A/N: To answer you're questions: Yes i do take into account what you guys where you guys want the story to go, and yes a lot of this is stuff i have been planning in my head. This whole chapter is something i have been planning for a while so i hope you guys like it. Don't worry i won't make you guys wait too long after this big cliffhanger. Enjoy and keep the reviews coming.
July 28, 2013 – Brittany Pierce and Santana Lopez get frozen yogurt in Los Angeles
"Don't eat it too fast or you'll get a headache Baby" I say as I see Brittany dive into her froyo. "Remember what happened last time?"
"Oh yeah" she says as she slows down.
We are sitting at one of the tables on the back patio of our favorite Pinkberry. We always come to this one because the back patio means we are away from the cameras and the paparazzi at least for a little bit. Theoretically at least, I mean the idea of being truly away from it all, while really nice, is almost impossible. I realize I have zoned out when Brittany reaches for my hand. I intertwine our fingers as we finish our yogurt.
I love these moments, where I just get to sit with this woman I love and just be in this moment. I look over at my girlfriend and I can see she is oblivious to my stares, as she watches a little boy play with his mom. I look at Brittany and wonder if she and I will ever get to that point. The point where we have a family and a more domestic life away from all of this. A year ago I would have cringed at the thought, but now Brittany's here. Brittany changed the game, she changed my life. She changed the way I think, the way I feel, the way I see things, and all for the better. She has made my life complete. I realize that I have never voiced those feelings to her. I should.
"Brit…" she looks over at me. I open my mouth to finally tell her everything…
This girl is on fire... This girl is on fire... She's walking on fire... This girl is on fire...
"Hey Quinn" I say picking up the phone. "Now's not really the best time. Can I call you back?"
"Santana this is important." She says. I start to get a little worried Quinn never uses my full name, it's always just S, or Santan. I can still hear the shock in her voice.
"Okay," I say the worry creeping through my voice, Brittany turns to look at me. I can tell she knows something is off. She gives me a slightly concerned look. "What's happening?" I ask slowly, still not sure if I want to do this right now.
"Rob is being forced to retire."
"What!?"
"Yeah Justin has been trying to stop it for months, but the board is pushing him out, he is going to be gone by the end of the month."
"How can they do that to him?!" Brittany is now looking at me a with concern written all over her face.
"Santana, you're missing the big picture here. Yes it sucks Rob is being forced to retire, but you're not looking at what this means for you. This means Font is going to bring in his own guy. Font is going to have the majority."
My body goes stiff. A lump forms in my throat, I can feel myself getting angrier and angrier. I feel my hand ball into a fist and I can see Brittany start to get more worried.
"Santana we have to go in this week for a meeting with Justin, Font, and whoever his new guy is, and I don't think it is going to be a good one."
I swear I can feel the steam shooting out of my ears.
"I talk to you later." I hear myself say into the phone.
"Don't do anything stupid or rash!" I hear Rachel yell from the background. I hang up the phone. I sit there fuming for a few minutes before I turn to Brittany.
"Rob is retiring, Font is bringing in a new guy, and I have to meet with them next week."
From what I have already told her I see her put together the connections in her mind. She reaches for my hand.
"Let's go home" she says quietly. I wonder what she means by "home," my house or hers, the thought is quickly pushed out of my head by the returning anger. I let Brittany lead me out to the car, surrounded by paparazzi the whole way. I now know why Rachel warned me not to do anything stupid, if Brittany weren't holding my hand and leading me quickly to the car, I might just lose my shit on all these fucking cameramen. Might go all Kanye on their asses. I hear the car unlock and Brittany let go of my hand. I quickly get into the car and shut the door, giving myself no time to blow up. Brittany comes around, gets into the driver's seat, and backs out of our parking space.
The drive takes about ten minutes but it feels like an hour. I just sit there looking out at the passing scenery, fuming with rage. We finally get out and I notice we are at my house. Brittany takes out her copy of my key and unlocks the door. I walk straight into the kitchen. I lean on the counter and drop my head into my hands. The rage is gone, and now I am just left confused and sad. This is it. It's really over, just like that.
I feel Brittany snake her arms around me and hand me a bottle of water. I straighten up and take a sip, trying to hold back the tears, threatening to run down my cheeks.
"San, you're not sure they are going to drop you. Maybe Justin was able to help in the situation, I mean he is the CEO after all."
"Yeah but Britt, the board makes the final decision, and we all know that board is just a bunch of egotistical white men, who know nothing about music. I can't believe my one real shot at my dream is over already, and it is all because of one stupid son of a bitch who can't deal with not controlling every single fucking thing!"
I feel the anger come back into play. Brittany turns me so that I am looking right into her eyes.
"Hey, this is not the end. I don't care what happens this week, if there is one thing I know about you it's that you are not someone to just lie down and watch your dreams shatter. Santana Lopez gets right back up and shows the haters why they are wrong. This is only the beginning San."
I can't help but think that last sentence relates to more than my career as I lean in for a soft kiss.
July 31, 2013 – Santana Lopez heads to Tennman meeting after retirement of producer Rob Knox
Quinn, Rachel, Blaine, and I walk straight through the lobby. We take the elevator up to the sixteenth floor, and the whole time I hold my head high. Brittany was right, I am Santana Lopez. If these assholes want to drop me, then they have another thing coming. I don't usually have to bring Blaine, my lawyer, to these meetings but today is different.
We step off the elevator and walk right past the receptionists desk and straight towards the conference room. Before I open the door I am stopped by Justin.
"Santana, I need to talk to you in my office for a second." He says and I can tell he isn't happy. "This isn't looking good Santana, Font had brought in his new guy and he has convinced the board that we need to drop you."
"That's ridiculous why would anyone go along with that?"
"You know as well as I do that the board knows nothing about talent and music. So all Font had to do was come in and make a case about you being too edgy and too liberal of an artist for the label. I tried to fight back but I can't stop this Santana. Font brought in his new guy who of course supports dropping you as well, and I just don't think I am going to be able to do anything Santana. I think they are going to drop you today."
Justin looks down at the floor and I can see the genuine regret and pain in his expression.
"I wish there was more I could do." He says quietly.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding and sighed.
"It's not your fault. You tried."
I stand up to leave.
"Santana," I stop, "for what it's worth, I think you're incredibly talented and I have no doubt that you will move on and continue to do amazing things. Please don't give up, this doesn't have to be the end."
I smile. "Someone very wise told me the exact same thing. Don't worry I am going to make them wish they had never dropped Santana Lopez." I turn and leave the room.
Blaine, Rachel, and Quinn stand as they see me emerge. The four of us stand tall, compose ourselves and one after the other we walk into the office to settle this. I remember Brittany's words "this is only the beginning."