Abducted
Chapter One
The countdown is over. Not only is it her fifteenth birthday, today is the day Santana Delgado is going to get a drivers permit. She's been looking forward to this for a long time. Due to when her birthday is, she is the only one out of her friends to not have a permit, with the exception of Spencer, he had a license being a year older.
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear, Santana, Happy Birthday to you!" Gloria and Javièr sing holding a lit cupcake. For as long as she could remember her parents have woken her up singing happy birthday with a cupcake. She loved it as a child and she loved it now.
Santana sat up in bed and blew out the candle. "Thanks." She smiled.
"It's red velvet, your favorite." Gloria said.
The teen laughed. "It's always red velvet." She took a bite out of the cake. Gloria just nodded, wiping her eyes. "Are you crying?" Santana asked with amusement.
"My baby is fifteen of course I'm crying." Gloria pointed out.
Both Santana and Javièr laugh at Gloria's expense, teasing the woman.
"Ready to get that permit?" Javièr asked.
"I've been ready." Santana joked.
"I'll pick you up after school to take you to the DMV." Javièr continued.
"We'll leave you to get dressed." Said Gloria. "Your birthday breakfast will be done by the time you're ready." The couple kiss Santana on the cheek before giving her privacy.
Gloria Delgado, a Latina woman with jet black hair and brown eyes married her high school sweetheart Javièr Delgado, a Latin man with brown hair and eyes, after college, then she got her real estate license. Meanwhile Javièr worked his butt off to have a successful career as a heart surgeon.
He had just finished a five year residency when they started trying to have a family. The couple did everything they could to make it happen from eating the right food, exercising, to Gloria tracking when she would ovulate. Unfortunately, nothing worked. Not even the expensive IVF could get the job done. Gloria's uterus was unable to home a baby.
Surrogacy was their next option. However, the failed IVF took a mental tole on them both so the couple decided to take a vacation to Puerto Rico. The plan was to relax and not think about the failed IVF, stress of work, and life in general, but, plans change.
The Delgado's found themselves at an orphanage full of children, and babies, all in need of a forever home.
In the playroom the children and some of the toddlers were playing, oblivious to Javièr and Gloria watching them. It was overwhelming at first then the couple joined in on the fun. A group of kids were playing hide-and-seek. Javièr and Gloria were the seekers. That's how they came across three-year-old Santana.
The toddler was alone in the corner of the room clutching a stuffed dog and sucking her thumb for comfort. The clothes she wore were two sizes too big for her small frame, and it appeared as though her hair hadn't been brushed in days, but, she unknowingly stole their hearts the moment they laid their eyes on her.
The trio moved to a very nice neighborhood in Manhattan, New York, shortly after the adoption and had lived in a beautiful brownstone ever since.
Ready for school, Santana joined her parents in the kitchen. As he does every morning, Javièr reads the newspaper, nursing a mug of coffee. Gloria has made breakfast, more specifically, "birthday breakfast" which consists of french toast topped with fruit and whipped cream, scrambled eggs, and sausages with orange juice, not milk.
"Smells good."
Santana doesn't hesitate to dig right in, starting with the scrambled eggs.
"Got any other plans for your birthday besides going to the DMV?" Gloria asked.
"I'm going to the mall with Jessica and Madison to get our nails done, shop a little, then we might see a movie."
If it were up to her parents there would be a big bash, however, Santana doesn't want one, much to the surprise of the family. According to the teen she doesn't want her birthday party to turn into an episode of the old reality show Sweet Sixteen.
"Are you sure you don't want a party?" Gloria asked.
Santana exhaled, tired of hearing the same question. "For the millionth time, yes."
"Okay, okay, I just don't want you to regret not experiencing a big sweet sixteen party."
"I have experienced it when all of my friends turned sixteen." Santana pointed out.
"That's not the same."
"Honey, she doesn't want a party, leave it be." Javièr said.
"Thanks, dad." She kissed the man's cheek when a loud car horn can be heard from just outside the house. "That would be Spencer." Santana took a bite of the sausage, drank some orange juice, then rushed out the front door; grabbing her book bag on the way.
"Hey." Spencer greeted. "Happy birthday."
"Thanks."
"Does Gloria keep asking about a party?" Santana groaned. Spencer laughed. "I'll take that as a yes."
"I understand why she really wants me to have a party, I do, I just wish she wasn't such a mom about it." Santana turned the dial on the radio, changing the station.
"I still can't believe you convinced your parents you don't want a sweet sixteen party so you can sneak off with Dani."
"Why? I was able to convince them you're my boyfriend and you can be gayer than me sometimes." She pointed out with a chuckle.
"Touché." Spencer turned the dial to return back to the station he had it on and slapped the Latina's hand away so she couldn't change it again. "So, where are you and Dani running off to?"
"I don't know. She said it's a surprise."
"Ohh how romantic." He teased.
Santana rolled her eyes, albeit, with a smile. "Stop it. You know I hate surprises. I have no idea what to wear."
"What time are you meeting up?"
"After I come back from the DMV." She grinned excited to be getting her drivers permit.
"Someone is excited to finally be getting their drivers permit." He teased.
"Of course I am! At first it'll kinda suck to need an adult with me when I drive but it'll so be worth it when I get my license and I have my own car, like you."
At school the pair meet up with fellow cheerleaders Jessica and Madison by the opened gym doors for cheer practice.
"Happy Birthday!" Both Jessica and Madison shout whilst throwing confetti in the air.
Santana chuckled. "Was the confetti necessary?" She asked scanning the hallway, feeling a little embarrassed by her friend's antics.
"Yes." Jessica said.
"And so is this." Madison said then revealed a small birthday present wrapped neatly with a bow from behind her back.
"You didn't have to get me anything." Santana blushed taking the gift from Madison.
"Just open the damn thing." Said Jessica.
She rolled her eyes with a chuckle whilst unwrapping the present and gasped. "Guys, this is beautiful." Santana said admiring the bracelet. "Can you help me put it on?"
Madison made an attempt to assist the Latina when Spencer stepped in.
"I think as the boyfriend I should do that."
Madison and Jessica laughed knowing he's doing it for show with the impression that it's only Spencer that is gay. Since Santana was unable to come out to her friends, Spencer was more than understanding in allowing Jessica and Madison believe Santana is dating him as a favor to the football player.
"Thanks, babe." Santana said.
"You're welcome, gorgeous." He winked, although, not very well.
"Girls! Enough lallygagging! Hit the locker room, time for practice!" Cheer coach Roz Washington shouted.
"I have to go to football practice, anyway. I'll be back to walk you to homeroom."
"Okay."
The girls quickly rush to the girls locker room to change into their cheer uniforms. Usually they just wear fitness wear from sports bars and leggings, to tank tops and short shorts, however, competition season is coming up and Roz Washington prefers they wear their uniforms as a sort of dress rehearsal.
Being co-captains Santana and Jessica start the practice by taking role call and warming the squad up with different stretches. Then Coach Roz had them run through the first routine five times as one of the stunts is very difficult.
"That's it for today, ladies! Clearly you're too incompetent to pull this routine off! Get out of my face and in the showers!"
Sore, tired, and dripping with perspiration, the squad happily run off to the locker room to shower and change back into street clothes. On the way out of the locker room, Santana received more happy birthday wishes from other girls on the squad.
"Happy Birthday, captain Santana." Someone over enthusiastically said with a sarcastic undertone.
Santana, Madison, and Jessica turn around to face the source of the voice.
"Bree." Said Santana. The Latina crossed her arms across her chest whilst she glared at the other dark girl.
"Nice job out there but your tumbling could use some work."
Jessica stepped forward. "We all know you're jealous coach Roz gave the captain position to Santana instead of you but there's no need to lie. Santana is the best athlete we have on this squad that's why she's captain. She is why we won regionals and nationals two years in a row, and why we're a shoo-in to win again this year. Get over it."
Bree bit down on the inside of her cheek. Speechless, she walked away.
"Thanks for that but you know I could've handled her on my own." Santana said with an amused grin.
"I know but once I started I couldn't stop. That felt too good."
Fortunately the rest of the day was free of drama. Sometimes Santana would catch Bree glaring at her from afar, but, the jealous girl kept to herself, even at lunch. Every clique has their table from the emo kids, band geeks, to the cheerleaders and jocks.
Spencer sat next to Santana, as always to keep with appearances, and greeted the Latina with a quick kiss. Madison and Jessica sat with their boyfriends on the other end of the long table. Today's topic; the winter formal dance, though, it wont be for a few months.
"I can't wait for this dance." Said, Dillon, the quarterback of the football team. "I got a fake I.D so I can book a hotel room." He grinned whilst wiggling his eye brows then high fived, Tyler, one of the wide receivers.
"What about you two love birds?" Tyler asked Santana and Spencer. He pursed his lips and made loud kissing noises. "You getting a room?"
"Yeaaaah, Spencer-boy, you finally going to fuck that hot, Latina pussy?" Dillon asked. He stood up and thrusted his hips.
Spencer glared at the quarterback in genuine anger. They may not be a real couple, but, they're still friends and he won't tolerate anyone talking about Santana, or any girl, with such disrespect.
"Do you want me to kick your ass?"
Dillon put his hands up in surrender. "Chill, chill, it was just a joke." He sat back down and winked at Santana, a grin spread across his face.
Santana gave him the middle finger. Dillon just laughed in response. Spencer whispered in Santana's ear to ask if she wanted to eat their lunches in his car.
"Absolutely." She whispered.
"Where you going?!" Dillon shouted at the pair as they walked away.
"Away from you!" Spencer shouted back.
In the car they enjoyed their lunches in silence for awhile.
"Do you think we should get a hotel room, you know, for appearances?" He added, to clarify why he asked.
Santana let out a deep sigh. "I don't understand why anyone has to get a hotel room. This is the winter formal, not prom."
"Well, yeah, but the winter formal is the winter prom." He chuckled.
"I guess."
There's a momentary pause.
"So, is that a yes? It'll be easier for us if we did. I just have to snatch a master key card from my dad's office when he isn't home."
Spencer's father, Jack Porter, is the owner of Porter hotels; a chain of multiple hotels scattered around New York City, Chicago, and California.
"What would we actually be doing in this hotel room?"
Spencer shrugged. "Order a bunch of room service and watch movies."
"Sounds good to me."
"So, just to clarify it's a yes on the room?"
Santana nodded. "It's a yes." She looked at the time on the radio. "Shit. Lunch ended five minutes ago, the late bell should go off soon, we gotta go. If I'm late for history again I'm for sure getting detention."
The rest of the afternoon was uneventful for Santana. She was ecstatic when the final bell went off. Finally it's time to take this drivers test and get a permit. Javièr was parked across the street from the school. Santana rushed to the car and quickly buckled the seat belt before Javièr could tell her to put it on.
"What are you waiting for, Papi?" Santana asked realizing the car hasn't moved yet.
Javièr chuckled. "Alright, alright, I'm going."
Santana sang along to the radio to kill time during the fairly long drive. The second Javièr parked in the lot next to the DMV, Santana was getting out of the vehicle before it even came to a complete stop. Javièr had to pull the teen back into the passenger seat.
"Wait, wait, I know you're excited but you'll need these to take the test." He opened the glove compartment and retrieved a couple of documents. "Okay, now we can go."
Santana frowned. "We?"
Javièr chuckled. "Yes, we. My one and only baby will be getting her drivers permit. I'm not going to miss out waiting in the car."
The teen let out a deep sigh. "There's no way I can talk you out of this, is there?"
"Nope." He laughed.
Santana doesn't stay mad long when they walk into the DMV building. Luckily, the wait in line isn't very long, however, the man behind the desk had an unexpected reaction upon looking over Santana's birth certificate and social security number.
"Can you two come with me?"
Confused, Santana and Javièr followed the man through a series of hallways until they're standing in front of a door that read 'break room', making the father-daughter pair even more confused.
"What's this about?" Javièr asked.
"Just wait here. My boss will explain everything."
He opened the door for them and left. The break room consisted of vending machines, a refrigerator, coffee machine, a table, and a couch. Santana opted for the couch. Javièr doesn't bother to sit. Instead, he paced the room, nervous.
"I don't understand what's happening." Santana said.
Javièr exhaled deeply. "I don't either, but, hopefully we won't have to wait long for an explanation."
Unfortunately they're forced to wait an hour and a half before a shorter man with a goatee and black rimmed glasses opened and closed the door behind him.
"What is going on? Why were we sent back here?" Javièr asked, not even giving the man a chance to talk.
"Javièr Delgado?"
"Yes, that's me."
"I'm Fletcher, the manager here." He glanced at Santana. "Can you come with me?"
"No, I'd like to know what's going on." He demanded.
Fletcher let out a deep sigh. "The police can explain this better than I could. Please-"
"Police?!" Javièr shouted, now even more confused and nervous. "Why have the police been called?! My daughter came to take her drivers permit test, she's not a criminal!" He voice continued to rise, now feeling angry.
"They're not here for her.…they're here for you." Fletcher said carefully.
"Me? What have I done?"
"The police will explain everything if you'd just follow me, sir, please."
Javièr huffed in frustration then stood in front of Santana. The brunette stood.
"Dad, I'm scared." She confessed.
"It's okay." He kissed her forehead. "Everything is going to be okay. Just stay here and try to stay calm, I'll call my lawyer and straighten this out." He promised, although, with little confidence he can follow through with it, not understanding what's going on himself.
Javièr hugged Santana then followed Fletcher out of the room. Instead of sitting back on the couch Santana paced the floor, like Javièr had. Then she sat down, then the brunette used the change she found in her pocket to buy something from the vending machine. She nervously, and quickly, ate the bag of chips then returned to pacing.
Santana was having a difficult time processing what has happened in a short time, how her day could take such a bad turn. She went from being ecstatic to be getting a drivers permit to being scared and confused.
Why are the police here for her father? He's a heart surgeon not a criminal, what could they possibly want with him, and what is taking so long? Santana thought she heard her father yelling again but she couldn't tell for sure the voice was too muffled to understand what they've said.
"Santana?"
The young Latina jumped at the unexpected voice as her back was turned away from the door. It's a cop. Although she isn't dressed like one, her badge is visible. The woman is a bit taller than Santana with light brown, shoulder length hair and brown eyes.
"Where's my dad?" Santana asked, her voice shaking as she unexpectedly cried.
"I know you must be so confused and scared right now, I'm very sorry for the wait, but your parents had trouble understanding this, too, and phone calls had to be made."
"My mom is here?"
The woman nodded then gestured to the couch. "Why don't you sit down. What I'm about to tell you is going to be very confusing and overwhelming."
Santana sat down. The police woman pulled up a chair in front of the couch.
"Let me first start by explaining why I'm here with a few of my colleagues. My name is Olivia Benson. I'm the chief of the New York police department. Years ago, to be more specific, in 1997 an amber alert was issued out from Puerto Rico to other police stations, including the one here, about a missing three year old little girl." She began to explain.
Santana shook her head, still crying. "I don't understand why you're telling me this. What does this have to do with my parents being hounded by police?"
"The little girl was Santana Lopez."
The brunette frowned. "I still don't understand."
Olivia exhaled. "When one of the employees looked at your birth certificate he discovered it was a fraud but fortunately, someone messed up, because the social security number was not." She paused, not sure how to tell the teen her life was about to drastically change. "That social number matched to the one Santana Lopez was given at birth."
Santana stood and paced the room again for a moment to process the shocking information. "Are you…are you telling me I'm Santana Lopez?"
"Yes."
"Me? I went missing in 1997?"
Olivia nodded sympathetically. "I told you this would be overwhelming."
Santana shook her head. "I can't be. My parents aren't capable of kidnapping."
"No one said they kidnapped you. Please, sit down so I can explain." Santana sat down. "In the nineties, it was very common to kidnap and sell toddlers, infants and children to the tourists visiting Puerto Rico by using a fake orphanage as a front to trick people into thinking it was a legal adoption."
"Your parents, your biological ones, brought you and your brother to Puerto Rico for a family vacation. One night at a street fair, you got lost in the crowd watching fireworks when you were snatched."
"I-I-um I can't believe this is actually happening, and on my birthday of all-" She paused when a thought occurred to her. "Is today even my birthday?"
"I'm sorry, I don't know."
Santana scoffed. "Great, so, not only do I find out I was kidnapped as a kid, today might not be my birthday." The teen exhaled. "What happens now?"
"I'm going to take you to the police station. If I timed it right, by the time we get there your biological parents should be waiting in my office."
"C-Can I say goodbye to my parents first?" She asked getting emotional again.
"They're coming with us. There are options available for everyone to possibly agree to if everything goes well."
Although confused what those options could be, Santana followed Olivia down the hall to meet with the other police and her parents. It was an emotional reunion despite that the small family haven't been separated very long.
Javièr, Gloria, and Santana follow the NYPD to the station in Javièr's car. Gloria didn't have her car, she was taken to the DMV by the police. At the police station, Olivia explained to them Maribel and Victor Lopez are waiting inside of her office.
"Wait here a moment." Olivia gestured to a few chairs outside her office before the officer disappeared behind the door that read Chief Benson.
"I don't like this." Gloria suddenly said. "Rationally, I understand how Maribel and Victor must be feeling, but, this isn't fair to us either. We thought it was a legitimate adoption, had we known it wasn't…but the fact is we didn't…we didn't do anything wrong and yet I feel like we're being punished."
"Are you going to be arrested?" Santana asked, her voice wavering in confusion.
Both Gloria and Javièr shook their heads.
"What your mother means is, we could possibly lose you." He paused to collect himself, not wanting to get emotional again. "Your biological parents are going to gain custody of you, rightfully so, and although rationally we know this has to happen, it still feels like it's our punishment for not doing our research on the place we adopted you from."
Santana glances between both of her parents in a panic. "But Olivia said there are other options available for everyone."
"There is. We can have visitation rights, or we could agree on shared custody." Gloria said, nodding her head. "But, we don't know Maribel and Victor Lopez. It's possible that they won't want to share you with us. We have to be prepared for all possible outcomes."
Santana began to cry. Gloria and Javièr comforted the teen, giving her a group hug, with the young Latina in the middle, until she is calm again, scared, but calm nonetheless.
The office door opened revealing Chief Olivia Benson.
"You may come in."
"Us, too?" Gloria asked.
Olivia nodded. "Of course."
Both Gloria and Javièr held Santana's hands as she stood between them, Javièr leading the way inside of the office. Maribel and Victor stood in front of Olivia's desk also holding hands. The couple gasped ecstatic to see their daughter again. Santana flashed a hint of a smile in response, but, didn't let go of Gloria and Javièr's hands.
"You're so beautiful." Said Maribel with teary smile. Then the older Latina took a cautious step forward. "C-Can I give you a hug…por favor?"
Despite all of the mixed emotions Santana is feeling, she pushed those feelings aside. It's clear how much Maribel needed this hug and she wouldn't be the one to deprive her of it, so the teen silently nodded in approval.
Maribel sighed in relief, as if she had expected Santana to say no. She happily wrapped her arms around the teen. "I've waited so long to have you in my arms again. Everyone told us the odds you…you were alive was very slim but I knew deep in my heart I would see my baby again." Maribel cried.
When the older Latina finally did let go, Santana expected Victor would also want a hug as well, however, the man stayed rooted in front of Olivia's desk.
"I don't want to overwhelm you. We can hug when you're ready." He elaborated.
Santana didn't voice it, but, she was grateful of the gesture.
"Why don't we get started in discussing those options I mentioned earlier." Olivia said.
In the corner of Olivia's office was a little seating area with a couple of couches, and a coffee table.
"Before we discuss these options," said Javièr, "my wife and I want to make it clear that we understand your situation, we can only imagine the heartache you went through all of these years, but, understand ours as well. We did raise Santana, we'd prefer to continue to have a permanent presence in her life."
Maribel and Victor looked at one another and nodded. "And we would prefer that Santana return to Ohio, where her family is." Said Victor.
Olivia turned to Gloria and Javièr. "How do you two feel about that? Is moving to Ohio an option for you?"
Gloria and Javièr looked at each other, seemingly having a silent conversation. "I have a medical practice here, but, my reputation precedes me in the medical field, so I suppose I could easily get a job at the hospital in," he paused turning to the Lopez's.
"Lima, Ohio." Victor replied.
Javièr nodded in acknowledgment.
"I work in retail." Said Gloria. "But I suppose I could sell houses anywhere."
"Have we come to an agreement?" Olivia asked the adults.
Santana wanted to speak up. She wanted to ask, what about her? Doesn't she get a say, it's her life, shouldn't she decide where and who she wants to live with? However, no matter how badly she wanted to ask, the words stay put in her mouth.
This situation is a complicated one. A conundrum, no doubt. One family has longed to reunite with their daughter for years and the other is losing the daughter they raised.
As much as Santana sympathized with the Lopez family, they're strangers to her. The idea of moving in with strangers is not appealing to a fifteen year old girl.
"We'll need some time to make arrangements, and pack everything, but yes, we have come to an agreement." Javièr replied.
Olivia turned to the Lopez family and the couple nodded in agreement. "Great." The Chief of police smiled.
It took a week for the Delgado's to find a home in Lima along with new jobs, and pack all of their belongings into a U-Haul truck. To drive from New York City to Lima, Ohio was 534 miles. Santana used that time to distract herself by texting Jessica, Madison, and Spencer in between day dreaming about what life in Lima would be like.
Although Lima, Ohio isn't exactly the country side, it's very different from New York City. Santana assumed there won't be nearly as much to do in Lima, and she pictured a high school half the size. She still hasn't decided if she wants to join the cheer squad of this new school, but, on the other hand if she doesn't have cheer then she has nothing.
However, when Jessica pointed out the cheer squad at McKinley high school won't be as good as the warriors, Santana second guessed trying out.
Madison: dont listen 2 jess. if any1 could make a squad better its u
San: thanx
Jessica agreed then minutes later she received another text from the blonde.
Jess: u kno wut i just realized?
San: wut?
Jess: u can finally have a real boyfriend!
Santana's heart jumped into her throat. Right, a "real" boyfriend. Why hadn't she thought of that before? In Lima she will no longer have Spencer to shield her from all of the horny young men in her graduating class. What are the odds she find another closeted teen boy in need of a closeted teen lesbian to be their beard in Ohio?
Her phone suddenly alerted her of a new text causing Santana to practically jump out of the backseat.
Jess: ?
"Wow, you were right. It looks better in person than in the photos." Gloria said to Javièr.
Santana will reply later. They had arrived at the new house and she didn't want to think about boys right now. It had been decided that the Delgado's and Lopez's share custody of Santana. On weekends she'll be with Gloria and Javièr. On the weekdays she'll be with Maribel and Victor.
It isn't a mansion, however, it is a large brick house and located in a gated community. Javièr parked the car in the two door garage. One of the professional movers in the u-haul truck behind them parked in the driveway.
As Gloria and Javièr directed the movers where to put the furniture, Santana took a walk around the neighborhood. Her first impression, she thought at first glance it appeared to be a very typical suburban gated community filled with large homes, bigoted, unhappy married couples, entitled white woman, and spoiled kids.
Passing one particular house across the street, Santana stopped to gaze up at the large home. It had to be the biggest one in the medium sized gated community, but other than the size there was nothing special about it, it looked very similar to every other house.
Santana felt as if she were in a movie as she stood in front of the stereotypical suburban house with it's white picket fence to match the white siding. On all the windows are dark blue shutters and a red door, and like the Delgado's house, there is a two door garage.
"This time you need to go full out!"
Four teenage girls emerge from the front door in red and white cheerleading uniforms. Because of the cold they have red pants under their skirts and they're wearing letterman jackets, their hair is up in a perfect ponytail with curls at the tip. There's a stereo on the front porch and the blonde that kept shouting turned it on.
The other girls started dancing, tumbling, and doing other gymnastic stunts whilst the blonde with hazel eyes continued to bark orders at them. It quickly became clear to Santana the best dancer and gymnast was the tall blonde with blue eyes.
The other girls weren't bad, per say, they're just more stiff when dancing and not stiff enough when tumbling.
The Latina crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head. "Sloppy." She mumbled before continuing her journey around the gated neighborhood.
There wasn't anything interesting to see. The houses looked the same to her, some were just smaller than others. Eventually she found herself in what appeared to be a suburban version of a back alley, which was really just a smaller road between houses.
Hearing loud music coming from the backyard of the house to her left, Santana became nosy and peaked through the fence surrounding the light green house. Right away she discovered the source of the music coming from yet another stereo.
Four teenage boys are listening to music and swimming in a underground pool. She can see it's heated as steam raised from the water. That explained why they are swimming during the fall. The taller boy is in the water throwing a Nerf football to a boy with an ugly mohawk. The other two boys; one of Asian decent, and the other with the biggest lips Santana had ever seen on a white person, are sitting on the side of the pool with their feet in the water.
"Of course you still haven't gotten to second base. She's the president of the celibacy club." The boy with the mohawk laughed as he threw the football to the taller boy.
The taller boy scowled with a pout as he threw the ball back. "I just thought she only joined that club cause her folks wanted her to." He explained
"Dude, she's definitely a prude. She won't be having sex until she's married." The boy with the mohawk continued as they tossed the football back to his friend.
"She could surprise you." The big-lipped blonde said. "Maybe she'll want to lose her V-card at the winter formal."
"You should buy some condoms just in case." The Asian boy agreed.
The mohawk boy scoffed as he caught the ball. "Whatever you say, bro, but personally I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you." He said to the taller boy. Both the Asian boy and guppy mouth chuckled.
The tall boy caught the ball glaring at his friend with the mohawk. "What about you?"
"What about me?" He asked catching the ball.
"When was the last time you got laid?" The tall teen elaborated.
The mohawked teen snorted. "Bro, you do not want to go there. Trust me."
The tall teen wanted to argue when the blonde spoke up. "Did you guys hear the rumors that we're going to have a new football coach this year?"
Bored with their conversation, Santana continued down the alley and discovered it lead to another alley connected to the road of the Delgado's home. The U-haul truck is gone and inside the house, she is told to unpack the boxes in her room.
All of the furniture is unpacked, her bed frame put together with the new mattress on top. There are boxes and boxes full of clothes, shoes, books, movies, cd's, makeup, photos, and posters. It took the rest of the afternoon to unpack everything.
"Knock, knock." Javièr said instead of actually knocking on the door. "Your moth-" He stopped mid sentence, unsure if he can still say that.
"Mother?" Santana asked. "Dad, you're still my parents." She said sympathetically.
Javièr smiled. "Your mother and I thought it would be a good idea to go out to eat for dinner, get familiar with the town, what do you say?"
"Sure." Santana lifted a shoulder.
"One of the movers recommended a place called Breadstix so we're going to check that out. Apparently it's a good Italian restaurant in the mall."
"Breadstix?" She asked with an amused grin. "Really?"
Javièr nodded. "I asked a few times to be sure myself. That's what he said." He held up his hand with two fingers up. "Scouts honor."
The trio got into the family car and drove to the mall. Upon arrival, they weren't very impressed with this so called "good" Italian restaurant. In comparison to the places they've eaten in Manhattan, Breadstix is abysmal.
A kind middle aged woman escorted them to a table big enough for three. Menus were distributed to everyone, the waitress took their drink orders, then said she would give them time to decide what they all wanted to eat.
Whilst they mulled over what they wanted for dinner, Santana noticed a porcelain mug on the table full of skinny breadsticks. The teen snatched one to try, nibbling the stick.
"Mmm." Santana snatched a few more.
"I take it the breadsticks are good." Gloria teased Santana.
"Mhmm." Is all Santana said as she continued eating the bread.
"Don't eat too many before we've had the main course." Javièr said.
"Have you decided what you wanted?" Gloria asked.
"I'll just get the alfredo pasta."
Javièr waved down the waitress to let the woman know what they wanted. She promised to be back soon. Santana planned on eating more breadsticks whilst they wait for their food, however, Gloria started talking about her friends in New York.
"You could always make new friends, you're a very likable person, but I know it's going to be tough for you to be away from Jessica and Madison. And what about poor Spencer? How is that going to work out? Long distance relationships are not easy."
The door is open. Santana could use this opportunity to be completely honest with her parents, but, is she ready to do that? What if they're not supportive? What if they are so ashamed they decide they don't want to share custody with the Lopez's anymore?
Santana isn't sure she could handle being disowned by the parents who raised her and shipped off to live with family she doesn't know.
"I'm going to keep in touch with Jessica and Madison. We've been texting all day. We plan on doing a group FaceTime later." She hesitated to discuss Spencer as she thought of a lie. "Spencer and I are going to try long distance. We know it's hard but we're going to play it by ear. If it fails there won't be any hard feelings. We'll still be friends."
Gloria looked skeptical while Javièr looked optimistic. Although, if Gloria had something to say about it she didn't get the chance. The waitress returned with their food. It wasn't as bad as they expected, but, still not as good as any food they had in the big apple.
After they ate, Gloria and Javièr thought it would be a good idea to explore some of the stores inside the mall. Maybe Santana could get some new school clothes, Javièr could get a new golf set and Gloria could get a dress, or possibly shoes. She hadn't decided.
Surprisingly, Santana did manage to find some clothes she genuinely liked, Gloria decided to get both a dress and shoes, and now Javièr is deciding on a new golf set.
Gloria patiently waited for her husband to chose between three different sets. Santana on the other hand entertained herself with her phone between a group text with her NYC friends and mindlessly scrolling through Instagram.
"Go with the Taylormade M6." A white man Javièr's age said approaching the family. He is a typical middle aged white man with his blonde receding hairline, and a round middle.
"You think?" Javièr asked. "I was leaning more towards the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo." He pointed to the slim all black iron set.
The man nodded. "Not a terrible choice. The Cleveland can be a forgiving set but as someone who does golf almost every weekend the Taylormade M6 is better overall."
"Is that so?"
"Oh yeah they're great. I'm Russell Fabray, by the way, nice to meet you." He extended his hand for Javièr to shake.
"Javièr Delgado Nice to meet you, too. This is my wife Gloria and our daughter Santana."
"Nice to meet you both." Russell flashed a friendly smile. "I have a daughter as well but she would never be seen in public with me. Teenagers, am I right?" He laughed at his own joke. Gloria and Javièr smiled politely. Suddenly a realization hits him.
"So you're the infamous Dr. Delgado everyone at Lima Memorial has been talking about. You're supposed to one of the best heart surgeons in the country."
"I just love what I do, that's all."
Russell smiled. "Since you're new in town I could get you a membership at the Hidden Creek golf club. I go every Friday, a compromise between me and the Mrs. She spends my money on clothes, shoes, manicures and pedicures, I get to spend one day of the week golfing. What do you say? Our women can have their girl time and we can have some cold ones and whack some balls." He laughed at his own joke again.
The married couple look at each other, having a silent conversation. Santana would be with the Lopez's every week, and they could make some new friends.
"Sounds like fun." Javièr said.
"Great." Russell smiled. He reached in his breast pocket to pull out a business card. "My number. Call me soon, let me know when you're available."
Russell shook Javièr and Gloria's hands before leaving to pay for new golf balls.
"That was…surreal." Gloria said making Javièr and Santana laugh.
"I think I'll go with the Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo."
"Can we go now?" Santana asked. "I'm tired and bored."
Javièr nodded. "Give me a minute to pay for these then we can go home."
Home doesn't feel right. Lima, Ohio just doesn't feel like home right now. To Santana it felt like they decided on a spontaneous vacation by blindly pointing on a map and got stuck with Ohio, one of the last places anyone would want to vacation at.
"Okay."
Gloria sympathetically wrapped her arm around Santana's shoulder understanding how the teen felt. "I know. It doesn't feel like home to me, either."
A/N: What do you think? Should I continue or not? I do have two other chapters written but they could always be scrapped if no one likes it so far.