How Glee 100/101 SHOULD HAVE GONE DOWN. Totally not bitter or anything… :P Enjoy :)
Things since returning from Lima had been, well...awkward, to say the least. Santana had done her best to avoid Dani at all costs, but after a stern, threatening, and obscenely long lecture from Rachel she realized it was time. She invited the blonde over to the loft and told her everything. Santana repeated over and over how she didn't mean for it to happen, it just did. She tried to explain that she had always been in love with Brittany, she had just tried to hide from it. Dani sat through the whole speech unmoving. No facial expressions, no body movements, no nothing. When Santana finished trying to explain herself, Dani let out a deep breath, grabbed her coat, and walked to the door. She opened the door and paused, without turning back, and quietly said, "See you around." Then she was gone.
Over the next couple of weeks, Santana, Dani, and Brittany all shared several shifts together that could only be described as...tense. Brittany was constantly sending Dani death glares, Dani gave Santana a couple sad smiles, and Santana tried her hardest not to look at either of them. She knew she should be happy now that she had Brittany back, but she couldn't shake the guilt of hurting Dani.
The shifts Santana and Dani shared without Brittany were less tense, but still awkward. They no longer sang together, filled ketchup bottles together, teased the staff together, cleaned together, made up life stories for different customers together. Instead, they spent most of their time trying to avoid each other, always working at opposite ends and never doing the same thing at the same time as the other one. Santana never realized before how much fun she actually had while working with Dani. The shorter woman had made everything about this lame ass job tolerable, and now that was gone. Then Dani stopped showing up.
Dani hadn't been in for a shift in over a week and Santana was getting worried. She knew she shouldn't be; Dani was a grown woman and could take care of herself. Brittany told her to let it go, but she couldn't help it. She just wanted to know that Dani was okay. So when the now brunette woman in question walked into the diner, Santana didn't even bother to hide the sigh of relief that fell from her lips. She also didn't bother to hide her appreciation for how good Dani's new hair looked. Brittany noticed that. Oops.
Nearing the end of yet another tense shift, Santana was taking a tray of food to some customers when she heard a sound that made her stop in her tracks.
"Ahem..."
Santana looked up towards the stage to see Dani standing behind a microphone, a guitar held in her hands.
"Hello ladies and germs," she said with a smile. That always got laughs from the customers, and Santana couldn't help her own light laugh. "Normally I only have positive things to say before I perform, but this performance is a little bittersweet." Santana tilted her head, confused. "As most of you staff members and regulars are aware, this is my last shift and last song here at the Spotlight Diner." Santana gasped in disbelief. Dani was leaving? This had to be a joke. "I just wanted to thank all of you regulars for requesting me as much as you have and for supporting me-"
"You're the best Dani!"
"Thanks Mrs. B," Dani chuckled. "I also want to thank the new customers who come in for giving me a chance. And last but not least, I want to thank the staff here for giving me a whole new group of people to call friends and family." Santana winced, unsure if Dani considered her to be either anymore. She gripped the tray of food tighter as Dani's eyes began scanning the restaurant.
"So I felt this song was appropriate, because I hope you'll remember me. This is for," her eyes stopped briefly on Santana, "you."
Goodbye love, you flew right by love
Dani began to pluck her guitar strings and Santana watched, completely entranced.
Remember the way you made me feel
Such young love but
Something in me knew that it was real
Frozen in my head
Dani closed her eyes.
Pictures i'm living through for now
Trying to remember all the good times
Our life was cutting through so loud
Memories are playing in my dull mind
I hate this part, paper hearts
And I'll hold a piece of yours
Don't think I would just forget about it
Hoping that you won't forget about it
Dani opened her eyes to look out over her very captive audience.
Everything is grey under these skies
Wet mascara
Hiding every cloud under a smile
When there's cameras
And I just can't reach out to tell you
That I always wonder what you're up to
Pictures I'm living through for now
Trying to remember all the good times
Our life was cutting through so loud
Memories are playing in my dull mind
I hate this part, paper hearts
And I'll hold a piece of yours
Don't think I would just forget about it
Hoping that you won't forget
Dani looked directly at Santana, unblinking.
I live through pictures
As if I was right there by your side
But you'll be good without me
And if I could just give it some time
I'll be alright
Goodbye love, you flew right by love
Santana saw the tear fall from Dani's eye at the same time she felt one slide down her own cheek. Dani never took her eyes off of Santana.
Pictures i'm living through for now
Trying to remember all the good times
Our life was cutting through so loud
Memories are playing in my dull mind
I hate this part, paper hearts
And I'll hold a piece of yours
Don't think I would just forget about it
Hoping that you won't forget
"Thank you." Dani stepped off the stage as applause echoed around the diner and headed for the door, pausing to give customers and coworkers hugs along the way. Santana watched her get closer and closer to the door. She looked over to Brittany behind the counter, who was beckoning her over, clearly pissed about Dani's parting song. But when Santana heard the chime of the door opening and saw Dani walk out, she couldn't bring herself to care. "This probably won't help at all," she thought, making a decision. She let go of the tray she was holding, letting it clatter to the ground, and made her way as fast as she could to the door, dodging coworkers and customers and ignoring Brittany yelling at her. She even slid over an empty table in an attempt to get to the door faster. To get to her faster.
Santana opened the door and looked around frantically, trying to find Dani. Finally, she spotted a retreating red uniform to her right. She ran as fast as her ex-cheerleader legs would carry her towards the girl with the guitar slung across her back.
"Dani!" she shouted.
The shorter girl froze, but made no move to turn around. Santana caught up to her and walked around to her front, breathing heavily.
"Wait."
"What are you doing Santana." The Latina flinched at the edge in Dani's voice, but noticed that her eyes didn't have that same edge.
"I had to stop you. Before you're gone for good."
"Why?"
"Because I need to tell you something. The truth."
"The truth? What else could you possibly have lied to me about that's worse than what's already happened?" Dani demanded angrily, narrowing her eyes.
"This," Santana mumbled as she stepped forward and pressed her lips to Dani's, both women melting at the feeling. It only lasted a couple seconds before Dani gently pushed Santana away.
"What...the fuck?" Dani shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "What did you just do?"
"I gave you the truth."
"That's not the truth! You have Brittany, you're in love with her-"
"No, Dani," Santana interrupted, shaking her head. "I lied to you, I lied to me, and I lied to her. The truth is," she looked Dani square in the eyes, "the absolute truth," she took a deep breath, "is that I'm in love with you."
"What...I don't..." Dani stood wide-eyed, completely confused.
"I'm just gonna tell it to you straight; you scare the living, breathing shit out of me. The way I feel when I'm around you, talking to you, fuck even just thinking about you scares me so much. I was so terrified of all of these new feelings I have for you that when Brittany told me she still wanted me, I used her to bury everything I feel for you. What she and I had when we were younger was calm and quiet. I thought that was what I needed now as well. But when we came back, I felt like something was missing. I found myself wishing more and more that it was you there, instead of her. What you and I had was so special. I miss it every single day. I miss the excitement, the passion, the spontaneity, yet still feeling completely safe and comfortable. I miss the light freckles on the bridge of your nose, your loud yet adorable laugh, the way your mind works, the way your body fits perfectly with mine, running my hands along your tattoos while we watch movies, you playing with my hair when I get upset. I miss you." Santana reached for Dani's hand, and was relieved when Dani intertwined their fingers.
"I'm so sorry it took me breaking your heart to realize that I love you. I think I've loved you for a while but I was too scared to admit it to myself, much less tell you, so I fucked everything up. I'm sorry I pushed you away, I'm sorry I let you go, I'm sorry I lied to you, I'm just sorry. For everything. I don't think I'll ever stop being sorry."
Dani lifted her hands to cup Santana's cheeks and pulled her down to crash their lips together. Santana sighed into the kiss as her arms returned to their rightful place around Dani's waist. When air became necessary they broke apart, but Santana refused to remove her arms, so Dani wrapped her own arms around Santana's neck and nuzzled her head into the taller woman. After a couple minutes, she spoke up.
"Are you sure, Santana? How do I know that you're not doing the same thing to her that you did to me? How can I be sure that this isn't just...I dunno-"
"Dani, I have literally never felt this way about another person in my entire life, not even Brittany. Ever since I started this mess I haven't said I love you back to her once. It just didn't feel right, because I wasn't saying it to you. So yeah, I'm sure," Santana let out a light laugh. "And I'll spend the rest of my life proving it to you."
"Okay, that's a tad dramatic," Dani chuckled into Santana's neck.
"Yeah probably," Santana smiled, "but I want you to understand that I'm serious. I love you Dani, and I'll do everything I can to show you that I mean it."
"Well you're off to a pretty good start. Coming after me, telling me everything, admitting you fucked up, leaving your girlfriend behind...oh shit. Your girlfriend." Dani groaned, pulling Santana impossibly closer.
"Oh right. Hang on a sec, I'll be right back, I promise." Santana slowly pulled herself away from Dani, placing a kiss on her forehead before jogging back towards the diner. Dani watched her disappear inside. She waited, fiddling with her guitar strap. Suddenly, she heard an inhuman screech and a loud thud, followed by several smashing sounds. A split second later, Santana shot out of the doors, bolting towards Dani. She grabbed her hand as she ran past, pulling Dani to run with her. The two ran to the end of the street and turned the corner, stopping to catch their breath. Santana clutched her right shoulder as Dani removed her guitar and sat down on some steps.
"What...the hell...just happened..." Dani managed to wheeze out.
"Well, I broke up with her, told her I love you, then she broke a plate on my shoulder and threw several more at me as I ran out. I didn't want her following us and potentially hurting you so we had to run, just to be safe."
"She did what?!" Dani rushed to Santana's shoulder.
"I'm okay, it's probably just gonna have a bad bruise for a while," Santana laughed.
"I swear, if she tries anything..." Santana tilted Dani's chin to look in her eyes.
"Then she'll have to answer to my girlfriend." She leaned down and connected her lips to Dani's, putting as much love into the kiss as she could. She could feel Dani start to smile, and when they parted her smile remained. Dani picked up her guitar and laced her fingers with Santana's, starting the walk towards her apartment.
"Hey Santana?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you too."
And they lived happily ever after, the end XD No okay real talk though. I don't dislike Brittany, I just prefer Dani. The way the writers handled that arc was bullshit. Ugh.
Aaaaaanyways, please review, let me know what you think :)
Song is Paper Hearts by Tori Kelly