A/N 1: The first chapter has arrived! I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing
…
Getting Trashed and Getting Thrashed
Quinn pushed her fingers through her hair. It was a chilly New Haven afternoon as she stood in the breezy Train Station. Just under a week had passed since she had invited Santana to come and visit her, and she'd spent most of that time flitting between heated memories of the night they'd spent together, and agonizing over why she'd thought it was a good idea to invite Santana over so soon –adamant it would be nothing short of awkward. The confidence she'd felt the weekend before had been slipping steadily away as she'd been messaging her friend to organise the details.
She rotated her phone continuously, her fingers picking at the old case that housed it. A slight crease found home in her forehead. Checking the ETA on the huge board in front of her, Quinn's breath pushed through her lips with a puff. Santana's train had pulled in 5 minutes ago, and she knew from experience that it shouldn't be taking her friend this long to meet her in the open foyer. Looking down, she swiftly unlocked her phone. Her thumb found 'Contacts', but before she could press call on Santana's name, she felt the heat of a body behind her –blocking the cold gusts that had left goosebumps rippling the back of her arms.
"Too late to call to cancel, Fabray." The voice was in her ear, its low snark managing to speed her heart rate as her head snapped up from the phone in her hands. She knew Santana's lips were only so close to her neck because she'd been looking over her shoulder at the pale thumb that threatened to press Santana's name –something Santana wouldn't have been able to do, had she not been wearing heels. Collecting herself, Quinn span round with a wry smile. Her head tilted and eyes narrowed as she addressed her friend.
"Oh shoot, are you sure? 'Cause I think if you hurry, you could catch the quarter past back home." Her words were teasing, and a smile curled her lips as she watched Santana raise a sarcastic eyebrow. Quinn let her eyes wander for the briefest of moments, noting the dress and heels Santana was wearing. "Nice to know you dressed sensibly for the journey." Quinn was thankful that her voice had remained steady, her throat tightening as she settled into their usual back and forth.
Santana narrowed her eyes. Quinn watched as they scrutinized her critically, still finding it hard to catch her breath with those brown eyes studying her so closely. "Nice to know you've finally realized there's no point trying to match this." Santana gestured at her own body, clearly commenting on Quinn's casual choice of clothes –jeans and converse, a stark difference to the sundresses she usually donned.
Quinn rolled her eyes, hooking her arm through Santana's as she led them out of the station with a smile. "You are aware that it's freezing out?"
Without missing a beat, Santana retorted, "And yet you're wearing no coat. Your standards are slipping, Q." Quinn nudged an elbow into her friend, with a smile. Their conversation remained easy as they walked back to Quinn's dorm, and she could feel herself relaxing –unaware of how tense her shoulders had been as she'd stood waiting for her friend.
When they arrived at her dorms, Quinn held the door open for Santana. As Santana brushed innocently past, Quinn couldn't decide if she should be regretting that decision or relishing in it. She turned to close the door, knowing that she needed a few seconds if the warmth spreading down her neck was anything to go by. Turning around, she let her hands sit between her lower back and the door as she quietly watched Santana do a small circle of the room.
"Damn, I thought I had it bad rooming with the Munchkin and Lady Lips."
Quinn pushed herself forward from the door and walked further into the room.
"It's not so bad." Her voice betrayed just how much New Haven had come to grow on her, even if her roommate had no interest in building any form of rapport.
"At least I have a sheet up, Q." Santana was stood in the middle of the room, eyeing the two single beds that sat on the opposing walls. "I mean, it doesn't save me from the horrific sounds Berry makes when she's getting wanky with the Living Mannequin, which must be some sort of human rights violation because I should not have to listen to that –really!" Quinn's eyes bulged at the oversharing of information, and she found a genuine laugh falling from her mouth at Santana's apparent need to accent just how bad it was with an overly dramatic look of disgust.
She pulled out her desk chair and sat on it cross legged, offering a smile as way of invitation for Santana to sit on the freshly made bed. Santana dropped down with a thud, leaning back on her hands as she let her eyes wander the walls again.
"So," Santana's voice pulled Quinn's eyes from the fingernail she'd been pretending to scrutinize, not quite sure where her eyes would have normally rested had friend been sat on that bed just a few weeks earlier. "What time's this party, then?"
…
It was 10PM when Quinn led Santana from her dorm. The nerves that had bubbled in her stomach were now barely noticeable after spending hours laughing over the surprising number of run-ins Santana was able to recall with her housemates. Getting ready had been less stressful than she'd anticipated –her absent roomie allowing for them to occupy separate halves of the room. Quinn was wearing a figure hugging, black dress that stopped mid-thigh. She'd settled on it earlier in the week, despite it being somewhat dressier than her usual attire for a Frat House. Santana's outfit was more akin to house party attire, denim shorts that were, in Quinn's opinion, modest in comparison to those she'd worn back at McKinley. On her upper body was what should have been a simple vest top, but somehow clung to the brunette in all the right places, Quinn had decided as she glanced at Santana from where she'd been sat doing her make-up.
The walk was short, Quinn's dorm being conveniently situated quite central on the campus grounds. They could hear the party before they saw it, and Quinn noticed Santana perk as she heard the loud music emanating from the house. A number of people were hovering at the front of the house, red cups in hand as they engaged in their various conversations –one boy already surprisingly drunk for the early point in the night. Quinn could feel Santana's eyes curiously eyeing her as a number of people turned to say hi before they reached the entrance to the house. She chanced a glance at Santana, noting the impressed, if somewhat surprised look that coloured her features.
"Quinn!" A tall boy appeared in front of the pair, his smile boyishly charming. "We're setting up beer pong, you in?" Quinn smiled, still not quite used to people finding her so approachable after all her time at McKinley.
"I think we're just going to-" Quinn gestured to the kitchen as she strained to be heard over the music. "Maybe the next round?" The boy left with a grin, seemingly satisfied to have recruited her onto his team.
"Come on." Quinn smiled at Santana, walking ahead towards where she knew they'd find drinks, but her breath hitched as she felt Santana's hand slide easily onto her waist, slowing her walk as the brunette leant in to speak.
"And who was that?" Her tone was suggestive, and Quinn felt a grin tugging at her lips.
"I don't know." She angled her head back as they walked through the crowded room, wondering if Santana was going to leave her hand there all night. "It's the first time I've seen him."
They eventually made it to the counter that had various drinks splayed across it. Quinn tried not to notice the strange tug in her stomach when Santana's hand moved from her waist, instead pulling two cups from the huge stack that sat in front of them. Santana was next to her, a look of incredulous confusion splayed on her face as she waited for Quinn to explain.
"So you just get random guys coming up to you for a game of 'pong?" Her voice was teasing, directed both at Quinn and the mystery boy that had collared her when they first arrived.
Quinn felt a smirk form on her lips, arching a brow as she angled her body to Santana. "What can I say? Everybody wants me." She winked, and Santana's eyes narrowed, the corner of her mouth hinting at a smile before she turned her attention to the drinks on offer.
Not much time had passed, but Quinn and Santana were on their second cup of the heavily spiked punch that was only made drinkable from the sickliness of the fruit juice it was mixed with. The two had been stood with their backs to one of the walls, watching people dance as they fell into easy conversation, Quinn recounting some of the funnier stories from this particular Frat House.
"Quinn, you're up!" Quinn peered round the corner to see the beer pong table set up and turned back to Santana.
"Do you mind?" Santana waved her forward, an inquisitive glint in her eye as she followed the blonde into the next room.
As Quinn joined the team with the boy who had invited her, a bunch of groans came from the opposing team. She smiled to herself, wondering at what point exactly she'd earnt such notoriety for her beer pong skills. The teams were fairly even, but Quinn was the only person to not miss a single throw, which eventually led to her team's victory. The boys got rowdy, cheering with raised fists as Quinn grinned at her teammates.
Someone was already setting up the next round when Quinn walked over to Santana with a smile. She couldn't help the ridiculous sense of pride that swelled as Santana gave her an impressed look.
"We get Quinn this time!" The shout reached Quinn's ears just as she'd opened her mouth to speak to Santana. She turned around and waved her hand, ready to tell them that she'd join them later instead, but Santana pushed her forward playfully, interjecting before she could give her excuses.
"Quinn's down, but only if I can join." Santana didn't seem too worried about getting rejected, but Quinn was fairly sure that was because she knew most of the guys would be trying to get into her good books, in hopes of a good time later that night.
After settling their teams, Quinn and Santana made eye contact across the table as they waited for their turn. Quinn arched a brow, smirk clear on her face as she silently goaded on her friend. Santana's eyes narrowed playfully. They always had been competitive, and part of Quinn wondered if it was a good idea that they had been paired together. As their turn came round, it was Santana who took the first throw. Quinn watched as it bounced off the cups, smiling to herself before confidently bouncing the ball into one of the red cups opposite. She smirked, Santana clearly irked at being beaten but still in good spirits as she downed the drink.
Their eyes flitted between the table and each other, letting their eyes do the all the button pushing that was normally saved for verbal sparring when they were in competition. By the end of the game, Santana had made 1 successful throw, as opposed to Quinn's clean streak –Santana's team winning overall.
Santana met Quinn with a playful grin, her body slightly looser from the liquor in her system.
"Well, how does it feel to be thrashed?" Quinn asked, feeling like she'd spent the last half an hour with a permanent smirk slapped across her face.
Straightening up, Santana crossed her arms with raised eyebrows. "I think you'll find your team got thrashed."
Quinn gave a suggestive smile, her personal victory seemingly acting as its own, personal drug as she moved to walk past the brunette, pausing to lean in. "Whatever you say, Santana." Her voice was low and sultry as she let her fingernail slide down the girl's back. She was sure she felt a shudder, but hadn't waited for a reaction as she continued walking back to where they'd first got drinks.
She was grateful the room was so hot from the many bodies, her face growing warm as the beating in her chest didn't show any signs of slowing. She'd already poured a large cup of the strong punch and downed half of it by the time Santana caught up with her.
"Easy, boozy." Santana took the cup and drank some for herself, eyeing Quinn with a curious look.
Quinn took the cup back, apparently still feeling bold as she took a step closer to Santana. They weren't touching, but only half a step closer and they would be. "I think you'll find it was you drinking all that beer." Her voice was teasing, teetering on flirtatious. Her heart was banging against her chest, probably trying to work out why its owner was holding Santana's eyes as she took another sip of the strong drink. Santana licked her lips, apparently willing to sacrifice the cup and grab her own before filling it with the same concoction.
Feeling entirely unable to trust herself, Quinn led them towards the main area, where the lights were low and the music was loudest. People danced around them as Quinn slowed, turning to face Santana as an indication that they were at their destination. She hoped the music would save her from her lips that apparently had a mind of their own tonight. Quinn moved to the music, eyes low as it pushed all thought from her mind. But then there was a hand sliding to the small of her back. She felt her chest heave, silently pulling in oxygen at the unexpected contact. Santana's body was pushed to hers as she leant in to speak to her friend.
"You seem different here, Q." It was a statement, rather than a question, and Quinn noted the lack of accusation in her tone. Santana's body was pressed to hers –not tight, but enough for Quinn to wonder if her heavy breathing was noticeable.
She pondered, unsure if the statement required a response.
"You seem happy."
Quinn wondered if it had been the liquor or the safe blanket of dark noise around them that had allowed Santana to speak so honestly.
"I am." It wasn't a lie. She was happier than she'd ever been at McKinley. She couldn't care less about the social hierarchy anymore, and there wasn't the constant threat of her innermost secrets being spilt at any given time. She could relax.
Leaning her head back slightly, Quinn let her hazel eyes meet brown, their eyes locked as she pushed a hand through brown locks. She let her fingers sit at the base of the woman's neck, gently encouraging Santana to lean in. She told herself it was so Santana would hear her better, but the way her heart stuttered betrayed her.
"I'm glad you're here."
Again, their eyes met –closer this time. Quinn's eyes dropped to full lips, hovering there as Santana replied, "Me too."
She forced her eyes back up to brown, knowing there was no way Santana could have missed it. She wondered if she'd done it on purpose, perhaps she wanted Santana to know how they made her chest feel tight.
After a few beats, Santana allowed some space between them again. Quinn was grateful, she'd decided; she wasn't sure what to make of Santana's ability to act like the weekend before hadn't happened. Maybe she was jealous –it felt like she'd spent the entire week contemplating everything.
…
Quinn had pushed the key to her bedroom lock twice by the time Santana nudged her aside with a snort. Her teeth were on display as she smiled widely, Quinn now with her back to the wall beside the door. She knew she was drunk –the way the walls looked fuzzy told her as much. She let her eyes wander Santana's face which was creased with concentration as she tried to have better luck at getting the key in, between her fits of laughter.
The liquor had lubricated her restraint, hazel eyes now following the curve of Santana's ass in her shorts. At last, Santana had opened the door, and with a triumphant look at Quinn, she'd pulled her by the wrist into the dorm room.
"I told you, you were drunker."
Quinn was happy to be pulled along, fully aware of the words being spoken, but in no hurry to respond. Santana dropped onto the bed, leaning back on her hands as she kicked off her heels. Quinn fell down next to her, sat upright as she looked back at Santana. "I'm not, you just had more time to try." Santana rolled her eyes.
"God, Quinn. Always with the details."
A smile tugged at Quinn's lips. She pushed herself up from the bed and wasted no time pulling the dress over her head. It was nothing Santana hadn't seen after years of Cheerios practices together, though that didn't stop Quinn idly wondering if she should be feeling more nervous about undressing in front of her friend. Her back was to the brunette for the short walk to her laundry basket, passing the full length mirror on the way. She thought she saw Santana watching her, but when she turned around, brown eyes were looking everywhere but at her.
Quinn walked right up to Santana, who was next to the pillows, offering only a quiet "Sorry" as she leant past to pull her nightwear from under the pillow. She probably wasn't as sorry as she should've been, but Quinn felt that was more the fault of the liquor than anything else. Santana stood, pushing a hand through her hair. She looked almost sober now, as she pulled her own clothes from the bag she'd brought.
Quinn took a calming breath as she lay on top of her covers, turning to the side as Santana stood with her back to her. Her mouth was dry, and she didn't know if it was due to the copious amount of alcohol, or the way her eyes skated down Santana's sides as she stretched to pull the top over her head. She rolled onto her back, knowing she was invading Santana's privacy, irrespective of how much more she'd already she'd seen. Her attention was brought back at the sound of Santana stuffing clothes into her bag.
A comfortable silence had filled the room. They were both tired, and a little too drunk to hold unnecessary conversation. Santana hovered beside the bed.
"Is your roommate coming back tonight?"
Quinn took a moment to answer. The idea of spending the night in such close proximity to Santana was tempting. She moved to lay on her side, reacquainting herself with the sight of Santana. Toned thighs were at eye level, and they made Quinn's heart race. Forcing her eyes up, she let out a disappointed sigh.
"No, you sleep here. I'll take her bed."
She settled into the unfamiliar bed, knowing a night squeezed into Santana on a single bed would only further complicate the blurred lines of their already complicated friendship.
…
The following day, Quinn and Santana made their out of the dorm block. There were masses of people milling between numerous tables.
"What's all this?" Santana asked.
"Oh, I forgot that's today." She looked at Quinn, still no clearer on why there were so many people huddled in the huge courtyard. "It's just the activities fair –clubs and societies set up stands to get people to sign up. I can just check out the website, later." Quinn shrugged nonchalantly and continued leading them towards the main road out of campus when Santana pulled her to a stop.
"You're being stupid. Let's just have a look. As long as you don't join another Glee club –can you imagine having another Rachel Berry in your life?"
Quinn rolled her eyes with a grin. "There will never be another Rachel Berry."
"I hope so." Santana replied with feigned exasperation. They began circling the tables, Santana calling out the names of the clubs that caught her eye –which tended to follow the theme of being clubs that Quinn would have absolutely no interest in joining, featuring classics such as: The Nicholas Cage Appreciation Society, and the Stich 'n' Bitch Society –which Santana felt would actually suit her friend, given her interests in 'lame, old people stuff'.
"What about cheerleading? I mean, I know it won't be the same without my beautiful face, but still."
"I don't know, I like being on top." Santana spun her head around with an incredulous smirk.
"Uh, wanky, Quinn Fabray!"
Quinn's cheeks burnt as she hastened to correct her statement. "Of the pyramid, Santana. Get your mind out of the gutter." She had considered trying out when she'd first arrived, but more than anything, she knew her competitive nature threatened to drive her back into chasing status and the Captain's spot.
"What's GSA?" Quinn asked as they approached the table, more to herself than to anyone in particular. Despite this, a girl with red hair and a welcoming smile stepped forward eagerly.
"Hey, we're Gay Straight Alliance. We welcome anyone who's part of, or supports the LGBT community."
"Oh." Embarrassment bubbled in Quinn's stomach, though she wasn't quite sure why.
"There's a group of us that discuss campus harassment and policies with the College, but mostly people just come for the socials." The girl extended out her arm with a flyer. "It's the details for our first night out, I hope I'll see you there."
Quinn accepted the flyer hesitantly. "Thanks." She smiled, and continued walking with Santana.
"That girl was totally checking you out." Santana's voice was mocking as she snatched the flyer from Quinn's hands. She scrutinized the paper as Quinn glanced back towards the red headed girl.
"Do you think?" Quinn had never been checked out by a girl before, at least not to her knowledge. She'd decided that Santana didn't count as there wasn't much time for checking out between necking the tequila and then necking each other.
Santana scrunched the paper into a ball, ready to throw it in the next trash can she saw, but Quinn snatched it back.
"Uh, excuse you! What do you care if she did? People always check you out." Quinn flattened out the flyer, folding it in half before slipping it into her bag. "You're not actually thinking of going to that, are you?"
Quinn shrugged.
"You seriously want to spend a night in a room full of Lady Hummels?" Santana seemed exasperated, her voice raising slightly.
"It's called Gay Straight Alliance, Santana –not everyone is going to be gay. Or a boy." She added.
Santana's eyes searched Quinn's face for some form of explanation, brows furrowed before seemingly giving up.
"Come on, let's just go get lunch."
…
Quinn and Santana sat opposite each other at one of Quinn's favourite lunch spots. She took a sip of her ginger ale and played with the straw as she looked to Santana with a soft smile.
"So, you've been avoiding talking about New York all weekend."
Santana arched an eyebrow. "Um, I'm pretty sure I told you all about living with Babs and Lady Lips."
Quinn rolled her eyes. "I don't mean that. What have you been up to? Have you found a job yet?"
With a groan, Santana leant back in her seat before relenting. "I'm living the dream, Quinn. I have a thrilling job where I serve drunk assholes who apparently haven't heard of tipping unless I let them look at me the way Mercedes looks at tater tots."
Quinn didn't know whether to laugh or comfort her friend, so instead pressed further. "But it's better than Kentucky, right?"
Santana nodded and spoke quietly, suddenly interested in twirling her straw. "I took a dance class at NYADA; that was alright."
"Santana, that's great!" Quinn wondered why her friend felt this was something to have held back, as Santana remained unexcited.
"I don't know, it was all just a bit… Rachel."
Quinn couldn't hold back the laugh, but tried to reign it in when Santana gave her a pointed look.
"It's just all so Broadway. I mean, I totally rock the Chicago look –I don't need to tell you, but… uh."
Quinn refused to let the image of Santana in lingerie and suspenders distract her as she went to encourage Santana to give it another go, but her friend perked up.
"However," She let the word drag out, her tone promising an interesting twist. "There was this guy, Gabriel –if I wasn't totally into getting my lady kisses on, well, yeah, I'm just saying… But anyway, he told me to check out his dance class next week."
A genuine smile lit up Quinn's face. "That's really great, San."
"Yeah, well, I mean it's just a dance class, but it means I can see people who aren't either drunk or trying to turn my life into a living hell with the 'perks' of my own personal score."
They both laughed as the waiter arrived with their food.
…
Quinn ruffled her hair in the mirror. She wandered over to her desk and looked at the crumpled flyer from a few days before. She'd managed to avoid the topic being raised for the rest of Santana's stay, and now found herself changing multiple outfits as she fretted over why she was even going. Running her eyes over the outfit she'd settled on, Quinn took a calming breath. She had opted for a casual black top that stopped just above her midriff, and skirt that was short, but couldn't be classed as mini. With her smoky eye make-up and messy hair, she felt distant enough from the sundress wearing Quinn Fabray that would probably lock the door and stay home.
Not bothering with a glass, Quinn took a slug from the bottle of Tequila she and Santana hadn't managed to open a few days before. If she was going to do this, she definitely needed some Dutch courage.
Half an hour later, Quinn was in the short queue to the club named on the flyer. Her arms were wrapped around herself, conscious of the skin she'd earlier been confident to display. She'd never gone to a club on her own before, and even though she was technically meeting people there, she didn't know any of them –not even the name of the girl who had invited her.
A rush of panic came over Quinn and she span round to leave, only to bump into the person directly behind her.
"I'm so sorry!" Quinn brought her hands out to steady the woman, and instantly recognised her as the girl from the activities fair. So much for leaving without anyone knowing she'd even arrived. The girl beamed at Quinn and brought a hand up to her shoulder.
"Don't look so worried!" The girl looked over her shoulder as though she was looking for someone else. "Your girlfriend couldn't make it then?"
Quinn's face scrunched in confusion before she put two and two together. "Oh, no. I mean, she's not- And she lives in New York. So…" Her face burned with embarrassment, unsure of why exactly she couldn't string a sentence together.
With a smirk on her face, the girl took in Quinn's hasty response and seemed to try and figure the blonde out. "So, you're single. Hm, tonight will be interesting for a pretty girl like you." Noting Quinn's nervous laugh, the girl finally introduced herself. "I'm Harley."
"Quinn." She smiled, finally accepting that she would at least have to stay for a short while before making her excuses. Judging from the night so far, Quinn thought to herself that it was going to be an interesting one...
…
A/N 2: So that was the first chapter! Please, please leave me a review as your feedback will help me to improve the future chapters. Also, it's fun to hear what you enjoyed or expect to happen :)
Days to write, Minutes to read, and Seconds to review ;)
A/N 3: I have some uni assignments due, but will endeavour to not take too long with the next chapter.
