A/N: Just one thing before you get to reading, I re-read my last chapter and I just want to clear something up. There will not be any Brittana in this story, I'm sorry if I gave that impression to some of you. Their relationship will be mentioned in a future chapter but this is strictly Pezberry. That is all. Enjoy!
"X equals five not negative fifteen."
Rachel was leaning over Finn's notepad at his kitchen table. They had an Algebra quiz tomorrow, nothing too difficult, at least for her.
"Two negatives equal a positive number," she told him with a reassuring smile.
"Oh." Finn looked down at his page with a quizzical look, evidently trying to work out why two positives make a positive and two negatives do as well. "Thanks," he finished still clearly confused.
"Where's Kurt?" Rachel asked conversationally while doing her own revision.
"He's with Mercedes at the mall. Something about a clearance sale on scarves at Macy's." Finn was distracted with the equation so he didn't twig when Rachel's demeanor altered slightly.
"How's he been lately?" Rachel enquired. "Haven't really talked to him since he went all Lady of the Peace on me a few days ago."
"Rachel." She knew that tone, it was all concern with a hint of whine. "He's your best friend."
"He's your stepbrother," she countered. Why was it so hard for him to just let her know how he was doing, everything with Finn had to be a discussion.
"I don't want to start an argument-"
"We've never argued before-"
"But," Finn interjected. "You have been spending a lot of time with Santana."
Rachel let out a heavy sigh, what was with everybody lately. She hadn't spent that much time with the girl. Sure they were lab partners and they did pair up for Drama, but she spent way more time with Finn and Kurt than Santana.
"I just worry that you might be neglecting your real friends."
"Real friends," Rachel repeated astonished at Finn's word choice. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I don't mean it like that," he backtracked, putting his hands up in defeat. "I just mean…when's the last time you hung out with Mercedes or Tina outside school?"
As much as she didn't want to admit defeat, Finn had a point and she did miss her old friends. He must have sensed this in her manner because he took her hand in his, placing a soft kiss on the back of it.
"Why don't you have them over tomorrow night, just you girls…and Kurt."
"But we always go out on Fridays, we had plans to go bowling," Rachel reminded him. "It was your choice this week."
"And I've made it," he assured indigently. "Spend time with them, I know they miss you."
"When did you get so sweet Finn Hudson?" Rachel said adoringly, grabbing him by his collar and meeting his lips in a kiss.
This was something she missed too. They hadn't fooled around in a while, all that built up tension was starting to get too much. Before they knew it they had moved to the couch in the living room adjacent to the kitchen. Luckily Carole was out with Burt on a date night at Breadstix, don't think she would have taken too kindly to seeing her only son getting hot and heavy on the sofa they as a family sit and watch TV.
In the back of her mind, Rachel felt like something was off. She couldn't quite place it. She was still very attracted to her boyfriend, the feeling of his lips on her neck still made her light headed but something was just…off.
Rachel forced herself to stop thinking and overanalyzing her wayward thoughts. She put the nagging feeling down to nerves over the quiz, even though she knew she could ace it in her sleep and continued to let Finn take her breath away.
x
Rachel wiped away the water vapor that had gathered on her vanity mirror so she could begin to dry her hair. Thank God it was Friday, she thought to herself. Other than the quiz today she just wanted to have a good time with her friends tonight, who she had yet to ask about staying over. But she was sure they wouldn't pass up the opportunity to eat one of her Dad's famous creations.
After making herself presentable she turned to leave but was drawn back to the bathroom when she noticed the silver and ebony ring on her sill. She picked it up and gave it a once over, admiring the woven design of the plain band. She pocketed it and wandered downstairs for breakfast.
"Morning Sweetie," Hiram greeted. "Did you have a nice time last night?"
Rachel rolled her eyes at his subtly. "We were studying Daddy."
"Uh huh," was all he uttered in response, an all-knowing look in his eyes.
"Let her be 17 and in love, Honey," Leroy piped up from behind his paper as he sat at the breakfast bar. "You remember what that was like don't you?"
"You and that Afro are hard to forget Roy."
Rachel ignored her parents loved up banter and repossessed the entertainment section of her Dad's newspaper. She sat down to her soy muesli and orange juice, flipping to the local theatre pages. She was about to turn to the literature reviews when a small article caught her eye. It seemed the old theatre downtown was having a special midnight screening of Grease in a bid to draw in a broader audience as opposed to their usual Rocky Horror fanatics.
With a renewed bounce in her step, Rachel kissed her Dads goodbye and headed out the front door where Finn was patiently waiting in her drive. She buckled herself into his Volvo as he sped off toward McKinley.
x
As she predicted Rachel breezed through her Algebra exam, having finished before Brittany had even finished signing her name. Why did Math have to be mandatory, it was such a waste of her talent, talent that could be put to better use in a subject that required the use of the right side of her brain.
She wandered out a few minutes early after placing her paper on the teacher's desk. The hall was deserted except for one skinny jean clad brunette.
Santana was by her open locker appearing detracted by something in her hands. Walking over to her, Rachel realised she was actually reading the Grease script from Drama.
"Hey," Rachel greeted.
Startled, Santana stuffed the sheets into her locker.
"Hi."
"Um…I have something of yours." Rachel took the ring out of the pocket of her dress and handed into Santana. "I forgot to give it back to you after our…rehearsal."
Santana looked at the ring for a moment. Looking up to meet Rachel's gaze she reached out and grabbed her hand, placing it back on her finger.
"You keep it," Santana murmured, a hint of shyness in her voice. "Looks better on you anyways."
"Thanks." Rachel didn't argue with her, it really was a beautiful ring.
"So I was thinking," Rachel began. "The Revival Theatre downtown is playing a midnight screening of Grease tomorrow night. I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for you to finally see it."
"Rachel, are you asking me out on a date?" Santana asked amused, her eyebrows raised.
"Says the girl who just gave me a ring."
"Touché," Santana relented.
"Fine, I'll go with you. But we can't sit together…I do have a reputation to uphold."
"Bitch," Rachel jested, nudging her playfully.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Santana shut her locker and began walking toward the double exit doors. She reached the end of the hall before she looked back at Rachel, who was still standing by the wall of lockers.
"See you tomorrow night sweetie," she called down the now crowded hall before disappearing round the corner.
Rachel faced flushed slightly as her peers turned to stare at her. She just shook her head and walked in the opposite direction toward the football field, not being able to wipe the smile off her face.
x
"Grease is one of the whitest musicals in history," Mercedes announced in between a spoonful of Cherry Garcia. "Seriously, think about it. Not one sister."
The four of them had moved up to Rachel's room after dinner, and were now discussing possible parts they would play if Grease were chosen as this year's school musical.
It didn't take that much convincing on Rachel's part to get her best friends to agree to a sleepover. As Finn had hinted, they had indeed missed her, all jumping at the chance to spend time with just the girls.
"Marty is at least ethnic," Rachel offered. "And she's the biggest diva and gossip out of all the Pink Ladies. You'd nail the part."
"Thanks Rach, you're making me sound wonderful," Mercedes batted sarcastically, a hand over her heart in mock appreciation.
Rachel picked up one of the dozen pillows strewn across her floor, and butted her friend with it playfully.
"Whoa girl, save that for later, I'm still digesting."
"How about you Kurt? I'm sure you've had your eye on the lead," Tina asked the boy, successfully defusing what could have been an epic pillow fight.
"Sadly I don't think my fabulous self could pull off Danny and this Diva wouldn't settle for anything less than the lead," Kurt digressed, sighing dramatically as he turned toward Rachel. "You and Finn will probably end up playing the leads. You two are so perfect I could barf."
"Please don't," Tina piped up.
"Yeah I don't think Rachel's Dad would appreciate you ruining the carpet with the slightly digested roast he slaved over all afternoon," Mercedes quipped.
"Actually in some cultures it's considered a compliment to the chef if you up heave after eating."
"Human Britannica and friends, I'm not barfing," Kurt said, interrupting the girls' banter. "I already look like a eleven year old milk maid, no need to add Bulimic Barbie to the ensemble."
"A fabulous milk maid," Mercedes assured her best friend, who chuckled in response.
"I've missed this," Rachel admitted to the group. "For a while there I forgot how fun this was. I guess I've just been caught up in Finn this past month."
"And Santana," Kurt blurted before he could cover his mouth. Only one set of eyes was on him, Tina and Mercedes were both looking at Rachel.
"Did I say that out loud?"
"Yeah, you kinda did," Tina answered, oblivious to the awkward silence that had settled between the two best friends.
Rachel didn't want this to cause a riff between her friends. She was still confused about their hostility towards Santana but she guessed it was because they ran in different circles. She figured they'd be more accepting considering they used to be the sub-basement on the school pecking order not too many years ago. She decided instead of hiding it or getting defensive she would just be honest with them.
"Yes Kurt. And Santana."
"I'm just going to tell you now, I think she may want to audition as well," Rachel told the three of them. "I sort of caught her reading the script this afternoon."
"Being in a production like this requires you to actually show up," Tina unhelpfully pointed out. "And can she even sing?"
Rachel was about to say she didn't know when Mercedes jumped in.
"If she could sing she would be in Glee Club with the rest of the schools talent."
"Come on guys, there are plenty of parts that don't require a strong singing voice." They all stared at Rachel like she just shat a bird. "I mean there really is only three singing parts in the play," she tried again.
The three of them seemed to ponder this for a moment before nodding in reluctant agreement.
"She could play Frenchie," Tina offered.
"Playing Rachel's best friend who drops out of school," Kurt said thoughtfully. "Fitting."
She heaved a sigh at how immature her friends could be, this was something she could live with out. As much as Santana could lay on the sarcasm she never purposefully upset her like these guys were doing now.
"Oh come," Mercedes put a comforting arm around the tiny diva. "We're just messing around. You know, trying to make light of the situation. Right Kurt?"
She nudged him in the shoulder trying to get him to contribute to the conversation in a positive way.
"Sure," he said in a small voice.
"Don't mind him, he's just mad because he wanted to play Frenchie," Mercedes joked, trying to relieve the tension in the room. "All those scarves and pink hair is getting the boy down."
A pillow flew across the small space and hit Kurt square in the face. All eyes were on Tina who was sporting a rather guilty look. After a few hesitant moments all hell broke lose, feathers and cotton flying in every direction, followed by uncontrollable giggling.
Nothing like a pillow fight to make you forget what you're really fighting about.
x
The rest of the night had actually been rather enjoyable, a turn around from the momentary hostility. Rachel thought that things were finally back to normal after her weeklong tiff with Kurt. He confessed sometime during the sleepover that he's had a problem with Santana since middle school when she used to sling at him every gay joke known to man. He admitted that if not directed at him, some were actually quite creative and well thought out.
As much as she loved hanging out with her old friends she had spent most of the night just wanting it to be over so she could see Santana again. She wondered whether missing someone you'd only been friendly with for three weeks was entirely healthy, but she tried not to ponder too long on that notion.
She was currently trying to find the perfect outfit for the occasion. Tossing up between her usual attire or going for a more edgier jeans and top look. They were going downtown after all, not exactly a Sunday school situation.
She decided on a plain black dress and flats, slipping down to the kitchen to farewell her parents. They were both waiting expectantly at the bottom of the stairs, Hiram giving his daughter the look. She just rolled her eyes and kissed him goodbye.
She hopped in her Prius and gunned it down the highway, already late. Santana insisted they meet at Breadstix instead of either of their houses, she guessed the girl had her reasons.
Pulling into the car park she spotted Santana leaning up against her Honda hatchback, a Doc Martin resting comfortably on the back tire. She pushed off into a standing position when she saw Rachel approaching.
"Is it too much if we held hands?" Rachel's eyes widened at her statement.
"What, no hello?"
"They give a two for one deal for couples."
"You sure know how to make a girl feel special," she deadpanned ignoring Santana's outstretched hand and turned to walk across the lot.
"What can I say, I'm a cheap date."
"This is not a date," Rachel said a little too quickly.
They had made their way over to the entrance of the restaurant. Santana opened the glass door ushering Rachel before her, "After you sweetie."
x
"Best. Restaurant. Ever," Santana exclaimed. "You just tell them you hated it and they bring you more."
Rachel had to admit, she was rather impressed at the amount of food the petite girl could eat. She had just finished her third serve of pasta and was still requesting a dessert menu.
"You find joy in the simplest of things."
Santana took a long sip of her drink before she answered. "It makes the big things more meaningful."
Rachel wanted to ask her what she meant by the "big things", but she glanced at her watch and decided against it.
"We should get going if we want to make it to the theatre in time," she said getting up from her seat. "I'll be right back."
Rachel excused herself to the bathroom. She didn't need to go, it was just an excuse to take a breather from Santana. The darker girl was doing her head in, or rather the situation Rachel found herself in was.
This was not a date she told herself as she stared at her reflection in the clouded mirror.
So why did it feel like one?
Rachel wanted to blame Santana for making her feel like this. It was her overly flirtation nature and her constant need to get a rise out of people. These qualities frustrated her to no end. But Rachel knew in the very back of her mind it wasn't all her. It was Rachel who responded to the playful advances not Santana.
She turned on the tap, running her hands underneath the cold water. She pressed her damp fingertips to her cheeks in an effort to clear her jumbled thoughts, breathing deeply.
She left the ladies room after a few minutes and wandered back out into the restaurant. She reached their booth but stopped dead in her tracks. The brunette glanced left and right, thinking maybe she had gone a table too far. But sure enough Santana was nowhere to be seen. Panic started to flood her body, so much so that she had to take a seat. Santana had taken her purse including her car keys, leaving her no discernable way of getting home.
Her Barbara ringtone went off beside her, startling her further, at least she was nice enough to leave that behind. Rachel picked up her iPhone and looked at the caller ID before mashing the green button.
"Where are you?" she said angrily, trying not to get visibly upset.
"Look to your left."
Rachel did what she was told. Santana was outside the window giving her a wave, the shorter girl's keys dangling for her raised hand.
"Get back in here right now." She was aware she sounded like a mother rousing on her child but right now she didn't care, this was so not funny. The girl didn't make a move, only continued to smile from the window.
"Santana!"
"I love the way you say my name."
"This is serious." Rachel tried to ignore the way the girl's mocking words were getting under her skin. "How am I supposed pay for this genius, you took my purse."
"Just walk away," she stated simply.
"Oh no," Rachel said in hushed yet hostile tone. "I'm not dining and dashing."
"I dare you."
And with that she hung up. Rachel watched as Santana gave her a parting smile and walked away from the window leaving her in a complete state of panic.
She was going to hell for this and she was taking Santana with her.
x
Rachel spotted Santana leaning against her car and rushed over to her, having every intention of slapping that stupid smirk off her perfect face.
She got within inches of her, raising her hand in anticipation, but Rachel reminded herself she wasn't a violent person and to tell you the truth Santana would kick her ass. So she settled for words.
"You are such an asshole," she exclaimed, pointing a finger in her face.
Santana just stood there as if Rachel didn't just break the law.
"Why are you smiling?"
"I paid the matradee on my way out," she replied calmly.
Red-hot anger boiled inside of Rachel, but instead of exploding into a string of profanities she turned and stormed away. She heard footsteps across the bitumen trailing after her. She knew no matter how far she walked, Santana would follow.
"That was so not funny." Rachel turned around to find the Latina standing behind her, hands shoved into her sleeveless hoodie, trying to keep a straight face.
"It was a little funny."
The diva tried to turn and walk away again but was stopped by a tanned hand in hers, pulling her back to face her. Santana looked her in the eye before speaking.
"I'm not sorry I did that." Rachel tried to pull away again but Santana had a tight grip on her hand. "But…I am for upsetting you, I didn't think you would take it that way."
"How did you think I'd take to breaking the law?"
"To be honest I didn't think," Santana admitted. "I never really do."
Rachel honestly didn't like the feeling of having no control, but the look her friend was giving her was making it hard to stay mad at her. She conceded that she actually didn't break a law, and Rachel really didn't want the night to end yet.
"You're still an asshole," she said with a small smile as she grabbed her keys from Santana outstretched hand.
"You loved it."
x
Santana began to chuckle as the characters on screen pulled into the Drive-In theatre. Rachel shook her head slightly, a smile appearing, already knowing what Santana was thinking.
"So this is the scene," she stated with a questioning glance toward Rachel. She couldn't do much else but nod, irrationally nervous for her friend to see how the scene was supposed to end.
They were sitting in the second back row of the dark, slightly rundown theatre. There were couples scattered about but it was nowhere near capacity. Santana had been slightly slouched, feet on the seat in front since the movie started, but as the screen panned to Sandy and Danny she straightened up. Rachel saw from the corner of her eye an amused grin light Santana's features as the scene played out in front of them.
"Wow…he is so not subtle about the groping," she mused quietly. "At least I was ninja about it."
For reasons unbeknownst to her, the unashamed manner in which Santana voiced things concerning her sexuality, even in the simplest of suggestions, irked Rachel. But at the same time thrilled her. Part of her wished she could be that relaxed and uncaring of what people thought of her.
Sure she was one of the most popular girls at school and being part of the Arts required you to express yourself, but Rachel knew there were parts of her she hid from the world. By no means was she suggesting that Santana laid it all out on the line, but the parts of her she chose to show were the ones others would want to hide for fear of judgment. And the ones she chose to hide were the ones that quite frankly contradicted her reputation she seemed so determined to keep. It intrigued and perplexed Rachel at the same time. Santana in many ways was a mystery to her.
"This Danny guy has no game, I got more action than he did."
Santana's voice snapped Rachel out of her inner monologue, but her statement only solidified her musings.
They didn't acknowledge each other again until the climatic drag through the waterways. Sandy was now in shot overlooking the celebrations of her classmates, the reprise to Sandra Dee enhancing the scene.
Rachel suddenly felt the light brush of fingertips against the inside of her wrist, which was sitting face up on the armrest. The intricate patterns that were being drawn by the fingers were making it hard to concentrate on the film. Rachel was about to tell Santana to knock it off, but when she turned to the girl next to her she was surprised to find the blank yet peaceful look on her friend's face as she watched the screen. Her reprimand died in her throat, it looked as if Santana wasn't actually aware she was doing it. The gesture brought butterflies to Rachel's stomach and her heart began to race slightly.
Over the past few weeks she'd witnessed moments like this with Santana. Moments where she would let her guard down without realizing it, usually when they were both doing something nonsensical or unimportant.
Rachel was brought back to the memory of the auditorium, the moment when she swore the girl was going to kiss her. Of course it was part of the script, but it didn't seem that way to Santana. The expression on her face before she lent down was one of longing not her usual arrogant smirk.
The more Rachel analyzed it, the more it scared her. Usually when someone let their guard down around someone else they became more honest and open. But it seemed when Santana did it she became more affectionate toward Rachel, which really wasn't something she wanted to go into why or think about at all.
Rachel glanced again at Santana. She was still watching the movie, a genuine smile teasing her lips. She hadn't stopped with the small patterns she was making on the inside of her wrist, and part of Rachel didn't want her to stop.
So she sat back.
Turned her eyes to the movie.
And kept her mouth shut.
Reviews are appreciated and any constructive criticism is also welcome. I really hope I'm not moving their relationship too fast, I tried to still keep it as an affectionate friendship for now, but just tell me if I'm moving the Pezberry too fast and I'll pull back the reigns a little bit.
Until next time ;)
