Santana's first week at her new school had passed by just like any other; completely and utterly uneventful.
She had managed to get through all her new classes, and spent the rest of the time hanging out with Kurt, Rachel and Puck, who were constantly trying to convince her to join something called Glee club. Straight away she told them it didn't sound like her sort of thing, but that didn't stop them frequently trying to persuade her otherwise. The idea of singing and dancing around like a scene right out of High School Musical, just made her feel ill.
They were seen as a rather strange bunch of friends; consisting of two musical theatre devotees, a bad ass jock with a mohawk, and the quiet, mysterious new girl from LA.
A part from Puck being on the football team, their group was considered "outcasts" by the rest of the McKinley high teen hierarchy.
Santana knew people were still staring at her and constantly talking about her behind her back, but it didn't bother her at all. Coming from a big city into a small town, everyone wanted to know more about her, find out what "her deal" was. But Santana remained nothing but quiet and reserved, minding her own business, which just seemed to frustrate everyone that much more.
Everyone was curious about the gorgeous Latina that had suddenly appeared in their town, but Santana figured if she didn't care at all about any of their life stories, why did she need to share hers?
Before she new it, it was already Friday afternoon, signaling the end of her first week at McKinley High.
As soon as she and Puck walked out the school gate, she pulled two cigarettes from her bag, throwing one to Puck and placing the other in between her own lips.
"You're coming to this party with me tonight Lopez, I'm not taking no for an answer." Puck smiled as he watched the brunette light her own cigarette before handing the lighter to him. Santana inhaled long and deep as she looked up at her friend.
"Why? So I can watch you and Berry drool over each other like I have every other day this week?" Santana smiles as she lifts an eyebrow at the boy who just rolls his eyes at her.
"She and Kurt will be off dancing the whole night. It's the first party of the school year, it's pretty much mandatory that you come! It'll be fun, and I want a drinking buddy!"
Santana takes another long drag of her cigarette as she watches all the students walking out the school passing them by. A social gathering wasn't something she was all that excited about, but if there was going to be alcohol, she figured there could be worse ways to end her first week.
"Fine." She sighs, and Puck smiles triumphantly at the brunette as he pats her playfully on the shoulder.
"That a girl! I'll come over and get you tonight! You sure you don't want me to come with you now?"
Santana just shakes her head as another mouth full of smoke fills her lungs.
"Nah I'm fine. Just gonna be a quick visit, and I'll tell him I'm going out tonight while I'm there." Puck nods his head as he begins to back up in the direction of their houses.
"Alright cool, tell your dad I said hi. I'll text you later."
Santana gives him a little wave before turning and walking in the opposite direction. Her father's workshop was only a short distance away from the school so Santana figured she'd call in and see him since she hadn't even been to his new garage yet.
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Walking with the warmth of the afternoon sun beating down on her shoulders, it didn't take Santana long to reach her fathers workshop. The garage was situated on a gravel block, located on the outskirts of town, down the far end of the main strip of shops.
The shop itself had two aspects to it, on the right side were large glass windows where the office was, and on the left side were two huge roll-up doors to the entrance of the main workshop.
Santana stopped down the end of the driveway, leaning up on a nearby park bench. She noticed bits and pieces of engines on display outside the shop and already a couple of cars sitting in the driveway. She knew her father had a very popular reputation in LA with his body shop business, and already she could tell his new business here would never be short of customers.
Taking one last drag of her cigarette before dropping it to the ground, Santana slowly makes her way up the gravel driveway. She readjusts the bag strap on her shoulder and lifts her sunglasses away from her eyes and pushes them up to sit in her dark hair.
As she gets closer she can faintly hear her father say goodbye to someone, and then almost pausing mid-step when she sees who walks out of her father's workshop.
It was the tall, leggy blonde girl she had seen in school at the beginning of the week.
Since that brief moment at her locker, Santana hadn't seen the girl around school at all since. Now suddenly seeing her walking out of her father's bodyshop/garage, was definitely unexpected.
Santana internally shakes off her surprise and continues her casual walk up the driveway. She watches the blonde walk towards her and eventually look over and make eye contact.
The blondes stride does not falter at all; she doesn't seem surprised or shocked to see Santana, if anything the brunette notices a small smile appear at the corner of the girls' lips.
They just silently watch each other as they get closer and eventually pass the other by, their eyes never leaving the others.
"Hey." The blonde almost whispers, and that's when Santana sees those cerulean blue eyes up close and that sweet smile, just like the one she had received Monday at her locker.
She gives the blonde a slight nod if the head and returns a soft "Hey."
They pass each other and Santana continues up to the entrance of the workshop. Just as she's about to step inside, she looks over her shoulder just in time to see the other girl do the same. The blonde looks back, gives her another bright smile before turning and disappearing around the corner, out of sight.
Santana watched her disappear before turning around and walking into the garage.
She notices a car hoisted up on the platform with bits and pieces of its engine lying on the ground beneath it. The shop looks a lot like the one her dad owned in LA, not quite as big but still very spacious.
She looks around and spots her father, dressed in his greased up overalls, leaning over his desk writing something down.
"Hi Dad." Santana walks closer and watches her father look up, a huge smile appearing on his face at the sight of his daughter.
"Hi mija! Wasn't expecting to see you here!" Her father steps closer and gives her a quick kiss on the cheek, making sure not to get any dirt or grease on his daughter.
Santana just shrugs her shoulders while looking around before gesturing behind her. "What did she want?"
She can't help but wonder why the blonde had been there, in her father's car shop of all places.
Her dad waves his hand nonchalantly towards his desk at the piece of paper he had been writing on.
"Oh she just placed an order for some parts." Santana frowns, that certainly wasn't what she was expecting to hear. But, she thinks, whatever.
"So, what brings you here my dear?"
Her dad continues to smile as he leans up against his desk. Judging by the amount of grease and grime covering him, Santana can tell her dad has had a rather busy day at work.
"Just wanted to let you know I'm gonna be out with Puck and the others tonight, there's a party on or something."
Santana sounds more than disinterested with the idea, even her voice sounds bored.
Her father however just smiles even bigger once hearing what his daughter had to say.
"Well that's great sweetheart! A party! A good way to meet and make new friends! Right?"
Her father's overly cheerful attitude just makes the brunette role her eyes. She knows her parents want her to like it in Lima as much as they already seem to, and it wasn't that she liked it or disliked it. She was just, indifferent.
Santana sighs, turns around and starts walking back out the workshop.
"Yes dad, I'm very excited. I'll see you later."
She pulls her sunglasses back down to cover her eyes as she walks out the shop, back into the warm sun.
"Nice garage by the way." She can hear her father laugh and yell out a cheerful "thanks!" as she casually makes her way back down the gravel driveway.
Everyone seemed excited at the notion of a party.
Everyone that is…. except Santana.