A/N: This is my first Achele fic. I've been inspired by so many writers before me, and of course, Achele. This fic has a predetermined amount of chapters and I'll never beg for reviews because that takes away from the experience.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, and does not reflect the actual lives of Lea Michele and Dianna Agron. I do not own Achele.
PRESENT DAY
"He's just a friend! It's called acting, Dianna. Some of us are just meant to play a certain role in life."
This was all too familiar to her. Lea heard the words fly out of her mouth before she could stop them, but she meant it. She meant every word, just like she did three years ago. But the last time these words came out of her mouth, they were sweet, almost flirtatious. This time it sounded exactly how she felt inside – hollow, angry, and morose.
"If he's just a friend, then why do I feel like my heart is ripping out of my chest when I see you with him? Why is there a deafening buzzing in my ears when I see him hold you? Why do I feel like I could cry, throw up, and scream when he pushes a strand of your hair behind your ear? But most of all, why do I feel like I don't exist to you when you look at him?" Dianna was done screaming. She was done talking. She was done pretending. She was done.
2008
"And last but not least, I'd like you to meet Lea. She'll be playing -" "Rachel," Dianna blurted out, completing Ryan's sentence for him.
"Rachel. Right. Well, I'll let you two get acquainted," Ryan said as he left the future faux-enemies standing in the middle of a small but empty soundstage.
Lea studied the girl. She's very pretty, prettier than I expected. No, beautiful's the right word or at least closer to any word I can think of. Lea stuck her hand out confidently with that amazingly bright smile that Dianna would find to be addicting. "Hi! Dianna, is it?"
Dianna smiled a full mouth smile nodding fervently. Was she blushing?
"Well Miss Dianna, it's so nice to finally meet the person that's going to make my life a living hell for the next few months… that is if we get picked up. But, I know we will, especially if Ryan Murphy and I have anything to do with it."
Lea never had a problem with confidence. Hell, she's been on Broadway since she was 8. She's had fake sex on stage in front of sold out crowds. Her career was just beginning to blossom into superstardom and if there was anything her mother taught her it was to never look back. Always look forward, because the moment you do, those behind you will take you down with them.
Dianna seemed to be taken aback by Lea's forwardness. She's definitely Rachel Berry. Dianna looked into Lea's eyes then quickly to her shoes. "Lea Michele. I'm such a big fan," Dianna started timidly, batting her eyelashes and biting her lower lip, trying not to fangirl in front of her new co-worker. "My mother and I are huge Broadway fans and we saw you in Spring Awakening. You really are very talented. I'm honored to be working with you."
Lea let her finish her rant, noticing just how adorable the blonde standing before her could be when she was nervous. She let out one of her famously contagious belly laughs she would be known for on set. "Hahaha! Oh, oh oh, no Dianna, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to mock you. It's just that you're adorable!" Lea was stating the truth, there was no shame in that. "Thank you so much for your kind words, but you're too kind. We're co-workers now and soon to be friends, so if you're here, then you're probably not to shabby yourself."
I'm blushing again. "Well we'll see about that. I can only hope that I can live up to the standards of Lea Michele," Dianna said boring straight into Lea's chestnut brown eyes.
"Please, it's Lea Sarfati. Michele's for people I don't know. As for standards, well, I think you fit the bill and then some." Lea was blatantly flirting and loved seeing the effect her direct words had on the blonde. We're off to a great start.
Dianna cleared her throat, causing a brief smirk to cross Lea's face. "I, uh, I – Thanks." Lea basked in the fact she caused the girl to lose her focus. She smiled and winked at the blonde. "Anytime."
Quickly regaining her composure, Dianna started again, "Well, I'm sure you're busy. I'll let you get onto your next appointment and maybe we can get to know each other a little more over coffee?"
Lea could hear the hopeful, yet reticent tone in Dianna's voice. We're going to have to work on that. "Dianna. Who do you think I am? 'Next appointment?' I'm all done here, as I'm sure you are as well. I don't know about you, but I'm famished and long overdue for my caffeine fix. You wanna grab a bite, now? I haven't been here long, but I hear there's this a-mazing vegan place nearby."
Dianna's eyes twinkled. "Of course! Oh my god, I can't believe I'm grabbing lunch with Lea Michele, Sarfati! Lea Sarfati! Sorry!" Lea chuckled, smiling warmly toward the taller girl in front of her. "It's OK, Di. I'll let it slide this one time." Could her smile get any bigger?
The girls began to make their way to Lea's car.
"Ok, but do you mind if I call my mom on the way? She's gonna flip when I tell her I'm having lunch with you."
"Please, by all means, fangirl away. Get it out of your system now," Lea teased sarcastically.
"Oh my gosh! I feel like such an idiot," Dianna said, suddenly very dejected.
"Di, I'm teasing you! Sheesh we really need to work on that confidence." Dianna smiled bashfully. "In fact, I'll even say hello to her myself. That way I can tell her what a beautiful and well-mannered daughter she's raised."
Ignoring the almost too intimate compliments from a person who was still a practical stranger, Dianna shrieked. "Really! Oh she's gonna love that Lea. You're the best." And with that, Dianna practically caused the shorter girl to fall when she lunged at her, grabbing her into a tight bear hug.
"So let's see. We've covered music, movies, books, celebrity crushes…. what about love lives?" Lea inquired. Sure she thought this was normal conversation, but a part of her wanted to know this bit of information for selfish reasons. Is she single or is she in a relationship? Does she like girls?
"I'm single," Dianna said curtly.
Damn. That doesn't really give me much information to go off of.
"What about you? Are you seeing anyone? Maybe Jonathan Groff… I know you both are close and he'd be crazy not to be with you." Do I sound jealous or desperate? God I hope not. No, it must have come off as inquisitive and shows that I know a little something about her. Girls ask these kinds of questions all of the time.
Lea scoffed. "Me and Jon? Oh my, that'd be the day! No no no. He's just a friend! It's called acting, Dianna." She paused letting her laughter subside. "Some of us are just meant to play a certain role in life."
She laughed at her own joke. Playing a young virgin across from her gay best friend, that was irony. "I guess we must have been convincing, then," Lea said half serious, half joking.
Dianna laughed, "You certainly had me fooled! But I guess that helps keeps the tabloids away, right?" In truth, Dianna hadn't had much experience with the paparazzi. She had heard stories from different people with how Hollywood worked, but she wasn't on anyone's radar just yet to have anyone causing a fuss over her.
"Everyone handles the paps in their own way. But rule of thumb, never answer a question directly, unless your PR people instruct you to or they're good enough to pick up the mess after you do."
"Noted."
"Well, I've had a blast. Do you have a place yet or are you in a hotel right now?" Straight and to the point. That's Lea's style. She continued, "I've got something temporary. Waaay bigger than my place in New York ever was. If you don't have any plans, maybe you can come over and we can have a girls night in. What do you say? Wine, Bravo, bad romantic comedies?" Where did all of my confidence go? "You know you want to Di," Lea sing-songed, batting her eyelashes and giving Dianna the most angelic smile she could muster.
Happiness. It was written all over Dianna's face. "Ok, but on one condition."
Lea waited with trepidation.
"We HAVE to watch Project Runway."
"Did we just become best friends? Of course we have to watch Project Runway. This is going to be a good night, I can tell. I hope you don't mind if I invite Jenna over, too." I can't be with her alone, especially after we get some wine in our system. Remember those pictures that went viral from that time Jon convinced her that he had taken the memory stick out of that camera?
"Oh, uh," Dianna faltered. "Even better, I suppose."
