Tony
(Quinn)
It seemed that my destination while rising star's girlfriend was staying in the shadows on any public event. Rachel always attended alone in social events to interact mainly with other actors and celebrities to appear in the media. Josh Ripley, that asshole, discouraged her to be with me whatever she knew would be press around. I thought I'd find support from other professionals such as the publicists we talk with to hire their services or not. None of them gave us support. None! But the least worst was Nina Morris, Johnnys' friend, who said that Rachel should hide being gay like the others, but she used gentle words.
She advised that my relationship with Rachel shouldn't be public in the beginning when they were all working on stabilizing her career and project her name in Hollywood industry. Rachel was entering a plaster industry brutalized by the image where everybody can be gay, have gay affairs, go to gay orgies and all of that behind the doors. In front of the audience, the show should be straighter. If it were just standing on Broadway, fine. But Rachel was quickly being hooked on television and soon she would begin to receive screenplays and invitations to work on films. Nina even said, and Josh agreed, that if my girl's career went strong to the screen she might need to move to California. She was realistic, and it hurt.
Nina Morris was a former NYU's student who set up a company with her college roommates. Of the five initial members, only two left. She had a beautiful but simple office that seemed organized and professional enough to us. And she already had some customers although none were famous. The office offering personalized services according to customer requirement. Rachel was the second actor that the company was working with. We close with Nina because she was willing to work directly with Rachel. My girlfriend would receive media training and all the necessary monitoring, including the most important social medias. It was in theory, a good service in a price within our budget.
Rachel received guidance especially on what not post on social medias, what was very important. But the bulk of this service would be performed by Nina team. They were also trained to handle crises. The first big test came during Tony.
Though I already knew what would happen, it was difficult to get out the limo in front of the red carpet and see my beautiful and hot girlfriend going hand in hand to the red carpet with her sister towards the cameras and photographers while I, Shelby and Juan went straight into the theater where we were placed in a distant point of the stage. Nina walked in the red carpet, as well as Josh. Rachel had the option to go in alone, but she was too nervous. Santana was the obvious choice. The press had already told her story and the close relationship with Santana: how the 29 minutes older sister gave up an opportunity to work in Broadway with Rachel to support them in the first year in New York. Yeah, suddenly, Santana was a kind of hero behind Rachel's career.
Many interviewers also were interested in Rachel because of "Slings and Arrows". Much was talked about the production of Boris Yves and Carton Katshovisk. The shootings had just started and Rachel was still doing parallel workshops because of her character. There was speculation that Rachel could also take the title role in the new production of "Gigi", which wasn't true, but Nina saw it as a free advertisement so, the rumors would keep going for some time.
As for me? My path was still truncated. I did few freelancers and worked at the studious. The money paid the rent and Rachel had reservations for the other bills. But I didn't know how things would be for the next month. Santana was trying to open her company, Rachel had her paychecks, but I only had $600 guaranteed. It's frustrating to depend on Rachel to pay almost anything in time. More than that: it was humiliating.
But I wouldn't dwell on my problems in a moment of brilliance and anticipation for my girl. So I sat next to Juan while watching the movement of the theater. People went from one side to the other, there were the places marked for major artists. We, for example, had places of sectors far behind, ie, we could occupy any seat of a particular place in the theater. Rachel and Santana were different: they were closer to the stage.
"I'm nervous." Shelby rubbed her hands. "I rehearsed thousands of times an acceptance speech for a Tony... but it's my daughter with a real chance to do that."
"How long have she and Santana to go through the red carpet?" Juan seemed to be so blown away by the event. On the contrary, behaved so impatiently.
"Rachel needs to talk to people and promote her jobs and herself." Shelby answered.
"Promote herself? It sounds horrible!"
"It's how her job works, dear. It's not only about talent."
"It should be."
"Agree: it should be. But we are not living in a sort of utopia."
Famous actors and actresses began to arrive at their accents and it was not long until we saw Santana kind of lost. A woman said something to her and then pointed to the chair. Santana seemed annoyed while the ceremonial woman practically pushed her into the correct location. Rachel arrived not long after and tried to find us before positioning in the chair beside. I was happy to get to see the two of the location it was. Next to Santana was Andrew May and wife. He wasn't even running for anything, but it was a British theater actor that is doing Slings and Arrows' protagonist.
Soon the ceremony began and from time to time Rachel looked back looking for us. Sometimes my phone vibrated with her texts messages. As at the time that Catherine Zeta-Jones stood beside Gary Cooper to show one of the musical acts. Rachel put her hand on his forehead as if it were "faint from emotion" and then wrote:
"Almost pinched CZJ's butt!" - Rachel
Then came the moment of her Category: Best Featuring Actress in a Musical. The winner was Jane Stolz and I was powerless rows behind not able to give Rachel a hug of comfort. But I sent my message:
"Wait next year, my lady." - Quinn
"Love you." – Quinn
Them I received the text:
"Next year, I will win an Emmy." - Rachel
That's my girl!
…
(Rachel)
Amazing that we all six have never been together in Central Park. I visited the place less than I would like and I didn't know why. Maybe I was too busy working. I should have enjoyed more afternoons like that one with my parents. We were doing a picnic in peace after that madness that was Tony awards. Since Nina and her staff was hired, I no longer had so many problems with my phone, despite having been forced to change my number because of the ridiculous amount of people who had it. Quinn and Beth made good use of the sunny afternoon and were running from one side to the other trying to hold a kite. I have the impression that the little Beth was far more competent than my girlfriend with the toy. Anyway, the two were having fun and I knew how important this was for Quinn. I was watching them for a while eating a delicious peach.
"Your sister is breathing?" Shelby made me divert my attention to the body that was lying beside me with its head on my lap.
Santana drooled on my leg. Literally. She was dead to the world, but there was a good reason for her tiredness: she was working her ass on her new little business about kitchen towels and others fabric accessories. I've never seen her so determined to make something work. She made an agreement with Quinn, Johnny and Mercedes to assemble where different collections for that first contract. Zaide was helping her, of course, funded some values, but Santana was the one dealing with whole management. Andrew did a beautiful and functional website. The next step, after the industrial strike, was contacting customers and hire a company services for online purchases. That was a lot to do, I think.
"She's still alive... for now." I ran my fingers through her hair.
"I still can't believe I saw Liza Minelli!" My father said with a funny excitement. It was a reminiscent of those up when Dad watched the musical with me.
"Honey, sometimes your gay side emerges bizarrely. If it was Barbra, I would understand perfectly, but Lisa is not my favorite." Shelby gave a peck on my father. He smiled through dowdy and blushed. I thought the scene very lovely.
"My father is a charming bisexual Latino. Take it or leave it, Shelby Corcoran." I teased.
"No risks, my dear." She showed her engagement ring for the umpteenth time. "This one is already hooked with my charm."
"Lucky you, Santana is dead to the world!" I laughed while ran my hand through my sister's shoulder and arm. "Surely she would have a very sharp answer to that."
"Sure she would." And then smirked.
"Mom! Dad!" Beth came screaming. "Quinn broke my kite!"
"It wasn't my fault. It got stuck in a tree!" My girlfriend blushed. She sat beside me in our towel with the broken kite in hands. "I think I can fix it… somehow..."
"How about some ice cream to compensate little bug?" Beth hugged my father and then "helped" him to get up to go after the lad who was selling popsicles and balloons.
"My poor Quinn. A photography genius but so incompetent with mere kites!" I turned my face to kiss her on the lips.
"How's your agenda for this summer?" Shelby interrupted us.
"Part of it I will be stuck at work." I said without much happiness.
"I think Santana will be wrapped with Rock'n'Pano. Why mom?"
"I'm considering my options. Your father and I will go to New Zealand in our honeymoon and we need someone to take care of Beth..." Shelby was interrupted by laughter coming from the person who had her head in my lap. Wasn't she dead to the world?
"It would be great if Rachel could go." Santana opened her eyes. "It would be her opportunity to meet her hobbit family. It's not everyday that you find the same species... ouch!" I slapped her shoulder. Hard. She stood like that, squeezing in an eye that she would slap back after.
"Why don't you take Beth with you?" I asked.
"Not on my honeymoon, Rachel! We haven't decided, but your aunt Maria proposed to take care of her while we're gone. The problem is…"
"It's aunt Maria! We get it."
After our picnic in Central Park, we took our parents to spend the rest of the afternoon in our apartment. Our meetings were becoming so rare that it was healthy seize every moment we had together. Santana wanted to show our parents the website of the new company, but my father closed the computer and said he would calmly see it in Lima. At that moment he just wanted to enjoy a good time with their daughters without worrying about work. We both ended up going to the kitchen preparing dinner while the others stayed close listening to good stories. After diner, my father and I went to the balcony that connects our living room with Santana's room, which was the only place in the apartment that we could talk alone.
"So…" My father had a glass of wine in hand. "How is your sister?"
"Papi…"
"I mean, really, Rachel? Santana haven't talked to me or Shelby since my birthday party. All I know is that she is opening her company with your grandfather."
"Yeah, and it's pretty much what she was doing in those past weeks apart studying."
"Why am I feeling that you two are hiding something?"
"I'm not hiding anything, papi."
"So why?"
"I don't know. The past weeks were hard to all of us. I've just started shooting Slings, Santana is working her ass off, and Quinn…"
"What about Quinn?"
"She is very stressed because of her shit underpaid job. You know papi, things are getting better to me. I will have my first paycheck next week and we all are going to breathe again."
"That's what bothers me, Rachel. If you have some difficulties you should have told me. I would gladly have helped you all, at least paying part of your rent, I don't know… with something!"
"We are ok, papi. Don't worry."
The subject Mr. Weiz hitherto veiled. I didn't comment anything with my father before hoping Santana would do it. But my sister was silent, and then I did the same. But, perhaps, that was a good time to test the waters and try to figure out if my father knew this story.
"Papi?"
"What?"
"Did you know that bubbee and Mr. Weiz dated once?"
"Yeah…" Seemed my father started to also test the waters too.
"More than that: they had an affair?" My father shook his head in acknowledgment. "Papi? What daddy told you about it?"
"I assume you already know the truth, so I'll be blunt: your father told me about Mr. Weiz when we were already living together in Cleveland, and Hiram wasn't speaking with Joel at that time. I gave all the support I could and respected all decisions he made about it. That's why we decided not to tell anything to you two since it wasn't that important to Hiram: his father was Joel Berry. End of story. Which brings me to the question: how did you know? I doubt that Sarah would simply talk about this with you or Santana."
"Mr. Weiz told Santana and bubbee confirmed everything."
"Why?"
I hesitated. My father was a controlled man, but when he looses his cool, it is for real. I wasn't sure how he would react if he knew and I feared for him. Weiz was a powerful guy and I'd kill myself if he does something with my father.
"I think he felt alone, desperate for a family or something. And he likes Santana. Not like, like Santana. It's a mentor thing, or grandparent thing."
"I see… Rachel, be careful and watch your sister closely. Weiz never bothered Hiram after their talk, but he wasn't a man I would trust. I know he was behind of that Stuyvesant story. Though I admit that studying in a strong school did well to your sister, I haven't approved of the means used to bring her to New York. And the fact that you have followed her was another blow."
"I know that, papi. But everything ended well, right?"
"Maybe… Is there something else you want to discuss?"
"Would you consider leave Beth here while you guys enjoy your honeymoon in New Zealand? I know I won't have time, or maybe Santana… but it would be important to Quinn."
"I don't know, Rachel." He looked to the living room, where Quinn, Santana and Shelby were talking about something and Beth was watching TV. "I know your aunt Maria isn't the funnier person, but she is responsible and is one of the few people I trust with my eyes closed. I'm legally responsible for Beth now. I have a parental job to do, and even though I don't care about Quinn and Beth proximity, there are many other things to consider. And if an emergency happens?"
"I know first aid."
"But Quinn doesn't! I'm no speaking only of first aid here, Rachel. I'm not refusing your offer either. I'm only saying that there is much to think about."
My parents and Beth came back home asking for more calls, because our weekly conversations wasn't enough according them. Once they were gone, Santana took a quick shower and then went back to get her face on the computer, back to business. I wasn't going to convince my sister to take a break, so I did more of the same: put a blanket around her shoulders and a glass of milk on the table.
"Thank you, Ray."
I kissed her on the head before collecting me to my room, to Quinn's arms. But one of these days, I will clog that glass of milk with sleeping pill. The hierarchy was also reversed.
…
(Quinn)
That was why the people who worked in that studio were basically college guys. Only this kind of people could work so hard for nothing. Many colleagues looked happy and grateful for the opportunity. I thought differently. Not that I would be a mercenary, but I already considered myself a professional: one without lucky at the moment. I had a freela for the week: I would be photographing a christening. I took the job because the money, but it was so hopeless. It felt as if my career was in the end of which it had barely begun.
I was helping the WSN reporting team to park the equipments for a field trip, one more video to edit later, when Corey called me in his office. Nobody liked to talk with Corey "in his office" because most times meant scolding or shutdown. The only thing that would make me regret leaving the studio was a negative item on my curriculum. But I was a professional, so I finished helping the reporting team, gave all the instructions needed, and then I attended Corey call. I was psychologically preparing for my resignation in the short way. I knocked his door and he said to get in. I obeyed and sat in the chair in front of his messy desk.
"Fabray, what is your current availability beyond working here?" My heart skipped a beat. I could see him saying I was fired.
"I'm free, I think, since I basically do freelancer photography jobs and the college stuffs."
"I have a friend, Alan Gehl, who is producing a documentary about the current folk scene in New York mixing new stuff with old stuff. I didn't understand right. Anyway, he is looking for a cheap cinematographer but competent enough to shoot this doc. The production has tight budget, if you understand me. He asked me for someone, and I thought of you."
"Really?" My heart raced even more, this time with excitement.
"Yes, you are a good student, professional, and I've seen the stuffs you did with Santiago. They are very nice for a college work. Maybe you fit the profile that Alan demand, so I took the liberty of indicating you." He gave me a card. "Call him and talk. Maybe you will like to do documentaries."
I took the card and thanked Corey. Almost grabbed his neck and kissed him with joy, but I restrained myself. I left the studio now with my day's agenda fulfilled and called Alan.
"Hello?" A gruff voice answered.
"Alan Gehl?"
"Yes. Who is this?"
"This is Quinn Fabray. Corey Filemon said you were looking for a crew to your documentary."
"Oh, yes. Quinn Fabray. You're the girl who directed that short inspired in Tarantino, right? I saw it on Youtube. It's very cool."
"Yes, I'm the one. And thank you."
"So I've been working on this documentary project for two years and only now I got money to shot it properly, but I can only make modest payments. I have an indie producer and we don't have many subsidies. I pay for hours worked: $20 dollars. Look, it's a work for at least two months of filming, sometimes at night. If you're in the mood, come in my office tomorrow around 15h. Do you have the address?"
"566 Country Road 607, Jersey City, New Jersey?"
"Ah, Corey gave you my card? Cool. The reference is the Salvation Army. We'll talk tomorrow, and get settled, I'll give you the timeline we have so far."
"Okay, thank you. See you tomorrow. "
I hung up with renewed vigor. While the money was short, it was a professional team from the most idealist filmmakers of the cinema. And I liked them.
…
(Santana)
My goal wasn't profit yet. I needed to make my brand known while trying to reset my production costs. If I could end the year with money in cash to pay all the bills and taxes, I will be happy. If I could make a profit: it would be a carnival. Andrew made a spectacular website, very easy to navigate and, we are planning on spread spam soon. That dork son of a bitch was really spectacular with these things. And I still had three collections to use until the end of the year. Quinn made sure to select the five pictures. That arrogant blonde has really good insight to the thing. My favorite one was of a landscape taken from the balcony of our apartment. I couldn't wait to see all printed on the products and get sales.
Mercedes also made four brilliant pieces, which were named "Chicago Hits Collection". It was designs and shapes inspired by the city she lived with my cousin Julio. It was terrible bargain with her because Mercedes wants to have absolute control over everything involving her name. I didn't blame her, she was always a diva, but there are moments that or you just sign the fucking contract or go fuck away. Interestingly, only when I sent her to hell that she signed the contract with me.
Johnny was the easiest of the three and the least handful. He made a collection of five pieces with tribal tattoos diagrammed with little poems he wrote. The most difficult part was resisting those green eyes. I didn't want to show my little brotherly interest, but it was getting harder to hold.
So my Rock'n'Pano was about to begin. The company was legalized; Zaide soon would deliver the first pieces of the collection and would be forewarned if they needed a new lead. All my contracts were agreed and no one could knock me down by legal means. But I was experiencing some problems. There could, for example, have meetings with potential clients, as owners of gift shops. Yes I had audiences with smaller entrepreneurs who wouldn't add some value, but, anyway, they could help in business. Sales are sales!
I suspected who was putting these barriers: Caleb Weiz. He didn't take very well the fact that I told him to screw himself after I purposely missed a time to "talk in a civilized way". Coincidentally, it was when my difficulties with my company began. I didn't know what he was up to, but if he wanted to wait until I sought walking on his knees begging forgiveness for having turned my back, ah, he shouldn't hold his breath. I was Santana "freaking" Berry-Lopez and he could kiss my ass!
"Santy..." Rachel came to my room and looked frightened. "There is a man outside saying that he is a lawyer and need to talk to us."
I saved my work and went with my sister to meet such a vampire. I hated lawyers but these people were needed in the business world. The guy who was at our door was tall and athletic. He should is on his later 30s.
"Santana Berry-Lopez, correct?" I nodded positive. "I'm here as a representative of Mr. Caleb Weiz. He wants to talk with you and Rachel Berry-Lopez tomorrow."
"Hell no. We won't change our minds and I don't have for him." Rachel said firmly. I was proud.
"My client wants to have the chance to discuss some issues directly with your ladies." well, I needed to talk to this old Jew, even though I didn't want. "Tomorrow at three o'clock in his office in Weiz Co."
"I'll be there!"
"Santana!" Rachel protested.
"I swear he is blocking my contacts, Rachel! If this is my chance to get some satisfaction, so I'll enjoy it. Confirm everything, Jeeves, and tell Mr. Weiz not forget the roasted and salted peanut."
"What?" Rachel looked at me weird after the lawyer nodded and left our door.
"Salted Peanuts are better than those pumpkin seeds you like to eat."
"Why do you meet this man?" Rachel was worried.
"Because I think he is retailing. Blockade of my contacts was only a warning. I didn't do much in front of that handsome doormat, but the bomb is coming, Ray. In this case, it is better to face impact with some protection."
"Who's to you?"
"Bubbee said I should trust my instincts and that's what I'm doing. The question is: Do you trust me?"
"Of course!"
"Great. But if I don't come back home at five o'clock..."
"Santana!" I smiled and hugged Rachel to reassure her. But inside, I was very worried.