Skipping A Beat
Chapter 9: Who She Is Now
Last time on Skipping A Beat:
"I need answers, and honestly, I trust you more than your sister right now," she sounded hesitant.
"Ironic," Santana said to herself. "Well, what would you like to know?"
Quinn
The blonde didn't know where to start, she had a thousand questions and no idea how to phrase them. Santana was making her nervous and it had her mind scrambling to string words together.
"You and Isabella don't get along," Quinn said.
She couldn't believe she just blurted that out, it wasn't even a question. Zero tact.
"You get straight to the point, don't you, Q?" Santana smirked.
"I like to be upfront. I'm a very 'what you see is what you get' kind of person. I don't care for games," Quinn shrugged. The dark skinned girl tilted her head and looked at her curiously, as though she was studying her. "What?"
"Nothing. Just don't see such honesty in people anymore. Anyways, you know that wasn't a question right?"
"Well then why is there such tension between you and Isabella? It doesn't seem like normal sibling affairs.."
"That's quite the loaded question, Blondie." Santana took a sip from her glass of wine before she answered, clearly trying to figure out how to respond. "Isabella wasn't always who she is today. She made a choice for me that wasn't hers to make. We were never the same after that, and I can't forgive her for it." Her face and eyes darkened in a way that gave Quinn goosebumps.
"What did she do?"
"That, my dear, is a story for another time. Definitely not first date material," Santana winked.
She knew not to push the topic, she could feel the unease radiating off of her companion. Her face softened, and Quinn didn't want to do anything to bring that darkness back.
"Do you live with her?"
That seemed like a safer question.
"I do right now, but only just recently. We had gone our separate ways a long time ago. The only reason we do now is because we have a common interest."
"Which is?"
"We both needed to come home. I'm not sure about her, but I was just going to pass through, but then one thing lead to another and now I'm stuck here."
"So this is what? Your hometown?" Quinn asked.
"Unfortunately," Santana responded.
Both girls got quiet, nibbling on their breadsticks and sipping from their drinks. Quinn didn't want to break the silence but Santana intrigued her like nothing else. She had to know more. She could listen to that raspy voice speak of anything for hours.
"Where are your parents?" Quinn inquired.
"Dead."
"I'm sorry."
She wasn't sure if she should tell the brown eyed girl that her parents were dead too. She decided against it, knowing she might not be able to get her to speak more of herself.
"Don't be. It doesn't hurt anymore," Santana assured her.
Their waitress came back, setting two hot plates of primavera in front of them.
"Can I get you two anything else?" she asked, sweetly.
"Just another glass for me, darling." Santana smiled.
Quinn was annoyed. It wasn't that she was jealous, she just didn't like the way the girl smiled too brightly at her date. Darling wasn't even that cute of a word. She knew the server was a slut from the way her hips swung from side to side.
Have you heard of boundaries, bitch? Quinn thought to herself as she stared after the girl.
"If looks could kill," Santana's voice broke her from her glare.
"She'd be dead," Quinn noded, not even bothering to lie to the twin.
"Is that all you wanted to know or..?"
She poked at her plate, knowing it was time to ask her most pressing question.
"Who's Charlie?"
Santana stopped with her fork halfway to her mouth, her jaw hanging open from the bomb the blonde just dropped. She didn't breathe for a minute, which made Quinn uneasy again.
How do you just, like, forget to breathe?
Santana cleared her throat and set her fork down, not bothering with taking her first bite.
"She was a friend. A close friend."
Both girls knew it was more than that.
"How close does one have to get when kisses replace greetings?" Their eyes locked, and the tension filled the breath of space between them.
"You'll know when," Santana said flirtatiously.
Quinn bit her lip to hide her smile, snatching up her fork and taking a bite from her previously untouched plate.
"I normally go for a quick hug when saying hello, but I suppose I'm always open for new things. In the spirit of curiosity, of course."
"I'm all about education, me."
There was a lapse in conversation as they both picked at their meals.
"You're brilliant at diversion," Quinn stated after realizing she didn't get the information she desperately needed.
"It was worth a shot," Santana grimaced. "Charlie...she conned people into loving her, but she never really loved anybody back. I don't think she could, and I don't think she cared about the trail of hearts she left behind. She kept people longing for her, but never wanted to choose just one. She liked to have a collection, and she was good at keeping them all a secret from each other."
"You were one of them, weren't you?"
She nodded.
"Isabella too?"
Another nod.
"Was that what tore you apart? Assuming you were once close."
"Smart girl. That was what got the ball rolling, and it just got worse from there. We were best friends once, but that was a long time ago. We were completely different people then."
Santana held her gaze to show the sincerity behind her words.
"Who were you then?"
"Why don't we discuss that after you get to know who I am now? Even though you would have liked that Santana better."
"Are you hinting you'd like to make this a repeat performance?" Quinn smirked.
"I am, but I'm going to have to get permission from your best friend. If she knew I was with you right now she'd drive a stake through my heart."
"Who even says that?" Quinn laughed.
They continued to eat, keeping the rest of the conversation light. Santana dropped Quinn off, waving goodbye from her car an hour later.
Quinn appreciated the girls honesty, but she was left with more questions than what she started with.
Next time on Skipping A Beat:
"It's your fault she's dead!" Isabella screamed.
"It's your fault I'm dead!" Santana yelled.
"You kept your promise!" Brittany squealed, running up to give her new Latina friend a hug.
"One day you're talking to me like I'm the most important person in the world, then the next you're ignoring me and flirting with my best friend! I can't keep up with your mood swings, Santana! Are you going to change your mind and act all sweet again tomorrow? I told you I don't play games, and you're making me your game!" Quinn hissed.
"What can I say, Pom-Poms? I don't come in second. Not to you, and not after her. Not ever," Santana replied, eyes cold as ice.
"Is there anything else you'd like to take from me? I still have both kidneys, are you going to take one of those too? I'm sure your twisted mind could rationalize it. You could have let me be the one for once in your life. I could be her person," Santana's voice went from strong to defeated to pleading in just a couple sentences.
"Make a move," Quinn dared.
"Am I allowed?" the Latina inquired.
"Absolutely."
"You can take anything if you want it enough."
Authors Note: I'm not sure when I'm going to be able to update again since I work for the next 4 days straight then I have lacrosse on Monday, so here's something to keep you invested! Any thoughts, ideas, critisim, or praise leave me a review or send me a PM! Thanks for the reviews and for sticking with us so far, I spend all my thinking time on this damn story, wondering how I could make it better or what I can incorporate. I love you all so much. Thanks again for reading!
XOXO, Elisabeth