Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or the characters.

Get Off My Case

Chapter 1: A love/hate relationship

You're late, like really late. In fact you always seem to be late these days. Its work that takes up all your time, you know it is. You hate it but what can you do? You went to college for this job, you've spent hours writing stories that don't matter, that most of the time you disagree with, all for a lame ass magazine. You wanted to be a real journalist, write about things that matter, somehow change the world one word at a time. But instead you find yourself researching for hours about which celebrity has gained weight or who looked terrible on the red carpet at the latest event.

Luckily you have great friends. They understand why you're late and don't question how miserable you are. That's what you need, people who accept you and your choices.

You're standing on the door step of Tina Cohen-Chang's house. You met the Asian beauty in High School and have been friends ever since. She was the first person you confided in when you realized you were a lesbian and you'll always be grateful for how much she helped you during that time. You straighten your white work shirt and frown because you don't even have enough time to change your fucking clothes anymore.

A hot bath and bed sound really good to you right now but you committed to this get-together and so, you're here. You raise your fist and knock on the hard wooden door. It's getting cold outside, the chilly Fall breeze ices over your uncovered skin, so you knock a little harder this time.

The door swings open and Tina is standing in front of you smiling brightly as if you'd just told her she'd won the lottery. You wish you remembered what it felt like to be that happy for no good reason.

"Santana! There you are." She says and pulls you inside by the hand. She leads you into the living room and you follow with apprehension, you're not sure who was actually coming to Tina's gathering but you're secretly hoping that one person in particular didn't show up. You scold yourself for being in such a hurry that you didn't check to see whose car was outside.

"Hey San," Tina's boyfriend, Mike, calls nonchalantly from the couch, he's watching tonight's football game with Sam and Puck and you smile at the boys. Tina drags you towards the table behind the couch where Mercedes's is sitting with her elbows on the table, clasping a mug of coffee in her hands. You look around the room at your friends, there only seems to be the six of you and you relax the muscles you didn't even realize you were tensing. She's not here, thank God!

"Hey Santana, we were just talking about you." Mercedes grins at you and places her mug on the table so she can concentrate on you more. You know that grin, it's the mischievous one and you know you're not going to like what she says next.

Tina finally lets go of your hand and you take a seat opposite Mercedes. "Really?" You ask, you just want to go home to bed.

"We were thinking of who we can set you up with." She winks.

You groan internally and just shake your head at her. They're always trying to set you up and you hate it. So you haven't had a relationship in three years, it's totally fine, you get by on the occasional one night stand. Plus you're too busy with work to even think about how lonely you are. Your last relationship messed you up and you haven't been interested in having another one since.

Tina sits next to Mercedes, they're both giggling and you roll your eyes and wonder how you managed to befriend two complete opposites of you.

"So what else did I miss?" You ask, casually trying to change the subject.

"Oh," Tina began. "Well Brittany was just telling us-"

"Brittany's here?" You ask startled. You feel your body tense at the thought and you're suddenly sitting up straighter. Your palms become clammy from panic, heart palpitations are disrupting your breathing. You cough a little and shift in your seat to try and hide the fact you feel totally blindsided.

"Santana," Tina leans in and whispers. "I don't know what your problem with Brittany is but please just try and be friendly."

"What happened with you two?" Mercedes pries. "When you met last year you both seemed to hit it off?"

You just shake your head like they're both wrong and they are. Just as you're about to fake a phone call and leave immediately, said girl enters from the kitchen, still in her police uniform, her blonde hair in a bun and she's holding a drink, you're pretty sure it's a hot chocolate because you can see the marshmallows bobbing up and down.

"Oh, hey Santana." She smiles cautiously and you know you make her feel awkward.

You nod your head and smile faintly, acknowledging here presence. You know she thinks you hate her, she thinks you can't stand being around her, that you're cold towards her and you kind of are but not for the reasons she thinks.

You met nearly a year ago at a wedding you weren't invited to. The Hudson/Berry wedding. Mike's business is a function centre, he puts on anything from weddings receptions to Christmas functions to business conferences. It's quite successful, you're actually pretty impressed. When he told you about his idea to start up a function centre, you were doubtful. You even made a bet with Puck that it wouldn't last three months before going broke… you lost that bet. He enlisted the help of you, Puck and Tina after some of his staff came down with the flue. Puck manned the bar while, much to your horror, you and Tina became ready-made waitresses.

She caught your eye the moment you saw her. It could have been her long blonde hair, curled and dangling over her bare shoulders or maybe her pastel muscular body that was shown off in that tight, yellow bridesmaids dress, but you were pretty sure it was because she had fallen asleep against the wall behind the buffet. You walked over to her, knelt down and gently shook her shoulders, she mumbled incoherently before her eyes shot open, it took a moment before they met yours. They were crystal blue and upturned at the outer corner, sort of an almond shape. You were sure in that moment your heart actually stopped beating.

"What happened?" the blonde asked curiously and you weren't sure why your cheeks reddened as she studied your face.

"You fell asleep?" You replied. "What are you doing back here?"

"hiding." She said casually like it wasn't at all a strange thing to do.

You laugh a little, mainly because you're intrigued and don't know how to react to the blonde. "From who?"

"Rachel, the bride." She shrugs, which causes you to laugh again.

"Bridezilla?" You ask knowingly.

"The worst." The girl sighs.

You spend the rest of the reception hiding with her, not just because you were utterly taken by her but because you really didn't want to waitress anymore. (Mike hasn't hired you since.) Brittany became a part of your friendship circle and it was good for a few months until you realized you had developed feelings for her. So you did what you do best, you shut down and shut her out. You'd make up excuses as to why you couldn't hang out with her, you'd ignore her calls and texts and avoid her when you did end up at the same party or dinner. Unfortunately she'd already become good friends with your other friends so you couldn't just forget about her, she was always around when you and your friends got together and it had been that way ever since.

Brittany took a seat at the end of the table. Her eyes flickered in your direction and then back to her drink. You never meant to make her feel uncomfortable, you didn't want her thinking she had done something wrong but you know she does. You're in love with her, everything about her but if there's one thing you've learnt, it's that love hurts… no it aches until you can't breathe and everything good you ever felt becomes damaged, painful, it leaves scars that will never heal. You decided three years ago you wouldn't put yourself through that again.

So, here you are, hurting the person you're in love with and refusing to admit to anyone why.

"Ok," Tina began, interrupting you from your thoughts. "I wanted to wait until you were all here to tell you my big news."

She's silent and you stare irritably at her. "Well spit it out." You say impatiently.

"Ok," She said, her smile even bigger than when she greeted you at the door. You didn't think it possible. "Mike and I-"

"Oh my God!" Mercedes interrupts. "You're pregnant?"

You scowl at the diva for prolonging the news even further until you realize what she asked. Your attention snaps back to Tina as you await her answer.

"Close!" She giggles and you frown wondering what the equivalent of having a kid is. "We're getting a puppy."

Brittany lets out a squeak of pure cuteness and hugs Tina like it's the most exciting news ever. You and Mercedes scrunch up your face in confusion and look at each other.

"That's it?" Mercedes asks in a disappointed tone.

A freaking puppy is the reason you're going to be super tired tomorrow? Sure you're a sucker for a cute dog but was it worth the announcement "I'm missing out on my beauty sleep for this?" You mumble.

Brittany tilts her head to the side and shakes it at you. "You don't need beauty sleep Santana." She shrugs and turns to Tina to ask her what breed of dog she wants and if she will get a girl or a boy. You just stare at Brittany with a blank face. She just basically called you beautiful, you force the giddy feeling bubbling in your stomach and chest down. You really hate her for making you fall in love with her. But how could you not fall for the girl? You're a bitch to her and she's still so kind to you. You tune out the girls and their talk of puppies. You decide you're better off seeing what the guys are up to, maybe you'll get distracted and be able to escape the torment of Brittany's compliment circling your mind.

The game the boys were watching must have finished because Mike is setting up the PlayStation.

"Who won the game?" You asked taking a seat on Sam's lap, just to annoy him. Sam is your other friend from High School. He's like a brother to you now, even though he was your first boyfriend and you lost your virginity to him. You suddenly feel yourself cringing at the thought of that failure of a night.

"We didn't." Puck sulked. "Lost again."

"Fuck off Santana, I can't see the T.V." Sam growls causing you to laugh. You're glad Sam is still in your life, he's kind of your rock.

Mike hands a controller to Puck and gives Sam's to you.

"No way!" Sam moans. "She's going to lose."

"Whatever, watch as I kick their ass. You'll be begging me to play for you next time." You smirk.

The game starts, it's a car racing game. You struggle to keep your car straight and you crash every time you try and turn a corner. It's not until Sam tickles you making you squirm off his lap and takes the controller from your hands that your car actually starts to catch up. Your half wedged between Puck and Sam on the couch all three boys are heavily concentrating on the game and you actually don't know if you'd rather be here or at the table with the girls discussing puppies and avoiding Brittany. You take that as a sign to go home to bed. You stand up and say goodbye to the guys. You just receive grunts back.

"Well I should head home," you say to the girls feigning a regretful tone. "Early start."

"Brittany was just about to leave too," Tina smiles.

"Of course she was." You say under your breath. Knowing you'll now be awkwardly walked to the door, you'll watch everyone hug each other and then you'll have to try and get out before it's your turn to hug Brittany. It's almost become a ritual at these types of gatherings that you dread so much.

"Kelvin will be excited to hear your puppy news." Brittany says as she hugs Tina by the front door.

"Kelvin?" Mercedes asks and you have to admit you're curious too.

"My new partner on the squad, Constable Goddard." Brittany replies. "He just adopted a Jack Russell from an animal shelter."

"Aww." Both Tina and Mercedes coo. You roll your eyes and look away, mostly because Brittany in uniform is almost too much for you to handle.

Before you know it your half walking, half running to your car to avoid the goodbye hug with Brittany. You just know if it happened there'd be no stopping you from melting into her and smelling her hair, you're not even certain if you'd be able to let go. Your walls would come down and you'd somehow mess up everything.

As your about to start your car engine you see the police car in the driveway and wonder how you didn't notice it earlier. You watch as Brittany silhouette disappears into the driver's seat and starts reversing down Tina and Mike's driveway. Your heart feels heavy as you watch it drive away.

Later on as, your lying in bed, in your cold, dark apartment. You realize you're ready for a change. You decide, when you get time, you're going to start handing in your CV to all the places you dream of working. You decide it can't hurt, you have more experience now than when you first tried it and it'll either validate that you're meant to work at your crappy gossip magazine for the rest of your life or that you might actually be able to pursue your dreams after all.

It's been a week since you decided to hand out your CV. You've been asked to an interview with Sue Sylvester, she owns the famous magazine 'You Think This is Hard?" Her articles are controversial yet touching, they're important and allow the reader to discover factual goings on in America and the world. Her process of employing is unlike other magazines. Usually you're interviewed and hired by someone further down the cooperate ladder, the owner of the magazine just sits back and lets the money roll in. Not Sue though, she's very involved in YTTIH magazine. She interviews all potential employees herself. You heard a rumor she doesn't let the magazine go to print until she's read every article in it, twice. She's thorough and picky but that's what makes her so successful.

You're sitting in a black leather arm chair in front of Ms Sylvester's desk in her huge office. It's tidy and neat and very impersonal. There are no photos, no trinkets. Just the basics. The whole back wall is filled with books of biographies, encyclopedias, textbooks, history books, just to name a few. You scan them and can't see a fictional title among them. The rumors were true, Sue was all about facts.

You hear the door swing open and Sue confidently walks into the room. She's an older woman, probably in her mid-fifties. Her hair is blonde and short and for some reason she's wearing an all red tracksuit. You stand up, wipe your sweaty hands on your black dress pants and hold out a hand for her to shake. She takes a look at you and just sits down without taking your hand. She starts flicking through some papers on her desk and you soon recognize them as your CV.

"Well, sit." She demands and you do as you're told. You're not sure if you should speak or not. You're over-thinking every movement you make, you're only five seconds into the interview and you feel like you've blown it already.

She looks up at you and you stiffen. "Miss Lopez." She begins. "Sure you've got the skills to write but can you find the stories?"

You swallow hard. You don't think you've ever felt this nervous. No, you know you've never been this nervous. "I definitely think I can." You answer with a confident smile.

"No, no." She grumbles and leans back in her chair. "You either think you can or you can. Which is it?"

"I can." You say, you manage to keep your confident tone even though it feels like every bit of you is going to fall apart with nerves.

"Hmm…" Ms Sylvester ponders. "If you can find me a good enough story by the end of the week, you're hired."

Your eyes light up. That's it? That's all you have to do to get the job? You smile triumphantly at how easy this is going to be. In fact you're going to quit your current job as soon as you leave here.

"But I don't want any of that celebrity gossip crap." She continues. "It has to be good, factual but interesting. I don't want any of that 'The Mayors having an affair,' or anything about the homeless." You raise an eye brow at her harshness. "They've all been done, they're all boring!" You nod even though you're not quite sure you agree.

"I want the latest scoop." She takes her glasses off and starts to almost yell. "Something that no one's heard yet, something new, something big!" This is not going to be as easy as you thought. "Are you going to give me that, Miss Lopez?" She asks standing up from her seat.

You stand also. "Yes Ma'am." You reply and hold out a hand to shake, which she ignores once again.

"Ok then, I'll see you at the end of the week. We don't take deadlines lightly around here, so get to work." You nod and leave the room.

You walk onto the street and take a breath of the cool air. You don't really know what just happened. Was that the interview? All you know is that you're wasting time, although you don't even know where to start looking for the story Sue wants.

You walk a little way down the street until a small diner catches your eye. You walk in and take a seat on a stool at the counter. There's a newspaper to your right. You decide that might be a good start to finding a story of your own. You begin to read the articles when a waitress comes to take your order.

"Hi, welcome to Burnie's diner. What can I get for you today?"

The voice sounds familiar but you don't look up. You're reading about a murder that the police have no leads on but suspect it's something to do with organised crime. Like the Mafia. "Just a coffee and the number four, thanks." You say barely listening to the woman in front of you.

"S-Santana?" The girl asks and you freeze. You realize why the voice sounds so familiar… it can't be… Fuck. You gather all your strength to smile and look up.

"Wow, hey Quinn." You say holding your breath and taking in her blonde ponytail and those same hazel eyes you stared at for years. "It's been-"

"Too long?" She offers. You nod even though you're thinking it hasn't been long enough. She's looking at you like she can't believe you're in front of her.

You ignore the memories and flashbacks you've blocked out for years. You try to go back to reading your article thinking you wouldn't have to do more than greet her when you hear her continue and you groan internally. Why did you have to pick this diner?

"How have you been?" she asks quietly.

You're almost angry. You feel like telling her how crappy you've felt since she broke your heart and ruined your life three years ago. You decide to go with "Fine."

She seems to remember that she's working and leaves to give your order to the chef, out back. You let out a shaky breath and try and calm yourself. This morning has been filled with anxiety and sweat. Once again you wipe your clammy hands on your pants and resume reading the article about the Mob murder.

Once you finish your burger and coffee and read the remainder of the paper. You fumbled around in your bag for your purse. It suddenly dawns on you that you've never had to tip an ex before. Do you give them less because they fucked you up and you're eternally bitter? Do you pretend you were never together and tip her what you normally would have or do you tip her more because, well wasn't Quinn studying to become a Doctor? That obviously didn't work out. You decide to be a good person for once in your life and tip generously.

"Santana wait!" Quinn yells as your about to leave. You let out an unnoticeable defeated sigh and walk back toward the counter where the pretty blonde is standing. "We should catch up." She says and you're not sure if it's a question or a request. She pushes her pen and order pad towards you. "Could I maybe get your number?" She asks.

No. You say in your head. No. No. No. "Sure."

You write your phone number down and smile at her while you're beating yourself up internally. You're not sure how you feel when you look at her. You feel sort of feel numb. You want to be mad at her but you're not. You can see how cautious she's being around you and you kind of think it's… sweet? Even when Quinn was your girlfriend, the word sweet had never really come to mind to describe her. Brittany's face flashes across your mind, sweet, that does come to mind when you think of the blue eyed officer.

Nothing today has made sense so you push it all to the back of your mind. You find your car and decide to focus everything on finding a story. When you were in the diner, you had an idea reading the article about the murder.

You search through apps on your phone and download multiple. The radio apps claim to let you listen in on police radios from all over the world, one you downloaded even gives you the police radio codes and what they mean. You decide to try and find a story this way. Be first on the scene and everything. You type in your location and sure enough, voices and codes project from your phone. You smile proudly at yourself, you're determined to get that job at 'You Think This is Hard.'