Eighteen
Dani had finally managed to pull herself away from Santana and was now crossing the yard back to her own house. Of course, it hadn't been entirely easy for the shorter girl to leave Santana's house. The darker girl had tried using all of the charm that she had in her to get Dani to stay the night, but Dani had used most of, if not all of, her self control and had eventually moved away from Santana and had walked out of the Lopez house hold.
Of course, Dani wouldn't lie about it, she had been extremely tempted to spend the night with Santana. She loved having cuddles with the taller girl, and loved waking up and falling asleep being wrapped in her arms. It was definitely safe to say that Dani preferred being the cuddlee rather than the cuddler. But still, Dani knew, deep down, that staying over at Santana's that night would probably had been the wrong move to make, especially with how Santana had been feeling just before she left- Dani had wanted to go further, she just knew that right now it would have been too much too soon.
Dani looked over her shoulder just in time to see Santana standing on the porch to her own house waving at her and wearing a comical pout on her face. Dani rolled her eyes good-naturedly and blew Santana a kiss, she waved quickly before turning her back on the other girl so she could open the front door to her own house. She stepped inside slowly; trying to be as sneaky as she possibly could (she wasn't exactly a quiet person, nor was she the most graceful person in the world- she had been know trip over thin air). She closed the door with a quiet click. She rested her head on the door and closed her eyes, letting out a soft sigh. She opened her eyes slowly and pushed herself away from the door before heading in the direction of the kitchen to get a drink.
She used her phone as a flashlight to guide her way through the hallway and to the kitchen, she didn't want to turn on the main light to the hallway, it was definitely way too bright, and would definitely have attracted too much attention. She knew that at that moment, any attention she got from anyone in that house was sure to be bad attention.
Once she had reached the kitchen door she put her phone back in her back pocket and pushed the door open slowly, as soon as she turned the light on she heard her mother's voice, "Hello." She said.
"Jesus Christ!" Dani said; she placed her hand over her heart, which was now beating rapidly against her chest. To say that her mom had startled her would understate the situation immensely. Jennifer was sitting on one of the high stools at the kitchen island, giving her daughter a sweet smile, one that Dani knew was anything but.
Her mom shook her head head slowly, her smile never faltering, "No it's not Jesus, just mom," she said. Dani took a deep breath and runs a had through her tussled blonde hair, "Danielle Jennifer Mitchell, you've got some explaining to do." Jennifer stood up and walked towards her daughter, crossing her arms over her chest. "Where the fuck have you been?" She said. Well, it's easy to see where I get my beautiful way with words from, Dani mused, "No phone call teling me you were going to be home late, no nothing you just... why?"
"I-I was with a friend," Dani said with a small shrug, well actually, she'd more than a friend; she's my girlfriend; I have been with my girlfriend, my totally amazing, and totally gorgeous girlfriend!
"Really? Until eleven?" Jennifer asked, Dani nodded her head, "Danielle, you know that on a school night, your curfew is ten." She said, "That's your dad's rule obviously not mine, but I do expect you to follow it no matter who set the rule." She said, "You came in an our late... you are so lucky that you're dealing with me right now and not your dad."
Dani nodded her head, "Yeah I know that," she said, "Look. I just lost track of time, okay?" She said with a small shrug, "We just watched some movies, and we..." she trailed off and shook her head, "Whatever, I'm sorry okay?" She said, "I won't do it again."
"Oh no. Dani please continue that sentence," Jennifer said, "You just watched a couple of movies and then?"
Dani rolled her eyes, "Look it's not like that," she replied, "You can trust me on that one mom," she sighed, "It was nowhere near being anything like that." Okay, so that's a minot lie, it was pretty close to being like that... it definitely could have gone that way had I not stopped her... actually I'm really regretting stopping her now... if I'd said yes to her, I wouldn't be stood here dealing with this, God no, I'd be doing something much more enjoyable. "Mom it was totally innocent." Lies again... but what mother doesn't know.
Jennifer nodded her head slowly, "Yeah... that hickie on your neck looks extremely innocent to me," she said sarcastically.
"What!" Dani said, she quickly covered the spot on her neck that Santana's lips had been attached to just moments before. Dani moved her hand away from her neck when she saw her mother's facial expression change.
"You don't have one really." She admitted, "But now I know for sure that this movie watching with a 'friend' wasn't entirely innocent," she said using air quotations, "had it of been, you'd have brushed that comments off and said something about how it was impossible for you to have one... but your reaction just told me everything that I needed to know." Dani let out a sigh.
"Shit," she mumbled.
Dani was thankful that Santana hadn't done enough to leave a mark on her skin.
Now, Dani loved neck kisses as much as the next person, that much was obvious in the way that she reacted when receiving them, especially if someone hit her in the right spots like Santana had. But Dani felt there were very few things worse than gaining a hickie; she didn't mind them so much if she could cover them up easily. But when some one placed them on her neck, high enough for the world to see, Dani considered it to be a huge turn off.
Jennifer smirked "You need learn to bluff better, like me." She said good-naturedly. "When you have two daughter's and an older sister, you learn ways to tell when they're lying to you." She said.
Dani sighed, "What's my give away?"
"You think I'm gonna tell you that?" Jennifer said, "That's for me to know and you to never figure out… I like that I can tell when you're lying to me… it means I get to do things like that."
Dani rolled her eyes, "Somehow, it doesn't seem fair that you have that advantage over me." Dani said.
"That's just life." Jennifer shrugged, "You think it wasn't the same for me growing up?" She asked.
"Probably not, I can't see you ever 'lying' about where you've been," Dani said using air quotations. To be fair, she hadn't been lying, she had been at a friend's house, and they had watched movies.
"What you think I never had a rebellious streak?"
Dani shook her head, "No. I'm not saying that because I'm sure you did." She said, "I just… I can't see you lying about where you've been because you just wouldn't give a shit." Dani said, "Like me… you'd tell the truth."
"I still don't think you're telling the whole truth."
Dani shrugged, "Think what you want." She said with a small smile.
"You get more and more like me everyday… and that's a worry. Now… get to bed, before your father shoots you." Jennifer said, she walked past Dani and kissed the top of her head. "Me and you will discuss this more tomorrow after school," she said, "So no Santana and no new 'friend'." She said, Dani opened her mouth to say something but was cut off by her mother. "Oh and one more thing… you're grounded."
Dani nodded her head thoughtfully, "Yeah saw that one coming."
Jennifer shrugged, "Sorry kid, but break the rules and you're gonna get a consequence." She said with a small smile.
"So… how long for exactly?"
Jennifer shrugged, "A couple of days." She said, "It seems fair, you did only come home late, you're not drunk or stoned." She said, "So as far as punishable offences go it's a low one." She said. "Night dear."
"Night mom," Dani said.
"Love you."
Dani nodded her head, "Yeah, love you too." She said quietly, she sent her mom a quick smile and watched her walk up the stairs. She let out a breath of air, puffing her cheeks out slightly.
She quickly walked to the fridge and grabbed a can of coke before turning on her heel and heading back to the door, she flicked the light switch off and headed up the stairs.
She dropped onto her bed and pulled out her phone, she unlocked he screen to see she had numerous texts from Santana; she rolled her eyes good-naturedly and opened them.
From Sandbags
Are you dead? xxxx
From Sandbags
Are you dead? xxxx
From Sandbags
Are you ever gonna answer me girl? Are you dead? xxxx
From Santana
Shit you're dead aren't you? xxxx
From Santana
Sorry that I got you killed xxxx
From Sandbags
I can't believe you're dead. I only just started getting to know you! I whish we'd done this all sooner. I whish I had gotten to know you better before you bit the dust… so young… so beautiful xxxx
To Sandbags
OMG! Shut up, I'm not dead, but I have just gotten into a little bit of trouble for what I did :/ xxxx
From Sandbags
YOU'RE ALIVE! What do you mean you got in trouble? How deep trouble? Xxxx
To Sandbags
Well, my mom hasn't actually given me the full lecture yet, that one's coming, she just gave me a quick one today, just letting me know what I'd done was wrong, and said we'll discuss it more tomorrow and for now I just need to go to bed before my dad shoots me xxxx
From Sandbags
That's it… that's all she said to you? That it'll get discussed tomorrow? xxxx
To Santana
Yeah… and then she said that thing about my dad xxxx
From Sandbags
Yeah but did she really say that thing about you're dad, or are you just trying to be funny? Because you have a tendency to over exaggerate a situation to make someone laugh xxxx
To Sandbags
Yeah. Her words exactly. She said 'Now get to bed, before your father shoots you' strange thing is I actually think he would… see now that's the exaggeration ;)… but I am in deep shit xxxx
From Sandbags
I'm worth it though, right? xxxx
To Sandbags
I don't know…. I guess on some levels…. Look anyway. I think that I'm gonna go now because I am still a little sleepy from waking up from that nap we had… you're a really good nap buddy xxxx
From Sandbags
Okay then tiny… I'll see you tomorrow… and you too, loved cuddling with you tonight… whish you could have stayed xxxx
To Sandbags
Me too… but it's a good job I didn't isn't it? xxxx
From Sandbags
Yeah… I guess so… anyway, I'll let you get going. Night sweet dreams xxxx
To Sandbags
Sweet dreams to you too xxxx
The last thing that Dani did before she fell to sleep was changing Santana's name in her phone book, she'd promised herself that no matter what she'd never change it. But looking at it now, she felt she needed to.
It was one thing to call her it in jest before they were together, or before they were even really friends for that matter, but to have that as her name now seemed unfair to the shorter girl.
She might chance at calling her it again, just to see how Santana reacted (even though last time she did that Santana had complained to her about it).
oOoOo
Dani woke up earlier than she had originally planned to the next morning she fumbled around still half asleep, trying to find her phone. She squinted at the bright light of her screen, and frowned when she saw the time.
She still had an extra hour in bed before her alarm was going to ring out. But Dani knew better, she knew that once she was awake, she was awake for the rest of the day, no matter how tired she may be.
She also knew that her being up this earlier had every thing to do with the nap that she and Santana had had the day before. She should have known better.
She sat herself up in her bed slowly and turned her head to face the window, of course, the sky was still dark, they're reached the fall and were now in the second week of October.
She ran her hand through her hair before turning her mouth down in thought, she grabbed her phone from her drawer and opened one of the games she downloaded a while ago, and decided to do nothing but try to complete one of the levels while she waited for an appropriate time to start getting ready and to text her girl.
She kept flipping back and forth between playing her games, checking her Facebook news feed and checking the time.
She couldn't help but notice how slowly time was ticking by that day, compared to how fast it usually sped by her when she still had a small amount of time to try and get more sleep.
When it got to what Dani considered a reasonable time, she sent Santana a quick 'good morning' text before throwing her phone down on her bed, grabbing a towel and heading to the bathroom to start getting ready for the day.
The firs thing Dani did when she got back into her bedroom was check her phone, she smiled when she saw that Santana had replied to her text.
From Santana
Good morning thanks for waking me up half an hour early xxxx
To Santana
You don't get up until seven? God you're a lazy bitch xxxx
From Santana
Well, who needs pet names like sweetie when you call be a bitch? How did I get so lucky to get such a romantic? xxxx
To Santana
I've been your girlfriend for a few hours, you haven't seen anything yet :) xxxx
oOoOo
Santana whistled jokingly when she saw Dani standing by her car, Dani rolled her eyes, she was wearing a black long sleeved AC/DC shirt black, ripped skinny jeans, her usual Dr. Marten shoes and leather jacket.
"You look so hot today," Santana smiled at the shorter girl and leaned down to peck her lips, Dani moved her head to the side slightly, just in time for Santana to miss her lips and hit her cheek.
Santana pulled away and gave Dani a questioning look, "You look gorgeous, too." She said, "but I just… I don't think it's safe, I think my mom is gonna be on high alert," she said.
Santana looked up towards Dani's house, "No we're safe." She said.
Dani shook her head, "Not risking it today… I'm already in trouble, I don't wanna risk her finding out that when I said I was with a friend I really meant a girlfriend, because that could cause more shit, that or I'll just get lots of questions, and I'm not ready for that." Dani said, "So sorry, but right now…" She said waving her hands slightly.
"What are you a mime now?" Dani gave Santana and unamused look, "Sorry." She said, "I get it, trust me I do but… I wanna kiss you." She said groaning slightly.
Dani shrugged and shook her head, "Sorry again," she said. She took another look at Santana, "But you do look really nice though," she said.
"I do?"
Dani nodded her head, and allowed her eyes to roam Santana's body, taking in the way that her chest looked in the tight, low cut red sweater that she had on.
"Yeah, you look really good in red." She said, a small smile playing on the corners of her mouth.
"I look good in red, or they look good in red?" Santana asked teasingly, Dani looked up slowly, her eyes locking onto Santana's.
She shrugged her shoulders, "Both." She admitted.
"You have no shame at all do you?"
Dani shook her head, "Nope." she said smiling up at Santana.
oOoOo
Lunch had finally arrived, and Dani couldn't have been more eager to see Santana, after not seeing her since that morning, and even then not really getting much chance to speak to her, she felt like she needed nothing more than to talk to her. She walked into the cafeteria a little later than she usually would, and saw Santana sitting at her usual table, in her usual seat, she could only imagine that the other girl was looking for her, like she always did.
She walked closer to the table and held a finger up to her lips, asking the other members of the glee club- well the ones that could see her anyway- to remain quiet.
She slowly placed her hands over Santana's eyes, and said, "Guess who?" She felt Santana jump slightly, and looked up at Quinn, she turned her mouth down a little bit before looking back down at her girlfriend.
"Hmm," Santana said, "Well, my initial guess was Dani, but thinking about it, it might also be the cold hands of death." She joked.
"It's definitely the cold hands of death." She joked.
"Well that's what I was hoping it would be."
Santana edged down the table, making everyone else move down with her. "Sure." Tina said sarcastically, "I don't mind perching on the edge of the bench so Dani can sit down."
"Don't worry I won't be over here for long," she said, "I have other friends," she sighed, "I just wanted to come and see Santana for a little bit."
"Not me then?" Puck asked.
Dani shook her head, "No." She said, Santana grabbed Dani's hand and laced her fingers through Dani's; she couldn't help but notice that the shorter girl didn't reciprocate the action; instead she left her hand open slightly. Mercedes scoffed slightly, earning herself a questioning look from Dani, "What?" She asked.
She shook her head, "Nothing." She said, "I just like how blunt you are with him," she admitted, "it makes me laugh."
"Oh... okay." Dani said, Santana slowly started the rub the back of Dani's hand with her thumb.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Nothing," Dani said, "I just thought it'd be nice to sit with you guys for a while, considering I usually don't." She said. "But hey, if you want me to leave, I will." Dani made to stand up before Santana dragged her back down.
"No." Santana said quickly, "I just thought you had something to tell me."
Dani saw this as her time to tell Santana what her mom had said last night, "Well, other than the fact that I can't spend any time with you after school today there's nothing that I can think of." She admitted.
"Wait, why?"
"I'm grounded."
"Why?"
"Because of yesterday," Dani said, "Remember, last night when I told you I was in deep shit," she said, Santana nodded her head, "Well that's why," she said, "So it's straight to our own houses after glee today... really sorry."
"Wait, what did you do?" Puck asked, he leaned forwards and rested his chin on Santana's shoulder.
"Nothing out of the ordinary." Dani lied. "I went to a friend's house and we watched some movies, but kind of lost track of time." Dani said, "So I got in past my curfew," she said, "my mom caught me, and grounded me on suspicions of lying and coming home late."
"Lying about what?"
"She thinks I was with some guy." Dani said incredulously.
"Where you?" Puck asked, stiffening slightly.
"That's beside the point," she said.
"I'll take that one as a yes." Quinn said.
"Take it how you want, doesn't make it true." Dani said. She sighed and looked over her shoulder to see her friends beckoning her over to them. "Well, I'm being summand," she said, "So, I guess I'll see you all later in glee." She said, she stood up slowly and slid her hand from Santana's she waved at them all once before turning her back on them and heading to her usual table.
"God that girl has a great ass." Puck mumbled, Santana brought her hand up and slapped him on the side of the head, he quickly moved his head off of her shoulder, "Ow." he said, he brought his hand up and rubbed his stinging skin, hoping that it would sooth it slightly.
"Sorry." Santana said, with no real hint of an apology in her tone of voice.
"No you're not." Puck replied.
Santana shook her head, "You're right, I'm really not."
oOoOo
That day had dragged, and it felt like they had been at school for a lifetime by the time they had to go to glee, as usual, Dani and Santana were some of the first people to arrive, the only other people in the room were Rachel, Jesse, Kurt and Blaine.
"Hey Dani." Rachel said brightly, the blonde haired girl gave her a quick smile and a wave, "Santana." Rachel said, giving the girl a slight knowing smile.
"Hobbit." Santana said dryly as she walked past the shorter girl.
"Is she in a bad mood?" Rachel asked.
Dani shrugged, "I don't think so, she wasn't this morning, but I haven't really seen her to ask." Dani admitted. "She said she was okay at lunch, but that was hours ago."
Santana lead the way to the back row and sat in the far corner, "Dani," Santana said the shorter girl turned her head to see Santana beckoning her over.
"Why do people keep doing that to me today?" She asked quietly pointing at Santana, she looked back down at Rachel, the brunette turned her head to see Santana crooking her finger slightly. She looked back to Dani and shook her head slowly.
"You don't have to do everything she says you know?" Rachel said, "If you wanna sit with anyone else at any point you can."
Dani nodded her head slowly, "Yeah I know. But I wanna sit with her so I am." She said with a small shrug, "She doesn't control me… and she'll know about it if she ever tries." Dani said with a small smile. "Anyway, I'll talk to you a little later," she said, she turned on her heel and walked away from the other girl. As soon as Dani was sitting next to Santana, her hand went to Dani's thigh, laying over it gently. She gave it a light squeeze, and couldn't help but notice the small smile that crossed Dani's lips.
Of course, Dani didn't let Santana's had stay there long, after around a minute, Dani gently removed Santana's hand, she gave it a light squeeze before letting go of it and allowing Santana's had to fall into the gap between the chairs.
From Santana
What's wrong with you today? xxxx
To Santana
Just not enough people to hide it… someone will see xxxx
From Santana
Are you sure it's just that? Because you haven't been the same with me since last night… regrets already? xxxx
To Santana
No! Don't be stupid… it's just… we have to be even more careful now than we did before. xxxx
From Santana
Sigh, I guess I can cope with that, but only if you come over to my place tonight, so I can finally act like you're girlfriend.
To Santana
Sorry, I told you. I'm in deep shit, I'm grounded, so no you, no anyone xxxx
From Santana
You meant that? xxxx
To Santana
Yeah... why? xxxx
From Santana
I thought you were using it as a decoy, to throw the others off... I didn't think you actually meant that you were grounded! xxxx
To Santana
Well I am... and I'm stopping texting you now because it looks pretty suspicious. xxxx
Dani locked her phone and placed it into her back pocket. She looked up at the door just in time to see one other person arrive at the choir room."Guys, I have some awesome news, I've had it all day, but I wanted to make my announcement here." He chimed.
"Puck we all know you're a sex addict." Dani said sarcastically. "And I wouldn't exactly call that awesome news... you need help." She joked.
"Well as long as you prescribe the medicine I'll be okay." He teased.
Dani shook her head, "Sorry, I'm not a doctor."
"Can we move on from whatever this is?" Santana snapped, "What's this news?" She asked. Dani smirked slightly, and looked down.
"Well this morning my mom just so happened to tell one of her friends over the phone that she is going out on Halloween," he said, "Apparently there's some big party somewhere in town." He said, "So, you all know what that means?"
Dani shook her head, "No." She said sarcastically, "What does it mean."
He smiled at her before sitting on the other side of her, much to Santana's dismay, "I know you're being sarcastic but I'm gonna tell you anyway." He said he slung his arm over the back of Dani's chair, the blonde girl looked at it and quirked her eyebrow at him, while Santana furrowed her eyebrows at the boy. "It means that for four years in a row I can host a Halloween party at my place."
"Oh." Dani said sounding slightly disinterested.
"You're invited, obviously," he said quickly.
Dani nodded her head, "Okay." She said, "Is this a costume thing or just a drinking thing."
"Both." He said, "So you'd better get all dressed up for me Danielle." He said, Dani smiled. "And it's only a glee thing… and the invitation only extends to you… so, no random guys, okay?" He said.
Dani nodded her head, "I wasn't really planning on asking a random guy… I don't know any." She admitted with a small shrug.
"Good." Puck said.
oOoOo
"Does me talking to Dani make you jealous?" Puck teased, "Because every time I go near her lately, you seem to get all tense."
Santana shook her head, "No." She said, "Why would it?" She asked with a slightly shrug.
"I don't know, but for a couple of weeks now it has… I guess it could have something to do with the fact that you totally want to get into her pants." He said, Santana opened her mouth to protest. "No." He said cutting her off, "Just admit it to me, there is no one else around and what happened to us being bros?"
Santana sighed, "Fine, I'll admit to this… she is a very pretty girl," understatement "But she's my best friend," Santana said with a shrug, "And she's straight." Lies, "So nothing is ever going to happen between us anyway… because it can't, because she's straight and even if she wasn't, we wouldn't because it'd be weird, you know?" She said, "I mean, kissing your best friend, only works out once in a blue moon, and I had that with Brittany," she said, "But Dani is completely different, it'd just be weird to kiss her." Lies again, there is nothing odd about kissing Dani, it never felt odd, even the thought of it never felt like that. Kissing Dani is great! Santana thought.
"I don't know." Puck said, "I don't think it'd feel weird, I think looking at her she'd be good at it… she's got nice lips."
Santana rolled her eyes, "I never said she wouldn't be a good kisser, because I don't doubt for a second that she is… I meant it'd feel wrong, like, me kissing you or kissing Berry." She said, Santana screwed her face up slightly.
Puck twisted his mouth in thought, "So, you really don't have a crush on her?" He asked, Santana shook her head slowly, "So do you mind if I take a shot at her then?" He asked, "I think that I could stand a chance."
"No." Santana answered all too quickly for her own liking, maybe keeping someone else's secret is harder than keeping your own, I'm not going to be able to do it for long if people keep being like this with her.
"Well why not?" He said, "You just said you don't want her and she's straight."
"Because." Santana said, "I know you…" she trialed off trying to think of a plausible lie, "I don't want Dani to be just another notch in your bedpost… I know how you treat girls, I've been there and done that… pretty sure it was you that made me gay." She said sarcastically.
Puck rolled his eyes, "Shut up." He said, "And she won't be," he said, "It's not like when we did stuff, or when I've done stuff with other girls." He admitted, "I actually really like her," he said, "and I don't just mean her looks, I mean, she's a nice girl, she's funny, smart, talented, and hot as hell fire," he said, "But if you were lying to me just then, then I'll step aside and I'll let you take a stab at her." He said, "You need someone since Brittany, and I think it could be her."
Santana shook her head, "I'm not lying, Dani is straight." She said.
"But you do like her?"
Santana sighed, "I guess, on some level." She said, "But the girl's straight, I don't stand a chance."
"So I can go for it?" He asked.
Santana nodded her head, "Knock yourself out," she said with a small shrug, "But I'll warn you," she said, "I've heard previous relationship stories of hers, and I'm not too sure you're what she usually goes for." She said with a small knowing smile.
oOoOo
"Danielle, can you come in here for me please?" Jennifer called, Dani sighed and through her bag down on the floor at the foot of the stairs, she shrugged out of her jacket and walked into the living room.
"What is it?" Dani asked smiling at her mom slightly.
"I think we should have that talk now."
"Fuck." Dani mumbled. Jennifer gave her a soft smile and patted the empty spot on the couch next to her, Dani bite her bottom lip before forcing herself to walk to the couch, sitting down slowly.
"Okay. I asked you last night, and now I'm going to as you again… what were you doing?" She asked, "Where were you?"
"And I told you last night, I was at a friends house watching movies."
"You're sticking with that story?"
Dani nodded her head, "Yeah, because it's the truth." She said.
Jennifer shook her head, "There's just something telling me that it's more than just a friend, if it is, you can tell me… I don't mind you having boyfriends, you're seventeen, I think it's normal for you to be dating." Jennifer said, "Just don't lie to me about it?"
Dani sighed, "I won't."
"Okay, so tell me then," Jennifer said, "What's this 'friend' of yours like?" She asked, using air quotations.
Dani rolled her eyes, "Kind, caring, sweet." She said, "Funny, talented…"
"Good looking?" Jennifer said.
Dani nodded her head, "Incredibly." She admitted.
"I was wondering, you didn't mention how he looked, that's usually the first thing people do." Jennifer said.
Dani shrugged, "Well, he's more than that." Dani said, "Yeah, he's gorgeous, but there's so much more to him than meets the eye, not a lot of people realise that… I didn't myself, at first." She admitted, "But then we got talking, and we got pretty close, and I don't know, one thing just led to another and now here we are." Dani said.
"Who made the first move?" Jennifer asked.
"I did." Dani divulged, "I didn't want to sit around wondering anymore, and it was annoying me, how close we were, then we had this weird moment, and it was after that, that I decided the best thing to do would to just be honest about it."
"And that worked?"
Dani nodded her head, 'Yeah… it did." She said.
"So, is he your boyfriend?"
Dani nodded her head, "Yeah I'm in a relationship now." She said.
"What's his name?" Jennifer asked.
Dani mind went blank, she'd never had any trouble with things like this before, but suddenly, all she could think was Santana's actual name, "He's, called Sanitago." Dani said.
"Latin," Jennifer said, "Nice."
Dani nodded her head, "Yeah I think I so." She said.
"Okay... so-"
"Mom, can we just be done with this now, there is really nothing else to tell you... I promise you."
"Okay." She said, "I'll leave you to go then." She said holding her hands up slightly.
"Thank you." Dani said.
Dani stood up and started to walk away from her mom, "Dan," she said, the younger girl turned on her heal and gave her mom a small smile, "Thanks for finally being honest with me." She said.
Dani nodded her head once, "It's okay."
Though Dani did feel a little better for telling her mom she was in a relationship, she wished she hadn't been too scared to explain to her that she was seeing a girl rather than a boy. But the prospect of her mom finding out that little gem of knowledge was far too scary for her right now. So she left it at that, leaving her mom believing that she was in a relationship with a boy.
oOoOo
Dani's mind had drawn a blank, there she was sitting just looking at her essay for Animal Farm, she'd only written half of the word count, but she felt like she had covered every possible avenue that the essay question had to offer her.
Dani hated this stage in essay writing, when you hit the plateau and you have nothing more to give, but know you have to keep working. She sighed and looked away from her laptop just in time to see her phone screen light up.
She checked the name on her screen, rolled her eyes and answered the call with a soft sigh.
"What do you want Aid? I'm in the middle of writing an essay right now" Dani said.
"Charming," she said, "I just called to say that… I MISS YOU!"
"Are you drunk?" Dani asked in a teasing tone, she sighed and saved the work she'd done on her essay before closing her lop screen. She pulled her legs closer to her on her bed and made herself more comfortable.
"No I'm not. Maybe I just wanted to talk to you and tell you that I missed you."
"You spoke to me yesterday," Dani said, "We talk everyday, you don't get chance to miss me."
Adriana sighed, "Look, I just really need to talk to you properly… not through text, I need to actually talk to you about something."
"Okay… I'm sorry… what is it?"
"I'm sick and tired of being messed around by guys, and I need you to be your usual self about this."
"Right… what happened, I can't be me until I know what's up."
Adriana sighed, "Just guys… you know sometimes I think I should give up on men and just become a lesbian."
Dani widened her eyes slightly, "Yeah… I've heard they're looking for new members… you should sign up." Dani said sarcastically.
"Dani, I'm being serious." She said, "I hate boys."
"No you don't… you love them." Dani said, "So what happened this time."
"Okay, so there's this guy who, just changed dorms something about him not getting along with his roommate, so now he lives on the floor below me."
"Right," Dani said.
"And he's lived there since we started back this year… and we went to some of the same parties and stuff, and we got talking and I liked him, I did, a lot, he was such a nice guy, not the best looking guy in the world but that doesn't matter, right? Looks aren't everything."
Dani nodded her head even though Adriana couldn't see her, "That's true… they're not." She said.
"I mean, they're not a bad quality, they're usually just a bonus though." Adriana said.
"Okay… Aid, where are you going with this one?"
"Anyway, we started sleeping with each other, but we didn't do it a lot… maybe three of four times,"
"That I don't need to know." Dani said quietly.
"Dani please!" She sighed heavily. "Most of the other times we just cuddled and watched movies, or had these deep talks about what we wanted for the future and like about family and stuff… I spoke about you a lot, I won't lie."
"You spoke about me?"
"Yeah like how close we are and stuff." She said, "Anyway, after a couple of weeks he started acting weird around me and saying he just wanted to be friends, which I'm fine with, I don't mind, yeah I like him but… whatever."
"…Okay, I'm not following how he's messed with y-"
"I'm not done." She said, "So we agreed to just be friends, but then he'd show up at my dorm room and be all over me and saying he needed to talk to me and we'd cuddle again, and then at parties he'd try making moves on me, so I'd go for it again, because I liked him, and he'd be all boyfriendy around me, but then to everyone else he'd be saying that we were only friends." Adriana said, "I was getting told one thing, while everyone else was getting a different story." She continued, "I felt like I was in a rut so I confronted him and now we're nothing. But I've heard from other people that live on his floor that I know, that he's now spreading shit about me and is telling everyone that I'm this crazy bitch who wanted all of this romance when he made it clear from the beginning that he wanted nothing more than a quick fuck, and that it's not his fault that I'm some psycho bitch who was obsessed with him." She sighed, "Am I in the wrong?"
"Honestly?"
"Yeah I want an honest answer, that's why I told you… I know you won't lie to me." She said, "Am I in the wrong and did I read too much into it, or is he just a prick?"
"No he's a prick." Dani said, "If around you he was acting all coupley, how were you to know you weren't a couple, and then he lied to you and told other people how he real felt, all the while keeping you hanging on while he used you for sex." Dani said, "And if you did have these deep talks that you're saying you did, then you definitely weren't just a quick fuck… to me, that is relationship territory… trust me I know… you don't do that type of stuff with someone who's a quick fuck. That's a closeness thing. That's how you talk to a friend or a boyfriend or girlfriend or whatever… he played this all wrong."
"Yeah… that's what I thought… so now everyone thinks I'm this crazy stalker bitch who get's obsessed with people… sorry that he lead me on."
"Is he allergic to nuts?"
"What?"
"Well I need to know for when I kick his up into his throat."
"How are you gonna do that?" Adriana said laughing slightly.
"I'm gonna come to UPENN and kick him in the nuts." She said, "All you need to do is tell me which floor and dorm." She paused, "And his name… so I can ask for him… I don't wanna hurt the wrong guy."
"I love you Dan… so much… and I miss you… can't wait to see you again."
"Yeah… I love you and miss you, too… not long to go now… only November."
"Yeah but then I'm only home for a weekend."
"And then you're back at Christmas."
"I know but right now I'm just… I hate college, do you know that?"
"I thought you loved it at UPENN… from what I hear from you, it's great… and most of the guys are, too apparently."
Adriana sighed, "Yeah they are for the most part… and the life style and the parties and everything are amazing… but the classes nope, they're not and now this has got me down… I just… I wish I'd stayed in Ohio… if I could live like this in Ohio, I'd still be there."
"You know, we have colleges here in Ohio… I expect Will to be stuck at one of those on a football scholarship, which, dad will love."
"I know… but… I don't know, I wanted Ivy League and now I regret my decision."
"Translate to, dad wanted Ivy League."
"Yeah I guess… but I won't lie, it did have an appeal to me, too… but you've got all that to come." Adriana said, she sighed, "Oh well, I'm sure UPENN will get better as soon as you get here."
"I don't think UPENN is an option."
"Why not?"
Dani sighed, "I just… don't like the look of it." She admitted, "There's nothing there that makes me want to go."
"Nothing?" Adriana said, "Not even your favourite sibling?"
"Will's at UPENN now?" Dani asked jokingly.
"Dani!" Adriana said in a warning tone, "I'm serious… I want you here with me."
Dani sighed, "I'll think about it, okay?"
Adriana said, "It's not just me you need to think about it for… if you even wanna go to college you know you need Ivy League, otherwise Dad is gonna be pissed."
"He's not gonna be happy with anything I do in life trust me." Dani said.
"Is this a middle child thing?"
"No this is a… I know that something's that I do in life are gonna leave him feeling unhappy… or worse, angry type of thing." Dani said, "So… I'm biding my time." She said.
"Biding your time for what?"
"Picking a college and disappointing him completely, because for me, I think it has to be an arts college or no college." Dani said, "I don't see myself being stuck in a lecture hall doing three more years on Algebraic Solutions." She sighed, "So. I'm really sorry, but I'm not gonna be with you in Pennsylvania, well, unless I decide to visit you that is."
"Which you never do." Adriana said, "Dani just think about it. You wouldn't need to be in a lecture hall doing algebra, there's more to do you know… I know math is your strong suit, but let's face it, you're good at other stuff too. I think you're one of those people that's naturally good at everything… you could come here."
"I know… I just don't want to."
"Well it's up to you isn't it… anyway, I'm gonna get going, I'll leave you to the essay writing, I just needed to talk to you and I have… I'll probably call you again tomorrow," Adriana said.
Dani nodded her head despite the fact that her sister couldn't see her, "Okay." She said, "You know that you can call me at any time and I'll answer the phone, right?" She said, "Even if it's like, three am, if you need me I'll be here."
"Yeah I know." She said, "I'll talk to you later Dan, bye love ya."
"Speak soon… love you, too." she said before hanging up, she took a deep breath and looked down at her laptop, she twisted her mouth in though, opened the screen, saved the work she had done on her essay and closed the document before opening up her Netflix account and watching a couple of episodes of Orange Is The New Black.
Halfway through one of the episodes, Dani saw her phone screen light up, she rolled her eyes and paused the episode people seem to have a talent for doing this, she thought just as I start getting into something, someone has to pull my attention away from it, she looked down at her screen and saw Santana's name flashing on it, yeah, I'm still pissed, even if it is her.
From Santana
Are you still grounded? Because I wanna see you… no scratch that, I need to see you xxxx
To Santana
Yeah, I'm still grounded, it happened yesterday… why do you wanna see me so badly? xxxx
From Santana
No, I don't WANT TO see you, I NEED to see you! I NEED to talk to you xxxx
Well, that seems ominous, Dani mused, the only times she'd ever seen the words 'I need to talk to you' or 'we need to talk' it had never ended well, she took a deep breath and sent Santana a quick reply.
To Santana
Fine… meet me in my back yard in five minutes xxxx
From Santana
You got it! xxxx
When Santana got to Dani's back yard, the shorter girl was once again already waiting for her, sitting under a blanket with two cups of coffee one for each of them, Santana smiled slightly when she saw the shorter girl wrapped up trying to keep warm, she hadn't anticipated how cold it would actually be outside that night.
She sat down next to Dani slowly, "Okay so what do you need to talk to me about?" Dani asked, as she shifted under the blanket trying to get comfortable.
"Nothing, I just wanted to sit with you for a little bit." She said, mimicking Dani from earlier on in the day, the shorter girl gave her an unamused look, "See not nice when someone does it to you is it?"
"I never said I NEEDED to talk to you like you just did, I said I hadn't spoken to you much so I thought I'd come sit with you." Dani said, "I thought there was something wrong." She said, the taller girl shook her head.
"Nope," she said, popping the 'p' slightly, Santana cuddled up next to her and placed a light kiss on the side of her head. "Just wanted to spend some time with you actually acting like your girlfriend, because we haven't all day. Seriously, we acted more like a couple before we actually became one."
Dani twisted her mouth in thought, "Well I don't know how true that actually is, but I'll play alone with it." She said, she stole a kiss from Santana and smiled as the taller girl tried to deepen in, applying a small amount of pressure to her lips. Dani pulled away and rested her forehead against Santana's, "My mom knows I'm in a relationship now." Dani admitted quietly.
"Yeah?" Santana asked, Dani nodded her head, making their noses bump together lightly, "Why does she know?"
"She was asking me about where I was last night, and she said she didn't believe that I was with a friend," Dani said moving her head away, "So, she started asking me about this 'guy' and I didn't correct her." Dani said, "So she thinks I have a boyfriend." Dani said with a small shrug.
"Yeah... what's my name?" Santana asked jokingly.
"Santiago." Dani said.
"Oh so you stuck with latin then?" She said.
Dani nodded her head, "I did," she said, "I'm not lying about that." she said, "And as soon as I feel confident enough to tell her the truth about me being a lesbian, I'll be telling her that I have an amazing girlfriend called Santana," she said. Santana screwed her face up slightly, "What's wrong?" Dani asked.
"Nothing." She said, "It's just... don't you think that's a really boring word?" She asked, Dani quirked her eyebrow at the other girl.
"What's a boring word?"
"Lesbian." She said, "It's just... say it enough and it loses meaning." She said, Dani sat and watched as Santana started to mouth the word 'lesbian' a few times. "It's not that I dislike the word it's just, bland, don't you think?" She asked.
Dai laughed quietly and shook her head, "I don't think so." She admitted, "But if that's how you feel, it's how you feel," she said laughing slightly, "But if that is genuinely what you think, then what would you have us be called?" She asked.
Santana shrugged,"I honestly don't know. Because that's the nicest thing anybody calls us isn't it?" Santana said; Dani nodded her head slowly, "So obviously I prefer it to the more derogative words, but it's just so... meh." She said with a shrug, she couldn't help but notice the bemused smile on Dani's face. "No. Don't give me that look." She said, "Because there will be words out there that you feel weirdly about... we all have our quirks."
"Well yeah there is but-"
"Nope. No buts, it's the exact same thing... so what are these words then?"
Dani shook her head, "No. You'll laugh at me." She said, "Everyone laughs at me for it because they're really stupid." She admitted with a small shrug.
"What like you laughed at me for finding the word 'lesbian' boring, you are a hypocrite Danielle."
"I'm not a hypocrite, I just don't wanna tell you and that's my prerogative."
Santana pouted slightly, "Dani please tell me... I won't laugh at you... I promise." Santana said.
Dani rolled her eyes and sighed, "Fine." She said, "But please bare in mind that I don't find these words boring like you do with 'lesbian'-"
"Aaaan it's lost meaning, we said it too much." She said. Dani shook her head slowly, "I'm sorry, please, continue."
"Are you sure I can?" Dani asked sarcastically, Santana nodded her head and shot the girl a quick smile, "Okay, but I really do have to tell you that I genuinely dislike these words. I'd go as far as saying that I hate one of them." She said trying to stress her point, "I really don't like the word panties," she admitted, "Don't ask me why, but there's just something about that word that I do not like." She said, she could see a small smile tugging on the corner of Santana's mouth, "But I hate, and I really do mean hate, the word, moist." She said screwing her face up slightly even as she said it herself. "I honestly can't deal with it.. it's vile."
"Moist?" Santana said trying not to laugh at the shorter girl, Dani nodded her head, "Seriously though, moist?"
"Yes." Dani hissed, "I hate it, I just think it's too." She trailed off trying to find a way to describe why she didn't like it, but her mind came up with nothing. "I just don't like it."
"I honestly love that word." Santana said, "I think it get's the point across perfectly."
Dani shook her head, "Yeah well please never say it around me." Dani said, "Otherwise, we might have found ourselves a deal breaker."
"Really, you'd end it with me over the word moist?"
"Yes, now stop it."
"Moist, moist, moist."
Dani clamped her hand over Santana's mouth, "Baby stop it." She said through a small chuckle. It registered somewhere in Santana's brain, that Dani had never called her 'baby' before, she'd used other pet names, like beautiful, and gorgeous, but never baby. A small smile made it's way to Santana's face as she gently took Dani's wrist in her hand and moved it away from her mouth. She quickly stole a kiss from the shorter girl, smiling when Dani screwed her face up slightly, she quickly kissed the creases on Dani's nose before she pulled away.
"I am so using that word every chance I get." She said with a slight joking edge to her tone of voice.
"That's because you're an ass." Dani teased, "I'm gonna find a word you hate, and I will use it all the time, if you do that to me..."
Santana sighed, "Fine... I'll take that risk," she said, Dani gave her a quick smile.
"Like I said, you're an ass." Dani joked, before stealing a kiss from Santana. She smiled slightly when she felt the taller girl deepen the kiss, Dani pulled away and gave Santana a soft smile, "I'm not even gonna let it get that far tonight." She said with a knowing look.
"Fine," Santana rolling her eyes, Dani rested her head on Santana's shoulder. Santana wrapped her arms around Dani and pulled her closer. She placed a quick kiss to the top of Dani's head, subtly breathing in the scent of pomegranates, a smell that she now couldn't help but find comforting, and a smell that, to Santana anyway, had distinctly become the smell of Dani.
Dani couldn't be sure how long she and Santana had sat outside in the yard for that night before she went back to bed, once again she entered the house as quietly as she could, just like she had the night before and went straight to bed. Managing to avoid any attention from anyone. She climbed into her bed and fell to sleep thinking about how eventful her day had turned out to be.
First things first, as always thank you for the reviews you lovely people.
Second of all, I did plan on having this as a quicker update for you guys because I have been on Easter Break and I did get three week off, but that all fell through because I left all my essay writing to the last minute once again and have had to write multiple essays about... well in all honest about garbage.
But, me being me, I have still procrastinated with that because recently I discovered that every season of Skins was on Netflix UK and well, I love that show, so obviously that became more important than my university work, and when I haven't been watching Skins, (or making a friend of mine watch it, he'd never seen it), I have been trying to catch up on my sleep.
All this and I did get paid, so I have been spending time doing some recreational activities to make myself feel better and since doing them, I do feel better, and I was able to get some more of this chapter written for you guys after I had my motivation lapse and could barely even bring myself to open my laptop to do more than watch Netflix.
Anyway moving on from my authors note (which has a bit of a mood change from my last one) I would like to say that I hope you all enjoyed this Dani centric chapter (there will be more that are strongly Dani based in the future). This was mainly just a filler chapter to get us from one point to the next, but I hope you like it all the same. Also, I have done most of the writing for this when I have been sleep deprived and have been up at 5:00 am, so sorry if it is a bit shit. But when I can't sleep, I take to writing, or I try to take to my writing.
Once again, just thank you all so much for the reviews, I HIT 100 REVIEWS on this story which, I honestly never thought would happen, so seriously just THANK YOU SO MUCH I honestly can't believe so many of you are actually enjoying this story like you are. Also a huge thank you to those of you who have favourited and or added this story to your alerts, you're all so amazing.
P.S:
z2z918- Thank you for wishing me luck with university because I definitely needed all the luck I could get. All I can do now is sit back and wait for my grades to be handed back to me. Which I am not looking forward to. But still Thank you all the same :)
excusemedems- There's a little need to tease, but only a little, I'm not gonna push it though, I do know when to stop... but I am serious about what I said, the rating changing on this story does depend on you guys and if you want the rating to change... that and my crippling awkwardness.
Rachel2020- I had to say another thank you to you for your lovely review, because it still makes me smile even now. I think that it always will so just... THANK YOU!
Alrightjeanette- Thanks, glad that you're happy they they are 'FINALLY' a couple, though I do feel like I should warn you. It's not gonna be sunshines, rainbows and puppy dogs just yet- relationships rarely are, right ;)