Kindred Spirits - Chapter 1
A/N: Using the characters of Glee and a similar opening idea to one of my favourite films this idea has been created. It is an alternative universe so none of the characters met in Glee Club. Normally I write screenplays but have converted it to this format, so I hope it is easy to follow and understand. I hope you enjoy the ride...
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or the characters.
New York - Morning
Santana never thought that when she arrived in New York 10 years ago that she would be where she is today. As she moves around the converted loft space with a camera hanging round her neck, painstakingly directing models how to pose seductively and getting lost in the world of capturing photo after photo, she looks at the screen of her camera to critique the last photo she had taken and thinks back to her big aspirations of being in these girls shoes. After arriving in New York to attend NYU, the plan was to get through college in hopes of becoming a model at the end of it. Santana knew that modeling was something that couldn't be taught at college, but always the planner she wanted a backup plan.
At the age of 17 Santana knew she wanted and could be the next Tyra Banks, unfortunately life had a different plan for her and here she is a world-renowned photographer for the likes of Vogue magazine and her good friend Kurt Hummel.
Looking up from her camera and taking in the scene in front of her, she looks intently at the models and sighs, she asks herself if these women could just be more co-operative and at least make an effort to pull this shoot off. Lifting her finger she directs her attention to the model on the right.
"Ok you in the purple dress" states Santana.
"My name is Shelly." The model smiles, happy with herself that she is being singled out.
"Well Shirley. Lets try for a look that shows less constipation and more sexiness. Shall we?" sighs a frustrated Santana, looking on at the model that is about to burst into tears.
From the back of the room Santana hears that all familiar feminine voice, looking over her shoulder she rolls her eyes as she see's a smiling Kurt strutting towards her. Santana met Kurt only a few years ago after being hired to shoot his first ever collection, now here she is working with him for his big feature in Vogue Magazine as top designer of 2012. Through the years of working together they have formed a very close friendship, almost a kin to brother and sister type of bond.
" I see Auntie Snix has just arrived on the express to bitch town." Kurt jokes, looking at an unimpressed Santana.
Turning her full attention to Kurt she lifts an eyebrow at him and begins to curtsy.
"Mrs Hummel it's so kind of you to grace us with your presence." They both laugh lost in their own world, forgetting that they are not alone. They both share a knowing look and turn to the models that are looking awkwardly at each other.
"Ok why don't you guys take a break. Be back in fifteen." Kurt directs in his most professional voice.
As the models leave out the side door to the dressing rooms Kurt's attention is drawn back to Santana who is glaring at the retreating models.
"Santana. Can you please try not to scare the models? They're already freaked out to be working with you in the first place because of your reputation." Kurt tries to give an unimpressed look, but the smile behind his eyes gives him away.
"It's my reputation that got me here in the first place Kurt, you should be used to it by now." Santana laughs.
"Oh I am. I just don't want anymore models running out of here bawling like a baby..." Santana gasps.
"That was one time! And she couldn't take constructive criticism." She accentuates as she gabs him in the chest.
Walking over to her computer in the far corner Santana begins to upload the most recent photographs, smiling as she watch's them appear on the screen, proud of her work. In the corner of her eye Santana can see Kurt stealthily trying to sneak upon her, knowing full well that he wants to sneak at peak at her work before she has even finished. Turning the computer screen off immediately to avoid any prying eyes, Kurt sighs in disappointment at not being slyer.
"So...How is it all going?" He asks.
"Great. Only a few more different outfits to shoot and that's a wrap. Where's hobbit and my coffee?" She smiles while adjusting her camera equipment for the next part of the shoot.
A loud commotion comes from outside the main room, and in through the main door bursts Rachel Berry in all her glory sporting one of her many outrageous looks. You would believe that having a fashion guru for a best friend would simple make you understand fashion more, for Rachel though she really is stuck in a different era. Marching her way over to Santana and Kurt on the other side of the room, she shoves a Starbucks coffee into the waiting hands of the fiery Latina.
"I'm not your slave Santana!" Shouts Rachel.
"Shame. You do it so well!" Laughs Santana.
"Your phone has been going off like crazy by the way. I would answer it but I don't want to be speaking to any of your booty calls..." Rachel mocks whiles opening her purse to pull out Santana's phone.
Snatching the phone from Rachel's hands and glaring at her for making such a comment, she storms off and begins to call her voicemail to check her messages. Upon hearing an all too familiar voice a smile breaks across her face long forgetting her interaction with Rachel just moments ago.
"Hey Sanny. It's Brittany. God it must be… what… months, huh? I can't wait to talk to you. I'm in Chicago on business but flying back to LA in the morning. Call me at four in the morning, whatever, we've gotta talk." Hanging up the phone Santana has a far off look in her eyes.
"Who called? The woman of the moment?" Asks Kurt noticing the far off look.
Walking back over to Kurt and Rachel, Santana notices them eyeing her suspiciously and strangely feels the need to be open and honest with them about her past.
"No, no, the opposite. That's my best friend, Brittany Pierce. She sounds desperate to talk." She replies still looking down at her phone in wonderment.
"The wandering dancer." Kurt remembers hearing stories of this Brittany from Santana but has yet to meet the elusive woman in her life. She looks up and smiles at Kurt.
"I didn't know you two had a past." Asks Rachel. Noticing Santana's look sharpen, Rachel feels the need to justify her assumption. "The look in your eye." Santana blushes.
"Sophomore year at NYU we had this one hot month. And, you know me, I got restless..." She looks up at Kurt and Rachel who urge her to continue. "So I get up the nerve to break her heart. I tell her there's this dreamy exchange student who wants to, you know..." nervously she starts to play with her hands "And she gets this look. She says, "I knew I couldn't hold your interest", which, of course, makes me feel like the shallow bitch I've always been. Then she says, "But what makes me want to cry. Is I'm losing the best friend I ever had."" The emotion in her voice coming through as her voice wavers. "And when she said it, I knew. I felt the same."
Kurt and Rachel listen intently and wait for Santana to continue, understanding the full weight of this story and the emotion it holds they wait patiently and give Santana the comfort she needs in their silence.
"So I cried. For maybe the third time in my life. And I kissed her. And we've been best friends ever since." She stops, although she knows there is more to tell. "Nine years, we've seen each other through everything. Losing jobs, losing parents, losing lovers... travelled all over, we've had the best times. The best times of my life maybe. Just drinking and talking. Even over a phone." Santana begins to nervously bite her nails.
"Kindred Spirits." Kurt states.
"No. She is nothing like me. She's everything that's good in this miserable world. The one constant thing in my life is she'll always be there." Santana picks up her coffee to take a long sip, relishing in the burn it leaves on her tongue.
"She's still in love with you." Kurt informs regardless of his knowledge of the relationship, the accusation throws Santana as she opens her mouth to speak but struggles with the right words.
"Maybe."
"Well she has a true friend in you." Santana smiles at him. "Whenever Blaine tells someone how steadfast I am, he always makes me sound so boring." All three of them laugh.
"Solid and genuine is not boring. Brittany can be completely insane..." She pauses as she recalls a memory. "There was this one night in Mexico, like six years ago. We got amazingly drunk, I mean, Keith Richards style." Laughs to herself. "God I haven't thought of this in so long. I can't believe we even did this…" Santana gets cut off as the door from the dressing room opens and the model from earlier salters over.
"I'm ready for the next shoot." Informs Shelly.
"Shhh!" Rachel bursts from eagerness and shoots a glare towards the model for wanting to hear the rest of Santana's story. Kurt politely nudges Rachel's shoulder trying to calm her and turns his attention towards his model.
"Could you give us five more minutes?" Kurt asks. The model nods and walks back to where she once came from. Everyone's attention back on Santana waiting for her to continue.
"So she makes us do a blood oath. She says, "Swear. When we're both 28, if we've never been married… we marry each other!" laughing to herself as she remembers the stupidity of it all, the chances a look at Rachel and Kurt to see their reaction, they stand there stoically with no emotion. Santana feels the need to explain further. "See she figured that would be a sign that we'd misunderstood our destinies." Both Kurt and Rachel now have serious looks on their faces, feeling the tense atmosphere she nervously begins to bite her nails and tries to find a way to steer away from this topic of conversation. "We never talked about it again. I don't know what made me think of..."
"I do" Kurt interrupts. Santana looks intently up at Kurt waiting to hear his answer to her question. "You'll be 28 in three weeks. How old is she?" He asks with a sly look on his face. Both Rachel and Santana gasp.
"You think?" Santana whispers.
"Ah. Desperate to talk." Rachel says her thoughts aloud. Santana begins to pace and starts muttering to herself.
"She's not proposing marriage, there's no way I'm buying one word of th..." Kurt interrupts her ranting.
"Then why are you biting your nails and pacing a hole in the floor." Kurt states gesturing to her moving figure.
"She can't do that to me!" continues Santana.
"Were about to find out." Shrugs Rachel.
"When I turn her down…" Santana starts until the full realization hits her.
"I have a suggestion" Kurt pauses as both women turn to look at him. "Say yes." He smiles to himself, while both women look on dumbfounded.
TBC…
Please let me know your thoughts, next chapter will be updated tomorrow.