar got softer as the song started to draw to an end and Santana glanced at Dani. The other girl was completely lost in the music and Santana was struck by how beautiful she looked. Her blonde hair was glistening slightly in the sunlight that was reflecting through the windows and there was passion in her eyes that Santana had never seen before. It was a passion for music that Santana knew ran wild in this girl's heart. Santana had seen ambition and talent in many people but she had never seen someone with this much passion in their eyes when they were performing. At least not up close or in person.
But Here comes the sun (doo doo doo doo)
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
Here comes the sun (doo doo doo doo)
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
It's all right
Sun, sun, sun
Here it comes…
As the song ended all Santana wanted to do was lean forward and kiss her but the thought was quickly pushed to the back of her mind as Dani took off her guitar and put on her jacket. The two sat in silence for a minute before finally Dani broke it.
"I really love singing with you." Santana smiled.
"Me too." Dani put her guitar back over her shoulder and stretched her arms out in front of her. "Where did you learn to play the guitar anyway?"
"My dad. He used to play his for me when I was a baby to get me to sleep if I was being restless or whenever I got scared he'd play for me and then when I was seven, he bought me my own guitar for my birthday and taught me how to play. Been playing ever since."
"That's awesome." Dani gave her a warm smile that was almost turning Santana into a puddle at her feet. Whatever kind of powers this girl had clearly had a hold on her that they did not want to break.
"I should probably get going, I told my mom I'd skype her after work." Santana stood up quickly as Dani stood and was fixing her guitar strap on her shoulder.
"Ugh Dani." She looked up and as their eyes locked it was like Santana had forgotten how to speak.
"Yeah Santana? You okay?" Santana nodded and took a deep breath.
"Can I walk you home?" The small smile on Dani's face turned into a big grin at Santana's question.
"I'd love that."