Here's chapter two…I really hope someone is reading this? If you are please review?!
Author's Note: Honesly who would think that I own any of this? I don't so give it up if you do…
Uptown Girl
Chapter 2: Cups
So that's how I met Ryan Murphy.
That's how within a week I was standing in what was supposed to be an empty dance studio uptown. Ryan Murphy, Brad Fulchuk, and Ian Brennan are seated at a table staring at me as I nervously wait for them to ask me what I'll be singing for my audition.
And about half the main cast of Glee was standing behind them or leaning against the wall. They were all waiting for me to sing. I felt like throwing up.
I hate Nick for talking me into this…I was lying to myself but it felt good to think it.
"Can I ask why this technically isn't a closed audition? I thought only the three of you were going to be here for this?"
"Well…Anastasia…understand that this is just a simple audition. We would just like to hear you sing something. But the cast wanted to hear this extraordinary voice that Ryan found in the middle of New York. They, as well as us, want to make sure that you will fit in within the ranks so to speak. We won't and can't force you to join the cast. If you want this as badly as Ryan says he wants you, we'll have a contract to you in a few days. You can have a lawyer look it over and renegotiate if you wish."
"So they want to make sure I won't outshine any of them."
There, I said it. I went there. And based on the looks I was getting from Lea Michele and Darren Criss (I swore my heart stopped when he walked in), I was spot on correct. And here I thought these people were supposed to be so nice and accepting to new people joining the show. Hell, they seemed to welcome the new people in season 4 easily. All of their Twitter accounts had pictures of them all together…
Odd woman out again, Petrovsky. You really stepped in it this time гений*…
"I understand," I replied as confidently as I could.
Ryan nodded at me like we've known each other for years. Honestly, the man sat in my restaurant well into dinner service on his cell phone calling everyone he could on the creative team for the show. Sure, I sat and spoke with him for a while. The man offered me a dream come true. I should probably mention that I was pretty heavy into theatre and choir in high school. I was tempted to go to school for drama, but the family and the family business came first.
"For my audition, I'll be singing Cups by Lulu and The Lampshades."
Here goes nothing…
I got my ticket for the long way 'round
Two bottle 'a whiskey for the way
And I sure would like some sweet company
And I'm leaving tomorrow, what do ya say?
When I'm gone
When I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
I've got my ticket for the long way 'round
The one with the prettiest of views
It's got mountains, it's got rivers, it's got sights to give you shivers
But it sure would be prettier with you
When I'm gone
When I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone**
You know that silence that comes from a room of people when you've done something incredibly stupid or incredibly amazing? I couldn't tell who thought I did either of those things. It took a whole minute for someone to do something.
Kevin McHale stood up and started clapping…earnestly. He looked like he actually meant it. Chris Colfer was the next to join in. Suddenly every last person in the room was on their feet clapping.
I wanted to cry…
Nick was right to push me to do this. He knew what I would mean to me to be accepted by people I worshipped. He knew I loved my family and my job, but he knew I would love this more. I asked him to take over the restaurant for a few months while I was in LA working on things for the show. He was happy to do it. I trusted him. All I had asked was for him to forward me every last invoice and bank receipt. I still overruled him on any menu or schedule changes as needed.
To this day I still think Nick was right. I would never have experienced the things I did if it wasn't for him.
I need to jump back to a week after I auditioned and signed my contract though…
I got off the plane at LAX and was almost immediately lost. I am definitely a New Yorker. I missed my city the second I stepped outside the airport. God, even the cabs sucked out here. They waited in lines for fools to just get in them. I don't trust a waiting cab. It has to literally almost run me over first before I'll get in it.
Luckily, the network paid for me to have a car for a few days while mine was being shipped over from New York. First thing I did after evil eye-ing the cabs was find my ride.
I arrived at the hotel with about two hours to spare. I was supposed to be at the studio when those two hours were up. I showered and unpacked my bags. The suite was more than I wanted for them to get me. I admit the kitchen will come in handy. I'll be needing a fridge and stove eventually in my time here.
I was standing in the bathroom applying my make-up when a loud knocking started up on my door.
Mind you…I was only wearing a towel…
I slid the door chain into place before slightly cracking the door open.
There stood Chris Colfer and Darren Criss holding basket of what I had incorrectly assumed was fruit and other goodies.
Oh fuck…my subconscious took a nosedive behind a curtain and peeked back out at me. I told your dumbass to at least put panties and a robe on just to be safe. At least you were just finishing your lipstick when they knocked.
"Hi! We thought we'd welcome you to the cast first. Ryan gave us your hotel room number so we could bring you a welcome present from the cast," Chris Colfer does have a slightly high pitched musical voice in private. It isn't an act.
"Come on in…"I shut the door and removed the chain. I quickly clutched the towel a little tighter to me before opening the door enough to let them in. They walked past me, and Chris put the basket on a table before turning back to me as I shut the door.
"OH! We really caught you at a bad time, huh?"
"No, Mr. Colfer it's ok I guess. Ryan doesn't have my number yet to have just given you that. I didn't think I'd be getting any visitors while I was here. Let me try to throw something on really quick."
"Oh honey, it's Chris. I'm hoping you and I will be close friends."
I opened up a drawer, grabbed some panties and a bra. I bent a little lower and grabbed jeans and a t-shirt from the bottom drawer.
That's when I heard the sharp intake of breath from behind me.
"Dare, stop staring. And shut your mouth."
I just flashed Darren Criss not only my bum, but another intimate part of myself…the only way out of being completely embarrassed is to play this off cool and sexy…
He was beat red when I straightened up and looked him in the eye.
"I figured I'd just get that out of the way now. I don't do the sweet, innocent baby girl seduction. I just go for the full on Penthouse experience right off the bat. Hope you're good in bed."
Millions of pins dropping would have never filled the silence in the room. Chris started laughing about 3 minutes after I walked into the bathroom and shut the door. When I emerged fully clothed, Darren was still beat red. His eyes were shut and he looked like he could be counting back from one million.
"I was kidding you know. That was slightly more embarrassing for me than it was for you. I'm hoping it was at least enjoyable for you. I'm going to be mortified for the rest of my life every time I think about this. You just got a free show without asking."
"I was hoping you were kidding," eyes still shut, he answered me. "I didn't think we'd get that close that quick, especially with Chris in the room. It is nice to meet you."
He stood up and held a hand out to me, smiling the whole time. I took his hand in mine, feeling a jolt of electricity or something shoot up my arm. I looked up into his eyes and swore his expression matched mine.
"Glad you can take a joke..Darren? Do you prefer Darren or Dare?"
"Either is fine. Are you an Ana? A Stasia? Or full name…Anastasia?"
"Stasia? Never heard it before but I'm surprisingly not opposed to it. I'm Ana to friends and family. My father's the only one who calls me Anastasia."
He smiled…I melted. Chris was watching this exchange like a lion observing prey. I could hear wheels turning in his head. I suddenly felt like I was going to be forced into some strange co-star, hairbrained matchmaking scheme. I let go of Darren's hand quickly and stepped away. I sat in one of the arm chairs and motioned for them to sit as well.
"Can I look in my basket?"
Chris immediately jumped up and grabbed it before I could.
"This is more of an adult welcome gift than a regular old fruit basket. There's wine and a bottle of tequila. We hope you like tequila. There's also a bottle of vodka, and some pre-made drink mixes. It's the bottled kind so it's really simple. We threw in a shaker as well. There's chips and dip, peanuts, and some pretzels. We also added in menus and addresses for all the best restaurants in town. We thought we'd get you thinking about the restaurants we all like so we can get you to join us eventually."
"What no condoms?" I laughed. "Is the alcohol so I can throw a hotel party? We be chillin' at the Holiday Inn?"
"Yes and no. We know what it's like to want a drink after work. I fully intend on us becoming friends so I do expect you to invite me back here every once in a while to have drinks and talk."
"That is incredibly presumptuous of you. But I hope the same thing, Chris. Darren, of course you're invited as well. And I'd be happy to invite the whole cast back here to hang out. Just show me the nearest liquor store and I'll stock up."
"Good," Chris smiled at me."
I spent forty-five minutes getting to know my two new co-stars. They both offered to come with me to the studio, but I politely declined.
"I hope to see you two later this week?"
"Sure! Hold on, give me your phone."
I handed it over to Chris. I watched him punch his number into it before handing it to Darren. He did the same and handed it back to me. I held my hand out expectantly to Chris, put my number in his phone and handed it back. I turned to Darren and slowly put my hand out.
"Is this so we can finish what we started?" he asked me smirking. Still, he handed over his phone without hesitating.
"Oh sweetie," I smirked back. "You couldn't handle me at all. I'm not one of those delicate princesses you seem to like. I'll break you in two."
I put my number in his contacts and handed it back. When he took the phone from my hand, I pulled slightly so his head was level with mine.
I leaned into his ear and whispered huskily, "We'll see if you want to be broken though. I'm a terrible tease and really…I'm like tornado. I leave a path of destruction a mile wide."
"We'll see about that, Ana," he responded just as low in my ear. "I don't think you're as big a tease as you think. And I'd love to get to see more of you, emotionally, mentally, and later…physically."
For the first time in my life, my patented 'Get away from me before I fall for you too quickly' routine was reciprocated by an equally as offensive and confusing mating tradition. He accepted my challenge. Darren fucking Criss had basically laid it all out on the line. He flirted back harder than I had. He basically told me that he wanted to see where our flirtation was going to go.
And I was terrified. It should have been my first clue.
*Russian to English translation: Genius
**I do not own Cups. Nor do I like the original version of the song. It sounded better on the pitch perfect soundtrack. But oh well…I love the song and I wanted Ana to have something different to sing for her audition.
So there's chapter 2! Hope it was enjoyable. I know that Darren and Ana started flirting very quickly, but there was a reason for that. You'll see pretty soon what that reason is. Hope this was enjoyable.