You and Me… and Everything in Between
Chapter 1: This is My "Shocked" Face
The walk back to my trailer was by far the longest walk known to mankind. Time seemed to have slowed down because I felt like I was moving in slow-motion. I stopped and looked down at my feet. To my surprise, I was not standing in quicksand. I began my movements again and became even more anxious and nervous than I had ever been in my life, including when I first auditioned for Glee. My palms started sweating profusely and I couldn't get them to stop. I really wished I had some baby powder or something right about now. Why was I feeling like this? Oh, that's right… you're about to tell the girl of your dreams, aka your best friend, that you're madly in love with her!
We just finished shooting the big group number for "The Scientist". It was really sad, like the majority of this episode, but I think it's one of the best ones we've done in a while. Anyways, I decided earlier this week that it was time… time to finally man up and tell Heather how I feel. I'm so scared though because what if she doesn't feel the same? What if I misconstrued her subtle touches, longing looks, or flirtatious behavior into something more than it really was?
The thing I'm most concern about is ruining our friendship. Regardless if Heather feels even remotely the same as I do or not, I know that she won't just stop being my friend. However, what worries me is how my admission will drastically change our friendship. I doubt the closeness that we currently share, which everyone else finds to be odd, yet endearing, will end. I don't know if this risk is worth the possible reward, but I just can't hold it in any longer. Seriously… 4 years has been long enough!
As I stand outside our shared trailer, I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I take the door knob in my hand and open it, ready to finally be completely honest with my best friend.
"Hey HeMo, can we…" I start to say, but my words die on my lips as I take in the sight in front of me.
Heather is sitting on the couch. Her eyes look red and glossy, as if she's about to cry. And then, there's him… Taylor, her ex-boyfriend (or at least that's what I thought from previous conversations). He's kneeling in front of Heather… on one knee?
Suddenly, I feel like the air has been knocked out of me. I can't breathe… I need to escape!
"Nay…" Heather says slowly.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt… I didn't know you had company," I manage to spit out once my brain starts functioning again. "I just…" I start saying, not really knowing what to say. I quickly look around the room and spot my purse sitting on the lounge chair. "I just wanted to grab this. I'll talk to you later Heath; good to see you again, Taylor," I get out in one breath, while quickly exiting the trailer with my purse in hand.
I stand with my head leaning back against the trailer door. I bring my hands up to cover my face, shaking my head. What the fuck is he doing here? Didn't they break up? A few seconds pass by and my breathing finally feels like its evening out again. But then… Oh my God! Was he proposing? With that last thought lingering inside my head, the air escaped me once again. All of my emotions appeared to be bubbling to the surface. I felt my eyes start to water. Fuck Naya, get it together! Not here… not now!
With that, I pushed off the door and made my way down the steps quickly as possible. As I made a B-line towards the parking lot, I hadn't noticed someone calling out my name. Obviously, I had more important shit on my mind currently. As I continued to walk briskly, I felt a tug on my wrist. Slightly startled by the contact, I snapped my head back and found a breathless Lea Michelle.
"Naya… ah, shit… I think I got a cramp," Lea started to say, bending over and breathing heavily. "Didn't you hear me calling you?" she said a little more composed.
"Sorry… I guess I was in my own little world," I offered.
"Yeah, I guess so," she stated, her voice sounding back to normal. "Where are you going? I thought we were all gonna go to dinner once we wrapped for the day."
"I, uh… can't. Something came up, sorry?" I said, trying to keep it together. "I'll catch up with you next time," I stated, turning around and making my way back to the parking lot.
"Wait! Nay, is everything okay?" Lea asked, gaining my attention once again.
"Yeah… everything is fine," I stated, unconvincingly. "I really gotta go," I said, offering a small smile as I turned to walk away again.
"Ok then, bye…" Lea stated, the disappointment apparent in her voice.
I finally made it to my car and put the key in the ignition. As I cranked the car up, a familiar melody blasted through my speakers.
It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise, that moves us along…
Hearing those words brought me back to what I had witnessed only a few minutes ago. Heather was back with Taylor… I mean, why else would he be there?
She will be loved, she will be loved…
Heather deserves to be happy… I want her to be happy! Besides, she was never mine to begin with.
Tap on my window, knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful…
And with that, the tears I had been holding in were unleashed. I silently sobbed in the parking lot for a few minutes before realizing that other people were starting to make their way to their vehicles. I quickly wiped the tears from my face, reversed out of my parking spot, and made my way home.
Throughout my drive home, my phone started to buzz endlessly. I just ignored it because I really didn't think that talking on the phone, especially in my present state, was a good idea. After finally arriving home, I put my purse down and made my way to my bedroom. As I passed by the mirror, I was slightly horrified at what I saw. My mascara was smeared across my face and my lipstick was smudged. I quickly made my way to the bathroom to clean up the mess and then changed into a more comfortable attire.
I made my way back downstairs and finally checked my phone. I had 4 missed calls and 3 unread text messages. Heather was responsible for 3 of the missed calls; Dianna the other. I then went through and read my texts.
HeMo: Hey, are you okay? You left outta here pretty fast.
I didn't reply to Heather… I couldn't. For the first time since I met the blonde, blue-eyed beauty, I didn't want to talk to her. Well, I did… just not right now. Everything was still too fresh and nothing made sense to me anymore.
Kev: Lil' Bee, where'd u go? Lea said u were bailing on dinner.
I couldn't ignore my Lil' Bee. I just hoped he wouldn't ask too many questions.
Me: Yea, sorry... I'm not feeling so great. Have fun though
Technically, it wasn't a lie. I feel like shit right now so I know for sure I wouldn't be the best company.
Kev: Bummer Nay, hope u feel better. Let me know if u need anything
Me: Thanks, I will.
I then read the last message from Dianna.
Di: Hey… Lea told me that u looked kinda upset when u left. Is everything ok? OMG, did u tell her?!
Me: No, I didn't get the chance to… Taylor was there
Di: Aww, I'm sorry Nay. What happened? Why was he there? Didn't they break up?
I slowly re-read Dianna's message. I deleted my response several times before settling on one and setting my phone down on the kitchen counter. I then put out some food for Lucy, grabbed my keys, and headed for the door. I didn't know exactly where I was going, but I knew that I couldn't stay in this big, empty house for much longer.
1 Month Ago…
"Honey, I'm home!" Heather says lovingly, greeting her roommate who is nowhere in sight. "Ash?" Heather tries again, but receives no answer.
Heather walks into the kitchen and sets her stuff down, noticing something on the counter. "Heath, working late so I'll probably crash at Sean's. Love ya, Ash!"
Heather smiles and then pulls out her phone.
"Hello," a woman's voice answers.
"Ya know, you could've just texted me to tell me that," Heather states.
"What can I say, I'm old school," Ashley responds with a chuckle.
"Anyways... how's the editing coming along?" Heather asks.
"Not too shabby. I'm about half way done," Ashley states.
"Good deal! We'll, I won't hold you up. Don't work too hard! See ya tomorrow," says Heather.
"Yes, dear!" Ashley says. "See ya then. Night HeMo!"
The call ends and Heather slumps down on the couch, finally getting a chance to just chill out after the long day she's had.
For the past two days, they had been filming the "Hold it Against Me" number for the Britney 2.0 episode. Heather had no problems with it because, c'mon... she's Heather freaking Morris! However, some of the other girls were having some difficulties using the props while trying to stay on beat. This resulted in a numerous amount of takes. Ryan was not happy!
Just as Heather begins to get comfortable on the couch, eyes closed with the low hum of the TV in the background, her phone rings.
See I've been waiting all day, for you to call me baby...
Nothing could be further from the truth right now, Heather thought to herself.
So let's get up, let's get on it…
Don't you leave me brokenhearted tonight
"I just wanted a moment of peace!" Heather mumbles out as she reluctantly picks up the phone.
"Hey, Tay..." she trails off, her voice laced with exhaustion.
"Hey sweetie! How are you?" Taylor exclaims.
"I'm okay, just a little tired from work. I think I'm gonna take a shower and turn in early," she says, hoping that he will take the hint.
"But Heather, it's Friday. Besides, I've barely gotten to talk to you all week," Taylor whines.
It's true... since the new season started, Heather had been working her ass off. After some of the regulars graduated at the end of season 3, that left an opportunity for Heather's character to get more screen time, which meant more acting, dancing, and singing than usual. Heather was still trying to adjust to her bigger role. Plus, it didn't help that her best friend wasn't around on set as much to keep her sane and make the work day go by faster.
"I know and I'm sorry, but I told you this week was gonna be crazy for me," Heather states. "Can I please just call you tomorrow when I'm not completely exhausted and can have an actual conversation with you?" she begs.
"That's just it Heather, you're always busy now!" Taylor states, his voice irritated and slightly louder than when the conversation first started. "I mean, is this what I have to look forward to?"
Taylor had been in the process of looking for a job in LA so that he and Heather could finally be together again. However, for the past few months, their conversations had become shorter (mostly due to Heather's intense work schedule), while their arguments had increased.
"Look, I said I'm sorry Taylor! I'm doing the best I can right now!" Heather replied, her tone rising a little as well. "I don't know what else I can do to make this better," she said, her voice softening.
"Quit," Taylor said, simply.
Thinking that she may have gone deaf for a second, Heather asks "I'm sorry, what did you just say?"
"I said quit. Quit your job Heather and come back to Arizona where you belong!" Taylor stated more specifically.
"Are you fucking kidding me right now?!" Heather asks in disbelief, her voice rising again.
"No, I'm not!" Taylor starts. "You once said that you would give that life up to be with me and spend the rest of your life with me."
"Yeah... I did say that years ago, but I never thought you would be the person asking me to give up my dreams!" Heather says, anger mixed with sadness taking over her voice.
"So, it was just bullshit then!" Taylor concludes.
"No, it wasn't bullshit! But, you know how important this is to me!" she says, feeling herself getting more irritated.
"But it's just a job, Heather! You can still dance and teach here if you really wanted to!" Taylor says, trying to reason with her.
"This is not just a job to me, Taylor... this is my life! I mean, I would never ask you to give up on baseball!" she says, tears threatening to fall.
"This is different Heather! If this stupid job is worth more than our relationship, then maybe..." he trails off.
"Then maybe, what?!" Heather says.
"Nevermind," Taylor says, retreating from his previous statement.
"No, finish what you were gonna say!" she demands.
"It's nothing... let's just forget about it!" Taylor responds.
"No... I think it's time we finally started telling each other how we really feel," Heather says calmly.
"What do you mean?" he asks.
"Tay... I've been unhappy for a while now," Heather begins. "I don't know if it's the long-distance thing or work or whatever else, but I'm not happy. We constantly fight and to be honest..." she pauses briefly. "… on days we don't really get to talk, if we get to at all, I'm okay. That bothers me because I should always want to talk to you!" she continues. "I don't know... we've been off and on for what, 7 years now? I don't think I can be on this roller-coaster anymore," Heather concludes.
"Heather, what are you saying?" Taylor asks, hesitantly.
"I'm saying that... I don't think you should move down here," she begins to say. "I don't think I can do this anymore..." she trails off.
"And by this you mean..." he starts to say.
"Us," she finishes.
The line is silent for what seems like forever. Finally, Heather speaks again.
"Tay, I care about you so much... but I just can't do this anymore. I'm tired of fighting. I'm so sorry," Heather says, a tear falling from her eye.
"Okay," Taylor finally says. "I guess I should let you go. Goodbye, Heather…" he states, emotionless.
And with that, the call ends.
Heather sits on the couch for a while, trying to figure out what just happened because nothing seems to make sense anymore. Her eyes are red and puffy from the heavy sobbing she had been doing since the call with Taylor ended.
Suddenly, Heather feels the need to get away so she can maybe clear some of the thoughts clouding her mind. She quickly grabs her keys and phone and drives away from her house. Heather continues to drive until she gets to the one place where everything always made sense, to the one person that always made her feel better.
Heather makes it to the front door and knocks a few times, hoping that she is home. After a few seconds pass by, she hears the deadbolt unlocking and sees the door slowly opening.
"Heather?" the all-but-familiar rasp of Naya's voice says.
"Hi…" she says back, her voice sounding defeated.
Author's Note:
Hey guys! As promised, here is the first chapter of the Heya multi-chapter story I've been working on. I hope you enjoy it. Reviews are always welcomed . Also, I'd like to thank anyone who has read/review my other two stories. I'll try to update this as quickly as possible. Just so I don't get anyone confused, this story starts off at the beginning of season 4 filming (present day) and then jumps back a month and builds from there (a sort of Tarantino-style). Anyways, I look forward to hearing from you guys. Also, all mistakes are my own.
-Kris
Songs used:
She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5
Brokenhearted by Karmin
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Glee or any of its characters. I do NOT own or know Naya, Heather, or any other characters used in this story. As a side note, I don't know Taylor, so I didn't want to make him a douche bag. I would assume that he is a pretty good guy since he managed to snag HeMo. With that being said, I wanted to make their relationship/break-up as real as possible. As always, this story is completely fictional.