Fate (Final Chapter)
I attempt to sit down on the leather seats but Santana pulls me so that I am straddling her. My arms are loosely hanging on her neck and her hands are lazily resting on my hips.
"You didn't have to do all of this." I whisper to her as I feel the limo begin to move.
"I know. But you only turn eighteen once. And you deserve it, baby." Santana whispers back.
I bring my lips to hers and after a moment I shift my hands down to the top of her thighs.
Santana sighs. "As tempting as it is, not now, baby. Later, okay?" I nod and Santana takes out a bottle of vodka. "Let's just party tonight and celebrate you being legal." Santana smirks and opens the bottle.
QF
A while later the limo pulls up to a club that I'm sort of shocked exists in this part of Ohio. I step out of the limo with Santana's hand in mine (that pre-party drinking got me well on my way to being drunk) and stumble to the front of the club.
"Heyyyyy…there's no line!" I point out to Santana.
She giggles and replies, "Yup. That's because Rachel and I rented it out for the night for just you and your friends."
"NO WAY! THIS IS LIKE THE HOTTEST CLUB AROUND!" I shout into Santana's ear. "Or at least in Ohio…" I trail off.
Again, Santana just laughs and shakes her head. "Act surprised, okay?"
"Huh? For what?" Santana, without warning, pushes me through the door and I come face to face with at least one hundred people screaming SURPRISE at me.
Trust me; I did not have to act surprised. Immediately after getting shocked in my drunken state, the music starts blaring and the people start dancing again. Half the cheerleading team swarms me but I make my way past them and rush to my favorite friend.
"Rachie!" I throw my arms around her clumsily and she almost falls over. "Thank you for the partay, you're great, you know that?"
"Thanks, Quinn. Happy birthday…How much did Santana let you drink before you got here?" She laughs.
"I…dunno! A couple…ish."
QF
It's two hours later and a lot has been accomplished. I danced with a few boys and all my friends (Brittany, Tina, Rachel, even Kurt a bit…) but somehow I had yet to find Santana since the party started.
I sit down and order a shot when I notice Santana dancing with Puck. Anger shoots through my veins. What the fuck is he doing here? Why would she invite him to my birthday party?
"Make it two." I say to my waitress. She nods and puts the two shots in front of me which I quickly suck down.
Uh oh. That last one is kind of making my head spin. Finn sits down in front of me, his eyes full of concern.
"Hey pretty. What's wrong?"
"Huh?" Smart Fabray. Real smart.
"You're crying." He replies as he wipes the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs.
I quickly put my hands to my face to wipe the remaining tears away. I hadn't even noticed they were there. That's how I work. Happy drunk or depressed drunk. There isn't really an in between.
Before I know what's happening, Finn grabs my hand and pulls me to the dance floor. I lean my head against his chest and he puts his arms around my waist just as a slow song comes on.
"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. But I'm here if you need me to listen."
I don't answer him. I just appreciatively bury my face further into his chest.
Moments later Santana has the audacity to come up to me, jealousy coming off her in waves. This is not going to be good. Angry drunk Quinn and angry drunk Santana is never a good combination. At all. We tend to say things we don't mean or things we will regret, especially if we are fighting with each other.
"Quinn." She pulls me away from Finn and towards the bathroom. "What the hell are you doing with Finn?"
"What the fuck are you doing with Puck?" I slur.
"He's my boyfriend, Quinn. You know that."
"Screw… you." I lean against the bathroom stall to keep my balance.
Santana crosses her arms in disgust and gets closer to my face. "How mature, Quinn. You know it's just pretense."
Those last two shots are truly having their affect on me. Without even thinking, I go up to Santana's face. "You can't do us both, Santana!" I shout. Without another word, I storm out of the bathroom and look for Tina.
I spot her sitting near Brittany. "Tina Cohen-Chang, time to go home! Gimmie…your keys!"
Tina looks up at me, slightly confused. "Okay, Quinn. We'll take the limo home."
"No! I am not!" I stomp angrily, almost child-like. "Now gimmie your keys."
"Quinn you can't drive home. You're completely wasted."
"FINE." I shout out in frustration. "Just please bring me home."
Why is it that Santana and I can have such great days (like the beach) with each other and then act so hostile towards one another? Oh yeah, that's right. The answer is in the form of a stupid jock named Noah Puckerman. I HATE HIM. AND THAT JERKFACE SANTANA!
QF
"Are you going to tell me why you were in such a rush to leave? We still had another hour in the club."
"No, Teeeena. I will not tell you." I'm still slurring my words but Tina dosen't seem to care.
She takes a quick glimpse at me and before either of us know what is happening, Tina's car hits an icy patch sending us skidding out of control.
The front of the car completely smashes into a telephone pole, sending glass and metal flying. The crushing sound is enough to scare me to death. I feel my neck snap forward and my body get pushed back by my seatbelt. My arm smashes against the side of the door and I feel something slash my leg open. It takes a moment for the world I'm seeing to straighten out. I look over at Tina and see her slumped over the steering wheel. She's groaning and I hear her ask me if I'm okay.
Scariest ten seconds of my life.
QF
"Miss Fabray you should be all set to be released by tonight. Just be careful not to pop those stitches, okay?"
"Yeah, thanks." I thank the motherly nurse and watch as she scurries to her next patient. I sigh and lazily flip through the Cosmo Girl magazine lying on my lap.
I nearly broke my arm, it's in a sling, and glass from the windshield cut up my leg pretty badly. Lots of stitches bad. Oh, and I have to do 20 hours of community service because the cops gave me a breathalyzer. Happy birthday to me!
Luckily, Tina wasn't drinking so they know it was just an accident and she isn't getting arrested or anything. Tina's fine, just lots of bruises.
My mind wanders to the fashion photos in the Cosmo Girl I'm reading. I could totally design way better clothes than any of these supposed high-fashion designers.
"Hey."
My thoughts are broken and I look up to see Santana standing in the doorway. Uncharacteristically, she looks nervous. She's playing with her fingers and her eyes are nervously glancing around the room.
"Are you okay?"
"Peachy." I reply with a sarcastic edge to my voice.
"I'm sorry about last night, Quinn."
"Why would you do that? Why would you bring him there, when it was my night?" I snap.
"He just invited himself along…I'm sorry."
"You're starting to sound like a broken record." I sigh. "I think…I think we need space, Santana."
All her nervous behavior seems to disappear. Her head snaps up and she makes direct eye contact with me. She shuts the door and comes towards my bed.
"What? Just because of one fight?"
"We haven't been fighting, Santana. We've been struggling. I love you…you know that." I take her hand in mine and she gently touches my cheek with her other hand.
I gently kiss her for a moment, taking in everything. Her scent, her touch, her emotion. It might be the last time I get to be this intimate with her.
"I love you and I refuse to share you. I didn't want to give you an ultimatum but… you need to break up with Puck if you want this to work."
She takes her hand away from mine and instantly I miss the warmth. She turns her back to me and crosses her arms. "I can't." I hear her whisper.
"Do you even realize how fucked up we are?" I raise my voice. "I mean, honestly! You supposedly love me yet you aren't willing to break up with someone who supposedly means nothing to you. Why won't you just break up with him?"
She shrugs and looks at the floor. "I don't know."
I am sick of Santana not being honest with me. I deserve some respect and some answers.
"Give me one good reason why you can't and I will let it go." My voice is cracking and I have to fight back my tears. "Please, Santana. Just tell me you don't love him and what the reason is that's making you stay with him. I'm here for you... I can help you."
Santana stays silent for a moment with her back still to me. She simply shrugs her shoulders and my head falls in defeat. I let my tears flow freely now.
"Well, under my condition I can't storm out. So… just leave. Please."
"Quinn…"
"Leave."
Santana walks to the door and opens it. She pauses at the doorway and looks at me but I refuse to meet her gaze. If I look at her the temptation to call her back and make-up would be to strong.
She walks away.
QF
Two days have gone by and here I am on a Monday morning, hobbling my way through school. My doctor gave me one crutch, just to relieve some pressure from my leg so that the cut heals properly. Surprisingly, people have been all over me, trying to help or carrying my books. It's slightly amusing.
I haven't talked to Santana since she left my hospital room. She's sent me at least ten texts but I deleted all of them. I just can't handle talking to her yet.
Now that it's after school, I have to go to cheerleading. I'm dreading it. I'll be fine to cheer in like a week so I'm still in control of the squad. But seeing Santana there…might as well just kill me now.
I walk (more like limp) my way into the gym. "Okay ladies. Quick lap around the gym and then get right into stretching. Britt, can you come hear for a sec?"
I watch the girls jog off and Brittany sits on the side of me. "What's up, Q?"
"I think I'm going to take off today. Think you can handle the squad?"
"Sure. They are like dogs, except they respond to clapping instead of whistles."
I smile and bump her shoulder lightly. "You're right, B. But don't forget you're one of those dogs."
QF
When I finally get home I breeze past Tina with a quick "I'm going to bed" and leave her in the living room. I lie flat on my back and stare at the ceiling.
I want Santana more than anything. I already miss our banter and the late night texts and just all the craziness we created. But a relationship works both ways. I can't be in a relationship with someone who won't fully commit. What I don't understand is why. I know she cares about me just as much as I care about her.
Why won't she just let me in as much as I've let her in?
There's a point where I feel like I should just give up. As hard as it is, when someone isn't willing to fight for you, it's time to let them go.
QF
One week has gone by and I still have managed to avoid Santana. She keeps texting and calling but luckily she hasn't actually tried to approach me in person. But tomorrow is the day. I'm finally off my crutch and my arm is fine so I have to actually be at practice.
Shoot me now.
I roll over so that I'm facing the wall away from Tina's bed. She's been listening to me cry since the breakup but I think she realizes I want space because she hasn't said a word…until today.
"Quinn. Do you want me to beat her up for you?" Tina says as she lies down beside me. She wraps her arm around me as tears continue to drop down my cheeks.
I laugh lightly. "No. That's the pathetic part. I don't…hate her. I just miss her. Badly."
"Oh sweetie." Tina sighs and wraps her arm around me tighter. "I'm here for you if you need me, okay?"
I simply nod.
"Let's go out for lunch or something. Its 2 o clock in the afternoon and it's gorgeous out. Come on, get out a bed."
"No."
"Please?"
"One more day, T. Just give me one more day to sulk in my pjs and then I will get up."
"Nope. Quinn, you will get up, and you will get up now. Now move!"
Tina whips the covers off of me and I instantly groan, missing the warmth the blankets provided me with. "Fine." I grumble.
I take a shower and get dressed. Nothing fancy; just jeans and a tank top.
I'm just about finished with straightening my hair when there's a knock on the door. I turn to Tina but she doesn't know who it is. "Uh, come in?" I call out.
When the door opens, I see Santana standing there with her arms crossed and her eyes darting from me to the floor and back again. "Hi."
"I'm just going to…get out of here." Tina says as she quickly makes her way through the doorway.
An awkward silence fills the room. I sit down on my bed and motion for her to do the same.
She sits down and crosses her legs. "Quinn…I miss you."
"Santana if that's all you came here to say…" I look away. "It's not enough."
"Do you miss me?" I look back into her eyes and I see how vulnerable she looks.
"Every day." I answer honestly.
"I came here to tell you that I broke up with Puck."
My eyes instantly light up and I fight back a smile.
"Because I don't love him. Quinn the only reason I stayed with him was because I was afraid. He threatened me-"
"He what?"
"He never got physical. Well, not really, anyway. The wrist thing was mostly an accident... He just threatened to...He knew about us. He was going to out us."
"Then what changed? Why didn't you tell me any of this before?"
Santana took my hands into hers. "I didn't tell you before because I was afraid. But then I realized the extent of my love for you. I missed you everyday Quinn. And each time you didn't answer my text or talk to me it just killed me. And if Puck decides to do something irrational, then who cares? Because as long as I have you, it shouldn't matter."
I cut off her speech and kiss her, hard. After a moment I take off her shirt and she helps take off mine. As soon as it's gone, she pushes me down on to the bed so that she is lying on top of me. Her lips crash into mine and I can feel her tongue slip into my mouth.
I feel her hands fiddle with my jeans until they open and she unzips them. She teases me by playing with the top of my underwear. I can feel the heat growing inside of me.
"Santana wait."
She leans up but is still on top of me. "What is it, baby?" She starts playing with my hair.
"I need you to promise me that you mean this. Just us. No more sharing, no more jealousy."
"I promise." She answers with no hesitation. "Tina already knows. We can tell Rachel and Finn and Brittany tonight if it's what you want…"
I nod and Santana starts kissing up my neck. "Oh god." I moan as Santana puts pressure on my center.
QF
"Jesus, what is that?" Santana groans as she pulls the covers over our heads. Her naked form is still wrapped around me and I roll over and press my head into her neck.
"It's called sunlight. And I think we have school today."
"Screw that."
I giggle as Santana and I hear a voice from the doorway. "Get up, I slept on the couch to give you too your space. But I need to shower and change and I really don't feel like seeing you guys have sex."
"Yes you do." I call out from under the covers.
"Trust me, hearing it was enough."
QF
5 years later…
"I'm so proud of you." Santana says as she wraps her arms around me.
"Thanks." We look around the store full of high-fashion items and bustling customers. Its opening night and it's taken so long to get here.
"So, who knew Fabray & Hummel Clothing would be so successful?" Rachel asks us.
"I knew." Santana says.
"Aw." I kiss her cheek in response.
Rachel's long-time girlfriend comes up to us. And yes, she can thank me for setting them up. "This is great, Quinn. Congratulations."
"Thanks, Brittany." I smile appreciatively and leave the small group to talk. I see Tina eyeing a dress in the window. "It's yours, T."
She hugs me and as she pulls away she says, "I thoughtyou were calling me Broadway now?"
I laugh. "Old habits die hard I guess. It's really nice to see you Tina. How's your new show going?"
"Great. But it's not good enough to keep me from coming here."
I hug her again and notice that a customer is flagging me down. "Yuck, so it begins. I have to go, but promise me you'll be at my house tonight for the party?"
"I'll be there."
QF
By twelve I have the store shut down and I drive back to my place where Santana and I are throwing a party. Santana had gone ahead to set up and most of our friends were already there.
I walk through the doorway and notice my fiancé sitting near Tina with a drink in hand. "Hey baby." I kiss her quickly and sit down near Tina.
"Tina and I were just comparing our jobs. I'm thinking about quitting my job to become a singer."
"Well, first off, hell no because you aren't leaving me. And secondly, you love being a nurse. You help save lives and all that. We all know you love it."
"Yeah, I guess." She smirks. "Look who just got here."
I follow her gaze and see Finn standing in the doorway with his wife. I've actually become great friends with her. Rachel's usually off working on her shows or with Brittany and Tina's out of Lima for half the year for the same reason as Rachel. She's really sweet. It's been nice to know that Finn found someone; he's become my best guy friend.
"Hi, Finn." I gave him a friendly hug and do the same with his wife. "So, where's my little guy?"
"We left Brian at Grandma Carol's." Finn laughs.
I pouted. "Aw, no fun!"
"You know, Quinn, I get this feeling you only use us for our son." His wife says.
"You'd be correct on that feeling." I smile and showe them the way to the drinks.
I walk back to Tina and Santana. "So, Tina, how come there's no man in your life?"
"Or woman." Santana coughs..
Tina gives her a look. "I'm happy to say there's no one in my life, man or woman."
"We will just have to fix that, won't we, Quinnie?"
"I'm sure Santana knows someone from the hospital. Oh! I know! There's that really cute intern, what was his name? Ethan? Or Ian? Whatever it was he was cute."
"Okay, no. I can find myself a date, thank you."
Santana smirks. "Whatever you say."
QF
"Tonight was amazing." I say with a smile. Santana is sitting on the porch step above me, with her arms around my neck. I have my hands on her arms, rubbing gently.
"I know. You did great. The store looks great. It was great."
"You really have a way with words."
"I know, right?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
I sigh. I'm perfectly content with where I am.
"We've survived two break-ups, Rachel Berry, a financial crisis, and college. And now I have a beautiful house, career, and soon-to-be beautiful wife. How the hell did we get here?"
"Want my honest opinion?"
I nod and turn to look at her.
"I think it was fate."
THE END