A/N: Hey! Here's chapter 3! Thank you all for your alerts, but I'd really love to get some feedback, so please review and tell me what you think!

Enjoy!

CHAPTER 3

After marching out of Andrews' classroom, I went straight to my spot under the bleachers. I was laying flat on my back on the ground, enjoying the warm weather and bringing my cigarette to my mouth every now and then to let the smoke coat my lungs. I could hear the talking and laughing of boys and girls further up the field.

I liked being there, alone. I could do exactly what I wanted, not having to care about other people, just lay back and enjoy the quiet and my own thoughts.

My body stiffened a little when I heard a voice speak.

"Hey."

I pushed myself up on my elbows and looked in the direction the voice came from. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw it was Quinn. "Oh, it's you. I was afraid that you were Berry or something," I said flatly, not really in the mood to talk.

Quinn smiled. The sun colored her usual hazel eyes a beautiful shade of green, and her blonde hair looked a few tints lighter. "I'm having a free period. Puck texted me about your stunt with Andrews," she grinned, "so I figured you'd be here."

"'Kay," I breathed, while letting the smoke come in one thin stream out of my mouth. I let my back fall back to the ground again and closed my eyes. I could hear Quinn shuffle closer.

"What's up, San?" she asked in a soft voice while she sat down next to me.

"Nothing," I immediately answered. Although my eyes were closed I knew Quinn was shooting me a skeptical look, I could feel it.

"You've never been the nice kind of person, Santana, everyone knows that," she grinned when I shot her a look, "but if you're going all Lima Heights on a teacher's ass and then just walk away, I can assure you you'll get in trouble," she spoke.

I really didn't feel like talking to Quinn. I just wanted to be left alone to enjoy my alone-time. "Shut up, Fabray," I said, hoping it would make her leave. But of course, Quinn wouldn't be Quinn if she wouldn't try again.

"Are you having trouble with your mom again?" The question was asked quietly, almost inaudible, but still hard enough for me to hear. I felt my body stiffen and the little hairs at the back of my neck rise at the question. I told Quinn that I never wanted her to ask me that kind of questions, and here she was doing just that.

"Fuck you, Quinn," I said while shooting my cigarette away between my index finger and thumb. I heard her click her tongue, but I ignored it.

It had been a few years ago, me and Quinn were at my place, studying in my room. I thought it was safe to bring Quinn to my house, because my mom had told me the day before that she wouldn't be home until midnight, and I had cleaned the whole house the day before. But suddenly I heard the front door downstairs open and being slammed shut. A moment later I could hear the sound of cabinets being opened and slammed shut and the clinging of bottles.

I sat frozen at my desk, unsure of what to do, but Quinn looked up, smiling brightly.

"Hey, I think your mom's home," she chirped.

In all the time that I had known Quinn, she had never met my mom. And the reason for that was that I would never bring Quinn with me when I knew my mom would be home, but that didn't keep her from asking me when she would get to meet her.

"I'm going to say hi."

My eyes widened when Quinn jumped up from her seat and walked out of my room, determined to finally meet my mom. For a moment I was glued to my seat, debating what to do, but then I shot up and ran after her, trying to stop her, but it was already too late. Quinn stood frozen in the doorframe while she was looking at my mom.

She lay on the couch, bottle of red wine in her hand, her hair tousled and eyes bloodshot. I clenched my jaw when she raised the bottle to her mouth and took a few big gulps. From where I stood I could see that her hands were shaking, gripping tightly onto the bottle to keep it from falling out of her hands. She hadn't even noticed us standing there.

I don't know how long Quinn and I stood there, both frozen, she because she was obviously shocked by what she saw, and I because Quinn saw who, or rather what my mom was.

Suddenly my mom turned her head in our direction, her lips red from the liquid. I felt my heart beating so loudly against my chest, I was afraid that it would crack open my ribs and fall out.

"Why the fuck is it still such a mess here? I told you to clean up," she slurred.

I don't know whether she chose to ignore Quinn, or that she just didn't see her, but I was glad she didn't talk to her.

"I.. uh..," I started, unsure of what to say. I didn't want to make my mom even more angry, but I also wanted to get Quinn away from her as fast as I could.

I was glad Quinn felt my nervousness and turned away, walking for the front door. My eyes shot back to my mom, but she was already busy drinking again, not paying me any more attention, so I turned to walk after Quinn.

I reached for her wrist and spun her body around to face me. Her eyes were empty, there was no emotion, and it seemed like all the color had been drained from her face.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered.

"Don't be. I'm sorry, Santana, I had no idea."

"Please..," I started, but was cut off by Quinn.

"Of course I won't," she whispered.

Her eyes were a few tints brighter than normal, looking into mine sincerely. Quinn was a bitch, a huge one too, and I knew that she would do anything to get a little attention, and knowing this about my mom would give her plenty of opportunities to gossip and ruin my reputation to improve her own, but right there, in that moment, I knew I could trust her. I knew she wouldn't tell.

"Thank you," I answered with a sad smile and then I closed the door softly behind her.

"Are you going to go to Puck's party this weekend?"

Her question woke me from my thoughts, but I was happy she had changed the subject. I scratched my head, Puck had asked me to come, but I hadn't really thought about whether I was going to go or not.

"I don't know," I murmured after a while.

Quinn's eyebrows shot up to her hairline. "Of course you're going! Everyone will be there, everyone that matters that is. All the Cheerios and all the football players will be there," she spoke enthusiastically. "You should definitely come."

I sighed. This is what our life had become since we got to McKinley. Our whole world revolved around our social status, meeting "the right people", being liked by the jocks and being feared by the nerds. And with that came the weekly parties, where we would wear our shortest skirts and our tightest tops, making out with as many jocks as we could before going home as drunk as hell, while the equally drunk boys would text us, asking if we wanted to hook up.

She started talking again when she realized that I wouldn't be answering. "Do you remember our first weeks here?" she asked with a small smile on her lips, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand.

I snorted at the memory.

Quinn and I were so excited to go to McKinley. It would open this huge door for us to meet new people, go to parties, join clubs; our high school years would be awesome. So the two of us walked into the school, our heavy backpacks on our shoulders and I remembered that we both were amazed at all the people in the hallways. They all looked so big and old compared to us.

We huddled together with another group of freshmen, who were equally excited as we were, babbling along about how awesome that year was going to be, when I suddenly saw Quinn's eyes widen and brighten. A huge smile crossed her lips and I looked down the hall to find the source of her smile. I saw a group of girls, clothed in red-white striped outfits, waltzing through the hall, noses up high and hips swaying. It was as if all the noise in the hall had died when the girls passed.

Suddenly the group, led by a gorgeous blonde girl with dark eyes, stopped and the blonde girl turned around to take something from the other cheerleader that was standing behind her. I squinted my eyes and I saw she was holding a cup. It was like everyone that was standing in the hall held his breath when a few seconds later the girl walked up to a dark-haired girl that was standing by her locker, a big pile of books in her one hand while trying to push her glasses up the bridge of her nose with the other. She didn't seem to notice the cheerleader walking up to her until she was tapped on her shoulder.

I could hear Quinn gasp next to me when the brunette turned around and the blonde girl threw the contents of the cup right into her face. I could see the blonde's lips moving, snarling something at the other girl, but I couldn't hear what she said. The brunette squeezed her eyes shut and her mouth was agape while she tried to wipe the red sticky syrup from her face. All the cheerleaders, along with a few other kids in the hallway erupted in loud laughter, while others bowed their heads and almost ran out of the school hall, afraid to be slushied too.

I looked around, wondering what the fuck was going on and why this girl just got a slushie thrown at her, when I saw Quinn staring in admiration at the group of cheerleaders that were walking away, loudly laughing.

She hooked her arm in mine and squeezed it, then she looked up at me, eyes shining brightly. "One day Santana… One day, that'll be us," she said while her eyes glanced over to the group of extraordinary pretty girls.

"Look at us now," Quinn smiled. "Our dream came true."

Your dream came true, Quinn.

I blew a lock of hair that was hanging in my eye away and glanced over at my friend. "Yeah, I guess it did," I said flatly, fumbling in my bag for my pack of cigarettes.

Quinn started talking again while I pulled one out and lighted it.

"You really should come, Santana."

I gritted my teeth, getting annoyed that she wouldn't stop whining about the party.

"It would give you a great chance to get closer to Puck," she said with a wide smile, like it was the most awesome thing in the world.

I scrunched up my face, looking at her a few seconds before speaking. "And why would I want to do that?" I didn't want to get closer to Puck. Our understanding was fine just the way it was.

"Do you have any idea how much more respect you'll get if you were dating a football player?" Quinn exclaimed as if she was talking about the most logical thing in the world. Quinn was a smart girl, but sometimes, with the way she acted, she seemed so fucking stupid.

"I don't need a sweaty football player on my arm to get respect. Everyone at this school loves me, or is afraid of me, just the way I like it. I don't need Puck," I said matter-of-factly, raising my cigarette to my lips and taking a drag. I let the smoke escape through my nostrils, enjoying the way it flew through the air.

"I know you don't need him, but think of how jealous it would make all the other girls! Do you remember their reaction when they found out I was dating Sam?"

"Yeah right, he's sucha catch," I answered, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Quinn smacked my arm with her hand, but laughed. "Hey, he's good-looking, and he's a football player. What else can a girl wish for?"

She tapped my nose with her index finger before standing up. "Just think about it!" she said before walking away.

XXXXX

I pulled up into my driveway and saw my mom's car parked there, she was home early. I turned the ignition off and reached behind me for my bag. While I walked up to my front door, I looked through the window, trying to find any form of movement, but saw nothing. I sighed and turned the key in the lock, pushing the door open with a loud creak.

The house was silent. I closed the door behind me and placed my bag on the floor, then walked into the living room to find my mom asleep on the couch. The house was the same mess as when I had left that morning, aside from the added empty bottle next to the couch.

I sighed inwardly and turned around, opening the door once more and walking back to my car. I slammed the door shut with more force than needed and jammed the key in the ignition, wanting to get out of there as fast as possible.

XXXXX

Ten minutes later, I knocked on the front door of my Abuela's house. I smiled when she opened the door, she looked almosthappy to see me.

"Hola, mi niña," she greeted, stepping aside to let me in.

"Hola, abuelita." I stepped inside, stripping my leather jacket from my body and walking into my abuela's cozy kitchen. It smelled great, as always. I smiled when I saw several pots and pans on the furnace, containing whatever delicious food my Abuela was making.

"Cómo estás?" she asked while taking a glass from the cabinet and filling it with soda.

"Fine, fine," I lied.

She gave me a strange look when she sat down across from me at the small kitchen table, but handing me the soda with a smile seconds later.

I took a few sips, enjoying the cold liquid gliding down my throat. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, Santana, as always." Then she cocked her head, looking like she was deeply thinking about something. A moment later she locked her eyes with mine again.

"How's your mother?" she asked, her voice hard.

I forced a smile to my lips. "Fine, too, actually. She's busy working and all, but she's fine," I lied again. I could see in my Abuela's eyes that she knew I was lying, she always knew whether I was speaking the truth or not, but she didn't argue. She never did. She would always ask me how my mom was, and I always gave her the same answer, and she always knew I was lying, but she never argued. Never. It was some kind of understanding, I would act like everything was alright, and she would too. I couldn't tell my Abuela about the real state of my mom. If I toldher, it would make it true, and then my mom, and me too, would have put our family to shame. I couldn't do that to my Abuela, I respected her way too much for that, so I wisely kept my mouth shut.

She gave me a tight smile before shooting me another question. "How's cheerleading?"

I let out a sigh of relief, this was a way easier subject to talk about. "Great!" I exclaimed enthusiastically, "I'm head cheerleader now. Coach Sylvester's been really happy with me." I saw a small glint of pride twinkling in her dark brown eyes.

"Good," she spoke. The little twinkle would be all that I got. My Abuela wasn't the nice kind of grandmother that threw around compliments, people that didn't knew her even said she was an evil lady. But I knew she wasn't. She'd been through a lot, she'd had a rough life, and that had left its mark on her. But because of that, because she went through all that shit without ever asking someone else's help, I respected her.

I stood up walking over to the furnace and taking the lid off of one of the pots. I saw some kind of fish in a dark sauce, and I honestly didn't have a clue what it was, but it smelled delicious.

"This smells great," I said, turning around to face my Abuela.

"You can take a plate if you want," she said, while looking through a magazine.

"Thanks," I chirped. My stomach was rummaging. I hadn't eaten that much that day, only the cereal in the morning and lunch at school, that was it. I took a spoon and scooped the food on a plate, my mouth already watering. I sat down at the table again and started eating, while glancing around the house every now and then.

My Abuela's house wasn't big, but it was cozy. Nice, warm, inviting; ironically everything that my Abuela wasn't. But still, I felt more at home here than at my own house.

XXXXX

An hour or so later I was back home again, the house still quiet. I peeked into the living room, but I didn't see anything because it had already become dark outside and all the lights were off, so I walked further into the room. I could make out a figure laying on the couch.

Fuck, she didn't even got up since I left.

I sneaked closer until I saw my mom laying on the couch, still fast asleep. I closed my eyes a second and sighed inwardly, then I reached for the blanket that was on the ground and draped it over my mother's sleeping body. I wanted to bend forward, to give her a small kiss on the top of her head, but something inside of me stopped me. I didn't know whether it was my head or my heart, but one of them stopped me, so instead, I turned around and walked up the stairs and into my room.

I stripped out of my clothes, not bothering to take off my make-up but just jumped right into bed, ready to fall into a restless sleep.

Thank you for reading! Santana will meet Brittany in the next chapter, I'm excited to write it. Let me know what you thought of this chapter!