Nothing said Santana like being late to school lately. I walked into biology class ten minutes later than the others and sat down on my usual seat. I looked back to see if Quinn was in there too and she was. She was in the classroom, next to Brittany, without her cheerleading outfit on. I knew that we only had one last week of practice but she could at least hold out for a simple week. I gave her and Brittany a quick smile before looking back at the teacher. I took notes, I didn't want to miss anything. I had passed all my biology tests and everything but I was still worried because the teacher didn't seem to like me sometimes, I couldn't really tell why. I was always focused on all lessons though - I had to get into college or I would disappoint myself and my parents. We had one last big exam the week before summer break, that was all I knew. I wasn't very worried about applying to college - I was more nervous than worried. However, the lesson ended eventually and I walked out. I felt someones hands cover my eyes and it was either Brittany or Quinn - they were the only ones left walking behind me out of the classroom.

"Guess who?" she said when I grabbed her hands and tried to pull them off my eyes. I failed.

"Stop, Brittany" Quinn said. Her hands grabbed mine and I lowered them then she forcefully pulled Brittany's hands off my face.

"Be careful, we don't want to hurt her face'' Brittany smiled and put her hands on my shoulders, still standing behind me.

"I kind of knew it was you" I smiled. Her arms were hanging over my chest.

"Yeah after Quinn spoiled it!" she laughed and removed her arms from me so she could stand beside me.

"Why aren't you wearing your cheerleading outfit, Quinn?" I asked her, naturally. I was standing in the middle of Quinn and Brittany.

"I didn't feel like wearing itf"

"Oh"

"Quinn hasn't decided what she wants to do yet" Brittany changed the subject. "Do you have any plans?" she asked me.

"I want to be a psychologist" I told her.

"That's really cool" she smiled.

"I'm going to do whatever Santana does" Quinn jokingly bumped her elbow against mine.

"I'm thinking about teaching" Brittany ignored Quinn. "I want to teach, you know, like a teacher" she said.

"Yeah, that's really cool too. High school kids or?" I kept the conversation going so I could brush the smile off my lips - caused by Quinn's sentence.

"Middle school" Brittany explained. "I can't wait until we get to apply, just to get it over with.. I'm so anxious"

"Honestly me too, I've been thinking about it almost everyday" I said.

"Are you travelling anywhere this summer then?" Brittany asked as we kept walking to the locker room. Quinn was still with us even though she dropped off.

"Not that I know," I answered "I don't even know exactly when the summer break starts" I laughed at my ignorance.

"We graduate on June 5th" Quinn said.

"Exactly," Brittany was still smiling "that's in like a little bit less than two weeks.. Are you guys as excited as I am?"

"I'm kind of excited, yeah" I said. Quinn didn't even respond.

We reached the locker room door and Brittany quickly walked in, probably thinking I was right behind her. I wasn't - I stopped before stepping in.

"I'll wait for you" Quinn smiled, my heart tingled.

I walked in and sat down beside Brittany. She was changing shoes for some reason - she was changing into the same type of shoes, just another pair of them. I didn't bother asking why, I didn't really care to know. She fixed her ponytail, I did the same. We stood up and walked into the gymhall.
For the first time I got a 'good job' from the coach. It made me happy somehow, because I knew I was really good. I wasn't captain once for being shitty at what I was doing. I think coach knew I was good, she just liked giving people a hard time. When we left to go back to the locker room, I did the usual 'shower' routine. I still wasn't happy enough with my team to let them see what I did to myself. It was a sensetive subject and I was afraid of knowing how I would react if someone pointed the scars out. Me and Brittany walked out together, we stood so close our hands brushed against each other every now and then. It wasn't my fault though - she was the one who liked walking tight beside me. It didn't bother me, I wasn't that picky. Everyone has their own way of walking.

"I wonder where Quinn is" I said when we reached the big hallway.

"Aren't you going to see Mercedes?" she sounded surprised, I didn't want her to think I replaced Mercedes or anything so I went with it. Brittany wasn't quite used to mine and Quinn's friendship yet.

"Quinn said she would wait here for.. um, us" I said, trying to sound as confident as possible. "But you go look for her, I'm calling Mercedes"

I felt a little bad for leaving Brittany like that but hanging out with her and Quinn together was really stressful for some reason when she didn't know about what we were doing behind her back. The same with everyone else, I didn't want to be around Quinn if there were people we had to hide from with us. It was just not comfortable, it felt like I was lying all the time and it made me feel uptight. It was so intense I could barely stand it.
I called Mercedes and she told me her and Tina were sitting outside, like usual. Thanks to me - we always sat outside. Even when I wasn't with them, they went outside. I was glad about the answer she gave me and went there.

"Hey guys" I said, Mercedes looked up. Tina didn't. "You too, Tina" I added. She looked up.

"Oh, are we talking?" she sassed.

"Now we are" I laughed at her attempt of trying to intimidate me.

"Fine," she sighed "I didn't like avoiding you" she smiled.

"We don't have to discuss it - it was stupid of us both. Deal?" I reached my hand for her to shake and she did with a big grin.

"So, what's up?" Mercedes said as I sat down on the table right next to her, my legs leaning on the bench beloning to the table.

"Not much"

"You're coming to my place tomorrow right?," Mercedes said "we're all going to hang out there, watch a movie or something"

"Tomorrow? Tomorrow as in Friday?" I said.

"Yes tomorrow as in Friday" she laughed and crunched her face.

"I didn't know about that"

"I told you about it yesterday" she shouted with laughter in her voice.

"You didn't!"

"Santana, I swear. I told you. We were sitting on that bench right over there," she pointed forward "and you were texting and I said we would hang out at my place on Friday and you nodded when I asked you if you could be there"

I probably didn't pay attention to what she said because I was texting Quinn. I didn't know what to tell Mercedes I couldn't be there. I promised Quinn I would go to that party with her two weeks earlier.

"I'm so sorry, Mercedes.. I don't think I was listening" I said.

"It's okay.. Now you know" she smiled.

"I won't be able to make it" I told her.

"What?," she sounded upset already "Santana, come on! It won't be fun without you" she said "Brittany is coming too" she said as if that would change my mind.

"I have plans.. And really, I made these plans like two weeks ago"

"Oh.." she changed from angry to just plain disappointed "what are you doing then?" she asked. Both her and Tina were looking at me with curious faces.

"Um," I cleared my throat "I'm going to a party" I said, I didn't want to put in details.

"Who's party?" Mercedes sounded shocked, probably because I was invited to a party and she wasn't.

"It's, um.. I don't know the guy, some college guy" I said.

"You're going to a party held by a guy you don't know?" she sarcastically laughed.

"I'm going with Quinn" I finally admitted.

Both Tina and Mercedes looked at each other before looking at me with their entire being judging me. It was both embarrassing and annoying for me to see.

"Okay" Mercedes simply said.

I turned around and ignored the obviously pissed off friend. I didn't have time for another fight - first it was Rachel, then Tina and I really didn't want to fight with Mercedes. She was the last friend I ever would want to lose even if it would be for just a day or two.

"Mercedes, I'm really sorry" I said.

"It's okay, Santana. You say you made plans with her before you did with us so I can't be mad at you" she said and even though she claimed she wasn't upset, it was obvious that she was.

"Thank you.."

After a long, awkward and uncomfortable silence, Brittany walked over to us. Without Quinn, which told that Quinn was smoking. I quickly thought about going to see her - I missed her already. But I didn't, Mercedes was already a bit angry (even though she didn't say it) that I wasn't going to her place, that I was going to a party with Quinn instead. I kind of started feeling like a shitty friend and it got worse when she said that Brittany was going too. That meant Brittany ditched the party to be with Mercedes and the girls. I still couldn't cancel my plans with Quinn, I mean.. It was Quinn.

"Why is everyone so quiet?" Brittany said and sat down right beside me.

"There's kind of nothing to talk about" Tina said.

"There's a lot to talk about, like global warming" Brittany joked. "How are you Santana?" she looked at me.

"I'm fine," I avoided eye contact "you?"

"I'm good. Will I see you tomorrow?" she asked.

"Yeah I'll be in school" I said, wishing she wouldn't ask about after school.

"I mean at Mercedes place" she said anyway.

"Oh," I looked at Mercedes who just luckily, smiled at me "no.. I can't come"

"Why not?" she pouted with her lips.

"I'm going with Quinn to this party. I don't know"

"Oh" she looked away from me directly. "Santana, you remember what I told you.." she whispered into my ear so that Mercedes and Tina wouldn't hear her.

"I know, I know. I'll be careful. Stop doing that.." I said, I was annoyed about it because deep inside I knew there was something else that Brittany thought I knew about but I didn't.

"Doing what?" she said. Mercedes and Tina's attention was caught.

"You're trying to make me avoid Quinn, right? I'm not going to" I was getting heated, like really angry at her for reminding me.

"Santana," her eyebrows furrowed, the small innocent face looked confused "I just don't want you to do the things she does.. You know it's dangerous" she lowered her voice again.

"Brittany, stop worrying about me. Just let it go. I'm not a kid, I know what I'm doing. Did she affect you?" I asked.

"No" she said.

"Well, what the hell makes you think you're better than me at saying no?"

"I'm not, I jus-"

"I know you just want me to be careful, I will. Drop it" I said.

I felt so bad for talking to Brittany that way, I really didn't want to act like that towards her when she was being nothing else but nice. It was just that the whole Quinn situation, everything involving her, it was so sensitive for me to talk about because I got protective of her. And I wanted to hear only good things about her. Like when Tina told me I should be ashamed to be friends with her - which I still think was really rude - I lashed out and walked away because I didn't want to hear her talk about Quinn. It was just something that got into me whenever I heard her name. Brittany didn't say anything. I looked at my left side and she was just staring at the ground. Mercedes and Tina spoke, they were avoiding our conversation which I was more than thankful for. I caught Brittany's attention after a while and the doleful face looked crushed.

"Brittany, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be like that.."

"It's okay, really" she said. A smile that didn't really convince me showed on her still cheerless face. "I'm not mad at you, I just hoped you'd listen to me because I know what I'm talking about," she said again "but you're my friend and I respect you. So I'm not going to stand in your way anymore" this time the smile looked real.

"I appreciate that"

Brittany's words this time assured me about the fact that it wasn't the smoking thing she was so worried about me getting into. Well, she weirdly didn't even know about Quinn smoking. Yet, there was something else she knew about and instead of questioning her about it and making Quinn think I didn't trust her, I decided to be patient and wait. I would find out what she was so worried about sooner or later.
It was easy to see that Brittany slowly began to choose Mercedes, Tina and Rachel over Quinn. She hung out with us more on the breaks, Quinn always showed up and dragged Brittany away with her. It sometimes felt like Brittany didn't really want to hang out with Quinn, it felt like she was being forced to it or that she felt like she had to hang out with her. When I first got to the new school, Quinn was my biggest enemy and Brittany came right after. I thought they were the typical, ultimate high school bithces. Which they were - but they were so much more than just that. They became my friends. It's ironic really how your biggest enemy can become the person you're slowly falling in love with.
I thought about when Brittany offered to drive me home in the middle of the rain during one of my first weeks in New York. How when we were in the car, she was thoughtful in a very cold, distracting way. That changed, the cold ice melted and she became warmer than ever towards me.

"Okay, ready to go get lunch?," Tina said "I'm literally starving"

"Sure, let's go" I said. Me and Mercedes stood up, Brittany didn't. "Are you coming?"

"I'm waiting for Quinn" she smiled "I'll see you guys later"

"Why don't you come with us and Quinn can catch up with you?" Tina said, she was just in a hurry.

"I guess I could.." she said, sounding insecure about her choice.

We walked to the lunch room. I wasn't really hungry yet so I didn't eat anything. Brittany and the others started digging in their lunch. I looked around, wondering what would take Quinn such a long time. She usually smokes really quickly and returns. It's not like her to leave Brittany for so long.

"I wonder where Quinn is" I said to Brittany. Mercedes looked right at me.

"I don't know.."

"Well, behind you guys" Mercedes said. Both me and Brittany looked back.

"Why is she sitting there alone?" I asked, pointing my sentence at Brittany.

"I have no idea, seriously" she stood up and walked over to Quinn.

"That girl is just after attention, she can't leave Brittany alone" Tina said "If I was Brittany, I would ditch Quinn, she doesn't deserve friends. She obviously doesn't appreciate them"

"We don't know her," Mercedes said "all we know about her is that she's a bitch to everyone. We know nothing about how she really is with her friends, Tina" she continued. She looked at me right after she finished talking.

"Just look at her," Tina said "she makes Brittany go after her like a little puppy all the time"

"Will you shut your damn mouth?" I said, I couldn't hold it in. Yet again, the subject 'Quinn' just made me feel edgy.

"Jeez.." Tina mumbled quietly.

After the long break everything went fast until it was time for the last math test we would have. Sitting in there felt like I was inside a prision cell. However, after a while I started focusing harder on the test. I spent all Wednsday night preparing myself for it. It became easier by the time and at last I was done with it. I left class and headed towards my locker, I grabbed my bag and locked it again. I started walking over to my car, when I got closer to the parking lot, I saw Quinn standing right by my car. Waiting. She was playing with her phone but as soon as I got closer and she noticed me coming, she put it down in her pocket.

"So.. Can I get a ride home?" she smiled.

"Of course" I said and unlocked the car.

We stepped into it and I started the engine. I didn't know how Quinn knew I took my mother's car and drove myself to school. I got out of the school area and had a good drive until I reached a red light that just didn't want to go away. The traffic was crazy. I peered over at Quinn and she was staring out the window. Memories started flashing before my eyes of that time a couple of months ago. Memories of me and Quinn standing under the pouring water - a weird feeling hit my stomach, it was fear. I remembered her violent eyes, the forceful kisses.. I thought about how I nearly begged her, how I nearly cried that she would stop. It came to my mind how I felt afterwards, how she made me feel. Despite what happened, in some way, some dark twisted way - I overlooked it. It never happened. Or, some days, like in the car, I would think 'I wanted it' and Quinn became perfect to me again. I took her hand and she smiled at me. I leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the sleek lips. It wasn't anything passionate - just a kiss to show that I missed her.

"Quinn?"

"Yes"

"Why did you sit there all alone, you know, during lunch? Why didn't you come over like you always do?" I asked as I finally started driving again.

"I didn't want to bother you" she said. The keen, soothing voice made me mildly flutter.

"What? You wouldn't bother me, you could just do what you always do.. Get Brittany"

"She seemed to like being next to you. Santana, I swear, I think she has a major crush on you" Quinn smiled. "I mean, you're outstanding.. Who wouldn't? But.. I don't like it. I really don't"

"What makes you think that?," I wondered "you keep saying it.."

"Did you know that she talks about you all the time?" she sounded annoyed this time "in biology class, before you got there, she didn't shut up about you being late.. She was two seconds away from texting you when you got there. Thank God"

"She's just really friendly, that's it" I said. I refused to believe Quinn when it came to Brittany having any kind of romantic feelings for me.

"No, no. Absolutely not. Listen to me, Santana," she began to get bitter "she doesn't shut up about you. She constantly talks about you.. All the time. She told me yesterday for like the 50th time that she thought you had the prettiest eyes, she says they remind her of chocolate?," she let out a irritated snort "I told her to shut up about it or I would tell you everything she said, of course I was joking though but she stopped talking about you" she laughed.

"Does it annoy you when people talk about me?" I asked, totally ignoring all her 'proof' about Brittany having a crush on me.

"A bit"

"Why?"

"I don't like it, it's depressing"

"Depressing..?"

"I can't tell them about how I feel about you, it makes me depressed"

When she said that, it made it clear for me why I didn't like when Tina, Brittany or Mercedes spoke about her either. It was the same feeling, it made me depressed because I couldn't tell them how much I l liked her. How could I not see it? It made me chuckle.

"I feel the same way.. I wish we could just, you know.."

"It's not worth having people talking about it" she conveyed "we're going to off to college after the summer.. Can't you hold out just until summer? It's not much more than a week left.."

"I can, I was just saying"

"I understand"

"You really want to be a psychologist?," I laughed "or was it just a joke?"

"I don't know, maybe?" she said.

"Did you just say that because I did?" I asked.

"Yes, but also a part of me was being real. I hope we get into the same college. Don't you?"

"Of course I do. If we make it through the summer" I joked.

"I'll make sure we will" Quinn smiled.

Thanks for reading. Don't forget to tell me what you think, review! :)