it's astronomy (we're two worlds apart)

spark of light

Santana's last week of school comes around faster than she expects, and she finds herself walking into the building on Monday, feeling an incomprehensible amount of emotion.

It's a shithole. McKinley is not a pretty school, nor is it good at education or anything. The cheer team is literally all it has.

But she's going to miss it. This is where she became the Santana she is today, and met the people who she's always going to love.

Her first class is English. It's almost empty, with only eight or so students scattered across the rows of desks. Santana sits in her usual corner, where initials have been carved into the wood beside her. At the end of the period, she's called to stay behind by her teacher, Ms. Wilson.

"Santana, honey, I just wanted to talk about the essay you submitted a couple of weeks ago."
"For the book report?"
"Yeah. Sit down, please."

Santana sits in the chair opposite the desk, trying to read her teachers face.

"In my time teaching, I've taught this book to every class, every year. I know it inside out. Given the chance, I could probably recite it. So, reading the same essays every year has become a boring activity, one which I dread. And then I got to your essay."
"And..?"
"And it was like I was reading the book for the first time. Your perception of the story and the characters, the language and turn of phrase you used, it was just perfect."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"That's not all. Every essay you've turned in this year has been perfect. But this was the one that had the most feeling in it. It was perfect, but it was also emotional and heartfelt, like the book itself. You really have a gift, Santana."
"Thanks, Ms. Wilson, that's really kind of you to say that."
"This is your last year of school, yes?"
"This is my last week, actually. I've got another job lined up, and I'm finished all school work."
"Goodness. What is this job?"
"I'm a companion to Princess Lucy Fabray."
"Wow. That's impressive. But this is what I wanted to talk to you about. There's a scholarship available to students aged 16 and over, for a college of your choice in New York. I would like you to apply for it."
"Why would I do it?"
"Because you're incredibly intelligent, and I think you have a very good chance of getting it. Nobody from McKinley has ever achieved it. A few students from William McKinley have, but never anyone from here. But then again, we've never had a student like you."
"I really appreciate you thinking of me like this, but I can't apply. It's not fair on my grandmother, she's worked way more than she should have, so that I could have good opportunities. It's time for me to pay her back, not run off to New York."
"Don't you think she would rather you used the opportunities she's given you, and reach your full potential?"
"I couldn't do it."

Ms Wilson sits back, and looks at the girl in front of her. She's known Santana for years, has seen her go from a rough and loud preteen to a quietly confident teenager. She feels for her, and the world around her that will always be holding her back.

"I won't pressure you. It's your decision to make. If you change your mind, though, I have the paperwork here. The application is due by the end of the week."
"Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye Santana."

Later that afternoon, after Santana's last ever Monday at school is finished, she's sitting in the library with Quinn. Today, the princess is wearing a flower patterned dress, with a pale pink cardigan over the top. She's given Santana another book to read, but Santana can't stop thinking about what her teacher said to her.

"Quinn?" She says, eventually, breaking the silence.
"Yes?" The princess closes her book and looks at her.
"What are you going to do?When you're done with high school, I mean."
"I would like attend college or university, I guess. I'm not sure what I'm going to study, probably English or Philosophy. They're what I'm doing right now."
"What place would you go to?"
"Somewhere close. I'm not sure if I would be able to leave."
"Why not? Don't you feel trapped in Lima sometimes? Like, it's a dead end."
"I get that. But also, I don't do well in big places with lots of people."
"Then you could go to a small college in a small town."
"It's not that easy. I'm not very good with unpredictable situations. College is an adventure, but also very stressful and messy and I'm not sure if I could cope."