Eye of the Tiger

Part 16

Santana POV

"San, you really don't have to go with me. It must be boring watching me all the time." Dani pulled her shirt over her head and I felt my cheeks turn red. How did I get so lucky to have such a hot girl, damn. We were in the girls locker room after school and she was changing into her clothes for training. I can't resist running my hands over those abs. "Babe you know that's a bad idea." She chuckled but makes no moves to stop me.

"I don't know what you mean." I run my fingertips up her sides and to her back to the clasp of her bra.

"You're going to make me late." She gently pushed my arms away before cupping my cheeks in her hands and pecking my lips.

"I just thought I could help you out." I pouted and she grinned at me before wrapping her arms around my neck.

"I'll tell you what...you can help me undress. Afterwards." Having her cleavage so close to my face honestly wasn't helping. I start to chew on my bottom lip and she brings her lips closer to my ear to whisper. "Maybe you can help me in the shower too."

"Can you call out sick to practice?" The heat between my legs was too much. She was such a tease. But she laughed as she took a step away from me.

"Nope. You're gonna have to be patient. Now wait for me outside, I'll be quick I promise."

She starts to dig through her gym bag to pull out the clothes she was changing into.

"But you said I could watch..."

"And you said you would behave but you already failed that test." She stuck her tongue out at me and I just sigh.

"Fiiiine I'll wait outside." I get up and capture her lips once more before letting myself out and just sitting with my imagination instead of the real thing.

Dani POV

Half pint: Hey babe. I just finished. Can't wait to see you.

Pom poms: omw

I finally convinced Santana to do her own thing while I practiced. Don't get me wrong I love spending time with her but since we became public at school I feel like I see her all day every day. It was nice being by myself for the last hour and a half. I throw my phone in my gym bag before zipping it up and throwing it over my shoulder. I still had my music in to shut out the rest of the world so it came as a surprise when I felt a shove on my shoulder.

"Oh excuse me. I'm so-" My breath caught in my throat when I saw who it was. "D-dad?" He didn't say anything. He looked at me with tired eyes before turning away. I felt my tears well up in the corners of my eyes. I ran out the door hoping Santana would be there already. It took another few minutes but she finally pulled up and by then I couldn't hold in my tears.

"Baby what's wrong?" Santana immediately shut off her car and threw an arm around me.

"I saw my dad..." I whispered, wiping the last of my tears. I don't know why I'm so upset still. I expected it. Why does it hurt so much still? I felt Santana's body tense next to me.

"What did he say?"

"...Nothing. Like usual." I mumble out, I curl into her side the best I could with the center condolence between us.

"It's going to be okay babe." She whispered, placing a kiss in my hair. I wish I could believe her. We sat in silence on the way home and I didn't mind. It gave me a chance to think. From the outside people would think the obvious choice was to be done with my dad but it wasn't that easy. My dad is literally the only family I have had growing up. He's always been my best friend. I can't just forget about him...he's my dad.

"Why doesn't he love me?" I break the silence as Santana pulls into her driveway. She sighed as she cut off the engine to her car and turned to me.

"I think he still loves you Dani, he's just a little confused right now."

"But it has always been just the two of us. We had no other family around and we still don't. He was my best friend...how could he just leave me like that?"

"Like I said, he's confused. You've accepted this in yourself a long time ago but it's something he needs to get used to. But you shouldn't worry about him Dani. I know he's your dad and it's more complicated than that but it's not just you and him anymore. I wish I could tell you he's going to come around but I can't promise that. I can only promise that I'll be here for you."

"It's just hard. I wish I would have kept it to myself." I feel her tense next to me but she took a deep breath and grabbed my hand.

"Can I tell you something?" I nodded my head for her to continue as I squeezed her hand back. "Like your dad, my Abuela is my best friend. I went to see her a few nights ago while you were training. Since the whole school knew about us I wanted to be honest with her too. I wanted to tell my best friend about this amazing new girl in my life."

"W-what did she say?" She paused for a while and I felt my breath catch in my throat. I already know it's not going to be good.

"She told me to get out. One second she was piling food on my plate telling me she wanted her favorite granddaughter to eat up because I was too skinny and the next she was telling me she never wanted to see me again."

"San, I'm so sorry. Why didn't you tell me earlier?" A tear rolled down her face and I suddenly felt like the worst girlfriend in the world.

"Because it was something I wanted time to process. I felt angry and then I felt a lot of sadness. Then I realized that it's probably how you felt that night when I just left and then I felt guilty."

"Hey it's okay. You're here now." I reassure her but more tears poured from her eyes.

"But I wish I was there then. I wish that when you sat there wondering what was wrong with you I could have told you that nothing was wrong and that you are beautiful. I wish that I could have held you when you needed somebody to hold you. I wish...I could have told you I love you when you needed somebody to tell you they love you." She almost whispered the last part and I immediately sit straight up.

"What did you say?" She looked away from me, silently cursing to herself. I could see her hands trembling in mine and I just squeeze it tight and smile.

"I love you too babe." The fear on her face turned into a smile and soon she was crashing her lips into mine. In that moment it was just us against the world. "And nothing is wrong with you, you're beautiful."

"Plagiarism." And we both laugh. It was crazy how we could be crying one minute and laughing the next.

"Doesn't make it any less true." I finally say back before returning my lips to hers for more kisses.

"My parents are out for the night..." Santana whispered against my lips and I roll my eyes. Being subtle wasn't her strong suit but I can always admire her straight forwardness.

"How about that shower then?"