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Santana was adding the last coat of nail polish to her pinkie finger when Rachel burst through the loft door.
"Damn it Berry, you almost made me mess up." Santana said, not looking up from her hands.
"Sorry, but I can not contain my excitement! Don't you know what tomorrow is?"
Santana thought for a few seconds, it wasn't Rachel's birthday, so she had no idea. "Um..June 12th?"
"It's NYC Pride Santana! I've gone to Columbus Pride multiple times with my dads but this...this is on another level!"
Santana just put the cap back on her red nail polish before standing up, "I've never been."
"Like at all?"
Santana shook her head no as she made her way to the bathroom, returning the polish to the container on the shelf, before walking back and plopping on the living room couch.
"My family wasn't exactly the most supportive. Lima never had a parade and I never really felt like driving to Columbus alone to go. It just...always felt like something you should do with friends, or family or whatever. " Santana said nonchalantly. But Rachel didn't miss the traces of sadness in her voice.
"You could've gone with me."
"Rach, come on."
"You're right. We weren't exactly friends in high school. "
"I tried to go once."
Rachel looked at her with a confused look.
"To Pride. " Santana clarified. And Rachel motioned for her to continue.
"After I first came o-was outed. I wanted to feel something other than the fear and rejection. I wanted to feel, like, empowered, or whatever. I was looking around online and saw that there was this like, block party type Pride event 30 minutes from Lima. Not a big scale parade or anything. Just a lowkey thing. I got dressed, decked out in rainbows because that's how I thought I should dress. Plus I was excited, so. I was heading to my car when my dad saw me. He asked me where I was going dressed like that. When I told him, he ripped the car keys out of my hands and told me to go back inside, that I was going to 'embarrass him and the family like that'. I didn't cry until I got back to my room. My little rainbow dot face paint ran down my face, I looked so pathetic. I never tried to go again after that. Britt always wanted to but I couldn't. " Santana shifted uncomfortably as she finished speaking. She normally never says so many words at a time, especially ones about her feelings.
"San.." Rachel said, barely above a whisper. She walked over and sat near the other woman. Wrapping her arm around her and pulling her into a tight hug.
"It's whatever." Santana said, trying to act like it didn't bother her.
Rachel turned so she was looking into Santana's eyes. She could see the barely there shimmer of unshed tears.
"It's not whatever. You wanted to go be surrounded by people who understood and celebrated you and you were shot down before you could even leave. You are amazing Santana, you deserve to be celebrated. Which is why I want you to come with me to Pride tomorrow. I want to show you how amazing it is to be surrounded by other Queer folks and allies. I want to celebrate you. "
Santana smiled softly, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. "Okay."
Rachel squealed in excitement and pulled the Latina back in for another hug. "It's gonna be so much fun!"
Santana laughed at Rachel's antics and squeezed the diva back just as tight.
***
"Santana get up!" Rachel shouted as she threw a pillow at the sleeping girl.
"Rach what the fuck." Santana groaned, still half asleep.
"Just get up."
Santana went to put a pillow over her head to drown out Rachel's voice but stopped when a delicious smell hit her nose. She raised up and looked at Rachel, who just smirked at her.
"Chocolate chip pancakes?" Santana asked excitedly.
Rachel nodded and giggled as Santana jumped out of bed and ran to the kitchen. The diva followed her and stood watching amusedly as Santana started piling pancakes onto her plate.
"I take it you're excited." Rachel said sarcastically.
"Of course! These are my favorite."
"I know, that's why I made them."
"You made breakfast for me?" Santana asked. Having thought Rachel had doordashed from the local IHOP.
"Mhm"
Rachel grabbed a few of the vegan pancakes she had set aside and joined Santana at the table.
"Well, thanks."
"You're welcome. I told you, today we are celebrating you. Starting with your favorite food." Rachel said, motioning to the stacks of chocolate chip pancakes on the table.
Santana blushed and continued eating, not knowing how to respond.
Several minutes passed in silence before Santana spoke up, "What time are we leaving?"
"It starts at 4, so we should probably leave around 2:30. Traffic will be crazy."
Santana nodded and checked the clock, 11:45."
"I'm really not sure what to wear." She said, looking across the table at Rachel.
"Just wear what you normally would."
"Don't I need like, some Pride apparel or something?"
"If you want. But you don't have to prove your queerness to anyone anymore Santana. You can just dress like you because you are a powerful and proud lesbian, wo whatever you wanna wear is automatically 'Pride apparel.
Santana smiled, she found herself doing that alot recently. "Thank you. Um, what are you wearing?"
Rachel smirked. "You'll have to wait and find out. "
"You're such a drama queen." Santana said, laughing.
***
Santana was standing in front of her mirror, making sure her outfit looked good. She was wearing skinny jeans with holes in the knees, a red shirt that had the top of the back cut out, and a pair of black converse. Her hair was in a ponytail.
"You look great!" Santana was pulled from her thoughts by Rachel's voice.
She turned around and smiled, "really?"
"Yes, you look beautiful. I love the shirt."
Again, Santana found herself blushing. She looked at Rachel and took in her outfit. A pair of high waisted black shorts, and a pale blue shirt with three small flowers across the chest; one pink, on purple, and one a darker blue. She also had a pair of white Keds on.
"You look great too. I like the shirt." She said the last part hoping Rachel would elaborate, she had no memory of Rachel ever saying she was anything other than straight.
"Thank you! I ordered online a while ago."
Santana stood there for a second, just looking at the other girl. Hesitating to ask what she wanted to know.
Rachel seemed to sense this, "Yes, it is the bisexual flag colors."
Santana scoffed to hide her embarrassment. "I know that."
"Then why are you acting confused?"
Santana shrugged.
"Wait a minute..you thought I was straight!" Rachel said with a knowing smirk.
"Can you blame me? You've never said otherwise."
Rachel thought for a moment, "huh, I guess you're right. I'm just so used to sexuality being expressed openly without having it need to be a big thing."
"You could've at least told me after the whole outing thing." Santana said, sounding kind of upset.
"San, you said it yourself. We weren't really friends in high school. Besides,I didn't want to make that situation about me. You were forced to come out and come to terms with everything. I wanted you to be able to do that. "
"Oh."
The room grew tense as each girl stood there in silence.
"We should go." Santana said as she walked past Rachel.
Rachel followed her out of the apartment and down the street.
The walk was quiet and strangely awkward. Rachel didn't understand what had happened. Sure, she could see Santana being upset that she didn't say anything to her about her sexuality, but she had a valid reason.
Rachel didn't get to ponder this long as the roaring sound of people cheering and music playing hit her ears. She couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. She turned to find Santana smiling just as big.
"Wow." Santana said, turning to Rachel.
"Yeah." Rachel reached over and laced her fingers with Santana's.
Surprisingly Santana just squeezed her hand as Rachel led them towards the excitement.
Rachel was in awe as she watched Santana transform. The Latina couldn't stop smiling and dragging Rachel around to make sure she also was seeing everything.
"It's amazing" Santana said, shouting slightly so Rachel could hear her over the Lady Gaga song blasting through the speakers.
"It is. So what do you wanna do first?"
Santana turned in a small circle, checking everything out again. When she was back go facing Rachel and smiled.
"I'm not sure. It's kind of..overwhelming. "
Rachel nodded, "Yeah, it always is."
Rachel grabbed Santana's hand once again, and began leading her towards the area where people were dancing.
"What are we doing?" Santana asked as the divas grabbed her other hand and began to move her body to the music.
"Dancing silly." Rachel laughed, moving Santana's arms in an attempt to get the other girl to dance.
Santana rolled her eyes but started moving nonetheless. She dramatically twirled Rachel and then pulled her into her, both girls laughing.
They continued to laugh and dance until the music stopped and someone started speaking into the microphone. Rachel smiled over at Santana and motioned for her to pay attention. The Latina quirked an eyebrow and turned to face the stage.
"What's up my guys, gals, and nonbinary pals!" The person on stage yelled into the microphone. Followed by a roar from the crowd. "We usually don't take requests but this lady was very, very insistent. So, this song goes out to" the emcee looked down at the post it held in his hand. "Santana Lopez. Hope you're enjoying your first ever Pride!"
Santana turned to look at Rachel, the short girl was still facing the stage but Santana could tell she was fighting to not smile, and she was looking at her from the corner of her eye.
The opening notes to "So Emotional" began playing and Santana couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped her.
"Really Rach. You always gotta be dramatic don't you."
Rachel finally turned to look at her, "It was the first time we really..connected. When we sang this song, it felt like we were becoming friends. I wanted to play it for you here because I wanted it to be part of this memory as well. Our first Pride together. "
Santana didn't miss the way Rachel worded it, making it seem like they would have many more of these events in their futures.
"You're amazing Rach. Thank you." Santana said as she pulled Rachel towards her and began moving her hips to the beat.
"So are you. I am very proud of how far you have come, Santana."
"I'm proud of me too." Santana said, spinning Rachel out of her arms, before pulling her back to her.
The song ended and quickly changed to a song neither of them knew. Santana's hand never left Rachel's.
"I need water." Santana said before pulling Rachel towards the drink stand.
They grabbed two bottles of water and sat down under one of the tents.
"I take it, you're enjoying it?" Rachel asked, setting her now half empty bottle down.
"I am. Thank you for asking me to come."
"Of course. I really wouldn't wanna be here with anyone else. "
Santana smiled, "Me either."
Rachel smiled back at her and turned in her chair to watch the drag queens who were currently performing on the small stage across from them.
Santana's eyes stayed focused on the diva. The way a smile never left her face, the slightly red tint on her cheeks from being out in the sun, the way her once perfectly braided hair was now messy from all their dancing. She couldn't stop the butterflies that began to bat their wings in her stomach.
Rachel turned and caught Santana looking at her. "What is it? Is my hair messed up?" She asked, her hands going to try to fix her braid.
"No, it's fine. " Santana said, her eyes never leaving Rachel's.
"Then what's wrong? You were looking at me funny. "
"No I wasn't, I was admiring you. "
Rachel blushed, her eyes quickly going to look at her hands.
"The reason I was weird when you told me you were Bi is because I was kicking myself in the ass for not knowing. "
"What do you mean?" Rachel said, finally looking back at the other woman.
"I was mad that I didn't know because I could've had a chance with you all this time. I always thought you only liked dudes. "
Rachel's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You wanted to be with me?"
Santana nodded.
"But you never said anything."
"I thought you were straight."
"I'm not though. "
"I know that now."
Rachel bit her lip and looked anxiously at Santana. "And?"
"And I wonder if I now have a chance."
Instead of answering Rachel leaned across the table and gently kissed Santana. Santana didn't hesitate to kiss her back. Their lips moved slowly against each other, softly exploring each other. They pulled back when they needed to breathe.
"I'd say you have a pretty good chance." Rachel said with a smirk.
"Finally." Santana said smiling, leaning in to kiss Rachel again.