Halloween

(Quinn)

"I was so scared." I said on the phone. "Santiago was there with me and the people seemed very friendly, but my legs were shaking."

"Come on, Quinn. I'm sure it wasn't that bad."

"I fumbled altogether. It seemed that I forgot everything. I stared at the cables for five minutes without knowing how to connect them. It was a simple test to run the commercial tomorrow, but since everything is done for 'yesterday', I almost panicked."

"How did you calm down?"

"First I ran and told to the cameraman that I urgently needed go to the bathroom. Then I asked for a colleague to tell me where the coffee machine was."

"Oh, Quinn..." I heard her great laugh. "You can't drink coffee. You get hyperactive, and coffee gives you insomnia if you drink it after five p.m."

"After five? Really?" It was my time to laugh. It was good to hear the details of Rachel's observations. "Then, I guess I will have insomnia tonight because I drank a lot of coffee. Anyway, it worked because I could regain control. I went back to that set and started doing my job as camera assistant. No one was impressed, of course. At least I got the shit done."

"Now, you're talking like Santana."

"It's unbelievable: shit and fuck at that set are commas, not proper words. The director says more fuck than Leonardo di Caprio in Wolf of Wall Street. I've never seen anything close to that."

"Did you do something more?"

"Yes I did small things. I'm still familiarizing myself with the environment even though my coordinator doesn't make the things easy. I need to stay at the same rhythm of the others or I'm out. That's why they keep a waiting list of the latest candidates: because some don't last the first month. It's not art. It's a dirty industrial process, still, it's amazing."

"What about movies? And the TV shows?"

"That's the thing. Who works in the New Rochelle studios for the TV shows is a team that barely appears at the central office and hardly my coordinator send someone there except to meet any emergency. So we were basically in the office taking care of the commercials and the advertising campaigns. Most are filmed on location or in the smaller studio, so... it's where inters are concentrated."

"That's a shame."

"It involves filming and photography anyway. I can't newly arrive in a company and ask them to give me the best job. I need to show what I can do first."

"Yeah. It's good to see you like this."

"Like what?"

"Hopeful, excited. It had been some time, Quinn. It's good to see you focused more on what please you and less on the money."

"To be honest, I still worry about money. Things are tight here."

"But you are living better just studying and doing your internship on Bad Things, apart Rock'n'Pano, of course."

"Truth." I had slight impression where Rachel was going. Sometimes she complained that I worked too hard and pushed myself too much. But I did everything to myself and to not be a weight in her life. So she never had to do anything for me, financially speaking, by necessity. And there is my pride and it's important to me. "My current situation reminds our early days in NYC: small place, not much food, little money… but I'm good, Rach. And I'm happy."

"It was a great fight in the begging, and kind of romantic, idealistic."

"You are romantic. A romantic full of yourself." I teased.

"You need to exercise your optimism."

"Really?"

"Of course." Rachel gave me a brilliant idea.

"Maybe I can start now. Do you want to go out with me to a Halloween party on Saturday? Nothing big. Just some friends from NYU."

"Saturday night?"

"Yeah!"

"I can't. I'm attending a promotional party on Saturday afternoon."

"Another red carpet?"

"There will have a carpet, some reporters and photographers, panel with the logo of sponsors and the event's name. The usual."

"Sucks for me, great to you."

"To be sincere, I wouldn't go out with you right now, anyway."

"Oh!" I felt even a twinge of humiliation. "Will you have a date for this promotional party?" I tried to be casual.

"Just Nina."

"So, it's straight business."

"Yes, it is. I need to promote the play and the show. On the other hand, my sister is partying this Saturday at the Columbia's Halloween. She bought me one ticket and one extra, I guess she was thinking about Johnny, but I'm sure he won't go."

"Why not?"

"They kissed at Slings and Arrows party. But then something else happened. She won't tell me what so easily and Johnny is just Johnny."

"Hum." I wasn't interested on this drama in particular, although I was a bit curious. "Are you going to Columbia's party?"

"I don't know. The party is at this cool nightclub, with a decent DJ and everything, but you do know how I feel about these nightclubs. I'd rather go to someplace smaller. And I might be tired after the promotional party."

"You love that karaoke bar and that's it."

"That's not true."

"Ok, and all those places that you Broadway guys love to go, where burgers costs $23."

"Maybe. But don't you think you know me that well, Quinn Fabray, because you don't."

"You're right, Rach. There are things I don't have idea about you, but I can ask, right?"

"Right."

"Ok." Maybe I could work around this with a bit of humor. "Like, what is the color of the panties that you're wearing right now?"

"Quinn!" She protested and I started laughing. "That's not funny!"

"Don't pretend shock, Rach. You know I would be in your pants in a snap and I have no shame to hide it."

"You're out of line, Quinn Fabray. Our phone calls are supposed to be civilized, not to describe underneath clothes and use this for libidinous purpose. If you don't understand this, then…"

"Sorry!" I interrupted before she completed the threat. I don't understand why Rachel was so offended by these things. Nobody better than I knew she wasn't innocent and used to be open to trying new things in bed as positions and toys, since they weren't considered degrading. I understood that we were just beginning again, but that was just a little joke. "Sorry for this joke."

"The problem is that you do many sexist jokes when we are alone."

"Since when ask about the color of panties is sexist?"

"It made me uncomfortable in the first place. We're not dating anymore, Quinn. You don't have the right."

"I'm sorry, Rachel, for the last time, I'm sorry. Do you know what? You must be tired and the last thing I want is have an argument with you because of such silly thing."

"Good night, Quinn."

"Good night…" my love.

She hung up the phone. I got up from my bed, put on a slipper and dragged my feet to the kitchen. Santiago was drawing while television was on something. He loved to make storyboards and draw incredible sets that he would like to use in some movies that he will shoot someday. I left him alone with his imagination and poured myself a glass of water. I wasn't hungry and maybe Rachel was right about me and coffee: I was tired but not sleepy, as I need to burn some energy first.

"Good night, Tiago."

"Already going to bed?"

"I'm going to study a little bit and then… dreamland."

"Ok, Fabray. Good night."

I went into my room and shut the door, turn on my radio: the music was low, but enough to my intentions. Unceremoniously I removed my pajama along with my panties. I went to my drawer and pulled out my dildo, my old pink Barbra. I lay down and tried to imagine the color of Rachel's panties.

…

(Rachel)

Makeup, hair, nails, the dress I bought only because of this event, and lots and lots of patience to deal and smile to people and celebrities from A to D list. I wasn't sure if some A list would attempted this party. I didn't care, anyway. The party was just for promotional purposes: it was work. Slings And Arrows was on and it was the new critic's darling, HBO renew it for the second season and I got my phone call from the producers. My character Kate would be back, but not Luis', at least, not as regular at this season. Rom would be back and I wasn't sure about Amanda. I didn't have the details about the new season but what I know was that I won't stay more than three months playing my new musical.

I wish I could be freer like my sister. But things was getting more and more difficult to leave my home and do and go whatever I want like back the time I was a complete unknown. It's changing because the TV show, but I wasn't willing to change my routine because it. I was glad that Santana was excited about the Halloween's party. It wasn't work, just fun with some of her college friends, including Andrew. Yes, after some time apart, these two started to talk again as good friends they always were. And Santana was talking about help Andrew on a new small company to develop apps. It could work.

My hair designer and his "team" weren't famous, but I didn't care: I liked them. They all were in my living room while my sister appeared with her costume in hand, not even close to get ready for the party.

"Why celebrity parties start so early?" Santana sat on the couch and watched me while my hair was brushed. "It's still four-thirty."

"You had to give something to the newspapers. The mechanisms of the press changed, but some traditions remain. For charity events, it is stylish to an event starts early and release the guests who have other plans, unless of course the gala nights." I asked the same thing to a castmate once and that's the answer she gave me.

"Interesting. That means you're going to the party, right?"

"It's a Halloween's party." I complained. "I don't have any costume."

"Yes you do: the clothes you wear now is a costume from a certain point of view. It's too stylish for your standards, therefore: a fantasy."

"That's rude!" Giles was shocked.

"You know nothing" I tried to ignore my sister and minimize the situation to Giles. "She can say worse things."

"Anyway…" Santana took the nail file from the girl from Giles' team. "You got your ticket. Do with it whatever you want, mi hermana." Her cell phone rang. It was a text message that she tried to respond quickly. She went to the kitchen and got out of there with our car keys in hand. "I need to solve something… so… good boring fancy party to you." Then, she's gone.

"She is always so… delicate?" Giles asked.

"Santana is a great bitch when she wants." I said without mincing-words. "But she is my bitch-sister."

"It's your karma, so."

"Far from it, Giles."

Once I finished getting ready, I contacted Nina and everything was ready to go to the event. I contact a service to transport me and my publicist. When we got there, we found the usual: some securities, assistants, photographers, gossip reporters. Nina talked to one of the assistants that were organizing the celebrities' arrivals, and there was the same old.

"Can you give us any clues about Kimon's fate?" A reporter asked me.

"Excuse me?"

"Kimon, the ship name for Kate with Simon." That's why I should check a little more at the social networks like Nina told me.

"I can't say anything. No spoilers!" In a way that was fun. "It's only shown four episodes of ten, so there is a long way to find out what happens with these two. But what I can say is that their relationship will progress organically."

"And Slings had a great acceptance and people are talking about season two. How did you get that."

"Better than I expected. I knew that we were all working on great material. The writing is amazing and the production is witty. I was sure we had all the right components to make the audience respond well, and it happened. I'm very proud."

"Slings has a surprising young audience for a HBO show and it's already doing a whole movement in social networks. What do you think?

"Again, it's recognition of a great job. The most experienced cast is perfect and the younger ones are also talented. This mix of generations makes Slings being even more interesting. There is space to everybody shine."

After the photos, I went straight to the party where I met my co-star Grace Hemon, who I hated, but for the eyes of the public, our cast must be a family. Natalie Portman and husband were also there and I was happy to share the table with her. It was a person I used to "bump" in New York and we always had a brief cordial conversation.

After the speeches, the guests started to circulate and a soft music was on. I drank some sparkling wine, ate some snacks and then pose for some pictures with other actors. It's fun, but not genuine fun. The Halloween party was burning inside my purse. I haven't dance in ages and despite I'd rather go to quieter and small places, something was calling me: my sixth sense. I checked myself at the bathroom mirror: I wasn't that bad for a party: my dress was a little chic, but maybe Santana had a point: it could be a costume on that kind of party. Maybe a little mask?

"Nina, do you think it was enough? I mean, this party?"

"I think so. Why? Aren't you liking in here?"

"Yes, I am, but I have another place to go… a particular one."

"That Halloween party? Rachel, I know you hate when I try to give some advice about your personal life, but you're my business and a party organized by college students isn't the best place for you right now. Maybe one party more… privé."

"Do you have a mask?"

"No, but you do have sunglasses."

"Good idea. In a dress like this one and sunglasses, my costume will be Audrey Hepburn." I smiled.

When I got home again, this time with Nina, Santana was already gone. So, I put some fake jewelry on, Nina helped me with my hair, and I put my sunglasses: yes, I could pass as Audrey.

I took a cab toward the nightclub in Midtown. I showed my ticket and the security asked my I.D: Under 18 were banned and these people were smart enough to not get carried away by false documents.

"Rachel B. Berry-Lopez?" The tall and huge guy looked at me and smiled. "Rachel Berry?"

"Do you like HBO shows?"

"I'd rather Broadway." And winked at me. "Enjoy the party, miss Berry. But if you have any problem, call for Big Ben."

"Like the clock?"

"Yeah, like the clock."

As I was entering the club, the muffled sound was going up and what I saw was a grand party and very well produced. I understood why the tickets were so expensive and why Santana said that the party was organized by "Columbia's first class", meaning the guys with money: new and old. The question was how I could find my sister and her friends right there. I walked circling the crowd. People were excited and fantasized. Some were creative and there were the usual girls who took the opportunity to put their slut side out without being criticized. I could see some Tarzan's Jane, Playboy's bunnies, odalisques, dominatrix, and a lot of slut geeks. But my first mission was finding The Thundercats. My sister was Willy Kit.

I watched the crowd, until I saw "Panthro" in the bar getting some drink. It was Andrew. I ran to him.

"Hey!" He said as loud as he could and gave me a hug.

"Where's Santana?" I said loudly in his ear.

"Over there" And pointed the direction. "With the others."

I waited Andrew to get his drink. He took my hand and led me to the middle of the dance floor where were the other "Thundercats". Santana gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Glad you made it!" She shouted in my ear.

The group, of course, was not just the cats from Thundera. There were other characters, like John Rambo, Dr. Spock, Luke Skywalker and a lion. Not the Lion-O, this lion was an ordinary one and I felt sorry for the poor guy with such warm clothes on that effervescent dance floor. At least the cheap mask looked fresh. Santana was in heavy party mode flirting with some Wonder Woman and everything. After Andrew and the fiasco with Johnny, I think she was in hunting mode and her next prey was obvious: she wanted some girl to hookup. I couldn't blame the Wonder Woman was so into "Willy Kit" because, frankly, my sister was sexy as hell. The lion approached me and started dancing around. I couldn't tell who was behind the mask, only this person danced fairly well and kept a safe distance from me, making clear it was interested without necessarily invading my personal space disrespectfully. I liked it and allowed the lion to get near until we started dancing really close without actually making sex insinuations like lots of girls were doing there, including the Wonder Woman with my sister. I like it. It's the way I liked to dance with somebody. We danced three songs until I pointed to the bar. I needed some drink ASAP, and the lion followed me.

"The lion drinks something?" Said loudly over the music.

"The lion drinks what you drink." The voice was muffled by the music and mask. And I frowned because despite all noise, I could recognize that voice anywhere, anyway. Without ceremony, I pulled the mask out and a very sweaty Quinn Fabray was revealed.

The bartender handed me the cup with ice vodka and I sup it before turning my attention to my ex-girlfriend. There was conflict in me. I was surprised and still angry with her just because she was at the party. I pointed to a seemingly quieter space where the music wasn't that loud and pulled her there. The space in question was a full of couples making out and some were virtually having sex. But I didn't care because there was the only place, but the bathroom, that I could actually talk without screaming.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I still have to say loud. "Are you stalking me?"

"No!" She tried to fix her wet hair. "You didn't say you would come and Santana gave me the ticket."

"Santana?"

"Yes, your sister Santana gave me one ticket."

"Did you ask one to her?" I crossed my arms.

"Kinda!"

"Why?"

"I… You didn't say you would come, ok? And this party is awesome."

Quinn had a point: the party was awesome. Santana said that everybody was talking about it, even at NYU and others universities from NYC.

"Relax, Rachel. I'm not here to fight you back."

"Why not…" The question slipped me.

"You're not ready. I got it."

"Well… we can still dance. I was having fun."

"Me too. So… we're good, right?"

"Ok… I don't want to fight anyway."

"Cool. Let's dance, Rach."

In another place, our conversation could have more words or phrases. But I think that was the best we could talk in an environment like. And standing in the middle of couples making out in that space was somewhat disconcerting. Quinn and I came back to the dance floor. Santana was kissing the Wonder Woman. Even Andrew was flirting with Cheetara.

I bought another drink and started to dance a little with Santana, who took a song off from Wonder Woman to interact with me. I also danced a song with Andrew and think I even helped in his flirting. Occasionally, I came to interact with Quinn again, who didn't put the mask back. I didn't know if it was the ice vodka I drank, if it was the environment or the inviting music. What I know is that at the end of the night, Quinn and I started kissing.