To those reading – Thank You!
Business is a Trust
Blaine adjusted his jacket and bow tie, opening the door to the restaurant. He inhaled a deep breath. Then he stepped through the entryway and exhaled. Blaine gave the maitre de June's name. He followed him back to a secluded table in the back.
"Blaine," June offered her hand to her protégé. "How is your, uh, husband, Kurt?"
Blaine took her hand. He leaned down, giving her a quick air-kiss on her cheek "Kurt is great, he's in his final year at NYADA."
"And you? What are you up to these days?" June watched Blaine sit down in the chair across from her.
"I'm at Tisch, Stella Adler Studio." An embarrassed grin crossed his face.
She tilted her head, "I see. Here I assumed you were a student at NYADA? What happened?"
"Uh, NYADA wasn't a good fit. It's just a performance school. I wanted a broader education than what NYADA offered."
Nodding in approval, "Why the call? It's been, what over a year since we last talked?"
Blaine startled by the waiter, who placed a plate of food in front of him, "I hope you don't mind I ordered for us."
"No. No, that fine." Nodding he mouthed a polite 'thank you,' to the waiter, Blaine laid the cloth napkin on his lap, taking his fork he looked up at June "I have an opportunity. Well, not me but something I'd like to be involved in getting it off the ground. It requires" Blaine bit his upper lip. "Uh, it requires…"
"Money?"
Blaine let out a breath of relief that his call had been more transparent to June than he'd let on during his appeal. "Yes, June. It requires seed money to get it off the ground."
"Ok, you're looking for an angel investor? Why me? Is it because I'm loaded? That I won't mind throwing a few thousand dollars at what may be a losing proposition? Or is it because you believe, in your heart, that this proposal is worth your time? The people who surround you are they invested in the idea? That you could walk away, feeling that regardless of the outcome, you gave it your best effort. Proud that you did so? No feelings of regret or failure?"
Blaine stared at June as he considered her questions. Her warm eyes were cold as polished sapphire. She was a businesswoman. A socialite. A trendsetter. At a pinnacle of success that he craved to emulate. The teacher that saw him as a student to mold, "June you told me once success depends on three things. Talent, hard work, and luck. If you have the first two, I wouldn't have to worry about the third. Yes, to all your questions. I have faith in this project. My friends are committed. They're talented and will put in the hard work to achieve success. And no, I wouldn't regret it if this doesn't work out, because they're talented."
Nodding, "I see, so I take it this proposition involves the theater. Your friends wish to produce a play?"
Blaine, embarrassed at the presumption, grinned at his benefactor, "No. Not a play. Not that at all. They're singers. Musicians. All very talented and trained. They need money to record" shrugging his shoulders "Maybe ten songs, some original. Upload a video onto YouTube."
A dismissive sound escaped from June's lips, "They wish to be rock stars. I see. You know, making a successful song has changed since I was young. When you went to some half-baked studio in a record shop, record a scratchy 45, then hoof it over to the local radio station to talk a DJ into playing it. If you were lucky, you get it played during the late evening hours. When teenagers would seclude themselves in their bedrooms away from their unconventional parents, if you were fortunate, some wannabe producers would hear it. He'd start hawking it at other stations in the state. Now all you do is record a video on your iPhone and put it on the internet."
"Well, it's more complicated than that, more competitive too. Just having a good voice won't guarantee success. You need to be a performer too. You need a presence… visibility to a wider audience. Unlike the successful performer of the past, your talent must include writing, composition, arrangement, theatricality. You need to create a brand."
"And you're willing to follow thru with all of that with your friends? Why not audition for one of those TV talent shows? Isn't that how Clarkson. Um ... Underwood started?"
"They're a group, not soloists. June, they're not looking to be superstars like those you mentioned." Blaine rolled his eyes while trying to think of a way to explain the goal to his socialite friend, "They have a Plan B, three are college students. They want to build a brand and market it in a city of 8 million people to get more gigs. I don't think becoming superstars is in the front of their minds right now. Have some fun. Earn a few bucks. Entertain people while their young, before post-graduation reality sets in. If they get a top 100 download on iTunes, they'll be satisfied that they accomplished something on their bucket list."
June tilted her head as she listened to Blaine. His enthusiasm for his friends was understandable, even though she knew that this project scared him. He was putting not only himself on the line but his friends, too. His reliance on their talent and commitment in a chaotic business that granted success to a few. Though Blaine had proven her wrong with Kurt, he recognized the talent his husband had much to her public embarrassment in doing so. "Remember what I told you the last time we met? To never to let anyone - not even me - doubt what you're sure of."
Blaine nodded, "I do."
"And you're sure of this… group, your friends?"
Blaine nodded, "Yes."
"Ok, then I'll give you the money. Plus, access to my lawyer who should be able to direct you to whatever you need for contracts, copyrights whatever. But I need to be paid back. Investments require a monetary payback, and you need to know I won't let you off the hook, just because we're friends. Business is a trust, Blaine. Trust comes with a commitment, and a commitment comes with a payback."
Elliott, Dani, and Roderick entered the music building at Brooklyn College. Kurt had arranged the auditions, though conflict with the time kept him away. The auditorium had a small stage, acoustical wall panels, speakers mounted on vertical bars, chairs with music stands. Elliott saw three men and a girl sitting on the stage. One guy with an early Beatles hair cut with a bass. A tall blonde with a guitar. A girl, her hair shaved on the left side next to him with a guitar. Behind them, a drum set, a guy with short tight curly hair reminded Elliott of a steel pot scrubber. By the looks of them, they were young, naïve, Midwest college kids. The opposite of when he met Santana, Kurt, and Rachel.
After introductions, Elliott asked their musical backgrounds, no surprise they were college music majors from Lima. Franco and Lennon, the girl, had played in the marching band. None had backed up a rock or pop band per se. Glee club was their experience. They impressed Elliott and Dani with the range of musical styles they'd covered in Glee Club, Broadway, traditional standards, Jazz, R&B, Pop, Rock, Country, and Rap. Instruments included Lennon adept at guitar, keyboards, and sax. Jon, a guitar, mandolin, and harmonica player. Franco bass and upright bass. Cam covered drum, bongos, drum machine, and he'd picked up the congas within the last year. Audition songs were Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'Voodoo Child' to show off Jon's guitar skills. Lennon took the lead on Neil Zaza-'I'm Alright.' Franco took the intro to Andy Timmons 'Electric Gypsy' to show off his bass skill. They played OMD 'Enola Gay' to show off Lennon's keyboard skills. The songs were instrumental, none of them attempted vocals.
Later, at a coffee shop, the three sat discussing what they'd heard. "The guitarist both blew me away. I can't play that good."
Elliott nudged Dani with his shoulder. "C'mon, they were showing off."
"Yeah, they did a damn good job at it, Elliott." Glancing across the table, "What did you think, Roderick?"
"Uh, yeah to both. They're good show-offs. I guess my question is, do we need or want four guitarists in the band?"
Elliott glanced between the two, "Uh, I wouldn't expect that you or Dani would hide behind your guitars for the entire show." He shrugged his shoulders, "You're both lead singers."
"Yeah, but it cuts into our profit unless we raise our price. As it stands, we don't even have a gig. What happens if we only play for tips? That'll suck big time."
Dani quirked an eyebrow, "So who don't you want, Roderick?"
"I'd drop Lennon. She wasn't one that Kurt recommended. Yeah, I know her from Glee. But when Santana and Brittany hired musicians for their wedding. Lennon wasn't one of them." He picked up the plastic stir stick from the table to chew, "I know Santana knows her, but I don't think she'd be impressed with her in the band."
"I kinda like a girl playing guitar in the band full-time."
"I'm sorry, Elliott, I just think it's overkill on strings."
"She plays keyboards. There isn't an exact number in a band, Roderick. Slipknot has what, two percussionists. Toto had two keyboardists. Iron Maiden had three guitarists. It just depends on the sound we want to create."
"True, Dani! We'll be a cover band to start. As we create and define our sound, yeah, then one could leave." Elliott shrugged, "Hell, any of us could leave."
"Or be kicked out."
"Yeah, that too, Dani," Elliott sipped out of his cup. "God, I don't want to go through that again."
Kitty and Brittany stood outside Artie's apartment door. From the hallway, they could hear the rush of someone running around. The screech of a chair moving across the wood floor followed by a female voice, "Ouch. Who the fuck left the chair there?" The hopping of a foot hitting wood. Kitty glanced over to Brittany, whose face was as pink as her own. Both stifled laughter as the door swung open to reveal a redhead woman, her shirt buttons misaligned, holding her shoes in one hand, her jacket in the other. Nodding to the two blondes with a muted "hey" her head down, she thrust between them to make her way down the corridor.
Kitty tilted her head to look down at Artie in his chair, "A new conquest?"
"Uh, that's Coreen. We were reviewing our cinematography notes."
"Based on your unzipped fly, I'd say you mean porn notes?"
Artie reached down to his fly, the zipper caught on the tracks, as he struggled to close the fastener. His cheeks red with embarrassment, "You're early."
Kitty, followed by Brittany, walked passed the wheelchair into the room, "We're on time somewhere."
"You're over your blonde ambition? On to redheads now, Artie?"
Kitty with a smirk on her face, "His last five were brunettes, Brittany. After Becky, he couldn't go back to blondes. Couldn't handle the magic, I'd guess."
He spun his chair around, "That's not true. I find all women attractive. You're just jealous that you both won't get on this again."
"She's married. You dropped me. Plus, neither of us want back on that again."
Artie realized Kitty was pulling out an old argument that they'd resolved to embarrass him, "So, what do I owe this visit too?"
Kitty pulled out a table chair to sit on, "Pamela Lansbury 2.0. They want a music video. They need a director. You're a director."
"Wise choice, though music videos aren't my forte. Do they have an idea? A storyline? More importantly, who's involved in the group now? Assume it's not Rachel or Kurt."
"No bags in the wind are your forte. I'm pretty sure you have a lock on that, storyline."
Brittany eyed Kitty. She appreciated the sarcastic humor, but it wasn't answering his questions. "Elliott, Dani, Santana, and Roderick will be the lead singers. They're auditioning our old Glee band members. Why we're here."
"You have money to pay for this, or I'm to use my iPhone?"
"Blaine is having lunch with his rich old lady friend. But keep that as Plan B Artie."
Artie crossed his arms, sitting up straighter in his chair. He wasn't clueless to the reboot. Kurt had given him a heads up on the news. Now Blaine might get an actual budget with real money, not funny classroom money. His creative mind started to wander to how he'd get four leads involved in the song. The band was extraneous to the video. What story will the song tell? Any animation would be expensive. The easiest, albeit annoying, all four just performing. To make it enjoyable would be to add special effects. Maybe props, like rain, ropes, lasers, costumes, dancers, exterior locations. Live-action would be an exciting story to convey. A love story would be dull. Many artists had done them. It would be a challenge to find a new point of view. Plus, he couldn't visualize either girl being interested in either of the guys. That wasn't true Santana could act, whereas Roderick would pee his pants if either girl so much as showed interest in him. However, if it were a love song, what props could make it minimalistic? Have it depend only on mood and emotion to convey the song. He shook the thought of filming a love song out of his head. An action video would be effortless for him to storyboard and film. And more interesting. "What song will they cover?"
Kitty scrunched up her eyebrows, "To be determined."
A frown creased his forehead, "What? You're giving me nothing to work with?"
Kitty shared a smile with Brittany, "No, what we're saying is that you're their preferred director."
Brittany shrugged, "Just think Artie, out of all the young and upcoming directors in this city, they want you."
"So, not only can I create the story and direct, but pick their song?"
Kitty broke out a short laugh, "No. They're not that insane." Artie scowled, "You're their friend. You'll do it, out of the kindness of your heart."
"You mean I'll do it for free? Not get anything out of it?"
"You'll get directing credit. That means acknowledgment for your control in production."
Kitty nodded, "That's right, Britt. Artie has always been about control."
His teeth flashed in a smile, "If that's all I get, then I'll hope for a song where the girls can use whips."
Santana agreed that June's entertainment lawyer provided insight into how the band should establish itself. To her, it also seemed disruptive. They were a bar cover band signing for a one-night or weekend shows with the pay shared between members. He suggested, based on years of experience, on a band partnership agreement. Even if written on a napkin that these individuals form an entity known as followed by signatures, it would work. Though it left holes in how the individuals would address issues he assured would arise.
It took a few evening discussions over dinner to sort out the contracts for the band. The band would include Cam, Franco, and Jon. Lennon, who'd cover keyboard or guitar as needed. Santana understood Roderick's hesitation. Yet, she didn't want to leave the impression that Dani was only included for her instrumental skills, not her voice. Dani had a much better range than she did, which increased the number of songs they could cover. Each taking turns to moderate or calm an irritated nerve — all given a chance to pat themselves on the back or tend to a bruised ego.
LHA the band's name. Each member having their own opinion on what LHA meant. Elliott, not caring for the Lima association, thought "Long Happy Alliance." Dani preferred "Lovable Huggable Affectionate." Roderick, "London Heathrow Airport." Cam, "Landing Helicopter Assault." Franco, "Long-Held Armistice." Jon liked "Loyalty Honor Appreciate." Brittany threw in the "Lempel Huffman Algorithm." Kitty took a stab at "Love Has Adaptability." Lennon, "Love Her Again." Santana won with "Lima Heights Adjacent." 70% of the band members had ties to Lima, majority wins.
Scintilla became the partnership name after Brittany scrambled their initials, adding the 'n' since all their names had at least one 'n.' She argued that in Latin, Scintilla meant spark, every good thing starts with a flash. Scintilla addressed issues of equipment ownership and any new equipment purchased for shows or recordings. If a band member left what it entitled them to take with them. They could expel band members who signed over their rights in the band to creditors or for filing bankruptcy. They decided on what rights, new band members inherited, nothing. The members dealt with which decisions had to be unanimous or majority during meetings. Mediation processes. What financial opportunities a band member could follow outside of the band.
They created a band publishing entity calling it LHA Band Partnership Publishing. The band members to share profits and losses in both bodies. Establishment of a bank account. The treasurer, as an independent outsider, would be Kitty. Determination of net worth. A Loan-Out company contract, which allowed for personal appearances. Dani saw a picture of Lord Tubbington in his gang leathers, sketched out a cartoon version making it the logo. Blaine would act as a temporary manager. Kurt, the stylist.
Brittany laid back in the bathtub, bubbles up to her shoulders, scented candles placed in the room. Empty wine glasses sitting on the toilet seat. — their phones on the vanity. Santana's head was resting on her shoulder, her eyes closed.
"This was a good idea, babe." Santana hummed.
Under the water, Brittany's hands stroked her wife's body. The toned abs. Smooth skin. Gliding her thumbs beneath Santana's breasts across the hidden scars from her surgery. "Hmmm. You like?"
Their serenity interrupted by Bzzzzzzzzzzzz, Bzzzzzzzzzzzz, Bzzzzzzzzzzzz
Santana grasped the top of the tub to raise herself forward. The sudden cold air hitting Brittany at the abrupt movement, as waves lapped between them to fill the gap, "What the hell?"
"Ignore it. You can respond later. It's our time." Brittany held her hand on Santana's shoulder, to encourage her wife back into her arms.
A duck quacked.
Brittany recognized the ringtone from her phone. "Damn it! It's Kurt texting."
"In that case, we can ignore it."
Another Bzzzzzzzzzzzz, Bzzzzzzzzzzzz, Bzzzzzzzzzzzz.
"Son of a bitch!" Santana annoyed at Kurt, disrupting their bath time.
A different tone came from Brittany's phone, the notes of a xylophone. Then the banging on the entryway door with Blaine yelling, "Santana! Brittany! Open up!"
"You're sleeping alone tonight, babe, because I'll be in fucking jail," Santana growled as she reached over to grab the towel from the hanger. She stood to get out of the bathwater. She wrapped the towel around her torso and strode out of the room on a mission. At the door, Santana peered through the peephole, a fisheye full of Blaine, and Kurt met her eye. She unlocked the door to let the boys into their home. "This damn well better be important, Warbler."
Blaine swept his eyes up and down her toweled body, "It is. You know you're dripping water on the floor."
"Santana, you might want to put some clothes on," Kurt still in the doorway, motioned at someone in the hallway. "Hurry before she slams the door in our face."
Brittany, in a white cotton bathrobe, strolled in from their bedroom. She helped Santana with her robe, tossing the towel on the table. As she watched, Cam and Jon carry in a long box with reinforced shipping tape around it.
"Where do you want this, dude?" Jon asked as Kitty and Dani came in behind them, each carrying small boxes. Kurt still at the door. Behind him, Lennon and Franco.
Blaine motioned the guys to stop "Dani. Kitty. Help me here. We need the clothes taken out of their small bedroom."
"Don't you think we should ask them first?" Dani, her face red from intruding on what she surmised, was there 'sexy time.'
"Yeah, how would you like someone barges in without even asking." Kitty embarrassed, too.
Blaine pulled a mobile clothing rack through the doorway of the small room. "We're making your oversized walk-in closet into a recording studio."
"You're doing what?" Santana moved toward Blaine. Brittany grabbed her hand.
"A recording studio," Blaine answered "It's perfect, no carpet to deaden the sound, throw in some baffles for the reverb. Diffusers to scatter the reflections. Attach some soundproofing to the walls, so your neighbors won't kill you. Bang! We'll have a studio to record in. And a label. This way, we create professional sounding tracks of our own. Then upload them to iTunes. Spotify. SoundCloud. I don't know yet. We'll figure that out. Whatever, we'll own our label, our music, and over the long run make and save the band some cash."
"No. No. No. Put it in your fucking apartment! Or Elliott's. Or Dani's. Don't invade our sanctuary."
"Can't. None of us have a spare room we can close off, whereas you do. Plus, you have room for the computer workstation, and we can store whatever instrument here for safekeeping overnight."
"But I" feeling Brittany squeeze her hand, she exhaled, releasing her anger, "we don't want this in our home."
"Look, Santana, every time you step foot in a studio, you're accruing a cost that we have to pay by the hour. We have the skill, knowledge, and talent to record on our own."
"He's right Santana, whatever money you are saving on studio time, goes back into your pocket. Think of it as a bonus." Kurt said, "And the advance that June gave us is taxable, divided between all of eight of you, and your managers. So, what looks generous on paper is chicken feed when you calculate your net advance payment."
Elliott guessed her next question, he stepped toward her, "And the equipment is all used. The guys and I scoured the pawnshops and music stores looking for essential equipment. We've been 'shopping' for the gear for a few weeks." His fingers to sign air quotes around the word shopping.
"Who knew I'd have fun shopping for electronics. Almost as much fun clothes shopping." Kurt tried to make a joke. Santana was not buying it. "Well, not really."
Blaine walked over to Jon and Cam, patting the box "This is a Yamaha MOTIF8 Keyboard Synthesizer, it will make Dani's keyboard sound like a child's toy piano. In the van downstairs, we have mic's, pop filters, stands, a computer table, chairs, Roland electronic drum kit, DAW/Audio Interface, two sets of studio monitors. Franco got a new Mac Pro for his last birthday. He's donating his old one to the band. We had to lay out some cash for the DAW software. And two UPS boxes." Santana shook her head. "Uh… uninterruptible power supplies in case the power goes out. Plus, power strips."
"And how are you paying for this?"
"Like Kurt said, the money from June," Kitty answered.
"Yeah, we Cam, me, and Jon scraped together some cash to invest in the band." Franco shrugged, "this city is full of musicians, but you reached out to us."
Roderick pushed his glasses up his nose. "We're a band, Santana. A team. We have each other's backs."
Midnight rolled around the band members had emptied the walk-in closet of clothes racks, shoes, and the dressers. They'd mounted studio monitors, soundproofing, and acoustic baffles. Synth and drum kit moved into the room. Assembled microphones and stand, ran, and bundled cables. For safety, they placed trip guards where the wires went across the floor. Re-assembled the computer desk and attached two monitors and the interface to the Mac. Kurt had taken it upon himself to re-organize their bedroom and living room since they'd started to look more like storage areas than living spaces.
While Jon and Roderick installed the DAW software on the Mac, the rest sat around the table, eating the Chinese food they'd ordered.
"I can't believe this place. Our bathroom is so small you have to back out, and you have a bath and a half."
"I can't believe they have a built-in wine cooler or full-size washer and dryer." Kurt moaned.
"I can't believe you found a place in Park Slope, with so much space," Blaine looked over the open floor plan. "your bedroom must be as big as the living room."
Brittany licked her lips after slurping a noodle into her mouth, "our bedroom has more square footage." She mumbled.
"I'd be happy with the dishwasher or garbage disposal," Elliott said.
"I'd give you Rod, but I'd miss clean dishes," Kitty laughed.
Roderick on hearing his name, "Kit cooks, I clean-up," he shouted.
"Ooooh Rod and Kit, you were right Babe, they are Weeks in the making."
"Santana if my brain weren't so fried from reading macroeconomics all day, I'd have a snarky comeback, but for once I'm at a loss,"
"Now that we have a studio, don't we need a name for our label," Dani asked.
"Lord Tubbington Records or music,"
"No, I'm allergic to cats," Dani replied
"Snixx music?"
"No, Santana, we can't name everything after you," Kurt answered her.
"Nothing with Lima or Ohio in it please," Elliott interjected
"New Directions Music?" Roderick shouted out
"No! Let's leave glee club where it belongs in the past," Cam responded.
"Triad Seven Music," Franco spoke up.
"Uh?" Santana said, "Why?"
"Chords have three notes. To create a triad seventh, you add another note. There are four basic triad types. Me, Cam, and Jon are the basic chord notes. Lennon is the fourth note. Dani, Elliott, Santana, Rod, are the four lead singers. The triad type depending on who's singing lead. four plus four make eight."
"Oh, I like that idea, Franco," Kurt replied.
Dani counted on her fingers "Rock, blues, jazz, metal all use 7th's."
Franco nodded, "And A seventh can change or set the mood. It's not always the beat. The voice. Or the words of a song. Sometimes a subtle change makes a listener sit up and take notice."
"Is it even available? The web domain?" Blaine asked Brittany, who had picked up her iPad from the counter.
"GoDaddy, has it available," handing the iPad over to Blaine.
Elliott raised his hand. "I vote yes," as the remaining band members raised their hands in a vote.
"Uh, I suppose this means another appointment with the lawyer?" Kitty replied as Roderick came up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "You ready to go?" he asked. Santana, Brittany, Kurt, and Elliott with sly smiles on their faces, "Stop it, you guys!" Kitty grumbled.
After the first week of various combinations of the band, Kitty, Blaine, and Artie showing up at their door to work whenever it fits their schedule. Brittany and Santana created rules to keep their privacy. The first defined hours 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Second one of them was to be home. Third, no work on Friday after 6:00 p.m. It was their date night. Fourth, clean-up after yourselves. Fifth, their kitchen wasn't their mother's kitchen, if they wanted snacks or drinks, other than tap water, they had to bring it.
For all the angst and disruption, the studio caused their privacy, Brittany, and Santana came to enjoy the camaraderie and creativity it shaped amongst the band members. The three-band geeks, Santana, paid attention just when she needed to in high school. Were caring, funny, smart guys who meshed well with the duo she'd made friends while in the city. Lennon, Santana, remembered from the PFLAG group Dave and Kurt had established at McKinley. She also came to understand Elliott better. He became the peacemaker of the team, Brittany often had to step into reason with her. He wasn't the drama queen of Kurt or Blaine, the impulsive, pouting spoiled brat Santana knew. She watched as Roderick came out of his shell. He started to become more willing to share instead of holding back his suggestions or opinions. His shy demeanor around the girls began to melt away. He and Kitty became a duo, and if they weren't together, they were texting each other. She still thought nothing was happening beyond friendship between roommates, but it was nice to see the changes in both.
The mutual tension between Santana and Dani faded. She'd forgiven Dani for choosing sides during the Fanny debacle. The invisible triangle between the three women Santana always found awkward. Santana knew part it was in her mind. She never cheated on Brittany. Her wife was perfect. Santana reasoned that her concerns were for an old-girlfriend now having to establish a friendship with the woman she loved since high school and wed. Brittany, oblivious to it, dealt with Dani no different from another new acquaintance. Dani had to maneuver between new friendships and established bonds within the band. Her girlfriend, Mel? Santana wasn't a fan. Mel, jealous toward every girl who glanced at Dani, didn't take a Mexican third-eye.
Blaine suggested they change pronouns in Dani's song, making Elliott the lead vocalist with the remaining three adding harmony. Elliott's friend from NYU helped engineer the track, along with nine other songs Santana, Dani, Elliott, Marley, Kurt, and Blaine wrote. Roderick and Jonathan turned out to be the wonder members of the group, with their ability to arrange songs. Jonathan and Franco, the bassist's use of a soundboard, surprised everyone. They re-arranged two songs by other artists that Roderick covered. Brittany got into the act, making suggestions to a dance song, with Elliott doing something like Kurt did in 'Bad Romance' with Santana singing in Spanish. Roderick's trumpet skills and Austin's saxophone skills gave depth to tracks. Santana knew two guys with cellos who added complexity to the songs. Except for Marley's song, they all took credit as writers. After eight weeks of lengthy evenings and Saturdays, in their home studio, working as a team, they'd created their first recorded work for public release. On hearing the final product, Mercedes could only exclaim her enthusiasm with a late-night text to her friends 'Oh Hell to the NO! You guys are the dream!'" Schuester, after hearing the demo Kurt sent, replied in an email with just "Best of luck! Keep me posted."
It would be great to hear in a review if you find this story enjoyable. Interesting. Piques your curiosity. Any constructive criticism that doesn't involve a stream of obscenities (which will get deleted after I read it) I'd love to read.
Notes:
Brooklyn College does exist—the auditorium is pure fiction.
Lennon - thought the band needed some girl power. She's the woman who handed Santana the engagement ring.
Happy January Birthday to the Glee actors who's characters appear in this story.
Naya Rivera
Becca Tobin
Noah Guthrie
Adam Lambert
