Summer Break
Day 17

Oh my god! I'm finally getting Rachel's birthday present! Her birthday is only six days away!

I'm also spending some much needed bestie time with Britts. The only problem is that she insisted we invite Quinn. What the fuck? How can I talk about Quinn to Brittany when Quinn is going to be there? But, since I have a difficult time saying "no" to Brittany, Unholy Trinity time is happening today while I shop for my girlfriend's birthday present.

The girlfriend that I think 1/3 of the Unholy Trinity has feelings for.

I'm talking about Quinn, for those of you who haven't been paying attention for some ungodly reason.

"So, what are you getting Rach?" Brittany asks as I steer her and Quinn in the direction of the store I need to go to.

"Something expensive, at least, something expensive for a seventeen year-old without a job," I joke as we pass by the cart with the dude that asks if you have natural nails.

"Oh please! Like you'd ever need to get a job while you were still in high school!" Quinn scoffs.

I'm sorry, what?

"Are you saying that I'm spoiled, 16 and Pregnant?" Okay not one of my best. I'm a little rusty.

"Hey, S, you didn't have to go there," Brittany says to me, "besides, she is kind of right..."

Oh my god! How is it that everyone is on my side, but when it comes to Rachel and now Quinn, everyone is against me?

"Well, just so you both know, the Doctors Lopez aren't paying for this one. I still have Quinceañera money left over and money from my last two birthdays. That's what's paying for this and the day that I have planned for her," I huff and then turn away from them, power walking to the jewelry store that has what I want to get Rachel at it.

It isn't long before I feel Britt and Quinn on my sides. They thread their arms into mine and Brittany says, "I'm sorry S."

"Me too," Quinn says, "but you have to admit, you are a little spoiled. I mean, your chest and your whip are proof."

I'm choosing to ignore the chest part, "Did you just call my car my 'whip?'"

"Yeah... you call it that sometimes," Quinn says through her quirked up eyebrow.

"Yeah, but you're like, totally white bread and you sound even whiter trying to sound ghetto," I chuckle.

"Oh shut up!"

"So, where are we going?" Brittany butts in with glorious timing.

"Here," I say because we just got to the jewelry store I've been steering them to.

"Oh," Quinn says, stopping in her tracks.

"Ooo! What are you getting her? Aah! I'm so excited!" Brittany says jumping up and down and clapping her hands.

"That," I say pointing into the glass container that I went directly for, "When I was here getting my Dad's watch cleaned, she was looking at it with this big smile on her face."

"It's cute!"

"And really like, Rachel. Peace signs and hearts? And who doesn't love Jane Seymour," I'm thinking the last part of that was some Quinn sarcasm.

"Can I help you ladies?"

I look up and meet the eyes of this super short, round man. I try so hard not to laugh. So hard in fact, that my throat hurts from my stifled laughter. I think he might be wider than he is tall.

"Yes you can," Quinn jumps in and gives me an elbow to my ribs.

"Umm... I want to buy that necklace," another elbow, but from Britt this time, "please."

"Ah, of course!"

Oh my god! He's like a miniature Santa Claus! He's just too happy.

"Now, is this a gift for someone?" he asks and once again I'm holding back a massive crack up.

"Mhm," I hum, nodding to the rolly polly man... oh I need to stop.

"Okay! So, is gift wrapping in order?"

"Yes, please!" Brittany answers for me.

"Okay then! I'll be right back with this all wrapped and ready to go!"

Once the guy is in the back room Brittany smacks my arm and goes, "Ummm, S, what is wrong with you?"

"Nothing is wrong with her," Quinn answers, "She's laughing at that guy because he's short, round and jolly."

"Like a miniature Santa Claus," I say finally vocalizing what I've been keeping inside for far too long.

"Oh," Brittany says and then after about three seconds she is laughing really hard. "Oh my god! A miniature Santa Claus!"

Now the laughter that's been boiling inside of me is literally bubbling over. I can't stop it!

"You guys are awful," Quinn says shaking her and then suddenly she smacks my arm and then Britt's.

"Wha- hi, there!" the guy is back with a box wrapped in gold paper with a black bow around.

"I'm glad to see you ladies having a good time during your summer vacation. Now, this is all set and how will you be paying this afternoon?"

Oh man! He has no idea we were laughing at him!

"Cash," I answer though a light laugh.

"Wonderful! Now if you'll just come over to the register, I'll process this transaction," he picks up the wrapped box and waddles over to the register.

Laughing as quietly as I can, I follow him over to the register. As I'm walking I pull the $100 that I have in my pocket out. The five twenties are folded around my license and debit card. I know I should have a purse or a wallet but A) a bag is just too obnoxious and B) I don't need a wallet ruining how great my ass looks.

I'm so gay.

"Okay, your total comes to: eighty-four dollars and thirty-eight cents."

I hear Britt whisper "whoa" as I hand the guy the hundred bucks that I've been carrying around with me.

"Out of twenty, forty, sixty, eighty, one hundred. Thank you."

This guys starting to really be a little too much.

I hear the drawer open and watch his mouth count out my change, "And fifteen dollars and sixty-one cents is your change. Have a wonderful day, ladies!"

I take my change and without anyone having to elbow me in the ribs, I say, "Thank you," and turn around with the gold bag holding Rachel's birthday gift in my hand.

"How did you get out of the house without Rachel?" Quinn asks, "You two are like, attached at the hip."

"Uh... no they aren't, Quinn! If they were they'd be siamese twins and the fact that they have sex would be like, really gross... and I think illegal," Brittany says, stopping right as we get to the up escalator.

I can't even breathe I am laughing so hard. That is why Brittany is my best friend in the whole entire world. Like, who thinks of that? Brittany S. Pierce, that's who.

"Britt, that's just a saying," Quinn says stepping onto the escalator, "it means they're always together."

"Well, that's dumb! Why couldn't you have just said that?"

"Because it's... I don't know why Britt," Quinn says, this time stepping off of the escalator.

"Hmm... I think that if you don't know why you're doing something you shouldn't do it," Brittany says simply.

"Britt, Q's always talked like that. In idioms and similes," before we can have a 'duck in the hat' moment I continue, "Remember in the seventh grade in English class when we had to draw pictures of sayings like 'lost her marbles' and 'cat got your tongue?'"

"Oh yeah! I drew a picture of a fish drinking all the water in his bowl for 'drinks like a fish!' It means someone who drinks too much," Brittany says proudly remembering our first year of middle school together.

I laugh and say, "Yeah! And-"

"And similes and metaphors are comparisons. San, I know," she rolls her eyes, "I want to go to the pet store!"

Quinn and I look at each other with disgust over going to the pet store. I hate the pet store. It isn't because I'm heartless bitch either, it's just the opposite. I absolutely abhor looking at all the sad little puppies in their probably dirty cages. This isn't even because of Rachel and all her animal cruelty issues. I've always felt this way. Quinn feels like that, too! I'm actually surprised that Brittany likes going to the pet store so much. Maybe she doesn't see that they're sad or something.

Hmm... let's try to think like Britt for a second... I got it! I bet that she figures they'll all have homes eventually and then they won't be so sad anymore! I'm totally asking her to find out if I'm right.

Now, how do I bring it up? Oh! Easy! "Rachel hates pet stores," I say as we walk into the worst store in the mall.

Brittany's face gets all shocked, "What? How can anyone hate pet stores? They give animals homes!"

I knew it!

"So do animal shelters, Britt," Quinn says.

"They treat the animals better at shelters, too," I whisper as we pass by the jerk that runs this hell hole.

"I think you two have been listening to Rachel too much," Brittany says and then pouts at a particularly sad looking Golden Retriever puppy.

Quinn and I give each other another look behind Brittany's back, but when we look away, I suddenly start to wonder if what Brittany said was right. Not about me, clearly, but about Quinn? I guess we have been spending a lot of time with her lately and she and Rachel have had some alone time. I told you! Rach was really starting to drive me nuts! I needed a break every once in a while! Quinn helped me out and prevented her from doing something that would be potentially risky for those stitches holding her insides in. Okay so they're really only covering little tiny holes, but still.

Now that I'm thinking about it, Quinn knows a lot veganism, too...

"Okay, we can go now," Brittany says out of nowhere, "I just wanted to see if some of the puppies had been sold since the last time I was here."

"And when was the last time you were here, Britt?" Quinn asks.

"Three days ago. Five of them are gone. I think that's progress," she says and turns to walk out of the store.

"Anyways," Quinn starts as we follow Britt out of the store, "how did you get out of the house without Rachel?"

"You know, we don't have to do everything together," I say through an annoyed expression.

"Could have fooled me," Quinn laughs out.

I roll my eyes and start to wonder again why I'm trying to be friends with her.

"You know, I think it's cute," Quinn says in this gross apologetic tone.

"Could have fooled me," I can't stop myself from saying.

"No, I do. You're both so happy all the time and I have to admit, you do look really cute together."

"Yeah, super cute," Brittany says turning back to us.

I smile at Brittany and then finally answer Quinn's question, "I told Leroy and Hiram that I was going to buy her birthday present today and they decided it was family day, which involves a movie musical marathon. I faked disappointed that I wasn't really invited to join and pretended to come up with plans."

"It worked?" Quinn asks.

"I'm here without Rachel, aren't I?" I ask in a 'duh' tone.

"Right."

"Hey, you said you had a whole day planned for Friday. What are you doing?" Brittany asks as we venture into the food court.

I was totally planning on keeping this a big secret. I know far too many people that don't know how to keep them. But of course Brittany has that look on her face and I can't not tell her. Ugh. "You have to promise me that you won't say anything. To anyone! Not even Lily!"

"Pinky promise," Brittany says holding out her right pinky to me. I link mine with hers and we both kiss the ends of our fists.

"You too Q," I say once I put my hand back down.

"Do I have to pinky promise," she asks with a kind of weirded out look on her face.

"Duh! It's the only way it's real," Brittany says and picks up Quinn's right hand. Quinn sticks her pinky out and we repeat what Britt and I just did.

"Now tell us!" Brittany says sitting down at a table and then pulling me down into the seat next to her.

I wait for Quinn to sit down in a chair across from us and then say again, "Now, you promise-"

"We linked our friggin' pinkies, Santana! Tell us where you're taking her! God!" Quinn all but yells at me from across the table.

"Okaaay," jeez, "I'm taking her to an aquarium," I finally answer.

"The one in Kentucky with the penguins!" Brittany grabs my wrist and hops in her seat.

"Yeah, that one."

"I feel like vegans are anti-zoo and aquariums," Quinn says.

Is she trying to ruin my plans? Rude. Well, just so she knows, "Way ahead of you Luce," instant pissed face, "she's actually all for zoos and aquariums. She thinks that because the animals are there for helpful research purposes and the admission that they charge goes to a good cause, they're all good. They also treat the animals well because the people taking care of the animals have degrees."

Boom. Roasted.

Yeah, I said it.

"So, she doesn't think that the animals are being taken advantage of?" Quinn presses on again as if I hadn't just answered that question.

I roll my eyes and say, "No, she realizes that most of them have been there since birth and that some of them are even rescue animals. Zoos and aquariums aren't the same as farms that raise animals simply for them to be eaten."

Duh.

"Wait, there are farms that do that?" Brittany asks with her completely serious, sad face.

"Hun, have you listened to anything Rachel has said to you about veganism?" Quinn asks.

"You know, I like Rachel, I really do," Brittany says and then turns to me, "but sometimes, it's just too many words."

"It's okay, Britt," I say through a smile.

"Wow, you really are spending a lot of money on this," Quinn says through her quirked eyebrow.

"Yeah, but it's cool. She's worth it. Besides, what else am I going to use this money on? I just want her to be happy and that makes me happy... and Little One is keeping score on who gives better gifts," I say to Brittany and Quinn who both sigh and roll their eyes at me, "You do realize that I'm kidding, right?"

"Yeah, sure," Quinn says shaking her head.

Bitch, please.

Wait, she isn't looking at me. Actually, running through this conversation, she's actually been looking slightly beyond Britt and me. Let's do a sneaky little trick to see what she's looking at... after I text Brittany who's literally sitting right next to me.

To Britt Britt:
Have you noticed Q looking behind us this whole time?

And maybe a quick text to Rach...

To Rach*:
Hey Babe! How's fun time with the Dads going?

Quinn is too busy staring at whatever is behind us now to even tell that I'm texting under the table.

I hear Brittany suck in a bunch of air through her throat in excitement and then see her start furiously texting out of the corner of my eye. In no time:

From Britt Britt:
Right when we sat down! Theres a rly cute girl behind us. I looked when I asked if you were going to kentucky.

She's so fucking smart! I can't stop myself from turning a little bit to give Britt my 'oh my god' look.

"What?" Quinn asks suspiciously.

"Oh, nice of you to join us here at this table," I respond.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Quinn gulps out.

"What? Quinn, you've been staring at the cute girl behind us since we sat down," Brittany whispers loudly.

"Shhh!"

"Oh come on Q, she's two tables away, she can't hear us," I say rolling my eyes and then obviously looking back towards her. Hmmm... she is cute, not really my type with the dude's haircut and the fitted cap, but I get why Quinn's been looking at her.

"Way to be obvious, Santana!"

"What? I just wanted to see what was more interesting than me."

"Talk to her!" Brittany says leaning over the table closer to Quinn.

"No way! What if she isn't-"

"Oh please, with that haircut? Of course she's gay," I interrupt Quinn before she can make a really shit excuse.

"Hey, I think I've seen her before," Brittany says turning to me but looking out of the corner of her eye at the girl in question.

"She works at the Lima Bean," Quinn says with that shy voice, "I've been drinking a lot more lattes than usual..."

Now that I think about it, she's shown up to the Berry house with a Lima Bean cup in hand everyday this week.

"So you've talked to her?" Britt asks.

"Well, not much beyond 'I'd like non-fat iced caramel latte, please' and 'thank you' when she hands me my change that I just put in the tip cup," Quinn sighs and then looks beyond Britt and me again at the girl she's clearly crushing hard on.

This is fucking great! Quinn's all puppy dog eyes over this girl! This girl that isn't my girlfriend! This is the best trip to the mall ever!

"You know what, Q? I want to help you," I say putting my elbows on the table and my chin into my palms.

"Me too!" Brittany says doing the same thing.

"You know, you guys don't have to do that," Quinn says leaning away from the table and looking rather nervous.

Yes we do.

"I'm sure that Rachel would love to help, too..."

"That's really unnecessary, guys... I think... ummm... I think I want to just, you know, keep things the way they are... me drinking too much coffee everyday... and smiling too much when I see her and... stuff," Quinn says nervously and then brings her hand to her face, rubbing her eyes with her thumb and forefinger.

Ooo! I forgot I put my phone in my lap.

From Rach*:
It's okay. I miss you. How's Unholy Trinity time?

I have to tell her!

To Rach*:
Britt and I just found out that Quinn has a crush on one of the baristas at the Lima Bean.

Oh I cannot wait to see her response!

"Are you telling Rachel?" Quinn asks trying to snatch my phone away from me.

"Yup. Let's see what she has to say, shall we?"

From Rach*:
A boy barista or a girl barista? There's no such thing as a baristo and Quinn is bisexual...

Well that was anticlimactic.

To Rach*:
A girl barista.

Instantly:

From Rach*:
OH MY GOD! We have to help her!

"Rachel wants to help, too," I say through my devious eyes. These are a good devious though.

"You guys really don't-"

"Yes, yes we do," I say.

I am so excited it isn't even funny. Okay, maybe it is funny. It's pretty obvious why I'm so excited. I mean, you get it right? Fine I'll spell it out for you: QUINN HAS A CRUSH ON A GIRL THAT ISN'T RACHEL! She isn't even like Rachel! Okay well, maybe she is a little like Rachel, but we don't know that yet. It seems like all Quinn knows is that she's cute and she takes her coffee order right everyday.

"Yeah, totally, Q! You should be getting your sweet lady kisses," Brittany says with a big smile on her face.

Quinn's face, meet Quinn's palm.


Summer Vacation
Day 18

Rachel is so friggin' excited to help Quinn out with her barista. She's probably too excited actually. I've been scheming since last night. Well, actually, I think that we need to see these two potential love birds interact before a plan can really be hashed out.

Wait, did I just use the term "love birds?" I need to be stopped.

As much as I'd like to get on with Operation Barista, I have bigger fish to fry today... like whale shark big. It's dinner with Papá day. I'm seriously afraid that he's going to sneak attack us with my mother. That really wouldn't be fair. It wouldn't be fair to me, to Rachel or to Leroy and Hiram. I thought that we made it clear that this can't be pushed, though. Ugh. I don't know what to do!

I don't really want to get hit again, either.

But like, what if he does bring her? I'm not sure I'll be able to speak to him. I don't even think I'll let them in the house.

"Sweetheart, why are you making so much food?" I feel Rachel come up next to me and slide her hand under my shirt and onto the swell of my back, "It looks like you're trying to feed an army."

"Honestly, babe, I'm worried Papá is going to bring my mother today," I sigh and continue stirring the rice. Okay, so maybe I would let them in.

"Ah ha... why don't you call him if you're so worried about that?" Miss Logical asks.

Right. Of course. The telephone.

"And there's my babe, bringing in logic to my scrambled brain," I say and kiss her cheek, "Would you mind grabbing my phone for me, it's on the island?"

"No problem," she says scrunching her nose and then kissing my lips quickly. When she returns and hands me my phone, I'm struck with slight panic. It must be obvious, "Now what's wrong?"

"What am I supposed to say to him? What if I'm accusing him of something that he had no intention of doing?"

You know, I'm getting really good at this whole expressing what I'm feeling thing.

"San," Rachel starts, putting her hands on my hips and turning me towards her so that fronts are touching and so that I can't stare into the boiling pot of rice any longer, "that entire day when you were going to meet your dad at the hospital, you felt like something was going to go horribly wrong. I know that you don't really put much faith in premonition, but I think that you should go with your gut on this one. Your past experience tells you to."

"I didn't feel so fantastic about going to dinner with Marisol, either," I mumble.

"And as much as I wish you weren't right about that one, you were," Rachel says through sad eyes, "Just call him and ask him if he's bringing your mother. He's going to understand that you don't feel comfortable with her here. He's on your side, remember?"

I hope she's right.

I lift my phone from my side and type out the letters that lead me to Papá's cell phone number. After I hit send, Rachel lets go of my hips and starts stepping away to give me space. I don't want it and gasp out, "No," grabbing for her with my empty hand.

"Okay," she whispers, then reaches her arms around my hips, hooking her thumbs into the belt loops of my jeans.

"Hola, mija. ¿Qué pasa?" Papá answers in a chipper tone.

"Nada más, Papá. I just wanted a little reminder of when you'll be here today?" I ask hoping that this will ease into the question I really want to ask.

"I thought we decided on 4:30," he says and he's right, we did say 4:30. That's why I'm cooking now at 4:00.

There's really no easing into this is there. I look at Rachel to see that she's giving me her most encouraging smile. It's her, "you're Santana and you can do anything," smile.

"Umm... Papá?"

"Sí, mija?"

"¿Donde esta Mamá?"

That was really the most tactful way I could come up with on such short notice. Although, I'm pretty sure if I had twenty-four hours, I still wouldn't have come up with anything better.

"En el hospital. ¿Por que?"

Shit.

"I just... I umm..."

"Mija, you didn't think I was going to try and bring her, did you?"

Double shit.

"Ummm...?"

"¡Ay dios mio! He aprendido de mi errores. I wouldn't do that to you again! I wouldn't do that to Rachel and her fathers either! Mija, estoy decepcionado de que pensabas que iba hacer eso."

Come on! Couldn't he have been angry! I hate when he's disappointed! It's the worst thing ever to be a disappointment.

"Lo siento, Papá," I say feeling like the worst daughter of all time. I knew this was going to happen.

"It's okay, Míja," he says not sounding any different than when he told me he was disappointed, "I'll see you in a few minutes. I'm leaving the house now."

"See you, soon."

"Adios."

And the call has been ended. I didn't even get to say 'adios' back.

"Decepcionado?" Rachel asks.

"Disappointed," I answer and turn back to the stove. I never would have thought to call him if Rachel hadn't mentioned it.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart."

Good. She should be sorry.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

I'm not talking to her. I'm just going to keep cooking these fajitas and give them all of my attention until she gives up and walks away from me.

"I'm not leaving until you tell me why you're upset."

Okay so I just won't talk to her while she stands here.

"You aren't blaming this on me, are you? All I did was tell you to call him, you didn't have to do it."

What? "You practically pressed send for me with all your premonition talk. You went and you did that whipped, mind control thing you do to me..." what am I saying?

"Oh, so you think that I'm manipulating you to do things? And here I was thinking you were in love with me and that's why you do things for me," she says backing away from me.

"Rachel, that's not what I meant-"

"Yeah, okay. I bet I 'mind-controlled' you into being gay, too, didn't I? Maybe your mother was right and you've just been drinking my Kool-Aid for the last three months. Happy Anniversary, by the way."

And with that, she walks out of the kitchen and up the stairs. I hear her door slam and I only assume that she's locked it as well.

There's the doorbell.

"I'll get it!" Hiram yells and just seconds after, Leroy is in the kitchen with me.

"So that was Rachel's door?" he asks in his scary Mufasa voice.

"Yeah," I say barely letting out any air and paying very close attention to the vegetables in the frying pan in front of me.

"Is she okay?" he asks and I can feel him getting closer to me.

"She isn't feeling very well," I lie. I'm sure it's obvious. Why else would I be acting like more of an idiot than I usually do in front of Leroy?

"Hmm... if I went up there and asked her if she was sick, would she tell me that you were lying?" he asks very close to me. Like, directly behind me.

"We got in an argument, okay!" god that was excruciating.

"Eh, arguments happen. You guys have gotten through worse," he says with a shrug and walks away, "I'm thinking she won't be down for dinner, though."

Okay, lungs, relax. Breathe.

Leroy walks out of the kitchen to join the other two dads. Well, I thought he'd be joining the other two dads, but Hiram just walked into the kitchen.

"Rachel's not going to come down for dinner, is she?" Wow, they know her well.

"We kinda fought about something," I say to the vegetables.

"Does it have to do with your dad? He seems a little out of it," H asks putting his hand on my shoulder.

"Sort of. I..." hate to admit it, "I said something stupid," I say shaking my head and then walking away from the stove to grab dishes to put the food into.

"Did you instantly regret it?" H asks with a slight laugh.

"Of course I did. I'm sure I looked like I did, too!" I say only slightly flailing my arms with the bowls in my hands.

"I'm sure she noticed. Don't worry, Santana, everything is going to be fine. Let's take care of what you need to with your dad first, though. Rachel will be here all night, but he has a surgery at 10," Hiram says wrapping his arm around my shoulder while I empty the contents of all the pans into bowls.

"You know, you're the coolest third dad anyone could ask for," I say looking up to his eyes just a little. He isn't that much taller than I am.

"Third?"

"Yeah, Brittany's dad is second, sorry, it's a time thing. Can you grab the tortillas?" I say picking up the bowls and starting towards the dining room.

"Ahh, totally understandable," he says as he pops open the microwave and grabs the plate that's been in there. "Ready to clean up your messes?" H asks with genuine smile as we approach the doorway to the dining room.

"I guess so," I shrug.

"I'll be there the whole time," he says with a dad wink and then proceeds into the dining room ahead of me.

Well, here it goes.


¿Qué pasa? - What's up?
Nada más, Papá - Nothing much, Papá
¿Donde esta Mamá? - Where's Mamá
En el hospital. ¿Por que? - At the hospital. Why?
¡Ay dios mio! He aprendido de mi errores - Oh my god! I've learned from my mistakes.
estoy decepcionado de que pensabas que iba hacer eso - I'm disappointed that you thought I was going to do that.


A/N: Hello everyone! Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Glee Day! I always appreciate comments so feel free to leave some!