Push to the Limit (the sixth book in the Glee series)

Chapter 20: Studio

Not many of you were around at the very beginning of this story but there was a time when we couldn't decide who the faceclaim for Julie was. We had set her as Ariana Grande at first but there was a lot of debate about it and some people wanted it to be Jade Thirlwall instead so we set it to a vote. I put in my own option, Christina Grimmie, and along with Naomi Scott, Lucy Hale, Ariana Grande, and Jade Thirlwall there was a little competition among a few of the readers to see who the official facelaim would be. We were just starting in on the second book at this time. Jade won and later there was a general consensus to go back to Ariana so I did. I'm bringing this up because just about an hour ago it was announced that Christina had died. I had been up after posting the last chapter because I saw that she had been shot and we were all just waiting for news since she was in critical condition. Some of you may not care or even know who she is but Christina was one of the most talented singers I knew and I fell in love with her after seeing a cover she did of Titanium on YouTube. I followed her career on The Voice and was a longtime fan, though recently I had stepped out of her small but strong fandom. Now she has tragically lost her life and I wanted to bring it up with a new post because it has really affected me and I think everyone should know her story and her talent. With that, I leave you to continue the story. One of our many first Julies has been lost but the world will not forget her talent. #RIPChristinaGrimmie

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When Shana started shrieking, Zoe nearly spilled the water she was boiling. Leila looked up from her newspaper in concern but it wasn't until Kayli stomped out of her room and said, "What is going on?" that Shana finally stopped.

"Sorry, sorry!" she said. "I didn't mean to wake you up."

"Well you did," Kayli groaned. "Why were you screaming?" She looked down at the ground in a panic. "O-M-G was there a roach?"

"A roach?" Leila asked, putting her feet up on the kitchen chair.

Zoe looked around the floor, ready to kill the roach, but Shana shook her head and explained, "There was no vermin, I promise. I wasn't scared. I just got a message from Santana telling me to pack my bags and bring enough for time out on the snow."

"What does that mean?" asked Zoe, looking at the others for explanations none of them had.

"I don't know!" Shana admitted. "But I'm really excited! I guess we're not going to be in Lima for Christmas after all because she says we have a long trip ahead of us."

Zoe frowned. "Aww, I wish I had someone taking me on a mysterious Christmas vacation."

"Me, too," Leila agreed. "But I'm so happy that she's taking you out, Shana! We'll miss you at the Christmas party, though."

"And we won't get to spend our first household Christmas together," added Zoe.

Kayli looked around at them like they were insane. "Um, hello? We were supposed to stop by the studio today and finish writing that song we started on Wednesday, remember? Or am I the only one who cares about the group?"

"We care, too," Shana told her. "But... It's Christmas. It's Santana. I never get to see her and I miss her like crazy. Please don't be mad."

"Yeah," Leila agreed. "Shana deserves a little time off with her missus and besides, we can finish the song without her."

"The love song?" asked Kayli. "The one none of us can write because we're all single and pathetic? Girls, we need someone who has been lucky in love around!"

"You don't need me," Shana rolled her eyes. "Trust me. You don't need to be currently in love to write a love song. It's the most universal feeling in the world. Besides hunger and sleepiness, of course. So just go down to the studio without me and right a killer song. I'm going to go pack my bags right away!"