"Ms. Lopez? I'm here to see Santana, we have a project we're working on together."
"Alright, dear, go right up. Her room is just at the top of the stairs on the right."
That had gone easy enough, now I'm looking at the door wondering whether to knock or. . .run. I close my eyes, gather my wits, and knock.
"Santana, I. . ." I try to begin when she opens the door, but her glare stops what I want to say.
"Yentl?"
"Finn told me why you reacted how you did. What he said and about well you know. . ." I rush.
"Look Manhands, I don't want to have a pow-wow with you. I don't need your comfort or Kurt to hold my hand. This doesn't change who I am, or my place in regards to your much lower status. You're still Treasure Trail, while I'm. . ."
"My daddy is a lawyer," I interrupted. If I kept listening, I would lose my nerve. "He filed this afternoon an injunction to stop 'The Sauce' from airing his commercial. There were claims of libel and slander and some illegal things to do with a minor that I don't really understand. It should keep it from playing. I mean, Daddy doesn't think we could win or anything, but maybe we can keep the spot tied up in the courts long enough that when the time comes the election will be over and it will just disappear. I just. ..I thought you should know."
"What?"
"No one else will see that particular campaign," I tried to keep it short this time, under ten words Noah is always telling me.
"You? How? No, why?"
"Well, Daddy. But everyone deserves to love who they want, and to come to that realization in their own time," I explained.
"But I . . .I wouldn't do the same for you," she said wonderingly. I just kind of nodded cause no, she wouldn't.
"Why then? Why for me? " she asked again.
"For Kurt and Daddy, I guess. It hurts worse when you're dragged than when you step out on your own two feet. I just. . . Finn was wrong, he shouldn't have done that. It was cruel."
"Yeah, some would say I'm good with cruel, that I deserve cruel, manh. . .Berry."
"Not with something like this," I shrugged, then got ready to leave the room.
"Puck kissed Shelby," she blurted as I reached for the handle. I couldn't help the flinch. It definitely wasn't the thank you I had thought she might say.
"I. . .he. . .he can do as he wants I suppose," I finally managed to strangle out.
"That. . .I wasn't trying to hurt. . .he's kind of an idiot. And Quinn knows, so I just. . .I thought it would be better not to be blindsided later. He thinks he loves her, but it's just because she's your. . .he's kind of an idiot," she stumbled her way through her explanation.
"Yeah, have a good night Santana."
"You too, Berry. Wait, who was right by the way?"
"Right?"
"Yeah, Tina or me?"
"Oh. . .um, I'm sure Tina is right about love, but you were right about Finn."
"Wait, you love him too? Then why. . ." she began when I again interrupted.
"Goodbye, Santana," I told dismissing her question.
"Thanks, Berry, " she called as I left.
AN:I'm not quite sure why the Puckleberry twist, I just couldn't resist somehow. Anyway, not even Santana deserves to be exploited so Rachel saves her, and Santana tries to repay her the best she can.