A/N: It's been so long since the last update, and I'm really sorry for that. I've been busy with school and I have finals, so I'm not sure when the next update will be. But here's the next chapter, and thanks for all the reviews all you are giving me, they mean a lot.
"I don't wanna concentrate…" Rachel sighed as she sat on the edge of Santana's bed. Next to her was Santana, laying across her bed, having just taken a shower to wash off the sweat from Cheerio practice. After Rachel came over they tried to think of a song to sing together, but Santana hadn't been very cooporative the entire time, choosing to complain in bed. Though Rachel couldn't blame her, she'd seen the way Sue ran her practices. Santana started closing her eyes and dozing off, and Rachel cursed, having that already happen to her. She reached over and shoved Santana's shoulder.
"Santana, wake up," Santana mumbled something in her sleep, and Rachel laughed. "Cute, but we have to do this duet." Rachel sat on her knees and used both her hands to shake Santana awake. Santana moved onto her back and reached out, grabbing Rachel and pulling the shorter girl closer to her. Rachel squeaked and fell down towards the bed. Rachel reached up and tried to pull Santana's arms away from her, but the Latina just wrapped her arms around Rachel's shoulders tighter and snuggled closer to her. After struggling to pull Santana's arms away for a long time, she gave up and just laid in bed. "Great…" Rachel sighed and turned around, facing Santana. She studied the Latina's face and realized she hadn't been this close to Santana in a long time.
The last time they were this close was back at the orphanage, times when Rachel had been crying or hurt because someone bullied her and Santana would sneak into her bed at night to comfort her. Or when Rachel first came and she would hide behind Santana. Rachel couldn't help but smile at the memories that came back at her. Rachel closed her eyes, falling asleep in Santana's arms thinking of their childhood.
Santana sat up straight on her bed, her eyes still closed. She groaned and yawned before finally opening them. She groaned as she looked around her room, seeing it slightly darker and cursed for getting so tired after practices. She closed them again and dropped back down on her back. She turned to her side and spread her arm out, hitting it on something she was sure wasn't her bed. Opening her eyes, she saw Rachel sleeping directly in front of her, her face centimeters from hers. She jumped back in surprise and fell off the bed, making a loud bang that woke Rachel with a start. She sat up and looked around.
"Santana?" She called out, and Santana groaned in response as she rubbed the back of her head. Rachel crawled to the edge of the bed and looked down to see Santana on the floor. She frowned and got off the bed to kneel down next to the Latina. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Santana nodded. "Just hit my head." Rachel nodded and stood up, holding out her hand for Santana. She gratefully took it and allowed the shorter girl to pull her up, and didn't expect Rachel to pull her up so easily that she nearly fell forward and onto Rachel. Rachel quickly held her hands up to Santana's shoulders to steady the taller girl. Santana blinked a bit and grinned down at the smaller girl. "Damn Berry, who knew you had muscle in that tiny body?" Rachel blushed and moved her hands away and Santana noticed the lack of pressure of her hands immediately.
"Well, excersing is important, and it's something that I've always done," Rachel shrugged. "But after all you are on the Cheerios, so I think you're still stronger anyway."
"I don't know, maybe you'd be a good Cheerio." Rachel stuttered for a moment before quickly shaking her head. Rachel, a Cheerio with Sue Sylvester as her coach? She didn't think so.
"I don't think that would work out, besides I-" Santana laughed and put her hand on the girl's shoulder.
"I'm kidding." Rachel let out a sigh of relief and walked to the other side of the room where she had placed her backpack while Santana moved to the bed and laid down again.
"Santana, we're extremely behind, so no more naps," She grabbed her ipod turned around to see Santana on her side, faced away from Rachel. Rachel sighed and walked to Santana, and began shoving her arm. "Santana, come on." Santana started laughing and looked up to Rachel with a grin, making her roll her eyes. She walked around Santana and sat down next to her.
"Oh god, there's more than musicals in there, right?" Rachel scoffed before shaking her head.
"There's nothing wrong with musicals, but yes, Noah gave me a lot of music and I have found some bands, so there's not a lot of musicals." Santana smiled in relief and grabbed one of the ear buds of Rachel's headphones.
"Let's see what you got here." She motioned for Rachel to lay down next to her and Rachel did so. Soon enough, both had an earphone in and was just listening to music. Santana was on her back with her eyes closed and Rachel was staring at Santana. She knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't help it, the Latina looked so peaceful. Rachel sighed and looked back up at the ceiling, frowning slightly.
"What's wrong?" The words made her jump and Rachel looked over to see Santana looking at her calmly.
"Just thinking." Rachel said and Santana raised her eyebrows slightly and looked up at the ceiling.
"Me too." She said, and the two fell into silence. Rachel shifted slightly, wanting to know more about what Santana was thinking about, but didn't want to dig too deep and ruin what she already had with the Latina. After debating with herself, she finally let herself talk.
"Um, I know that it's not my place to but in and everything, because I've learned nobody likes someone who goes into other people's business, but um," Rachel paused and bit her bottom lip. "Um, do you want to talk about it?" Santana was quiet for some time, and Rachel was scared Santana was going to suddenly kick her out.
"Sure," Santana said and Rachel looked over to see her on her side, staring at her. Rachel turned on her side as well so that she was facing Santana. "But this stays between us, got it?" Rachel nodded and Santana sighed, not knowing where to start. "Ya know, I didn't have the greatest childhood ever," Rachel felt herself stiffen, because she knew, oh she knew how hard it was for both of them. Santana took a deep breath and continued. "And I kind of shut it out, but it's been coming back lately and I don't know why." There was a pause and Rachel thought she was going to continue, but when the pause became complete silence for more than a few seconds, Rachel realized that Santana wasn't going to continue talking.
"So," Rachel spoke in a quiet voice and her hand curled into a fist, hanging onto the covers under her tightly. "Do you remember specifics?" Santana shrugged.
"Not really, it's all fuzzy." Any hope that Rachel had was gone, Santana didn't remember her at all yet. "What about you?" Rachel blinked and looked at Santana.
"Huh?" Santana rolled her eyes.
"I told you what was on my mind, you better tell me what's on yours." Rachel nodded and slightly inched forward toward Santana.
"Well, I've been thinking about someone, really."
"It isn't Finnept, is it? Cuz anyone who has a crush on that giant is an idiot." Rachel laughed softly and shook her head.
"No, not Finn," She scowled as she thought of what it'd be like kissing him and thought of how she'd have to crane her neck to an uncomfortable angle just to give him a quick peck on the cheek. Santana saw her expression and laughed, making Rachel snap out of her thoughts. She grinned and laughed with Santana, and when their laughter finally settled down she continued. "I've been thinking of someone else, a …an old friend." She said.
"From New York?" Santana asked, looking interested in what Rachel had to say.
"Kind of," Rachel said softly and Santana furrowed her eyebrows in confusion but didn't say anything. "We were close but she's gone, and I can't stop thinking of her."
"Gone, as in…" Santana said softly, unsure of her word choice, and Rachel looked at Santana before realizing how she said the words and slightly smiled.
"Not like that, she's alive and well, but…" Santana looked relieved that the friend hadn't died. Rachel already told her about a death, and Santana didn't want to know if there were more in Rachel's life. In her mind, one death is more than enough, and she knew the exact feeling of losing someone. "But we've fallen apart, and I just want to get to know her again." Santana nodded and the two sat in silence before Santana breaking it.
"Hey, I'm sure you and your friend will work things out." Rachel looked at Santana brightly and gave her a wide smile.
"I hope so." Santana smiled at her and the two turned back on their backs and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds before Santana spoke up again.
"Hey, can I see your iPod for a sec?" Rachel looked at Santana and passed her iPod over, watching Santana stare at the screen. Santana grinned and looked back up at Rachel. "I think I got a song." Rachel smiled and looked at the screen. It wasn't that bad. Rachel smiled and nodded and the two began to work on the song. They didn't know how long they spent on it, but they didn't stop until Rachel and Santana both heard the front door open and close, accompanied by two voices. Santana sighed and got up.
"Time to meet the parents." Rachel swallowed harshly and Santana rolled her eyes. "Please, they aren't gonna kill you." With that, she grabbed Rachel's wrist and led her down the stairs, finally letting go when they were at the bottom and Rachel followed her to the kitchen.
"Hey, Papi, Ma." Santana's parents looked up and smiled at their daughter.
"Hey Santana, who's your friend?" Santana's father said, nudging his head toward Rachel. Rachel smiled and walked forward, holding out her hand to Santana's father, who took.
"My name is Rachel Berry, Mr. and Mrs. Lopez." She extended her hand to Santana's mother, who laughed lightly as she shook it.
"No need to be so formal," She said and Rachel smiled. "You're Santana's friend, after all." Rachel smile dropped a little at the word friend. She wasn't even a hundred percent sure that Santana thought of her as a friend.
"I'm in Glee Club with her." Rachel said and they both nodded.
"Why don't you stay for dinner?" Rachel quickly shook her head.
"No, I wouldn't want to impose, and I have to get going home now anyway, and, um," Rachel paused slightly, nervously. "I'm vegan." She heard Santana behind her make a disgusted noise and saw Santana's mother give her a disapproving look before smiling back at Rachel.
"Well, next time you're over, I'll make sure to cook something vegan for you." Rachel smiled and nodded and turned back to Santana.
"I'll, um, get my things now." Santana nodded and followed Rachel upstairs. She turned around and saw Santana leaning against the doorway.
"So, practice again tomorrow?" Rachel nodded and Santana pushed herself off the doorframe. "Sweet, I'll drive you home." Rachel nodded thankfully and said goodbye to her parents as she walked out the door. They climbed into Santana's car and the drive to her house was short. When Rachel unbuckled her seatbelt she turned to Santana and smiled.
"Thank you for the drive home, I really appreciated it." Santana shrugged and Rachel sat awkwardly for a few moments. She felt like she should hug Santana, but she wasn't sure if the other girl would appreciate it. Santana fidgeted in her seat, starting to get uncomfortable as well. She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel and cleared her throat.
"So, um…" Rachel jumped and smiled embarrassedly as she opened the car door.
"Sorry, so, um, see you at school tomorrow." Santana nodded and Rachel reached for the car handle and pushed the door open. She was about to get out when Santana reached forward and gently grabbed Rachel's wrist.
"Hey, tomorrow, if you want after practicing on that song, you could stay for dinner," Rachel blinked and stared at Santana blankly. Santana took it as a bad sign and pulled her hand back. "Or not, doesn't matter." Santana said.
"No, I mean, yes," Rachel said quickly and Santana raised her eyebrows at her. "I would love to stay at your house for dinner," Santana smiled and Rachel frowned slightly. "Do you even know vegan recipes?"" Santana groaned and turned away slightly.
"Crap." Santana turned back to Rachel. "Don't worry, I gots this." Santana said confidently and Rachel raised her eyebrows.
"Are you sure? Because I can-"
"Berry, please, I'm Santana fucking Lopez, I got everything under control," Rachel gave her a disbelieving look and Santana scoffed. "Stop giving me that look or I'll kick your ass." She threatened but her voice was light and she had a playful grin on her face. Rachel laughed and stepped out of the car.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Lopez." Santana's grin grew bigger and Rachel waved Santana goodbye before closing the door and walking up to her front door. Santana watched until Rachel went inside before driving back home, thinking of something Rachel could eat.
Rachel walked in to find Shelby in the kitchen cooking dinner. She was a little surprised, usually Shelby concentrated on the show choir she kept mentioning, forcing her to stay at the school long after the school day ended.
"Hi, mom." Rachel said and Shelby turned around and smiled at her before turning back to the food.
"Hey honey, how was your time at your friends?"
"Fine," Rachel replied. "Um, I'll need to go again tomorrow to practice for the song, and they invited me over for dinner." Shelby finished cooking again and grabbed two plates.
"You have a music class?" Rachel frowned.
"What? No, Glee Club," Shelby paused what she was doing and looked at Rachel confused. "I…never told you?" Shelby shook her head and Rachel sighed. The communication between them had never been good, ever since the day Shelby brought Rachel home, and they both knew it. Shelby tried to improve it over the years but Rachel could never seem to be as open to Shelby as she was to her dads, who she told everything to, never expecting that one day they would be gone.
The dinner was spent with Rachel telling Shelby about Glee Club and the project Mr. Schuester had them doing. She told Shelby about Puck being in the club too, something Shelby wasn't sure if she should take it as a good thing or not after meeting the boy. She also told her about Santana. Well, everything except how cold the girl was to her in the beginning. After dinner, Rachel went up to her room and called Puck, who answered immediately, and told him what happened.
"Wait, you just picked a song?" Puck asked in a disbelieving tone.
"Yeah, why?"
"Um, bro, tomorrow is our last day to work on it…" Rachel's eyes widened and she she mentally cursed. She knew her and Santana had been a little late picking a song, but not that late.
"That's just great," Rachel muttered and Puck laughed. "That's not funny," Rachel said but Puck only laughed harder. "Noah!" Rachel practically yelled and Puck's laugh finally died down.
"Sorry, bro, but hey, at least you get all of tomorrow," Rachel nodded even though Puck couldn't see her. Puck suddenly started laughing lightly. "You tow having dinner, bet you'll have fun on your date." Rachel blushed at the word date.
"I'm eating with her family, that's all." Rachel stuttered a bit and Puck kept laughing.
"Ooh, meeting the parents, huh." Rachel could practically see him wringling his eyebrows in a suggestive manner and rolled her eyes but smiled anyways.
"Goodnight, Noah." When she heard him say his goodnight back, she hung up the phone and laid down in bed. She closed her eyes and thought of the dinner she was going to have, and that she finally found that Santana remembered something. She knew she shouldn't be so hopeful, but she was and she only hoped she wasn't setting herself up to be hurt.