Thanks for the reviews yo, and a special shout out to ForHonor for always leaving really long thoughtful ones. Appreciate it. :)
X
With the goal to celebrate their first successful show The Dirty Pinks danced and hopped their way towards the rear exit and down the concert stage steps. There they congregated with The Make as they all began to talk amongst themselves about where they should venture to first. With the show a success it was decided that it was time to let loose and properly enjoy the festival atmosphere and they had more than enough options to choose from, between the rides, the make shift food court, the mud grounds, the bonfires, not to mention the other performances taking place throughout the night in the smaller tents and performance areas.
Brittany began marching herself and Santana forward, leading the entire group off, exiting the VIP section to head into the main festival grounds to start their evening. During this trek The Dirty Pinks went back and forth between themselves over where they should start their night of adventure and Sam once again found himself having a hushed conversation with Santana. Both of them were very careful to make sure no one overheard.
''Are you sure you know what you're doing?'' he asked, very much referring to the handcuff key in his pocket that she had just refused moments ago.
Santana turned to look at Brittany for a moment before she moved back to face him. ''No, actually, I don't. I have no clue.''
He twisted up his face as if unsure if it was a good idea. ''I just don't want anything coming back to bite you on the ass.''
''Maybe it will, maybe it won't.'' Santana shrugged. ''Her boyfriend has someone driving out here with a pair of bolt cutters anyway. What's a couple more hours?''
Sam didn't have anything to say to that. He knew once Santana got it in her to do something it was hard as hell trying to talk her out of it. He could very clearly see there was a special kind of dynamic between she and Brittany but he wasn't sure this was the best way to go about exploring it. Still, he remained mum.
They all eventually found their way out to a nearby tent that had been set up like a makeshift bar and lounge area decked out with trendy couches and paper lanterns everywhere. While it was a completely public space it seemed to only be catering to the more wealthy patrons of the festival. Everything was ridiculously pricey but Santana insisted it was on her. If The Dirty Pinks were going to hang out with her and Sam they weren't about to do up some dinky beer vendor selling drinks out of a food van, no, they were going to toast fabulously she said as she then ordered two of the most expensive bottles of champagne on the menu.
Sam and Dani did the honors of popping the bottles open. The band mates screamed and laughed as the champagne sprayed out, spritzing them all. It was a celebration after all and The Dirty Pinks had just played one of their biggest shows and they rightfully whooped it up. Sam began pouring filling everyone's glasses with his bottle while Dani passed her own on to Brittany, urging her to take a chug straight from it. As their leader she said Brittany should be the one to take the first drink and so, feeling exhilarated from the show, their audience and the excitement of her band Brittany took it with a proud smile and drank from the rim. She took a long gulp, not even stopping when a few foamy droplets escaped the side of her mouth.
''Oh my god, whoooo!'' she hollered as she enjoyed that funny bubbly feeling it gave her, though instead of passing the bottle off to one of the others she turned to Santana and offered her the bottle next.
Santana took it with a grin. ''Didn't know you had that in you, blondie.''
''Yeah well there's a lot of things you don't know about me,'' Brittany said slyly.
''Oh I bet.''
Santana raised an eyebrow as well as the bottle and drank from it as well before pouring the rest of it out into a couple of glasses. Once everyone had a drink in hand they raised them, clinking them all together.
''Congrats to The Dirty Pinks on an unconventional but otherwise amazing show,'' Santana took it upon herself to lead the toast. ''May this be your first of many Coachella performances.''
Quinn, Tina, Sam and Dani all gave animated 'here-heres' and then collectively went silent as they all swallowed their beverages down. Pumped to begin their night every single of them finished it off in one messy gulp, then shivered and woo'd and immediately began refilling their glasses, eager for more. Amongst them they began their own conversation as Sam energetically began telling the girls about his favorite moments of the show, showering them with praise and occasionally stopping mid-sentence for a completely unnecessary air guitar solo.
With her bandmates distracted Brittany found herself being led several feet away to a long sleek looking couch where she and Santana collapsed together. They still had a bit of their drinks left to nurse and so they took a moment to relax on their own.
''You didn't have to do this.'' Brittany nodded down at her champagne flute which she placed on a table a few inches away in front of them. ''The band would've been totally happy with cheap beer and nachos.''
''What's wealth if you can't share it. And anyway, you deserve this after that performance.''
''We gave it our all and handcuffs aside I feel like we delivered.''
''You more than delivered. You played your heart out, start to finish. I told you I was a fan of your album but after tonight I have to say you sound even better live.''
''You're just saying that.''
Santana pffted and downed the last drop of liquid from her glass ''What have I told you? When it comes to music, I don't bullshit or placate. I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it and I sure as hell wouldn't play with your band if I thought you were garbage because I'd never want to share the stage with a garbage band...unless we're actually talking about Garbage in which case I would totally share the stage with them because Butch Vig is a genius.''
''And Shirley Manson is still so mega hot.''
''I cosign that even though I'm not into gingers. But you know what I mean. I'm being real here. You know what I love about your sound?''
''What?'' Brittany had begun to realize the only time Santana stopped being obnoxious and started being authentic is when the subject of music came up. It seemed to be the only thing Santana took seriously and she was a little bit intrigued by this deeper, more thoughtful side of the heartthrob.
''There's all of this noise and distortion in your music, but then in contrast you have that voice of yours.''
''Generic white girl voice?'' joked Brittany.
''What? No,'' laughed Santana. ''It's like Juliana Hatfield-esque via the Only Everything era. Your voice is delicate...sweet...it has a certain kind of innocence to it that you wouldn't expect to be matched with your sound which makes it all the more exciting and different.''
''You think I'm innocent?'' Brittany raised an eyebrow with amusement.
''You sound innocent,'' Santana clarified. ''But sounding innocent and being innocent are two different things.''
''I guess I do have that type of voice. But if we're saying that, if we're saying my voice sounds innocent then I think I'd have to say your voice sounds like the complete opposite.''
''And that would be?''
Brittany tilted her head, searching for just the right word to describe what Santana's voice sounded like when she heard it, felt it. ''Sin. You sound like sin.''
''Sin?'' Santana repeated. She didn't look offended, just confused.
''Yeah. I mean it as a compliment though.''
''How is that a compliment?''
''When you sing you sound like you're whispering dirty things into the listener's ear even when you're not. You sound like sin even when you're singing old cheesey 80's songs. You have this totally smooth dreamy thing about your voice.''
''Dreamy huh?''
''Shut up.''
''Hey you're the one who said it,'' Santana teased. ''You think I'm dreamy.''
''Uh I said no such thing!''
''You did too!''
''No,'' Brittany shouted through laughter. ''I said your voice was dreamy. Just because I think you sound dreamy doesn't mean I think you are dreamy.''
''Oh my god just admit it, I'm the most dreamy dreamboat of your dreams,'' Santana said in a deadpan manner, clearing toying with her. ''Your bunk on the tour bus is probably lined with posters and magazine spreads of me, isn't it? I bet I'm your cell phone background too, aren't I?''
Like a ninja Santana went to nab Brittany's cell phone from one of her vest pockets and began inspecting it, poking about on the screen. Brittany let out a funny outraged squeal and in retaliation snatched Santana's own cell. Santana didn't seem to mind however, mostly because it entailed Brittany reaching into her pants, which, hey, wasn't entirely unwelcome.
''Wuh, why do you have a picture of a fatass cat as your background?'' Santana asked, mildly disappointed that no, she was in fact not the wallpaper on Brittany's phone.
''Excuse you. That's Lord Tubbington and he's The Dirty Pinks unofficial mascot. Also he runs our merch booth for us at our gigs.'' Brittany spoke without looking up as she began opening Santana's apps. She started with Twitter. ''Your notifications are blowing up by the way.''
''They're always blowing up. I so much as sneeze in front of a camera and within thirty seconds I'll have a couple thousand fangirls tweeting me get well soon wishes. What are they on about now?''
Brittany scrolled down for a few minutes before answering. ''I guess people in the audience at The Dirty Pinks show posted a few pictures and some grainy video that's making the rounds.''
''What are they saying?''
''They're saying we sounded good together for the most part. That it was 'a chemistry filled mashup'. A couple of fans are talking about how hot you look in my jacket.''
''Naturally.''
''Are they saying anything on my notifications?''
''Let me check.'' Santana tapped at Brittany's screen a few times, trying to navigate into Brittany's account only to get preoccupied with a simple fact which seemed to give her pause. ''Waaaaait a second hold up.''
''What?'' Brittany looked up.
''You don't follow me on social media?'' Santana said with shock and comical devastation. ''How, why? I totally follow you.''
''You do?''
''Of course I do.'' Santana shrugged like it was obvious and then went back to studying Brittany's follow list, scrolling through it like a madwoman. ''You follow Kim K somehow but you don't follow me? I'm offended.''
''I don't like to follow a lot of people.''
''Well you know what, I'm fixing this,'' Santana declared with a wicked glint in her eye as she swiped the screen a couple more times and began following herself from all of Brittany's accounts. ''And not only am I fixing this, I'm tweeting on your behalf.''
''You will not. Give me back my phone.''
Santana let the tip of her tongue peek out of her mouth ever so slightly as if she were in great concentration as she started typing out a message from Brittany's account as Brittany. '' 'Just had the most amazing collab with sex god Santana Lopez & all I can say after that is I want to have her babies' ''
''DON'T YOU DARE POST THAT FROM MY TWITTER!'' Brittany made to lunge for the phone but Santana just pulled it further away from her which only made Brittany stretch forward, pushing herself even closer towards Santana.
''Oh you know what else I can add? Heart emoji, heart emoji, peach emoji, #datass.''
''I'm serious, don't!'' Brittany said, giggling despite her alarm and crawling on top of Santana in an attempt to get her cell back.
Taking more than just a little bit of pleasure from having Brittany straddling her thighs and wiggling her ass against her Santana hit the post button. ''Too late, done!''
''Great, now the entire world is going to think I have a crush on you,'' Brittany grumbled lightheartedly.
''And my magnificent ass.'' Santana bucked up a tiny bit, making Brittany bounce in her lap, once, twice, until they both went still as they smiled at each other and at the delicious pressure they felt between them where their bodies met. This much heat, this much contact made Santana's brain go a little haywire with lust. It must have she imagined when she thought she could've swore that she felt Brittany grind down on her once, hard. Almost as if Brittany was trying to put her in her place beneath her. The only thing that broke them out of their stare was the bleepy notification sound that came from Brittany's cell. ''Someone just retweeted that.''
''You're not funny.''
''Then why are you laughing?'' Santana asked with a smirk.
''How would you like it if I hopped on your Twitter and - pretending to be you - told all of your followers to go buy my album?''
''I wouldn't mind it because I tweeted a promo for your album like that three months ago which you would know if you followed me.''
''Seriously?''
''You still have my phone, check it yourself.''
Brittany reached down for Santana's phone which had slipped between a sofa cushion and began to do just that. It took her several scrolls to get there but it was there alright. '' 'Has anyone heard of The Dirty Pinks? Their debut is my new favorite album. Check 'em out. Also their lead singer is smoking.' ''
When Brittany looked up from the screen Santana looked downright smug.
''You really did that?''
''I really did that,'' Santana repeated.
Again they exchanged genuine smiles.
They then heard someone clear their throat and together looked up and around to find Lake and Mark, their partners, standing in front of the couch with questioning looks in their eyes at their rather peculiar seating arrangement: Brittany was on Santana's lap, thighs spread against her.
''We came across a sound tech who said he saw you all come here after your concert,'' Lake began. She looked sad, but not angry as she watched Brittany move off of Santana.
Mark on the other hand seemed a lot more unsettled by Brittany's proximity to the rockstar. He held up his phone. ''Why did you just tweet that you wanted to have Santana's babies?''
Before Brittany could explain Santana straightened up on the couch and leapt into speech. ''Don't worry, that was me having a little fun on her account. Right?''
''Right,'' said Brittany.
''And the only reason she was on top of me is because she was trying to get her phone back after I started goofing around on it.''
''Exactly.''
Mark smiled unconvincingly at that, nevertheless he and Lake began spouting off apologies about not getting there in time for the show. Santana seemed unbothered by the fact that Lake hadn't made it, though she did take offense on Brittany's behalf that her so called boyfriend hadn't hauled his ass in order to at least catch a portion of her concert. She didn't say anything about it but it definitely made her eye him a little differently.
There was something about he and Brittany and their dynamic that just seemed so very off. It was like they were a couple who were completely and totally devoid of any and all chemistry. It didn't make sense to Santana how someone as lively and challenging as Brittany could feel anything powerful for someone so stuffy.
''So how did it go?'' Lake asked.
''You missed one hell of a concert,'' Santana said, pointedly looking at Mark as if trying to get under his skin in a very subtle passive aggressive way. ''Your girlfriend gave one of the best live performances I've ever seen. I think you really would've liked the end though. I closed the show with her.''
''You sang together?'' Mark asked.
''We did.'' Brittany shifted in her seat and looked slightly guilty.
It wasn't as if she and Santana had slept together or even kissed, they had just sang an old song together but somehow it felt so much deeper than that. Their moment on stage together had felt so very quietly profound in its own way. Beyond all of their silly squabbles and bantering they had, for those three minutes, found a common language with each other. A language that they for their own reasons had never been able to share with their respective partners, who were starting to look a little concerned about how long those handcuffs were going to be in the picture.
Santana diffused what could've been a very tense conversation by waving down event staff and ordering another bottle of champagne as well as two extra glasses. One for Lake, one for Mark who joined them for another celebratory drink where they all clinked glasses all around. Lake and Mark however looked quietly peeved but on their parts, didn't actively voice any of their concerns.
''Listen, the show's done and we have what, an hour or two until the bolt cutters Mark arranged to deliver for us actually show up…'' Santana began. ''There could be worse ways to spend the night. Why don't we just enjoy ourselves huh? Have some dinner, watch a show, enjoy the sights.''
''Yeah...that sounds like fun.'' Brittany didn't look very enthused by the idea but it seemed to relax both Mark and Lake, for the time being anyway much to her relief. ''Let's just all have some fun now.''
X
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the far side of the very same tent Sugar and Mike were sitting at a tall table nursing drinks of their own, or at least Mike was. Sugar on the other hand was covertly using her phone to snap pics of Santana Lopez and Brittany Pierce, who were completely unaware of her presence.
Sugar got a little giddy when it seemed things were getting a little playful between the two of them. First when they popped the champagne and messily drank from the same bottle and then when for no apparent reason Sugar could suss out Brittany climbed on top of Santana and the two began laughing together over something on a phone.
Things were starting to look very interesting.
But then in walked the boyfriend and girlfriend of the two lead singers, dampening the moment and squashing out the likelihood of Sugar getting more footage that would give her the clicks, retweets and reblogs when she eventually posted her story. An unexpected blossoming romance between two ridiculously attractive musicians, people would click on that story. Two couples looking awkward as hell together, not so much.
''Enough,'' said Mike. He reached forward and gently pushed Sugar's phone face down onto their table. ''Look, you had your fun but don't you think you should cool it now?''
''Cool what now?'' she said breezily as she went back to sipping on her fruity drink, slurping it down through some crazy straw. ''This story is just getting juicy.''
''That's just it though,'' he sighed, looking disenchanted with it all. ''This isn't just a story, these are actual people, Sugar. We came here to work. That's what we're being paid to do, that's why we have press passes. We're here to interview bands, get some footage of the people and the food and fireworks so we can splice together a fun harmless video people can watch online. That's it. We didn't come here so you can play Perez Hilton. It was one thing when we thought Santana and Brittany were both single...but now...'' he made a very small subtle hand gesture to the other side of the tent where the musicians had just been joined by their respective partners. ''Now, we know they have partners, they have relationships and whatever you think might be going on between Santana and Brittany, it's not our job to go meddling in their personal lives.''
''Who's meddling,'' Sugar rebuffed. ''Have you seen me interact with them in any way since the handcuff incident? Was I the one who told Brittany to sit on Santana's lap? Uh I think not, my friend.''
''Okay,'' he said. ''You're not actively meddling, but it's still a little squicky if you ask me. Say you're wrong, say Brittany and Santana aren't into each other, say they're just two people trying to make the best of their situation and then you post some slightly provocative pictures of them and write up some gossipy piece online about them secretly hooking up behind their partners backs and it ruins their lives and relationships? 'Santana Lopez steps out on Model Girlfriend with Dirty Pinks frontwoman Brittany Pierce: Booze. Handcuffs. Betrayal.' I'm just saying what if you got all of this wrong and it ends up messing with their very real relationships with their very real partners.''
''First of all.'' With a chuckle Sugar threw up her pointer finger in defense of herself. ''I would never ever write a headline like that. I'm not doing this to screw with their lives or relationships.''
''Then why are you doing it?''
''Because I see chemistry there,'' she insisted firmly. ''And a half hour ago when Santana was on stage with Brittany, a few other thousand people saw it too, or did you not here the crazy applause after their mashup? Whatever happens between them...is because of their own doing. I'm not setting up sexy romantic traps all over Coachella hoping they fall into them. They're all over each other because they want to be all over each other, even if neither of them are admitting it to anyone right now.''
Mike took a deep contemplative breath. ''I just feel weird about all of this.''
Sugar nodded in understanding. ''Hey, if you're not comfortable with taking this on...you don't have to. We can do the rest of band interviews we have set up and we can tape the food and games segments we had planned too but when we're not doing our on the clock job you can relax and head back to the camper. I'll just take the camera and do my own thing. If you don't feel good about this I don't want to force you to be a part of it.''
''I know but I don't want to make you have to do all of that wandering around alone.''
Sugar smiled at her camera man friend. ''You so care about me.''
''Well sure, but also I don't trust you alone with my camera,'' Mike said with a smile, trying to downplay it all.
''I mean it though, Mike.''
''I know you do and I mean it when I say we're a team and as your camera man I'll be there for you.''
''You will?''
''Of course I will. But just so we're clear if there ever comes about a point with all of this Santana-Brittany stuff where things start to feel a little too personal, a little too intrusive or wrong-''
''Then I'll be the first one to tell you to shut the camera down.''
''Deal?''
''Deal.'' Sugar said in agreement and held up her hand for a five five which he returned.
With a new understanding in place they smiled and turned, searching for the two people who were suddenly the subject of so many of their conversations. Only to find no sign of The Make or The Dirty Pinks, let alone their lead singers.
''Crap, where the heck did they go?'' Sugar grumbled with confusion.
X
With Lake and Mark on their free arms, Brittany found that her conversations with Santana which were usually so charged and full of energy seemed to become a little stilted. Like someone had taken their batteries out now that they had to politely include their partners. Thankfully having the rest of The Dirty Pinks as well as Sam tag along kept the chatter light and the awkwardness at bay for the time being anyway as they all made their way to the section of the festival where several food vans, tents and vendors were stationed.
As they all stood in line waiting to place their order to one of the vans it was Santana's girlfriend who tried to get the foursome to sharing.
''So Mark what exactly do you do for a living?'' Lake asked as she hung off of Santana.
From the other side of Brittany the man answered. ''I'm a successful banker,'' he said, looking pleased with himself.
''Banker?'' Santana laughed loudly, tickled by his occupation. ''Wow. Well now that makes sense.''
''What?'' asked Mark.
''You being a banker totally explains why you're dressed like a J Crew model,'' she said, everything about the man's style and essence screamed vanilla. He looked like a businessman attempting to dress like one of the cool kids but had ended up just looking even more lame. The total opposite of Brittany. ''Khakis and collared shirts are the douchebag uniform.''
''Santana,'' both Brittany and Lake admonished.
''It's true and you both know it.''
Mark frowned and shrugged in an attempt to take it on the chin. ''Well, we can't all be rockstars like you, can we? Some people make a paycheck by sitting behind a desk. What about you over there Lake? Judging by the swarm of people who came at us earlier, you must be a big deal as well?''
''I'm a model,'' said Lake with a perfectly practiced smile.
''She's a Victoria's Secret model,'' Santana clarified.
And then it was Brittany's turn to laugh.
''What's so funny about that?'' Santana asked.
''Nothing, absolutely nothing,'' Brittany tried to keep a straight face. ''Although there is something I've always wondered. Maybe you can answer it for me, Lake. After the photo shoot, do they let you keep the wings?''
''The wings?'' Lake repeated.
''Yeah, I've always wondered. The famous Victoria's Secret wings they use in shoots. I think it'd be pretty cool if they let you guys keep them after.''
''Erm, no.''
Santana and Brittany exchanged a look with each other that was cut short when Quinn, Dani and Tina nudged them forward because the food line was moving. After several more quiet tense moments they all made their way to the window to place their orders in. A few of them ordered hotdogs, others ordered burgers and fries, Tina and Sam were the only brave ones however to order servings of frito pie. While they waited for their food to be made Dani nominated Santana and Brittany to go on a run for craft beer.
Brittany squinted at Dani because she knew the girl had only made the suggestion to stir things up further. Neither she nor Santana put up an argument, they just started walking down the pathway and thankfully only about five vendors down found a team selling proper beer. Once again, waiting in line although this time without a boyfriend or girlfriend on their arm.
''You know you didn't have to laugh at Lake like that,'' Santana started a little stiffly. ''Yes she's a model but she's not an idiot.''
''I never said she was an idiot. You're the one calling people names. You called Mark a douchebag.''
''Correction, I said what he was wearing was the universal douchebag uniform. I didn't say he was one, just that he dressed like one.''
''What are we doing?'' Brittany asked. ''We started off on the wrong foot, that I know, but I thought we agreed to a cease fire. Especially after we sang together...after that moment...I thought we…''
''You thought we what?''
''I don't know.''
''Look I'm sorry if it came out a little harsh, I guess I just don't get why you're with that guy. You're the lead singer of The Dirty Pinks, you're real, you're rock...and he's...he's a walking country club membership. You're serious about him?''
Brittany shrugged. ''As serious as anyone can be about someone they only see once every three months.'' Santana raised an eyebrow and with a grumble Brittany elaborated. ''The Dirty Pinks have been touring for most of the year, what? The band has always been my priority.''
''What about him? He's never offered to join you on the road for a week or two or…?''
''He doesn't like to travel he says, besides he can't really get away from his job like that.''
Santana scoffed at that. ''This explains why there's exactly zero chemistry between you two.''
''And what do you know about chemistry?''
''I know enough,'' Santana laughed. ''I know if I had a girlfriend like you I'd want her to join me on my tour, or if the positions were switched I'd want to join her on her tour to be with her. I'm just saying, if it was me I'd be there waiting for you-er, I mean her after every show.''
''So Lake goes on tour with you then? Is that what you're saying?''
''What? Hell no.''
''You just said-''
''Yeah, well. Lake and I are different. Lake and I have an understanding.''
''What the hell does that mean?'' Brittany asked, her face scrunching up in confusion.
''It just means that we're together when the situation calls for it, when we need to be seen together, but we're both free to do our own things.''
''You mean you don't want her on the road with you because you want your freedom to bang groupies.''
''That's not what I said. I told you before, me and Lake are complicated.''
''Well either way I don't think you have any place to be judging me and my relationship when yours is so clearly 'complicated' as you say.''
''Brittany…'' Santana voice was soft and pleading. She gently tugged her handcuffed hand. ''Hey, can you please look at me?''
Brittany's looked up to stare at her head on. ''What?''
''All of this other bullshit aside I like you, I like your band and your music and even though we come from two very different genres I really respect what you're about which is why I think you deserve more. I mean there's gotta be a girl or a guy out there who gets your soul and your fire and who wouldn't stop at anything to make sure they were right beside you for one of the biggest shows of your career. Right?''
''You and I have spent half a day together. What makes you think you know what I deserve?''
''Because it's something everyone deserves. You deserve passion and there's no fucking way you're getting it from him. From his haircut to his stupid ass khaki pants, everything about him is vanilla and hollow. He's not the kind.''
''Not the kind what?''
''He's not the kind of person who lives and breathes music like we do. I'm sure he's a nice guy but you can't tell me he makes you feel anything or challenges you in any way.''
''And what does Lake make you feel?'' Brittany asked and Santana flinched. ''Huh? How exactly does she challenge you? You say everyone deserves passion so tell me are you getting it from her?''
''Why does it matter to you if I am or not?''
''Then why does it matter to you if I am or not?''
There was nothing either of them could say without admitting to each other that there was a real and authentic attachment forming between them. To say it out loud would make either one of them vulnerable in a way neither of them were quite prepared to do, just yet anyways.