Chapter 20

Santana wakes up in bed alone. When she looks at the clock she see's that it's almost noon. She sits up and looks around the room for Rachel. Santana sighs in relief when she sees Rachel cell phone still sitting on the night stand. She moves her hand over her stomach when it growls. She is pretty hungry. She went to bed without dinner last night and slept through breakfast this morning.

Santana decides to go find Rachel and get something to eat. Once Santana gets into the hall, she walks right past the stairs and to her dad's bedroom. The door is open and when she looks inside its empty. The bed is made and everything is nice and neatly tucked away. Sighing, Santana turns around to head downstairs.

"I can't believe you slapped me." Santana hears Mack voice as she gets closer to the kitchen.

"You called my mom a bitch." Quinn defends her actions. "Plus…I didn't even slap you hard."

"But you called your mom a bitch too!"

"She's my mom!"

Santana smiles for the first time since she's gotten up.

When she gets to the entry way, she sees Rachel cooking something on the stove, Mike standing next to Rachel, leaning against the counter, Tina, Quinn, Puck and Sandy sitting at the kitchen table and Mack standing by the refrigerator. No one has noticed her yet.

"Guys...please use your indoor voices. Santana is still asleep." Rachel scolds them without taking her eyes off of what she's doing.

"She needs to get up. I'm bored." Sandy slaps her hand on the table.

"You can always leave." Tina jumps in. "No one invited you anyway."

"Tina." Pucks shakes his head at the Asian girl.

"Don't Tina her, Puck." Quinn joins the argument.

"Don't tal…"

"Hey!" Santana cut Sandy off as she steps into the kitchen. "What's going on?"

"Quinn slapped me." Mack is the only one to say anything. Everyone else gives Santana awkward smiles or says hi.

"Get over it." Santana walks around the table and pull out the chair next to Tina.

"We thought you could use a day out with friends." Puck says from his spot across the table from her.

"Cool." Santana nods her head. "Bowling?"

Santana hides her smile as everyone agrees to go bowling. She loves how her friends always show up when she needs them. Its great how she ignored them last night and yet they still show up today to support her. Tina hates bowling and still agreed to go without a fuss. That's a true friend. No one brings up what happened with her dad as they spend the next hour having breakfast and bickering amongst each other.

After breakfast, Rachel follows Santana up to her room so she can grab her phone and shoes and Santana can get a shower and get ready to go bowling. Rachel has already showered and through on some of Santana's clothes.

"Did you see my dad this morning?" Besides saying hi when she came to the kitchen, this is the first time Santana has said anything directly to Rachel.

"Yeah." Rachel sits down on the bed and watches Santana grab her stuff for a shower. "I saw him when I went to the bathroom this morning. He was leaving for work."

"He say anything?"

"He said good morning and that was it." Rachel shrugs. "He didn't give me any weird looks or anything if that's what you're asking about."

Santana just stares at Rachel for a second longer before nodding and heading to the bathroom for a shower.

#$%^&*I(O(

"This is how you know I love you," Tina walks up to Santana at the concession stand. "I hate bowling but here I am."

"Thanks, T." Santana chuckles.

"No problem, Hun." Tina shoulder bums Santana. "Did you have fun?" Tina turns to lean back against the stand. From where they're standing she can see their group of friends packing up to leave.

"Yeah. Where are we going next?" Santana pays for her pop and they start to head back over to their group of friends.

"I don't know." Tina pokes Quinn in the side. "Where to next?"

"I have to go home." Quinn shrugs. "My dad called about thirty minutes ago. He wants me to go to church with them later, so might not see you guys until tomorrow."

"Suck's to be you!" Mike pats Quinn shoulder and they all start walking towards the exit of the bowling alley. "Let's go to a bar!"

"Let's not." Rachel chimes in. Rachel and Sandy are the only two that did not drink while at the bowling alley. Everyone else had at least to beers. Santana and Puck did a couple of shots not even thirty minutes ago. "If you guys want, we can get some beer and stuff and go hangout at my dad's house. That okay with you?" Everyone turns to look at Santana.

"That's fine." Nothing more is discussed as Rachel gets into the driver seat of Quinn's car and Sandy drives Puck's truck.

Quinn, Mack and Santana is riding with Rachel to drop Quinn off at her parents and everyone else is going to the store for alcohol and then they will all meet up at Rachel's dads house.

"Ugh…I wish I could stay with you guys." Quinn whines from the back seat. Rachel had just parked in front of Quinn's parent's home. "Do I smell like beer?" Quinn directs her question to Mack.

"No." Mack mumbles and throws a stick of gum at Quinn. "Tell your daddy I said hello."

"Fuck off." Quinn rolls her eyes and then reaches up to pat Santana's shoulder. "Walk me to the door."

Santana and Quinn get to the porch steps and sits down.

"Wanna talk about it?" Quinn scoots closer to Santana. "You've been kind of quiet today. Usually you're loud and explosive in situations like this one." Quinn says referring to Santana's issues with her dad.

"I don't…I'm not ready to talk about it." Santana leans into Quinn.

"Okay." Quinn kisses Santana's forehead.

$%^&*()(*&

Santana and her group of friends spend the rest of the evening drink and having a good time at Rachel's. They make sure they clean the place back up before leaving thirty minutes before Rachel's dads are due back.

Santana's not surprised when she gets home and her dad is still not home. It's almost midnight when Rachel and Mack help Santana up to her room.

"Baby…you staying with me tonight?" Santana tugs on Rachel shirt until she falls onto the bed with her.

"San…stop." Rachel stops Santana's wondering hands. "I want to stay but I don't think your dad should…"

"Fuck him!" Santana sits up in bed. "He walked away, Rach. I can give two shits about what he thinks."

"Santana…calm down."

"No." Santana shakes her head but Rachel can see the fight leaving the girl.

"You're so drunk." Rachel smiles and kisses Santana forehead. "Call me in the morning."

^&*(*&^&*

Santana wakes up at ten in the morning. After using the bathroom, she heads downstairs to make some toast.

"…and my mom's a nurse. I know you guys have crazy schedules." Santana walks into the kitchen to see her dad and Mack chatting over some breakfast. Mack has an empty bowl sitting in front of her and Carmelo has some eggs and toast.

"Good morning, Santana." Carmelo stands and walks over to the counter. "I made you a plate."

"Thanks." Santana gives him a weak smile as she takes the plate.

After some light conversation between Mack and Carmelo, Mack excuses herself from the table.

"I'm going to call Tina and see what she's up to."

Santana watches Mack leave the kitchen. When she turns back around her dad is still sitting at the kitchen table. Santana knows that they need to have the conversation she feel is coming so she sits in the empty chair across from her dad.

"Your mom would know what to say." Carmelo breaks the silence. Santana just looks at him. "I don't…I don't know what to say."Carmelo looks down into his coffee mug.

"Do you still love me?" Carmelo's head snaps up so fast the Santana's afraid he might break his neck.

"What? I…" His eyes are wide. "Of course." He says it like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Gosh Santana…you're my little girl. I'll always love you." Santana nods.

"Well that's all you needed to say." Santana wipes at her eyes. She doesn't even remember when she started crying.

"I'm sorry." Carmelo starts. "I…I was just not expecting that. I guess…most of my reaction was about how I was feeling about myself." Santana raises a questioning eyebrow. "I just felt like I should have known or at least had some kind of idea. You're my daughter for goodness sake."Carmelo shakes his head. "I mean…your mom would know these things. Not just about your sexuality but how you like your eggs. I had to ask Mack how you preferred them. What kind of father does that make me?"

"Dad…" Santana protest. "You're a good dad. You're just busy. I get that. I'm not mad at you."

"I've been busy for most of your life, Santana." Carmelo sighs. "I should do better. I can do better."

"You will."

#$%^&*()*&^%$

"So what does that mean?"

Santana and Mack are now at Quinn's house. Santana and Quinn are lying next to each other on the bed while Mack sits on the floor, leaning back against the bed. Santana and Mack came over to Quinn's to wait on Rachel to drop the blonde's car off. Santana also wanted to talk to Quinn about what happened with her dad.

"I don't know. He never really said anything about having a problem with it." Santana shrugs.

"That's good. I think it'll all work out." Quinn cuddles up to Santana. Mack turns around and rest on her knees facing the bed.

"I hate to break up this little cute moment you guys are having…"

"Well don't." Quinn rolls her eyes. "Instead you can go make me a sandwich."

"Um… no," Mack frowns at her. "Can we go?" She directs the question to Santana.

Santana looks between her to friends. Every since Quinn slapped Mack it has been nothing but awkwardness or bickering between the two. Santana had to basically drag Mack into Quinn's house. Any other time Mack would jump at the opportunity to hang out with Quinn. But Santana can understand Mack's frustrations with Quinn. Quinn's family can be difficult to deal with and Quinn does act a little different around them.

"No. I thought you guys were waiting on Rachel to drop my car off?" Quinn sits up.

"We can take her to her car." Mack completely ignores the glare Quinn is sending her and keeps her eyes on Santana.

"I'm sitting right her, Mackenzie." Quinn huffs out. "What is your problem? You've been nothing but a bitch to me since you got here."

"I don't have a problem, Lucy." Quinn sucks in a breath when Mack uses her first name. Quinn had told her about Lucy the night Mack had spent the night. "I just don't feel like being in this house."

"Then get out." Quinn climbs over Santana to get out of bed. "And don't call me fucking Lucy again."

"What? I think Lucy's a cute name." Mack grins. Quinn pushes her shoulder and Mack falls over on her back laughing.

"Rach said she's almost here." Santana says after checking her phone.

"Good." Quinn says frowning at Mack. Santana looks at Quinn's face. Her best friend looks seriously upset.

"I'm sorry, babe." Mack grabs Quinn right ankle. Santana think Mack can tell that she's really pissed Quinn off.

"I'm not your babe." Quinn says kicking her leg out to try in get Mack to let go.

Before Mack can say anything else they hear a horn blow. Mack jumps up off the floor and Santana gets off the bed.

"Tell Rachel we will be right there." Quinn orders Mack. Mack rolls her eyes before just doing what the blonde said. Once the door closes behind Mack, Quinn turns to face her best friend.

"What's up, Q?" Santana eyes the nervous looking blonde.

"I…I almost kissed Mack."

TBC