A/N: Thank you all for your reviews, favs and alerts, they all bring a smile to my face like this :[)
I've read through this chap as much as possible but if there's still mistakes than they are all my own.
Have fun reading :))
Chapter Eight – Part One
Present Day – Two Days Later
30th March 2012
She couldn't believe that she was doing this.
Oh God, why was she doing this?
When did she agree to go with Puck, a week ago? She didn't really think she would actually go through with it.
But now, here she was. In a cab, in Lima, Ohio heading to the one place she never thought she would ever go. To see the one person she only ever dreamt of seeing again. She was really doing this; she was finally going to see her – after all this time.
Oh God, why was she doing this?
"Because, you love her and you want her back" Puck told her nonchalantly.
He was sitting next to the famous celebrity at the back of the cab. In his brand new tuxedo, which he had bought specially for the occasion, it was a fancy party after all so he had to dress up to impress. He had been listening to the Latina drone and whine for days now, but he wasn't getting annoyed, if anything he seemed to find the whole situation hilarious. He actually couldn't wait to see the blonde haired woman's reaction.
"What?" Santana asked him, completely confused.
She had been so worked up in her own thoughts to even remember the, now completely shaven haired, man sitting next to her.
"You asked why you were doing this, like you have been asking for the past couple of days now. So I replied with the same answer that I've been giving you for the past couple of days, because you love her, and you want her back. Simple" Puck gave a slight shrug at the end of his small speech.
"Simple. How the hell is this simple?" Santana asked rhetorically her face starting to scrunch up in anger "she's getting married, you idiot, none of this is simple at all. In fact it's the complete opposite of simple. If it was simple she'd be back with me already. But she's not. No. And do you know why, because it's NOT Simple!" she shouted out, her anger getting the better of her. All of her worries and complaints that she had been keeping inside of her finally bursting out after one little word.
How could he think this was simple?
"Alright, geesh, it's not simple. Are you happy now J-LO?" Puck said, shocked with the black haired woman's reaction, he hadn't expected her to freak out just yet.
"No, I'm not. I'm sorry; I didn't mean to snap at you, I guess I'm just really freaking out right now. I mean what if she doesn't remember me, like at all?" She asked, completely serious.
This had been the one question that had been bugging her for days. She didn't think she could handle it if the blonde woman didn't recognise her, she wouldn't know what to do with herself.
"Really Santana, you're asking that." Puck said looking her straight in the eyes; he really couldn't believe the woman sometimes. "She'll remember you; I doubt she's ever remembered anything else"
And that was all he said before he opened the door and stepped out, leaving the Latina to sit in the back seat completely flabbergasted. Sometimes, she was thankful for having a man like Puck, even though he was just meant to be her bodyguard the two knew that he'll always be way more than that to her. He did - technically - take her virginity after all. But then again, he took Brittany's and Quinn's too. Yeah, she was truly thankful.
It wasn't until then that she realised just where she was now, seeing as Puck had up and left her. So she paid the cab fair, giving the man an extra tip too – see she could be nice, when she wanted to be – before following her bodyguard out of the car. Santana had never been more grateful for a masquerade party than she was now. As much as she loved pleasing her fans, and giving out autographs and pictures, when it came to nights like this that was the last thing she wanted to be dealing with. She didn't want anyone to recognise her except for the one person she was here to see in the first place.
As she slowly started to step out of the car, one leg before the other, she was so glad to see that no eyes were on her. Well, maybe a few drooling men here and there who stare at the nice piece of flesh showing as her dress had a slit running up the side to reveal her slender, caramel skin, but nothing she hadn't ever witnessed before. Santana knew that this was a party, and it wasn't some A-Class celebrity party at that too, this was her ex-best friend's engagement party. So she didn't want anything to ruin that, including annoying paparazzi that happened to find her everywhere she went. Even in a small place like Ohio, especially a small place like Ohio. It was easier to find her.
Puck was right, the town really was small. Smaller than she ever remembered it to be. Santana was more than surprised to find that as soon as she had left the plane she did remember the place like the back of her hand. It was easy enough for the Latina to get the company to give her a few weeks off, seeing as she had managed to release a new song within a day, but she knew that that was all she would be able to have off because she had released a new song. As soon as she got back, she would need to sing it some more in recording studios to make sure it's completely perfect, before going off to sing it in shows and concerts. After these two weeks, she would never be able to rest again. So she knew that she had to enjoy this while she could. And no matter what Puck said, she wasn't here to win the woman over. Not yet anyway. She was here to see her best friend, and that was all. Even if her heart told her otherwise.
Santana gasped when she saw where the party was held. Her black masquerade mask, which covered up the top half of her face, starting to slip down a bit on her face as her hand began to fall, she was in complete awe. The building was grand, standing at least a hundred metres or so tall, and was made completely out of stone. Even though it was beginning to get dark out, at the late evening, Santana could still make out every fine detail, right from the golden arches on the door and windows. It was beautiful. Almost too beautiful.
"It's a beauty isn't it" Puck said, joining her side out of nowhere.
But Santana was still in too much shock to have even realised that he had randomly appeared. She couldn't believe that Lima even had a place like this. She didn't ever remember seeing this building before, and like she thought before, she knew this place like the back of her hand. Well now she supposes she was wrong. Brittany always was full of surprises. That's when she remembered.
Brittany.
Engaged.
Party.
She was at Brittany's engagement party.
At that thought her mask went shooting back to her face. As she looked around she let out a small sigh of relief, seeing that no one had looked over at her and realised that it was her – Santana Lopez. For this she was thankful as this was what was giving her the courage to take Puckerman's offered arm and step towards the grand building, knowing that people wouldn't know her until she told them. Santana let out a smile. 'This is going to be a fun night' she thought before taking the last steps into the building. Her charcoal black hair - hanging loosely down her shoulders - blowing in the slight breeze, and her elegantly long, flowing red dress burning away in the cold night sky.
When she stepped inside her first thought was that she didn't really know anyone, or recognise any faces, this was pretty hard to do with every single female wearing an odd shaped mask over their face. Santana couldn't help but think that it made the whole party seem a lot more graceful and refined.
The hall was just as beautiful on the inside as it was on the out. As it had long beams running all throughout the building, ending right at the top of the ceiling. Santana noticed small tables placed by the doors, with daisy flowers sitting on top of them. There was a long, stylish bar all along the right hand side of the building and a big stage with an orchestra on the left side.
She could see at least a hundred people inside the hall already, maybe even more than that, Santana wasn't really sure. With at least half of the people being waiters and waitresses, as they all seemed to glide along the wooden floor holding shining, silver trays in hand. Some with wine glasses, some with light snacks, like olive and cheese on a stick and other things that Santana couldn't really be sure of.
To say Santana was impressed was an understatement. She was completely blown away, she never imagined Brittany's party to be like this at all. It was all just so perfect and so elegant. None of it seemed to scream Brittany at all. She couldn't see any duck statues in the corners or any purple plates on red coloured tables…
But then again, this was the new Brittany now; she had no idea what colours this new Brittany liked. She didn't even know if she liked ducks anymore. Santana's smile seemed to falter at just the thought of it.
What kind of a world it be without a Brittany who didn't like ducks?
They were always just so happy and cute, just like Brittany, and she remembered the tall blonde would forever giggle at the way the ducks would quack every now and then.
But again, that was the old Brittany.
She was looking at the new Brittany now, the one for whom she knew absolutely nothing about. She had to know about her, though, this she was certain. Santana had two whole weeks to at least find out something about her, she had to, and she would, even if it killed her.
With that in mind Santana began to look around, but for the life of her, she couldn't seem to find the blonde haired beauty anywhere; no matter how hard she tried. She was even beginning to go as far as narrowing her eyes, but found that she only seemed to scare people off as they assumed she was glaring at them instead.
"Calm down Santana, you'll find her okay? Just go and get a drink or something" Puck told her reassuringly, once Santana's insistent sniffing around was getting too much.
After a few more stares and glares, Santana realised that she wasn't going to find Brittany anytime soon, so she did as Puck said and started to head for the bar. Maybe a few vodka martinis might calm down her nerves a bit. She made a bee line for the first bartender she could find and put on the best smirk she could. Her eyes gleaming at just the sight of all the alcohol behind the bar. She really did love to party, even after all this time.
She took slow, sure steps to the bartender, her red dress swaying with every step she took. She could see the look on the young bartenders face, his eyes never leaving her cleaverage. A bonus of the strapless dress she was wearing, they lifted up her bust, making them look ten tines bigger than they actually were. And by the looks on this innocent man's face, it was working too. Yeap, a free drink was in the bag. She may be a millionaire but even Santana couldn't help but get the old girl out, the one who loved to get a free drink here and there. Just like she was doing now. This night was already getting good.
"One Vodka Martini, please, and make it quick" Santana told the bartender, her voice coming out husky making the man's eyes fill with want.
Something she knew he could only ever dream of getting, but she wasn't going to tell him that anytime soon. The bartender just nodded his head in reply, his forehead starting to sweat a bit under her sultry gaze. This only made the Latina smirk even more. And in less than a second her martini was well made and placed in a glistening, long wine glass given to her by slightly shaking hands.
"And how much would this be exactly?" Santana asked, her voice dropping to an innocently kind one instead.
She always knew how to get what she wanted, when she wanted, she was Santana Lopez after all.
"O-o-on the house, ma'am" he stuttered out.
If Santana wasn't so happy with her awesome right now, she would even feel sorry for the young man. Virgin, she could tell, it was written all over his cute and innocent face. And for a second she couldn't help but be reminded of one Finn Hudson, and his cute and innocent face, all those years ago.
She really did hate herself for ruining that innocence sometimes, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. And in her case she had to do something, including Finn's gassy looking face.
With that in mind, Santana gave the young bartender a tip, her smirk turning into a smile, before slowly turning away with the martini in hand.
It was a strong martini too, she could tell just by one sip, the alcohol already going straight to her head. She knew she wouldn't get drunk, she would need more than one glass for that, but she knew it wouldn't be long until she got a little tipsy at least. So she started to cool down on the martini, she didn't want to greet her best friend, the one she hasn't seen in seven years, with a drunken hug or smelling more like the bar then the people behind it.
But this thought went shooting out the window, when she caught sight of a beaming smile. One that she definitely hadn't seen in a while, and hadn't really ever planned on seeing it either. It was bad enough having the girl randomly appear in her dreams sometimes, but to actually have her walk up to her now, all annoying smiles and all was a whole other situation.
Before she knew it Santana was lifting the glass high, gulping down the rest of the martini as fast as she could. She definitely needed that, just so she could do what she was doing now.
Smile back at Rachel Berry.
Her ridiculously long mask, doing nothing to cover up her face, Santana could tell who she was instantly. Her light pink dress reaching down to her ankles, which she noticed was matched with silver, gleaming high heels. She was right too when she saw the mask fall away and was met with the big nosed, huge mouthed Rachel Berry. Santana's first thought was to run, but she figured that it was a bit late to do that now, seeing as the woman was in touching distance. And it wasn't long until she was right in her face too, her smile and big brown eyes being the only thing she could see.
"Santana!" Rachel squealed, right in her ear making the Latina wince a bit.
"Berry" She said back, simply.
The next thing she knew she was being squished in a fierce Berry hug. One she hadn't had in such a long time. Just the way the Latina thought it would stay, but again she guessed she was wrong. She supposed Brittany was friends with her before anyway, so Santana wasn't overly surprised to find her here. But still.
"It has been too long" Rachel said, hugging her just a bit tighter as she did so.
"Yes, it really has" Santana just about managed to wheeze out.
Berry sure knew how to squeeze the living daylights out of someone.
It wasn't until Rachel finally let go that Santana could breathe again. And she did, as much as she could, for she didn't know when Rachel would randomly hug her again. That was definitely something she learnt to deal with when it came to Berry and all her merriment.
"Well, what brings you here, after all these years?" Rachel asked her face still filled with excitement at seeing the ever famous Santana Lopez again.
"Well, isn't it obvious, parties a party, right?" She asked her rhetorically.
Rachel's smile faltered a bit at this statement, this didn't go unnoticed to the fiery Latina. She knew what she had expected her to say; probably the same everyone else would expect her to say too, but she wouldn't ever say it. Not aloud anyway.
"That's true, still the same old Santana I see, fame hasn't changed you then" she said half-heartedly.
"Nope, still the same, if anything fame has made me grow up faster, it definitely has to Puckerman" she told her truthfully, Rachel nodding in agreement at that.
"Yes, that was certainly something I had picked up on him too, when I went to say hello just a moment before.
"It's certainly nice to see you again, I'll tell you that. Did you know that once I'd tell anyone that I knew the Santana Lopez they'd all just roll their eyes and laugh at me, but wait until I tell them that I saw her again at my friends engagement party and got to hug her hello too" Rachel started to rattle away.
This was something Santana didn't miss about Berry. If anything it was only helping her to see what she hated in the girl in the first place. And already she was regretting drinking her martini so fast. She needed another one, if she was really going to do this right now.
So she instantly turned to the innocent bartender again and asked for one more, again he made it in record time, handing it to her before she could even blink. She noticed that he wasn't shaking so much now; maybe he was beginning to get game. If so, then she would need to find another one. Before he could confirm that this too was on the house, Santana took the drink as if it was a simple shot and drank it in one, before turning back round to Berry with a plastered smile on her face.
When she did it was to find that the girl was still going on, she thought she had stopped. Now she was totally confused, she didn't know what the girl was talking about. She knew she was saying about how nobody believed that she knew a celebrity, but now she was just completely lost. But she decided to do her smile and nod again anyway, this always worked.
It seemed to do the trick too as Berry was totally fooling for it, believing that she was listening to her, but really she hadn't the slightest clue. Instead she started to think about where Puckerman might be and if Brittany was finally going to show up.
Santana was just about to drift off into quaking ducks and beams of sunshine until she started to hear what Rachel was saying.
"-I may not be on Broadway yet, or anywhere near it for that matter, but it is a hard career to pursue and after NYADA I just stuck to mainstream instead. To, you know, keep myself on the down low, just for now because I know that soon everyone will be shouting my name too just like they are with you" But before she could continue Santana stopped her by putting her hand out in front of her.
"Wait, wait, you're telling me that you've spent four years in NYADA and you still haven't made it to Broadway yet?" She asked her, not really sure she believed what she heard.
"Well, yeah, I mean I know it was easy for you to become a celebrity, but I just haven't managed to make it just yet, but don't worry I-" once again she was cut off.
"Berry, how the hell have you not made it already?" she asked, her face completely serious, because Santana knew that the girl should already be well on her way to that Tony award she was forever going on about in high school.
How could she have not known this?
"You know what, that's all gonna change. Right now" Santana told her confidently.
"What do mean?" Rachel scrunched up her face in confusion.
"I mean that you do know a celebrity Rachel, you do know me, never mind what other people might choose to believe. No offence but I'm pretty sure you must be used to people laughing in your face by now, but they won't be for much longer. You know why?"
Rachel shook her head, her eyes bulging out of her, intrigued to find out more of what Santana had to say because right now she couldn't believe she was even saying anything to her at all.
"Because, you know, me" she told her slowly, her smile growing bigger with each word she said "I know everyone there is to know, and yeah I don't want to sound all cocky and vain, but it's true. I've been in this business now longer than you have been plucking those hairy eyebrows of yours. I'll get you in Berry.
"I might not be able to make you the star that I know you will be, but I'll at least be able to get you there. Closer than you are now that's for sure." She said, upfront and simple.
"Wait, you want to help me?" Rachel asked, completely perplexed now.
She knew she was pushing her luck by walking over to the Latina and even saying 'hi' but to actually have her help her out in Broadway, was just too much to believe. "Why?"
"Because, believe it or not Berry, I did spend two years with you in Glee Club, and yeah I did start to see everyone in there like family. Don't ever tell anyone that I told you that, but it's true. I may have hated you before, but I don't now. You're still the ever annoying Rachel Berry that I know, but now it's more like the ever annoying sister that I never had, and sisters help each other out.
"So I'm helping you out. Plus I know how much being a star or whatever means to you, and the world just wouldn't be right without a Rachel Berry singing the night away on Broadway. So you're going to stop all this mainstream business crap, and start going for the job that you've always dreamt of having. Like I said I won't make you a star, but I'll get you auditions, easily." Santana said finishing her speech with a small shrug of her shoulders, as if it really was as easy as that.
And for her it was, she has been partying away with Rihanna after all, she even witnessed Lady Gaga wearing that dreadful meat costume. She almost hooked up with Nicki Minaj, of all people, that's something she's still not sure whether to be proud of or not. Like she said, she knows people. She wouldn't be the celebrity she is if she didn't.
Santana couldn't help but let out a real smile when she saw the look on Rachel's face. It was like she was seeing her in a whole new light. She wasn't the fiery Latina that she knew from High School anymore, she was the older, prettier sister that she never had. Santana knew that Rachel was going to cry, she could see it happening before Rachel even knew it would.
So she added "But after that you're on your own, I can only get you so far."
She expected the girl to break down, maybe even squeeze the daylights out of her again, or just break out into a massive speech about how grateful she was to even know the girl. But what she wasn't expecting was for the girl to go into a state of shock. She didn't even seem to be blinking let alone moving. Now she was starting to get worried.
"Rachel? Rachel, talk to me" she said, clicking her fingers in the girl's face, to get her attention back. It didn't seem to work. The woman was literally stuck in her own thoughts right now. Until eventually she started to move.
"Your really going to do that, for me?" she asked her, her eyes looking at her pleadingly, as if she just needed her to confirm it one last time.
"No, you're going to do it, for you. You're a star Berry" she told her, her eyes conveying just how honest she was being. Rachel's only seemed to grow that little bit more. "What are you Berry?" she asked her, doing what her Mamí did to her all those years ago.
"I'm a star" she said back, so quietly Santana wasn't sure if she heard her.
"Wait, what was that?" she asked again, lifting her hand to her ear, as if to gesture that she needed to speak louder.
So that's what she did.
"I'm a star" she said a bit louder this time, her smile growing as she did so.
"No, I still couldn't hear that, and I don't think they could either" she said, pointing to everyone else in the hall.
"I can't do that; people will look at me weird"
"That's not what I asked you Berry, I asked what are you?" Santana said, her voice rising a bit, making people start to look over at the pair now.
Rachel could feel the eyes on her, but looking at Santana's beaming face, the one she never thought she'd see her do because of her, she knew that she had to say it. For the whole world to hear.
"I'M A STAR!" She half shouted half squeaked out.
Her face going bright red as soon as she did, seeing as all eyes was on her now. And Santana couldn't have been more proud. Rachel really was like the cute, irritating little sister that she never had.
"Yeah you are!" Santana shouted back, gaining more eyes to land on them, but they soon carried on with their own conversations once the two women started to burst into laughter.
When the pair started to calm down a bit, Santana started to feel a moment of happiness, one she never thought she would ever feel with Rachel Berry. But here she was, laughing away with the not-so-big-nosed, Jewish woman that she used to pick on so much in High School. Oh how times have changed. And before she knew it, she asked the one thing she never thought she would hear herself say.
"Now, give me some lovin' Berry" her arms opening out wide as she said this.
Rachel just looked at her in shock at first, before leaning in for a hug, which Santana willingly offered her. This night was going better than she ever thought it would.
Santana just let out a little chuckle at the woman's hesitation, making her hug the girl a bit tighter, and even going so far as to rock her to and fro quickly. Both women laughed at this.
"You really do deserve to be on Broadway Rachel, not some crappy T.V show that anyone could play. And I'm gonna get you there, okay?" she asked her, just to be sure that it was okay.
Rachel nodded her head immediately, it was more than okay.
"Thank you Santana, thank you so much" she whispered, so only she could hear her.
She really didn't think that was enough for what Santana was going to do for her, but she knew that it was more than enough for the Latina, so that was all that mattered.
Santana broke the hug, and looked at the woman in front of her sincerely, before going back to the old Latina that they both loved so much, and putting on her best smirk.
"Imma get me some more free drinks now, all this happiness is getting to me" she said, her face serious, but she knew Rachel could see the humour in her eyes.
"Okay and once again thank you Santana" Rachel said earnestly.
"No problem Berry, you gotta love being friends with a celebrity right" she said, winking at her as she started to walk away, looking for another innocent looking bartender to corrupt. Sometimes, Santana loved being her.
After shamelessly flirting with one more bartender and gaining two more free drinks out of it Santana finally decided that it was time to find Puck, although half of her feared for what she would find when she does. She had left the guy for way too long, so God only knows what the man would've been up to in the time she was gone.
Santana floated to the middle of the hall, looking every-which-way as she did so to try and find her annoying bodyguard, whom she loved so much, but couldn't seem to find his pouty-face anywhere. She even looked for women that she knew would be his type – basically, every woman – but still didn't come across any shaven-haired man using cheesy chat-up lines.
And just when she was beginning to truly get worried, not just for him but for her safety too (she kind-of did need a bodyguard), she heard laughter. Not just any laughter, but the soft, gentle laughter that she had become familiar too. As she started to follow the breeze of the gentle hum of her laughter Santana found him. And he happened to have been standing, a bit too close for comfort; to the short, blonde haired woman she had spoken on the phone to only a week ago.
The beautiful Quinn Fabray, and even now - after seven years - Santana found that her sort-of High School best friend was still just that, beautiful.
Santana's face lit up and a smile graced her features at the sight of her. She may have spoken to the woman a few times, and checked up on her 'facebook' page every now and then, but this was the first time in a long while that she had actually seen her up close. And even though she never really liked Quinn Fabray in that way, and still didn't really, she couldn't deny that the woman looked a picture. With her now slightly longer hair since High School all tied up in a delicate bun, her long, silky, silver dress shining away under the chandelier, her white flowery mask held in hand – but not used to cover up her face, instead being left to the sidelines – with her head titled up as she laughed a full laugh at whatever cheesy joke Puckerman had just told her. Quinn Fabray was still just as gorgeous as ever.
Time really hadn't seemed to change anyone from Glee Club, so far, they all still seemed to be their old McKinley self in some way or another. Santana found that she loved them all even more for that, she didn't want any of them to change, especially the one person she was here for – she never wanted her to change in the slightest.
Santana quickly made her way to her two closest friends and kindly broke their conversation with a fined cough, as soon as she did the first thing she noticed was the way Quinn's eyes seemed to grow with each passing second. It was almost like she was slowly adjusting to seeing her there, until eventually she figured out that it really was her standing there, in all her red-dressed glory. Seeing Quinn with her eyes wide open and a loud gasp coming out of her pink lip-glossed mouth Santana found that she smiled even more. Her true Santana Lopez smile, she seemed to have been doing this smile quite a lot tonight, a lot more than she expected to. She put it down to all the alcohol, but she knew otherwise. Before either of them knew it, the loud shrieks came out of the both of them.
"SANTANA!"
"QUINN!"
"You made it!"
"You're here!"
And that was all either of them needed to say before they engulfed in a huge hug, that if anyone ever asked Santana would happily deny ever happened but knowing deep down inside that she was so glad it did. It just reminded her of old times, and how they never would have ever thought that they would find themselves clinging onto each other like this. It was like they both just needed to hold on to something, and that just happened to be each other.
But Santana didn't find it uncomfortable at all, she loved being able to reunite with everyone again, especially Quinn, because even though the woman may have been 'popular' when she was in school, apart from the taller blonde, Quinn Fabray was the closest to a best friend she had. And even though talking to her and catching up on the phone was nice, being able to actually see her and hug her like this was even better. Santana didn't realise how much she actually missed having a girl as a friend until this very moment. She somehow found that she didn't want to let go.
"It is so nice to see again, Santana" Quinn whispered gently in her ear. Santana was too caught up in the moment to even manage to reply so just nodded her head in agreement. Her chin rubbing against Quinn's bare shoulders as she did so, making the shorter blonde laugh at the feeling.
"Well, isn't this a sweet reunion, now just keep standing as you are, and maybe do that whole rubbing her shoulder again thing-" Puck started to say, his face brightening up at the sight in front of him.
It was almost like how a child would look when seeing Disneyland for the very first time. Santana knew exactly what he was thinking.
"Put, the phone, away" she told him sternly, punctuating every word so he would understand. "Just because I might like the ladies, doesn't mean every woman I touch does, got it Puckerman" she scolded him, playfully rolling her eyes at the man's sad-eyed expression.
Santana finally started to lean out of the warm embrace, after Puckerman's rude interruption, and smiled again when she saw Quinn's pretty face. "And it really is a sweet reunion"
Quinn happily nodded at that.
"Even though I knew you were coming tonight, I'm still sort-of shocked to see you here" Quinn told her honestly.
"Didn't think I'd have the guts to truly make it through tonight, I see" Santana said.
"Yeah, and no at the same time" Quinn laughed out, making Santana giggle with her. "I just didn't think you'd make it through at all" she added jokingly.
"Well, I'm here, and happy to be here at that" Santana spoke truthfully. "Even if I did have to endure Berry" she added, a bit more begrudgingly
"Ouch, gotta hurt, I haven't even spoken to the ever annoying woman yet" Quinn chuckled out.
"Hey, don't hate, Rachel's alright, from what I've seen anyway" Puck said, shrugging his shoulders simply.
"Yeah I suppose, it wasn't that bad seeing her again, although I'm still trying to figure out whether I actually offered to help her out in her career or not" Santana told them, confusion starting to form in her face "Don't know how that happened"
"That's weird"
"I know right?" She asked her rhetorically, still trying to wrap her head around it. "But anyway, you look rather gorgeous tonight" Santana told Quinn, looking her up and down one more time.
"Oh a true compliment from a true celebrity, I feel honoured" Quinn said, fining a blush by putting her hand over her heart.
They both let out a laugh at this.
"And so you should, Fabray, because I don't just give them out to anyone, right Puckerman?" she asked the man still hanging around them.
"Err, yeah, what she said" Puck let out, not really knowing what they were talking about, seeing as he ended up in his own little world, but knew from experience to always agree with whatever the Latina said.
"And you have your bodyguard trained, I'm impressed" Quinn said to her, her praise shining through her eyes.
"Yeap, I wouldn't be Santana Lopez if I didn't"
"That's true" Quinn chuckled out "have you seen anyone else from Glee Club yet, or just Berry and I?" she asked, truly curious.
"Just Berry and you, why is there anyone else from Glee here tonight?" Santana asked back, she really did want to see everyone again it had been too long since she last did.
"Well, not everybody could make it tonight, Mercedes is busy living it up in L.A – did you hear that she's on her way to being a celeb too?" (Santana simply nodded her head at this, she had definitely heard about that, and she as well as everyone was happy to hear of her success).
"Kurt and Blaine got stuck at work in New York, Artie couldn't make it seeing as he now lives in England and Mike and Tina obviously couldn't show what with their baby and all, but Finn, Rachel, Sam and us three are all here tonight" Quinn explained to Santana with ease, almost like she had rehearsed it all knowing full well that she would like to know about there where-abouts.
"Well then I'll keep a good look out for Finn and Sam, I haven't seen either of them in a while, and I'm so glad to hear about the Chang's, I knew out of every couple in Glee they would definitely be the ones to last, no offence" she said.
"None taken, my relationships in High School weren't exactly for keeps anyway" she said, looking over at Puck to make sure he didn't get offended.
But when she saw that the man wasn't near them anymore she let out a small sigh of relief. For what reason, she didn't know. "Yeah I'm happy for them too, but come on, they can't have been the only couple in Glee you thought would last" Quinn said looking at her seriously.
"No, don't go there Quinn, okay?" She asked, defensively, raising a hand to stop her from carrying on. "Clearly it didn't last, otherwise I wouldn't be standing here at her engagement party now would I" her anger starting to show, as she began to realise just whose party she was actually attending.
"I know, I know, I'm just saying"
"Yeah, well don't, that's the last thing I want to be reminded of tonight" Santana said back, her anger starting to fade away as Quinn began to nod in understanding. "Anyway, speaking of the bride-to-be, do you know where she is, I haven't seen her all night?" she asked, looking around the hall at the same time.
Quinn just chuckled at the Latina's obvious eagerness, she never was very subtle.
"I haven't seen her yet either, but that's because her and her fiancé are going to be coming later on, they should be here any minute now really"
Santana simply nodded back at that, not really knowing what else to say.
"I just, I can't believe-" but she found she couldn't quite finish off that sentence.
So she took a deep breath and let it out quickly before trying again "I just can't believe she's getting married" Santana just about squeaked out.
She didn't know why she was finding that so hard to say, she'd been thinking it easily enough. So why could she never bring herself to say that out loud, it was true after all.
"And it's not going to be you standing at the end of the aisle" Quinn accidentally let slip.
She inwardly winced when she saw the look on Santana's face. It was almost like she had just punched her in the gut, but then again she might as well have, Santana thought it would probably have hurt less.
"What, did I say about going there Quinn?" Santana spat out making Quinn flinch as the anger became evident.
But Santana knew that this wasn't the time or place for that, she could hate Quinn later on, but for now she had to put on a happy face – especially since her mouth was the most anyone could see of her face.
"I'm sorry, I really am. I didn't mean for that it just slipped out I swear" Quinn practically begged her forgiveness; she genuinely didn't mean for that, she just supposed that old habits never really die sometimes.
"It's alright. I'm over it. And besides your right anyway, I would just be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it. But hey I'm here now and I really do just want to see her again. Nothing more, nothing less" Santana told her truthfully and she knew Quinn believed her she could tell by the way her eyes seemed to soften of all a sudden.
"I get it; you haven't seen your best friend in seven years. You just want to make sure that she's in safe hands"
"Exactly, see there's nothing wrong with that, nothing wrong with making sure that this guy makes her happy, and he better make her happy" Santana said in all seriousness.
"Don't worry, he does, that's what she's told me anyway, and you know Brittany. She's not one for lying" Quinn told her.
Santana gave a small smile at that, something Quinn wasn't sure was a good thing or not.
"Yeap, I know Brittany alright" Santana whispered out to herself but Quinn managed to hear it too.
She began to realise that the smile earlier was certainly not a good thing. She hated how both women seemed to be having doubts on each other, it was only seven years. Seven years couldn't possibly change them that much, and yet for the two seven years might as well be a hundred.
She knew that the only thing that could save the last string of their relationship is for them to see each other once more. Even just a glimpse, Quinn knew that would be enough. They just had to see each other to make everything fall into place.
Then suddenly, like the heavens were thinking the exact same thing, not a moment later the big golden doors swung open. The cold, night breeze filling up the room instantly, making every guest aware of the new arrivals at the door. Right there, in front of them all were the newly-engaged couple, arms linked, matching white clothes and smiling away at their guests, the picture perfect couple. Quinn couldn't help but smile back at them, but then she remembered someone who might not do just that.
Santana.
And just as she was about to lean forward to say something to her she realised that there was nobody there. The Latina had disappeared into thin air, she was nowhere in sight. No matter where Quinn looked she couldn't find her tanned skin or red, sultry dress anywhere. For someone who made a living by being known around the world the woman sure knew how to be invisible.
"Damn it!" Quinn cursed her luck before giving a small roll of her eyes. 'Typical' she thought.
Please tell me your thoughts, it's always nice to hear from you all, and let me know what you thought of this chap :D