It Just Takes Some Time

Naturally, Santana could just roll her eyes and brush off anything that annoyed her, but not this time. She hated Rachel. The two hadn’t been able to do much except fake a few half smiles at one another since they’d met, and she had been content with that. The musical theater program wasn’t small, but when it came to talent, the two were typically giving everyone else a run for their money and any time the school was putting on a big production, the lead female roles always came down to one of them. It had gotten annoying at first, but it had been a year since Santana’s spectacular performance in Grease as the one and only Sandra Dee, and Rachel Berry hadn’t been able to top it yet. And of course, she used every single chance she had to throw it in the shorter girl’s face. That sort of torture gave her a rush most of the time, but now that she was looking at Rachel clinging to her ex, she was ready to throw a lot more than insults. Letting Brandon fix her a new drink, which ended up being a cup of tequila with no chaser, she wasted no time chugging it back as well. “Thanks.” Her intentions hadn’t been to get too wasted tonight, but things were definitely changing now. Although she’d purposely spoken loud enough for Sam to hear, him responding wasn’t expected. He knew her better than anyone else on campus, except maybe Quinn and Dani, so he should have known that she was obviously being petty. She hadn’t forgotten that he could be the same way when he needed to be, but did they really want to start a fight in the middle of a party?

Before Santana could even figure out if she wanted to entertain Sam’s bullshit or not, Brandon was stepping between them, turning to face her with his back to Sam, probably so he didn’t have to flinch every time her ex glared at him. ‘Hey babe, why don’t we go dance? You can grind on me like you did the first night we-’ Waving a hand dismissively to cut Brandon off before he actually finished where he was going with his statement, Santana chuckled. She knew Sam hadn’t forgotten about that, and the last thing they needed was one of his frat brothers announcing that he’d ‘conquered’ Santana before Sam had. She had assumed that all of the ANT brothers knew about it after it had happened, but she didn’t think the rest of the school had heard or even needed to hear about it. “Hold up.” Moving around the taller guy, she smirked  as she decided to take a few steps over in Sam and Rachel’s direction. “Well thanks for the tip, Mr. Long Hair Don’t Care.” As much as she appreciated a head of hair, she wasn’t really sure how she felt about Sam rocking longer hair now. And she hadn’t paid much attention to it until now, so maybe it was one of those things she’d have to get used to. She rolled her eyes at Sam’s arm being around Rachel, but she should have expected it. “I’m great, obviously. How are you?” Brandon managed to suck up whatever fear he had of Sam and spun back around, walking up behind Santana and wrapping his arms around her waist, to which she didn’t protest since they were in front of her ex, after all. “I’m guessing you aren’t doing all that well since you’re stepping out with..hobbits now, Sammy.” She scoffed, giving him a sarcastic pout before turning her attention to Rachel. “You just couldn’t stay away, could you? I knew you were used to rejection, but going back to a guy who didn’t even want you in the first place is even a little too pathetic for you, Berry.” 

Sam’s head raised, watching Skillet Head’s back as he faced Santana. A tiny murmur of his name had Sam turn, glance down at Rachel as he tried to ignore Miller as he spoke to Sam’s ex. “Are you okay?” The petite brunette asked, and laid her cup free hand on Sam’s arm. “Did you want to leave? Because I’m more than fine with that.” It made Sam smile, a gentle half expression, at Rachel’s quiet concern. It was a look his features hadn’t sported in a while. Sam’s arm flexed from its place around her slim shoulders and lowered his head to talk to Rachel. “Nah, I’m good.” He sent her a wink. “What about you? If you’re uncomfortable, just lemme know and we can hit the dance floor. No big.” Sam’s chest bobbed with a quiet laugh at the firm nod she wordlessly responded with. He thought it was cute.

Movement grabbed Sam’s attention and green eyes lifted, his head raising with them, at Santana stepping around Skillet Head and coming towards them. If there was one thing Sam wasn’t, at his ex’s reaction, it was surprised. Santana Lopez was many things and petty was one of them. He knew that for a fact. Sam’s head tilted, wondering if she was going anywhere with her comment about his hair. He nodded before having another sip, one shorter than the first. “You’re right, I don’t care.” Sam’s mouth widened with a smile he didn’t feel. “But I am good, thanks for askin.” He drawled purposely as the false smile stay fixed on his lips. It dropped at the snark about Rachel. With a narrowed gaze, Sam’s jaw lowered, his tongue ready to release the weight of the words he wanted to say months earlier but hadn’t, when Rachel eased in. The tiny starlet stepped in front of Sam, his arm now snaked over her lower collarbone/upper chest area, and her back pressed comfortably to him. “Trust me, Santana, you’re right. Samuel isn’t doing well. He’s doing great, actually. I am sure, for an ex girlfriend, you would at least know just how much he adores short women. He’s practically a mountain but I know that I, for one, am loving it.” Rachel commented, her tone reaching an audible purr at the end. “Actually, Samuel came to me. Fortunately for him, I decided to give him a second chance. Didn’t I?”

At the opening, Sam leaned down even further and wrapped his other arm across Rachel’s front. He pulled her snug to him, careful of the drinks in both of their hands. “Lucky for me, right?” Sam kissed her cheek. Rachel laughed lightly and swayed a bit in his hold. Faking interest, Sam shot a glance to Skillet Head as he stood behind Santana. “I’m guessing you’re... having fun?” He asked and jutted his chin out at his punk ass fraternity brother. “This the first time she take you out in public, Milhouse?” He asked the man directly.

Although Santana had obviously been a bundle of emotions following her break up with Sam and her fall out with his friends/the mutual friends she’d gained through him, it was safe to say that the bitch was back. She’d let out far too many emotions while attempting to pretend that she hadn’t regretted everything that happened, so now she’d bottled them up and focused on moving on. Of course, she’d cashed out on a new wardrobe, which her abuela had called her ‘post white boy attire’ and completely didn’t approve of, and dyed her hair back black. She’d even been at the top of her game in cheer practices, and the list of things Alpha Pi had accomplished and still had coming was longer than it had ever been. With how well things had been going, the entire sorority had decided to have a few drinks and then head over to the end of the season party. It was a ritual for them at this point, and all of the single sisters wound up going home with someone, which was probably the wrong thing for Santana to praise them for yet she did it anyways. After tossing back a mixed drink one of the freshman girls made, she washed it down with two shots of patron before they were finally heading out.

It only took a few minutes for the girls to arrive at the party, and once inside, they all seemed to go their separate ways. Santana, on the other hand, was met by none other than Brandon Miller as she walked in. She wasn’t surprised that he was probably tipsy and expecting to charm his way into her bed, or her into his, but she definitely wasn’t drunk enough to just fall for his shit now. “Get me a drink first, and then we’ll see what happens.” She demanded before following him towards the drinks. She hadn’t even noticed her ex until Brandon seemed to be ducking and dodging his way through the crowd. She was about to release all sorts of snark at the idiot until she caught a glimpse of who Sam seemed to be cozying up to. Rachel Berry. Of all the girls on campus, he was stepping out with that troll? By the time Brandon had fixed her a drink and held it out to her, Santana was sure that she’d need like five more just to keep the emotions she was currently feeling in check. Taking the cup, she chugged it back before handing it over again. “I need something stronger. Much stronger.” She hissed while glaring over the blond and the unattractive brunette next to him. It was embarrassing having her ex be seen out in public with someone like Rachel, but what could she really do other than be a little petty? After all, she hadn’t spoken to Sam in a while, and it wasn’t really like she had a reason to be jealous or whatever, so maybe she just needed to use Brandon. Waiting until he was handing her a cup of vodka with no chaser, Santana smirked before draping her free arm around his neck. “You know, maybe we should move somewhere else. I’m starting to get..disgusted by some shit I had to look at.” She scoffed just loud enough for everyone within a few feet to hear.

At the blush Rachel sported, Sam sent her another smile. He nudged his head towards the kegs and bottles of alcohol nearby in the kitchen. “So you feelin’ beer? Something strong? A mixed one, what?” He asked around a curious chuckle. He hadn’t spoken to lsu’s theater princess in months, their second to last interaction having gone sideways when she revealed that she wanted more than their agreed friendly hookup games granted. Back then, Sam shied away from relationships. Commitment was something he didn’t believe he was made for. At least the emotional kind. Weeks after his breakup with Santana and fresh into repairing his friendship with Puck and Bella, Sam had ran into Rachel in New Orleans. Luckily, in between escort gigs, and a long discussion later the pair had decided to rekindle their friendship. The flirtation included. He couldn’t deny that he found the talented brunette attractive. After all, they had an earlier history of hooking up. Sam shot a look towards the fridge. “Erm, think they have some juice around here somewhere...” He let out when Rachel decided on a drink. Ever the gentleman, Sam poured vodka into her solo before going to grab juice to mix it with. 

A bitter scoff of acknowledgment left Sam at Santana’s words. He’d noticed her as soon as she and Miller entered the kitchen. Green eyes had quickly scanned over her familiar form and took in his ex’s attire as he poured Rachel’s drink before ignoring her presence even faster. It was something he’d yet to turn off, his natural reaction to notice Santana Lopez whenever she walked into a room. Something that strengthen over time, especially while they were dating. Except now, they weren’t. He was single and she was free to waltz around with Skillet Head Miller, if that’s what she wanted. Sam hadn’t noticed how strong his grip was on the fruit juice until he shut the refrigerator door too hard. The sound loud in his ears. His hand loosened its hold, turning to remove the bottle’s top while Rachel threw him a curious look. “Strawberry Banana’s cool?” He offered, waiting for her say so to mix the drink. He sat the bottle on the countertop beside them afterwards. “Try the living room.” Sam let out, a firm gaze finally on Santana. He ignored Miller completely. “Hear everyone’s having a good time there.” Sam glanced towards the liquor bottles and grabbed the remaining quarter of Jack Daniels. “I mean, I know I was in here. But y’know,” He shrugged as he poured his drink, eyes back on Santana as he sat it down. “Everybody can’t be me.” Sam sent her a nod, his free arm smoothly wrapped around Rachel’s shoulders before having a long sip. “How you been?”

Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better.