A/N: Sorry about the time jump, I just couldn't resist. :)
Over the course of the next month, Santana and Quinn had grown frustrated with each other in an attempt to plan something with Rachel. Either Rachel had lessons or the other one wanted to hang out with her. "I can't take this anymore. Should we make some sort of schedule?" Quinn asked Santana when it was just the two of them. Santana looked at her.
"A schedule for what?" Santana asked. Quinn rolled her eyes.
"A schedule for Rachel, dumbass." Quinn said. Santana looked at her as if she'd grown another head. "What?"
"Quinn, she's not some toy you and I paid for together. She's a person, and she's capable of scheduling her own life. Don't treat her as if she's some sort of object we're supposed to share." Santana said. Quinn raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth. "And save the 'I'm head bitch, you can't talk to me like that' shit, because I don't want to hear it. And no. We aren't make a damn schedule." Santana said before walking away. Quinn rolled her eyes and walked in the opposite direction, pulling out her phone. 'May as well get ahead of Santana for this weekend.' she thought as she texted Rachel.
To: Berry
Want to hang out tonight?
She only had to wait a few minutes for a response.
I'm sorry, Quinn. I have plans with Santana. - Rachel
Quinn stared at the message. 'Damn it. That bitch already asked her!' she thought. She recieved another message.
Puck
Want 2 go out again 2nite?
Quinn didn't hesitate to respond
Definitely. - Q
Later that day, after school, Santana was getting her books out of her locker. She looked over and saw Rachel watching. Smiling, she waved at Rachel, who waved back. Behind Rachel, Santana saw something. She mentally told herself to keep a straight face so that Rachel wouldn't turn around and see what was going on down the hall. However, Rachel could tell something was wrong by the look in Santana's eyes. Santana saw her start to turn around and quickly headed over to the girl in an attempt to stop her. Just as Rachel was about to see, Santana grabbed her arm and turned her back around. "Hey." Santana said brightly. Rachel smiled. "So about tonight... I was thinking we could go to Breadstix and then something you want to do?" Santana asked, uncertain.
"That sounds perfect." Rachel said, smiling at the Cheerio. Santana nodded, attempting to keep her eyes off of what was happening just down the hall. "Santana, are you okay?" Rachel asked. Santana nodded, but accidentally let her eyes go behind Rachel. Before Santana could stop her, Rachel turned around to see Puck and Quinn kissing at Quinn's locker. Rachel quickly turned back around.
"Rach?" Santana asked.
"What do you want?" Rachel replied harshly. Santana looked down.
"Rachel." Santana said softly. Rachel looked up and saw the hurt in the Latina's eyes.
"I'm sorry." Rachel said. Santana nodded.
"Are you okay?" Santana asked. Rachel nodded absently.
"Santana, how many dates have you had with other people since we started this?" Rachel asked.
"None." Santana answered truthfully.
"How many times have you had sex?" Rachel asked.
"None." Santana answered honestly.
"How many dates has Quinn had?" Rachel asked softly.
"Please don't make me answer that." Santana replied, just as quietly.
"I need to know." Rachel said. Santana sighed.
"The first two weeks, any night she wasn't with you she was with Sam. These past two weeks, she was with Puck." Santana said. Rachel closed her eyes. "As for sex, I don't know about Sam, but Puck doesn't exactly keep things private." Santana added, knowing that was the girl's next question.
"I can't make it tonight. I forgot that I promised my dads I'd help them with something. I'm sorry, Santana." Rachel said. Santana knew she was lying, but let it go.
"Its cool. I'll see you later." Santana said before walking away. Rachel slammed her locker shut, avoided looking at Quinn and Puck, and went to her car.
That night, Rachel sat on her bed, staring at her phone. She wanted to text Santana and apologize for how she talked to her earlier, but she couldn't will herself to open her phone. Finally, she did, but to text Quinn.
To: Quinn
Do you want to come over after Santana leaves?
She quickly got a response.
Quinn
Can't. Date w/ Puck
Rachel frowned.
What about tomorrow, then? - Rachel
Can't. Another date w/ Puck. I g2g. I need 2 get ready. - Q
In that moment, Rachel knew that she couldn't do this anymore. For the past month, she'd been carefully thinking it over. She couldn't decide between Santana and Quinn, but knew she couldn't keep this going forever. The moment she read that text, she remembered how Santana had tried to keep Rachel from seeing Quinn kissing Puck at her locker earlier. Santana could have easily used that as her ticket to get Rachel, but instead she tried to keep Rachel from getting hurt. And when Rachel had asked Santana how many times Quinn had been on dates and hooked up, she hadn't wanted to answer because she wanted to save the girl from pain. And Santana Lopez wasn't having sex, because she cared about Rachel enough to do that, even though Rachel had told them it was okay for them to see other people. Even on their dates, Santana and Quinn treated Rachel differently. Santana was extremely sweet, while Quinn could be dismissive at some points. Rachel had chosen to ignore it at the time, but Quinn had even flirted with their waiter while at dinner one night. Santana didn't pay attention to anything or anyone other than Rachel.
FLASHBACK
Santana had taken Rachel to the local vegan restaraunt that had recently opened and to the local county fair on their first date. It sounds lame, but it was the only thing that the people around Lima actually cared about, so it was usually pretty epic. This year was no exception. The first thing they'd done was ride the Ferris Wheel. Rachel was surprised to find out that Santana was afraid of extreme heights, so she kept the girl's attention with small talk the entire time. As soon as they were off the ride, Rachel began apologizing for suggesting it. Santana wasn't angry with her, but Rachel still felt bad. They went on every ride that Rachel wanted to go on. After they were done with the rides and they'd had a snack, Santana suggested playing games. She smiled sweetly as Rachel failed (epically) at the ring toss game. The smaller girl's eyes kept drifting toward a certain prize and Santana knew that's what she was determined to win. When Rachel gave up and went to the restroom, Santana bought a round of rings and easily won. When told to pick a prize, she chose the one Rachel had been looking at and went to wait for the girl. Rachel came out of the restroom and Santana handed her the gold stuffed bear she had wanted.
"That's the one you wanted, right?" Santana asked. Rachel nodded. "I won it for you." Santana said, smiling shyly as she looked down. Rachel smiled and used her finger to lift the Latina's chin up. Santana grabbed the smaller girl's hands and Rachel started to lean in, but Santana turned away shyly. "What do you want to do now?" Santana asked, smiling down at Rachel and never letting go of her hand. Santana picked out an easy game, as Rachel insisted on winning the girl something in return. After five tries, she finally won Santana a red stuffed bear. When Santana took her home, she kissed Rachel on the cheek, but asked for nothing more, as if she was afraid of pushing the girl too far and losing her.
END FLASHBACK
FLASHBACK
Quinn had taken Rachel to dinner and a movie on their first date. They'd gone to the local Mexican food restaraunt, as Quinn said she had a craving for Mexican food. Rachel wasn't sure if she would be able to find anything vegan on the menu, but she went along with it anyway. She knew she could always get unbuttered popcorn at the movie. While they were at dinner (Rachel found a regular salad), their waiter (who was relatively cute) continuously flirted with Quinn. The blonde had no problem flirting back. Rachel looked down every time she did. When the waiter wasn't around, all Quinn could talk about was the Cheerios. Rachel understood wanting to talk about intersts, but Rachel knew nothing about the Cheerios, so she couldn't contribute much to the conversation. While at the movies (which Quinn had picked), Rachel was somewhat bored. The movie was okay, but it didn't really hold her attention. Her mind continued to wander (mostly to how different this date had been to her date with Santana) and when she tuned in she got lost. When they were back at Rachel's house, Quinn quickly kissed her before leaving. It was nice, but she couldn't help but think about how adorable Santana had been when she'd dropped her off.
END FLASHBACK
Rachel, knowing her mind was almost made up, jumped in her car for the final test. She drove to Santana's house, noticing that only Santana's car was in the driveway, and ran up the walkway to the Latina's house. Ringing the doorbell, she impatiently shifted from foot to foot. The moment the door opened and the taller brunette appeared, Rachel tackled her to the floor, attempting to kiss her. "I want you." she whispered in the Latina's ear. When Rachel tried again to kiss her, Santana rolled them over and pulled away. "What's wrong, San?" Rachel asked. The Latina looked down.
"While I had planned on having our first kiss tonight, I didn't plan it this way..." Santana said. Rachel smiled even wider.
"You wanted us to have our first kiss tonight?" Rachel asked. Santana nodded. Rachel pulled her back down, but hugged her this time.
"What do you mean you want me?" Santana asked.
"I want you. Only you." Rachel said. Santana raised an eyebrow and stood up.
"What about Quinn?" she asked, offering the diva a hand to help her up. As Rachel accepted the hand, she spoke.
"Fuck Quinn."
"I thought you wanted me." Santana joked. Rachel smiled.
"Forget Quinn." Rachel said. Santana smiled sadly.
"Rach, you're just doing this because of what happened in the hallway earlier." Santana said. Rachel shook her head.
"No. Throughout this entire thing, you've treated me better. Quinn has been with other people - yes, I know I said she could - this entire time. You haven't been with anyone else. You haven't even hooked up with anyone since we started this. On our dates, you've always paid attention to just me. You always made sure I could eat when we went to dinner. And when we went to the carnival and you won me that bear and I tried to kiss you, you were so adorable when you turned away. On my first date with Quinn, she took me to a Mexican food restaraunt, flirted with the damn waiter and talked about stuff that I didn't care about all night. She never once asked me what movie I wanted to see, and throughout the entire date, I was thinking of you. Every single time I was out with Quinn, my mind always ended up on you. Whenever I'm with you, you're the only thing that's on my mind. Santana, I want you. I don't want Quinn. I want to be with you. Not this casual shit that we've been doing - and yes I know that I suggested it - but I want this to be real. I want us to be real. And I know you want that too. I know my timing sucks, considering what happened earlier, but its been a long time coming. Please say you want to be with me too." Rachel said. Santana smiled.
"Of course I want to be with you, Rach." Santana said. Rachel looked down shyly.
"Will you be my girlfriend, Santana?" Rachel asked. Santana grinned and lifted the smaller diva's chin.
"Of course I will, Rachel." Santana said. Rachel smiled as Santana hugged her. "But now that I don't have to worry about Quinn sweeping you off your feet and never getting the chance to kiss you, you're going to have to wait until the moment is right." Santana said. Rachel pouted. "Calm down, little lady. I'll make sure the right moment isn't to far away from now." Santana promised. Rachel smiled and nodded.
"Do you still want to go on a date?" Rachel asked. Santana raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you had to help your dads." Santana teased.
"I made that up so I could think about stuff... but you already knew I made that up, didn't you?" Rachel asked. Santana nodded.
"I have lied to get out of dates before. Never with you, as you know I've never missed a date, but it has happened in the past." Santana said. Rachel raised an eyebrow.
"Do tell, Ms. Lopez." Rachel said. Santana laughed.
"Apparently one night I got so drunk I agreed to a date with Jew Fro." Santana said. Rachel fake-gagged.
"Ok, that's understandable." Rachel said. Santana nodded. "So... Breadstix? Movie?" Rachel asked. Santana nodded again.
"Let me change out of my sweats and then we'll go." Santana said. Rachel nodded and waited for Santana. The girl quickly returned in jeans, a nice shirt, and a jacket. She grabbed her phone. "I'm assuming you're driving?" Santana asked Rachel, who nodded. The Latina reached for her wallet, but the diva stopped her.
"Its on me." Rachel said.
"No. Its our first date as a real couple. I want to pay." Santana said. Rachel thought for a second. "I get dinner, you get the tickets, and we buy our own drinks at the movies. Deal?" Santana compromised.
"Let me get the drinks. Dinner and tickets isn't an even split." Rachel said. Santana sighed.
"Fine. But next time you let me actually pay for the entire night." Santana said. Rachel smiled and grabbed the other girl's hand. When they reached Rachel's car, Santana opened the driver side door for Rachel, smiling as Rachel kissed her cheek before actually getting in the car. The moment they walked into Breadstix (with Santana opening both Rachel's car door and the door to the building open for the smaller brunette), Santana saw Quinn and Puck sitting in a corner booth. Rachel followed her girlfriend's gaze and looked down when she saw the pair. "Do you want to go somewhere else?" Santana asked quietly, putting a hand on Rachel's back. The diva shook her head.
"Quinn doesn't matter anymore. I'm telling her tomorrow that you and I are together." Rachel said. Santana nodded, but released her hold on Rachel's hand and asked for a table on the opposite side of the restaraunt. The pair was led to the back of the restaraunt. Santana noticed that Rachel relaxed a little.
"You sure you don't want to leave?" Santana asked. Rachel nodded.
"I'm not going to let you miss out on your beloved Breadstix." Rachel said. Santana smiled.
"I'd rather you be comfortable." she replied. Rachel grinned and took one of the Latina's hands in her own.
"As long as you're with me, I am." Rachel said. Santana started to respond when Rachel's phone vibrated. Santana watched as the other girl frowned at the screen.
"Is it her?" Santana asked. Rachel nodded and showed her the text.
Quinn
Can I come over?
"What are you going to say?" Santana asked, knowing the girl wants to wait until the next day to tell Quinn.
"I'm going to tell her no. She doesn't need a reason." Rachel said. Santana nodded and Rachel responded to the message. Both girls sighed when her phone vibrated yet again. Rachel made no motion to look at the phone and when Santana silently asked if she could, Rachel nodded. "Please do." Rachel said. Santana frowned when she read the message.
Quinn
Oh come on. I'll even sit through one of your stupid musicals.
Santana looked up. "This how she always talks to you?" Santana asked, referring to the message. Rachel shrugged. "Rachel." Santana said. Rachel nodded. "Fucking bitch." Santana mumbled under her breath. Rachel took her phone back and deleted the message.
"I think you were right when you said she didn't actually like me." Rachel said quietly. Santana looked at the girl.
"And what did we learn?" Santana teased in a sing song voice.
"That Santana needs to shut up." Rachel replied in the same tone, smiling.
"I believe the correct answer was that Santana's always right." Santana said. Rachel rolled her eyes playfully. "So you never would tell me what you decided to name that bear that I won you at the carnival." Santana said, changing the subject since Rachel was clearly growing uncomfortable with the one at hand. Rachel grinned.
"Well, you weren't exactly offering the name you chose either." Rachel said.
"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours." Santana said. Rachel nodded. "I'll even go first." Santana said.
"I'm waiting." Rachel said, smiling.
"'Ray Bear'..." Santana almost whispered. Rachel's smile grew even wider. "Is it too cheesy?" Santana asked. Rachel shook her head.
"Its actually kind of funny... I named mine 'Sanny Bear'." Rachel said. Santana raised an eyebrow.
"You're going to start calling me 'Sanny Bear', aren't you?" Santana asked. Rachel grinned and nodded. "Go ahead. Its actually kind of cute. But keep it to a minimum when we're in school. I have my reputation as a badass and the nickname 'Sanny Bear' doesn't help that." Santana said. Rachel nodded.
"In school I'll call you by your name." Rachel said.
"I didn't say you had to do that. You can call me 'San' or even 'Sanny' if you want. And if its just the two of us in the hallway, go for it with 'Sanny Bear'. But babe, you're with a badass. I'm not going to be all badasses don't do relationships in public with you, but I have to have some limits, you know?" Santana asked.
"Santana, I understand." Rachel said, smiling.
"And now you want me to call you 'Ray Bear', don't you?" Santana asked, smiling. Rachel nodded hesitantly. "I'll try, but it may sound weird coming out of my mouth at first. But if you want me to, I'll do it." Santana said. Rachel smiled. "You're sure this is what you want right? I mean, I see how Quinn treats you, but some girls are into that..." Santana said.
"I'm not. I'm into you. You're what I want. You're who I want." Rachel said. Santana grinned. "I'm just sorry I waited so long." Rachel continued.
"Don't be. I get it, Rach." Santana said. They got through dinner and the movie without mentioning Quinn again. When they got out of the movie, Santana suggested a walk. "Do you want music?" Santana asked. Rachel nodded and Santana pulled out her iPhone. Suddenly, a Broadway song softly played out of the device. Shocked, Rachel looked up at Santana.
"Can I see that?" Rachel asked. Santana nodded and Rachel scrolled through the playlist. "These all look really familiar." Rachel said. Santana smiled.
"They should. You've sang them all in Glee Club." Santana said.
"You made a playlist of all the songs I've sang in Glee Club?" Rachel asked. Santana nodded.
"Well, all the ones I can remember. I can't help but feel like I've missed a couple." Santana said, stopping on the bridge they were on to lean against the railing. She placed her phone on the railing just as 'The Climb' came on. Rachel smiled as she leaned against the railing. "And yes, I included this one." Santana said, smiling at Rachel.
"That's really sweet of you, Santana. How long did it take you to make this?" Rachel asked.
"Making the playlist itself was the easy part. First, I had to take the time to remember all the songs you've sang. I did songs you've sang in competition, group numbers we've done that you've had solos in, and songs you've sang for your assignments. That took me about an hour. Then I searched through all the CDs that my parents own to see if we had any of them. That took awhile, but I found like half the songs. Then I had to find the other ones on iTunes. That, plus the time it took to download, took a couple of hours to do. Then it was just a matter of putting them in the playlist." Santana explained. Rachel smiled as the chorus came on.
There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Santana and Rachel started to move closer to one another.
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
Santana and Rachel's lips met at the end of the chorus. Both girls smiled into the kiss. When Santana pulled away, she looked into the horizon. Rachel was the first to speak. "The moment was definitely right." she said. Santana smirked.
"Told you I wouldn't make you wait long." she said, putting an arm around her girlfriend and pulling her close. Rachel smiled as Santana kissed her forehead and she grabbed the Latina's neck to pull her into another kiss.