Chapter 4

She was pretty quiet on the way to my place. The doctor had given her some pills for the pain that she had taken before packing. Finally, she broke the silence, "how are you liking McKinley?" She asked.

"It's alright. A lot like my old school, just better sports."

"Is that the only reason you came to Lima? Sports?" She asked looking out the window.

"Um...yeah, for the most part. Getting away from my parents was just an added bonus," I said staring out at the road.

She studied my face, probably about to ask what happened with my parents when I pulled up outside my apartment.

"How do you pay for your own apartment?" Santana inquired, while lifting a bag from the trunk.

"I work after school usually and weekends. My Gramma helps me out a little too. We're super close. Watch your step," I explain as I opened the door and lead the way up the seven stairs to my loft.

"Sorry about the mess, I didn't have time to clean up," I murmur. Not that my place was overly messy, I just started to get a little nervous as she took in my place.

"I like it. It's very cozy." She smiled, looking over at the kitchen.

"Um, I can make us some dinner if you want, if you want to grab a shower? Not that you need a shower. I just figured..."

She cut me off with a laugh, "relax, will you, a hot shower sounds amazing after my day."

"Yeah, did I mention how sorry I was about that?" I said again.

"Yes, you have several times, get over it" she laughed again, "least this black eye wasn't from something I started". I laughed, nervously.

"There are towels in the closet behind the door, otherwise just yell if you need anything else."

We smiled at each other and she started off towards the bathroom. I watched her walk away, unaware that I was starring until she shut the door. She doesn't seem like the "bitch" everyone makes her out to be. Maybe that person was just a front at school? I wondered.

I opened the fridge, empty. Not that it mattered; I can't cook to save my life. I looked at the closed bathroom door and quickly ran back down the stairs, quietly shutting the front door behind me.

I ran into the Italian deli next door.

"Hey Tony! How fast can you whip up the usual, times two?" I asked the owner.

"Ehhh Jamie!" He smiled. "Times two eh? You got a little company, do ya?" He winked at me, laughing.

"Ya, something like that." Tony was the nicest guy I had met since moving to Lima. He never said he was but I knew he secretly watched out for me. Which was comforting to know. He was like the Godfather, only less scary and a little more round. He pulled up two bags on the counter and said "just the usual".

"Tony, I got two this time, it can't be the usual."

He smiled, "it's not very often you have two...just hand over the usual" he said with another wink.

I smiled, "I'm new, what can I say, I'm working on it" I said, handing him the usual payment with a large tip.

"Thanks Tony!" I yelled as I ran out the door and back up to my apartment.

I was relieved to see the door still shut. I grabbed two plates and began dishing out the salad and wraps from the containers. Then I threw the containers under the sink, I'll throw them out later. I finish setting out the cutlery just as Santana emerged from the bathroom. She looks stunning. The comfy track pants are quite different from the short cheerleading outfit. Her wet hair was off to one shoulder, dampening her t-shirt.

"Hey" she smiles as she pulls up the stool next to the island where I had set up dinner.

"H-hey" I stammer, feeling myself blushing and not really sure why. Pull it together, I remind myself.

"This looks really good" she says plucking a cranberry from her salad.

"Are you sure? I can whip something else up? I wasn't sure what you liked," I offer but I'm hoping she doesn't disagree, as the only thing in my cupboard is a box of Mac n cheese.

"No, this looks amazing. Thanks."

"Can I get you a drink?" I ask opening the bare fridge once again. "I have milk, water, juice".

"Waters fine, then come sit with me and eat, I'm starving" she said laughing.

I grab the waters and sit across from her at the island.

"So..." She says. "Want to play twenty questions?"

This could go many ways I think to myself.

"Okay, you first" I said, as I took a bite.

"Favorite color?"

"Orange, favorite band?"

"Coldplay" Santana answered right away. I laughed a little, "Really? Pegged you for more of a One Direction kind of girl" I said.

Scoffing and with her mouth full "oh yeah, because they're oh so dreamy with their boyish good looks!"

I laugh, "Yeah I guess you're more of a spice girl fan..."

She looks right at me very seriously, " how did you find that out?"

"Oh...um...I, I just..." I stumble all over my words.

She bursts out laughing, "would you relax! Are you always this uptight?"

I lean back, "well, your reputation kind of precedes you".

She leans back as well, "what have you heard? She asks curiously.

"Pretty much that your a bad ass and not to be messed with."

She nods her head and smiles "good to know I still got it." She takes a sip of her water, for the second time I see the vulnerability she rarely wears on her face. She quickly covers it with the next question, "Where'd you move from?"

I look at her for a second knowing where this is going. "Louisville, well just outside."

"Why Lima?" she continues.

"My school councilor told me if I wanted to go to college the best way would be to work my ass off and earn a scholarship. She mentioned McKinley would be my best chance, so here I am" I explained.

"Your parents didn't try to stop you at all?" She asked. When she saw my hesitation, she went back to her dinner apologizing "sorry, I don't mean to pry."

I looked at her for a second; she doesn't seem anything like what I've heard. But then again, I guess that's the problem with rumors, they're rarely true.

"No, that's okay. When my parents...found out...I was gay, they didn't take it very well. They gave me an ultimatum saying I "straighten" up or to get out" I said laughing at the actual pun my parents had used.

She smiled, "how could they do that?"

I took the last bite of my wrap and got up to put my dishes away, "just different generations I guess. Plus, it probably didn't help that I didn't tell them face to face." She raised her eyebrow, "how did they find out?"
I smiled "my mom kind of walked in on my girlfriend and I getting our mack on." She didn't say anything, just smiled a coy smile.
"Yeah, my point exactly. Anyways, I knew who I was and I knew that it wasn't going to change. So I talked with my councilor, made the necessary changes and found this place."

"And you're just okay with it?" she shrugged.

"I'll never be okay with it, but I'm not going to let their close mindedness hold me back, I have goals for myself, I'm hardworking and I have support from the rest of my family. I'm doing okay for myself, I think."

She smiled again and reached for my hand as I reached in to take her empty plate.

"You're pretty amazing," she said. My skin burned underneath where her hand lay on my arm. She pulled away and spun around on her stool to take in the rest of my apartment. Which was good, because I definitely needed a second to pull myself together.

"This place is great. Where is your bedroom?"

I walked over to the wall and flicked a switch for the light up in my bedroom. "It's above the bathroom."

"How do u get up there?" I laughed at her wide-open eyes.

"There's a step-ladder to the left," I explained. "Are you tired? Do you want to head up?"

"No I was just curious. That's awesome. I love it here. Want to watch a movie or something? She asked, grabbing her water and heading to the couch. I followed, grabbing an ice pack and towel for her eye. " You should probably put this on your eye for a bit".

"Wow, I actually forgot all about that, does it still look bad?"

"Noooo... not at all" I said trying not to laugh.

"Did you just lie to me?" She said, as she playfully slapped my leg.

Her phone buzzed on the table.

"Sorry, it's Brit"

"Go for it, I'll put the movie on" I moved away to put a DVD in. I heard her greet her girlfriend on the phone.

"Hey...I'm okay, just a little black eye" I looked back at her and she stuck her tongue out at me. "No, I went to the hospital and...you don't want to hear what they said?...okay, I'll text it to you...yeah...bye". She ended the call and put the phone back in the table.

"She had to go, her crew was waiting to go out for the night," she stated crossing her arms.

"Oh, she didn't ask what the doctor said?"

"She said to text her the info," she laughed, with another eye roll.

"How long have you been together?" I asked, trying not to sound nosy.

"Almost a year, officially, but we've been best friends since as long as I can remember."

The movie started and we settled in. After awhile she stretched her legs out so her feet were against my leg. I tried not to think about it.

I couldn't even explain the movie if I tried, I was so wrapped up in my thoughts about this beautiful girl, sitting next to me, on my couch, about to spend the night. That I didn't realize she was talking to me.

"Jam? Hey! You okay? Geez, you'd think you were the one who got hit on the head". She laughed, as she got up from under the blanket she had wrapped around her.

"I think I'm going to get ready for bed."

"Okay, use whatever you need in the bathroom."

"Thanks." She smiled and headed towards the door. I went to the closet to get new sheets out and climbed up to my room. Just as I was climbing down she came out.

"Hey" I said.

"Hey"

"So, I changed the sheets and its all good, ready when you are."

"Are you not going to bed yet?"

"Yeah, I'm just going to lie some blankets on the couch and brush my teeth."

"You don't have to sleep on the couch, I don't want to kick you out of your own bed" Santana started for the couch, I gently caught her arm as she went by, " I think after everything today, I can give you my bed".

She giggled, "It's really that bad eh? Good thing it's Saturday, tomorrow"

I smiled and she headed up to bed.

"So...I'll see you in two hours?" I called after her. She turned and smiled "Yeah, that sounds about right. Night!"

"Night, Santana".