AN: Don't know if anyone is still reading but here is the next chapter hehe

Chapter 6

Santana decided to put her plan into play that night. This whole Sam, Rachel, Puck debacle was taking longer than she had expected to blow up and she was getting bored. She ran into Puck and Sam who were shouldering each other as they made their way out of the building and the two buffoons cheered and then Puck threw her over his shoulders and smacked her on the ass howling. Great, they were drunk out of their minds.

"San, come with us to the bar, us animals are going on the prowl tonight!" Sam yelled as she started slapping Puck on the back to put her down and he unceremoniously dumped her onto the floor. Sam tossed back his head and howled like a wolf and Puck joined in with gusto. Santana rolled her eyes. They weren't just drunk out of their minds, they were absolutely legless. Puck tossed an arm around Sam's shoulders and the two nearly fell over while Santana got to her feet and dusted off her clothes.

"And what is Rachel going to think?" Santana asked them seriously, staring at them as though she herself had never been so drunk.

"She kicked us out," Sam pouted then he led out a loud burp, amazingly still keeping that pouting face. Must be a talent; those gigantic lips had to be good for something.

"Yeah she's mean," Puck agreed making a face and joining in on the burp fest. Santana covered her mouth and nose in case she accidentally inhaled the poisonous gas they were both expelling.

"Or maybe you two are just too gross to even be in the same room with," Santana deadpanned and Sam and Puck looked at each other for a moment before back at her.

"Naaaa," they disagreed in unison then Puck peered at Santana through hooded lids.

"You're boring Santana, bring back Hayley, she made you fun," Puck slurred at her and Santana ignored the way her chest clenched at the mention of Hayley.

"Bring back Hayley, bring back Hayley," Sam started chanting and Puck joined in easily.

"Shut up you oafs," Santana hissed smacking both of them on the arm and both men grabbed their arms and howled in pain.

"Assault, call the cops," Sam yelled at the top of his lungs and then Puck stood up straight smiling.

"I'm right here!" he announced giving a salute and that was about all Santana could handle of the two of them like this. They were idiots. Rachel should just turn lesbian and shack up with Santana. Santana paused for a moment to imagine that. No way, as much as Santana wouldn't mind getting a taste of the Berry cherry the two of them would murder each other afterward.

"Have fun," Santana said dismissively and Puck and Sam just started singing as they stumbled out onto the street trying to hail a cab. Santana shook her head and then made her way up to the loft.

As soon as she entered the loft the chemical scent of nail polish filled the air. Santana went in the living room to find Rachel giving herself a pedicure. She looked up when she heard Santana enter and breathed an audible sigh of relief when she saw her.

"Oh thank god, I thought it was those two idiots again," Rachel said rolling her eyes and Santana laughed coming to sit beside her on the couch.

"Ooh my turn," she interrupt Rachel swinging her legs onto Rachel's lap and Rachel shrugged getting to work.

"So when are you going to put Sam and Puck out of their combined misery?" Santana asked forcing her voice to be casual and she noticed Rachel froze for a split second before continuing her job.

"What are you talking about?" Rachel asked innocently and Santana grinned wickedly.

"They both want to bone you in a big way."

Santana was expecting big dramatic denials, storm outs and slamming doors but Rachel merely gave her a scolding glance.

"Don't be vulgar."

It was then that Santana knew. She knew that Rachel knew.

"You know," Santana gasped and Rachel sighed deeply recapping the nail polish.

"Of course I know, I'm not completely clueless," Rachel told her sarcastically and Santana sat up carefully keeping her toes clear.

"Well why haven't you picked one?" Santana demanded and Rachel sighed again.

Santana waited expectantly for an answer but Rachel took her sweet time before replying.

"If I choose, one of my best friends will be hurt that I chose his best friend, it's better I pretend not to know," Rachel replied seriously looking down at her hands solemnly, "I'd rather hurt myself than hurt either of them."

"Being a martyr is overrated," Santana retorted then she shrugged, "You never know maybe the one you don't want will find someone else."

"Maybe," Rachel replied and Santana looked over at her curiously.

"That's what your hoping isn't it? That's your grand plan. Wait for the one you don't want to find someone else so you can make your move on the one you do want. Riddle me this Rach, what will you do if the one you want is the one that finds someone else?" Santana challenged her smartly and Rachel shook her head.

"It's a risk I'm willing to take to ensure our friendships survive."

Drama queen. Santana didn't know anyone who was a bigger drama queen than Rachel Berry. Did Rachel not know either of the two men who claimed to love her?

"You know if they love you the way they both claim they do, they will understand if you chose the other," Santana told her slowly, emphasizing every word. Rachel gave a small smile.

"For someone who claims to know so much about love its ironic your own love life is non existent."

Santana wanted to smack that smug look off Rachel's face.

"It's different for me Rach," Santana protested and Rachel rolled her eyes.

"That's what you don't get San, it's not."

The door opened and Santana heard Puck come into the loft stumbling around but she ignored him too caught up in her conversation with Rachel as she got to her feet and started pacing.

"I can't tell her, I'll look like an idiot and…" Santana broke off what she was saying unable to verbalize.

"You'll be vulnerable which is something you never allow yourself to be," Rachel answered for her and Santana shook her head. The thought was absolutely terrifying.

"I can't," Santana whispered and Rachel jumped to her feet and wrapped her arms around Santana's shoulders.

"Yes you can," Rachel assured her gently and then she gave her a compassionate smile, "It's ok to be scared."

"I'm not scared," Santana retorted automatically and Rachel smirked a little like she didn't believe a word Santana said.

"Of course not."

Santana grabbed her coat. She was not scared, she was going to march right up to Brittany and tell her exactly how she felt. Santana started stalking for the front door and didn't even notice Puck standing there holding another bottle of scotch that he had been trying to smuggle out of the loft while the two girls had been talking. She was startled from her thoughts by Puck snorting with laughter.

"What are you laughing at?" Santana demanded placing a hand on her hip and Puck just shook his head.

"She played you like a finely tuned guitar," Puck chuckled and Santana stared at him a moment before she spun on her heel and left the loft ignoring Puck's laughter as she hailed a cap.

Brittany and Artie's apartment was ten minute cab ride away and Santana was just glad she knew Artie was out of town this week. That made what she was about to do a whole lot easier. As soon as Brittany opened up the door Santana grabbed her face between her hands and kissed her soundly. When she pulled away Brittany gave her the glazed over stunned look that Santana loved so much. It was now or never.

"Britt I still love you, I've always loved you and I know I will always love you and I know you're with Artie but, I just wanted you to know that I still love you," Santana told her in a hurried voice and Brittany was silent for a long heart stopping moment. Santana felt like her heart was going to explode within her chest from the anticipation of what Brittany would say.

"Thank you, I know that was hard for you," Brittany finally spoke and the let down made Santana feel hot and cold all over. That was all she had to say?

"That's it? Thank you? Fuck this shit," Santana cursed turning away feeling completely deflated. Santana didn't know what she had expected but thank you? That wasn't even on her radar of expectation.

"San wait! San!" Brittany called after her but Santana continued powering on jumping into a waiting cab.

This had been a colossal mistake. Fuck Rachel Berry and the stupid ideas she put into her head. When the cab pulled up at the loft Santana threw her money at the cab driver who cursed at her in Russian before pealing away from the curb. Santana flicked him the finger then ran up the stairs towards the loft ready to give Rachel a piece of her mind but she was surprised to see Hayley standing there on her doorstep. Santana wanted to let out a cry of frustration; she was not in the mood for this shit. Not tonight of all nights.

"Santana," Hayley greeted her, a smile lighting up her face. The smile indicating that Hayley was so happy to see her, the smile that Santana had wished that Brittany would wear.

"What do you want?" Santana snapped folding her arms across her ample chest and Hayley looked at the ground shyly before looking into Santana's eyes startling Santana with the adoration she saw in their depths.

"I just wanted to say that I miss you, and I was hoping that you could give us another chance. I'm not sure what I did to push you away but if we could just talk it through…" Hayley started to say and for some reason seeing and hearing Hayley say the things that Santana had been hoping that Brittany would say was the last straw. Santana just wanted to crawl under her covers and never come out.

"Shut up," Santana choked out stubbornly and Hayley cut off what she was saying.

"What?"

"Just shut up, I can't deal with your shit right now," Santana cursed at her running a hand through her hair in frustration.

"Santana, I know it's hard for you to let people in but it's ok to let me in I promise I won't ever hurt you," Hayley promised her stepping closer and her familiar scent of watermelon washed over Santana. Santana had missed Hayley's smell. She had missed waking up and seeing Hayley smile at her and say 'good morning sunshine'. Santana felt her walls crumbling a little as she looked at the soft expression on Hayley's face. The honest expression of sincerity that said Hayley believed everything she was saying.

"How can you promise that? Anyone who cares about me ends up hurting me," Santana told her, her voice shaking and Hayley stepped forward again and placed her hands on Santana's shoulders gently pulling Santana closer and Santana didn't resist.

"I won't hurt you, I promise I won't," Hayley whispered to her and Santana believed her. Hayley slipped into Santana's personal space and hugged her close, their bodies melded together as one, "I don't know who hurt you before but I'm not like them. I truly care about you and I will never hurt you."

Santana froze. She was saying that Brittany didn't care about her; Santana felt a fire of fury rising inside her. How dare Hayley just think she knew shit about Brittany? Hayley didn't know Brittany; she didn't know how Brittany was her only true friend in high school. How Brittany came to visit her whenever she was sick, not caring that the next day she would get sick too. How Brittany stood up for her when the other cheerleaders made fun of her for getting fake boobs. Brittany cared about her, of that Santana was sure and she was not going to stand there and let Hayley talk like that about Brittany.

"Get the fuck out," Santana growled pulling away from Hayley abruptly and Hayley frowned in confusion wondering what the heck just happened.

"Santana," Hayley tried to get the moment back but it was too late. Santana's walls came up once again.

"Just get the fuck out of my life and stay out," Santana spat furiously pointing to the stairs with her finger and Hayley looked like she wanted to protest but instead she nodded and headed for the stairs. At the top of the stairwell she turned to face Santana.

"If you change your mind call me," Hayley told her, her eyes shining with about to be shed tears and Santana turned away.

"Fuck off," Santana snapped and she waited until she heard Hayley's footsteps down the stairs before she unlocked the door to the loft and stumbled inside slamming the door behind her.

Santana fell heavily against the door and closed her eyes shut tightly. What a mess her life had become once again. It wasn't fair. All Santana wanted was somebody to love and who loved her back, all Santana wanted was Brittany. But if tonight had taught her anything it was that Brittany didn't want her, not in the way she wanted Brittany. Santana walked into the lounge room to find Sam, Puck and Rachel all curled up on the couch. The two men (boys) were dozing on each of Rachel's shoulders.

"Was that Hayley?" Rachel asked curiously but Santana didn't answer.

"I miss Hayley," Puck mumbled from Rachel's shoulder.

"Me too," Sam seconded the motion from Rachel's other shoulder and Rachel grinned.

"Me three."

Santana just shook her head as she felt the tears start to prickle at her eyelids.

"Shut up idiots," Santana growled harshly and Rachel frowned extracting herself from Sam and Puck and the two fell on each other groaning but made no move to get away from each other. The blissfulness of being drunk. You could get all touchy feely with a best mate but claim it wasn't gay because you had been drinking.

"Did you tell her how you feel?" Rachel asked coming over to Santana and laying a gentle hand on her arm. Somehow that action just made Santana's urge to cry even stronger.

"Yes and she said thank you," Santana retorted tightly and Rachel's frowned deepened in confusion.

"Thank you? That's it? I was sure Hayley would have returned the sentiment," Rachel mused to herself and Santana looked at her sharply.

"Hayley? I went to Brittany."

Understanding dawned on Rachel and she looked at the ground.

"Oh."

"You were talking about Hayley," Santana stated needlessly and Rachel shrugged apologetically.

"I thought you were too," she whispered regretfully then she pulled Santana close for a hug as she whispered comfortingly, "I'm sorry things didn't work out with Brittany."

"I love her Rachel, I've loved her since high school," Santana told her softly when they pulled apart and Rachel held Santana's hands in hers and looked her square in the eye.

"High school is over Santana, it has been for a long time," Rachel told her sagely and Santana stood there comprehending the words for a long moment.

Santana finally nodded and then went quietly to her room to cry herself to sleep. Rachel didn't follow her and Santana was glad for that. She didn't want Rachel to see her cry about a truth Santana had known but never really accepted until now. High school was well and truly over, Santana just hadn't realized it yet.

AN: Only one more chapter to go, I have to get this story finished I hate having unfinished stories hanging around. Hope you liked it!