Santana's stomach turns as she walks out of the house. It's been nearly a year. A year since Alison had disappeared. A year since she's spoken with any of her former best friends.
She's told Brittany she's going to visit family, and she is. The girls had been her second family for years, and it would feel wrong to not be there right now. She just has to make one stop before she leaves.
Santana sees Quinn's car camped outside of Rachel's house as she arrives. She doesn't really want to know what the new Cheerio captain is up to, so she pretends she doesn't see her and goes right to the door, ringing the bell.
Rachel doesn't answer. Santana can hear music inside the house, so she knows Rachel is home, so she rings the doorbell a second time.
Still no answer. Santana pounds her fists on the front door.
"Abrir la puerta antes que romper!" Santana yells.
Santana smirks as she hears Rachel run down the stairs.
Rachel glares playfully as she opens the door, but Santana sees her expression change for a fraction of a second, and she's not sure why.
Santana, oddly enough, shuffles her feet, not entirely sure what to say. She hasn't exactly been nice to Rachel this past year, though they've never really sought each other out in Lima, but this year has been more extreme.
"So are you coming or what?" Santana finally says.
Rachel nods. "I'm glad you came."
Santana offers a small smile, one that Rachel has seen numerous times, but most of Lima has never seen.
Santana looks around at the Berry household. It hasn't changed much from the last time she was there. They got a new couch since then, and the curtains are different, but other than that the only thing that's changed is some of the photos on the walls.
Santana tries to recall when the last time she was actually in here was. It must have been the summer before Alison disappeared. Two years.
Rachel's gone to her room to gather her things, but Santana's drawn to the pictures on the mantle. The first is Rachel's most recent head shot. A picture of Rachel and Hiram with the menorah that Santana guesses is from this past year. Santana stops.
In the center of the mantelpiece is the first picture they took together, all of them, when they met at Beat In My Heart, six years ago. Alison was, as always, in the middle. To her left was Emily, Aria was at the far left with Santana in between them. On Alison's right was Hanna. Spencer was at the far right, and Rachel in between them.
Santana feels a single tear escape, and she hastily wipes it away before any more can let loose.
Santana's phone goes off and she pulls it out of her pocket.
I thought we went over this before. Lying to your best friend never ends well. ~ A
Santana shoves her phone back in her pocket and looks around. It couldn't be? Could it?
Santana jumps when she feels a hand on her shoulder.
"You okay?" Rachel asks.
"Yeah," Santana says. "We should get going. Aunt Pam is expecting me."
"Of course," Rachel says. "Drop me off at Spencer's?"
Santana nods.
As they leave Rachel's Santana's eyes lock with Quinn's. Santana still doesn't know what Quinn is doing there. Being seen near Rachel is social suicide at McKinley, especially for the Head Cheerio. Santana feels her stomach turn at what this may bring when they come back, but for now, she's got other things on her mind.
Quinn looks mad, but Santana can always play it off later. After all, if Quinn tries to bring her down, she can bring Quinn down with her.
"Don't touch my radio," Santana say to Rachel as they get into the car.
"It's going to be a long drive," Rachel says. "Do you want me to drive part of the way?"
Santana shakes her head. "Nobody drives the car but me," she says. "Carlos' rules."
Rachel smiles. "Okay, let's go."
What do you think? Next Chapter takes place in Rosewood