Chapter Thirteen
Quinn and Judy pulled into the port, their driver already climbing out of the car to get their bags before Quinn could even register the sheer size of the ship she'd be spending the next week on.
"Fuck me." She said under her breath.
Judy was chattering to the driver by the time Quinn followed suit and got out of the car, pulling the shades that rested on top of her head down as she did. The weather was a whole lot warmer already and they weren't even in the Caribbean yet.
It would make a nice change from the usual minus temperatures that Lima endured around this time of the year. Quinn could have probably dealt with it, but she supposed a week in the sun wouldn't do any harm. It wasn't as though Christmas day would have been spent with her family anyway.
The main downside was the lack of Santana. They'd been messaging since she'd set off from Lima; she was well aware that cell service wasn't exactly great in the middle of the ocean so she'd been making the most of it. They weren't exactly co-dependent, but fuck, Santana was her everything at this point. It was going to be weird not having her there, even through SMS.
Judy called her name to pull her attention and in no time she was being hustled onto the ship and guided to their suite.
Her mom had splashed some cash on the best room they could get. She wasn't complaining, especially since the room was big enough to give the illusion of space. It was like they'd somehow built a small apartment into the ship, she wondered what the captain's room must've looked like.
Thankfully, having so much space meant no sharing with her mother dearest in the near future. Not that she'd be spending a lot of time in the room.
She glanced out of her room's window, the blue skies and sunshine calling out to her.
There was a lounger out there with her name on it, maybe a few cocktails if she could find the right kind of people. She was sure her mom could keep herself entertained whilst she explored.
"Hey, I'm going to take a look around," Quinn said, leaving Judy to her own devices.
It was huge. That was the conclusion Quinn had come to as soon as she'd covered her suite's floor. The number of floors, decks and an all manner of places to get food and drink merely confirmed the fact. If she had wanted to, she could have fooled herself into thinking she was still on land. She'd only just reached the top deck when she noticed they'd set off. It surprised her; she thought she would have felt it. Her question as to whether she had her sea legs troubled her less now than it did on the drive from the airport.
She squinted up at the sun as she felt its direct heat. She didn't fight against the reflex to close her eyes, rather, she stood under sun's shine and allowed her muscles to relax and her mind to empty.
Reopening them she shaded her eyes to give them time to readjust and get a better look around, her gaze skipping over half naked bodies and a busy bar to land on the pool - its reflective surface bouncing the sun back into her eyes once more, just begging her to get in.
And just like that, her afternoon plans were decided. She could get used to this.
…
Back in their suite Quinn had changed into her swimsuit, she had her towel underarm and was searching through her suitcase to find one of the books she'd brought to pass the time when she came upon her sunblock. The sunblock Santana specifically said she'd get for her. A soft chuckle escaped her at the cheek of her girlfriend. Factor 50 was a bit much.
Or so she thought.
Three hours later Quinn was back on the deck and regretting only using her factor 20 and sparingly at that.
Her skin seriously felt like it was bubbling.
After an hour too long in the sun, she had resorted to dragging herself over to the shaded sun loungers, embarrassed that she'd fallen asleep and let herself get so bad.
A hiss of pain escaped her as she touched the tender skin of her shoulders.
"Rookie mistake." A voice came from next to her.
A boy around her age and who was a remarkably beautiful one at that smirked at her over a glass of a cloudy-white concoction.
Quinn quirked an eyebrow, "Did I ask?"
The boy didn't bat an eye, instead, his smirk grew into a toothy smile, "I'm Tom by the way."
"Quinn."
Tom's gaze drifted to behind her and lingered, making her turn to see what he was admiring. What she saw was another quite attractive young man, only instead of Tom's slim build, this other boy was lean and muscled. He must've seen Quinn staring too as he did his best to make his flexing look natural.
Quinn rolled her eyes and turned back to Tom. "Are all the lifeguards freshmen?"
"Freshman? Oh honey, no. Maybe in college. He's some Harvard boy, I should know. He's a family friend, or at least his bore of a mother and father are. Garrett over there is just nice to look at. He doesn't hang out with lowly non-Ivys like me, he's normally found with the other pretty rich kids who have more powder between their ears than brains."
"Why's he a lifeguard if he's here with family?"
Tom took a long sip, "He thinks it makes him hotter. I mean it does." Another sip, his gaze still drifting over to Garrett. "But I don't think he gets paid, he's just a poser. A sexy, sexy poser."
Quinn took another look over her very burnt shoulder and caught eyes with Garrett. That was signal enough to have the guy strutting over, his step slowing after his initial eagerness to reach her.
Smooth. Real smooth. Oh God, he's actually coming over. Fuck.
For all the good pretending he wasn't closing in did her, her attempt to apply aloe vera on her skin only opened the invitation further, apparently.
The slap of flip-flops came to a halt just behind her. Tom raised his eyebrows at her.
"Hey." Jesus, please help me. "Want any help with that?" Agh.
Quinn briefly squeezed her eyes shut and took a calming breath before meeting Garrett's eyes and putting on her best sickly-sweet smile, "No, thanks."
Somehow Garrett took that as her playing hard to get, his mouth twitched as he licked his lips in an attempt to be sexy. "Ha, okay, okay. I see you."
Quinn's smile dropped as she gaped at him in disbelief.
"Name's Garrett Morgan." He went to cup his chin but dropped his hand before it reached his face, his awkward movements counteracting any swagger he could possibly have. "What's yours... ba-"
Quinn's stare dipped into something a little colder, bringing Garrett's sentence to an end.
"It's Quinn." Tom butted in.
Garrett looked his way, as though he'd only just noticed his presence. He nodded his head in acknowledgement.
Quinn was thinking about hitting Tom in the face with the book she'd brought with her.
"Cool. That's really cool." Garrett leaned from one foot to the other. "So, like, my dad is a shareholder in the biz and you know, I pretty much own this cruise liner."
"Your family you mean." Tom once again piped up.
Garrett's sneer would've been more threatening if he looked a little less like a toddler that'd just told somebody they were the biggest meanie ever.
"Yeah, my family. We're a big deal."
"Sure. That's great, I'm just-" Quinn started.
"And I was thinking I could treat you to a spot at my family's table today, at lunch."
"I'm busy that day."
"But.. but I said today. We're on the ship until tomorrow."
"Oh, yeah. I'm still busy."
The forlorn look on Garrett's pretty face didn't last too long, his smarmy smile coming back full force in no time.
"Well if you're busy today, surely tonight you're free? You should come to my room, I-"
"Erm, no." Quinn was sick of playing nice. Or at least her version of nice. "I'm not interested."
"No, no. Not like that!" He paused. "I mean… unless?" Quinn shot him daggers. "No! I'm having a get-together. It's the place to be, all us kids leave our folks to play their weird old people games until they pass out in the bar whilst we, you know..." He wiggled his eyebrows at Quinn.
"I'll pa-"
"She'll go." Tom once again decided to participate and speak for Quinn. She was seriously about to hit him. "Only if I can come."
Garrett literally pouted and furrowed his brow in deep thought, or something akin to it. "Argh, man. But you suck!"
"Take it or leave it."
Garrett huffed and eyed Quinn. "Okay, okay." He gave her another smile. "It starts at ten, but I'll make it nine for you. See ya." He gave her a wink and walked away, putting more sway into his stride than necessary.
"What the fuck?" Quinn bit out.
"What?" Tom shrugged, as though he hadn't just used her as a bargaining chip.
"I don't even fucking know you."
"So? You've never made new friends before?"
Quinn ignored him and finished applying the aloe, as she did she tried to spy an empty lounger but saw none. She was stuck with the one she had. Laying back she tried to relax in the heat and forget the whole ordeal. The slurping coming from beside her making it difficult to do so.
"Want one?"
Quinn opened one of her eyes and turned her head toward Tom. He was waving his glass at her.
Okay, she'd bite, "What is it?"
"Something tasty."
"Okay."
Tom's full lips split open into a grin, "Good choice."
He soon returned with a drink for her and they sat in amicable silence as they drank away. It was rather sweet and not dissimilar to the concoctions Santana would make up; only the alcohol wasn't as obvious in this one.
Dangerous, very dangerous. But tasty too.
Before she even finished it Tom had run off to get another for them both. A little into her second she was already feeling warmer, and it wasn't for the climate.
"You were right. They are tasty." Quinn said.
"I normally am."
Tom observed Quinn as she took languid sips. She was a new face, he wasn't used to those. Not of a younger breed anyway. Normally they were one foot in the grave. Every winter it was the same families, these types of cruises attracted those of unorthodox traditional types - with money. Much of the clientele were from well off backgrounds, the extortionate prices made sure of that.
He supposed the place wasn't too shabby either.
"What's your deal?" He said.
"My deal? What do you mean?"
"I've not seen you before."
"And?"
"And that's not usual. What happened? Dad remarried and brought you along to bond with his new family?"
"Not quite."
"Well you're not old enough for a midlife crisis so I'll assume you're not the reason you're here."
Quinn laughed at that. "Well maybe in a roundabout way, but blah, semantics."
Tom let out a soft laugh of his own, "What was with the icy reception toward Hasselhoff over there?" He nodded to Garrett who was talking to some older ladies at the bar - definitely not watching the pool.
"I'm not interested." Quinn couldn't emphasise the point enough.
"Got a boyfriend or somethin'?"
"Or somethin'." Quinn copied, a smirk creeping onto her face as she took another sip and shot Tom a look.
He took a second to regard her then broke out into a smirk of his own. "Well, well, well. Must be one hot piece that's all I'll say."
"Oh, she is."
"She? Even better." He leaned over to Quinn's lounger for her to cheers him, she happily clinked her glass with his. "Cheers to that, sister."
"Speaking of deals, what's happening tonight? And why were you so desperate to go, hm?"
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. But you will thank me later, I've been needing an in on this bad boy since we all hit puberty, but unfortunately for me I haven't been lucky enough to have the invitation extended. I mean not to say I haven't been, because who the fuck cares a couple of hours in? But girl, the stories I've heard, we need to be there from the start. And don't worry about Garrett, he's harmless."
"We'll see."
"So you're coming?"
"Sure, there's fuck all else to do."
"That's the spirit."
...
Quinn was not dressing up. Hell no. Although she did spruce herself up to get into the mood.
She had not expected to be partying her first night away. She thought she'd be in bed wishing the week away instead. And as for Tom, she hadn't decided whether he was a blessing or a curse yet. She supposed she'd soon find out.
"Hey, gorge." Tom said from his spot leaning on the wall opposite her suite's door.
"Hey, beaut." Quinn grinned.
In fairness, Tom had grown on her throughout the day, they'd gone and eaten lunch together before splitting up so she could go and nap.
Her mom had made a fuss over her sore skin but it wasn't too bad by the time evening rolled around. Getting ready in the mirror she noticed how her freckles had made an appearance too. She wondered what Santana would make of them.
"May I?" Tom offered his arm.
Quinn pressed a hand to her chest and gasped, "What a gentleman." She took his arm and they made their way down the hall.
"I've been meaning to ask since you mentioned her, who's this better half I know so little of?"
"Better half? Don't tell her that, she'd take it and run a mile," Quinn couldn't help the bashful smile that took over her face. "Her name's -"
"Wait. Don't tell me. It's Beth right?" He pointed to Quinn's wrist.
"No, no. That's somebody else." She lightly thumbed over the name. "My girlfriend's name is Santana."
"Santana. Santana." Tom rolled the name around in his mouth. "Why does she even sound hot?"
"Because she is. Here," Quinn slipped her phone out of her back pocket and scrolled through her most recent pictures. Some were kind of embarrassing so she tilted her screen away until she found the perfect one. It was from Winter Formal; Quinn had her arm over Santana's shoulder as Santana pressed her face against hers, her smile as wide as Quinn's. The picture had Quinn smiling all over again. "Take a look. No scrolling."
"Okay, okay." Tom took the phone and let out a low whistle. "Looking fine," Quinn left it in his hands for a little too long as he started to flick through the rest of her phone's album. "Ooo, bitch. This one is saucy."
"Tom!" Quinn snatched the phone out of his hand and smacked his arm.
"Ow, bitch. I'm delicate."
"I'll give you delicate."
"Is this how you treat all the boys?"
"Only you."
"Oh, I'm honoured. Come on."
…
Quinn thought her suite was fancy. Garrett's was on another level.
It could have easily been mistaken for a house with a sea view. Only now the huge panes of glass gave way to a sea of blackness that both amazed and frightened Quinn. Lounging on the top deck she didn't really take the time to look out across the sea. To see nothing, not a light, was jarring.
"Snazzy, huh?" Tom nudged her.
"Uh-huh." Quinn continued to scope the place out, there was a set of stairs leading up to a second floor that overlooked the bottom level. There were a few rooms that led off to bedrooms and bathrooms, but she couldn't be sure which was which.
There were people dotted about the bottom floor, some on the central couches, others standing around the kitchen island and bar.
The longer she looked the more she didn't understand what she was supposed to be missing. What was so amazing that they had to be here? It didn't seem any more exciting that the parties she usually went to. Actually, it seemed way less exciting. The music was thumping, but most of the people in attendance weren't dancing or pounding drinks. Maybe these kids just didn't know how to party.
"Quinn!"
Quinn's head snapped toward the voice calling her and saw Garrett making his way towards her and Tom.
"Hi, how are you?"
"Better now that you're here." Quinn barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes. "No?" Garrett laughed. "Here let me introduce you."
He led Tom and her toward the group at the bar and went through each person, giving Quinn names that she almost immediately forgot. How was anybody meant to remember anybody at these things?
However, she did remember one and that was only because she looked similar to Santana, her eyes kept drawing back to her as the group broke out into conversation after introductions were done with. Her name was Reina and she had an accent when she spoke. Quinn tried to listen more intently when she did to pick up on it but had no luck.
Garrett handed them both a drink he'd made, and made a cheers. He was more bearable in groups. Who'd have thought?
The drink was nice, really nice. It probably helped it was the expensive stuff. It certainly went down a lot easier than the lighter fluid Puck supplied the usual parties with.
Comfortable with being on the periphery of the conversation, Quinn continued to sip at the drink Garrett had given her and found herself enjoying the stories to which she had no context for. The conversation and jokes were flowing quite nicely, and the anxieties she had about joining a party where everybody but her knew each other were alleviated. Tom being by her side helped too, especially since he seemed to be quite the charmer and had no trouble winning them over.
If there ever was a human embodiment of a social butterfly, she knew Tom would be it.
She would have never had thought he was some outcast among the filthy rich offspring of the filthy rich parents that made trips like this just because they could. She supposed she was one of those rich kids too. How rich now that her dad had nothing to do with her? She wasn't sure. And honestly, she didn't want to know.
Quinn tried to shake the thought from her mind and made an effort to regain some footing in story Tom was sharing, smiling when he looked to her, his eyes shining with the mirth of a man who knew something nobody else did. He really had them all like putty in the palm of his hand and she couldn't help but chuckle at how much he was loving it.
…
It had been about half an hour when Quinn's concerns that the party would be a bust were alleviated by a sudden burst of activity from the group by the couch. Yelling broke out and somebody was tossed over the table in the middle of the floor, knocking everything off of it. She thought fists were about to be thrown when the throwee leapt up with a laugh that set off the rest of them.
Tom awkwardly joined them and bumped Quinn's arm as though to ask her what the fuck was going on. Hell if she knew. The atmosphere had shifted into what she imagined a frat party was like, the boys became more boisterous and the girls were dancing more wildly.
And then Reina took a hold of her wrist.
Quinn gave her a questioning look, but she only got a sweet smile in response as she was pulled toward one of the rooms away from the main party. Quinn quickly felt behind her and grabbed for Tom's hand. To her relief he took it. Not that she needed a chaperone, but she felt safer with him around.
As they reached the door Reina gave a few knocks that triggered giggling from behind it. Reina turned back to them and let out a low laugh. "They won't be long." As they waited Quinn couldn't help staring. This girl really did look like Santana. And that accent, it must've been Australian. "See something you like?"
"Huh?" Quinn choked out in embarrassment. "No! I mean, you're gorgeous of course, it's just that you look like somebody I know."
Tom, who was still a little drunk from earlier leaned in. "Oh yeah, I see it."
Reina furrowed her brow in confusion. "Thanks, I think."
"Oh no, yeah. It's a total compliment, cross my heart and hope to die." Tom motioned a cross across his body.
The door opened then and three girls and a guy came fumbling out, the guy bringing up the rear and stopping short of Reina before whispering something to her and handing her a small tin.
"Thanks," Reina said.
The three of them slipped in right after and Reina told Tom to lock the door.
The bathroom was coloured white and gold, it would have been tacky if it wasn't so impressive. The wall that backed the sink was one big mirror, its overall reflective sheen was marred by two handprint smudges that Quinn could only guess how they got there. She knew what Santana wouldn't have hesitated to vocalise said guesses. And the bathtub was nothing less of a hot tub - six people could have happily fit in.
Her perusing was interrupted by Reina cracking the tin open and dusting the counter by the sink. "Those arseholes spilt their drink. I hope you don't mind a sticky surface." She looked over her shoulder to give Tom and Quinn a smirk.
Reina tipped the tin and tapped out a white powder that had Quinn raising her eyebrows. She felt kind of dumb. Why else would a stranger at a party invite you into the bathroom? Actually, she supposed there were many answers to that question, most of which made her think of Santana once again.
Quinn eyed Tom who didn't seem fazed at all. Reina pulled a card out of her bra and began cutting lines, Quinn had seen people ride the rail plenty of times before but she'd never sought them out to join herself.
"Just a bump to start the night right, aye." Reina then pulled out a crisp note and rolled it, handing it to Quinn once she'd done. "Ladies first." She said with a wink.
Quinn was not drunk enough for this. She looked back to Tom and he nodded to her.
Fuck it.
She pushed the thought of the germs on the note from her mind and snorted the thinnest line on the counter, coughing slightly at the tickle she felt at the back of her throat. She resisted the urge to physically gag at the sensation, scrunched her nose and then passed the note to Reina who quickly followed suit, no hesitation.
Tom showed as little reservation as Reina, Quinn supposed this was his scene too. He gave her a huge grin in the mirror and it made her heart jolt in anticipation. What was she getting herself into?
Reina licked her finger to gather the remnants of what was left on the side and rubbed it into her gums. The sight made Quinn's lip twitch. "Waste not, want not, hey."
Quinn followed Tom and Reina back out into the party, the whole space felt different, the lights were dimmed and the music sounded, felt, louder. The nerves from earlier about hanging with a bunch of strangers spiked, but settled when Tom handed her another drink.
The buzz rushing through her body made her want to move, she gripped her cup tighter and ran her tongue over her teeth. The realisation that she had a lot of energy made her almost laugh. So this was what this was about?
Feeling antsy and eager to dance she quickly finished her drink and slammed the empty cup down before dragging Tom into the centre of the room where the table was still knocked over and others were giggling and falling over each other to sit down.
Closing her eyes she tried to feel the music.
"I love this song." She said through a smile.
"You do?" Tom replied.
Quinn opened one of her eyes and felt the threat of a laugh climbing from her chest. "No." It got the better of her and she began laughing, "I've never even heard this song before."
When she opened her eyes and saw Tom's confused look it only served to set her off again.
"I'll be right back." Tom squeezed her arm and she nodded.
Continuing to dance she pulled up a couple who were making out on the couch.
Luckily, they didn't seem to mind.
"You smell really good. What is that?" Quinn asked the girl half of the couple.
The mundane conversation felt important, Quinn was intently listening as she detailed her trip to the mall and how she went to so many different stores.
"... and it was so worth it." The stranger said.
"Oh my god, totally. So worth it." Quinn nodded.
Tom returned with another drink in hand, Quinn thanked him and they gradually drifted out of the group of dancers that had accumulated.
"I don't even feel anything," Quinn said after a minute.
"You've never done it before?" Tom questioned.
"No?"
"Quinn! Oh my days. I'm a bad influence." Tom cried as though he was the star of his very own soap opera.
"You weren't dragging me into the bathroom and honestly, it's not a big deal." Quinn laughed.
"Really? Not feeling on the verge of strangling me? Or thinking I'm plotting your death?" Quinn shook her head. That satisfied Tom well enough. "Oh. Had me worried there." He wiped the bead of sweat that was slipping down his forehead.
"Sounds like you've had some experience."
"Girl, you wouldn't believe."
Quinn felt stuck between sober and drunk. She certainly wasn't sober, but she felt like she was in some sort of limbo. Maybe drinking more would help - said nobody in the right state of mind, ever.
"I like you, Tom." Quinn placed a hand on one of Tom's biceps, he felt unbelievably warm.
Tom looked into her eyes for a long second, a little too long. And to her dread, Tom began to lean in.
"No, no, no." She said quickly, her words tumbling over each other as she pulled back.
Tom released a sputtering laugh, puckering his lips once more when he calmed down.
He was making fun of her. "Bitch, I'm kidding!"
Quinn looked at him in shock and then amusement. "Tom! I thought I had you pegged all wrong for a second."
"You can peg me any time, honey." Tom wrapped his lips around the straw of his drink in an overtly sexual way and gave her a slow wink.
"Oh my god," Quinn playfully shoved him. "You know I'm taken."
He gave a pout, "You don't know what you're missing."
"I'm sure I'll live." He continued to give her what she assumed was his come-hither look. "If you carry on I'm leaving."
"Quinn," he whined, "I'm sorry, please forgive me. Don't abandon me and leave me with all the straight people."
"Fine, but behave."
"Yes, Miss." Quinn rolled her eyes.
Much of the night was spent consuming stupid amounts of alcohol and causing mischief with Tom. Her sides ached for having laughed so much, she felt stupidly and wonderfully silly throughout the night and it was great.
She may have also indulged in a little more than the alcohol.
The discreetness that was held to at the beginning of the party was no longer a worry as people tapped and cut out line after line. The table had been righted and the lounge the epicentre for debauchery.
Quinn didn't even know if it mattered if she'd been drinking, all she knew was that she could still run riot with Tom and that was all that mattered. Garrett had gotten in on the fun, his lack of inhibitions breaking down that smarmy front he put on in every other interaction he'd had with Quinn. He was kind of a doofus. Doofus. The thought of the word had her laughing into the back of his shirt (which he had miraculously kept on) as the three of them lay like sardines in the tub, a towel on top of them, waiting for somebody to come in to receive the scare of their life.
...
Some time had passed and Quinn had taken the time to escape and take a break out on the balcony. The sea breeze felt strange in the face of the eternal darkness that was the sea and sky in front of her. It felt like it was coming from nowhere and everywhere.
And then she looked up. She thought there was no light outside, but she was mistaken. She'd never seen so many stars in the sky.
The beauty and vastness of it all had her welling up. There was so much she'd never seen before. So much she had never experienced. And soon she'd have to decide what she wanted to do and be. It all felt like too much.
"Quinn." Tom was calling her name from the sliding door. "You coming back inside?"
Quinn took a second to wipe her eyes and plastered on a smile. "Yeah."
...
The vessel they were on could've been in the middle of a storm with the way Quinn's world was spinning. She had made it back to her suite it seemed, but not her bed. She lay face-first on the cool tile of the bathroom.
After a breather she tried to push herself up, her elbows buckling as a fresh wave of nausea hit her.
"Oh no. Please, no." She pleaded with her body. She really didn't want to vomit.
"We're docking today, Quinn!" She heard her Judy call from somewhere. "Where are you?"
Quinn groaned. She lay back down and closed her eyes, hoping for the best. She hated being sick, so, so much.
"Is somebody feeling a little seasick?" Judy came into the bathroom, switching the light on much to Quinn's despair. "Oh, honey." She crouched down and rubbed Quinn's back for a few seconds. "Get changed, we're going to have some breakfast before we dock."
Quinn's response was heard more by the floor than her mother, but Judy didn't mind too much. She took the mumbles as confirmation that she'd be joining her and that was good enough for her. "I'll go see if they have those motion sickness bands at the store, I'll be back in ten." Judy then kissed the tips of her fingers and planted them on Quinn's forehead, soon leaving thereafter.
...
Feeling like death warmed over, Quinn thoroughly hated the day. She tried to perk herself up, but she really had to call it quits when the glass of rose placed in front of her at dinner had her heaving. It wasn't just the sight, but the smell as well.
She promised herself she was never drinking. Never. Never.
On the bright side, she and Judy were getting on quite well. Perhaps the sudden muteness that had overcome Quinn had a hand in helping the dynamic or maybe they were growing closer, either way, Quinn only had to worry about not losing her meagre breakfast during their excursions.
She didn't see Tom again that evening having skipped out on their evening meal altogether and taking to bed for the rest of the night. When she found him the next day they spent much of it together. In fact, they spent much of the week together.
Quinn was so glad she had somebody to talk to who wasn't her mother. Tom was an interesting guy, he was in senior year too, only unlike Quinn he had plans. He was going to some art college in Los Angeles, he told her it had the kind of art scene he wanted to work his way up in. She admired his ambition. When he asked her what she was going to do she told him she didn't know. He reassured her that she'd figure it out. She gave a noncommittal shrug.
They went to more parties, the first night having bridged the gap between Garrett and Tom apparently. She couldn't take all the credit, but she wouldn't say no to a thank you. Especially when one evening she walked into a bathroom to find them all over each other. She'd left them to it, taking with her the lesson that she should really learn to knock more and for longer in these situations.
Christmas had come and gone, it was bizarre to be celebrating while the sun was beating and no snow could be seen. The lack of expectation made it one of her favourite Christmases ever and before she knew it, it was their last day.
She'd worked up quite a nice tan, her lesson quickly learnt on the first day and her alcohol consumption tempered some. She did not have a repeat hangover like the last. Something she was pleased with.
And even though she'd had a good time, and definitely made a friend for life, she couldn't wait for it to be over. To finally see Santana and her friends.
...
Before the cruiser docked for the last time, they were having dinner with Tom's family. Tom had laughed at her apprehensiveness. "Are you asking my dad if you have permission to marry me or something?"
Quinn had bit her lip and shook her head, feeling silly for being nervous. She wondered what Maribel would make of her and Santana being together. She couldn't imagine how nervous she'd feel during that moment, assuming she'd be there.
Tom, Judy and Quinn arrived together and joined a gorgeous pair sat at a table. Tom could've gotten his infectious smile from either one of them. They were actually quite nice, he must have been exaggerating the when he said they were his prison guards. Then again, now knowing Tom, the exaggeration didn't surprise her.
The meal had been nice, the company even more so. Tom, forever the conversationalist, didn't shut up for the most part, but it made it a no less perfect end to her vacation. Out on the deck, soaking up the last bit of sun she was sure to see for a few months, Quinn sat quietly next to Tom and watched the waves trip over each other.
In the distance the coast could be seen, signalling the end and encouraging their goodbyes.
"We'll have to keep in touch," Quinn said first.
"We will. And I have to meet Santana one of these days, the way you went on about her sometimes. You'd think she was the second coming."
"I did not go on."
"I beg to differ."
Quinn crossed her arms and glared at him.
"Scary." Tom laughed and enveloped her into a hug, one she eventually returned.
...
Quinn tried to sleep for the majority of the trip back to Lima. She thought that the more she slept, the quicker time would pass and the quicker she'd be able to see Santana. When she had gotten her feet on steady ground she sent a text telling Santana she was back on land and that she'd text her when she was close.
Judy and Quinn caught their ride to the airport, Judy making good use of Quinn as she had her heave her bags into the car. Thankfully, the driver had given her a hand so she didn't have to break too much of a sweat.
They were cutting it close with their flights, but what was life without a little risk?
She was sure the sight of herself and Judy sprinting (or at least trying to) to their gate was something to behold. Quinn resembling a pack mule and Judy panting like a hunter had taken a gun to her and punctured a lung.
Despite all that, they made it in the end.
Quinn made sure to nab the window seat before Judy could steal it away once they'd finally boarded and they settled in with refreshments. But other than that, Quinn had no interest in a movie or any light and boring patter with Judy. Instead, she simply slipped her eye mask on and dreamt the hours it'd take away.
"Quinny." A cooing whisper attempted to rouse her.
Had they landed? Sleep was so good though. Quinn told herself she'd wake up in just a second.
"Inasec." She mumbled.
Ten minutes later Judy was shaking her awake. "Come on now, Quinn."
Shocked awake, Quinn quickly sat from her slouched position against the window. Her hair thoroughly bed-head worthy and that dried patch of drool by her mouth? No such thing. She had never drooled in her life. Obviously.
Back on the road, she'd be arriving in Lima in no time. Just as she was about to start a text she decided to just call instead. So what if they'd see each other in person soon. She wanted to hear her girlfriend's voice.
On the second ring it connected.
"Santana," Quinn whispered.
"Quinn," Santana whispered back.
Hearing her name had a big, fat grin spreading across her face. "Hey." Her voice was still quiet, but the excited tremor was noticeable.
"Are you nearly here?"
"Yeah, twenty minutes tops."
"Why are we whispering?" The amusement in Santana's voice was apparent.
Quinn couldn't believe herself but she giggled like a little school girl. She was unbelievably smitten.
"Will you be waiting for me?"
"Uh-huh."
...
"Uhngh-" Quinn grunted, too far gone to be bothered about being embarrassed.
"God I've missed you," Santana's words came hot and wet, her mouth pressed against the nape of Quinn's neck. Her fingers slick and firm as they pressed against Quinn's walls before torturously dragging out again, the motion repeated until Quinn writhed beneath her.
"San-" Quinn panted, her legs and arms wrapped around her girlfriend's body. Her desperate moans encouraging Santana to give her some leeway in the way of picking up the pace - the sound of skin meeting skin that much louder and frantic.
As soon as Quinn arrived home and they were finally reunited a palpable tension overcame them. Judy's presence making their need to be close that much more enticing and exciting. The longing looks and prolonged contact as Quinn handed Santana one of her bags to help her carry her things inside causing a fire to burn deep within Quinn. A fire that would only get brighter before it could be put out.
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." Quinn's nails dug into Santana's back as she arched into her. She was so close. Stupidly so. Her mouth tried to tell Santana to never stop but couldn't quite bring itself to do so.
Soft kisses were peppered along her jaw, her neck, her chest, every meeting of flesh had her head swimming, not a coherent thought could be found sloshing around inside her skull. And then Santana's teeth bit down on her collarbone and she came around the fingers inside of her.
Santana didn't move her hand immediately, no. Instead, she resumed her kisses as Quinn's thighs trembled. When the trembles subsided she pulled out only to glide her fingers to Quinn's very sensitive clit.
As soon as contact was made Quinn's hips jolted and knocked Santana's hand back, making them both laugh.
Santana decided to rest her hand on her thigh instead, which only served to make her burn even hotter. By the glint in Santana's eye, she knew it too.
"I love you," Quinn said in her post-orgasm haze, reverence dripping from her words.
Santana's smirk melted into a coy smile, "You do?"
Quinn bit her lip, "Yeah." She said, drawing Santana's face closer with the intimacy of the whisper.
"Oh." Santana's breath ghosted Quinn's lips. "That's a relief because I love you too."
They smiled then at each other, their teeth meeting where their lips should have as they kissed, the clicking sound making them giggle.
"Lie back," Quinn instructed as she ran her thumb over Santana's bottom lip.
And she did.
"Now I could just thank you, but I think I have a better way to repay your good deed." Quinn continued, moving to straddle Santana's hips.
Santana looked up at her, a shiver on anticipation running through her. "Oh yeah?"
Quinn took her wrists and brought them up above her head so that her fingertips brushed the headboard. "Oh." Quinn leaned in close and nibbled at her ear, making Santana squirm. "Yeah."
...
Santana had been burning a hole in the pavement the whole time she had been waiting for Quinn, her nervous energy manifested into her pacing for what could have been an hour but was more like ten minutes.
When they could finally find a moment alone no words were shared, not until they were stripped bare, their need for each other urgent and raw. Everything else could wait for this moment. The moment they came back together, reconnected and found each other again.
To have Quinn back, head between her thighs no less, was a dream.
Fully sated and some time later they lay staring into each other's eyes.
"We're so gay."
Quinn laughed into her pillow and shyly peeked out not a second later. "So gay."
"Quinn," Santana said as she drew her fingers over Quinn's ribs.
"Yes, Santana."
"I have a proposal for you."
Quinn shifted to fully face Santana, her eyes widening. "What?"
"Don't worry, I don't have a ring up my ass to give you, I promise." Santana took one of Quinn's hand in hers and held it to her breast, her heart. "I have a lot to tell you, but the biggest thing I need to ask you is this." She took a deep breath, sure that her thudding heart could be felt by Quinn. "Would you come to California with me? This summer I mean. It'd be after graduation of course and before we go to New York, we can plan the stops, book a room here and there so we don't have to suffer the backseat of my car every night. Be together before life sweeps us up. Before the world chews us up and spits us out."
She paused, aware she was getting away with herself.
"Well?" Her eyes flicked between Quinn's, looking for any sign of hesitation.
To her relief she found none.
"Of course."
Santana's face split into a huge grin, pure elation creasing the corners of her eyes and making them shine with unshed tears.
She took Quinn's face and planted kisses all over making the other girl laugh and roll onto her back.
"I'd love to." Quinn murmured against her lips as she kissed her there.
It was so earnest and heartfelt that her heart ached for all the love she had for Quinn.
"Thank you."
Santana closed the gap between them once more, their mouths meeting with the quiet understanding of two people against the world.
