A/N: This prompt came from Facebook's DWP Mirandy Page. I have been trying to coax my muse out from her winter hibernation by feeding her a particular nutty chocolate bar. Anyway, the prompt I was given is as follows;
Andy catches Miranda having a Snickers and almost dies of shock.
Disclaimer: As always I am just fooling with these characters. I do not own or make any money from them. They are owned by Lauren Weisberger and 20th Century Fox.
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Chapter Four:
An hour passed with more drinks bought. Andy had started to feel the effects of the Tequila and had switched to water and soft drinks as the others continued with their beer and tequila. The conversation had flowed much more freely as everyone relaxed. Emily had struck up a conversation with Miranda and Nigel about Oscar De La Renta's Cerulean Collection, her nervousness all but disappearing as the alcohol flowed.
Leaning into Andy Serena spoke softly. "It's been good seeing Miranda outside Runway. She seems content." Sighing happily Andy offered the Brazilian a smile in agreement as she noticed the barman coming over with a wide smile and mic.
"Here you go, Andy. We are putting both songs on for you to sing now."
"Both songs?" She questioned nervously.
"Yeah, the one you chose and the one your friend there picked for you." He waved in Nigel's general direction.
"Can't you forget the song he picked?" She asked as Miranda looked over at her smiling.
"It's queued up now, no can do. Sorry." He shrugged gave her a wide smile over his shoulder as he walked away.
She sighed in exasperation. "I will throttle you one of these days Nige." She told him as she swiped his beer and took a deep drink.
Smirking Nigel said. "You'll thank me later."
The music started and Andy stood up, exhaling nervously she looked up towards the large screens attached to the wall. Recognising the opening bars of the song she closed her eyes and sang.
Swaying room as the music starts
Strangers making the most of the dark
Two by two their bodies become one
Focusing on the melody she reached the chorus. Locking eyes with Miranda she smiled hesitantly before looking away as she continued to sing.
I'm crazy for you
Touch me once and you'll know it's true
I never wanted anyone like this
It's all brand new, you'll feel it in my kiss
I'm crazy for you, crazy for you
Looking towards Emily and Serena she saw Serena whispering the words into the redhead's ear as Emily blushed. She grinned and nodded her head towards them to get Nigel and Miranda's attention. Both smirked at the couple causing Emily to blush even more furiously.
Slowly now we begin to move
Every breath I'm deeper into you
Soon we two are standing still in time
If you read my mind, you'll see
Some of the crowd cheered her on as others sang along. As she reached the final chorus she gazed at Miranda, singing from her heart, her eyes shining with happiness. Miranda looked on, eyes soft and a small genuine smile lighting up her face.
Touch me once and you'll know it's true
I never wanted anyone like this
It's all brand new, you'll feel it in my kiss
I'm crazy for you
Crazy for you
Crazy for you
Crazy for you
It's all brand new, I'm crazy for you
And you know it's true, I'm crazy, crazy for you
It's all brand new, I'm crazy for you
And you know it's true, yeah, I'm crazy for you
Andy smiled widely as she finished the song. She'd received a good amount of cheering before her second song started. Rolling her eyes she sang as Miranda looked on surprised at the change in tone.
Check it out goin' out on the late night
Lookin' tight feeling nice, it's a cockfight
I can tell I just know that it's going down, tonight
At the door, we don't wait 'cause we know them
At the bar six shots just beginnin'
That's when dickhead put his hands on me
But ya see
As Andy was about to hit the chorus she glared at Nigel showing her unhappiness with his song choice. Nigel smirked at her and pointedly looked at Miranda who was still looking at Andy, her disbelief mixed with amusement. She shook her head and continued to sing. Growling out the chorus.
I'm not here for your entertainment
You don't really wanna mess with me tonight
Just stop and take a second
I was fine before you walked into my life
Cause you know it's over, before it began
Keep your drink just give me the money
It's just you and your hand tonight
She smirked at Nigel pointing at him before giving him a rude hand gesture. As he grinned at her, she realised why he chose this song. Knowing it was meant as a warning to the flirty barman and anyone else who wanted to get too close. She allowed herself to get more into the song.
Moving around the floor she found a group of frat boys. Making everyone laugh she sang the next lyrics to the youngest of them before moving back towards her table with a wide smile on her face.
Midnight I'm drunk, I don't give a fuck
Wanna dance by myself guess you're out of luck
Don't touch, back up, I'm not the one
Buh-bye
Listen up its just not happenin'
You can say what you want to your boyfriends
Just let me have my fun tonight aight
She hit the chorus again. As she finished it she looked back out at the crowd where she found three familiar faces staring at her and her companions in amazement. Looking back at Nigel she nodded towards Lily, Nate and Doug. Nigel looked shocked and moved to whisper something to Em and Serena. She looked back at her old friends and ex-boyfriend and catching their eyes one by one she sang the next verse to them before turning her back on them.
You're in the corner with your boys; you bet them five bucks
You'd get the girl that just walked in, but she thinks you suck
We didn't get all dressed up just for you to see
So quit spilling your drinks on me
You know who you are
High five and talking shit
But you are going home alone
Aren't ya?
She realised she had two choruses to go. Giving it her all she belted the lyrics as people joined in.
You and your hand...
I'm not here for your entertainment
No No No
You don't really wanna mess with me tonight
Just stop and take a second
Take a second
I was fine before you walked into my life
Cause you know it's over, before it began
Keep your drink just give me the money
It's just you and your hand tonight
Yeah ooh ooh
She finished the song amidst massive cheers and blushed. Handing the mic back to the DJ the frat boy she sang to give her a nervous smile as she stalked past. She threw a smirk and wink at him causing him to blush and have his friends tease him. As she caught Miranda's eye she laughed happily. Moving back around the table she sat herself down on the couch between Miranda and Nigel.
"That was quite a show, Andy. You were amazing up there, I especially enjoyed you pointing at Nigel and the hand gesture was spot on." Miranda told her laughing. Emily and Serena looked on in shock.
Andy laughed loudly. "Thanks. I didn't see you purse your lips, so I knew it wasn't a total disaster. I thought the hand gesture fitting at the time." She said smiling happily as Nigel passed her a beer. "Thanks. I have to tell you that song is absolutely ridiculous, Nige." She told him as she shredded the label.
"It was an amazing performance Six. So much better than Vogue. That young frat boy didn't know what to do with himself. As for the hand gesture, I'll forgive it this once." Nigel sniggered. Andy looked at him and grinned.
"You deserved it." She told him warmly. "It's lucky I love ya." The atmosphere changed around them. Looking up she met the deep brown eyes of her ex, eyeing him cautiously, noting Lily and Doug hovering on either side, she asked. "What do you want Nate?"
"Hey, Andy. Can we talk?" Nate replied hesitantly.
"I've nothing left to say to you, any of you. You've all made your opinion of who you think I am perfectly clear, how lacking I am." Andy told them sadly.
"Please, Andy..." Nate pleaded. Miranda scoffed. Hearing it Nate eyed her with blatant animosity before tuning her out and focusing on Andy. "Andy c'mon..." He whined.
"I've told you I'm not interested in talking to you. It wasn't me that threw away a five-year relationship because you couldn't handle the fact I was growing up while you remained stuck." Looking at Lily and Doug she told them. "It wasn't me that threw away almost 20 years of friendship. That was on all of you." She told them. "And before you start in on me again yes I admit I changed, I gained more confidence. I worked damn hard and long hours for a demanding boss who expects perfection because that's what she expects from herself in order to produce the best. A boss who asks for no more from her employees than she gives herself, and mostly I've succeeded and that has given me a sense of pride in my abilities." She looked at Miranda and gave her a small smile. Turning back to them she said. "Yes it meant that I was absent from your lives, but if you honestly cared you would have understood and been supportive. Instead, you all walked away."
"Andy, these aren't your people, they aren't your friends." Lily chimed in.
As Andy went to respond she caught movement from the corner of her eye as Emily stood, anger clear on her face as she snarled. "Yes, we are her friends. Andy is one of us, she's the best of us. She makes each one of us want to be a better person. She is kind, generous loyal and loving. She is exceptional and if you can't or won't see that, it really is your loss, and you do not deserve this incredible woman in your life. Now she's told you she doesn't want to talk to you so piss off!"
Lily sputtered but stopped at Miranda's raised hand. "I for one have heard enough. Andréa has expressed her feelings eloquently and yet here you all are, still stealing our oxygen." Moving her hand as if she were shooing them away she caught Nate's eye. "That's all!" she said with finality.
"You bitch." Nate spat angrily at her.
Miranda snorted before turning ice-filled eyes upon him and giving him a glare that stopped him in his tracks. "Tell me something I do not know, I have been called far worse by better than you." She smirked menacingly at him as Doug pulled both him and Lily away.
Turning back to look at them Doug caught Andy's' eye and mouthed "I'll call you."
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Andy got up from the table quickly. As she stepped past Emily, she felt the redhead's arms come up around her pulling her into a brief hug. At the unexpected gesture, tears pricked at Andy's eyes. "Thanks, Em." She whispered hoarsely. "I need the bathroom, excuse me." She untangled herself from Emily's arms and rushed off.
Miranda caught Emily's eye as she got up from the couch, nodding her approval. "I'll go check on her, ensure she's okay." She told them as she moved to follow Andy. Entering the bathroom she knocked on the one locked door, hearing muffled crying she spoke. "Open the door, darling."
"Miranda?" Andy asked hesitantly. Hearing the editor sigh in exasperation she unlocked the door as it swung open she looked up and saw the editor looking at her tenderly.
"Come on out of there." Holding her arms out she said. "Come here." As Andy stood she stepped forward and pulled Andy into a hug and whispered. "You handled that situation marvellously, I understand you're hurting, but you are cared for by all of us at Runway as Emily proved."
"I'm so angry. How dare they pull a stunt like that? How dare he have the nerve to call you a bitch? He doesn't know you. I'm so sorry." Andy said as she held onto the other woman.
"As I said to him, it's not like I don't realise that people think I'm a bitch, it's not the first time it's been said and it probably won't be the last," Miranda smirked.
"I'm still sorry. It's so embarrassing." Andy admitted.
"No need for embarrassment darling. You did nothing wrong. Please dry your eyes, we'll fix your make-up and enjoy the rest of our night. Do you want to sing again?"
"Do you want me to?" Andy asked as she lifted her head from the older woman's shoulder.
"Darling I could happily watch and listen to you all night. You possess a wonderful voice. However if after this you wanted to go home we would understand." Pushing a strand of hair out of Andy's face Miranda smiled. "It's been a lovely night, I am enjoying myself immensely. Now come, let me fix those panda eyes."
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As they exited the bathroom Miranda took hold of Andy's hand, entwining their fingers as they navigated their way through the crowd back to the couches where Nigel was sat alone. Catching Nigel's raising an eyebrow at the hand holding Miranda smirked as she pulled Andy down next to her.
"You okay Six?" He asked quietly.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Where's Serena and Em?" Andy asked.
"They're at the bar getting more drinks. Em thinks a song will get you out of the doldrums. I told her to speak to you before making any choice, just in case you weren't staying." Nigel said.
"Thanks. God knows she'd have me singing some dodgy 80's Brit-pop Anthem." She said laughing as she saw the two women making their way back to them.
"Here you go," Serena said as she placed a beer in front of Andy along with a post-it and pencil. "You okay Querida?" She asked gently.
"I'm good. I just needed a moment." Looking towards Emily she smiled happily. "Hey Em. Do tonight's events mean we are friends now?" She asked laughing.
"Where on Earth did you get that idea, Andy?" Emily asked sarcastically. Grinning at the brunette she admitted. "You're a good person, you deserve better than that."
"Thanks, Em. I appreciate this more than you know." Andy said.
Rolling her eyes at the brunette Em said. "Now don't get all sappy on me, Sachs, drink up, choose a song and forget this."
Smiling Andy looked towards Miranda. "Any requests?" She asked.
Miranda smiled and scooted closer as she whispered. "Beautiful."
Looking at Miranda she grinned. "You must be deluded if you think I can do Christina justice," Andy told her.
"Oh, I have complete faith. You can do anything right?" Miranda smiled.
"If you say so," Andy replied cheekily as she scrawled her name the song on the post-it. Getting up as she moved to hand her song request in.
As she came back, she found Doug stood at the table shuffling nervously as Nigel was asking him to join them. "Dougie, what's up?" She asked concerned.
Looking towards Miranda he said. "I wanted to apologise to you all. I swear I tried to stop them, Andy. What Nate said to you was unforgivable Miranda, he had no right,"
"Douglas sit." Miranda patted the seat next to her as Andy slipped past him and sat back on the couch in her previous spot between the editor and Nigel.
"Miranda and Nigel are right Dougie, you should join us," Andy told him softly. Nodding once he sat by Miranda as Andy leaned in and whispered into her ear. "He's your biggest fan. He told me when I got the job you were well known for your unpredictability, which certainly explains why I ended up working for you."
Miranda smirked at the young woman. Laying her hand on Andy's thigh and turning towards Andy she said. "You deserved the position. Your bravery that day, after I dismissed you, was astonishing. And you proved yourself at every turn. What you said before, about being proud of your abilities, you should be proud of yourself, you are an amazing woman."
"I could say the same about you, in fact, I think I may have already," Andy replied with a grin. Noticing the focus of the other four was now on them they smiled and turned away from each other.
As Miranda struck up a conversation with Doug Nigel leaned in and whispered. "What's going on with you two? She hasn't been able to take her eyes off you all night. She announced she let you help choose her dress, she's called you Andy multiple times and then there's the hand holding and random touching. Six, you realise that this isn't usual Miranda behaviour?"
"I know, Nige," Andy whispered back apprehensive. "I can't explain it, not right now."
"Just remember I am here for you," Nigel told her as he pulled her in for a hug.
Resting her head on his shoulder he heard her mutter. "You're the best. You know that, Nige?"
"Miranda is right in what she says about you. You are amazing and we all love you very much." Nigel told her.
They sat like that for a good 20 minutes before the barman walked up again and handed Nigel the mic. Smirking he said. "Your turn." Turning to Emily and Serena he said. "You two up next."
"But I didn't put my name up," Nigel said confused as Emily and Serena gave each other a look.
Hearing a snigger from the older woman next to her Andy looked at her to see her trying to suppress her laughter, mischief lighting up her blue eyes.
"Up you get Nige," Andy told him smiling innocently as she sat back on the couch as the start of Madonna's Material Girl played.
Standing up he sang. As the chorus hit, he pulled Andy to her feet and swung her into dance as they sang together, grinning happily between verses. As the song ended they laughed, arms slung around each other. Nigel handed his mic to Serena as another was handed to Emily.
Seeing the song queued to play Emily rolled her eyes. "Dead Ringer for Love?" She questioned. "Well, I must be Cher." She told Serena who just smiled beautifully at the redhead as she sang to the Meat Loaf lyrics. As they made their way through the song their eyes locked and they continued to sing to each other ignoring the surrounding crowd.
Andy looked at them and back to Miranda. "You chose that song especially didn't you?"
"Do you think it worked?" Miranda asked amused.
"I'd say those two will finally get their act together. It's about time." Andy told her as the song finished and she watched Emily drag Serena off to a quiet corner.
"Douglas has been kindly filling me in about some of your childhood escapades. It sounds like you could teach my twins a few tricks." Miranda smiled.
"Oh God! Dougie! Why?" She questioned him.
Looking over at her Doug gave her a wide smile. "Cheer up Andy, It could have been worse. I could have mentioned how we got drunk at that bonfire and made out 'til I cried and admitted I was gay or how neither of us had Prom dates and went stag."
"Oh jeez! How much have you had to drink?" Andy asked him as both Nigel and Miranda looked at her.
"You turned him gay?" Nigel said as Miranda confirmed. "You didn't have a date to Prom?"
They looked at each other and grinned as Andy blushed and covered her face. "You understand I really hate you right now Doug?"
Doug got up from the couch. Kneeling in front of Andy he pulled her hands away from her face. "Look at me Andy, I am kneeling on this hideous carpet in Armani pants and I'm looking at the most beautiful women I've had the pleasure of knowing. I've known you since Kindergarten and I've loved you every moment since you punched Billy Gray out for bullying me. Emily was right. You bring out the best in those around you; you make us want to be better. I don't want to lose you from my life. I've missed you." Looking into his eyes she his sincerity and pulled him in for a hug as he whispered. "I may have accidentally mentioned the tattoo you got before Paris too." Pushing him away he fell back on his heels as she thumped his shoulder.
"God, you're such an asshole. I've missed you too." She smiled at him as she pulled him into another bear hug.
Nigel made room for Doug to sit between him and Andy as they enjoyed their drinks and conversation, there was lots of laughter as Miranda described the first time Andy had fallen in front of her spilling scalding coffee and Hermes scarves everywhere and Nigel imitated Andy trying not to swear.
"It's all golly, gosh, fudge and shoot, when Six is at her most vocal at Runway. The first time I heard her actually cuss I nearly died on the spot. I never expected such foul language to come out of her beautiful mouth." Nigel said smirking at the brunette.
"Hey, Andy. You're up next." The flirty barman was back with his wide grin. Handing her a mic he said. "You know if you give me your number we could get together and do open mic and dinner.
"Thanks but I'm busy," Andy told him.
"Every night?" He asked in disbelief.
"Yeah. I'm kinda seeing someone so..." She shrugged. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Doug and Nigel's mouth drop in shock. Looking at Miranda she caught her smirk of satisfaction. "It's early days but I really like them."
"Ah well, it was worth a try." He replied shrugging as he walked away as Emily and Serena returned to the couch holding hands as the current song finished and hers was queued to begin.
Every day is so wonderful
Then suddenly
It's hard to breathe...
As she sang her eyes closed against the emotions brought on by the song.
I am beautiful
No matter what they say
Words can't bring me down
I am beautiful
In every single way
Yes words can't bring me down
Oh no
So don't you bring me down today
She opened her eyes, allowing every emotion she was experiencing to blaze within them. She looked at Miranda as she sang the next verse.
You are beautiful
No matter what they say
Words can't bring you down
Oh no
You are beautiful
In every single way
Yes words can't bring you down
Oh no
So don't you bring me down today
Pouring all her feelings into the song as their eyes locked each of them allowed their connection to flow and Miranda recognised the emotions from their conversation the few days prior. Feeling herself tearing up Miranda broke their intense gaze and looked down at her hands, taking a drink she tried to gain control of her overwhelming feelings as Andy finished the song
Don't you bring me down, ooh
Today
Andy grabbed her purse. "I've gotta go." She blurted before turning and walking away from the table towards the door.
"What the fuck did we miss?" Emily asked as Miranda got up and stalked after the brunette.
"I don't think you want to know," Nigel muttered.
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