Chapter 8 - The Departure

Sunday morning felt cold, as Aja woke to complete emptiness. It felt cold as if life had drained from her body. Aja held close to the bedsheets, taking in and remembering their passionate time together after BreadstiX. The smell of Santana was addictive, so overwhelming Aja couldn't help but cry. There she was, a lone stranger in the bed of her lover.

This was Aja's first time at Santana and Quinn's place. Aja looked around the room, as this was her first time to really take in the surroundings of the place. Aja looked over to the bedstand to find a folded paper with Aja's name scribbled on the outside. Aja scrambled to read the note, almost tearing open the paper as she unfolded the page.

"Dearest Aja,

You have every excuse to hate me, I understand. I took a flight to Lima this morning. Nothing in this world can express how sorry I am. I will text you when I have time, likely this evening. Aja. I can't stop thinking about you. You're everything that's on my mind. You make my life so complete. I don't know how long I'll be in Lima for, but for now, soon my love I hope to return. This is not forever, but I hope you will be.

PS, you are the most adorable sleeper.

Santana"

Aja focused on the last sentence, "forever". Forever… Aja couldn't stop thinking of the word. It became her obsession. Forever. Me? Forever? Aja crumpled the note, throwing it to the floor. Tears poured down her face as she gripped the pillow.

Aja's mood was interrupted by the laughter pounding outside the door. Sunday, of course, Quinn's kid is going to be around. Aja got dressed, threw on her bag, and was ready to take the walk of shame out of the apartment.

Aja took a deep breath before opening the door.

As she opened the door she was greeted right away by a little human looking curiously at Aja.

"Hm?" The little girl was looking up at Aja, but it wasn't Quinn's daughter, it looked like Rachel's daughter Piper.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Aja spoke to the child.

"Hazel, there's someone from the diner here!?" Piper screamed at her friend who came running from the kitchen.

"I'll save you Pippy!" Hazel came running to see what the fuss was all about. Aja was already panicking in her spot, this was the last thing she wanted to happen right now.

Hazel collided into Piper, and like a domino, Piper flew towards Aja, causing Aja to fall over.

"Fuck-" Aja muttered to herself as held her hand over her back.

"Well, I see you found the kids," Quinn was looking down at Aja who, along with the two young girls, was tangled in the dogpile.

"Yeah, you could say that… Sorry, Quinn, I shouldn't be here, I-"

"Santana told me everything. She actually called me at the airport." Quinn had her arms crossed. Her words were so cold. How could Fae like this woman?

"Now, if you excuse me," Quinn glared down at the two children who quickly got up, scrambling to avoid any conflict.

"I should get going-" Aja picked up her bag and walked towards the front door.

"Nice seeing you, Aja." Quinn's tone was plainer than ever.

/

Aja got back to the apartment tired. She stuck her keys in the lock, saying a little prayer to herself before opening the door.

"Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in!" Fae was watching TV on the couch.

"Ion even want to hear it today, Fae." Aja was serious. She threw her bag down and walked towards her bedroom.

"Sorry, but I know a walk of shame when I see one." Fae threw her hand up casually, eyes still glued to the TV.

Aja rolled her eyes, preparing herself for a shower. The shower felt as if a religious entity had cleansed her of her wrongdoings. It took all her power not to wash the linger of Santana off her body, but she knew it had to be done. Aja had to let go of what was happening to her, or at least accept this was happening. Aja couldn't help but to cry again, holding her head to the water, washing away her sadness.

Out of the shower, Aja knew Fae wouldn't shut up until she knew everything, so she changed into some comfortable clothes and met Fae on the couch.

"Oh, so you decided to join me, eh?" Fae looked over at Aja. "What's wrong Aja, you look pathetic."

"Fae," Aja shook her head. "Can I be serious with you for a second? Something really bad has happened."

Fae turned the TV off to give Aja her full attention. "Shoot. I'm listening."

"Alright, well, last night-" Aja cut herself off with her tears starting.

"Hey, whoa, easy Aja," Fae held her hand out to touch Aja's shoulder, but Aja quickly brushed her off.

"Santana, she's," Aja was choking over her words.

"She's? She's what!?" Fae lunged her arm back to Aja's shoulder, this time to shake it.

"She's gone back to Lima, her Abuela…" Aja was sobbing. "Her Abuela is probably dying, she went back, she's gone, she's-"

"Aja," Fae looked at her friend in sympathy. "Hey,"

Fae leaned in to hug Aja, who held onto the sleeve of Fae's shirt, weeping until no tears were left to cry.

"Let's get out of here."

/

"It's only temporary." Aja held a chai latte in her hand.

The dim neon light of the New York Bean reflected onto Aja's face. "She just took off too, right early in the morning. I didn't even get to say goodbye."

"She said she would text you this evening, right?" Fae took a bite of her panini.

"Right, but still," Aja looked out to the rain-splattered window.

"So, how about you go to Lima and see her?" Fae said with her mouth full of food.

"Fae, we get it, you're rich. I can't just hop on a plane and see her." Aja rolled her eyes as she took another sip of her latte.

"Well, maybe you can see if you can get your paycheck in advance." Fae shrugged.

"Maybe I could, but Ion know." Aja pressed her lips together. "I could see if Mercedes could help a sister out."

"Yeah! That's more like it!" Fae bumped Aja's arm with her fist. "Listen, you should go to Lima. I got a friend from the Netherlands coming over soon and I was thinkin' of giving her your bedroom."

"So that's your real reason why you want me to go?"

"No! Go and get your girl." Fae couldn't meet Aja's eyes.

"I swear to god, Fae." Aja had her middle finger pressed to her forehead as she shot Fae a glare.

/

By the time the two of them arrived back at the apartment, it had gotten pretty late. Aja kept checking her phone every couple of minutes. Still no texts from Santana. No texts at all in fact, besides something about renewing car insurance for that car she definitely had.

"Erm, Aja?" Fae whispered to Aja as she opened the door.

"What?" Aja looked around, eventually seeing Fae's pointed finger, pointed towards the floor.

Boots. Large brown boots.

"And I know Ethan's foot didn't grow twice the size overnight." Fae whisper yelled.

Aja nodded at Fae. "We got this. Real smooth."

"Go to your room, pretend like nothing's happened." Fae finally whispered before the girls took off their shoes, tip-toeing past the living room to make it towards their respective bedrooms.

As they heard distinctive sounds from Ethan's room, Fae turned to Aja, making rude gestures to the darker girl.

"Stop! Stop that!" Aja sputtered, swatting her hands towards Fae. Fae let out a cheeky grin before slowly closing the door of her bedroom.

/

"Robert," Ethan turned to the taller man

"That was a lot of fun Ethan, when can we do that again?" Robert leaned against the doorframe, smiling down at Ethan.

"Maybe on Tuesday, I'm pretty sure my roommates will both be out by then-"

"Out by when?" Fae was now leaning on the doorframe of her own bedroom. "Hey, Ethan, who's this?" Fae started walking towards the pair.

"Fae!" Ethan looked wide-eyed at the pink-haired girl. "What are you doing here!?"

"I just so happen to live here-" Fae looked down at her fingernails. "Yourself?"

"Robert," Ethan sighed. "This is my roommate, Fae"

"It's a pleasure," Robert held out his hand for Fae to shake.

"Likewise."

"See you, Robert." Ethan smiled softly at the man.

He winked as Ethan closed the door. The second the sound of the lock clicked, Ethan turned to Fae.

"What the fuck was that?"

"What?"

"Why did you come out!"

"Well, this is my house too." Fae scoffed.

"Still!"

"Now I gotta wash my hands. I dunno where it's been." Fae walked to the kitchen to wash her hands.

"Ugh!"

"Hey guys," Aja poked her head out her bedroom door.

"You're here too!?" Ethan cried. "Did you guys hear any of that?"

"Kind of all of it-" Fae chimed in.

"Ugh, of course you did you perv," Ethan rolled their eyes crossing their arms.

"I, I kinda did too…" Aja confessed in remorse.

"You guys!" Ethan yelped, quickly unfolding their arms in frustration.

"I dunno, Aja what'd you think of him?" Fae turned to Aja with an eyebrow raised.

"I don't know, he looks a little fruity," Aja laughed, sparking a chain reaction of laughter.

"Yeah, he does look kinda fruity," Fae laughed.

"He's a bisexual man!" Ethan shouted through their roommate's laughter.

"I don't know, he looks all the way gay." Aja stammered. Aja and Fae were buckled in tears at this point.

"Look, he is essentially my dream man, okay!" Ethan was so done with their roommates.

"You 100% met that man at your Broadway thing, didn't you," Aja asked through calm laughter.

"Yes, in fact, he happens to play Boq." Ethan looked at the pair, whose eyes looked back at them, clueless. "He's like my love interest!"

"Oh," the pair said in unison.

"Should really see your show one day when it comes out." Fae giggled. "See that fruity man in action."

"Stop!"

/

Being back at the house was a great distraction from what had happened earlier. Aja checked her phone after about an hour of not checking.

"Holy shit-" Aja gasped at the text from Santana. Finally!

"Hey babe, I miss you so much already. How are you feeling?"

Aja was quick to reply, even though the text was sent half an hour ago. "Shit-"

"I'm doing okay babe, I miss you incredibly so. Is everything alright at the house? How's your Abuela?"

Within minutes, a reply.

"She's not well. It's not looking good. I may be back in New York sooner than anticipated."

Aja felt bittersweet, she would love to have Santana back in New York as soon as possible, but she knew the reason for her early arrival wasn't for a good reason.

"Whenever you come back, I will be waiting for you." Aja smiled at her text as she sent it.

"I'm so glad to hear that babe. Would love to put on Sweet Valley High and get our cuddle on."

"I can't wait."

...

"Have a good night Aja. I miss you."

"Goodnight babe, I miss you too."

Aja tossed the phone down on her bed, exhausted. She had to see Santana, she couldn't bear to be in New York unable to be there for her girlfriend. There was only one thing she could do. She had to ask Mercedes about the flight.

She just had to.

/