Wow, you guys can be intense. And passionate. Which is why I wanted to get this chapter up as quickly as possible (though it wasn't as fast as I had hoped)-to clear a few things up. I understand how the last chapter could have made some of you question Quinn and what she was doing, and maybe even hate her a little bit; what I'm asking you to remember is that this is Quinn we're talking about here. She's infamous for being incredibly protective and guarded when it comes to thoughts and feelings. She never wants to give anything away, and you never really know where you stand with her (see Finn's exact quote regarding this in season 2, ep. 19 "Rumours" :) ) until she chooses to tell you. That being said, I hope this chapter at least begins to put Quinn back in your good graces...
Santana woke the next morning feeling completely at ease and utterly happy for the first time in years—that was her thought as she opened her eyes. It was a welcomed feeling, waking up without dread holding you down. No matter what the day held, Santana could always think back to that very moment and remember just how content she was lying with Quinn if necessary. She was still burrowed into Quinn's side and didn't think she could be any more comfortable. Quinn's addictive smell filled Santana's senses and she listened to the calming sound of the blonde's heartbeat, wishing to commit the sound to memory. Santana shifted slightly, nuzzling her face into Quinn's neck, and felt long fingers begin to drift through her hair.
"Your nose is cold," Quinn complained softly. Her voice was raspy and still filled with sleep, and Santana grinned at how cute it was. She trailed her nose up Quinn's neck and kissed her jaw.
"I'm sorry," Santana murmured. She brought her head back down to Quinn's shoulder and sighed happily.
"So am I." It came out as a whisper and Santana knew if she hadn't been so close to Quinn the words would have gone unheard.
She knit her eyebrows together in confusion, frowning to herself. "What are you sorry for?"
"Last night," Quinn said and took a deep breath. "Let me explain," she continued quickly when she felt Santana tense up. "I don't regret the sex, if that's what you're thinking. And that's probably what you're thinking, so just stop." It was yet another time Santana wondered if Quinn could legitimately read her mind—that's exactly what had been going through her head. She didn't have time to dwell on the thought, though, because Quinn persisted, "I'm sorry about bringing up your past. I'm sorry for making such a big deal out of it; because, honestly, I have no room to talk."
Santana lifted her chin to rest on Quinn's shoulder so she could look into the hazel eyes. "You've had countless one night stands and drunken hookups with random women?" she asked with a trace of a knowing smile.
"No," Quinn replied, scrunching up her face at Santana's lame attempt at a joke. "But I have let numerous men define my life. And I distinctly remember you calling me out on it a few years ago." She looked down at Santana with twinkling eyes, and Santana grinned. "Anyway, my point is that I know what it's like to be ashamed of your past and to want to forget about it. I was a bitch to hold yours over you, and I am very sorry for that. It won't happen again. I'm also sorry for practically jumping you the moment you closed the door last night. That was not very nice of me. I was using sex as a means to keep you around; I now realize I was so very wrong and that I didn't need to, so hey let's add that to the long list of things I'm apologizing for at nine in the morning."
Santana bit her lip as she thought about what Quinn was saying. "The jumping me thing was kind of hot," she admitted with a guilty smile and Quinn rolled her eyes.
"Not the point, Santana," Quinn told her. "I need you to know that I didn't have sex with you last night because I thought it was the only way to your heart, as I stupidly said. It was so much more than that, and it meant so much more than that. You mean so much more than that, I promise."
"I do know that, Quinn," Santana responded with a nod. "After we talked some things over you didn't have the crazed, frenzied look in your eyes like you did at first. And I was serious, it was sort of sexy, I'd be lying if I said otherwise, but it wasn't the Quinn I was used to. The Quinn I did have sex with was the one I know. The one I care about so much."
"Have I ever told you that you're amazing?" Quinn was looking at her with such an intensity Santana felt her breath catch in her throat; she was looking at Santana like she was the only person in the world, like she was the only person who mattered. Quinn's gaze made Santana's brain fuzzy and her skin tingle. Those damn eyes.
"I don't think you've ever used that exact word, no," Santana finally managed to get out in a hoarse voice.
"Well then," Quinn said before leaning down to kiss Santana gently, "you are amazing."
Santana felt the familiar fire burn through her entire body when her lips met Quinn's, even though it was a short kiss. "You're too kind."
Quinn chuckled and placed another kiss on the tip of Santana's nose before lying back on the pillows behind her. Santana settled into her side again, resting her head in the crook of Quinn's shoulder. They lied in silence for a few minutes not wanting to disturb the peace and serenity that had descended upon them.
"I want a future, too," Quinn suddenly stated.
Santana, who had been dragging her fingers delicately back and forth across Quinn's stomach, stopped and looked up at her. "I'm sorry, what?"
She took a deep breath before answering. "Last night," she started, "you said all you wanted was a future with me. That's what I want as well. I didn't really get to answer because of how big of an ass I was being. I realize we've only been officially dating for a little over a month, but this is the realest thing I've had with another person since high school. It's different, and it feels good, and…yeah, no, that's all I had to say. I also want a future with you." Quinn stared down at Santana with a guarded, worried expression.
"Why do you look so nervous to admit that?" Santana asked, smiling faintly. She knew Quinn was a professional at keeping emotions locked up and hidden—she was the best of the best; she had mastered the Ice Queen façade by sophomore year in high school, and wouldn't even bat an eye if someone challenged her or threatened her. So to see Quinn anxious—in front of Santana of all people—came as a shock.
"I don't really do well when it comes to vocalizing feelings," Quinn replied. "Not that it should be a surprise to you," she added, eyebrows raised.
"Oh, I know very well just how much expressing your thoughts and emotions pains you. I just like hearing you say it out loud. It reminds us all Quinn Fabray isn't perfect," Santana said, an endearing smile in place.
A look of mock outrage crossed Quinn's features. "Whatever, Lopez."
"You say that way too often," Santana told her.
"Well, maybe you should stop doing and saying things that make me say it," Quinn suggested kindly.
Santana moved swiftly and rolled over onto Quinn, straddling the girl's hips. She leaned down, placing her hands on either side of Quinn's head, so their lips were inches apart.
"Maybe I like it," she breathed against Quinn's mouth. "Maybe I enjoy hearing you say it."
Quinn was about to respond but Santana swallowed her words with a deep kiss. The blonde parted her lips slightly, granting Santana's tongue entrance. Santana probed every inch of Quinn's mouth before entwining their tongues with one another. Quinn wound her arms around Santana's back, pulling her down so their naked bodies were pressed against each other.
Breaking away moments later to catch their breath, Santana wasted no time in trailing kisses down Quinn's neck. She felt hands running up and down her back and dragged her lips to Quinn's throat, now kissing her way upwards. She was about to find Quinn's mouth again when she was flipped suddenly and found herself lying on her back, looking up at her grinning girlfriend.
"How did you-" Santana started, dumbfounded by the abrupt change in positions.
"I didn't get to the top of the pyramid in high school with my slow reflexes, Santana," Quinn bragged. She leaned down to kiss Santana once more and then rolled off of her, getting up from the bed and walking towards her closet.
"Where are you going?" Santana asked, moping slightly. Now that Quinn wasn't beside her anymore, the morning air was cold and Santana huddled under the blankets.
"One of the best things about working with a successful, well-known DA," Quinn began with a roll of her eyes as she pulled on underwear and a bra, much to Santana's dismay, "is getting to go in on random Saturday mornings while everyone else is living their lives."
"You mean you have to leave? Right now?" Santana whined.
Quinn nodded. She started to dress herself in black dress pants, a turquoise blouse, and a fitted, black blazer. "Yes, I have to be there by eleven. I'm sorry. I would absolutely love to spend the day in bed with you." She winked at Santana, who smirked in return.
"You bet your sweet little ass you would," Santana confirmed. Quinn walked back towards her, heels in hand, and Santana looked her up and down. She never realized how badly she had needed Quinn in a pantsuit until that very moment.
"Stop staring, it's rude," Quinn scolded her with a smile as she sat on the end of the bed to put her shoes on.
"I can't help it," Santana confessed truthfully. She crawled towards Quinn, wrapping the sheet around herself, to sit next to the blonde.
Quinn redid her wavy ponytail before turning to look at Santana. "Well try," Quinn said with wavering conviction. "And stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?" Santana inquired innocently.
"You know what! You and your big brown eyes are giving me that puppy dog look right now. It's adorable and damn near irresistible, and if you keep it up there's a very big chance I won't get out of this apartment on time."
"That's kind of the point, Quinn," Santana explained to her. "And you're one to talk when it comes to people's eyes!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Quinn questioned. She fixed her most alluring gaze on the girl in front of her, and Santana could have sworn she was doing it on purpose.
"That!" Santana exclaimed, pointing to her. "That right there! Those stupid hazel eyes! They are simultaneously the most frustrating and most enthralling thing I have ever seen. I don't know how you do it, but I know you're aware of what your eyes do to me."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Santana nodded her head vigorously. "Yes, you most definitely do. It's like you can see straight into my mind; like you can see every thought and feeling I have. It's unnerving, but it's also one of the best feelings I've ever experienced."
"I'll keep that in mind," Quinn said with a smile, and leaned forward to kiss Santana softly. "This was our first sleepover," she mused as she sat back.
"I think we can call it a success," Santana answered with a nod. "Maybe we can make it a multiple-time thing?" she proposed, batting her eyelashes charmingly. Quinn giggled and Santana found herself smiling at the sound of it.
"I'd say that's a definite possibility," Quinn agreed. "And I'm sorry again. For last night. Your history is your history for a reason; it has no influence on what we have whatsoever. You and I may be products of our pasts, but that definitely does not mean we have to be prisoners of it."
"You should totally be a motivational speaker," Santana joked, earning her an eye roll from Quinn. "But seriously, it's okay. You are forgiven. Let's just focus on us."
"And again I say, you're pretty amazing," Quinn said.
Santana beamed and pulled the blonde in for another kiss.
"Call me later?" Quinn asked, resting her forehead against Santana's.
"In the very wise words of one Miss Holly Holliday: I thought you'd never ask."
Quinn grinned at her. She stood up and offered a hand to Santana. "Come on, get dressed. We can get coffee on the way to the subway."
It was only when Santana was pulling the door to the loft open an hour later did she remember saying to Quinn she was going to tell Brittany about their relationship. Knowing it had to be done, Santana took a deep breath, bracing herself, before entering. She looked around and groaned at the sight in the living room.
"Are you kidding me right now?" she huffed. "It is literally eleven o'clock on a Saturday morning, how are you two already here?"
Kurt and Rachel grinned at her from their seats on the couch.
"We're obviously just here because we missed you so much," Rachel said with fake seriousness.
"Whatever. Where's Britt?" Santana asked as she sat down in the chair.
"Breakfast with Sam," Kurt told her, eyeing her curiously. "She should be home soon. Why does it look like you slept in those clothes?"
Santana glanced down at what she was wearing and realized Kurt had a point; her jeans were thoroughly wrinkled, and her tank top looked like it had just been untangled from being a crumpled up ball as a result of lying on the floor all night. Santana struggled to find a legitimate excuse for her appearance, but was saved from the trouble.
"Oh my God!" Kurt exclaimed, apparently realizing something. "Are you just coming home now? Are we observing a walk of shame conducted by the one and only Santana Lopez? You totally got laid last night!"
"You have no idea what you're talking about, Porcelain. Shut up," Santana responded sharply. She could feel her cheeks flushing with heat.
"You have a hickey on your neck," Rachel stated, biting her lip to stifle a laugh. Santana's eyes widened in surprise and she slapped a hand to her neck.
"Other side," Kurt informed her as he grinned widely. She slid her hand across her neck to hide the blemish.
"Just shut up," Santana practically begged, desperately hoping Kurt and Rachel would drop the subject. Goddammit, Quinn and her damn addicting mouth.
"I take it things are going well between you and Quinn?" Rachel prompted. She and Kurt were well aware of Santana and Quinn's relationship—the former apprising every little detail to them upon their consistent interrogation of her. Santana only nodded once in response, and she continued, "So how many times have you stayed over?" She leaned forward in anticipation and Kurt nodded enthusiastically beside her, encouraging Santana to answer.
She cleared her throat, suddenly not wanting to divulge any more information about her relationship with Quinn.
"Come on, Santana," Kurt urged, "it's just us. You need someone to talk to about your love life. It might as well be us. Besides, we pretty much know everything else that's been going on between you two. Now it's time to tell us about the really good stuff."
Santana sighed and knew he was right. Even though the two people sitting in front of her would probably have been two of her last choices to talk about her relationship with, Santana knew Kurt and Rachel could actually be helpful every once in a while. And they did know the long, complicated history between her and Quinn, so Santana didn't have to explain the dynamics of everything.
"Fine, Teletubby twins, if you must know, last night was the first time I stayed over Quinn's," Santana told them slowly. Kurt and Rachel exchanged stunned looks before turning back to the girl.
"Like…the first time this week?" Rachel asked in a confused voice.
"No," Santana said exasperatedly, "the first time since we started dating."
"Wait a minute. You've been dating for over a month, and you just slept together for the first time last night? Santana, you usually charm your way into bed with a woman within the first two weeks." Kurt's tone of disbelief sent a wave of irritation over Santana.
"Quinn wanted to take things slowly," she defended.
"And you were fine with that?" Kurt and Rachel responded simultaneously, staring at Santana like they had never seen her before.
She threw up her hands impatiently. "God, yes, I'm okay with that! Why the hell wouldn't I be?"
"Well, it's just, you know, your history…" Kurt started to say, but snapped his mouth shut when he saw Santana's face.
"Okay, you know what? Everyone just needs to keep their big, annoying mouths shut about my history with women. I understand I've made some stupid decisions in my life. I was reminded of them just last night, actually. Can we please just let it go already? What's done is done; I would love to change it, but I can't. So just shut up about it. I don't want to be that person anymore." Santana ran her hands through her hair and sighed heavily.
Kurt and Rachel glanced at each other again, except this time they looked like they had just struck gold.
"Santana," Rachel began as she smoothed out her skirt and crossed her legs, "we have a very important question for you." Her voice was nauseatingly sweet and sympathetic.
"What?" Santana snapped back. Rachel had a tendency to talk down to people whenever she took on that considerate, compassionate tone.
"Are you in love with Quinn?"
The question hung in the air as if it were a tangible object. It weighed down on Santana's chest and made breathing more difficult than it should be.
Yes.
"No," Santana replied quickly. Too quickly. Kurt and Rachel grinned widely and Santana pushed on, "No. I am not in love with Quinn. For God's sake, we've only been dating for a little over a month." She could hear the tentativeness in her own words.
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Don't you dare use that as an excuse, Santana. You and Quinn have known each other since you were, what, eight years old?"
"Six," Santana muttered.
"Six years old! That's sixteen years you two have known each other. That isn't nothing, Santana. In fact, that's a whole lot of something! Even on your worst days in high school you two were there for each other. And you can deny that all you want, but everyone knew it was true. I know your relationship with her has never been like it is right now," Rachel said firmly, seeing that Santana was about to interrupt, "but you are not allowed to use 'We've only been dating for a little over a month' as a way to push away your feelings when you and Quinn have known each other practically your entire lives."
Santana opened and closed her mouth a few times, unsure of what to say. She couldn't exactly disagree with Rachel; Quinn had always been a major part of Santana's life. Whether it was as a catalyst to fuel Santana's competitive side, or just as a best friend to suffer through and survive Cheerios and the monster that was Sue Sylvester with, Quinn had always been there. Santana always had more in common with Quinn than anybody she ever met—including Brittany. They both had a hidden agenda for the world and everyone in it, even if it wasn't always fully justified or necessary. Revenge and retaliation were second nature to them, and their plans always worked better when both girls were in it together.
And yet, it went deeper than that. Neither Santana nor Quinn was good at explicitly expressing her feelings. They both thought it was better to live with everything bottled up inside themselves rather than confiding in someone else and giving that person the power to destroy them. Even if that meant they were internally breaking. Quinn understood what it was like to be scared—of everything and everyone around. She knew what it was like to want to be a better person, but not really know how to get there.
"When are you going to let your guard down?" Kurt's voice suddenly yanked Santana from her reflections.
"What do you mean?" she asked uncomprehendingly, and Kurt looked to Rachel for help.
"Ever since you and Brittany broke up years ago," she began in a soft voice that surprisingly held no condescending tone, "you have been going through the motions of life, Santana. You've settled for drunken hookups and one night stands because you have yet to realize how much you're worth and how much you deserve. You've never fully committed to someone because you are terrified it's going to end up the same way as you and Brittany. And I get it, Santana, okay? I completely understand why you've been so hesitant to legitimately date someone and open up to them. But it's been years. You need to move on with your life. You need to realize you are worthy of another person. I'm not saying Quinn is that person, but I do know that out of all of the people I've come in contact with in my life, you two are the most ruthless, competitive, terrifying, and stubborn ever. And I think, because of that, you understand each other. You need each other." Rachel finished her speech with a shrug of her shoulders as she tried to gauge Santana's response.
"I have to say, Berry, I think I've highly underestimated you all this time," Santana said after a moment as she smiled slightly. "That actually meant a lot, thank you."
Rachel seemed to be a taken aback by Santana's nice sentiment, but she returned the smile nonetheless. "You're welcome."
"We also think you should invite Quinn to dinner sometime," Kurt added. "We," he informed Santana, gesturing to himself and Rachel, "would, of course, prepare, cook, and serve the meal."
"Why in the world would I ever do something like that?" Santana inquired, eyebrows raised.
"Because we haven't seen her in years, Santana!" Rachel declared, clearly thinking it was an obvious answer. "Quinn was our friend, too."
"I'm not sure that's such a grand idea."
"Why not?" Kurt scowled. "You're not ashamed of her, are you?"
Santana let out a laugh. "You're seriously asking me that? Okay, no, I am most definitely not ashamed of Quinn. But I also am not going to torture her by making her sit through dinner with you two. We all know you'll probably break out into song at some random time and then it will just be uncomfortable for everyone. I refuse to do that to her."
"At least think about it," Rachel insisted.
"Fine, whatever," Santana quickly placated her and Rachel grinned.
"Besides," she told Santana, "it wouldn't just be you two and Kurt and myself. Brittany would probably also be there."
Santana was about to change her mind and put a complete stop to the whole thing when a voice interrupted them from the doorway.
"Where am I going to be?" Brittany asked as she entered the loft, pulling the door shut behind her.
"Oh, umm, a dinner party of sorts," Kurt said hastily.
"We're having a dinner party?" Brittany's voice was laced with confusion.
"Maybe," Rachel murmured.
Brittany nodded as she walked over to sit on the couch next to Kurt. "Who else is going to be there?" Both Kurt and Santana looked at Rachel expectantly.
She cleared her throat before replying. "Well, it would be you, me, Kurt, and Santana, of course. Sam, if he wanted to come, and…Quinn."
"Quinn?" Brittany repeated as if she had heard wrong.
"Britt, I need to talk to you about something," Santana intervened. Before Brittany could answer she glanced at Kurt and Rachel with a meaningful look, and was grateful they seemed to receive the message. Santana had briefed them on her situation with Brittany weeks ago, and they knew she still hadn't told her about Quinn. They swiftly stood up and began to make their way to the door.
"Wow, would you look at the time! We really have to be going," Kurt said in an exaggerated voice.
"Yeah, sorry we can't stay longer. See you later!" Rachel called over her shoulder. Santana rolled her eyes at how obvious they were being, but Brittany seemed oblivious to the reason behind their abrupt exit. She just smiled and waved at them as they left. They were gone in the next second, leaving Santana alone with Brittany.
"What's up, San?" Brittany asked as she turned to her.
Santana took a deep, steadying breath. The situation was kind of sudden, and she didn't really have a plan about what she was going to say, but Santana thought leaving no time for pointless conversation was the easiest option. Here goes nothing. "Britt, do you remember last month when I told you I ran into Quinn on the train? And I was going to get coffee with her?" Brittany nodded in acknowledgement and Santana continued, "Okay, well, since then…I've been seeing her a lot."
"You and Quinn have just been getting coffee?" Brittany screwed up her face as she tried to comprehend what Santana was telling her.
"Well, yes, I have been getting coffee with her," Santana said hesitantly, "but that's not all. Brittany, I'm dating Quinn." She figured it was easiest to get it out in the open as quickly as she could—no time to back down, no time to change her mind.
Brittany cocked her head to the side perplexedly. "Like you and me were dating sophomore year in high school? Because I thought we both said sex wasn't dating…"
"No, Britt, not like that," Santana told her. "It's more like how we were senior year. Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?"
"Not really, no," Brittany answered, shaking her head slowly and Santana sighed.
"I like Quinn, Brittany. I mean, I really, really like her. I am dating her. I am dating her like you and I dated back in senior year, and I am dating her like you are currently dating Sam." It was frank, it was direct, and it was borderline harsh to be so straightforward, but Santana knew it was the only way to help Brittany comprehend the situation.
"Oh," Brittany breathed. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Santana shrugged. "I guess I just didn't want to hurt you. I didn't know how you would react, and I didn't want to ruin our friendship."
Brittany nodded again and bit her lip as she thought about something. "And this is like for real? You're actually dating Quinn? Quinn, who once had cotton candy hair and got a tattoo of that guy from Dancing with the Stars on her back?" American Idol, Santana corrected her internally. But that was the least of her worries.
"Yep, the one and only," she confirmed.
"This is confusing. Didn't Quinn like guys in high school? Didn't she tell you she was dating some weird, creepy old professor man at wherever she was going to college? And now you're just dating her?"
And so strikes the intermittent, fleeting concept that is Brittany's tendency to pick up on technicalities.
"Well yeah, Britt, but I think if glee club taught us one thing it's that no one is really ever in a position to judge other people's decisions on who they date…" Santana sounded like she was lecturing the girl.
But Brittany shook her head. "No, I know that. I mean you saw Quinn on the train one day, and then the next you're just dating her? How did it happen so fast?"
Crap. Santana realized she was going to have to tell Brittany about her and Quinn's drunken hookup. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, thinking about the best way to respond. "Right," she began, "well, we sort of slept together at Mr. Schue's wedding 3 years ago. We both had a lot to drink, and it kind of just…happened."
"The wedding where Mr. Schue didn't even get married?" Brittany asked and Santana nodded.
"Yeah, that one. And then we didn't see each other until last month since it happened. We both kind of realized maybe there was more between us than we ever thought, so…here we are," Santana finished lamely. It was the best she could do. Brittany leaned against the back of the couch, but made no indication she was going to respond. "Britt?" Santana incited. "Say something please?"
"I don't really know what to say," Brittany told her quietly.
"Say that you're okay with me dating Quinn. Say this doesn't change things between you and I even a little bit," Santana pleaded to her.
A small smile played on Brittany's lips. "Of course it doesn't change things, San. You and me, we're best friends. Always will be. It doesn't matter who you're dating."
Relief flooded through Santana. She had been sure Brittany was going to be at least a little bit angry. "Really?"
"Does she make you happy?" Brittany quipped. Though it was a relatively simple question, Santana could tell Brittany was asking more than that. She wanted to know where Santana's own feelings for Quinn stood—if Santana was in love with her.
"We've only been dating for a month, Britt…" Santana's voice faded off as she hoped Brittany would pick up on her uncertainty of the answer.
"That's not what I asked, is it?" Brittany threw back at her.
Santana shook her head in resignation. "Yes," she answered firmly, "she makes me very happy."
"Okay, then that settles it. You're dating Quinn, I'm dating Sam, everyone's happy," Brittany stated simply and Santana chuckled. "Is she the one who gave you that hickey on your neck then?"
Santana's face heated up again as she tried to hide the bruise for a second time. She avoided eye contact with Brittany and nodded once.
"Nice." Brittany chuckled, not pushing the subject any further, and Santana let out a thankful sigh.
"Thanks for being an awesome best friend, Britt," Santana said to her.
Brittany grinned. "It's what I do best. Wanna watch The Lion King?" she asked, her big blue eyes shining with excitement.
"Absolutely," Santana replied, nodding enthusiastically.
"Oh, by the way," Brittany added as she got up from the couch to put on the move, "we should definitely have that dinner party."
"What? Why?" Santana asked, taken aback.
"Because it'll be so much better making fun of Kurt and Rachel if the Unholy Trinity is back together again."
Four hours and three Disney movies later, Santana excused herself from Brittany's presence to go sit out on the front stoop of the building. It was nearing dinnertime and the sidewalks were swarming with people going in all directions.
Santana pulled out her phone and dialed quickly. It rang a few times until the familiar beautiful voice picked up.
"Hello?"
"You told me to call you. So here I am, calling you," Santana mimicked Quinn's own words from weeks ago.
"Ah, I'm sorry, who is this?" Quinn teased, and as always, Santana could hear her grinning.
"Good one, Fabray," Santana answered, smiling to herself.
"Whatever, Lopez," Quinn returned her seemingly favorite words to say. "How was your day?"
"I told Brittany about us." The words slipped out of Santana's mouth before she even realized what she was saying. She slapped her forehead, once again resenting her mindlessness.
Quinn was quiet for a moment before answering. "And how did that go?"
"Better than expected actually," Santana told her truthfully. "She was surprisingly okay with it all."
"Good, I'm glad. I would never want to hurt your friendship with her. I know how close you two are." Santana could hear the genuineness and sincerity in Quinn's voice and it made her smile even wider.
"Aren't you just the sweetest?" Santana said jokingly.
"I really am," Quinn responded. Santana was almost positive if she could have seen her, Quinn would be nodding earnestly. "I deserve an award or something for it."
"Oh yeah?" Santana asked. "Well I have something that is going to push your sweetness to its limits."
"And what would that be?"
"Kurt and Rachel want us to have dinner with them sometime. And Brittany and Sam," Santana told her. She heard Quinn giggle on the other end of the line and felt her heart soar like it always did when the sound made an appearance.
"Why do you sound so horrified?" Quinn inquired.
"Umm, hello! Quinn, this is Kurt and Rachel. I guarantee you they'll make up some insane rule about not serving us dinner until we sing with them. And I am not singing with Pancake Face and Man Hands," Santana told her adamantly.
"You know," Quinn started, "you would think that after all these years you would have put to rest calling everybody names."
"Not even in a million years will that happen, my friend. I'm sorry to disappoint you."
"It's okay, I wasn't very hopeful," Quinn answered and Santana laughed.
"You know me too well," she said. "So will you do it?"
Quinn seemed to contemplate the idea before responding. "Of course I will. I haven't seen any of them in years, so it'll be nice to catch up."
Santana sighed in relief. "Oh thank God. I thought I was going to have to suffer through it alone. You're amazing."
"Excuse me," Quinn said crossly, "that is my line to say to you."
"Oh, that's right. I am the amazing one in this relationship," Santana jested and could practically hear Quinn roll her eyes. "You don't think this dinner will be a form of cruelty?"
"No, no," Quinn disagreed quickly, "there is a very large possibility that this dinner will be a form of cruelty. Which just means, in addition to getting back at me for last night, you will also have to find a way to make it up to me." Quinn's voice was charming and smooth, and Santana would have sold her soul to the devil to be face to face with the blonde to see the inevitable tempting look on her face.
"I think I can think of a few things," Santana murmured.
"I'm sure you can," Quinn agreed.
"You're seriously not going to know what hit you," Santana warned her.
Quinn scoffed. "Whatever you say, my friend."
"And since when am I just a friend?" Santana retorted, raising her eyebrows.
"You called me a friend literally just 3 minutes ago!" Quinn exclaimed.
Santana laughed loudly. "I have no recollection of that ever happening," she said, prompting another giggle from Quinn.
"Of course you don't. Looks like I'm the more responsible one in this relationship then," Quinn told her in a serious voice.
"Obviously," Santana replied sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. "By the way," she continued as she remembered something, "when were you planning on telling me about the hickey on my neck?"
"What hickey?" Quinn asked innocently.
"Don't give me that! You know damn well about the hickey! It was your mouth that did it!" Santana tried to sound angry, but it wasn't convincing in the slightest.
Quinn laughed openly before responding. "Oh, that hickey," she said, feigning realization. "It must have just slipped my mind. I'm sorry."
"A little too late for that now," Santana muttered, causing Quinn to chuckle again.
There was a momentary silence between them before Quinn spoke up.
"Hey," she said suddenly.
"Hmm?"
"You are amazing." Her voice was strong and assured, like she was trying to convince Santana of something she was having a hard time believing.
Santana was glad Quinn wasn't there to see how the compliment practically melted her through and through, and mustered up the most confident voice she could manage, all the while smiling like a lovesick fool.
"Tell me something I don't know."