A/N: Thanks everyone for favoriting, alerting and reviewing this story! This chapter was originally going to continue into Halloween, but considering its already almost 3k words, I figured I stop where I did. I'm not sure how I like this chapter, but I have to get them together somehow, lol.
Chapter Two
October 30
Santana sat under a tree on campus, waiting for Rachel to get out of her last class of the day. The two girls quickly became good friends after the diva's party and hung out at least once a week, usually more, for dinner and a couple movies at the shorter girl's apartment. This week, they were going out to eat and then a local club to celebrate Rachel getting the lead in NYU's latest production. Thankfully, the Latina had started keeping a few things in the guest room at her friend's place because there was no way either girl was going to be sober enough to make it to their respective places alone tonight.
"Santana!" The law student looked up and smiled as she saw the tiny diva running across the courtyard toward her. Rachel dropped down and hugged her. "Hope you haven't been waiting too long."
"Nah, my class actually ran a little late, so my wait was shorter than usual," Santana answered, hugging the girl back. "You ready to go?"
"Yea, let's stop at my place first though, I need to change into something more club appropriate."
"Do you even own club appropriate clothes?" Santana teased, looking at the girl in her somewhat baggy jeans and hoodie, not at all like her clothes in high school.
"Funny," Rachel said, standing up and holding a hand out to help the other girl. "At least I stopped wearing argyle and the fuzzy animal sweaters."
Santana smiled as she was pulled up. "There is that, although, I will admit to missing those sinfully short skirts you use to wear." Rachel blushed as the two made their way to the subway. "Anyway, your fashion has definitely improved since high school."
"Let me guess, you wouldn't be caught dead around me otherwise?"
Santana sighed as they headed down into the station. "Look, Rach, I'm sorry for how I treated you in high school. It's obvious that if I had taken the time to really get to know you, I would have seen how cool you actually are."
Rachel smiled. "Thank you San. That means a lot to me." The former cheerleader shrugged. "I'm also sorry for everything I said back then."
Santana frowned. "Berry, when did you ever say anything unprovoked? Never."
"I don't think my saying you'd amount to nothing more than a stripper was provoked," the diva argued.
Santana stopped the two of them on the platform. "Rachel, seriously? Even if you weren't provoked at that particular moment, I deserved it. I deserved it and much more." She sighed and pulled the shorter girl into another hug. "Look, Rach, please stop thinking you have anything to apologize for."
Rachel sniffled as she clung to her friend. "Only if you stop too."
The Latina chuckled. "Fine, I'll just continue to do everything in my power to make it all up to you."
Rachel frowned. "I'm not sure that's really doing as I asked, but I'll let it slide for now." Santana laughed again as the train pulled into the station. "Alright, so, we go to my place, I'll get changed and we'll head out to the restaurant and then the club. Where are you taking me by the way?"
"Its a surprise Rach, I am not telling you." The former cheerleader pulled the tiny singer onto the subway and then onto her lap when only one seat was available. "You'll have fun though."
Rachel pouted, wrapping her arms around Santana's neck to steady herself as the train lurched into motion. "You know I hate surprises."
"Please," Santana scoffed. "You love surprises. What you hate is waiting for the surprise."
The diva couldn't help but nod in agreement and chuckle. "When did you become so insightful?" she asked.
"Rachel, you're awesome, really, you are, but you're not as complicated as you may think you are," the taller girl answered, smirking. "You like grand gestures. You like movie moments. You don't like suspense. You are not a patient person."
"I can be patient," Rachel argued, earning a scoff from her friend. "I can be!"
"Only when someone distracts you from what you're waiting for. That's why you hate it when people are late, you prepare yourself to wait for a certain amount of time and then you get bored."
The singer stood up as they got to her stop. "You're annoying Santana," she complained, walking to the door. "Maybe now I don't want to go out to a club with you."
Santana shrugged. "We don't have to go, we can just have a night in." Rachel turned and glared. "What?"
"I repeat, you're annoying." The Latina just smirked as they stepped out the train and walked through the station. Thankfully, Rachel's building was only a few blocks away. "So, what should I wear?" she asked.
"Something you don't mind being seen in at a restaurant that will still work for the club, preferably one of those skirts I mentioned earlier," Santana answered, winking at the other girl. "Shirt-wise, I'll help you choose."
"What are you wearing?" Santana looked at Rachel then down at what she was currently wearing then back over to Rachel. "Seriously, you're not changing?"
"Um, no?"
"So not fair," the diva grumbled as she crossed the street and opened the door to her building.
"Sorry Rach, but I look club ready in anything."
"I doubt you consider your hoodie club ready."
Santana smiled and pulled her hoodie off, revealing a plain, black, vneck sweater as the elevator doors slid open. "Now I'm ready," she replied.
"I repeat, not fair."
An hour later the girls were sitting down at an Italian restaurant. "I know I already said this, but you look good," Santana commented. Rachel had settled for one of the black skirts Santana seemed so fond of and a red, sleeveless blouse with a cropped black jacket over it. "The knee high boots are a nice touch."
"Well, they do make me taller than you," Rachel teased, looking at the menu. "You picked a good place."
"Well, I tried to find a place that looked like it had a good vegan selection."
"I appreciate that," Rachel said, smiling at her friend. Santana had changed a lot since high school, especially since the two of them had become friends. The Latina was extremely nice and seemed to truly care for the shorter brunette. She always made sure there were vegan options when they went out and always had a protective stance around her. "I don't know if I've told you, but I'm glad we connected again. I know I was annoying back in Lima, but thank you for giving me another chance."
Santana looked up and frowned. "What are you talking about?" She asked, putting her menu down. "If either of us gave the other a second chance, it was you. I know you told me to forget about it, but sometimes I wonder if you think you deserved the shit the Cheerios and I put you through back then. Sure, you were a bit annoying, but I think if we had given you a chance in the first place, you would have toned down. I mean, by the time we graduated, you had calmed down quite a bit."
"Yea, well, nearly getting married in high school and seeing your "kinda" friend almost die because you kept texing her, kind of puts things into perspective," Rachel answered as the waiter came up to take their order. "I'll have the vegan eggplant parmasean."
"I'll have the baked ziti and garlic breadsticks," Santana order, handing off her menu. She looked at a smirking Rachel and rolled her eyes. "Yea, yea, yea, I know, I'm obsessed with breadsticks, leave me be. Oh, and don't make me call Quinn and have her lecture you again."
Rachel blushed, knowing Santana would call and the blonde would lecture her. "Let's stop talking about high school. How were your classes today?" Rachel asked.
Santana shrugged. "Boring as usual. Why am I going into law again?"
"Because you like to argue and you're good at it?"
The Latina pretended to think about that. "Yea, I think you're right." Rachel just laughed. "Anyway, classes were fine. I hate German though."
"Why did you pick German anyway?" Rachel asked as the waiter set down their plates. "I mean, I get that they wouldn't let you take Spanish, but why not take French? They are very similar languages." Santana just shrugged as she took a bite of her breadstick. "You thought there'd be some hot girls in the class didn't you?"
"Shut up Berry."
Rachel laughed. "Anyway, where are we going after this?"
"The club."
"Oh come on Santi!" Rachel whined, using her new nickname for the Latina. Santana just smiled at the name, loving that the diva was finally getting comfortable enough for something like that. It also helped annoy her even more, because she knew Rachel would assume the smile was teasing. "You are so mean."
"Hey, you refuse to tell me what WE are wearing to that Halloween party tomorrow night, this is just my payback," Santana answered, quickly grabbing the check when the waiter came by. "So get over it."
The diva huffed as the Latina quickly signed the credit card slip, ignoring her. "You're annoying," she finally said as they walked outside.
"You brought me to a gay club?" Rachel asked, a slight blush on her cheeks.
"Technically its a lesbian club, but yes," Santana answered, pushing the smaller woman further into the club. She stopped them when they reached the bar. "Can I get a Corona and a tropical sunset?"
"I'm assuming the sunset drink is for me?"
"Yes."
"What's in it?" Rachel asked as the drink was handed to her. She took a small sip, just enough to taste it, and smiled. "While I can't taste alcohol, I know there's some in it."
Santana laughed, pushing her lime wedge into the bottle before taking a swig. "Its basically rum punch. There's a couple flavors of rum, including coconut, and fruit juices," she supplied. "Its a very girly drink." Rachel rolled her eyes and leaned back against the bar, taking in her surroundings. "If you're really uncomfortable here, we can leave Rach."
The tiny singer shook her head, smiling at her friend. "Its fine Santana, I just wasn't expecting it, that's all. Also, I've never been to one before."
Santana grabbed the brunette's hand, dragging her to a table that had opened up. She helped Rachel climb onto the tall stool before sitting down herself. "Kurt never took you to one?"
"Last year was too hectic to really go out at all, and of course this year, Blaine's here, so they're making up for lost time."
"I'll take that as a no?" Rachel blushed and nodded. "Hmm, well, he's not a very good sassy gay friend," Santana commented, causing the other girl to laugh. "Then again, this is Kurt we're talking about."
"Be nice San." The Latina just waved off the command and took another swig of her drink. "So, are we just gonna sit here and drink all night?"
"Honestly? I wasn't sure if you'd want to stay here long, I mean, I know you don't really care considering your fathers, but this is slightly different."
"Santana, I'm fine, really, but if we just wanted to get drunk, it would have been cheaper to buy some booze and mix our drinks at my apartment," Rachel said, finishing her drink in one large gulp. "Come on, finish that and let's show these people how to really dance."
The former cheerleader laughed before doing as told. She helped the diva down and led her to the dance floor. They started out a good distance apart, but the floor quickly got crowded, forcing the two closer together. When one particularly enthusiastic couple bumped into Rachel, nearly knocking her over, Santana pulled her close, resting her hands on the short girl's hips. "Are you alright?" she asked, her lips brushing against the other girl's ear. Rachel just nodded, resting her head on the Latina's shoulder as the music slowed down and the pair swayed together. When the song was over, Santana pulled away slightly. "How about we take a break? Get another drink?"
Rachel smiled. "Sounds good."
After another round of drinks, the girls were back on the dance floor. Santana blushed as Rachel turned around and backed into her. The diva brought her arm up and wrapped it around the Latina's neck. "Where'd you learn to dance like this?"
The theatre student laughed. "I may not have gone to many parties in high school, but I've been to plenty since then." Rachel turned, but didn't put any space between them. "You're also not the first girl I've danced like this with," she added with a wink.
"Damn Berry, you just keep surprising me."
Several hours later found the pair stumbling into Rachel's apartment. Santana dropped her purse on the floor just inside the door then walked into the living room, rolling over the back of the couch. Rachel just chuckled, throwing her keys in a nearby bowl and copied her friend. The Latina grunted as Rachel fell on top of her, giggling, but then just wrapped her arms around the girl's waist to keep her from rolling off. "Why would you do that?"
"Cause I'm drunk and felt like it," Rachel answered. She lifted her head to look toward the stairs. "I don't know if I'll be able to make it to my room."
Santana laughed as she maneuvered them so Rachel was no longer laying right on top of her. "Well, I don't think it would be a good idea for both of us to sleep on the couch, and I'm drunker than you, so, there's no way I'll make it upstairs." Rachel rolled off the couch then smiled up at her friend from the floor. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Rachel said, waving off the concern. She pulled herself up, standing still for a few seconds to stop the room from spinning before grabbing Santana's arm and pulling her up. "Come on, I think if we work together, we can both make it upstairs."
"Where the hell will I sleep up there?" the Latina grumbled, standing up and wrapping her arms around the diva's shoulders.
"Well, I figured we'd just share my bed, wouldn't be the first time, but if you don't want to, the couch up there is actually more comfortable than this one." Santana nodded and they slowly made their way upstairs. "Where you sleeping?"
"With you," Santana mumbled.
"Okay," Rachel said, They walked to her bedroom and Rachel kicked the door open. She let Santana drop onto the bed as she continued to her dresser, pulling out clothes for them to sleep in. "You better not be sleep yet Santana."
"I'm not," Santana said, sitting up. She took the extra clothes from Rachel and started stripping. The diva just shook her head and walked into her bathroom to change. "Where'd you go?"
"Bathroom."
"Oh."
Rachel frowned and stuck her head out the door. Santana had already changed into the pajama bottoms and tank top. "What's wrong?" she asked before quickly pulling her own tank top on over her head and heading back into the bedroom. "Santi?"
"I'm drunk."
Rachel giggled. "Yes you are, I'm surprised you aren't crying." Santana then looked up and sniffled. "Oh, Santi," Rachel said, climbing into the bed and pulling her friend into her arms. "Let's try to get some sleep, and maybe we won't drink tomorrow night at the party."
"Okay," the Latina mumbled, burrowing into the diva's side. "'Night Rach."
"Good night Santana."
