Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or the main characters in this story. The only thing I own is my writing.
A/N: THANK YOU for all the reviews, favs, and follows. Your kind words make me feel like I'm not completely bad at this... so I'll keep on going. I love you all for giving me your time, thank you. Sorry for the wait. Hopefully this chapter is worth it. Once again, thanks to Lizardmm for looking this over and a thanks to Kai for her feedback.
Reviews are appreciated... my muse is needy.
Thursday
The midday sun flooded the small dorm room with its warmth; white, painted walls helped to intensify the illumination, making the room a human-sized lightbox. This was the downside of having a room that faced sunrise. It was also enough reason for Quinn to keep her eyes shut, even though she had been awake for quite sometime. It wasn't that she wanted to depart from the land of slumber; she just couldn't fall back asleep. It was the point of no return for her – the ever-present faint hue of red stretched the vast emptiness of her inner eyelids. That and there was a very warm body sharing her increasingly small twin-sized mattress.
Initially she woke up because a certain person in her bed had a wandering hand issue, while fully unconscious. This was fact. Quinn even confirmed the new finding with sound testing methods. She waved her hand, she nudged, shoved, she threaten to break parts on the sleeping girl. She had even whispered choice words of seduction to no avail. Eventually, the hands of her bedmate did settle, one hand coming to rest at the waistband of Quinn's pajama bottoms and the other tucked against her shoulder blade. For a short while, Quinn found some relief as she teetered on the edge of sleep for what seemed too brief a time. It wasn't until she felt Santana stir that Quinn knew her hope of sleep was gone. The dragon had awoken.
"You ready?" Santana's voice rasped against Quinn's ear.
Instead of responding verbally, like a lady would do, Quinn opted to grunt as she rolled onto her stomach and buried her face into her pillow. It was soft, plush, and almost noise cancelling if she could just wrap it around to cover both of her ears. She reasoned that if she took no notice of her companion, she'd be left in peace to sleep. But Quinn should have known better; she should have known that Santana Lopez was a force not to be ignored.
Santana slithered her way on top and straddled Quinn's calves; it gave her a nice view of Quinn's ass. She was careful in her movements, making sure that the covers didn't completely shed from the lower half of their bodies.
"You still have time to back out." Santana rocked from side to side to get the material of her pants to loosen at the knees. Once comfortable, she arched herself forward to settle the length of her body against Quinn's backside. Her movement was painfully slow for Quinn's liking; it was deliberate. She slid with the grace of a vixen, and both of them damn well knew it. Santana made sure to take her time as she melded their bodies together; it was as much for her own enjoyment as it was to test the will of the girl beneath her.
The small amount of friction was enough to stir a warmth between them. Just how far could their game go? On a purely physical level, neither one of them could deny that their bodies worked in sync and fit like two halves of the same – sexual goddess – soul. There was an instinctual sense, a map of sorts, as to what the other wanted and needed during sex. They found their rhythm without a need to try. Effortless. And they both had to marvel at how every curve of their own body matched the other's dip a little too well. Should anything ever be that easy between them? After all, this wasn't Brittany and Santana. This was Quinn and Santana.
Santana wanted to make sure that Quinn was getting the full effect. If the lack of bra-wearing didn't get Quinn going, they both could conclude that she was definitely straight. But the feeling of harden nipples through sheer sleep shirts didn't go unnoticed. The simple act had Santana resisting the urge to grid down as much as Quinn held back an equally intimate act. They were so close to each other. Body against body, breath against skin. Neither missed the quiet moans that spilled forth. They did, however, ignore the confusion that swam in their heads about their current predicament. Quinn wasn't gay, and Santana wasn't going to be anyone's pitstop; it was their job to be hers – all reasons that both girls clung to in their own need for control, and at the same time, to safely be able to push the lines of their friendship.
"I honestly hope you don't quit before we even start." Soft words were muttered behind the shell of Quinn's ear. The fluttering breath and feathered touch of Santana's lips sent a shiver down Quinn's spine and caused her to smirk.
There was a chilling truth that lay beneath the surface of those words. This was a more vulnerable side of Santana. One that Quinn was curious to see more of, one that she only had glimpses of in all the years that they'd known each other. Tender moments that had always been reserved for another blonde, while the crueler truths were reserved for herself.
"What time is it?" Quinn's voice was gravelly from sleep. She could feel Santana shift her weight for a split second.
"12:21... Why?" Santana inquired.
"I just wanted to make a note about when this whole girlfriend experience is starting." Quinn rubbed at her eyes as she yawned. "Switch places with me."
"You're a bossy girlfriend, ya'know?" Santana frowned at the girl below. Quinn merely shrugged and brushed off the words as she blinked away her sleepiness.
Santana grumbled during their reversal, but she did what she was told with little resistance. Even Quinn had to make note at how easy it was for their bodies to maneuver around each other. Santana slipped into place beneath her with ease.
Without needing to look at where the marker was on her desk, Quinn reached over to the base of where the whiteboard sat on top the wooden surface. She balanced on one arm and prepared to write with the other. Her new position had her chest hovering above Santana's face. If it was anyone else, she'd probably care about the fact that she had no bra on and was in a delicate proximity. But this was Santana, her locker room companion, her first mind-blowing sexual experience, and for today, her girlfriend. Knowing that caused Quinn's stomach to churn, but even she had to admit it was an oddly enjoyable discomfort. I wonder if this means that deep down in my psyche I'm a masochist?
"What are you doing?" Santana took her time at enjoying her new view. "Not that I'm complaining about this morning's visit to the valley of Fabray." The brunette could feel a flood of new warmth wash over her. Quinn's sleep shirt had a cut that didn't leave much to the imagination, and with her positioned above and the neck opening falling open just enough, Santana found it particularly difficult to pry her eyes away from the swell of the blonde's breasts.
Quinn shook her head and chicken scratched 12:21 on the whiteboard. Tossing the pen back onto the hard surface, she carefully dropped her weight directly down onto the girl beneath. She dead-weighted in the position before doing a little shimmy.
"How are you liking the valley now, San?" She could feel the vibrations of the girl's laugh against her sternum. Tanned hands pushed against her stomach to allow some air between them.
"Shit, Quinn." Santana's laugh subsided. "Way to find every lesbian's secret death-wish."
"Death by boobs?" Quinn pushed off on fully extended arms and cocked an eyebrow. "I don't buy it."
They shared a comfortable smile at their own silliness before Quinn settled back down onto the bed and into Santana's loose embrace. After all, it was easier to cuddle on such a small bed rather than lay side by side. Who could fight with that logic? Ignore the fact that there was a perfectly good, untouched, twin bed on the opposite side of the room. But if you asked Quinn, she'd say the bed was questionable in its cleanliness, and she didn't have the heart to subject any guest to risky conditions.
As both girls enjoyed the ease of their morning, they stayed focused on the rhythm of their hearts. It wasn't until Quinn's mind started to wander in thought did she tense. There was a lot of new things she was feeling, and it was a bit overwhelming. How could this thing between them feel as normal as breathing? This feels too good.
Sensing the other girl's shift, Santana rubbed at Quinn's back and broke the silence. "Hey, you never told me how far this girlfriend thing can go." She paused in thought before speaking again. "Like body contact. Though you do seem quite comfortable with it considering my lovely visit between twin peaks."
A shade of blush swept over Quinn's cheeks. Her hand was quick to swat at a tanned arm.
Santana bit back the grin that played on her lips. "But kissing... other forms of touching?" Those words coming from Santana had Quinn's stomach twisting and turning, along with other warm frilly feelings stirring inside.
Quinn tilted her head to look at the brown orbs just above her head. God, that look. Do Mexican third eyes have the ability to make you feel like you're putty? Wiki this later.
"I- I want the whole deal. I want to know what it's like." Why are you saying this out loud? "So if you'd do it with someone you're dating..." Shut up. Keep cool and play this smart. "I really want it all," her voice cracked. You just had to throw in that really. Well, here we go, brace yourself.
To Quinn's surprise, she was greeted with a smile and firm nod. There was no snarky remark or crude joke, but rather, there was a general understanding.
"So you're fine if I kiss you here?" Santana lightly pressed a finger to Quinn's forehead, causing the blonde to lift a curious brow, but nodding nonetheless.
Oh god, this is sappy. The tanned girl pointed to another spot and Quinn nodded once again; she was entranced by the frank action. She knew how childish and gag-worthy this whole thing was, but it was as if she had an out-of-body experience. Stop nodding. Stop enabling this ridiculous behavior. The kisses continued until Santana landed on a particular area on Quinn's neck that was a bit too ticklish, and they both had to stop due to a fit of giggles.
"So, what do you wanna do on this beautiful Thursday afternoon?" Santana toyed with Quinn's hair.
Quinn's eyes fluttered shut upon hearing the question. If reincarnation is real, I was definitely a cat in my past life. God, keep doing that. Mmm. Quinn replayed the question in her head.
Hazel eyes snapped open. "Did you say Thursday?" She bolted from the bed and dove into her closet.
"Yea." Santana's brow knitted together in concern as she watched her friend strip off clothing. "If you weren't so frantic, I'd guess you wanted some sex." Much to Santana's disappointment the blonde started putting on clothing just as fast. "But I think we're tossing that idea off a cliff."
"Yoga," Quinn called from within her closet.
"What'd you say, closet case?" The dark haired girl snickered at her own words.
"Yes. Found it." Blonde hair emerged from the confined space a bit disheveled. Between her hands was a neatly rolled blue yoga mat and a pair of pants. She tossed them toward the seated girl. "Those should work for you."
"Um. Clue me in here." It wasn't that Santana couldn't put the pieces together, but she was clinging to the thin strain of hope that Quinn was into sex on yoga mats. But that wasn't the case at all. Quinn wasn't going to miss class, and she wasn't going to let Santana sleep in the dorm room when she wasn't able to herself.
Both girls got ready quickly. When they were done, they concluded that there was enough time for them to do a light jog to the nearby studio and be on time for the class.
"Remind me, why do I have to do this? Last time I check, I'm the hottest bitch in this town," Santana contested as she picked up her pace. "I doubt yoga will do much for my goddess-like figure."
"Every soul yearns for stillness and balance. Yoga is the path to finding it." Quinn's focus was on the path ahead; she was the one leading.
"Uh huh. Who told you that, Gandhi?" The brunette showed off a bit by jogging around her companion.
"I may have found it inside of a candy wrapper once."
"Ironic, don't you think? Exercise advice from fatty treats."
"True, but shouldn't we take wisdom in any form that it comes?" Santana nodded at the rationale. "Anyway, how else can I keep in shape if I don't at least put in the effort?"
"Ah, there's the narcissistic reasoning I was looking for." A large grin found its way on the tanned girl's lips.
It was a small studio that stood alone. Dull, blue, chipped paint covered the bulk of the exterior, making the building look like the residence of an absentee homeowner rather than a place of business. A real estate agent would have called it quaint. The interior however was different story; it was updated and well invested in. Buffed hardwood floors looked well-maintained. Floor to ceiling mirrors lined the entire front of the studio, while large windows on another wall lit the entire studio with a soft glow of natural light.
A low whistle slipped from Santana's lips as she observed the class of 20 or so people. Everyone was mingling and waiting for the session to begin. Groups of friends laughed together, while a couple of strays tapped at their electronic screens for amusement. There were a couple others, but their attention was mostly focused on the participants of the class and not a smartphone.
Quinn led the way to the back corner of the studio and waved for the tanned girl to follow. Santana yanked at the strap that was digging into her shoulder as she walked after the blonde. She couldn't help but find a new appreciation for the small class as she took a good look around.
"So... this is where all the hot Yale girls gather?" The comment earned Santana a firm elbow into her side and a stern look.
"Behave yourself. You're worse than the guys in this class."
"That's cause they're all glitter fairies." She fluttered her hands and batted her eyes for an added effect. "But, there are a few pervs in here."
Both girls unrolled their mats and placed their belonging against the farthest wall. They engaged themselves in conversation, but mostly it was Santana trying to convince Quinn that they could still ditch. She went so far as to point out that the class must have sucked so bad if even the instructor skipped out. To Santana's credit, she also offered Quinn a private lesson in stretching, in bed, if the blonde insisted on this type of workout. That offer was however rain-checked.
The front door opened abruptly, sounding a tiny bell and spilling a flood of harsh light into the room. A pale skinny girl ungracefully pulled herself through the door. Even though her body made it through the entrance unscathed, she fumbled to pull her duffel bag and mat past the door's grip.
"Oh god, I'd love to see how stilt-legs over there will make it through this," Santana muttered.
"Shhh. Be nice."
"I'm being honest. If it happens to be rude and insightful, so be it." She crossed her arms. "The world needs a rancid shot of honesty once in awhile."
Santana smiled sweetly at her blonde friend. The innocence behind Santana's playful expression had Quinn's heart thudding in her chest. All the blonde could think about was how perfect she looked. Even with little to no makeup, the tanned girl would give the entire town a run for its money. Before Quinn could stop herself, she took a step closer. Her head tilted and she slowly leaned into the other girl.
"Lady Quinnavere!" a willowy redhead called out from the entrance. Both Quinn and Santana's heads snapped towards the voice. "You made it."
"What the hell is a Quinnavere?" Santana hissed, never taking her eyes off of the girl that interrupted them. She observed as the redhead approached them, her brow knitting together at the stranger's impending presence. "Your pet name sounds like a stripper you'd find at a cracked-out Renaissa-" Quinn was quick to swat Santana's arm. "Hey... if you're gonna bruise me can I at least get some rough sex out of it?"
Maybe I'm a sadist? Quinn couldn't help but be curious about her enjoyment in smacking the tanned girl around. And if she was being honest, rough sex didn't exactly sound like it would be a horrible experience.
"I thought I lost my yoga buddy," admitted the redhead.
"Not at all, Ann. I told you, once classes settled down, I'd be back in the routine."
"Yea. Uh huh. You've missed yoga classes during other non-school days, too."
"Well, there is a thing called homework."
"There's also a thing called lazy." The game of words had Santana looking at the two girls with amusement. It wasn't until the redhead turned her attention directly towards Santana did the brunette snapback to reality. "Hey, I'm Hannah. I go by Ann, too. But not Hannie, so don't try it." She extended a hand that Santana reluctantly shook.
"Santana." Brown eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Santana? Is this the one who-" A firm stomp came straight down on Hannah's foot.
"What the hell." The redhead bent down to rub at the sore surface. "I'm supposed to balance on this thing."
"You still have the other one." Quinn's remark was cool as ice, but the playful smirk on her lips simply made Hannah roll her eyes. Maybe Quinn's bitchy exterior had the town of Lima fooled, but Hannah wasn't having any of it. Quinn was an insecure dork in the shell of a very pretty and bitchy girl, one that just happened to be one- dimensional in her life goals. A girl with the All-American, picturesque, life of having a career, husband, children, and a picket-fenced home. But in the last few weeks, there had been a major shift in gears. Santana, once a character lost in the sea of other Lima natives, became the new recurring lead in topics; Hannah couldn't help but wonder if Quinn wasn't as black and white as she had originally thought.
"Geesh, whoever taught you to play footie, failed. Like epically," jested Hannah. Her free hand slipped down to rest on her hipbone.
"Damn, Quinn. I think I like your new friend." Santana grinned and mirrored Hannah's stance.
It was as if mitosis had happened in an offbeat way. There, before Quinn, stood two forms of Santana. The frightening thought had Quinn shaking her head and rubbing at her face. The world couldn't handle two Santanas. Thankfully, Hannah only had the snark and not the bite. The redhead still had a ways to go before she could reach the heights of Santanahood.
"Don't you have a class to teach?"
"That I do," Hannah acknowledged as she retreated to the front of the class. "Hope you can keep up, new girl."
"With you? I'll lap around," Santana responded with a small shrug. "Don't worry about me, Brave."
Yoga class went on for what felt like an eternity for Santana. But when all was said and done, she had to admit that it made her feel good to workout again. New York wasn't exactly a motivator for a tight workout regimen. She could skate by on light workouts for her job; as long as she looked good, it didn't matter.
Before that day, Santana's experiences with yoga had been relaxing – calm stretches and poses that honestly bored her after half an hour. However, by the end of the class, Santana concluded that downward facing dog was the best thing mankind had ever invented. Aside from the lovely view of Quinn's body, backside, and the couple of light smacks that Santana had slipped in, Hannah's class was a surprising challenge. But she would never admit to the blonde that the class was anything more than extreme stretching.
At the end of class, Quinn slipped to the front of the room to talk to her friend. Santana didn't mind being left alone; she had a smartphone to entertain her during the wait. When Quinn made her way back to where Santana sat, she gave an apologetic smile before packing up her stuff.
"So, we need to make a stop," Santana announced. A firm leg pushed off from the wall and she headed out the door with full strides.
"Can it wait until later?"
"Not really. Your stretching class ran later than I thought it would." The Latina was busy looking at her phone and referencing the nearest street sign. When she figured out where they were, she began to walk to her intended destination without taking a moment to tell the blonde to follow.
"San, where are you going?"
"Just follow." Those were the last words that left the brunette's lips as she disappeared around the corner.
Quinn looked around in slight disbelief before she took off in a light jog to catch up with the other woman. The chase didn't take long since Santana had stopped moving about a couple blocks away.
"Took you forever."
"I'm sorry I took a second. I guess we can't all keep at top Cheerio shape for the rest of our lives."
"True," the brunette concurred.
"So, are you going to tell me why we stopped here?"
"Cause this is the best joint in town."
"Santana, I'm sure that one of their cupcakes will undo everything we just did," whined the blonde.
"Quinn, are you my girlfriend today?" Quinn caught the silent plea in the brown orbs before her. She nodded at the question. "Then lemme get you somethin' from here?"
A frown etched its way onto Santana's brow. "Could you do me a favor though?"
"Depends. What is it?" The corner of Quinn's mouth quirked.
"Could you go to the shop down there to get us two coffees? The yelpers were basically willing to give their muff up for the cakes here, but the coffee is apparently comparable to sewer water." The raven haired girl arched her back to take a look down the street. Her eyes were quick to scan the row of shops until she found what she was looking for. "However, the place with that green door down there. That place allegedly has themselves some crack-laced coffee. I want in, Q."
"It does."
"You've been? Don't tell me you've tried this cupcake shop, too," she worried. Blonde hair shook from side to side. Even if she had tried the cupcake shop, Quinn probably would have lied to see the smile on Santana's face. "Good. Here, take this." A twenty dollar bill was shoved into Quinn's palm.
"No. San, I have money," the blonde protested.
"Humor me for today?" Santana leaned in and pressed a kiss to the corner of Quinn's mouth. "Please."
"Fine," Quinn whispered as she kept their closeness. "I'll see you soon."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Santana breathed. The partial kiss had her wanting more. In hindsight, it was probably a mistake to tease the both of them with the brief touch.
Pulling back, Quinn turned to begin her walk towards the coffee shop when Santana smacked her ass. She stumbled more from shock than the actual impact. Affording a glare at the brunette, Quinn straightened herself out before walking off.
The line at the bakery was absurd and it was a slow torture considering the aroma was making Santana's stomach gurgle. It was almost a 30 minute's wait for her to get her hands on two sugar-bomb, fat-coated, better-be-fucking-worth-it cupcakes. It took all of her willpower not to devour both desserts the moment the cashier handed over the box.
To Santana's surprise, she finished up before Quinn. Holding the box close to her body, she made her way down the block and wandered into the coffee shop. Her eyes had to readjust to the darker environment before she was able catch sight of Quinn. The blonde was leaning against the counter and smiling at the male on the other side.
Santana's jaw tightened at the sight. Taking a calming breath before walking across the narrow shop, Santana made sure to place on her best bitchy look. Her presence went unnoticed by the blonde, causing a frustrated exhale to leave her. Quinn was fully invested in her stupid conversation with dirty-blond barista.
Santana waited until the barista scampered off to the backroom before approaching the blonde from behind. Carefully, she wrapped her arms around Quinn before bringing the cupcake box up to eye level. She kept their bodies snuggled and was pleasantly surprised when Quinn leaned into the embrace, even placing her arms over Santana's hold.
"Should I be worried that coffee boy will steal you away?" Santana purred into Quinn's neck.
"Mmm... maybe. He does have all this amazing coffee, and you're the one with just some cup-"
"Smell 'em," she demanded. Quinn leaned forward and took a whiff of the pink box.
"God. That's... Is that bacon?"
"Geeh, I don't know if you'll ever find out now." Santana loosen her hold and shrugged.
Maybe it was the warmth of the environment, or the way Santana's body was perfectly flush against hers, or maybe Quinn just really needed to get her bacon on, but something in that moment made it seem right to kiss the slightly shorter girl. Like it was the only logical thing to do.
So Quinn did. She twisted her body around, cupped Santana's face, and kissed her. It was almost bruising and would have been if the blonde didn't find her restraints with public displays of affection. The kiss was relatively chaste; they were proper ladies, after all. Once it tapered Quinn playfully nipped Santana's bottom lip as she pulled away.
Miss Santana Lopez could thoroughly fuck her, but at least Quinn Fabray could say that she redefined the world of kissing for the other girl.
"Ahem." The sound came from behind the counter. "Quinn, your-erm, your order is done."
"Thanks, Adam. I'll see you in Thompson's class."
"Yea, not like anyone can afford to miss a day." He wiped down the countertop as he spoke. "Thanks again for sending me those notes."
"Not a problem." Quinn nodded towards the door. Santana got the message and they both began to leave. "Bye, Adam. Tell Jen I send her my best wishes."
"My girlfriend would be happy to hear it. Enjoy your day, ladies." Adam waved them off before turning his attention to another customer.
Quinn and Santana waved at the young man before departing from the shop to head back to the dorm. But on the way, Quinn took a detour to a nearby park. It was an impromptu picnic with their cupcakes and coffees. She figured that the setting was a much nicer way for them to spend their evening than in a cramped dorm box.
After an hour of lazing around the park, eating, sipping on coffee, and possibly sharing a few affectionate kisses, they both agreed that a real dinner was necessary. Having slept through breakfast and lunch, they had eaten the maple bacon cupcakes all too quickly.
The short walk back to the dorms gave the girls enough time to compromise on Italian dining for the evening. Quinn even let Santana have the final say on which restaurant they would go to, and she was rewarded with a beaming smile.
They showered, separately, and got dressed for the second time that day. It was a routine they were adapting to quite nicely. Dinner came and went in a flash. The two girls talked for hours and stayed until the restaurant closed. The place was much better than BreadstiX in terms of food. But to Santana's disappointment, there wasn't unlimited bread at this eatery; as much as the Lima joint sucked, you sometimes couldn't beat the taste of free breadsticks.
With full bellies and sore limbs, both girls collapsed into bed after they got back. Barely managing to muster up the energy to get ready to turn in for the night, they stripped out of their clothing at the pace of slugs and dragged each other down the hall to the bathroom.
Along the way, Quinn exchanged brief pleasantries with a few passing students. The act of genuine kindness had Santana in awe. She recognized the woman in front of her by way of physical features, but this person wasn't exactly the girl she knew in Lima. This side of Quinn had an openness to her; like a layer of bitch had been peeled away from her. This side of Quinn would have Santana falling hard if she wasn't careful. Especially if the brunette kept receiving Quinn's little smiles.
Quinn returned to the room before Santana and went about straightening out their discarded clothing. She folded and placed them neatly on the surface of her desk, her eyes catching the black numbers on her whiteboard. 12:21. Hazel eyes glanced over to her digital clock. It was almost one. She picked at her nails in thought. The day had slipped right through her fingers. Not that it hadn't been enjoyable, or that she would trade it for anything, but Quinn silently cursed herself. Lost in an internal battle, Quinn didn't notice Santana's return to the room.
"Whacha doin'?" Santana inquired as she approached.
Quinn turned around to face the other girl. She leaned into the spine of the wooden chair and bent her arms to grip the top of the backrest.
"It's been over 12 hours, Santana." Quinn dropped her gaze to the floor. "Our experiment is coming to an end."
Closing the space between them, Santana placed a firm, but gentle, grip onto Quinn's hip. She slipped her thumbs under the layer of sleepwear and rubbed lightly at bare skin.
"I promised you a day. 12 hours isn't a full day, correct?" Quinn nodded in agreement. "And technically, sleeping shouldn't count... so I think we'll just have to continue this tomorrow, kay?" Santana nodded her own head that time and Quinn copied the action.
"You're right."
"I know. Remember to always keep that in mind." Santana shot a lazy smile at Quinn before she covered her mouth to yawn. "C'mon, time for sleep."
That night, they both passed out within minutes of settling into the bed.