Chapter Seven


Santana had been feeling restless. A few weeks had passed since she and Quinn had given up their uniforms and she was itching to do something. That something was yet to be decided, but she needed to get rid of some of her energy.

The world had yet to end in regards to no longer being a cheerleader, which was great. But it was the lost feeling that came with it that wasn't exactly a welcome addition to her already ever-ongoing inner-turmoil. She missed the competitiveness. Maybe she sometimes missed the barbed words she exchanged with her old teammates. What could she say? They spat venom that was worthy of retaliation. With them she wasn't punching down when they pissed her off, and the ones that started with her were equally bitchy. It was fair game.

And anyway, all the time she was spending with Quinn was turning her into a puddle of mush. She had escaped the claws of a raving lunatic in a tracksuit to be drowned by the dreamy voice and long eyelashes of Quinn Fabray. If she was going to figure out the mess that was her gay-ass feelings, she was going to have to be able to clear her mind.

Exercise was what worked for her. She couldn't count the number of times she solved one of her life's many problems after a roll in the sack with Brittany. And since sex was off the table - for now, she thought, and then half-heartedly admonished her dirty mind for doing so - she was going to have to venture into the other extracurricular activities her fine school offered.

She was at home after another boring day at McKinley, kicking her legs as they dangled over the arm of her favourite chair in the living room. Lucia was doing her homework on the floor humming some mindless tune that had Santana going almost insane trying to figure out what it was from. She could've just asked, but where was the fun in that?

Her phone buzzed on her chest and she saw a notification for a text from Quinn pop up.

Did u put this drawing in my bag?

Santana had almost forgotten about that.

My head in not that big! And making fun of me for liking the scooby-doo films is just mean

Ruh-roh, Rinny.. am I in trouble?

You will be! I told u tht in confidence

And I drew you a cute lil pic... I think u suit the whole scrappy vibe

Just you wait

Ooo Quinn don't get me all excited like that

Santana knew she was pushing it considering her whole self-proclaimed need for clarity. But fuck, it was almost too easy and she wanted to see what Quinn would say.

Those three dots were going for a pretty long time. Maybe this wasn't a good idea?

Wait until I get my hands on u..

Don't threaten me with a good time

Who says it's a threat? I follow thru

Abort. Abort. Fuck.

"Why do you look like you're about to blow your load?"

What the fuck?

"What the fuck?" Santana's couldn't believe what she just heard.

"You talking to Quinn?"

"Again, what the fuck?"

"I could hear your heavy breathing from here, you heathen."

"I was not heavily breathing, first of all. And 'blow your load'? Aren't you like two?" Santana's shock had almost overridden how turned-on that conversation was making her. Shit. Quinn.

Don't pretend u didn't like it Quinnifer, the next time I'm at urs I'll see that it has pride of place above ur bed so u get to see it every morning

Okay, good. Back into safe territory. Hopefully, Quinn wasn't too miffed by the long pause and blatant back-track.

Turning back to her sister, who had resumed humming and doing her homework, she continued, "Second of all," Lucia let out an exasperated sigh that was very much exaggerated for effect, "why would it be Quinn?"

Lucia looked at her sister like she was one brain cell away from being categorised as a less developed species. "Because you're in love with her, duh."

"I, I... I am not!" Lucia had a shit-eating grin on her face as she watched her get all flustered. "We're friends."

"Yeah, okay."

"Did you have to say that so sarcastically?"

"Noooo."

"Mom should've left you at the hospital."

Lucia was an old hand when it came to her big sister, she wouldn't take the bait. "But for real, you get all squirmy about her. I think you have a big fat lesbian crush on her."

"Okay, Janice." Santana rolled her eyes, but having the topic come up like this was kind of nice. She hadn't been sure about how to come out to her sister and it looked like she didn't have to. It was mainly her mom and abuela she had to sweat it over now.

Santana's dad had never been in her life, she didn't know a lot about him and was too scared to even ask at this point. Judging by the fire that lit up her abuela's eyes at the mere mention of him she guessed it was best to leave it alone. The couple of times she had stayed with her dad's mom she didn't talk about anything but herself, so it wasn't like she wanted to go down that rabbit hole with his side of the family either. She still had that lingering curiosity, but she could live without knowing him.

The relationship she held with her father's side was tenuous to non-existent. Her mother tried as hard as she could to foster some kind of bond with them for Santana's sake, but it didn't work out. She hadn't seen any of them in a long time and she didn't miss them so much as missing the idea of having a big, close family. Especially when she would spend Thanksgiving at Brittany's and she'd have more cousins than hairs on her head running around. Sure, they were annoying as fuck, but it would've been nice to have had that when she was growing up.

As for Lucia's dad, he wasn't really in involved since the divorce with their mom, he still sent money and had Lucia for the holidays every other year, but they weren't close. He was nice and all, but distance put the brakes on any deep connection she might've hoped for in a father figure. The very expensive gifts he would give Lucia to give to her didn't hurt though. Money couldn't buy you love, but it sure could buy her some goodies.

Their mom had always been a hard worker, to the detriment to their relationship at times. Santana sometimes couldn't help the feeling that her mom would rather be at work than around her. Even after she got remarried and could afford to not do so many hours, she soon got pregnant with her sister, then there was a baby to worry about and Santana took the backseat again. That's where her abuela came in. When she was a baby, her abuela would care for her, and yeah, she could give the devil a hiding on a good day, but she was like her second mom. Santana worshiped the ground she walked on.

Don't get her wrong, she loved her mom to death, it's just how things had worked out. Whereas Lucia had the better relationship with their mom, Santana had her abuela.

It worried her that she might not take it well with her being devoutly Catholic and very conservative - not exactly the kind of combination you'd want in a person you're coming out to.

Maybe she could keep it quiet for a little longer. It had eaten away at her for this long.

What would be a few more weeks? Shit, weeks? Maybe after high school then?

Santana's stomach flipped at the thought.

"If you want I can be your wingman." Lucia moved into an upright position, seemingly liking the sound of her own idea.

"I don't need a wingman."

"No? When are you going to make a move then?"

"How about never? Quinn isn't gay."

"That's not what I heard."

This girl would be the death of her. "What?"

"No, ignore me. You're right, as always." Lucia stood and started collecting her things, "I'll just go ahead and take my interfering self upstairs." Lucia started to hurriedly stride out of the room before Santana could stop her.

"Hey!" Santana hopped up and chased after her, Lucia squealed as she heard the thumping sound of her sister following her up the stairs. "What are you talking about?" Santana caught her sister's ankle and yanked her to a stop.

Lucia damned herself for almost making it to the landing. She fell forward, dropping all of her things, "Look, now I've made a mess."

"I don't care." Santana clambered the rest of the way up and sat next to her sister. "What have you heard?"

"I'm not at liberty to say." Lucia mimicked zipping her mouth shut.

"You've done this on purpose. Why are you messing with me?"

Lucia pretended to respond, making noises through her closed mouth. Santana gave her a dirty look that told her she wasn't impressed. Lucia only pointed to her mouth and shrugged her shoulders.

Santana couldn't believe she was doing this; she leant over and acted as though she was unzipping her sister's mouth. "Spill."

Lucia took a big, gasping breath before she spoke, "Well, a little birdie told me that they weren't sure about all that." She waved her hands about to motion all of 'that' she was talking about.

"I don't understand."

"Yes you do." Lucia stood up as Santana remained seated, looking confused. "Now if you don't mind," she moved to her bedroom door and opened it, "I bid you farewell." With that she slammed the door shut and left her sister to dwell.

Quinn likes girls?

Quinn likes girls.

Fuck.

Santana sighed. What was she going to do?

Quinn was starting to like the freedom that being a regular high school student brought. What she wasn't bagging on was the extra time to contemplate the crisis that was her future and her life in general.

Santana aside, her school performance was still struggling after Beth and the sight of Puck made her want to hurl a book at his stupid head. The looming dark cloud that told her Lima was going to be forever was sending her into tailspin.

That was not obvious for the most part, because she was an excellent pretender. She'd done it her whole life. Pretending to be the perfect daughter, the perfect Christian, the perfect student, the perfect… everything. It made her crazy.

And now she was none of those things and it made it worse.

When she was with her friends she could almost feel normal, she could breathe easy with Mercedes and even laugh with Rachel.

It was in those quiet moments when she had said her goodbyes to Santana and everybody else that killed her. Almost every day, once it was time to go back to the place she would call home, she would bypass the living room and the kitchen and every other room before her own. Once she had gotten the door open she would drop her bag and lay on her bed for an hour or so before moving again.

She'd lie there taking in the day. What did she learn? Who was she nice to? What did they think of her? Did they think of her?

Then her phone would buzz and it'd be Santana, most of the time, telling her about something annoying her sister had done. Or it'd be that she'd found an old drawing that Quinn had made for her when they were kids. Seeing that name pop up on her screen had been a blessing every time.

Before Santana had come back into her life, Quinn truly believed that she'd go nowhere after high school, being a Cheerio was as good as it was going to get. She'd marry some meathead, have another baby, and hope for the best.

But now she had an inkling of hope. Wherever Santana was going she wanted to be able to go too.

Quitting Cheerios was the first step. Finding herself was the next.

"Quinn?" Judy's voice floated down the hall to her daughter's bedroom . "Quinn, dear? Are you in?" There was a soft rasp at the door before Judy opened it up and took in the disarray that Quinn's usually clean room was in. She heard rustling about in the en suite. "I thought we could go for a bite to eat. We've not really seen each other in a while," Judy let out a self-conscious laugh before quieting herself.

"No thanks, mom." Quinn's voice was muffled behind the door and was followed by the distinctive sound of clattering metal on tiled floor. "Fuck."

"What are you doing in there?" Judy already had her hand on the door's handle, slowly twisting it before Quinn's voice stopped her.

"Wait! Hang on, hang on. I'll be out in a second."

Judy briefly took a seat on Quinn's bed, soon deciding she couldn't stand the mess and was up again, picking clothes off the floor. Quinn's uniform wasn't here. Thinking about it, she hadn't seen it in a while and hadn't really thought about it until now.

In her ruminations she didn't hear the click of the door opening, only when Quinn said, "Here," did she turn around.

Judy immediately dropped everything she was holding and rushed over to her daughter, "Quinn!" She took a handful of Quinn's short, pink hair and let out a strangled screech. "What have you done?"

"Let go of me!" Quinn pushed her mother's now loose grip away from her freshly cut and dyed hair and braced herself for her mother's dramatics.

"It's! It's.." Judy wildly gestured around Quinn's head. "It's pink!"

Judy's wide-eyed horror tickled Quinn. Perhaps it was slightly sadistic to find amusement in her mother's distress, but she wasn't going to lose any sleep over it. She had been slightly worried at first, but had told herself that she probably could've gotten away with it for weeks before her mom would've noticed. Typically so, her mom just so happened to want to hang-out the day she did it.

"Yes," Quinn softly laughed out, "it is pink." She ran her hands through it, not used to her hair feeling so light.

"Quinn," Judy had a serious tone about her as she took her very unimpressed mother stance, hands on hips and everything, "are you on drugs? Do I need to send you to rehab?"

Now that really got Quinn, she laughed again. "No, mom, I am not on drugs. I'm just trying something out."

Judy scrutinised Quinn, taking in her daughter's change in demeanour as well as look. "Okay." There was an awkward pause as Judy stared. "I think I could grow to like it."

"It's not permanent, so don't worry if you don't." Quinn rolled her eyes when her mom let out a sigh of relief.

"Phew, now I know you've had a rough time Quinn," Quinn's eyes narrowed, her mom should know, she didn't exactly help. "You really had me worried there." Judy laughed uncomfortably.

"Now I wouldn't want to go and do that now, would I?" Quinn gritted out.

Judy either ignored her tone or didn't pick up on it, "So what do you say, fancy going out for dinner?"

Quinn was feeling kind of hungry. "Yeah, sure."

When Judy didn't go to move and sort of just stood there with a nervous look on her face, Quinn could've screamed. Her mom was such a wet wipe.

"I'll wear a hat."

Judy's relief was palpable, "Thank you dear, you know how the ladies are and Clara works at Breadstix now. She'll run straight to her mother and tell her you've turned into a lesbian!" She let out an incredulous chuckle at the thought. "I wouldn't hear the end of it! Meet me in the car in ten, sweetie." She kicked at the pile of clothes she dropped. "Oh, and bring these down if you would."

Quinn's heart had well and truly dropped out of her ass at her mom's comment. Her stubbornness soon righted her though, if other people thinking her daughter was gay was going to give her mom grief, so be it. Quinn grabbed the beanie on her dresser and tossed it under her bed.

Whoops. Looks like I've lost it.

She took the stairs with pep in her step and a self-satisfied smirk on her face. Her mom gave her a questioning look, to which Quinn replied with a shrug. "Can't find it anywhere," Quinn feigned caring, inwardly giddy at the idea that people were going to see this Quinn. What would they say? What would they think?

Instead of the dread that questioning herself usually brought, this time she was excited to embrace it.

...

Quinn had texted her that morning that she wasn't going to need a ride and that she should go without her. That was fine with her, it's not like she'd want to share a car with Quinn and Lucia today anyway.

"Where's your girlfriend?"

"Why don't you shut up?" Santana growled.

Lucia rolled her eyes. "Fine!" For all of five seconds she was quiet. "I don't get it, San."

"You're worse than Berry! Just drop it, okay." Santana gripped the steering wheel in frustration. "I don't need you getting into my shit."

"Mom would be okay with it." Lucia spoke softly, she could see she was upsetting her sister, but she saw it as her sisterly duty to do what was best for her.

"Drop it." Santana snapped.

Other than the tinny murmur of the radio that was on low, the rest of the drive was made in dead silence.

When they pulled into the school parking lot Santana sat there as she waited for Lucia to get out. Her sister had other plans.

"I just think that you need to stop being so scared to live your life." Lucia's voice was quiet but steady. "I don't think you realise how much you're hurting yourself by not accepting yourself."

"I accept myself."

"If you did you wouldn't hide yourself."

"Why can't I do both?" Santana continued to look ahead out of the windshield.

"You shouldn't be ashamed of who you are." Lucia's voice came out stronger this time. "And goddamn, you're a Lopez. If anyone fucks with you, I'll beat their ass." Lucia made a show of punching the air, ducking and weaving invisible punches.

Santana could see her out of the corner of her eye and bit down on her lip to stop herself from laughing.

Seeing this Lucia felt a surge of pride for getting her miserable sister to stop being so grumpy. It was a triumph only she could really appreciate.

"C'mon, tough guy. Put 'em up." Lucia was addressing her sister, still with her fists raised.

Santana was looking at her now, still chewing on her lip to tame her smile. Her sister was ridiculous. How was she related to such a dork?

"Kid, you don't know who you're messing with."

Lucia punched Santana in her arm, not with all her might, but hard enough to have Santana yelping.

"Ow! That actually hurt." Santana rubbed her arm.

"Pussy." Lucia narrowed her eyes in challenge, still bobbing up and down like she was in Street Fighter.

"Oh my god."

"What?" Lucia was suspicious at her sister's sudden change in tone. "Are you tricking me?" When Santana didn't respond and only gaped at whatever she was seeing, Lucia's innate need to be nosy got the better of her. "If this is a trick you're so dead." She turned to look out the window and felt her own jaw hit the floor.

"Is that Quinn?" Lucia squished her face closer to the window.

"Move your fat head!" Santana shoved Lucia out of the way and scooted forwards herself. Unless Quinn really did have a twin, that was Quinn with pink hair and looking like a Skank reject. The more Santana stared, the more she found it kind of hot. She tilted her head as she admired Quinn's change in wardrobe.

"She looks like she smells funky."

"Lucia!" Santana didn't mean to laugh, she really didn't. "She looks hot."

"You would say that." They watched as Quinn strode into school, not a care in the world by the looks of things.

"What do you think of this." Lucia clapped her hands as she turned in her seat to look back at her sister. "I join Glee and I help you-" Santana immediately shook her head.

"No."

"But!"

"I said no."

"You can't stop me."

"I'll break your legs."

"I'd just run away before you could do it, and you wouldn't be able to catch me with those short things." Lucia poked Santana's thigh.

"I don't need your help. I'm a catch." Santana flipped her hair over her shoulder and made a show of batting her eyelashes.

Lucia had a smug look on her face. "So you're actually going to go for it?"

That quickly deflated Santana. "I'm not making any promises. But you just have to leave me alone with this, okay?"

"Jeez, okay." She grabbed the handle of the car door and was already on her way out when she turned back. "I'm proud of you."

Santana was touched, she gave her sister a half smile and a wave as Lucia slammed the door shut. Wincing at the sound, she began collecting her own bag.

How many times did she have to tell her not to do that?

Lucia shot a cheeky smirk over her shoulder and set a steady jog toward the school entrance, blowing a kiss when she saw her sister's annoyed glare. Santana gave her the bird in kind.

...

Quinn had decided not to go with Santana that morning because she wasn't sure she was going to be ready to leave in time. She had been piecing together an outfit that was more grunge than the summer dresses she was used to sporting. Her mind wasn't made up on whether she liked it or not, but it was new and thrilling to have aesthetically altered so much.

Arriving at McKinley she channelled her queen bee confidence and promised herself to not give a shit. Fake it 'til you make it. A mantra Quinn had repeated to herself on many occasion. Acting aloof wasn't so much a challenge for Quinn as it was to not be hurt by snide remarks, but she was going to revel in the stares and show them all that this is who she was now. She wasn't bound by the expectations they had of her, she had to keep reminding herself.

Standing at her locker she took her time taking things out as she waited for Santana to show. She heard a low and long whistle that was obviously aimed at her.

"What have you come as?"

"Fuck off, Puck."

"No, seriously. What is going on here?" Puck eyed her and pointed to her clothes, as he leisurely leaned on the locker besides hers.

"Why don't you leave me alone?" Quinn clenched the book she held in her hand and slammed her locker door shut. If he wanted a scene, he could have one.

"Dude, you're so embarrassing, I'm just making conversation." He had that dumb smile on his face that he thought made him look charming. Barf. She could tell that he was enjoying winding her up.

Quinn worked her jaw and tried to breathe. "I'm not interested."

"Not just me you're no longer interested in by the looks of things." He wiggled his eyebrows at her before glancing behind her and winking at whoever he had caught sight of.

"What are you even talking about?" Quinn's brow furrowed.

"Quinn, you okay?" She heard Santana's voice just before she felt her hand on her back.

Puck made to move. "See ya later," then under his breath, "dyke."

Quinn could feel Santana clench tightly at the back of her shirt. She felt her heart thudding in her chest, a mixture of shame, sadness and, most strongly, defiance stirred within her. Screw that asshole.

Santana had yet to let go of her so Quinn turned to look at her, the pained expression on her face made her heart ache.

"Don't listen to him." Quinn whispered.

Santana came out of her distracted state and gave a forced laugh, "I should be saying that to you." She let go and smoothed the spot on Quinn's back. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, don't worry about me."

"You sure?" Santana reached up and twirled a piece of Quinn's hair around her finger. "Cause this screams cry for help." Santana's eyes had their sparkle back as she teased Quinn.

"Yes, you jerk." But Quinn didn't push her away like she normally would've. "Thought I'd try something out."

"You should've told me, I could've helped." She dropped her hand and got a better look of Quinn's overall change in appearance. "Not bad. I kind of liked your preppy look though."

"Did you actually? I thought it was a little too conservative for your tastes."

"Hmm, maybe." Santana took her all in, slowly trailing her eyes up and down Quinn's body. "I think I can dig it."

"Well thank you for your input, but I don't care if you 'dig it'." Quinn moved past Santana and bumped her with her hip as she went.

"Oo, she has an attitude too." Santana linked with Quinn as they walked. "Actually, you've always been a bitch."

"You know it." Quinn flashed her a grin.

"And I love it." Santana's smile matched her own. "I've been meaning to ask you something."

"Uh-oh. Been thinking again? Don't exert yourself, babe."

"Oh you think you're so funny, don't you?" Quinn couldn't help the smile she cracked. "I see that smug look." Santana squeezed one of Quinn's cheeks, making Quinn reel her head back and whine in protest. "Thought so."

"I thought you loved it?"

"Hush. I need your opinion." She pouted.

Santana endlessly entertained Quinn, she was such a baby sometimes and it endeared her like nothing else.

"Hit me."

"Right, okay. So I was thinking, I've been super bored and want to take up something else in place of cheerleading. What better than to ask Zizes if she'll get me on to the wrestling team?"

"Are you kidding?"

"No!" Santana was seriously considering this. Quinn wondered if she'd lost her mind.

"Santana, my dear, sweet Santana." They had arrived at their class and took their seat next to each other. "You'll be eaten alive."

"Don't be dumb, Quinn. I won't have to fight Zizes, we're definitely not in the same weight category."

"What and you think you can fight one of the boys? There are no other girls on the team, San."

"Obviously I can beat one of the boys, I'm pretty sure Jewfro is on it and I could take him easy."

"Alright, Mike Tyson. You really want to be up close and personal with that?"

Santana didn't respond straight away, she may not have thought about that. Quinn sat there, trying to ignore the blatant stares she got off of some of her classmates. Most didn't seem to care too much, but the odd few were catching flies.

"I suppose not." Santana rested her head on the palm of her hand. "Maybe Britt will let me go with her to her dance classes."

Quinn didn't mean to react the way she did, but she couldn't help the stir of jealously she felt. "That's not a good idea."

Santana gave her a puzzled look. "Why's that?"

"I couldn't help but overhear, if you're looking to go to dance classes you can come to mine… with me." Rachel interrupted and Santana jumped in her seat. "It would be a wonderful opportunity for us to bond, Santana. Despite the tumultuous relationship we have had, I do appreciate your talents and-" Quinn watched Santana listen to Rachel ramble on. Santana, as far as she was aware, had never been in love with Rachel.

Interesting.

The more Rachel went on about the pros and cons of such an arrangement, she couldn't help but thank her lucky stars.

"She'd love to." Rachel was taken aback by Quinn reclaiming her own conversation.

"Oh, Quinn!" Rachel seemed quite shocked. "You're looking a little different today."

"Thanks. Anyway, Santana would love to go to your lessons with you. She's told me before how she has always looked up to you."

"Quinn!" Santana gripped her forearm. "Berry, no offense, but it's not happening."

Rachel looked put out by what Santana had said.

Dramatic as ever, she forlornly tucked her hair behind her ear and kind of just... stood there. "Oh well, I just thought it'd be nice. But of course you wouldn't want to." She bowed her head and made a good show of being disappointed. Quinn was impressed.

"Ugh, fine! Jesus, I'll come. But listen to me carefully, it'll happen only once. And once only. This is not becoming a thing." Who knew Santana was such a softie? The thought made Quinn smile.

Rachel actually squealed and squeezed a very reluctant Santana into a hug. "Oh my goodness, this is going to be so much fun. I can hardly contain myself."

Santana patted Rachel's back, "Please do."

When she went back to her own seat, Santana spun harshly toward Quinn. "Why'd you do that to me? Oh god, I'm actually going to be hanging out with Rachel Berry outside of school." She slapped her hands over her face. "I can't believe it. The day has finally come, I am now a loser."

"Get a grip. You're fine." She pulled at the other girl's hands, she gave Rachel a run for her money in the drama department. "It'll be fun."

"Don't lie to me. This is devastating." Quinn rolled her eyes at her.

"Better than getting your ass beat by Jacob."

Santana gasped. "I would not have gotten my ass beaten by that dweeb."

"Keep telling yourself that."

"I'm not speaking to you anymore, Pinkie."

"Oh, how will I ever go on?" Quinn put a hand to her forehead and pretended to faint onto her desk.

Santana didn't say anything, she just took Quinn's hand and drew a sad face with her pen.

Quinn took the pen off her once she was done and returned the gesture, but instead of a sad face she drew a heart.

The kiss she gave the heart was more of an afterthought than anything else. And it was the dimpled smile she got in return that made her wish she could do it all the more.

...

It must've been hell. It was hot, it was humid and it had Rachel Berry in it.

Santana had arranged to go with Rachel to one of her contemporary dance classes and it just so happened to be when the AC was broken in the studio.

"Come on Santana, keep going. Surely you've been through worse." Rachel was literally dripping sweat onto the floor as she spoke. Gross.

"I can't do it. I think I have heat stroke." Rachel was having none of it, she pulled Santana back to the group in her class and they went through the moves once again.

"To think, we'll be the best dancers in the club if we keep this up."

"Second best, but sure."

When the class came to an end Rachel asked if she wanted to go get a drink and duh, of course she did. They pulled up outside of a coffee place and Santana could've hit herself for being so naive. Of course it was coffee.

"I'll get them, what would you like?"

"Something creamy and sweet. And I know, I know, I'm sweet enough. But girl, I am in needs of some sugar."

Santana sat in one of the plush leather seats that were in the corner of the shop near the window hoping that most of her sweat had dried up. Leaving a snail trail on the chair was not on her to-do list.

"Here you go, enjoy." Rachel plopped herself down on the chair opposite her and placed their cups on the small coffee table in between them.

"Thanks." Santana then took three sachets of sugar and poured them straight into her drink. Rachel watched on in horror and disgust, judging Santana's choices. "What? I have a sweet tooth."

"You'll have no teeth all together if you keep that up." Rachel picked up her drink and blew on it to occupy the silence. They'd never really hung out together before.

"So you and Finn back together yet?" Small talk chit-chat was not Santana's forte, but surely Rachel knew this by now.

"Santana, that is really quite rude of you."

"What, I'm just being real with you."

"To answer your question, no I am not, thank you very much."

"Good. Boys are gross anyway."

"Interesting you say that." Rachel pursed her lips in contemplation. "Are you and Noah still seeing each other?"

"God no. I'd rather fuck his mom." Santana shivered at the thought. That woman was scary.

"Do you have to use such language?"

"Mom? Rach, not all of us are blessed with two dads, I'm sorry."

"Not funny." Rachel seemed a little upset by the joke. Santana mentally chastised herself for being insensitive, especially after all the shit she got for having two dads already. And her birth mom? Yikes.

"Okay, I am actually sorry." Santana put her hands up in a placating motion.

Rachel was surprised by the apology, it wasn't like it was a common thing coming from Santana. She'd take it, but she wouldn't say it was okay.

"It's nice that you and Quinn are friends again, it's good to see you in lighter spirits after, you know."

"After?" Santana knew that a lot of the club knew about her and Brittany, but she wasn't close with Rachel like that. She wasn't close with many people like that.

"It doesn't matter. I just really enjoyed today. Hopefully the AC is working next time... if there is a next time?" Rachel had a hopeful look in her eye that had Santana squirming in her seat. If she was being truthful, she enjoyed herself too.

Nodding her head she took a long sip of her drink. She could almost feel her teeth rotting right there and then. Perfect.

"We're going to be great friends, I just know it."

"Okay, hobbit. Cheers to that." She held her cup out to Rachel to toast to their new friendship.

...

A few days had passed and Quinn was taking not caring to the next level. She had been introduced to the Skanks when she decided to skip out on one of her classes, they were under the bleachers smoking and lounging around. They'd invited Quinn to join them and she thought to herself, why not? This is what new Quinn was about. New things.

She'd cut class a few more times in the week, being sure to not do it too much in case she brought too much attention to herself. Kind of ironic really, considering.

Santana would scrunch her nose up at her when she'd smell smoke on her and she'd tell her it was gross. But she laughed it off and kept doing it anyway.

On the weekend, when the house was empty, she invited Santana and the girls over for a sleepover and drinks. She had no qualms with stealing her mom's stash, if she noticed she'd tell her she didn't know what she was talking about and that would be that.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket.

Can i come over?

It was Santana.

Yh, just come in

Okay, c u in a sec

I'm in my room btw

Quinn pulled the plaid shirt she was sure used to be Finn's on and put on her old Cheerio shorts. Sleepovers were a pjs only event. It was a dress code she could happily abide by. She looked at herself in the mirror and tried to pull her hair up and watched as it fell back around her face. Her face was bare, too bare she thought as she picked up her cherry lip balm and applied it to her lips. She wondered if Santana liked cherry.

"You decent?" She hadn't heard Santana come in.

"Yeah."

The door slowly opened as Santana poked her head around, smiling when she spotted Quinn standing by her dresser.

She caught her eyes trailing over her legs before flicking her eyes back up to her own.

"Nice shorts, Q."

Quinn took her turn to get a look at Santana, who was in loose bottoms and an old shirt that must've been one of her mom's. She was as dressed down as she could get, and she was still unbelievably gorgeous.

Santana slowly made her way over to where Quinn was standing, when she got close enough Quinn reached out for her.

"You look cute." She pulled at the hem of Santana's top.

Santana scoffed. "Whatever."

"What? You do." The sincerity in her voice must've surprised Santana as she stared back at Quinn without a word.

The intensity of the look sucked Quinn right into the small space between them. She couldn't tell what Santana was looking for as she looked deeply into her eyes, and she couldn't really focus on figuring it out. Not when she could smell the other girl's perfume and could make out the smudges from the mascara she had worn earlier in the day.

When Santana let out a slow ragged breath and let her eyes linger on Quinn's mouth, Quinn felt her heart drop into her stomach. The hot flash of warmth that she felt inside of her made her ache to move. Almost imperceptibly, Quinn dipped her head down and tightened her grip on Santana's top.

She could feel Santana's breath gliding across her mouth, the anticipation was killing her. The last time they were in this position she had the confidence that came with being inebriated and at a party where everybody was in the same state, she felt vulnerable in the quiet of her room, oh so painfully sober and aware of what was happening.

Santana brought her hand up and gently touched Quinn's hair. "It's fading a little."

Quinn let out an amused breath of air. She was too tightly wound to properly laugh.

Then Santana's mouth was on hers and it took whatever breath she had left away.

It didn't take long for Quinn to reciprocate.

Pushing Quinn back into her dresser, Santana soon took the lead. Quinn braced herself, knocking her moisturizers and sprays onto the floor as she lifted herself onto the dresser. She was not without help, as soon as she strained to push herself up, Santana gripped either thigh and lifted her with ease. It freed Quinn's hands to cup Santana's face as she deepened their kiss.

When she broke free to take a breath, Santana latched her mouth onto her neck. The moan she let out was almost obscene. She felt herself rock forward as she moved one of her hands to hold the back of the other girl's neck. Using the other, she tilted Santana's head back so she could recapture her lips with her own.

Whatever was left on her dresser slowly rattled off to the ground as she continued rocking into Santana's body, pressed close between her legs.

She could feel Santana fiddling with the buttons of her shirt, so she decided to undo them herself. She never was the patient type.

It fell loose and she shook it off her shoulders. As soon as it fell off completely Santana pulled back to look at her bare chest.

"God," came the strangled whisper from the other girl. She looked up into Quinn's eyes again, her face flushed and eyes even more hooded than usual. Quinn couldn't stop her own from drifting back to Santana's now swollen lips.

The rattle of the bedroom door handle alerted the girls to someone coming in. Quinn, on reflex, jumped down off the dresser, bumping into Santana as she did. If she wasn't set on hiding she would have had a better chance to enjoy the feeling of Santana's hands on her body.

"Quinn?" It was Mercedes.

Quinn rushed to her bathroom and slammed the door behind her.

She could hear Mercedes through the door. "Oh, Santana! Hey. Is Quinn up here? She told me to come straight up."

"She's in the bathroom. She'll be out in a sec." Santana's voice was deeper than she was used to hearing, it reminded her of how she sounded when she'd just woken up.

Quinn was still yet to calm down and she realised she hadn't brought her top with her. Fuck.

Poking her head around the door she called out, "Hey San, can you pass me my shirt? Erm, this one's dirty." Mercedes didn't bat an eye and hopped on to Quinn's bed.

Santana hustled on over to the bathroom with the shirt in hand. "Here you go."

When their hands brushed each other's they halted their movements. "Thanks." She whispered.

The other girl's mouth opened to say something, but instead she just nodded and walked over to join Mercedes on the bed.

Quinn slowly closed the bathroom door and slipped the shirt back on. Splashing cold water on her face she did her best to collect herself.

Tonight would be interesting.