Rachel/Santana friendship. Spoilers for 318.
She found Rachel sitting at the edge of the stage of the auditorium, legs dangling over the side. Santana pulled herself up on to the stage and sat next to her.
"Heard about your audition," she said nonchalantly. What? They're friends now. She can say whatever she wants to Rachel.
Rachel sighed, watching her legs swing, cutting through the air sharply. "I really don't want to talk about it, Santana," she said.
Santana swung her legs in time with Rachel's. "So we won't talk about it."
They sat silently for a moment.
"Want to come over tonight?"
"I appreciate you trying to be a friend to me now, but I really just want to be alone."
Santana shrugged and pulled out her cell phone, shooting off a quick text message before leaning back on the stage. She propped herself up on her elbows and said nothing.
"What are you doing?" Rachel asked.
"Leaving you alone."
"Seriously, Santana?"
"Hey, you're the one who started talking this time, not me," Santana replied.
Rachel sighed again, pulling a deep breath into her lungs. "I'm never going to get to New York," she said, voice cracking. Her shoulders fell.
Santana rolled her eyes slightly and sat up, wrapping an arm around Rachel's shoulders. "That's bullshit, Rachel," she said. "So you blew this audition. Do you know how many schools there are in New York that would kill for someone who can sing like you?"
"Please," Rachel scoffed tearfully. "There are thousands of Rachel Berrys in New York City."
"Okay, you know what? Fuck NYADA," Santana pulled Rachel into her side, moving closer as she did so. "So you'll go somewhere else in New York? Who cares? Maybe it won't be as easy as you thought to get on Broadway. You'll just have to work a little harder, cut a few more bitches who get in your way."
Rachel sniffled. "No offense, but that's more your style of handling competition than mine."
Santana grinned at her, tightening the arm around Rachel's shoulders. "Then I'll cut some bitches for you."
Rachel cracked a small smile, tears still spilling down her cheeks.
"Did I ever tell you that I have razor blades in my hair?"
"I might have heard a rumor," Rachel said.
Santana nodded at her, sharing another smile with Rachel. It was a new experience, being a friend to Rachel, but it wasn't the worst one she'd ever had. "So you coming over tonight or what?" A pause. "The vegan ice cream isn't going to eat itself."
"Fine." Rachel leaned into Santana's embrace. "What if I just mess up again?" she asked quietly.
"You won't."
"But what if I —"
"You won't."
Rachel twisted in her embrace and wrapped her arms around Santana's waist, burying her face in Santana's neck and crying. Santana squeezed Rachel softly. "You won't," she repeated quietly.
