Chapter 4 – New beginnings
Santana…
It felt very surreal when she hurried over to the parking lots, following the blonde-haired girl. She was a stranger! Well… not completely. But just because you've talked once at a bar doesn't mean you know each other. She didn't know her! She didn't even remember her name… something like Brenda or Breonna. Betty… or Bridget. Yes – definitely Bridget. She didn't look like a Bridget but Santana had other stuff to worry about. What the hell was going on with Quinn and why didn't she come to her in the first place? That's what best friends were for.
Santana tried to keep up with Bridget but her legs were longer and therefore she was able to walk faster. Santana wondered if the girl was going to try out for the cheerleaders. She'd definitely meet the coach's expectations… tall, long hair, pretty, thin body… she was basically the head-cheerleader already.
Santana checked out the way the blonde moved her legs in those ripped jeans and her sneakers. She could simply tell the girl was athletic. Probably a dancer or something… she had her hair up in a bun but it wasn't hard to picture them down and wavy.
When they approached a dusty old truck, Santana felt an impulse to laugh. Then she remembered that she didn't have a car at all. She would have given a lot to own a dirty old ride.
She watched how the blonde opened the driver's door and motioned for Santana to jump inside. She hesitated at first but when she caught sight of her best friend sitting in there, too, she climbed into the old truck and took a seat next to her.
Quinn looked miserable. Santana already wanted to ask what had happened but then she found herself getting sandwiched between Quinn and Bridget and three seconds later they were already driving.
"Santana… I'm in so much trouble." Quinn mumbled under tears.
Santana's heart dropped at the way she said it. What did she do? Did she cheat in an exam or something? But Quinn was an A student.
"What is it?" Santana desperately wanted to know and grabbed Quinn's hand to encourage her. She watched how Quinn wiped away some tears and then leaned forward to address the other blonde in the car.
"Brittany, would it be ok to pull over again?"
Santana palmed her own forehead inwardly. Brittany… that was why she didn't look like a Bridget.
"Of course" Brittany responded and stopped the car just seconds later on the side of the road.
"You're scaring me, Quinn" Santana could hardly take it anymore. What could be so bad that Quinn had to cry?
Her best friend shrugged at first. Then she finally came clean.
"I'm pregnant, Santana… my daddy's going to kick me out. I have no idea what to do. I can't tell them but I have to… what am I going to do?"
Santana stared at Quinn. Her throat felt dry at the news and while she wanted to make herself believe that this came as a complete and utter surprise – it didn't.
It wasn't what Santana was expecting because she simply didn't know what to expect. But if she was honest, it sometimes had crossed her mind. Not lately… but when Quinn started going out with guys. Somehow Santana had always been worried. She didn't know why. It had just been a hard-to-grip feeling in her guts.
"Oh Quinn… hey" Santana squeezed her friend's hand to get her to look up into her eyes.
There was definitely embarrassment in Quinn's eyes but also fear. And a little bit of something that reminded Santana of when they were younger. When they were sitting in Quinn's room, trying to ignore the loud fighting between their parents that was going on downstairs by turning up the volume of Quinn's radio.
"It's going to be ok." Santana said and she meant it. She didn't know what they were going to do and how but she knew she wasn't going to let Quinn alone.
She was her best friend. She knew everything about Santana and vice versa.
"But my daddy…" Quinn cried desperately, probably at the thought of her father finding out and the consequences that came along. Tears rolled down her cheeks so Santana pulled her in.
She wrapped her arms around Quinn's upper body, trying to let her know that she was not alone.
"Whatever is going to happen, I'll be there, ok? I'll help you out. My abuela will know what to do. We can go talk to her now, if you want. Please… don't cry."
Quinn's sobs softened after a while where Santana just held her close. When they loosened their embrace eventually, Santana sensed something to her left.
Brittany slightly leaned over her body and handed a tissue to Quinn.
"There you go" She muttered with a compassionate look. Quinn blew her nose and then they all just sat there in silence for a minute.
At one point Santana had to ask. She felt stupid but she still wanted to know.
"Is uh… is Jake the…"
She watched how Quinn nodded with a strained look on her face.
"My daddy's going to kill him."
Santana shook her head with a huff.
"Of course not. He might yell at him but that's all. Don't worry about it."
"But he's a Puckerman. My parents and the Puckermans have never gotten along. They don't understand each other. Sometimes I don't even know how Jake and I can stand each other. He's different… I was so mad at him for working on that science project with Bree so I flirted with those guys at the bar. He won't even talk to me anymore. He's going to be freaked out about the baby so badly. If he'll ever listen to me in the first place."
Santana already wanted to say something but Brittany spoke up first.
"I share English class with him. I once dropped a pencil and he gave it back to me. It was the nicest thing anyone did to me in the weeks I've been here." She trailed off when her eyes locked with Santana's. Then she cleared her throat. "I mean… sorry, that was silly. I said that because I feel like I shouldn't even be here. Do you guys want me to give you some privacy by stepping outside for a minute?"
Santana opened her mouth in order to say yes – thank you - but then Quinn jumped in.
"Of course not. This is your car, Brittany. I'm thankful you're giving us a ride."
Santana turned her head to look back at Quinn and then once again at Brittany. There was a weak shade of pink on her cheeks.
"Maybe you could take us to Santana's abuela. I really don't know who else to talk to right now."
Santana nodded because her abuela was the best. She always knew advice, she always had cookies and she always took the time. If it weren't for her two brothers, Santana would have moved in with abuela a long time ago. But there was no space for all three of them and frankly, her brothers were a handful.
"Sure" Brittany answered when she started the engine once more. "Can you guide me?"
Santana was gazing at the dashboard in front of her, waiting for Quinn to say something in return. When her friend didn't respond, she realized that Brittany was talking to her.
"Oh – yes. All the way down the road. I'll let you know when to turn left." She explained and let her hand run through her hair. This was still so unusual. They didn't even know Brittany and yet she was about to see her abuela's house. It felt so personal.
From the corner of her eye, Santana could see Brittany's little smirk. She didn't feel like smiling back at her so she just kept her eyes on the road. Something about the realness of the situation and the exhaustion from a long week that started to spread over her shoulders, made her feel like she couldn't even bring up the energy for a silly smile.
/
As expected, her abuela welcomed them with a big jar of cookies on the front porch. She didn't ask any uncomfortable questions when Santana explained Quinn's situation. Instead she took the blonde in for a warm embrace. Santana knew exactly what abuela's hugs felt like. They were the best. They made you feel like everything was going to be ok even if it didn't feel like it at all.
She quickly excused herself inside to make all of them a lemonade. It gave Santana time to tell Quinn that they'd find a way to deal with everything and it also gave her time to sneak a peek at Brittany who was sitting on the steps that led up to the porch. She loosened the scrunchy from her hair and let it down. Santana had been right. It was long and wavy and easily fell over her shoulders.
Her blue jeans were ripped so Santana could see her naked knee. She was wearing black chucks and several thin bracelets on her left wrist. Her skin was a bit tanned because she must have spent a lot of time outside… Santana had already noticed her blue eyes when they were talking at the bar for the first time. They were now gazing back at her.
Santana quickly paid her attention to her abuela who returned with a tray and four glasses of freshly prepared lemonade.
"Let's enjoy the sunny afternoon and this delicious beverage for just a moment. People never take the time to enjoy these things anymore. Afterwards Quinn and I can talk a bit…"
Santana smiled at her grandmother when she raised her glass. There was something about her abuela's presence that made everyone feel calm no matter how wild the storm. With just a glass of lemonade she had managed to turn Quinn from weeping to smiling calmly.
For a couple minutes they talked a bit about the week they had and the plans for the weekend. Santana learned that abuela was expecting an old friend to come visit and that Brittany would start her first day at a new job to make some money in her free time.
Santana wondered what kind of job it was but before she could ask, her abuela clapped her hands together in order to get everyone's attention.
"Why don't you girls feed the chickens together? I'd like to talk to Quinn inside."
Santana nodded and watched how her abuela put a hand on Quinn's shoulder when they stepped through the door.
She hadn't really expected to be alone with Brittany. It was probably for the best if Quinn had a minute to talk about her sorrows with an adult though…
"You're not scared of birds, are you?" Santana wanted to know when she went over to some cabinet to get the food and a small shovel.
The blonde got up on her feet as well with a funny look on her face.
"No?" She said with a grin and followed Santana around the house.
Santana loved her grandma's backyard. There were chickens and swings and a big table where they would sometimes eat delicious barbecue with candles and lanterns and everything.
Those were the best nights… just abuela, Tony, Iker and her…
Santana held the gate to the large chicken coop open for Brittany to step inside. Then she handed her the bucket she had been carrying. Brittany opened the lid and observed how Santana shoveled food into the feeder.
"What kind of job are you starting on the weekend?" Santana eventually asked to drown the silence. It wasn't a bad silence though… but it kind of felt weird not to talk at all.
"Oh it's just at the store. My aunt works there and she got me a job to refill the shelves. I won't make a lot of money but I can save for when high school is over."
Santana nodded. She also wanted to save money but that was hardly ever possible. She always spent it for stuff in the house and whatever things her brothers needed. They had enough for food because abuela helped them out whenever their dad wasn't able to… but it would have been nice to know that there was a little bit just for her, waiting for when she got older, too.
"Do you live with your aunt?" Santana went on. Somehow she was very interested in getting to know more about someone who apparently didn't grow up here.
"Yes… aunt Patty is pretty cool. I mean, we don't talk that much but she lets me do whatever I want."
Santana thought for a moment.
"Patty Pierce from the store?" She wondered with a smile growing on her lips.
Brittany seemed to be insecure.
"Yes… do you know her?"
"She's the sweetest!" Santana laughed when she realized that Patty from the store was related to the girl standing in front of her with a puzzled look on her face and the bucket of chicken food still in her hands although Santana was done.
"That can't be." The blonde countered with a tilt of her head. "I mean… she's not sweet to me. Ever. She's… quiet."
Santana shrugged.
"Well yes but she's also sweet. She gave me and Iker free cookies one day when I was a couple bucks short. Iker gave her the puppy face and I guess she couldn't resist."
Santana chuckled at the memory. Iker always knew how to get what he wanted. Brittany then smiled, too.
"Oh well… she lets me stay at her place for free, too. I guess she is kind of sweet."
Santana couldn't help but laugh at the blonde's face and the realization written across it.
"How come you don't live with your parents?" Santana had no idea if her questions were going too far but they just left her mouth without thinking.
The blonde followed Santana back outside and over to the swings. They sat down on it and while Santana just sat there without motion (she got sick easily), Brittany gently moved back and forth.
"I never knew my dad. He left before I was born… and my mom… she's… in prison. Unfortunately."
Santana stared at the girl. It caused her head to turn from left to right and back again.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry for asking. I shouldn't have."
But the blonde just shook her head.
"No worries. It's not like she did something that can't be forgiven… she stole a lot of money. Which isn't ok, of course. But I know she regrets it."
Santana swallowed at the thought.
"I bet…" She mumbled and eventually started swaying, too. The way Brittany did it looked so easy. And carefree.
It didn't feel as bad as she had remembered. She kept it lowkey though. No reason to risk anything.
"Do you live here with your grandma?" The blonde asked after a while. Santana watched the tip of her shoes, whenever she leaned back.
"No… I wish. I live with my dad and my two brothers nearby."
She knew the question about her mom was hanging in the air. Brittany had been open about her mother so Santana thought it would only be fair to lay it out there, too.
After only having known each other for an hour.
Plus the interaction at the bar a couple weeks ago.
"My mom passed away years ago… nothing's been the same ever since. We're hanging in there. My brothers and I."
Santana threw a quick glance to her side in order to see the other girl's reaction. Brittany was still swinging back and forth but she didn't actively do so. It was just the remaining force that kept her in motion until she came to a rest.
"I'm very sorry" She muttered. Santana gave her a smile. It still hurt to this day to say it out loud. Certain wounds never heal but they get a little bit better over time.
After another couple minutes of silence (again it wasn't actually awkward), Santana spotted her abuela's cat jumping over the fence. She wanted to shoo it away because it was frankly the ugliest cat she had ever seen.
Her red fur was dirty and her eyes kind of looked into the opposite direction. Still she always came home with a dead mouse in her mouth. Santana had no idea how she did it… her whiskers were strangely fuzzy and she had about five teeth left so her tongue sometimes slipped out. When she opened her mouth to yell at the cat, Brittany got up from the swing and kneeled down to the ground.
"Please tell me she likes to be pet" She whispered when the cat indeed came over.
"Uh…" Santana stared at the way the cat instantly snuggled up to the blonde's legs and seconds later a loud purr surrounded them. "She apparently does."
Brittany threw a glimpse over her shoulder to meet Santana's glance.
"She looks so adorable. What's her name?"
Santana narrowed her eyes. What was the damn cat's name? Why was she so bad with names?
"She doesn't have a name. It's just… the cat."
Brittany raised her eyebrows.
"You never gave her a name? That's like a crime."
Santana exhaled laughter. Nobody ever told her that. Nobody had ever specifically cared about the cat.
Maybe it was a crime…
"You name her then" She simply stated with a shrug. She watched how the blonde grinned with a tilt of her head.
"Daisy" She stated promptly like it was without a doubt the cat's name. Santana gave the cat a scrutinizing look. It looked like a Daisy indeed.
"I'll let abuela know then." She mumbled and chuckled at Brittany's satisfied nod.
They spent another while in the backyard until Quinn joined them eventually. She looked a whole lot better compared to when they were sitting in the car. The color had returned to her cheeks and the tears dried.
"Your abuela offered me to be there when I tell my parents. She's just the best, Santana…" Quinn said when the three of them went back to the dusty truck.
Santana smiled at Quinn's words and waved at her abuela who was standing on the porch.
She was… she really was.
Brittany opened the door to her truck and let Quinn and Santana jump back in. No one spoke a word during the drive back to where Brittany was going to drop them off.
It wasn't necessary. Everyone had stuff to wonder about.
Santana felt like this was the beginning of something new.