The club is packed by the time Jeremy and Quinn arrive.
"Quinn!" Brittany calls her over from where she stands close to the front of the stage. The two push their way through a bunch of people before finally reaching her.
"Hey, Brittany. Nice to finally meet you in person." She gives the girl a quick hug. "And this must be Chris?"
A tall man with a shaved head and a muscular build stands next to her. "Hey," he says coolly as he extends a hand.
"Yeah, he's never what people think when I talk about him."
"Actually I wasn't really sure what to think… But yeah, I guess tall, shaved head, and muscular build wasn't the first thing to come to my mind… By the way, this is my cousin Jeremy."
Jeremy shakes hands with Chris and gives Brittany a small smile, "Thanks for letting me tag along."
Chris clears his throat. "Of course, man. Well, I'm going to excuse myself to go check on things. Nice meeting you guys." He gives them a quick wave before he disappears behind the curtain on stage.
"He always gets like this before every performance, always has to make sure everything is running smoothly." Brittany explains.
The green-eyed girl gives a small laugh. "Well, that's understandable. So do you know what Santana is performing? She wouldn't tell me."
"Nope, she wouldn't tell me either. By the way, do you guys want a drink?"
"Yes!" Jeremy answers enthusiastically. "I'll get yours too, Q. What do you want?"
"Just the usual."
"Got it."
When Jeremy leaves them, Brittany speaks up. "By the way, I just want to say thank you for everything you've done for Santana. You've been good for her."
Quinn blushes. "It's no problem. I really care about her."
Suddenly, loud music starts as a man dressed in drag walks on stage. "Welcome! If y'all don't know me by now, you shouldn't be in this club."
"Love you, Siren!" Someone shouts.
"Love you too, baby... How y'all doing tonight?"
The crowd cheers and catcalls.
"I think y'all can do better than that. I said how y'all doing tonight?"
The crowd grows louder as Quinn and Brittany exchange excited smiles. Jeremy returns from the bar and hands the blonde her drink.
"That's better! To kick things off we're going to welcome a first time performer tonight. That's right… Let's pop her cherry! Performing Hit Me Like A Man by The Pretty Reckless… Please welcome, Miss Santana Looopez!" With a flourish of his hand, he ducks behind the curtain as loud rock music begins playing.
Jeremy and Brittany catcall loudly as Quinn claps excitedly. A black high-heeled boot appears onstage. Quinn's eyes widen with surprise as her mouth drops open.
"Whaaaat is she wearing?"
Brittany laughs at Quinn's expression as Santana struts out on stage in fishnets, a leather corset, and dark eye make up.
"I am strong, love is evil,
It's a version of perversion that is only for the lucky people."
"Oh my god, she looks fucking hot!" Brittany giggles as she says it.
"Take your time and do with me what you will,
I won't mind, you know I'm ill, you know I'm ill."
"Well, that's one way to put it." Quinn says more to herself than anyone else. Her mouth suddenly feels very dry as she watches the girl dancing on stage.
"Hit me like a man, love me like a woman,
From the devil deep inside, can't you see what I'm wanting?"
The back up dancers are giving it their all too as they dance provocatively behind Santana as she works the stage, teasing the audience. The blonde girl can't help but stare at the Latina in awe, the corset showing off her curves.
"Fuckin' leather," She mutters to herself. "God, keep it in your pants, Fabray."
"Some will give you hell, some will give you heaven,
So hit me like a man, love me like a woman,"
As the song wraps up, she growls the final line.
"Love me like a woman."
As Santana finishes, people go crazy. Especially the ladies standing next to Quinn and Brittany, which causes her to glare at them.
After the crowd has died down a bit, Brittany leads them to a booth in a faraway corner. It's not until a few minutes later when the third performer is out on the stage that the Latina emerges from behind the curtain and joins them. She wears a big smile on her face.
"So what'd you guys think?"
"You were fucking hot!" Brittany exclaims proudly.
"Yeah," Quinn chimes in. "You sang really well." Her cheeks still flushed a bright red. She notices the Latina hasn't changed yet and so she tries to keep herself from staring in wrong places for too long, her hands feeling antsy.
"So I shouldn't walk around looking like this all the time?"
"Not unless you want to take up prostitution," Jeremy quips.
Santana turns her attention to Quinn, elbowing her. "Were you surprised?"
"Definitely…" Finally able to meet the Latina's eyes, she gains a bit more confidence. "You do look hot."
Santana grins. "Well, I'm going to grab a drink and then I'll join you guys."
As she makes her way over to the bar, the pair of girls that had been standing next to Brittany and Quinn during her performance join her.
"You were sooo good." One of the girls gushes. "I'm Sasha and this is Maya."
"Thanks, nice to meet you," Santana says, enjoying the attention.
"Any chance you'd save a dance for my friend here? She's kind of shy but she thinks you're really hot." She motions to the girl next to her who stands there blushing.
Before the Latina has a chance to respond, a pair of arms wrap around her waist.
"Sorry ladies, she's mine."
The other girls laugh somewhat apologetically. "Aw, sorry. We didn't know she was taken."
"It's all good," Haley says with a smile. "Hope you ladies have fun tonight."
Sasha and Maya walk away whilst they whisper amongst themselves.
"Hey, babe." The brunette plants a chaste kiss on Santana's lips.
"Hey… Um, what was that?"
"I didn't like the way they were all over you."
"Okay, but I can handle myself. And besides, we're not exclusive, Hales."
The girl pauses before responding. "I know, but still… It's weird having to watch other girls hit on you while I'm working… Sorry if I overstepped…"
The Latina gives a small sigh but smiles. "It's okay… I get it. Just let me handle them from now on, ok?"
"Okay."
Santana reaches out to grab her hand to relieve some of the tension. "So how about we get a drink and then I can introduce you to a couple of my friends?"
It seems to work as the brunette perks up a bit. "I'd like that."
Quinn watches the interaction from the corner of her eye while Brittany and Jeremy carry on a conversation on their own.
"So you don't think he looks like Mr. Clean?" Jeremy asks in a serious tone.
Brittany chuckles. "Not at all! I'm thinking more like Jason Statham."
"What do you think, Q?"
The blonde turns her attention back to the pair of them. "Um. What are we talking about?"
Jeremy raises an eyebrow. "Which one is her boyfriend's look-a-like. Mr. Clean or Jason Statham."
"Oh. Um. More like Statham, definitely."
"See?" Brittany says victoriously. "He's sexy."
"I wasn't saying he wasn't," Jeremy adds. "Just let me know if you're ever in the mood to date someone with a good head of hair."
Quinn looks horrified. "Oh my god, Jeremy. I can't take you anywhere."
Brittany cracks up. "You two are funny together... But you know, I might go for Siren if things don't work out with Chris."
Unable to tell whether or not she's joking they half nod, half laugh. At this point Santana and Haley make themselves over to the booth.
"Hey guys," Santana says rejoining the table. "Quinn and Jeremy, this is Haley… And you've already met Brittany."
"Yeah, of course. Hey, girl." She gives Brittany a friendly hug before turning to Quinn and Jeremy. "Nice to meet you guys. Did you enjoy the show?"
"Of course, what's not to enjoy?" Jeremy says. "I didn't realize Santana could move like that."
"Oh, you don't know the half of it," She says as she touches the Latina's arm.
The small gesture causes Quinn to feel sick.
"Are you okay, Q?" Santana asks worriedly.
The blonde girl shakes her head, trying to snap herself out of it. "Yeah, I'm fine… Nice to meet you, Haley… Did you want to join us?"
"I guess I will for a little bit but then I'll have to get back to work…" She takes a seat next to the Latina. "So, Santana told me about your trip to Thailand, that sounds really cool."
"Thanks. Yeah, it was definitely an adventure. Do you like working here?"
Santana laughs. "You asked me the same thing when we first met."
Quinn blushes but Haley answers anyway. "Sometimes. Chris is a great boss."
An uncomfortable silence passes for a few moments before Haley adds, "I should probably get back to work now."
Santana nods. "Ok, I'll see you after your shift is over."
Haley places a hand on the side of the girl's cheek, "You really were great, babe."
"Thanks." The Latina smiles as she pulls her in for a quick kiss before the girl leaves the table.
A sharp pain shoots through Quinn. Suddenly she feels like being anywhere but here. The roar of the music and the sound of the crowd fade into the background as her clouded thoughts take front and center.
"I… I have to go to the bathroom." And with that, the blonde girl leaves the booth without looking back and walks into the women's restroom.
The three of them watch Quinn leave before Brittany excuses herself as well. "I'm going to go check up on Chris. I'll be back in a few."
Now that Santana and Jeremy are alone at the table, she turns her attention to him. "Is Q ok? She's been acting kind of weird tonight."
"As far as I know, she's fine. She hasn't mentioned anything to me."
"Ok, well, that's good I guess. I hope she's still up for going to the wedding tomorrow."
"Me too. She was really excited about it earlier today so I'm thinking she'll still want to go... Not to mention it'll be the last time she really gets to hang out with you before she heads to Vermont for graduation and everything."
"Oh, yeah. When is she leaving exactly?"
"Monday morning… So at least she'll have Sunday to get her shit together and nurse her hangover."
"What makes you think she'll have a hangover?"
"Well, she's taking you isn't she?" He teases. "Besides, it's an open bar. No excuse not to."
"I like your thinking."
"Did you just tell Jeremy you liked his thinking?" Quinn interrupts, looking a little less nauseous than before.
Santana laughs. "He made a good point, I swear. Are you feeling better?"
The blonde nods. "Yeah, I don't know what came over me... I think I wanna head back though so I can make sure to get plenty of rest before the wedding tomorrow. Is that okay with you, Jer?"
"Yeah, that's fine by me."
"Cool." She turns her attention back to Santana. "So I'm thinking we'll leave around 4:30 to make sure to get there in time for the ceremony. Then we can hang out at the hotel until the reception at 7."
"Works for me." The brunette says with a smile. "I'm glad you could make it tonight."
"Yeah… You were really something. And Haley is pretty… I'll see you tomorrow."
"Word. I can't wait to change out of this fuckin' corset. Leather is really not as comfortable as you'd think it would be."
"Actually I never thought that at all," Jeremy chimes in.
"Shut up."
As the pair of them head out, Brittany returns to the table. "Aw, they're leaving already?"
Santana nods. "Yeah, I don't think Quinn was feeling very well and she wants to be sure to make it to the wedding tomorrow."
Brittany nods in understanding. "Well, time to dance!"
"Wait! I have to change—"
But the blonde already has a hold of her hand as she pulls her toward the dance floor.
"Dammit Britt!"
She laughs despite herself, her best friend always managing to make her smile.