Okey dokey, this is kinda weird chapter, goes from kinda Salling/Rivera friendship fluff to Rivera/Whole Cast angst or something. Anyway, i just wanted to add that music for me is really important when I write and this chapter really flowed out of me due to the constant repeat of Tonight- Lykke Li (the live accoustic take) check it out on youtube and perhaps even listen to it while you read, makes me feel kinda dramatic tbh =] thanks again for the reviews, I LOVE YOU x
Without further ado..
Mark slipped his way past Kevin and Jenna whom were drunkenly debating anime characters or something…he knew who he was looking for.
"Babe. I thought the party went somewhere, guess I found her up here." He grinned cheekily at Naya who sat cross legged staring at the floor in the hallway. She had wondered a little way away from the room Dianna and Lea were in, unable to hear the sound of their confessions and requited love…unable to hear happiness.
"What do you want Salling?" she asked as he dropped down beside her, offering her the bottle of Jack Daniels.
"Okay. Nay." He sighed as she took the bottle and swigged it, tears in her eyes. "You need to talk about this…"
"About what?" she shrugged and he sighed, staring at her with his dark hazel eyes.
"I know what it's like." He almost choked and Naya was taken aback. "To love someone, in such a dear way…like a friend, and watch them hurt."
He cleared his throat and Naya wasn't sure whether he was drunk or not, but she knew that if he wasn't, she was, and she could get away with saying anything now.
"What do you mean?"
He looked up, thoughtfully.
"You know I love you, you're my best friend Nay. Even after we broke up, I didn't love you in the way Finn pines after Rachel, not like a puppy. I respect you and I…I rely on you. You're so strong…but you're hurting." He nodded to himself. "You need to talk about it, please, let me be strong."
Naya had never heard Mark be so open before, of course, he was different around everyone else, but he was still renowned for being quite like his character. She knew the resemblance in their morals was extremely different though, and that Mark Salling was indeed sweet. There was a fine line though, between being sweet and profound…and he was on the border. She folded in on herself, tears escaping as she hugged the Jack Daniels bottle.
Mark stared; he had never seen Naya laid so bare before. He decided that, seeing as both were such collected and private beings, that he would only have this limited amount of time to comfortably console her and portray the way he sees her and his friendship. He held that companionship dear to his heart and he owed it to them both to make sure his best friend was going to be okay.
"Listen. Naya." He shuffled over and pulled her onto his lap. "I'm here baby, tell me what's up."
She wiped her eyes and looked up at him.
"Mark…I…and then Heather…and then she thought…and now I'm…and then...oh god I fucked up."
The mohawked man was not stupid. He knew the way Naya looked at Heather, but what he noticed a lot more than others, was how Heather gazed back. He nodded to himself.
"You're in love with her." It wasn't a question, no need for questions when the two were together, just statements. Nothing was queried; they knew all and said all. That's just how it was; it's how it all worked so well.
Naya just nodded.
"And you told her. She called you out on it, you went all pussy and now she thinks you're just friends…" he breathed and Naya nodded once more. The next thing she heard was him chuckling.
"Why." Naya looked up. "The fuck are you laughing Mark?"
He shook his head.
"You just have to stop being such a coward Nay."
She looked up again, agreeing with him.
"One thing I've learned..." he sighed and turned her round in his lap to face her. "Is that you don't get pussy, if you're a pussy…"
Naya rolled her eyes and swallowed.
"Heather isn't just another fuck Mark." She took a deep breath in. "She isn't just another anything. I'm in love with her."
Mark nodded.
"I know that babe, I know that." He bit his lip. "I know it seems crazy, but, the way I see it, she's just as afraid. She likes you Naya and you can't deny that."
"She has a funny way of showing it…"
"And so do you. You're both as bad as each other." He sighed. "If you aren't careful girl, you're going to get yourself into a circle of unrequited love…"
"Oh doesn't Jack Daniels make someone poetic over here…" Naya announced to the empty hallway.
"Whatever Rivera." Mark noticed somewhat drunkenly how wonderfully poetic that response was, before continuing.
"You got to show this girl you love her. So I may be wrong and she doesn't love you back, which is most definitely not possible, but if she doesn't, then at least you can mend your heart knowing for sure that you've done everything you can, exhausted every avenue."
Naya thought about what her best friend was saying. It made such a difference that this crap was coming from Mark's mouth, rather than someone like Amber or Chris whom she usually shared such sentimental moments with. Though when uttered by them it still felt as real, Mark brought a rough undertone to the whole thing, a protective edge, as though he would be there every step of the way.
She sighed and moved off his lap, turning to look at him.
"I love you, you know that right?" Mark nodded as Naya smiled with tears in her eyes at him. "Nay, trust me. I'm gonna help. Heather won't know what's hit her."
He stood and pulled her up with him.
"Okay. But…Mark!" she called as he disappeared down the hallway, he turned at the corner. "I'm not date raping her!"
He flashed a cheeky grin before descending the stairs. Naya took one look at the Jack Daniels bottle on the floor and her resistance caved once more.
"Naya!" Heather shouted up the stairs, worried. She turned to see Chris making his way through the crowd.
"What's up honey?" he asked her and she frowned.
"Naya, have you seen her?"
He nods. "Yeah, I saw Mark with her about an hour ago. Why?"
Heather bites her lip.
"Nothing I just…" a tear spilled over her eyes and Chris pulled her away from the crowds, into the kitchen.
"Oh. Baby, come here." He whispered as Heather began to sob on his shoulder. "What's wrong precious?"
She stood back.
"I love her…." Was all that Heather could reply and Chris pulled her back into the hug.
"Tell me something I don't know." He muttered.
"I do…I just don't know what to do Chris. She told me she loved me, and then she said we're just friends…and she…and I….and…"
"And you need to stop crying if you're going to make sense of this." The well groomed man sad to her sternly as she wiped her eyes.
"I need to find her…and tell her…"
Heather broke away from Chris and ran out the room.
"Heather!" he called, the music too loud, so instead he followed; running straight into Mark.
"Whoa there Colfer, what's the big deal?" he frowned down at the guy with heavy lids and Chris shakes his head from the impact.
"HeMo, she just ran that way…something about Naya…"
Mark nodded.
"I'll get it…" he replied and set off in the direction Chris pointed, he didn't count on the shorter man following.
"I'll be damned if you're sorting out the situation."
Mark rolled his eyes as they dashed up the stairs.
"Oh have some faith Chrissy…"
They rounded the corner and saw Heather kneeling on the floor, next to an unconscious Latina.
"What the fuck?" Chris sprinted his way down the corridor to see Naya was lying with her head in Heather's lap as Heather cried. She had collapsed and Chris knew it had something to do with the now empty bottle of Jack Daniels at her feet.
He turned to Mark who was astounded, forgetting about the bottle and the fact that he was the only one who knew about Naya's little drinking problem. He kicked himself in his head.
"Phone the hospital, Mark?" Chris shouted and Mark nodded, bursting into the nearest bedroom.
"Fuck!" he yelped. "Is everyone a lesbian now?" he moved around the bed where Dianna and Lea had jumped apart, a little less clothed than previously witnessed. He grabbed the landline from the bedside table and moved out of the bedroom, Lea and Dianna edging out of the room to see what was going on. Mark threw the phone to Chris who dialled immediately.
"Hello…yes I'd like an ambulance please…"
"Chris? What the…Heather…"
"Nay?" Dianna moved forward, pulling Heather away from the unconscious girl's body.
"Fuck Naya, fuck you bitch." Dianna murmured, panicked as she moved strands of raven hair from the girls face.
"I'm sorry Di…it was my fault…"
"No." Mark's voice was hoarse. "It was my fault."
"What...?" lea asked as she picked up the Jack Daniels bottle and he grabbed it, throwing it against the wall where it smashed.
"What the fuck Salling?" Dianna gritted her teeth and Mark shook his head.
"They're on their way." Chris reassured everyone, still holding the phone against his ear.
"Look, I'll explain when we get to the hospital. We have to get everyone out of here."
Lea nodded.
"I'll get Cory and Chord to kick them out."
With that she disappeared down the stairs, not caring about her state of undress in just her long t-shirt and underwear.
There were some protests about the nature of their upheaval but the house was empty in just ten minutes. Lea told Cory and Chord that she, Dianna, Heather and Chris would be driving as Chris had not drunk anything. Mark was riding with Naya in the ambulance.
It pulled up on the street, all blue flashing lights and horns…Lea knew it was only a matter of time before they turned into flashbulbs and the clicking of camera shutters for this latest scoop.
She sighed as they pulled up at the hospital, clutching at Dianna's hand for support. Chris cradled Heather in the waiting room as they sat for what felt like hours.
It was safe to say that Mark would never forgive himself. Of course, Naya was going to be fine once they pumped her stomach, but he had caused her such a huge upheaval and he was supposed to be protecting her.
He sat down beside her, holding her hand, she was unconscious and he whispered so as not to wake her. There was something he had not said in the hallway before the incident.
"I love you Nay." He whispered. "And you know it. You're my family, the only person I trust. I remember, that time, when, all you wanted to do was drink, but you let me talk, for hours, and you really helped that night. That was the night we first slept together. Of course, I realise now that it was weird. Not a mistake so much, I don't regret it, but it wasn't right. That was because I loved you too much Nay. I'm glad we saw sense."
He cleared his throat as a tear rolled down his cheek.
"I'm such a fucking idiot for leaving that bottle with you. Now everyone's gonna be asking questions…fuck…I just made everything so much harder."
He thought for a second.
"But you must be bad Naya, you must be worse than I realise to end up like this."
He kissed her knuckles and couldn't hold back his hurt and regret now as he spoke.
"I swear, I'm going to help you babe. You're so precious and Heather knows that, I'm gonna make it work, I promise, on my life that I'm gonna mend it all. I'm gonna fix it okay?"
Naya stirred and Mark swallowed, caught unawares and embarrassed about being seen crying so openly.
"Nay…"
"Shut the fuck up Salling. Trying to sleep off an O.D here…" she mumbled before turning in her bed and falling asleep again. He permitted himself a watery chuckle and stood, kissing her on the cheek.
"I'll make it all okay Nay. I promise." He nodded to himself and exited the room as doctors began to bustle around her.
