A/N: I'm pretty sure it was a while since the last update, and sorry for the long wait. Here's the next chapter, which has a lot of Rachel and Santana interaction, among other stuff.
Rachel was anxious and excited for the weekend to come, where she would finally spend time with Santana and get to know her without yelling on anyone's part. She ended up spending every day after school at Puck's place to try and distract herself and not get too anxious. At first Shelby was suspicious of Rachel going to Puck's house every day after school, but after she assured her mother that they were only friends Shelby was slightly more lenient. However, the thought of Rachel being in Puck's room all day slightly worried Shelby and she decided, much to Rachel's annoyance and embarrassment, she wanted to at least see Puck herself.
Puck's answer to all of that was for them to have a "bro night" at Rachel's house instead, with Puck bringing the game system and games. He nearly brought beer too, but Rachel smacked him and scolded for how idiotic that part of the idea was. Puck pouted but agreed to leaving out the beer. After Glee Club they drove to Puck's house and grabbed the things needed, all the while Puck made fun of Rachel's excitement of being able to hang out with Santana over the weekend. When they finally made it to Rachel's house, they walked in and went straight to her bedroom.
"Dude, where's your mom?" Puck asked when he walked in without seeing her once.
"She's at work." Puck nodded and began setting everything up while Rachel sat on the bed. Puck looked back at her with a grin.
"You're being so helpful right now." Rachel grinned back and held up the games.
"I'm holding these." Puck just laughed playfully as he quickly set everything up and they began playing shooter games. They had been playing for a few hours when Shelby came home and walked into Rachel's room to find Puck with both controllers and Rachel practically climbing on top of him to grab hers. Shelby cleared her throat and they both paused and looked toward her. Rachel quickly stood up and smiled at her.
"Hi mom." Shelby nodded and looked at Puck, who stood up and walked in front of Shelby so fast he nearly knocked Rachel over. Puck grinned at Shelby and held out his hand.
"I'm Noah Puckerman, but you can call me Puck," Shelby gave him an amused look as she took his hand. Puck turned his hand and looked back at Rachel with a grin. "Your mom's kinda hot." Rachel gave him a disgusted look and smacked him behind the head.
"Gross." Puck looked back at Shelby and winked at her.
"I see you're quiet the charmer, Noah Puckerman."
"Just Puck, and yeah," Puck nodded his head back at Rachel. "Too bad Rachel's my bro, and bro's don't go there," Then he winked at Shelby. "But anytime works for you, babe." Shelby looked at Rachel, who shrugged at her, before looking back at Puck with a smile.
"I think I'm a little too old for you, Noah." Puck frowned at the name. "I'll let you two get back to your game." Shelby walked out of the room and Rachel turned back to Puck.
"I can't believe you called my mom 'babe'."
"I can't believe she called me Noah…" Rachel rolled her eyes and picked up her controller. Puck finally shrugged it off and went back to his. The rest of the night was spent with him making fun of Rachel's excitement for seeing Santana. "It's only to figure out our duet"
"It's a start," Puck said distractedly, and cheered when he shot Rachel's character. "Maybe you can get her to remember you quick." Rachel frowned.
"I hope, since we're not hanging out because we're close with each other anyway, we're not even friends." Puck nodded and looked at her closet.
"Maybe pick normal clothes, like you do with me?" Rachel shook her head.
"She'll have to deal with my sweaters and re-know me that way, before I wear nice clothes around her."
"Re-know or remember?"
"Same difference." Rachel huffed out, and killed Puck's character. Puck groaned in frustration when he realized Rachel had beaten him in a long shot and began picking a different game.
"When you get Santana to remember you, it'll pay off." Rachel nodded and watched Puck put in the next game.
"I hope so." And that was how they ended the topic and Puck began listing off games Rachel never played before, making Puck swear to make her try each one soon. When Puck left Rachel went straight to bed, exhausted and not able to wait till the weekend.
Friday came and Rachel waited for Santana to finish getting her stuff after Glee Club ended. Luckily there was no Cheerios practice, leaving a lot of time for Rachel to be with Santana. Brittany hugged Rachel and Santana goodbye, while Quinn just waved at Santana and gave Rachel an awkward half wave. Once everyone was done Santana made sure Rachel didn't follow her too closely, saying something about her reputation being at stake. Rachel sighed and nodded, sulking after the Latina despite the hallway being mostly deserted. Rachel followed Santana home and was met with a decent sized house and parked behind her car on the curb.
Rachel got out and walked next to Santana, expecting the other girl to shout at her for being too close, but was pleasantly surprised when she didn't say anything at all. Though was slightly disappointed by the fact that Santana had literally said nothing the walk up to her door. They walked through and Santana wordlessly began walking up the stairs, not even making sure if Rachel was following her or not. Rachel walked behind her and found herself in Santana's room and began looking around as Santana threw her bag on the bed and began going through her dresser. Santana's room was darker than Rachel's, with a curtain over the window to add to the darkness of the room, making light barely enter the room, but enough that a light didn't need to be turned on.
"Just to let you know," Santana suddenly spoke, making Rachel jump. Rachel looked over to see Santana already taking off her top. "I'm gonna change into normal clothes, as a heads up." Santana pulled off her top and threw it on the bed as well. Rachel couldn't help but stare at the Latina's curvy body, or how her chest seemed to be the perfect size. As Santana began pulling down her skirt, she looked up at Rachel, making the shorter brunette look away embaresdly. Santana smirked and purpously threw her skirt longer, making it land on Rachel. Rachel timidly picked it up and put it with the top, not even daring to look back towards Santana.
Rachel was looking down when she felt movement next to her and saw Santana throwing her stuff on the ground to sit next to Rachel. Rachel looked at Santana's clothing, realizing it was the first time she saw her out of her Cheerios outfit at McKinley, and noticed how nice her top and jeans fitted around her body. Santana leaned back and looked at Rachel, making Rachel blush and clear her throat.
"So, what would you like to do for our duet?" Rachel asked, finding her hands interesting. Santana shrugged.
"I don't know, but we're not doing Streisand crap." Rachel sighed and nodded.
"I know, what type of music you like?"
"I like all kinds, really," Santana gave Rachel an amused grin. "The real question is, what kind of music do you like, that isn't broadway?" Rachel looked up thoughtfully for a second before looking back at Santana again.
"As much as it may surprise you, I do like pop music, and other genres." Santana raised her eyebrows.
"I'm surprised, Berry." Rachel smiled that Santana hadn't called her one of her usual nicknames.
"I'm full of surprises." Santana grinned before frowning again and blinking before looking down. Rachel frowned and looked at Santana worriedly. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah…" Santana muttered before shaking her head and looking at Rachel. "Just thought of something, that's all."
Or someone… Rachel hoped it was her Santana had been thinking of, but that was all it was now, hope. Instead, she asked a different question. "Was it something good?" Santana was caught off guard and looked at Rachel with a confused look before looking down and thinking somewhat thoughtfully. She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again and scoffed.
"What kind of question is that, Manhands?" Rachel frowned and looked down at her hands. Santana looked somewhat guilty seeing the petite brunette looking so sad, and she decided to say what she had originally wanted. "I don't know if it was, it's just something I remembered." Santana sighed and ran a hand through her hair when Rachel's stomach growled. Santana blinked and looked at Rachel, who looked down embaressdlly.
"Um, I didn't eat much today, so…" Rachel mumbled. Santana scoffed and looked through her bag and grabbed some money.
"We could go to Breadstix or something." Santana said, already getting up.
"What's Breadstix?" Santana looked at Rachel as if she had two heads, and Rachel smiled nervously.
"How do you not know Breadstix?" Rachel opened her mouth to reply, but Santana shook her head and cut her off. "Never mind, now we need to go there, c'mon." Santana said and Rachel followed her out to her car. As Rachel sat in the seat she looked at Santana's car, which seemed expensive, and music started playing when Santana started driving.
"Colbie Caillat." Rachel muttered.
"What?" Rachel motioned to the car.
"The song, it's Fallin' for You by Colbie Caillat." Santana nodded and smiled lightly.
"See, now we're getting somewhere with songs." They spent the rest of the ride in silence and quickly arrived at the place, where Santana practically jumped out of the car. When the two started walking inside, Rachel put a hand on Santana's shoulder to stop her.
"Santana, you know I'm vegan, right?" Santana blinked and scowled for a second.
"Ugh, how do you even eat then?" Her face went back to normal and she nodded. "But yeah, there's vegetarian food too." Rachel sighed in relief and followed Santana inside and to a table. Rachel opened the menu and was glad there was at least some choices in the vegetarian section of the menu. After they ordered Santana waited impatiently by slouching on the table and tapping her fingers. Rachel fidgeted in her seat uncomfortably and decided to try to start some kind of conversation.
"So…" Rachel began, making Santana look up from the table. "What's so great about this place?"
"Haven't you been to a Breadstix before?" Rachel shook her head and Santana leaned up on the table. "Dude, even Lima has one," Santana paused as if thinking about something. "But that's cuz there's nowhere else to go. Where'd you move from anyway?"
"New York." Santana whistled.
"Impressive," Santana reached over and grabbed a piece of Rachel's argyle sweater. "Don't people dress…not like this there?" Rachel rolled her eyes and slapped Santana's hand away, making Santana grin. The food came and the rest of eating was spent with Santana listening to Rachel talking about New York. By the time Santana spoke again they had been long done with their food.
"So," Santana said, resting her head in her hand and playing with the straw of her drink. "Why'd you move here? I want out."
"My mom thought a change of place would be nice." Santana nodded, staring at the straw and still lazily playing with it.
"What about your dad?" Rachel immediately looked down and reached out to play wither drink as well. Santana looked up when Rachel didn't answer and saw her expression. "Oh…he's…" Santana never finished the sentence and the two sat in thick silence before Rachel broke it again.
"It's fine; it was a long time ago. Both of them died in an accident, I didn't, and that's all there is to it."
"Them?" Santana asked, and when Rachel opened her mouth to answer Santana shook her head. "Nah, it's fine, you don't have to answer." Rachel shrugged and answered Santana anyway.
"It's fine, I had two gay fathers and now I live with my biological mother." Rachel's voice became softer as she remembered all the good times she had with her fathers. She looked up at Santana and remembered all the good times she had at the orphanage, when everything was looking dark for her, she still had Santana to help her get through the day.
"Still," Santana's voice snapped Rachel out of her thoughts and she saw Santana staring at her with sad eyes. "Sorry about that," Rachel smiled and Santana got up, saying something so lightly that Rachel barely heard it. "I know the feeling." Rachel decided not to say anything and followed Santana out to her car. The ride back was just as silent, but not an uncomfortable silence and they arrived at Santana's house quickly. They went back to Santana's room, where the Latina fell onto the bed and grabbed the remote.
"What are you doing?" Rachel asked and Santana rolled her eyes.
"What does it look like, watching TV."
"We should work on our duet." Santana just groaned.
"Aren't you excited to work on it," Rachel sighed and sat down next to Santana. "We got time anyway." Rachel sat on the bed, wondering if she should lay back next to Santana or not. Rachel decided to sit at the edge and sat uncomfortably for a while before looking back at Santana to find her with her eyes closed. Rachel carefully crawled forward on the bed, closer to Santana.
"Santana?" Rachel stopped when she was hovering over Santana, who still had her eyes closed. Rachel reached up and lightly poked Santana's cheek, making Santana mumble something and turn around on her side, away from Rachel. Rachel sighed and backed off the bed and walked to turn off the tv. She walked to the door and she looked at Santana one last time before walking out and back to her car.
The first place she went was Puck's house and she walked straight into his room, where he layed in bed reading a magazine. She walked into his room, making him jump up, stuff the magazine under his pillow and turn around ready to yell at whoever walked in. He relaxed when he realized it was just her and pulled out his magazine as soon as Rachel closed the door. She walked over and sat next to him on the bed and yanked the magazine out of his hands.
"I was reading that." Puck groaned, and Rachel looked down at the picture he had it on, with some half naked girl next to a motorcycle, and waved it in front of his face.
"Reading or drooling over the picture?" Puck grinned and yanked the magazine out of her hand. He placed it back under his pillow and stretched his arms behind his head.
"So, I see you're back from hanging out with Santana, if that's what you guys even did."
"We talked about stuff, but she…fell asleep on me…" Puck suddenly burst out laughing and Rachel frowned.
"Sorry," Pucks said, but his laughing didn't let up. "Did you talk too much or something?" Rachel huffed and crossed her arms.
"I do not talk a lot. In fact, I wasn't talking at all, she decided to watch tv instead of working on our duet after our time at Breadstix, and fell asleep." Puck's laughing died down and he nodded.
"Yeah, Santana loves that place."
"I've noticed," Rachel sighed and ran a hand through her dark locks. "I don't know if me telling her about New York is us getting closer though…" Puck sat up ruffled her hair, making her pout and fix it.
"It'll take time, bro. Just be patient."
"Yeah…" Rachel said sadly. She looked at Puck's games and lightly punched his arm. "Let's play one of those pointless games that you shoot people." Puck snorted.
"You know you love them." Rachel grinned and grabbed the controllers, throwing one at Puck before climbing onto the bed with him and turning her attention to the game.
Santana hid behind the wall kneeled down with an end of a jumping rope stolen from the play room. On the other side of the wall, kneeled with another end of rope, was Rachel. A few feet down the corridor they heard the voice of one of the boys at the orphanage. He was a large boy, with an equally large voice used to intimidate those smaller and more soft-spoken than him. A few days ago, he made fun of Rachel in the lunch room, making her crash into another girl and causing both of their food to fall. Onto Rachel. Rachel stood frozen as the other kids laughed at her, and one of the employees led her out. Santana watched from the table, and she clenched her fists, glaring at the large boy who was laughing louder and longer than the rest.
Santana barely ate her food, and ran out of the lunch room as early as she could, looking for Rachel. She walked into the bedroom and found Rachel on her bed, under the covers. Santana walked to it and crawled underneath, hugging Rachel as she cried. When Santana thought she other girl was asleep, she began gently crawling out of her bed, ready to beat the boy up. But Rachel reached out and grabbed her wrist, making Santana stop. Rachel shook her head, and Santana bit her lip as she gently pried Rachel's hand off her wrist and continued getting off the bed. She started walking toward the door and quickly heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw Rachel following her and stopped so abruptly Rachel crashed into her. Santana wrapped her arms around Rachel for support and looked down at Rachel in frustration, who looked away shamefully. Santana sighed and grabbed Rachel's hand, realizing Rachel would follow her no matter what. Deciding not to beat the boy up with Rachel around, she led the two of them to the play area and grabbed a long jump rope, which led them to now.
They heard another boy from a separate side of the orphanage with the large boy, and heard the taunting voice of the large boy. Santana looked at Rachel worriedly, who visibly stiffened at the words of the boy. Santana motioned at Rachel, getting her attention, and gave her an assuring smile, making Rachel smile back. The sound of the other boy crying caught their attention, and they heard his footsteps running away from them. The large boy laughed and began walking in their direction. Santana gave Rachel a thumbs up. Together, they waited and gripped the handle tighter with each footstep. Finally, the boy reached them, and they raised the jumping rope at the last second, making him trip over it and fall on his face.
Santana quickly ran to Rachel while collected the bits of rope on the way and grabbed the rope in one hand and her held her hand in the other. They ran past him, making sure he heard their laughs, and ran into the large bedroom and climbed onto Rachel's bed. They looked at each other in silence for a second before bursting out laughing.
"That was fun." Rachel said, and Santana grinned. It hadn't been that long ago that Rachel spoke for the first time around Santana and her voice was still small and timid, if she used it. Sometimes, she went a day without using it, but slowly she was talking more.
"I didn't think you had the guts to do that." Rachel looked at Santana and smirked mischievously.
"I'm full of surprises."
Santana woke up and rolled over with a groan. She blinked when she realized it was dark, and she sat up immediately. The TV was off and so was the light. She looked around and realized Rachel had left, and mentally scolded herself for falling asleep on someone. She quickly changed her clothes and collapsed back on the bed. She laid down on her back and stared at the ceiling, trying to remember the dream she had. She rubbed her eyes and gave up on trying to remember, deciding it probably wasn't worth remembering.