Fic: California Dreaming
Chapter 1: Walk of Fame
Author: deeha
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.
Summary: Santana and Rachel fly from New York to Los Angeles for a couple days to do television appearances. Not only does Santana have to learn how to deal with their new found stardom, but also her feelings for Rachel.
A/N: Happy (really) Belated Birthday Purrpickle! lmao.
They almost didn't make their damn red eye flight to Los Angeles because Rachel was spotted by this well endowed high school hipster who shoved an English literature text book in her face to sign. If it were Santana, she would've just signed the damn thing and get in line for their flight.
But Rachel didn't want to deface public school property and therefore took the time to look in her Mary Poppin's carpet bag for an 8.5'x11" gloss portrait to sign.
Understandably, Rachel has a different fan base than Santana. But like come on...rude. Santana is an R&B artist who has a track playing on the radio! So what if Rachel is in that blockbuster, based on a book, based on a poem, which is based on the true story of a girl risking it all to save her best friend: a Clydesdale, named Atlas?
But what's really bothering Santana even more so, is the fact that this aspiring college student of 18th century prose is spewing love sonnets to Rachel.
Girl. Get a hold of yourself.
If you want to pick up on a girl, then move to New York after high school following said girl, somehow survive a couple years as roommates, in the process become her best friend, and then make sure she gets onto her flight.
Ok. So maybe Santana has lost some of her game so to speak. She's working on it, but at least she's best friends with Rachel, and that is something!
Whatever.
They're in their seats and Santana is making a mental rundown on what they are doing for the next two days. Yes. They are traveling across country for a couple days.
But she can't complain because it's basically a free trip and she's always wanted to go on the Kimmel show. 'Bout time Tina finally scored her the invitation.
And Rachel has a thing with Ellen.
The girl also wants to do all the sightseeing stuff like the Hollywood sign, walk of fame...the beach. Santana wants to do it too. But right now she wants a drink.
Santana rolls her eyes when the stewardess walks by and gets all embarrassed because she obviously recognizes Rachel. Rachel is totally oblivious to the chick checking her out. Santana just glares at the stewardess who then quickly turns away.
When Rachel finally sits her ass down from fidgeting with her carry on for her neck pillow, Santana can finally relax.
Until the damn stewardess comes back and offers Rachel a blanket and headset. Totally ignoring Santana.
When they are alone, Rachel fucking giggles and Santana just wants to kick the seat in front of her because she knows what Rachel is going to say.
"I can't believe I got celebrity spotted. Twice! I think TMZ followed us here! Aren't you excited? We finally made it! We're both successful and getting paparazzied!" Rachel is talking a mile a minute and Santana is about to say how annoyed she is at girls checking Rachel out.
But Rachel shares the blanket with Santana and she loses all the fight in her because maybe her anger is unfounded.
They've been roommate since after high school and stuck with each other through thick and thin.
Santana considers Rachel her closest friend. Which makes things hard when all Santana wants to do is finger Rachel under this blanket and see how many times she can bring the girl to orgasm before they hit Los Angeles.
So maybe her jealousy isn't about not being recognized but jealous because all these girls can out right flirt with Rachel and she's kind of in this awkward situation where she's the creepy friend who has really dirty sexual fantasies about her.
She just smiles at Rachel and closes her eyes to dream all the way to California.
They touch ground in Los Angeles on time but their plane is like off the main run way so they have to take a tram to the terminal. It takes forever and Santana is cursing in her head because all the down time is cutting into their trip.
Rachel is oblivious and is chipper as she talks to the other passengers who are relaying all the go to see places and warning her of 405 freeway, unless they want to be in traffic for "4 or 5 hours."
When they get out into the terminal, Mercedes Jones is waiting for them with a sign that says "Babs and Satan."
Santana rolls her eyes. Could you be any more lame? And god, there is the paparazzi. They are going to latch onto that nickname.
Rachel drops her carry on and runs squealing to throw her arms around Mercedes. Santana is decent enough to drag Rachel's carry on to where Mercedes has the car waiting. The driver loads it up for them and as soon as she sits down she wants out because Mercedes has Party in the USA playing and Rachel is singing along.
Mercedes pushes her back down and they all sing the song together because that's just what they do.
Rachel is like, "Let's take the scenic route."
They cruise through rodeo drive and Santana is like a normal person who drools at the sight of clothing boutiques, whereas Rachel is commenting on how many palm trees there are even though they aren't indigenous to California.
Santana wants to go shopping but Rachel shoots that idea down because she says they could go shopping in New York and it would be a shame to miss the California air (smog).
It's a good thing Santana slept on the plane because as soon as they drop their bags off at the Beverley hills hotel (Rachel made sure they were not on the same floor where Ms. Houston passed away) they are outside on Sunset trying to hail a cab.
The bell hop calls for a cab.
Santana isn't use to the quiet bustle compared to the usual line of cabs waiting for them in New York. She comments to Rachel, "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in New York anymore."
Rachel pouts and says under her breath that she wants to be Dorothy and then she kind of jabs at Santana's arm which is a little painful but it brings the first genuine smile to Santana's face since they got here.
They dressed for sun which means Santana has her aviators on and so does Rachel.
Rachel is also in this little thing she calls a dress which Santana has no problem with.
Mercedes tells the cabbie where to go and once they are on Hollywood and Vine Rachel can't sit still and wants out.
Santana isn't sure she wants to be out among the locals just yet.
But they get out and Rachel immediately takes a picture of who knows what (a garbage can with a star on it) and then she's grabbing Santana's hand and dragging her down Hollywood to find Barbra's star.
Rachel makes Santana buy a celebrity map and just like god no. But she's kind of curious too.
Mercedes buys them horchata from a street vendor and when they walk in front of the Kodak Theater Rachel almost spits out her drink.
Santana looks at her like she's crazy, but maybe Rachel saw someone famous, "What the hell Rach, did you see Frankie Muniz?"
Rachel squints her eyes and questions, "Is that Noah?"
Again, Santana kicks herself for feeling jealous when Rachel lets go of her hand to go and literally jump and crawl on Puck like she is a little chimpanzee.
It doesn't help that she knows Rachel has a soft spot for him.
And he also looks really good with this tan he is sporting. But he still has that, "Mohawk? Really don't you think you're pushing it? Aren't you like 35."
Only Mercedes is laughing with her.
Turns out Puck is a street performer and knows his way around Hollywood.
Rachel is arm in arm with him and just grinning like she's skipping in a field of daisies.
Santana is sulking behind them.
Mercedes slings her arm around Santana's neck and calls her out, "You're jealous aren't you?"
"I do not know what you mean."
Mercedes laughs and motions to the two in front of them. "You got your panties in a twist for Rachel. And don't say I'm wrong, I've watched Twilight a million times and you are pining like Jacob."
Santana involuntarily jerks when the movie Twilight is mentioned, "You do know you're not suppose to admit you watch that movie and yes thank you, I do have incredible abs like Jacob."
"And looks like you imprinted on young Bella."
"Can we please stop. I feel my I.Q. slipping."
"How many brain cells you got left anyway?"
Santana goes into jab Mercedes but Mercedes just ruffles her up and they end up laughing on the sidewalk.
They are back in the hotel at the lounge having drinks. Puck is flirting with the bar tender and Rachel is signing a throng of girls' t-shirts.
Mercedes and Santana are on a couch watching the whole thing while they sip on apple martinis.
"So Kathryn Merteuil how will you entrap the young Cecile Caldwell."
"I do not have a thing for Rachel. It's totally normal to be protective over small things. I don't want someone to mistake her for a gnome and kick her."
"Unlikely. Looks like people recognize her as the breakout star in that Seabiscuit movie."
Santana almost a snorts because Rachel would kill Mercedes of she heard that.
Puck walks over to them with a couple more drinks. "I think the bar tender has the hots for me, just like Santana has a boner for Rachel."
Mercedes bursts out laughing and Santana tries to kick Puck but her depth perception is off.
Damn alcohol.
So the thing about everyone knowing Santana has a thing for Rachel and Rachel is oblivious to it all...Santana can see the where it might be funny. But no.
They're up in the suite and Puck and Mercedes are staying over because there are two queens and a hot tub in the room.
Puck is in the hot tub and Mercedes is in bed watching Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami on the flat screen.
Rachel and Santana are on the other bed reading. Well. Rachel is looking at all the celebrity maps she made Santana buy and Santana is reading the People's magazine.
There is a little picture of the two of them in New York with the tag line: sweet hearts.
They look cute. It's was that one really hot day and Rachel suggested they get ice cream. But Rachel forgot her wallet and Santana only had a five dollar bill, so they had to share to cone of ice cream.
That was also about the time when Santana had the impure thought of dripping the ice cream all over Rachel's chest and licking it off.
She closes the magazine quickly and everyone turns to give her a look but then ignore her when Kanye is on the TV having a fight with Kim's cat.
Rachel puts her maps away and cuddles into Santana. Which should not be allowed. But Santana doesn't push her away.
Rachel quietly asks, "So tomorrow is the big day. Ellen and Jimmy. I'm nervous. Are you nervous?"
Sure. Santana is nervous about a lot of things. She's nervous that Rachel can hear her heart thud and she's nervous that she's going to start sweating.
"No I'm not nervous. Ellen's easy. Just talk about your movie and she'll make some jokes and you're out of there."
"I think I'll have to at least have a charming anecdote to share."
Santana realizes that Rachel is actually nervous because the girl is kind of gripping at Santana's shirt and then Santana realizes she is playing with Rachel's hair and her heart beats even faster.
"We should think about what to say now so we aren't caught off guard."
Santana sighs and tries to think of something. "Ok how about that time you were mistaken for Sophia bush and you autographed all that stuff as her."
Rachel giggles which makes Santana smile for the second time that day. "Oh that's a good one; you should share about that time you thought you saw Robert Downing Jr. And quoted like the entire Sherlock Holmes movie. But it turned out the guy was a look alike."
Santana chortles and whispers, "That's what we call a secret."
Rachel laughs into Santana's side. Which like, does Rachel know she's turning Santana on? Rachel continues to cuddle until Puck yells out, "You girls gonna join me in here or what?"
Santana wants to shout something really disgusting back but Rachel is already taking off her clothes to just jump in. No shame.
She'd go in too but she doesn't want to be the third wheel so she joins Mercedes (who has the excuse about her new weave) and they watch Honey Boo Boo child until they fall asleep.