Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee
Dani consciously thinks of nothing as her heels click across the plaza at Lincoln Center. With Elliot proudly escorting her, they flow into the crowd that gathers at the door. They somehow manage to blend in, passing photographers who, upon recognizing her, make it a point to snap at least 20 shots of her.
She genuinely hates this. When Pat, her agent-manager, insisted that she attend the anniversary of the gala, she all but threw a fit when Pat wouldn't accept her resounding 'no'. It wasn't until Elliott accidentally let it slip that one brunette actress might be attending that she narrowed her eyes and called a couple of friends. Not long after, Pat found herself making the necessary arrangements for her ward and her plus one.
Dani sighs in relief as soon as they were out of the photographers' sight, only to be addressed by a short woman dressed in black (and wearing a headset). The woman approaches them with a smile and a soft voice. "Good evening Miss Harper, Mr. Gilbert. May I lead you to your seats?"
"No, we're good, Ma'am." Elliott smiles widely at the woman. "Would you happen to know if Santana Lopez has arrived?" He asks nonchalantly. "She told me she'll be here tonight."
"Uhm..." The woman clears her throat, mindful of every single person who had arrived. "She has, Mr. Gilbert. She's with Miss Fabray."
"That's terrific, Jenna." Elliott looks at the woman's name tag, nodding politely as he gently pulls Dani away. "Thank you very much. Have a good night."
"So freaking charming." Dani mumbles under her breath as they walk away.
"Something we could definitely use tonight, Harper." He smirks, narrowing his eyes as he searches for Row E, seats 115 and 116.
"Why is she with Quinn?" Dani whispers, dreading the answer.
"Maybe because Fabray's now a member of New York's elite, being a well-photographed young, fashionable lawyer? And they're friends." He looks at his friend knowingly.
/
"Jesus." Dani growls. "Why the hell are we two rows behind them?" She hisses, seeing nothing but that bun of dark hair— and that's only possible because she had to move her head sideways from time to time because the people in front of them deem it necessary to cover her ex.
"I think you would have to sell more records than what you're currently doing, Dani. I think the seating arrangement is based on the amount of money you have in your bank account." Elliott whispers teasingly, earning a frown from Dani.
"Then why is Amanda right a row ahead of us?"
"Or maybe it depends on who you're doing."
"Gross." Dani scrunches her nose in distaste before moving her eyes forward, intent on finishing the show once and for all.
Soon, the ballet ends; the audience leaps, cheering to their feet. In a few moments, the crowd thins out, disappearing for dinner.
"Are you alright, Dani?" Elliott asks with concern lacing his voice. "Dinner's starting soon. Come on."
"You go ahead. I'll just go to the restroom and join you at our table." She smiles sadly, earning a knowing look from her friend. "I'll be there in a second." She says firmly and Elliott knows better than pushing his thoughts. With a resigned sigh, he heads for the mezzanine level of the center where dinner's currently being served.
As soon as Elliott was out of sight, Dani looks around the theater.
Then back to the empty stage.
/
The caterers are serving foie gras on the mezzanine level as she joins Elliott in their table. As soon as she sits down, she plasters a fake smile on her face, greeting the rest of the guests in the table. There's Arthur Martin, that actor who's very much married but cheats on his wife every chance he gets. Then there's Candice Miller, one of the most famous photographers of Dani's generation with someone Dani can only describe as a dick, Chad Humphrey. Still, there's Anna Astor, a Broadway legend, with her husband Fitz, a business mogul.
As she expected, the dinner was nothing but boring. Dani had to listen to Arthur talk about himself, and how he's Hollywood's next big thing. So Dani just drinks, her eyes travelling around the hall, trying to catch a glimpse of an actress in red.
She spots her a couple of tables away from them, talking animatedly with a group of men Dani believes are someone big in the show business. The band starts playing 'At Last' and she narrows her eyes as one man approaches Santana and holds out, signalling his intention to dance with her. She snorts when Santana makes a subtle, involuntary tug at her right ear, a sign that she doesn't like someone, but doesn't want to be appear impolite. Of course, Santana will acquiesce, she always thinks it's improper to turn down someone in front of a lot of people.
Seconds later, Santana and the dapper man make their way to the dance floor together with other couples. She watches with fascination, and a little tug at her heart, as her ex dances gracefully with her partner. If you don't know Santana, you'd think that she's having such a wonderful time. Not Dani though. She knows exactly what Santana's feeling at the moment, and it's far from ecstatic.
She also knows from the way her shoulders seem to tense a little that she knows that she's near.
They always seem to sense each other's presence without trying, and right that moment, Dani knows that Santana can feel her.
With a gulp, she finishes her drink before grabbing Elliott's hand and leading him to the dance floor.
"Oh, I know what you're doing, Harper." Elliott rolls his eyes at Dani's antics.
"Oh fuck it."
"Keep your voice down. You don't wanna see another article on Star saying we're secretly having an affair."
"Oh please. Everyone and their mothers know that we're both gay." Dani chuckles despite all the emotions she's feeling at the moment. She really should bring Elliott to all of these stupid events. He's such a good company.
"I feel so used." Elliott pouts. "I need you to at least give me that Valentino scarf I've been salivating on these past days."
"Oh please. If I get lucky tonight, I'll buy you a dozen scarves." Dani winks, gently pulling Elliott at the center of the dance floor so they're a few feet away from Santana and her dance partner. They glide across the space, internally laughing at how they suck as dance partners. Independently, they're not bad dancers. But together, they're just, not that good. Thankfully, the song calls for nothing but swaying so they're fine. "Come on, Eli. I'm counting on you." Dani mutters meaningfully and Elliott easily gets her drift. He moves them around, in a very subtle manner of course, until they're beside Santana and her partner.
Soon enough, Santana becomes aware of their presence.
/
Santana had a feeling that someone's watching her from the moment she sat on her seat at the theater.
She didn't have to look around to know who it was, because she can tell just by the pounding of her chest and how the hairs at the back of her neck raised, that she's looking at her.
She was about to cancel her attendance to tonight's gala after Brittany's shoot has been extended because of some issues with the episode's script. Except, Miranda Kelly, the head of the ballet committee, is actually her manager's close friend, and she particulary asked that Santana be present at the event.
So despite having second thoughts; and Brittany pouting, asking that she doesn't go anymore (because she was visibly upset to learn that Quinn would be attending too after the famous young lawyer called her girlfriend, wanting to go to the event with Santana. Brittany still has to get over the fact that Santana slept with Quinn.)—Santana had really no choice but to go. As soon as she arrived in New York with her 'prep team', Brittany bombarded her with calls and messages, asking about everything and anything under the sun.
It took them a couple of hours to prep her up before Santana found herself in her assigned limo outside Quinn's apartment building, waiting for her friend to join her. Quinn didn't disappoint—her fashionista lawyer moniker intact—as she steps out of her building in a regal black gown, and into the waiting car.
As soon as they entered the center, everyone's eyes were focused on them.
There was a risk of the two of them being seen together. This was something that Santana's team had carefully talked about and analyzed. Rumors abound about Santana's sexuality, and they both knew that coming together could ignite those pesky talks.
But Santana's tired of always watching her back. For the first time in a long while, she just didn't give a rat's ass. Besides, Quinn herself has been making waves as the governor's son's new girlfriend—something that Santana's team see as some sort of a balancing factor in case some idiot decide to push the gay angle.
The two friends have been enjoying the night, silently critiquing the performances and the dresses of the ladies at the gala.
It wasn't until they were seated at their table that Santana started to fidget, an act that wasn't lost on Quinn. The blonde lawyer inconspicuously looked around, trying to spot the cause of her friend's anxiousness. When her eyes landed on the table a few meters away from theirs, she raised her eyebrow in silent realization. For the rest of the night, she looks on with watchful eyes, catching every single nervous glance thrown on both directions. After a while, it got tiring, and Quinn wanted to put an end to all the silent tension between her friend and the famous singer. So when Santana finally got a second away from all the people who wanted to talk to her, she looked in her friend's eyes and gave her an honest take on what's happening.
Talk to her when you get the chance.
/
As soon as Santana heard those words from the woman she considers as one of her bestfriends, she knew that she has to, once and for all, get the closure that has evaded her for years. She spent the next hour calming herself, preparing for the talk that she's sure is bound to happen soon.
But there she was, in all her glory – Danielle – and all the repressed feelings started to come rushing back.
Fuck.
Santana shakes her head, mentally berating herself for acting like a wimp.
You're prepare for this, she tells herself before taking another look at Dani, dancing with their friend Elliott, with the obvious goal of grabbing her attention. After all those years, she still can read Dani.
As the two position themselves beside her and Mark, her dance partner, her eyes lock with those familiar brown orbs and just then, her heart aches.
Santana thought she's ready to face Dani.
But she's wrong. Just as she looks into those expressive eyes, the band playing the song that Dani said she wants as their first dance during their wedding, Santana can't help but curse all the gods and saints because they must have hated her, pretty sure that they're mocking her.
Dani just looks a lot better than the last time she saw her in person.
Santana forgets how beautiful and charming Dani was and how addicted she was with her being. Dani's presence alone reminded her of how she used to love her. How she used to hold her. How Dani has a hold on her.
Still has a hold on her.
And that's when she knew that she couldn't talk to Dani.
At least not yet.
Hours later
It's eleven at night when Santana walks into Quinn's very posh Manhattan apartment. Deciding to catch up before the actress' flight back to Los Angeles later that night, Quinn offered the privacy of her place.
After giving Santana a little room to collect herself, Quinn comes out of her room with a pair of pyjamas for her friend.
"The guestroom has its own bathroom." Quinn smiles as she throws the clothes on Santana's lap. "Go change and I'll prepare our drinks." She says nonchalantly as she makes her way to the mini bar that she has designed herself. It took Santana less than ten minutes to come out sans make up and in her sleepwear before plopping down on the seat by the bar.
"Nice place you've got here, Fabray."
"It has to be. I've spent a freaking fortune on this bar alone." Quinn mumbles as she pours whiskey on her glass. "That was such a boring party. Pretty weak booze."
"Sing it!"
"Did you tell Brittany you're staying the night here?" Quinn asks with a raised brow. She has heard some stories from Rachel about how Brittany still sees her as a potential threat after learning of her rendezvous with Santana many, many years ago.
"I don't have to tell her every single thing I'm doing."
"Santana..." Quinn looks at her disapprovingly.
"I'm sorry. I'm just..." Santana sighs, massaging her forehead. "She just hasn't given me room to breathe, you know?" She shakes her glass, before drinking her whiskey. "I never thought the day would come when I'll say this, but I'm glad to be away from her for a while."
"That bad, huh?" Quinn finally sits beside her, nursing the martini she made herself.
"It's not bad, really. She's still cute." Santana chuckles. "She can be a handful lately."
"Hmm." Quinn merely nods, before taking another sip of her drink. The silence that befalls them is comfortable, only for Quinn to cut it short. ""San…" Quinn breathes out, and Santana doesn't need to face her to know what she's about to see when she looks into those hazel eyes. She doesn't want Quinn to see the doubt and confusion swirling in her own eyes. No, she doesn't want that.
So, she does what she does best, she puts up her walls.
"Don't use the pity card on me, Fabray."
"I'm not using any pity card. I'm just wondering why you wouldn't talk to her. You're happy with Brittany, right?"
"Of course." She answers truthfully.
"Then why can't you talk to Dani?" The way Santana flinches at the mention of that name does not escape Quinn.
"I just can't okay?"
"But—"
"Oh god!" Santana exclaims in exasperation. "Why can't we talk about you for once? Let's talk about that pretty boy of yours." Santana narrows her eyes at her bestfriend, a little glad to see that she seems to be taking the bait.
"Well, Hubert's nice..." Quinn trails on, as Santana starts drinking some more.
/
In the next hour, several glasses of Martini and whiskey had been consumed. Santana's now a little tipsy, and was trying to pry the bottle of alcohol from a now drunken Quinn.
Fabray's always had a low tolerance for alcohol, Santana shakes her head.
"Come on Fabray, let's get you to your room."
"No! I'm okay!" Quinn tries to get up and walk. "See? I can still fucking walk. Let's drink more. We haven't done this in a long while, San!"
"Yeah, well there's a reason for that, Quinn."
"What? What reason?"
Santana sighs, torn between explaning and just letting it go. She picks the latter. "Well the last time we did this, we ended up having sex."
"Oh right." Quinn dissolves in a fit of giggles. "The two-time thing. Something that your girlfriend still hasn't forgiven me about." The blonde comically rolls her eyes. "You should totally—" Quinn's rambling is cut off by the ringing of her intercom. "Oh would you look at that!" The drunk lawyer hastily walks towards her intercom, and soon, Santana can hear her now annoying voice. "Yes, George?!" Quinn giggles. "Yes. Oh she's there? Really?" She looks nervously at Santana, suddenly looking a little sober. "Hold on please."
"What Fabray?"
"You can't be angry at me, San."
"What?"
"Dani's downstairs—"
"What?!"
"I didn't mean to tell her you're with me—"
"What the hell Fabray?!"
"Do you like me to have her come up?"
"Are you nuts?"
"George says that Dani told her she won't leave until she gets to talk to you."
"Tell her I'm not here!"
"Well, I think I already told her you're with me? I'm not entirely sure—"
"Fuck you, Fabray!"
"You already did—"
"You know what? Fine!" Santana yells, the alcohol and all the emotions she's feeling taking a toll on her judgement. She downs her glass before unceremoniously jerking off her seat and heading for the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to personally tell Danielle to fuck off!" And with that, she storms out of the apartment.
/
The lobby is deserted when she arrives and for a moment, Santana feels disoriented.
"Miss Lopez?" A burly man approaches her, looking worried. "My name is George. I have asked Miss Dani to step out of the building as per Miss Fabray's request, but she wouldn't acquiesce until she gets to talk to you—"
"Where is she?"
"She's right outside the entrance—"
"Thank you, George." She nods her thanks before walking out of the building. Catching her breath, she sees a woman in jeans, hoodie and a baseball cap pacing across the pavement, and the figure doesn't have to look at her for Santana to know who she is.
"Dani!"
"San—"
"You can't be here."
"I just need to talk to you—"
"I can't talk to you." Santana spats. "Go home." She turns to move back to the building, only to have Dani hold on to her wrist tightly.
"Please. I won't take long. I just need a few minutes of your time."
Santana scoffs. "You think you can say everything you want to say to me in a few minutes?"
"As a matter of fact yes. Yes, I can." Dani looks on defiantly.
With a huff, Santana squirms out of Dani's hold. "I can't talk to you."
"Please." Dani begs, moving forward so she's just a few inches away from Santana. "Please, San?" Tears threaten to fall from those beautiful brown eyes. "Please?" Dani asks, once again holding Santana's hand, this time, tenderly.
"Rachel told me you bought the old apartment—"
"Our old apartment, yeah."
"I can't talk to you now, Dani." Santana says pleadingly too. "I am tired and a little buzzed. I might say a lot of things that I'll regret. But I don't leave for LA until later tonight. Let's sleep on it and say, talk tomorrow afternoon before I leave?"
"That's good." Dani nods in agreement, a smile gracing her gorgeous face.
"Okay?"
"Okay."
"I'm heading back in now. Be safe?"
"I will."
/
Santana wakes up hours later to the sound of booming voices right outside the bedroom door. Her head is pounding, her body is sore. She tries to remember everything that occurred the other night but all she could recall was getting smashed with Quinn and talking to Dani for a while.
Talking to Dani...
Shit.
She puts on her pajamas on and goes out, hopefully, for breakfast. As she walks out of the bedroom though, she's shocked by the scene in front of her. There's no breakfast of course. Instead, Quinn is sitting in the living room surrounded by a couple members of her team. Nadia, her publicist is holding on to her phone, screaming.
"I can't believe you! You can't fucking run that bullshit without any proof!"
Before Santana can even ask what the fuss is all about, Nadia glares at her, before pointing at her laptop on the center table, but not stopping the screaming match with whoever she's talking to. Quinn scratches her head, before showing her the screen and there— spread on the page, is a large picture of her and Dani — with the latter's hand wrapped around her wrist — the two of them looking intimately and passionately at each other with the headline: Dantana: Maybe This Time? The caption reads: Have we finally cracked the code on Dani Harper's hit song 'Brown Eyes'?
"Those are proofs of nothing! You understand me? Nothing! You can't deduce anything from those pictures alone, Mark! Fuck you!" Nadia screams, the veins in her neck looking ready to pop out. Quinn rubs her eyes with the heel of her hands, sighing in disbelief and feeling guilty as Santana numbly reads the article.
/
OK! Magazine Exclusive: Dantana: Maybe This Time?
It's like every fangirl's dream come true!
Academy award-winner Santana Lopez and Grammy-winner Dani Harper, have been spotted sharing an intimate moment just after midnight outside Excelsior Suites last night. Wearing her (uber cute!) pyjamas, Lopez was seen talking passionately with the jean-clad, hoodie and baseball cap-wearing singer; sources confirm to OK! Magazine.
"They seemed like they were fighting over something. It wasn't clear what it was about, but Santana looked worried that someone might see them together, which raises flags, right? Why would she look wary if they're just friends? They looked close and intimate," an onlooker told us, noting that the pair held hands through most of the 'conversation'.
Before both parties can respond, we did our own digging. It's to be noted though that OK! was the first to this story of what seemed to be a long running affair between Lopez and Harper.
"There's a lot of history in here." an insider said. "It's not just an affair between two of the most famous personalities of today, no. It's definitely more than just a fling. They have been together shortly after Santana moved to New York from Lima to pursue her dreams of becoming a star." A pal informs OK!
"They've actually been together for four years (that's a long time!) before they broke up. It seemed that Santana's early career takeoff was the cause of that and Dani didn't want to hold her back, so they went their separate ways."
Lopez, for her part, has been hounded with rumors about her sexuality for years but has managed to side step the question every time. Harper on the other hand has been out and proud the moment she broke through the public's consciousness.
Reps for both Lopez and Harper have yet to reply to our calls but one thing's for sure, we're singing Michael Murphy's Maybe This Time while we indulge in our fantasy about this perfect couple!
/
NOTE:
I know I have a lot to make up for for the delay of update. I've been swamped with a couple of papers to write plus a number of personal errands that I have to squeeze into my day.
But I've decided to give you a little something to make up for it. I apologize in advance for the errors (I have no time to edit this chapter and I'm running on two hours of sleep) and the cliffhanger (but at least the plot can move forward).
Thank you!