Chapter Fourteen
The past six months had been a whirlwind.
On the night they'd finally come back together, Santana had spilled her guts. With her eyes still bleary from the sleep they'd fallen into after their promises to take a trip together, she told Quinn what had happened whilst she was gone. Quinn had remained as quiet as the night as she listened, comforting Santana when the emotion got the better of her.
But there was relief in her words that told Quinn more than the words themselves ever could. Santana could be herself and within those six months she'd come to gradually embrace her sexuality and relationship, openly, with Quinn.
That self-assuredness and confidence saw her accepted into NYU, the college she'd set her sights on. The day she had received her letter she'd been snappy with Quinn, the more she prolonged the inevitable the more antsy she got.
It got to the point where Quinn couldn't stand her ridiculousness anymore and offered to read it for her. Santana had agreed; her palms and underboob slick with sweat. She'd really worked herself up into a nervous wreck.
As Quinn slid her finger through the sealed envelope she caught Santana chewing her lip, her anxious energy projecting onto herself. But unlike Santana, she wasn't anxious about whether Santana had gotten in or not. No. For that she could have told Santana months prior. She was getting in. She could have gone to Columbia if she really wanted. What Quinn was nervous about were her own prospects.
Santana had asked her about her plans, her mom had asked her, hell, the whole club had asked her. And each and every time she'd plaster on a smile and tell them she had some ideas.
What a lie. She hadn't even bothered to apply. And by the time it had gotten to graduation she was too chicken shit to tell Santana, or anybody for that matter, that she was a failure.
"You got in." She'd said, for her words to be echoed in disbelief, then elation, by Santana.
That was a good night. Probably one of the best.
Quinn was so unbelievably proud of Santana; of how much she'd grown, of how driven and ambitious she was.
They'd celebrated alone and they'd celebrated with their friends. Everybody in New Directions was getting ready for their futures, whether they were to be in Lima or not. It was all go.
Everybody had their seatbelts on, the domino of clicks, excited for the ride to start. When all Quinn could see was that her seatbelt wasn't there, she wasn't strapped in, she wasn't secure. She wasn't ready. The ride operator was giving them all the thumbs up. "You ready?" The operator would ask and they'd let out a cheer that couldn't quite make its way past Quinn's lips.
Even Sue had approached her and informed her she was moving to Texas to coach a team worth her time, her parting hug filled with the reassurance and comfort she needed but didn't know what to do with.
"You'll be alright, kid." She'd said with a final squeeze to her shoulder.
...
Senior prom came around and she spent a stupid amount on flowers for Santana, Maribel had given her a warm smile when she opened the door to a face full of roses instead of the shy smile of Quinn's she was expecting.
Quinn had thought it cliché she'd got roses but red was Santana's colour, it was a no brainer. And anyway, Santana almost cried at the sight so she couldn't care less what anybody else thought.
"Aw, you've got her crying over flowers!" Lucia laughed from the banister midway up the stairs.
"Shut up," Santana choked out as she took the roses from Quinn. "I've never gotten flowers before."
As soon as Quinn saw the chin start to wobble she kissed Santana's cheek, lightly thumbing the lipstick she'd left away. "Well it's an honour to be the first."
"Oh, girls," Maribel gushed. "Come on, come on. Let me take a picture. Lucia, get my good camera from my dresser!"
"Ugh. Really?"
"Yes, now go get," Maribel snapped her fingers.
Lucia grumbled and made a show of being hard done by, but when she looked Quinn's way she gave her a sly wink and shot up the stairs to fetch the camera.
Santana had broken the news to Lucia about her dad the second day she was back home. To say she was scandalised would have been an understatement.
Never one to let heavy news bring her down, Lucia remained true to her flair for the dramatics. She gasped, she cussed out their abuela from the safety of her bedroom, she hugged Santana until she couldn't breathe. She had Santana's back. And Santana never once doubted it.
"Mercedes is here," Santana said, taking Quinn's hand in hers so that their forearms touched. "You ready?"
Quinn's eyes roamed Santana's face, from her long lashes above deep brown eyes to her plump, red lips. If there ever was such a thing as perfection, she was pretty sure Santana was it.
"I'm so lucky to have you as my girlfriend."
Santana's expectant gaze softened and her lips spread into a smile, "God, Quinn. If you wanted in my pants all you had to do was ask."
Quinn laughed and nudged her, "Idiot."
"You love it."
"Hmm." Quinn furrowed her brow.
It was Santana's turn to laugh as she nudged her back, "Cute. Real cute. C'mon."
Maribel, who had been chatting with Mercedes and Sam out by the car, waved them over as she saw them step out onto the front.
"Why do people do that?" Santana asked.
"Do what?"
"Wave when we're very obviously going in that direction."
"One of life's many questions. Right up there with the meaning of life."
"Okay, smartass."
Quinn apologised in the form of a peck to the back of the hand she was holding.
"You guys look so good!" Mercedes complimented, pulling Quinn into a hug as soon as they reached her.
"'Cedes, divine as ever. And Sam, you're looking very handsome."
"Thank you. Thank you very much." He replied a la Elvis, the tips of his ears burning red when Mercedes giggled at his impression.
Mercedes and Sam had eventually made it official just before they went on to perform at Nationals. Mercedes had been a flustered mess the week prior and had been asking Quinn a whole manner of questions to garner whether Sam like-liked her. Like, duh. Quinn had used more words than that but it wasn't until they were about to go on stage that Sam pulled Mercedes to the side and popped the "Will you go out with me?" question. Mercedes' smile lit up the auditorium the whole performance, Quinn couldn't have been happier to see her dearest friend pour her soul into their performance, not for the sadness or pain of life, but the laughter and love it was capable of.
They'd won. And don't tell Rachel, but Quinn would have bet her money on Mercedes being the reason they did. She had told Santana just as much later that evening. She'd agreed after rinsing Quinn for compliments for her own contributions.
"You were amazing."
"Amazing? Do tell me more."
"Phenomenal."
"Mhmm."
Quinn had inched her face closer and closer to Santana's until their noses were touching.
"Breathtaking," she whispered, pecking Santana on the nose afterward.
"So were you."
The flash of the camera pulled their attention, Santana's most of all.
"Lucia, could you please warn me beforehand? I've not exactly had the best experience with surprise photos."
"Geez Louise, would you get a load of this one?" Lucia spoke out of the side of her mouth. "It's a candid, Santana. How else am I meant to get them?"
"Stick your candids."
"Santana!" Maribel chastised.
"Fine! At least get my good side."
They'd piled in and hitched their ride to McKinley. Their plan was to meet the rest of the club in the parking lot. It was rather reminiscent of the last dance they'd had, minus the biting cold.
Brittany was the first the embrace them. She was another Santana had gone to after the fallout of her coming out. She'd cried when Santana told her about the photo and what Alma had said. It only set Santana off all over again; it was never nice to see Brittany cry.
"Oh, San," she whimpered, "I'm so sorry, I didn't even think."
"Hey," Santana tipped Brittany's chin up with her finger so she'd look her in the eye. "I didn't come to blame, shout or even cry… again." Santana laughed through her own tears, pointing to them and rolling her eyes at herself, getting a small chuckle out of Brittany. "I came to tell my best friend about something important that had happened. That through everything, you're somebody who I still trust and depend on, somebody who I value and love."
Brittany gave her a watery smile. "I should be cheering you up," she laughed again as more tears rolled down her cheeks.
"We're a mess."
"Yeah," they smiled each other. Brittany was the first to move in for the hug and she held Santana tight. "Don't worry about Abuela, it's hard for old people to change. It's something to do with their brain's having to catch up from being trapped in the past. It's a real time capsule up there. Once she hits the twenty-first century she'll come around. I just know it. And say I'm wrong and she doesn't. Screw her. Cause you're awesome."
Santana muffled her hybrid laugh-cry into Brittany's shoulder.
Still in the hug, she turned her head to rest it there, "Thanks, Britt-Britt."
"Anytime, San."
Not one to be left unnoticed for long, Rachel made sure to sweep Santana up next - her sudden embrace making Santana laugh in surprise.
"Watch the hands, Berry."
"Shut up."
Rachel was another person in Santana's life who had only gotten closer with time, the dance lessons became just another thing they did together outside of school. There was no embarrassment there to call Rachel one of her best friends. Especially after Christmas. Rachel had checked in on her daily for two weeks straight after that night.
That was kind of cool of her Santana had to admit.
The gravel crunched under their feet, more car doors could be heard slamming as other students pooled out of their rides to greet friends, and the sound of music could be heard blasting from a car racing into the parking lot.
It was Puck.
He hopped out and went racing over to the group looking dishevelled.
"Hey." He greeted everybody, nodding to Quinn as he passed his gaze over everybody.
Quinn nodded back, "Hey."
"We ready to get into this bitch or what? Artie, you still playing bait?" Puck said.
"Playing what now?" Artie replied.
With everyone there they all took their sweet time making their way inside. Busy fawning over their outfits and the fact this was their senior prom, guys!
The gym had been transformed into a jungle, paper vines hung from the ceiling and various wild animals were dispersed around the hall. When Brittany saw the gorilla statue she immediately ran up to it and posed so Artie could take a picture of her with it.
Santana looked over to Quinn and raised her eyebrows in question, "Want to hug the gorilla, Quinn?"
Quinn side-eyed Santana in response as they began to make their way to the punch hand-in-hand with Quinn leading the way.
"No? I'll take that as a no." She snickered.
Kurt was already at the table, Blaine was with him and grabbing them both a drink. Blaine had pretty much become another member of the group. Whenever they hung out outside of school if Kurt was there Blaine was bound to make an appearance. Santana liked him well enough; Rachel had taken a special shining to him which Santana, of course, teased her relentlessly over. The infatuation didn't last though much to Kurt's relief, Rachel had since set her sights on Broadway and Broadway only. Boys be damned.
Santana had mad respect for that.
"Punch, ladies?" Blaine asked as they approached.
"Yes, please." Quinn smiled.
Kurt took a sip from his drink as he scanned the gym which was steadily filling with other students. "You guys are going away this summer, right?"
"Yeah," Santana chirped, "I finally got around to getting the brake pads fixed on my little baby so we should be set."
"Your little baby?" He quirked an eyebrow.
"Yes, my little baby."
Quinn tried and failed to hide her amusement.
"What?" Santana turned to her. "She is! We've been through a lot together."
"She?" He continued.
"Listen, Hummel. You can't make fun of me for shit. Not with those shoes you've dared to wear in public."
Kurt gasped. "Excuse me, these are couture." He twisted his foot around by the tip of the boot, the shiny material reflecting the light of the huge disco ball hanging above the middle of the gym.
"Whatever. Do you want to know about the trip or not?" Without waiting for a reply, she continued. "So we're pretty much packed and have most things ready. I've spoken with my dad over the phone a couple of times."
"How're you feeling about meeting him for the first time?" Blaine asked.
Santana shrugged her shoulders, "Excited, I guess? It's kind of strange over the phone." She glanced to Quinn and leaned into her touch at the small of her back. "Either way, it'll be a vacation for us two." She would have added that no matter what happened as long as Quinn was with her she'd be okay, but being too soft in front of other's wasn't really her style - if she could help it.
Quinn gave her a soft smile, her eyes telling her she understood what wasn't said.
They'd planned their trip and had worked out it'd take five days if they took regular stops, maybe a little longer. They'd be staying with her dad for a couple of weeks, then it'd be back home and then New York.
After a shaky start to the year, Santana was glad to say she felt ready for what came next - packing all her shit up aside.
When Santana would titter on about the apartments in New York she'd found that weren't too pricey nor too alike a rat den Quinn would listen intently trying to imagine their how their dreams would align. How they'd align when Quinn wasn't sure she had any dreams.
Graduation soon rolled around, making the impending future all that much more real. Caps were thrown and many tears were shed. Quinn watched her cap reach almost as high as Finn's - and he had a height advantage.
Maybe Sue was right. Maybe she would be alright after all.
Santana had rushed up on her and lifted her into a spin that had her head falling back in laughter. Her bright red lips so kissable and perfect. Call it an inkling, call it a felling, call it anything you'd like. All that Quinn knew for certain was that summer was going to be life changing.
...
The after-party was full of hugging and laughing. Rachel's house was taking some damage, but she was enjoying herself too much to care. She was sat with Quinn and Santana at the back of the stage in her basement as the others danced in the centre of the room.
Santana had just taken another shot when she heaved.
"Santana! No!" Quinn shouted, covering her own mouth.
"Qui-" another heave.
"Oh my fucking god." Quinn turned away and squeezed her eyes shut. If Santana was sick, she'd definitely hurl too.
The sound of Santana coughing behind her drew her back around. "Fuck me. Jesus." Santana patted her chest. "Might have to rela- relax on that one." She choked.
Quinn looked at her girlfriend's nonchalant expression and slow blinks after the near-vomit experience and laughed at the state they were all in.
She laughed so hard her cheeks flushed even pinker than they already were. Santana crawled over to her and cupped them in her hands. Quinn could just make out her confused smile through her eyes that were blurry from tears.
"Wha's so funny?" Santana pouted as Quinn's chuckling went on. "Quinn, pwease."
"Pwease?" Rachel cackled, earning a glare from Santana who still held Quinn's face hostage.
Santana now had two people laughing at her. She was not pleased.
Letting Quinn go and crossing her arms over her chest she leaned back, "Fine!"
"S," Quinn said sweetly and opened her arms for Santana to return to her.
And she did after only a small show of resistance.
Due to her lack of bearing she essentially launched herself across the distance and knocked Quinn on her back.
Rachel paid them no mind. Her main priority was to eye potential karaoke candidates.
"So sleepy." Santana mumbled into Quinn's neck.
Quinn hummed in response, revelling in the warmth of Santana's body.
The wind was soon knocked out of them both when Brittany came rushing over to them and sat on Santana's back.
"Wake up, sleepyheads!" She bounced up and down, falling backwards into Rachel who hadn't noticed her and yelped.
When Brittany stood she pulled Rachel up with her, dragging her away to the next thing to capture her attention - which happened to be a distressed Finn who had spilt his drink down himself and was being laughed at by Mike and Puck.
"Ow, my back."
"Ow, my front." Quinn mimicked.
Santana released a puff of air in lieu of an actual laugh. Her body relaxed and loose on top of Quinn's, the drowsiness that had been creeping up on her all night had caught up with her.
"You're like, the best pillow. Ever."
"Oh my gosh, thank you so much," Quinn drawled teasingly.
"You're welcome," Santana responded with all sincerity.
The noise of the room around them had soon faded into the background. What Quinn focused on was the person in her arms. The smell of her hair, her perfume, the length of her eyelashes.
She kind of needed to pee but she could hold it.
"I love you, San."
Just when she thought Santana had fallen asleep completely she heard a quiet but clear, "I love you too." Then the breath hitting her neck evened and the body on top of her felt a little heavier.
She'd be alright. They'd be alright.
