Hello, Pumpkin Patch Kids! (Thats what I've started calling you all in my head. Sorry.) I'm sorry it's taking me so long to update at the moment, I was really busy with weddings and children's birthdays and then working a lot and seeing friends from abraod and it all got very much on top of me! So thank you all for being so patient and understanding. Hopefully I'll get back on track now that life is calming down into normality again and I will be more prompt. I hope you all enjoy the next chater, and the next one will be along shortly I hope! Thank you ALL for always being so amazing, mwah mwah mwah mwah MWAH!
And you could write a novella about that girl, but it won't be worth your while. Give her fifty for the powder room and all you'll get is a smile. So let's go to Joe Bell's bar, and drink a bottle of whiskey. And forget about that girl and her pretty misery - Kal Lavelle, Breakfast at Tiffany's
Number six is done xxxxx
Santana sighed heavily as she rolled onto her back, her thumb and forefinger pinching the bridge of her nose as she dropped her phone onto her chest. A second later, she picked it up once more, flicking across to her notes to review the list the two girls had made; only one now remained un-checked.
5. Go sky-diving
Well now that Rachel and Quinn had evidently... A shudder overcame her as she forcibly pushed the thought away. Now that number six was completed, Rachel would probably have to tag-along on their sky-diving trip. Unless she could get the two girls to go alone, like some horrific thrill-seeking first date? Then again, not attending would rule out the possibility of pushing Rachel out of a plane. And in her current emotional state, why deny herself the pleasure?
Becky frowned as she sauntered back into the bedroom from the en-suite, a towel hanging around her neck as she perched, completely naked, on the end of bed.
"What's wrong with you?" She asked, one eyebrow raised. "You look..." Santana lifted her head off the pillow, her eyes narrowed, and Becky re-considered the words she was about to use, "stressed?"
"I'm not stressed." She answered bluntly, dropping her head back onto the pillow.
"Really?" The red-head slithered up the bed until she was laid out-stretched on her stomach, her chin resting on the heels of her hands. Santana's gaze followed the expanse of the woman's pale, smooth back down to the curve of her butt, and she sighed as she found herself absent-mindedly wondering if that's what Quinn's back would look like laid across her bed. "Because you seem a little off." The woman added pointedly, bring her back to the present.
"Sorry. I'm fine." She nodded, sitting up and swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. She made to stand, but Becky's hand on her arm stopped her.
"Santana, just talk to me. I don't hear from you, I assume we're over and then...you call out of the blue. I'm allowed to stay over, until mid-morning, which you've never let me do before. Last night we cuddled? I was allowed to shower at your place instead of going home, and when I get back you haven't ran out leaving a note saying you'll 'call later'? You're still here and looking...pretty rough."
The brunette rolled her eyes, pulling her arm from the red-head's gentle grasp and climbing to her feet, "It's really none of your concern. Don't worry about it; you're not obliged to care about my feelings." She made a grab for her shirt, which was scattered over the stool beside the dresser.
"Fine." Becky gave an incredulous snort, shaking her head slowly as she stretched an arm over the edge of the bed to grab Santana's bra, sitting up and throwing it at the girl's turned back. "Fuck you, Santana. Don't call me again."
Santana stood still for a moment, swallowing hard before turning and retrieving her bra from the floor. She picked up the rest of her clothes as she made her way through the apartment, pulling them on hurriedly until she was half-decent. The door slammed behind her as she padded down the corridor, the wooden floor cold and dusty under her bare feet. She reached the stairs, ramming her feet into her shoes before jogging down the few flights and exiting onto the street.
She stopped at the first newsagents she passed, pushing her way through the door and crossing straight to the counter and demanding cigarettes and a lighter from the small woman who sat reading a trashy magazine. Her phone began buzzing as she stepped back out onto the street, and she lit her cigarette quickly before pulling it from her pocket and tapping the answer button without checking the name.
"Hey, honey, it's me. Just wanted to let you know I'm on my way back into the city early. I'll be home in an hour or so."
Santana frowned as she took a long drag, "Who is this?"
"...who is this?" The man asked.
"Santana." She replied, puzzled as she blew out a long stream of smoke.
"Santana? Where's Becky?" He frowned, and the brunette finally pulled the phone away from her ear to look at the phone, suddenly realising she had picked up the other woman's phone. She sighed, raising her eyes heavenwards as a tell-tale beeping indicated that her own phone was, in fact, sat in her other pocket.
"I took her phone by accident. You might wanna get her another one."
The man made a quiet spluttering noise, before finally asking, "But who are you? Why do you have my wife's phone?"
She took a deep breath, considering how she could cover for the woman, before sighing heavily and rolling her eyes, "I'm uh...just someone who was in the same place as her last night."
She hung up swiftly and typed in the number for her intercom, her thumb hovering over the call button. Surely if she warned the girl, Becky could still get home in time to cover her tracks. Her jaw tensed bitterly as the girl's words echoed round in her head. She looked up at the crowded street around her before pressing cancel on the phone, turning to stride down the screen, dropping the phone into a trash can as she passed.
-oOo-
Quinn yawned, giving an exuberant stretch from her position at the bottom of the bed as she grinned up at the sunbeams streaming through the skylight, dropping her phone down onto the covers beside her. She reached for the crumpled paper she had found behind her head, lifting it to her face to read the loopy handwriting once more, giggling quietly to herself.
Sorry, Q-tee.
Got called for extra rehearsals so had to go. Last night was amazing :D
Can't wait to talk to you later. Will call you after rehearsals :)
Yours, Rachel :D * xxxxxxxx
Her heart danced all over again as she re-read the note for the fourth time, paying particular attention to the amount of smiley faces and kisses. Taking a deep breath, she finally composed herself and sat up in bed, rolling over and craning over the side of the bed in search of her t-shirt and underwear, a goosebumps spreading over her skin despite the sunlight burning through the glass above her.
She pushed herself off the bed, wandering over to the staircase, where she stopped promptly. The absence of her dog had suddenly caused a knot of tension in the pit of her stomach. She was due to pick him up from Rachel's dads' today; a prospect which now seemed rather worrying. She didn't yet know what last night had meant. Obviously Rachel felt at least similarly to her, but she couldn't tell the men that she had slept with their daughter! She could already picture their horrified faces.
Sitting down on the top step, she stared down at her apartment, her eyes wide as she grimaced thoughtfully, awful possibilities running rough her brain. With a deep breath, she finally turned round, scuttling over to where she had left her phone and scrolling down through her contacts.
"Hey." The girl answered tightly. Quinn's frowned.
"Hi." She replied, puzzled, "What's the matter?"
Santana rolled her eyes, "Nothing! Why does everybody keep asking me that? I'm fine." She snapped, and the blonde resisted the he to snort incredulously.
"Well...you sound fine. Anyway, I need a favour." She spoke quickly, chewing hesitantly on her bottom lip.
"Yeah?" The girl breathed, sounding resigned.
"I need you to go pick up Barney and bring him here." She blurted, "Please. I am literally begging you, don't make me go."
Santana frowned, pausing in the middle of the street and ducking into an empty doorway, "How come? Why can't you just go?"
"Because...I don't want to see Rachel's dads." Quinn answered slowly, "Because...I slept with Rachel."
"Oh. Of course you did." The brunette replied, attempting to sound enthusiastic as she slumped in the doorway, her temple thudding against the doorframe. "Good for you! ...well done."
"Well done ." Quinn giggled, "Are you serious?"
Santana shrugged, "Well, I mean. It doesn't sound like it went horribly so..." She waved her hands desperately as she struggled to find an excuse for her pitiful phrasing, "You obviously did a...good job. Well done."
"Stop saying well done."
"Thank you." She nodded, before continuing with a deep breath, "So why can't you go get the dog?"
"Because, what am I supposed to say to them?" The blonde asked desperately as she descended the spiral staircase, "When they ask how my night went I can't exactly say 'It was great. We got revenge on Rachel's ex boyfriend with his wife, who by the way is Santana's girlfriend, and then I slept with your daughter!' Can I?"
Santana's eyes grew wide as she stared incredulously, "No, but you could try not being really fucking weird? Just say 'It was great. Thanks.' You know, like a normal human being."
"No. No, I can't do that. You know I can't; I'm a terrible liar. I'll start sweating and I'll go all red and they will know something is up." She shook her head despairingly as she perched on one of the dining chairs, "They know me too well."
"But I'm all the way over at my apartment!" The girl groaned, but Quinn made a pitiful mewling noise.
"Please, please! I'm begging you."
Santana sighed, "Ugh. Fine. Okay, I'll go get your stupid dog."
"Thank you! Oh my God, thank you!" Quinn gushed, breathing a sigh of relief, "You are the best."
"Yes." The girl nodded, turning on her heel and making for the subway station, stubbing her cigarette out with her sneaker as she went. "I'll text you when I get there. Is Rachel at your apartment?"
"No, she had to go out so she left a note." The blonde grinned happily, but Santana stopped, the hairs at the nape of her neck standing on end.
"Oh. Okay." She replied stilted lay, before nodding, "So I'll just come right on in, then." She continued as Quinn grinned.
"Okay! See you soon."
-oOo-
"Well that was horrible!" The brunette grumbled loudly as she bustled into Quinn's apartment and let Barney loose. The dog immediately went bounding through to the kitchen, where the blonde was crouched ready to greet him. "I felt like an absent father picking their kid up from school for one weekend of every month."
"I made you breakfast!" She called back, leaning over to grin around the doorframe to her best friend, "Thank you!"
The girl rolled her eyes, but followed the retriever into the kitchen, following the smell of frying bacon and pulling herself up to sit on the countertop.
"Those are your clothes from last night." The blonde remarked casually, nodding to Santana's thirst as she returned to the pan on the stove. "I thought you were at your apartment."
"I was." She nodded tightly, before shrugging, "People can see themselves out."
Quinn's raised and eyebrow, but did not look up from the pan, "People, huh? Well seeing as Cassie left with Brody, I'm assuming it wasn't her. Someone new?"
"It was no one." Santana shook her head, eager to deflect the conversation, "So you and Rachel, huh? You told her?"
"Yes I did." Quinn chuckled, "Albeit accidentally."
The brunette raised an eyebrow as her friend began plating up the bacon and eggs, "Accidentally?"
"Yeah." She turned to rest against the counter, looking sheepish as she passed Santana a plate, "We were talking and I kind of...blurted it out. In the middle of the street."
Santana nodded slowly as she picked at her bacon, attempting to sound excited rather than horrified and despondent as she asked, "And what did she say?"
"She didn't say anything." The blonde sighed wistfully. Santana forced a piece of bacon into her mouth to stop her lip from curling, "She just...ran at me."
"Like a tackle?" She frowned, but Quinn giggled.
"No! She kissed me, you idiot."
"Oh. Of course. Sorry." She rolled her eyes self-deprecating lay, "Well, I mean...that's awesome!"
Quinn grinned widely, "I know, right? It's amazing!"
"Congrats." Santana nodded blandly, and the blonde snorted.
"Well done." She remarked mockingly, making the other girl blush and avert her eyes.
She kicked her leg out to nudge against Quinn's side gently as she groaned, "Shut up."
"God, I don't know what's happened to you lately but somebody has definitely got under your skin." The blonde shook her head incredulously, before pushing off the counter and heading for the sofa, gesturing for Santana to follow her.
Wide-eyed, the brunette sat silently for a second before jumping off the counter and hurrying after her friend, "What are you talking about?" She scoffed, "Noone's under my skin."
"Ya-huh." Quinn nodded, "I don't know if it was Becky or Cassie, or whoever, but somebody got to you. You seem stressed but deny it, you're being super-shady all the time, plus you keep saying things like 'well done'. Everyone knows you never congratulate other people on their good fortune."
"That is true." Santana nodded solemnly, "But I'm seriously fine. There's no one."
The blonde rolled her eyes, but conceded, "Okay. If you say so."
One question was gnawing at the back of Santana's mind, and she chewed firmly on her breakfast as she tried to control her urge. Her mouth felt dry and full, as if at any second all of the words and questions she was dying to ask would suddenly splurge out all over Quinn's patchwork blanket.
Come on, Santana. You don't really want to know.
"So how was it?"
Damn.
"What, last night?"
She rolled her eyes, "No, your fucking reunion with the dog. What do you think?"
"Sorry." Quinn snorted giddily, "It was amazing. I mean, I'm a little nervous to talk to Rachel today because...well, this changes things, you know? But...it was still totally fucking awesome."
"Good." She nodded tensely, "I'm glad. And you know, maybe it won't change things? I mean, we were fine. Maybe nothing will change at all?"
Quinn's brow creased slightly, "You mean it won't be weird, right?"
No.
"Yeah." She replied, "Obviously."
She watched as Quinn finished her last bite of eggs, before taking the plate from her and carrying them through to the kitchen, taking a deep breath as she stood up. Placing the dirty dishes on the counter, she sighed heavily, resting her forearms on the cool granite and closing her eyes. She wish she had slept more last night. She felt as though she needed a nap, but was distinctly aware of the fact that she would have to change her bedcovers before she could do so. Her stomach twisted uneasily at the thought, and for a second she pondered whether Becky had made it home in time, a pink flush of shame burning across her cheeks.
With a deep breath, she returned to the living room, where Quinn had flicked the TV into life and was sat curled up on the sofa.
"Do you never work anymore?" Santana frowned as she sat down, but the blonde raised an eyebrow.
"Little rich." She remarked.
"Very poor." The girl quipped awkwardly before continuing, "No, I'm back tomorrow."
Quinn nodded, "I'm going to do some later, after you and before Rachel."
"Busy girl." Santana observed with a tilt of her head, her eyebrow quirking. "What are we watching?"
The blonde shrugged, "Just cartoons."
"Oh, Yogi Bear!" Santana pointed at the screen, "I wish I was Yogi Bear."
"That is...the weirdest thing you've ever wanted to be." Quinn nodded, "Including Gloria Gaynor, who is dead."
"Pfft!" The brunette frowned, "it would be awesome to be Yogi Bear. He doesn't have to worry about anything, 'cept picking up baskets." She smiled contentedly as Quinn's brow furrowed.
She slowly turned to stare at her best friend, "Did you just say 'picking up baskets'?"
"Yeah. You know, he lives in Jellystone and goes round picking up baskets." She replied, before mimicking the character's voice, "Picking up baskets."
"Santana, it's picnic baskets. Yogi Bear likes pic-a-nic baskets. Picnic baskets." She repeats, copying they girl's impression.
"No!" The brunette scoffed, "He likes picking up baskets. 'Cause he goes round...picking them up."
Quinn nodded, "Yeah, picking up picnic baskets."
"Really?" The girl stared open-mouthed, "Are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious!" The blonde chuckled incredulously, "Why would I lie to you about Yogi Bear? What could I possibly gain?"
Her friend stared at her again for a few seconds before reaching for her phone, "I'm gonna google it."
"Oh, sweet, merciful Jesus." Quinn muttered quietly.
"Holy shit, you're right!" The brunette gasped a few moments later.
The other girl rolled her eyes, "Well, duh."
"You know," Santana nodded thoughtfully, "It actually makes a lot of sense."
Quinn stared, her mouth open to reply, before she shut it helplessly and shook her head, turning, stunned, back to the TV.
-oOo-
Santana awoke to the sound of buzzing making her scowl as she blinked her eyes open against the harsh light. As her vision un-blurred, she noticed the blonde slumped against her side, and her stomach plummeted. She stared down at her best friend, curled into her with a blissful, peaceful expression, and chewed her lip sadly. Ignoring the sharp pain in her chest, she sighed and began moving to sit up, gently shaking her friend awake.
"Quinn. Hey, I think your phone is ringing." The girl groaned as Santana shifted her weight to prop Quinn upright, "Your phone."
"Oh." The girl nodded grumpily, "Okay." After fumbling slightly, she finally found her cell phone hidden under one of the cushions and suddenly blurted, "Oh my God, it's Rachel!"
Santana nodded, pushing herself forward until she was perched on the edge of the sofa cushion, chewing on her lip. "Wow. She actually calls." She mumbled under her breath as Quinn babbled behind her.
"What do I say? I need to answer it but what do I say? What am I supposed to say? Santana!"
She turned to look at her friend, deadpanning, "Say hello."
"Okay. That's good. Well done." The brunette snorted at the irony, but Quinn's as pressing answer.
"Hi. Hello." She greeted breathlessly, and Santana rolled her eyes.
She watched the girl for a second more as Quinn's eyes lit up with excitement, a huge grin splitting her face as her cheeks pinked slightly. With a silent sigh, she tilted her head to get the girl's attention, offering her a small smile, "I'm gonna go." She mouthed, pointing to the door and giving the blonde a thumbs-up, "Good luck."
As she stood, the blonde stopped her with a sudden hand on her wrist, "Hang on just one second, Rach." She said into the phone, before pulling it away from ear and climbing to her feet, pulling Santana into a tight hug. "Thank you so much for today. You are the best."
She inhaled deeply as Quinn squeezed her gently, biting down hard on her lip as she recognised the familiar smell. She could identify the Blonde's scent from a mile away, she was sure. Not that Quinn could be smelt from a mile away; that would be unfortunate. Maybe a police line-up was a better analogy. As soon as she had gotten lost in her own thoughts, it was over. The girl was pulling away with a huge grin, the phone moving back to her ear as she collapsed back onto the sofa. Santana smiled tightly, giving a little wave of her hand before crossing quickly to the door, a hard lump in her throat.
Pausing in the doorway, she turned back to see Quinn beaming from where she now lay on the sofa, staring blissfully at the ceiling. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a second and committing the image to memory, before turning and leaving the apartment, shutting the door gently behind her.
-oOo-
"What's the matter?" Rachel frowned, lifting her head off the blonde's chest as Quinn sighed heavily. They had been laid in a tense silence ever since she had arrived, and Rachel was determined to get to the bottom of it.
"Nothing much." She shrugged, abandoning her phone on the arm of the sofa behind her. Rachel shifted to look at her, but Quinn had turned her attention back to the TV screen.
Chewing on her lip, the brunette tried again, "If it's about Santana, you know...you can tell me." She shrugged uneasily, "Is she in trouble with someone's spouse again?"
"I have no idea." Quinn finally admitted, turning to look at the girl with a shrug, "I haven't spoken to her in days. I mean, I've texted her and I tried to call her yesterday but...she hasn't answered."
"Maybe she's just busy, you know? Being...out and about. Doing her Santana thing." Rachel's eyes widened pointedly, sniggering slightly, but Quinn shook her head, frowning thoughtfully.
"No, she's been working. She told me the last time I spoke to her that she was back at work, so she must still be at work." The blonde explained, "She won't be off again until tomorrow."
Rachel nodded slowly, sitting up and turning round until she was knelt back on her haunches between Quinn's legs, facing the girl, "So maybe she's just busy with work?"
The other girl shook her head again, "No, she usually comes round for dinner after work, or at the very least she texts me. Something's wrong."
"Do you-" Rachel frowned, averting her eyes as she picked at a loose thread on the leg of Quinn's pyjama bottoms, "Do you thinking it's because of me?"
"No!" The blonde hurried to reassure her, sitting forward and bending her legs, resting her elbow on her knee and slipping her hand behind Rachel's head, her fingers scratching comfortingly. "No, it's nothing to do with you! I mean...I know you've not been best friends in the past, but she was trying to help me with you! You know, giving me advice and stuff."
"Hm." Rachel smirked, "Maybe she's wiser than I've ever given her credit for." She replied, shuffling closer and wrapping her arms around the blonde's knees and tugging until quiz was laid on her back, her legs wrapped around Rachel's waist.
"Oh God." Quinn giggled, "Don't tell her or we'll never hear the end of it." She grinned, pulling the brunette towards her until she could nip at the girl's full bottom lip.
Rachel nodded,swiping her tongue across the blonde' stop lip, "I won't if you won't." She promised. Quirking an eyebrow as she dipped her head to leave a trail of kisses along the girl's jaw.
Quinn gave a ragged sigh as she nodded, lifting her head slightly to give Rachel access as she breathed, "Okay, deal."
-oOo-
"What am I going to do Blaine?" Santana demanded, slamming her empty glass down on the bar. "It's been five days since I've talked to Quinn; pretty soon she's going to realise that I'm actively avoiding her."
The boy frowned, "I don't really know. I mean, Kurt is usually a lot better with this stuff than I am." He shrugged uneasily.
"But Kurt is also a huge gossip." She pointed out with a sigh, "You should be grateful that I'm coming to you with this! It's an honour."
"Okay..." He replied, unconvinced.
"Plus Kurt is working."
"There it is." He nodded knowingly, "I thought you might have tried him already."
She placed her elbow on the bar, slumping down and resting her chin on her knuckles, "He usually helps me with this stuff. Not that my problems are ever actually emotional. But, I suppose I'd rather he didn't know. He loves a drama a little too much for this."
Blaine nodded, "Understood. Well, for what it's worth, I think it's awesome that you're keeping all of this to yourself." He shrugged, "I mean, some people would be blurting their feelings out to Quinn just in the hope that it would stop her from dating Rachel. I think what you're doing is very noble."
"Yeah, well don't knight me just yet." She sighed mournfully, rolling her eyes as the barman slid another drink over to her and she took a sip.
"What do you mean?" The boy asked, raising his eyebrows.
Her mouth twisted thoughtfully, "I think I may be taking it out on other people. You know, using them for sex...destroying their marriages." She averted her eyes to stare shamefully at the bar-top as Blaine gasped.
"Destroying marriages?" He repeated incredulously, "Santana, that's bad. Even for you and all of your stories! What were you thinking?"
"I was mad, okay?!" She snapped, before losing her fight and sighing heavily, "I knew I should have waited for Kurt! He's less judgemental." Blaine gave her a stern glare, and she shrugged pitifully, "I'm really not proud of it."
"I know." He nodded, "Although if you ever get the chance to fix it, I expect you to take it."
She nodded seriously, "I know, I will. Plus it's not like I actually told, I just...didn't lie for her. Or warn her."
Blaine shook his head with disappointment, "You're an asshole. And you need to stop avoiding Quinn; she's your best friend." He added kindly.
"Exactly!" She groaned, dropping her head down onto the bar, "And if I don't figure out what to do about these feelings, I will completely ruin our friendship. That's why I'm avoiding her...just until I figure it out."
"And how are you going to do that?" He asked, resting his chin on his palm mock-interestedly, "How long will it take? And what should we tell Quinn in the process, because she's bound to ask eventually?"
"Oh my God! Okay, I get it!" She sighed, lifting her head off the bar and staring at Blaine, "You're right. I can't avoid her forever."
Blaine gave her a stern look, "I know it's hard. But you'll start talking to her again?"
"I'll think about it." Nodded Santana, "But...yeah."
The boy sighed resignedly before nodding, "Okay. Good enough."
"Ugh." Santana groaned, "What is wrong with me?"
Blaine smiled, reaching over to slap her comfortingly on the back, "I'm starting to suspect quite a lot."
"You would not be wrong." She replied simply, before taking a deep breath and sighing heavily, "Kill me Blaine." The boy chuckled, but she stared seriously at him, "No, really. Put a gun to my fucking head."
He stared dumbstruck at her for a few seconds, before stuttering nervously, "I-I don't have a gun licence."
-oOo-
"Okay, Santana. This is getting weird now." Quinn sighed, "I don't know what's wrong with you but you need to answer your phone and talk to me. It's been over a week now. I don't think we've ever not talked for this long and...I'm starting to get worried. So just...text me or call me or...something! Stop being weird."
She stabbed at her phone to end the message before placing it hard on the table and crossing through to the kitchen, where she collected cutlery, placemats and glasses before returning to the dining room table. Rachel was due in less than half an hour, the food was simmering on the stove and she was almost good to go. A quick change of clothes and she would be ready. Glancing at her phone, she began laying out two place mats opposite each other, her eyes darting back to the blank screen as she collected up the cutlery and began setting it out neatly. She wasn't sure why she felt the need to keep checking her phone; after a week of silence she supposed she should have been used to not hearing from her best friend,but something continued to niggle away at the back of her mind.
Although she couldn't be completely sure, she was almost positive that she hadn't said or done anything to upset the girl. Not to mention, in the past whenever she had done something wrong, Santana had always been eager to outline exactly how she had failed as a friend and how Quinn had to make it up to her, usually punctuating this speech with Spanish expletives. She cast her mind back to the last couple of times she had seen the girl, playing their conversations over in her head, but once again found herself coming up with nothing. Maybe Rachel was right, and she was worrying unnecessarily?
With a sigh, she stepped back from the artistically-planned table settings and gave a small smile of triumph. Nodding her head once, she turned to the staircase and jogged up to her bedroom where Barney lay outstretched across the bed, snoring steadily. She smiled fondly as she crossed to the hanger on the back of her wardrobe door where her floral-patterned dress hung ready and waiting. She pulled off her jeans and shirt, stuffing them hastily into the wardrobe before changing her underwear and carefully removing the dress from its hanger. The zipper was halfway up her back as a loud, rhythmic grating noise indicated that her phone was ringing on the wooden dining table where she had left it.
Scurrying down the spiral stairs, she snatched up the phone and Andrew quickly, ready for Rachel's stream of apologies and reasonings for being late. She grinned knowingly, preparing herself to interrupt and reassure the girl that dinner would not be spoilt, but another familiar voice made her smile fade quickly.
"...Hi." Santana grunted awkwardly, and Quinn found that her words got lost in her throat. "Look, I know you're probably mad because I haven't been in touch, I'm sorry. I just-"
"No! It's okay." Quinn interrupted enthusiastically, "I'm sure you've just been really busy. I mean, you've got your own life, too." She elaborated, ringing her hands as her lip curled at her own alien nonchalance.
"...okay." Santana frowned with confusion, "I just wanted to, you know, explain."
The blonde shrugged, "You don't have to explain. You're a big girl. Are you okay?"
"Um, yeah. I just...I kind of did something that wasn't very nice." She replied vaguely, "And I was kind of...having a little trouble justifying it to myself and...being okay with it. So I just needed to,you know, take some time to figure it out."
"Okay." Quinn nodded, frowning as she paced backwards and forwards through the dining room. "I see. So...do you wanna talk about it?"
"Not really." She answered honestly, "So how's things?"
The blonde grinned, "Really good actually. Things have kind of stepped up while you've been gone this past week."
Santana flinched. "So you've talked to Berry about all your...feelings and shit."
"Well, not really." Quinn grimaced hesitantly as Santana made a noise of indignantly, "I know, I meant to! I meant to talk to her honestly about how she feels and everything but...it's all snowballed so quickly and things are going so well! I don't wanna ruin it, you know?"
"So where is it going?" The brunette shrugged, but her friend hummed un surely.
"I...guess I don't...really know." Santana sighed impatiently and the girl groaned, "I know, I need to talk to her! I know!"
Santana chucked, shaking her head incredulously, "Yes. Yes you do. I don't want her taking advantage of you for your hot moves."
"She's not taking advantage of me." Quinn giggled, "And if she was, it certainly wouldn't be for my 'hot moves', which I'm pretty sure are non-existent."
"I wouldn't be so sure." Santana chuckled, "From where I was standing, you were pretty..." She trailed off awkwardly, her cheeks burning as she took a mental step back and reviewed their conversation in her head. Clearing her throat quietly, she continued tersely, "Anyway, I'm sure you're fine. I'm, uh, glad things are going so well between you two."
Quinn gave a small nod, "Thank you. I'm glad you're okay. I missed you."
"Yeah. I missed you, too." Santana replied honestly, closing her eyes for a second to bask in the blonde's kind words and pretend they were meant with the same intent as her own. Despite the momentary awkwardness, she was glad she had finally called. It felt good to be talking to Quinn again; not that the girl had ever known they weren't talking, given that she was so wrapped up in the excitement of her budding romance with Rachel. "So anyway, what have you been up to?"
Quinn glanced at the clock before shrugging and perching on the back of the couch,settling herself and smiling contentedly as she answered, "Not much, really. I've seen Rachel pretty much every day and other than that I've just been working, I suppose. Barney has this weird wart thing on his belly and I was scared he might have cancer but Mr B said it just looked like a skin tag to him so...that's a relief."
"You're such a hypochondriac." Santana chuckled, "Remember when he fell over in the park and you were convinced he had a broken leg?" Her giggled grew into loud laughter as she recalled the memory, "So you made me rush him to the vet the next morning and he said Barney had a bruised paw."
"He's my boy! I was worried!" Quinn protested, her cheeks flushing red.
Santana snorted, "And you were all, 'Is he still breathing? Is he breathing?'" Her story was interrupted by another round of raucous laughter, "You made me stay with you all night in case we had to go for an emergency appointment?"
"Whatever!" The blonde scoffed, grimacing with embarrassment, "I wanted you there just in case! It made me feel better and you should be thankful."
The girl's comment rendered Santana momentarily speechless as her heart hammered against her chest, and she closed her eyes for a second, "I am thankful. And...I'm glad I made you feel better."
"So anyway," Quinn continued pointedly, changing the subject, "What have you been up to? Been chased by any angry housewives recently?"
"Not of late, no." She admitted with a chuckle, "Although, I'd be screwed if I had." She remarked shrewdly.
The blonde frowned, "How come? You can give Usain Bolt a run for his money if someone's spouse is involved."
"Yeah, I don't think I'll be doing much running at all over the next few weeks." She grimaced, "I got injured at work the other day and now I have a huge gash across my ribs and it hurts like hell."
"What the fuck?" Quinn's mouth dropped open, "I thought you said you were fine! How did you do that?"
Santana shrugged, "It was nothing! I was in this house and a cabinet fell on me, that's all."
"House call, or was the house on fire?" Quinn asked, one eyebrow quirked knowingly.
"...the house may have been on fire." Santana answered tentatively, "But I'm fine. It's no big deal."
"No big deal?" The blonde erupted incredulously, "How can you say that's no big deal? Did you have to go to the hospital? Why did you wait until halfway through our conversation to tell me this?"
"Stop freaking out!" She reassured her firmly, "I'm fine. No, I didn't need to go to the hospital; one of the guys just patched me up at the station and I'm keeping an eye on it. You know, making sure it doesn't get infected or anything."
Quinn gawped, "Oh my God. Well you'd better let me know if you need anything. Anything. Got it?"
"Okay." Santana rolled her eyes, but. Opulent stop a huge grin from spreading across her face."So anyway, we should hang out soon, it's been-"
The tell-tale buzzing of Quinn's intercom cut her off as the blonde bounded across her apartment to press the entry button, "Hey, San? I'm really sorry but Rachel just got here, can I call you back tomorrow?"
"Um...yeah. No problem, that's fine." She replied brightly, "I'll talk to you then. I hope you have an awesome night!"
"You too." Quinn grinned as she pulled the door open for the small brunette, "Be careful with your ribs. We'll talk tomorrow." Her goodbyes were punctuated by a chaste kiss with the girl, and Santana felt a familiar pang in her chest as she closed her eyes tightly. "Night, San."
With a sigh, Santana gave a small, sad smile, "Night, Q."