A/N: bold-Santana; italics-Tina.
–
'so, this is love'
chapter three:
happy forever
"I don't wish to be everything to everyone, but I would like to be something to someone."
-Javan
–
Tina Cohen-Chang had always been jealous of girls like Santana Lopez. Skinny, pretty, and perfect. They were never ashamed of who they were, and had no issues with being themselves. They didn't have to invent fake stutters, because they didn't have anything to be afraid of. They were popular and perfect, and always got the guy. Tina had managed to lose the boy that she thought was perfect for her, because she was a complete idiot.
Tina wasn't happy about having Santana for a partner, and didn't know what on earth the two could agree on to sing together. She and Santana were from completely differently ends of the spectrum, and that meant that this would be a very painful experience, indeed. She sighed at her reflection, and pulled on a hoodie to cover the parts of her body she wasn't comfortable with.
She climbed into her father's worn Jeep, getting ready to drive herself to where the Latin girl lived, on the other side of town. She spent the ten minute drive mentally preparing herself for the misery that was bound to ensue. She warmed her voice up to her radio, still trying to come up with a song that the two could sing, and still drawing a blank.
Santana Lopez had always been jealous of girls like Tina Chang. She was unusual, happy, and okay with herself. She wasn't afraid of being who she truly was, because no one would ever judge her for it. Sure, she was weird, but she was also pretty, and really funny. It made her sick to think that there was a place that both of them could coexist.
Santana would never admit that she was a little excited to have Tina as a partner. She enjoyed Tina's company, even though they barely spoke at glee. Both of them could use more friends, Santana had decided, hoping that she wouldn't come off as a total bitch today, so that maybe she could sow the seeds of redemption with the Asian girl.
A soft knocking on the door made Santana stand from where she sat at her dark wooden table, and walk across the hallway to pull open the door to reveal her partner standing awkwardly on her doorstep. If they had actually been friends, Santana might have laughed at how uncomfortable the other girl looked once she saw her partner.
"I don't bite you know, you can come in." Santana said, rolling her eyes and stepping out of the way for the shorter to come inside her home.
"You have a nice home." Tina said politely, looking around at the clearly Spanish themed home. Santana smiled a little at Tina.
"Thanks. So, uhm, what do you want to do for our song?" Santana asked awkwardly, as she led Tina to her bright yellow bedroom, seating herself on her large and comfortable bed.
Tina surveyed the happy room, thinking that it showed a side of Santana Tina had never seen before. There were pictures that cluttered the taller girl's room. One was taken with her cheerleading squad, another on what appeared to be Santana's sixteenth birthday, and the last was a photo of Puck and Santana in a photo booth, lips puckered towards each other. The sweetness of the photo broke Tina's heart, because she knew that Santana must be heart broken over the Quinn thing.
Santana glanced towards the photo, a soft sad smile on her face.
"He was so different then. He was nice, and he cared about people. Then he had to change, because that's all boys ever do. They don't ever think a girls worth it." Santana frowned, looking at the Asian girl again.
"That's true. They think we should change for them. What's so wrong with being who we are?" Tina asked sadly, thinking of a boy in a wheel chair.
"You know, Tina, you're pretty cool." Santana said, scooting over on her bed, and offering Tina a place to sit, which the girl took.
"Yeah, I don't think that would be how I'd describe myself, but thanks. You are too." Tina said, crossing her legs and trying to find a comfortable position to sit in on the Hispanic girl's soft bed. She glanced over to Santana.
"I'm really excited to sing at the hospital." Santana said suddenly, a bright smile lining her usually frowning face.
"Yeah, me too. I've never even been there before." Tina said slowly, half expecting the girl sitting Indian style next to her to agree.
"I volunteer there every Saturday. I know that the kids are going to be really excited." She said fondly, looking out her window. This piece of information surprised Tina, who would have never thought that Santana would be the volunteering type.
"You do? I would have never guessed that." Tina said, voice full of admiration.
"Well, there's a lot of things you wouldn't guess. Like what song I think we should sing." Santana smiled teasingly, and Tina didn't think she minded her partner so much anymore.
–
They were standing, watching Brittany and Mike preform, and Tina felt like she should start stuttering again just so she wouldn't have to go on stage, however she knew she couldn't ever do that to her partner. Santana and Tina had spent a lot of time together of the last week, and both had become quick friends because of it.
They had both learned things they never expected about the other, and appreciated having someone they could talk to about anything with. Santana never felt judged with Tina, and Tina never felt awkward or out of place around Santana. It was an effortless friendship for the most part, and they even spoke to each other in the hallways at school.
"I hope you guys are having fun, because our next pair are Santana Lopez and Tina Cohen-Chang!" The two girls heard their cue from Mr. Schuester and walked out on stage in a timely fashion.
Santana began to sing, her clear voice strong in the silent room.
"Someday my prince will come
Someday we'll meet again
And away to his castle I go,
To be happy forever I know"
Tina smiled at her new friend as she spun around, quickly placing a hand over her heart before she opened her mouth to continue the song after Santana had sung.
"Someday when spring is here
We'll find our love a new
And the birds will sing and wedding bells ring
Someday when my dreams come true"
The two girls began to dance with each other, leaning on the other, grinning from ear to ear as the kids began to sway with the music. Tina was smiling a real smile, and Santana wasn't afraid of letting go for once.
"Someday my prince will come
Someday I'll find my love
How amazing that moment will be
When the prince of my dreams come to me
Somewhere he waved to me
Someone I long to see
Though he's far away
I'll find him someday
Someday when my dreams come true"
Tina could feel the end of the short song coming, and she took Santana's hand in her own, in the way that many best friends often do, and they swung their arms. Santana's vocals would end the song, and she would miss the singing high.
"Though hes far away
He'll find me someday
Someday when my dreams come true"
The music was ending when Tina added a last minute change to their routine.
"Someday my prince will come." She sang evenly, and smiled to her partner, who returned the goofy look.
Both of the teenage girls were met with loud applause and the smiling happy faces of the hundred sick children they had been singing for. Tina took Santana's hand and they both quickly bowed in front of the group. Tina felt found for the first time, and it was the first time Santana could ever recall having a true best friend.