𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 | s. lopez + b. pierce

Nine

Jade walked through the crowded streets of New York after that day's NYADA classes. She was loving her new life. She lived in the same building as her big sister, she took dance classes with her mom, and she'd been clean from all forms of self harm for 10 months and hadn't had a single drink in 7.

Brittany and Santana had been her biggest supporters on her rocky journey through recovery. They were there every morning with breakfast so that she could take her medication, they comforted her when the voices were so loud that she felt like she was suffocating, and always made sure she was in a safe environment so nothing would trigger a relapse.

Oliver was turning 2 years old in 3 months. Jade couldn't believe that time had flown by so quickly. He'd be starting preschool soon, and she was in denial that her sweet boy had grown up so fast.

Time really did fly by, and while there was so much that she wished she could go back and redo, she wouldn't change a thing if it meant that she wouldn't have this life that she was living.

Even though it took fucking years, things really did get better.

"It's a beautiful day." Jade sighed, smiling as she did a little spin. She spotted a familiar Latina walking out of the Spotlight Diner after her shift, an excited gasp falling from her lips. "It's a beautiful gay. Tana!"

Hearing her favorite little munchkin's voice, Santana turned to see the gayest little hobbit running up to her.

Jade threw her arms around Santana's neck and wrapped her legs around her waist. Santana hugged her tightly and spun her around. Jade tucked her head into the crook of her neck, breathing in deeply. "I missed you," she mumbled, placing a few kisses to her girlfriend's shoulders.

"I missed you more." Santana kissed Jade's lips lovingly before setting her down. "How'd your classes go?" she asked as she took her hand, lacing their fingers together as they walked down the crowded streets.

"They were good. I'm really missing my girls from the Dangel's, though." Jade pouted a little. "Leilani sent me an update, and she said that she thinks the new members have potential."

"You left them in very good hands, Jay-Jay." Santana reassured the younger girl's nerves with a gentle squeeze of her hand. She knows how much the Dance Angels meant to her during her last year and a half at McKinley. Jade truly was her happiest when she was dancing, and she had a gift for it. "But it's time to move forward now. I mean, look at where we are. Look at this city! There's so much magic and adventure just waiting to happen."

"I love New York." Jade sighed dreamily, leaning her head onto Santana's arm.

They were surrounded by music. There was rhythm in the bells on the shop doors opening and closing, the jingle of keys, the feet on the street, and the honks of the angry cars from the traffic jam.

"Walkin' through a crowd, the village is aglow," Jade sang, hopping a little as she avoided the cracks in the sidewalk. "Kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats under coats. Everybody here wanted somethin' more. Searchin' for a sound we hadn't heard before, and it said, 'Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you.' Welcome to New York, welcome to New York"

"Welcome to New York," Santana sang. "It's been waitin' for you. Welcome to New York, welcome to New York."

"It's a new soundtrack, I could dance to this beat, beat forevermore," they sang together, doing their secret handshake to the beat of the song. "The lights are so bright, but they never blind me, me. Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you. Welcome to New York, welcome to New York."

"When we first dropped our bags on apartment floors," Santana linked their pinkies together, "took our broken hearts, put them in a drawer. Everybody here was someone else before. And you can want who you want; boys and boys and girls and girls."

"Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you. Welcome to New York, welcome to New York. Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you. Welcome to New York, welcome to New York."

"It's a new soundtrack, I could dance to this beat, beat forevermore," Jade sang as she did a few acro tricks down the street. Santana smiled and took a quick video as her girlfriend did a small, improvised dance routine as they crossed the crosswalk. "The lights are so bright, but they never blind me, me. Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you. Welcome to New York, welcome to New York."

"Like any great love, it keeps you guessing," Santana sang, taking Jade's hand once they were on the other side of the street. "Like any real love, it's ever-changing."

"Like any true love, it drives you crazy," Jade sang, squealing when Santana playfully tickled her sides. "But you know you wouldn't change anything, anything, anything."

"Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you. Welcome to New York, welcome to New York. Welcome to New York, it's been waitin' for you. Welcome to New York, welcome to New York."

"It's a new soundtrack, I could dance to this beat." Jade dropped Santana's hand and did a side aerial.

"The lights are so bright, but they never blind me." Santana placed the back of her hand dramatically to her forehead.

"Welcome to New York, new soundtrack. It's been waitin' for you, welcome to New York."

New York was a nice escape from the lame-ass town of Lima, Ohio, and Jade knew she was home the minute she stepped off that plane.

"The lights are so bright, but they never blind me. Welcome to New York, so bright, they never blind me."

Everyday was an adventure, whether it was walking to class, going to Broadway shows with her sister, or going out on romantic evening dates with her girlfriends. There was always something new and exciting around every street corner, and Jade couldn't wait to see what happened next.

"Welcome to New York. Welcome to New York."

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a/n

i'm homesick for new york now, and i've never even been to new york 😂

only 3 chapters left in season five and 8 chapters left total! 🥺

thoughts?