"You don't really think he'd do that do you San?" her voice wavered slightly, her wide eyes searching her friends face for any sign of deception but all she found was the truth in the simple nod she got.
"I do" Sam interrupted Santana before she could explain her answer any further and it really was a testament to her character that she let him continue to speak. "I think Finn was hoping you'd leave Puck in Lima"
"Bastard" Santana muttered as Rachel scolded her, her hands flying to cover up Lucy's ears, not that it made much of a difference. Lucy had been having the time of her life with a pair of Santana's old cheerleading pom poms as she devoured half of the ice cream that Santana had been so insistent they picked up.
They'd arrived at Santana's childhood home and hour and a half ago, she trying not to cry and Sam trying not to smash something. Luce had gone flying into her arms as she took one look at Rachel's watery eyes, cursing softly in Spanish. She'd been curing in Spanish since then with Rachel shrieking every time an English curse word left her lips. So far they had established that Noah had definitely joined the army, enlisting the year after graduation just as he'd told Sam, he'd also definitely called New York to tell her the news and give her an address so they could keep in touch but he'd mentioned nothing about getting through to either her or Finn afterwards.
"That was before Quinn though Sam" she insisted desperately "He loved me then"
Her mind was filled with that dopey smile of Finns, the notes he used to leave in her locker senior year, the way he'd insist on singing duets with her.
"He never loved you Rach, the same way Quinn didn't love me" Sam sighed as he settled onto the sofa next to her, lifting his arms and slinging it around her shoulders as she curled into his warm body.
"Trouty mouths right Ray" Santana added, slipping in the old nickname for Sam almost naturally. "He never liked how close you and Puckerman were. Remember that time you told Schuster a duet between you two might win us nationals? You guys had found the perfect song and spent like way too much of your spare time practising it and it sounded awesome. Finn hated it though, all you had to do was mention that you'd practised over the weekend and BAM, pyramid nipples hated it!"
Santana had begun to flail her arms about in the air, emphasising her point with sudden and dramatic movements, but Rachel did remember. She and Noah had spent all weekend practising 'Iris' by the Goo Goo Dolls, it had suited his voice and guitar perfectly and with her harmonising she was sure that it was Nationals material. They'd sang it for the club, note perfect as always and everyone had agreed, their voices sounded brilliant together, a perfect blend of his rough tones and her smooth one, a perfect mix of their passion really. Finn on the other hand had been furious, so furious that Puck had sustained a rather nasty looking bruise on his cheekbone before he agreed to drop the duet idea.
"Don't forget that time Finn caught you pair dancing at prom!" Sam chuckled to himself. Rachel didn't have to ask why because she knew he was seeing Finn, red faced and fuming after having found Rachel dancing with Noah, his arms wrapped tight around her waist and hers locked around his neck. It had all been very innocent really; Finn just hadn't given them a chance to explain. He'd disappeared suspiciously around the same time Quinn had, just as the last dance began playing and Noah, the gentleman and best friend that he was, had offered his arm and she'd gladly taken it.
"Noah and I never really had a chance did we?" she sighed heavily. The thought that Finn had broken them apart out of pure jealousy made her heart heavy, how could she have been so wrong in how she saw him.
"You ain't missing much Ray. Last I heard Finnocence had knocked up Fabray for real this time and he was still running Burt's garage. Not a step out of Lima since he left your tiny ass in New York." Santana snorted, the thought of living a small town life almost made her feel like throwing up whatever she'd eaten this morning as she'd told them.
She felt Sam flinch beside her at the mention of Quinn and reminded herself that they'd have to have a chat about how he was handling the possibility of running into them somewhere in town although they'd spent the last week avoiding anywhere they were likely to be. With the reunion being in a few days though she doubted there was much they'd be able to do to keep away from the happy couple.
"We should probably head off, right Sam?" She glanced up at him, watching as realisation dawned in his eyes before he thanked her silently. "You promised Daddy you'd help him with his car" she grinned.
"You guys are coming out tonight though right? Boy Chang is back in town tonight." Santana questioned as she pulled Luce up into her arms and squeezed her tight, the little girl giggling furiously as she squirmed in her arms.
"Yes, of course we will!" she beamed "I'm sure Dad and Daddy won't mind looking after Lucy for us tonight"
"Remind me again why you guys act like a married couple but aren't?" the Latina rolled her eyes, sarcasm dripping from her voice as she led them out to the door, even going as far as to clip the small girl into her car seat.
"Best buds San" Sam grinned at her, his arm still slung over her shoulder as he pulled her into his side.
The one good thing that had come from Finn breaking her heart, despite how painful, was Sam. He was her best friend and she couldn't have asked for anyone better, not even Noah. She had missed Noah though; her heart ached at the thought of the years they'd missed out on and the fact that she might not ever get his friendship back, a deep hollow ache that she didn't ever think could be fixed.
Thanks for reading guys, the next chapter'll be the one where they actually have a conversation hopefully :) I'll try to get itposted as soon as possible. Thank you!