CHAPTER 5

On my way to the Ladies bathroom, I pass two kids looking at me in a weird way, laughing. I hear them whispering behind me "it's Yeast Girl".

"HEY" I scream at them, walking fast back to them, in a threatening way. "It's "Ms Lopez" to you, got it? I'm a national choir champion who brought glory to this school and unlike you, I actually made it out of this stinky town, all the way to New York! Yeah, that's right! You know why my face is plastered all over this school? It's because I'm on freaking national TV!"

I yell a few insults in Spanish for the dramatic effect, it always works. They suddenly look pale and run away. But this little incident convinces me to stop by Sue's office.

I spot her at her desk, surrounded by her trophies and I knock on the open door.

"Hey Sandbags" she says with a smile. I roll my eyes, wondering if she'll ever drop that nickname.

"Coach. You look good", I say, trying my best to be polite.

"You don't look so bad yourself" she says and hugs me. Surprised by this sudden outburst of affection, I hesitantly hug her back.

"How's your yeast infection going ?" she says in a mocking tone.

"Yeah, about that, can you take down the damn poster? I know people here! And I'm not sure your McKinley students have the maturity to appreciate my… art."

"Taking it down, why? Is it outdated already? Did you perhaps shoot a commercial about STDs since then?"

"Ha ha" I say, annoyed, in a very Nelson from the Simpsons kind of way.

"Come on, Lady Tata. I put up this poster because I'm actually proud of you. You're in New York, booking national commercials! That's inspiring for these kids, it shows that they can have a future and they are not limited to Lima! Quinn is at Yale, Brittany is a math genius, who would have seen that coming by the way? You girls are my biggest success, you should not be embarrassed. And on the plus side, girls will know what to do if they get a case of "bad kind of yeast" she says, imitating my tone from the commercial.

I can't help but laugh. I've got to say, it's a nice change to have Sue flattering me instead of trying to take me down.

A few minutes later, as I'm in the ladies bathroom fixing my make-up, Rachel comes in and looks at me silently.

"What do you want, Berry? Spill it out. I have a date with Brittany and I don't want to make her wait."

"I… I want to give you ten shows. Any ten shows after the first three months, OK? That way, your mom can come or your…hum…abuela. I have been unkind to you, this is… a peace offering. I just... I don't want to do this anymore. It's exhausting and it's depressing."

I didn't expect this at all. And she actually sounds serious.

"Look Rachel, thanks but no thanks" I reply. "Despite what you think, I will not push you down the stairs or I don't know what else you think, I won't come after you. But I don't want your pity, I don't need you to give me the role as if I was a charity case. You do your thing and I do mine. If one day you can't perform, I will go up on that stage without hesitation and I will be amazing. And if you're threatened by my talent, that's your problem. I'm leaving now, I have seen you enough for one day." I say in a cold way and I exit the room.

LATER, AT BREADSTICKS

"I'm full" I say to Brittany, throwing my napkin on my now empty plate. I always eat too much at Breadsticks but it's so damn good.

"Me too" she replies, as she places her hand on mine. I feel a bit emotional sitting here again with her, it brings me back to when we started dating.

"What are you thinking about, Ms Lopez?" she asks.

"You" I smile, "Us…"

She smiles back.

"Britt, about earlier…" I whisper. "We need to talk". I sigh before continuing: "It really scares me this whole thing you're going through at MIT. You have to think of your well-being. Just because your amazing mathematical mind can solve all the world's problems, doesn't mean that it has to. It's not your dream."

"You're one to talk" she replies. "Since when is becoming a Broadway star your goal in life?"

"A star is a star. It doesn't matter where in the sky I shine. This is a great first step for me." I say before mumbling "And, besides, I'm not gonna let that dwarf Berry win".

"But San… Walking away from a dream that you don't actually care about is you winning, because it's you saying "This is not who I am and I don't care who knows it."

I don't know how Britt does this, it's like she has the wisdom of a 90 year old woman trapped in a 20 year old body. I spend months tangled up in knots, and in five minutes, she straightens me out.

"You're actually completely right, as always..." I say. "Broadway is not my dream..."

"Then… what is your dream?" she asks.

I shake my head. "I don't know yet Britt, but I'll figure it out… What about you, baby, what is your dream?"

She sighs but doesn't answer. She suddenly looks conflicted and I can almost hear the gears clicking in her brain.

"Britt" I say to get her attention. When she locks eyes with mine, I decide that it's time to ask her: "Do you want to go back to MIT?"

"I have to go back to MIT, San. I got a full scholarship, it's an amazing opportunity and I can't let them down. And my parents wouldn't have any money to…"

"Britt" I interrupt. "Don't think about your teachers, your parents, don't even think about me. What is it that you want to do? Do you want to go back to MIT?"

She takes a moment before saying in a whisper "No, I really don't. I hate my life there". There is no hesitation in her voice.

I feel relieved that she doesn't want to go back there, because MIT seems to kill her little by little. And at least she made this decision on her own.

"Do you want to keep studying maths in another school?" I ask.

"No."

"What do you want to do?"

She inhales slowly and says "I… I want to dance...".

I'm partying like crazy in my mind but I keep a neutral face because I don't want to influence her, it has to be her own choice. "Are you sure that this is what you want?" I ask again.

"Yes… yes it is. You were right, San. I've always loved to dance, ever since I was a child. And dancing earlier today with you and Mike… it's the best I've felt in weeks. It's like my body woke up".

She sounds excited and I can't help but smile. "Does it mean you'll get back to your dance classes, with Mike ?" I ask, full of hope.

She pauses for a second and says "No, I won't".

I frown, confused. "But you just said…"

She cuts me off before I can finish. "I do want to dance, but I can't return to the dance classes in Massachusetts. If I quit MIT, I have no reason to live there. I think that… hum… I want to move to New York. I want to be where you are, Santana...if you'll have me".

I smile so big that my face hurts.

THE NEXT DAY, AT McKINLEY

Our little Glee reunion is ending today and it makes me sad. But after what Britt announced me last night, I also feel butterflies. I'm so happy I can't quite believe it yet. No more long-distance relationship, we're finally going to live together. I enter the choir room a bit early and find Rachel alone, rehearsing her lines for Funny Girl.

"Well, you certainly are dedicated" I say.

"I have to…" she replies sadly.

"Look Rachel, I know that you have been dreaming about this role since you were in gay-utero. You have actually worked your tiny butt off to get it and you did get it! And I'm coming and sucking all the celebration out of it. It's not fair to you."

I pause before saying "After thinking long and hard about it, I realized that I don't want to be a Broadway star. I'm too lazy to do 8 shows a week. So I have decided to quit the show, and I have already texted gay-face director to officially resign. I thought you should know".

"Thank you Santana, this really means a lot to m-"

I interrupt her immediately "Berry, I would love to pass for a saint for once but I didn't do this for you. I did this entirely for myself. Broadway is simply not my dream."

She nods in understanding.

After another emotional and singing day, we all decide to go first to Breadsticks for dinner and then to Sugar's for a private goodbye party. As everyone is exiting the choir room, Mercedes suddenly pulls me aside.

"Satan, do you have a minute? I need to talk to you."

"Sure…" I reply, wondering what this is about.

"As you know, my producer wants me to record my album in New York" she says. I nod enthusiastically, I already knew that and I'm so excited at the idea of having Mercedes joining our little New York gang.

"He just texted me to say that one of my back vocalist dropped out. If you're interested, I would like to hire you to replace her".

"Wait, what ?" I say with open eyes. Seriously, how many times the Gleeks can blow my mind in one reunion?

"Remember back in high school, every time we sang together, it was always awesome..." she says. "We both know who the top bitches of this Glee club were! Your voice goes well with mine, it's just a fact. I know that you deserve more than back vocals but right now that's all I have to offer. It's not paid much, but it's paid. And you could make a lot of connections. Plus, you would do me a big favour. Believe me, it would really be nice to have a friendly face in the recording studio. A first album is really a big deal you know… I can either become someone or... completely fail and ruin everything… I need people I trust around me. So... what do you say?"

A/N – What do you think, any review?