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Quinn wiped her tears away before starting driving another six hours back to Kentucky. She was on her way but immediately stopped when she saw someone about 60 meters away struggling on how to fix her car. She suddenly felt bad and worried for the girl because it was dark outside and it was past midnight which makes the surrounding scary and dangerous. There can be any criminals that time that will take advantage of the girl.
She, however, can't see clearly how the girl looks like but judging by the way she moves and dresses, she must be the same age as Rachel or few years older than her. She sighed and thought that maybe the girl just finished partying and can be harmed any time soon if not for her coming. Teenagers are really careless sometimes.
She shook her head and continued driving her way until she reached just behind the girl's car. The girl—who is now confirmed to have a tan skin—is still busy fiddling with the machine of the car. She got out of her own car and walked to approach the girl and offer for help.
"Hey. It's already late. You should have called some of your friends or relatives to just pick you up here and help you. The road's pretty dangerous at night." She approached the girl while smiling and with a very gentle voice so as not to freak the girl out. The girl still didn't look up to her and instead continued on whatever she was doing with the car's machines. She frowned and she's sure that the girl does not even know what she was doing.
"I can fucking handle it." The tan girl answered her dryly and she was a little bit offended by the way she talked to her, but eventually she shrugged it off. This girl needs help even if she would not admit it.
"Do you even know what you're doing? It looks like you're trying to complicate it even more." She chuckled when she heard the girl groaned in annoyance, but still continued on fiddling.
"Why do you care? I know what I'm doing." The girl groaned again and this time she took a moment to look up to see who she was. "And who the fuck are-"
She gasped and widened her eyes in shock when she realized who she was talking to for the past one and a half minute. She took a moment to process what and who she was seeing before making sure if the girl has recognized her too, and judging by the girls dropped mouth and frozen motions, she realized that the girl did remember her as well. But in the back of her mind, she knew that they will definitely not forget each other anyways.
"You.. you are.. It's you.." Santana told her after a moment unable to form a coherent sentence. She knows that Santana has not recovered from shock yet. It looks like the girl has seen a ghost, but she can't blame her because she feels exactly the same.
"You're Santana." She replied trying her best to sound professional and matured than the girl in front of her. She gulped so she can be certain that her voice would not break the next time she talks.
Santana narrowed her eyes and cleared her throat to compose herself trying to portray a bitch posture. The girl looked at her like they were about to have a smack down so she glared back, not wanting to lose the battle. After few seconds of glaring at each other, Santana offered her hand in a very arrogant manner and smirked at her.
"Yes, my name is Santana. It was really nice to meet you.. again, Quinn." Santana spoke her name like she was going to get poisoned by mouthing it.
However, she still shook the girl's hand with a little force, that was a point for her because her hand is bigger. "Well, it's nice to meet you too and to finally talk to you, Santana." She answered with a very disgusted voice.
Santana just smirked and looked around before looking back at her. "So, I see you were trying to help?" the girl asked with that tone that annoys her.
She rolled her eyes and took a moment not to look into the Latina's eyes to relax herself a little. She understands that this girl is young and that she must respect her but the girl is not respecting her, either. But still, it is her responsibility to help the girl since it was her initial intention after all.
"Though I'm a little bit disappointed that it's you that I have to help, I still think I'm going to say yes. So.. yes, I am here to help you." She answered.
Santana chuckled. "I hate to admit it but I badly need your help right now."
"Can we just pretend that we don't know each other?" she asked with irritation.
Santana started to walk slowly to where her car was parked and she followed. "Well, since we only know each other's names, maybe we can consider ourselves strangers."
She unconsciously rolled her eyes again. "Hey. What are you doing there?" she grunts when she noticed that Santana stood beside her car that was parked behind the Latina's.
"You said wanted to help?" the Latina asked her not removing that stupid smirk on her face.
"With the machine of your car." she informed.
"That's nonsense. Just drop me home and I'll bring my cousin here tomorrow to fix it."
"You're leaving your car here?" she asked.
"Oh, please. I'm sure they will remain untouched until tomorrow. So drive me home now."
Her shoulders dropped in defeat. "Ugh, fine." She opened her car's passenger seat and Santana hops in comfortably. She knows that the Latina was annoying her in purpose and she hates to admit it, but it was effective.
She sighed and hopped in the driver's seat and started her car to drive.
"Where do you live?" she asked dryly.
"Just about 10 blocks away from here." Santana answered so she started driving. After a few minutes, she saw from her peripheral vision that the Latina was already staring at her.
"What?" she asked when they stopped at the traffic light and looked at the Latina. She noticed that Santana dropped her arrogant expression and was now struggling on what to say to her.
Santana gulped the lump in her throat before speaking. "Did you— she was waiting for you, you know? Did- did you come back there?"
She knows what the Latina was talking about. She expects her to bring that topic, anyway. That is the reason why they share that kind of atmosphere. It was all because of their constant love for Rachel. Even without confirmation, she knew that Santana still has feelings for her girlfriend. She can't blame her, though, Rachel's easy to fall in love with. But Santana has to back off.
She stared at Santana's eyes. "I did. I promised her that I will come back, so I did." She answered confidently before turning her attention back to the road.
Santana did not stop looking at her and she noticed that the girl was feeling uneasy because she started clenching her hands for no reason.
"You know what, If you have more to say, just say it." she informed the girl annoyingly.
"You made her wait for too long, you jerk." Santana answered immediately with obvious anger in her voice.
She tried her best not to ignore the road just to glare at Santana. Instead, she tightened her grip to the steering wheel. "Stop commenting on things you don't even completely know, Santana."
"But I know enough." Santana answered quickly.
"You don't have a voice here, Santana. I love Rachel, she loves me, we're together, and she's my girlfriend, which means she's mine. So don't act like I did something to end our relationship." She knows that this conversation favors her anyways.
Santana laughed bitterly. "Stop the car." She ordered her.
"What?"
"I said stop the car because we badly need to talk." This time her voice was serious and firm. She did as Santana ordered but not because she was afraid, but because she agrees that they really have to talk. There are huge things that they have to discuss.
Santana stared at her with determined eyes before speaking. "Quinn, I love Rachel. I love her so much."
She shook her head disbelief. "I honestly don't care. I love her too. More than you do. I'm saying this as gentle and as respectful as I can. You need to let her go, Santana. She loves me. You will just get hurt." She matched the girl's eyes as she spoke.
"I was hurting already, so I can definitely handle another pain." Santana shrugged. "And NO. I will never back off. Not until you stop hurting her, which, obviously, you won't." Santana opposed.
She closed her hands into fists and looked at Santana with pure anger now. "Excuse me? What makes you say those things?"
"My observations make me say those things. And I'm certain I'm right." Santana answered confidently.
She took a moment to stare at Santana's sincere figure before she burst out laughing. Santana looked at her with annoyed but questioning eyes so she spoke. "I'm sorry but I really feel sorry for you right now."
"Why is that?"
"You don't even know what happened, Santana. And contrary to what you have said earlier, I will never hurt her intentionally. We may be hurting for now, but we BOTH believe that things will end well between us. That's how committed we are to each other."
"Quinn," Santana spoke with a quieter but still firm voice. "if you could only see Rachel at school everyday, you will realize and admit that you are in fact a jerk."
She felt something jabbed her heart upon hearing that statement from Santana. She knows she was a jerk for telling Santana that the girl knows nothing, when clearly she doesn't know anything about Rachel's current state, either. But they were both hurting and they were not supposed to give up. Someone has to win, and the trophy belongs to her.
Both she and Rachel chose this. They may not be happy for now but she would do everything to make it all worth it. Once they made everything better, she will make up for all the times they missed. All they have to do is wait and to not give up. She believes that they will make it because she knows that they hold on to each other. They are destined to be together forever. And she would not let anything break them apart.
"I promised her, Santana, and I know that she believes me. She must be hurting but she will never give up on us. I'm sure you know that." She answered with certainty and started driving her car again.
Santana did not speak anymore but she heard the girl sobbed quietly. She felt sorry for the girl because she knows how hurtful it must be for Santana not to be loved back by someone she loves. But that's how life is. We have to make choices and sometimes people just failed to be chosen.
She used her other hand to rub the girl's back while her other hand controls the steering wheel. Eventually, Santana stopped sobbing and just chuckled lightly, her chuckles are full of sadness though.
"I hated you the first time I saw you in the auditorium during Rachel's audition." Santana finally spoke.
She looked at the girl questioningly before turning back to the road. "Huh?"
"I-I hated you because you receive that look from Rachel that I always hoped for. I hated you because Rachel clearly offered you that song instead of me- even as the captain of the club."
She just continued to drive but her soul keeps on listening to what Santana was saying. She let her talk because she knows how broken her heart must be.
"I hated you because Rachel gave you that smile that will definitely light up my world if it was directed at me. I hated— no, I guess I just hate you."
"I'm sorry, Santana. But we love each other. I need not to elaborate that anymore. We both know it."
Santana pointed at a house nearby and she clearly got the message that they had already reached the Latina's place, so she stopped her car in the corner and looked at the Latina.
"I have to remind you about something." Santana told her with total seriousness in her eyes.
"What?"
Santana looked at her like she was challenging her before she speaks. "When the time comes that Rachel gives up because it already hurts too much for her, I will never hesitate to take my chances." And those were the final words of the Latina before she got out of her car and started heading to their front door.
She bit her lip to resist letting her tears from falling and went out of her car quickly to follow Santana.
"Santana! Wait!" she yelled.
Santana stopped on her tracks and turned to look at her.
"What do you want?"
"It will never happen. She will never give up," she paused and saw that Santana was smirking again. "and just so you know, I hate you too." She said with so much conviction.
Santana just shrugged. "Thanks for the ride."and she went inside her house.
She sighed and went back to her car to drive herself home.
Rachel's summer did not go as rough as it was during those months that she and Quinn were not together. Sure, she misses Quinn most of the time but she did not feel very depressed about it now that she knows and is sure that Quinn is coming back to her no matter what, that Quinn will always find her wherever she goes. She may find these things confusing literally but she believes what Quinn believes. Love fills the most portion of the world.
She considered busying herself just so she won't feel the sadness and depression. Being depressed sucks and it doesn't do her any good. It will just bring her down which will make her lose hope that everything will be all right.
During summer, she came up with a routine of driving herself to the park that she and Quinn always go to and constantly taking pictures of everything she finds there. She may not be a good photographer but knowing that she had captured a place that she loves makes her feel great. There in the park, she also learns to appreciate pictures.
With the pictures she have, she knows that she has already found where she belongs, and that is with Quinn. Quinn will always be present in that picture. Their relationship will never vanish in that place because that place is where they feel connected to each other.
There are also pictures of her parents, friends, and some passers-by in her camera. All of them are candid shots because she enjoys looking at them during their natural self.
During that summer, she, along with Tina, Santana, Mercedes, and Kurt hangs out almost everyday to watch movies or play on her Wii or PS3 or in any of her gadgets. They had already met her parents and she's glad that her parents were not strict with her anymore- just not in the same way as before. She knows that there is a little hesitance in their place whenever she asks for sleepovers but they will still allow her if they realized that it was with her best friends.
Santana will usually stay at her place when others decide to go home. It was fine with her anyway because Santana was not kissing her out of nowhere anymore. She is still playful and naughty but she's not invading her personal space just like before. And Santana requested to hang out frequently because she has only one school year left to be with Rachel. She will be a senior this coming September.
"Ugh! I think your PSP is broken, Berry!" Santana groaned in annoyance. They were at her room for a sleepover, but just the two of them. However, she does not feel awkward about it anymore.
She immediately paused her Mario Kart game and hurried to where Santana was feeling a lot worried about her PSP. That cannot be broken because it was her favorite- because Quinn has already touched it and played a game on it.
She grabbed the PSP and pressed the buttons and the screen lit up—completely undamaged. "Santana, it's working just fine." She handed back the PSP to Santana while chuckling lightly and shaking her head.
"No. Seriously, I think it's broken." Santana answered with an annoyed tone.
She shook her head and went back to her game. "No, it's not. I know better than you." she answered not looking up from her game.
"Then why is my opponent so fucking fast? Do I need to, like, change the machine settings? Or the car itself?" Santana asked innocently while continuously pressing the keys of her PSP.
"The car. You have to choose the perfect car." She simply answered while her attention is focused on her game. She grinned when her kart hit another Mario mushroom that boost her speed.
"But there are many cars. Ugh!"
"Santana, if you will keep on whining about it, just quit playing." She answered.
"Have you ever gotten second place in this shit?"
She smiled and remembered that she was not the original top scorer of that game anymore. "Yes, I have. It was kind of depressing, though."
"I want to beat your score. Which car should I choose?" Santana asked while sitting beside her and showing her a series of cars flashed on the screen of her PSP.
"It's a secret." She smirked when she heard Santana groaned in frustration."If I told you, that's cheating."
"This is bullshit. I quit."
"Well, play Diner Dash instead." She suggested.
"No way. I hate Flo's face. Who the fuck would still smile while customers never stop arriving, I mean that must be stressful, right? And the fact that she has to do all those bullshit alone, and also the fact that she yawns when customers took a longer time in eating is kind of annoying."
"Well, the sales at the end of the shifts make me smile." She answered shrugging.
"Whatever. Other options?"
"Tekken. Choose Jin Kazama." She immediately answered.
Santana sighed in relief. "Better."
They continued playing and minding their own businesses when they heard a knock on the door. She glanced a look at her wall clock and realized it was already time for dinner.
"Come in!" she answered.
Her father opened the door and smiled when he realized what they were doing.
"Hi dad." She greeted her father and paused her game. Santana looked up from the PSP as well to acknowledge her dad.
"Good evening, Hiram." Santana greets and turned her attention back to the game.
She checked her father's face and noticed that his face reddens a little bit. She knows that her father does not get along well with her friends, well, except Tina. So the fact that Santana called him on his first name annoyed him.
"Hi, baby. Dinner is ready." Her father brushed her hair and kissed her cheek before standing up.
She put her 3DS down for a while and nudged Santana's side to get her attention. After two nudges, Santana finally glanced at her with questioning but also annoyed expression because of being interrupted from her game.
"Dinner is ready. Let's go." She informed her.
Santana shook her head and went back to playing. "I'll pass. I'm not hungry anyway. Eat well."
She sighed and looked at her father shrugging. Her father smiled and said "Go downstairs and join your mom for a while. I have to get something in our room."
She nodded and glanced on Santana once again before exiting the room.
Once Rachel was out of the room, Hiram cleared his throat to get the Latina's attention who is obviously oblivious that he was still in the room. Santana immediately put down the PSP and looked at him with worried and confused eyes.
"Yes, Hiram?" Santana asked him and he felt the sudden rush of his blood through his body again. He really finds this girl really disrespectful and very full of herself.
"It's Mr. Berry for you." He answered coldly.
Santana hang her mouth open and closed it afterwards while nodding in understanding. "I'm sorry. Yes, Mr. Berry, then?" the girl asked arrogantly again.
"What do you want from my daughter?" he asked Santana with caution in his voice. He wants to make sure that this girl is not a bad influence on his daughter because he can see that his daughter has been spending a lot of time with Santana, even Shelby convinced him that Santana is fun to be around.
Santana furrowed her brows but immediately relaxed herself before speaking. "I don't—I don't really get what you mean by that, Mr. Berry."
"I don't want my daughter being influenced with something unnecessary." He answered.
"Do you honestly think I do things that are unnecessary?" Santana asked him with a slight annoyance that she is trying to hide.
"Do you, then? Because I don't want my Baby Rae going near you in case you do." He answered challenging Santana.
Santana instantly shook her head vigorously. "I may do things that people will find unnecessary, but I do it because I know and I believe that they are necessary." The girl answered without breaking eye contact.
He was seriously stunned by how Santana speaks. He can already see the strong personality that the girl holds within her. "What do you want from my daughter, then?"
"I want her—all of her. Physically and emotionally. I do have strong feelings for your daughter, Mr. Berry, and it's real. I'm telling you, it's real. If there's one thing I want to influence her with—it's my love for her." Santana answered him with sincerity in her voice.
He looked at the girl's features and studied it for a moment. He knows that this day will come, that someone will confess to him about their interest to his daughter. He knows he has to let her daughter go because she was not a kid anymore, but he was not yet ready. Accepting his daughter's sexuality was already a tough one for him, so his daughter finally being involved in a relationship is times two.
He knows how much he had hurt Rachel when he made her leave the pretty blonde girl half a year ago, but it was the right decision. Rachel deserves to be with someone who will respect her and not take advantage of her innocence and youth, someone who will share with her the greatness of being a teenager.
He will never approve of the blonde girl he saw that night with Rachel. They are not meant to be together. He knows that eventually, the girl will get tired of his daughter because they will never understand and catch up with each other's likes because of their long age gap. He only wants what's best for his daughter. And he wants that someone who shares the same world his daughter has.
"You love my daughter?" he asked.
"Yes, Mr. Berry. I love her with all my heart for a long time now, and I'm not giving up on her." Santana answered confidently.
He nodded and stood up from his the bed and prepared to walk out of the door.
"Just remember that I will be your greatest enemy the moment you hurt my daughter." He paused and studied the girl's reaction. He was honestly impressed with her strong convictions. "And I changed my mind, Mr. Berry makes me old, call me Hiram, instead."
"I most definitely will, Hiram. Have a nice dinner." Santana grinned and went back to playing with the PSP.
He smiled and shut the door behind him.
That morning after Santana left Rachel's house to take a shower at their own place, Rachel went back to her own room to take her own shower and go to the park again to clear her head. Not that she has many problems, she just wanted to relax and be alone with the presence of Quinn. It has been her regular hobby to reminisce all of the times she and Quinn shared even if they are few. If she ran out of moments, she will repeat in her mind the moment she first met Quinn, the first time she looked into those mesmerizing eyes, the first time she heard her voice, the first time she felt her body attached to hers when they were riding her motorcycle, up until the last time they saw each other, over and over again.
She went to the study room first to tell her father where she was going but her father stopped her. Her mother was out that day to buy some groceries.
"I have to talk to you for a while. Give me a minute and wait for me in the living room." Her dad told her without looking up from his papers.
She nodded even though her dad was not looking at her. "Okay, dad."
She decided to make his dad some coffee to help him ease the obvious stress he gets from paper works, and just as she finished his coffee, she heard the door in the study room shutting.
She quickly went to the living room with his dad's coffee. Once they were seated, she offered her dad his drink and she felt relieved when her father smiled sweetly at her.
"Thank you, baby girl. This is really sweet." Her father praised and started sipping. "Delicious coffee."
She grinned proudly and waited for her father to finish his coffee. She wondered about any possible reasons why her father was about to talk to her but she can't remember any horrible thing that she has done. She mentally slapped her face when she realized that she always thinks negatively whenever her parents are trying to talk to her.
This time she promised to keep reminding herself that her parents are still trying to make up with her.
"What is it, dad?" she suddenly asked when she realized that her dad was not busy with anything anymore.
She studied her father's reaction and noticed that he was struggling with himself if he should say what he's going to say or just dismiss the topic. Eventually, he cleared his throat and started speaking. "It was about your friend, Santana."
She scrunched up her nose in confusion. What did Santana do? It's really new that her father would talk about her because from what she observed, her father does not really acknowledge Santana's presence when the girl would visit her. So, why Santana?
"What about her, Dad? Has she done something wrong?" she asked still confused.
Her father shook his head quickly and laughed lightly. She immediately sighed in relief upon realizing that her father will not give her a sermon this time. Times like those make her really sick.
"No, sweetie. She has not." She looked at his eyes intently to make him say what he really wants to say. "I want you to tell me how she is as a friend."
She nodded and digs her mind to think of positive traits of Santana to say to her father. "Well, she's the captain of both the cheerleading squad and the Glee club so I can say that she has this good leadership skill, but unlike others, she doesn't use it for her own good, she doesn't take advantage of it." She answered sincerely.
"She must have good grades considering her active participation at school?" her father questioned.
She gulped and remembered that Santana had to take Algebra twice but she realized that this school year, Santana finally passed the subject.
"Uh, yes dad. She- she has really good grades." She answered.
"What else? How about in being a supportive friend? Does she support you?"
She nodded. "Yes dad. She's not really good at discussing feelings but she has really good sense of humor. I mean, she can make her friends smile even if they have problems."
"She seems like a good girl." Her dad responded. "But not that sweet."
She chuckled lightly because she's aware that people think about Santana that way all the time. Santana is a very arrogant, confident, and straight forward person, but definitely a great friend.
"Yes dad, she is too, but in the best way possible."
"I don't want you to be influenced by that attitude." Her father told her with seriousness.
She smiled. "I won't, dad. Don't worry. I will stay the way I am now." She hugged her father and smiled when his father rubbed her back lightly.
"You know I love you, baby. I'm just worried about you. Your mother and I just want what's best for you."
"I know, dad. And I love you, too." She stopped when she remembered that it was kind of strange that her father asked about Santana. "Dad, why did you ask about Santana?"
Her father shifted in his seat and drank from his coffee again. "I'm aware that she likes you." She gulped. This is definitely not the topic that makes her comfortable with her parents. "Does she?"
She nodded slowly. "She- she told me months ago.. but nothing is going on between us, dad, I promise." She answered defensively.
"I know." Her father kissed her cheek and prepared to go back to the study room. She remained seated for a while regaining her composure. "But in case there is something going on with you two, I think it's fine."
She looked up in surprise and about to respond but her father already made his way towards the study room. She was left there feeling tears about to fall from her eyes.
She realized that her and Quinn's love story was a bit early. Maybe, just maybe, if she had introduced Quinn this time, her father will approve of her instead of Santana.
But it still doesn't change the fact that her world is filled with love, love of Quinn and by Quinn, and this will be her armor from the cruelty of this world.
Time passed quickly and now it was time for Rachel's sophomore year's prom. This school year turned out a little less lonely because Quinn's presence never left her side. Others may call her crazy if she tells them that she brings Quinn with her all the time, but it was the truth. Quinn is always with her. In her dreams, in her heart, in her imagination, and even in her camera.
But that does not change the fact that she still feels a little scared about Quinn coming back for her incoming 17th birthday. There are many things she wants to say to her, but she knows that she can't say those things at once because they only have limited time available.
Quinn was always in her prayers. She prays that she is doing good and is healthy. But she also prays to God to help her ease her insecurities because there are times that she randomly thinks that Quinn has met girls that are much better than her, but she always tries to fight that feeling and repeats Quinn's words to her mind. "I will love you always and forever."
She smiled at the thought and was snapped back to reality when Santana slapped her cheek very lightly. Santana and Tina will be her dates to prom this time. Santana has asked her to prom two weeks ago but this time, she asked her in private. She thought about that for a week and she agreed with a condition of going with Tina. Santana only sighed playfully in response.
And here they are now outside the prom venue ready to join the party. She was wearing a maroon dress with black heels while Santana wears a peach colored one that reached just above her knee. Tina, on the other hand, still chose to wear her favorite color—red. Tina always believes that red is a very lucky color for their family since she is Chinese.
She instantly gasped in amusement when they entered the venue and were greeted by a black ceiling decorated with satellite as props, planets, stars, and other heavenly bodies. This year's theme was stairway to heaven and it was perfect. She feels like she was in floating in space.
They looked for Mercedes and Kurt and not long after they found the two at the spot near the dance floor. The two waved at them and gestured for them to sit on the reserved chairs, so they did.
"Looking good, ladies!" Kurt greets each of them with a kiss on the cheek as Mercedes did the same.
"So.. I noticed something fishy going on here." Mercedes wiggled her eyebrows while alternately looking between her and Santana. Kurt and Tina turned to look at both of them two and shared looks. She knit her eyebrows in confusion.
"What the hell does that mean?" Santana asked, probably as confused as she was.
Mercedes gestured towards their hands that are clasped tightly together. She blushed and immediately pulled her hand away. She noticed the hurt and embarrassment in Santana's expression but she can't do anything about that right now.
She remembered that Santana guided her out of the car and did not let go of her hands until they reached inside. She did not even realize that they were hand holding. She suddenly felt guilty. Both for Santana and for Quinn. This simple gesture makes her feel like she did something wrong without Quinn's knowing.
"Uh, no.. it's not what you—it's not it. " she tried to explain but her voice betrayed her.
"That's nothing, Cedes, I was just guiding her." Santana snapped and she sighed in relief because Santana obviously saved her.
Kurt nodded in understanding while Tina and Mercedes looks sad and disappointed about it.
"I thought after a year and half you two are finally an item. It was just—"
"Shut it." Santana cut her off with that tone no one can oppose and excused herself to the bathroom.
Mercedes stopped and zipped her mouth. "So, uhm, let's- let's start the party!"
She followed Santana inside the bathroom and noticed the girl retouching her make up. She went beside the girl to get her attention and Santana turned to her forcing a smile. She noticed that her eyes were red. "I'm so sorry, Santana. I didn't mean to offend you like that."
Santana held her cheek and smiled at her genuinely this time. "Offend like what?" the girl asked.
"You know—when I—our hands, when I—" she stammered.
"No! No. It's totally fine, Rachel. I understand. It was my fault, I didn't even realize I was already doing that. I'm sorry they have mistaken it as.. you know." Santana quickly answered and chuckled lightly.
She smiled and was glad of Santana's patient and understanding personality. She took the girl's hand and led her out of the bathroom. "Come on, let's dance and enjoy your final high school prom." She told the girl and Santana obliged.
She let Santana dance with her to make the girl's last prom memorable and because she's going to miss Santana so much when the girl leaves for college soon. After few more hours she danced with her other friends and she completely had the time of her life tonight.
This prom is a lot more fun than last year because this time, she won the title of Prom Queen.
Her parents decided to stick to their plan and agreed to have another party again for her 17th birthday. The only difference this time is that Santana won't have to do the role of the host alone because she already can handle people.
It's funny because just by the span of one year, a lot has already changed. She is a lot happier this year and she thanks Quinn for making her realize that she does not have to be defeated by distance between them.
She also realized one thing. Last year, she was miserable and very worried about Quinn not coming back, and it made things slow. It was slow because she focused her attention on being sad. But this year, as she captures every beautiful event and places and things with her polaroid camera, she realized that she has missed a lot last year. Time passed by so quickly because her mind was now open to experience everything that she has never experienced before.
And she was not afraid of getting lost, she knows she will never be because Quinn taught her how to survive things on her own without questions and hesitations. Quinn did not talk to her because Quinn knows that if she ever did, she will never be able to bear with another year of waiting.
Now she understands what her aunt Holly meant before when she said that it will make them stronger and that it was for the best of them, because it really was! She's loving Quinn each day that passes and everyday she realizes that Quinn is the only one for her. Quinn and only Quinn.
"Happy birthday, Rachel!" Santana shouted through the noisy crowd as the party continues. That was probably the 8th time Santana had greeted her.
"Technically, it's not yet my birthday, so save your voice for later." She whispered to the Latina's ear and dragged her outside where it's quiet.
They sat on the bench across their front door and she kept looking on her wrist watch. 1 more hour before the clock hits 12am.
"Excited much?" Santana asked her when she noticed her obvious excitement for the time to pass.
She shrugged and smiled sweetly. "It's important, so why not be excited?"
Santana agreed and they sat in silence for a while just looking at the stars in the sky.
"What are you thinking?" Santana asked her.
"The mysteries of the world." She answered and met the Latina's gaze.
Santana chuckled lightly and looked back at the sky. "Do you have an specific mystery in mind?"
"Yes."
"What is it? If you don't mind me asking." Santana asked hesitantly.
She held Santana's hand and spoke. "I'm thinking about the forbidden things. Why are they existing, and what's the point of it, because it really makes people unhappy."
Santana was quiet for few minutes and she thought that the girl will not reply to that because it was really a mystery and really hard to answer.
"Because people make mistakes, Rachel." Santana answered out of nowhere. "But even if we've done something forbidden, we can express our apologies by accepting it and not running away from it."
She looked at Santana in amusement and she noticed the serious look on her face. There was immediately a sudden tension in the atmosphere.
"Have you- have you ever done something that's not allowed for you?" she asked out of curiosity.
"Yes." Santana answered really quickly.
"What is it?" she asked.
Santana turned to look at her deeply and held her in both sides of her shoulder gently. "You."
She froze, unable to think of what to say to the Latina, but by the looks of her it looks like she was not expecting for an answer, so she just stared at her and waited until she elaborates.
"Rachel, I'm not allowed to be with you.." Santana continued and her eyes were now obviously forming tears. "I'm not allowed because you're already with someone.." this time, Santana did not control her tears from falling anymore.
She instantly felt bad for Santana so she wiped some of her tears away. "Santana.."
"But I can't just shrug it off, Rachel.. I need you. I need you, I want you so bad that it hurts.." Santana looked away and wiped her own tears. "I just can't let you go yet. I know it has been too long, but I still can't." this time Santana's voice was already firm.
"Are—are you okay?" she asked hesitantly putting her hand again on Santana's shoulders. She blushed in embarrassment when she realized that it was a dumb question. "I'm- I'm sorry. I just don't know what to say.."
Santana chuckled. "It's fine. I'm fine."
She stared once again into the Latina's eyes. "You are a great, funny, loving, fun to be around, and thoughtful person, Santana. If I could, I will definitely return your feelings, but I just can't. My heart already belongs to someone. I have given it to her a long time ago, and it was permanent."
Santana looked down on the ground and nodded as more tears fall from her eyes. "I know. I understand how you feel because—because I also gave my heart to you, permanently."
She struggled on what to say so instead she embraced Santana in a caring and thoughtful hug to ease the pain she was feeling. "You will always be a special part of me, Santana. Don't ever forget that."
"I won't." Santana replied. The girl got up and pulled her along. "Let's go inside. They were probably looking already for the star of the night."
She smiled and glanced one last time in her wrist watch. 30 more minutes left.
When they got back inside they drank some punch and danced with their friends until it was just a minute left before 12AM. So just like last year, they all went outside the house and did a countdown.
Her heart started beating faster because she believes that Quinn is already there or maybe currently on her way but it does not matter if she makes it on time or not. She knows that they will meet again soon and it's making her really excited and nervous. She wants to kiss those lips already and to stare at those hazel eyes.
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL!" her visitors shouted with so much happiness and they all jumped in joy including her parents.
Suddenly, the sky lit up with fireworks that read "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RACH!"
Her eyes watered with the paradise she saw in the sky and she instantly knew that it was Quinn who did it. Quinn came on time and it was the most amazing gift she has ever received. Oh, how much she loves Quinn and how much they love each other.
She did not tear her eyes away from the sky until the firework display disappeared. She looked down and saw her parents approaching her. Both her parents enveloped her in a bear hug.
"Your friends are really sweet! That firework display was amazing!" her mom told her with tears in her eyes.
"I know, mom. I know." She nodded unable to form longer sentences. She glanced around but she can't see Quinn because of people now preparing to go since the party was already over.
"Happy birthday, baby Rae. Your aunt called earlier and said she loves you and that she's sorry she can't call you tonight." Her father informed her.
"Thanks dad, and it's fine. I understand." She responded with a smile.
"Come on, let's go inside and clean the mess." Her father guided her inside and both her parents left her in the living room with Santana and about 20 people still too lazy to leave.
"Hey." Santana approached her with a smile and is obviously hiding something on her back.
"Hey back." She answered grinning widely.
"Happy birthday, finally!" Santana laughed and she laughed along with her. Then suddenly Santana revealed the bouquet of beautiful red roses that she was hiding on her back and handed it to her gently. "For you."
She smiled and smelled the roses. It was undoubtedly beautiful and fragrant. "Thank you so much, Santana."
"You're welcome." Santana smiled and got another box on her purse. "And this."
She grinned widely and took the other gift from Santana. "This is too much. Again. But thank you."
"Get used to it, Berry." Santana replied and held the bouquet of flowers for her so she can open the gift. "Open it."
So she did. Her eyes instantly twinkled upon seeing what's inside the box. It was a beautiful and sparkly anklet with little pearls around it. "Oh gosh, it's really beautiful. Thank you so much." She said while holding up the anklet and checking every inch of it.
"I'm glad you liked it." Santana released the breath she was holding.
"I really do. Thank you!"
"Uhm, is it—is it okay if I wear it to you now? I noticed that you don't have an anklet yet, so.." Santana asked while glancing at her feet.
She smiled at Santana to help her relax because she was obviously nervous. "Sure, Santana. I'd love to." She handed the anklet to Santana.
Santana got on her knees and gently put her anklet on her right ankle before standing up and pressing her lips to her cheeks.
"Now I can always think of you walking with me." Santana told her.
"So, I think it's appropriate to name this anklet Santana?" she asked while laughing lightly.
Santana laughed along with her. "Yeah, I guess so."
She was about to answer the girl when she heard a car horn outside. She instantly knew who it was because her heart beating fast was actually her radar that Quinn is near and just meters away.
"I'll just go outside to check on someone." She told Santana in a very rushed tone and did not wait anymore for the girl's reply because she already sprinted her way outside.
Once she was already outside, she noticed Quinn sitting on the bench where she and Santana were a while ago, with her car parked just few meters away.
She sighed loudly and Quinn stood up from her seat to run towards her. She immediately run to Quinn so they met halfway and hugged tightly making up for 365 days that they hadn't seen, touched, hugged, and kissed each other. She noticed the excitement in Quinn's eyes and it makes her heart melt instantly.
She cried once again because of joy and she knows that Quinn is reacting the same. They stayed in each other's arms a little longer until they pulled out and Quinn guided her back to the bench. She closed her eyes when she felt those soft hands on her. It felt like heaven.
"Hi." Quinn broke their silence and greeted her with a gentle kiss. It was just a soft peck but this time, Quinn did not pull out but she did not move her lips again, though. It was like Quinn was waiting for her to do something, so she did. She lifted her hands to touch both of Quinn's soft cheek and kissed her deeply.
She moaned in pleasure when Quinn's tongue traced its way from her lower lip to the inside of her mouth. She instantly felt the hotness of Quinn's long tongue against her own. Quinn's unoccupied hands were caressing her back and it moved to her sides down to her hips. She shivered and held the back of the girl's neck and deepened the kiss even more until they ran out of oxygen.
They pulled out from the kiss both panting and staring hungrily and lovingly into each other's eyes.
"Happy birthday, Rach. You are still so gorgeously beautiful and sexy. You don't know how lucky I am to have you. God, I missed you so much." Quinn told her and kissed her once more while holding both of her shoulders and looking at every inch of her body.
"I miss you, too, Quinn. You look a lot healthy now." She looked down on Quinn's body and smiled. "But on the contrary, I think I'm luckier because my girlfriend is a goddess."
Quinn chuckled lightly and playfully pinched her cheek. "You are so adorable. I love you so much." Quinn caressed her cheeks while staring at her. She feels like she was getting lost in those hazel eyes. She noticed that a few light lines of eye wrinkle has appeared in Quinn's eyes but that only makes her more beautiful. The girl might be experiencing a lot of stress from school.
"I love you too. So much. And Forever." She answered and kissed Quinn's lips again and hugged her so she can smell the good fragrance that she missed so much.
"Did you have fun?" Quinn asked while running her hands to her brunette hair. She was still hugging Quinn and she noticed that Quinn's hair is now longer. She did not cut it after all those months, but she looked even more beautiful with this.
"Not really, until I saw that firework display you have for me." She answered pulling back from the hug so she can look at the blonde's face.
Quinn faked confusion with what she said. "I never did that."
She lightly punched Quinn's shoulder and the girl faked an ouch. "Silly. I know it's you. No one calls me Rach other than you."
"Maybe somebody overheard us and got jealous so they did it." Quinn replied still having that adorable smile that reveals a perfect set of white teeth. And gosh, those lips.
"Do you want me to leave you here?" she asked also faking annoyance and pouting her lips.
"Oh, I know you can't." Quinn touched her pouting lips and kissed her until she smiles. "I love you, Rach. I don't want you to leave me. I think I'd die if you ever did it."
She smiled to assure the blonde that it will never happen. "I will never, ever, ever, leave you Quinn. You are my world."
Quinn handed her the bouquet of tulips arranged in a pink wrapper. "Happy birthday again. Flowers for my universe." Quinn kissed her and watched her smile.
"Thank you, Quinn." She answered while smelling the flowers. "Oh, I have to show you something."
"But you know I still have the part two of my gift for you." Quinn whined.
"Mine, first." She kissed Quinn's pouty lips and got her polaroid camera from her bag. "I know I'm not as good as you but I want you to realize how I found my place, my home." She handed Quinn the camera and Quinn turned on its power to browse at the pictures.
Quinn was browsing through the pictures in the folder that she entitled Love+Home. "Rach, are you kidding me? These are amazing! From here I can definitely feel how in love you are with this place."
"And with you." She answered immediately. She giggled when she saw Quinn blushed. "And before the second part of your gift, I want to give something to you too."
"Rach, you really don't have to—"
"I want to." She said and pulled out a small box from her pocket. Quinn gasped in surprise when she saw what Rachel was holding. It was a ring.
"Rach—" she cut Quinn off by kissing her hard on the lips and just letting Quinn feel her love.
"I saved for it, Quinn. Belated happy birthday to you, and belated Happy Anniversary as well. I wanted to celebrate it with you but—yeah. So I figured I can just give it to you when you come back." She told Quinn sincerely.
Quinn smiled lovingly until she can't hold her tears anymore. Quinn cried in front of her while smiling and that was the most adorable and heart-melting thing she has ever seen.
"Thank you so much, Rach. I did not expect this." Quinn answered and got a small box from her pocket too. Quinn lifted the red small box and she widened her eyes in surprise when she realized that it was also a ring box.
"We have the same—it's also a ring—" she stammered.
"Yes. That was the funny part, isn't it?" Quinn laughed lightly and kissed her lips.
"I have an idea." She grinned widely when that idea popped into her mind.
Quinn looked at her with a confused face but still smiling. "What is it?"
She put down the flowers on the bench for a while and pulled Quinn to stand face to face with her.
"Can we get married right now?" she asked Quinn with a very childlike voice.
Quinn chuckled and another tear fell from her eyes but she can also see the love and twinkle of happiness in there. They were really in love.
"You want us to get married here beside the bench, across your house with a group of teenager, with your parents inside the house, and with these mosquitoes flying around?" Quinn asked her with amusement.
"Yes. Why not? They can be our 'unaware' guests and sponsors." She answered with a smile.
"But we don't have a priest."
"Don't worry. I memorize the lines."
Quinn kissed her while laughing. "I can't believe you want us to do this."
"Why not? We both have the rings."
"But they're not gold."
"It's okay. We can get married again someday, right?" she whined.
Quinn stared at her in disbelief and nodded still having that loving smile on her face. "Okay, okay. But let's skip the lines of the priest, okay? It will be awkward if you speak those words."
She instantly beamed and hugged Quinn tightly before pulling back. They composed themselves for a few seconds just staring into each other until the atmosphere between them became serious but full of love. They just stood face to face while holding hands and the other hand holding their boxes of rings.
"I, Quinn Fabray, promise to love you, Rachel Berry, and take you as my wife. To comfort you, to honor you and respect you, to accept you for who you are, especially you being a gamer.." they both chuckled at that before Quinn continued with joyful tears. "..to remain faithful to you, to love and keep you forever, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, as long as we live.."
Quinn finished and opened her own box of ring and slipped it into her finger. It's cute how the ring fits perfectly into her fingers without any bump. She can't help herself but cry. There is certainly no doubt that Quinn really loves her.
She sighed and looked directly into Quinn's pair of perfectly- colored eyes and spoke. "I, the beautiful Rachel Berry, accept you, Quinn Fabray, as my wife and promise to love you, honor you, respect you, and be faithful to you from this day forward, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, till death do us part."
She took out her ring from the box and slipped it into Quinn's fingers. She sighed when it also fit perfectly in Quinn's fingers because she was actually worried that it was not the size of Quinn's fingers when she bought it.
Quinn smiled, closed her eyes, and leaned forward to kiss her lips. She did the same. She closed her eyes as well, picturing her and Quinn in a wedding dress doing the same in an actual wedding.
"I love you so much, Rach. You don't know how much I adore you—everything about you." Quinn told her while wiping her tears.
She smiled shyly and spoke. "I love you more, Quinn. And I always will. You know I will." She lifted herself to kiss Quinn again.
"One more year." Quinn smiled at her.
"Yes. And I can't—"
"Rachel?" Santana suddenly appeared in the front door meters away from them.
She and Quinn both froze and eventually turned their attention back to Santana who was now walking towards them with a very hurt expression that she was just trying to hide.
"I—I don't mean to ruin this moment but.. your dad's looking for you." Santana hesitantly informed her.
She felt her heart shattering to pieces because of what she heard. This is the worst part of it all, when the time that she can finally kiss Quinn has to end, but she can't do nothing about it. She has no choice because they both know that this will happen.
She looked back at Quinn and she saw that protesting look in Quinn's eyes but the girl still nodded at her, signaling her to go back inside the house.
"One more year, Rach. One more year." Quinn reminded her before kissing her lips goodbye.
"Promise me something this time, Quinn. Please?" she requested, now crying.
"Rach, I promise to be a faithful wife." Quinn smiled and kissed her again. "Go before he sees us."
She nodded and walked back to the front door with Santana. She gave Quinn one last look before nodding and entering the house.
Little do they know that a pair of brown eyes was watching them from the kitchen window and was clenching his fist on his sides because of instant anger.