Chapter 2: Between the Cheats (Amy Winehouse)

My eyes were bloodshot, and my hair looked like a crow's nest as I stood in Q's bedroom, staring in the mirror completely disgusted with myself.

How had my day gone to complete shit like this?

Quinn hovered behind me as she snapped on some rubber gloves an identical look of disgust on her face. The fact that she felt the gloves were needed made this all sting a little extra.

"Are those really necessary?"

She glared for a second and then her eyes softened.

"I wasn't sure if he squirted anywhere else." Her face was determined as she tugged at my clothes moving me like a rag doll. Right in this moment, she was more of a mother than I had ever seen her. Teary eyed, I just watched her as she methodically peeled everything off me and threw it in a garbage bag. "Five hours, San...I just don't understand, how you ended up like this." She muttered. "Don't move, I'm going to start the shower. I mean it, stay still."

She held the bag out from her body as if the clothes were going to attempt an escape and attack her. I felt so ashamed and there was no getting rid of this feeling. I just had to suck it up and accept that I had fucked up royally and if I was lucky, I could put this behind me.

Some secrets needed to go to the grave.

Maybe a future version of me will find the humor in this moment but for now, all I could think about was Britt.

There was so much she didn't know about me...about my past and now I was wondering if I really was ready to unleash everything I had worked so hard to shove down onto her?

It had been a blissful three years without that fucker and it took only a few hours to erase every wall I had built.

Quinn was staring now and then her hand was out.

"Let's get you cleaned up. You can explain exactly how this happened when we're in the car. I don't even know what I could say to you right now."

I watched her take off her perfect outfit and put on a shower cap.

"I can shower myself, we don't need to do this together."

She glared.

"Shut up, get in the shower and let me scrub you down, bitch. We speak of this to NO one, especially not Britt. Got it?"

I nodded. "Thanks, Q. I don't plan on telling her about this."

"Good. Tick tock then, time is wasting."

Fighting Q on this would have taken more time than it was worth, so I followed her into the shower and stood there while she scrubbed me down...everywhere.

The feel of her fingers was bringing me back to Earth, making me feel human again and I knew that I owed her way more than I could ever afford to repay. I wanted to tell her we didn't fuck but I was drunk and the last thing that I trusted was my memory.

Especially now.

I brushed my teeth and used way too much mouthwash before Quinn ripped the bottle from my hands. She looked like she was close to tears and I just shook my head. I could tell that she was remembering everything that Marco had put me through when we were younger, and her brain was putting puzzle piece together before she interrogated me, but I didn't need that shit right now, not from her.

"Don't, Q...please? Not now."

"Sorry."

"No, don't apologize. You were there for everything Q, I know that this is getting to you, I should be the one apologizing."

Only I didn't apologize for this and she knew that I wouldn't.

She knew how powerless I became in the face of a greater evil. Acknowledgement was all that I could give her and that had to suffice.

After thirty minutes we stood in her mirror together, dressed and looking flawless.

I perfected her makeup and she gave me a great smoky eye.

This moment was all that I had wanted before I had gone off on my bender and losing my mind was what I had to do to get it.

I wanted to feel like the worst was over, but it felt like this was the calm before the storm.

Looking into those eyes told me that my fears were probably correct.

"Ready?" She muttered as she tucked my hair behind my ear.

"Yeah."

We were in the car not even two minutes, as I drove us back to my house, before Quinn started in on me and shattered my semblance of peace.

"It reeks in here San. What the hell were you doing? What possessed you to get drunk in the middle of the day? And why was there jizz-no, better yet how could you do this to Britt?"

"So that whole thing back at your place was an act? Were you just pretending to care about me?"

She was staring daggers at me now.

I didn't really have any excuses for her and despite her being my decoy and wing-man, I partially blamed my state of being on her giving my number to Marco.

So, I put on my bitchiest face and snapped at her.

"I got a little drunk, smoked a pack of cigarettes and gave Marco a blow job just to get him to not show up tonight... thanks for that by the way!" I scoffed.

My snark had returned full force as I remembered just how this was set into motion.

"Why the hell are you thanking me, I haven't seen him since your Quinceanera! It's always been bad blood between me and him, you know that."

"But he claims that you gave him my number! Tell me I'm wrong." I yelled as we pulled into my crowded driveway.

Q looked at me in confusion and disgust.

Maybe I was wrong to believe Marco, but I couldn't think of any other way, from what I knew he and my parents weren't on speaking terms either.

"No! I would never do that to you! I haven't seen him since your Padrino kicked him out. I swear on everything, on Beth!"

"That's not necessary. Don't you ever swear on your kid! Not ever! Not cool!"

I banged on the steering wheel, making her jump in her seat.

"You don't know that he's going to show up."

"And yet I do...I can't trust him and now you want to bring Beth into it? I was finally allowing myself to love someone, to be open and now it's probably all gone to shit."

I was an emotional fucking wreck and the day wasn't even over!

Some birthday!

"Fuck, I'm sorry! I kn—" She stumbled over her words while trying to comfort me.

I cut her off and stepped out the car not wanting to have this fucking conversation for another second.

This was supposed to be my day!

I had to put a stop to this.

"Look, Q, thanks for tonight, let's just go celebrate, ok? I think an hour late is fashionable enough. I'm pretty sure my parents are freaking." I chuckled trying to turn the situation around.

Quinn smiled at me and nodded.

"Lead the way Lopez!" She muttered as we confidently strode to the back of my house.

Leave it to Q to know when I mean business.

The grounds were lit up and at least one hundred of my family members and my friends from school were there.

I had even invited the glee club and Mr. Shue.

Britt and I had been planning this party for months and now that it was finally here she was nowhere to be found and it made my chest hurt.

I shoved down all thoughts of Britt and plastered on a smile.

Remnants of the day were brewing just beneath the surface, but I had to look good for my parent's work colleagues especially for the couple that sat on the board of Columbia, my first pick of colleges.

As time went by, I was able to forget my day and pretend that it was just a nightmare.

I mingled and smiled until I thought that my face was going to crack apart.

Everyone was enjoying themselves and it was going off without a hitch.

There was growing pit in my stomach, the longer that everything went well.

I should have known that with the day that I had just had, that it couldn't last.

That's just how life goes for me.

But I was determined on putting the bittersweet day behind me and enjoying the night, so I soldiered on.

Ignoring the anxiety in the pit of my stomach, trying hard to forget the ache in my jaw.

I really missed Britt but thankfully Q stuck by my side and made sure I kept up appearances and if anyone had perfected that over the years it was one Quinn Fabray.

Q and I were on the patio talking to the Silva's (the couple that sat on the board of Columbia and whose son was a director at Yale) when she squeezed my arm.

I smiled at her and continued the conversation slightly annoyed and then when I didn't respond to the gentle yet persistent nudging that followed Q started a coughing fit.

Sensing she wasn't going to give up, I excused us and dragged her away.

"What the heck, Q? I thought we both wanted to talk to them? I know that you want Yale just as bad as I want Columbia," I said as I patted her back just in case the Silva's were watching us.

"I know... it's just that—oh fuck!" she muttered.

I was about to let Quinn have it until I heard his voice and my skin began to crawl.

My gut had been right.

"Hey Ana."

I looked at Quinn desperately and she nodded just to confirm that I wasn't hearing things before I turned around.

He stood five feet away from me wearing a tailored suit and an award-winning smile.

I gripped Quinn's hand a little too tight and plastered on a smile equally as obnoxious.

"Marco! What a surprise! I thought you couldn't make it?" I said kissing his cheek and then staring at him pleading with my eyes.

"Funny thing, Ana, I wasn't going to come after your father invited me, but someone convinced me that you were worth it!"

"That asshole."

"And here I thought you hadn't missed me."

"Not for a second, pendejo." I said a smile still stretching my lips uncomfortably.

"The image of you on your knees just a few hours ago would say different, you must have been practicing...I can't wait to see what else you've learned to do."

"In your dreams."

Quinn held tight to my hand still and while it grounded me where I stood, I wished that she would start another coughing fit or pass out.

Anything to make this interaction stop.

Marco smirked at me.

Quinn finally got wise and tried to pull me away from him but not before he brushed fingers against my cheek and winked. "We'll have to do that again, Anita." He all but threatened, that charming smile in place. I felt sick.

I was seething, trying to keep on my facade, knowing that all eyes were on me tonight.

Quinn tried to pull my hand again, this time more frantically but I couldn't let him have the last word.

I opened my mouth to fire an insult at Marco but was suddenly stopped by a warm pair of hands covering my eyes.

My body filled with warmth as I heard her whisper in my ear and smelled her sweet scent.

"Guess who?"

"Britt!"

She giggled and planted a quick kiss on my cheek.

I whipped around in shock, as brilliant blue eyes stared back at me.

I couldn't move a muscle.

Quinn nervously stood next to B and tried to smile big, trying her best to show me how I should be reacting, but I was literally standing frozen between my past and my future.

Right then, I wasn't even sure who was who.

I suddenly remembered to smile after a beat and then I wrapped my arms around Britt.

"God, B... I'm so glad you made it! You totally surprised me!"

Relief and guilt filled me all at once.

She kissed the side of my face once more and whispered in my ear.

"I wouldn't miss the opportunity to celebrate my favorite person in the entire world."

I smiled genuinely for the first time all night.

I had almost forgotten that Marco was right behind me, almost!

"How adorable is that, huh, Lucy? A type, huh Ana? I'm going to go chat with your dad. I will be right back!"

I swallowed back a retort and simply nodded.

Quinn dropped her head and began cursing under her breath.

This couldn't be good.

"Who was that?" Britt asked as she wrapped an arm around my waist.

"Nobody."

And just like happy go lucky, B she didn't linger on my dismissal of Marco.

She just pulled me in and kissed me square on the lips.

I pulled away faster than I should have but B didn't know my family...my father, like she thought she did.

Being out was one thing, making out in front of his family and coworkers was something else entirely.

Quinn was still hovering, and I turned my face towards hers.

"Anyone watching?"

"Just the one." She muttered.

I looked towards where she was gazing and sure enough, my father was looking right at me.

A slight shake of his head was all I needed to unpeel myself from Brittany just enough to go from lovers to friends.

He gave a curt nod and turned back to Marco.

I was in for it.

"I need a drink." I said to Q and Britt bounded up and down clapping her hand.

"I have just the thing, follow me!"

Quinn lingered like that for the rest of the night, being our third.

Making it seem like we were all just friends and whether Britt was wise to it or not, she was also making sure that Marco couldn't get to me or Britt again.

Every time it seemed like he was going to head towards us, she'd pull us toward a bigger group of our friends.

I could kiss her, but I've done enough of the cheating for a lifetime.

After cake had been cut, gifts had been given, Mami did the honorable thing and shuffled all the old people inside.

I sat on the edge of the deck with Britt's head on my shoulder and Quinn with her legs on my lap.

"Don't you girls ever separate?" Puck prodded as he slid a cup to me. "For the birthday girl."

"Thanks, NoNo."

He glared, and I winked.

"Don't get the gleeks calling me that, I'm begging you."

"What do I get out of that?"

"Whatever you want."

Britt hadn't noticed Marco's weird energy with me all night but this she seemed bothered by.

She pulled me in closer and kissed my lips so hard that I couldn't pull away.

There were some hoots and one very loud throat clearing from Q, that made me want to throttle her before I pulled away, breathless.

"Fuck, Britt Britt, what was that."

"Just reminding him who you belong to."

I looked at Puck and he was actually blushing as he looked behind me.

"Hi, Mrs. Lopez, thank you for a great party."

It was my turn to blush as I turned to see my mother.

"Hi, Mami."

"Can I have a word?"

A million emotions were rushing through me as I stepped away from my friends.

She took my hand in hers and quietly pulled me until we stood closer to the house.

I could hear nothing from inside which meant that people had finally left.

"Mami, you're worrying me."

"What was the one thing your father asked of you?"

Her eyebrow was raised.

"That I not embarrass him."

"And what's the one thing you've done tonight?"

"Mami, I can explain."

"No...you're 18, you're in love apparently although according to Marco you had an eventful afternoon."

"It's not what you think."

"Mi'ja, you don't want to know what I think. What I want you to know though is that your father is already a few drinks in. I'm going to do us all a favor and take him to a hotel for the night. Like I promised, you can have the house for tonight, but the rules still stand."

"Thank you."

"Not yet...what are the rules?"

"No sex in the house or in my car."

"And?"

"Take everyone's keys if they're drinking."

"And?"

"Britt can only sleep in my bed if Quinn does too."

"Everyone out by 10am. No exceptions...the cleaning lady comes then, and I don't want anyone in her way."

"Okay."

"Good and Santana, no extras...I've approved of everyone already here, I don't want any additions in my house. IF I get a phone call from anyone that this has gotten out of hand, you'll have to answer to your father and none of us want that, entiendes?"

"Si, Mami."

"Cuídate, Have fun."

Once the parents vacated, the real party got under way as we began a game of 'never have I ever'.

Britt and I sat tangled together as the group formed a circle around the bar on the patio.

Puck brought out a huge bottle of rum and we got down to badness, filling up a bunch of shot glasses and beginning the game with a finger pointed at me.

"I think the birthday girl should start us off!"

Everyone cheered and looked expectantly at me.

Never one to back down from a challenge I raised my shot and loudly proclaimed.

"Never have I ever had sex with...Quinn Fabray!"

I chuckled as I licked the rim of my shot glass before I placed it down. Everyone hesitated as they looked at me and then over at Q.

She was beat red and then Puck threw back his shot and then Frankenteen, Sam and then quietly Berry raised a shot to her lips and sipped.

I thought I was just seeing things until Lady Face whipped around and shot daggers at Berry.

"Whoa! You and Quinn?"

"Shut up, Kurt."

"Who knew the game would get so interesting so fast!" he said as he slapped her on the back.

I turned to Q who looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

The game went on and more secrets were revealed, Puck had kissed another guy, Rachel and Mercedes admitted to never having had an orgasm to which I snickered in Q's ear earning me a growl.

I noticed that Rachel and Quinn kept shooting each other looks and I wanted details, so I went to call out another truth but before I could say anything else she screamed out,

"Never have I ever slept with Santana Lopez!"

It was my turn to blush as Puck, Mike, Finn, Sam, Britt and Blaine all drank. "What the hell?" Quinn yelled out. "Blaine?"

I put my head in my hands realizing that I deserved that one.

I totally promised to never admit sleeping with Blaine one drunken night after leaving midnight mass and hanging out.

Only Britt had known and even she admitted that it was the kind of thing that should be buried and forgotten.

I watched Quinn discreetly sip at her shot when no one was looking at her and I raised a brow, so did Britt.

Yet another secret that we'd like to take to the grave was revealed.

Kurt cleared his throat and began to say something when I heard a cackle and applause from behind me.

I should have known that he didn't leave.

I gripped the edge of my seat and bit down hard on my lips, trying to bite back a remark but he wasn't so kind.

"Wow Ana! Who knew you were so generous with your time...well other than me! My, my how the times have changed, right Lucy? I guess I should catch up."

Marco plopped down on the other side of Q and produced his own cup which he had already filled. He looked at me in the eyes and then took a chug of his drink.

"Can it be my turn? Never have I ever taken Santana's virginity!" And then I watched as he raised the cup to his lips...and so did B...and I just saw red.

I had reached across Q and slapped him so hard that his lip began to bleed.

It was no more than a split second, but I shut him up.

Britt pulled me back down before I could do it again.

"Is this really how you want to play this?" He said, glaring at me.

Britt was rubbing my back as if I was about to start weeping but sappy drunk Santana wasn't here right now.

I was enraged.

"Is this how you want to? I was a child until today...you really want me to tell the world about us, Marco? You think that's wise?"

I had muttered it low, but everyone had heard.

The tone of the party shifted.

I guess I wasn't the friendly town bike anymore...surprise Santana has layers.

Clearly embarrassed and pissed off, Marco raised up from his seat winked at me and snickered,

"This isn't over Ana! Just you wait and see!" he walked off and for the first time in a long time I broke down in front of people.

Tears spilled down my face and sobs wracked my body, I guess Britt knows me pretty well after all.

No one asked questions, they just slowly cleared out all mumbling their goodbyes as Britt held me to her chest.

What the fuck?