This was originally going to be named, 'Turn Around Bright Eyes' but I found that that was already taken so I changed it.
I don't own Glee. Duh.
Santana walked into her favorite dive bar a few blocks away from her apartment. She liked the stale smell of old smoke that came off of the walls before indoor smoking was banned. She liked the old men that drank away their problems and the occasionally woman that just came to drink and be left alone.
So, as usual, Santana saddled up at the bar in what had become her stool. She looked around for the new bartender. The old bartender announced his departure last week, but promised the new guy was just as good. She looked down at the bar and started tracing the wood grain with her fingers, hearing the new bartender walk up to her and set a large stack of beer crates down with a loud clank.
"What can I get you Ms. Lopez?" a familiar voice asked.
"Bourbon rocks," she automatically answered before realizing that the new bartender said her name. When she looked up she stuttered, "What the hell…"
Puck smiled at her, "You must be the only hot regular the old man told me about." After pouring the drink, he started restocking the shelves in front of Santana. She sipped her drink while he kept putting fresh bottles up on the glass shelves, "So why do you come here all the time?"
Santana replied with an indifferent shrug, "Because the old bartender used to not talk to me."
He paused and looked her over, "What happened with you and Brittany?"
She looked at him dumbfounded.
"C'mon, I'm a bartender. I know people," Puck poured a drink for another patron, "Plus Rachel told me that Brittany is on tour with some singer or whatever and you're still here."
"Yeah well," Santana downed the rest of her drink and squeezed her eyes shut as the fire burned down her throat. "Things change." She signaled for another drink.
"So you broke up with her so she could go chasing her dream instead of staying here with you," Puck poured some more into the glass.
"How long have you been a bartender?" Santana rolled her eyes and started sipping on her new drink.
He smiled, "Not long. Rachel talked to her a few days ago. Rach needs her to teach some quote impossible chorus dancers."
"She's coming here?" Santana asked, a little stunned and riddled with nerves.
Puck nodded, "Tomorrow or the day after, I don't remember… after the tour wraps up. You should talk to her."
"I don't think that's a good idea," she added and continued to drink her bourbon until the glass was empty again.
"You weren't holding her back," the bartender stated and put the bottle of bourbon back on the top shelf.
Santana decided that she needed to change the subject quick. "How's Beth?" Santana asked, running her finger over the rim of her glass.
Puck smiled, "She's great. She misses her Aunt Santy."
Santana sighed, "How did I not see that coming?"
"When Brittany left you kinda dropped off the face of the earth," Puck added, "You never picked up my calls."
"Because I didn't want to talk to anyone," Santana stated.
Puck picked up a rag from behind the bar and started wiping down the wooden surface, "You could have at least answered once so I knew you were okay and so Rachel didn't think you were kidnapped."
"Speaking of…how's your sugar mama?" Santana smirked.
"Hey," Puck raised an eyebrow, "I don't need a sugar mama. That's why I'm doing this job." He smiled wistfully, "But it is nice when she takes me out to dinner and shopping for new clothes."
"Yeah I noticed your new threads," Santana nodded, "You look good."
"Thanks," he smirked, "It's amazing what a pair of Armani jeans can do." He paused before adding, "Why don't you come over for dinner?" When Santana looked skeptical he added, "Please. Rachel invited some of the cast over for dinner and I need at least one normal person there."
"Fine," Santana smirked, "I can't help it when you beg. It makes me want to vomit."
Puck chuckled, "Whatever. I'm going to be making some awesome food when I leave here so be hungry."
Santana nodded, "I'll just have to find something to do between now and then."
"You can just come with me," Puck offered, "You can watch the master at work."
Half an hour later, Santana was sitting at the bar of the kitchen in Rachel and Puck's loft. Santana surveyed the whole open layout and figured that she could fit her entire apartment in the kitchen. "Nice place."
Puck smiled, "That's why I moved in with her and she didn't move in with me."
The front door opened and closed, echoing against the hardwood floors and modern paintings on the walls. "Noah?" Rachel's voice called.
"Yeah babe," he called back, "I'm in the kitchen."
Rachel walked in and paused when she saw Santana, "Oh hey Santana. Did you come to watch Noah make a mess in the kitchen?"
"Ha. Ha," Puck droned and pulled her in for a kiss, "How was work?"
She leaned on his chest for a beat before sliding into one of the chairs next to Santana as she unzipped her boots. "Horrible. I can't wait until tomorrow when I don't have to deal with them anymore."
"What happens tomorrow?" Puck asked smirking at the amused look on Santana's face.
"Bri-um my guest instructor is flying in," Rachel barely caught herself with a sideways glance to Santana.
Puck looked at Santana whose smile faded and her eyes were now on her drink, "It's okay. I already told her.
Rachel swiveled her chair to look at Santana, "If you wanted to talk to her you could come to rehearsals tomorrow and watch until we're done. Or Noah and I could take you two to dinner so there would be a little buffer. We'll have Beth and I'm sure she'd love to see you both."
Santana swallowed, "I um…" She looked at Puck who gave her a look like she was too chicken to do it. She frowned and always being her headstrong, I-can-do-anything self added, "Where did you want to meet?"
Rachel beamed, "Wherever you want." She looked at Puck, "Did Beth like that Italian place we went to last time? Brittany would love it."
"As long as we don't have to sit next to the statue of the naked dude. It was hell trying to explain that to Beth," he smirked while he started to cut some tomatoes.
"It was Michelangelo's David," Rachel added, "and it was tasteful. And Shelby's still mad at you for tell her Beth that she'd explain when she got home."
Puck and Santana chuckled. Santana started to feel a little more comfortable in the nice home.