Chapter 16: Transitioning

Santana's POV:

The rest of the week was pretty eventful I guess you could say, Rachel was starting to move in with Cassandra, I actually didn't get the part of Rachel's understudy, but that was okay. Some good news, well for me not exactly for Brittany. Sam and her decided to break up and Brittany decided to come to live in New York City with me. Quinn was out of our lives and Kurt and I were oddly enough getting along just fine. Brittany also ended up getting a job at the diner as well, we started the end of next week, me and Brittany has to go back to Lima to pack and then we could start our new lives in the big city. I was going to be free of Lima, Ohio and never look back. We were leaving tomorrow morning for Lima.

I am currently having a movie night with Brittany, Kurt, and Dani decided she would join because she wouldn't mind the company of two lovely ladies, and a nice guy like Kurt. I couldn't help but look at Dani resting her head on Brittany's shoulder, I felt a little jealous, but it was alright, Dani kept glancing at me with a small smile, I smile back and actually felt butterflies. I haven't felt this way for a while, I had to talk to her later about that. Kurt kept on insulting the fashion sense of the characters in the movie, I just look at him.

"Kurt, I don't think anyone wants to hear your input," I knew Blaine would love discussing this stuff with Kurt but he wasn't here. Which had me in my thoughts, me and Brittany had to go talk to Blaine when we went back to Lima tomorrow.

Kurt just frowned and mumbled that Rachel wouldn't mind hearing about his thoughts. I just roll my eyes. The movie credits start rolling up and I hear Brittany yawn and Dani with her little laugh, God why was she so beautiful.

Brittany and Kurt both decided to go to sleep, me and Brittany usually rotated sleeping in what used to be Rachel's bed, I honesty didn't mind sleeping on the pull out couch, heck I didn't even mind if I never went into Rachel's old room. When the two go to bed, it was just Dani and me, sitting in awkward silence. She bit her bottom lip and I thought what I wouldn't give to be kissing her. I couldn't help but lick my lips and Dani turned her head, I knew she was blushing, I scooted over to her.

"Brittany is a pretty good pillow, isn't she?" I asked her and she looked at me and nodded.

"Yeah, she's really comfy."

"I couldn't help but notice that you kept on making eye contact with me though, and if I'm not mistaken you were smiling."

Her blush got darker, "Yeah well, you're pretty attractive, but I'm not sure that we could work," she shrugged and I looked at her.

"Oh is Brittany more your type?"

Dani shook her head, "No, you are definitely my type, but you dated Rachel, were in a pretty serious relationship with her, and well I had a small thing with Rachel, and she's told me a lot about you and it doesn't exactly sit right with me to date my ex's ex, you know? But I do like you."

I nodded, "I see, I like you too, but I guess my past with Rachel could be sort of off putting and you would be put in a really awkward situation."

"Yeah, that's why I was leaning on Brittany instead of you, honestly, what me and Rachel had was nice, and I really miss that feeling of being with someone, it feels nice with her, but who knows it might feel better with you."

I wasn't sure what I should do in this situation, me and Rachel were in the past and I think I could be pretty happy with Dani, but I guess my love for Rachel hasn't ever fully gone away. Brittany was my friend, I would have to talk to her in the morning on our plane ride back to Lima.

"Honestly Dani, you smiling at me gives me butterflies, I haven't felt those in a real long time, I just, I like you, but I don't know if I'll never not have feelings for Rachel, but I can't hold onto those feelings forever."

Dani nodded, "You're right, Rachel is pretty amazing, I honestly can't blame you. I still like her too, she's something special."

"She really was, I don't think us talking about Rachel will make us not want her any less."

She smiled, "Yeah, can't let her go if she's all we're going to talk about. She would like knowing we were talking about her." Dani stood up from the couch, "I should get going, before it gets really late."

I look at her and stood up as well, "Yeah, well it's already pretty late, you sure you wouldn't just want to sleep over, I don't think you should be out at this time of night." I was concerned about her, sure she could hold her own but night time in the city just seemed really dangerous.

"You're worried about me, that's sweet," she blushes and I smirk.

"Of course I'm worried, even I don't go anywhere at night without a buddy, here is much different than a small town like Lima."

"I like that you're worried," she leaned up to kiss my cheek and it was my turn to blush.

"Oh yeah?" I look at her, biting my bottom lip, what I wouldn't give to kiss her right now.

"Do you have any spare pajamas that I could wear?" she asked, and I nodded.

I was glad I kept my luggage out here, I dug into it and found a pair of sweats and a tank top. "Will this do?" I ask and she nodded, and headed to the bathroom. I pull out the bed in the couch and laid down, staring at my phone while I waited. I hadn't called Rachel in a few days, I kind of missed hearing her voice, but I couldn't just call her whenever, she was with Cassandra now and probably would always be. This is why I shouldn't be involved with Dani, I was always going to love Rachel, it wouldn't be fair to her.

I heard the bathroom door open and Dani appeared, she smiled at me before laying down in bed next to me, my whole core decides to warm at being so closed to Dani, in less clothing than before.

"You look kind of down there Santana," she looked at me in concern.

"I was just thinking about Rachel again, she's always in my mind."

Dani nodded, "Seems like it. I'll see you in the morning?" she looked at me and I nodded.

"Yeah, see you in the morning," I look at her and shut off the lamp. How could I be thinking about Rachel, when I was laying really close to this gorgeous girl? I was an idiot, and I was a fool for Rachel Berry, a huge ass fool.

When I woke up the next morning I realized how much actually sleep I didn't get, I would probably pass out on the plane. I woke up and Dani wasn't next to me anymore. I heard her talking in the kitchen with someone, the other voice was Brittany. I run my hand through my hair, packed up my things before I went into the kitchen. I wasn't expecting to see Brittany and Dani making out in the kitchen. I knew in that moment I missed my chance last night, damn that Rachel for being stuck on my brain. They pulled back before I could greet them, both were blushing seeing me.

"Hey Santana," Dani looks at me sort of guilty, I noticed she was changed back into her clothes from last night.

"Morning," Brittany smiled at me and I sighed.

"I-I'm sorry you had to see this Santana," Dani rushes to apologize.

I put up my hand, "Hey no need to apologize, did you sleep okay on the pull out?"

"Yeah, thanks for letting me stay last night. I should get going though, see you both when you come back from Lima, I'll take you both out for lunch, how does that sound?"

"Sounds great," me and Brittany say in unison. We both watch her leave, I sigh. Why did I have to be so stupid and let her slip away, it seemed to be a habit of mine.

"So you and Dani seem pretty close," I smile at Brittany.

"Yeah, but trust me it wasn't what it looked like, well it did but not the reasoning behind it. So you ready to head back to Lima soon, it's going to be so sad knowing we won't really be going back there after this time."

"Yeah, but just think, we have so much opportunity here, so it's definitely not a bad thing. So is Dani a good kisser?" I asked and Brittany smiled.

"She's pretty amazing, I know she wishes she was kissing someone else, but I'm okay with giving her a distraction from, well you." She licked her lips. "I wasn't supposed to say that, but you're my best friend and I can't hide things from you. She's upset she can't pursue you because of both of your pasts with Rachel. I kind of like her," she admits and I nod.

"I mean what's not to like about her?" I smile, Brittany and I got ready to head to the airport.

Rachel's POV:

I finally had all my boxes moved into Cassandra's place, it was nice. I hadn't seen Santana since she didn't get the part of my understudy, it was probably for the best, the understudy I had was pretty talented and I was more than comfortable with her working underneath me, not having to see Santana everyday would be for the best. And well she worked at the diner pretty close to being next door to the theater. I look at my phone, today was the day Santana and Brittany were going to go back to Lima and get stuff to completely move to the city. It was nice to know more than three people in the city. I texted Brittany and Santana to have a nice flight. And give everyone a hello from me.

Cassandra was gone to work and I sighed, I didn't like the silence of being alone, but I felt comforted knowing I was in Cassandra's apartment for good. I've been ocassionally having second thoughts about this whole thing, but I needed to shake it off.

I haven't called Quinn since she left a few days ago, it was really upsetting to see her go, but she was doing what she had to do. She told me there was a professor interested in her, and I really thought she was kidding about doing that. I don't know why I was so sad for Quinn finding happiness, that wasn't supposed to be what happened. I wanted Quinn to have a happy ending. I fiddle with my phone and scroll through my contacts, I pressed Quinn's name, I knew I shouldn't but I just wanted to talk to her for a bit. When I dialed it went straight to voicemail, and I frown, she was either busy or avoiding me. I was about to try again when I got a text from her.

Hey Rach, I can't answer your call right now. I'll call you later, I'm in the professor's class, the one who is into me. xo

I sigh, running my hand through my hair. I didn't feel like taking anything out of my boxes right now, I would do it later. I heard a knock on my apartment door, I go to open it and there appeared Dani. "Hey Dani," I greeted. "What do I owe this pleasure?" I asked, stepping to the side and letting her in.

"Well last night I hung out at your old apartment, with Brittany, Santana and Kurt. I think I have a thing for Santana," she went to sit down on the couch.

I just look at her dumbfounded, "I- I... wow," I sit down in the recliner.

Dani nodded, "Yeah, but this morning I was making out with Brittany, she's aware of my... feelings you can say. I don't know what to do. She still cares for you, but I can tell she cares about me. You told me everything about your relationship with Santana and I just... I'd feel awkward dating her, but she makes me feel kind of amazing, like you did at some point. I need to know I guess, if... do you still have feelings for Santana? I can't allow myself to fall for her if there's even the smallest possibility of you having feelings for her. What me and you had was short lived but great, I really miss having a lady companion. I wouldn't just want to settle on dating Brittany, she's too nice for me just settling for her."

"I-I honestly don't know what to say Dani, there's always a tiny bit of me who will always love Santana. I want you to be happy. I mean dating Santana wasn't the worst feeling in the world. And well I'd consider it growing on my behalf if I let both my exes just be happy with each other, but I don't want my feelings, no matter how small, get in the way of a romance."

"I know it's not my business to say, but she said you always seem to be on her mind. I just need to get over my thing for her then. I can't compete with the love you both still have for each other," she sighed and I frown.

"I don't want you to give up on happiness with Santana though, I mean I'm with Cassandra, and I find myself not thinking about Santana as much as I used to," I try to give her some confidence. "But I mean Brittany is pretty great too, if you want to pursue her. A girl like you shouldn't end up alone."

Dani smiled, "Thanks, I just I want that loving feeling you share with Cassandra."

"It is a pretty good feeling, so did you want to help me unpack my things?" I looked at her, and she nodded.

"Sure, I can only stay for an hour then I have to get to work."

"Thanks Dani, I'm really glad that we can still be pretty good friends, even after we broke up."

"Of course, you're a great girl and I'd be pretty dumb to not want a friend like you." I couldn't help but blush, Dani always had a way with words. Heck, I'm not even sure I remember why we broke up. I'm sure it had to do with Cassandra.

Quinn's POV:

Class was over and I stayed after to talk to Professor Lydia, we were talking about school things, which led to me being hit on, I flirted back and well let's just say, we did some stuff probably not wise to do, but the door was locked. She looked at me afterwards and kissed me on the lips.

"I was definitely not expecting that to happen," I look at her, and she smiled.

"Me either, we should do it again sometime, but maybe not in the classroom," she looked at me and I shrugged.

"Maybe, I have to think about it though, is that okay?" I asked her and she nodded.

"Yeah that's fine, maybe next time you won't be moaning for a girl named Rachel."

I blush, "I am still so sorry that happened, I've had an interesting past with a Rachel, I'll see you in class next week," I told her and sort of rushed out of there. I headed back to my dorm room, I promised that I would call Rachel back, I was definitely going to leave out me moaning her name while me and Lydia were occupied.

I plop down on my bed, my roommate probably at the library, I scroll through my phone and click on Rachel's name, calling her I waited for her to pick up, she did on the last ring.

"Hey Quinn, I was starting to think you forgot about me."

"Yeah well me and professor got a little occupied after class, I'll spare you the details. What did you want to talk about?"

I hear Rachel sigh over the phone, "I just, well I missed talking to you, Cassandra is at work and well my mind just keeps going sometimes."

"How's it living with her?" I ask, not sure what she expected us to talk about.

"It's going alright, we never tend to be here at the same time, it's kind of disappointing. I'm in the middle of unpacking my things today. I hope me and her aren't rushing into this. I guess you can say we're possibly in a rut."

I sigh, she really did rush into getting back with Cassandra so soon. I knew she was still confused, as was I. "Rachel, why exactly did you want to talk to me? I left and I don't plan on ever going back to New York. I don't want to be involved in your confusing love life anymore... even if you want to be with me, it's not going to be worth it."

"I just... I don't know why I miss you so much," she sounded so defeated. I really shouldn't ever slept with her, what in the hell was I thinking.

"Well I don't understand it either, but you should probably stop contacting me. You don't want anyone to get hurt yet you're hurting me by wanting to talk. I just can't deal with this Rachel. I don't think we should be in contact anymore. Bye Berry," I go to hang up but hear her start to cry, ugh I hated when she cried. "I'm sorry Rachel, but this-this is just the way it has to be."

"We can't even just be friends?" she asked through her tears.

"That just wouldn't work Rachel, there's too much between us to ever just be friends, and we weren't exactly friends to begin with," I told her and I heard her sigh.

"Okay, good bye Quinn," she said in an almost whisper before hanging up. I put my phone down and frown, this woman had a way to irk my nerves. What was this huge hold she had over me? I didn't appreciate this going on in my life.

Cassandra's POV:

It was a very long day, everything was irritating me, I was so ready to go home to Rachel, well sort of. I don't know why I was avoiding her, we were in love and she moved in with me, so what exactly was wrong. I think she's still involved with her conflicted feelings, we did agree to get back together, maybe it was too fast. She was upset that day we got back on track. I found myself at the bar the end of the day, just as I had been the past couple of days, better to just down my sorrows in alcohol, I didn't want to think anymore.

"Hey Cassandra," I heard my name and I look, turning around to see Dani sitting next to me. "How many drinks have you had so far?"

I hold up four fingers and sigh, taking another shot. "Make it five. So what are you doing here?"

Dani shrugged, "Deciding if I want to drown my sorrows or not. Why are you here instead of with Rachel?"

I sigh, hearing Rachel's name, "I'm drowning my sorrows, I don't think I need to do that with Rachel here," I look at her and she eyed me suspiciously. "So why do you want to drown your sorrows?" I asked her, I'm pretty curious.

"I'm just having some mixed feelings about some things, I like one of my ex's ex, but my ex and her have a pretty big past and I just-I don't want to get in the way, but this girl I really like her, but it's probably a lost cause. I'm so confused because I sorta still like my ex I guess you can say," she told me, she was trying to be vague but I knew what she was talking about.

"So you still have a thing for Rachel? And she still wants Santana?" I want to throw something, of course Rachel would still like Santana, it didn't make me feel good about myself. So I down another shot.

"No, no she doesn't want Santana back, that's not what I was saying at all, trust me. I just don't know how I can be with Santana when her and Rachel have a past. It would be weird dating Santana since I'm still Rachel's friend. But I can't help what I feel."

I look at her, "And it's also weird because you have a thing for my girlfriend, so dating Santana while having feelings for your ex isn't smart."

Dani sighed, a frown on her face, "You honestly can't blame me for liking Rachel, I am really happy for you and Rachel, I couldn't dare get in the way of your relationship. I respect you both too much for that."

"Rachel is something special, that's for sure," I push a shot glass in Dani's direction.

Dani took the shot, and pushed it to the side. "Why are you avoiding Rachel then? She was telling me today you guys hardly seen each other since she moved in with you."

I shrug, "I don't know, I think me and Rachel rushed into getting back together, she was upset the day we agreed to get back together. I think she might still be interested in that Quinn girl. I never really got a good vibe from her, she's quite irritating," I roll my eyes, recalling our meeting in the hall days ago. Dani looked at me in concern. Before she could say anything, Rachel came up to the bar.

"Cassandra," she looked at me with a frown. "Is this where you've been hiding away at? Oh hey Dani, thanks for texting me letting me know where she was."

I looked at Dani with pure disappointment, Dani looked guilty and got off the bar stool deciding she could go talk to other people in the bar, and then I looked at Rachel, "Well you found me."

"I was worried about you Cassandra, I've hardly seen you since I brought all my boxes to your place. What's going on?" she asked, sitting down on the barstool.

"I really don't want to talk about it," I turn ordering a few more drinks from the bartender. Rachel looked at me very disappointed.

"Why can't we talk about it? I thought us living together was supposed to bring us together, not pull us apart," she glared at me. "Why are you avoiding me?"

"I-I'm not avoiding you Rachel."

"Sure seems like it to me. I thought our relationship was better than this, apparently I was wrong, thanks Cassandra, thanks for wasting my time," she got off the stool, and started to walk away, tears in her eyes. I pay my tab for the evening and go after Rachel.

"Rachel, wait, don't do something drastic," I caught up to her and stood in front of her so she could stop walking. "I'm sorry Rachel, I'm sorry for the way I've been acting lately, I've just been... well I've been worried."

"I didn't think you were one to run away from your problems. Why couldn't you just talk to me? Why does it seem like so much of a struggle for you to communicate? The only one who seems to know how to communicate around here is Dani. You know I was asking myself today why did I ever let Dani go? And you know what, I had no idea, but I knew it had to do with you. I would do anything for you and it seems like you aren't even wanting to give this, us an effort. Just because we live together doesn't mean everything just magically goes away. Either we work on it or we just give up, and it seems like you've just given up, apparently I'm not the only one confused," she pushes past me.

"Hey now wait a minute Rachel, you don't even know why I'm worried," I held onto her arm. "I'm worried we rushed into this, you were upset the day we agreed to get back together. I know I'm the one who brought up us moving in together, but I don't want to say what we did was a mistake," I drop her arm and frown.

"But you're realizing that it is a mistake and we rushed into this, you knew I had baggage and I thought you were willing to work with it. Look Cassandra, I love you, but sometimes love isn't strong enough to keep things going. I-I think we should break up... for good."

I stared at Rachel, I could feel tears fill my eyes, I wipe them away, I was sad but I was angry, "Fine, if that's how you really feel then fine, we're over. You can move your crap out of my apartment tomorrow while I'm at work," I storm back into the bar, I went towards Dani and took the drink out of her hand, "Congratulations, Rachel is your problem now." Dani just stared at me, confused. "She's outside, she needs a place to go. Just- take good care of her, you can help her move out of my apartment tomorrow when I'm at work. She shouldn't be alone right now," I told her and she said she was sorry and left the bar. Of course I was still concerned about Rachel, but if she wanted to be a spoiled brat, so be it.

Thanks for reading, I wrote this chapter before I heard things about Lea Michele, I kinda don't want to write Rachel anymore at this point in time. I was halfway done with next chapter when I heard, but I think I'm going to wrap this story up in the next chapter. I really like writing Dani so I might start a fresh story with her, but uncertain of who I should pair her with and who would actually read a story of her in it. I also kinda want to write a story about Will and a romance or something with Hiram Berry, I don't like how Rachel's dads got divorced in the show, but it makes for some ideas I want to write about. Maybe.