A/N: I am so sorry this update took so long. Typically, I write these when I'm supposed to be doing classwork. Since I've technically graduated, I don't know how that will affect my writing. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this. I'll try to have more updates done soon. Thank you to everyone who's read and review thus far. I'm trying to take in what you guys have to say like lovecanbesostrange's point about the communication. I don't think I got it in as well this time but I'm certainly trying to work on it. And urbankazoos, will that be cash or charge? Thanks guys, remember guys, constructive criticism is always welcome. Hope you guys have had great summers by the way.
Warnings: I don't own Glee or any of the characters or any of the songs I may use. This will include lesbian sex, maybe some hetero but it's not likely. Possibly Finn bashing, I'm not entirely sure how yet, but I'll try to find a way. Maybe some triggers but I don't want to give anything away. Angst. I have done a bit of research but all mistakes are still my own.
I liked to think of myself as an early riser, but apparently I could not compare to the residents of the apartment. I'd fallen asleep on my side, facing Santana as I played with dark tresses and we spoke quietly until eventually both of us were too tired to continue and we turned off the lamp on her desk. I was a bit thrown off when I was woke up to a messier tongue than the one I'd become acquainted to woke me up. The blinds didn't relent any sunlight so I wasn't actually ready to get up as I urged the furry body over me to the side. That's about when realization finally drew my eyes open.
"Oh my god!" I couldn't help but jump back from the large dog, crying out as I landed on top of his owner.
We both writhed around in the sheets as I tried to get off of her and she tried to figure out what was going on, all while Kovu took it as a game and tried to join in.
"Jesus," Quinn groaned from the hallway, "Just because she won't sleep with you doesn't mean you have to maul her.
Santana finally climbed out of the mess, pulling Kovu off of me as he continued slobbering affectionately over my face.
"Still think it was a good idea to teach him how to open the door?" Quinn smirked, as she leaned against the door frame.
I didn't need anybody to translate the sign she flung at the blonde as she drug the dog out of the room, closing the door behind them.
I could only stare at the door in wonder until Santana came back through with a wet rag in hand. She held it out in offering, "Sorry."
I took the rag and wiped my face and neck thoroughly, "Is he always so excitable in the morning."
"Morning?" She scoffed.
"What time is it?" I continued wiping my neck.
She leaned on the bed to pull back the blinds and I couldn't quite see as the light filtered in. She dropped it shut again and I rubbed my eyes before searching around for my phone. I ignored Shay's messages as I found the time, "Noon! I slept 'til noon?"
She shrugged and nodded, "The blinds fuck you up."
I went through the messages from Shay, glad that they weren't much more than her usual pestering.
"Have to be somewhere?" She asked, relaxing back onto the bed.
I shook my head, "No. I'm just not used to waking up so late."
"Would breakfast make it better?" She asked, a smile creeping onto her face.
It seemed more like a late lunch but I let her help me up from the bed and lead me to the kitchen where Kovu focused on his food, much less concerned with us now that he had it.
I watched as Santana opened her cabinet, digging through boxes and cans. It was kind of cute to see her standing on her toes and stretching for a particular box. She was taller than me for sure, but definitely not by anybody else's standards. She finally got the box and held it out questioningly.
"Oatmeal?" I wondered, taking the box in hand.
She nodded.
"Shouldn't you keep this on a lower shelf?" I smirked as I opened the box and pulled out the paper package with bananas printed over it.
"Everyone moves it," she scowled before pulling out the same package although hers had apples on it.
I chuckled and watched as she moved to pull a pot from under the counter and filled it with water. She placed it on the stove and turned it on quickly.
She pulled a couple of bowls from another cabinet and set them next to the stove.
"So, do you treat every girl so sweetly?" I teased.
She pointed to my phone and I handed it to her. She gave it back quickly, "Who are these girls you keep asking about? I'm beginning to wonder what you've heard about me."
"You just seem like the type of girl to have options."
She nodded understandingly, moving forward until I was back against the counter, "This is true."
"So there are other girls?" I wondered, placing a hand on her chest.
"Not lately," she cocked her head to the side. Her hand moved over mine and she slid it up onto her neck.
"Why not?" I leaned back, feeling my back press firmly against the counter.
She smirked and licked her lips, "I've been pretty focused on this one girl." I shuddered, not realizing how much I loved it when she slowed down, taking care to form each word and make sure I understood her. I yelped slightly when she lifted me onto the counter, my head well over hers as she looked up at me.
"What's her name?" I questioned, going along with her little game.
She pulled one of her hands from my hip flashing the letters to form my name slowly. I really only could have called her on a few of them, but I still blushed.
"Oh god, you had all night. Can we not ruin the kitchen counter?" Quinn groaned, ignoring us entirely as she started fussing with the coffee pot.
Santana turned around between my legs smirking at her friend. She was telling her something when she finally got the blonde's attention.
"Shut up, it's not my fault she's gone farther with your dog than with you," Quinn smirked, moving to leave the kitchen. She stopped and turned back with a warning, "Puck brought vodka, don't let him near the coffee maker."
My eyebrows raised in surprise and embarrassment.
Once more she flipped the girl off before turning back to me, "Scared yet?"
"Not yet," I shrugged. "What exactly is the benefit of your dog being able to open the door?"
"Alarm clock, fire alarm, cuddles," she listed.
I looked to the dog who'd made his way back out to rest on the arm chair, "For the record," I leaned down, brushing my lips over hers gently, "You're a much better kisser."
"Good to know," she laughed, that relatively soundless gesture that was still so effortlessly genuine. I slipped my arm onto her shoulder and let her pull me into one of those distracting kisses I'd been avoiding. A delicious motion of curious tongues and tender lips that was heating up pretty quickly before a cheer pulled us apart.
"Wooh! Yes, finally," Puck was up, rubbing his eyes as he stood at the coffee maker in green lantern boxer briefs and the matching t-shirt.
My face absolutely burned as I slipped off of the counter and tried to look away from him.
Santana looked amused before she turned to catch Puck, one hand opening the coffee maker while the other was gripping a vodka bottle.
"It'll wake everyone up," the boy assured, holding the bottle well over Santana's head.
She glared and insulted him quickly.
The boy only laughed as he swung the bottle over-head.
Behind me I heard Sam groan and turned to see the boy almost falling off of the couch.
"Ow, that's not fair," I heard after a loud thud.
Santana held the bottle successfully as she set it on the counter, emptying both of our packets of oatmeal into the bowls followed by the steaming water. She mixed them thoroughly while moving the bottle when Puck continued to try and get it.
"You didn't even make anyone else food?" The mohawked boy whined.
Santana pointed to me.
"That's not fair!"
She just nodded and set the bowls on the counter. She was going to start eating and then got confused, a perplexed expression crossing her face before she swapped our bowls.
"Who's doing what that's not fair?" Quinn asked as if she were used to this sort of argument.
"Santana only made Rachel breakfast," he whined, finally getting the bottle from Santana.
"And you poisoning everybody else's coffee is fair?" Quinn retorted.
"I vote we all be fair and just go back to sleep," Sam offered, in an even greater state of undress than Puck in just his Captain America briefs as he tossed his blanket off and sat up.
I was finding myself with nowhere to look.
"Don't think I've ever seen that shade of red," Quinn pointed out, "You'd think she'd never seen anybody naked." She was obviously joking but a thought occurred to her as she looked between me and Santana, "You've seen someone naked before, right?"
"Of course I have!" I defended, looking between all of them before glancing down at my bowl and mixing it slowly.
"Okay then," Puck patted Santana's back, "It's just you."
I'm certain if she could have she'd have growled, instead she just sneered at her friend before finally starting on her oatmeal. I followed her lead as everyone else settled down, Quinn pouring her coffee, and the boys pulling on their jeans before digging through the cabinets. I got a view of what Santana had to suffer as everyone moved around boxes, until they found the boxes of sugary cereals they were looking for. Puck munching on Cocoa Pebbles straight from the box while Sam fixed himself a bowl of Frosted flakes. I had to wonder how often this happens as I looked over the adults so easily fitting into the routine of acting like children, even going as far as settling down to watch cartoons.
"Robin is so the best," Sam argued over his bowl.
"Fuck off," Puck jeered over his box, "It's all about Superboy."
"He's pissed all the time and can't do anything right."
Puck scoffed, "And Robin's so scary with his power to... Oh wait he doesn't have any."
"He doesn't need powers, he's just that badasss."
Santana called everyone's attention with a particularly loud whistle while Quinn declared, "I think we all just need to agree that we want to see Miss Martian and Artemis get it on."
That settled the boys down long enough for us to make it to the next show and, therefore, the next argument.
I can't say I'd even found cartoons as entertaining as a child. We spent the better part of "breakfast" flipping between children's channels until Sam made us stop on a James Bond movie, and while I was impressed with his Sean Connery impression, Santana insisted that was a good time for us to take Kovu for a walk. We got down the stairs quickly, me still laughing at the picture of Sam in a bolo tie from prom. Kovu was pulling us along excitedly but Santana would snap her fingers to get his attention and he'd be back at her side.
"He really speaks Na'Vi?" I was still amused by that fact.
"Uber nerd," she assured, "That's why he works at the shop."
I was still grinning as we walked.
"So, when is this date supposed to happen?" I wondered as I pet the dog who'd settled between us as we walked.
"Tonight?" She shrugged.
"Very romantic," I scoffed.
She stopped and turned to me, gripping my shoulders. She looked almost too serious as she asked, "Rachel Berry, will you go out with me tonight?"
I shrugged and looked away indifferently, "I don't know, I think I'm supposed to be spending time with my roommate tonight."
She glared at me.
"If not that sounds like a wonderful idea."
}{
"You can't be serious," I uttered, watching as Santana came out of her room.
"She is," Quinn assured, not even looking up from her newspaper.
Santana was dressed in a form fitting green and black striped dress with a yellow jacket. The dress only reached about halfway down her thighs and only posed a more superficial threat compared to the black high-heeled boots.
"That's ridiculous Santana, you ride a motorcycle," I reminded looking the outfit up and down.
"On our date," she added, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"You can't," I flushed and looked away, "Straddle a motorcycle in a dress."
Her fingertip on my cheek drew my attention back to that smirk, dressed up in a barely there lipstick, "I can straddle plenty of things."
I gaped at her as she walked to Quinn, telling her something before she went to the door and held it open for me.
}{
Santana's lead was one that was certainly hard to follow. She was waiting patiently in my living room and all I could do was stare desperately into my closet, wishing an outfit worthwhile would magically appear. Sweaters had never let me down where jeans and a t-shirt were too casual, and although Santana had managed it, I couldn't see a dress being appropriate. I pulled out a couple of different options and laid them out onto my bed. I was staring blankly at them until I heard a subtle knock at the door. I looked up to see Santana leaning boredly against the frame.
"Need help?" I made out as she came forward.
I sighed and nodded, "It might be easier if you told me where we were going."
She nodded but didn't otherwise answer as she looked over my clothes.
"Do I even get a hint?" I wondered as she lifted a blouse before tossing it aside.
She shook her head while brushing off a sweater vest.
"There's a closet if you'd like to reject more of my clothing," I pointed out.
She smirked and finally looked at me, "Not too fond of this." She reached out to finger the collar of my yellow silk robe.
I flushed and pulled on an annoyed face before crossing my arms.
She moved to the closet, flipping through articles before pulling something out and tossing it to me.
I barely caught it as she made her way back to the bed to pick up a red plaid skirt. She handed it to me as I realized I was already holding a blue sweater. It was a nice outfit; I was surprised I hadn't thought of it before.
"Good?" She crossed her arms as indifference grew apparent on her face.
"Yes, thank you," I smiled as I laid them on the bed, "Although a skirt still doesn't seem appropriate on your bike."
She waved me off and sat on the bed.
I looked at her wordlessly.
"What?" She questioned.
"I need to get dressed," my cheeks burned as I looked between her and the door.
She quirked an eyebrow.
I held her stare as I ignored her steadily growing smirk.
"Really?"
"Yes."
She rolled her eyes but stood up, "Fine."
I watched her leave, before making sure the door was closed so I could change, not entirely able to keep a smile off of my face.
}{
"This is-" I giggled, "Different." My hand was already sticky.
She nodded and took my hand, slipping soft lips over my index and middle fingers.
"No," I gasped but she wouldn't let me pull my hand back.
She licked my fingertips once more before letting me go.
"You're horrible," it wasn't exactly believable as I smiled.
She only went back to her ice cream bar.
"Alright," I finished my cone of soy vanilla, "Ice cream seemed like enough, where can we possibly be going now?" It was already getting dark and Santana had easily bypassed her bike as we left the shop.
She waved me off flippantly and just continued leading me.
I could only watch her curiously as we walked. Soon enough though, it became fairly obvious.
She led me over to a small park, onto the sand covered playground, and to the empty swings. The whole while I couldn't help but wonder how she managed to do it so gracefully in her heels.
"You aren't kidding are you?"
She shook her head and moved behind one of the swings, holding her Popsicle stick between her teeth as she placed her hands on the chains and looked at me expectantly.
I grinned as I sat on the swing and felt her hands on my back. She pushed me for a moment before moving to lean against the swing-set.
I couldn't tell if she was speaking in the dim lights around the park, but I knew she was smiling.
She came to stand before me as I swung slower and slower. I leaned into the hand on my cheek and dug my heels into the sand beneath me.
I was becoming very well acquainted with the lips that brushed over mine.
A hand tugged me playfully up by my sweater and I felt Santana's grin.
}{
I was nervous as we walked up to my apartment, Santana not even a foot behind me. We hadn't spoken much since we'd left the park, except when she offered to walk me up. The closer we got to my door the more nervous I got. It'd been a while since I'd been with anybody intimately and to have it so scheduled was unnerving. Even the way we'd planned this had only been around the idea I'd sleep with her. As I reached the door with my key I worried my lip slightly while she leaned against the door frame. I had the door open when I turned to her.
"Santana."
She stood up again.
"I, well, I really did enjoy our date and I don't want you to get the wrong impression, although I think I may have already let that happen. You seem wonderful, and I'm sure anybody would jump at the opportunity but I wouldn't feel comfortable if us going out was only meant to end with us falling into bed like-" I couldn't finish as she cut me off.
It was a chaste kiss. Just a simple brush of our lips, but it silenced me as she pulled back, mouthing the word, "Okay," with an amused smile on her lips. The lips I couldn't entirely draw my focus from.
"Okay?" I repeated.
She nodded leaning to kiss my cheek before giving a simple, "Good night."
She was walking past me when I called, "Santana, wait."
She stopped and looked back.
"Would you, um, like to watch a movie?" I offered. At the obvious curl of her lip I added, "It doesn't have to be a musical."
She rolled her eyes and nodded, following me into the house with a small smile.
}{
Santana opted to keep her dress on although I slipped into a tank top and shorts. I checked on Shay before picking a movie. Some mindless romantic comedy and we settled on the couch. We weren't even halfway into the movie when I noticed something. Somehow, Santana had ended up with her head on my lap while I sat with my back against the arm rest and my legs crossed. My fingers rested, tangled in dark locks, while fingers brushed gently over my shin and knee. When I looked from the screen, Santana didn't even seem to be paying attention to the movie, but her fingers hardly strayed past my knee. I kept expecting some teasing, and a not entirely unwelcome move higher but it never came. Her fingertips just continued their simple ministrations. I couldn't help but wonder if it were some sort of habit. I couldn't stop myself as I disentangled my hand from her hair to reach down, stroking her cheek gently.
"I suppose it would only be a waste of money to take you to see a movie," I teased quietly.
"Sorry," I saw the word in the dim light from the television as her hand stopped.
"Don't stop," I urged.
She didn't start again but she kept looking up at me.
I brought my other hand down to lace our fingers together, urging her up in front of me.
She sat on her hip, her hair a mess from my fingers and her helmet, still looking stunning. "Need me to go?"
I didn't register the question until she repeated it a couple of times. "You don't have to."
She still sat up and I couldn't help but tug her hand again. She took the hint and moved forward, leaning over me a bit as our lips met gently.
I let my hands make their way up her shoulders and back into dark tresses. Her own found my sides, following different patterns up and down me. Her lips pressed into mine forcefully but not painfully. When her tongue brushed over my lip I couldn't stop a slight moan in response. She explored my mouth leisurely as if she had all the time in the world and when she gasped as I sucked on her tongue I'd have been glad to give it to her.
I was hardly expecting her to be the one to pull back. Her hands fell to the couch on either side of me as she braced herself and our noses brushed as her breath rolled lightly over my lips. When I tried to reconnect our lips she pulled back just enough and smiled. She said something but I'm still not sure what.
"Stay," I asked, biting my lip gently.
Her eyes flitted down to my lips for a moment before she nodded and let me kiss her again.
I was the one urging it this time, which, distantly I worried made me seem flakey, but I ignored it as I fell into the embrace. Santana's hands took a bit more liberty in their wandering, brushing my hips and palming my breasts. I felt her tease the edge of my shirt and a wave of nerves shot through me, "Wait."
She pulled back abruptly; obviously worried she'd done something.
"No," I warned, moving after her, "It's not you, I just wouldn't want my roommate to come out and see us."
She nodded understandingly and stood up, holding her hands out for me. I took them and fell into her, kissing her again before she turned me around, reminding me of our destination, although it didn't help as she made holding hands seem far more intimate; her fingers slipped from between my own to ghost gently over my palms, grip my wrist, and pass my elbow before returning to their place between mine as if they'd never left. I almost didn't want to make it to my room so quickly. I almost didn't register that her other hand wasn't in mine until she was brushing my hair from my neck and I could almost feel her lips on my skin when we stopped walking. Suddenly, I opened my eyes to see that my nose almost brushed the bedroom door. I ignored the burning of my cheeks and opened the door, going to my dresser quickly to turn on a lamp and gather some clothes for the girl behind me. I heard my bed creak and turned with the pile in hand.
"Here," I offered her the pile, "You know where the restroom is right?"
Her lips pulled up in an entertained smile as she stood up, setting the pile down. She didn't say anything as she pulled on my shorts, beneath her dress.
I couldn't exactly draw my eyes away.
She seemed to notice as she brought my hands to the hem of the dress, leading it up past her waist. I hadn't noticed she'd let go of my hands until her hands were over her head and I was pulling it off.
"Santana, I um," I couldn't quite think of anything to say as I took in her form in the dim lighting. I caught a slight glint coming from her navel, but soon it was gone as she pulled on my t-shirt.
She pointed to my bed.
I made no move.
Her hand came up to my cheek, urging my eyes up to meet hers.
I hadn't even realized I'd been staring at her body.
She only flashed that cocky smirk before urging me into the bed before turning off the lights and slipping in after me.
"San-" I tried to start but her lips covered mine quickly.
Distantly, it occurred to me that I'd have no idea what she was saying, if she did. Although, it didn't seem like we'd have much to say in the few moments before we settled into a comfortable sleep.
}{
I don't know how I expected to wake up; maybe at Shay's urging that she be allowed to question me about our houseguest, or to the image of a slumbering girl with a pillow over her head once more. There was, of course, the dread it would be at the hands, rather, mouth of a slobbering dog. I certainly didn't expect to wake up alone. I got up on my elbows and looked to the empty spot I expected to see Santana and disappointment settled over me as I sat up, pushing my legs over the side of the bed. I was almost delighted to see the green dress folded on my dresser as I got up stretching. I had to restrain myself from running out of the door. I could already hear Shay in the kitchen.
"You really should come see the show," Shay nodded to herself as she pulled two mugs from the cupboard, "I mean, hint hint, it would help you out on the Rachel front, but it's pretty good." She placed the cups on the counter Santana was sitting at and began pouring.
"How do you take it?" She asked, as she put the pot back before going to the fridge and pulling out the milk and the Silk.
"I don't know if you're into the vegan crap like Rachel, but it's actually pretty sweet," she slid those on the counter before following with the sugar, which seemed to be Santana's tipping point as she all but dumped it into her mug.
"Morning Sunshine," my roommate called as she finally took note of me.
Santana smiled and waved as she turned in her seat.
Shay made her way over, slipping her arm around my waist as she urged me into the kitchen, "Me and your girlfriend have been talking. Although, she's not much of a talker."
"She's not my girlfriend," I blushed as I looked to Santana, who only had an amused smirk to offer me.
"Whatever you say Rachie," she dismissed before pushing her own untouched mug to me, "Anyway, aren't you going to tell me about your date?"
"We just went out for ice-cream," I assured, "and then we came back here and watched a movie. I blushed and looked away from the two sets of eyes set intently on me. I then realized something, "How long have you two been talking?"
"Not too long, maybe ten minutes," Shay shrugged, answering quickly.
"Has she just been rambling this whole time?" I looked to Santana.
She nodded, trying to hide her amusement behind her coffee.
"Shay," I looked to the other girl who was quickly growing confused, "Santana's, um, mute." I flushed before looking to her, hoping I hadn't offended her.
Shay put her coffee on the counter, staring intently at Santana when she opened her mouth.
"Don't shout at her," I added quickly.
"Rachel, you said she's mute why would I yell?"
Santana put down her mug and covered her mouth, almost choking on her coffee and her laughter.
"I was just going to say," she turned to Santana, "I honestly just thought you were a horrible conversationalist."
The Latina calmed down enough to nod in understanding.
I finally began preparing my own coffee when Shay mentioned, "I'm impressed."
"By what?" I wondered as I stirred my Silk in.
"You usually ramble and rant so much; it's hard to get a word in edgewise. I mean, I have a tough time and you don't sign, so I don't know how she'd get a say," Shay gestured to Santana with her mug.
"I don't ramble or rant," I scowled, "But even if Santana doesn't speak quite normally, we communicate just fine and I certainly wouldn't be opposed to learning to sign."
Abruptly, Santana began coughing loudly and put her mug down. She seemed different as she stood up. "Thanks," she mouthed to Shay as she held up her mug. When she looked to me she seemed more closed off but just pointed to the door before heading towards my room.
"Is she okay?" My roommate wondered.
It was hardly a moment before she came back in her dress, grabbing her boots and coat from by the door and giving a dismissive wave.
I looked at the door worried and confused.