Amber and Mark walked into the studio.
Amber: thanks for the drive. I really needed it. You're a great friend Mark .
Mark: [smiling] anytime girl. I got your back.
Amber: [laughing] thanks. I'm needed in wardrobe. I'll see you later.
Mark: okay!
Mark smiled and went to wardrobe and makeup. Chord was already there looking uneasy.
Chord: hey, man.
Mark: hey. [sitting down next to him waiting for his turn]
Chord: did you see her?
Mark: Amber?
Chord: yes.
Mark: yes.
Chord: how is she?
Mark: stressed.
Chord: Did she mention Darren at all?
Mark: If I tell you, you can't let your emotions take the best of you Chord. Not during work at least. Her birthday is next weekend and so is yours. Let's try not to add to the stress.
Chord: that bad
Mark: just promise me you won't freak out.
Chord: go.
Mark: he kissed her.
Chord: he's dead. [getting up]
Mark: DUDE!
Chord: no way dude, not my girl.
Mark: umm she's not your girl, chord. Sorry.
Chord: yeah? Well she should be.
Mark: why? What makes you better than all of us?
Chord: its not that Mark. Listen. Ughh! You're my bro, right? Any girl would be lucky to have a guy like you. You're a great guy but Amber…why did you have to like Amber? She's my girl!
Chord sat back down and grabbed his head.
Mark: oh my god dude
Chord: what?
Mark: you love her
Chord: no. I just really like her. I've never felt this way before about another woman….
Mark: you love her.
Chord: shut up.
Mark: you want to marry her.
Chord: shut up
Mark: have beautiful babies.
Chord: Mark….
Mark: I can be the God father
Chord: stop
Mark: maybe the best man at the wedding
Chord: that's it im leaving.
Chord got up and started marching out
Mark: [shouting] what are you so afraid of anyway? This is why someone is going to steal her right under you. You're so chicken shit
Chord: [walking back] what did you say?
Mark: you're a chicken
Chord: say it again.
Mark: you, sir are a chicken!
Chord: you're an asshole!
Mark: takes one to know one bud.
Chord: I'm not fighting you.
Mark: fine.
Chord: you frustrate me!
Mark: you frustrate me! And you frustrate the hell out of Amber! She's not just any random girl you can mindfuck whenever you want. She's like wife material, you know
Chord: [speechless] so what the hell do I do
Mark: you grow a pair of balls.
Chord: thanks.
Mark: I mean it. What are you afraid of? Just tell me Chord.
Chord: I'm afraid she'll realize she's better than me and she'll leave me. She'll belittle me and treat me like I'm some dumb blonde actor….
Mark: are you serious?
Chord: yes.
Mark: Chord she's not a kid, she's not a teenager, she's not ….
Chord: don't say her name….
Mark: well, she's not her
Chord: but she's so much better than me.
Mar: I'll give you that. [pauses] no, I take that back. Listen, I want what's best for Amber. I'm not sold that you're that yet but you need to prove it to her, and me.
Chord: but don't you like her?
Mark: yeah.
Chord: so what? You're dropping out of the games.
Mark: no.
Chord: but ….
Mark: that would be too easy. You're going to work hard for this Chord Overstreet.
Chord got up and walked away. That was the second person to challenge him.
He walked over to the regionals set and Amber was already rehearsing. She looked perfect in her regionals outfit. Chord sat to watch her practice.
Ryan: Amber, are you ok?
Amber: I just didn't get enough sleep. Bad night.
Ryan: why don't you take five minutes then
Amber: no, ryan I got this. One more time.
Ryan: ZACH! One more time!
Amber: [singing stronger by Kelly Clarkson with Naya and Heather]
Ryan: harder! Come on girls, you need to get this right. You have 1 hour! Good! Harder! I need that turn to be perfect!
Amber: [turned one more time and this time felt a snap in her ankle] OWWWW! [she started hopping on one foot] holy shit!
Naya: crap! Amber! Are you alright?
Heather: We need some help over here!
Chord jumped up from his seat and flew to the stage
Chord: are you alright?
Amber: I lost my balance. I put my weight on this foot. I think I hurt my ankle.
Ryan: Is it broken?
Heather: I don't think so. I've seen broken ankles. I think she sprained it bad.
Naya: Amber go sit. Please.
Ryan: take 10 everyone. Amber I'll come back and check on you. Chord, watch her for me.
Chord put his arm around her and she put her weight on him. He helped her down the three steps and the two sat in the front row.
Amber: oh my gooodddddd! [she sat]
Chord: maybe we should go to an urgent care
Amber: are you kidding ? Ryan will kill me
Chord: fuck Ryan! What about your foot?
Amber: I'll be fine.
Chord: [getting up and kneeling down] let me see it.
Amber: it's fine chord!
Chord: just let me see it!
[he removed her flat and sock]
Amber: oww owww!
Chord: it's swollen! Amber, you can't dance on that foot. Please. Just let me take you home.
Amber: I can dance on this foot. And I had the grammy's to attend to. I need to wear heels.
Chord: why are you so stubborn?
Amber: why are you so impossible?
ChorD: you're going to be in pain and you wont heal in time for your birthday!
Amber: well I can't just not work. I have to do this scene.
Chord: at least elevate it. I'll go get ice.
Amber: Chord! I'm fine!
Chord: no! clearly, you're not!
Amber: ugh! You're sooo!
Chord: listen! I care about you and your foot. I don't care about the stupid scene or the stupid song. I don't want you uhurting yourself, ok?
Lea: [walking in] trouble in paradise
Amber: shut up lea
Lea: you two sound married, already.
Chord: she hurt her ankle
Lea: are you alright?
Amber: I'm fine! Chord's a drama queen!
Chord: [rolling his eyes] I just don't want her complaining when we're on the plane going to vegas and she can't wear her favorite heels!
Lea: okay you're totally married
Amber: oh my god. The two of you!
Lea: I'm just saying, you're birthday's in vegas, just get a little drunk, have a small ceremony, pop out a few kids and make me the godmother. Easy!
Chord: you and mark should get married.
Lea: huh?
Chord: nevermind. I'm getting ice.
Amber: I'm fine!
Chord: no you're not
Amber: you suck!
Chord: love you too! [walking away]
Lea: well, at least he's more vocal about his feelings now?
Amber: I hate you