Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or the concept for X-Factor. Just borrowing.


Brittany's POV

You are seething. You can't believe Rachel would approach The Troubletones and embarrass the entire group like that. No, not the entire group. YOU. She embarrassed you. Now Santana would think you were just like Berry. You groaned as she walked back towards your friends. She was wearing an overly friendly smile on her face.

"We told you not to go over there" Tina scolded her. "Now not only do they think we are obsessed with them, but they are going to think we are total losers." Sam, Artie and Mike all nodded along.

"Rachel, this isn't high school anymore. We have to develop an image and a reputation if we want to make it in this business. Going over to the biggest group at the competition and geeking out over them isn't helping us. You need to be cool. This is an opportunity for all of us to make something of ourselves, and you're gonna blow it." Puck added.

"Hey!" Finn interrupts, "Stop ganging up on Rachel, guys. She didn't do anything wrong. She is just enthusiastic and excited to be here. We need to believe in ourselves if we are going to win this thing!" The group rolls their eyes collectively. If Finn were wearing a sweater vest, you might have mistaken him for Mr. Schue, your lame, overly enthusiastic glee coach in high school, who was too busy trying to get with your guidance counselor to coach a successful glee club.

Rachel leans up and kisses Finn on the cheek. "Thank you, Finn. As for the rest of you, I apologize if I came across a bit overbearing when conversing with The Troubletones. This is all just so exciting, don't you think? It's almost like we a brushing shoulders with celebrities. Now though for many of you this may your only chance at stardom, I truly believe that I am destined to be one of the greats. This is just a warm up! And I for one will treat my fans much better than that wench Santana Lopez. My word, she acted as if she were too good to even look at me."

"Rumor has it she is a huge bitch" Sam says between sips of his beer, "I heard she freaked out on a record exec that told her she would have to start as a background singer before getting her own record deal."

"She's not a bitch," you state bluntly. "I mean, we don't know if she is a bitch. We don't even know her, it's really not our place to be judging. She is probably just like us - chasing a dream."

Mike looks over at you and cocks his head to the side with a smile, he pushes a shot in your direction, "Britt's right, let's try to have some fun tonight!"

You raise your glass and clink it against your friends, as you try not to think about Santana and the girl with blue streaks in her hair on the dance floor.


Santana's POV

You and Dani have been dancing for a while. It's fun and flirty, but she is clearly more into it than you are. You can't really blame her. You knew how hot you were, and you were never one to deny it. Ever since Dani joined TT, she has not been shy about her attraction to you, and though you consider yourself a bit of a player, you're smart enough to not mix business and pleasure. Okay, maybe not you, but Quinn is smart enough to not let you mix business and pleasure. In fact, she lectured you about the dangers of mixing business and pleasure for 3 hours one night when she caught you and Dani kissing in the hallway at an after party. You signal to Dani that you are going to go to the bar to grab a drink, and she nods along and continues to dance.

"Hey, Q. Hey, Aretha" you say, as you sidle up next to your two best friends who are taking their own break from the dance floor.

"Don't make pull yo weave outcha head, Lopez. You and Dani cannot and will not hook up tonight or any night for that matter!" Mercedes growls at you."We have worked too damn hard to get here, and I am not going to let your over sexualized self ruin it for the entire team."

You are about to snap back when Quinn lays a calming hand on your shoulder "Give S the benefit of the doubt, Cedes. They were just dancing. We have been down this road with her before. You know how much this means to her, she wouldn't do anything to intentionally screw it up."

You look over at Quinn, and give her a slight nod. That's all she needs to know you're grateful that she stuck up for you. You and Quinn don't need a lot of words or confessions to define your relationship. You will always have each other's backs and always support one another. You're not afraid to call the other one out for being a bitch, or slap the other one when they are out of line. But, most importantly, you are the first to defend one another. You don't know where you would be without her, and you don't want to know. Ever since Quinn gave up her baby back in sophomore year, you two have been inseparable. You never left her side the entire time she was in the hospital and you made sure that no one bothered her when she came back to school. You loved her. Always had, always will, but she didn't need you to tell her that.

"Don't worry, Weezy. I have my eyes set a little higher than one Dani Harper" you state as you take a sip of the water the bartender just handed you and scan the dance floor.

"New target already, S? Didn't I see another new girl walk out of your door this morning?" Quinn questions.

You wink at her, just as you turn to look back at the dancer floor. Suddenly, your eyes zero in on her. Her long blonde hair whipping around her face, as she moves like her body is made of water. The Asian dude dancing with her is good, but she is amazing. The dance floor was dark, but she created light. Everyone else paled in comparison.

"S? S? Santana!" Quinn shouts.

"What, Fabitch?"

"You're drooling. Oh man, you're in trouble." Quinn snorts as she matches your gaze and finds the blonde dancer.


Brittany's POV

You're sweaty, but exhilarated as you approach the bar. Though you love dancing when you perform, you probably love dancing for yourself even more. For the past 30 minutes, you have been taking over the dance floor of the bar/club at the hotel. Meeting people from all the other groups, joking with your friends but mostly dancing by yourself. You ask the bartender for a water, and put your back against the bar as you watch everything happening around you. All these talented people in one room is pretty incredible. It makes you sad to think that the actual competition doesn't start for 3 more months. All this talent and ambition is inspiring. Going back to Ohio is going to be such a let down after the amazing time spent here, but it will be worth it in the end.

All of a sudden you feel the presence of someone next you. You turn your head and see Santana leaning up against the bar just as you are.

"It's pretty crazy, don't you think?" She says "Here we all are having the time of our lives, enjoying every moment of this night, but in 3 months we will be each other's competition. At each other's throats every day. And every week we will be hoping that our group hit our steps harder than yours or the your group is one note flatter. All this intergroup camaraderie will be over. At the end of the day, everyone wants to win and will do anything to do it." She takes a sip of her water, "I am Santana Lopez by the way, Troubletones." She says Troubletones as if she is saying what professional athletic team she represents.

You take a sip of your water, " Brittany S. Pierce, New Directions." You mimic her overly professional tone. "I don't know if I see this night like that or even this competition. I see this room as a room of dreamers, and dreamers need other dreamers to inspire each other. Sure, it's a competition but it's also a privilege. No matter what, I am going to make the most of my time here. No matter if my team wins or lose, I get to live a dream. I am pretty okay with that."

She chuckles, it's throaty and deep, and you would be okay if that is the only sound you ever hear again "That is the sentiment of someone who doesn't win very often. Having the dream isn't enough, it's accomplishing the dream that matters."

You eyes narrow and you turn on her. She is still looking out at the dance floor and you take a second to take all of her in. She is even more beautiful up close. At this distance you can see the exact almond shape of her eyes, and how in this light they have a golden under tone that lightens the deep chocolate. Her right cheek is a little fuller than her left, and her lips look even more plump. Almost like Sam's, but less fish like and more proportional to her face.

She turns and locks eyes with you, "What?" she questions, obviously noticing your staring.

You blink and stutter, "Uh, nothing, sorry, I was just uh thinking about w-what you said. That's a pretty pessimistic point of view don't you think? We are on the X-Factor! We are like the most magical singing and dancing unicorns of all time. This is a huge opportunity for exposure, experience and I don't know, just being here has to mean we made it, right?"

She snorts. "Made it? Honey, we have far from made it. Do you remember the name of the group that came in second on the X-Factor first last year?"

You shake your head and cock your head confused. "Their name was Oral Intensity. Their lead member, Sunshine Corazon, had 3 recording contract offers before coming on the show. Now? Last I heard she was singing at a musical diner in New York City, just trying to be discovered. And they came in SECOND. Second. There is no making it unless you win. I will tell you one thing, that won't be me. I won't accept anything less than winning. Winning is the ultimate goal, winning is my dream. I don't care what it takes, no one will stand in my way. I need this, this is all about Santana Lopez."

She turns to the bartender, and leans over so that her cleavage is one full display in her skintight cream colored dress. The bartender stares right where Santana intends him to, as he wordlessly hands her two shots of tequila. As Santana is about to turn back, someone accidental bumps into her knocking one of the shots all over her dress.

"What the fuck? Are you kidding me? What are you blind? This dress cost $600 dollars and this pumps are suede, you idiot!" Soon her ranting turns into Spanish and though you can't understand it, you know it must not be good.

The guy who ran into her is profusely apologizing, offering to buy her another drink and get her dress dry cleaned for her. "Just get away from me" she snaps. "My dry cleaning bill is going to cost enough without the smell of your mediocrity making it worse." The boy takes his opening and runs for it.

"That was really rude," you say to her as she is still fuming, "It was an accident, it's not like he meant to ruin your dress. I guess people were right about you, you're kind of a bitch. And pretty self-centered. This whole thing, you're making it about you. It's a team competition, Santana, it's meant to force us to work together and grow and collaborate. I don't see The Troubletones getting anywhere with you at the helm. Anyways, it was nice to meet you."


Santana's POV

You gawk at the blonde as she whips her around and traipses away from where you were standing. You get momentarily distracted by the sight of her long legs in those painted on skinny jeans.

No one has ever called you out like that, well except Quinn. Usually people are too afraid or intimidated by you. But then this girl, who was just talking about unicorns and dreams, pulls you crashing down back to earth. You throw back the remaining shot and chase after her.

"Brittany, wait" you call out as your grab her arm. Your hand tingles as your skin comes into contact with hers. It's disarming, but not unpleasant. It makes you feel alive. "Look, I'm sorry. I know I can be a bitch and rude and judgmental and all around not a very nice person. I get it. But, I don't want you and anyone to think that of me, but I can deal with other people. I can't deal with you thinking that." You ramble off, looking up at her shyly. "I shouldn't have freaked out at that kid, but sometimes Snixx comes out to play, and it is tough to keep her under lock and key. I just have a short fuse. I just don't want you to think that I am bitch."

She grins back at you, clearly finding your babbling amusing "What makes me so special?"

"I never said you were special. I just uh, well I mean, I don't know. I mean I just feel like you're someone that will make me want to be nicer. Plus, my friend Quinn told me I need to be nicer, so that when she inevitably dies of stress caused by me someone else can take care of me. You weren't afraid to call me out on my shit. And I have a lot of respect for that. I appreciate honesty, and I guess its time to be more honest with myself. So, I am trying to be nicer, because even though I pretend I don't I like having friends. What do you say, Britt?" You're shocked at how easily the nickname slides off your tongue. "Do you think you can handle being my friend?"

"I am not sure" the blonde responds why tapping her finger against her chin, "I am not sure I really know you well enough to call you a friend."

You look up at her and see her blue eyes dancing with the light of fireflies, "I have the perfect remedy for that."

You run over to the bar and lean over to whisper something to the bartender. He walks into the backroom and returns a few minutes later with a bottle of champagne and two flutes. He hands them over the bar to you, and you lean in and plant a kiss on his cheek. You hold your hand out to the blonde, who was left waiting for you by the dance floor.

"Coming?"