Chapter Nine: That Was Unexpected

So this you and Quinn thing has been going surprisingly well. Considering how you met and your initial impression, you admit that she's grown on you. A lot. A lot, a lot. And currently, she lies on you as you watch a movie on your couch. Your cheeks flush as your mind drifts back to the night you'd finally broke your agreed celibacy.

"What are you thinking about?" She mumbles against your chest. "Your heart's beating faster."

"Is it?"

Quinn lifts her head to look into your eyes, "No, I'm lying." She tickles your side and makes you squirm and begin to laugh, "Tell me."

"Nothing!" You, much to your embarrassment, squeal. The cats in the alley heard that for sure.

Quinn pushes herself up to straddle you, making you easy pickings as you're trapped against the cushions. "You're such a bad liar."

She goes to tickle you again and you resort to begging, "No! I give, I give," she stops, hands resting on your stomach, "I was thinking about stuff."

Quinn's brow furrows, "Stuff?"

"Stuff." You wiggle your eyebrows emphatically.

"You're so dumb," she says, but through a smile so you know she only sort of means it. Leaning down she plants a small kiss on your lips.

"Yeah, sort of went like that."

"Oh, did it?" Quinn's eyebrows raise as it clicks.

"Uh-huh," you lift your hips and she wobbles, making you both laugh. "What do you say to a little tête-à-tête at a favourite restaurant of mine?"

"A tête-à-tête?" She hums, kissing your exposed collarbone, "Sounds divine."

"Well stop that, because I'm hungry now," you say with little conviction.

"Okay," she replies against your neck, "one more." You think she's going to kiss your lips but she goes straight for your nose and you scrunch your face.

"Nose? Really?"

"Really," she says as she climbs off of you and turns the TV off.

You get up too, throwing on a light jacket and slipping into your shoes. Quinn takes a little longer, having lost her other shoe.

"It's around here somewhere," she mutters under her breath.

Twirling your keys around your finger you laugh as you focus on the 'Shake It Off' one that Quinn had gotten you for your new set.

"Where'd you even get this? I swear this song is like, years old."

"It's from my collection of Swift memorabilia," Quinn deadpans.

"Yeah, okay."

"I'm being serious."

"Stop. I'm not stupid."

"I'm not kidding!" Quinn finally laughs. "I was a fan, what can I say?"

"I don't think you can be my girlfriend anymore." You cross your arms and try to suppress your smile.

"What?" Fuck did you just say-. "You're ridiculous," Quinn laughs.

She must've missed it. Your heart pounds but you remain outwardly composed. Act natural, girl.

"No, it's not. Firstly, I now know the gift is second-hand!" You pretend to be disgusted and Quinn's cheeks go pink as she covers her mouth to rein in her laughter. "And second of all, 'was' a fan my ass. Admit it, you're still a massive fan and you've got all the merch hidden under your bed. Or behind that door in your apartment that I've never seen behind."

"Oh my God, shut up," Quinn cackles. "That's my airing cupboard and you know it. You've seen me pull towels out of it before."

"You're sorely mistaken," your tone is serious, but your mouth twitches. "I've never seen anything like that. What else have you been hiding? Huh?"

"Nothing, I swear it!" Quinn crosses her heart, playing along with your goofy ass.

"Hmm," you squint, "I've got my eye on you. No funny business."

"God forbid."

Arms linked, you walk into the restaurant and wait to be seated. Quinn smells really good, you lean into her arm to smell her.

"What is that?"

"What?"

"What are you wearing?"

"I don't remember its name, I can check," she attempts to untangle herself to pull out her phone.

"No, it's fine," you say, holding her arm tighter, "you just smell good. I like it. Whatever it is."

"Santana!" Your heart stops. Oh fuck. Oh fuck, fuck, fuck. "Santana! Over here! And who's that? Quinn?"

It's your dad. It's your fucking dad. Oh fuck. Please world, swallow me whole, you pray.

Of course this would happen. Why hadn't he told you he was in the city? As if that would matter! You're still banging his ex-fiancée, dumbass.

You don't realise it, but you're cutting off Quinn's circulation and she's so lovely she doesn't even ask you to let up or shake you off.

Oh no, he's coming over.

You can't bring yourself to speak, you look up at Quinn who has been as calm as anything. Like this happens every day.

"How are you, ladies? I didn't expect to see you here," his eyes bounce between you both, his smile a little tight but maybe he got work done? Argh, you don't know! You don't know.

"Hi," Quinn says, voice steady and cool. "We're just getting something to eat."

"Oh, that's nice. I didn't realise you two," he flicks his finger between you both, "were friends."

"Oh, we're friends alright."

"Quinn," you suddenly find you voice as you reprimand her. "Hey, Dad. Yeah, Quinn and I are close."

"That's nice, sweetheart," he pulls at his lapel as he shuffles uncomfortably.

Damn, now you're starting to wonder what went down to have your dad's tail between his legs. Actually, scrap that. You could take a guess. A couple of guesses in fact.

This is so weird. It feels like you've been sucked into another universe or something wild like that. If you're lucky you might be dreaming. Would it be weird to ask Quinn to pinch you right now?

"You moved back to the city, Quinn?" Your dad asks to fill the silence, though you can tell he'd rather not ask anything at all. "I'm glad you two kept in touch. I-"

"Santana's my girlfriend," Quinn states as though she's pointing out the weather, cutting through his attempt at small talk.

Your eyes bug out of your head as your head swivels to look at her, but her eyes are firmly set on shooting daggers at your dad. Slowly, you look back at him and he looks a little pale.

"Oh," is all he says, pulling out a napkin to dab the sweat on his forehead.

A beat passes.

"Well, I suppose you could do worse."

The words make your mouth drop open.

Wait a minute.

Who's he talking to? Wait, you don't need to know the answer to that.

Maybe you should move things along. "I never thought to call," you begin, apology on your lips.

"No, no," he holds up a hand. "I didn't call either. We have a lot to catch up on," his tone lifts and you can see him noticeably relax as he meets your gaze. You think he might be avoiding somebody's on your left. Just a hunch. "We should arrange something soon," his eyes flick over to Quinn then back to you, "I'll leave you two to it. Enjoy your meals. Love you, darling." He steps forward a pecks you on the cheek before sliding passed you both to exit the restaurant, taking a redhead's arm as he hits the pavement outside.

"Woah," you can't help but laugh at the absurdity. "What the fuck?"

Quinn's body softens considerably, you hadn't realised how tightly she'd wound herself. "That was interesting."

"You do realise that if we get married it will be a million times worse."

Quinn's burst of laughter makes you laugh too, the situation feels like it happened outside the realm of reality. If you didn't laugh you might cry.

"If you'd like to follow me," the waiter says as he leads you to a table.

Quinn pulls a chair out for you and you have to admit, it makes her hotter. Chivalry is a real power, no wonder people go crazy for it. "Thank you," you smile.

"You're very welcome."

"That was so crazy. I'm sorry I didn't clear it up with him before, it just didn't cross my mind." And you know, you weren't exactly sure how long this was going to last in the beginning. But now?

"Honestly, it's fine. I mean I get it, it's not your run-of-the-mill situation," Quinn says casually, reading over the menu. "It's not like I was the love of his life. I know he wasn't mine," her eyes briefly meet yours and your heart skips a beat, "so, I don't know. He seemed okay with it. And even if he wasn't, I wouldn't care." Her lips thin into a line as she looks back at you, "Sorry, he's your dad. I'm being rude."

"No, you're not," you watch her carefully, "it's fine. Honestly, I don't know if I'd care all that much either," you pull a face, "is that bad?" You laugh.

"Probably," she joins you. "I'd still love you though."

You blink.

"Huh?" Did you hear that right?

Quinn glances back up from reading the menu, "Huh?" she repeats.

Did she realise what she'd said? And earlier, she'd said girlfriend too. You were too caught up in the moment to properly absorb it then, but now you think back on it she totally did.

"You okay?" She asks, a small frown of concern tugging at her lips.

"Yeah," you say a little breathlessly.

"Okay," she says softly and it's so simple and ugh, you just want to reach over the table and kiss her.

"Quinn," you say.

"Yes?"

"You're my girlfriend," you say without any hesitance.

Quinn's confused smile makes you second guess yourself. "I know?"

Wait… what?

"You know?"

"Yeah, I mean we've been dating for weeks."

"We have?"

Quinn's laugh is a little forced, panic in her eyes, "I think so."

"Shit," you sit back in your seat and reflect on your relationship since those first couple of dates and oh, oh yeah, okay, you see where she's coming from. "We totally are."

"Did you think we weren't?"

"We just never said it out loud, except for today I guess," you chuckle.

"Just today? San," she takes your hand, "you've definitely called me your girlfriend before today. That's why I thought we were, I thought you were too cool for the whole conversation."

"I have?" Have you been sleepwalking through life?

"Yeah, like two days ago when we were at the store and that guy was hitting on me and you came over all," she squares her shoulders and for some reason deepens her voice, "'that's my girlfriend, dude'."

"I do not sound like that," you cross your arms as you try to think back, "Fuck, I did say that. How'd I not realise?"

Quinn shrugs.

"Here I was panicking over saying it earlier, shitting myself as to whether I had a girlfriend or not. Low and behold, I've had one this whole time!"

You suppose the label really didn't change much, you really did have a girlfriend this whole time. You sometimes wonder about yourself.

"I hope you're not too disappointed."

You scoff, "Yeah, right," you pull one of Quinn's hands to your side of the table so you can stroke your fingers along her palm. "I've scored big time."

Quinn dips her head all bashful and cute, you really could reach across this table.

"Can I take your orders?" The waiter returns to your table, momentarily distracting you.

"Is it okay if we just have a sec?" You say with all your pearly whites, eyelashes batting.

He blushes, "Of course, I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Works like a charm," you brag when he's out of earshot.

"So cocky."

"As I have the right to be," you smirk.

"You're too much," she says, resting her chin in her other hand to hide her smile.

"You love it," you joke, as you have so many times before.

"I do," she responds, still smiling but eyes softening. Her response is the same as it always is, but this time it's different. Maybe you didn't mishear after all.

Later that night, you lay together, bare skin on bare skin. And you're happily in her arms as she strokes her fingers along your back.

You feel yourself being lulled to sleep, the room already cast in darkness, the only light is from the moon and that's never stopped you from slipping into slumber before.

"I'm so happy I met you, San," Quinn whispers into the dark.

It rouses you a little and you tilt your head up as though that'd help you to be able to see her. All you see are shadows and patches of pale moonlight.

"I'm so happy I met you too," you tell her. Not because it's what she want to hear, but because it's the truth.

A/N: A short but sweet one. And here's a bonus text exchange for you…

S: B..

B: what!?!?

S: I saw my dad.. when I was out on a date w Quinn!! 💀

B: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh 😭😭

S: I know I was like *insert lisa simpson staring meme*

B: omggg 😱 call me rn!