Practices had been getting long and grueling. But the hard work and hours were paying off because their stunt team was looking near to perfect. And Santana was proud, because she never did anything less than 100%.
She had talked to Quinn everyday since she left, which was nice because she had someone to talk to about her day. Someone who was willing to listen, who understood her.
Coach was letting the team have a day off, since Daytona was about a week away. Caitlyn was having a get together at the house and most of the team was coming over. Santana got some of her things and headed over to Caitlyn's place. When she got there, everything was already ready.
Caitlyn had put away her most expensive instruments given what happened the last time she had the team over. She lost one of her nice bass' and she was quite upset about it.
"Your place is looking good, Cait. Tonight's gonna be fun. Daytona in a week." Santana placed her bag in the guest room and walked back out to the kitchen where Caitlyn was setting up the bar. "Do you need any help?"
"No I'm okay. The girls should be over soon." Caitlyn replied. "How's Quinn doing?"
"She's alright. Still claiming she's over Rachel though." She turned to see Caitlyn giving her a look. "That doesn't mean she likes me, Cait. I asked her. She said she doesn't like anyone right now."
"Yeah that's because she likes you San I don't know how many times I have to tell you." Caitlyn laughed.
Santana shook her head and walked outside onto the balcony, drink in hand. She liked to start slow, she didn't want to be buzzed before the team got there. She pulled out her phone and checked to see if Quinn texted her. Santana never liked to miss a text, she had a habit of accidently opening threads not realizing that the other person wrote back.
I'll text you when I get back from the poetry slam.
That was the last message she got, so she locked her phone and slipped it back into her pocket. The front door opened so she knew that the girls were starting to trickle in. She went back inside and started a beer pong game with the tumblers.
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Quinn had been looking forward to the poetry slam all week. It was something she was introduced to when she first got to Yale and instantly fell in love. She tried to go as often as she could, but as she progressed in years her work load from classes began to get heavier.
Jess accompanied her tonight. It was a little colder than usual, so Quinn was sporting a hoodie with skinny jeans and her favorite pair of Timberlands. Plus a beanie of course. They walked down to the campus bookstore where there was a lounge. Once a month the english department would hold the poetry slams as a chance for students to socialize and of course, perform their pieces.
Quinn always wanted to get on stage but she never had anything good enough for her to perform. She didn't want to go on stage and make a fool of herself.
At intermission, the girls went outside for a smoke break.
"There were some pretty good pieces tonight." Jess said as she smoked her cigarette. "I'm waiting for the day you get on stage Quinn. We both know that your work is better than most of the people that hit that stage."
"I'll eventually get there, I'm waiting for the perfect piece." She replied. "You think my stuff is good though?"
"Well, it's getting a lot better compared to when you first started coming to school." She laughed.
"I know that for a fact." Quinn finished her cigarette and placed the butt in the ashtray. "I'm beat though, I think I wanna head back to the room and relax for a while."
"Alright. It is pretty late. I'm gonna come with you."
The pair walked back to their place and started to open a wine bottle when Quinn's phone started to ring, a FaceTime call from Santana.
"Hello?"
The screen was just of the beer pong table, with Santana yelling in the background. She was drunk.
"Jay no no you can't call ghost cup! House rules!"
The conversation went on for a while, and Quinn just laughed. "San?"
"Oh shit! I'll be right back guys."
"Let her go Jay she'll be right back she's talking to her girl-" But before the sentence ended, Santana shut the door to the balcony.
"Sorry Q, I didn't know you answered." Speech was a little slurred, and it was a little- cute. "How was the poetry slam?"
"It was good. Jess and I left early though, we're about to enjoy a glass of wine while watching West Side Story."
Jess was sitting on the love seat just left to the recliner that Quinn was sitting on. She poured Quinn a glass and handed it to her.
"West Side Story? Man. You know, that was one of the best things I did in high school. That play was so good."
"Hell yeah. The auditorium was packed, I had never seen it like that."
"Puerto Rico, my hearts devotion. Let it sink back in the ocean. Always the hurricanes blowing, always the population growing."
Jess' jaw drops, she whispers- "She can siiing."
Quinn smiles and nods in agreement. She can, she mouthed.
"I like the island Manhattan. Smoke on your pipe, and put that in!"
"San, go back and enjoy your time with your friends. Call me in the morning when you wake up."
"No, Q. Don't go. I miss you." Santana was giving Quinn the biggest puppy dog eyes.
And the butterflies were back again. It was always things like this that made Quinn think that Santana liked her as more than a friend. But regular friends also tell each other they miss them. It was was like whenever something like this would happen, Quinn would try and debunk it right away. Because there was no way that Santana could like her like that, right? Santana was drunk. That had to explain it.
"I miss you too. But Daytona is literally like a week away and tomorrow is your only day off. You have me all day tomorrow. I promise. So go. I'm not going anywhere."
Santana smiled, and quickly turned head and rubbed her cheeks. And Quinn knew, that only happened if she blushed. She tried hiding it that way during high school before she told anyone else that she had feelings for Brittany. "Okay okay. I'll call you tomorrow. Bye Q."
"Bye San. Be safe okay?"
"Wait. Are you wearing my hoodie?"
Quinn looked down at the hoodie she chose for the night. It was black, with a little Louisville Cardinal sitting on the left side on top of her heart.
"I am. I'm sure you didn't give it to me to keep in my closet did you?"
"No, I sure didn't. I promise I'll be safe. Bye Q.
"Bye."
Then the FaceTime ended.
Quinn looked over at Jess, who was sitting and facing towards her with a curious look.
"Can I ask you something, Quinn?"
Oop- there it was.
"Yeah, whatsup?"
"Is Santana- I mean, are you and her?" She was stumbling on her words.
"San and I, we're best friends." Quinn paused, taking a sip of her wine. "But.. I don't know. Lately, I feel like I have feelings for her."
"So the friend you were supposed to, start something with?"
"Yeah, a girl also. Another friend of ours from high school." She took a sip of her wine. "I should've told you guys then. And I'm sorry."
"No, don't apologize it's okay. It seems like you and Santana are a lot closer now though. I don't remember her calling so much before. And it would kinda explain why you packed up so quickly and took off to Kentucky."
"No then, I knew she needed me. Everything has been sorta climbing since then."
It felt good to finally tell someone that she liked girls. Quinn always thought about telling her roommates, and even though Emily wasn't there she knew that she'd find out sooner or later.
"You know, Emily and I wouldn't have judged you or anything if you told us." Jess scooted closer to the recliner and put her hand on Quinn's. "We love you no matter what."
Quinn smiled. "Thanks Jess, I honestly- haven't actually come out to anyone on my own like this. Like to actually say it out loud."
"How did Santana find out then?"
"My actions at the barbeque kind of gave it away and she realized it on her own."
Quinn thought back to when Santana found her walking along the shore of the lake. It would've been romantic if it hadn't been so tragic.
"Have you told her?"
"That I'm not sure if I like her? Oh no. I couldn't ever tell her that. I don't know what it could do to our friendship, and she's one of the longest friendships I have."
Jess grabbed the remote and scrolled over to West Side Story on Netflix.
"Well for what its worth, after what I just heard? I think she might like you too."
The girls watched the musical, occasionally singing along. However, it was hard for Quinn to focus on the actors in the show when all she could think about was Santana singing the songs.