"Santana, come help me with the jello," Quinn called from the kitchen.
The girl peeled herself from the beach chair where she had been resting so that she could go inside. She knew she had caught some good sun and was happy to get some one on one gab time with Quinn. Usually, they were the only two in their world. The camp dynamic had changed that a bit.
"You know I can't cook," Santana laughed and hopped onto the counter beside where Quinn was prepping things. "I can pour vodka for sure, though."
"Only thing you're good for," Quinn teased. Then, after a moment, she spoke again, "Sam came to talk to me."
"Oh, god," Santana rolled her eyes. These people cared too much- she'd never had a boy whine so much about being offered absolutely no strings attached.
"Rachel told Finn that you came out," Quinn poured water into a pot. "Finn finally let Sam know. He said he's good with it and that he didn't know but I get the vibe he's pursuing Brittany next."
Santana glanced outside and watched Sam and Brittany splashing each other. Oh hell no, she needed this girl to give her some kind of sign that she was like gay or bi or whatever. She just wanted to know if dating was on the table. She wasn't looking to be a one-night stand this time. Brittany was quickly becoming her favorite person and she dreaded thinking about her spending time with a boy instead of her.
"I have literally never wanted to kiss anyone more than this," Santana admitted to Quinn. It was a rare moment so Quinn treated it as such.
"I bet she'd be into it," Quinn assured her. "But I don't blame you. She's hot and especially when she dances-"
"Oh my god," Santana groaned in agreement. "I know. This summer is going to be far too much for me if she keeps grinding on me like she's been."
"You love it," Quinn laughed. "Probably going to see more of it because I imagine she's a dancey drunk."
"I'm gonna need this," Santana picked up the handle of vodka and took a swig. She chased it with a sip of Quinn's Gatorade, which earned her an eye roll. Quinn hated sharing food and drink. It grossed her out.
"Go get your girl and stop touching my stuff," Quinn groaned at the girl.
"But I'm an integral part of this operation Q," Santana smiled as she tilted the vodka into the cooling pan. "So what's going on with Puck?"
Quinn hesitated while she started pouring the hot liquid into cups. Santana knew better than to push. If one didn't give Quinn processing time, she would probably slap them. Not probably, definitely. It had happened to Santana once or twice. Once Quinn had emptied the container in her hands, she sighed.
"Is it that obvious?" She asked.
"No, not to anybody else," Santana shook her head. She hopped down from her perch on the counter. "I'm assuming he was your hook up?"
"Yeah," Quinn admitted begrudgingly.
"I hate to ask but, you were safe?" Santana stood close to the blonde now, voice soft.
"Yes, I'm not stupid," Quinn hissed. "Plus Plan C really sucked."
"Hey, there's history there. I get it, just be careful," Santana placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I don't want to see you get hurt again."
"Why him?" Quinn groaned, leaning into Santana's touch. "He's loud and obnoxious and he's not even that hot. I thought that I was over him after he blew me off but being around him is magnetic to me. He just... gets me. I feel like that's so wrong and stupid."
"I'm gonna level with you, here," Santana laughed. "Heart wants what it wants. I never thought I'd be pining over someone who is the human embodiment of the game 'Candy Land', but here we are."
"She is so freaking sweet and you're... you," Quinn laughed. "I guess we don't really get a say, huh?"
"We've got the summer and nobody to bother us; No coach Sue, no conservative fathers, no specific image to uphold," Santana replied. "We can just be ourselves for the first time ever. Let's take advantage of that."
"I want a relationship with Puck that isn't clouded by the prospect of being teen parents and what it means that I didn't allow that to happen," Quinn looked deflated. "I don't know if a summer can fix that."
"We are bad bitches, Miss Fabray. Let's not forget that," Santana grabbed the bottle of liquor and held it up. "Here's to taking what we want from this summer, even if it's not what we expected to want. No more outside opinions."
"I can drink to that," Quinn took the bottle from Santana and knocked back a gulp of it. She didn't even wince- there was Santana's best friend. Quinn smirked. "So when are you going to make a move on Brit?"
"I don't think I am," Santana replied honestly. "This time feels different. I think I just want to be by her side and see what happens."
"Santana Lopez is playing the long game? Never thought I'd see the day," Quinn laughed. She was impressed, though, by the restraint.
"Jackass," Santana nudged Quinn.
"Bitch," Quinn retorted easily.
"That I am," Santana took another gulp of vodka and put the bottle down on the counter. "And while I may be playing the long game, I am playing. This Trouty business going on outside is not going to work for me."
"That's my girl," Quinn hollered after her.
Santana had always been a little more honest with Quinn than most. It hadn't started that way. It took them a long while to get to the point they were at today. Middle school drama bred into high school resentment. They had let jealousy get in between them more than once. Quinn had rage that not many got to see but Santana's cheek had felt it after a fight or two. But they stuck with it. They got through their shit, stopped bullshitting each other, and became closer than ever recently. When that journalist wrote Santana's name in the paper, Quinn dropped everything to hunker down with her in the dorm with ice cream, soft blankets, and a whole lot of screaming rants. Even before then, when Quinn ended up pregnant her first month in college, Santana been there the entire process. She fought picketers outside the planned parenthood and held her hand during the abortion. None of it was easy but they had each other.
"Tana!" Brittany grinned as the Latina emerged from the house. "Where did you go?"
"I was just with Quinn," Santana gazed down at the girl, who was down hanging onto the poolside edge to look up at her.
She talked a big game to Quinn but her confidence evaporated under the influence of Brittany's blue eyes. When was her brain going to stop muttering 'shit, fuck' every time Brittany entered her vision?
"Boys, you need to start up the grill. It's getting late and people are gonna start showing up," Quinn came out onto the porch and announced.
"You heard the lady," Puck stood up immediately. Sam followed suit and the left the pool.
"Come hang out with me, San?" Brittany asked with a pouted lip.
Santana mouthed a 'thank you' to Quinn. Quinn winked back and pulled Tina inside to help with something. Santana slipped into the water beside Brittany. It was a little cold and her skin erupted in goosebumps.
"I forgot to tell you that it's not very warm," Brittany frowned. She placed her hands on Santana's arms and rubbed away the chill. The instant contact with Brittany made the cold water worth it.
Brittany swam around as Santana relaxed against the tiles. Quinn's pool was one of the ones with a lip all the way around the edges so that people could sit. The Latina left her feet float in front of her until Brittany popped up in between them. The girl was fully nested between her thighs, arms coming up to rest on the ledge behind her. Brittany's stomach pressed against hers for a moment as the blonde reached forward to grab onto the concrete. Santana felt heat pool into her core as Brittany stayed pressed against her.
"Swimming is fun but it makes me really hungry," Brittany said. Her eyes were tracing Santana's face. "Did you know that a dolphin eats up to 30 pounds of food a day?"
"Damn girls," Puck hooted from the other end of the porch where he was smoking a joint. Blaine seemed to be doing all of the work lighting the grill. "Are we gonna get a show?"
"You're not invited," Brittany quipped back with a grin.
"Not even a preview?" Puck whined.
Santana was pretty sure the boy was just trying to give her a window for some affection and under all of the theatrics, she appreciated it. Puck was her best wingman in all honesty. Santana leaned forward and pressed her lips to Brittany's cheek. Her full lips landed just above the blondes jawline and she dragged them upwards in a quick series of kisses. Santana's skin buzzed at the contact and she let the last kiss linger, as Brittany had earlier. She could feel the heat under Brittany's skin so she wasn't surprised to see the pink glow on her cheeks as she pulled back.
"I should have stayed over there," Sam joked. He was trying to be like Puck and it was a strange color on him. It felt awkward.
"That's okay, I've got company," Brittany smiled sweetly at Santana.
There was an electricity between them, both glancing down at the others lips. Santana found her hands on the girls hips now, pulling her close. Suddenly, the water didn't feel so cold. Brittany shivered but Santana wasn't sure if it was from the cold or not. Before either could react in any way, a series of honks sounded from the front of the house. Brittany jumped.
"I guess we should go get dressed," She floated away from the Latina to climb out of the pool.
Brittany left the girl feeling like absolute jello. Santana made her way upstairs and pulled on the sleek black dress she had brought with her. By the time she trusted her legs enough to get upstairs, Brittany was already in the bathroom blowdrying her hair.
"Are you keeping your hair down?" Santana asked conversationally.
"Do you like it that way?" Brittany looked out at Santana.
"Yeah," Santana replied easily.
"Then yes."
Santana pulled her hair down from its bun and let it hang in long waves. She played with it a bit but then tossed it over her shoulders. She just sat on the edge of the bed and waited for the blonde to be ready. She watched Brittany, every movement seeming like a dance. She was light on her feet and moved so gently. Santana got restless after a moment and stood up to put on some dark lipstick. The combination of Brittany's touch and the vodka she'd gulped down had Santana absolutely buzzing.
"I like that color on you," Brittany smiled as she finished up her makeup.
"I like it on you," Santana giggled. She leaned forward and placed a smooch on the girl's cheek, leaving a perfectly shaped lipstick stain.
Brittany grinned and looked at it in the mirror. "Come on, Tana. Let's go eat too much jello."
Brittany was not exaggerating when she said 'too much'. The girl was a very social drunk. She bounced from conversation to conversation with ease. Santana watched her bounce along, her lipstick stain still plastered across her face. People had started showing up steadily as soon as they were ready. They helped set up snacks while Quinn and Tina went to get dressed. Santana helped Blaine make hotdogs as Finn had gotten too stoned to really be of any assistance.
While Santana and Blaine cooked, Brittany had started her tirade of handing out shots. She hit Blaine and Santana first, then made her way over to another group.
"Here's to the summer," Blaine raised the little cup up to Santana.
"Blaine!"
A high pitched voice made Santana cringe and throw back the shot. It was Kurt, who Santana had wholly avoided interacting with before this moment. He was wearing a strange outfit, like a mix of Peter Pan and a WW2 veteran. He started talking about Wicked, or something, so Santana wandered away. Something about him just rubbed her the wrong way. It was like he was trying to be something other than himself all the time. Then again, maybe she did the same thing. She had a bitch persona and he had an annoying theater lilt to his voice.
Santana made her way over to the kitchen where Puck and Quinn stood leaned against the counters.
"What did you do to poor Brittany's face," Quinn teased lightly.
"Nothing she didn't want," Santana replied simply.
"Nice work," Puck snickered as he checked out Brittany from across the room.
"Thanks for the opportunity," Santana smirked.
"Oh, you caught that?" Puck grinned stupidly.
"I know you're not a total creep," Santana rolled her eyes. "Plus you'd be way too dorky to handle all that."
"I could totally get in the middle of a girl on girl sesh," Puck pouted.
"That's bullshit," Santana actually cackled. "You could hardly handle me naked and you want to add another hot cheerleader to the mix?"
"Shut it," Puck elbowed Santana lightly. "I am the Puckasaurus."
"And I'm a raging heterosexual," Santana deadpanned. "You wanna do shots?"
"Idiots," Quinn laughed. "Let's do it."
They joined a group across the kitchen throwing back liquor. A girl who only went by her last name, Zizes, was playing shot girl. Apparently it was a goal of hers to get everyone fucked up. Brittany joined forces with her and they matched energy perfectly. They had a double shot down Santana's throat before she knew what was happening. At this point, Santana could safely admit she was drunk. After several laps around the house, Zizes ran out of liquor.
"San, I'm bored."
Brittany had snuck up on the group. She stood behind Santana and snaked her arms around the girl's hips. Santana immediately relaxed her body into the girl behind her. Her chest was beating hard and her body was hot. Shit, she had to do something about this.
"What have you got in mind?" Santana asked the girl behind her.
"We do not live in Elmore city so we have to dance," Brittany said with conviction. "Quinn promised."
"I did promise," Quinn smiled. "Let's go clear out the living room. Puck, we need your help."
The four of the started moving coffee tables and couches to clear the hardwood floor up. It would have been enough room to dance as is but this made it feel more official.
"Put on top 40 and they will come," Brittany declared as she plugged her iPod into the surround system. Some music had been playing quietly now there was a thick bass reverberating throughout the house and onto the porch. Brittany pulled Quinn and Santana towards her as soon as she found a song that she liked. If anything was going to get people goin, it was the unholy trinity.
The three fell into an easy rhythm, swaying together. Quinn took the lead and the other two followed suit. Puck, Sam, and Joe all stood staring at Quinn. She was easy to be enamored with when she performed. Quinn had that forbidden girl next door kind of thing to her. She oozed sex but also the distinct impression that you would not be in control of the situation. Sam was the first to jump into the mix and Quinn rolled her head back in laughter as he tried to bust a move. Mike Chang caught wind of dancing and was quickly in the room to sweep Brittany away.
They looked good together, really good. Mike was a surprisingly super talented dude. He seemed a little boxy in personality but the way he moved his body was very expressive. Brittany rolled her body down his and Tina showed up to get between them. Brittany giggled and moved back towards Santana.
"Want you to make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world," Santana grabbed Brittany by the waist as she sang, liquor making her bold. "Like I'm the only one that you'll ever love, like I'm the only one who knows your heart."
"Only girl in the world," Brittany sang back, arms wrapped around Santana's shoulders.
Songs went by and the entire party was in one room. Santana could only focus on the blonde in front of her, though. She was sweaty in a kind of hot way, cheeks flushed and breath slightly ragged. Brittany spun Santana so that her backside pressed up against Brittany. Santana used the opportunity to look around. Mercedes was close to Sam, Quinn had Puck hypnotized, and even Kurt was trying something out on Blaine. It was awkward as hell, but he was trying. Rachel was just clung to Finns arm in an act of desperation to keep him close.
Suddenly, Brittany's hands were running up and down her body and everything else went blank. Her hands had been on her hips but now travelled up towards her rib cage, just below her breast. Then, they went back down to the tops of her thighs and repeated. Santana could only rotate her hips back against the girl to encourage her to continue. Brittany's pinkies kept snagging the end of her dress, riding it up higher. No words were ever going to come from her as long as Brittany was touching her body.
Santana's breath grew ragged as Brittany nuzzled against her neck. Santana lost her rhythm for a moment and Brittany gripped the girls hips to drag her back into her. Santana whimpered at the sudden curling of fingers into her hipbones. Brittany heard the whine and pressed her lips firmly against the girl's shoulder.
"So the rumors are true then," Sam interrupted the trance.
"Screw off, Sam," Santana went from blissed to pissed faster than the blink of an eye.
"No, because I'm just trying to understand," He continued, honestly sounding curious. "I just wanna know; why me if you'd rather this?"
"You were a warm body and I need one of those to think clearly?" Santana shrugged. "I thought I was very clear when I said it was a one time thing."
"Yeah, no," Sam was obviously put off by the aggression coming from the girl. "I got it. I just wish you would have just told me you're gay."
In an instant, she felt Brittany's hands pause on her. This was the first time she was hearing about this. The blonde had been asleep during the first admission. Santana hadn't considered until now that it might actually be a problem for Brittany if she was a lesbian. Just the abrupt cease of touch was enough to send Santana's head spiraling.
"Whatever," Santana replied, feeling heat prick here eyes.
An unfortunate side effect of alcohol was emotion. Usually so in control of it, when Santana was drunk she tended to cry a lot more. The moment she felt the start of a tear she evacuated the premises. She wasn't ashamed of herself, her sexuality, or using her body however the fuck she wanted to. However, there was that annoying voice in the back of her head still. It told her she was a slut and going to hell. It told her that Sam was enraged by the girls' dancing and not just his own injured pride.
Her fight or flight was triggered and this time, it was the latter. Brittany protested slightly but she heard Quinn step in to give her space. Santana quickly walked through the house and out to the porch. Most people were inside dancing but there were a few people scattered on the porch. The smell of marijuana hung in the air. She found Joe and Artie sharing a joint on the against a railing.
"Got any more of that?" Santana asked, quickly rubbing her eyes.
"Sharing is caring, sister," Joe replied, handing her a fresh joint from his pocket. "On the house, Miss Lopez."
"Thanks, I needed this," Santana hopped up onto the railing and lit up. She took about ten minutes of silence to steel herself. "Hey, wheels? You know, you have to be nicer to girls."
"What're you talking about?" Artie knit his brows together. "Brittany?"
"Yes, captain obvious," Santana deadpanned. Not her best quip but she was several shots deep and about to be cross faded as hell.
"I really am sorry for calling her dumb but I was just so frustrated," Artie spoke eloquently despite Santana baring down on him. "I was annoyed that she slept with me and then told me less that 24 hours later that she wanted to be with someone else. I shouldn't have snapped, though."
"Who?" Santana asked a little too immediately.
"She didn't say, she was just talking about having a crush like she hadn't been naked in my lap the night before," Artie shook his head. "Causal is fine and everything but I wasn't in the loop on it. I thought we had something."
"Giving your body to someone else needs to have trust and transparency," Joe mused, his voice strained as he held in a puff of smoke. It wasn't a judgement so much as a rambling.
"I'm not a total dick," Artie shook his head.
"Whatever you say, pocket-sized Mr. Rogers," Santana wasn't proud of that one either but she took in another drag of her joint to cover up the lame. They sat in another long silence followed by a monologue by Joe. He was talking about spirituality or something just a bit too deep for Santana's fried brain. She glazed over for a long while until she heard her name vaguely called from the house.
"Santana?" Brittany poked her head out of the poor doors, looking around. She quickly spotted the Latina and ran towards her, dragging Puck in tow.
Santana braced herself for the worst. Brittany was creeped out by her advances or didn't want to hang out anymore. She was going to push her off the porch and honestly Santana would aim to fall head first so she didn't have to face this anymore. The Latina couldn't bare this thought of losing Brittany. Her heart was in her throat.
"Puck said you gave him a tattoo but he won't tell me where!!"
Just like that Brittany was making things feel normal instantly.
"You did what?" Artie turned his attention back to Santana.
"It's on his left butt cheek," Santana laughed. "Bend over, big boy."
"I hate you all," Puck grumbled but he turned around without a fight.
He pulled his shorts down, just enough to expose his pale cheeks. Drawn at the top of his butt was a tiny shark in a terrible scrawl. You could just barely tell what it was, if you had a good imagination. Santana's had never promised it would be a quality tattoo. Brittany was just giggling uncontrollably.
"What is that?" Joe asked curiously.
"A shark," Santana laughed. "Puck once told me that he was a sex shark, that he'd die if he stopped moving. We tested that out and he was absolutely incorrect."
"There's definitely a story that we are missing here," Artie shook his head.
"Can I?" Puck asked as he pulled up his pants and turned to face the group.
"Well, I guess everyone knows at this point," Santana shrugged, knowing exactly where this was going. It was kind of sweet that Puck asked.
"Okay so we made a bet of who could hook up with the most chicks in a weekend," Puck started the story.
Santana was relieved when nobody reacted to the context of the story. They all just nodded, like Santana hooking up with other girls was obvious. As he rattled on about his own endeavors in the experiment, Brittany made her way over to Santana, who was still perched up on the side of the porch. She leaned back in between the Latinas knees, her arms resting on her thighs. Her thumbs traced circles onto Santana's skin.
"So, I ended up with five girls, two Friday and Saturday, one Sunday. I'm headed over to Santana's dorm to brag because she didn't have any Sunday plans to match mine and there she is with TWO other girls," Puck shook his head. "This bitch has pull so obviously I lost the bet fair and square. Loser got to tattoo the other wherever and whatever they wanted."
"I don't know why you thought you could beat Santana," Brittany giggled. "She's way hotter than you."
"Yeah, Puck," Santana stuck her tongue out at the boy giddily.
"Well, I've got this bad boy to remind me," Puck rolled his eyes and reached out for Santana's joint.
Santana smacked his hand away, "I don't want your icky boy lips on my joint."
"You have kissed almost every boy in this immediate circle," Puck snatched the rolled paper from Santana's fingers.
They chattered for a bit but Santana watched Brittany the whole time. She was acting normal but Santana couldn't read her mind. Rather than sitting there and wondering, she leaned forward and spoke into Brittany's ear.
"What's on your mind?" Santana asked.
Brittany spun between her thighs to face her. Her chin tilted slight to make eye contact. Santana would never grow tired of those blue eyes.
"I was thinking about the unmatched sock in the bottom of my drawer at home," Brittany replied, the answer baffling Santana. "I think it must be kind of lonely."
"That's deep," Joe nodded. "You must have smoked earlier huh?"
"I've never smoked before," Brittany said simply. "I was kinda wondering what it might be like."
"Do you want a hit?" Santana asked. She snagged the smoke back from Puck.
"I tried once and I burned my lips," Brittany hesitated.
"Shotgun it," Puck suggested.
"Cmere," Santana took the girls chin in her hand. "Breath in when I blow out."
She took a drag and held it for a moment. As she was about to release the smoke, she slid her hand from Brittany's chin to her jaw. Brittany's lips were only a few inches away from hers and her eyes fluttered as she blew smoke towards Brittany. She did it in a controlled, slow manner so that it went straight into Brittany's mouth. Brittany pulled the smoke into her chest and held it.
"Like a champ," Joe nodded in approval.
"You can let it go now," Santana said after a few seconds.
Brittany let the smoke roll out of her mouth, eyes never leaving Santana. "So what now?"
"Now we wait a bit to see if you need another hit," Puck answered and Brittany turned around to look at him. Santana shifted backwards again but Brittany pulled the Latina's arms around her shoulders.
They talked for a few minutes until Artie began to yawn. It was getting around one in the morning at that point and they had been working nonstop all week. He was the first to abandon ship and find a bed to crash. He was met with many a tease but he carried on. Joe wandered away beside him but found his way onto the dance floor.
"Okay, I don't feel too much," Brittany confirmed.
"Do you want to take a hit on your own?" Puck asked, holding out the joint they were passing back and forth.
"I'm still afraid of burning myself," Brittany looked uneasy.
"Here," Santana took the joint in her fingers and held it near Brittany's mouth. "I'll hold it. Just place your lips right at the end."
Brittany leaned forward, trusting Santana fully. Her lips grazed Santana's fingertips and it sent shocks of electricity down her spine. Brittany took another smooth drag. She held the smoke tight in her lungs and then spun her body towards Santana. She motioned for Santana to lean forward and she got the message. Brittany wanted her to shotgun now. The blondes hands rested on Santana's thighs as she leaned forward and blew the smoke. Santana smirked and took it all in like her life depended on it. Her lips got dangerously close to Brittany's this time. Brittany faltered and Santana could have sworn she was about to kiss her.
"You guys are hot but it's getting chilly out here," Puck interrupted, like the idiot he was.
"You're a big baby, Santana grumbled, smoke leaving her lips.
"Let's go dance again," Brittany said eagerly. Her thumbs were rubbing insistent little circles into Santana's thighs now. She was quite content just enjoying their closeness. The Latina only agreed to get up because she knew that dancing meant more close contact with the girl.