I Love New York / New York New York
Work hard for what you want because the best things in life might not come easy.
Where she was today wasn't somewhere Cedes had ever dreamed she'd be, her life was meant to be simple. NAYADA had always been a dream that had to come true for Cedes she'd got all these big ideas about becoming famous beyond belief, meeting some famous guy, becoming the next power couple, and loving every minute of celebrity life. She hadn't thought about anything outside of the actual singing, so when she finally got into NAYADA it was daunting for her to have to make friends, share facilities with people she really didn't know, and totally cater for herself.
As an only child there had been very little she'd had to do for herself, up until now, so it was inevitable that the enthusiasm she'd travelled across the country with soon left and she was drowning in this pit of loneliness, self-doubt, and an overwhelming depression at the reality of adult life, she was at that place her parents warned her she'd be, sitting in a big city wishing she were home, warm, loved and catered for.
Even with all the money her parents had thrown at this she'd still managed to find herself sharing with two females who were nothing like her, for one they didn't have anything called shy about them, and to top it all they'd both become her nemesis'. Santana was a brilliantly talented vocalist, she had this rasp behind her voice that Cedes practiced at every opportunity, the girl was fun enough there was never an awkward silence when she was around, but Cedes couldn't keep up with her antics.
About a month into the house mate bonding thing, they had going on, Santana became moody, and she'd flip at the stupidest things, on one of her good days they'd managed to sit her down and eventually it transpired that she was in love with this girl called Brittany. Brittany in turn was apparently madly in love with this guy called Artie, he was quite a character and well liked on campus, so it seemed Santana, if anything, was her bit of lust on the side. Santana never came across as someone that would settle for second best or anything like that, but there was nothing to lie about, that Brittany girl was a fine piece of ass in anyone's book, so Cedes understood the dilemma
Brittany was a dancer and, from what Cedes knew of her, she was also destined for big things, she'd seen some of the performances and heard the talk about her being offered a few things on the side, so the girl was already flying. As far as Cedes knew she'd been with Artie before NAYADA, she'd watched him unpacking her from the car on arrival, they'd sat together in registration and through induction week, and she witnessed them kissing in the dance studio, it all seemed so genuine, so for Santana to be in the mix now, was a bit of a mystery.
While Santana was competitive and amicable, Cedes' other roommate Rachel was the exact opposite, she was a female grinch, and from the minute she walked into a room everything had to be about her, to the point that she wasn't very much liked by many. Cedes never let that rock her because it was unarguable that Rachel was a very talented soul, misguided in that she thought she had to fight everyone and everything to get what she wanted, so Cedes assumed that Rachel was like her, just not as confident about her talent as she tried to make out.
When Rachel wasn't getting all aggressive and protective about her art, she was with the other love of her life this guy called Finn, he was older than her say around 25, wasn't at NAYADA but he could be found there more often than not in her bed. His job seemed to be laying in her bed until she was ready for him, with breaks in which he'd attempt to eat them out of house and home, to end that piss take Cedes and Santana tended to live on takeaways.
This whole situation she'd found herself in today had started because Santana wanted to make Brittany jealous, Cedes had learned the truth behind the mysterious friendship that Santana had struck up with a rather handsome blond stranger. He was younger than Finn, but he didn't attend NAYADA either, so it had got to the point wherein Finn was resident in Rachel's bed while this guy Sam had taken up residence on the couch, both paying nothing towards anything to do with the shared house.
1 Month Ago
"What the hell is that smell… oh" Cedes smiled at the guy sitting on the couch "And you are?"
"Sam" he smiled throwing nuts in his mouth, before picking the stray ones off his top "Friend of Santana's" he looked across the room into the kitchen "She's pretending to be domestic" he laughed
"Cedes roommate" she told him walking through the main room and upstairs to hers, she threw herself on her bed and moaned at the thought of being a gooseberry in her own home
All evening it seemed like the house belonged to these two guys the way they played around and dominated the remote, later that night Cedes gasped at the fact that Rachel had actually gone out and bought gaming devices because Finn was bored during the day. In protest she got up after just five minutes of them playing and went to bed, she had no interest whatsoever in the damn games let alone to be sitting watching Finn groping Rachel for his excitement.
"Goodnight" Sam turned to tell her; he was the only one that noticed she'd actually got up; she smiled and went up to her room. Six hours later she was walking through the main room, getting herself some water, a usual move for her as she always woke up with dry mouth and needed something chilled and refreshing "Morning" she heard a male voice making her jump
"Shit" she spun round holding her chest when she realised it was Sam "Didn't you go home last night?"
"I'm crashing on the couch for a while"
"What's wrong with Santana's room?" she asked turning to grab the water out the fridge
"That's not who we are to each other" he replied
"What do you mean?" she turned to look at him puzzled at his response
"She's the sister of a friend of mine back home, I'm down on my luck right now and she offered me a couch for a little while" he ran his fingers through his hair, Cedes stood watching him, smiling at the picture of who she thought he was in her mind, and how different he looked to that picture now she was seeing him all ruffled up and sleep faced.
"So, you two…?"
"No" he laughed "As payment she wants me to pretend there's something going on in front of some guy, but that's a small price to pay for a warm place to rest my head"
"And you're alright with being used like that?"
"It depends on who you feel is doing the using" he laughed
"Sounds like you both are, so no harm I guess" Cedes smiled
"It's temporary I mean, New York just isn't my thing, don't like the speed, people are so unsociable I need conversation you know?"
"I think I'm learning that about you" she laughed
"Sorry am I holding you up?"
"I need to get ready for class" she threw the empty glass in the dishwasher and made for the bathroom "I guess you'll be here when I get back?" she asked half an hour later as she crossed the room to leave the house
"I will" he tapped the cushion before falling back into it
"Well get some sleep because I get my midterm assignment today and it's practice till I drop after that for two straight weeks" she laughed closing the door behind her. She rolled her eyes at the drama that was going to unfold over the next few weeks as career came before those idiots in the house for her. Seven hours later and she had to smile at him still being in the same position she'd left him in, with not a thought for moving "Good day?"
"I don't know how you guys live out here it's almost winter holiday and I feel like I'm in a heatwave" he laughed sitting up
"It's not that hot" she rolled her eyes
"In here it is" his eyes lingered on her for a second
"Sorry" she held her hand up, breaking the awkward silence "Midterm" she pointed to the envelop in her hand
"Don't mind me" he watched her walk across the room and up the stairs, she smiled feeling his eyes on her, knowing where his mind was
Three Weeks Ago
"That was so lit" Santana walked into the house hanging off Sam's arm "Did you see her face?"
"I did" his voice dull and unconcerned "It's been a week and she doesn't seem to be at all bothered to me"
"Will you two please get a damn room?" Santana covered her eyes at Finn and Rachel making out on the couch "Of course she's bothered
"It's kind of hard focusing upstairs with Cedes giving it her all, and you know she's not going to stop" Rachel sat up straightening her clothes
"Game?" Finn held the remote out asking Sam
"Sure" Sam laughed sitting on the couch to join him
"Don't forget that food" Finn looked up at Rachel before his attention went to the game
"Did I hear…" Cedes came downstairs, smiling at Sam when his head turned to acknowledge she was in the room "Someone say food?"
"They're in the kitchen, make of that what you will" he laughed watching her walk through the room and into the kitchen to join them
"She's hot yeah?" Finn stopped the game and looked at him smiling
"If I wasn't fake dating Santana" Sam replied leaving the rest of that conversation in his mind
"It's a fake date dude, in here it doesn't count"
"I know, but she's been so kind letting me stay and everything, I don't want to get in between them"
"Your choice to make my friend, them or you, may I remind you they're in college for just another year together" Finn frowned
"That's another thing she's got another year here, I've already told her I hate New York"
"As I said dude, your life, your choice" he tapped his shoulder before restarting the game "Come on let me kick your ass" they got lost in the game
Santana was in the kitchen telling Cedes and Rachel about the events of the evening, apparently, she'd found out that Brittany and Artie were going to the sugar shack and turned up there on Sam's arm. This was the fourth time in a row Brittany had seen them together, this time they were sat in a booth pretending to be intimate, giving everyone a good show. Santana had sneaked a look at Brittany and her face was like thunder, she ended the story by telling them she didn't think it was going to be long from now before Brittany made her choice
"So, what if she chooses Artie?" Cedes asked
"Yeah" Rachel added "What will you do then?"
"She…" Santana stood taking that sinario in "She won't" she shook the thought out of her head "She wants to commit to me, but she doesn't want to hurt him" she looked at her nails "Talking of hurt" she looked at Cedes "Sam says your name a hell of a lot, something going on with you two?"
"What?" Cedes gasped "You do know I have midterm coming up?" she looked at her "I don't have time to carry this conversation on, let alone be looking at your pretend boyfriend"
"So, you're not interested in him?"
"Right now, my only interest is getting this recital on point" she picked up some fruit, "Call me when the food comes" she turned on her heels "Plus he doesn't like New York" she added before she walked out the kitchen
"She didn't answer the question" Rachel told Santana
"What?" Santana asked puzzled
"You asked her if she was interested and she didn't answer the question, which means yes in Cedes language"
"Do you think?" Santana stood watching the door "It can't happen, he's with me"
"Technically he's not" Rachel reminded her
"Everything alright?" they heard Sam asking Cedes as she cross the room
"Everything is fine" they heard her reply, her sexy tone made Rachel and Santana look at each other
"There's definitely something there" Rachel smiled
"There definitely isn't" Santana snapped as the two of them left the kitchen "Let the battle begin" she laughed sitting close to Sam while Rachel almost sat on Finn's lap "Paying for dinner tonight says my man can beat your man, hands down"
"Only I'm not your man" Sam put Santana straight "This is a favour for a favour, right?"
"Right" she grabbed the control off him "Touchy tonight"
"Stickler for clear lines" he corrected her "And why aren't you busy rehearsing for your midterms?"
"I'm doing an old song, something I did at school" Santana huffed "It's in the bag"
"And I have several songs in my repertoire, I'm always prepared" Rachel smiled at Finn
"So" Sam looked at Finn knowing he was going too far but he needed to know "Why does Cedes practice so much?"
"Because she doesn't want to be a third wheel I guess" Santana offered
"But we're not together" Sam told her again
"Whatever it is, fake, real, truth, or lie…"
"…Santana" Sam looked at Finn knowing he needed to drop it "It doesn't matter" he huffed grabbing the remote off her "I've got no money anyway"
Two Weeks Ago
"Hey" Cedes walked into a quiet house "Where is everyone?" she asked Sam, smiling at him stood in the kitchen cooking again, they'd had some real food for the past three days, something she could get used to "What are you making tonight?" she dropped her bag and walked over to where he was "Smells delicious"
"It'll be delicious" he threw oil in a hot pan before looking back at her, "So" he waited until he'd got her attention "What's actually happening between us?"
"Like?" she looked at him half smiling
"We keep throwing looks, we have great conversations when no one's around, you get me, I get you, but then someone steps in the room and you go cold, what's that about?"
"You and Santana have something going on, I think she likes you"
"Maybe she does but…" he stopped adding ingredients to the pan to think about what he needed to say "But I know you know that's not going anywhere because I…"
"Let's not" she stopped him "I don't want to tread on anyone's toes, I'm not that girl"
"Fine" he held his hands up "Just know I'm not that guy either" he smiled
"Which guy?"
"The one that gives up that easy"
"Guys like you are sent to test girls like me" she frowned
"That means you like me, doesn't it?" he grinned
"It means don't burn the dinner" she giggled
"I thought we'd watch a movie after dinner, will you watch with us?"
"I don't know" she looked in the direction of the stairs
"Come on, you've been on that song now for two whole weeks and honestly it can't get any better, you've bagged it"
"Do you think?" she smiled "I was thinking it was maybe too much"
"It's perfect" he smiled "You're perfect" he tilted his head and exposed his shy
"Sam" she giggled
"Too corny?"
"Just cook the food" she waved her hand at him and walked off, knowing he was watching her
That evening against everything that was going on inside her head she went down to join the busy house for movie and popcorn "Hey" Santana smiled seeing her walk into the room "Movie night, interested?"
"What movie?" she asked like that was really something she was interested in
"Sam's choice Avatar 2 would you believe" Santana held the box up
"Oh" Cedes giggled "I know the first one word for word, this better live up to it" she sat on the couch next to Sam, watching Santana settling in on the left side of him, she had no choice really, Finn and Rachel had taken over the other one
"I speak the language too" he moved close to Cedes ear to whisper "Tutee neu moe (I want you)"
"Good to know" she smiled
"What did he say?" Santana asked inquisitively
"He likes the film too" Cedes quickly replied
"Yeah" Sam laughed looking at her amused
By the time they'd finished watching the movie there was so much clearing up to do you'd have thought an army of children had attacked the room "Is anyone…" Cedes watched Finn and Rachel wonder off "Santana?" she asked watching her fling her nose in the air as if cleaning was below her "You guys are fowl, he has to sleep in here" she snatched some empty packets up
"It's fine, I can get that" Sam walked over to her "You go to bed" he grabbed the rubbish out her hand "Without me"
"You think you've earned a spot in my bed?" she looked up at him grinning at his front
"I'm trying"
"You're trying alright" she rolled her eyes
"And I promise not to push this until you've done your performance thing" he held his three fingers up to promise
"Thank you" she picked up some bottles "But it really isn't fair to leave all this to you" she grabbed some more rubbish "So I'll do this and then I'll leave you to it, deal?"
"Deal" his head moved towards hers, knowing she wasn't going to let him kiss her, but he needed to at least try
"Sam" she stepped back "You promised"
"My bad" he stepped back, watched her take the bottles to the bin before walking across the room towards the stairs "Sweet dreams"
"Goodnight Sam" she giggled, she had something to think about tonight, he was going to make a move, he'd just told her that, but was she going to be ready for it, that was something she didn't have an answer to
One Week Ago
"Finn" Rachel's voice screeching through the house so high it caught everyone's attention
"What's happened?" Santana and Cedes got to her bedroom door at the same time asking
"He'd done it again" she screamed done the stairs "Come and get your stinking shoes out my damn room, I've got to sleep in here" she screamed at him
"It's not that bad" he shouted up to her "Hang them out the window"
"You need to hang him out the window" Santana told her "I could understand if he was out on the grind every day, but the man's sat in front of the TV what's he got to stink about?"
"Preach" Cedes giggled "Now you're going to have to bathe him every night by the smell of things"
"It's not even funny" Rachel laughed "I don't ask much"
"You don't ask anything" Santana told her
"Well, I don't ask for random guys to be my fake boyfriend to grab the attention of the person I love, if that's what you mean" Rachel snapped
"Ladies" Cedes tried to calm things down
"Especially when you can see clear as day he's into someone else" she finished
"Well, tough, cause she's not into him" Santana snapped back looking at Cedes "Are You?"
"Is this about Finn's stinking feet or my love life?" Cedes snapped
"Both" Santana told her, their attention shifting to Finn coming up the stairs
"Sam asked if he could speak with you" Finn told Cedes
"Oh" she smiled walking off to go see what he wanted
"Told you she was into him" Rachel snapped
"You called" Cedes walked over to the couch he was sitting on
"Yeah" his look telling her he was serious "Have a seat" he tapped the couch next to him "First I want to apologise"
"You do?" she frowned wondering what he'd done as she sat down
"Yeah" he moved nervously in the chair "I need to break a promise"
"Have you finished things with Santana?"
"You know what that is" he raked his hand through his hair "I really like you, I'm just fed up of slapping myself every night for not being straight with you, so I've decided, I'm going to tell Santana I can't help her out anymore and move out"
"Because of me?"
"Because I want you, and I think that might be a bit of an ask with Santana being around"
"This is all very touching, but you know telling Santana anything is never that easy"
"I'm going to tell her tonight" he huffed "It's as good a time as any"
"Are you sure this is what you want?"
"Positive" he grabbed her hand "Is it what you want?"
"I…" she looked into his eyes unable to lie "Yes it is"
"I knew you were into me" he punched the air, before attempting to go in for a kiss, their lips had barely touched before they heard shouting
"Sam" Santana's voice reached the room before she actually did, they jumped apart "We need to talk"
"Yeah" he looked at Cedes, knowing there was upset in Santana's voice "I was just thinking the same thing"
"I'll leave you two to it" Cedes got up she couldn't even look at the woman, she left the room
Whatever Santana and Sam had said that night it wasn't anything about finishing things, they seemed tighter than they'd ever been, in fact Santana was laying across his lap and all he had for Cedes was a whispered sorry, she was past mad, and stayed that way all week.
Today
"Midterms" Sam jumped up when she came into the room, he'd been doing his best to make friends, but she wasn't having it "Cedes" he rushed across the room towards her "If you'd just let me explain what's happened"
"It's fine" she held her hand up telling him not to touch her
"I'll be there to watch" he assured her "I do care"
"And I don't" she snapped grabbing her jacket before she left
"Did you explain?" Finn asked walking in just as the door slammed
"She won't give me a minute to, I'm going to try again once this is over" he huffed "Makes it worse that Santana doesn't want anyone knowing until after midterms"
"Tell her"
"She won't let me talk"
"Grab hold of her, pin her down if you think she's worth it, make her listen"
"Easier said than done"
"Nothing you want is ever easy" Finn told him, smiling at Rachel coming down the stairs followed by Santana "Ready?"
"Ready" Rachel grabbed Finn's arm and smiled at Santana grabbing Sam's
They sat listening to various artists Rachel did her rendition of a classic Broadway favourite, a while later Santana did her Contemporary staple piece, and nearing the end of the performances Cedes name was called, Sam sat up in his chair he'd heard her practicing for nearly a month in her room, but this was going to be at full throttle, he was excited, he sat watching her signal for the music to start
Finn looked at Sam making sure he knew she was singing about him "Fool in love, is she singing to you?" Santana nudged him to ask as if she was reading Finn's mind
"I'm kind of hoping so" Sam smiled
"Sam" Santana frowned "She's caught feelings; you know that right?"
"I know I feel something for her" he admitted "Shh"
They sat in silence listening, everyone was stood clapping her efforts at the end "Standing O" he looked around the room smiling as they walked towards her, because now he had something to say
"Can I speak to you all before the celebrations start?" Santana asked
"Sure" Cedes looked at Sam bracing herself as they made their way out the auditorium
"So" Santana got everyone's attention "About a week ago I got a call to say my mother's ill, dad wanted me to do my recital before heading home so, I can't stay for celebrations, Sorry"
"Cedes can we talk?" Sam asked, hoping for a yes "Please?" she nodded an agreement and led him outside
"What do you want?" she turned to ask
"What do I need to do to deserve you?"
"Ask" she smiled
"Will you…" his voice tailored off at her grabbing his neck and pulling him into her, their lips met, a peck turned into a longer kissed as they introduced themselves to each other's tongues "I was going to suggest coffee but.." he licked his lips
"I can make coffee" she grinned, giggling when he pulled her in and kissed her back "But your leaving soon aren't you?"
"Me?" he looked at her puzzled
"I hate New York?" she reminded him
"Actually, I love New York" he laughed "At least for the next year or so"
"That's fine" she smiled "But you won't be camping in my bed all day"
"I'll get a job, I know what work is you know"