"Oh my god, Rach, you look so hot" Samantha said in a giggle as the three girls rode in a cab toward the restaurant where they knew Santana would be waiting.
Rachel rolled her eyes and shook her head. She looked down over herself. The dress was spectacular and she had taken extra care on her hair and makeup that night. She knew she looked good but she still felt like maybe it wouldn't be believable enough.
"Hey" Samantha reached over and put her hands over Rachel's where they fidgeted in her lap. She dipped her head to catch Rachel's brown eyes and nodded when she found them. "You look great. This is going to be amazing. You are a superstar, you can do anything. If they held awards for acting on fake dates I know you'd be a shoe in for the win after tonight. I have faith in you."
"I wouldn't have signed up for this if I didn't think you could pull it off, Rach" The other girl in the car joined in with a sincere tone.
Sara was a mutual friend of both Rachel and Samantha. They had met her doing their current play but she had left just a few months after it opened for personal reasons. Personal meaning she got knocked up and decided being a wife and mother was better than being on Broadway. Rachel had to admit, she admired the girl, but she wasn't sure she could have made the same decision.
"I feel like I am going to vomit" Rachel mumbled. She could handle reciting lines written for a play or movie or even t.v. show. She could do it without thinking and know that she was believable. But having to adlib all night, as herself, knowing that a pair of eyes would be studying her every move? That was nerve wracking.
"You'll be fine" Samantha nodded again.
The car pulled to a stop outside the restaurant now and Rachel felt her heart leap into her throat. She looked up at the building and immediately had to choke down bile rising toward her mouth.
"Thanks" Sam said with a smile, handing over the fare for their ride before sliding out and onto the street. She reached back to help Rachel out, then Sara, before closing the door. As the cab sped off the three of them looked up at the elegant building.
It was a place Rachel had only dreamed about eating. It was one of the fanciest places on earth, she was sure of it. But it was also a place where a salad cost $27. As beautiful as it was, it was just too rich for Rachel's blood. And her wallet. So to be standing here now, on a fake date, was kind of bitter sweet. If she ever got to eat here she had wanted it to be special. Now it was tainted for life.
Rachel sighed and took a deep breath, closing her eyes and nodding. She had to push everything else away and focus on the task at hand. Operation balloon pop was a go.
"You alright?" Sara asked, leaning over a bit to try and see Rachel's face.
Rachel nodded and opened her eyes, looking at her friend "Super." She glanced at her roommate then back to her date, smiling now more sincerely "Thank you for doing this. I hope going on a fake lesbian date isn't going to harm your marriage."
Sara laughed and shook her head "Hell no. Marcus just asked if I was bringing you home for a little fun after."
Rachel rolled her eyes.
Sam rolled her eyes.
Sara laughed "Ever since I told him I played switch hitter in college he's been on this threesome kick. I'm going to hate disappointing him tonight."
"Me too" Rachel mumbled sarcastically before letting out a laugh. The joking and casual talking was helping to calm her down.
"Alright" Samantha gave a nod of her head and looked up at the other two girls "We know the plan, right?"
Both of them nodded in unison.
Samantha smiled and held out her phone, handing it to Rachel, before Rachel switched and gave her own phone to her friend. "Just remember no matter what I say, don't react. Don't let her know you're even getting texts from me."
Rachel nodded and put the phone into her tiny clutch purse before looping her arm with Sara's giving a nervous squeeze "I am going to go in now. I will text you in about ten minutes."
Both girls nodded again and like a kid being released into a candy store with no parents and a handful of dollars, Samantha gave a giddy skip toward the door, asking immediately to be seated at the bar.
As Samantha slid onto a stool and asked for a cosmo, her eyes scanned the tables for that familiar head of black hair. She wasn't hard to spot. A smile came to her lips when she saw the fiery Latina sitting at a table, alone. She couldn't tell if she was mad or annoy yet. She didn't seem to have any expression on her face. She sat calmly, so it seemed, sipping on whatever cocktail she had ordered.
Thanking the bartender for her drink, she picked up a menu and pretended to browse it while she kept her eyes on Santana. She had the perfect angle. She could see her face but she was set at an angle where Santana couldn't see her out of the corner of her eye. Not that she would do anything to draw attention and make her look, but just in case, she would hope she could blend in anyway.
Ten minutes passed and the phone in Rachel's clutch went off. It was a message from Sam telling them to enter now. She reminded her to keep her eyes on Sara the entire time, not wanting to show interest in anything but her hot date.
Rachel took a deep breath and smiled, looking at Sara with a nod "Alright, babe, let's go make eye sex in public."
Sara gave a little giggle and the two girls strolled into the building like they owned the place.
Luckily the table they were seated at was on the opposite side of the room from where Santana sat and Rachel was able to sit with her back facing the girl. She knew that if she had to have her in her line of sight she would want to look to see if Santana was watching and it would give it away. She had to focus on only the girl in front of her. It wasn't hard, Sara was beautiful. Bright blue eyes, flowing long blonde hair, and a thousand watt smile made this fake date more than tolerable.
Santana had taken notice of the blonde upon entering the restaurant as well. She smirked and gave her a one over as she walked by. It wasn't until the two of them parted to take seats that Rachel had come into view, having been blocked by the taller girl, that Santana's face faltered in it's calm demeanor. As much as Santana prided herself on being cool as a cucumber, there was no denying the look of confusion and shock she had gotten on her face when she saw the girl she was waiting for there with another woman.
Rachel sighed as she sat down, taking the menu and opening it to busy her eyes, even though she would have to physically turn around to look at Santana. She needed to look like she was really there to dine, right?
Sara smirked as she slid into her seat, biting her lip as she looked across to Rachel "Do you think she saw us?"
Rachel nodded and reached her hand across the table, sliding her fingers between her friend's, giving them a gentle squeeze "There is no way she didn't. Santana has some sort of radar for me."
Just then, her clutch buzzed and very casually Rachel used her other hand, her hidden hand, to slide the phone out and onto the table. She pushed a button and read the message.
Sara kept the smile on her face and leaned in as if telling Rachel a secret, reading the message too.
Jaw dropped. She knows you're here.
Rachel took a deep breath and felt her heart skip a beat. She could swear she could feel the heat of Santana's eyes on the back of her head now.
Santana stared in disbelief for a long moment before shaking her head and pulling out her phone. There was a sudden look of determination on her face as she typed out a message then glanced up at the table to see Rachel's reaction.
She didn't get it. Instead the phone Sam held buzzed and she read the message meant for Rachel.
You're late. I won't wait on you all night. I have a fuck date in two hours that I won't be missing.
The idea to switch phones so Rachel would not get any of these texts was the best idea Samantha had had when making the plan. She knew Rachel would read them, react, and the plan would be shot. Having her be clueless to what Santana was saying would help sell the act of the fake date.
You've got her attention big time. Crank up the touching and flirting.
Another simple push of a button to open the message and Rachel smiled. She leaned across the table, letting Sara see the screen and the two of them looked deep into each other's eyes as if they had been in love for years. Rachel let her lips brush by her ear, whispering softly "Pretend I am saying something funny" before pulling back to settle in her seat.
Sara let out a sexy little giggle and bit her lip, looking at Rachel as if she had just had the sexiest idea in the world. The girl lifted her hand and gave a little nibble to Rachel's knuckles where they were interlocked with her own.
Santana swallowed hard when Rachel leaned in. That dress made her ass look good, as she had known it would. It also showed off the breasts she had and she knew that the other girl she was with had definitely had a straight shot down Rachel's cleavage. Santana had to bite her lip as jealousy rose in her throat.
Jealousy? She was actually jealous of this other girl? Santana shook her head and looked away, clearing her throat and taking a sip of her drink as she tapped out another message and sent it, still trying to play as if she didn't know Rachel was there with another girl.
When you show, I'm asking for dessert to go and I'm going to eat it off your tight body. My tongue doesn't miss a spot, so hurry up.
Samantha read the text and bit her lip. Damn that was kind of hot. She had to remind herself how gross vaginas were or she might find herself wanting to experience this tongue too.
She laughed at herself, typing out a message to Rachel.
She wants you so bad she is probably soaking her seat right now. She hasn't taken her eyes off you since you walked in. Make it hurt, babe.
Another inconspicuous touch of a button and Rachel read the message in a sexy little whisper as Sara and her now sat with their faces huddled together intimately, as if no one else in the world existed.
"Put your hand on my thigh. Don't be shy about it either." Sara whispered to Rachel before touching a little kiss to her lips.
Rachel didn't hesitate and she found the smooth thigh immediately. She ran her fingers up and down the length of the inside of her leg a few times before letting her fingers sneak under the hem of the tiny skirt Sara wore.
Sara giggled, biting her lip as she stared at Rachel and let out a soft whisper "This is exactly why I slept with girls in college. They are so gentle about everything."
Rachel let out a giggle of her own and for anyone watching, these two looked like they couldn't get enough of one another.
Santana's cool composure was gone now. It was now a mixture of anger and jealousy. Why she was jealous she didn't know. She was Santana Lopez, she could have any girl in the world. She didn't need to be jealous of some prude who wouldn't put out for her and thought she was too good for her. Fuck Rachel Berry, she didn't need her.
You missed your chance. I hope you have nightmares about all of the amazing orgasms you just missed out on.
The phone went off and Samantha scooped it up so quickly she almost dropped it. She bobbled it in her hands like it was a hot potato before finally getting a grip on it and looking at the screen. She bit her lip to keep from laughing. She couldn't believe how quickly Santana lost her cool! She must really have thought Rachel was just playing hard to get.
Go in for the kill.
Rachel read the newest message and without hesitation she pushed her lips against Sara's in an immediately passionate kiss. The hand on her thigh slid higher, though Rachel had mind enough not to really touch the girl, she did make it look like that was what was going on.
Sara let out a moan into Rachel's mouth, a moan loud enough to cause a few people nearby to look.
Sam watched with wide eyes. Had she not known her friends were acting, she might really think they were getting it on at the table.
Santana stood from her chair so quickly it fell backwards and onto the floor with a thud. She growled as her eyes narrowed and she stared at the two girls who were completely ignoring her. Why was she so jealous? Santana Lopez does not get jealous, damn it!
Both hands slapped the top of the table, causing more than a few people to look her way. She growled, flustered, as she fumbled with her things to pull out some money for the drinks she had consumed that night. She tossed more than enough for the bill onto the table then stormed her way through the crowded tables out, nearly tripping more than once before she finally found herself outside and into the cool night New York air.
Samantha watched in awe as the girl breezed past her. She couldn't believe it. She watched to make sure Santana got into a cab and took off before quickly paying for her drink and sliding off the stool and rushing toward her friends.
"Oh my god!" Samantha crouched down near the table, a grin from ear to ear on her lips as she looked at the two girls "Did you see that?"
Sara laughed, nodding her head "That was her? The tall exotic looking one with nice tits?"
Sam nodded.
Rachel sighed, putting a hand to her face "Is she really gone?"
The other two nodded, laughing softly together.
"You did it, babe." Sara said as her hand now reached out and rubbed Rachel's shoulder gently.
"She was so pissed. You should have seen her face." Samantha said with a delighted giggle. "Rachel, holy shit, you two looked like you were about to rip each other's clothes off. There is no way she didn't get the message."
"Speaking of" Sara reached down and pulled at Rachel's hand between her legs, laughing as she set it back on top of the table "You can have that back now."
Rachel blushed and looked at her friend, giving a shrug "I was just going for realism."
"I didn't mind. You could have really touched me and I wouldn't have cared. It was pretty hot, Rach. Marcus isn't going to know what hit him when I get home."
The three girls burst into laughed, Rachel shaking her head as she pulled out some cash and laid it on the table "We better get out of here before we get arrested for public displays of affection or sex in public or something."
"No shit" Sam said with a soft laugh as she stood, pulling out some money and tossing it down as well.
Sara contributed to the pile. The girls never even ordered, they had only sipped the waters they had been given, but just in case the water was $30 a glass. Besides, they were sure the server didn't appreciate them getting it on at their table. It was more than a generous thank you for unknowingly helping them with their plan.
The three girls linked arms and walked out of the building with their heads held high, and a few people's eyes glued to them as they went. In that moment, Rachel felt like a super star. All eyes on her. It wasn't exactly ideal, but hey, she would take what she would get.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Julie had been suspended a week for the slap to Rachel. Of course her representatives had told the media she had been battling some sort of illness, something that was tragic enough to keep her down for a week, but not too tragic she couldn't come back from. Rachel had rolled her eyes when she read how brave Julie was being and how much she missed the play.
It was a nice break from the drama the leading lady brought to the theater and it was nice to see her understudy getting some attention. She was an angel. She was sweet, not fake sweet, and she was humble. She was talented and she deserved it unlike the spoiled brat that was Julie Nickels. Rachel kind of hoped she would never come back, but she could never get that lucky.
The week had been peaceful and without fear of accidentally running into Santana lurking around backstage, Rachel had returned to loving what she did and hanging out afterwards with the cast. She felt rejuvenated, like she had a whole new lease on life. Nothing could bring her down.
Or so she thought.
The moment Julie's suspension was lifted, the star was bursting through the door and making a beeline for Rachel's dressing room. She was pounding on the door so hard it nearly splintered under her fist.
Rachel jumped at the sudden thundering against the wooden door, glancing at Sam with wide eyes. Her friend just shrugged and shook her head.
"Answer it" Rachel whispered softly.
Samantha gave her head a more enthusiastic shake.
Rachel's eyes went wide and she sighed "You are such a chicken shit." Rachel gulped down some air and stood, walking to the door to crack it open to see who it was.
The crack was all Julie needed and she shoved the door open wide, bursting into the door and causing Rachel to tumble back.
"You!" The super star pointed at the tiny brunette "This is all your fault! I knew I shouldn't have trusted you. You are after everything I have because you are jealous. You are trying to get me fired so you can weasel your way in and take my place."
"I…" Rachel shook her head, her voice so small she wasn't even sure Julie heard it "I would never. I don't want your part, I didn't do anything."
"Shut your lying mouth!" Julie growled "You can't fool me. First you go after my career and then you go after my girlfriend!"
"What? No!" Rachel shook her head so fast it almost looked like it might fly off her neck. "I don't want Santana!"
"Stop lying or I will smack your tongue out of your mouth!"
"HEY!" Samantha suddenly found her voice and stood from her chair, stepping between the raging psycho and her huddled friend "You better back the fuck off before I slap the tongue out of your mouth, golden child!"
"What did you call me?"
"You heard me" Sam said with an emphasis on every word she spoke. She lifted her finger and pointed in Julie's face now "Now back up before I back you up."
"Sam she's not worth losing your job" Rachel pulled at her friend but she didn't budge.
"My business isn't with you, it's with that harlot girlfriend stealer behind you!" Julie's finger thrust at Rachel again.
This time the tiny girl seemed to grow as she stood upright and pointed right back "I told you once, twice, three times and I will tell you again. I don't want your girlfriend! It's not my fault you can't keep her interested enough not to cheat on you. You have no right blaming me for that!"
"You watch your mouth!" Julie screamed again, trying to lunge at Rachel but Sam stood tall, keeping the star from her friend.
"Back up!" The two girls yelled and Julie's eyes went wide. She looked at the two and realized they weren't afraid of her. She blinked and suddenly her rage seemed to disappear.
Rachel blinked. Her eyes shifted a little bit and she wondered what had just happened.
Samantha kept her guard up, her arms folding now as she stared down Julie. "Leave." She said firmly.
"And tell Santana to leave me alone. Obviously it's hurting your relationship and making you act crazy." Rachel added as firmly as she could.
Julie clenched her jaw and bit back wanting to yell at the girl again "Fuck off you harlot." She growled, pointing at her again, though the same fire just wasn't there this time. She looked almost sad, or vulnerable. "We don't have a relationship anymore thanks to you."
"What?" Rachel perked an eyebrow, jaw dropping.
"Come again?" Samantha mumbled, shock on her face.
Julie's eyes shifted and for a moment Rachel thought she might cry. The moment faded, quickly, and Julie steeled herself and glared at Rachel "She ended it. She told me you confessed your feelings for her and it just wasn't fair to keep me around when she didn't care about me anymore."
"WHAT?" Rachel's own rage was building now.
Sam reached back and arm and held her friend back, stepping forward toward Julie "She's lying. Rachel hates Santana. Hates her with a passion. Never wants to see her face again for as long as she lives."
"Yeah" Rachel agreed with a nod, taking a breath to calm the anger that had boiled up. "Although hate is a strong word." Rachel added, with a shrug "But I really can't stand her. I definitely don't have any positive feelings toward her at all."
"You're lying" Julie growled, her rage starting to build again "I can see it in your eyes. You have that look, the same look they all do after Santana fucks them and leaves them. You are silently begging for her to come back and choose you."
"What!" Rachel's rage built again and Samantha had to physically turn and put her hands on Rachel's shoulders to hold her back.
"She's trying to rile you up, don't bite into it" Sam whispered, trying to calm her friend before turning back to look at Julie once more. "Santana is lying. She's manipulating you. Rachel never had sex with her. Rachel hasn't had sex in almost two years."
"Sam!" Rachel punched her friend's arm and blushed, hiding her face now.
Sam gave an amused smirk but it faded as she looked Julie in the eyes "Jules, Santana is no good for you. Look at what you've become. You're a raging lunatic after an innocent girl just because she dumped you. Look around you…" She motioned to the theater where they stood "You built this place. You made it what it is. You don't need Santana to make a name, you have a name. You are Julie fucking Nickels."
Sam wanted to puke at her words. She couldn't believe she was saying this.
Rachel dropped her hands from her face and stared at her friend in horror. Was she dreaming right now?
Julie looked around and nodded. It seemed to work because she smiled and looked back at Samantha "You're right. Fuck Santana. I am Julie Nickels, Tony nominated actress, Broadway legend. I don't need her feeding off my fame to get what she wants!"
"Exactly!" Sam faked a smile.
"Hold up, did she just say she was a legend?" Rachel mumbled, trying not to hurl.
Julie grinned again, the little smile that they had all seen before. It was the one that told the world she demanded attention and deserved it even more. "You are so right! Thank you…" Julie glanced up and down at Sam, searching for something before she nodded and waved her hand "whatever your name is. And you" she pointed at Rachel and shrugged "You can have her."
"My name is Samantha!"
"I don't want her!"
The shouts came at the same time but Julie didn't care. She was walking down the corridor toward her dressing room. She had her head held high and didn't excuse herself as she walked through a crowd of cast members.
"Oh great, you inflated her ego AND got her completely out of the way so I have no excuse to use on Santana anymore." Rachel mumbled, throwing her makeup brush against the wall.
"My name is Samantha, god damn it." She mumbled through gritted teeth as she slammed the door and went back to her vanity.
"Sam! Do you realize what you just did? Why couldn't you have told her to forgive Santana and beg her to take her back? Now Julie is out of the picture and Santana can be all prowly on me because she is single and it's okay!"
"I'm sorry! Jesus, she looked like she was about to eat your head, I had to do something!"
"Inflate her ego and take the biggest obstacle out of the way? Good going" Rachel sighed and let her head drop against the vanity, banging it a few times.
"Do you really think Santana told her those things?" Sam asked softly as she ran a comb through her hair.
Rachel shrugged. Santana was capable of anything.
The two girls sat in silence with their own thoughts for a long time. Rachel was pretty sure her life was over. Rachel had no excuse now and she already knew no was not a good enough answer. She had no idea what to do now. Making the girl jealous and standing her up had only seemed to make Santana more desperate to get to her. Rachel was trapped. Why did she have to be so hot? Why couldn't she be an ugly lesbian that Santana would have never looked at twice? Damn her good Jewish genes.
"I want to move to Peru." Rachel mumbled after a long moment, breaking the silence.
"Hmmm" Sam hummed as she touched up the base foundation on her face "Are there big spiders there?"
Rachel laughed and lifted her head, looking at her friend with a grin "I will buy a big can of raid."
Sam nodded and gave her friend a wink "Deal. Now let's get our hair and makeup done so we can get this show on the road."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
"Santana what are you doing here?" Rachel gasped as she opened the door to her apartment. It was three in the morning and being the light sleeper Rachel was Santana had barely had to knock on the door to wake her.
Santana stood in her doorway, her eyes feasting on the sight before her. Little Rachel had a tight tank top on, no bra that she noticed, and little tiny shorts on. Her hair was a mess, but not in a scary way. She could picture running her fingers through that messy hair as it was spread across her pillow next to her.
"Stop staring at me!" Rachel groaned and folded her arms over her chest. "And tell me what the Hell you are doing here. I never invited you. You are getting creepy."
"I had to see you" Santana said softly, her hand reaching out now to lightly slide it along Rachel's arm.
"Don't touch me." Rachel growled and stepped back to take herself out of arm length.
"I heard that Jules came after you today, I wanted to make sure you were okay. She can be vicious sometimes."
"I'm fine. Nothing I couldn't handle." Truth be told, had Sam not been there, Rachel wasn't sure what Julie would have done to her.
"Oh good. My heart would have broken had my breaking up with Jules caused you any harm at all." Santana stepped into the doorway now, her shoulder leaning against it to hold herself up as she looked Rachel over again. "You're so precious, like a flower. You're beautiful and tiny. You should be enjoyed, not stomped on by a bitch like Julie."
"Santana you're making me uncomfortable." Rachel stepped back again, her eyes on the taller girl that was now basically invading her entire world, her safe haven.
"I'm sorry, Rachel. I had the best intentions in mind." Santana somehow managed to keep her voice calm, almost angelic in tone, really selling the sweet good natured thing she was going for. It sent a shiver down Rachel's spine.
"Please leave. I don't want you here, ever. I am going to call the cops."
"Please Rachel don't do that." Santana pushed off the door frame now and backed up out into the hallway, her hands lifted in surrender.
Rachel smiled, glad that she had taken a hint.
"I just really like you, Rachel Berry. You make me feel things I've never felt before."
Rachel rolled her eyes, shaking her head a little "I doubt that. You are just saying that so I feel bad for you and let my guard down."
"No, Rachel, I swear. The other night when you were at dinner with the other woman, god…" Santana shook her head, putting a hand over her heart "I was so jealous. I don't get jealous Rachel."
Rachel bit her lip. She had to take a breath and act surprised that Santana mentioned dinner "You saw that?"
Santana nodded her head slowly "I did. I wanted to go over there and rip that girl out of her chair and tell her you were mine…"
"I'm not!" Rachel said firmly but quietly, not wanting to wake Sam up.
"I know" Santana nodded quickly "That's why I didn't. But in that moment, seeing that? I wanted to make you mine so badly. I wanted to have that right to rip someone out of their chair if they touched you."
Rachel felt her heart leap and her gut tighten. Had Santana not been so creepy about it that might actually be really sweet. She had to shake her head of the thoughts and speak firmly "That will never happen. I don't like you. I don't trust you. I feel like a prize, Santana. Like I'm the huge fluffy unicorn hanging in the booth and you keep buy ball after ball after ball trying to knock down the bottles to get me. Then what, huh? You carry me around for the day so everyone knows you won and when you get home what do you do? Toss me in your prize closet next to the huge fluffy shark and the matching pink snakes and the oversized blow up hammer. You don't care about me, you just care about having me long enough for everyone to see then end up tossing me aside."
Santana frowned a bit and for a moment Rachel thought the frown might be real. She couldn't tell but she definitely didn't have the scary but kind of hot gleam of seduction in her eyes at the moment.
"Rachel" Santana said softly, her tone moving from the sweet angelic to a heavy hearted sadness "You aren't the type to just toss aside."
"Damn right" Rachel said with a huff, her brows knitting together in a scowl.
Santana nodded her head and took a chance, stepping back into the doorway for a better look at Rachel "I've never found a girl I wanted to keep the way I want to keep you. If you were a stuffed unicorn I would sleep next to you every night, re-stuff you and patch you if you ever tore, and wash you so you stayed shiny and new looking."
Rachel laughed softly. She immediately bit her lip and stomped her foot, shaking her head "No" She said softly, but the smile remained. Damn it, why was that so cute? Stupid stuffed animal analogy being cute.
Santana smiled when she heard Rachel laugh. She stepped into the apartment now fully but kept her distance "You have a cute laugh."
"Santana" Rachel shook her head and pointed at the door "I think you need to leave now." She needed to leave because that damn unicorn story had nearly melted Rachel's heart.
Santana nodded slowly and stepped back out of the door and leaned against the doorframe again. She folded her arms and gave Rachel a tiny smile as she looked her over. This time it wasn't a hungry glance, but one full of adoration. She looked like she might actually be looking at Rachel as a person and not just a piece of meat.
Rachel licked her lips and sighed, lifting a hand to her eyes and rubbing her fingers there. Her eyes were burning with exhaustion. "Listen, Santana" She finally said as her hand dropped away and lifted heavy eyes to the woman "We can be friends. It seems like maybe you could use a really good friend. But nothing more than that, alright?"
Santana looked at Rachel for a long moment before finally she nodding her head "I don't have many friends."
Rachel let out a soft laugh, shaking her head "Have you seen the way you treat people? It's not surprising."
Santana shrugged and gave Rachel a little half smile "I like you, Rachel. You're the only person who has ever called me out on my shit and stuck by it. Most girls just pretend to be upset as a form of foreplay."
"I'm not trying to arouse you here, I promise." Rachel mumbled, her arms crossing again as she looked to the side, rolling her eyes.
"For the first time in my life, I believe you." Santana nodded softly "And it's weird."
Rachel shrugged, looking back to the girl "Well I'm not. I don't think it's hot the way you act. I think it's disgusting." Okay, so it was kind of sexy, but Rachel would never let her know that.
Santana gave a single nod and looked at her feet. She looked vulnerable for the first time since Rachel had known her.
"I'm sorry" Rachel said softly. She had a big heart, she hated hurting people.
"Don't be" Santana said with a shake of her head "I deserve it. It's been years, it's about time someone stood up to me."
Rachel perked an eyebrow slightly, her head cocking to the side as she looked at the girl. She wasn't sure if this was part of her game or not.
"Look, my lifestyle allows me to get away with pretty much whatever I want without consequence. I get to party, have sex, get wild, and not have to worry about anything in the morning. If a problem comes up, I can pay my way out of it. I never have to commit to anything and I don't have to get hurt."
"But you've had girlfriends? That is a commitment."
Santana shrugged a bit "Not really. Most of my so called girlfriends were chicks who were really good at eating me out."
Rachel lifted a hand and shook her head, her eyes flickering between half closed as she looked away in disgust.
"Sorry" Santana smirked. She was not sorry at all.
Rachel motioned her on, rolling her eyes.
"The girls I date, if you can call it that, had something to offer me too. Aside from good sex. They had ins with certain people or places. So I would use them to build those relationships for myself then when I was in, I would dump them. It was all part of being more powerful, more untouchable."
Rachel's brows knitted together and her head shook "That's horrible."
Santana shrugged "It makes life easy. When people like you, they do things for you without you having to ask. You can have whatever you want. It's nice."
"Sounds lonely" Rachel mumbled.
Santana pursed her lips out to the side in thought and nodded "Hence the girls, Rachel. A new one every night. You get the excitement of meeting someone new and the joy of never having to see them again if you don't want. It's totally win-win."
"Sounds lonely." Rachel repeated "Haven't you met anyone amazing enough that you want to keep them around? You know, like someone you instantly clicked with and you wanted them around all the time to get to know and spend time with. You know? Be like a friend to, even? Someone who has things in common. Someone you can go to a movie with?"
Santana laughed "I don't do movies."
Rachel huffed folding her arms "Your loss. Movies are incredible. I love movies."
Santana's lips curled into a slow smile and once more she looked at Rachel in that soft way. The way that showed she was interested in her on a level that went deeper than her flesh.
Rachel shivered. It wasn't cold, but the way Santana looked at her was just….intense. She bit her lip and took a deep breath to try and compose herself. "It's late, you should go."
Santana gave a little nod and her eyes met Rachel's. When their gazes locked, Rachel felt another shiver slide through her spine and Santana gave a little bite to her bottom lip. "You have a goodnight, Rachel. Sweet dreams."
Rachel nodded and folded her arms, looking away now. She couldn't stare into those eyes any more. "Thank you. You too, Santana."
Santana gave her one last smile and pushed off the doorframe, stepping back into the hallway and turned to leave. She stopped and took a step back, peeking her head back in and nodded "I'll see you around, Rachel."
Rachel nodded and gave a little wave with her fingers. She watched the door until she was sure Santana was gone then quickly rushed to slam the door and lock it. She closed her eyes and sighed softly. She was so glad she was gone. As creepy as it had been, she had actually learned something about the girl. Maybe they really could be friends.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
"What? Friends! Rachel are you insane?" Samantha nearly choked on her cereal at Rachel's confession the next morning.
"What was I supposed to do? She showed up here in the dead of night and I don't think she was going to leave until she got something. Or was hauled off in handcuffs."
"Then call the damn cops!" Sam wiped her mouth, still coughing softly.
"I couldn't" Rachel admitted with a soft bite to her lip. "I mean, once she stopped trying to be overly sexual with me, she was actually kind of sweet."
"She is playing you, Rach. Play-ing-you."
Rachel rolled her eyes and picked at the bagel she had in her hand. She knew it sounded crazy, but it was true. "You should have seen her. She looked….vulnerable. She even smiled. Not a creepy I want to fuck you smile but a sweet one. Like she was really listening to what I was saying."
"It's an act. She is flipping gears."
"Maybe" Rachel mumbled and put her chin in her hand as she leaned against the island. She couldn't stop thinking about the stuffed unicorn speech. Call her a softie but it had been cute.
"Rachel I don't want to see you get hurt."
"I'm not. We are friends and nothing more. If she tries anything I won't hesitate to call the cops. She has been warned."
The girl shook her head and lifted her spoon, stuffing a bite into her mouth "I fill fink you nuts."
"Don't talk with your mouth full" Rachel rolled her eyes.
"Yef mom" Sam mumbled and stuck out her tongue, showing her half chewed food.
"Gross" Rachel tossed a piece of bagel at her and looked back down at her hands. She pulled little pieces apart here and there, trapped in thought for a moment. She shrugged and looked up, smiling a little bit "She said she's never had a friend before."
"Surprise, surprise."
"That's what I said" Rachel laughed softly "But maybe it will help her. I don't know, maybe if someone shows interest in her for who she is and not the money she has or the popularity she brings or the sex she gives…maybe if someone took time to get to know her, I don't know, maybe she will see she doesn't have to act like she does."
"You watch too many Disney movies."
Rachel rolled her eyes "Is it so wrong of me to believe there is a good side in everyone?"
"Yes!" Sam dropped her spoon in her empty bowl, wiping her mouth "I can guarantee there is no good in Julie Nickels."
"That's because she sold her soul to the devil for fame." Rachel mumbled without missing a beat.
The girls looked at each other, smirked, and laughed softly before exchanging a high five.
Sighing, Rachel shrugged "I don't know. Maybe it's the small town girl in me but something inside me just knows there is a nice girl there waiting to be discovered."
"Yeah and that nice girl is waiting to discover inside you." Sam dropped her bowl in the dishwasher now, without rinsing it before kicking the door closed.
"That's not going to happen. She knows this. She told me she believed I wasn't trying to play hard to get."
"I still say it's a ploy to get you to drop your defenses."
Rachel shrugged, brushing her hands together to rid them of crumbs before she picked up the napkin she had piled the bagel on and tossed it away "Either way, I want to try. She deserves a chance at a friend."
Samantha rolled her eyes and gave a shrug as she walked out of the kitchen toward the living room "I've known you long enough to know I shouldn't argue with you when you have your mind set on something." She called out in a sing song voice as she plopped on the couch and turned on the t.v.
"Good" Rachel said with a smile as she followed her into the room, walking behind the couch toward her bedroom "So don't argue. Just let me try."
"Mhm!" She waved her hand in the air from where she lay.
Rachel walked into her room and found her phone, picking it up to see if Santana had tried to call or text. Surprisingly enough, she hadn't. At that, Rachel gave a firm nod. She definitely was not playing a game. She was sure if she was, she would have tried to send some sort of overly sweet message by now. Satisfied, she walked back out into the living room and sat on the end of the couch, lifting Sam's feet to sit then letting them come to rest on her lap.
The two girls sat like that for a while, Sam watching t.v. and Rachel reading the paper. It was a good fifteen minutes before Sam looked at her roommate and gave her a smile, using her foot to nudge her side "Hey short stuff?"
"Hmm?" Rachel hummed, not looking up.
"If you need me, I got your back, alright?"
Rachel looked up now at her friend and gave a simple nod of understanding. It was an unspoken thing. She knew that no matter what, Sam would be there. And if Santana tried something, she would rip her head off.
Samantha gave a nod, returning the look before looking back at the t.v. and sighing "I hate daytime t.v."
"Want to see a movie before we head to the theater?"
Sam nodded and sat up "I'll go get dressed."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.