Luckily Rachel didn't have to dance awkwardly around Santana for too long. Though the realization that she had feelings for Santana had rocked her world and she was terrified it would show the next time she even looked at Santana, that had not been the case. She had managed to go about her usual business the rest of that day, even somehow adding a little something to her performance that night on stage. It was good Santana hadn't gone to see her that night randomly. She was sure she would have forgotten everything and just stood in the middle of the stage staring like a deer in the headlights. But that was not the case and by the time Rachel had gotten home, Santana was in bed, worn out from her shift that night at the diner. Good. Rachel could use the time before bed to figure out how she was going to act normal around Santana now.
Even if Emily said she would help her out she was still panicking on the inside. No one in the world had been able to help her act normal when something like this was on her mind. Well, Santana had. Santana was good at things like that. She somehow managed to balance Rachel's crazy. Rachel liked that about her. She liked a lot about her, now that she thought about it. Which she did, way too long that night. It must have helped her fall into a peaceful sleep, though, because the next thing she knew she was startled awake by a happy shriek from across the loft.
Rachel shot up in bed, blinked the sleep out of her eyes with confusion and a bit of panic racing through her body. Someone had just screamed, right? That wasn't a dream? Or was it? Was a murderer about to slash through her sheet walls and go after her now? Wait, it was morning? When had she even drifted off?
Her thoughts were cut short when her sheet door was nearly ripped off and Santana came running at her bed before launching herself onto it with a leap "RACHEL!"
Rachel screamed. What? She had just thought a murderer was coming for her and suddenly there was someone running and jumping in her direction. She was still discombobulated from her slumber. She didn't know it was Santana!
Santana's eyes widened at Rachel's scream and she stared at her in shock for a moment. The two of them just stared, actually. Rachel clutched the sheet to her heart and her shoulders heaved with each labored breath she drew in. Santana just took in the look of her disheveled friend for a few beats before she started laughing hysterically "Did I scare you!?"
"No!" Rachel squeaked very unconvincingly which only sent Santana further into her fit of laughter. Rachel let out a frustrated grunt and picked up her pillow, using it to hit Santana in the side of the head in a not very playful way "Stop laughing! Of course you scared me! You woke me up with a scream, I'm assuming that was your scream. If not, I don't want to know why I heard a scream and then you came running in here looking all happy. I don't want to know who you just murdered and no I don't want to help you hide the body. The less I know the better so I can claim innocence and not be lying during the trial."
"Relax, it was my scream" Santana said as her laughter died down. She shook her head in amusement at her friend then her smile fell and she blinked as realization set in "Wait, you wouldn't help me hide the body? I thought we were friends!"
"We are" Rachel shrugged.
"I would help you hide a body" Santana pouted out her bottom lip and batted her eyes at her friend.
"I would never be sloppy enough to need help" Rachel shrugged nonchalantly.
"I'm not sloppy!" Santana said with a huff, still pouting. "I just prefer to do the dirty work myself. You, on the other hand, would probably hire a hitman which in itself is dirty because that can be traced back to you. If you are going to murder someone you are better off doing it yourself. You can't trust anyone not to spill the beans when their freedom is in jeopardy."
"You literally just trusted me to hide a body with you" Rachel said with a laugh, motioning toward the sheets to where the dead body was hypothetically waiting to be disposed of. "Wait, you didn't really murder someone, right?"
Santana let out a laugh and batted Rachel's hand down "No! Jesus, I thought we established that! But good to know not to come to you if I need help with that body." She huffed in disappointment and folded her arms "Rude" she added in a whisper.
Rachel rolled her eyes at Santana's disappointment in her not wanting to help with a dead body and smiled "So why were you screaming then?"
"Oh!" Santana let out a laugh at the reminder of how this whole thing started. Her grin widened and she sat up on her knees on Rachel's bed. "So" She reached out and took her friend's hands and gave them both a tight, excited squeeze "You remember that commercial I shot a few weeks back?"
"Of course" Rachel said with a smile. "I have it on the dvr, actually! I am very proud of you for that."
"Oh my god, you do?" Santana's lip curled up in disgust then let out a laugh "You are such a goober."
"You never know when I could bring home some producer looking for the next big thing and we just happen to get talking while watching tv that he thinks is live but is actually strategically put on by me so he just so happens to see your commercial, fall in love, and bam you are the next big thing!" Rachel shrugged at her idea as if that was a normal occurrence.
"How often do you bring home producers? Or anyone for that matter?" Santana rolled her eyes with a laugh. She shook her head but smirked because, well, Rachel was actually kind of adorable and as much as she would hate to ever admit it she liked the thought of Rachel saving the commercial just because she was proud of her.
"You never know" Rachel laughed softly.
"Shut up" Santana said through another soft laugh. "Anyway, will you stop talking so I can tell you why I committed murder?"
"I never stop talking" Rachel said with a shrug "And we already established that there is no murder. So will you tell me why you were screaming already?"
"No murder that you know about" Santana lifted a finger as if making a point. She smirked then grabbed Rachel's hand again "Okay, so a film student saw my commercial and thought I had a face for film because, obviously I do" She smirked and lifted a hand to fluff at her hair with obnoxious yet sarcastic narcissism.
"Obliviously" Rachel agreed with a sarcastic nod of her head.
"So anyway the film student got my information and showed my head shot to this director that she has been interning for and the director liked my look and wanted me to read for a part. I didn't tell you because I honestly didn't think I could get it and I hate getting your hopes up. But apparently I got the part!"
"Another commercial?" Rachel perked up, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
"Nope" Santana could barely contain her smile now. "I got the main role in a horror film! I mean, it's totally indy and low budget but who cares, right!? It's a movie!"
"Are you kidding!?" Rachel screamed again, this time out of excitement and not fear of being murdered. She launched herself into Santana and wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug. "Oh my god, Santana! I am so happy for you! A real movie!"
"I know right!" Santana laughed out loudly as she held Rachel firmly in the happy embrace. "I can't believe it! As soon as my agent told me I got the part my first thought was telling you! You never let me give up!"
"Of course not!" Rachel let out a laugh and pulled back from the hug now to look at her friend. "You never let me give up! What kind of friend would I be if I didn't return the favor?"
"A shitty one" Santana said with a laugh. "But seriously Rachel I don't think you realize just how amazing this is and it's all because of you!"
"I didn't do anything" Rachel let out a soft huff and waved her hand to the side, waving off the notion that it was her that had done it. "It was all you. I was just the nagging voice reminding you how great you are."
"No, seriously" Santana was still smiling but her face was far more serious now. "I would have stopped auditioning for commercials if you hadn't reminded me. I would have stopped trying if it wasn't for your nagging. I thought I was going to die at that diner and now, because you wouldn't let me die, I could be on the brink of something huge. So, really, thank you Rach."
"Of course" Rachel said softly, her hand lifting to lay over her heart. The way Santana was looking at her and the sincerity in her tone was truly touching. It still amazed her that Santana honestly appreciated her. "Awww, come here" She pulled Santana into another tight hug and let out a happy sigh "I am so proud of you, San. I know you are going to do amazing."
"Thanks" Santana whispered softly, her eyes closing for a moment as she settled into the embrace. Her heart was thundering in her chest and she knew it wasn't from the excitement of the movie anymore. It was because of Rachel. The way she looked at her with such pride, how she was holding her at that very moment. Just like that, as two friends shared an innocent embrace, Santana's feelings rushed forward again. She had been doing so well with denying they existed but in that moment she couldn't and now she was nervous that when Rachel pulled back she would see it written all over her face.
In that same instance, Rachel had the same fear. As she hugged onto her friend the realization of her feelings from the day before rushed back and she knew as soon as the hug ended Santana would be able to tell. So there the two of them sat, in the middle of Rachel's bed, both afraid to pull away in fear of being found out. The hug lingered and slowly inched away from acceptably normal between friends toward awkwardly long for friends to just awkward all together.
Finally Rachel cleared her throat, pulled away, and quickly slid out of bed. She turned her head in fake search for clothing "So how are we celebrating?"
Santana frowned when Rachel pulled away and immediately busied herself. She knew what that meant. Rachel was uncomfortable again. Damn it. Why didn't Santana just pull away sooner and run off saying she needed to call her mom? A perfect excuse and she could have escaped without awkward eye contact. Instead she was stuck with the overly long awkward hug and Rachel feeling grossed out by her gayness. Not to mention that drunken kiss adding to that! God, what the Hell was wrong with Santana? Why was she continuously messing this up!?
"San?" Rachel looked up quickly to see her friend staring at her hands folded into her lap. Great. She probably felt Rachel's feelings for her seeping through her pores and now she was sitting there trying not to throw up and deciding the best way to dispose of her body. Perfect. So much for everything being alright. Stupid Emily, what did she know anyway?
"Sorry" Santana shook her head and offered a weak smile. She slipped off the bed too and shrugged, motioning toward the sheet door. "I was just thinking about how, wow, I have a lot to do before I leave. I should like pack and stuff and call my mom."
"Wait, you're leaving?" Rachel's fear that Santana was grossed out faded and was replaced by a panic. "Why are you leaving?"
"The movie" Santana glanced up at Rachel and offered a shrug of her shoulders. "It starts filming in two days in Georgia. I know, totally lame. What is so great about Georgia, right? But there are a lot of wilderness scenes so, you know, I get it." She bit her lip and for the first time since breaking out of the awkward hug, Santana's eyes searched for Rachel's. When Rachel's eyes lifted and their gazes met, Santana sighed and the sudden sadness she felt about having to be away from Rachel was obvious without her having to say the words.
"No" Rachel whimpered and a frown took over her entire face. "San, how long are you going to be gone? The Tony's are in two weeks and-"
"I know" Santana nodded quickly. "God, Rach, I didn't even think about that. I was so excited when Zane told me that it didn't hit me until right now. I can't believe I am going to miss your first Tony!"
Rachel teared up immediately at Santana's words. Through all the years, through all the talk of her being a Broadway star and one day winning a Tony, she never really thought it was going to happen. It had always been in the plan but so had meeting and befriending Barbra Streisand but that hadn't happened. This had, though. She was really nominated for a Tony. She was more than just nominated, she was slated to win. It was all a daydream to her but through all the dreaming and doubt the one thing that remained for sure was if it happened Santana would be right there with her to celebrate. They had it planned out already. They knew what they were going to wear and the first drink they would order and the poses they would stand in for pictures. It sounded so stupid, childish even, but they had talked for hours about it and now none of it would happen.
"Rach" Santana's heart broke as she moved across the room and slid her arms around her crying friend. Her eyes closed and she had to draw in a few very long, deep breaths to keep herself from crying. "I am so sorry, Rachel. You know I wanted to be there with you. I wanted to get all crazy drunk and obnoxiously walk around with the trophy as if it was mine and rub it in the loser's faces!"
Rachel sobbed harder at Santana's words. She would never admit it but she wanted to see Santana drunkenly waving the statue in everyone's faces.
Santana almost lost it herself when Rachel cried harder. Why now? She looked up at the ceiling and scowled the meanest and nastiest scowl she had ever scowled in her entire existence. If there was a God or whatever then he had a pretty evil sense of humor and Santana was pretty sure he, or she, hated her. Why did this have to happen right now?
"Hey guys!" Emily's voice broke through the loft suddenly and snapped both girls out of their sorrow. Santana looked in the direction of the voice and Rachel, still clinging to Santana, looked up. "I got bagels! Where are you? Are you home?"
"In here!" Santana called out.
Emily burst through the sheet door with a wide grin on her lips. She stopped mid step and her smile faltered as soon as she saw the way the girls looked. Her brow creased in worry and she breathed out softly "What's wrong?"
Rachel frowned and buried her head against Santana's chest. Santana let out a sigh, looked down at her friend, then over to her cousin with a shrug "I just got the best and worst news in my entire life."
"What happened?" Emily asked again, this time with more panic in her voice.
"I got that movie" Santana said with a sigh.
"Oh my god!" Emily perked up and smiled at the news. "San! That is so amazing! Congratulations! I am so proud of you!"
Rachel cried harder and Santana shrugged "But I will be filming during the Tony's."
Emily paused and her smile faded slowly. She cocked her head to the side curiously as her eyes took in the way Rachel's body shook in sobs. She surveyed the scene carefully for a moment before finally shaking her head and shrugging "Okay? I'm sorry? I guess we can dvr it for you?" She knew Rachel was a Broadway freak but she didn't think Santana missing a viewing of an award show was that big of a deal.
"No" Santana let out a laugh at her cousin's confusion. "Em, Rachel is nominated this year. So we wouldn't be watching in our pjs and eating popcorn and ice cream. We were going to go and wear awesome dresses and when Rachel won I was going to be like the obnoxious mother who gets to rub it in everyone's face."
"Oh" Emily said with a nod. She looked between the two girls again and it finally hit her. They were going together. It was something special between them. It was huge for Rachel, obviously, but with the new circumstances it was like really big for them now. "OH!" Emily said a little louder as more understanding set in. She frowned quickly and moved over to rub Rachel's back "That sucks you guys!" She looked up at her cousin "There's no way you could ask to like push back shooting or anything?"
"We haven't even started!" Santana let out an annoyed huff. "I can't just be some demanding diva. This is my first movie and it's independent. They don't need me, I'm a no name. They could replace me in no time."
Rachel pulled away from Santana's chest. She looked up at her friend and shook her head "They'd be stupid to replace you." Her voice was froggy from the crying. She glanced at Emily and nodded "But she's right. They wouldn't hesitate to replace her. It's not like she's Meryl Streep or anything."
Emily nodded quickly and let out a sigh "Right, I'm sorry." She glanced between the girls then down to her feet "I'm sorry guys. This sucks."
"No shit" Santana looked down at Rachel in her arms. She let out a heavy sigh as her hand lifted and she slowly moved it to brush Rachel's wet bangs off her cheek and behind her ear "But hey, look, that doesn't change the fact that you are still going to win and I will still obnoxiously rub it in everyone's face. It's just going to be a delayed rubbing, okay? I promise the night I get back from filming I will put on my dress, drink an entire bottle of tequila, snatch the trophy, and go stumbling around the streets telling everyone I see about you, okay?"
Rachel let out a soft laugh before sniffling and giving her head a shake "You will not drink an entire bottle of tequila. That will kill you."
"You've seen me drink" Santana smirked and brushed her thumb under Rachel's eyes to wipe at her tears. "This only changes the celebration slightly, okay? Besides, it's not going to be your last Tony. I promise to be twice as obnoxious next year to make up for missing this one."
Rachel half frowned and half laughed "I don't want you to be twice as obnoxious and I don't want you to miss this year."
"I know" Santana let out a heavy sigh. "God do I know. But I can't pass on this, either."
"I know" Rachel nodded and stood up straight now. She reached for a tissue from the box on her dresser and wiped at her nose. She let out a heavy breath and rolled her eyes "Now I hope I lose so you don't have to miss my first one."
"Bite your tongue" Santana growled fiercely. "You will not lose, okay?"
"I could" Rachel shrugged.
"No" Santana narrowed her eyes into a firm glare. She held it for a few seconds before her head shook and her face softened. "I'll watch from my trailer, okay? And call as soon as your category comes up so you can hear my live reaction on your voicemail when you're done with the show. And if you don't thank me in your speech I will kick your ass, okay?"
Rachel let out another soft laugh and tossed her tissue into her trash "I can call during the after party?"
Santana smiled softly and nodded "I'll get a bottle of tequila and take a victory shot with you."
"Deal" Rachel smiled weakly then let out another heavy sigh.
"Come here" Santana rolled her eyes and pulled Rachel into another tight hug. She kissed the top of her head and let out a heavy sigh herself "No matter what, I will always be there to celebrate, okay? I kind of love the crap out of you, kid."
Emily bit her lip and had to fight the little squeak of happiness that wanted to escape. She had watched the entire exchange and wanted to die with how cute it had been. It was like watching an old married couple. Santana knew exactly how to calm Rachel down. The way they looked at each other? They were both beaming little love beams at the other. God she wanted to blurt out that they both had feelings for the other but that would be wrong. So she just bit back her giggles and motioned behind herself "I am going to go make some celebratory bagels and call my mom to tell her Santana's news."
"Oh my god, my mom!" Santana let out a laugh and glanced at her cousin. "I should call mine first. If my mom finds out from your mom before me she will kill me!"
"I bet she wouldn't even need help with hiding your body" Rachel said with a nod.
"Oh shut up" Santana nudged Rachel and they shared a laugh.
Emily perked a curious eyebrow but decided to not ask. It was obviously an inside joke and it was cute watching them laugh over it. So she nodded and gave them a smile "I will go start the bagels. You call your mom."
"Right" Santana gave her a salute and when Emily disappeared she looked back at Rachel with a slight pout "It'll be okay. It's not like I'm ditching you. I'm working on my Oscar. Then when I'm nominated and a shoe-in for the win you can get a new gig the week before and bail on me so it will be even, okay?"
Rachel rolled her eyes and pushed Santana away with a laugh "Oscar talk already? I thought you said it was an indy."
"I'm talking about the future, toots." Santana smirked and headed toward the sheet door so she could get her phone and call her mom. "We all have to start somewhere, right?"
"Oh well in that case I will be a huge star by then and could totally put off my new gig without fear of being replaced so I'm afraid your plan is flawed." Rachel smirked and reached for her phone as well. She was going to text everyone from Glee and rub it in. Okay so maybe it was her time to play obnoxious mother of Santana right now.
"Oh, a diva I see" Santana smirked and paused at the door, giving Rachel a wink "I've taught you so well." She let out a laugh then slipped out of the room to fetch her phone.
Rachel smiled and nodded a little. She watched Santana's shadow move through the sheets until it faded when she obviously sat down on her bed to talk to her mother. She drew in a deep breath then slowly let it out as her eyes dropped to her phone. She was still completely upset that Santana was going to miss their Tony date but it really was for a great reason. She smiled a little. She was really proud of Santana. She bit her lip, pulled up a new text message, and mass texted everyone from Glee. Then she grabbed her notebook and started writing her victory speech. She knew exactly what she wanted to say.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
Before she could blink an eye, Santana was gone. Georgia was surprisingly beautiful, if not sweltering hot. She was having a good time considering the low budget of the film didn't offer any real comforts. They had tiny fans, had to share trailers, had to wash their own clothes, and had to pay for their own food. Rachel had insisted Santana take some of their vacation money to spend during the movie so she didn't go broke out there. She knew she might not get paid for her time right away so she wanted to make sure Santana was taken care of until her check came through.
Her days were so full that Santana had barely realized she had been there a week. She had talked to Rachel and Emily every day. She had sent pictures from the set and even left voicemails when she got bored and knew they were too busy to answer the phone. It was crazy to think that this was her life and the two people she wanted to share it with most were so far away.
The night of the Tony's had come in a flash and although Santana had thought maybe she could have sneaked away from the movie for a night and surprise Rachel in New York, that had been shot down when she got her filming schedule for that week and realized they were shooting all night shots. Of course. So she was stuck having to watch from her trailer on her laptop hoping their wireless kept up. Luckily the one luxury the budget allowed for was internet so they could email dailies to their editing team.
So there Santana sat, her eyes straining at the screen in the low light of her trailer. She hoped she wouldn't miss Rachel's award. She was between shots and they were changing lighting so she had some time. She kept one ear out for a knock to say she was needed back on set and the other one was plugged with an earbud listening to the show.
So far she was so bored out of her skull that she had taken to live texting Rachel her every thought as if she was right next to her. She knew Rachel wouldn't dare check her phone in the middle of the show but it would hilarious for her to read afterwards. She smirked at the latest text she sent that made fun of how a certain actor's butt had looked in her performance pants. That would surely get a laugh and then a scolding about being polite but it was worth it.
Just as she hit send it was announced that the next category was Rachel's. Santana perked up, hit the button that made the livestream record, and smiled as she leaned closer to her screen. She dialed Rachel's number and waited for her voicemail to answer so she could hear Santana's reaction, as promised. She was breathing rapidly and her heart was beating so hard she thought it might cease and shatter in her chest. She couldn't even imagine how Rachel was feeling. When her name was announced as a nominee and it flashed to her in the crowed, Santana grinned and mumbled into the voicemail just as it picked up"Jesus, Berry! You are killing it in that dress!" It had been the first shot of Rachel all night and it was well worth the wait, in Santana's opinion.
"And the Tony goes to..."
Santana chest tightened, her breath hitched, and she was sure time stopped.
"Rachel Berry!"
"YES!" Santana screamed. She jumped out of her seat in excitement which sent her laptop flying off her lap and crashing to the ground. "NO! SHIT!" She leaned down and scooped it up quickly, which caused her to drop her phone in the process. "Fuck, shit, damn it please don't be broken!"
Rachel was on her way to the stage in complete shock. When she had heard her name she had thought it was a dream. She had sat frozen in her seat for what felt like ten years when really it had been ten seconds before Emily, who had gone in place of Santana, had shaken her out of her shock.
"Rachel! You won! You won!" The words had sounded muddled, as if they were being screamed through pouring rain. But Emily gave her another shake and it was like her ears popped and reality settled over her.
She could hear the applause as she stood up. She looked around and everyone was all smiles, clapping for her, and a few motioning for her to head to the stage. Somehow her legs started carrying her there on their own accord and she managed to get up the steps without falling.
Just as she was handed the trophy and given a kiss of congratulations on the cheek by the presenter, Santana got the feed back and she smiled widely as tears started down her cheeks without her even noticing "You go, Berry."
"Wow" Rachel mumbled into the microphone as her eyes fell to the trophy. One hand was over her heart as the other clutched the little golden statue so hard her hand started to turn white. Her eyes scanned the audience and in that moment she realized this was not a dream. It was real. This was happening. She let out a soft laugh then looked back at her prize "I guess to say I'm shocked would be an obvious thing, huh?"
The crowd let out a laugh. Santana let out a laugh and wiped at her tears.
Rachel took a deep breath then let it out slowly as her eyes stayed locked on her trophy "I wrote a victory speech because my roommate and best friend insisted I was going to win and wouldn't let me leave the house without one. I never actually thought I would need it though, I'm not that narcissistic."
Another laugh from the crowd. Another laugh from Santana as her eyes rolled "They'd know you were lying if they knew you in high school."
"Wow okay" Rachel took another breath and nodded. She was beginning to feel her limbs again. "Okay I want to start by thanking my fathers for exposing me to the world of musical theater and Barbra Streisand and every musical score from any movie that made them cry. If they hadn't demanded I be able to recognize who wrote what by the time I was three I probably wouldn't be here." She let out a soft laugh.
Another laugh from the crowd, this one a little uncomfortable because they didn't know if she was kidding or not. Santana knew she wasn't and she cackled loudly.
"I want to thank my glee club adviser in high school, Mr. Schue, who reminded me that I was destined to be special when I wanted to quit. And for bringing me back every time I did quit" Another laugh from the crowd, "and taking me back every time I stormed out because things weren't going my way."
Santana shook her head with amusement "If only she were kidding."
"To my fellow glee club kids who hated me and yet still supported me and somehow ended up as my family, thank you. If I hadn't had you guys constantly telling me I sucked and wishing I would just shut up I wouldn't be here. I liked annoying you too much to give up and let you win. Plus I dreamed about this moment and the many, many ways I would rub it in your face but I kind of just want to hug you all now because, really, we were a family. Dysfunctional without a doubt, but family nonetheless and I couldn't have done this without you." Rachel let out a laugh as tears started to form. She was trying so hard not to break down but it was getting harder.
Santana was crying now. The little trickle of happy tears had turned into full blown tears but she was smiling at the same time.
"Five minutes, Lopez" A knock came to her door and she almost jumped out of her skin. She had forgotten she was on set. She almost felt like she had been there in the crowd with Rachel. She sighed and called out through the door "Be right there!"
"Santana" Rachel's voice pulled Santana's attention back to her laptop. Rachel looked right into the camera and a smile came to her lips "My roommate, my best friend, the bane of my existence for many years, and often the loudest voice of all the critics in my life. I would, without a doubt, not be standing here if not for you. You pushed me in more ways than I think you know. Every time you made a negative remark it was your way of telling me I could be better. Every single time you told me you doubted me I know it was you pushing me past my own doubt. Your ways weren't always orthodox, or even polite, but they were always for the best. You have pushed me since day one and as badly as I used to want to rub this in your face the hardest I now want to share it with you most. When you get back we are going to celebrate just like you promised." She lifted the trophy and motioned toward the camera with a nod as tears started to stream down her face "Now hurry up with being a movie star and get back here. I have a bottle of tequila at home waiting for you!" She let out a laugh then waved at the crowd "Thank you guys so much!"
Santana let out a loud laugh through her messy, sloppy tears. She shook her head and wiped at her nose as she watched Rachel walk off the stage with her trophy in hand. Santana set her laptop down and looked for her phone. When she realized it was on the ground she quickly scooped it up and started to dial Rachel's number again.
"Lopez!" Another knock came to the door and Santana moved over to answer it quickly, phone pressed to her ear.
"Hey, sorry, I just have to make this call-"
"You're needed on set." The guy not too politely grabbed her arm and gave her a little tug. When she stepped out of the trailer and into the brighter lights of the set it was obvious she had been crying. The guy groaned and lifted the radio to his mouth "Lopez needs make up."
"What happened?" The director came up to her looking completely concerned. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes" Santana laughed "Sorry, I'm fine. I can go, I promise. I just need to a touch up and I am good to go."
"Are you sure?" The director eyed her carefully.
"Totally." She realized that Rachel's voicemail had picked up and she laughed into the phone as she moved toward make up "Rach, sorry, I just got pulled back to set but I saw you. I saw it all. You are such a fucking rock star, Berry! I can't wait to come home and get sloppy drunk and be obnoxious with you."
"Phone" The make up lady looked unamused as she started touching up Santana's cheeks.
"I have to go, I'm getting in trouble, but I will call you as soon as I can, okay? Don't have too much fun without me." Santana bit her lip and let out a happy sigh "You did it, Berry. I'm so fucking proud of you." With that she hung up the phone and set it on the make up table. She looked up at the make up girl who was reapplying her mascara and grinned "My best friend just won a Tony."
"Don't care" She mumbled "Now hold still or I'm going to stab you in the eye."
Santana fought off a laugh and sat still. She was just too happy to let everyone else get her down. They were all tired and wanted to call it a night but she felt like she could run a marathon now. She was so pumped. She was going to kill this scene and get back to her trailer to call Rachel again. Hopefully she would still be at an after party so they could take their celebratory shot together. God she was just so fucking happy she couldn't stand it.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
Two hours later the director called it a night. Santana booked it to her trailer without a word to anyone else. She was so excited to get out of her make up, out of her costume, and into some pjs so she could call Rachel. She just hoped she was still awake. Of course she was still awake, she had just won her first Tony she was probably too wired to sleep. Santana smiled at the thought. She knew she was too wired herself, she could only imagine Rachel bouncing around in excitement all night demanding everyone stay up with her to celebrate.
After nearly tripping up the stairs to her trailer because she was in such a hurry, Santana managed to shower, change, and grab her phone in record time. She was one of the only ones that didn't have to share a trailer and right now she was thankful for that. She didn't want anyone telling her to get off the phone because it was too late and they had an early call in the morning.
She dialed Rachel's number and held the phone to her ear as she moved to the little fridge in her trailer and opened it in search of her tequila. She had bought a few little shooters in anticipation of this moment and now she couldn't wait to feel the sweet burn of Rachel's victory trickling down her throat in shot form.
Rachel answered the phone with an excited squeak "Santana!"
It was obvious by the background noise that Rachel was still at an after party and that, along with just the sound of Rachel's voice, made Santana smile widely. "Hey there, rock star. What's shaking?"
Rachel giggled softly and shook her head against the phone "Oh my god Santana this is the craziest night of my life. People who I have looked up to for years know my name and are congratulating me personally. I kind of feel like I'm still dreaming."
Santana's smile grew "It's real, Berry. You made it."
Rachel let out a happy sigh "I wish you were here to pinch me. Although you'd do it way too hard or on my ass just to be obnoxious, I'm sure."
"You know me so well" Santana laughed softly. "Hey, is Em having fun? I saw her sitting next to you."
"Oh my god she is having more fun than me, if that's possible. I took a picture of her taking shots with like fifty stars. I will have to show them to you when you get back."
"Fifty?" Santana laughed again "And she's not dead yet?"
"Okay so maybe that was an over exaggeration but whatever. She is having a blast."
"Good" Santana nodded and glanced down at her hand. She smiled at the little plastic shooter of tequila and sighed "Hey you want to take a victory shot with me like we planned?"
"Yes" Rachel said quickly. "I have only had one glass of champagne because I didn't want to get trashed and not be able to drink with you."
"You have way more will power than I do. I would have probably had three bottles of champagne by now." Santana laughed and uncapped the little plastic bottle she held.
"Trust me, I wanted to but I didn't want to be passed out before you called." Rachel smiled and looked at the tiny shot she had been handed an hour ago that she had been carrying around in hopes that Santana would call.
"I said I would call" Santana nodded slightly. She looked at her shot and let out a sigh "You ready?"
Rachel nodded quickly and smiled against the phone "I'm ready."
Santana lifted her shot in a toasting motion and smiled "To Rachel Berry who just proved every hater in the world, including me, wrong. The sky's the limit for you now."
"Hear hear" Rachel lifted her little shot as if trying to clink her tiny shot glass with Santana's before throwing her head back and taking in the liquid. Both girls fell silent as their respective alcohol slid down their throats and the taste consumed their mouths. Rachel coughed as soon as she swallowed and made a disgusted face at the tiny glass before setting it down "Oh my god that was awful."
"Really awful" Santana coughed and tossed the tiny bottle away. "That was probably the most disgusting thing I have ever tasted. Remind me to never get tequila that cheap ever again."
Rachel let out a laugh and nodded "Remind me to never hold onto a once cold shot for an hour until it's uncomfortably warm and then take it. It felt like gasoline sliding down my throat."
"I have got to teach you how to drink" Santana said with a disappointed sigh that turned into a soft laugh. They fell silent again, both of them sitting there on the phone, just kind of letting the moment soak in.
Finally Rachel cleared her throat and broke the silence "San?"
"I know" Santana nodded and ran a hand back through her hair as she kicked back on her bed. "I wish I was there too."
Rachel bit her bottom lip and looked at her Tony again "Come home soon."
"As soon as I can" Santana nodded and looked at the picture of her and Rachel she had brought with her to keep her company.
"I should go" Rachel said after a moment of pause. "I should mingle a little more then get Emily home before she gets carried away."
Santana nodded again and let out a soft sigh "Tell her hey for me, will you?"
"Of course" Rachel smiled and stood up from the table she had been sitting at and looked around the room in search of Emily.
"Hey, Rach?" Santana's voice was soft but Rachel still heard it. When she made a soft humming noise to indicate she was listening, Santana took in a deep breath and smiled "I'm proud of you. I love you, kid."
Rachel smiled and gave her head a shake "You gotta stop saying that."
Santana's heart twisted. Did Rachel think she had meant it in that way? The way that meant she like really loved her, loved her? She loved her like a friend, they both knew that. That is how she had meant it. Feelings for her aside, Santana needed her friend to know she loved her as a friend, as a human being.
Trying to hide her sudden panic, she just asked in a weak whisper "Saying what?"
Rachel laughed softly "You gotta stop calling me kid."
Santana let out a relieved sigh that turned into a tiny laugh "Right, my bad. My Rachel Berry is all grown up now. I'll try and refrain from calling you kid."
"Your Rachel Berry, huh?" Rachel smirked in amusement at that.
Santana was so glad Rachel couldn't see the blush that had just taken over her face at being called out for having called Rachel hers. She rolled her eyes and tried to play it off casually "I like to think I had something to do with it."
Rachel bit her lip and nodded slightly. Santana had definitely had something to do with it. She was the biggest influence and cheerleader in Rachel's life. She let out a soft sigh and just like Santana had, played it off casually "Maybe a little bit."
"I'll take all the credit I can get." Santana said with a soft smile. "Goodnight, Berry. I'll see you soon."
Rachel nodded her head quickly and fought another round of tears. She didn't want to say goodbye. She didn't want this moment to end. The only thing she wanted in the world was the one thing she couldn't have: Her best friend by her side. But she drew in a deep breath to calm herself and managed to mumble out a soft goodnight to Santana anyway.
Both girls lingered in hanging up but finally Santana hit end and immediately closed her eyes. This was supposed to be the greatest time of her life. She was filming her first movie and her best friend had just won one of the most prestigious awards in her field of work and yet Santana wasn't happy. She was thrilled, completely and utterly overjoyed, but she wasn't happy. She wouldn't be happy until she was home with Rachel.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
