Protector ch. 9
After Quinn's fight at school, we talked about when and where it was okay to fight people that pisses off as I know that she only fought to protect her friend but there are better ways to handle the situation. From I saw my girl has a right hook and I think that I should put her in karate or boxing but that's a conversation for another day as the week passed, the avid reader avoided getting into any more fights. Saturday was finally here and I'm finally meeting up with Rachel as I drop my little nerd at one of her friend's house for a few hours before going through my closet to find something to wear. After going several outfit changes and getting Kurt's opinion via FaceTime, I finally decide on a short sleeve red blouse that makes the twins look amazing and black pants that cling to my hips before grabbing my house keys and my wallet before locking up.
I hop into my car driving towards this little coffee place that not a little people know about that serves the best coffee and pastries that I ever tasted as I usually stop there on my way to work, parking my car out front. I walk through the door as the smell of coffee beans fill my nostrils as the place has a homey feel to with a few small bookcases lining the back wall as I take the table next to the window as I'm greet by the owners Bernie and Ethel. They're in the latest sixties that moved all the way from Poland for a chance at the American Dream with a few dollars in their pockets and a toddler on Ethel's hip and times were hard but made it through it all because they love each other above everything. It reminds me a bit of my Abuela and Abuelo as the older couple open a coffee shop and they've been doing well for themselves although there were times that it was a bit touch and go as there was some developer wanting to buy them out.
The Polish couple refused to do those even when they were offered a substantial amount of money but they couldn't afford the rent much longer but then an anonymous benefactor pays off the debt allowing them to stay just where they are. When I asked them if they knew who it was, they say that they didn't but they owe that person a big thanks for doing what they did as Ethel pinches my cheek affectionately before moving to make my usual order of a coffee and cinnamon roll. I asked the aging redhead if she could a coffee with say milk as I'm expecting a friend to meet me here in a few minutes as the older couple blinks owlishly at before Bernie pats me on the back, congratulating me finally someone to settle with. Ethel asks me a million and one questions about my lady friend which I try to tell them that it wasn't like that anything I said went unheard as I groaned loudly because sometimes it felt like having another set of parents.
While I was studying hard in law school, I spend most of my time here with my head in the books as the old man supplied with enough caffeine to pull plenty of all-nighters and the aging redhead had to force me to eat more than on a few occasions. I plenty of time in their apartment that above the coffee table as I spend of time in New York by myself, rarely going back to Lima for the holidays as I didn't have much of a reason to go back. The Polish couple took care of me like I was a part of the family, giving me a part-time job to have a little spending money in my pockets and I owe them a lot as they were there when I graduated at the top of my class. If it wasn't for them then I don't know where I would be. The bell on top of the door jingles, signaling that someone walked into the shop as I turn to see who it was, my heart skips when Rachel walks in, wearing a light pink long sleeve blouse with the top two buttons unbuttoned, white pants that hugs her curves deliciously paired with a black belt and black heels.
I feel a hand pushing my mouth close as Bernie lets out a low whistle as I smack him on his chest, glaring at him which he laughs before pushing me towards the tiny teacher as we slowly gravitate towards each other. Rachel smiles shyly before pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear, making her all the more fuckin' adorable as I take her in me as I lead towards the table to see out the corned of my eye to see Bernie giving me a thumbs up.
"You look beautiful"
"That's high praise coming from you, Ms. Lopez. You look rather stunning yourself" Rachel said smiling.
Ethel comes up to set our orders on the table before feeling the need to embarrass me by asking Rachel to take good care of me even I can be a handful and I wanted a hole to open and swallow me whole. Dammit Ethel, too much too soon. Like I wasn't already worried about scaring her off. I peeked through my fingers to see Rachel with her hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing but the shaking of her shoulders and the mirth in her eyes was a dead giveaway as I lean back in my chair, effectively embarrassed. I guess that I can handle being embarrassed if I could hear her laugh like that all.
"I'm sorry, Santana. I didn't mean to laugh at you but I just wasn't expecting that" Rachel giggles.
"Ethel can be a little much at times but she means well" I said shrugging my shoulders.
"So can I assume that you come here?" Rachel asked raising an eyebrow.
"I practically lived here when I was at law school. Ethel and Bernie are like family to me, gave me my first job here to" I said smiling into my coffee. "A lot of good memories here"
"I'm honored that you're sharing something so special with me" Rachel said reaching to take my hand in hers.
"Well I think that you're special so… ya know" I said nonchalant.
Conversation easily flow between as we talk about anything and everything that came to mid as never in a millions would I have thought that I would be sitting here, talking with Rachel Berry about how in the hell did Mr. Shuester and Coach got married. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around that as I made a couple of jokes about them having super babies which she reprimands for but it doesn't matter because she still laugh since the mental is scary yet hilarious. Rachel tears off a piece of cinnamon roll, popping into her mouth as she sucks off some of the icing from her thumb, sending my mind directly to the gutter before asking me a question but I didn't hear a word.
"I'm sorry what?" I said snapping out my thoughts.
"I asked you why when we… um got together, you took care of me but you asked me not to hate you when I woke up. I know that you said when you thought that I had fallen asleep but I couldn't stop thinking about why you ask something like that" Rachel said eyebrow furrowing together. "I couldn't possibly hate you, Santana not even you had my life a living hell in high school. You protected me from being in unfortunate situation with an questionable person in a club and taken care of me when I was suffering from a hangover. More than anything I want to your friend in high school but I'm hoping that it's possible in our adult life. I think that something's pushing us together"
"Look Rachel, you know that I was a major bitch back in high school and I made a lot of questionable decision including bullying you but I need you to understand the reason behind it as I was the head cheerleader and it was easier to act like a bitch because a lot of people was watching me to make a mistake. My secret was something that I hid and I needed to protect Brittany because I knew that someone would take a advantage of her kind and innocent nature so I kept people at arms' length because I never knew if they wanted to be friend or take advantage of my popularity" I sigh, hating feeling vulnerable in front of others. "I bullied you because I knew that you were going to make it out of Lima through your talent and everyone knew it as a part of me was jealous because I didn't know if I ever was going to. A lot of my anger and frustration at myself was directed at you which wasn't right and you didn't deserve it after how nice you continued to be to me. I'm so sorry for everything that I put you through and I hope that you can forgive me for it"
"I forgave you a long time ago, Santana but thank you for apologizing, it means a lot to me" Rachel said taking my hand in hers. "I understand why and that's a lot of pressure to be under"
"Thank you, Rachel so since this coffee date went so well, does it mean that I have earned the honor of taking you out for dinner" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"I don't think that I'm quite ready to go out to dinner with you but how about I join you for lunch at a later date? Would that suffice?" Rachel asks blushing slightly.
"I would be honored" I said kissing her knuckles causing her cheeks to redden. "Give me your phone"
"Why?" Rachel asked suspicious.
"So I can put my number and you can fill me in on the details of our date"
"It's not a date, Santana. Just two friend grabbing lunch together"
"Date"
"Friends grabbing lunch"
"Date" I said smirking.
"Friends grabbing lunch"
"Date"
"Friends grabbing lunch" Rachel said getting frustrated.
"Okay friends grabbing lunch"
"It's a date goddamn!"
"I knew it" I said feeling satisfied with myself.
"Wait I d-didn't" Rachel said flustered.
"Mhm keep telling yourself that, Rach but I know you feel the same thing that I am but I won't pressure you into anything that you don't want. If you want to stay friends then I'm fine with that but I know what I want and that's so if you want something than take that chance with me. I know that it won't be easy and it's gonna be hella complicated because you're my kid's teacher but I'm done with denying what I feel"
Rachel brings her lip between her teeth and all I want to do is suck it between my own but I refrain because we're out in public and I doubt that Bernie and Ethel would appreciate me making out with someone in the middle of their shop. I never wanted someone as much as I want the tiny teacher in a long time as I never felt such a strong draw to someone since… since Brittany and I know that there's a possibility of me getting hurt but I want to try, I want come home to someone.
"I'm not the same person that I was in high school, Santana. I've change" Rachel said looking down. "What about Quinn? How does feel about you dating other people?"
"So have I and as for Quinn, she doesn't completely understand but I think that she was more worried that it would mean that I would spend less time with her but she'll be fine as long as I make sure that nothing out of the ordinary changes. Rachel, I love my daughter means the world to me even if I only been in her life for a short period and there's nothing that I wouldn't do for her so I know that I have to be careful because this not only effects me but her as well" I said squeezing her hand. "But the way that she talks about, she really likes you and she's really talking about wanting to take guitar and piano lessons because of you"
"Well I think that she's a very special girl and I would be more than willing to give her piano lessons after school if she wants" Rachel said smiling warmly. "I like her too but I think that her feelings may change once she finds out that I'm dating her mother"
"We don't have to tell her yet since we're not dating and if we're serious about each other then we'll ease her into it" I said smiling. "But are you sure that you want to do this? Are you sure that you don't want more time to think about?"
"You're right about me feel the same way but I'm still a little hesitant about all of this because there's so many variables to consider including our history and if we're compatible" Rachel said shaking her head. "I don't want to fear rule my ever decision and I want to see where this go but I want you to promise me something"
"What's that?" I asked curious.
"I want you to promise me that no matter what even if we don't work out that we'll remain friends. I want you in my life"
"You have me, Estrella and I'm not going anywhere" I said kissing the back of her hand.
~Nicole The Dragon Rider signing off
End of ch. 9
