A/N, I had trouble writing certain parts of this and to anyone actually reading this, sorry for the delay. I hope you enjoy it, I think it came out pretty well. Anyway, enjoy!

Santana went up to Quinn's room to find a passed out Quinn sprawled on top of the covers. She wanted to move her but felt so she started to head downstairs to the couch when she heard shouting. Very familiar shouting.

Santana walked into the dining room, ''Why the fuck are you making so much noise?''

Rachel walked around picking things up and throwing them, ''It's all a mess! Look at it! This is not how I should be living!''

Rachel started crying and Santana almost felt guilty, but it was just the alcohol, ''Look, Berry. It's obvious you've had a few shots without my knowledge and some wine. I can smell it from here. Go to sleep, I'll start cleaning up and we can finish it tomorrow, okay?''

Rachel nodded, ''Okay, good night San.''

She let that slide because she was drunk. Rachel started wobbling to the staircase and Santana nudged her up and went back to the dining room. There were wine bottles on the floor, that was pure dangerous, there were clothes discarded and she didn't even knows who's they were, and finally there were skittles and popcorn scattered around the room with red wine stains that would most definitely give Rachel a heart attack. Santana got a dust pan and brush and started with the popcorn and skittles. She didn't even know it could get so spread out, once she thought she had got most of it picked up the wine bottles and put them in the trash. There were no blankets down here so she had to suffer the cold and sleep on the sofa alone, but it didn't matter much because it was nearly 1 am and she was exhausted.

Santana woke up find Quinn in the kitchen making something that smelled amazing. The clanging of plates against knives made her excited. She was starving, but when was she not? Quinn spotted that Santana was awake and smiled.

''Why did you sleep here? I feel bad now.''

Santana shrugged, ''You fell asleep. I didn't want to wake you, you looked adorable.''

''Well, thank you. But next time just wake me. That can't have done your back any good.''

Santana got up and started rubbing her eyes, ''What time is it?''

''9:30, don't you have class soon?''

Santana groaned and sat at the kitchen island, ''Ugh, at 10:30. Whatever you're making, I expect some as a repayment for last night.''

''Good job I was making some for you. Eggs and bacon okay?''

Santana agreed and fell asleep again in her seat, but woke up happy to food in front of her. She could get used to this. Rachel came down about 10 minutes later, apologising profusely for her behaviour last night. If Santana didn't feel awful for sitting on the sofa, she would have probably smacked her by now.

''If you apologise one more time, you're going to make me regret what I'm about to do, I swear to God Rachel Berry.''

Quinn stepped between the two of them, ''No violence, but enough apologies Rachel. Can I take you to class?''

Rachel nodded and Santana spoke then, ''Where's my offer, bitch?''

''I thought you'd want to take your own car, but you're more than welcome to come with us if you can deal with show tunes right now.''

''You're right. I'll take my own car, bye loser and bye Quinn I'll see you at work.''

Class was mundane. They were all preparing for their end of term project and she had the music she was just waiting on Brittany to help with the choreography. She wanted to text her to confirm, or to have a normal conversation, she just wanted to talk to her but she knew it would be weird because they barely knew each other. She sighed and met Quinn for lunch before they went to work.

Quinn picked at her food, ''I didn't even drink last night and I feel crappy. And no it's not because I haven't been 'laid' in a while, I don't know maybe I'm coming down with something.''

''On the real here Quinn, I'm worried about you. Why haven't you been with a man for almost a year and that was only a summer fling. Are you having confidence issues?''

Quinn sighed and dropped her fork, both Santana and Quinn leaned back on their chest as Quinn thought about what to say, ''I want it to be perfect. I don't want to date boys and kiss them and feel nothing but loneliness until I find another. It's just easier to pretend like I don't have feelings. But I do, I miss the intimacy. Before you laugh, which I know you will, try to be my best friend here.''

Santana took a few minutes to process her thoughts, ''I'm not always horrible Quinn and in light of your obvious depressing situation I will forget that you just generalised our whole friendship to me being a complete bitch to you and say this. I say this with my heart in the right place, you need to man up. Go for it! You need to accept the dates I know men ask you on, because lets face it Q, you're stunning. If it doesn't work out, so what? At least you can say you tried. You can hold your hands up and say it may not have worked but I tried. And that'll be enough. If you ever need to talk, I'm here. I promise. I love you Q.''

Quinn's eyes started filling up and when Santana moved her chair closer to hug her, silent tears started falling, ''Thank you. Thank you for being blunt. Thank you for being honest and kind. It means more than my words can express. I love you.''

''I know Q, I know'' Santana continued to rub Quinn's back until the slight shaking had subsided and they finished their lunch in a lighter manner until they had to go to work.

''I am not dating Finn again! You of all people should shoot yourself for even suggesting that. I can't believe that just slipped out of your mouth Santana Lopez.''

Santana rolled her eyes, ''What? You're being dramatic, we talked about this. Your life isn't a tv show tone it down barbie. I was just suggesting someone you once apparently had an interest in.''

''I may have liked him in high school but I've moved on from that. Also, Rachel has had her hands all over that, and I love her, bless her I do she's a great friend but that's such a buzz kill. I'm older now, more mature. And more sophisticated if I do say so. I don't want to think about him because then I remember the person I was then- and oh god why am I getting so emotional lately?''

''Shh, Q. It's okay. You're just not holding it all in any more. I was waiting for this day and it's nice to see it. You have me and we can work through these repressed issues together, okay?''

Quinn put the book down she was pretending to be looking and and hugged Santana, ''I don't think I've ever hugged you so much in the past few days. Don't get used to it.''

Santana laughed, ''Don't worry Q, I won't. Do you need some help?''

''It's your job too. Do it or don't. But if I was you do because the manager is supposed to be here at 6, at least look half interested''

''Thanks. You've probably saved my job more times than we've hugged lately and that's saying something.''

Santana started packing some books onto the shelves whilst Quinn passed them to her. Kurt came past and said hello but quickly said goodbye because he had to get coffee and pronto as the length of the breaks they give you here should be illegal.

Quinn spoke then, ''Mike and Sam said they'd help but Finn can't apparently. Blaine offered but I didn't know how many people we'd need. Maybe we could use him tomorrow or something, we might not be able to get everything today.''

''Yeah sure, whatever. I'm just glad to be out of that place. Seriously Q, you're a lifesaver. I was going insane.''

''That bad huh?''

''You don't even know.''

The shift ended and Quinn and Santana drove their separate cars to her old apartment. Santana leading because she was too embarrassed to ever let anyone round her old apartment. Santana was glad for the quiet, she had been so wrapped up in her friend's problems that she couldn't think about anything else. She wanted to talk to Brittany, but she was glad it was a want and not a need. She'd been there before, never good. If Santana liked to feign anything, it was that she perfectly okay being alone. Only Quinn knew otherwise.

Mike, Sam and Rachel were all standing outside of Santana's old apartment when Santana and Quinn pulled up. Santana sighed, this place may have not been ideal, but at one point it was your home and you were almost upset to let it go.

Santana hugged Sam and fist bumped Mike, ''Thanks for coming guys. I know this isn't how you want to spend your evening but yeah, thank you. You know I'm not good at saying thank you so when I'm shouting at you to hurry up, remember this.''

Sam smiled, ''I don't mind really. Mercedes is mad at me and won't pick up my calls so it's nice to be around people.''

Mike looked at him, ''What did you do now?''

''Nothing! Okay, I may have been 30 minutes to a date but that was only because I was trying to find flowers. I didn't mean to make her angry.''

''She'll get over it and you can make coloured babies one day.''

Mike stared at Santana, ''Was that a racist slur? You're coloured yourself!''

Santana shrugged, ''Come on, lets get this over with. I'm tired and I want to get home sometimes tonight.''

Santana led the five of them inside and was grateful to find that her room mates were out. Whenshe got to her room she saw a note on the door and ripped it off, it read ''Won't be home for a while. Gone to see family, bye.''

''Well, at least they aren't here. Quinn, did you bring the boxes?''

''Right here. Where do you want to start?''

Sam and Mike went over to her bookshelf and said they'd have to take it apart to get it in the car and she let them get started. Rachel and Quinn were putting her books in a box and she saw her guitar.

''You know, I still can't play fucking guitar. I don't think I'll ever learn.''

Sam looked at her, ''I will say it again, I can teach you!''

''One day, trouty mouth. How are you doing with the bookshelf?''

''Should be done in a few. Are you going to take everything?''

Santana mulled over the question for a few minutes, she wasn't sure. She almost wanted to keep some stuff here so her room mates wouldn't forget her. It's not like she'd made the biggest impression and she wanted a part of herself here, but she also wanted to forget all of this. ''Anything I don't want or isn't practical to take with, I'll either donate or throw away. Can we speed this up I'm getting bored.''

Sam and Mike both laughed and then everyone joined in, Santana was doing nothing and ordering everyone else to hurry up, then her phone buzzed and she smiled hugely when she saw the name.

Brit: Are we still on for tomorrow?

Santana: Yeah, if you're not busy?

Brit: I asked you so I obviously wouldn't make plans to ruin that. I look forward to it :)

Santana could see Quinn looking at her from the corner of her eye, but chose to ignore it.

Santana: Me too, have a nice night Brittany :)

Santana desperately wanted to carry on the conversation but didn't know how, it was enough that she had messaged her first.

Once they had loaded the girl's cars, they all said goodbye, Mike and Sam promised to fix the bookshelf up when she wanted and she thanked them. She was glad to be getting home, she was exhausted.

They ordered pizza, half with meat half without and sat down on the floor with the tv on in the background. Santana was glad to have her clothes, she loved Quinn but her Christian good girl look wasn't doing it for her.

Rachel spoke up, ''Do you have class tomorrow Santana?''

''Yeah, but I don't want go. I think I'm going to skip and before you guys but in and tell me to go because it's important, my teacher said it was optional.''

''Fine that's fair. What are you going to do with your day off tomorrow as you don't have work?''

''Quinn if you dare try and get me to work again I'll scream. I can't spend another day with lady hummel or with those books.''

Quinn held her hands up and finished the mouthful she was chewing on, ''I wasn't going to ask you! I don't have work tomorrow either, we could do something after my class if you want.''

''Rain check? I have plans''

Rachel wiped her hands and looked at Santana, the only friends Santana had were these guys and occasionally she'd hang out with Sam but usually in a group, ''With whom may I ask?''

Santana fought off a smile, ''With Brittany?''

''Are you two? Like a thing?''

''What no! I barely know the girl. She's helping me with my final piece, some choreography and stuff.''

Rachel squealed, ''Santana's got a cruuuuuuush''

''I don't! She's pretty but I'm sure she's straight.''

''We could ask Mike? I think you two would be the cutest! A dancer and a singer, I can see it now in the news. Brittany and Santana finally engaged after years of being in love, sigh why don't I have that.''

Quinn laughed heartily and Santana flushed, ''Shut up. I've barely spoken to her, let alone marriage. Talk about jumping forward. Can we talk about something else?''

Quinn took the cue and started talking about a new book she was reading and Santana drowned her out, thinking of Brittany. She didn't want to embarrass herself tomorrow but she also knew that if she tried too hard that would have the same outcome. They all went to the bed a little after and agreed to clean up in the morning.

Santana was standing outside of the dance hall at 4:57 pm and her heart was hammering against her chest. The sun was setting and it was getting cold, she was getting incredibly impatient. She was wearing a black tank top and grey sweats she wanted to text Brittany and ask where she was but that would look weird considering it wasn't even 5 yet let alone something to be worried about.

A familiar voice came from behind her, ''Santana!''

''Hey! I'm a little early, I didn't mean to be I just kind of got here at this time so.. sorry.''

Brittany laughed and walked over, ''You're on time actually. I like punctual people, I hate waiting around for them, you know?''

''I'm not usually on time, sorry to disappoint, but who knows, maybe for you I'll try.''

Brittany started walking forward but turned back to say, ''As honoured as I am by that nice statement, if we don't get started we will be late.''

Santana put a hand to her head and mock saluted, ''Yes ma'am!''

Brittany's heavy laughter made Santana's heart swell, this girl could do no wrong. She followed her through the building into the dance hall and kept her eyes firmly on the wall to not look at her butt. When they made it in the dance studio she was glad that Brittany had turned around so now she was forced to look her in the eye.

Brittany clapped her hands together, ''So, what music have you got?''

Santana unzipped her jacket and held her eyebrow to question whether she was allowed to drop it, once Brittany gave her a slight nod she flung it to the slide, ''Well, I have a few songs, but I definitely have a favourite. It's kind of chill, it's indie. Can we work with that?''

''We can work with anything, as long as it has some sort of beat. What song is it?''

Santana moved over to the docking station and put her iPhone into it, ''I'm not sure it's your type of music. I'll put it on and you can hear it.''

''What is that supposed to mean?'' Brittany raised her right eyebrow.

Santana fumbled for words, ''I, uh I mean-''

''I'm joking, you may be right. Start it and lets figure out.''

Santana pressed play and sat against the mirrors along the side and smiled when Brittany padded over and sat next to her. Santana mimicked her when she rested her head on the wall and closed her eyes, letting the music fill the room. The deep voice and the calm but constant beats almost made her sleepy, she could fall asleep if her heart wasn't hammering against her chest but it hadn't stopped since she saw the blonde. Santana opened her eyes and looked at the girl next to her, who had her eyes closed shut and her left hand open and palms facing up like she wanted her hand being held. Santana was tempted to go in for it but then the song came to a close and she pretended to shut her eyes again.

''So'' Santana started off casually, ''What do you think?''

''You're right, I haven't heard it before. But it was really nice, good beat, I think you'd need a slow sensual dance to go with the song, nothing that takes too much breath away from the song, but to compensate for this it needs to be sexy. Are you up for it?''

Santana visibly gulped and cursed herself for it, ''What do you mean sexy?''

Brittany stood up and walked to the centre of the dance studio, she took her hands and slid them along her sweats down her thighs and titled her head back while her back looked like it was in a painful position, but obviously took a lot of grace and fell to her knees. From there she took one swift movement and was back on her feet, like nothing had happened, ''Like that.''

''Wow.''

Brittany blushed, ''Thank you. It takes training, obviously. But I think we could work on something together. When is this project due?''

''Two weeks'' Santana frowned, ''Is that not enough time?''

Brittany shook her head, ''Should be good. Now, I'm going to need you to write that song down for me so I can study it properly. There's some paper and pen in the office, I'll just grab it.''

''Okay.''

Santana took a sip of her water and gulped, even though she couldn't see Brittany, she could smell her. There was no escaping the fact that this was turning into an inevitable crush and she wanted to curse but that would solve nothing, and before she could list the pro's and con's, Brittany was back.

Santana took the pen and as she did both hands grazed each other and Santana shuddered, and if she had looked properly she thought she could see a slight blush on Brittany's neck. She scrawled the name down ''Blue eyes blind – zz ward'' and handed the paper back, ''So, what next?''

Brittany studied the paper and spoke directly too it, ''Well, I'll need a few days with the song and then I'll give you a text. I don't know about you, but I'm starving. Do you want to get some pizza?''

''Yeah, sure. Do you want to go somewhere and get it or get it to take back to one of our apartments?''

''Let's go out and eat. I haven't felt fresh air since 6 am this morning.''

''Okay, I know just the place.''

''This is the best pizza I think I've ever had! And that's saying something, when I used to live in ohio I used to live off pizza. Thank you for bringing me here, I'll tell Tina about it.''

Santana finished her mouthful, ''Wait, you lived in Ohio? No way! I live in Lima.''

''No way me too! What's the chances, that's so weird but like in the totally cool way, I'm surprised we didn't go to the same school.''

Santana laughed, ''I'm glad you said that. Oh, yeah I wanted to ask how do you know Tina? Is it just through Mike?''

Brittany nodded, hurrying to finish her mouthful, ''Yeah. We've become pretty good friends, which I'm super glad of. I don't know many other people here.''

''Why's that?''

''I don't know, I kind of keep to myself. My mom calls me an introvert, I just think I know a good person from a bad. Wait, let me explain.''

Brittany took a sip from her drink and wiped her hands on her sweats, ''Through high school I put up with a lot of people I shouldn't have. They called me stupid a lot but I was pretty good at other things, like dance obviously and gym. So they used me to help them pass and I was just grateful for the company. But now I don't put up with it so I have to really trust a person to become friends with them, and I can spot a bad person a mile off. You should be honoured that we're getting food together, I rarely do this with you know, students.''

Santana groaned, ''Please don't look at me like a student. But I really like the way you worded that, I don't think you're stupid at all.''

''Well, thank you. I can say I don't hear that often, it means a lot. Can I ask a question? I don't want to overstep my boundaries.''

Santana waved her off, ''No no, go on. I'm curious what you have to ask now.''

''It's about Quinn. She seems really quiet, and when she's not being quiet she's rude. Is she always like that? Considering I'm teaching her now I think I want to know.''

''Quinn went through a lot in high school and she's still pretty bitter over the first guy she loved, so give her a break if she's rude. She just has a lot of trust issues, people used her too just like you. So many try and sympathise.''

Brittany nodded, ''Okay. Thank you for telling me. Shall we get the bill?''

Santana agreed and called the waiter over. She desperately didn't want this dinner to end. She wanted to tell Brittany that she wanted to pay but that would seem like a date and she didn't even know if the girl was straight. That wasn't really something you could ask without seeming like you were hitting on them.

''Want to split it?'' Santana asked cautiously

''No, no. I dragged you here, I should pay. You probably had things to do, I'm sorry I wasn't thinking.''

''What no, I had nothing to do. The only thing I had to do today was dance and we done that. So it's cool, although now I want to pay.''

Brittany chuckled, ''This sounds awfully like a date.''

''You'd be lucky to go on a date with me, I'll have you know. I rock the ladies.''

''Oh so you're?''

Santana sipped the final drips of her drink and set it down, fuck. She didn't want to lie and make the girl think that she was off limits, because for this girl she was totally on limits, but if she weirded her out she might not be comfortable enough to have private sessions with her, she gulped and went for it, ''I like girls, yeah. Is that a problem?''

''No, because I do too. Is that a problem?''

Santana laughed and felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders but then been clamped down again, because this could very well be a date, she was looking off into space when Brittany spoke up again, ''Are you ready to go? I already paid.''

''Yeah.'' Santana fumbled for her jacket and slipped it on, following Brittany outside.

''Well, this is me. I better get going, got your song to learn and all.'' Brittany playfully knocked into Santana causing the pair to laugh.

''Alright, well. Text me when you've learnt in and we can arrange another session?''

Brittany nodded and started walking up the steps to her apartment, ''I will. I had fun tonight Santana, a lot.''

''Me too. I'll see you around.''

Santana was walking the mile distance to her apartment with a huge grin on her face, ecstatic with how the whole evening went. From listening to the song with their eyes closed and feeling so vulnerable in front of a person but not even having the ability to care, to watching Brittany dance, to the dinner. It really had been a good day. She got home a little after 9 and ran into the kitchen to find the Quinn huddled in a book.

''Where's Berry? BERRY! GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE NOW!''

A few seconds later there was noise from the stairs and a voice came out, ''Santana are you okay? Who's died! Do I need to get the first aid kit?''

Quinn pitched in, ''No, I think it's good. She's got that smile on her face. You went on a pre date didn't you!''

Santana nodded and smiled hugely, ''Uh huh. And she's super cute. Like so cute.''

Rachel moved over and gave Santana a hug, ''I'm so happy for you! Wait, who was it with?''

Santana arched her eyebrow waiting for it to click and Quinn was the first to get it, ''No way!''

''Way.''

''That's awesome San. But I need to get to bed, can we resume this during lunch tomorrow. I'll pick you up at 1?''

''Definitely, and Berry I'm so happy that I'm not even going to be pissed that you hugged me.''

The two went two bed leaving Santana in the kitchen alone. She wanted to remember everything that had happened, from the dance, to the way she had joked about it being a date but then her phone buzzed.

Brit: I had lots of fun tonight, did you?

Santana: Tons. You're good company. I don't say that to many people so take it as a compliment ;)

Brit: I gathered ;) I'm going to get in the shower, I'll text you afterwards, okay?

Santana sighed contently and replied with a casual, 'Okay, you better' and got into the shower too. Life was finally looking up.