I sincerely apologize for this taking so long! I've had finals and way too much work going on to get that much writing done. Thank you to everyone who is reading! I hope you guys are liking it! I sure am having a fun time writing it. =J
If anyone has any suggestions or comments, feel free to review or PM me. I love me some feedback.
Also, sorry about any mistakes. Grammar and I don't get along very well, though we try.
Quinn sat in her study group completely oblivious to everything around her as she doodled Santana's name on the top of her study guide.
God, she was beautiful.
Santana said she was going to start working at the bar they had gone to a few nights before. She was going to take her up to the roof again.
That night was amazing for Quinn.
Dancing with Santana absolutely lit her body on fire. She couldn't resist placing her lips on Santana's neck when her body rocked against hers. Santana had turned her head at the perfect moment for Quinn to take her skin between her lips. She could have sworn a gasp had escaped Santana's mouth at the contact, but she wasn't sure. The music had been too loud.
Later she had watched Santana run out of the bar and into the night air. She didn't know what had prompted her to run out so fast, but she knew she was happy about something. There had been too big of a smile on her face for her not to have been happy.
Quinn found Santana trying to climb the fire escape up onto the roof.
Everything about Santana was always appealing to Quinn, from her fierceness, her sarcastic comments, to her adorable love for star gazing.
As soon as Quinn saw Santana heading up to the roof, she knew that star gazing was what she was after, and she wanted nothing more than to follow her.
She loved looking at the stars with Santana. The look on Santana's face whenever she was looking up towards the night was like nothing she had ever seen before.
Santana instantly became calm and a sense of tranquility would run over her features whenever she saw looked at the stars. She looked amazed that such a sight could exist in such a tainted world.
Quinn always wondered what was on Santana's mind when she gazed at the balls of light up above, but she could never figure it out.
Whenever they went star gazing Santana got lost in the darkness, and Quinn got lost in Santana.
"What'd you get for question eight?" Todd asked Quinn, who still wasn't paying attention to chemistry. "Quinn?"
Todd flicked her on the arm.
The sudden pain brought Quinn out of her haze. "Ow, what was that for?"
"I asked you what you got for question eight, but you were too busy playing in your invisible Quinnie land with a goofy look on your face," Todd laughed.
"I told you not to call me Quinnie, and I wasn't off in some magical land with a goofy look on my face. I was simply thinking over my answer with deep concentration," Quinn retorted with the raise of an eyebrow. "I believe the correct answer is B."
Her fellow classmate looked on the answer sheet for the study guide and a smirk grew on his face. "Correct as usual, Quinn. Even if something besides chemistry is preoccupying your mind during our important study session."
"Oh, relax. You're going to do fine. Maybe not as good as me, but you'll certainly pass."
"As riveting as chemistry is, I'm curious to know what else has your attention."
Quinn ducked her head down shyly. "No one- I mean nothing," she coughed. "Let's just get back to studying. What did you get for number nine?"
I got to the bar a little before eight just as Frank had instructed. I was nervous, but my years of drinking before legal age had taught me well. I wasn't looking to run into too many problems. Plus, I would be working with one of the regular bartenders, who Frank was sure I would get along with.
I wasn't too sure about that. My bitchy attitude tended to get in the way of me making that many friends, but if she knew how to handle liquor and creepy guys that always made their presence known at every bar you went to by obnoxiously flirting, then she was worth a try to tolerate in the least.
I looked towards the bar to see a rather tall blonde in a ripped black shirt with the Jack Daniels emblem plastered on it. How original. Her hair was straight, falling just below her shoulders in choppy layers. Her shirt was short enough to show a bit of her stomach, which was quite tone. I had to admit, she was pretty hot. Then again, it seems I had a thing for blondes.
She poured a single shot of tequila and brought her eyes up to my gaze just as she threw it back. Drinking before the shift even started. Ballsy. I could dig that.
Her face remained expressionless even as the liquor was sure to be burning down her throat.
Maybe Frank was right.
"Drinking before your shift. That means one of two things. Either this job is going to require me to be drunk the whole way through or you're half as badass as me," I walked over to the bar and nodded my head towards another shot glass, indicating I wanted a shot, as well.
She poured the tequila in my glass, and I braced myself as I brought it up to my lips. I wasn't going to grimace. I wasn't going to show a reaction since she hadn't.
It went down quickly. My face remained blank, showing no discomfort.
"Maybe you're half as badass as me," she replied with a small smirk. "My name's Ashley. Frank said a new girl was starting tonight. He said I might like you." She reached out a hand.
I took it and shook it with a firm grip. "Yeah, he said I might like you, too. I'm Santana."
"Why don't you come behind the bar, and I'll show you where everything is. Things start to heat up in about an hour."
I walked behind the bar and stood next to her.
"Make me an old fashioned," she demanded with a slight curl of her lips.
Where was this girl from? I guessed it was a test. It wasn't one that I was going to fail, either, all thanks to my alcoholic father. An old fashioned was probably the first drink I learned how to make.
I found everything I needed, even the type of glass it was usually poured in. I made it quickly and pushed it over to her.
Her lips curled up even more. "Perhaps you're more than half badass, Santana. Most people your age don't even know what goes in the drink, let alone the proper glass."
"Oh, trust me, I'm full badass. I'm from Lima Heights."
"Where the hell is Lima Heights?" she laughed.
"Where badasses are created," I chuckled in reply. "It's in Ohio, where I'm from."
"We'll see how well it prepared you for the big apple."
"Ha, give me your next test, sweetheart. I'm sure I'll pass with flying colors," I added with a glint of fire in my eyes.
Before you can even begin to take on a task, I learned that you had to show confidence first. It sets everything up. If you don't believe you can kick ass, then you probably can't.
The next hour consisted of her explaining the workings of the bar and the common demeanor of the patrons.
"By around eleven, most people are drunk off their asses. The flirtier you are, the more tips you get, but don't let anyone put their hands on you. Once someone sees they can get away with it, others will join in. They're harmless, but don't be afraid to put someone in their place if they need it."
I've never been afraid to put anyone in their place, especially when alcohol was involved.
It was about ten when the place started to really get packed. The DJ started playing Fall Out Boy's new song. It was surprising considering the rest of the music had been mostly dance pop mixes, but you could definitely move to the song.
The orders were stacking up, and people were yelling out drink orders all around me. Did people not understand the concept of waiting? I guess you don't understand much when you're drunk and music is blaring in your ears, though. I certainly wouldn't if I was in their position.
I started singing to the song and dancing to get into the flow of the music while I made drink after drink. It was relaxing, despite people constantly yelling at me.
"You've got a pretty good voice and some nice dance moves there, Santana," Ashley yelled at me over the hazy noise.
"Of course I do. Amongst many other talents that would probably surprise you," I winked at her.
"Hey, sweet thing. Let me buy you a shot," some random guy yelled at me. I turned to Ashley to gauge her reaction. She nodded to say it was fine.
"I'll take your free drink, but don't think about calling me sweet thing ever again," I snarled at him as I poured myself a shot of whiskey. As soon as I set the shot glass back down, he grabbed my shirt and pulled me into a kiss.
Faster than I could push him off, Ashley threw a beer in his face and yelled at him to get the fuck off. I was a little out of it, taken by surprise by the kiss.
The drunken guy called her a bitch in retaliation before she opened the water tap and sprayed him in the face. She waved her hand in the air for the bouncer to come over.
I instantly recognized Jimmy. Who could forget the size of those ridiculous muscles?
"Hey, J, get this drunken asshole out of here," she yelled.
Jimmy just nodded and before the drunk guy could protest he was lifted up over Jimmy's shoulders and taken through the crowd. I couldn't help but laugh at the shocked look on the guy's face.
"Oh, and Jimmy," she started as he turned back around. "Make sure to get a lovely tip from him for the beer he just wasted."
I turned to her and laughed. This girl was definitely a badass.
"I didn't even see that kiss coming," I spoke.
"I told you, Lima, don't be afraid to put them in their place," she smiled back. "You can take their free drinks, but do it far enough away from them that they don't try and take advantage. Buying you a drink doesn't mean they're buying you."
The rest of the shift went by pretty quickly. Last call was at three, which was apparently early for most nights.
We started cleaning up the bar while the dance floor was still buzzing with people.
A shot glass slid down the bar and right into to my hands.
"One more free drink on the house for it being your first night and you not sucking completely at it," Ashley looked at me with a grin.
"Thanks," I said as I took it quickly. "Tonight was actually fun, despite it being work and that asshole kissing me."
"Yeah, well, if anyone tries it again just throw some liquor on them or yell for Jimmy."
"I will definitely do that. It was pretty awesome when you sloshed beer all over him," I replied.
It had been awesome. If I hadn't have been in shock, I probably would have punched the guy square in his face, but her approach was just as fitting.
"So, what do you do, Lima? I know you can dance, sing, and pour yourself a nice glass of liquor, but are there any other hidden talents I don't know about yet?" she asked.
"Oh, I'm definitely full of more surprises than you'll ever find out," I smirked back. "Pretty much anything that deals with a stage, and I'm down."
Being on a stage felt like nothing else. I'm not sure if it's the lights, being elevated from the rest of the audience, or just the pure adrenaline that comes from being in front of any number of people knowing you could mess up at any time while performing, but pushing yourself through the fear, regardless, that always made my world seem a little bit more simpler and magical at the same time.
When I was on stage dancing, every move felt natural, even if I messed up. When I was on stage singing, every lyric vibrated through my veins. When I was on stage acting, I became someone else without a worry or care for anything happening in reality. I was a different person, but more myself than ever.
I loved acting most of all. It opened my world up to new experiences and emotions. Whenever I played a character I fell into their life, their troubles, and their victories. Their voice was my voice. I let them consume me until I could hardly recognize myself anymore.
It's like walking a fine line that you aren't sure you should cross, but everything in your body tells you to because it'll be worth it to feel something you've never felt before even if what you're feeling hurts more than you thought it could.
"I mostly sang and danced in high school, but I really loved to act whenever I got the chance. I wish I could have done it more. It always felt more fulfilling than anything else. Of course, competing with Berry, I barely got any singing solos, so the leads I got in acting were few and far between," I said with a sheepish smile.
I told her way too much information. The alcohol must have started to affect my mouth and let the words slip out of my mouth. I never even told Brittany or Quinn how much I enjoyed acting. I didn't want to seem weak liking something as much as Manhands.
"Who the fuck is Berry? He sounds like a jerk."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Berry's actually a girl, and thinking about it now, she's not so bad. Sure, she's annoying with her constant string of tangents and horrible sweaters with reindeers on them, but if I had let myself want my dreams as much as she did, I would have been just as obnoxious with getting every solo and every lead in everything, too."
It took cajones for Berry to unabashedly claim her dreams and fight for them as strongly as she did. She dealt with more slushies and ridicule than anyone else in the Glee club, but she got into NYADA because of it. I could admire that. Not that I would ever tell her to her face.
"Well, if you like acting so much and you can deal with the competition, I know of this improv extension class that NYU offers. One of my old professors helps to teach it. She's pretty quirky, but still cool. It starts up at the beginning of the semester if you're interested," she shrugged.
"Uh, yeah, that actually sounds really good. I was thinking about taking some classes, but I didn't know how to even start looking for any or signing up."
"I'll have to find my professor's number, but when I do I can give it to you next shift."
This girl was cool. Maybe there's a chance I could be friends with her.
We finished cleaning and restocking everything about a half an hour later.
It was surprising how much I liked working. Normally, you'd have to pay me a ridiculous amount of money if you wanted me to deal with one rude person, but it was different working at the bar. There was good music and alcohol to numb me to people's obscenities. I liked it.
More so, I liked what I could do after my shift.
I walked outside to the sounds of never ending traffic. This city really didn't sleep. I turned into the familiar alley and made my way up the fire escape. It was a lot easier getting up there than the time before with Quinn, but somehow, not as warm.
The city was breath taking. I looked up to see once again that there were few stars visible due to the lights all around me from buildings, cars, and street lamps. I wasn't disappointed, though. All of the lights together made the scene before me just as mesmerizing as the night sky.
I took my phone out and framed my screen to take an out of focus picture that would capture as many lights as possible in all different sizes.
I'm not one for photography, but the picture came out pretty good. I decided to send it to the one person who had been present in the back of my mind all night, along with a simple text.
SANTANA: There's this excellent view that's missing you.
The breeze hit my shoulder and it left me feeling exhilarated, but a little cold. I couldn't help but think if Quinn was with me maybe I'd be a bit warmer.
Feeling brave, I typed out another quick text to go along with the first.
SANTANA: It's not the only one missing you.
My phone flashed a new message within moments.
QUINN: I miss the both of you, too. The photo is beautiful, but not as beautiful as the photographer.
Before I could reply, another text popped up.
QUINN: Yes, I am aware of how cheesy that sounded. Blame it on the lack of sleep preparing for my last final. Just wait until you have to deal with me in person. My zombie stage is oh so fun! :)
I really couldn't wait.
I'm usually the first person to point out when someone is being a complete sap or acting like Rachel when she's love stricken over Finn because it's overly nauseating and unnecessary, but when Quinn said stuff that was cheesy, I didn't seem to mind.
I actually liked it.
Yes, I wanted it to be in a way that was more than platonic, but I was always one to just take what I could get.
SANTANA: If your zombie stage is anything like that zombie costume you wore for Halloween last year, then feel free to bring it on. Nothing says sexy like Quinnie moaning and strutting around in ripped, barely there clothing. ;p
I was also one to never turn down a chance to flirt.
Quinn really was the picture of dripping sex that night.
Puck had thrown a Halloween party, and I expected Quinn to show up in some angel costume or something equally as innocent, but I was thoroughly mistaken. She walked through the door with a ripped tank top that showed off her tone stomach and shorts that barely covered half her thighs. Not to mention, she was sporting some after-sex hair.
I remember being a little intoxicated by the time she walked over to me, and I'm pretty sure I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Something she attempted to tease me with later, but I shrugged off, easily, blaming the alcohol.
At the time, I really did blame the alcohol. I didn't want to see Quinn in more than a friend kind of way. Once you look at someone in a sexual way, there's no way to take it back and no way to stop from doing it almost every time after. I couldn't afford to look at Quinn that way. Not when I was with Brittany and not when I knew she'd never look at me the same way back.
The latter still hadn't changed, but it was getting harder for me to turn that switch off. The switch that told me how beautiful and sexy Quinn was. The switch that wouldn't let her innocent compliments towards me go unnoticed. The switch that made me think that just maybe in a city of endless possibilities, Quinn could be a possibility, as well.
QUINN: You do realize you're the only person I let call me Quinnie, right? And you have to moan when you're a zombie! It's all a part of being undead.
Her moans. Now that's a sound I would love to have repeated, but maybe for a different reason.
SANTANA: Oh, but you LOVE it when people call you Quinnie, Quinnie.
Actually, she hated being called Quinnie, but I always got away with it for some reason. I couldn't tell you why. Probably because I refused to call her anything but Quinnie for an entire week, and after a while, I assume it was easier to just let it go than to keep asking me to stop.
Sometimes I'm relentless. I can't really help myself.
QUINN: You know I hate it.
SANTANA: Don't lie. You secretly love it when I call you Quinnie or Fabgay or QB. P.S. you should go to bed if you have that final tomorrow. Oh, and get a good breakfast!
QUINN: Yes, mom. Oatmeal acceptable for you? I still don't know what QB stands for.
One night Quinn followed me up to my roof while I was star gazing after a particularly brutal conversation with Coach Sue had taken place. I normally didn't let my emotions show, but I was having an already rough week, so I secluded myself away to the stars to let my tears fall freely. I didn't realize she followed me until I felt two arms wrap themselves around me. She just held me like that for about an hour or so and didn't say a word until I calmed down. She just traced smooth circles on my stomach and held me close enough to feel safe. When I finally turned around to say something to her, I almost called her baby. Luckily, I had caught it before it slipped, but I liked the idea of calling her baby for some reason. I decided I'd call her baby without calling her baby. Add one nickname to another. Q for Quinn and B for baby. QB.
It made sense why I liked the idea of calling her baby. I was just too afraid or unwilling to see it back then.
SANTANA: And you'll never know what it stands for! Muahaha….Also, you can only have oatmeal if you bring me some and if strawberries are added. :) Night, QB
QUINN: I'll figure it out one day, and I'll make you oatmeal when I get home. Sleep well, S.
She called it home, again.