Walking down the busy streets of New York never fails to bring a smile to her face. Well, unless she's on the way to work or something. Looking up at the tall buildings surrounding her, Santana takes a deep breath of the fresh air.

Except, the air in New York isn't of the highest quality, so she starts choking on the scent of engine exhaust mixed with cigarette smoke.

Catching her breath, she continues to walk down Lexington Avenue, weaving in and out of the crowds of tourists. She's currently on her way to meet her best friend, Quinn, for lunch.

Quinn insists that she and Santana have lunch together at least once a week. Santana likes to put up a front and pretend it's a burden, but she knows it's always the highlight of her week.

Quinn's been her best friend for a few years now. They went to high school together but mainly spent the time competing for the top spot on the cheerleading squad.

Quinn didn't win, btw…they flopped back and forth, so it's safe to say Santana didn't lose.

After graduation, both girls moved to New York and lost contact…ironic since they moved to the same city, right? It wasn't until Santana ran into Quinn at an NYU hangout a few months later that they started talking again.

Turns out, when they aren't at each other's throats all the time, trying to make their way to the top of the social ladder, they actually get along quite well.

Two years later, they're each other's "ride or die," so to speak, and have never been closer. So close, in fact, Santana even agreed to attend Rachel Berry's opening night on Broadway…so if that doesn't say "I love you," she doesn't know what will.

Santana opens the door to the restaurant and snaps her eyes over to their usual table, seeing the short blonde wave to her as she enters.

"Hey!" Quinn bounces a little in her seat and opens her menu on the table. "I saw this new dish they have on Thursdays now. I was thinking about ordering it."

Santana smirks as she opens her own menu and takes a look. White Pizza, the special reads. Her eyes trail down to the description and read quickly. It's pretty much a pizza with no sauce.

Yeah, no thanks, she thinks.

"Do what you want, Q, but I'm gonna stick with my usual," She says with a laugh.

Quinn's brows furrow as she thinks further about her choice. She's always been super indecisive about everything, but sometimes it can be endearing.

Santana watches her quizzically as she continues to stare at the menu. When the waiter comes, she gives him a polite smile and orders their drinks: iced tea for Quinn and water for herself.

"So, how's work been?" Santana breaks the silence, now getting bored with just watching Quinn.

"It's going, you know?" Quinn closes the menu and folds her hands on top of each other on the table, giving Santana her full attention. "Boss is still an ass, but it is what it is, right?" She lets out a sarcastic chuckle.

"I don't understand why you don't find another job…or at least start looking." She shakes her head as the waiter sets the drinks down in front of them.

Quinn unwraps her straw and places it in her glass as she continues. "It's not that easy, Santana. I already have my foot in the door at one of the biggest law firms in New York…as soon as I graduate, I could have opportunities there that I wouldn't get anywhere else."

She cocks her head to the side, recognizing that Quinn has a point. "Yeah, but is it worth your sanity?" Santana leans back in her chair and takes a sip of water. "Bad work environments can be draining, Q. I'm just looking out for you."

"I know, and thank you." She gives the brunette a soft smile. "But it'll get better…I know it will. I mean, look at Rachel. She had a horrible time at NYADA, but it paid off in the end, right?"

Rachel went to NYADA after graduation. She went there for about a year, and the head dean made her life a living hell. But she pushed through and landed the lead in her favorite musical. Now, she only goes to NYADA part-time while focusing on her blossoming career.

"You had to bring the hobbit into this," Santana says with a roll of her eyes. "It's weird seeing you two so close. We were awful to her in high school."

Quinn looks down at the table with a small smile, but the guilt in her eyes is evident. "I kinda feel like I owe it to her, you know? I mean, that's not the only reason I'm friends with her, but I feel bad about how we treated her at McKinley."

Santana shrugs her shoulders, silently agreeing with Quinn but making sure she doesn't admit it aloud. Like hell she'd ever do that.

"I hear she broke up with Finn…took her long enough." Santana changes the subject slightly, snickering at the new topic.

"God, finally." Quinn rolls her eyes with a smile. "He was just holding her back anyway. She needs to find someone that's more her speed, someone that matches her ambition."

"Yeah, but that's a lot easier said than done, Q." She mutters as the waiter returns to take their orders.

She gives the waiter a polite smile and orders her usual. An amused expression comes across her face when she sees Quinn order her usual, as well.

"Didn't want to try something new, I see?" She teases.

"Oh, you're one to talk." She laughs.

"What do you mean?" She asks. "I try new dishes all the time. I just didn't want a piece of bread with cheese for lunch." She chuckles.

"That's not what I'm talking about, S. We were talking about dating before the waiter came…you never seem to want to put yourself out there. That's why it's easier said than done for you." She shrugs simply.

Santana crosses her arms over her chest defensively. "Well, it's not like I haven't tried, Quinn. New York may be a big city, but I have standards. And besides, I'm too busy to date anyways."

"Have you even tried, though? Flirted with random people? Tried asking someone for their number?" She leans forward on the table, staring intently at Santana.

"Uh, no," She drags out. "Because I value my safety…I'm not gonna parade around and talk to strangers, Quinn. That's how you wind up in less than exciting situations."

"I think you're overreacting." Quinn shakes her head. "Not everyone is like that. And I'm not saying to go talk to a crackhead on the subway, but just regular people when you get a coffee or something." She leans back in her chair. "You can always try a dating app, too."

Santana's eyes widen slightly and she violently shakes her head back and forth. "Oh, hell no. Dating apps are where catfish and creepers spawn. Once again, I value my safety."

"Oh, come on, Santana. I've used one before…how do you think I met that Josh guy?"

"You told me you met him at the copy place!" She says incredulously.

"Oh…" Quinn looks down with a defeated look. "Well, the date still went okay, didn't it?" She raises her hands to her shoulders in a questioning motion.

"Uh…wasn't he the guy that still carried around his baby teeth?"

Quinn narrows her eyes, racking her brain for the memory. When she finds it, she smiles. "Oh, yeah! That was a little weird…but he was really sweet!"

"Then why didn't you go on a second date?" She challenges.

"B-because," She starts, and Santana can tell she's looking for an excuse. "H-he was the same height as me. You know I can't date a guy that isn't taller than I am."

Santana remains stoic and nods her head. "Sure, Q. Doesn't mean I'm putting myself on a dating app, or going to talk to random people for a date."

Quinn huffs in frustration and slumps in her chair. Santana brings her glass to her lips with a satisfied smirk, knowing she won this argument. She takes a sip of her water before Quinn shoots up straight in her chair, eyes wide with an idea.

The sudden movement causes Santana to jump, choking on the liquid in her mouth. Her reflex is to spit the water out across the table, where it coats the bottom of Quinn's face. She shuts her eyes in disgust, which doesn't help Santana's coughing fit, since she's now laughing as well.

"Sorry, Q, but that's what you get for jumping like that." She says after catching her breath.

Quinn's wiping the bottom of her face with a napkin and glaring across the table. "That's gross, Santana."

"Not my fault…you're the one that scared me when I was mid-sip." She raises her hands in defense with a smirk on her face.

"Anyway…" Quinn continues after a moment, but the joy in her eyes from her sudden revelation is gone. "I was going to suggest having someone you already know set you up. That way, you won't have to talk to random people since that makes you uncomfortable."

"Set me up?" She furrows her brows. "Like on a blind date?"

"Well, not necessarily a blind date, but yeah, sorta," Quinn says as her eyes move over to the waiter walking to the table with their food. She unfolds her napkin and folds it across her lap as Santana does the same. "Just, have someone you already know and trust set you up with someone they know and trust."

"And who would I ask to do that, Quinn? I really only have one friend here, and that's you." She says as she picks up her fork and twirls it around in her pasta.

When she doesn't hear a reply right away, she looks up to find Quinn smirking at her plate as she begins to eat. "Quinn?" She asks, worried about what the other girl is thinking.

"I already have someone in mind," She says, delight evident in her voice. "His name's Sebastian, he's really cute, and he's available, too."

"Okay, and how do you know said Sebastian?" Santana responds, not bringing up the nagging thought that appears with Quinn's suggestion.

"He works with me." She shrugs as she takes a bit of her spaghetti.

"Oh, so you're going to set me up with one of your work douches…thanks, Quinn." She replies sarcastically, not looking up at the other girl and concentrating on her alfredo.

"No, no," She reassures quickly. "He works at the front desk with me. He hates the bosses almost as much as I do." Santana can feel eyes boring into her profile as Quinn looks at her. "He's really sweet, San. Please consider it?"

She feels like Quinn's practically begging her to go out with this guy. Part of her wonders why her love life is such a big deal to Quinn. Plus, her insistence is getting really annoying.

She doesn't make her usual snarky comment, knowing it'll just cause an argument and more attention to this already sore subject.

"Fine," She agrees after a few moments of silence. "Just one date."

"That's all I'm asking." She raises her hands in surrender with a wide smile on her face.

Santana lets out a sigh and continues eating, already dreading this date Quinn so badly wants her to go on.

/

When she gets home, Santana shrugs off her coat and sets her purse on the front table. She immediately walks into the kitchen and grabs a beer, knowing she's going to need one for the rest of the night ahead.

Why didn't I just tell her? It was the perfect chance!

Truth is, Santana doesn't necessarily have a problem with Quinn setting her up on a date. She knows that the blonde just wants her to be happy, and she really doesn't mean any harm by it. God, she can be so pushy, though.

Quinn caring so much about her love life is so sweet and frustrating at the same time. On one end, she's happily single right now. She doesn't need to be in a relationship to feel validated. But on the other, it would be nice to have someone close to you in that way.

And not just physically, but emotionally. Someone there to cheer you up on bad days, someone to feel protective over you…someone to share your life with. And she knows that makes it seem so committed and serious, but that's what Santana thinks a relationship should be.

The only problem she has with Quinn butting in isn't her insisting on Santana dating, or even setting her up with someone. She knows Quinn's doing it out of love. The problem is that she doesn't want that with a guy.

She's known since high school that she wasn't attracted to guys in the same way other girls were. They were around for arm candy and attention, but Santana never actually liked them. All the guys she slept with and dated were there for show - for her reputation.

And she knows Quinn wouldn't care if she told her she's gay, but it still seems so damn hard to say.

Why does it have to be so complicated? She thinks.

She sets her half-drank beer on the coffee table and leans back on the couch. She raises her hands to rub at her eyes, willing the thoughts to go away.

She lets out a sigh before standing up and making her way toward the bathroom to shower. She has work in the morning, as well as the date Quinn set up later that evening. She just wants to shower and flop into bed and try to get some rest.

She knows that's not going to happen, though.

/

Much to her chagrin, the work day flew by. Usually, her days drag on and on, but today went by in the blink of an eye. It makes sense, though, since she was really not looking forward to tonight.

They're just meeting at a small cafe, so Santana doesn't dress up much. She wears a simple grey shirt and blue skinny jeans, figuring casual is the best way to dress for the occasion.

She takes a cab and arrives at the cafe about 15 minutes before she's supposed to meet Sebastian here. She enters the building and sits down at a small table next to the front window.

She figures since she can see everyone walk in, she'll be prepared when Sebastian enters.

After waiting for 20 minutes, Santana checks her phone. He's five minutes late.

Great first impression.

She keeps staring at the front door, waiting for him to enter, when her attention is grabbed by a tall blonde walking over to her table.

"Hey! I'm Brittany, and I'll be helping you today. What can I get started for you?" She says, rather energetically.

"I'm actually waiting on someone," Santana says, pointing towards the front door. "But I'll go ahead and order a coffee."

"Sure thing!" The blonde nods her head with a smile and walks off. Santana can't help but watch the girl walk away.

Is it normal for people to have legs that long?

She snaps back to reality when she realizes that she's been staring at the woman's backside for more than a suspicious amount of time. She hears the bell above the front door ring, signaling someone entering, and looks at the door.

A tall, lanky man walks in with a smirk in place as he looks around. For a second, Santana gets nervous, thinking it was Sebastian. Her mind goes to rest when she looks at the man, though, her gay-dar immediately going off in her head.

However, when the man makes eye contact with her and starts walking over, her nerves come flooding back.

"Santana?" He asks as he reaches her table. She nods tentatively, and he sits down across from her. "I'm Sebastian."

"Nice to meet you," She replies politely, giving him a hesitant smile.

This can't be the same guy Quinn meant, can it? She continues to subtly glance over the man's features and body language. Yeah, no, this guy's definitely gay.

"Here's your coffee, miss." Her thoughts are interrupted by the appearance of the blonde waitress as she sets a mug of steaming coffee in front of her. "Can I get anything for you, sir?" She asks Sebastian.

"Sure, I'll just get a cup of coffee as well." He replies shortly.

Santana doesn't miss the small bite in his tone. She brings the cup to her lips, blowing gently on the top before taking a sip.

"It's rather rude to order before your date gets here, you know." He says.

Santana furrows her brows and tries to keep her temper under control. This dude just met her, and he's already giving her attitude?

"Well, it's also rude to show up 10 minutes late, but I didn't say anything." She bites back.

"I'm sorry that I have things in my life that keep me preoccupied. We can't all have free schedules, sweetie." He still has that damn smirk on his face that Santana really wants to smack off. "Quinn told me a little bit about you before the date."

"Oh yeah? What'd she say?" She challenges as she sets the coffee cup down. It's better for it to be out of her hands, just in case she gets the urge to throw the hot liquid at him.

"Told me you work at a recording studio. And I must say, that's extremely endearing. But to be frank, someday you'll have to stop chasing that pipedream and get a real job. One like Quinn and I have."

"Oh, so one where I kiss ass to my boss all day and hope he'll treat me with a little bit of respect?" He falters slightly at my words, effectively putting a smirk on her face. "One where I do nothing but get coffee and type appointments into a calendar? That sounds like the life," She says sarcastically.

If he wants to come for her job, all's fair to dig at his.

"Whatever." He crosses his hands over his chest. "At least I have a goal in mind…you seem to just want to live paycheck to paycheck or marry someone with money so you don't have to do anything substantial."

She's glaring directly into his eyes as he speaks, but she sees a pale arm stretching out between them, setting another cup of coffee in front of Sebastian. She looks up at the blonde, noticing the furrow in her brows and slight scowl on her face as she looks at him.

He seems to notice Santana's change in attention, because he follows her gaze up to the waitress. With a smirk, he speaks again.

"But it doesn't really matter to me what you do anyway. I'm more into blondes." He wiggles his eyebrows and winks at her, causing an uncomfortable expression to come across her face.

"Okay, you know what? We're done here," Santana says as she picks up her purse to grab a few dollars to pay for her coffee. "I'm not wasting my time with some closeted egotistical jerk, so I'll just tell Quinn it didn't work out, and we don't have to see each other again. Cool?"

His eyes slightly widen at my words and he clears his throat, clearly flustered. "It's funny that you want to call me closeted…have you looked in the mirror?" He snaps back.

In that moment, all she sees is red. Ever since he sat down at the table, all she's wanted to do was slap that damn smirk off his face. She stands up, fully intending to land one on him, when she feels a soft hand on her shoulder.

She looks to her right to see…Brittany?...standing next to her, furious expression etched on her face.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave, sir. You're disrupting other customers and, frankly, making everyone uncomfortable."

He snaps his gaze over to the blonde with an unbelieving look on his face. He looks between both girls before shaking his head and standing up, storming out of the cafe without another word.

Santana lets out a sigh of relief at seeing his exit and turns to the girl standing next to her, who still has her hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks," She says softly with a smile. She bends down and grabs a few more bills from her wallet to pay for Sebastian's coffee, since he walked out without paying for it.

She holds the cash out to her wordlessly. The blonde looks between the money, Santana, and the table for a moment.

"Did he drink out of it?" Santana shakes her head. "Did he touch it?" Santana shakes her head again, but with a slight furrow in her brow. "I get off in half an hour if you wanted to finish your coffee and talk? And don't worry about paying for either of the coffees…they're both on the house." She adds with a smile.

Santana thinks it over for a second before nodding her head. "Yeah, sure." She says hesitantly.

The blonde smiles at her and nods before taking a few steps away. "I'll see you in a few minutes, then."

She makes her way to the coffee bar without another word, leaving Santana stuck where she's standing.

What the hell just happened?

Why would she agree to wait for someone she barely knows and agree to have coffee with her when her shift is over? She doesn't know anything about the girl. She could be another random psycho plotting her demise with every second they spend together.

But, for some reason, she gets the feeling that she's safe. There's something warm and inviting about the blonde that makes her want to trust her…even though she knows nothing about her.

Santana snaps out of her thoughts and slowly sits back down in her chair, patiently waiting for the blonde's shift to end.

Hey, guys!

This is a story idea that's been in my head for a little while now, so I decided to give it a shot and start writing it.

If you can, please review and let me know what you think or if I should continue this story!

Thank you so much for reading! :)