Title – Halfway To Anywhere
Summary: Naya's not sure how she ended up in her bathtub; hung-over and with Heather on top of her, but the kink in her neck suggests they slept there. Sequel to Behind Closed Doors. RPF. HeYa.
Disclaimer: Wishing I owned something, but I don't. This is RPF.
A/N: So I'm devastated about the last episode of glee, but WOW did Heather do a great job in her scenes! (just had to say that) also again, thanks for the reviews!
-ooo-
"So I heard Mark was planning on having a small gathering at his house sometime this week," Heather states distractedly as she walks past the casts trailers, Naya's strolling next to her, absorbed in her phone that is held in both her hands.
She manages a hum though, "small gathering meaning an all-out party." Naya corrects. From her peripheral vision she sees Heather blow her cheeks out in thought.
"Yeah." She concedes and Naya looks up from her phone tiredly.
It's Monday and although she had the whole weekend to recuperate from her hangover she still feels completely horrible. The thought of drinking has her stomach churning uncomfortably.
"I'm still not over last Friday." She says with a small frown.
Heather gives her an understanding smile but doesn't say anything so Naya adds onto her last sentence.
"Plus you know what Marks' parties are like; they're the kind you don't remember."
"It's only meant to be a small one, a couple of the cast and a few drinks." Heather explains although Naya is quick to nod and then come to a sudden stop, Heather does the same a step ahead and looks back with confusion.
Naya ignores the look in favour of speaking, "But even then it'd turn into some party that mimics a fraternity house, we're like animals when drunk. The whole cast." She grins and Heather shrugs.
"Sometimes, but it's still fun."
"Of course." Naya concedes, walking again.
"We could go together," Heather says easily and Naya's stomach flips at the words. She knows Heather only means that they take the same car and show up with each other in a purely platonic way, but her mind instantly goes to them being a couple and from out of nowhere she blushes.
"Sounds good," She says quietly, focusing on her phone.
Heather nods and Naya feels herself being pulled to a stop, she looks up.
"What?" She adds.
Heather's pointing to the hair and makeup trailer casually and Naya realizes she almost walked past it. She blushes again before following Heather in.
It's slightly warmer inside the room although Naya thinks that is because of the lights and hairdryers and people bustling around at a quick pace, it's only early but Naya can see Dianna already sitting in a chair with her hair up in a loose bun and a fresh face ready for makeup. Naya walks towards the sitting blonde slowly and Heather is quick to make her way over to a spare chair which is pretty much at the opposite end of the trailer, she smiles back at Naya endearingly. It's the kind of smile you give someone you're close with when you have to be separated for a short time, even if you're both within eyeshot of one another and Naya returns it fondly.
She walks closer to Dianna and perches on the small vanity surface, making sure not to squash any eyeliner pencils and the thousands of makeup remover pads.
"I'm still not over Friday night." She says in ways of making small talk.
Dianna's looking in the mirror that faces her, but glances to Naya with a smile. "News on the grapevine says that Lea isn't either."
"She had more than me so I think that's probably true." Naya chuckles, Dianna nods and looks back to the mirror. She focuses on Heather's reflection in the back ground and Naya curiously turns to stare at the mirror briefly, even if she can see Heather fine from her position.
"Mark's planning a party," Dianna says lightly.
Naya turns her head back around, "So HeMo mentioned. You going?"
"I think I might," Dianna answers, she looks away from the mirror and by connection Heather's reflection as she focuses on Naya. Her eyes pull together slightly and run down to Naya's neck, "You've got something on your neck, sweetie." She says gently.
Naya's own eyes squint in reply and absently she wipes at her neck, "Is it gone?"
"I think it's a bit more permanent than just dirt." Dianna explains and she tilts her head with what looks like amusement, Naya's heart drops even before Dianna speaks again. "It looks like a love bite."
Shit!
Panicked, Naya rubs her palm more firmly across her neck. It's an action that looks out of place and one that has Dianna grinning like a Cheshire cat, and Naya blushes hotly.
It hadn't gone away fully! The hickey Heather had left after their spontaneous make out session. Oh God.
Why hadn't Heather said anything? Naya looks to Heather unconsciously, watching the dancer talk to one of the make-up ladies. Maybe Heather hadn't seen it, Naya herself didn't and it's on her neck.
Shit!
"No…." Naya husks out in reply to Dianna's words and her amused smile, she looks away from Heather quickly. "I mean, are you sure?"
Dianna nods slowly and leans forward in her chair, trying to get a better view of Naya's neck. "Looks like one," She confirms and her smile grows, Naya covers her neck with both hands.
"Stop staring!" She demands, her cheeks are on fire.
Dianna ignores her instruction and stands up, her skirt falls about her knees in a ripple. "Show me," She smiles and Naya shakes her head.
"It's nothing. I must have bumped my neck somehow."
It's a lame defence and judging by Dianna's abrupt laugh, she thinks so as well.
Gentle hands grab at Naya's wrists a moment later and pull them away from her neck, Naya would resist Dianna's grip, but the idea of making more of a scene is embarrassing so she simply sighs loudly.
"That's not from bumping your neck, Naya." Dianna almost gushes, she looks far too excited. "It's a love bite." She confirms again.
Naya fights the blush that has pretty much engulfed her face and neck and with a shrug she looks sideways.
Dianna runs her fingertips over the mark unexpectedly, "Who?" She asks.
Naya's already pulling back though and feeling cornered she looks to Heather, it's a bad idea because Dianna turns around to follow her line of view.
"Naya," She hushes in a tone that sounds almost mothering but at the same time it holds a bigger meaning.
Naya's quick to talk, standing abruptly from the vanity counter. "Stop jumping to conclusions. It's not a hickey." She lamely mumbles.
Dianna steps back a fraction, "It is so a hickey." She smiles kindly and Naya crosses her arms.
"Well is it noticeable?" She asks quietly.
Dianna shakes her head, "makeup will cover it easily. I only saw it because of the lighting in here." She reassures.
Naya nods her head, up and down, up and down. It's a slow movement but one that is done purposefully, she needs time to stop blushing. Although she's lucky because with her skin tone a blush isn't always seen that easily, on the other hand Dianna looks pretty smug so she probably noticed, Naya looks down.
"How did you not see it?" Dianna asks after a small pause, she sits back in her chair gracefully and stares at Naya with patience.
"I don't know, like I said before I'm still not over Friday. I've been like a walking corpse all weekend."
Dianna grimaces, "nice mental image."
"It's seriously not noticeable?"
"Not unless someone was purposefully looking."
"You saw it though."
Dianna nods, "Probably only because I'm sitting down and I'm close to you."
Worrying her bottom lip between her teeth, Naya tenses her crossed arms. "I'll have one of the makeup ladies cover it." She decides. She's more so talking to herself but Dianna hums her approval, folding her hands in her lap as she does so.
"Can I ask you something?" Her voice is so low, Naya almost doesn't hear Dianna and with a hesitant nod she rests against the counter.
"Sure."
Dianna swallows and licks her lips in a manner that screams elegant before she breathes out, "It's about the love bite." She hushes.
Naya's body tenses even more, but she had been expecting the question to be centred around her neck so with an indifferent shrug she nods to signal that Dianna can continue.
"You didn't have the bruise on your neck the last time I saw you." She starts. "Which was the morning after the party," Needlessly stated but Naya stays silent and Dianna lifts her head in a small motion. "So you must have gotten it after I left."
Naya shifts her weight onto her right foot, "you didn't ask me anything." She notes and Dianna sits up straighter.
"It was Heather wasn't it?" She says firmly.
Naya's not sure if her face falters or if she actually physically flinches from the words, but Dianna is standing up a second time and stepping closer with a soft look in her eyes.
They're so bold, Dianna's words.
So much so that Naya wants to take off running and just get some fresh air, or drive home, or even drink the left over alcohol at her house until she's in a bubble of obliviousness. She is put out by Dianna's words more so than Dianna actually asking the question because Naya was aware that the blonde actress knew something. She just didn't think Dianna would blatantly say it, or she supposes ask about it.
"What?" She whispers and her voice cracks slightly.
Dianna is standing right in front of her, "when I left, Heather was the only one aside from you in the apartment." She explains. "And I don't think you did that to yourself." There's that knowing little smile again and Naya swallows dryly.
She glances back over to Heather quickly and then looks down, "Mark and Kevin were still on the roof."
"Okay." Dianna speaks lightly, disregarding Naya's attempts at deflection. "But it wasn't either of those two, it was Heather wasn't it?"
"What was me?"
Naya jumps. Like actually physically jumps when Heather speaks. She's standing right near them and Naya wonders why she didn't even see her walking up, or for that matter why Dianna didn't either.
Dianna is quick to smile, a friendly greeting. "Nothing," she says in a tone that comes across kind but also honest.
Heather smiles in reply and looks to Naya for assurance or confirmation, "are gossipy things happening?" She smiles wider but Naya is finding it hard to respond and Heather's eyes drop to the bruise on her neck. "Oh my God, Naya. You've got a…." She points at the hickey in a casual but hurried fashion, "bruise." She finishes.
It's weird how off-the-cuff Heather comes across, and Naya thinks she may very well be acting because Heather would be more than aware that Naya got the hickey from her. Her suspicions are confirmed a moment later when Heather continues.
"Who's the lucky guy? Huh?" She asks easily. But there's a shake to her voice.
Dianna looks confused, although Naya finds relief in Heather's cover up.
She laughs tightly and Heather gives her an almost pleading look. It's one that expresses equal amounts of shock and embarrassment, and perhaps even an apology. She hides it well though and when Naya is still speechless, Heather adds to her question.
"Are there more?" She asks.
Mainly it sounds like she is just curious but Naya knows Heather is subtly asking if she left anymore bruises that might be seen. It's only then that Naya remembers Heather's own hickeys and blatantly she stares at the dancer's neck. She can't see them but Heather has a thin scarf around her neck, one that hangs over her shoulder and tucks into her jacket, so it hides most of the pale skin where Naya had been kissing.
She shifts her weight again, "No, just the one." She answers confidently.
Heather smiles. "Cool."
"Um…. Naya?" Dianna slowly breathes out, her eyebrows are drawn together and she looks so confused it's almost funny. It's almost like she is revaluating everything she just thought and said and Naya feels weirdly proud that Heather pulled off such a convincing act.
Can't act; her ass.
"You alright, Dianna?" Heather asks in a genuine voice.
Dianna looks away from Naya and nods far too quickly, "I'm fine," she voices. "I'm just…, Naya about what I said…." She's looking at Naya again.
"It's fine, Di, don't worry about it."
"What did you say?" Heather pries, she seems sincerely interested.
Dianna shakes her head and with a little laugh that works as a means to easing her tension she goes to sit back down, "I just got…, confused is all. It's nothing."
Heather looks to Naya again for confirmation and Naya gives her a quick look that says 'I'll tell you later'.
Content with that, Heather breathes in through her nose. "I should get back to Eryn." She points to the makeup artist over her shoulder before glancing to Dianna. "Nice skirt." She compliments and then as quickly as she had come over, she is walking towards Eryn.
Naya watches her go with a small smile.
Her heart is going crazy but she also feels strangely pacified. Having Heather act so casual about the love bite has put her at ease, but there's the underlying adrenaline from Dianna's bold question still coursing through her blood stream.
She looks to Dianna unconsciously and finds the actress watching her. Hazel eyes evaluate everything about her appearance until Naya's so uncomfortable she has to advert her own eyes and stare at the ground.
"It's rude to stare, Dianna." She notes smoothly.
Dianna doesn't look away, "Sorry, it's just that…. What I implied about you and Heather,"
"It's fine."
"It wasn't her?"
"You heard what she said –"
"I know. But Naya, sweetie, there was only the two of you in your apartment."
Naya looks up from her feet, "How do you know it didn't happen the next day, or like even today. And like I mentioned before, Mark and Kevin were on the roof so technically we weren't the only ones in my apartment."
"Was it Mark?" Questions Dianna with an incredulous expression, it's a far cry from her understanding one when she thought it was Heather and Naya furrows her eyebrows.
"Why would it be a problem if it was?"
Her defences have gone up but she almost whines out her question.
"You guys are over though right? I mean you're not dating again are you?" Dianna pries.
"We weren't dating even when we were together; it was just a bit of fun." God she sounds like Santana. She thinks sometimes she's too much like the character she plays. But it was true, her and Mark weren't serious.
Dianna nods slowly, "So it was him who left the bite?"
Naya doesn't miss that she left out the 'love' part and she shrugs. It's not a 'yes' but at the same time it's not a 'no' and Dianna's shoulders slump almost disappointedly.
But before Naya can say anything one of the makeup ladies is swooping over with a tray of cosmetics and a large caffeinated smile.
"Good morning ladies."
-ooo-
It is lunch time and Naya's head throbs with a headache that is derived from not enough caffeine.
Usually she has a cup in the morning, or even one during takes, but she hasn't and now she is paying the price. It is a price that has her groaning for the fourth time that afternoon.
She breathes out her frustration loudly and Heather looks up from the book she is reading, her legs are crossed Indian style and she sits on the red couch that is situated in the tin shed. Naya had taken her break a few minutes early to drop by as Heather was helping Zach with choreography, Zach now however was nowhere to be seen and so that left both Naya and Heather alone in the large room.
Naya is silently thankful for the space.
"Did you want me to get you some coffee?" Heather asks, her book is resting on her lap and both hands hold it open.
Naya rolls her neck, "No," She grumbles tiredly before sitting forward. "I'm fine."
"What's with the sighs then?" Heather queries and her smile is light.
Naya returns it, "attention seeking?" She jokes and Heather nods before looking back to her book.
"Of course," She sing-songs before she suddenly looks serious, Naya frowns at the change.
"What?" She cautions.
Heather glances a quick look up and then returns to her book, "About the whole thing in the trailer this morning…." She starts. "Dianna saw the, uh, the hickey didn't she?"
Naya smiles and it's tight, not the tense kind of tight, just the tight that happens when you remember something not entirely pleasant. "Yeah."
"What did she say?"
"That she thought you did it." Naya explains softly, Heather's head snaps up so fast it looks like it could have actually hurt and she swallows.
"She said that?"
Naya's quick to correct herself, "Well, not exactly. She kind of asked me if it was you, but it was done in a way that suggests she had already made her mind up." When Heather frowns in thought, Naya continues. "It was good timing when you chose to come over, and the whole playing dumb thing threw Dianna off the trail."
"You didn't want her to know." Heather questions in such a way it has Naya tilting her head to the side, it's said softly, whispered it anything and there is a vulnerable tone to the blonde's words. It's a tone that makes Naya edge closer until her thigh is touching Heather's folded legs.
She keeps her gaze comforting, "it's not that I don't want her to know, because I'm pretty sure that ship has sailed. Dianna's basically hinted more than once about us, HeMo." She explains. "I just want us to know more than she does, and honestly, I don't think we do."
She is bringing it up again. The complicated side of things and Heather is quick to look away, staring idly at her book but not actually reading anything.
Naya breathes out, "It's not bad that she might know." She rewords. "But HeMo, what is there to know? I mean are we even…. Are we even together?"
When Heather doesn't look up Naya's heart sinks painfully but then Heather's hand is grabbing for her own and pulling it onto her lap and in the process the open book.
It's an unexpected gesture, even for the usually hands-on Heather. And Naya allows herself a moment to simply feel the pressure of Heather's grip.
It's reassuring on a level Naya can't quite fathom, but one she is thankful for.
"Do you want us to be?" Heather hushes out, her mouth barely moves and she looks unsure.
Naya squeezes her hand hard and Heather meets her eyes.
"Together." Heather adds even though Naya already knew what she meant, "did you want us to be together?"
There's something in Heather's eyes that Naya can't place. That same softness and vulnerability that has Naya thinking she can see a part of Heather that Heather isn't intentionally showing her, she wonders if her own eyes express something similar. If Heather can see emotions in them without Naya consciously knowing she's even looking at the dancer that way.
She swallows down the butterflies that have climbed her throat and they return to her stomach, "Do you?" She asks.
It's a typical rebound question that basically signifies that Naya isn't quite ready to answer the question and Heather's quick to playfully elbow her.
Her own defences going up.
"I asked you first." She says around a quick smile.
Naya nudges her back and it earns her a breathy laugh from Heather. "Don't hit the girl who hasn't had her daily coffee yet, it's mean." She mumbles.
Heather laughs again, this time louder and Naya bumps their shoulders together before she rests her head on Heather's shoulder.
"Mm, tired." She groans.
Heather shrugs her shoulder up and down and Naya gets elbowed again a second later.
"Get off me," Heather jokingly utters around another breathy laugh.
Naya's elbowed again, "Why? You going to get all claustrophobic on me, Morris?" She teases, there's a grunt from Heather and then she feels the dancer's head resting against her own.
"I'm not claustrophobic." Heather quietly states.
Smiling at Heather's defence, Naya grips her hand tighter and pulls it so that their entwined hands are now on her own lap. It's also to stop Heather from elbowing her.
"You should see someone about it." Naya slowly says. "I've heard meditation can help ease the anxiety."
She's being serious but Heather chuckles at her words and lifts her head, "No thanks."
"I'm serious, Heather. When you had that panic attack you practically went blue." It's a slight exaggeration on Naya's part, but she doesn't care about proper facts. It had scared Naya senseless when Heather had panicked and it's not something she wants Heather to go through again, witnessing it was frightening enough, she can't imagine being in Heather's position.
Heather shakes her head and Naya leans more of her weight onto the dancer.
"What makes you that way?" She questions, although it is really more so her inner musings so her voice sounds extremely quiet.
It interests her why Heather is so claustrophobic but it also worries her and the feeling she gets from that sits heavily in her stomach.
Heather shifts although it's really only a flexing of her muscles and Naya feels her breathe out. She doesn't say anything so Naya continues her musings.
"Have you always been like it?"
She waits for Heather's reply and after a long pause she gets one.
"No."
"When did it start?"
"Not till a couple of years ago." Heather replies quietly, Naya's thankful for the honest answer and she runs her thumb over the back of Heather's hand briskly.
"It doesn't worry you?" She asks just as quietly as Heather had spoken.
Heather shakes her head, "I don't think about it, like, unless I feel…, I don't know trapped or something it doesn't bother me. So, yeah." She laughs around a sigh and Naya lifts her head up to look at the side of Heather's face.
"You never thought about why you feel that way though?"
"No," Heather says simply, "quick question."
"Shoot."
"Why are we talking about my claustrophobia?"
Naya smiles tiredly and moves closer so that she's able to rest her chin on Heather's shoulder. It puts her lips so close to Heather's jaw that if Heather were to turn her head, Naya would practically be kissing the spot a bit below her ear.
"We can talk about something else." Naya offers.
She's more than aware that they went a little off topic, and when Heather smiles she smiles as well.
"Do you think Dianna will say anything to me?" Heather asks a bit louder than her previous sentences.
Naya inhales heavily, "probably. I mean she's really set on finding out what's going on, it's almost scary."
"She doesn't actually know though." Heather voices.
"Like us." Naya adds purposefully.
Heather turns her head and Naya pulls back so they don't smack into each other, "Mmmh." Heather hums lowly.
There's a long pause before Naya loosens her hold on Heather's hand, "I need coffee." She stands slowly, allowing Heather the time to take her hand back. "Do you want me to get you one?"
Wiggling on the couch to get comfortable, Heather shakes her head. "No thanks."
"You sure?" Naya presses and raises her eyebrows high up her forehead, Heather gives her a big smile and a fulfilled feeling runs through Naya's body at the sight. She finds herself reaching forward and with a playful motion she pinches at Heather's cheek.
Heather pulls away with an even wider smile and her face flushes a light pink as a small chuckle leaves her mouth.
The sound is hushed but still loud enough the fill the room and Naya's quick to reach forward again, wanting to elicit another laugh from Heather.
"You're a nerd!" Heather yelps in her attempt to dodge Naya's pinch. She leans back into the couch and jerks her head sideways.
Naya giggles, "Mmhm!"
She tries to pinch Heather again but her hand is smacked away so with an exaggerated pout she turns to leave.
Heather for her part takes a certain amount of pleasure in watching Naya's figure retreat, if only because it's a good view; Naya's jeans hug her in all the right places. She only turns back to her book when Naya has left the tin shed and quickly she runs her eyes over the lines, trying to find her place.
It doesn't take her long and quite easily she is lost in the revised version of Alice in Wonderland. Or as the title is called on the paperback novel, 'through the looking glass'. Dianna had suggested she read it when she found out Heather enjoyed reading as much as she did and so far Heather had to admit it was a good story.
She's about halfway through the fifth chapter and just about to turn the page when the door to the rehearsals shed groans open, loud footsteps pierce the quiet room stridently a moment later. They're too loud to be Naya's shoes and Heather looks up curiously, dog earing her page unconsciously.
Lea is walking over to her quickly with a friendly smile plastered on her face and what looks like a small plastic bowl of fruit, probably her lunch Heather thinks.
"Hello," Lea greets from across the room, when she gets nearer she talks again. "You're not eating lunch?"
Looking to her book Heather pinches her lips together, "not hungry, I had a big breakfast." She explains and Lea nods before coming to a stop in front of the couch.
"Right," She smiles again before motioning to the spot near Heather, silently asking for permission to sit down. Heather gives her the go ahead with a friendly nod and Lea sits down swiftly. "I was looking for you." She explains and Heather refocuses her attention away from her book.
It's kind of a surprise and it shows on her face. Lea's quick to speak again.
"Apple slice?" She holds out the small bowl containing the fruit and Heather shakes her head.
"Why were you looking for me?"
Lea is biting into her chosen piece of apple and it crunches loudly, "for confirmation," she states around her mouthful, "now I'm not one to gossip or anything, but Dianna happened to mention something about Naya that I found curious." She stops and Heather just sits for the longest pause waiting for Lea to continue.
When she doesn't, Heather nods slowly.
"Okay, what was mentioned?"
With a swallow Lea licks her lips, "it was just something about her and Mark. I'm not too sure on the details but apparently Naya hinted that they may be dating again."
Heather's laugh leaves her mouth before she can filter it and it sounds sharp, it's basically just a loud ha and quickly she slaps her hand over her mouth.
Lea looks startled.
"Dating?" She doesn't even try to hide her amusement although it slips away quickly when Lea just nods seriously, "well its wrong right?"
"I was going to ask you the same question actually. I thought Naya might have told you." Lea states modestly.
Heather's confused. Mainly because it's the first she's heard on the subject, but also because Lea seems so confident in her gossip. But Naya wouldn't be dating Mark, they had something a few months back and it ended on rocky ground. Heather had bared witness to the failed fling and she's certain Naya wouldn't go back there.
She should tell Lea that.
"Do you think Naya would date him though?" She grimaces at the fact she poses her thoughts as an unsure question and bites the inside of her cheek firmly.
Lea just wobbles her head, chewing another bite of apple. "To be honest? No. But Dianna was the one to tell me."
"Who told Dianna?" Heather's sure this is just some on-set rumour gone too far, the kind that circulates like wildfire but is completely untrue. Like the rumour that went around about Harry and herself flirting, it wasn't true, Harry was in a committed relationship and Heather really wasn't interested in him relationship wise.
Didn't stop it from spreading though, at one point someone even referred to them being together.
Lea swallows again, "Naya," she answers and Heather's mind stumbles to catch up.
"Naya?"
"Yes, she gave Dianna the impression that Mark and her had hooked up at the party." Lea clarifies.
"Impression? So she didn't actually say it?"
"She didn't deny it either, Dianna's almost positive there's something going on. Like I said, I don't want to gossip. I actually thought you would have known more than me on the subject."
Heather frowns.
Naya hadn't even mentioned Mark in a conversation for days and it didn't seem right that they'd be together again, simply because Naya and herself had something. Something slightly complicated, but something none-the-less. She frowns further before shaking her head; she can't see Naya fooling around with two people at once.
"It's probably not true. You know how things spread around the set." She assures quickly. It's a self-pacifying gesture on her part.
Lea nods rapidly. "Yes, you're right. I guess I just got carried away with everything." She smiles brightly, cradling her apples securely. "Sorry I interrupted your reading. I'll see you on-set or if not then perhaps later on tonight." Lea stands and with another cheerful smile she breezes across the room.
"Lea!" Heather calls abruptly, when Lea stops and turns she continues. "Did Dianna mention why she thought Naya was hinting…." She waves one hand, "about the Mark thing."
"Not exactly. Why?"
Shrugging and feeling her stomach burn bitterly, Heather breathes in. "Just curious."
The overwhelming sensation of possessiveness trickles through Heather's body slowly but strongly and she pinches the dog ear of her page forcefully. Lea's footsteps retreat loudly. She doesn't know why the gossip is affecting her so obviously. It's not even true and Heather knows that. She does.
But the burn of something close to jealously has her grinding her teeth and a cold ball of unease weighs her stomach heavily.
Her emotions are pretty much a mess so when Naya's hand grabs her shoulder in a friendly pat Heather jumps so quickly her teeth clamp together. She feels her body tense more than she hears her own rough intake of air and then Naya is sitting next to her, much like Lea had been moments before.
"Seriously, jump much?" Naya is saying with her coffee in hand.
Heather's hands are fisted and she isn't even sure when she let go of her book. She stares at her hands and manages a tight; "sorry."
Naya's smile drops. "Wow, I literally just got chills from that cold shoulder you just gave me. What's wrong?" Her voice stays soft but Heather can hear the strain.
She looks up, breathing out in a calming exhale. "I'm sorry, I was just thinking and you scared me. I didn't mean to be a rude Ronald."
Naya looks completely serious for a long moment and her eyes run over every part of Heather's face, it's disconcerting and leaves Heather feeling self-conscious; but then something changes in Naya's eyes and she smiles. It's a warm smile, tight lipped, but sincere and Heather is quick to take comfort from it.
"Thinking about?" Naya enquires but Heather sucks her lips into her mouth reflexively, Naya is quick to tap her temple and it makes Heather smile. "What's going on in that pretty head of yours?"
She tilts her head away from Naya's still tapping fingertips and Naya again goes to pinch her cheek.
She doesn't get too because Heather lightly slaps her tanned wrist and with a warm smile Naya pulls back.
"Is this because I didn't get you a coffee, because you said you didn't want one." She grins wider.
Heather returns it, "I don't want one." She confirms. "I was just thinking, so, that's all."
"Okay, well I'm sorry if I scared you. Want to tell me what you were thinking about?" Naya takes a sip of her coffee and folds one leg on the couch so that she is sitting sideways, and in turn facing Heather. Her other leg hangs over the side of the red seat. "Because you looked angry or something…." Naya adds.
Heather is quick to shake her head stiffly, "No."
"So you weren't having murderous thoughts when I first walked in?"
"Murderous thoughts? really?"
Naya bobs her head once, "It's a valid question. The way you were grinding your teeth was anything but joyful." She winks in a friendly manner and Heather intentionally relaxes her jaw.
"I wasn't grinding my teeth."
"You looked like a camel."
"Offensive."
"Camels are cute."
"Camels spit."
Naya jerks her head back a fraction, "lamas spit."
"So do camels," Heather insists, Naya can't help but smile at how serious she looks.
"It's more like throwing up a little. I saw a documentary on it once."
Heather is tilting her head in amusement and the before serious expression she had falls away, "I'm insulted." She deadpans.
Naya laughs softly; it's a hushed sort of chuckle that shakes her shoulders. "Shake it off, Morris." Her giggles break through her words and she takes a slow sip of her coffee. It's bitter, but sweetened a little by the truck load of sugar she added.
Heather shimmies her shoulders and it further invokes Naya's laugh.
"You are such a dork." Naya adds with fondness.
Heather straightens her back and licks at her lips around her smile, "a dorky camel."
"Oh my God," Naya says around another low chuckle. Heather lets her own laugh breeze over her lips.
"What you gon' do with all that junk? All that junk inside your trunk? I'ma get, get, get, get you drunk. Get you love drunk off my hump." Heather sings suddenly, leaning forward and bobbing her head. "My hump my hump, my hump my hump my hump." She takes a breath and with a smack of her lips she bounces slightly, "my hump my hump, my hump, my lovely little lumps. Check it out!" She claps randomly and out of time to her own beat and Naya throws her head back with a silent laugh, her stomach shaking.
Heather's own laugh is louder and quick, a giggle that rings around the room and then Naya feels her knee being tapped excitedly.
"I drive these brothers crazy…," Heather continues and her laugh keeps breaking up her words, she looks to Naya pointedly. Wordlessly signalling for her to continue.
"No, no I don't even know the words all that well." Naya chuckles.
Heather taps her knee again, this time to a beat only she can hear. "I do it on the daily…," she adds slowly, "they treat me really…?"
Naya giggles again, "nicely?"
"They buy me all these…?"
"ICEEs."
"Dolce and Gabbana," Heather continues without hesitating and Naya finds herself leaning forward as well, closer to Heather.
"Fendi and Adonna." She adds.
"Karen, they be sharin', all their money got me wearin'."
Naya laughs loudly when Heather attempts to pop her chest and disturbingly so does someone else. It's a low laugh, male, and Naya whips her head to the entrance of the tin shed to find Zach watching them. His smile is large and apples his rosy cheeks and he has his hands on his hips in a pose that makes him look younger than what he is. Behind him Dianna is also laughing, and Naya thinks she might see the top of Jenna's head peeking around the doorframe but she can't be sure.
"Keep it up Heather and you'll have a solo." Zach cheerily says.
Naya hears Heather scoff quietly, "A dancing solo, I can't actually hold a note when it comes to singing."
"Maybe you can just rap?" Zach asks with mirth.
"Or sing really, really quietly." Heather says and Naya looks to her with a grin. She thinks Heather's an okay singer, although her opinion is kind of bias, she likes everything about the dancer.
There's noise from near the door and Naya looks back to see Mark strolling in past Zach and Dianna. Cory follows soon after and Naya remembers that half of them had an impromptu dance rehearsal, mainly just everyone who wasn't quite grasping the choreography for the episode. They often did that on their lunch breaks if they had the energy, sometimes they'd run through lines, but mainly they would go over dance steps.
"We doing this with music or just by voice, I can lay a smooth beat with my chords." Mark says loudly, he points to his neck and looks back to Zach. "Beat boxing." He explains pointlessly.
"No music, I'll just count." Says Zach.
Naya looks away from the man when Heather stands abruptly, her book forgotten on the couch.
"I'll see you later," She whispers to Naya.
Naya's quick to stand as well, "You're not staying to help Zach run through the choreography?"
"Yeah, c'mon Heather." Mark voices again loudly, he comes to a stop near both of them. "Zach's great and all, but he moves too quickly. I can't keep up with him."
Naya smiles in Marks direction but when she notices Heather hasn't even attempt one, her own quickly falls. In fact Heather looks strangely guarded. Her arms are crossed and she is grinding her teeth again, Naya watches as her jaw flexes.
"I've got to go." Heather states quietly, Mark seems oblivious to her suddenly closed demeanour and smirks in reply. Heather steps past him with a quiet "excuse me," and Naya watches her walk towards Zach and Dianna before she exits the tin shed.
A/N: I'm going away for a week and won't have internet connection, but as soon as I am back there will be an update. I've already written up the next two chapters. Please tell me what you're thinking so far.
TBC