AN: Thank you guys for reviewing, I've been gone too long from the fanfiction world, I forgot how nice it is to have my ego stroked hahaha. Next installment, enjoy!

Chapter 2

Santana awoke to the sounds of someone turning on the shower. The apartment was old and you could hear the water gushing through the protesting pipes. She rubbed at her eyes sleepily and sat up in the bed. Rachel Berry's bed. Santana glanced around the room curiously wondering what sort of girl Rachel Berry had become. Last night Santana had been so tired she had crashed straight away without snooping around which wasn't like her. Rachel's room was surprisingly understated; the walls a plain pale yellow with a desk in the corner housing her laptop and other electrical items while the dresser near her bed was cluttered with her personal items. The mirror of the dresser was adorned with photos of Rachel, her fathers and some of Puck, Sam, Kurt and Blaine. Santana figured they must have been all Rachel stayed in contact with from Lima.

Rachel and Finn had not left each other on good terms thanks to Quinn interfering yet again senior year right before senior prom. Santana's mouth turned into a sneer momentarily as she thought of the blonde haired Ice Queen and almost involuntarily her thoughts moved to another blonde she used to know. Briefly Santana thought of Brittany and what she was doing, if she was still with Artie, if she was happy…Santana shook her head violently. No, it was better those thoughts stayed locked away in her mind where they had been safely kept for the past few years. She was broken out of her reverie by the sound of a horrified gasp coming from the bathroom.

"Noah! I'm having a shower!" Rachel squeaked indignantly, her voice echoing through the loft.

"Its fine Rach, I see your boobs every Saturday night at the show," Puck assured her in a calm voice but Rachel wasn't having any of it judging by the squawks of fury she was emitting. Santana wondered what kind of show Puck was referring to that allowed you to see Rachel's tits.

"That doesn't mean you get to see them on a daily basis as well. I cannot believe you think that just because we live…" Rachel's lecturing trailed off and then she asked incredulously, "Are you urinating while I am in here in the shower?"

"We're roommates, you knew this was going to happen eventually," Puck's voice was completely serious and there was a long pause of what Santana suspected was disbelief on Rachel's part.

"Get out!" Rachel screeched much to Puck's apparent amusement because he decided to joke with her.

"You know we should save water and shower together."

"Out!"

Puck laughed and Santana heard the bathroom door open and close and she slowly peeked her way out of Rachel's room to see Puck smirking as he strolled towards the kitchen. He spotted her and his smirk turned into a look of concern.

"You hungry? I can cook you up an omelet," he offered and Santana stepped out of Rachel's room gingerly ever mindful she was wearing a pair of flannel pajamas with giant panda bears on them.

"You cook?" Santana asked raising an eyebrow and Puck nodded jerking his head in a motion that Santana assumed meant he wanted her to follow him which she did taking a seat at the kitchen bench watching him make her breakfast. It felt quite surreal but Santana appreciated it; she couldn't remember the last time someone made her breakfast.

"I have to otherwise Rachel would make me eat all her vegan tofu shit," Puck told her wrinkling his nose in distaste before sticking his head into the fridge yelling to her over the door, "I'll make you the Puckerone Special."

"Whatever," Santana replied; she didn't care what it had in it she suddenly realized she was starving. Puck started getting his ingredients together and tossed the eggs into a bowl whisking them quickly with finesse.

"So what happened?" Puck asked not looking at her and Santana sighed deeply; she had known that this conversation was coming. To be honest she actually thought Rachel would be the one to drill her for answers.

"It's a long story," Santana replied flippantly.

"I have all day," Puck replied easily and when Santana raised a questioning eyebrow he elaborated, "I have the day off."

They were interrupted by Rachel hurrying into the kitchen in a flurry.

"I'm running so late," Rachel huffed grabbing her handbag and throwing things inside haphazardly as she continued, "I'll see you after the show Noah?"

"Yeah okay."

"Santana please feel free to stay here as long as you like, we have a spare room that Noah uses as a mini studio but I am sure that he wouldn't…" Rachel started talking a mile a minute and Puck rolled his eyes at her.

"I don't mind Rach now get out of here before you are even later," he growled at her and Rachel checked her handbag one last time.

"Okay, okay, have a good day you two, see you tonight," Rachel was out of the door in a matter of seconds. Santana felt like she had just been through a Rachel tornado.

Puck turned his attention back to the omelet he was making and Santana thought that maybe he had forgotten what they were talking about before Rachel came whirling through. Puck's hazel eyes met hers and her hopes crashed.

"So what's the story?" he persisted and fuck if he wasn't as nosy as Rachel. Guess you couldn't live with her without becoming a little bit like her.

"I got into college on a cheerleading scholarship. I thought I had it made. I was going to find a footballer who was going somewhere and attach myself to him then ride his coattails to fame and fortune," Santana began and then she paused. Fuck if she wanted to relive the worst couple of years of her life. She didn't want to feel how she felt back then ever again and here was Puck asking her to. She closed her eyes.

"What happened?" Puck pushed her gently and Santana shrugged.

"I found a guy and he was scouted and drafted early junior year. I thought we had it made but he saw his future bright and clear without me in it. I was his 'slumming it' girl, that's what he called me. When he dumped me I just…"

How could she tell him that being dumped like that destroyed her self respect? That she decided she wasn't worth anything because this boy told her so when he broke up with her in front of the whole football team and humiliated her so that she didn't want to show her face at any of her classes or any of the games.

"Everything went downhill. I got into drugs and got kicked off the cheerleading team which meant I was kicked out of college. I hitchhiked my way around until I ended up here and got a job dancing, that's it."

Puck was silent as he put an omelet on a plate and handed it to her with cutlery. In the silence that followed Santana ate a small bite suddenly feeling not so hungry.

"You know now that Rachel has her tiny little hands on you there is no escape," Puck said to her, his tone light and Santana looked up at him frowning.

"What do you mean?"

"She will believe you are going to be someone great and expend a great deal of time and energy making sure you believe it too," he explained and Santana chuckled dryly.

"She'll be wasting her time," Santana quipped downheartedly but Puck just grinned knowingly.

"Maybe, maybe not. Look at me Lopez; you ever think I'd be a cop for the NYPD?"

"You're a cop? I can't believe someone gave you a gun," Santana commented shaking her head and Puck shrugged before continuing.

"And then there's Sam. If Rachel hadn't helped him with his dyslexia he would never have gotten into med school."

"Sam's in med school?" Santana was again stunned. Sam Evans a doctor? Fuck, he was going to be Dr Evans, maybe she shouldn't have dumped him for Karofsky sophomore year.

"Yup, he still has years to go but he's there," Puck assured her she wasn't hearing things then he smiled fondly, "We all ended up here because of Rachel."

Santana glanced down at her plate before placing a piece of omelet in her mouth chewing it thoughtfully. Rachel had such a huge affect on Sam and Puck's lives; it was scary to think that she wanted to affect Santana's life in the same way. Or that it was possible.

"I think I'm beyond her help," Santana whispered softly and Puck clapped a hand on her shoulder chuckling,

"Then you don't know Rachel Berry."

Santana looked up at him.

"I don't think I ever really did."

Spending the day with Puck wasn't as boring or annoying as Santana thought it would be. Even though he 'walked the line' now so to speak being a cop and all, he still had that wicked sense of humor that she used to love. He also explained the looking at Rachel's tits every Saturday night thing. Apparently Rachel got her big break starring in a revival of Spring Awakening as Wendla and Puck went to the show every Saturday night to support his friend but more importantly; ogle her goodies. He invited Santana to come with him next time; she agreed with a grin. Rachel had called to apologize for being unable to get Santana a ticket but Santana had told her to stop being stupid, have a good show and that she would ogle her tits another night. Rachel had been stunned to silence by that little comment and Santana had laughed tossing the phone back to Puck. He left Santana a bottle of wine, lasagna in the oven and DVD's for her to watch while he was at the show for which she was very grateful. She had a very relaxing night on her own and for a moment she forgot she was homeless and jobless. It was nice to forget for a while.

It was very early the next morning that Santana was curled up snugly on the couch watching a DVD when she heard a key in the lock and twisted her head to look as Puck walked into the loft.

"Noah I could use a drink," Rachel sighed dramatically following him in and Puck winked at Santana as he walked by her to the kitchen. Santana flicked him the bird just for fun.

"Coming right up," he promised Rachel who removed her jacket and then stepped out of the doorway for a familiar blonde young man to come through. Santana smirked.

"Trouty mouth it's been a long time," Santana chuckled and Sam Evans flashed her one of his trademark big lipped smiles looking just as sweet as always.

"Hey Santana, great to see you," he told her sincerely as he came over to the couch and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

He didn't ask why she was there or what she had been doing with her life since high school so Santana figured that Rachel and Puck had already filled him in. Rachel gestured for Santana to follow them and Santana dragged herself up from the couch obediently. She was staying in their loft, she figured she should probably try and not be a bitch. Once in the kitchen Santana watched as Sam pulled out Rachel's chair for her then he settled on one side of her while Puck placed the drinks on the table and settled on the other side of Rachel. Santana looked closely at the three of them but more so Puck and Sam. Puck wrapped his arm around the backrest of Rachel's chair and his fingers played absently with a tendril of her hair. Sam was gazing at Rachel with a soft smile on his face as she regaled them with a backstage tale from her show. Santana smirked to herself. Interesting; both Sam and Puck had the hots for Rachel and Rachel had no idea. Santana decided if she did end up staying she was going to mess with this unlikely love triangle, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Santana grabbed a beer and used a bottle opener to flip of the lid and she smiled smugly as she pretended to listen to whatever Rachel was blabbering on about; this would be fun. In that moment, Santana decided she was going to stay, if only to mess with Rachel, Sam and Puck.

They stayed up drinking and talking till the wee hours of the morning the 'three amigos' filling Santana in on what they had been doing since high school, which was a lot better than her, and finally Puck had to yawn and admit he was tired which set the others off and Santana got to her feet wearily.

"You staying the night Sam?" Rachel asked then she giggled a little, tipsy from the wine, "You and I will have to share the couch."

Sam gave a fond smile and Santana noted that Puck's shoulders tensed a little.

"I'll crash on the floor Rach, you have the couch," Sam replied gallantly and Puck's shoulders relaxed again. Santana was slightly amused that Rachel was completely obvious to the affect she had on the two of them. Santana and Puck watched as Rachel hugged Sam squealing that he was such a gentleman; Puck jealously and Santana curiously.

"Tomorrow you can help us set up Santana's room," Rachel said smiling up at him winningly but before Sam could respond Santana butted in indignantly.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa who said I was staying?"

Never mind she had already decided that she was staying. It was a matter of pride; and she wanted them to beg just a little.

"I did," Rachel retorted smiling smartly and Puck chuckled.

"Told you, you'd have no choice," Puck told Santana tauntingly and Santana punched him in the arm.

"Shut up," she snapped too tired to argue, "I'm going to bed."

"Don't forget tomorrow we are setting up your room and then Sunday afternoon drinks at Kilpatrick's," Rachel reminded her and Santana just waved her off heading to Rachel's room leaving the love triangle in the living room. Crawling into Rachel's bed Santana couldn't believe how easy it was to fall into Rachel, Sam and Puck's little group. It felt nice to belong somewhere after so long of being on her own.

Santana had to admit it had been kind of great to decorate her own room. Being able to pick lamps and a bed and then to put it together herself with Puck and Sam acting like fools in the background and Rachel yelling at them it felt like home. She had no money so Rachel had funded the decorating with Santana swearing to pay her back the first chance she had. Then Sam had whipped up a delicious lunch that they shared on the living room floor which they downed with more wine. Santana had a feeling she might just enjoy living here. Soon enough it was time for Sunday drinks and they all made their way down the street to the local bar. Once inside Rachel and Santana nabbed a booth by the window while Sam and Puck went to get their drinks. Santana had only just sat down when she heard a voice from behind her say,

"Santana Lopez as I live and breathe, it's such a surprise to see you again."

Santana didn't even have to turn to know who was speaking and she smirked over her shoulder.

"Yeah I missed you too Porcelain," Santana told him smiling sarcastically then she nodded at Blaine who was standing by his side.

Even though Blaine had come to McKinley for senior year and joined Glee Santana hadn't really gotten to know him on a personal level except for a couple of pleasantries exchanged here and there. Santana hadn't exactly been the friendliest girl at McKinley, especially to people who weren't afraid of their sexuality like she had been.

Kurt raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow but didn't comment on the old nickname that he hadn't been particularly fond of then and still wasn't fond of now apparently. Santana supposed Rachel had told him where she had found her; maybe Kurt decided to give her a week of leniency regarding her bitchy nature before he unleashed his bitchy right back at her. Santana was looking forward to it. Kurt blew an air kiss to Rachel and Blaine raised a hand in greeting.

"You two still together?" Santana asked gesturing between Kurt and Blaine as they both took their seats and Kurt looked at Blaine a little too quickly before replying.

"Ah no, just friends."

"You two still spreading that lie?" Puck interrupted as he and Sam placed two tray's full of drinks onto the table and Kurt gave an outraged gasp while Blaine looked down at the table sheepishly and Rachel giggled.

"It is not a lie," Kurt hissed indignantly and Puck laughed looking at Sam who chuckled as well.

"Every week after drinks I catch you two tonguing each other before getting into a cab together. If I was 'just friends' with Sam the way you are 'just friends' with Blaine we'd be married and adopting a baby together by now which is not something I ever want to happen," Puck glanced over at Sam, "No offense, if I was gay I'd totally go you man."

"I wouldn't blame you for wanting to hit this," Sam replied shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. Santana shook her head at the two of them. They took bromance to a whole new level.

"He's right Kurt who are we kidding?" Blaine spoke up taking Kurt's hand, "We are much happier together than apart and I'm so sorry for saying that your butt looked big in those…"

Kurt interrupted Blaine's apology by grabbing Blaine's face between his hands and planting a big sloppy kiss on his lips. Puck and Sam shared a fist bump of celebration and Santana shook her head smiling.

"Breakthrough, excellent," Rachel nodded approvingly then she checked her watch curiously, "They're late again."

"She probably got them lost again," Sam chuckled and Puck smirked.

"Who…?" Santana started to ask but the words faded from her lips at the sight of Brittany entering the bar shaking the raindrops from her luscious blonde hair. Everything seemed like it was in slow motion for Santana, everything else faded away and all she could see was Brittany walking towards the table, a wide smile of recognition coming to her face when she saw Santana sitting there.

"Santana, I missed you so much!"

"Britt," was all Santana could choke out wrapping her arms around her once best friend. She didn't know what else she could possibly say at this moment, she was too busy reveling in the feeling of Brittany's arms around her.

"Umm Brittany can you move the chairs to make room for me?" came a voice from behind Brittany and Santana looked down to see what she hadn't seen before. Artie Abrams. Of course Brittany was still with Artie. They reconciled senior year after Santana never got the guts to come out and be with Brittany the way she wanted. It was Santana's biggest regret and always would be. Artie looked up at her kindly, "Hey Santana long time no see."

"Sure Artie," Brittany complied happily pushing chairs aside before placing a kiss on his lips and settling down in his lap at the table.

Santana felt physically sick. She turned on her heel abruptly and headed for the bathroom sensing someone coming after her. She prayed it was Rachel Berry; she just couldn't handle Brittany right now. If Santana wasn't having such painful chest pains she would have laughed at how the tables had turned and she actually wanted Rachel Berry to follow her. Santana slammed into the bathroom and hurried into a stall closing the door behind her roughly. She heard footsteps and waited to see who had followed her. Please, oh please let it be Rachel Berry.

"I'm sorry I should have told you they were coming but I wasn't sure you still felt for Brittany as strongly as you once did in high school," Rachel said to her apologetically over the cubicle door and Santana swallowed hard before pushing her hurt feelings back.

"I don't."

"Mmhmm…" Rachel hummed in a tone that implied she knew Santana was lying through her teeth and Santana hung her head.

"Are they happy?" she asked in a small voice and she heard Rachel sigh.

"As happy as they can be," Rachel replied, "Brittany misses you terribly."

Santana breathed in deeply once more gathering her wits before opening the cubicle door and calmly stepping out. She could do this. She could have drinks with Brittany as friends and not remember how much she loved her. She could sit there and pretend that it wasn't like a knife to her heart every time Brittany and Artie kissed. It could be like high school again. Rachel was waiting patiently at the sink and Santana came to stand beside her both of them looking at each others reflection in the mirror.

"You really going to help me Berry?" Santana asked. The thought of putting faith in someone like this was frightening. Rachel smiled.

"Only if you call me Rachel."

"You'd really help me out? After everything I've done to you?" Santana asked again even though Rachel had given her answer and Rachel placed a gentle hand on Santana's shoulder.

"Sure, everyone deserves a second chance, and a third, and a fourth. My dad's taught me that."

"Remind me to thank your dad's if I ever meet them," Santana replied her voice lilting with innuendo and Rachel laughed shaking her head before exiting the bathroom.

Santana watched Rachel leave and then she made her way back into a cubicle sitting down on the closed toilet seat. She reached into her small purse and pulled out a tiny bag filled with white powder and her compact mirror. She just needed a little hit, that would get her through this awful night.

Just one little hit.

Santana remembered snorting up quite a bit of the bag then following it down with a rufee she had stashed in her purse. She remembered giving herself the once over in the mirror before heading back to the table. She remembered sitting down at the table and forcing a smile while Puck gave her a nod of approval. She remembered they were talking about high school and laughing about the good old times. And that was all she remembered until she woke up in the hospital.

AN: oh yeah I did it; it's a cliff hanger lol. Review!