Santana's POV

When I had started high school, I could only have hoped for it to turn out the way it did. By October, I was already in the most popular group in my grade, I was on the Cheerios, I had a real best friend, and I was sleeping with someone who kept my popularity up. Sure, the sleeping with Puck may not have been ideal, but it made me popular, so I lived with it. Who cared about my true feelings anyway?

I wasn't very happy that Brittany followed in my footsteps, though. Matt was nice, but I felt very protective over Brittany. Especially since she told me that she was raped in summer. I didn't want Matt to hurt her.

The biggest talk around the school was already the Cheerios' big Halloween party. It happened yearly, and since it would be our first year attending, Brittany and I were already planning out our costumes. Quinn was a goody-two-shoes compared to Britt and I, so, even though she would be going, she pledged not to participate in any of the activities that we knew would happen at the party. Namely, drinking and sex.

I had gone over to Brittany's after school so we could help each other get ready for the party. We'd heard of what most girls wore to the parties previous years and tried our best to base our costumes off of what was popular, not fun or creative. We wore our Cheerios outfits, then built our costumes from that baseline. It was important that we would fit in; it was hard enough being a freshman in the group.

Brittany's mom drove us to Quinn's house once we were ready, where we interrupted Quinn getting thoroughly warned by her parents. Then, all three of us walked to the house where the party was. Quinn lived the closest, since the girl throwing the party was super rich and so was Quinn; the rich community was nowhere near where Britt nor I lived.

"Remember," Quinn said, "we can't act immature because we are the freshmen."

"And," I added, "we have to drink because they all will be."

We'd all already known these things, but said them to ease our minds as the party could be heard nearly a block away and I knew that I, at least, was nervous.

No one noticed when the three of us stepped into the house where the party was except for the lead cheerleader, making sure that only the popular kids were welcomed. From what I could see, the house was almost full.

"Everyone's here!" she shouted, closing and locking the front door once we were inside.

We immediately went into the living room. I knew most of the people at the party, but not by name.

"Do you want a drink?"

I turned around and saw Puck behind me holding out his second drink for me. I took the red plastic cup from him. I had never had alcohol before, unless you counted a taste of my mom's wine when I was thirteen. After short hesitation, I swallowed some of the drink.

I turned back around and saw that Finn and Matt had joined our group. Both Brittany and Quinn had alcohol in their hands as well. It had, after all, been part of our plan.

I watched as Brittany and Quinn drank and talked with their boyfriends. There was nothing for Puck and I to talk about; all he cared about was getting our cups refilled. And once they were full, he emptied his cup without taking a breath.

"Want to find a room upstairs?" Puck asked.

I looked at the girls, but they seemed to have forgotten about anything but their boyfriends and alcohol. "Sure," I replied, following him through the crowd.

"Are you ready to leave?"

I had already put my clothes back on and was back downstairs drinking when Quinn approached me.

"Sure... Where's Britt?" My head felt heavy, probably from the drinking.

"How much did you drink, Santana?"

"I dunno..."

"Okay, well I don't think you should be walking home alone."

"Where's Britt?" I asked again.

"She's just behind me," Quinn said. "She's probably more drunk than you."

I groaned, then Quinn helped Brittany and I exit the house that had become emptier as the night passed.

"You can't stay at my house," Quinn stated. "My parents would flip. That's why I only had a few sips."

Alcohol seemed to make Brittany super happy and energized. I wished it had that affect on me, because all I felt I could do was yell at someone and cry.

"My aunt lives here," Brittany said, pointing at a house across the street.

"Wait, really?" Quinn asked.

"Yeah."

"You two can stay there tonight." Quinn walked us across the street and rang the doorbell. When no one answered, she tried opening the door; it was locked. "Is there a spare key?" she asked.

"Under the door mat," Brittany slurred. Her voice was better than many I'd heard at the party, but anyone could tell she was drunk.

Quinn found the key and opened the door. "Please be quiet in case she's home," she said. "I'll see you at school on Monday."

Brittany led me up the stairs to the guest room, giggling. Once she was in the room, she took all of her clothes but her bra and underwear off, then lay down in the bed. I wasn't sure what to do, but Brittany didn't seem to care, so I kept on my uniform before lying down beside her in the bed.

She's so pretty, I thought. Then I started crying.

The next morning, Brittany was still asleep when I woke up. I felt sick, definitely hungover, so I drank a cup of water, then left a note for Brittany before heading back home. I was prepared for my mom to yell at me when I got home.

"Where were you?" my mom asked when I stepped inside, the door closing too loudly for my headache.

"Cheerios party," I replied. "Can I please go sleep?"

"Really Santana? You're fourteen; you shouldn't be drinking. Go to bed, and you can't go anywhere for the rest of the weekend."

I sighed and barely made it to my bed before falling back asleep.