Quinn POV
Lima is different than how I imagined. Our first day at school Charlie came home with a black eye. He wouldn't tell me what happened, but just kept on insisting that everything was fine. Mom was pretty worried when she saw it, but she calmed down after he talked to her. I wondered what he said to calm her nerves. I'm worried about him. It's been a few weeks since his injury and he is always out. Charlie was never one of those guys who always had something to do. In fact he always had more time than he knew what to do with. Now he's gone before I get up on weekends and always pretty sweaty when he meets me after glee. He won't tell me what he's doing but sometimes I see bruises on his side and I start to worry.
McKinley is a good change for me though. I joined glee club, and Rachel was kind enough to point out who I should avoid and all about slushie facials. I'm surprised a month into school I still haven't gotten one, but that makes Charlie really happy. I met Rachel on my first day. She talks a lot, but she's pretty nice. I think I might have a crush on her, but she's dating Finn. He's on the football team. I don't really see what she sees in him. He's not that smart, and just kind of nods along when she's talking instead of listening to her. My first day Rachel pointed out Santana Lopez and Noah Puckerman. 'Avoid them at all costs.' she told me, and so I have. When I told Charlie he frowned but didn't say anything. I don't think he likes Rachel very much. Whenever she comes over he either goes into his room or leaves. I won't dwell on it though I have a new friend and that's what matters right now.
Charlie is always on time when I get out of glee, waiting by the entrance for me. I wondered how long it would take him to be late. I think he's always on time because he doesn't want me to know what he's up too. It takes a month into the school year for him to be late. Rachel is with me and after waiting 10 minutes and calling him twice we decide to look for him. I find him on the football field. I'm surprised at that. The cheerleaders are all groaning on the ground looking at the only two people remaining in an upright position. The girl Rachel pointed out to me as, Santana 'Satan' Lopez, is standing by my brother yelling at him as Charlie sprints back and forth between two lines. I wonder what kind of fucked up torture this is.
"Pathetic!" Santana yells at him and I've had enough. "Charlie!" I yell coming up to where the pair is standing. Charlie freezes and both Santana and Charlie look up. To my surprise neither one of them looks angry instead they both look like their mom just caught them with their hands in the cookie jar. "Hey Quinn!" Charlie smiles at me sheepishly as Santana hands him a bottle of water. "What's going on here?" I hear Rachel ask disapprovingly as she comes up behind me. Santana's face goes from guilty to emotionless in a blink of an eye.
"This is a closed practice dwarf." she growls at Rachel who backs up a bit. I step forward crossing my arms, "Why are you running my brother into the ground? What'd he ever do to you!" I ask angrily. Charlie shots me a 'what the fuck look?' but Santana seems unimpressed. "Carlos here still owes me three more minutes of suicides, but for a pretty girl like you I'll make him a deal." Santana says winking at me. I scowl, but she's already turned around to field where her cheerleaders are lying. "Get your lazy asses up and running around the track!" she yells at them. They collectively groan, but follow her order.
"Okay killer two laps around the track. If you beat me you get to home early if not you do your suicides. Deal? Or you know you could just go home, you're sister is already here." Santana challenges Charlie. "Santana, I'll have you know this is completely preposterous. You can't just torture people because you get some sick enjoyment…" "Bring it Lopez" Charlie cuts Rachel off with a glare. I can see a proud glint in Santana's eye as Charlie shoves her before sprinting off towards the track. All the cheerios start cheering as he passes them. I don't think I've ever seen Charlie run that fast. Santana straightens herself out before mumbling something that strangely sounds like, "That's my boy." Before sprinting after my brother.
I watch fascinated as the cheerios part for Charlie as he runs through them, but seem to try and block Santana when she gets near one of them. Santana is catching up to Charlie pretty fast. She's about 30 yards behind him when Charlie passes a gel haired boy. The boy cheers as Charlie passes him and moves to grab onto to Santana when she comes up from behind him in order to slow her down. Santana dodges out of his way and I can see a smile on her face for a flicker of a second before her mask of concentration comes crashing back down.
In the end Santana ended up passing Charlie as they started their second lap. Charlie never slowed down, but Santana was too fast for him. When Santana finished her second lap she jogs up to where I am still standing by the suicide lines Charlie not far behind her. "Here. A minute each 30 seconds in between. Make sure he takes the break." she tells me tossing a stop watch at me. Charlie doesn't slow down when he gets to me instead he goes straight into his suicides. "30 seconds!" Santana yells jogging away and Charlie immediately stops and looks at me. Santana is already gone setting the cheerios up into their routine. I help Charlie time the rest of his running. Every now and then I can see Santana's eyes flicker to where he is. When Charlie finally finishes his third set I hear Santana's voice again, "Good Job today, you guys almost got me. Hit the showers." I can hear some of the cheerios laugh. Some of them give Charlie a high-fives as they pass us glaring at Rachel as they go.
"We'll get Satan next time. Good job." the gel haired boy says patting Charlie on the back. "Thanks, Blaine." Charlie mumbles giving a tired smile. I see Santana picking up after the cheerleading practice. "Let's go. I stink." Charlie laughs pulling me along with him. "Wait," Charlie says when he sees Noah Puckerman approaching Santana. Charlie jogs off and Puck gives him a pat on the back. I can see Santana look back at me before saying something to Charlie nodding her head. "Hey! I'm going to catch a ride with these guys. Don't wait up!" Charlie yells at me. "Quinn you really shouldn't let your brother hang out with such delinquents. Santana and Puck are not good influences on such an impressionable mind. I mean did you see what she made your brother do?! He looked like he was about to pass out!" I tune out Rachel as we walk to my car. I have some questions for Charlie when he gets home.
Rachel is still giving me a lecture when Charlie finally gets home around dinner time. He looks less sweaty than he did when I last saw him and he's wearing different clothes. His shirt is about two times his size, and he has grease stains on his hands and face. "Where have you been?" I ask him taking in his appearance. "I was hanging out with my friends." Charlie says heading upstairs. Rachel scoffs at that. Charlie stops in his tracks and turns around, "If you got something to say, say it!" Charlie growls at her and I quirk an eyebrow at him. "Charlie!" I scold and he shakes his head at me. "No, she thinks she's so much better than everybody and I'm sick of it. Did you hear the way she talked to Santana today?" he asks me. "Charlie," Rachel starts off but he cuts her off with a glare. "Save it. I'm going to bed." he snaps before storming upstairs.
Charlie POV
It's been a couple of weeks since Quinn showed up at my practice session with Santana. She's been asking me all sorts of questions about it. Even Rachel has been badgering me about it. As a result Santana and I have made sure I'm never late waiting for Quinn when she gets out. Santana hates Rachel, and unfortunately Rachel is always with Quinn. It really sucks especially after I found out the girl Santana liked from her Spanish class was in fact Quinn.
Santana's my friend, actually she's probably my best friend. I know some people think it's weird having your friends date your siblings, but with the way Santana goes on and on about Quinn you'd think the sun shined out of my sister's ass. It's safe to say I would have no problem with Santana dating Quinn. When Santana told me about her ongoing feud with Rachel and how it started I told her a little about Lucy. I think I made Santana fall even more in love with Quinn that day. I know Santana would never hurt her, and it's not like Lima has many other options for Quinn. Even now Santana is looking out for Quinn. When I told her what happened after I came home from hanging out with her and Puck the day Quinn saw us practice Santana made me apologize immediately to Quinn. Quinn was pretty shocked, and although she didn't know it her knight in shining armor was standing a few feet away down the hall to make sure I went through with it.
I don't think I've ever been happier than here in Lima. When we first moved it was rough to start over again, but now I have the best group of friends I could ever wish for. Puck, Mike, Blaine, and Santana all love football so every weekend I go and watch McKinley play and on Saturday and Sundays I go over to Santana's to watch with her family after practice. Her dad is a doctor at Lima General and her mom's a lawyer so they have a pretty big house. Most of the time Santana's uncles and cousins come over to watch with us and we have sparring matches in between games. I love her family and I know my sister and mom would too. Santana's dad is like a big teddy bear, but her mom has the same Latin sass as Santana. They've been great to me, and when Carlos learned how Santana and I met he got the same angry flare in his eyes that Santana had when I first saw her. I can tell he's really protective. I might have lost a lot of family before coming here to Lima, but I can't thank my lucky stars enough times for the family I've made since coming here. Being beaten up by the hockey team is by far the best thing to ever happen to me.
Ever since I started working out with Santana I've gone from being a scrawny kid to more muscular. I've learned the basics of self-defense, how cars work, and how to clean pools. I found out pretty early on Puck doesn't have the best family life kind of like me. His dad is in and out of jail and his mom works too much just to try and provide for her family. So Puck runs a pool cleaning business and works part time at Burt Hummel's auto shop to help bring in some extra cash for stuff his little sister might need. Her names, Sarah, she's eight and a pretty sweet little kid.
Sometimes I go over with Santana, or Mike, or both to help Puck out. Burt and Santana have been showing me how to fix up cars and bikes since the first time I visited I couldn't stop asking questions. Santana says I have too much energy for one person, but I know she loves it. It keeps her on her toes. Burt loves it because I'm helping him out for free and Santana usually hands whatever Burt pays her off to me or Puck.
Rachel's coming over tonight to meet our mom. It's the first time she's had a day off in weeks and she told Quinn and me she wants to meet some of our friends. So naturally Quinn chose Rachel. I think she might have a crush on her. I can't decide who to invite over. I want to invite all of them, but I don't want to overwhelm my mom. I think I'll just invite Santana we have practice that day and I know Mike and Puck are helping out Burt at the shop. I think Blaine might have a date, but I'm not sure maybe I'll invite him as a buffer between Santana and Rachel.
"Hey!" I greet Santana and Blaine as I approach Santana's locker. Blaine greets me cheerily, but Santana just mumbles something incoherent. Santana is not a morning person. "My mom wants to meet my friends, so I was wondering if you two wanted to come over for dinner tonight?" Blaine looks at Santana who looks like she's about to fall asleep standing up.
The cheerios have regionals coming up so naturally Sue has been running both me and them into the ground. Coach Sylvester was skeptical the first time I showed up to practice, but I think my determination and Santana's vouching for me won her over. Now that Santana's too busy perfecting routines for the cheerios Sue has taken it upon herself to see I still get my workout. Her assistant, Becky, is even worse than Santana. Sure Santana will yell and insult you but eventually you'll get some praise. Becky just insults you and runs you into the ground. "We'll be there." Blaine tells me and I hear a soft snore come from Santana. I nudge her as the first bell rings. "You okay?" I ask walking with her to my class. "So tired." she groans before departing into her separate classroom leaving me chuckling in the hallway.
By the time practice ends Blaine, Santana, and I all need a hot shower and about a gallon of water. "I miss you." I tell Santana. Blaine and Santana laugh at me. I never thought I see the day I'd miss Santana yelling at me instead of Becky or Sue. We all decide to go straight to my house since it's almost dinner time opting to take showers in the locker room before we head out.
I groan as I smell something delicious coming from the kitchen. Blaine is right behind me, but Santana is lagging a bit. "Come on Tana!" I yell and she pops up from her back seat motioning me to wait. When she finally joins us I can see she's caring flowers and a tin of cookies. "When did you get those?" Blaine and I ask. Santana rolls her eyes and shoves some flowers into Blaine's hands. "Rule number 82 a Lopez never shows up empty handed." Santana says annoyed and both Blaine and I quirk an eyebrow at her. "How many rules are there?" I ask amused. Santana huffs at me as Blaine and I giggle. "Well little Lopez you can ask Mami tomorrow at the game."
"Charlie? What are you doing standing at the door silly invite your friends in." My mom says and the three of us look up to see three pairs of eyes staring at us curiously. "Well this is embarrassing." Santana mutters before straightening up from our huddle and pushing Blaine and I into the living room closing the door behind her.
"Sorry, Ms. Fabray we got a little distracted." Santana laughs a little at our own silliness and I look at her curiously. I never imagined Santana would be good with parents, but she was being oddly polite. "Flowers for our lovely host and some famous Lopez chocolate chip cookies for dessert." Santana smiles politely nudging Blaine a little so he'll hand over his flowers as well. I wonder how Santana kept the flowers so fresh during school, I bet Sue has a refrigerator or something she used. It wouldn't surprise me.
"Why thank you…" my mom says. "Santana Lopez and this is Blaine Anderson." Santana introduces. "Thank you Santana and Blaine that's so thoughtful." My mom says going off to the kitchen to put away the flowers and cookies. Rachel is glaring at Santana and Blaine and I can't help but shot her a smirk. "I'm sorry we're not more properly dressed Charlie insisted we couldn't be late. He said you were the best cook in Lima so naturally we couldn't refuse." Blaine says charmingly sending me wink. He hates Rachel just about as much as I do, I'm pretty sure the entire group hates her, and like me is rooting for Quinn and Santana to get together. My mom blushes at the compliment and Santana smiles sweetly again, "Do you need any help with dinner, Ms. Fabray?" "Santana's a great cook mom. Almost as good as you." I tell her coming up to the trio. I figure this is a great time to talk Santana up to Quinn, and I know Quinn loves to eat.
"My abuela taught me to cook from an early age, she said it was the only way to keep me out of trouble." Santana jokes winking at my mom. "Please call me Judy. Its fine dear dinner's almost ready, but if you wouldn't mind helping me set the table I would appreciate it." My mom says returning to the kitchen.
Santana turns to me as we set up the table. "Lopez rule number 5 a way to a man's heart is always food." Santana tells me before I can see her rethinking her phrasing. "Oh really and how's that rule working out for San?" Blaine teases. Santana rolls her eyes as we laugh and I see Quinn and Rachel enter the dining room behind us. Blaine smirks at me as we realize Santana still being goofy without knowing about the extra company.
Santana is always so guarded when it comes to outsiders. Santana sets down a plate before speaking again, "Bonus Lopez rule food's also the way to a woman's heart." I quirk an eyebrow at her before I open my mouth Santana cuts me off, "Oh shut it. I'm working on it, geez. What is gang up on Santana day?" She huffs rolling her eyes. Blaine and I try to stifle our laughter as Quinn and Rachel look at us funny. "I mean exhibit a," she says gesturing to herself, "I loves getting my eats on." Santana says in a fake ghetto voice. Even Santana can't hold back her laughter at that. "Well I wouldn't want to make you wait any longer before you 'gets your eats on' Santana." My mom says looking at the three of us with an amused smile as she sets down the food, and the Blaine and I burst out into another fit of laughter as I see Santana blush a little. Santana chuckles and smiles at my mom, "Thank you Judy. It all looks so good I don't think I could wait much longer anyways."
After everybody settles in to their food my mom clears her throat. "So I know Rachel and Quinn met in homeroom their first day of school, but I must admit Charlie's been very tight lipped about you two. So how'd you met Charlie?" My mom asks and I fidget uncomfortably in my seat. I don't really want my mom knowing how bad I had it my first day. I know she worries about me.
"Well as luck would have it I ran into him waiting outside for Quinn on the first day of school." Santana says shooting me a discreet wink. Santana isn't going to tell her how we actually met. Quinn furrows her eyebrows at this and I give a subtle head shake. "Really?" Rachel asks and I shot her a glare. "Charlie got a black eye that day did you happen to see who did it?" Rachel asks looking curiously at Santana. Santana looks at me cautiously before continuing her lie, "Sadly, no. He was just sitting outside the entrance and we got to talking. I offered him a ride home, but he said his sister was meeting him so I ran off to practice." "Santana invited him to have lunch with us the next day and he's been a part of our little family ever since." Blaine finishes shooting Rachel a look before smiling at me.
"Santana is head cheerleader." I tell my mom before Rachel can open her mouth to question Santana again. "Really? That's quite an achievement. I used to be a cheerleader when I was in school." My mom tells her. "Thank you. Maybe you should come by and help us in practice. We have regionals coming up so we need all the help we can get." Santana tells my mom. My mom blushes a little, "It's been a long time since I ever cheered." Santana waves off my mom's comment, "Oh come on Judy it couldn't have been that long. If I didn't know any better I'd say you and Quinn could be twins." My mom blushes even harder and I see Santana send Rachel an 'eat shit look'.
"Rachel's a fantastic singer mom. She just got a solo for our upcoming glee competition." Quinn interrupts when Rachel starts glaring at Santana. Dinner continues that way until we finish. Quinn and I battling to get either Rachel or Santana my mom's attention. Santana for her part even starts to take an interest in what Quinn is telling our mom even though I can see its killing her, and Santana even talks up Blaine in the process.
When Santana gets up to help my mom with the dishes Rachel all but shoves her back into her seat so she can beat her too it. At that Santana shoots us all a 'what the fuck?' look and even Quinn doesn't seem to have an answer for her. Mom brings out Santana's cookies and some milk for everybody.
"Don't worry they're vegan." Santana tells Rachel pointing over to the cookies. Rachel looks at Santana suspiciously and Blaine nods as I speak up, "Tio Javier is vegan and the only thing he requests be standardized to his dietary preferences is the desserts." I recite. When I asked Maribel if I could bring anything over for dinner one night that's what she had told me. Blaine and Santana nod their heads in affirmation as my mom, Quinn, and Rachel give me a questioning look. "Lopez rule number 101." Santana states biting into her cookie. Blaine and I giggle at that as the other three turn their attentions to her.
"What?" Santana asks when she notices all the attention is on her again. "How many rules are there?" I ask her again. Santana rolls her eyes playfully at me. "Lopez rule 102 the Lopez rule book is always changing. I already told you ask Mami. I swear she has them written down somewhere."
"So Charlie's met your family?" Quinn asks dumbfounded. Santana looks at her with an expression that reads 'duh', "Yeah he comes over almost every weekend to watch the game with us." Santana states as if it was obvious. "Yeah Santana's roping poor Charlie here into becoming a Colts fan." Blaine teases and Santana and I both scowl at him. "Just because you have to cheer for the tragedy that is the Browns doesn't mean you can hate on the Colts." I say and Santana high-fives me still glaring at Blaine. "Yeah Blaine come over to the dark side." Santana teases him. "We have cookies on the dark side oh and what's that other thing we have?" I ask looking over at Santana. "Oh you mean talent?" Santana asks slipping easily in to my joke. "Maybe it was a winning record?" I say pretending to think. "Or Luck?" Santana winks at me as Blaine huffs into his cookie. "See what I mean? She's a horrible influence." I look to see my mom grinning at the three of us clearly amused by our teasing.
Blaine and Santana start gathering their things to leave as soon as dessert is over. "Thank you for dinner. It was lovely meeting you Judy." Santana and Blaine say as they hug my mom goodbye. "See you tomorrow?" Santana asks me and I nod my head yawning a little. "I think we'll take tomorrow off." Santana whispers to me. I can see she's just as tired as I am.
"You and Quinn are welcome to come along if you want. We could always use more Colts fans." Santana tells my mom nudging Blaine softly. "We'll come back! It's only a matter of time!" Blaine huffs and both Santana and I snort at that. "Keep telling yourself that big boy. Thanks for coming guys." I say walking them out. "Just don't let her get under your skin." Blaine tells me nodding subtly to a glaring Rachel. I smile as they walk out to Santana's car closing the door behind them. I walk into the kitchen to help my mom finish cleaning up.
"I like your friends Charlie. That Santana girl seems to have a good head on her shoulders and they both were just sweethearts." My mom says as she passes a dish to me to put away. "They're great! All of them. Santana's like an older sister she's so protective over me. You should met her family. They're fantastic. Blaine, Mike, and Puck are wonderful too. I don't think I've been this happy, and they don't care if I can't sit still or I ask too many questions or anything." I gush. My smiles at me softly, "I'm so happy you met them." My mom says before kisses me goodnight.
Rachel leaves shortly after my mom goes to bed. I go up to my room and sit down on my bed pulling out a book to read. I hear a soft knock on my door and look up to see Quinn leaning against the frame. "Why do you hang out with them?" she asks me and I scowl a little before remembering that Santana would probably beat me for it. "Because they're fun. Santana's helping me a lot with school and teaching me…" I stop. I haven't told Quinn how Santana and I started hanging out.
"Teaching you what?" Quinn prompts me. "Self-defense." "Is somebody bothering you at school Charlie?" Quinn asks me concerned. "Not anymore." I mumble. "What does that mean?" "Quinn, have you ever wondered why nobody ever slushies you at school?" I ask her. "We haven't been there long Charlie. After hearing the stories Rachel's told me I should probably expect one from your pal Santana on Monday morning." Quinn says sarcastically.
I sigh and run my fingers through my hair putting my book down. "Santana is the reason no one will even think about touching you." I tell her, "She cares about me and you, the first time I really talked to her she told me she'd make sure you were off the slushie list. She didn't even know you." I point out. Quinn opens her mouth to say something but I shake my head, "How can you judge her when you won't even take the time to know her? Did you even know she's in your Spanish class?"
Quinn looks surprised at my revelation, "Well no," "What about your AP Lit class or Calculus?" Quinn gives me a questioning look and I shake my head because I only know that they share the majority of their classes together because Santana always talks about how smart she thinks Quinn is. "God Quinn if you only knew how smart she thinks you are…" I say trailing off my thought, "Look I know you like Rachel, but just because she says something as fact doesn't mean it is. Mom likes Santana and I like Santana so deal with it. I'm going to bed." I dismiss her slipping under the covers.