Chapter Four

Santana hurried out of her cab, throwing some cash towards the driver as she checked the piece of paper in her hand. Double checking for the millionth time that she had read Brittany's address correctly.

She had spent all morning trying to figure out what to wear, waking up before her alarm and going to bed later than she'd cared for. She had spent the night tossing and turning, she was nervous and the butterflies in her stomach were not going away anytime soon.

Pausing for a second Santana stopped, composing herself as best as she could. The piece of paper she had meticulously folded and refolded over the past five days in her hand crumbling ever so slightly. She had thought about texting Brittany once or twice since Wednesday, okay that was a lie. She had thought about it every day, when she had left coffee with Holly, when she had gone to the bookshop with Quinn that afternoon. She had already saved Brittany's number to her contact list, because she was afraid that something might happen to the original.

She had found herself thinking about the blonde whenever she had scrolled through her contacts in her phone. Wondering what Brittany might have been doing. If she was out or if she was hanging around with her roommate. Santana wanted to know, but the fear of actually asking was too great. Brittany had told her to contact her if she needed anything. Anything related to work. She wasn't asking Santana to hit her up when she was bored at three in the afternoon, with the excuse 'I was thinking about you.'

No, that would be creepy, and so freaking lame.

She still hadn't mentioned to Quinn that she was going to be working with Brittany. She knew that the second she told Quinn she would start asking questions. It wasn't a secret that Quinn was curious about Brittany, ever since the event she had brought up the way Santana had been so nice to her. Quinn was careful though, she had always been cunning in high school like Santana, and knew how to get information from small details. If she told Quinn about the project right away Quinn would wonder why she was nervous, Quinn knew that Santana had done crap like this before, she would want to know why it was different this time. And Santana didn't have an answer to that, at least, not one she wanted to confront just yet.

She had considered asking Mercedes about Brittany, to see what she thought about her, but she was still avoiding her. Mercedes had tried asking her at the event how she knew Brittany, but Santana had managed to slowly shut her up with drinks. She didn't want the question game to start again, especially since she wasn't sure how she could answer Mercedes.

Brittany had turned up in her life and now she was everywhere. Well, she had only seen her three times, but now she was going to be with her for four weeks. Santana was going to get a month with Brittany to do god knows what, she didn't think Brittany would make her uncomfortable. The woman had been nothing but caring since they had met, her easygoing nature being the strongest reminder that Santana shouldn't be nervous.

But she was.

Santana had made her way up onto Brittany's floor. The building was nice, there was a doorman out front who had asked for her name, the man taking his job even more seriously than her own doorman. It calmed her down, safe in the fact that any of her fans wouldn't be able to get into the apartment.

Straightening her shoulders she raised her hand and knocked on the door, noting that she was right on time. Listening closely, Santana heard the sound of a crash on the other side of the door, leaning closer she tried to figure out what the sound was, worried that whoever was on the other side might be hurt. The door swung open as she leaned, causing her to jerk back. Trying not to seem nosy as she met Brittany's warm eyes.

She felt herself smile involuntarily. Trying to stifle the rush that went through her system as she looked at the other woman. "Santana! Hey!" Brittany grinned wide, stepping forward she enveloped Santana in hug like she had done before. Santana stiffened, not prepared for the contact before relaxing slightly, just as Brittany pulled away.

"Hi." Santana leaned back as Brittany motioned her into the apartment. Santana followed, walking in ahead of Brittany who held the door open for her.

The only word that Santana could think of to describe Brittany and Sam's apartment was warm. It was a large studio apartment, Santana could see the kitchen over to the left of the apartment, the living room close by. There was an abundance of throw blankets over the top of the couch, and even though it was summer Santana didn't feel like they shouldn't have been there.

Startled out of her snooping, Santana turned at Brittany's voice. "What are you wearing?" Frowning Santana looked at Brittany.

"A dress?" She answered carefully. Not knowing if Brittany was playing a game with her.

Brittany pursed her lips together for a second, looking Santana up and down. "We're going to have to change that." Santana felt her breathing speed up, shuffling uncertainly as Brittany's eyes lingered on her legs.

Santana frowned "We're just doing a bunch of interviews." She defended.

Brittany paused, looking at Santana. "Have you even watched my channel?" She asked, tilting her head to the side with a playful smile.

Santana froze. Was she supposed to have? She had fought the urge to Google Brittany, not wanting to do the thing she wouldn't have wanted Brittany to do to herself. Not wanting to look like an idiot Santana shot back. "Have you listened to my songs?"

Brittany hesitated, looking away shyly at the question as she nodded. Santana frowned, waiting for Brittany to answer.

"When I got home on Wednesday- I downloaded your EP." Brittany admitted, biting her lip nervously as she looked back up to met Santana's gaze.

"Oh." Santana said, not knowing what else to say. Was she happy that Brittany had listened to her sing? Well, she thought, she probably needed to for the project anyway. She wanted to know what Brittany thought about the EP, but she didn't want to know if Brittany had hated it. Wanting to impress Brittany, she suddenly grew nervous.

"Why do I need to change?" Santana asked instead.

Brittany looked pointedly down to Santana's feet before looking back up to Santana with a knowing smirk. "Because I don't think you're gonna be comfortable in those shoes if we're going outside." Brittany explained.

"It's like a million degrees outside!" Santana exclaimed, "Why are we going outside?" She crossed her arms over her chest.

Brittany rolled her eyes at Santana's antics, "It's a secret." She said with a shrug, looking around the empty apartment before turning her attention back to Santana. "Besides, it's not that bad. I guess you can just borrow something of mine- it might be a little big-" She started unsurely but Santana cut in.

"I can go home."

Brittany frowned, "What? No, then we'll waste so much time!"

"It's okay. I'm not that far away." Santana explained, "We can stop off on our way to wherever it is you're taking me."

"You live around here?" Brittany asked, looking surprised at the new information.

"Yeah, not too far from the park." Santana shrugged.

"That's perfect." Brittany grinned, her reluctance all but gone.

Santana looked back at her skeptically. "It is?" Brittany nodded, before pointing to Santana's shoes.

"When you get changed make sure you wear comfy shoes- I know you like wearing those heels all the time, but you're gonna thank me for this."

x x x

"Where's the cab?" Santana asks as she makes her way out of her building. Noticing Brittany leaning against the streetlight on the sidewalk. "I thought you were gonna wait?"

Brittany shrugged, readjusting the strap of her camera bag on her shoulder. "I told them we were were done."

"Why? Now we have to get another!" Santana whined, looking out on the road at the cabs. Dejectedly noticing unlit tops, already carrying new passengers.

"No we don't! We're walking." Brittany pushes forward.

"We're what?" Santana stares back, waiting for Brittany to stop kidding. She doesn't though, instead she reaches for Santana's wrist, tugging her along. "Walking- c'mon!"

Santana stalls, stumbling slightly as Brittany pulls her into the foot traffic. "What's wrong with taking a cab? Besides, you have to carry that bag with you and it looks heavy!"

Brittany laughs, rolling her eyes. "It's fine San. I'm super strong." Santana pauses at the nickname. San. She feels herself smile as she looks back at Brittany whose wearing a faux- frustrated expression, trying to get Santana to move faster.

"You are?" She grins, looking down skeptically towards Brittany's failed attempts to get her to walk.

Brittany shoots her a smile, "Would I lie to you?" she asks innocently before letting go of Santana's arm. The two of them winding their way through the street. Santana's glad she brought her cap with her again, hoping neither of them get noticed. She looks over to Brittany- she's looking down to her bag, bringing a handheld camera out carefully.

"What are you doing?" Santana calls over the bustle of the street. Brittany doesn't reply for a second, instead focussed on turning the camera on, bringing it up she points it right at Santana's face.

"Filming?" She says obviously. Santana rolls her eyes. Her gaze darting between the little blinking red light on the camera and Brittany's blue eyes shining brightly at her behind the device.

"Why?" Santana asks, tilting her head away from the lens as best as she can.

Brittany moves her camera around, trying to get a better angle on Santana. Looking at the space in front of them- careful not to run into anyone. "You know why." Brittany says as if she's talking to a three year old. Santana groans, waving her hands around.

"But we're like, in the middle of the street!" She exclaims loudly, her head snapping around, making sure no one was eavesdropping on them, or looking at them like they were crazy. They probably thought they were tourists, Santana thought with a disturbed shudder.

"I know! C'mon, we're rolling. Introduce yourself to the camera!" Brittany calls back, completely unperturbed by Santana's concerns.

"People are gonna start staring." Santana counters.

"So? They probably see stuff like this all the time. Introduce yourself!" Brittany pushes, waving her free hand so Santana will look back in her direction.

Santana turns reluctantly, pasting on a fake smile for the camera so she doesn't get any bad shots. "What do I say?" She asks, ignoring the way that Brittany smiles delightedly at her surrender.

Brittany shakes her head smiling, "Anything you want- just tell them what we're doing." She instructs.

"But I don't know what we're doing!" Santana says.

Brittany either doesn't seem to care or just doesn't hear when she shrugs back at Santana, nodding for her to speak to the camera.

Great. Santana rolls her eyes, eyes focused on Brittany's behind the camera who give her reassuring smile before she starts speaking. Tossing glances around them every now and then, praying they don't run into anyone.

"Hi! Santana Lopez here!" She starts awkwardly, waving like an idiot at the camera. "Um, right now I'm with Brittany Pierce- I have no fucking clue- shit, I didn't mean to swear, you can edit that out right?" She panics, looking to Brittany who's biting her lip- trying not to laugh at Santana's expression.

Brittany nods back, careful not to shake the camera. Santana eases, going back to her task, deciding to have fun with Brittany. "Okay, Um, I'm currently being kidnapped and I have no idea where we're going, unless you want to share?" She calls over to Brittany who's shaking her head at her, "Nope."

Santana groans, she was sure that would've worked. "Ugh fine. Well, you're filming this, so I don't think you're trying to kill me- but just incase-" She starts, looking away from Brittany and back to the camera. "Quinn, I was the one that broke your laptop- not Mercedes, it was totally her fault and-"

"San!" Brittany practically shouts. Santana breaks away from the camera, eyebrows raised back at the blonde. "I'm trying to leave a final message here!"

Brittany, drops the camera slightly, pointing at the ground she she grins at Santana. "You're a goof."

"Says the kidnapping psycho." Santana mumbles under her breath.

"San, that's not nice." Brittany pouts.

Santana curses herself, looking back to Brittany apologetically with a playful smile. "Sorry Britt." Brittany grins brightly at the nickname, as she pulls the camera back up to focus on Santana. "It's okay."

x x x

"Why are we in Central Park?" Santana asks as the two reach their destination.

Brittany starts, "It's a-"

"Surprise." Santana finishes knowingly, turning back to look at the few people walking around in the park.

She hear Brittany sigh, turning she looks at the blonde. Brittany fixes her with a chastising frown. "Don't be like that."

"Like what?" Santana looks at Brittany who raises her eyebrows back at her. "A Mr. Grumpy Gills."

Santana scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest defensively, "I'm not a Mr. Grumpy Gills." She frowns. Brittany smirks, looking back at Santana like she's the most ridiculous thing she's ever seen.

"Fine, Mrs. Grumpy Gills." She corrects.

Santana drops her arms, looking at Brittany indignantly as she points to herself. "Since when did I get married? Do I look old enough to be married?"

Brittany chuckles, nodding as seriously as she can at the brunette. "Yeah, you look so old San."

"Hey! I-" Santana starts, fighting the smile off her face as she tries to glare at the laughing blonde.

"We're here!" Brittany stops, looking back expectantly at Santana.

Santana glances around. They're off the path, close to some trees, but Santana can't see anyone around. "Britt, there're no one here." She starts, looking at Brittany confused. Brittany just nods back, explaining as she leads Santana over to a semi-secluded bench, tucking the camera back into its bag safely, she wedges it onto the seat.

"Well, you said you'd never seen any of my shows before." She starts, sitting down on the bench, nodding for Santana to do the same. "When you were getting changed I thought that I should give you a crash course or something. So you know what it is I actually do." Brittany started nervously, as if she wasn't a hundred percent sure Santana would be okay with her idea.

Santana frowned, not wanting Brittany to be insecure. "That sounds like a great idea." She's not lying. She does want to know what Brittany does. She just didn't really know how to go about asking before. Brittany smiles back brightly, "There's kind of a story that goes with it." She bits her lip unsurely.

Santana shifts in her seat, pulling her leg up onto the bench so she's fully facing the blonde she nods supportively, "I don't mind Britt." She smiles softly, Brittany grins back, pulling herself up into a matching position to Santana she takes a deep breath.

"Okay, so. A few years ago I was in LA and dancing, but then I had to have a career change." She starts, eyes focussed completely on Santana.

"Why?" Santana interrupts curiously, before mentally slapping herself. Not wanting to be the kind of person who interrupts Brittany every second sentence.

Brittany just waves her off with a kind smile. "It's not important." She says. "Anyway, I left LA for a while and when I came back, I brought this camera with me." Her fingers tracing the camera bag fondly.

"I started filming my students in my dance class, you know helping them with audition tapes and stuff. Sam was the one who told me that I should start making more videos of things other than my students, that I was good at it. At first I was just doing it for fun, but then he started introducing me to some of his model friends and photographers. It was like, totally scary, they were so fancy and important- he told them I made videos and they got really interested, I said it was just audition tapes and random people but they said they were really interested."

"So, whenever I wasn't teaching I was filming or editing. At first, I just stuck to my students, but then one day I was waiting for a class and I heard someone singing. There was a girl, about 17 and she had her earphones on in the empty studio and I just started recording. I started going to open mic clubs and local concerts with Sam filming all these different acts. Singers, dancers, I did interviews with them after shows and posted them on my channel. Sometimes we'd find street artists and do a piece on the neighborhoods they lived it. I'd make all the choices, but Sam insisted to join me- he said he was my bodyguard." Brittany laughed, caught up in her memories. Santana let her arm rest on the back of the bench, holding her head up as she stared at Brittany. Biting her lip as Brittany smiled, staring at her in awe, Brittany continued.

"But, then more and more people started watching and people were asking me to come and watch them perform and sending out invitations for me to come to Seattle and San Francisco. It was insane, I mean, I knew people watched my videos, but I never expected it to lift off the ground or anything." Brittany looked at Santana like she still didn't believe the story, Santana nodded for her to continue, enthralled by Brittany's story.

"So Fondue For Two started to get more and more popular, I had music reps asking me to refer them talents and Labels offering me headhunting positions. I even got asked to work for MTV as a host but I didn't really like the idea of working with actors. I liked going around on trains and taking road trips in my car with Sam and this camera. I liked finding people and talking to them about their art, getting to know them personally." Brittany explained, looking up at Santana, trying to gauge her reaction.

"That's amazing." Santana blurted out, smiling at Brittany who grinned back. "It feels amazing." She started, "I'm lucky. I met David a couple years back- he was always asking me for new singers to sign. I trusted him more than any of the other reps; he was always really nice to me. He told me he was moving to New York, and he told me that Titan Records wanted to hire me." Brittany paused, looking down at her fingers. "I said no, of course. But then he told me they didn't want me to do what he does- they wanted Fondue For Two- to buy it."

Santana frowned, leaning forward. "What did you do?" Her voice was raspier than she'd expected.

Brittany looked up with a shrug. "I didn't sell. I couldn't." She twisted her fingers distractedly. "It's been with me for so long, it's a part of me, you know?" Brittany said. Santana nodded back softly, thinking about her music. All the songs she had written, they were as much a part of her as Brittany's show was to her.

"What happened next?" Santana questioned.

Brittany sighed, taking a deep breath. "I said that I'd work for them under the condition they didn't try and buy Fondue For Two. That I got to keep it, I'd work for them but I wouldn't lose my channel."

Santana felt a wave of pride rush through her body. Happy that Brittany had defended what was hers. "I'll bet Shelby didn't like that." She smirked.

Brittany nodded with a grin, sensing Santana's dislike for her boss. "She was difficult about it. She was really set on owning it all, but I think they wanted me more than they let on- about a week later I got a call from David telling me that I was now exclusively selling to Titan Records." Brittany explained.

"What does that mean?" Santana asked, hoping she didn't sound like she was being too nosy.

"It means that when I filmed someone they liked, they would get to sign them." Brittany clarified.
"I didn't have any problems with the singers though- they were pretty excited to be getting their big break. But with all the attention FFT was getting Titan Records investment made them a lot of money." Brittany shrugged, like it was no big deal. "I let them air interviews and clips on TV, getting new artists recognized." Santana felt her eyes widen, in awe of the woman sitting next to her.

"Then I decided to move to the East Coast." Brittany continued, finishing up her story. "I missed Sam and it was pretty lonely over there- I just needed to start fresh." She reasoned.

Santana laughed, scratching her head nervously. "It sounds like you've had your hands full." She said, Brittany rolled her eyes playfully.

"It's worth it. I get to do what I love, showing the world all the talent that's out there waiting to be seen." Brittany smiled back. The two stared at each other for a second in silence, Santana licked her lips, not missing Brittany's eyes tracking the movement.

"Is that what we're doing today?" She asked.

Brittany's eyes shot back to Santana's before looking away to the park. "Mmhm, I got a few emails about a woman who likes to sing in the park." Brittany answered.

"What if she's crazy?" Santana frowned, trying not to doubt Brittany's plan.

Brittany shrugged, swinging her leg off the bench to meet her other leg she looked to Santana with a mischievous smile. "Then we run."

Santana felt her mouth drop open, Brittany looked completely serious. "Has that happened to you before?"

Brittany furrowed her brows in thought before answering. "A few times. Besides, if we get in trouble I'm sure some of your fans will jump out a tree and protect you." She waggled her eyebrows at Santana who's eyes widened, looking around them anxiously.

"Don't joke about that Britt. They're everywhere." Santana said lowly, as if someone would pop out like magic.

Brittany laughed loudly, standing up from the bench she reached for her camera bag. Holding her hand out for Santana to take, wrapping her hand tightly around the brunette's Brittany pulled her up gently.

Santana let go of Brittany's warm hand, straightening out her clothes she looked up to her. "So we're not going to be doing four weeks of me?" She asked, somewhat relieved.

Brittany pursed her lips, "Yes and no." She started, looking at Santana as she pulled the camera out of it's bag again. "You're going to be a big part of the shows, but we're going to focus on other people more than you." Brittany answered, fiddling with the camera buttons.

"Thank God." Santana breathed, feeling a whole lot better about this project than she had been when she'd woken up.

Brittany pointed her finger at Santana. "Don't think you're off the hook though! I do have to do an interview with you at some point."

"Ugh, do we have too?" Santana whined, knowing she looked like a kid as she pouted at Brittany who just laughed good-naturedly.

"Shelby's rules San. You're not just here to look pretty." Brittany aimed the camera back at Santana who rolled her eyes at the blonde.

"And you are?" Santana scoffed.

"Duh." Brittany grinned.

"Who's the goof now?" Santana moved forward, nudging Brittany with her shoulder as she walked past the blonde.

"C'mon San. It's show time! Don't forget to talk to the camera- you're going to be taking the lead." Brittany called from behind her. Santana looked back over her shoulder; Brittany was a few feet away, following diligently with the camera.

"What?!" Santana stopped in her tracks, rounding back on Brittany with a shocked expression.

"You're doing the interview." Brittany said, lowering the camera so she could get a better look at Santana.

Santana's mouth dropped open again. "I have no fucking clue how to do that!" She exclaimed, freaking out slightly.

Brittany lowered the camera fully, stepping closer to Santana she reached out and touched her shoulder gently. "You've done interviews before haven't you?" She asked, already guessing the answer.

Santana nodded half heartedly. "Of course, but-"

"Then you'll be fine!" Brittany cut in, looking at Santana reassuringly "Just ask her what you want to know. I trust you." She squeezed her shoulder supportively, Santana broke eye contact, looking away for a second. Focussing on Brittany's warm hand on her bare skin, she calmed slightly.

Glancing back to Brittany, Santana started, "But-"

"If you need help, then I'll be there." Brittany smiled kindly, "You won't though. You're gonna be fine."

Santana looked into Brittany's eyes, finding nothing but sincerity in her stare. Swallowing she nodded for Brittany to pick up the camera. "Let's do this."

x x x

Brittany and Santana walked away from their spot, taking to the path, Brittany pointing her camera at Santana. "So, where's what's her name?… Actually, what is her name?" Santana asked as she walked.

Brittany paused for a second, poking her tongue out adorably as she tried to remember. "Uh, Katherine."

Santana nodded, looking around to the random people around them who were walking their dogs or going for a run. "How do we know which one she is?" She looked back to Brittany who grinned.

"They said to follow the music." Brittany said. Santana fought the urge to scoff at the cheesiness of the instruction.

"There isn't any music Britt." She settled for saying instead, giving Brittany a pointed stare.

Brittany pouted at her. "Faith San. Stop complaining!" She chastised, picking up their pace as they headed into a more public area of the park.

"I'm not complaining." Santana grumbled. Brittany chuckled, shooting Santana disbelieving look.

"Fine, I'll stop." Santana threw her hands out to her sides, not wanting to look like a brat in front of the camera.

They walked for a few minutes, feeling the steady heat of the morning sun on their skin. Grateful for her hat, Santana reached up to push back some stray hairs when she heard the soft notes of a guitar fill the air. Swinging her arm down she turned to Brittany excitedly, ears straining to hear the music in the distance.

"Britt?! Can you hear that?!" Brittany just grinned back at her. Pulling the camera to focus on the distance in front of them for a moment before turning it back to Santana.

"Tell the camera what we're doing." She called to Santana who shook her head, bringing herself back to the task at hand. Thinking for a moment, she bit her lip, eyes flickering to the distance she stared directly back at the camera with a dimpled smile.

"We're following the music."

Making their way closer to the sounds, Santana saw a small crowd huddled around the side of the path, listening to what Santana could only assume to be Katherine. "Holy crap. Britt, look! Is that- is that a harmonica?" She asked, titling her head into the air- trying to catch the faint notes that were being muffled by the summer wind.

"I think so…" Brittany trailed off, busy focusing the camera on Santana who looked like an excited kid.

Turning back, Santana sent a playful glare to Brittany when she saw she was too busy filming her. "Are you getting this?" She pointed back to the crowd they were getting closer too.

Brittany fought back a laugh, shaking her head at Santana she tilted the camera to their target. "Yeah, I am."

"She's fantastic." They had been standing there watching Katherine sing for a few minutes. She had a beat up acoustic guitar, with a harmonica around her neck, belting her voice out to the crowd. The people surrounding them were clapping along excitedly, a few throwing bills into her case and singing along.

Brittany was filming Katherine and the crowd as Santana watched in awe. Santana jumped slightly when she heard Brittany whisper into her ear. "You should sing."

"What?" She twisted her head around, eyes darting to Brittany's, excepting her to be joking.

"You should sing with her." Brittany repeated louder, completely serious as she looked to the others singing along in the crowd.

Santana faltered, "Britt, it's her song. I can't."

"Everyone else is." Brittany pointed out. She wasn't wrong Santana thought. But she didn't want to draw any more extra attention to themselves. She was pretty sure she had seen a young girl pointing to her before and a couple of people in the crowd were looking at Brittany's camera curiously.

"That's different." Santana replied.

Brittany pouted, looking to the happy crowd singing along and back to Santana. "Please San?"

Santana had to look away, focussing on Katherine strumming her guitar perfectly, before turning back to Brittany. "Next time, okay?" She nodded.

Brittany sighed exaggeratedly, looking at Santana with a reluctant nod before smirking at her. "Will you dance at least?" She challenged.

"I don't dance Britt." Santana laughed nervously, sending Brittany a kind smile as she turned back to the performance. She swore she heard Brittany mumble 'I'll change that.' as she turned around, but she couldn't be sure over the sound of the harmonica.

They watched for the next ten minutes or so, filming Katherine sing out familiar songs with the crowd. Grinning with them as they tossed her their spare change. Santana was entranced by her voice, itching to sing along she held it in, not wanting to draw any unnecessary attention to herself and Brittany.

"San?" Brittany called out to her after a while. Breaking Santana out of her trance as she watched Katherine finished her set, pulling the guitar strap over her shoulder.

"Yeah?" Santana turned around to Brittany who held up her camera to Santana with a playful smile.

"You're up."


Things should be picking up from here on out. Thanks for the great response, you guys are so nice! If there are any mistakes I apologise. This will be a slowish build up, but the updates are pretty quick, so it kinda makes up for it, idk. Let me know what you thought, and I'll get the next update out as soon as I can!