"Darren – what the – slow down! I AM NOT ADOG!" Eleanor's yell stunned Darren sufficiently to bring him to a halt.
"Why would you be a dog?" His eyebrows knitted together in confusion, crap, Eleanor looked mad.
"You were dragging me like one! Now would you like to tell me what's wrong?" Eleanor's hands flew to her hips in frustration, Darren recognised the danger sign and subconsciously took a step back.
"Nothing – I just know we have a lot to get through today." He held his hands up and tried to look apologetic.
"You really think I'm going to buy that? You seemed more bothered about getting away from those guys – I thought you said they were like family."
"We are, it's really nothing, don't worry about it. I was just over eager I think." Darren snaked a muscular arm around his girlfriends small waist and pulled her into a hug. Eleanor inhaled Darren's masculine scent, noticing the vague smell of mint from his favourite shower gel, and relaxed onto his shoulder. She knew there was more to it than what Darren claimed, but right now she found it very hard to press the matter.
"Hmm, as much as I would love to stay right where I am, don't we have your work colleagues to see?" She felt Darren snuggle into her hair and his arms tighten.
"Don't wanna." She giggled and pushed against his toned chest gently.
"You arranged this, it would be a bit weird if we suddenly disappeared don't ya think?"
"Mm, you speak sense, come on then, lets go see Chris."
They ambled contentedly through the various buildings, Darren pointing out where certain things were filmed as the went. The made their way to a large white trailer, where Darren knocked lightly on the door. A muffled shout could be heard before a crash and a few expletives. The door was flung wide and there stood Chris Colfer – hopping.
"Christ Darren, since when do you knock?" He hobbled back into the trailer and fell back onto a small chair.
"Well I thought I should show I own manners since I brought Eleanor with me." Chris' head snapped up and Eleanor felt his gaze look her up and down briefly before he spoke again.
"Hi, pleased to meet you finally. I hope you realize the torture he puts us through talking about you." Darren blushed slightly.
"Erm, hi – what did you – what was that crash?" Eleanor indicated Chris' foot, which he was cradling gingerly. She saw his eyebrows shoot up into his hairline.
"Oh yeah – I was practising with my Sai Swords. I was expecting you both, I just wasn't expecting him to knock – it sort of threw me and I sort of threw one of the swords..." Eleanor followed his gaze to where a short silver sword lay, half embedded in a beanbag. At this Darren burst out laughing and received a very Kurt-like bitch stare from Chris.
"You will laugh when I tell Ryan the reason I can't dance for a while is you." This sobered Darren up considerably.
"Well sit down, you're making the place look untidy! Lea will be here soon, she didn't want to miss meeting you Eleanor – we really have heard that much about you." He lowered his foot tenderly to the floor, testing it carefully.
"Okay, enough embarrassing Darren now, thanks!"
"Don't be silly Babe – you can't be embarrassed, don't forget some of the crazy stuff you've done!" Eleanor exchanged knowing glances with Chris as Darren groaned, knowing what was coming next.
"Did he ever tell you about the time he tried to prank Riker?" Chris' whole face lit up, he was well into story mode by now.
"Was that the time he ended up covered in the feathers instead of Riker?" Eleanor cocked her head to one side as she tried to remember the details.
"No, no that was after this one, this one involved half the camera crew being sent home because he tried to copy Naya and seduce Riker with dance moves while on set at a Warbler meeting." Chris was now leaning forward while Darren tried to hide behind a velvet covered cushion.
"And why were the camera crew sent home?"
"Oh well the ones that went home were the lucky ones, the rest were sent to hospital to be checked out – he tried to back-flip and ended up landing on the camera men – they were like dominoes!" Chris was barely containing his laughter, painful foot forgotten in the story telling.
"Oh God, you must ask Lea about the infamous Chinese New Year escapade, she tells it so much better than me."
They continued on in this vein for another half an hour before a knock at the door announced Lea's arrival.
"Oh thank God!" Darren flung his arms around Lea dramatically.
"Erm... Hi Darren, what have they been doing to you?" She smiled and waved over at Eleanor and Chris who were in hysterics on the sofa.
"Please stop them – it's pick on Darren day – AGAIN!" Darren used his best puppy dog eyes.
"Ooh, can I join in?" Lea pulled away from Darren's desperate grasp chuckling lightly.
"I've got a better idea, lets go see some of the sets, you wanted to do that right Eleanor – please?" She looked into his pleading golden orbs, but couldn't resist tormenting him just a little bit more.
"Hmm, I'm not sure – I'd quite like to hear more storied of work Darren, you never tell me any of this!" She was pulled to her feet and Darren wrapped her in a bone-crushing hug.
"Please, please put me out of my misery, I'll do anything, show you anything I can!"
"Erm, Darren, in order for me to be able to do any of these things I need to breath!" The tight arms around her suddenly disappeared and he took her hand instead, smiling playfully.
"I take it that means you're abandoning us then?" Lea pouted and turned her big doe like eyes upon the pair, taking in how truly comfortable Darren looked, more comfortable than she had ever seen him. Which was saying something considering how relaxed this boy was all the time.
"Yep we are, we can come see you later if you want though," Darren smiled slightly at the thought of finally having some relief and some well needed alone time with Eleanor.