A/N: Day 5. AU. Enjoy.
Santana's P.O.V.
This party is going to be fucking awesome. I have everything set up and hopefully no one dies by the end of the night. My 18th birthday is going to be super unforgettable. The theme is masquerade, sexy right? I love the whole mysterious thing but since I know almost everyone...I'm sure it won't be hard to figure it out. It's a more modern take on a masquerade ball. I don't want people dressing like lady gaga or anything but dresses, suits and masks. The mask can be as crazy as people want though. I can't wait for it start. I invited the whole school, literally. I announced it over the PA system at school. This party is a birthday party and a graduation party since we seniors graduate in a week...well two since we have one more week of actual school then it's graduation rehearsal or something.
"This is gonna be awesome!" Brittany says from my right. We're both in the mirror in my bedroom fixing our hair. Everything is set up for the party so now it's just time to get ready.
"I know. This party will go down in history along with our names for being the most bad ass bitches to ever walk the halls of that lame school." I say and Brittany chuckles.
Britts and I have been bff since we were in diapers and I love her like a sister. I love her to pieces and when we graduate, we're going to travel together, We're going to Europe for a year then decide what else we want to do.
"What is taking you guys so long? I've been ready for almost an hour." Rachel says as she walks into my room. Rachel is the third to part to this bad ass trio. Britt and I met her in the second grade and though she annoyed me, B loved her so I accepted her and oddly I started to like her. In middle school we had to stop her from becoming a loser but other than that, Rachel is like my other sister. We ran that school together. I'm head cheerleader and captain of the swim team, Rachel is captain of the debate team and Britt...well Britt is just loveable Britt. Everyone likes her and together we sat on the very top of the social pyramid. Rachel isn't going to stay with us in Europe though, She got into Harvard and she's going in the fall but we're spending the summer together.
"We have to look hot Rachel, that takes time." I say and I see her roll her eyes through the mirror. Rachel walks over to my bed and sits down.
"So is mystery girl going to make an appearance tonight?" Rachel asks me and I spin my chair around to look at her.
"She still hasn't given me an answer so I don't know." I tell her. 'Mystery Girl' is a girl I met online. It was a complete accident actually. I was trying to send an email but typed the address wrong. She emailed me back and we kind of ended up talking and we've been talking for about six months now. The crazy part is that I don't know her real name or what she looks like. I just know she's my age and lives close.
"I'm still scared she's really some forty year old dude." I say.
"I doubt it because only an idiot would show up to high school party. Even with a mask they wouldn't blend in." Rachel says and I roll my eyes.
"How haven't you guys exchanged numbers or even found out each others names yet?" Rachel asks.
"We don't...we don't talk about simple stuff like that I guess...we just talk about our likes, hobbies, life...deep shit." I tell her.
"Well hopefully you can find all this out tonight, if she comes."
"I hope she comes." Brittany says.
"Why?" I ask.
"Because you like her and she makes you happy and hopefully you guys can be together."
"Well...I hope so too I guess. Hand me my mask behind you." Brittany tosses me my mask and I turn back to the mirror to put it on.
"I don't think she's coming though." I say as I adjust the feathers on my mask. The mask is red with black feathers to match my red dress and covers my forehead down to my nose. My dress is a form fitting strapless dress that stops at my thighs. There's black lining around the bust until it gets to the black jewels that stop half way on my stomach. It also has this red see through train in the back. As I fix my hair around the mask I hear my phone chime. I get up and grab it from the bed. It's an email from her.
"She's coming."
I'm so fucking nervous. I really do like her but...god please let her be a woman. I'm so nervous because I think she's not real. This person I've gotten so close to and shared so many things with...she could be a huge lie and I don't know how I would recover from that. I just need her to be real. I go to the kitchen and pour myself a shot to calm my nerves. I'm supposed to meet her in the hall under the stairs...like right now. Okay, I can do this. I take another shot before walking to the hall and waiting against the wall. I'm surprised there isn't that many people in this hall. My house is huge so the party is both on the main floor and in the basement, both levels are packed full of people and the music is blasting from every crevice. I close my eyes until a light pressure on my hand. I open them to see a blonde standing in front of me in a blue dress with a black mask. Her mask covers as much of her face as mine does but parts of her mask go up so it covers most of her forehead. The dress is sort of...the classic masquerade ball wear, where it's just big at the bottom for no reason but fitting at the top.
"Waiting for someone?" She says leaning into me, in a smooth voice.
"Are you...you?" I say and she chuckles.
"I think so. Don't think I can be anyone else."
"You know what I mean." I say and she nods.
"It's me." I can't help the smile that breaks free on my face but I don't care. My smile promoted the smile currently on her face and I'm sure I've never seen anything else so beautiful...other than her eyes.
"You want to go somewhere? It's pretty loud." She nods her head and I walk past her and the other few people in the hall. I lead her upstairs and walk to the end room. I open the door and let her walk in before me. I turn on the light and close the door as I walk inside.
"This is my dad's office. It's sound proofed, I don't know why but it's quiet in here." I tell her and she nods her head as she walks over to my father's leather couch.
"He's a psychologist, I told you that right?" I ask and she nods again as she sits down. I walk to the couch and sit next to her but not very close.
"This is your house?" She asks and I nod my head.
"Yeah. How long have you been here?" I ask and she shrugs.
"About an hour maybe."
"Enjoying the party?" I ask.
"Yeah, I brought some friends just in case this went wrong. That was them in the hall, that's how I knew to go up to you." She says and I nod my head. Smart girl. I lost Rachel and Brittany a long time ago.
"I was afraid you weren't real." I say and she chuckles lightly.
"So was I but luckily you are because I didn't want to have to kick your ass if you were some guy." She says and I laugh.
"Kick my ass? You couldn't beat me in thumb wrestling." I say and she laughs now.
"Bring it." She holds her hand out to me and I take it. Her hands are so soft. I knew I had feelings for this girl but I just...I didn't expect this. Just holding her hand made my breath hitch. We ended up playing that game like nine times because I won first then she won then I won again. I feel so comfortable around her because...she already knows me. I don't have to be anyone but myself around her. I don't have to be school Santana where I'm a huge bitch, I can just be myself. I'm only ever like this with Britt and Rachel. We made our way outside and into the backyard where we're walking through my mothers garden.
"Why has it taken so long for us to meet?" I ask her as we walk.
"I was kind of afraid." She says as she looks at flowers.
"Meeting you would actually make this real and...I wasn't sure I was ready for that." She says as we stop walking.
"Make what real?" I ask.
"My feelings..." I move closer to her but she takes a step back.
"I have to go." She says. What?
"What? Why do you have to go now?" I say but she keeps walking backwards to get away from me.
"I'm sorry." She says then shes starts running towards the house. I follow her but once I get in the house, I lose her. What the fuck just happened?
"San cheer up." Brittany says as she taps my hand. I keep playing with the food on my tray and sigh. How could I be such a fucking idiot? I still don't know her fucking name, have her number...anything...but if I did, what good would that do? She won't return my emails. She's not interested...I'm just so confused.
"Britt it's only been a week, San needs time." Rachel says from her seat at our lunch table.
"I just don't get it..." I say with a sigh.
"You'll be alright, just give it some time." Rachel says and I sigh then stand.
"I'll see you guys later." I grab my tray and throw it away before I leave the cafeteria. I walk to the auditorium and sit in one of the seats in the back, by the wall. I always come here to be alone when I'm in an emotionally fucked up place. The only people who come in here is the drama club and I don't think they'll be here today. I put my feet up on the seat in front of me and stare at the ceiling. The one time I actually get feelings for someone and this happens...fuck my life. I close my eyes but open them quickly as I hear foot steps and mumbled talking. I guess the drama club did decide to come in here. I watch as they appear on stage and some people walk past my row of seats to get to the stage. I guess they have a production coming up. I get up from my seat since I know they're probably going to want me to leave. I walk down the row of seats and to the aisle. As I walk up to the door I grab my phone from my pocket and look at it for the time when someone bumps into me.
"Watch it." I say glaring at the blonde in front of me with the...her eyes...they made my breath hitch like...
"It's you." She's caught and she knows it. I can tell from her facial expression but she hasn't said a word.
"Can I talk to you?" I ask her. She bites her lip but nods and turns to walk back to the door she just came through. I follow and once we're in the hall I start talking.
"Why have you been ignoring me? What's up with you?" I ask and she shrugs.
"Talk to me." I say and she sighs.
"You really don't remember me do you?" She says and I furrow my eyebrows.
"What are you talking about?" She sighs and runs a hand threw her hair.
"Santana I've been in at least one of your classes since middle school. Imagine me shorter with acne, braces, huge glasses and about thirty pounds heavier." What...wait...shit.
"Ringing some bells?" She says and I sigh.
"Quinn." She nods her head and crosses her arms over her chest. I was a huge bully in middle school and a little of freshman year but I stopped. I targeted almost everyone but there were only a few I did horrible things to...and Quinn was one of them.
"I didn't...I...I don't even know how where to begin to apologize." I say and Quinn shakes her head.
"When you emailed me...I already knew it was you. I hated you for so long Santana but I hated myself more for letting you push me around and not standing up for myself. So when I got that email, I saw it as an opportunity to get back at you. I wanted to crush you and I figured the easiest way would be to humiliate you...I was going to completely expose you to the entire school, every dirty little secret you have."
"Why didn't you?" I ask. I want to be mad but...I can't. Not after the way I treated her.
"I fell for you...and I just couldn't hurt you like that."
"I'm sorry for what I did to you Quinn. I mean it." She nods her head.
"I know."
"I know I fucked up but...if you're willing to forgive me, I still want to see where this could go."
"Even after you know what I was going to do to you?" She asks and I shrug.
"I would have deserved it." Quinn nods and moves closer to me.
"You would have but...I do want to give you the chance to redeem yourself." She says with a smirk.
"So we're trying this?" I ask and Quinn nods then pulls me into a hug. I hold her close and bury my head into hair inhaling a sweet vanilla, my new favorite scent.
"I have to get to rehearsal." She says as she pulls back from our hug. I pull away but take her hand in mine.
"Let's go." I say.
"You can't be in there." She says and I shrug my shoulders.
"I don't care. I'll hide or something." Quinn shakes her head.
"No but you can meet me when it's over." I sigh but nod my head. I finally get her number then kiss her cheek before I leave. I may have hurt her in the past but there's no way in hell I'd make the same mistake twice.