Chapter 36

By Thursday, the tension between Rachel and Quinn became so painfully obvious for all of their friends. Lunches were awkward. Conversation was stilted. The girls were rarely in the same room at the same time. Quinn seemed to be avoiding her own room, always latching on to Santana or Brittany or Sam. Santana was tired of her alone time with her dancer constantly being interrupted. They had been back to school for four days and she had only gotten laid three times. She and Brittany were supposed to be humping like rabbits, but no, Quinn was always there. She felt bad kicking the blonde out but she desperately wanted to get laid the previous night. Quinn had mumbled something about going to see Sam, which sent Santana's head spinning. Why wasn't Quinn a slobbering mess over Berry? Shouldn't those two be all over each other by now?

Rachel had been parading around with Finn and Puck. Suddenly she and Finn were besties again. Quinn had been clinging to Santana and Brittany while Rachel played Three Musketeers. Rachel constantly hanging with her 'bros' was cutting into Santana hanging with her girlfriend. She was tired of being interrupted. She was tired of watching her two best friends act like assholes for the past four days.

Santana was pissed, not even her sexytimes with Brittany the night before had cheered her up. So when Santana Lopez is pissed and sex doesn't even cheer her up, she lashes out. That's exactly what she sent off to do when she trailed Quinn down. The blonde had just left the library when Santana spotted her across the lawn.

"Quinn Fabray, hold your ass up!" Santana shrieked.

Several students stared as the Latina streaked across the lawn. Quinn's eyes widened noticing the angry purpose with which the other girl strode.

"Great," Quinn muttered.

"What's going on with you and Short Stack?" Santana asked grabbing Quinn's arm and forcing her down on a bench.

"What do you mean?" Quinn threw back, plopping down on the bench and ripping her arm from the other girl's grasp.

"Don't play stupid with me, Fabray. Last time I checked you and Manhands were all over each other, or at least eye sexing each other every second you got. I was just starting to get used to the permanent blush on both your cheeks. Now you barely speak and you're always interrupting my sexytimes. What the hell happened?"

"Nothing happened."

"Yeah right."

"I'm serious, S. Nothing happened. We kissed on New Year's. We started getting a little too flirty and then nothing happened. We're friends and that's it. She's my best friend," Quinn answered as if she had been rehearsing what to say for whatever the Latina would inevitably question her.

Santana raised her eyebrow and studied Quinn for a moment. The blonde was very tense but clearly trying to pretend nothing was wrong. Quinn refused to look at her and watched the other students walking by quickly to all their classes. Santana decided this problem was bigger than she thought. She would be skipping her pottery class today. It was only the second class of the semester but who cares.

"Yeah well she's not acting like much of a best friend," Santana challenged.

"Rachel just has a lot on her plate this semester," Quinn defended immediately.

"Right…so I was thinking we should go out."

"What?" the blonde cocked her brow and crossed her arms clearly stating she wasn't amused.

"You and me, Q. We're going out Friday night. I've got this friend, Jennifer. You have to meet her. She's a blast," Santana smirked.

"You're not setting me up, S."

"Who said anything about setting you up? If Berry has too much on her plate to hang and be a friend, then she obviously has too much on her plate to go out this weekend. But you and I have some free time. B has this stupid dance rehearsal thing like all night Friday so I'll be bored. Jennifer is a good friend of mine who is recently single and I know she's looking for any excuse to go out and have a good time. Three people means we're approachable without everyone thinking you're into me or trying to date me or whatever," Santana winked.

"Right and this isn't part of your plan from New Year's?" Quinn challenged back.

"What plan?"

"Now who's playing dumb? Listen up, Lopez, and listen good. I'm not going to use some poor girl to make Rachel jealous. Why can't you accept that we're just friends? Maybe Rachel and I aren't meant to be that couple you go on lesbo double dates with. Maybe we care about each other, love each other even, but know that we're better off as friends, best friends," Quinn pressed.

"Maybe, I can't and won't accept that because it's complete bullshit, Quinn. Maybe I think you're both being stupid and I'm trying to get you to pull your heads out of your asses. Maybe I think you are meant to be that couple," Santana argued.

"I'm not going to fight with you about this, Santana. Rachel and I are best friends and nothing more," Quinn stated firmly.

Quinn thought that was the end of the conversation and started to get up. She was going to miss her next class if the Latina wouldn't drop it.

"Fine. Prove it," Santana stated simply.

Quinn sighed and sat her ass back down. Looked like she would be missing her next class.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. I want you to prove it. If you guys are just friends then you can go out with me this weekend. You can meet my friend Jennifer. You can flirt with her. You can talk to her. You can see if she's even your type. Maybe she's not. But if you and Berry are really just friends then you have nothing to lose. It's a fun night on the town with great company. If Smurfette is really and truly just your best friend then she won't get jealous anyway and my stupid little plan goes to hell because I was wrong and you two are just best friends. So prove it, Fabray," Santana dared.

"You want me to prove it? Fine! I'll prove it! Just because I can't wait to see this blow up in your face. I can't wait to watch you eat your words, Lopez. You're so wrong about all of this."

"You'll see, Q. I'm totally right. I'm Santana Lopez. I'm always right. Little Midget wants in your pants so freaking bad. She just needs a little push and you'll be humping like rabbits," Santana teased.

"Would you just stop, Santana? Please just shut up!" Quinn practically begged, on the verge of breaking down.

"Come on, Q. Give it up. You know I'm right. Then when you two are shacking up all the time and you're too busy screwing to hang out with me, just remember who to thank and take a break from your marathon sex to say hello to your BFF Santana," the Latina laughed.

"Just shut the hell up! Rachel doesn't want me! She wants to be friends. In fact, she'd probably thank you herself for forcing me to move on and quit moping around like a kicked puppy," Quinn ranted.

"Wait what?

"Rachel didn't want to fucking be with me! Okay! She's not into me like that! She wants to be friends! She pulled away from me. Why are you needling me about this? I wanted it. I wanted the stupid lesbian double dates. I thought you were right! I found out we were both wrong! So if I go on this stupid set up with you, will you please just leave me the fuck alone?" Quinn shouted as tears sprang to her eyes.

Santana looked shocked. She quickly darted her eyes around to see if anybody else had noticed her friend's outburst. If she thought Quinn was going to have a public meltdown, she would've dragged her sorry ass to one of their dorm rooms first. She wanted to end the weirdness and get her sexytimes back. She didn't want to publicly embarrass the girl.

"Jesus, Q. I didn't know," Santana hushed.

"Yeah well nobody did. We thought we might try it, ya know. Give it a go and keep it to ourselves, see what happens. Turns out we didn't even need to give it a shot. Rachel had a week away from me and that was enough for her to see that it wouldn't work. Meanwhile, I spent the last week of winter break fantasizing about how great my first date with Rachel would be as soon as we got back to school," Quinn explained.

"Shit, Q. I'm so sorry."

"Everybody's sorry…but that's just life, right? Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. I guess I lost…but hey, at least I still get to keep my best friend."

"Who barely even speaks to you. What the hell is she thinking? And parading around like she and Finn are magically best friends this week. What is that about? Joining the bros' club and leaving you in the dust? I should kick that hairy little cretin's ass!" Santana growled.

"No! Don't- don't do that, S. Please. It's not her fault. She doesn't want to screw up our friendship. I pushed in the first place. It's all on me. I wanted so badly to be with her and she wanted to take things slow and I kept pushing. I got so excited and worked up our date into this huge thing in my head. Hell, I even told her I love her. I just…she wanted out before the damage would be irreversible. It sucks but I understand," Quinn muttered weakly.

"Well I'm glad somebody understands because I sure as hell don't."

"Don't do that okay? You don't have to go all Rambo on Rachel's ass or whatever. She's your friend, too, and I'm sure this isn't easy for her."

"Damn, Quinn. You've really got it bad. Defending the girl who's breaking your heart…and yeah, she's my friend, kinda whatever, too but that doesn't mean I can't kick her ass when she's clearly wrong. In fact, as her friend, it's my job to stop her from making stupid mistakes and tell her to correct them when she clearly has," Santana growled.

"Please don't say anything to her. She doesn't deserve that."

"You're right. She deserves a hell of a lot worse than a Santana Lopez verbal smackdown. She deserves a physical smackdown and getting chewed out."

"S, just let it go. Please. Promise me you won't say anything to her. It's a complicated situation and she's trying to keep our friendship. I mean look how this is tearing everybody up now. Imagine if we had actually dated and broke up. She's probably right about all of this," Quinn pleaded.

"That's crap, Quinn. That's a cop out if I've ever heard one and I don't believe you mean a word of it…but fine. I promise I won't chew her out or rip her a new asshole or whatever…even though she clearly deserves it…but since you think for whatever reason that she's totally innocent in all of this, I won't rip her head off about this…for you. I won't say anything for your sake," Santana conceded.

"Thank you."

"But if she says anything to me about it, it's fair game. If she brings it up at all then I get to say whatever the hell I want," Santana countered.

"S," Quinn sighed.

"I'm serious. I won't start anything with her, but if she brings it up for whatever reason then I get to tell her how it is. I won't hold back just to protect her fragile little hobbity heart just because you think this might be hard on her. I hope it is! I hope the little gremlin loses sleep and can't eat and all of that pathetic lovesick shit."

"Fine. If Rachel brings it up, don't withhold your opinions for my sake. Just remember that she is your friend and you could take it a little easy on her."

"I am taking it easy on her. I'm not physically smacking the Jew right out of her. That's me taking it easy," Santana sniffed.

Quinn rolled her eyes.

"You're my girl, Q. I got your back on this. Frodo is kinda my girl too or whatever…but if she's wrong, which she is, I'm not backing her sorry ass up on this shit."

"Fine. Do whatever you want…but if you physically lay a hand on her, I will come after you," Quinn threatened.

"Yeah, I'd love to see you try. It's cute that you're like a mama bird with its feathers all ruffled when it comes to your little baby birdie, but just remember who wronged you and who is trying to make it right. The attack dog act is getting old, Fabray. I get that you love the girl but I'm looking out for you right now," Santana smirked.

Quinn sighed and shook her head.

"Glad we've got that covered," Santana laughed.

"I didn't say anything."

"The sigh said it all. You know I'm right. She's treating you like crap and I'm not gonna sit back and just let that happen. Berry's gotten the short end of the stick quite a bit in life but that's not excuse for being a jackass, which she's being. It's up to Mama Lopez to make the world right again."

"Mama Lopez?"

"Shut up, Queerio. I can call myself whatever I want when I'm fixing your shit. Trust me, you'll wanna call me Goddess Lopez once I'm done. I'm gonna turn this all around. Just wait. I know what I'm doing."

"I'm glad somebody does," Quinn muttered.

"And quit being so damn depressed all the time. I wouldn't want to hang with you either if I saw you moping around every second. You're boring me and you look pathetic. Act like you're having fun. Remind her of the amazing girl you are and how much fun you are. Give her a reason to regret her decision. Remind her why she wanted to be with you in the first place. Take a fucking shower. Go out with me and Jenny. Prove to her that you're a damn fine piece of ass and that she should be lucky to put her grubby little manish hands on you. Nobody wants to hang out with a loser. Why do you think I avoided Berry so long? Cuz she sucks and she's kinda lame. But at least with you, she's less of a loser and almost fun. So stop being a loser, Q. Be the kind of person everybody wants to hang with. Even if your heart hurts inside, smile on the outside, and make her see what she's missing."

"I said I'd go. Do your worst, Lopez. Sorry I meant go ahead and right my world, Mama Lopez," Quinn teased.

"You laugh now but you're gonna be tripping all over yourself trying to find ways to thank me soon enough."

"I'm sure."

"Sarcasm makes you sound stupid, Q. Only person of a certain attitude and ethnic background like me can truly pull it off. You just look constipated."

"Shut up," Quinn narrowed her eyes.

"You shut up," Santana laughed.

"You're such a bitch," Quinn chuckled.

"I'm the best bitch you've got. You're lucky to have me."

"Whatever."

"Great comeback. Did you think that one up all by yourself or did you learn it from your teeny, tiny, hair, little roommate?" Santana winked.

"I hate you."

"No you don't, but doesn't it feel good to get some of that anger out."

"You're annoying," Quinn glared.

"Just stop, Q. Stop before I think you want me. I remember how you and Berry started. All fighting and sexual tension. Let's face it everybody wants a piece of the hottest Latina from Lima Heights, but I'm taken," Santana grinned.

Quinn started cracking up and shook her head, "You're an idiot."

"But you know you love me."

"Not even a little bit," Quinn teased.

"You have to admit though, I bet you feel a lot better now."

Quinn sobered up slightly and smiled, "I do feel somewhat better. Thanks, S."

"Yeah whatever. I'm just waiting until I prove you wrong and then you'll owe me. I can't wait to make you my bitch for a while."

"Why does that sound far more sexual coming from you than from anyone else?"

"It's a gift," Santana laughed.

"And I never said I'd be your bitch," Quinn said getting up and shouldering her bag.

"True, you didn't yet. But you're gonna owe me so big you'll have to pay me back somehow…and that's when I'll make you my personal slave for a week."

Santana started walking with Quinn toward the blonde's next class. She was ten minutes late but she could sneak in the back and catch most of the lecture.

"Isn't that what Britt is for?" Quinn rolled her eyes.

"Sexually yes. But ya know, sometimes you'd be surprised who the real dominating force in the bedroom is. It's the quiet, limber ones you have to look out for," Santana smirked.

"That's disgusting. Far more information than I ever needed."

"Don't' be jealous. I'm sure Berry is a freak in the sack too. But that's far more information than I will ever need to know. Besides, you're just gonna do my laundry and clean my room, maybe write a paper for me or something. My sexual needs are more than satisfied."

"Okay. No more. I can't handle this. You both are my friends and I don't need any mental images."

"Maybe you're the real freak, not Berry. Picturing it, Q?"

"Stop. I can't. Just…no," Quinn whined.

"Alright. I'll give you a break…and you're welcome. You're my girl, Fabray. We former high school bitches have to stick together. It's how we get shit done."

"Right. Bitches get shit done," Quinn chuckled.

"Damn right we do!"

Santana wrapped Quinn up in a one-armed hug and then kicked her butt as she pushed the blonde to the door of the psychology building. Quinn turned around and stuck her tongue out at the Latina who in turned flipped her middle finger up. Quinn rolled her eyes and turned down the hall to her lecture room. Santana smirked to herself knowing that Quinn was smiling for the first time since Sunday night.