DISCLAIMER: Glee is not mine. Grey is. All My Loving is by The Beatles (in case you did not know, and in that case, I pity you). Tyler refers to Tyler the Creator. Sorry, but I had to lay into him a bit. Oh, and S Club 7 (Who are making a comeback!) are one of my favorite bands in the whole world.
A/N: As always, read, review and enjoy :) And thank you to my beta, as always. Also, I got a few comments berating me for my use of One Direction. Just so you know, I'm not a fan, but I thought the song was just something fun for Grey and Blaine to sing :)
Things got easier. It had been three months, and somehow the songs lightened things. Santana and Grey were able to talk properly because their feelings were taken care of in Glee. Santana still hadn't said yes to Grey- it was as if she was dragging it out on purpose. But she wasn't. She still wasn't sure of her feelings or how she wanted things to proceed. All she knew was that she loved the songs Grey sang, from the fast and upbeat to the slow and calm, and everything in between.
"Rap," Mr Schue said, writing it on the board at the same time. Artie's eyes lit up, and Kurt rolled his. Blaine had that constant excited look on his face. Finn was also excited; he giggled to himself.
"Mr Schue, can I be excused from this assignment?" Grey asked.
"Reason?"
"On the basis that I hate rap with a fiery passion I reserve for people who skin puppies and/or kill nuns." Finn's excitement turned to shock.
"You… How do you hate rap?" he exclaimed.
"… By not liking it?" Finn looked at Grey incredulously, shaking his head. "I just don't get what's so impressive about speaking a song." Artie looked betrayed.
"No. Just, no. No, no, no, no." The bespectacled boy said. Grey laughed.
"Finn, I bet you that I can pick any rap song and perform it well enough to warrant decent applause." Finn laughed.
"This is gonna be the easiest bet I've ever won." They decided on a wager: the winner got to pick a song- outfit and all- for the loser. After the meeting was over, Santana caught up with grey.
"Are you sure you can do this? Rap can be hard, Kid." Grey smiled.
"Spezz, there's a slight chance I may have hustled Finn." Santana laughed, and Grey's butterflies erupted at its sound. "I've been planning this for a long time. Who do you think gave Mr Schue the idea after I found out Finn likes rap? When is everybody going to realize that I'm a goddamn evil genius?" Santana continued to laugh, and grey's butterflies fluttered even more.
"So I take it you're a good rapper?"
"I make Tyler look like a pussy," Grey answered, taking a sip of water.
"That implies that Tyler's good," Grey snorted, and water came out of her nose. Santana doubled over in laughter and Grey tried to compose herself. It took them a while to stop laughing.
"So Finnocence is going to lose?" Santana asked once the pair had sobered up.
"I plan on making him sing S-Club 7." Santana's eyes lit up in delight.
"You. Are. Amazing," she said before turning away and walking to class. She didn't see Grey's face turn beet red, or the massive smile that played on her lips.
Now I need to win.
Grey walked into the choir room, decked out in an over-sized hoodie and baggy pants. Finn laughed.
"You're kidding me, right?"
"I take this very seriously, thank you very much." More and more Glee members came in, and eventually, Grey began her song.
Look, if you had, one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted, one moment
Would you capture it? Or just let it slip, yo
His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti
He's nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready
To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgetting
What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud
He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out
He's chokin' how, everybody's chokin' now
The clock's run out, times up, over, blaw!
Snap, back to reality, oh, there goes gravity
Oh, there goes Rabbit he choked, he's so mad but he won't
Give up that easy, no, he won't have it he knows
His whole back's to these ropes, it don't matter he's dope
He knows that but he's broke, he so stagnant he knows
When he goes back to his mobile home, that's when it's
Back to the lab again, yo
This whole rhapsody better go capture this moment
And hope it don't pass him
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo
Grey's teammates went crazy as they cheered. Quinn jumped to her feet in a standing ovation, and everyone else followed. Santana laughed at the mixed look of horror and shock on Finn's face. Grey grinned at Finn.
"You ready to sing your heart out? S Club 7 suits your voice." she said with a laugh. Finn scowled, and Grey laughed even more. She turned away, to say something to Mr Schue, and heard what Finn whispered to no-one in particular.
"She really is a dyke, with that rapping. Or half dude or something."
Grey's blood boiled, and the heat rose in her face. She whirled back around, and walked straight to Finn, not stopping until their noses were almost touching.
"Grey!" Rachel shrieked, horrified. Someone tried to pull her away, but Grey pushed them aside.
"How dare you? You idiot. You fucking idiot. You have something to say, you say it to my face, not once I've walked away. You stupid, cowardly little fuck-"
"Relax, Grey, I didn't mean it," Finn said hastily, trying to cover his mistake.
"No, fuck you, Finn. Of course you meant it, you fucking fuck. Shit goddamn, you make me angry."
"Watch out," Kurt muttered to no-one in particular, "she'll start using English slang." Grey shot daggers at Kurt before returning the brunt of her fury to Finn.
"All you do is preach fucking equality. You stand up there, all high and fucking mighty, and tell the rest of us how we should be accepting and united, and you have no idea what the fuck those words mean. How can you stand there and call me a dyke, when your own brother is as camp as a fucking row of hot pink tents? Do you call him a fag? Do you call Brittany or Santana dykes? Huh? How 'bout Rachel's dads? Are they homo?"
Finn looked uneasily at his friends. Each of them averted their eyes, however, Rachel looked on, mortified. As did Kurt, who held Blaine's hand as tight as he could. Quinn put a hand on Rachel's back to comfort her.
"You know what, Finn? Fuck. You. Fuck you, you stupid, borderline retarded fuck." Grey stormed out, and the room was left in silence. Rachel ambled over to Finn after a few moments.
"Rach… I…" Rachel mustered up all the strength she had, and slapped Finn in the face.
"We're over," she whispered, "done." She, too, rushed from the room, and Quinn was not far behind.
"You really screwed things up this time, Finn," Kurt said to his step-brother, "you stupid wanker."
Once Rachel had been comforted, Quinn successfully located Grey to see if she was okay.
"I'm fine. I probably overreacted," Grey admitted to her best friend,
"Grey, you had every right to react as you did. He had no business calling you that."
"What happened after I left?" Quinn hesitated before speaking, and was unable to keep the smile from her face as she spoke.
"Rachel dumped Finn," Quinn told her. Grey chuckled.
"I bet you're happy about that," Grey said. Quinn looked at her, horrified.
"W-what… I have no idea what you mean!" she muttered, clearly flustered by the statement. Grey rolled her eyes.
"Quinn, I see the way you look at her. The way you smile when she says your name, the stolen glances when you're with her. You look at her the way Mr Schue looks at Ms Pillsbury, the way my dads look at each other… The way my parents looked at each other."
"I've never seen a picture of your parents before," Quinn whispered. Grey took her wallet from her bag, and pulled out a picture that had been taken in a photobooth. Quinn gasped lightly, and Grey smirked in understanding; looking at her father was like looking at Alternate-Universe-Male-Grey. Quinn stared at the photo, seeing the way Grey's father stared at his wife.
"The way my parents look at each other… That's how I remember them. I have flashes of memories, nothing substantial, but enough for me to remember the happiness and love." Grey put the picture back where it belonged.
"They're beautiful, Grey. And they would be so proud of you right now." Grey wiped the stray tear from her cheek, and leant her head on Quinn's shoulder.
"You should be warned, Quinn. I love you, and I would literally do anything for you, but if you hurt my sister, I will hunt you down, and break your kneecaps." Quinn nodded.
"Understood."
"Spezz, before I forget, I can't go shopping this weekend."
"What? Why? We were gonna go to the markets, and haggle with people in our fake accents!" The friends had accidentally discovered their new favourite past time, and now did it most weekends.
"And as much as I love doing that, I have to pass. The 'rents are dragging Rachel and I out of town for a few days to some holiday house."
"Will you have reception?"
"I sure as bloody well hope so."
"So then you need to SMS me nonstop, got it?" Grey smiled at Santana.
"Grey… Why do you have your evil smile on?"
"Oh, no reason. It just makes what I'm about to do so much more relevant and hilariously awesome." Grey looked towards the bassist with a bowl haircut and nodded. He nodded in return.
"Oh, god," Santana said, "Fuck."
"Close your eyes, and I'll kiss you." She sang the first line without musical accompaniment, but an acoustic guitar joined her for the second line.
"Tomorrow I'll miss you. Remember I'll always be true…" More people began to stare, as Grey sang louder and stood on a chair.
"Grey, people are staring." Grey ignored her.
"And then while I'm away, I'll write home every day, and I'll send all my loving to you." By then, the whole band was playing, and the entire cafeteria watched as Grey jumped onto a table, singing down to Santana. She laughed despite herself, and watched Grey as she finished the song. People clapped politely at the end of it, and Santana was no longer smiling as she saw the judging stares from people around her.
"Grey, we need to talk," Santana sighed as Grey jumped down from the table.
"What's up, Spezz?"
"The songs. They're gonna stop." Grey's eyes lit up.
"You mean-"
"No. I'm sorry, but no." Grey's features fell and Santana's heart broke as she watched her.
"I'm sorry, Little B, but everyone knows what's going on but me. I need some time to think about everything." Grey nodded in understanding.
"I get it… Just don't take too long, okay?" Santana smiled at her friend.
"I'll be as quick as I can, Little B."
"You know what today is, right?" Santana asked Grey a few weeks later.
"International Kick A Ginger Day?" Santana playfully shoved her friend.
"It involves cake, maybe some candles. Presents."
"A pyromaniac's bar mitzvah?"
"Ha. So very funny."
"Happy birthday, Spezz,"Grey said, hugging her friend, "And I've got you a present. You, me, choir room, lunchtime."
"Oh, Miss Berry," Santana gushed in a Southern accent, fanning her face.
"No sass. Just be there, got it?" Santana nodded and they parted ways.
"Grey?" Santana called into the choir room.
"Sit down. I'm just finishing your gift," Grey yelled back, and soon after, she appeared with a wrapped present in her hands.
"I would've gotten you something cooler, like an Iron Man costume, but I have very little money, so…" Santana opened it carefully. It was a leather-bound book. Slowly, she opened to the front page.
"Grey…"
"Look, I know it's not much, but it's the best I could think of." Santana just stared at Grey, tears glistening in her eyes. She couldn't speak, let alone tell Grey to shut up and stop being absurd. Inside the book was drawing after drawing of Santana and her loved ones. Her parents, her friends… Each of them more alive than a photo. The drawings captured something else entirely, as if they had a part of their real life selves within them.
"I have something else. I know you said no more songs, but this is the last one. I promise. I know you're hesitant because Brittany hurt you, but I could never do that. As long as you want me around, I'll be here. Got it?" Santana nodded, and Grey gestured to Brad who walked to his piano.
"Hey, Brad," Santana said softly, and the man looked stunned. He gave a little nod in Santana's direction, and sat down. Grey grabbed her guitar and pulled the strap over her head. They began to play.
When I wake up from my sleep, and wipe the night away
Everything about you is all I see.
And my 'I love you's, they're forever and a day
As long as I have you next to me.
Let your voice sing me to sleep
As your lips kiss me goodnight.
Send the darkness away
And everything will be alright.
And the days won't be so lonely.
And the hours not that long.
I'll give you my life.
I'll give you my heart.
I'll give you my song.
Santana's face was wet with tears as Grey sang the rest of the song.
"I- I wrote it myself. I'm not the best poet in the world, but I tried to explain myself as best I could."
"It was beautiful," Santana whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
"Well it was for you, after all." Santana blushed. 'Look, San, there's one more thing." Grey reached into her backpack and pulled out a piece of paper.
"I'm hoping that maybe it could happen again someday," Grey said, her voice shaking. Santana stared at the drawing. It was the day they had kissed, in fact, it was the moment they kissed, captured perfectly by Grey's pencil and talent. The detail was perfect, and Santana found herself hoping more than ever that they could reenact it. Santana stood, and took the few steps it took to reach Grey.
One hand reached out for Grey's, while the other brushed her cheek softly. They moved closer together, until Santana's lips found Grey's, and suddenly, everything was gone. The world around them ceased to exist as they stood there. Their lips pulled apart, and returned again, over and over, barely coming up for breath. Their hands remained woven together as they kissed, and finally Grey broke it, her breathing shaky.
"Wow," she murmured.
"Yeah," Santana replied. Grey pulled Santana into a warm embrace, and Santana hugged her back. They stayed in the choir room for the rest of lunch- Brad having mysteriously disappeared- alternating between hugging, kissing and laughing together.
"Look, Grey," Santana said.
"Oh no, please don't say no again."
"No, it's nothing like that, I swear!"
"Then what is it?" Santana tried to string her thoughts together to form a coherent sentence.
"It's just… For so long, this has been public… You liking me… Me obviously liking you back, too stupid to make a move… But… Now that we're together… I want this to be just ours before we make it everyone else's. Does that make sense?" Grey nodded.
"So we keep it under wraps for a while. As long as I know you're mine, I'm good." Santana smiled and leant in for another kiss, and Grey readily obliged.
Best. Birthday. Ever.
A/N: So what did you guys think? Greytana is on! So the song lyrics used on Santana's birthday are my creation. They could be a lot better, but I write poems, not songs. And there's a big difference. But I hope I at least wrote okay lyrics. Oh, and Quinn has Grey's blessing (kind of), which is yay! But Grey has to keep her relationship a secret from everyone… I wonder how long that'll last ;) Anyway, leave a review or comment, and I'll post again soon.