To my lovely readers. I hope you enjoy this and please know that this WILL become what you want (sweet lady kisses) but a girl can't get sweet lady kisses when she doesn't know yet that she wants them ;)
Please let me know what you think, reviews push me further. If you'd prefer another way of getting me to update I suggest tumblr: glee-southwriter
All typos and mistakes are my own but thanks for reading anyway :) To Adolt-Affair: tag you're it lol I expect an update soon :)
By the time the weekend came Santana was more than ready for the break, making up the English test was a pain. Her teacher wasn't on time and then was acting like he had to be somewhere after only ten minutes. She's glad English is her best and favorite subject so she didn't have to deal with him tapping his pencil and foot in some off-beat rhythm for very long.
The only downside to this weekend, she had to go with her family to her aunt's house which meant no Quinn and no Brittany. Not hanging out with Quinn wasn't so bad, she was sick of hearing about Finn, or seeing Finn for that matter, he was hard to avoid. Brittany on the other hand, her high spirited whimsical best friend, would be hard to be away from. She always felt at ease with Brittany, like she could relax and be herself. With Quinn she felt a little on edge, like she was being scrutinized or had to be on her best behavior. Of course, she didn't usually give a shit about that sort of thing, but when one of your best friends is judging you, it's hard to not feel a little self-conscious about it.
Santana is brought from her thoughts by the nagging voice of her mother, "Sweetie, could you please hurry. I'd like to get there before it gets dark."
"Uh yeah, I'm just putting my shoes on, my stuff is already in the car."
"Oh, oh, well okay then, I'm sorry I thought you hadn't brought anything down yet." Mrs. Lopez pats her daughter's head as she heads towards the door to their garage. "I'll be in the car!" She hollers.
Mr. Lopez comes down the stairs a moment later jumping from the last step, "Ready?" Santana nods, tying up the laces on her shoe. "Oh, before I forget, Brittany called when you were outside earlier," Santana perked up, about to yell at her dad for not yelling for her, "she couldn't talk long but seemed very relieved that we hadn't left yet and just said to check your backpack before you leave." Santana spun on her feet and took the stairs two at a time, when she grabbed her bag from her bedroom floor she flipped it over, dumping the contents on her bed. A small envelope fluttered into the mess which she snatched immediately and raced back downstairs.
"Got it. Thanks, let's go, mom's waiting!" Santana jogged past her dad, nearly knocking him down the stairs to their basement.
She forced herself to calm down when she got to the car, fearing an interrogation from her mother about her sudden excitement. She groaned when Jamie slid into the seat next to her. She'd almost forgot when she was told it was "family time" that it meant her sister would be there too. The letter she was so excited about would have to wait until she went to bed, or could sneak away for a few minutes.
"Oh Santana, sweetheart! How are you?" Santana bows her head, trying to hide the embarrassment spreading across her cheeks. She loved her aunts and uncles, but something about their overly excitement attitudes and constant need to hug people just didn't sit right with her. It was creepy. Once she escapes the train of hugs and awkward greetings, she finds her cousins in the basement of her aunt's house.
"Tana! What's up?" Santana smiles and hugs her cousin Tierney, noticing the long flowing flower skirt, bright green leg warmers and hoodie that looks two sizes too big for her, complete with a marijuana leaf stitched into the hood. Such a hippie, which is probably why she's my favorite cousin. She considers the "favorite cousin" title to be a tie when she sees Miguel, Tierney's much taller twin brother, walk towards her.
"Yo S, what's up dude!" He wraps his arms around Santana and lifts her in the air. When she's safely back on the ground she punches his arm, reminding him how much she hates whenever he does that, not that it's ever made a difference. She hugs her other cousins that are hiding from the adults and they all end up playing video games or catching up on each others' lives.
Santana tells them about the trip to Chicago, and how she finally got to bring a friend along. She tells them of her and Brittany's excursion into FAO Schwartz and how excited she was on the ferris wheel. Tierney talks about how when she's old enough, she's going to buy a van to live in for a while after High School and how she wants to just travel the country. Miguel tells her about his aspirations to play football and a new girl he's been dating. As upset as Santana was about being stuck with family all weekend, she doesn't seem to be showing it now. Within a few hours of being there, her stomach is hurting from laughing so hard at the ridiculous stories her cousins tell her.
"HEY Santana!" Santana freezes in her seat, the careless laughter instantly vanishes as the sound of Jamie's voice rings in her ears. "Why you guys hiding down here? You should be socializing with your family."
"We are, cousins are family you know." Santana snaps, but doesn't turn towards her sister, instead choosing to focus on a crack in the wall over Tierney's shoulder.
Jamie sits down next to Santana, nudging her hard in the back. "Hey, remember when Tonio and I were talking about manatees eating fish and you were like two and were just like excuse me, you are incorrect, they eat plankton. Remember that?"
Santana rolls her eyes, her hands clenching beside her. She takes a deep breath to calm her irritation and tries to choose her words carefully, "yes, I remember that but I remember being in first grade NOT two years old. Considering you're both five years older than me I'm surprised you didn't know that. Then again, your grades show how well you don't actually pay attention at anything. I guess basic intelligence isn't your strong suit huh? Oh well, sucks for you."
"You know what? At least I won't grow up to be making minimum wage for a living. You're a ragamuffin who isn't going to amount to anything. Might as well get used to that fact now, being a super nerd isn't going to get you anywhere either Santana. It just makes you more of a loser than you already are." Santana can feel her chest tighten, her eyes start to blur and little black spots keep blocking her vision. She can feel how her nails are probably pulling the skin off her palm, the muscles in her arm ache from the tight fist. One good swing and Jamie wouldn't be doing a whole lot of anything anytime soon, then again this is a family event and beating up your sister isn't exactly an acceptable action. She can hear Jamie and Tonio, who's the same age as Jamie, laughing despite the loud ringing in her ears.
When Santana calms down she finds herself in one of the guest bedrooms, her bag clutched to her chest, her shirt feels damp from the tears that must have spilled over. She lays back on the bed, placing her bag next to her as she looks around the room. There are paintings of Italy on the walls and a small desk in the corner with a picture frame that still has the fake happy couple in it you see in the stores. The room feels stiff, much like the mattress she's laying on. Too neat and clean. It's evident that they don't often have people over, and have way too much money than they know what to do with. She doesn't remember her aunt's house being like this when she was younger but then again, she'd never went into the guest bedrooms, now she knows why. In another corner of the room she sees a cordless phone and considers calling Quinn or Brittany to distract her from the hell she's found herself in.
Brittany. The letter. Santana digs through her back and finds the letter then hops off the bed to make sure the door is locked before jumping back on and settling herself into the eight small decorative pillows.
My S-Pez (like that? I just made that one up)
I hope you are having a good time at your aunt's house, but I have a feeling you're probably hiding somewhere reading this because your sister was mean to you and you wanted something to distract you. I don't know how well I can do that but this letter is being written so that I can try.
I wanted to thank you again for letting me come to Chicago with you and your family and to say I hope your English test went okay and to say I'm sorry for giving Quinn her present without you. I know that last sentence is probably a runny one or whatever and since you like English you probably know that, and what I mean when I say runny because I know that's wrong too.
You are the bestest person I've ever met (shhh don't tell Quinn) and I'm so glad you are my best friend. You really are so important to me, I hope you know that. I can't wait to spend the summer hanging out with you and Quinn, it's going to be so much fun! Remember when I told you about how you need to be like water and that I'd help you keep your bones from shrinking? Remember how I told you that your dad can make your bones shrink? If you really are hiding from your family and reading this, go find your dad. If you can't make a clean getaway from where you are... um... you are my best friend, always will be no matter what happens and your sister is just jealous because you're so much cooler and smarter than she is. She knows that you will be more successful than her and that you are already more responsible than her. Plus she doesn't have a cool best friend like Brittany S. Pierce who is like, the bestest of best friends you could ever have. If I could kiss your head like I did that night in Chicago I would, or give you a super big and super long hug I would. So for now... just pretend and know that Jamie is just being a jerk because she doesn't know what else to do, don't listen to anything she says, please.
Lord Tubbington told me to tell you he knows a few cats that can do some damage if you need to put a hit on your sister. I'm pretty sure hitting on your sister is like...illegal or just gross, so maybe just ignore him. I didn't want to tell you what he said but he's been looking over my shoulder as I write this so, I had to put it in. What he doesn't know is that he's going to be in trouble for some things I found stashed under my bed.
Anyway, I hope by now you are smiling, and that your bones feel more watery. I'll miss you all weekend and you better call me when you get home or I'll be very mad at you.
Love ya babes,
Your Britt-Britt
Santana reads it a few times before she folds it up and hides it in her bag so she can read it later. Even though she's a few hours away, Brittany still manages to make everything better. She's right, Jamie is just being a bitch like she usually is. Jamie is always telling her she wishes she saved money like Santana did, so maybe she really is jealous. Coming to the conclusion that her sister is just bored and looking for some kind of useless entertainment, she slides off the bed, straightens out her clothes and opens the door just in time to see Tierney coming up the stairs.
"You alright S? J was pretty harsh down there, I've been looking all over for you since you ran off." Santana nods and starts to walk back downstairs with her cousin. "I told your dad what happened and Jamie is now stuck listening to Nana tell her "when I was your age" stories while the rest of them finish up making dinner. So, I'd say that's one heck of a punishment." Santana smiles but breaks into hearty laughter when she catches sight of her sister sitting next to their great-grandma, clearly annoyed and looking for a way out. The fake smile plastered on her face and how she just nods and forces a laugh at something Nana says is more than enough to soften her bones. When Santana enters the kitchen she sees her dad talking to one of her uncles and smiles and nods her head once. He nods back, understanding the non-verbal thanks before turning his attention back to the conversation.
After dinner, everyone, minus the grandparents who went to bed within ten minutes of finishing dinner, is sitting around the large living room.
"So Santana, your mom tells me you and that Puck boy broke up?" She nods, not wanting to get into detail about a relationship that's well past over. "Aww that's too bad, he sounded like such a sweet boy. I wish we would've met him." She smiles politely and shrugs her shoulders, telling them it just wasn't going to work out but she's still young and has plenty of time for new relationships. She doesn't say boys or boyfriends and she's not sure why. It just flows off her tongue as an ambiguous statement but she doesn't think any more of it when the conversation turns on Jamie and her plans for after High School and why her current boyfriend is such a trouble maker.
Karma is a bitch dear sister and I am quite enjoying seeing it kick your ass!
Mr. Lopez gets up from his seat and walks towards the kitchen, "Santana can you help me bring some coffee in for the adults please?" Santana scrambles up from her seat and skips over to her dad. "I just want to make sure you're okay from earlier with your sister."
"Yeah I'm cool. Thanks for making her sit with Nana."
"Oh you think that was for you? No no no, I was hoping Nana would talk some sense into her. This hair on my head was brown before Jamie met that boy a few months ago and now look at it, nearly all gray! I am NOT an old man!"
Santana laughs and reaches up to ruffle her dad's hair. "Oh it's not that bad dad, it gives you character. Now you can trick people into giving you a senior discount before you're even fifty!" She squeals and backs away as he swats at her. "Come on Salty these people need their decaf before they start a riot." She sticks her tongue out at her father who simply laughs and rolls his eyes.
"I'll remember you making fun of me when you're asking me to buy you something next time. Dont' think I won't forget."
"Okay old man, that gray hair must also mean you're losing your mind. You know you can't say no to this face!" She grins widely, clearly over doing it, and delivers the cups of coffee to her aunts and uncles. She ignores the mumble of perfect a minimum wage waitress that she hears from where her sister is seated.
Miguel, Tierney and Santana decide to grab a game from the hall closet and take over the smaller living room on the other side of the kitchen. They figure if they stay within earshot of the adults, they'll be able to hear whenever they head to bed and can then stay up watching movies for the remainder of the night.
Santana wakes the next morning to feet walking around above her and loud raucous laughter echoing down the stairs. She squints to check the clock on the cable box. 8:12AM. Groaning, she flips her side and shoves her head underneath the pillow.
"Too loud for you too huh?" The voice is muffled but she can tell it's Tierney's and slips her head from underneath the pillow to see her cousin sitting up from her spot on the floor.
"What is their deal even? How can something be so god damn amusing at eight in the fricken morning?" Tierney laughs, pulling the blanket off of her and stretches then stands up next to Santana's legs. "Should I assume by your hovering that you want me to get up?"
"Well, I was thinking maybe we could sneak some coffee or at least get up there before they devour all of the monkey bread." Santana's mouth begins to water at the mention of her aunt's classic breakfast, which is basically just cinnamon bread in tiny bite sized pieces piled on top of each other, but it's SO much more than that. "Should I assume by the drool pouring out of your mouth that you'll be joining me?" Santana leaps up and drags her cousin upstairs, practically tripping in her haste to get to the kitchen.
"Good morning girls! Did we wake you?" Tierney's mom asks, sipping her coffee carefully as she eyes the girls, mostly Santana's frantic eyes scanning the kitchen. "The second batch of monkey bread isn't done yet, but it should be soon. Your lucky I convinced her to make two." Santana hugs her hard, profusely thanking her and grabs the orange juice from the fridge to wait for the bread to be done, Tierney on the other hand waits until her mother leaves before pouring herself a cup of coffee.
"I don't know how you drink that shit. Doesn't it like, stunt your growth or something?"
"San, look at me, I'm tiny as it is. Pretty sure I'm not going to shoot up like a bean sprout anytime soon, might as well enjoy being small." She shrugs. "I am who I am and I have no problem with that. Just don't tell my mom, I like to keep some things top secret. At least for now." Santana's forehead creases, trying to figure out just what else her cousin might be hiding. Tierney wants to answer the questions she sees floating in her cousins eyes but knows that it's too soon to get into secrets. She can tell Santana has some too, but just hasn't figured it out yet. She'd heard her mother talking to Santana's mother one night after they'd returned from Chicago. Their mothers are the gossips of the family, which is exactly why she keeps things to herself and probably why Santana hasn't realized her own secrets yet, she's afraid to.
The dinging of the oven breaks the moment and Santana bolts upright in her seat, watching as her aunt Josi comes floating in to pull the sticky cinnamon-y deliciousness from the oven and places it in front of her. Josi slaps her hand as Santana tries to get a piece which would no doubt burn her fingers and her tongue.
"Wait two minutes then feel free to dig in. I'm not about to take my nieces to the emergency room because they were too impatient to wait for their breakfast to cool down." She winks and pulls out two plates for them.
"Where is everyone else?" Tierney asks, taking a sip from her coffee noticing the way her aunt smiles when she notices what she's drinking.
"A few of them went to the store to get a few things for dinner tonight and the others are out by the lake or lounging in the backyard. I think there may be some lazy stragglers still sleeping but I assume they'll be up soon." Josi waves her hand about absentmindedly and grabs the coffee pot, gesturing to Tierney's cup. "Want some more before I make another pot? I won't tell your mom, don't worry, it'll be our secret." Tierney nods, happily accepting both the refill and the keeping of her secret. Santana has always liked this aunt, her and her cousins dubbed her the cool aunt when they were younger. She always brought candy and would let them stay up to watch movies whenever they'd stay at her house, she was like the best adult ever. "You girls enjoy, I think it's been long enough. Don't eat the whole thing though and please, come outside whenever you're done, it's a beautiful day."
After breakfast and showers Santana, Tierney and Miguel, who was out by the lake when they'd woken up, decide to get a few of their other relatives to go play soccer at a near by park. Only a few others were up to it but it's more than enough to have a successful game. Mr. Lopez is the first to join in, as well as Josi's husband and youngest son. It is exactly what Santana needs to relax and finally enjoy her time with her family. She still wishes she could talk to Brittany, or even have brought her with but, she's managed to survive so far. They end up playing for the better part of two hours before dragging their sweaty tired bodies back to the house.
"Great game guys, definitely whipped this old man into shape."
"See dad, he admits he's an old man, why can't you?" Mr. Lopez swings his arm towards his daughter which she quickly dodges and counters with a swift punch to his stomach. They play fight as they walk up the hill in the backyard to join the rest of the family. They're ducking and jumping from punches, Santana manages to get around her dad and jumps on his back, screaming when he starts to spin around. Her arms tighten around his shoulders even though she feels the tight grip he has on her legs so she doesn't fly off.
Mrs. Lopez eyes her husband and youngest daughter watching the way they laugh and fight. It's something she's seen for years, the interaction between those two is something she never had with her own father. Shaking her head she leans towards her sister, "I swear you'd think she thought she was a boy with all that rough housing. I don't understand why he just allows it."
"Yeah, sometimes I worry about Tierney. She just seems like she is getting through doing the bare minimum. I think she might be on drugs or something. Thankfully you have Jamie and I have Miguel." The women nod and clink their glasses of wine together.
"So, is it nearly lunch time? What's on the menu?" Miguel hops up onto the deck his mother is on and reaches down to pull Santana up. She could easily walk around where the land levels out but why waste all that effort when her cousin is more than willing to hoist her up? She looks to her mom and aunt, waiting for some kind of response but only notices the judging looks they're giving her.
Great, I wonder what my mother has told her. "So, no lunch? Cool. I'll just go inside and eat my arm until dinner... we ARE having dinner right?" Miguel laughs despite the scolding looks they're given.
"Yes smart ass, lunch will be done in twenty minutes we're having barbecues, is that okay with you princess?" Santana's nose crinkles with disgust at the name, she knows her mom is full aware of her dislike for the word and is using it on purpose to try and get under her skin.
Instead of allowing the word to get to her, she straightens up, sticks her head in the air and with her best british voice replies, "why yes your majesty, that sounds awfully delightful. Please excuse me for I must use the loo." She raises her arm, waves it like a beauty queen and walks towards the door, Miguel and Tierney close behind, in full hysterics, mimicking the wave which only cracks the three of them up more because Miguel looks like a complete idiot trying to act like a "proper lady."
Tierney grabs onto Santana's arm, "man S, I don't know how you have the balls to say shit like that to your mom but it's amazing!" Miguel hums in agreement, still trying to control his amusement.
"Yeah well, she wants to be a bitch, then she'll get shit thrown back at her. I'm sick of dealing with her judgmental bullshit and feeling like I can't be who I am." Tierney nods, eyeing her cousin closely, hoping to see a spark of something underneath the tough facade she's insistent on keeping, but sees nothing.
Santana's happy when her parents holler that they should get ready to leave. The rest of her night wasn't too bad, and she managed to avoid any more altercations with her mother and sister but she's far over doing the required conversations with her family about school and boys and what she does with her time. She's done with awkward silences and hearing how her other cousins are budding sports stars and have the best grades, blah blah blah.
She's ready to be home. Ready to talk to Brittany and feel like she isn't suffocating. Ready to feel like she actually belongs somewhere, with Brittany. Ready to get back to school so it can be over with and her summer laying around the local pool and lakes with Quinn and Brittany can officially begin. Now all she has to do is survive the ride home.
Things will get fluffy, I promise :)