So let's start off with saying that I am so, so sorry for not updating this story in like a month. I knew I said I'd have multiple chapters up for this one over my break but towards the end of it I just got so busy with stuff and getting everything ready for school once more. Now that I've been back at school for about a week now, I've had a hectic schedule with my classes with lots of work right off the bat. So for pushing this to the side, I apologize.
On other matters, I watched Glee's "Yes/No" and couldn't believe it at the end when Finn proposed to Rachel. I don't like them as a couple for my own reasons so seeing that literally made me angry… Yeah, I'm pretty emotionally invested in the show. Anyway, like one more weeks till we hear her answer. Personally, I hope she either says no or not right now. They're in high school! Come on writers! It's getting a little out of hand without reality! And where's Quinn anymore?
Ugh, rant aside, (sorry for that), here is the next chapter! Jalex1, I'm holding you to your negotiation when I get my next chapter for C,F,F &QF! Hopefully I can have it out by this coming up Sunday and if not then, the day following probably.
It had been about a week and a half since Cory called Dianna to his trailer to ask about the public status of their relationship and he was getting just a bit antsy to say the least.
He watched on at her and Lea shooting their "I Feel Pretty/Unpretty" duet scene at the doctor's office and he sighed when he looked at his beautiful girlfriend singing in front of the camera as he remembered back to that day in the trailer.
"I've been thinking about something." He paused and took hold of Dianna's hand across the table. "What would you think of going public with us?"
He watched as Dianna's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the bluntness of his question.
"I don't really know Cory..." She responded slowly, her eyes drifting down to the side of the table as to not look at his.
"'W-Well, what do you mean you don't know?" he questioned in turn, his own eyes boring into her more than ever with his eyebrows knitted together in upset confusion.
She inhaled a deep breath and timidly shrugged her shoulders. "I just mean, don't you like us being private?"
He let out a breath and looked briefly out the window before he turned his head back to her. "Of course I like that. I mean, I love being with you Di. It's been something that I've wanted for, I don't even know how long anymore but… I just thought maybe that it was the right time to make it officially… official…" his eyes rolled in his head in thought after thinking of what he said. He didn't know what else to call it other than 'officially official.'
"Officially official?" she softly giggled at his choice of wording. "And that means?"
"It means I want other people to know that we're committed to one another!" he suddenly shot a little louder and harsher than he meant it.
"Cory," Dianna began with a stern look. "People know we're committed to each other."
He silently scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Just the people we work with that see us everyday."
"And what's wrong with that?" she retorted, having caught his silent but partially audible scoff.
He bit the side of his cheek and nodded his head slightly before he pulled the magazine Lea had shown him earlier that day, from where it lay on the seat next to him.
"This." He informed and dropped the glossy magazine on the table in front of Dianna.
"A magazine?" she wondered quizically with a little shake of her head. What did this magazine have to do with them?
"Page 82." He dully enlightened, prompting her to shuffle through the thin pages until she got to the one labeled '82' in small, bright numbers on the bottom corner of the page.
There was about a minute of silence between the couple while the blonde skimmed the article and when she returned her vision back up to her boyfriend in front of her she couldn't help but chuckle a little.
"This is just gossip Cor- gossip, and that's all it is." She stressed through her feeble laughter and amused appearance.
At this, Cory let go of her hand that he had kept a grip on with one of his own the whole time, pulled it back to his side and stared at her.
"Did you not get that people think you and Alex are back together from that photo?"
"I read what it said," she told him still fully intending of continuing. "And I don't care. It doesn't matter to me."
Cory's lips formed into a small and offended 'O.' "But it matters to me!"
"Why?"
He ran a hand through his hair, forcing the strands back with much pressure. He just wanted to pull it.
When he finished with his hair he replied, "It matters because you're MY girlfriend and everyone that reads these magazines and sees the online sites think you're getting back with Alex when you're not!"
Dianna slid her hand back into Cory's and squeezed it gently in an attempt to calm him down.
"I know," she started. "and I'm sorry. You're right. I am your girlfriend and people shouldn't think I'm getting back together with Alex because YOU are my boyfriend."
Cory let a soft smile play on his lips at the girl's words. "So does that mean we can go public?"
"I think-" she cut off her own words when her phone buzzed signaling a text message and Cory was a little disappointed when he watched her pull it up to read it.
"I have to go. Amber needs some help with stuff in her trailer. We'll talk about this later okay?"
He wanted to say, 'No, I'd really like to talk now.' But all that came out was a stuttered, "O-Okay."
Now a week and a half later, here he was left with an unanswered question and still as unsure of their status as before.
It wasn't like he hadn't attempted to bring it up with her after their initial talk but she always seemed to find ways to get herself out of the conversation. It was either, 'Oh, I'm running late!' or 'I'm starving, let's go eat something.' Or sometimes she was even able to switch up the conversation just to get him off topic and that usually worked because he had a problem with forgetting what he was talking about. He was beginning to think that she didn't want to tell people, she just kept on letting the public believe her and Alex were rekindling their relationship, or that's what he'd read in gossip articles.
Was she embarrassed of him or something? Was he not good enough? He was sure as hell gonna find out because he was done being ignored.
Around nine when the cast got out of filming and was able to leave, Dianna and Cory had agreed to hang out at Dianna's apartment where Cory was just going to stay over and they would watch one of her favorite Audrey Hepburn movies, "Breakfast at Tiffany's."
By the time they got there, it was nine-thirty and they were more than ready to cuddle up on the couch and relax to the famous Hepburn movie… Well, Dianna was but Cory couldn't help but still think about their situation and it bothered him beyond belief.
Once he popped the DVD in, they sat back on the couch and Dianna crawled up into the crook of his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. As much as he was upset with her, he still loved when she did stuff like that so he just smiled when he looked down to kiss the top of her head.
Maybe watching this movie and having her in his arms would distract him from his bothersome thoughts.
A little more than midway through, Cory still couldn't get the thoughts of Dianna avoiding their talks out of his head. Plus, it probably didn't help that he found the sixties movie they were currently watching, frankly boring and just not his type of movie, so it was hard to keep his mind on it. The only reason why he ever sat through them was for Dianna.
He couldn't pay attention for the life of him anymore and his thoughts were eating away at him so he had to do it again.
"Hey Di," he started which prompted the blonde resting under his arm to look up to him. "I know we've talked about this already but I think we never finish it… What's wrong with us letting people know we're together?"
He listened to his girlfriend sigh before she shut off the movie. He knew she was serious when she turned off Audrey.
"Cory, there's nothing wrong with it… It feels right to be with you." She told him with a gentle smile.
"Then why haven't we done it?"
"I just think that it's best that only our closest friends know that we're in a relationship." She revealed, attempting to make him see it her way but the look from him she got in return showed he was far from understanding.
"So what? You don't think I'm important enough to be shown to anyone else?"
She sighed. "No Cory-"
Even though Dianna had said no, Cory's face was still growing progressively more hurt.
"I get it…" he muttered quietly with a quick nod of his head as he stood up from the couch to face her. "I'm sorry I'm not Alex okay? I'm sorry I'm not exactly built like he is, or that I'm not from over seas, or that I don't have blonde hair that matches perfectly to yours, and I'm not a big action movie star, or have a foreign accent! I'm sorry I apparently can't be the guy you want with you; the guy you're proud to call your boyfriend and aren't embarrassed of!"
Dianna flinched at the harshness of his words and ever growing loud voice. She could feel tears wanting to begin to well in her eyes.
It was nothing like Cory had said in her reasoning. She just thought couples that kept their relationship out of the spotlight had better chances of being happy and staying together. She knew that having your relationship out for everyone to see and judge could end up badly. Of course, she didn't voice this out loud and since she didn't talk, it prompted Cory to keep speaking.
"All I've ever wanted was you Di." He enlightened her, making sure to quiet his voice so he wasn't yelling anymore. "Just you. I prayed to God every night that I would get a part on our show just so I could see you everyday and when I did get on, I prayed for a whole season and a half that you would feel for me like I felt for you, and it may have taken a while, but the Big Man came through for me in the end. Now all I want is for everyone else to see how happy I am to finally be with you and you keep either making up excuses or changing the conversation! You never did that with Alex. You were happy to go public with him as soon as you stepped out of that airport terminal."
At this point tears were already sliding down Dianna's face at hearing her boyfriend's words. "I don't want Alex, Cory."
"Well all the gossipers think you do again." He scoffed and looked away from the girl on the couch with tears flowing down her perfect porcelain cheeks. He couldn't watch her be upset. It broke his heart.
"It shouldn't matter what they think."
Cory exhaled deeply and an audible quiver in his breath was very much present. He was trying not to let a tear fall himself. "Well it does matter Di. It matters to me that people think you want him back and I'm just non-existent in their eyes so just… just let me know when it starts to matter and mean something to you."
Those were his parting words and Dianna watched him turn and walk out of the apartment. She so wanted to call after him and run into his arms but her body did neither. All it did was let the continuous streams of tears streak south down her face with many sobs.
"What's wrong with you Cor? You look like crap." Mark commented as he walked up to Cory who was sitting at a break table by himself with a coffee in hand.
"What?" he looked up to the mohawked man who grabbed a chair and spun it around so he could sit and rest his arms on the backrest.
"I mean, you look upset and judging by the baggage under your eyes I'm guessing you didn't get much sleep last night?" Mark explained, gesturing to the lethargic giveaways.
Cory sighed while he ran a finger around the rim of the coffee cup. "Dianna and I kind of had a fight."
"When?"
"Last night at her apartment." He answered, then took a small sip of his beverage. "I just- I don't know… I think she's embarrassed of me as her boyfriend or something…" Cory looked down at the table, really not wanting to look anyone in the eyes.
"Dude please," Mark began. "Di really likes you. I mean, she talks about you all, and I mean all the time about how sweet and stuff she thinks you are to her, to all of us and how she's so lucky to have you, so why the hell would she be embarrassed?"
"She doesn't want anyone else but you guys to know that we're a couple." Cory informed his friend bitterly. "That doesn't sound like she's embarrassed for anyone else to know?"
Mark let out a breath and rubbed the back of his mohawk. "I don't know what to tell you man… Have you tried talking to her since the fight?"
Cory shook his head and lifted the coffee cup to his lips once more.
"Has there even been an attempt to talk to one another?"
At this the tall man chewed the side of his lip in thought before he began to dig through his pocket, where he pulled out his iPhone and continued to pull up text messages to show Mark.
11:30pm
Hey Cor… -Di
12:10am
Cory I understand you're upset. You have every right… -Di
12:55am
Baby, please talk to me -Di
1:23am
Okay… I'm gonna go to bed now but I really hope you're getting these messages and will answer me soon… -Di
7:30am
Maybe we can talk before filming starts today? Please… -Di
8:15am
Cory, I know you saw me on the lot just now… Why are you avoiding me? –Di
It took Mark about a minute to scroll down through all the messages Dianna had sent Cory. There were so many more that he didn't read going past 8:15 that morning and when he looked at the time, it was already 10:30 currently.
"Why aren't you returning any of her texts?" Mark wondered as he handed the phone back to his friend and Cory shrugged.
"I don't know man. I mean, I told her to let me know when our relationship mattered but uh, maybe… maybe it's just a pride thing… I don't even know. I want to talk to her but the fight is still so fresh. I need time."
As soon as Cory finished his explanation he felt a hard slap to the back of his head.
"Ow! That hurt!" he whined and rubbed the spot of impact.
"Good, it was meant to hurt." Mark responded seriously. "I figured I had to give your brain a nice jolt so it would realize how much of an idiot it's making you."
"W-What?" Cory stuttered, still shocked from the hit.
"Damn it Cor, Dianna really likes you! I don't know how many times I have to say it until it sinks in to that head of yours. I mean, here you are saying you need time but don't you think you had enough time while you waited to be with her? And now you're pushing the same exact girl that you pined over for a year and a half away by not answering her. She's obviously trying to make it right between you two and you're doing nothing to help in return!"
Cory had to admit that he was a little shocked and taken aback by Mark's outburst but as he listened, his buddy's words started to make sense.
He closed his eyes and began to mildly protest. "I know I should talk to her but-"
"But nothing!" Mark retorted, raising a finger in warning to shut him up. "You are going to talk with your girl and make everything nice and right again. I know you have a scene with her this afternoon so you better swallow your pride and do this thing."
Cory thought Mark's words through for a few seconds before he slowly nodded his head. "Y-You're right. Dianna's one of the best things to ever happen to me and I can't let a stupid argument over who knows we're together get in the way of how she makes me feel. I guess it doesn't even matter who knows… As long as we're together, I'm the happiest man ever."
Mark let a smile grow on his face at hearing Cory's realization and he patted him on the back. "Good. I'm glad we got this straight. Just know that you and Dianna are meant for each other."
The tall brunette gave the other a friendly smile. "Thanks man."
"Hey, no problem dude. That's what friends and costars are for." Mark looked down to his watch. "Hey, I gotta go do my scene with Ashley. Breaking into Figgin's office today." He told him with a chuckle. "See you later."
Mark began to walk out of the room before he stopped himself and turned around to say one last thing. "Oh and… Good luck bro."
Cory presented him with his signature grin. "Thanks."
Cory spent the next few hours walking around the set and hanging out in his trailer thinking to himself. He was going to make everything right by swallowing his pride like Mark had told him. When the idea of that was first brought up in conversation, he didn't find it too appealing but the more he thought about it, he knew that was exactly what he had to do in order to make his relationship steady and right again with his girl.
If she just wanted a private relationship, he would give it to her. In the end, he just wanted to be with her and to do whatever made her happy. He had to of course. He saw himself hopefully marrying her some day.
Finally about an hour later, he made his way back to his trailer to put on what he called his 'Finn clothes.'
When he got there, he found the familiar dark and light blue striped patterned rugby shirt that he had worn a few times before in the show and a pair of casual dark blue jeans with some sneakers and after he donned his outfit, he strolled to the hair and make up department where he got his hair styled.
"So your call on set is in five minutes." The make up lady informed him as she added her last minute touches of cover up on his face to make the tones even.
He replied with a quick, "okay" followed by a "thanks," then was off to the hallway where his scene would take place.
Cory began to feel his nerves grow when he arrived to the scene area and took a seat in his chair. He watched all the crew set up cameras and lighting for the scene while he waited and it wasn't long before Dianna showed up as well.
He couldn't help but stare at her as she stepped through the set to her own chair a little ways from his. She looked absolutely beautiful to him. She had her Quinn attire on. Unlike in the front ten episodes of the season, her outfits always consisted of a dress and a sweater of some sort and in his opinion, weird, crazy styled shoes, but she looked amazing nonetheless. Oh, and he always loved it when her hair was down and wavy too.
As his eyes were on her, he noticed her look to him and give him a soft, shy like smile and he returned it with a smile of his own. Just watching her smile he knew he could never stay mad at her. It was just too damn difficult.
He was broken out of his staring trance when he heard the director yell, "Places everyone!"
That was his cue to get ready at his spot a little further from Dianna near the lockers. He had to walk up to her for the scene.
When he arrived at his spot, he noticed his girlfriend standing at the locker, holding it open with one hand, readying herself.
"Everyone one set, quiet!" the director ordered and Cory took a deep breath getting himself ready. "Set! Roll sound! Cameras ready and rolling in three, two, one, and... action!"
Cory waited a few seconds out of the shot for Dianna to look behind her at the girls that passed by and he started to walk towards her when she turned back to her locker.
He got to his spot and leaned against the row of lockers just after she shut the locker door.
"Hey." He greeted to initiate the scene and Dianna turned her head to his direction. He had to keep very serious and in character for the scene no matter what was going on his personal life, which was hard for him. He knew he had to get it right the first time because he wanted to talk to Dianna, so he wasn't in the mood to force multiple takes.
"Well it's over." Dianna stated her own line as best as she could. Like Cory, it was hard for her to stay in character too. All she wanted to do was smile because even though it was scripted, it was the first time Cory had talked to her since their fight.
"What?"
"My campaign. I'll never get elected prom queen now."
"Can I show you something?" Cory questioned as Finn, and began to pull out his prop wallet from his back pocket, and when he opened the brown leather wallet, he found the prop picture in the clear plastic frame area where it was supposed to be. He looked at the small picture before he turned it around to show Dianna. He took note that she still looked good even with a few extra pounds as 'Lucy Caboosy.'
"That's my girlfriend… I used to have another photo but, I like this one better."
Dianna glanced at the photo then back up to her real life/show boyfriend. "Why? She looks terrible."
The corners of Cory's lips arched into a small smile as he looked down to the photo in hand. "You think so? Because I think it's the first one where you can really see her."
The two smiled softly at each other and knew that it was time to go in for the scripted kiss. They leaned in and when their lips connected for their short but sweet kiss, they both felt fireworks between them, the kind you only felt when you were with the person you were meant to be with. Dianna felt them so much so that she couldn't get enough and gently grabbed the side of Cory's face as they kissed.
"Thank you." She finally said when they pulled away from the other, and while he still looked closely at her, Cory finished their scene with, "I'll see you at glee rehearsal." And Dianna slightly nodded.
"And cut!" the director yelled. "That was a good one you guys. We'll wrap this scene."
Cory gave the man a smile and a nod before turning his attention back to the girl in front of him, and when he did, he saw that she was still staring longingly at him.
"Hey." He greeted softly with a small smile. He knew he had to talk to her.
"Are we talking?" she questioned and he could see the hope glisten in her pretty eyes.
"Yeah." He answered. "I'm sorry."
Dianna's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "You're sorry? Aren't you the one that's mad at me?"
"Yes, I am sorry." He confirmed and grabbed onto her hand so he could lace his fingers through hers. "I'm sorry for acting like a jerk the other night by yelling and I'm even more sorry for not responding to your texts lately."
She smiled. "I'm glad you're just talking to me now."
"Yeah…" he smiled back. "I just want you to know that, I'm okay with however you want to keep our relationship-"
"Cory…" she started to interrupt but he cut her off in turn.
"Please Di, just let me finish… I was upset that you didn't want to tell anyone else about us and accusing you of being embarrassed of me wasn't the right thing to do because I know that's not what you really think. The thing was- I just was so mad that people thought you were getting back together with your ex and that you weren't with me and I- I guess the whole situation just kind of ate away at me. But now I don't even care. Let them think whatever they want as long as our close friends and us know that we only have eyes for each other. I don't want to fight anymore because… because I just want to be your boyfriend... And that's enough for me."
Dianna gently bit the side of her lip and softly laughed. "Cory Allan Monteith, there's nothing more than I want you to be my boyfriend and no one else." He smiled at her and squeezed her hand, then she continued. "I want to say I'm sorry too. I'm sorry for not taking your thoughts into consideration. I only want what's best for us and I thought what was best was to keep our relationship away from the public eye because those couples in it never seem to last… but I know with you… we will. So I think we should do it."
"Do what?" he teasingly questioned in a suggestive tone which earned a laugh from the blonde.
"You know what I mean… I've been thinking and… I want everyone to know how incredibly happy you make me and how truly proud I am to call you mine." She replied sweetly, a huge smile gracing her features.
Cory's grin multiplied by ten.
"Really?" he asked excitedly. He wanted this but he just wanted her to be sure. He really was okay with them keeping them private now.
"Absolutely." She assured him.
He couldn't say anymore. He was just too happy for words. He breathed a laugh and took the sides of Dianna's face and pulled her into a kiss to show her how excited and elated he was. Plus, he didn't really care that there were a bunch of people around them would know, including extras, because they'd all find out soon enough, so what did it matter now?
When they pulled away they continued to have big megawatt grins playing on their faces.
"So, how do you want to do it?"
So I hope it was worth the wait. I think after the next chapter I post for this, I'm gonna try to fast forward time a little bit just to make this story get along. I have some ideas for the future so I just want to get past all this stuff I think are just filler chapters in a way. Anyway, leave me a review and let me know if the update was to your liking because I really, REALLY appreciate it when people tell me their opinions so I can make the story better or keep it just to their liking. Lastly, once again, I'm sorry for my terrible updating skills. I just get to be very busy. :D Okay!