"Dinner was great!" Quinn unlocks the apartment door; Santana follows her in. "I think that's the first time I hung out with him."
Santana knows Quinn is reflecting on all the times they spent with her mom. Quinn doesn't have the strongest relationship with her mom, so Maria Lopez was always asking Santana to see if Quinn wanted to go shopping with them or just do whatever activity they were doing that Quinn could be part of.
Quinn takes a seat on the empty living room floor. Santana drops her purse and sits opposite Quinn.
"Yeah." Santana comments with a faraway look on her face. "He's trying…you know?"
"Yeah." Quinn says looking down at her phone. Santana watches as Quinn response to a text message.
"You're still talking to him?"
"Don't start, S." Quinn waves a dismissing hand in Santana's direction. "We are having a good night. Don't ruin it."
"I'm not trying to, Quinn. I just…"Santana sighs. "You're like my little sister. I worry about you."
"I'm fine." Santana roll her eyes. "Yes…I'm texting Ty…but that's it. I haven't seen him in weeks."
"He's not good for you, Quinn. He has problems. And I don't want to see his face around here."
"Serious, San?" Quinn raises an eyebrow. "I'm not a child. You need to stop worrying about my relationship problems and focus on your own."
"Fuck off." Santana barks. "Rachel and I are just having some disagreements right now. It's not like I'm over there hitting her." Quinn takes in a breath at Santana words. Santana knows she's going into dangerous territory but she thinks its ridicules for Quinn to even think about comparing her relationship problems to what she has with Rachel.
"You might not be hitting her with your fist but you sure are beating her with words. You're acting like a major bitch to her for no reason."
"I'm not." Santana quickly respond.
"Are too."
"Whatever."
"Look…I'm not seeing Ty anymore. We're done." Quinn decides to open up a little. "I know you want to talk about everything that happened. I get that….but what he and I had is in the past. Can we just please leave it there?"
"As long as I don't see his face." Santana says kicking Quinn's sock covered foot. "And you promise to talk to me soon about whatever is going on with you."
"Promise." Quinn nods and looks around the empty room. "This floor is hard."
"True." Santana laughs. "Furniture shopping tomorrow?"
"Defiantly." They grin at each other.
&*)(&*%
Somehow Quinn was able to talk Rachel into joining them in shopping for the apartment. Rachel had not responded to Santana's text since before Santana went to dinner with Quinn and her dad. Santana tried to call her last night but Rachel didn't pick up.
So Santana was surprised when she got up in the morning and Rachel was sitting with Tina, Mack and Quinn. Apparently Quinn had called the other three girls up and asked them to go and they all agreed. Quinn wanted to get everything done before having to go into work later in the day.
After hours of shopping and a large amount of their saving spent the girls head back to Santana and Quinn's apartment. It's just Quinn, Santana, Rachel and Tina now. Mack had to be to work a few hours earlier so she excused herself from the ladies with a promise to stop over tomorrow and help get everything sit up for when the people dropped off the new furniture.
"So…Rachel I know you want to make me a sandwich while I get ready for work." Quinn smiles brightly at Rachel.
"Sure Quinn." Rachel rolls her eyes.
"Can you make one for my lunch too? Thanks hun." Quinn doesn't give her time to respond before slipping away.
"I'll take a sandwich to, Rach." Tina says from her spot at the kitchen table. Rachel's wondering when did she become the cook.
"Do you want one too, Santana?" Rachel addresses the quiet Latina.
Santana is startled because Rachel has barely said two things to her that did not have to do with picking stuff out for the apartment. Rachel had borrowed Pucks truck so they could all ride together but Tina ended up being the driver when they actually left the house. Rachel made sure to take the passenger sit and have little to any contact with Santana throughout the day.
"Um…if it's not too much to asks for." Santana is a little hungry.
Fifteen minutes later they all have had a couple of sandwiches and are wishing Quinn a lovely day at work as she leaves.
"Well girls…" Tina starts standing from her chair. "I had a lovely time but I think it's time I go spend time with Mike. Plus you guys are being awkward, so yeah." Tina shrugs.
"Okay…let me grab my purse and I'll take you back to your car." Rachel starts to get up.
"Your car is at Rachel's, right?" Santana speaks up. Tina nods. "Well take Puck's truck. I'll drop Rachel off at home later." Santana doesn't even look at Rachel as she makes these plans. But she watches as Tina eyes move from hers to Rachel's.
"Tell him we said thanks." After a long pause in the conversation, Rachel finally responds.
"Here," Santana pulls a couple of twenties from her pocket. "Can you put some gas in the truck before you drop it off?"
"Sure. No problem." Tina gives both girls a hug and leaves them to talk.
When Tina leaves Santana just stares at the side of Rachel's face until the girl looks at her.
"I can't believe you made it this long without talking to me." Santana breaks the silence. "You're usually so blunt with your feelings and…well just about everything."
"…I didn't want an audience. This is the first time we've been alone."
"Okay." Santana straightens up. "So…let me have it."
"I apologize for turning down your invitation to meet your dad…as your girlfriend." Rachel starts. "That was a big step for you and I should have taking that into consideration."
"Thanks but it wouldn't have been special if you were there and you didn't want to be. You were right. I don't want the first time he meets you to be in the middle of us fighting."
"I just don't want us fighting." Rachel quietly states.
"Me either."
The room gets quiet. Santana and Rachel just stare at each other.
"We've been friends for a long time now." Rachel starts. "I love our friendship."
"Rach…"
"I just want you to know that if you decided right now that you are not ready for…"
"Stop." Santana stands. "Rachel…I can be a really shitty person. I said stuff last night that I didn't mean…I want to be with you."
"Santana, wanting to be with someone and being ready to be with them is two different things."
Santana stays quiet for a couple of minutes to let Rachel's words sink in.
"I'm in this." Both girls are standing in front of each other by now. "All you need to know is that I'm in this. Just take my words and…trust me."
"Okay."
&(&^%^(&*
Santana doesn't believe that she let Quinn talk her into hosting a party. Quinn called on her lunch break and went on and on about how they should have party before all their nice furniture gets delivered tomorrow. Still feeling good because things with Rachel are back to moving in the right direction, Santana says yes. Around nine o'clock Santana's apartment is filled with college kids who have yet to go home for the summer or doesn't plan on going home at all.
"Whoa, baby what are you doing?" Santana walks back into her bedroom to see Rachel standing next to the air mattress pulling her shirt over her head. Santana was only gone for a couple of minutes. Rachel had insisted that she went out to the party to check on their friends.
"We can't stay in here all night." Rachel rolls her eyes when Santana pouts. "I still can't believe I had sex with you while a party is going on right outside the door."
"I thought we were having our own little party." Santana grabs the bottom of Rachel's shirt, pulling the girl into her. "Kiss?" Rachel grins and puts her lips to Santana's. "Can I stay at your place tonight?" Santana asks once they break from the kiss to finish getting dressed.
"You're just going to leave Quinn here by herself?" Rachel asks.
"Fuck no! She's coming with us. I already talked to Mike and Puck about staying here for the night. Quinn and I will just come home and clean when we get up in the morning."
"Well it seems like you have everything already figured out." Rachel walks over to the bedroom door, ready to go join the party.
"Always a step ahead. Always." Santana closes her bedroom door behind them.
Thirty minutes after joining the party, Santana can honestly say she is the only sober body there. Even Rachel has done some shots and if you ask, she'll tell you she's feeling pretty damn good. But when Mack walks in with two other girls, Santana wishes she at least had a little buzz.
"What's up, San!" Mack yell's over the music. The way she slurs as she speaks, lets Santana know that Mack has some liquor already coursing through her system.
"Please tell me that all three of you haven't been drinking," Santana says to the blonde standing just behind Mack.
"Nope. I'm the ride home." Brittany beams at Santana.
"Damn girl. I've been waiting to see you all night." Carter steps closer to Santana and licks her lips. "Can I get a dance?"
"No. I'm not a stripper." Santana steps out of Carters reach. "Excuse us a minute." Santana grabs Mack hand and after glancing in Rachel's direction to see her engaged in a conversation with Tina, Santana leads Mack into the kitchen. "What the hell, Mack?"
"What?" Mack leans against the kitchen counter.
"I just made up with Rachel. Why would you bring Brittany and Carter here?" Santana says frustrated.
"Dude…first, that's a really sexy top you have on. Like your boobs look great. Second…stop stressing. Carter is just a fucking flirt. And Brittany is not thinking about your ass. Just relax and have a good time."
"San!" Quinn walks into the kitchen. "Rachel's looking for you."
"Hey Quinn!" Mack grins. Santana roll her eyes and leaves the kitchen to find her girlfriend.
"You okay, baby?" Santana hands circle around Rachel's waist from behind.
"Great!" Rachel starts to move them side to side, swaying to the music that's booming through the apartment. "Relax San. I already saw Mack and the girls come in." Instead of relaxing Santana tenses. Santana knows that she doesn't want Carter or Brittany, but she's not sure how Rachel feels about having them here. Santana really doesn't want to argue anymore. "I trust you." Rachel slides her hands down Santana arms that are around her and hold her hands.
"Yeah?" Santana kisses Rachel ear.
"Yeah."
TBC