Quinn was still sitting outside on the patio, she had flicked her cigarette so the old ashes would fall off.
She was astounded really- because Santana chose her. Without a ounce of hesitation. Her name came out of Santana's mouth. She chose Quinn over Brittany.
As much as it made her feel good? She felt bad for Brittany. Their relationship was so strong in high school. All three of them. And this relationship might very well tear them apart. The Unholy Trinity was by far the best thing to come out of her time in high school. But things happen, and if she was being completely honest she thought Brittany and Santana breaking up would have done it for them.
Caitlyn walked back into her room and sat on her bed.
"Hey." She said quietly. "She's gonna call you soon. She went out on the balcony. She's probably getting her pack out first."
"Her what?"
"Oh shit okay. That's a secret. Please pretend you don't know."
Quinn laughed but felt as if it were her fault that Santana now smokes. "It's fine I won't say anything."
"Okay." Caitlyn paused. "She chose you, Quinn. This is huge."
"It is. I know it is. I'll pretend I didn't hear anything though I promise."
"I wasn't going to let Brittany ruin this. I like you Quinn. You're so good for her. I know I haven't known her long but this is the happiest I have seen her since she got to Louisville. As much as I was rooting for her to get back with Brittany, I'm rooting for you two now. I better let you go, she's about to call."
"That means a lot Cait, thank you for everything. And thank you for looking out for her."
"It's no problem. Talk to you later."
Quinn placed her cigarette in the ashtray and walked back inside. She waited for Santana to call, but a few minutes went by and she didn't hear anything. It's nothing, she thought to herself. She probably needs some time to relax and smoke before she calls.
Jess walks in and sees Quinn sitting on the couch.
"Everything okay? I saw the ashtray outside. Is everything good with Santana?"
"Yeah everything's good. Brittany showed up in Louisville. But when Brittany asked her to choose between the two of us?"
"She chose you, didn't she."
Quinn smiled. "She did."
"I mean, that sucks for Brittany. But I told you. I told you that this connection you have with Santana is real."
She had heard it a dozen times from her roommates that Santana and her were meant to be together.
Quinn's phone finally rang and it popped up as Santana's name with a heart next to it.
"Go go. I'll catch up with you after."
Quinn slid right to answer the call.
"Hey baby." She said with relief. "You okay?"
Santana looked stressed. "I'm okay. That was just, a lot you know?"
"I bet. I'm sorry San, I didn't mean for it to get out of hand like that."
Santana ran her hand through her hair. "No it's not your fault. I knew she would react like that either way. I'm just glad it's over with."
The two girls sat in silence for a bit as Santana smoked her cigarette. "I don't want to hear a word about the cigarettes babe."
Quinn laughed, knowing that it had to come up sooner or later.
"You know I don't care about it, I don't know why you tried to hide it."
Santana blew some smoke out of her mouth, and looked back at the phone to see Quinn staring at her. "Brittany asked me to choose between her and you. And I chose you."
Quinn was left speechless yet again. She knew that Santana had chose her but she didn't really have the words to say anything. She felt, loved. But it was too early for that kind of love, right?
"I chose you, because you have been true to me. For the entire time I've known you. Brittany, yeah. She loves me. But she's chosen other people over me, this wasn't the first time. I feel like I'm a fall back for her. She's a different person now, but you? You have been the same Quinn Fabray to me since I've known you. You've never let me down."
"I- don't know what to say, San."
"You don't have to say anything, Q. I'm just telling you that I chose you for these reasons. I wanna be with you. You are the person I trust."
"And I trust you, babe. I do. I won't hurt you. I can promise you that."
Santana smiled, knowing that it was the truth.
"Remember the year that we fought in the hallway? And then you had the nerve to tell me to fix my ponytail before class?" Quinn laughed hard, remembering every moment of it. They might have thrown hard blows at each other, with words and hands but even through all of that? Their friendship was still strong.
"I was head Cheerio, it's all about appearances."
"As if we hadn't just spilt all of our tea from that past summer in front of everyone in the hallway."
They laughed together.
"So what about the show case? We're still going?"
"Hell yeah we are, the reigning winner can't not show up you know?" Santana laughed. "By the time the showcase happens, the drama should be sizzling out. Plus, I figured this year I could do a duet with you."
Quinn knew that their voices sounded superb together. They didn't have many duets together, the one that everyone remembered was Take My Breath Away during Senior Prom. Mr. Shue really knew how to prove that he favored Rachel and Finn.
"I'd love that San. You got anything in mind?"
"I might have something, but it's something we can talk about later." Santana looked at the time to realize it was almost 6 and she needed to get ready for the team dinner. "So, what bottom's should I wear with my new shirt? I can't go looking raggedy."
"Oh definitely those beige skinny jeans you have. For sure." Quinn smirked. "You look so good in them."
Santana walked into the guest bedroom and pulled the bottom drawer open. Her beige skinny jeans were the only item sitting in the drawer. She placed the phone down on the bed and slipped out of the shorts she was wearing.
"Ohhh daaaaayum baby you got a girlfriend?" Quinn joked. "Cause that ass is looking fooooine I'd love cut me off a piece of that cake."
Santana turned around, cheeks now a bright shade of pink. "Babe!"
"Okay okay I'm sorry." Quinn laughed. "But you look so good right now."
"I wish I could take you to the dinner tonight. You're not like, hiding in Cait's room are you?"
"Fuck I wish I was. And if I was you think I would've let you go through all of that on your own?"
That was true. Santana could only imagine what that would've been like- having that argument with Brittany while Quinn was there. Things would've been a lot different, and she felt as if Quinn would've said something and Brittany would've wanted to fight her.
"I handled it though. I did." Santana sat on her bed. She could hear Caitlyn grabbing her purse and stuff in her room. "But a kiss after all of that? Would've been wonderful."
Both hearts ached at that moment. Long distance was difficult. "About a week baby. And I'll be with you."
Santana half smiled now, tears welling up in her eyes.
"No no, hey. Don't cry."
"I'm just, overwhelmed you know? I- I miss you, Quinn. I miss you. And I need you."
Oh how she wished she could just hop through the screen. She watched as Santana wiped a tear that was falling. Today was definitely a long day. And definitely one of those days where Quinn wished she lived a little closer. Santana, at that very moment- meant everything to her.
"I miss you too, babe. I miss you with my entire being. Wipe your eyes, and go have fun at your dinner tonight okay? You guys deserve it."
Caitlyn was waiting at the bedroom door now, motioning for Santana to come on. "I will. Hey, call me if Britt tries to talk to you okay?"
"I will. Be safe tonight. Bye babe."
"Bye. L-" And Santana paused. "I'll text you when I get there."
Quinn blew a kiss into the phone before hanging up.
Santana kinda just sat there for a bit, in silence.
"You almost dropped the L word didn't you." Caitlyn said, with a huge smile on her face. "It's okay. You two have known each other for a long time. Yall used to tell each other I love you after every call."
Santana stood up from the bed and began walking out of the apartment with Caitlyn. "It's something different now though. You know?"
"It is. Because you guys are a couple. But, that doesn't mean you two don't love each other."
They walked out to Santana's car, got in and buckled up. "I don't know Cait. I just don't want to scare her off."
"Oh, I don't think you'll scare her off."
Quinn walked down the hallway and stopped in front of Jess' door. She knocked a few times and waited for an answer.
"Come in."
"Hey, you busy?" Quinn said as she walked inside.
Jess' room was lined with RBG lights at the top, with a nice desk with her computer set up in the corner. She was a streamer, and a pretty popular one at that. Quinn never understood the hype of League of Legends, possible because she wasn't good at it.
"No, I just got out of a game. Sit. Tell me what happened."
Quinn sat on the empty chair next to Jess', and Jess took her headphones off and turned off her camera.
"Okay so long story short? I posted on Instagram, Brittany saw it. Apparently she lost her shit during Glee Club practice, made the three hour drive to Louisville to try and get Santana back. They argued, and Caitlyn tried to mediate at one point. But it ended with Brittany telling Santana to choose between her and me and she chose me." Quinn sat back, the chair leaning slightly. "Also, she almost said I love you."
Jess swiveled her chair to face Quinn. "Okay okay. The way I see it is this. You guys have been telling each other I love you for what I assume is years. The only thing that has changed is now you guys are in a relationship. Doesn't mean, you guys don't still love each other."
Quinn thought about it, and she was right. But it was something she wanted to tread lightly on. She also wanted the first time they said I love you to each other to be in person.
Hopeless romantic, she thought to herself. When it happens, it'll happen.
"I'm sure it'll happen but having it be in person would be much better." Quinn said. "Your room is looking really good by the way. A lot nicer than the last time I was in here."
"Oh you know, I've been working on it. I've got almost ten thousand subscribers on twitch now. Slowly building. Little do they know, their favorite streamer is a biomedical engineer major."
"What are you planning to do this summer?" Quinn asked.
"I'm not sure. I know I have to go home, but I'm not sure what I'm gonna do. What about you and Santana?"
"Well, we're planning a trip to Lima because every summer all the alumni's and current member's of the Glee Club have a talent showcase. And with Santana being the current winner of last year, we have to go."
"Oh God, that's gonna be a shit show don't you think?"
"Nah, by that time everything should be calmed down. At least that's what we're hoping. Either way, we're going." Quinn said proudly. "Plus, she wants to do a duet this year. With me."
"Now that I think about it? I've never heard you sing Quinn. Like, ever."
Quinn hardly sang now days, most times it would be when she was alone in the house.
"Go on YouTube and type in New Directions Time of My Life. I'll show you now."