Author's notes: This is an AU where Dani is a pop star with a similar career to Demi, and Santana is basically the same, except she now has a sister. This will have some triggers for eating disorders in it, and some swearing used in context. Sex will be mentioned but not written explicitly.

Santana

How the fuck did I get into this situation, I wonder. My sister's class of eight year olds are off to see a special performance by Dani Lovato. She called me up two nights ago. "Santana, I need some help!"

Sighing, I'd promised to come along, recalling how bad I was at looking after children, multiple, but figuring it was worth it for a free ticket to a Dani Lovato show.

Jenni, unfortunately, works at a private school in the area, so all the kids are spoilt little brats.

I watch as a pair of them argue over who has the better ticket, even though both of them are identical.

"I need a soda," I whisper to Jenni.

She laughs. "A sugar hit doesn't make them any less annoying, trust me. I've tried."

"Actually, I need a vodka but I don't think that's a good idea while I'm 'babysitting'."

"No. Well, go get a soda, then. We're heading to the bathrooms and then to our seats," Jenni says, watching the kids closely. "No spiking it, Santana!"

I wave and head into the crowds.

I wait in line for ages as the pudgy businesswoman in front of me orders what sounds like vodkas for the whole family.

"A Coke, please," I say, rustling a couple of dollar bills onto the bench.

"Here you go," the cashier says, ringing it up. "And here's your change, have a nice night." She looks as bored as I am.

The crowds are thickening, so I make my way to the edge of them, deciding that walking around the long way will be quicker than having to elbow people out of my way.

I'm not looking where I'm going, so when I step in a puddle of someone's spilled soda and land on my butt, I just glance around to see that no one has seen me.

Just my luck. "Here," someone says, offering me a hand. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I say, blushing. The woman who helped me up is gorgeous, and dressed well, unlike me, who's just landed her oldest pair of jeans in a puddle of soda.

Then the situation gets a whole lot worse. The woman pats my shoulder and looks at me for the first time.

It's Dani Lovato.

No way. Please don't let Dani Lovato have just seen me land on my butt.

"No, it's fine, I think I'm gonna go get, um, some-" I'm cut off mid-stammer.

"I've got some jeans you can borrow," she says. "My caravan's over here."

I sigh. There's no escaping. My face flaming, I follow her. She looks both ways before opening the door and inviting me in.

"What size are you?" she asks.

"Two or four," I reply, glancing around. Dani Lovato's caravan seems pretty normal. She has a single bed/couch thing, with some selfies pinned above it, along with the exact model of Sodastream machine I have at home on the table, and some clothes strewn on the floor.

"Sorry it's messy," she says, pulling out a pair of jeans that are much nicer than the ones I just got soaked. "I don't get too many visitors. The jeans are a four; they'll probably be too big, but I've got a belt."

"It's fine," I say. "Thanks."

"You want a soda? You know, seeing as how you spilled most of yours?" She gestures towards my hand, which, although still holding the Coke can, is now sticky with spilled soft drink.

"Um-"

"I'll make you a cranberry one, okay? They're my favourite. There's a sink in there if you want to wash up." Dani points to a curtain at the back of the caravan, and I smile, relaxing a bit.

"Thanks."

"No problem. Oh-" she half smiles. "This is going to be awkward however I say it, but, um, do you need underwear? That was a lot of soda."

I blink. I think Dani Lovato just offered me a pair of her underwear.

"Uh," I say. "Yeah, probably. I'll see. Can I like, bring it back to you though? I don't want to be one of those creepy people who sells things on eBay that celebrities have touched."

She laughs. "I trust you. but if you want to see me again… You can bring it back," she says. I could almost swear she winks as she turns away to open the fridge.

I'm left holding a pair of underwear, which I feel is a remarkably intimate way to meet a celebrity. For some reason I expected it to be sparkling and feathered. I mean, Dani Lovato's butt covering… But it's just plain cotton underwear with a tiny bow at the front and blue hearts printed on it.

I take off my jeans in the bathroom and clean up a bit. Then I put on Dani's clothes. I realise that I'm humming one of her songs, Neon Lights, as I do so, and if it's even possible, my face goes even redder.

"You look good," she says, when I come out. "Here's soda."

"Thanks, I- um, you too." I blink and take the soda, feeling the bubbles in my nose and wishing that I wasn't feeling bubbly everywhere else too.

Dani

In the past, I have been forbidden from helping random strangers at concerts. It's led to my being mobbed on more than one occasion. But when I see the gorgeous girl in the moderate heels and light make up, I just have to. I yank on the closest head-covering - a ridiculous straw hat that will probably attract more attention than it deflects, because it's almost dark outside - and step out of my caravan.

She seems flustered, and when she sees my face, she gets even more so. Sometimes I hate inane fans getting starstruck over me, but on her it's endearing.

So I invite her in. I shouldn't do that, either (Matt, my security guard, will have a fit if he finds out, but hey. It'll be worth it, I think).

I'm just fizzing my own soda when she comes out of the bathroom.

My jeans look unbelievably good on her. I suppose I could use the word mouth-watering, but that would just be creepy, since I don't even know her name. I tell her anyway.

"Thanks, I- um, you too," she says, blushing a tiny bit. Or maybe that's my imagination.

"So what's your name?" I ask, sitting on the bed.

"I'm Santana. Santana Lopez. I'm helping my sister with her class of kids. They're on a 'field trip.'" She air-quotes "field trip".

"Oh…" I feel disappointment bubble under my skin. "You're not a fan then?"

"No, no, that's not what I meant." She puts her hands out, waving them wildly, then seems to realise that her gesturing is awkward and slowly sits on them. "I am a fan. I came for the free ticket."

"Right," I say, laughing. "Are you looking forward to it?"

"Does it make me a total fangirl if I tell you the truth and say 'quite a lot'?" she asks, sipping from her soda.

"No...it just makes you very, very cute," I reply, watching her stammer.

Santana

The bubbly feeling is getting crazy. I really like Dani, in the few minutes that I've actually talked to her, and I've started to think that maybe the bubbles aren't my being starstruck, but my liking her. Just a little bit.

"I, uh-"

"Anyway," she says, getting up from her bed. "I've got to go do warm ups and things that singers do. So, I'll see you later."

With that, Dani stands up and opens the door, holding it for me. I step out, wishing that I could spend more time with her. What does she mean by "see you later"?

"I wish I could offer you backstage seats but I don't think my manager would be very happy with me inviting a whole class of kids into the wings." Dani smiles. "You can leave your jeans in here and come get them later, if you want."

I'd actually forgotten them, but I didn't want to say anything. "Okay, thanks, I'll just-"

"You forgot them, right?" She shuts the door.

"Yeah," I say. "Sorry. You're just so distracting-" I clap my hand over my mouth. I am making an absolute ass of myself. I have panic sweat under my boobs.

"I'll see you later, Santana." Dani walks off, laughing to herself.

"Bye," I call, waving.

The opening act is due onstage in about ten minutes, so I'm sure the kids will already be in their seats. I make my way up to their row and sit down next to Jenni.

"What took you so long?" Jenni asks, not even looking. She's doing a headcount, I guess, by the way her eyes are bouncing down the row.

"I-" I lower my voice. "I met Dani Lovato."

Jenni finishes her headcount. "What?"

"I slipped over in soda, and she made me this, and I'm wearing her underwear-"

"Breathe, Santana." Jenni laughs at me. "She's nice."

"And hot, and single, and gay," I murmur.

"It's okay, Santana," Jenni says, rubbing my shoulder.

I take a few deep breaths and just as I'm about to explain how I kind of like her, the opening act comes on. It's Fourth Harmony, a girl band from the TV show Dani mentored on.

Then the real show begins. Dani truly is both a good performer and a good singer, but I find myself tuning out of the music and just watching her toss her head. I imagine what it would be like to sing a duet with her. When she speaks, it feels genuine, and when she leaves the stage, the crowd is sad to see her go.

I am too.

I stand up. "Hey, Jenni, are you okay if I go now? I need to...um..." I gesture pathetically.

"Sure, San. Good luck, babes!" she calls, winking at me as I hurry away in the direction of the caravan.

"Santana?" Someone touches my arm.

"Dani!" I turn around.

"Hey..." she says. "Look, I need to get all the make up and everything off, but would you be up for a date?"

My jaw drops open. I've been trying to rustle up the confidence to say those very words as I've been walking.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" she says, stepping away. "I assumed that you were..."

"Yes. I'm in," I say, cutting her off.

"Oh, thank god. I thought I'd made such a fool of myself. Hold on, you can wait in my trailer while I have a quick shower?"

"Sure," I agree, following her.

While I can hear the water running, I sit on the couch-bed thing with a glass of cranberry soda. "Help yourself to a soda," she'd said, dashing into the cubicle and flicking it on.

I can't keep thoughts of her naked body out of my head, and nor can I keep thoughts of kissing her out.

The water flicks off again and I take a sip of soda, trying to compose my face.

When she emerges in nothing but a towel, her dark hair rumpled about her face, I catch my breath.

"Sorry! I left my clothes out here." She gets changed in the bathroom cubicle, thank god, so she doesn't witness the colour my face would go watching her dress.

Re-emerging, she asks me, "Where do you wanna go? I'm kinda hungry."

"I have no idea..." I say. "What's your favourite food?"

"Sushi," she says immediately.

"Oh, me too!" We high five, then she google sushi restaurants in the area, and we leave.

My heart is beating a hundred miles a minute when we order, and when she starts quizzing me about my life, I seriously think I might pass out.

"I work at Stardust Diner in New York. We sing and dance for the customers."

"Yeah, it's fun. I love singing. I was in a high school glee club," I admit, laughing.

"I live with my gay friend, Kurt - I call him Lady Hummel - and my close friend Rachel - she dated a prostitute by accident."

"Yeah, I used to have a girlfriend - her name was Brittany. She was great, but there was no real spark, you know? It was all sex and the thrill of "being gay". I'm lesbian; she was bi."

"Most important thing in a partner? Someone who can hold your head over the toilet bowl one day, but another give you the most amazing sex ever."

Dani laughs at this. It's beautiful. "I've been told I'm good at both of those, although admittedly not by the same person."

"There's a technique to head-holding? I always thought it was just kind of...point and shoot."

Dani rolls her eyes. "Well, clearly by your standards you're a terrible partner."

I'm speechless, not because of her words, but the way she says them, like it's funny, like she might just be able to teach me differently.

I wish.

We keep talking and talking and talking. She has an amazing personality and she's so quick. Everytime I think I might have found something she doesn't have a response for, she thinks for a moment, biting her lip, then comes up with something original.

We're sitting watching the sunrise by the time we've both gone quiet.

"I kinda...really like you," I say, shifting closer to her.

"I really like you too," she says, glancing around and then planting the quickest peck on my lips.

Please review if you have time! I want to be able to improve. If you find any typos or inaccuracies in representation of bulimia/bipolar disorder etc., please let me know, as I don't want to cause offence. :) Thank you!

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.