Ch. 13: Baby Mama Drama
The next morning, Santana awakes with a slight headache from drinking the whole bottle of wine the night before. She goes about her morning routine, turning off the airplane mode in the process. Five missed voicemails pop up on her phone app, but she ignores then in favor of making herself some coffee and breakfast and poring Onyx some food instead. once she eats her lightly buttered toast, Santana brings her coffee and her cell phone over to the couch. More new notifications have popped up since she's switched her phone back from airplane mode, but the apps she most wants to check are the text messages and voicemails. Santana clicks on the voicemails first and sees that three are from Erika, one from one of her coworkers at the hospital and the last is from a woman that Santana had met a few months ago at a club.
The woman is calling to let her know that she would be in own soon and that they should have rounds four and five if she was up for it. Santana sighs and sips her cup of coffee. While she would love nothing more than to have an emotions free fuck fest with this gorgeous woman, she can't because of all the emotions that Quinn coming back in her life has brought. So, she types out a quick reply to the woman, thanking her for the invite, but politely declining the offer.
With that voicemail out of the way, Santana sends a quick reply back to her coworker at the hospital, letting her know that she would be happy to switch shits next weekend so that her coworker could spend time with family that was coming from out of town. Santana then moves her attention to the text messages app and opens it with caution. The first text she sees is from Erika, stating that Santana better be up and ready for her by 9:30 because since Santana won't answer her damn phone, then she's damn well going to open the door. Santana chuckles at that, grateful for her friend's words, even without her being there yet. Santana sends Erika a reply, letting her know that the door will be unlocked for her when she gets to the apartment.
Santana braces herself as she goes back to the home page of her text messages. On there are two messages from two different names she thought she'd never see again. She selects the older text message of the two first, opening it to see what it says.
2205: Brittany Pierce Berry – Hi Santana! It's been awhile since I've heard from you! I hope you're enjoying Portland. Rachel says hi too. I know you asked me about Quinn, but I don't think I'm the best person to answer that, so I've asked someone else to answer instead. I hope you don't mind. We should talk more often. I miss you!
Santana sighs as she closes out of Brittany's text without replying. When she sees who else had sent her a text last night, she feels like she's been punched in the gut. With trepidation, Santana opens the text from Puck, dread filling every inch of her. Santana can only get through what feels like the first sentence of an extremely long text before she closes the app, lays her head back against the couch and sighs heavily. She closes her eyes as she shakes her head. "I should have known that Britt would contact Puck about this instead of answering me directly."
"So, you did text Britt, too?" Erika asks as she comes waltzing into the apartment, startling Santana. "I had a feeling you might but wasn't sure."
"Yeah, I did. I sent you both messages last night before I put my phone on airplane mode. I was hoping that the morning would bring clarity, but I'm still so confused."
Erika sits on the couch, wrapping her arms around Santana. "I'm sorry, San. Where do you want to start first? With what Britt said or how you feel?"
"Noah messaged me too," Santana mutters into Erika's shoulder.
"Noah did?" Erika says, her eyebrows shooting up sky high. "And we're calling him Noah and not Puck? I'm guessing that his message to you was all seriousness if we're using his first name and not his nickname?"
"Here. You read. I could only get through part of his message."
Erika quickly takes the phone being thrusted at her before it knocks her out and begins to read Puck's text. Erika quickly reads the text, equally surprised and not surprised by what Puck said. "Oh honey," Erika says once she finishes reading the text. "So what are you going to do?"
Santana looks at Erika questioningly. "What can I do? I mean, you saw what happened when I had only seen her. I got fucking blasted in the face by a kick from you. Something I should have easily blocked – and would have – if she wasn't there. I didn't even talk to her and now all of these feelings from high school have come back. I honestly don't know what I would have done if she would have answered when I called her number. I'm pretty sure that I, I, actually, I don't know. Maybe I might have said something? Maybe I might have waited on the phone until it was too long to even say anything and she would have thought I was psychotic? Or maybe I would have hung up immediately as soon as I heard her voice? Fuck, regardless, it's a good thing she didn't answer because all of those situations sound horrible."
"You still didn't answer my question. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. She has a kid that I deal with on a daily basis during the week. I can't just ignore the kid –"
"Beth. You do know her name."
"Beth," Santana rolls the name around her mouth. "I can't just ignore Beth because of Quinn. I mean, I'm the goalie coach for fucks sake and Beth apparently is a keeper, too."
"So you're just going to keep it professional then with Quinn?"
"I, yes? Yes," Santana says, trying to sound confident, but for her or for Erika, she's not sure. "Yes, I'm going to have to. Not only for Beth, but for me, too. I'm too pretty to be having a fucked up face all the time."
Erika notices the change in Santana's voice and takes the moment to try and give her friend something to laugh about. "Oh, you mean worse than the ugly mug you've got now? Yeah, I still don't understand what those women see when they invite you home. You must be out before they wake so that way they keep those beer goggles on and wanting you whenever they see you at the clubs."
Santana lets out a laugh. "Oh, my ugly mug? Um, then tell me why I have women contacting me in advance to see if I want to have a little rendezvous if I've got such an ugly face?"
"Uh, you pay for top shelf drinks at the bar?"
"You're a whore, E."
"Well, who are these women and are you going to have a rendezvous anytime soon with one?" Erika asks as she wiggles her eyebrows up and down in a joking manner.
Santana shoots a sobering looks at Erika. "No. I received a text from one of them this morning, but I told her I couldn't do it."
"You're turning down uncomplicated sex because?"
"You know why, E."
"But I thought you weren't going to do anything with Quinn besides be professional?"
"I know. But my heart wouldn't be in it if I did anything with anyone else. Even though the woman is offering me uncomplicated sex, I would still feel guilty about it. I don't even know if Quinn likes me or not. Hell, I honestly don't even know if she's into girls. But I can't do anything with anyone else until I know that I've gotten over her."
"So, let me get some clarification: you are or you aren't going to go after Quinn?"
Santana ponders Erika's question for a few moments before answering. "I'm, I'm going to just let things go and see what happens. I'm not going to force myself upon her and make things awkward for everyone involved, but I'm also not going to let her slip away this time without at least trying."
Erika nods her head. "Okay. So how are you going to do this? You know that this is going to require you talking to her and interacting with her, right? I'm just saying because you've already said that you can't keep getting your nose broken. Though, I think the wounded look looks great on you," Erika says as she gently shoves Santana with her shoulder.
"Oh, shut the fuck up," Santana says before she ponders Erika's question. "I guess I'll just see how it goes at first? Though, I don't know how she got my number. It's not on any of the documents for the camp, so I don't get it. That's why I tried to find out from Britt, but even though she's scatterbrained sometimes and we haven't talked in ages, I know that she wouldn't just give out my number to Quinn without asking first."
Erika looks swallows guiltily, but thankfully for her, Santana isn't paying attention. "Well," Erika says to make sure the attention is taken off from how Quinn obtained Santana's phone number, "I'm here to help you in any way you need."
Santana looks at Erika gratefully. "You're the best, E. I don't know what I would do half of the time without you. Now, what's that in the bag? Is it what I think and hope it might be? If so, give me!"
Quinn stares at the missed called log again for what feels like the billionth time since last night. She still can't believe that she accidently sent Santana that unfinished text. But, what's worse, is that Santana called her back and didn't leave a message. Quinn runs a hand through her hair, becomes aggravated by it, and throws it up into a messy bun. Thankfully it's the weekend so there's no one for her to need to impress. Not being able to take her internal debate any longer, Quinn hits speed dial number one on her phone and prays that the person on the other line picks up.
"Quinn?" Frannie asks questioningly. "It's very early on a Saturday morning, hon. We usually have our phone calls on Sundays to catch up. Is everything okay?"
"Hey Frannie. I needed someone to talk to – "
"Tired of trying to talk to Rachel and only have her talk about herself?" Frannie jokes.
"Seriously, Frannie. I'm trying to talk to you about something important."
"Oh my god. Are you pregnant again!? Quinn, you're pregnant! Who's the baby daddy this time? I didn't know you – "
"Frannie, I swear to all that is holy with bacon, if you do not shut the fuck up, I'm ending this call and will call Rachel about this instead. Then she'll hold it over your head that she knew about this first, too. Got it?" Quinn waits a minute to see if Frannie will try to interrupt her again. After Quinn is satisfied that Fannie is going to stay quiet without interrupting her this time, Quinn begins again. "Now, let me proceed. No, I am not dating anyone, nor am I pregnant. I was calling to tell you that Santana is Beth's soccer coach."
"Santana? You mean Puck's friend from high school? The one that was always around until you had Beth? The one – "
"Yes. That Santana."
"Okay," Frannie drags out. "I don't see how you couldn't just tell me that tomorrow when we have our weekly check in. What's the big deal?"
"Because I sent her a partial text."
"Okay. Still not seeing the point in this."
"Because, dammit, I have feelings for her!"
"You have feelings for her? For Santana?" Frannie asks cautiously, not wanting to upset her younger sister even more. "So, why not tell her about these feelings then? You're both grown women this time, so I don't see how either of you could screw it up."
"Wait, what do you mean by that?"
"I just mean that anyone with eyes could have seen that Santana was like a little puppy following you around. That girl would be at your beck and call if you had wanted her to be. It was sickeningly cute. Mom and I wondered how long it would take for you to get your head out of your ass and realize it, but you never did. And then Beth was born, and Santana stopped coming by, so it was just kind of forgotten."
"I don't know how I didn't see it. I just thought she was being friendly."
Frannie sighs. "Quinn, don't beat yourself up over it. You were a hormonal teenager who had just lost someone she cared about deeply and then soon after found out that she was pregnant by a guy that she wasn't in a relationship with. It's okay that you didn't notice it." Frannie lets her statement wash over Quinn before continuing. "Quinn, you can't change the past, but you can certainly help shape your future. You said that you have feelings for her, and if you want to tell me about them, I'm here to listen. I also know that you think you need to be single for Beth because Puck is already in a relationship and you don't want Beth to feel like she's a hindrance in your life. But you also need to be happy yourself. And if exploring whatever your feelings are towards Santana makes you happy, then I'm all for it. You do you, Q."
Quinn smiles at her sister's thoughtful words. "Thanks, Frannie. I knew that I could count on you."
"No problem at all, Quinn. However, while you're figuring things out, I wouldn't tell Rachel if I was you. You know that girl has such a big mouth that things might reach people before you've even had a chance to process it yourself. Now, if you don't mind, I do have to get going because my spin class starts soon and I need to make sure that I get one of the seats with extra cushion for this tush! Love you, sis!"
Quinn chuckles at her sister once her sister hangs up on her without giving her a chance to say goodbye. But her chuckles soon give way to trepidation when she sees that Rachel has sent her multiple texts saying that it's urgent and to contact her as soon as she's had her morning coffee. With that, Quinn gets out of bed and heads downstairs to make her coffee because she knows that if she doesn't answer Rachel by whatever time Rachel has in her as an appropriate time, then Rachel will call her incessantly until she gets what she wants. Quinn can only hope that it's nothing too major for this early in the morning because all Quinn really wants to do is to be lost in her daydreams about Santana.