This is a back up story for the Vday Exchange for girlie_girl_23.
Hey There Miranda
by Elizabeth
Rated M
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Pairing: Mirandy
A/N: Thank you Raven, for your kind support. Thanks again to Grdn for the whole Vday Exchange.
Summary: "Your dream is this, to be a professional singer. My dream is to be with the woman I love and have her not deny our relationship." Andy bites off a bit more than she can chew when she takes on American Idol.....
Last Note: I have a love/hate relationship with American Idol, and I’ve never been a contestant or met the judges or anyone who tried out for the show. All representations of people real are completely fictional.
Present Day
In a trance like state Andy stared into her dressing room mirror. She was startled when she heard a loud pounding on the door. "Fifteen minutes until you have to be on stage," an intern’s voice carried through the door.
Andy turned back to the mirror and looked down at the photos taped to the corners. They were mostly pictures of her and the twins when they first arrived in Hollywood. With their arms wrapped around Andy’s neck, smiles and laughter was present on the two sixteen-year olds’ faces.
It had only been six months, and the woman in the mirror looked very different from the Andy in the picture. It wasn’t the change in hairstyle, makeup, or clothing. The makeup covered up the dark circles under her eyes. The worry lines that had slowly started to appear on her forehead. Her normally 1000 watt smile was dimmed. Her eyes normally very bright seemed to be dull.
Andy was feeling more stressful in the competition than she ever felt at Runway. The twins, her friends, and her parents were all jumping to the forefront of her thoughts sporadically. There was only one person always in her thoughts, and it had been that way for the past three years during her tenure as first assistant at Runway. Miranda had been the only one.....
Past Days
It all started with Kelly Clarkson’s latest single.
Miranda and Andy were sitting in the study. Miranda was working on the Book and Andy was working on Miranda’s schedule. A few months after Miranda had promoted Emily, Miranda had invited Andy over for dinner. The Editor had seduced her very willing assistant and they had started an affair that had continued for two years. It had slowly crept on them that they were in a quiet relationship that the outside world wasn’t aware of. It had been going on in secret for two years, and the press nor Irv knew any wiser. When Miranda needed to appear with an appropriate escort, she was escorted by a close family friend, Walter Vanderhoof. He had a secret relationship with a young man named Justin.
Cassidy and Caroline, now teenagers were aware of mommy’s "special friend" and were at first wary of Andy. After spending time with Andy they were relieved that she just wanted to be their friend, not parent.
The twins spent most of the evening in the upstairs den working on homework, texting friends, and listening to loud music. Miranda had often admonished them to control the volume, but unfortunately they had inherited her stubbornness. When the Editor gave a loud annoyed sigh for the third time, Andy finally put her PDA and notebooks down on the couch. "I’ll go ask them to turn it down."
Miranda’s reply was a quick thankful glance before she returned her attention to the Book.
"You got a piece of me and honestly, my life would suck without you!" Was being sung enthusiastically by Cassidy at the top of her lungs as Andy walked into the den.
"Okay you guys, the volume is up here," Andy held her right arm up over her head. She lowered her arm down to her waist. "We need to keep the volume here."
Caroline rolled her eyes while Cassidy started flipping through a magazine. "You mean mom needs us to turn down the music. You listen to music louder than us when she isn’t home. We only turn it up for the good songs."
"Yeah, but you both think all the songs are good." Andy laughed.
"Exactly," Cassidy stood and walked to Andy bringing the magazine with her. "Have you talked mom into letting us audition for American Idol yet? "
"Dad said if we make it on TV that he’ll buy us a car." Caroline was flipping through her CD booklet until she found the one she was looking for. She put in Daughtry. They both had digital and hard copies of all of the music they loved.
"I’ll have a better chance at convincing your mom if you keep the music down and clean up your rooms." The twins were typical teenagers, sometimes very sweet and sometimes very selfish, but Andy thought they were good kids. She enjoyed spending time with them.
"Convince me of what?" Miranda had walked upstairs to see what was taking her lover so long.
"We want to audition for American Idol," Cassidy told her mother, as she turned down the stereo.
Miranda was not entirely surprised. She had heard the twins chattering about the fact that the Season 9 auditions were being held in New York. She was positive that she didn’t want them to audition now. When they were over eighteen, they could do as they wished. Miranda had a plan. She had already decided that she would tell the twins they could go as long as Andy also went. And auditioned.
"You can go on one condition," Miranda paused as she waited for the squealing to stop. "Andrea goes with you, and auditions too." This caused the twins to turn both of their laser like gazes to Andy. Andy looked like a deer in headlights.
"Miranda," she said in a harsh whisper, even though the twins were gobbling up every word. "You know I don’t like to sing in public!"
"A million people would kill for this opportunity, Andrea. Give it some thought before you decide." Miranda was sure she knew what the answer would be. She left Andy to fend off the twins’ puppy dog eyes.
"You should totally audition with us Andy," Cassidy said, while Caroline nodded frantically. "You’re almost past the age limit as it is."
"Well, how can I say no when you use that type of logic," Andy laughed. She pulled out two ipods, one red and one blue. "I downloaded those mixes for you guys. Do you have mine ready yet?" It had started out with Andy and the twins talking about their favorite music and a tradition began that they would swap ipods with her. The only rules were no NKOTB or Jonas Brothers.
Caroline pulled Andy’s ipod out of her backpack and handed it to her. "I think you’ll like this one a lot, we’ve been listening to this band called Thriving Ivory a lot."
"‘Angels on the Moon’ is like my favorite song ever!" Cassidy had a huge grin on her face, because she knew what Andy was going to say.
"You said that about Disturbia last month," Andy rolled her eyes. "Speaking of songs, if I decide to do this, and I’m not saying I am. What songs were you thinking about singing?"
"Well, we’ve watched the show since we were like ten, so we know not to do anything too big, like Whitney or Mariah," Cassidy explained. "Caroline is going with Christina Aguilera, and I’m going with Beyonce."
"Okay," Andy found herself amused that the twins didn’t think those artists were too big for them, and she decided she wouldn’t be the one to tell them that. She left them to their music and studies and went to finish more work before dinner.
__ __ __ __
A few hours later found a naked Andy laying face down on the bed with Miranda’s drenched hand sandwiched between the brunette’s legs and the mattress. Miranda, also gloriously naked, had her wet sex spread open and pressed against Andy’s ass, her taut breasts rubbing against the brunette’s back as she kept rocking her hips. With each roll of the editor’s hips her fingers slid in and out of Andy’s equally soaked sex and rubbed her hard clitoris.
"Oh God, oh God, oh God," Andy chanted out very loud, the room was filled with her moans with Miranda giving the occasional soft satisfied sigh. The sweat from their previous exertions letting them slide together easily.
Miranda began to pump her hips faster as she felt Andy start to clench around her fingers. As she brought the brunette to her third orgasm of the night, the editor let herself come all over her lover’s ass. Once the trembling and spasms stopped for both of them, Miranda gently extracted her wet hand and rolled her lover over, she looked at Andy’s flushed, still aroused body with greedy eyes.
Andy was still experiencing some post coital shudders while panting heavily. With her eyes still shut she asked, "Not that I’m complaining or anything, but where did that come from?"
Miranda chuckled softly. "Mmm.... I felt inspired." She was gently running her hands over Andy’s still responsive torso, and placing soft kisses on her neck. "I felt a small amount of guilty about leaving it to you to tell the twins they couldn’t attend American Idol."
"What makes you-" Andy gasped as fingers were dexterously circling her aroused nipples. "What makes you so positive I won’t audition with them?"
Miranda leaned down and engaged Andy in a sweet passionate kiss. When she pulled back, Andy’s eyes had gone hazy. "That’s why I’m positive. You would not do anything to jeopardize our relationship."
Andy would worry about American Idol and the twins later. All her concentration went between her legs with Miranda’s fingers as she pulled the editor into another kiss.
__ __ __ __
It was true that Andy would never do anything to jeopardize her relationship with Miranda. She was very aware of the unwanted media attention auditioning for American Idol could bring to their relationship. Even so, she found herself waiting in line a few months later. Andy had a large number sticker on her blouse, with the twins also sporting numbers. They were waiting with the two hundred people that had made it through the initial auditions. Quite a few people in line were singing, horribly in fact. Andy wondered what the producers were thinking.
The twins had crafted a plan that they and Andy would audition for American Idol, and then tell Miranda when they all didn’t get through to Hollywood. It would just be fun to possibly see themselves on television the following January.
Caroline was playing her PSP, while Cassidy practiced her song. Though she was slightly off-key, Andy thought she had a pretty voice.
"Well, crap. How does that next line go, Caroline?"
"I don’t know. Ask Andy."
Skeptical, Cassidy looked at Andy. "Do you know the song?"
"I’m pretty good with lyrics," Andy smiled. She had always been able to remember song lyrics, even if it was Beyonce. "The next part is:
If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I’d be a better man."
Andy stopped singing at the wide-eyed looks she was getting from the twins. "What?"
"We didn’t know you could sing like that Andy," replied Caroline.
"Yeah, you should totally be on the show!"
"Thanks, you guys," Andy thought it was sweet how the twins were humoring her. "We’ll just have to see what the judges say."
"Simon is so dreamy," Caroline gushed. Andy and Cassidy tried not to laugh, but failed.
Two hours later, a tired and anxious Andy waited outside the audition room. Twins almost always auditioned together. The show’s host, Ryan Seacrest had tried to engage her in some banter for the cameras, but she had tried to be as blank, boring and monosyllabic as she could, so he had left her alone. Andy was hoping she wouldn’t end up on camera.
The doors finally opened, and the twins ran out. They seemed ecstatic, but they were not holding gold papers signaling they were through to the next round. "Simon said we were cute, but that we were not good enough singers!" Caroline was almost screaming. "I got to give him a hug!"
"Good luck Andy! I know you’ll get through," Cassidy said.
They were so excited, that it was infectious, and as Andy walked into the audition room with a humongous smile on her face, she didn’t feel nervous at all.
There they all were, like on the show. Paula, Simon, Randy, and the new judge Kara. They all smiled at Andy. "Hi, I’m Andy."
They all murmured greetings in return. "Hello Andy, what song will you be singing?" Simon asked.
"I’m going to be singing, ‘Hey There Delilah’ by the Plain White T’s.
All the judges looked surprised, except Simon, who looked blank. "Off you go then."
Andy began to softly sing.
"Hey there Delilah,
What's it like in New York City?
I'm a thousand miles away
But girl tonight you look so pretty
Yes you do."
As she sang, Andy couldn’t keep the sweet smile off her face. She remembered the time she had sang the song to Miranda. The twins had been gone, and it had been a rare night when Miranda was finished early with the Book. They had been siting in the study relaxing after dinner. Miranda was sitting on the sofa drinking a glass of wine. Andy, sitting on the adjacent love seat, picked up Cassidy’s guitar and started to play. Miranda had given a soft sigh at the pretty music, so Andy decided to start singing with it, changing the words a bit.
"Hey there Miranda,
I've got so much left to say,
If every simple song I wrote to you
Would take your breath away
I'd write it all,
Even more in love with me you'd fall
We'd have it all.
Oh it's what you do to me,
Oh it's what you do to me,
Oh it's what you do to me,
Oh it's what you do to me."
Miranda had this look of wonder on her face when Andy started singing that the brunette had never seen before. As Andy ended the first chorus, Miranda had placed her wineglass on the table and walked over to the love seat. She pulled the guitar gently from Andy’s hands and propped it up against the coffee table.
"What?" An amused Andy asked. "You don’t want me to sing any more?"
Miranda cupped her face and looked at her with such a look of adoration. "No. I want to show you what you do to me..."
Andy felt such warmth in her chest while she sang for the judges, remembering the beautiful lovemaking that happened that night. Her face glowed. She sang for quite a while until Simon held up his hand.
All the judges looked impressed. "Wow you can sing," said Randy. "I’ve never heard a girl sing that song, but dawg, you totally rocked it. It’s a yes for me."
Kara, the new judge shaking her head yes, said, "It was such a powerful performance. It’s the best I’ve heard today."
Paula had a few tears in her eyes. "It was so beautiful and you are such a pretty girl."
Simon rolled his eyes, "Is that a yes or a no, Paula?"
"Yes, a thousand times yes. The Hollywood round needs Andy Sachs!"
Everyone looked to Simon, "I agree. You’re through to the next round."
As she walked out of the audition room with her gold ticket, shocked that she was going to Hollywood, she heard Simon say, "That’s the prettiest lesbian we’ve ever had on the show."
The twins began screaming as soon as Andy walked out the door with her golden ticket. Andy was still speechless. She had no idea how she was going to explain any of this to Miranda.
__ __ __ __
Miranda Priestly was pissed. Talk about having your plan backfire! She had suspected something for weeks. The twins had been acting bizarre, more than usual. Andy had seemed happy, but at times nervous about something.
Andy had taken Miranda’s second assistant, Olivia, and started training her more heavily. Miranda had started to believe that Andy had found another job. They had both agreed that Miranda wouldn’t promote Andy to any position in Runway, and Nigel could write any recommendations for the brunette when she needed another job. Miranda would be very sad to lose her lover as her assistant, but knew it had to happen someday.
Andy was sitting on the love seat watching Miranda pace back and forth. She was glad the twins were at a friend’s house for the night. She had watched Miranda’s face become very pale as she explained that they had tried out for American Idol. She had been asked to attend Hollywood week and that she had accepted it. Andy’s friend Lily had moved to Los Angels two years before to work at an art gallery and Andy would be staying with her.
"You can’t be serious?" Miranda asked for the third time. "This is ridiculous waste of time!"
Andy had prepared herself for most of the possible reactions Miranda might have. "You said it yourself, Miranda. A million people would kill for this opportunity. I believe I owe it to them to see it through."
"When are you leaving?"
"I’m supposed to be there in two weeks." Andy remained outwardly calm, but on the inside she felt herself crumbling.
"Maybe you should go now," Miranda’s voice and expression had grown very cold. She hated surprises.
"Well it would be nice to have a visit with Lily," Andy tried to be upbeat.
"I don’t mean go for a visit. I mean you should move out, and bore someone else with these details." Miranda’s work personality had come out as a defense mechanism.
Even though Andy had prepared for this possibility, her voice cracked when she asked, "What do you mean?"
"I mean it’s over. I can’t put my girls through the type of media exposure this would bring. I can’t put Runway on the line." Miranda stood still emotionless. She was resolved.
"It’s probably best this way," Andy said with a tear running down her face.
"What do you mean by that, Andrea?" A surprised Miranda asked, as she hadn’t expected Andy to say that.
"You don’t want things to change. You want to keep pretending in public that we aren’t in a relationship," Andy shook her head back and forth. "I can’t live that way forever. I was fine with it for a while, because I thought things could be different at some point."
Miranda stayed still, speechless. Andy stood up and walked over to her. "If you have a change of heart, please let me know." With that she kissed Miranda gently goodbye. "I packed some bags, just in case. I’ll send for my things."
Miranda stared straight ahead as she heard Andy get her things and then lock the front door. She walked to the love seat right where Andy had been siting and collapsed onto it and began to sob.
__ __ __ __
Two weeks later Andy was comfortable at Lily’s LA condo, playing sad songs on her keyboard. Lily made her plug in headphones because she said if she had to listen to any more of Andy’s sad songs she would kill herself. Andy paused when she heard her cell phone buzz. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked anxiously at the screen. It was a text message from the twins.
She kept hoping Miranda would call. The brunette had tried to call her once. Miranda had the number disconnected. The twins had always said that their mother was a "drama mama." The text message was odd, but this was not unusual for the twins. It said, OPEN FRONT DOOR. Andy pulled the headphones off and got up to go check the front door. She looked out the view hole and there were two happy red heads with a beaming Lily waving frantically.
Andy pulled the door open, excited, "Hey!" She had two armfuls of twins before the door was completely open. Andy laughed as she hugged them, "What are you guys doing here?"
"We couldn’t let you go to Hollywood week without us cheering you one!" Caroline’s smile was as bright as the sun.
"Mom’s a really bitch for dumping you. She thinks we’re at dad’s ranch in Nevada. We called Lily and asked her to pick us up from the airport." Cassidy explained.
Andy looked at her friend, "Lily, how could you do this?"
"They said if I didn’t pick them up, they would hitch hike. I called and talked to their dad, and he was fine with them staying with me while you are competing." Lily looked at the twins impressed. "Your dad is pretty cool, he’s not going to tell your mom anything either."
Andy still stunned said, "Well okay, I guess your mom can’t be any more angry with me than she already is. Come on in."
After getting the twins settled in Lily’s guest room, they all sat down in the living room to talk about Andy’s future audition.
"I have a great song idea for you Andy," Cassidy suggested. She pulled out Andy’s ipod as they hadn’t been able to trade before Andy left. "It’s my new favorite song. It’s called ‘Gives you Hell,’ by the All American Rejects. You should sing it to mom when you are on the show."
"I’ve heard that one," Andy laughed. "I don’t know that I’ll make it on the show, but I like the idea of singing to your mom. You guys know I still love her, don’t you?"
Both twins smiled and said yes. "Mom still loves you too, Andy," Caroline said. "We heard that she’s been a real beast at work."
Andy was ready to show America what she could do. Most important she was going to do it through singing to the "beast."
__ __ __ __
Hollywood week in American Idol is sometimes referred to as Hell week. Andy felt every minute like it was Hell week. She watched contestants psych each other out, people screaming and crying about losing their dream, and even a handful of some really talented performers. It was obviously reality television at its worst. Andy felt fortunate to have lasted through each elimination week. Each time she sang whether it was without music or with a group, the judges always talked about her personality.
Cassidy, Caroline, and Lily were all sitting in the back of the auditorium on the last day and Andy was getting ready to take the stage to perform for the last time before the judges picked the top 24. Andy kept quietly going over the words in her head as she waited for the contestant ahead of her to finish. She felt ready when it was her time to take the stage. The brunette had chosen a slow song from Pink’s latest album. She hoped the lyrics would speak to Miranda when the show aired in January.
Andy took a deep breath before she started to strum her acoustic guitar. After a few beats she began to sing.
"I don't mind it, I don't mind at all
It's like you're the swing set
And I'm the kid that falls
It's like the way we fight
The times I've cried
We come to blows
And every night
The passion's there
So it's got to be right
Right?
No I don't believe you
When you say don't come around here no more
I won't remind you
You said we wouldn't be apart
No I don't believe you
When you say you don't need me anymore
So don't pretend to
Not love me at all
I don't mind it
I still don't mind at all
It's like one of those bad dreams
When you can't wake up
It looks like you've given up
You've had enough
But I want more
No I won't stop
Because I just know
You'll come around
Right?
Just don't stand there and watch me fall
Because I, because I still don't mind at all
It's like the way we fight
The times I've cried
We come to blows
And every night
The passion's there
So it's got to be right,
Right?
No I don't believe you
When you say don't come around here no more
I won't remind you
You said we wouldn't be apart
No I don't believe you
When you say you don't need me anymore
So don't pretend to
Not love me at all
I don't believe you..."
Halfway through the performance tears had started to stream down her face, but her voice never wavered as she sang strongly and with perfect pitch thinking of Miranda the entire time.
After Andy left the auditorium, the twins and Lily were there to cheer and give hugs. The twins were positive she was going to be chosen for the top 24. They were right.
__ __ __ __
Christmas and the New Year came and went. Andy liked living with Lily okay. They had been roommates in college, so they fell into an easy routine. Andy had enough money saved that she didn’t have to work while she waited. She continued to talk and email with the twins. There was still no word from Miranda, and according to the twins her name wasn’t to be spoken around the editor.
Lily and Andy watched the audition episodes of American Idol. The twins and Andy were heavily featured. "I guess they get that car now," Andy laughed. "At least they want a hybrid."
Caroline and Cassidy watched in New York, surprisingly with Miranda. When Andy began to sing, "Hey There Delilah," Miranda had to leave the room. She had often wondered if she had been too rash, but the entertainment media was already running stories on the "pretty lesbian," and Miranda felt relieved that she would be left out of it.
The twins and Miranda watched the episode where the judges selected the semifinal 24 featured almost Andy’s whole performance of "I Don’t Believe You." Miranda began to cry softly listening to her sing. She reached for her Blackberry, but put it down and left the room.
Cassidy and Caroline looked at each other and smiled. Andy’s plan was slowly working. It would be very interesting to see what the brunette would be doing on the live performances.
__ __ __ __
Andy had been unaware of how much publicity the top twenty four contestants had to do. She felt physically exhausted and emotionally drained and she knew that if she wanted to continue in the competition that she would have to find some inspiration. The brunette found it very inspiring when Cassidy told her over the phone that Miranda had been watching the shows and had even looked like she was thinking about calling. So when Andy took the stage, she felt relieved that she was closing the show and that if America did vote her into the top twelve, she would have another chance to speak to Miranda.
Andy had decided close to the last minute to accompany herself on the piano, and as she sat in front of the live audience and listened to Seacrest introduce her, she thought of only Miranda and time seemed to slow down.
"Singing ‘Hey Lady’ by Thriving Ivory," Ryan was saying. "Here’s Andy Sachs."
Andy began playing the sweeping melody on the baby grande piano. Then she began to sing from her heart.
"She checks her pulse, gotta know if her heart's still beating
And the hospital's, not far if anything should happen here
She's bored in a week, big dreams but nothing material
And I refuse to believe that love is for the weak
I'm not vulnerable
Hey lady, don't give up on me
Don't burn your heart out love
Till we're ash over seas
Hey lady, said I don't wanna fight
Like pretty girls need cowboys
I need you here tonight
She screams for more
More than just some blue eyed metaphor
And the trouble is, the trouble is, she's always searching
The hour's late, don't wanna hear that it's all gonna end soon
No I'm not crazy I'm in control, and all of my friends still know
Hey lady, don't give up on me
Don't burn your heart out love
Till we're ash over seas
Hey lady, said I don't wanna fight
Like pretty girls need cowboys
I need you here tonight
I'm on one knee, lover please
How can I put it more simply?
And I wait, for your invitation
And I'm so so so, so over waiting
I'm on one knee, lover please
How can I put it more simply?
Hey lady, don't give up on me
Don't burn your heart out love
Till we're ash over seas
Hey lady, said I don't wanna fight
Like pretty girls need cowboys
I need you here tonight."
Andy received a standing ovation from the audience and from three of the judges. She hadn’t cried during the song this time; she felt hopeful and euphoric from the audience reaction. She barely noted that the judges had commented.
"Dude that was hot. Those were some mad vocals!" Randy said.
"Your emotions were so visible through your voice and your vulnerability is stunning. You’re one to watch in this competition," said a helpful Kara.
Paula had started to cry a little bit. "It was so beautiful. I feel like I’m at an Andy Sachs concert!"
Lots of cheers from the audience, as everyone quiets down to hear what Simon says. "The song choice seemed weird for me, but the performance was brilliant."
More cheers and after Ryan rattled off her numbers Andy felt like everything passed in a blur.
In fact Andy didn’t remember anything until she was sitting on the couch at Lily’s condo and a phone was being thrust into her hand. Andy figured it was the twins, and was so happy to hear that smooth voice, "Hello Andrea."
"Hey...." Andy said softly. Lily smiled at her, then left the room to give them some privacy.
"The girls are in the other room voting for you."
"Oh, well okay. That’s good," Andy was so happy to hear Miranda’s voice but was unsure about why she was calling.
"They assure me that you will be in the top twelve," Miranda was saying all this in a very conversational way; yet she wanted to let the brunette know that she still loved her and that she missed her.
"Well, I’d like to make the top twelve. This has been harder than I thought it would be, but it’s been fun too," Andy paused. "I miss you."
Miranda began to cry silently. "I miss you too. Would you.... No it’s silly."
"It’s not silly, I’ll be happy to do anything I can," Andy said.
Miranda sighed heavily. "Would you sing that Hey There song to me? The one you sang so long ago on that excellent night."
Andy didn’t even need to know why, she just began singing, her voice a little hoarse.
"A thousand miles seems pretty far,
But they've got planes and trains and cars
I'd walk to you if I had no other way,
Our friends would all make fun of us
And we'll just laugh along because we know
That none of them have felt this way,
Miranda I can promise you
That by the time we get through
The world will never ever be the same
And you're to blame
Oh It's what you do to me!
Oh it's what you do to me!
Oh it's what you do to me!
Oh it's what you do to me!
Oh it's what you do to me!
What you do to me."
"Thank you darling," Miranda said softly. She had often had trouble telling the brunette that she loved her outside of the privacy of their bedroom, so the endearment was very special to Andy.
"I love you, Miranda. I need to get some rest."
"Yes. Goodnight, you have my new number now if you need to use it." That was as close to an apology Andy was ever going to get.
After Andy turned the cell phone off and held it close to her chest. It was a poor substitute, but in some way since Miranda’s voice had come through the phone, it felt good to hold it.
__ __ __ __
If Andy thought she had it bad when it was the top twenty four, that had been a piece of cake compared to all the events the top twelve had to participate in. The month had flown by with many phone calls with the twins, and even a few brief calls with Miranda. Miranda had not asked Andy to sing to her again, but they talked a few times about day to day things when both were free.
Most of February for Miranda was spent preparing for fashion week and then attending, so she had little time to speak to Andy and the twins said it still showed in her moods.
Andy was starting to grow weary of the life of a singer. Often the other top twelve contestants would talk about how excited they were about the tour. One had shared with Andy that only the top ten get to do the American Idol tour and was surprised by Andy’s response.
"Oh that’s great! Maybe I won’t make it past the top eleven spot then," Andy said.
The seventeen year old boy from Georgia looked at Andy with wide eyes. "But, don’t you dream about being the American Idol? Getting a recording contract?"
"Your dream is this, to be a professional singer, Jake. My dream is to be with the woman I love and have her not deny our relationship."
The boy blushed. All the contestants were aware that Andy was a lesbian, as the newspapers were filled with supportive and non-supportive people. Jake was already a heavy favorite in the competition to win and Andy enjoyed talking to him. He looked her in the eye and said, "Well then Andy, I hope your dream comes true." Andy smiled.
The night of the finals arrived and Andy was a little nervous. It was an Eric Clapton theme week and she had picked one of his more well known songs and hoped to do it justice. She wasn’t worried about getting votes, she wanted it to mean something to Miranda. The brief phone calls with the editor told her that they could go back to the way their old relationship was, but Andy didn’t want that. She was hoping to unlock Miranda’s mind and heart.
Andy felt at home on the larger stage and was interested in how the audience would react to her song. She had also been attacked by the "glam" squad. It had been some days since she had to dress up for the Runway elite, so she had been dressing down quite a bit. The make up artists had transformed her and even cut her hair to a little above her shoulders. She was wearing a sexy black dress, the last of her couture, and Andy felt like a million bucks.
Andy sat on a stool in the dark in the middle of the stage listening to her intro from Ryan. "Here’s Andy Sachs, singing "Wonderful Tonight."
As the lights on the stage were brought up, there was a hush over the crowd.
"Its late in the evening
She’s wondering what clothes to wear
She puts on her make up
And brushes her long blonde hair
And then she asks me
Do I look alright
And I say yes, you look wonderful tonight
We go a party
And everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady
That’s walking around with me
And then she asks me
Do you feel alright
And I say yes, I feel wonderful tonight
I feel wonderful
Because I see the love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just dont realize
How much I love you
Its time to go home now
And I’ve got an aching head
So I give her the car keys
She helps me to bed
And then I tell her
As I turn out the light
I say my darling, you were wonderful tonight
Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight."
Andy connected the song with the one night she had been able to attend a party as Miranda’s date. It had been a party at James Holt’s with most of the private party being gay and discrete. Miranda had looked so lovely that when they arrived home Andy had launched herself at her in the hallway. It had truly been a wonderful night.
She sang every note very softly and tenderly. At the conclusion Andy was treated to another standing ovation.
"You came out here to win it!" Randy said.
"All the other contestants should worry about you," Kara exclaimed.
Paula had teared up, again. "You are so original, and so lovely. This competition would be so empty with out you."
Simon, always honest, "You’re actually not the best vocalist in the competition." The boos started from the audience. "Let me finish! But, you have such wonderful charisma. Your connection with each song choice is excellent."
As great as the judge’s reactions and the audience, there was only one reaction Andy was interested in. When she got back to her dressing room, she rushed over to the counter where her cell phone was and it was already ringing. "Miranda?"
"Yes, darling. You look exquisite tonight."
"Thank you." Andy was a little embarrassed that a compliment from Miranda made her feel so aroused, but it had been a long time. "I miss you Miranda."
"I miss you too, Andrea. Each week your performances are so lovely, but in an odd way I wish you weren’t doing so well, so you could come home."
Andy laughed. "I understand. Have you thought any more about what I said I needed in our relationship?" Andy didn’t want to even consider going home until she knew that Miranda was ready to be out with their relationship.
"I have thought of it. I just don’t know that it’s possible." Miranda had dreaded having this conversation again. The editor was nervous about Andy meeting someone in LA and possibly washing her hands of her.
Andy sighed. She was frustrated, but it was such a happy night, and an issue that she knew Miranda had some difficulty with. "Okay. I have to go. I love you."
"Goodnight darling."
__ __ __ __
Andy was safely voted into the top eleven. Dammit, she thought. The next category for singing was Inspirational songs. The only inspiration in Andy’s life currently, was Miranda. So she picked a song that she felt would best show that. The night of the top eleven was not a good night for Andy. After starting her song, she flubbed some of the lyrics and asked to start over again. The judges weren’t extremely harsh.
"It wasn’t good for me tonight. It was pitchy in some parts," Randy said.
"I don’t think that was a great song for you. We couldn’t feel your connection tonight," said Kara.
Paula, ever supportive, "There were some pitchy parts, and you should never stop and start! But I still love you, and I think you can bounce back!"
"Well it wasn’t completely horrendous," said Simon. "But I think when you watch the show back tonight, you’re going to regret the song choice.
Andy kept her smile the entire time, even when she got to her dressing room. It was time to get off the crazy train. Her phone was ringing and it was the twins. Miranda would be in meetings late tonight.
"Oh Andy," said Caroline. "Don’t feel bad. Brooke White did that last year and she didn’t get voted off!"
They must have been holding the phone up so they could both hear and talk. Cassidy, was a realist. "When you get voted off, Andy I put a song mix up for you on sendspace. It’ll help you feel better."
"Thanks guys. But whatever happens will be fine," Andy’s smile was still in place. She felt like a large weight had been lifted.
(One day later) Present Day
In a trance like state Andy stared into her dressing room mirror. She was startled when she heard a loud pounding on the door. "Five minutes until you have to be on stage," a hurried intern’s voice carried through the door.
Andy looked back at the mirror and said, "Showtime." Smile perfectly in place, she left her dressing room for the results show.
When Ryan announced Andy was in the bottom three, people were still amazed at how big she was smiling.
The twins were watching at home and commented on this. Miranda tried to explain, "Girls I think Andy is ready to leave the competition and come home." They were still baffled.
After the annoying commercial break, the results were read and Andy was the one going home. "Will you sing for us one last time," asked Ryan. Andy, beaming nodded yes. "Here she is for the last time, singing The Reason by Hoobastank, Andy Sachs!"
"I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you
I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
That’s why I need you to hear
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is You
I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you
I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you."
When Andy began to sing the song, she let herself think about Miranda and the amazing times they had together and the life they could have. Every note was on key, perfect pitch, it was a superior performance from the previous night.
As Andy walked to her dressing room for the last time, she immediately answered the phone. "Hello Miranda."
"Hello darling. Are you ready to come home?" For the first time in quite a while, Miranda was very happy. She hadn’t even left the room, so the twins were listening.
"Are you ready to come out about our relationship?" Miranda lost her smile.
"I... uh. You know the answer to that Andrea."
"Things aren’t going to change, I see." Andy sounded so sad. "I’m going to stay here in LA. There are a few small newspapers out here hiring reporters. I doubt I’d sign a singing contract even if I wanted to. Give the twins my love, and take care of yourself, Miranda."
Miranda was so stunned that she said nothing else and gave a soft cry of anguish when the phone was turned off.
"What happened mom? Did you blow it again?" Cassidy asked. Caroline reached over and punched her on the shoulder.
"She means, why did you upset Andy?"
Miranda had sat down. She knew the twins were upset with her, and she had avoided explaining why Andy was upset. "I don’t know how to fix this. Andrea wants to go public with our relationship, girls. That could cause all sorts of problems for you and for me at work."
The twins looked at each other in astonishment. Cassidy looked again in question at Caroline, hoping that she wouldn’t get punched again. "Go ahead and tell her, Cass."
Cassidy looked her mother in the eyes. "Mom, everybody knows. Everyone at our school, everyone at your work. They all know! For some weird reason, you and Andy are the only ones that don’t know that they know." Miranda’s jaw had dropped.
Caroline had been dialing her cell phone while Cassidy explained. "Hey Mr. Nigel. We just told mom that everyone knows about her and Andy." She handed over the phone to her mother.
"Nigel, is this true?" Miranda asked. "Irv Ravitz even knows! He said that we make a cute couple and that he’s glad the dragon lady has been tamed!" Miranda was furious for a moment, but then she realized that this all meant that she could be with Andy. "Nigel, I’m going to be taking the rest of the week off. Yes I know we’re busy, but I don’t care. I’m going to Hollywood!"
After Miranda had hung up on Nigel, she stood up. "Pack a bag girls, while I call the driver."
Cassidy and Caroline looked at each other. "Hell yes!" Cassidy exclaimed. Caroline punched her shoulder for swearing.
Five hours later they were all on a plane headed to LA. "Okay mom, you know you blew it before, so you’re going to have to make a big romantic gesture to get Andy back," Cassidy explained.
Miranda looked at her daughter. "How do you know this? And how big a gesture?"
Cassidy rolled her eyes. "You’ve got to start watching more movies. As for the gesture, I’ve been texting Lily, because we need help. She’s going to take Andy to her their favorite karaoke bar in West Hollywood. Lily knows the DJ, and she can set you up to sing to Andy."
Miranda made a face. "You want me to sing in public?"
Caroline tried to reassure her. "You have a pretty voice, mom. Remember when we were little and you took us to see Mama Mia on Broadway? We went home with the soundtrack and sang all the songs."
"We think you can do it mom, and Andy would love it. If that’s not coming out with a bang, I don’t know what is."
"What song do you want me to sing?" Miranda asked.
Cassidy put her ipod in her mother’s hand.
__ __ __ __
Andy was very despondent when she had woken up. She had slept in most of the day and it was almost dinner time. Even listening to Cassidy’s pretty song mix didn’t cheer her up. The new song by Augustana, "Sweet and Low," just made her think of Miranda. Andy bounced back and forth thinking that she should just be with Miranda the way she could be with her. Or she should stick to her own needs and not go back to New York and be in a hidden relationship.
"Hey Andy," Lily called as she walked into the room. "Why don’t you get cleaned up and we’ll go out for dinner. We could go to the karaoke bar in West Hollywood that you love." Andy looked unconvinced, until Lily mentioned karaoke.
"Okay, give me a few minutes and then we can go." After Andy left the room, Lily started texting the twins.
As they entered the bar, Andy felt better. Dinner had made her feel refreshed, and she had gone a whole ten minutes without thinking about Miranda. Lily had apparently reserved a table close to the front of the stage where a man and woman were doing a horrible rendition of Jason Mraz’s "Lucky."Lily and Andy both cracked up.
The waiter brought over their beers, and Andy took a healthy sip. The place was packed, and Andy wasn’t too sure that there weren’t a few reporters in the room. The couple on stage had finished their song and the DJ was announcing the next. "And now, for her debut performance! Singing "Love Remains the Same," Miranda Priestly!" Andy dropped her beer and heard it roll around on the floor.
There was Miranda walking up on the stage and taking the microphone. Andy watched, astounded as Miranda looked right at her and began singing.
"A thousand times I’ve seen you standing
Gravity like a lunar landing
Make me want to run till I find you
I shut the world away from here
Drift to you, you’re all I hear
Everything we know fades to black
Half the time the world is ending
Truth is I am done pretending
I never thought that I had anymore to give
Pushing me so far
Here I am without you
Drink to all that we have lost
Mistakes we have made
Everything will change
But love remains the same
Find the place where we escape
Take you with me for a space
The city buzz, sounds just like a fridge
I walk the streets through seven bars
I had to find just where you are
The faces seems to blur, they’re all the same
I never thought that I had anymore to give
Pushing me so far
Here I am without you
Half the time the world is ending
Truth is I am done pretending
Too much time, too long defending
You and I are done pretending
I never thought that I had anymore to give
Pushing me so far
Here I am without you
Drink to all that we have lost
Mistakes we have made
Everything will change
Everything will change
I, oh I, I
wish this could last forever
I, oh I, I
As if we could last forever."
Miranda had memorized all of the words, so she didn’t even need the prompter. As she got to the last verse, she had felt encouraged enough by the look of wonder on Andy’s face to walk down close to her and continuing singing to the brunette.
At the last "forever" Andy pulled a willing Miranda down into her lap and into a searing kiss. Miranda didn’t even flinch or stop kissing her when they heard the flash of a photographer. She pulled away, looked Andy in the eye, "I love you, please come home."
She got a "yes" in the form of another kiss.
The End
Prompt: Andy accompanies Miranda and the girls on a trip to Hollywood. She's still Miranda's assistant.
Please Comment. Thanks for reading.
If there is any interest, I own all the songs in this fic and would be happy to upload on sendspace.