She was wrong.
Things were going from bad to worse.
The line outside for taxis was ten miles long, people were shouting and laughing and trying to talk over the noise of the planes. The sun was beating down hotter then Santana had first expected and she was beginning to break out into a sweat.
What am I doing, what am I doing, what am I doing, you should just go home now Santana thought and placed her hand on her forehead, she was hot both in a physically attractive way and her body temperature. She looked around bewildered and desperate to find some kind of transport to get her as far away from the airport and as close to the beach as she could.
As the minutes passed without any luck, she began to feel the sun slowly melting her skin, shaking her head she turned and wheeled her bag back inside, giving up for the time being. At least in here it's air conditioned she thought then spotted the bathrooms and continued walking over to them. Trying not to awkwardly bump or trip anyone as she went in, she carefully parked her suitcase right out of anyones way. Catching glimpse of herself in the mirror she stopped and let out a puff of air.
"Damn" she said to no one in particular "that is a hot mess"
The Latina's sleek black hair was unusually messy as she hadn't touched it since she boarded the 10 hour flight from Miami, her v necked white t-shirt was slightly crumpled and had fallen out of being tucked into her black and white polka dotted high waisted shorts. She walked towards the sink and leaned on it with a hand on each side, staring at herself intensely, her dark tired eyes looked back at her.
"Santana" she told herself into the mirror
"What the fuck are you doing, are you crazy? You can't just leave, you can't just run away from your problems, you're twenty one now, you need to grow up" she looked at the frustrated girl looking back at her and shut her eyes, hanging her head a little and muttering "chica estúpida"
The cubicle door behind her opened slowly and an older woman walked out.
"You know dear" she said, coming up to the sink next to Santana and washing her hands, her British accent filling the room "running away from your problems is childish, but only adults ever seem to do it, however what's life without a few adventures" the woman paused by the hand towels "I got a husband from mine"
Santana looked up at the lady who winked at her "go and have fun, this is France, enjoy yourself"
"I'm sorry but you are?" Santana asked as the woman headed for the door
"No one dear" she replied "just someone who overheard you talking to yourself in the ladies" and with that she was gone. The door to the bathroom shut and Santana was alone. Looking back at herself in the mirror she sighed.
"Maybe she's right" she told herself, there really was no point in going home now after she ended up coming all this way.
"Okay" she told herself "you're a confident and capable woman, you're gonna walk outside and find a ride"
Taking one last look at herself she nodded and marched over to her suitcase and bags gathered them up and went back outside.
"Hey Beyonce" an American voice called out "Over here"
Santana suddenly spotted Finn waving out the window of a silver mercedes, she quickly dashed across the road towards Finn while people were loading suitcases into cars and vans.
"Hey" she smiled at him noticing another curly haired guy who was behind the wheel of the car, he was increasingly well dressed, in a crisp white button down shirt and navy clean cut shorts.
"You need a ride somewhere?" he asked
Santana was about to say no when she realized she really had no other options
"That would be great, thank you" she said and Finn gestured for his friend to open the boot, as soon as she heard the click she went around to the back and loaded in her suitcase before sliding into the backseat.
"Thank you so much" she said again "I really didn't want to be a pain, but it's literally impossible to get a ride around here"
"Benefits of having a friend here" the guy behind the wheel said "I'm Jesse" he said turning around in his seat and reaching his hand back for Santana to shake, his smile wide and friendly.
"I'm Santana" she said shaking his hand with a smile "thanks for the ride"
"No problem" he said pulling on his shades and starting the car "so how do you know Finn?"
"He stole my suitcase" Santana said "I had to chase him through the airport"
Jesse laughed "sounds typical"
"so Finn" Santana said wanting the keep the awkward silence on delay for as long as possible
"Where's this girlfriend of yours? or am I calling your bluff?"
Finn grinned and looked at Santana through the rearview mirror
"She's at mine" Jesse said and Santana lifted an eyebrow
"Well that's all kinds of wanky" she muttered
Finn shook his head and laughed "Jesse is her best friend"
"I live here, mostly" Jesse explained "and she comes to visit as often as she can, my family owns the St James mansion in the country and a bed and breakfast by the coast, I help them run it, well when I'm not in New York that is"
St James Mansion Santana thought, well that explains the impeccable almost to gay standard of dressing.
"What's in New York?" Santana asked
"Broadway" he replied with a grin
"Oh wow" Santana said genuinely impressed
"So where are we taking you Santana?" Finn asked
"Oh" Santana said suddenly realizing that she had embarked on this completely spontaneous trip with absolutely no plan whatsoever
"Um, actually I don't really know, this was sort of a spare of the moment decision to come here"
"Well would you like to stay with me?" Jesse asked
"Oh no" Santana said "I wouldnt want to impose"
As much as she was thankful for their help she really didn't feel like spending her vacation with a rich broadway Michelangelo and two love birds. She was more then ready to get away from people altogether, that was why she ran, wasn't it?
"Are you sure?" Jesse asked again "because there is more than enough rooms"
"Really" Santana said trying to sound convincing that she would be fine on her own "It's fine"
"Alright if you insist" he said "I'll drop you at the Clarion Grand, I have a friend who works there"
"Oh great" Santana said trying to sound optimistic "That sounds…"
"Perfect" Jesse said "It's amazing there"
"I was going to say expensive" Santana mumbled under her breath
The car pulled over outside a huge hotel and Jesse jumped out of the car waving at the valet with pleasant smile
"Bonjour Samuel, comment ça va?"
"Très bien Mr St James" the valet smiled at Jesse's kindness, he gestured for Santana to follow him into the hotel. As she got out of the car Finn reached out of the window and grabbed her arm
"See ya round Beyonce" he smiled "Have a good trip"
"You too Finn Hudson, thanks for everything" she replied returning the smile, she went round the back to get her bags out and the valet came running up to her
"Non non non" he said giving her a smile and putting his hand in front of hers "You go with Mr St James" he said "I'll get your bags"
"Merci" Santana said finally remembering to use French
The lobby of the hotel was bigger than all of the rooms in her apartment building put together, a giant white staircase with black decorated railings stood as a sweeping structure in the middle. Couches and small coffee tables were scattered decoratively around the edges of the room, Jesse was already at the front desk chatting to the man behind it.
Penny loafers? She thought seeing Jesse's shoes god someone tell me that boy is gay and rich please.
"Santana" he said turning around and waving for her to come over.
"I was hoping you'd have a room available for my friend here" he said with a charming smile "she's just arrived from America and I want her to get the full Nice experience" "I will have a look for you Mr St James" the man said looking at the computer screen in front of him
"Do you have anything available in the penthouses?" Jesse asked and Santana's eyes widened and she could almost feel the ache of her bank account
"Oh no that's not necessary really" but Jesse ignored the comment and just looked at her smiling
"Yes we do" the man said "how long will you be staying?"
"Just a week" Santana said, she may have made a crazy decision to suddenly leave but she knew it couldn't be forever and so she had made sure she got a return flight back home to Miami.
"but I really don't need-" Santana's argument was cut off by Jesse
"Perfect!" he exclaimed "thank you so much, she'll take it"
"I-I'll take it?" Santana stuttered
"7000 Euros" the man said and Santana choked back a sob
"But" he continued "with your special discount Mr St James, only 4000"
"4000" Santana repeated live with no regrets she repeatedly told herself
"Thank you Edmond" Jesse said with a wide grin and took Santana's visa card right from her hand and gave it over to him
"Thats quite a discount you get there" Santana said leaning forward on the counter and whispering in Jesse's ear
"My family holds large charity events here sometimes, they rake in a lot money when we do" he quietly replied
"All done" Edmond said handing the card back to Santana
"Ah! Edmond you life saver, take care of my friend now" Jesse said patting Santana on the back making her cringe god i'm not a dog she thought, she was never really enthused by people touching her without good reason.
"I hope you have a good stay here" he said to her "if you need anything give me a call" he flicked a card out of a shiny silver tin in his pocket and handed it to her
"Thank you" was all Santana could manage to say "a lot"
"No worries" Jesse smiled "au revior!" he called out as he turned and ran towards the door
Before Santana could say goodbye Edmond started talking again
"Here is your room key" he said sliding it across the counter "and your bags are already in your room waiting"
"Okay, mercy" Santana said with a smile taking the room key as well as a deep breath.
4000 euros she thought as she got into the elevator this room better come with hot french models and endless breadsticks.