LbN: Written for Dantanchel Week on Tumblr. Hope you like it!
Santana took a big, nervous breath. She didn't understand why she was so anxious - it wasn't like she was the one performing.
"Ma'am?"
She turned to see one of her students holding his saxophone. "Hi Carl. What do you need?"
"Is there anywhere to pee?" he asked, dancing up and down.
She smiled. Middle schoolers in general had an interesting way of not giving a fuck about what they said. "Go put your sax down and there's a green room through there," she said, pointing off through a curtain. "The bathroom is at the back."
"Thanks!"
She watched the boy run off and looked back out the window to where the stage was set up. The sun was just starting to go down, and parents, students and random people from the public were pouring in.
"How are you doing?"
"Hey you," Santana said, hugging Dani. "I'm…" She paused and looked around. When she saw that there were no kids in earshot, she whispered, "I'm terrified."
"Oh, honey," Dani said, smiling. "It's going to be fine."
"I know. It's just…." She trailed off, waving her hands ineffectually as if to indicate the entire world.
It was just that she was girlfriend to two highly successful celebrities - a famous Broadway sweetheart, and an artist who had taken the U.S. by storm nearly overnight. It was just that she still got looks because she was "Just a teacher" from random interviewers and, hell, even family and friends. It was just that people kept asking her when her "big break" was coming - when she'd go back to singing or writing or anything that kept her going in college. It was just that this year, her after-school arts program had finally been accepted by the board, and this was their big night. It was just that for all that people complained and made her feel inferior, her girlfriends never had, and she knew they wanted this to be a success as much as she did.
It was just that she knew teaching was her calling, and tonight she wanted to see her kids shine.
Dani leaned up and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Everything's going to be awesome," she said. "Rachel and Mercedes are helping the music kids warm up, Kurt's made sure all of the others have everything they need, and Matt's triple-checked sound and lights. Tonight's going to be amazing."
Santana smiled, and nodded. "Should we get started then?"
Jazz Under the Night Sky. That was the headline that had been printed in their neighborhood newsletter. Santana had pinned a copy in her classroom, and to the fridge at home.
The Cobble Hill residents were treated to a special night thanks to the efforts of the Collum Intermediate School for Exceptional Students. The Rock the Arts after-school program put on a fun night of music, poetry, fashion and dance. The program offers four tracks that the students can participate in: Writing, Music, Dance, and Design. The students can choose to change tracks at semester, or spend the entire year in one. We were privileged to experience the fruits of their labors last Friday, as the students proved to be budding entertainers. There were also surprise performances by Mercedes Jones, world renowned R&B and Jazz musician, as well as Rachel Berry, everyone's favorite Broadway star.
Due to the successful nature of the program, the Headmistress of Collum Intermediate informed us that the program, created and run by Collum English teacher Santana Lopez, has been renewed for another year. Ms. Lopez also notified us that generous donations have enabled them to add a Theater track for the students. We look forward to seeing the talent of the students flourish in the coming years.