Chapter 10: The Broken Queens

They stayed here the whole evening, laying on Santana's bed, silently thinking about all the things that had changed since the first time they had stepped into the high school hallways. Back then, they had been the queens of McKinley, the HBICs, the ones people feared and admired at the same time. But Quinn had lost a part of her credibility when she had gotten pregnant, and her popularity had never really recovered; Santana, in appearance, was still leading the school and the Cheerios, but her power was faltering and they both knew it was just a matter of time before her reign came to an end.

Right now, alone in this bedroom where nobody else could see them, they were just as lost as the losers they once laughed at.

They were broken. The two girls who had learnt to hide their feelings behind a layer of nastiness and indifference were tired of pretending. Coming from families who had always expected too much from them and never really showed them love and support had once torn them apart, but now brought them back together in a moment when they needed someone to understand how they felt. How could it have all turned out so wrong? Where did they fuck up? What could they have done better? Somewhere along the way, being pretty had stopped being enough. Being smart and successful wasn't either. So how where they supposed to do?

Could they have avoided all the heartbreak and sadness that came with the realization that things were never easy, and that in order to survive, they needed to fight? That in order to be happy, they would have to learn to accept themselves and their flaws, in order to stand tall in front of people and defend their rights when they would be overstepped?

None of these questions could be answered in only one evening. When Quinn left Santana that night, the same questions and fears still floated in their minds. But for now, it was overcome by the realization that they weren't alone anymore.

Quinn came back the next evening, and the evening after. Mrs. Lopez was way too happy to have her over, thinking it might help her daughter ''come back to normal''.

If only she knew what they talked about, once the bedroom door closed.

''Santana? Can I ask you a question?" Quinn said on Wednesday, laying on Santana's bed, raising her head from her French homework.

"Fabray, if you want to know if I want to make out with you, the answer is no, I don't. You have a sweet ass, but I'm not that into that.'' Santana answered from her desk, paraphrasing Quinn with a smirk.

"Ha ha, very funny Lopez" Quinn answered, using her surname as well. "No, I wanted to know… Why don't you try to come out to the Glee Club again? I mean, I've been thinking about it, and you have nothing to be afraid of… We're like a big family, they would all accept you for who you are."

She regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth, but surprisingly Santana didn't look mad. Instead, she slowly closed her pen and put it on her desk, before staring into Quinn's hazel eyes.

"Q, did you see how my family reacted to my coming out? They don't talk to me anymore. I'm grounded into this bedroom until I'm 30, and the only reason they let you in is because they think you can change me. Plus I totally thought I would keep a scar on my otherwise perfect skin for the rest of my life." She added, pointing to her cheek which was now perfectly healed. "Why would the Glee Club accept me where my parents rejected me?"

"Your parents are freaking uptight and conservative, and very close-minded Catholics, Santana. You can't compare them to Glee…" Quinn whispered tentatively, paying attention not to be heard by the other Lopez.

"Besides, you know how gossipy these kids can be…" Santana cut. "In less than a second, all McKinley would know that I'm gay, and I'm definitely not ready for that. I've never been really nice to them, why do you think they would keep a secret for me?"

She was on her defensive again. Quinn was about to answer when Mrs. Lopez knocked on the door, telling her it was time for her to go home; Judy Fabray had just called to say that dinner was ready.

Quinn gathered her stuff together, unable to answer Santana's question under Mrs. Lopez's stare; this latter escorted her to the door, and all Quinn could do was wave at Santana who still had her brow deeply furrowed, sitting cross-legs on her desk chair.

Later that evening, when Santana got into bed after yet another silent dinner, her phone vibrated on her bedside table. She picked it up, silently hoping for a text from Brittany. They hadn't really had time to talk this week, since Brittany still seemed to be working pretty hard on her assignment, without telling her what it was about.

She felt a little bit disappointed when she saw the name that flashed on her screen.

1 Text Message From: Quinn [10:45pm]

Sophomore year, when I got pregnant. They kept it a secret for as long as they could. I wasn't exactly being nice to them at that time. I was actually a pretty damn bitch… They like you, Santana. You don't give them enough credit. Tell me you'll give them a chance?

She sighed and was about to answer when her phone vibrated again.

1 Text Message From: Tina [10:47pm]

Hi Santana! I hope I'm not bothering you, but I was wondering… Remember that time we worked on Trouty Mouth together? I'm having some troubles with the mash up assignment, and since you did so good on Monday, I wanted to know if you would agree to help me out a little… I'm sorry if I'm overstepping here. Good night!

Santana stayed still in her bed for a few minutes, reading again the two texts and letting their warmth sink into her chest and make her heart flutter. It was a nice, new, and strange feeling at the same time, coming from these two persons she wouldn't have expected it from a few weeks ago. Usually, Brittany was the only person who made her feel like this. Loved. Liked. Appreciated, at least. She wasn't used to being the one people ask help from, and she had to say it felt pretty good.

They like you, Santana.

The 4 words from Quinn's text were still shining on her screen.

She shook her head, and answered the first text: "Ok Q. I'll try."

She stared at the second text a little while longer, before answering to Tina.

"I would love to."

A/N: This is a very short chapter but it was necessary, and the next one will be up soon! What do you think? Would you like to see some Santana/Tina friendship? By the way, I know Brittany isn't really present for now but trust me, she has her reasons and she will come back eventually.

By the way, thank you for all the awesome and kind reviews. They make me feel the same way Quinn and Tina's texts made Santana feel... You make my heart light up each time I read them!