It's the end of the day and Rachel is waiting outside the library, as per Santana's instructions. The other girl is late and Rachel is gearing up for a rant of epic proportions, after all, she could have had things to do! She didn't, not really, but Santana doesn't have to know that. She takes out her bright pink phone, tapping out a message to her Daddy – he finishes work before her Dad.
Will be home a little late today, working on a project x
She puts the phone away and looks up to find Santana coming towards her, finally.
"Hey dwarf," she greets.
"Satan," returns Rachel. No apology for the lateness, Rachel notes, her irritation building. As much as she hates to admit it though, Santana does have the power to make her life worse (namely, her friendship, if you can call it that, with Quinn) and so she only says,
" Let's just get this project over with. I have things to do."
Santana scoffs, clearly disbelieving but follows Rachel into the library anyway. Artie and Brittany are sat at the nearest table. Santana takes one look at them, turns on her heel and gives Rachel a look that clearly says why aren't you following already? Rachel looks momentarily confused, then follows Santana's line of vision, comprehension dawning.
" Don't let it get to you," offers Rachel quietly.
"Did I say it was getting to me? Who asked your opinion anyway?" Santana snaps back. "Maybe I just don't feel like working in this library right now."
"Right, and it has nothing to do with the fact that Brittany is in it, does it? I thought you were friends."
"Didn't I just tell you to keep your big nose out?" Santana retaliates.
"Sorry," replies Rachel, not wanting to deal with Santana's anger right now, despite the curiosity filling her.
"Where are we going anyway?" she asks as she walks quickly to keep up with Santana's more aggressive pace.
"My place, my parents are out," replies Santana.
Rachel looks apprehensive.
"Oh relax, would you? You might be extremely annoying but I think I can restrain myself from killing you."
Rachel's not entirely satisfied that this is true, however when Santana tells her to hurry up and get in the car she is obedient. She's regretting this approximately thirty seconds later when she finds out that Santana is an absolutely insane driver who has no regard whatsoever for traffic rules. Fortunately, a five minute drive later and Santana is pulling into her driveway. She climbs out of the car, not quite able to speak yet, and follows Santana as she enters the dark house, flipping a light switch as she goes. She figures out very soon after that Santana really must have been desperate to avoid Brittany, there's no way that she, Rachel Berry, would be in Santana's room otherwise. This further piques her curiosity but she doesn't say anything, at least not yet (she thinks she can be good at getting information out of someone given the opportunity though).
Four hours later, she's discovered that she was exactly right – Santana had decided she needed a 'couple' of beers in order to deal with studying with Rachel – and Rachel has discovered that Santana can't hold her alcohol nearly as well as you would expect from a girl like her. Luckily they made a decent start on the project before it was too late. Rachel notices a photo frame facedown on Santana's bedside table, and moves her hand to pick it up.
"Don't touch that!" says Santana, but it's too late, Rachel has already flipped it over, to reveal a picture of Brittany and Santana, both in their Cheerio's uniforms, smiling at each other as if no one else exists in the world. There's a crack down the middle of the frame though, a product of Santana's anger, Rachel guesses.
"It's a nice picture," Rachel murmurs and is startled to see tears in Santana's eyes.
"You want to talk about it?" she continues. "I know you don't like me but I'm a good listener."
Santana shakes her head, looking away. Her back to Rachel, she finally says what has been true all along.
"It's not that I don't like you."
"It's alright," Rachel responds. "It's just high school."
"Yeah, you can be annoying, but so can everyone. And you're being really nice to me now, even though I don't deserve it," Santana replies.
"I see no reason to be mean," is Rachel's response. Santana turns back around at this.
"She wanted to sing a duet with me," she says so quietly Rachel has to strain to hear it.
"Brittany?" questions Rachel.
"No, the incredible hulk. Of course Brittany!" Looking at Rachel's face, Santana pauses and says, " Sorry, defence mechanism," she adds.
Rachel nods, and asks her next question instead of making fun of the fact that Santana actually just apologised for her sarcasm.
"Why did it matter? That she wanted to sing a duet?"
"It was about more than the duet."
Rachel just looks blank, so Santana explains,
"She wanted to sing Melissa Etheridge's 'Come To My Window'.
Rachel nods once, in comprehension and says,
"So?"
"I'm not in love with her."
"Except you kind of are, right? That's the problem? You're jealous of Artie?"
"No!" she replies vehemently.
Rachel looks sceptical and just looks at her, until Santana mumbles, "OK, maybe a little."
"Why don't you just tell her this?" Rachel asks.
"''Cause she's happy."
"Wow, who knew Santana Lopez had a heart," says Rachel, but her smile is good-natured, teasing.
Santana laughs through the few tears that have fallen.
"Thanks, Rachel," she says. "Although, if you tell anyone..."
"You'll have to kill me, I know. Don't worry, I'm good at keeping secrets."
"Plenty of practice of your own, huh?" says Santana knowingly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asks Rachel.
Santana offers only one word as a response. "Quinn."
"You're crazy. She hates me!"
"No she doesn't. Quinn's just scared of everything, she always has been."
"I didn't know you were so perceptive," says Rachel.
"Well now you get to find out, 'cause...truce?" Santana offers, holding out her hand for Rachel to take.
"Friends," replies Rachel firmly, taking Santana's hand. "Now, I really should be getting home. I'll see you tomorrow," she says, sharing a smile with Santana.
"Goodnight," Santana replies.
