A/N: TA DA! Another update! My sister didn't think I'd be able to finish the chapter I was writing tonight! In yo face! :D I think you guys will like this chapter. It really exposes Dani's past, and I'm not sure what exactly you guys are expecting, so I hope you guys like it...
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Glee!
PLEASE enjoy, favorite, follow and REVIEW!
"Do you... want to talk about them?" Santana asked, after she had made them both hot chocolate. She handed one of them to Dani, and sat down next to the blonde. They were leaning on opposite armrests, their knees pulled up and their feet meeting in the middle of the couch.
Dani was silent for a moment as she took a sip of her hot chocolate. She hadn't talked about her parents much to anyone... or really at all. She had avoided the mere thought of what would happen if she ever saw her parents again. Nightmares had become the only place she even pictured their faces.
"You don't have to, I just think that maybe it'll help calm you down," Santana told her softly. "Like... to get it all out."
Dani blinked and then looked at Santana's eyes before she began to talk. "If you had asked me around age five what I thought of my parents, I would've told you that they were the best parents ever. They bought me nice clothes and toys and I loved them. A few months after I turned six, though, my mom had another baby, a daughter named Riley, and their attention sort of shifted towards the baby.
"At first I was excited and I helped take care of her and felt like a good older sister, but that was around the same time I was starting school. I suddenly felt like my parents loved my sister more than me. That attitude carried through until I was about ten or eleven, and I knew that they loved us both. But the damage was already there.
"I was more distant from them after that. And from other people. I drifted away from the loose friendships I'd had in grade school as I shifted into middle school and by the time I started high school, I didn't really have any friends. My dad bought me a guitar for Christmas that same year, and honestly that was the best present anyone had ever bought me, and it sort of patched up that relationship.
"My guitar became my only friend, and I know that's sad. But although I was quiet and alone most of the time, I wasn't ever bullied. One time someone said something mean to me in middle school, and I totally went off on them, so no one really looked at me like a target after that.
"Sophomore year is when things started to get... bad so to speak. At first, my parents were pleased with how I'd been doing in high school, so they gave me a car that was kind of old but was paid off. But then, my grades dropped suddenly, and my parents were furious. They tried excessive tutoring, threats about taking my guitar away... but I couldn't concentrate at school because I was feuding with myself. I'd started realizing that I'd never dated any boys and that I found myself looking at girls.
"I was terrified. I knew that my parents would hate me if I liked girls, because we were a religious, conservative family. So for I while, I just pushed the thought away. I was fighting with myself every single day, and I couldn't concentrate on anything but my internal war. It wasn't until I barely made it through sophomore year that I let myself accept who I am.
"I've already told you that I've never really had a girlfriend, but I had this lustful crush on this girl who was out of the closet. And at some point, I told her that, and we ended up being like... sexual partners I guess. We didn't have feelings for each other, but the sex was fun.
"That carried through until senior year, when my parents caught me and her making out in my basement. It was my worst nightmare, the worst way that they could ever find out. My dad starting yelling horrible things at us, saying that she had corrupted me and turned me into a sinner, a dyke. He said that I was going to go to hell if I didn't straighten out, and that no daughter of his could be a lesbian.
"The girl left only a few minutes into his rant. Also, my twelve year old sister was there for the rant as well, which was probably pretty scary for her. The only thing about that night that I'm thankful for is that my father had never hit me. He didn't believe in spanking, and he didn't believe in beating as a punishment, so he never laid a hand on me.
"When his yelling was turning sort of repetitive, and my mother was bawling, and my sister had hid away in her room, I ran out of the basement and into my room. I grabbed my guitar, a few spare sets of clothes, a wad of cash I'd saved up as well as a credit card that my parents had gotten me just a year earlier, and I just left the house. I got in my car and I was gone."
Dani felt emotionally drained. She'd never spilled her life story to anyone, and she'd hardly even gone over it in her head. She was also surprised at how calmly she'd said anything. She hadn't shed a tear, or quivered a lip. But she was expressionless and she felt as though she'd relived all of her worst experiences again. Santana looked incapable of words.
"Well your dad seems like an asshole," the Latina finally said. Dani let out a light laugh.
"Yeah..." Dani suddenly felt like she should continue. "When I got to New York, I got my first job at some rundown little bar where I sang every night for a small payment. I got bored of that and I started working at a little music school where people taught kids how to play musical instruments and things. Most of the teachers were teenagers working while in school.
"Basically I just kept switching through jobs, and I usually either stayed in hotels or in my car, which is the same one my parents got me and the same one I have now, because I didn't have the money for an apartment. But I got this job as a secretary for a middle-class company, and it paid well enough for me to get an apartment. That job I didn't get bored of, but I got laid off when the company started to lose money.
"But I already had the apartment, and I saw the diner here. I learned that it paid pretty well, since it had to so much business from being on Broadway, and that they only hired upcoming singers or actors, so I thought why not? And that is where my story is mostly caught up."
Santana was quiet for a minute, before she said, "You know, you're pretty amazing. You came to New York with literally nothing but some cash and a car, and you've come so far. And you did it all alone. I literally have no idea how you managed to do that."
Dani smiled. "Well, I guess that does require some dedication."
"A freaking ton of dedication!" Santana corrected in a louder voice. "One day, when you're super freaking famous, you're going to need to write an autobiography about how you went from having nothing to being super rich and famous!"
Now Dani was laughing. "I don't think I'll end up being that rich and famous..."
"Are you kidding? Plus, you have to add in the fact that I am also going to be rich and famous, which makes us two times as rich and famous," Santana reasoned.
Dani felt her heart pounding hard. Santana had really just said that right? She was looking at them still being together years and years from now. Right? That's what it meant when she said that? "I guess that would make us pretty rich."
"You guess? Babe, we're going to be the definition of rich and famous," Santana joked with a wink.
"Where do you think we'll live when we're oh so rich and famous?" Dani asked with a sly smile.
"The penthouse of a freaking tall and expensive apartment building!" Santana exclaimed. "In New York, of course."
"That's a lot of stairs to climb," Dani commented.
Santana gave her a quizzical look. "That's what elevators are for."
Dani bit her lip and narrowed her eyes bashfully. "I am literally terrified of elevators..."
"Are you serious?" Santana asked with a laugh. Dani looked up at her.
"Don't make fun!" the blonde said through a laugh.
"I'm sorry but... why?" Santana asked, still laughing.
"I got stuck in one for two hours when I was little, please excuse me if that's not something to be scarred by," Dani muttered, but she wasn't really angry at Santana.
"Aw you're so cute," Santana commented, still giggling. Dani rolled her eyes, but a smile crept onto her face. "Don't worry, when we live in our super amazing penthouse, I'll hold your hand for the whole elevator ride every time we use it, okay?"
Dani chuckled. "Promise?"
"I promise!" Santana exclaimed, beaming at the blonde.
"What do you think Rachel and Kurt will be doing while we're super famous pop stars living in our penthouse?"
"Rachel will be just as rich, but she'll be more well known for her Broadway work. Kurt will probably own a designer clothing line and he'll be raking in the cash too. And we'll all go out on the town together and people will stop and fawn over us and take pictures," Santana painted the picture with her words. "Kurt will be married to Blaine, and they'll probably have a few fancily-dressed, hair gel-covered children. Who knows what'll be up with Rachel's love life..."
Dani tilted her head. "And us?"
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. "Dani, Santana, it's us!" came Rachel's voice.
Santana smiled slyly at the blonde, but didn't answer her question. Dani stuck her tongue out at the Latina. "It's open!"
Kurt and Rachel rushed into the apartment. Santana leaned forward so she could say something quietly to Dani. "I texted them and told them what happened, I hope that's okay. I figured we could all party here so that you don't have to think about any of the shit that went down."
Dani smiled at her girlfriend. "Sounds perfect!"
"We stopped at the store and bought some tequila," Rachel announced. "Didn't know if you had any, but we thought that some shots might be nice."
Since the couch wasn't very big, and the table only had three chairs, the four of them ended up sitting on the floor. Dani took two shots, Santana took one, and Rachel and Kurt both took three.
"So, Dani and I were discussing the future," Santana told their friends. "We decided that we're all going to be rich and famous and the world is going to love us."
"As long as you don't plot to take over the world, Santana," Kurt commented.
"Hey, I'm not some evil mastermind!" Santana argued.
Dani laughed at Santana's protest. "Santana Lopez, ruler of the world?" she suggested with a chuckle.
"It has a nice ring to it actually," Rachel teased.
"With all this encouragement, I might actually shoot for that title," Santana joked with an eye roll. They all laughed and then Kurt turned on some music, because apparently when they all got together, they couldn't not have music playing.
If you wanna get with me,
There's some things you gotta know,
I like my beats fast,
And my bass down low!
"Oh my gosh I love this song!" Rachel exclaimed, jumping up. Santana also jumped and pulled Dani, who was laughing at Rachel's reaction to the music, up with her. Kurt also jumped up and they all began to dance like the crazy people they were.
B-Bass down low,
Bass, bass down low,
I l-l-like my beats fast,
And my bass down low!
Bass, bass down low,
Ba-bass, bass down low,
I l-l-like my beats fast,
And my bass down low!
"Woo!" Rachel shouted, leaving everyone laughing as they danced.
It's one, two, three,
To heck with it!
I'm bout to take this drink and just stuff it,
Fish tank this thing along,
With four more shots of patron,
I give a crap about going home!
Straight buzzin, robotussin,
Wanna get yo mitts in my oven?
Wanna get a lick of this lovin?
G-g-g-get a lick of this lovin?
Santana sang along with the next part.
Yeah I like it loud, I'll make you shout!
G-give you that Black-Eyed Peas!
You know that boom boom pow!
Dani and Rachel sang the next part.
If you wanna get with me,
There's some things you gotta know,
I like my beats fast,
And my bass down low!
Bass, bass down low,
Ba-bass, bass down low,
I l-l-like my beats fast,
And my bass down low!
(Drop it to the floor!)
Bass, bass down low,
Ba-bass, bass down low,
I l-l-like my beats fast,
And my bass down low!
(Drop it to the floor!)
Bass, bass down low,
Ba-bass, bass down low,
I l-l-like my beats fast,
And my bass down low!
For every "bass down low", Dani danced her body down the front of Santana's. She tried to keep it sort of PG, though, since Rachel and Kurt were dancing right next to them.
It's like one, two, three okay,
Can I get a little goose in my OJ?
E'ry day feel like my birthday,
And we sip champagne when we thirsty!
Quit fronting why yo husband,
Tryna get his mitts in my oven?
Wanna get a lick of this lovin,
G-g-g-get a lick of this lovin?
Santana sang again.
Yeah, I like it loud!
And I'll make you shout!
G-give that Black Eyed Peas,
You know that boom boom pow!
Then they all sang, even Kurt.
If you wanna get with me,
There's some things you gotta know,
I like my beats fast,
And my bass down low!
Bass, bass down low,
Ba-bass, bass down low,
I l-l-like my beats fast,
And my bass down low!
(Drop it to the floor!)
Bass, bass down low,
Ba-bass, bass down low,
I l-l-like my beats fast,
And my bass down low!
(Drop it to the floor!)
Bass, bass down low,
Ba-bass, bass down low,
I l-l-like my beats fast,
And my bass down low!
Then Kurt started singing in his best low voice.
Bass,
Bass, bass, bass!
Bass,
Bass, bass, bass!
Bass,
Bass, bass, bass!
Then all the girls, Santana and Dani to each other and Rachel playfully to Kurt.
I got a question for you...
Do you like it when I flow?
I got a question for you, hoo hoo!
Do you like it when I flow, oh?
With my bass down low!
Like, la la la la,
La la la la la,
La la la la,
La la la la la,
La la la la,
La la la la la,
La la la la,
La la la la la,
If you wanna get with me,
There's some things you gotta know,
(Drop it to the floor!)
Bass, bass down low,
Ba-bass, bass down low,
I l-l-like my beats fast,
And my bass down low!
(Drop it to the floor!)
Bass, bass down low,
Ba-bass, bass down low,
I l-l-like my beats fast,
And my bass down low!
They all struck wild poses at the end of the song before they all plopped back down onto the floor, tired and laughing.
Dani looked at Santana and wiggled her eyebrows, "Do you like it when I flow?"
"Not here, ladies!" Kurt intervened quickly, eliciting loud laughs out of the couple.
"You said at my place," Dani pointed out.
"Not with us here!" Kurt exclaimed, his voice higher than normal. The girls laughed, and Rachel gave Kurt a sympathetic pat on the shoulder as she laughed.
An hour of dancing and singing and talking later, Rachel and Kurt decided that they should probably head back because they had classes in the morning. Santana and Dani straightened out the living room and washed the shot glasses before going into Dani's room and changing into comfy PJs.
They switched off the light and climbed into bed together. Santana wrapped her arms around the blonde, who immediately felt relaxed and content. "You are seriously the best girlfriend ever."
"I try," Santana joked with a chuckle.
"Seriously, my life was so boring and empty before I met you," Dani whispered out.
"So boring. No crazy ass, jealous blondes attacking you, no asshole parents popping up," Santana muttered.
Dani laughed. "That's not what I meant. I meant that before I met you, I didn't talk to people that I didn't work with. I didn't hang out with anyone, I didn't have any other dream or purpose in life other than to get a recording deal and make music."
"You work with me," Santana pointed out.
"Oh hush, Santana," Dani said with a laugh. "Seriously though, you are the first thing in my life that has actually made me happy, and I intend to keep you."
Santana chuckled. "Oh, you do, do you?"
"Yes," Dani answered with a slight chuckle as well. "I just mean, I don't want to ever let you go."
"So don't," Santana breathed out as she tightened her hold on the blonde. Dani smiled and closed her eyes.
"I won't."
They laid there in silence, both of them slowly drifting off into sleep. Just before Dani got lost in her dream world, she heard the Latina whisper something to her, thinking that she was already asleep. "And us? All I know is that I intend to be with you for a long, long time."
I hope you guys liked it! Song was Bass Down Low by Dev =D If you haven't heard it, go give it a listen!
Please review you guys! I appreciate every single one you guys have sent me, and it sucks when I can't respond to some of them, but I still love to read what you guys think!
Note: Someone reviewed saying that the story was very Dani centric and that Santana had no role "except to hold her hand"... I really hope that isn't want this feels like to you guys. Yes the story is limited to Dani's thoughts and how she views things, but I hope you guys don't feel like Santana has no role, because this story is a DANTANA story.
Wanna hear a random fact about me? I could be typing this story out on a really nice Macintosh computer but I don't because I love hearing the clicking keys of my extremely old, horribly operating HP Windows Laptop which is literally 7 years old. Yes, I know, I'm strange. *keys go click click click click click click click*
Goodnight loves! Please shoot me a review or a PM, or find me on Twitter at BrittzandTana! 3