Sorry for the delay guys. Family emergency stuff. Due to a fire/electrical accident at their place, my brother, his girlfriend and my nephew have moved in with me and there's been a lot of adjusting for all of us in terms of schedules and etc. So yeah. I just haven't had a ton of time by myself and when I do I'm just exhausted because my nephew is around 24/7 and even when his parents are home, handling him like takes a village. Like I love him to bits but phew, I could never do the parent thing myself.
Also I was randomly watching the behind the scenes video for the brittana wedding where Harry and Vanessa are paired up for the interview. I don't think Mike and Sugar ever shared any scenes or dialogue together but seeing Harry and Vanessa all friendly and chummy with each other in that made me smile and think of the Mike/Sugar friendship within this fic.
And fyi, this chapter's rating is a soft M for a little sexiness.
X
''This is more than I could've ever imagined…'' Sugar said, her eyes lighting up with awe and wonder.
She and Mike were sitting together on a bench near the concession area while reviewing some of the footage they had managed to get. Over the last couple of hours they had been tracking Santana and Brittany's movements and covertly following along but she and Mike had still kept a safe distance away from the two musicians so as not to be seen.
After looking over everything they had gotten on camera, there was no doubt anymore that things were escalating between them. If the flirting and goofing around on the mini golf course or the slow dance in foam wasn't convincing, then Santana and Brittany's make out session while laying across a picnic table definitely was. Sugar had tried to keep quiet over that last bit of footage but had failed miserably as anyone could very clearly hear her letting out tiny fangirl squees when Santana went in for a kiss which Brittany returned without hesitation.
Even though the kiss took place outside in the open air as dozens upon dozens of people passed them by, Sugar could tell this was no simple hookup between the two women. Yes there was intensity and passion in the kiss she witnessed but it wasn't sloppy or rushed. From where she had been watching it had looked quiet, tender and so very intimate.
They were like totally swoonworthy together.
It was at that point, after getting a good twenty seconds of them wrapped up in each other on that picnic table that Sugar told Mike to shut the camera off for the time being. It felt a little too personal and private and as eager as she was to be the first one with the scoop of a possible new couple on the music scene she really didn't want to take that kind of moment away from them. Mike had stopped immediately but it hadn't really mattered because after a few more heated kisses Brittany had hopped off of the table top and began to lead Santana away. From a distance Sugar and Mike watched the pair get in line for the ferris wheel, smiling and practically hanging off of each other.
Instead of following after she and Mike decided to hang back and leave Santana and Brittany to enjoy their carnival ride while they in turn took some time to relax, rewatch footage and chow down on some churros.
''I kind of thought you were crazy at the start of all this but you were right all along about those two,'' Mike said with an airy laugh as he shut his camera down and placed it between them. He picked up a churro from a napkin in his lap and tore into it. ''How did you see it?''
Sugar spoke with her mouth full. ''My psychic Mexican third eye.''
''But you're not Mexican.''
''Well I had Mexican for lunch earlier, so,'' Sugar said, as if that explained her sense away. ''Taco Bell's Gordita Crunch Tacos make me really intuitive, I don't know why. It's best not to question the mysteries of the universe, Mike.''
Having worked with Sugar for some time he knew it best to just accept that and move on with a laugh. ''So what do you think they're doing up there?'' he asked and made a nod skywards, indicating the pair they had been covering throughout the evening.
''I'm not sure but judging by how hot and heavy they were getting on that picnic table...I have a feeling something might be going down on that ferris wheel.''
''I'm surprised I didn't have to tell you we should give them a break. I would've thought you'd want all the steamy footage you could get.''
Sugar twitched her nose. It'd be a lie if she said she didn't feel slightly compelled to get video of the two musicians getting their mack on, but. ''Don't get me wrong, this Brittany and Santana thing could be the thing that sets me apart from every other entertainment reporter, I mean all it takes is one big scoop, one big story to make a little buzz for myself, but I do have some boundaries. I'm not a total creeper.''
''You like them,'' Mike said in understanding.
''Sure, I guess.'' Sugar conceded with nonchalance.
''You know what I don't get, you and I have interviewed tons of bands, countless celebrities and you've never taken this much interest in any of them. What is it about Santana and Brittany...what is it about the chemistry between these two that stood out to you?''
''I don't know. It's hard to say. They're sweet together,'' Sugar answered with a swallow and a laugh. ''In a really funny slightly twisted way sure, but they are. I saw sparks when they first laid eyes on each other. Who wouldn't root for that?'' Sugar looked at the ferris wheel lit up in the night sky with a certain kind of wistful expression on her face. ''They're not just any two people, they're perfect opposites who are somehow, in some way perfectly in sync. The way they look at each other, the way they play off of each other, there's magic there. I guess it's about hope you know.''
''How so?''
''I think that's why so many people ship their favorite characters or get mega invested in celebrity couples. Everyone, deep down, is drawn to that idea of having some grand crazy love story. The kind that can take you on an adventure and unfold in a matter of hours like a whirlwind. The kind that make sense in the most nonsensical way. You root for them because you want to believe that it's out there, that that kind of love exists, because if it exists for them, then maybe it exists for all of us.''
Mike smiled at the thought and joined her in staring up at the carnival ride. ''I never thought of it like that, but I can appreciate the idea. I guess I always kind of assumed people who wasted their time obsessing over fictional characters or couples or whatever just...had no life but maybe that's a part of it too. Maybe people just want to believe in love.''
''Or maybe I just think Brittany and Santana would make a mega smokin' couple, so there's that too,'' Sugar added as an afterthought and was quickly rewarded with a nudge to her shoulder from Mike.
X
Brittany and Santana were waiting in line at the ferris wheel and had been standing around for a good fifteen minutes. The excitement coursing through them hadn't waned a bit as they spent most of that time attached at the lips like a couple of silly handsy teenagers. Thankfully they hadn't attracted any eyes towards them as most people weren't looking too closely and simply regarded them as just another couple waiting their turn for a romantic ride.
''Are you sure you're up for this?'' Brittany asked again, smiling into the kiss as Santana pressed her up against the gated steel crowd barrier that was being used to keep the lines organized and contained.
''Very. I am very up for this.''
''And you're sure you're not afraid of heights?''
''Puh, heights,'' Santana scoffed dismissively, coolly, as if someone like her would be afraid of a dumb carnival ride. ''I'm a big girl, I can handle a simple ferris wheel ride.''
''Good. I mean I know we probably can't get up to much on it but maybe we can get creative.'' Brittany squinted then as if she were trying to recall some very foggy memory. ''I mean if I recall correctly you did claim to be a badass at orgasms.''
''You recall correct. I'm Santana Lopez and there's two things in this world that I'm really good at. One is music and the other is...well…'' Santana smirked and let the silence speak for itself.
''I guess I'll have to see about that won't I?''
''What, you don't believe the hype about my stamina?''
Brittany laughed but tried to be very diplomatic about it. ''What, does that offend your womanhood or something? Obviously I know you're a good kisser-''
''Thank you.'' Santana tipped an imaginary hat.
''-but if there's anything I've learned throughout this entire day is that one should never believe the rumors they read or hear because you can never know the whole story. I've totally heard the rumors about you being really good in bed, but how do I know that isn't just some elaborate PR scam you're running on people, huh.'' Brittany snickered at her own silly accusation.
Santana gasped in mock devastation. ''First of all I am offended, second of all my vagina is offended.''
''Well, with all due respect to you and your vagina,'' Brittany teased, ''I'm going to have to form my own opinion. Show me what you can do.''
''Hey I'm fully prepared to rise to the occasion. Granted I've never done it on a carnival ride at night while hundreds of feet in the air but if you want to see stars I'll make you see stars.''
''Will you now?''
Brittany's doubt over her prowess seemed to rile Santana up in a really funny way. She placed her hands on either side of Brittany, gripping the bar behind her, trapping her in place in the most tantalizing way. ''You'll be panting my name by the time we're at the top of this thing,'' Santana assured her and made a single nod up into the air, indicating the very top of the giant wheel. ''In fact I'm pretty sure you'll be begging me for it.''
''Begging huh?'' Brittany asked as if to playfully challenge her. ''I don't know about that. I don't really do begging.''
''I think you will for me.''
''Is that so?''
''You'll be soaking before I even touch you. Then again...you're probably soaking now.''
''Why do you think that?''
Santana leaned in, bumping her nose against Brittany's. ''Because that's why we're here isn't it. Because you can't wait for me to have my way with you.''
''You're full of yourself.''
''Uh yeah I thought we established that already. Besides you're the one who wants to do it on a ferris wheel,'' Santana whispered with a cute but dirty grin. ''Tell me I'm wrong.''
Brittany smiled in silence. She was amused more than anything else. Santana's confidence in her abilities was actually pretty hot, but there was no way Brittany was going to let her know how attracted she was to it. She was trying to play it cool as best she could even though it looked like Santana had it all figured out.
''It's where you need me isn't it...under here…'' she looked down at Brittany's skirt briefly before moving to press her mouth to Brittany's ear so what she said next no one would be able to overhear. ''You know what I'd bet?''
''What?'' Brittany squirmed with anticipation.
''That if I were to slip my hand underneath that skirt right here, right now, I'd find your thighs all warm and slippery, just for me. And you'd know what I'd do?''
Brittany shook her head no, wanting to hear more of Santana.
''I'd play with you,'' Santana continued, her eyes looked drowsy with lust.
''Fuh.'' Brittany didn't even have it in her to curse properly, she was losing her composure quickly.
''I'd run my fingers all over, get them all nice and wet and covered in you but I wouldn't slide in just yet, not yet, I'd take my time. Just right there on the outside, teasing you, finding you, making you gush until you were dripping all over my hand. I'd get you so wet and messy under that skirt...and then you know what I'd do?''
Brittany whimpered and pushed their bodies together once for the pressure, for the friction.
''I'd pull your panties to the side and slip one of my fingers up into you. Just one, just barely, at first anyway. I bet you'd be so ready for it, and I'd close my eyes because you'd feel so good clenching and fluttering around me. You'd need me there, you'd need me deeper. I bet...I bet you're clenching now aren't you...searching for me.''
''Fuck, I mean...fuck,'' Brittany said with a pleased little shutter.
Figuring she made her point Santana leaned back just a tad to let Brittany gain her composure and steady herself. ''Not until we get on the ride,'' Santana said.
''You suck.''
Santana nodded proudly as if she were receiving it as a naughty compliment. ''I do, exceptionally well I might add if you know what I mean.''
''Shut up.''
''Make me.''
''Gladly.''
The line began to move and then with a gentle playful push Brittany nudged Santana away so she was no longer confined by her arms and with a tug she began to lead them along until it was their turn to be seated. Once they were face to face with the ferris wheel operator Brittany pulled out a couple of large bills she had in her pocket and then slyly slid it towards the man with a wink and request that the ferris wheel 'get stuck' for a few extra minutes when it was their turn at the top of the ride. The ferris wheel operator happily pocketed the money and gave them a discreet thumbs up before directing them into their bench seat.
It was then when the safety bar was pulled down and they were both secure in place that they resumed what they had started back on that picnic table on the ground. Sure they were out in the open but somehow as they slowly little by little travelled up into the sky they felt free, free from eyes, free from pressure. They could just kiss and giggle and get their grope on as they both half turned in their seats so they could deepen their embrace more comfortably.
Santana couldn't seem to get enough of feeling Brittany as her hands moved over her in a sort of exploration. Running her fingers through blonde hair, tracing the lines of Brittany's neck, searching, savoring. She was only fueled on by the tiny noises Brittany was making as she whimpered pleasurably against her.
They travelled up several spots without incident. They were too busy wrapped up in each other to pay much mind and as it was those first few movements of the ferris wheel barely took them off the ground. They could barely sense the shifts at all at that point, but even still each time the ride moved and creaked up Brittany could feel Santana tense just the tiniest bit against her. For a split second Santana would flinch just a little before throwing herself back against Brittany, back into their deepening kiss. Brittany thought it odd but she didn't make comment on it, it didn't seem like it was going to be a big deal and anyway Santana had assured her that she was completely okay with heights. It was a little awkward but then again they were on a carnival ride, a little awkwardness was to be expected and besides Santana's hands and mouth and moans made any amount of awkward totally worth it.
It was only once they were midway to the top that they decided to get really adventurous with each other.
''You have like the most amazing mouth…'' Santana hummed into the kiss after a while.
Brittany pulled away and took the moment to gaze over Santana's facial features with awe. ''Yeah well you have amazing everything.''
''Tell me what you want,'' Santana urged quietly, so very ready to get things going.
''You.''
''Where?'' Santana asked, needing to hear the words.
''You know where.''
''Yeah, but I want to hear you say it.''
Brittany just smiled and with her free hand went to take hold of the hand Santana was using to caress her long neck and began to guide it down, lower, slow, over her body, past shoulders, past breasts, down her belly until she reached her exposed thighs. It was then she let Santana's hand rest on one.
''Here,'' Brittany said, wiggling in her seat slightly, pushing Santana on.
''Here.'' Santana repeated, squeezing and stroking a pale muscled thigh. ''Or here?'' She then inched the same hand up under her skirt, where Brittany's skin felt so much warmer, so much smoother. Her head went haywire as she explored. She wasn't even inside of Brittany yet she was just tracing fingertips on her upper thighs, playing with the wetness she found there. It was unlike anything she had ever felt or experienced before. Her heart beat a strange but wonderful kind of rhythm.
''Yeah.'' It was all Brittany could say at this point. She closed her eyes and reached over to hold onto Santana, pulling her in so their foreheads were bumping.
''You really are...'' Santana kept sliding up upper thighs. And just like she said she would she ran her fingers against the moistness there, there was so much. ''...you really are wet.''
''Mmhmmm.''
''For me?''
''I don't see anyone else here.''
''I knew it.''
''Don't act so smug about it,'' Brittany chuckled.
And that's when the ride shifted up once more but this time however it creaked rather loudly, so loud in fact that it made Santana quake and jump in her seat which actually only served to make said seat shake with the extra movements.
''You okay?'' Brittany asked.
''Uh...yeah,'' Santana said with a nervous sounding squeak. ''Tuh-tuh-totally.''
The shift didn't last long and once their seat came to still in place Santana was able to shake her head about and focus on Brittany again. She went in for another deep kiss and again Brittany let the matter slide, it was easy to let it pass as Santana's free hand went back to roam under her skirt, her fingertips stroking against her.
''Spread your legs a little more,'' Santana whispered, trying to shake off her nerves as best she could so she could prove to Brittany that she was indeed as good at this as all the rumors had made her out to be. It didn't really count with all the other girls who had came before because with them, she didn't feel like she had anything to prove. Not like now, with Brittany. With Brittany it mattered, with Brittany she wanted to be everything.
In response Brittany invitingly spread her legs and wiggled in her seat again.
''Uhh, just like that. Just like that,'' Santana murmured against her mouth. Both of their breathing was deep and labored.
''Yeah?''
''Yeah.''
Brittany's face transformed in small but fascinating ways as Santana's fingers found her, right there. ''I want to feel you,'' Brittany said with a gulp as her own free hand began to wander down eagerly until she found the bottom of Santana's tee where she slide it underneath. Her fingers found silky skin and what felt like a crazy set of abs and then - ''guhh, you're really not wearing a bra.''
Brittany was done with all that teasing from earlier in the night and was more than ready for Santana to make that one final move, to make that one tiny thrust upwards, pushing a finger inside, connecting them in the most basic primal way.
They had only known each other for a matter of hours but that's all they had needed to know. It was what they had been shuffling around since they had first met and butted heads. All of that bantering, all of that verbal sparring back and forth, all of that, it was all foreplay. A way for them to poke and challenge and rile each other up without making a physical move. But here and now they were finally going to go all the way, they were finally going to have and know each other physically, intimately.
And all it would take was one little push of tan fingers.
And then Santana would be a part of her, and she would be a part of Santana.
And that would be it. Under the fireworks, under the stars, as they floated through the air above the festival grounds.
But then, the ride creaked and groaned once more, this time making even more horrible angry sounding racket as it slowly began to move again, taking them another slot higher. And this time Santana's reaction was anything but subtle as her eyes went wide and she looked suddenly all kinds of unsettled. Santana gulped and braved a glance down below to see how far up they had travelled. She blinked unevenly when she realized just how high up there were since she was last paying attention. Down below people mingled about looking like tiny specks and in that moment everything and everyone felt a million miles away to her. Santana felt dizzy as their seats swayed and with a panicked sounding whimper she turned back to Brittany.
''Brittany, I'm-I'm-I'm-I'm-I'm-''
Brittany's brain was still foggy with lust as she waited for Santana to finish her sentence. She thought for a moment that Santana was going to give her more dirty talk but unfortunately that wasn't the case.
''I'm gonna throw up,'' Santana groaned out eventually as she pulled away from Brittany and used both hands to reach out, grabbing ahold of the safety bar and the side of her seat. The creaky mechanical noises and the way their bench seat wobbled, shook and shuddered made Santana visibly tremble. And just like that the mood was gone. The sexy had been diffused the second said she was close to tossing her cookies. ''Oh god oh god oh god.''
''Are you okay? What's wrong?'' Brittany asked with a squeak as she adjusted to the loss of Santana's hands and pulled her own out from underneath Santana's shirt.
''Nothing, it's just…I didn't really expect it to feel like this.''
''Like what?''
''Like we're about to plummet to our horrible gruesome deaths. Should we be teetering back and forth like this? I don't think we should be teetering back and forth like this. Our seat feels really unstable.''
''I'm pretty sure we're fine.''
Santana's eyes darted around the machinery above them rapidly. ''What about these noises? I don't think the creaky loud noises that happen every time we move are normal. Have you noticed they're getting louder the higher we go up.''
Brittany shook her head and reached out to pull Santana into a comforting embrace, running her hands through her hair as if to calm her. ''I've been on plenty of noisy rides. Seems normal to me. Are you sure you're okay?''
Santana laughed nervously. ''Why wouldn't I be okay? I'm perfectly okay.''
''Then why are you trembling?''
''I'm not trembling.''
''You're totally trembling.''
Their seat began moving again and again Santana reacted by flinching in obvious distress. She looked uneasy and queasy and that's when it dawned on Brittany what exactly was going on.
''Santana...when I asked you if you were afraid of heights and you said no...were you lying?''
''I'm not afraid of heights,'' Santana said defiantly. ''If anything heights are afraid of me!''
Amused but unimpressed Brittany smiled at that completely nonsensical claim. ''Uh huh.''
''Cause I'm a badass and badasses aren't afraid of anything, let alone stupid ferris wheels.''
''It's okay if you are, you know,'' Brittany tried to assure her.
With the way Santana was freaking out and shivering in full blown fear now as they inched their way to the very top of the ride Brittany figured orgasms were out of the question now. She realized she was going to have to put her horniness in check in order to sooth Santana who was clearly wigging out at this point. It was strangely adorable how in a split second Santana could go from steamy sexy dreamboat to scaredy cat who just desperately needed cuddling.
Sure, not being able to get into each other's panties properly was a total bummer but this, this was pretty darn cute Brittany thought.
''I said I'm not.''
''Santana.''
''What?''
''You don't have to pretend with me, remember? You can be real with me.''
Santana wrinkled her brow for a moment before deciding to just be honest. ''Fine whatever I maybe lied earlier about being cool with heights.''
''Why'd you tell me you didn't have a problem with them?''
''Because.'' Santana pouted like a whiney but adorkable kid. ''You wanted all up on my body and being the giving selfless person that I am, I wanted to give you that out of the goodness of my heart of course.''
''Of course.''
''Also...I wanted you to think I was as spontaneous and sexy and as cool as the magazines make me out to be. As everyone says I am.''
''I don't expect you to be the girl the magazines make you out to be. I'm not here for wild and crazy sex, I'm here for connection first and foremost. If wild and crazy sex so happens to come along with that, awesome, if not...that's okay too.''
''I didn't want you to think I was some wimp too scared to get on a ferris wheel. It honestly didn't look all that high up from the ground and because we would be busy with each other I thought I might actually be able to handle it and for the first few minutes it was totally all hot and sexy but now I'm starting to wonder if you and I just stepped into some Final Destination scenario where we're going to plummet to our deaths.''
Brittany moved to place her hands on Santana's shoulders. ''Hey, we're not going to plummet to our deaths.''
''How do you know that?''
''Because we're musicians and statistically we're actually more likely to die in plane travel or on road collisions in a tour bus simply due to the amount of travel we have to do.''
''I know that random fact was supposed to help calm me down but uh not helping.''
''Right, sorry.'' Brittany winced because maybe that wasn't the best way to settle Santana down.
''You probably think I'm about as sexy as a cabbage patch kid now that I've freaked out in front of you.''
''I don't think that. I mean...I still think you're sexy. Maybe not in this moment but, seeing you like this, it's kind of cute.''
Santana scrunched up her nose. ''Cute?''
''There's nothing wrong with being cute,'' Brittany insisted and gave Santana's palm a soft squeeze. ''There's also nothing wrong with being scared of something either. So you're afraid of heights, big deal. Being scared is normal, being scared is human.''
Santana had that frightened puppy look about her as they began to move yet again. She scooted herself towards the middle of the seat until her hip bumped Brittany's, quivering the entire time. Brittany watched Santana close her eyes and take several deep shaky breaths.
''Some people are scared of heights, some people are scared of spiders or clowns or Nicolas Cage's questionable hairline. It's not a big deal. We all have something that we're scared of.''
''Tell me something you're afraid of,'' Santana whispered.
''Hm?''
''Tell me something you're afraid of,'' Santana repeated herself, her eyes still glued shut. ''It can be anything just...just distract me...just talk. Please.''
Brittany nodded even though Santana couldn't see her do it. She got it, she just needed Brittany to soothe her with her voice and talk her down while she was in this vulnerable state. It was touching and sort of intimate in a roundabout way, for Santana to admit she was afraid and needed help. ''Okay I can do that...I can tell you something I'm scared of, but it has to stay between me and you.''
''I'd never tell anyone.''
''I know. You've shared plenty of your secrets with me tonight. I know I can trust you with one of my own. It's just weird saying this out loud.''
''What is it?''
''The thing I'm most afraid of is being a disappointment.''
Santana slowly opened her eyes and through her lashes she watched Brittany turn her head to look out and over the festival grounds with a mournful expression.
''To my band,'' Brittany continued with a sigh.
''How would you disappoint them?''
''You and Sam aren't the only ones on the verge of totally imploding, The Dirty Pinks are just better at hiding it.''
''But you guys get along great, I mean from what I've seen anyway.''
''We do, we love each other, not getting along isn't our problem. Our problem is our label doesn't really want us anymore. No one wants us anymore.''
''That's not true.''
''It is. They don't see us as 'financially viable'. Our album didn't really sell like they had hoped.''
''But it's an amazing album.''
''Yeah but record labels don't care about amazing, they care about dollar signs. We refused to fit in their pretty little box so that we could be sold to the masses. We didn't want to change ourselves for anyone or anything and the label...they don't know what to do with us so they made it clear that unless we can magically create a buzz overnight and find a way to parlay that into sales...they're giving up on us.''
''That's shitty.''
''It is what it is. As far as they're concerned I don't really care if I was a disappointment to the suits. The only thing I ever cared about was the music and my girls. I'm afraid I got Tina, Quinn and Dani all this way and talked them into investing years of their lives into this band only for me to lead them to nothing...to nowhere. That's what we are, nothings in this industry.''
''You played Coachella,'' Santana said. ''That's not exactly nowhere.''
''Getting a spot in the lineup was a fluke. I'm afraid that after this Coachella high we're all riding dies down the girls are going to realize one good show isn't going to change the label's mind. And that's on me because I'm their leader and I couldn't make it happen for us. I'm afraid...I'm afraid I'm going to lose their respect...their trust...their friendship because I couldn't make our band happen. That. That's something I've never told anyone. That's something I'm afraid of.''
Realizing how brutally honest Brittany was being about herself Santana forgot all about where they were or how high the ferris wheel was. In that moment all she saw was Brittany laying herself out there to her. ''You're not a joke.''
Brittany made a soft thoughtful noise.
''I mean it,'' said Santana. ''You're not a joke, you're not a nobody. You're amazing, your music is amazing and the rest of your band is too.''
''Yeah.''
''It is. You are. I might not know your girls very well, but if they care about music half as much as you do then they're not going to care about 'making it' because I'm figuring that's not why they were in it to begin with. They would never think you failed them. There's no way they would ever think you were a disappointment.''
Santana squeezed her hand again, but this time it wasn't about fear, it was about connection.
''I could do things for you, you know,'' Santana said.
''What?''
''Your label problems I mean. I have plenty of connections, plenty of people who will bend over backwards to do me a favor. I could help you and The Dirty Pinks get hooked up with the right people. Maybe we can get you on a different, smaller label who understands what you're about. I could pull a few strings, set up a few meetings and I know that-''
''No,'' Brittany said.
''It wouldn't be a hassle though. I could literally make the call right now and get you a meeting tomorrow.''
''I don't want that from you.''
''Why not?''
''I don't want you to help me or pull any special strings on my behalf. That's not what this…'' Brittany gestured with her hand, motioning to Santana and herself. ''...is about. I'm not here because of who you are or who you know. I'd never want to use that to further myself.''
''But I could help your band.''
''I know you could and I appreciate that, but I would never use you that way.''
''But you wouldn't be using me, I'd be offering.''
''Still,'' Brittany said with a smile. ''The Dirty Pinks have always done things on their own. It wouldn't be right. Any success we find wouldn't feel earned that way. If we make it then we'd want to make it on our own.''
''And if you burn up in flames?''
''Then we'll go down with our integrity intact,'' Brittany said lightly. She was ready and willing to play it that way.
Santana smirked as she leaned in for a series of teasing little pecks. ''What if I said I could get on the phone right now and tell my people I want The Dirty Pinks to be our opening act for the next leg of our tour?''
''I'd say that's a tempting offer but I feel like I'd be taking advantage of...you and me. And anyway you've known me for exactly one day, who's to say you wouldn't lose interest after a few weeks? You wouldn't want to be stuck on a tour with me.''
''I'd love to be stuck on a tour with you and I don't see myself losing interesting here any time soon but if that's what you and your band need to do, I can respect that because I respect you.''
''Yeah?''
''Of course. Do you have any idea how much I respect The Dirty Pinks?''
''I'm pretty sure your entire outfit cost more than our tour bus, there's really not a lot to envy.''
''I'm not talking about envy, I'm talking about respect,'' Santana clarified. ''You guys did what Sam and I couldn't. You refused to fit in a box, you refused to be someone's commodity because you...you have guts. The Dirty Pinks have guts, more guts than me and Sam. You didn't give a shit about the paycheck, about the popularity, about the attention. The Dirty Pinks are real and they're messy and they're unpolished but they're passionate….you're passionate. Fuck the labels and fuck the industry if they can't see that about you guys.''
''You really think all of that?''
''I do.''
''Thank you though, for the offer.''
''Yeah well I wouldn't put it on the table if I didn't believe in you as a musician and a band leader. It also helps that you're, like, mega hot too.''
Brittany laughed. ''You perv.''
''You like it though.''
''I do.''
Neither of them had realized it then but they were now at the top of the ferris wheel. Their seat swayed slightly as they reached the highest peak. And there under the stars but above the crowds they smiled at each other in some kind of moment of appreciation and understanding.
Their little ferris wheel excursion hadn't ended up being all that sexy but right then and there it didn't seem to matter. Somehow it actually made the ride more real, more romantic this way. Had they gotten a little further with each other it would've been fun and more than enjoyable but it wouldn't have allowed Brittany to share a part of herself this way with Santana who all of a sudden didn't seem so scared of the height, but then again maybe it was because Brittany was holding her hand the entire time. The way Brittany's fingers tangled with her own did weird but wonderful things to her heart that she'd never felt before.
Needless to say the journey back to the ground didn't seem as long or as anxiety inducing for Santana. Once they were back on solid ground they again started off. The rush to get off with each other was temporarily put in check mostly due to the fact that after a half hour of walking about they really weren't sure which direction they were going in anymore. They had gotten turned around several times and in fact they had begun trekking through parts of the festival they had never seen before.
Currently they were walking - arms linked - through a vast space of land where rows upon endless looking rows of average camping tents had been erected by people attending the event. Occasionally there would be an empty lot where ordinary folks were gathered around a fire, eating, drinking or singing but most people seemed to already be in their tents snoozing for the most part. They felt comfortable walking the area because it wasn't likely they'd be recognized and mobbed. The only thing that made them think they should stop and take a break was the rumbling of Brittany's stomach
''Sorry,'' Brittany apologized. ''Guess the slushies and cotton candy earlier didn't exactly do the trick.''
''You hungry?''
''I could snack on something but I don't see any vendors out here.'' They were indeed a bit away from any concession area.
Santana scanned the area around them and had an idea. Soon they were approaching a small group of people who were chatting and laughing as they roasted hot dogs over the open flame. Santana announced themselves by clearing their throat.
''Holy crap,'' one man spoke with his mouth stuffed.
''You're Santana Lopez,'' said the woman at his side who dropped her s'more into the dirt in shock.
''Dude,'' said another person nearby who looked to Brittany. ''You're from The Dirty Pinks.''
The group looked delightfully stunned but thankfully none of them seemed overly eager or overwhelming, in fact if anything the people around the fire seemed really chill and relaxed about the fact that a couple of rockstars had just happened upon them. Then again Santana thought that probably had something to do with the faint smell of weed in the air. Either way she was glad they weren't the kind of people who were going to hop all over them demanding attention and time.
''You guys wouldn't be interested in making a deal would you?'' Santana asked the group.
''What kind of deal?'' one of the young men asked.
''My friend here is kind of hungry and I don't know when we're going to come across concessions again,'' Santana explained. ''You give us a couple of hotdogs and we'll take a couple of selfies with you.''
''Uh deal,'' the woman laughed and immediately stood up and offered her hand to them for a shake. She then waved them in closer and motioned to a nearby tree log, silently urging them to sit and relax.
One of the men came forward and handed over a couple of canned sodas into their hands. ''I'm a really big fan,'' he said to Brittany. ''Me and my girlfriend love your album.''
Brittany bowed her head in thanks. ''You and your girlfriend were probably the only two people who bought it so thanks.''
Soon they were being handed paper plates full of hotdogs and chips and various other munchies as the group went about introducing themselves. They began to dig in and chew as the most talkative of the bunch introduced himself as Elliot Gilbert who had the most amazing perfectly coiffed hair. From there he made a wave to each of his friends, Kitty, Jake, Joe and Lauren. They were in a garage band together he explained. Well, everyone except for Lauren who was trying to act as their agent and had managed to land them a few small time bar gigs that had them all hopeful. While they didn't seem too interested in asking gossipy or inappropriate prying questions about why the two of them were handcuffed to each other, they did seem curious to know if either Brittany or Santana had any advice to give them as an up and coming act.
They were in a rather awkward position in answering because Santana and Brittany were at very two different points in their careers. Santana and Sam had compromised themselves in order to sell and be successful, meanwhile Brittany and the rest of The Dirty Pinks had stayed true to themselves and refused to alter their style or sound but in the end neither band was a hundred percent content with where they were going. Santana and Sam had discovered that selling records and sold out concerts didn't just automatically equate to perfect happiness and Brittany and her girls had found out the hard way that sometimes staying true to yourself meant not paying bills and getting contracts terminated.
They couldn't just say that though, not when Elliot, Kitty, Jake, Joe and Lauren were looking at them all innocent and wide-eyed. Brittany and Santana really didn't have or know what the secret was to making it, to having it all. They hadn't exactly found it themselves and they couldn't very well lie to the people.
''I would say whatever you do, wherever you go, make sure you take care of each other,'' Santana said finally after some thought. ''Don't get blinded by spotlights or the scene and forget what matters most, even more than the music, your friendships. Deals will come and go, money will come and go, fans will come and go, but what you have with each other...that's forever. When you're in a band with someone it's like a marriage only...only deeper I think. It's a bond that ties you to each other. You're friends and you're partners and no one else in this world will ever have your back the way your band will.''
The group smiled in silence at that and didn't prod any further. Instead they pulled a couple of instruments from off of a nearby blanket and asked if either of them wanted to jam. Having finished with their food they dusted their hands off and looked to each other. It could be an interesting experiment they realized as Jake handed an acoustic guitar over to them.
The handcuffs made things a little tricky but Brittany thought there was a way to do it. She took the guitar and placed the belly of it in Santana's lap while she sat behind the neck portion of the guitar. They were going to attempt to play a single instrument together with Santana strumming and with Brittany working the fret, in order to do this though it required them to be perfectly in sync with each other. While Jake and Joe pulled out a couple of small wooden percussion items and readied themselves, Santana and Brittany tried to find a rhythm. The first few minutes though the only thing they made together was strange and stilted noise. It wasn't exactly pleasant to the ears but eventually they found their way.
''So what do you guys want to hear?'' Brittany asked the group for song suggestions.
''Whatever it is it better not be Wonderwall,'' Santana said.
X
So this story has maybe 2 or 3 more chapters in it and I'll try my best to get those out as soon as possible but no promises. It really just depends on me getting some peace and quiet because I can't write when there's a three year old poking me in the side every five minutes and quoting dialogue from the movie Boss Baby at me. I'ma try dudes, I'ma try.
ETA - RIP Tom Petty. He wasn't one of my personal musical heroes but who hasn't grown up with him playing on the radio throughout the years. He was just one of those voices that you take for granted because you think they're always going to be there. But rock legends are just like us and life is fragile like that. Just last week I watched this amazing documentary called Sound City (about a legendary recording studio where so many iconic albums were made) and Tom was in it, and he was still cooler than cool. God, what a legend.