CHAPTER 8

AT MERCEDES' APARTMENT

"So Santana… what is that thing you wanted to show me?" Mercedes asks me.

"Well…I have been working on a special project in the past few weeks and I would like your opinion. I…hum…" I sigh and I finally say timidly: "I… I wrote a song for Brittany…"

"Really? San, that's amazing!" she replies with a gigantic smile.

"Thanks 'Cedes… but I don't know what it's worth … This time I wrote it without Sam, without anyone for that matter… I have the impression it's pretty good but I have spent so much time on it, I need someone else's perspective. And well, this time I cannot ask Britt because I want to keep it surprise. And I've got to tell you: my creative process was really weird. The other night, when we were in bed…"

"Ok San, I don't need to know the details…" she interrupts me, laughing.

I pause and suddenly understand what she means by that. "Oh… no, no… this is not where I'm going with this!" I laugh too. "I was just watching Britt sleep and all of a sudden, I got an epiphany or something. So I got up… and I started to write lyrics, out of nowhere. Then I heard the melody in my mind, also out of nowhere. But I needed a piano to be able to go further. That's why I asked you if I could come write at your place the other day, I needed to use your piano to finish writing this song, I hope that's OK?"

"Of course it is. Santana, you wrote my first hit song, you can use my piano whenever you like! But come on, let me hear it, I'm curious now!"

"OK… but you have to know that it's very different from Hell to the No. This is a ballad, it's a… love song, really. I wanted to keep it "pure", acoustic, only with some piano accompaniment and nothing else" I warn her. She nods and gestures towards the piano, to encourage me.

I sit at the piano, nervous as hell, and interpret my song in front of Mercedes...

After playing the very last note, I inhale deeply, ready to hear Mercedes' feedback. When I turn back to her, I notice that she is in tears.

"Oh my God, Santana… I got shivers down my spine through the whole song, it's absolutely beautiful!"

"Really?" I can't help but smile. "Are you sure because I really don't know if I'm doing it right. I need you to be impartial, Mercedes, and don't sugar coat it!"

"It's really good, that's my impartial opinion, girl! The lyrics are so moving! I mean, if I was into girls, I would be completely in love with you right now! And the piano sets the atmosphere perfectly! But what stands out the most in my opinion is the emotion you share while singing, you put your whole heart and soul into this, I can tell. Brittany is a lucky girl and you are definitely talented."

"Thank you, it really means a lot…" I say, embarrassed at all those compliments.

"But you have got to record that song, officially".

"Huh... I don't know about that… this song is really personal… I don't know if I want to share it with the world. It was already hard to sing it in front of you."

"But that's exactly why you should record it, Santana! That song reflects your soul, it's making you vulnerable and at the end of the day, that's what being an artist is about. And don't you want to have a studio version of it? I'm sure that it would sell! Think about it, OK?"

"Even if I wanted to do that – which I don't know if I do – I don't have the money to pay for studio time…"

"We can talk to D'Shon, I'm sure he can help you out, maybe he can give you some hours in the studio in exchange of free back vocals for other artists, that's how Dani recorded her own song".

I'm still not convinced. "I… I don't know… Mercedes, I already had to lie to Brittany in order to come here using your piano without her knowing. If I spend extra time at the studio, I'll have to come up with more lies and I just… I hate lying to her."

"I know but it's not really a lie, it's a surprise! And now that I'm in the confidence, I can help. We can say that you're working on a new project at the studio, at my request. It's actually all true, I just asked you to record the song you've written for your girlfriend", she replies in excitement.

LATER, AT BRITTANY'S DANCE SCHOOL

I'm super late to pick up Brittany but as I finally arrive at the dance school, I see that she's still dancing with some guy. I forgot that now she is staying a little longer after her classes to work on her choreography for Mercedes' video clip. And since Mike can't come to New York just yet, she's practicing her routine with a colleague in the meanwhile. Another dance teacher. James I believe his name was?

They haven't seen me but I wait patiently, silently observing them practicing. Brittany is amazing as always, watching her dance is the sexiest thing I have ever seen in my life. She's pure elegance, her movements are fluid and graceful. She just looks so self-confident and happy! When I see her like this, it's hard to believe that a few months ago, she was just a shadow of herself because of all that stress at MIT. She really made a good choice when she decided to drop out and come here to pursue dancing as a career, because she's a natural! And this choreography is fucking awesome, I wonder if Mercedes has already seen it but I know for a fact that it's going to blow her mind.

After a few minutes, they stop dancing but they are still chatting while Brittany is stretching, like she always does right after dance practice.

And that's when I notice something deeply enraging. That James guy totally checks her out when she is not looking. Fucking hell, he's taking a real good look at her ass. Are you kidding me? I cough loudly to interrupt this free show he's enjoying and they both turn to me.

"San!" Britt smiles, and I walk up to her, trying to remain calm but I'm definitely angry inside. Brittany introduces us: "San, this is James. James, this is Santana".

"Hi James, it's nice to meet you" I say with my best fake smile. Don't they say that you have to keep your friends close and your enemies closer? "I'm Santana, Brittany's girlfriend." I make sure to put the emphasis on "girlfriend".

"Hello Santana, nice to meet you too" he replies, shaking my hand.

Fucker. I'm still fake smiling but I'm also imagining a dozen of different ways to cut his dick off. All of them being deeply painful of course.

"So how long you and Brittany have been together?" he asks. I know what game he's playing, "innocently" trying to find out if Britt and I are a serious thing. Asshole.

"More than two years now, and going strong" I reply, staring at him the whole time.

"She's a keeper!" Brittany adds with a smile, putting her arm around my shoulder.

"Congrats!" he comments. "Well, I have to get going so you ladies enjoy your evening. Brittany, I see you tomorrow for rehearsal, that was a great session today!" He hugs her before walking away. Why on earth he needs to hug her? I'm boiling inside. And I'm really not thrilled at the idea of this guy spending another evening doing sexy dance moves with my woman.

As we walk back home, I ask Brittany: "Did you tell James anything about me?"

"Yeah, a little. I told him that you're the one who wrote Hell to the No and that I was really proud of having such a talented girlfriend" she smiles. "Why?"

"I don't like this guy."

"Why…?" She asks, with a frown, obviously surprised. "He's a great guy, and an amazing dancer! And that's really sweet of him to stay every night to help me practice, he's doing me a big favour."

"Yeah, he enjoys it a little too much in my opinion."

"What do you mean?" she asks, perplexed.

"He totally wants to have sex with you" I say, in a matter-of-fact way.

"What? He does not!" she laughs. "He knows that you and I are together!"

"He so doesn't care about us being together, Brittany. I caught him checking out your ass when you were stretching, and besides, he has this whole... perv look going on. I don't trust him."

"Come on, Santana. I'm sure that he was not looking at my ass."

"He was, Britt! Believe me, I know. I was doing the exact same thing when you were dancing at McKinley, even long before we got together. And that guy was definitely undressing you with his eyes".

"I don't think it's true… but anyway… even if it was, I'm taken!" she says proudly, grabbing my hand.

I know that it should make me feel better and relieved but it doesn't. There is really something off about this guy, and my psychic Mexican third eye is never wrong.

Once we arrive at home and Brittany gets into the shower, I text Mike.

TO "OTHER ASIAN": Hi Chang, can you get your butt to NY sooner rather than later?

Mike has to come here. Once he's in New York, Brittany won't have to rehearse any more with James.

FROM "OTHER ASIAN": Hey San, I can't come to NY before a few weeks, because of exams and stuff. Is everything OK? Mercedes and Britt were fine with it.

Dammit, a few weeks?! I can't wait that long! Well… I will have to handle this myself then.

TO "OTHER ASIAN": "Ok, got it. Never mind… everything is fine. Good luck on your exams!"

It's not really fine, but I'll make sure it is.

A/N: Thoughts? Do you want me to continue the story?