Hope everyone's still with me and still wanting to read this story. I also hope this update was worth the wait.
Yes, I know I'm a slow updater that seems like they won't write more and I'm thankful that people remind me that they want to read more but I don't forget. If people continue to tell me they want to read more, I'll write more. I will finish all stories I write, it just may take time.
Thanking you for your patience! And thanks for being the best fuinn shippers ever! Love this fandom and everyone that reads this and other fuinn stuff. Thanking you for your patience! Here's more :D
A Gleeful Reality
"Oh my god, this dress is to die for!" Lea commented, the excitement in her voice evident as she skimmed through the rack of clothes at the little French boutique they were shopping at.
Dianna had agreed to go into the store when Lea laid eyes on it as they leisurely strolled down a Paris street. She probably would have agreed to anything though to get her mind off some things, namely the doubt in her trust for her boyfriend, courteously instilled by Katie.
She had thought coming to Paris to put Katie in her place was her sole reason for the trip. The woman was the only doubt in her mind. She came to stop the other actress from being a home wrecker in her and Cory's relationship. She didn't trust her… right?
She groaned inwardly. 'I came here because I didn't trust her and now I don't know if that was the only reason. Do I not trust her or do I not trust Cory? I feel liked I was attacked by a mental ninja!'
"Do you like how it's got all the silver sequence? I love it."
Lea's voice pulled her out of the millions of thoughts buzzing around her head.
"Um yeah, it's definitely nice." Dianna agreed in an uninterested manner that was easily picked up by the petite brunette.
She exhaled deeply. She needed her friend to talk to her and not hold whatever was bothering her in. It was clear as day that she was more bothered than she had ever been since the start of the trip. "Come on, Di…"
"No really, I think it's very nice and would look great on you. You know how your skin tone makes a lot of colors work for you."
Lea huffed and rolled her eyes. "I'm not talking about the dress anymore," She informed her and hung the dress back on the rack to emphasize the fact. "I'm referring to your dreary mood you've had all day. Cory told us to go out and have fun while he filmed and you don't seem to be doing as you're told. What's up?"
"Lea, I'm fine, I'm just tired." The blonde knew it wasn't the best excuse but she figured it was suitable enough. Besides, it was partially true. She hadn't gotten much sleep the night before because she kept waking up every other hour from the Katie and Cory nightmares that plagued her.
Dianna watched as her best friend arched a tall, questioning eyebrow. Okay, so maybe it wasn't the best she could have done.
"Let's say I believe your excuse and run with it," Lea began, her tone relaying her doubt. "I would think you didn't get much sleep because you had too much on your mind."
"Is it really that obvious?"
Lea looked at her shocked and slightly appalled. "I've known you for a little over two years and for the majority of those years we've been best friends. I'm pretty sure I can tell when something's bothering you, so yes, it's that obvious."
Dianna sighed but nodded her head. "Okay, so it is that obvious," She paused to find the best way to explain her thoughts, then opened her mouth. "I've been thinking about Cory-"
Lea laughed. "What else is new?"
"Lea!" The blonde was briefly annoyed of the other girl's interruption but let it go and chuckled softly knowing she was only teasing. Lea chortled.
"Okay sorry, continue."
Dianna smiled but it soon faded when she said, "Do you think we have trust issues?"
She watched as her friend's eyebrows knitted together and gave her a weird look.
"You and Cory?" Dianna nodded and Lea shook her head. "No, of course not."
Dianna smiled lightly as she felt some relief wash over her. "Well it's nice to know you don't think so."
"Do you think that?" Lea countered, throwing the same question back and she shrugged.
"I never thought so until Katie brought it up at-"
"Wait, hold on a second," Lea interrupted abruptly which in turn earned her a raise of a perfectly sculpted brow. "You let Katie do this? I thought we've already concluded she's a manipulator and mind ninja."
The blonde chuckled remembering how she had been thinking that exact thing only minutes earlier.
"You can't let her get to you, Di. You're better than she is and plus, we all know Cory's crazy about you and has been for years. You don't think he'd pine over you for so long just to go after another girl later? No. Have faith in him."
The corners of Dianna's lips quirked up into a full-blown grin as she hugged her best friend.
"You're totally right," She muttered into her shoulder before she pulled away. "Thanks, Lea. I love you, girl."
Lea chuckled. "You better love me! I flew three thousand miles to another continent for you!"
"That you did."
"I did," The brunette reiterated. "I also flew here so you could help me pick out some nice clothes. This is one of the fashion capitals of the world after all and I'll be damned if I don't take advantage of that, so help and tell me if I'll look fantastic or simply outstanding in this dress."
Dianna only laughed at hearing her friend use her very, Rachel Berry-esque vocabulary as she pulled the dress back off the rack and began to model it against her front.
She felt much more confident in the situation after talking to Lea but still couldn't get that little trace of doubt that remained inside her. Maybe if she asked Cory if he thought Katie was flirting with him and brought it to his attention would put her at ease and nip that last trace in the butt. Everything would be better if it was out in the open, right?
By the time they had finished shopping and touring a little more of Paris, late afternoon had already set in. That's when she got a text from Cory.
Hey babe, swing by the set when you get a chance. I want to talk to you about something – Cory
She easily enough typed out a response as her and Lea walked back to the hotel.
Sure, Lea and I will drop off the stuff we bought at the hotel and be right over –Dianna
Great, see you soon :) – Cory
Twenty minutes later, the two women found themselves outside the 'Hotel de Paris' and passed security onto the fifteenth floor where the cast and crew of Monte Carlo were filming. There, Dianna wanted to cringe at seeing the scene they were doing. Cory and Katie were standing outside a big, white door getting instruction from the director.
"So we're going to do this one more time," The headphone-clad director informed them and continued to instruct further. "It has to be really good guys. Owen just followed Emma all the way from Texas to France. It's sweet- it's romantic! So one more take? Can I count on you guys?" Cory and Katie nodded. "Okay, let's do this!"
Cory hadn't noticed Lea and Dianna off to the side of the set so instead of quickly greeting them, he took his place in front of the grand door while Katie stepped inside to answer it for the shot. All the while the director's words were buzzing in his head. Owen followed Emma to France. Dianna followed him to Paris. It's sweet- it's romantic and he couldn't stop the smile that appeared on his lips as he thought about it. God, did he love her.
"Okay, attention on set!" The director's voice carried through the hall bringing Dianna's eyes off their constant stare at Katie and onto the director, who was pacing around last minute to make sure everything was right.
"I'm excited to see Cory film for this." Lea whispered to the blonde next to her and Dianna nodded in agreement. It was nice to see him working on his first major movie.
Further down the hall, Katie smiled at Cory while makeup did their last touch ups and he returned it.
"Aren't you the sweetest boyfriend to follow me all the way out here to Old Par-ee." She pronounced with a French accent through a teasing grin. Cory Chuckled.
"Yeah, I guess Owen would be."
Katie huffed out a laugh to hide the tinge of disappointment that she felt when he didn't play along and brushed off her comment. Why couldn't he just entertain the idea of being her boyfriend? Oh well, she'd manage it someway.
Making his way back to his seat behind the monitors, the director sat down and finally yelled, "Quiet on set!" Followed immediately by an, "And action!"
On cue, the scene started and Lea and Dianna watched with rapt fascination; Lea more than Dianna. Dianna was a little preoccupied with mentally cursing out Katie for the flirty smiles she was giving to Cory just before the scene.
Back in front of the cameras, Katie looked at Cory admirably. "You came all the way to Paris for me?"
Cory stared down at her seriously and spoke. "I don't want to lose you Emma…" He shifted and shrugged a shoulder. "Maybe I was trying to fence you in a bit. Guess I was just worried that, once you saw everything there is to see here that you weren't coming back-"
"Owen-"
Dianna smiled at seeing her boyfriend film his scene perfectly. He was doing really well.
"And look, I- I'm sorry for that because I don't ever want to keep you from something better…" He paused only briefly before finishing. "Emma, you deserve the best."
Katie continued to stare up at Cory as she took a breath and smiled. "But I already have the best."
The corners of his mouth tugged into a small smile. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." She smiled bigger and nodded for emphasis.
"Cut!"
Dianna bit down lightly on her bottom lip and stared at Cory with nothing but love and pride. She was so proud of him and was glad to see him making a name for himself in movies. Lea clapped for the two actors and that was when Cory noticed their presence.
When they were told to take five was the perfect time for him to see them so he walked over leaving Katie to watch from afar or get a water. She chose to get the water.
"Hey guys! Did you just get here?"
"No, we've actually been here for the last ten minutes. We saw your scene. It was great." Lea complimented and Cory smiled at her.
"Thanks," Then he turned to his girlfriend. "Hey Di, what'd you think?"
In lieu of a response right then, she pulled him down by his neck to give him a passionate kiss. When they pulled away from it Cory smiled goofily.
"Wow, was I that good?"
Dianna giggled. "You were amazing, babe. I'm really proud of you and the filming you did."
"Yeah, but you see me filming all the time on Glee."
"But not on a movie!" She retorted excitedly, which made him grin.
"Okay you're right," He agreed. "It is pretty cool."
"It's great Cor." Lea added.
When there was a short pause Dianna was going to ask to talk with him privately about the whole flirting thing but before she could even open her mouth, Cory spoke. He had remembered what he wanted to talk to them about.
"Oh by the way, I wanted to know if you guys cared to go out dancing tonight?"
Both women's brows shot into their foreheads. "You want to go dancing?"
They both had to hold in their laughter at the thought.
"Yeah, yeah I know I'm not a great dancer," he said, well aware they both wanted to giggle and make fun of him but he didn't care to be upset with them about it. "But I thought it could be a good time to hang out all together again in a more fun setting than the restaurant."
"Have you told them about the club yet?" A voice came up from Cory's side. Dianna wanted to glare hardcore. Katie.
Cory's view quickly shifted to the woman to his right. "Hey, yeah I actually just mentioned it. I'm waiting on an answer."
"How's it going?" Katie questioned the two of them sweetly and leaned against Cory but Dianna could see straight through that act. The woman was almost taunting her and trying to rub it in her face that she was touching him.
"Great thanks." Lea answered for them both seeing Dianna's subtle glare at Katie. She knew she'd have to be the one to respond aware Dianna wasn't going to.
"That's good," Katie commented and grabbed onto Cory's arm lightly. "So you two in?"
"Yeah, we're definitely in." Lea's eyes almost went wide at hearing the vicious tone Dianna answered with.
"Yep," She agreed cheerfully to take some of the attention off her friend.
Katie smiled but it was easy for them to see the wickedness in it. "Great, it'll be a blast. See you there."
And with that, she let go of Cory and walked away.
Cory smiled like a goof; clearly happy they chose to tag along. Dianna couldn't believe how unfazed he looked after his co-star was hanging all over him. She definitely needed to have that talk with him a.s.a.p.
"I'm so glad you guys are coming. It'll be fun." Cory smiled still, like a kid on Christmas.
Dianna smiled to humor him for a second before speaking. "Cor, I actually wanted to ask you something…"
His eyebrows pushed a little north but he nodded his head. "Sure, what's up?"
She licked her lips and paused to think of how to bring up the Katie thing and while that happened, Lea took the time to step away and give them some privacy.
When she failed to think of the best way to ask him she just decided to open her mouth and hope it would come out.
"I'm not really sure of how I should go about this…" She pursed her lips and Cory's eyes bored into her with full attention. "Do you notice- I mean, do you think uh… Do you think you can be…" Oblivious? No, she couldn't use that word because it might make him feel dumb. Blind? No, that was really mean. Unknowing? Maybe unaware?
Before she could think of a way to phrase her question, she heard a voice shout for Cory.
"Cory, we need you back in places!" The second director informed him, waving his hand to the set.
"Could I have a minute?" He asked. He didn't want to let Dianna be unable to talk to him.
"Normally that'd be fine but we're on a really tight schedule for today. We only have this area for another thirty minutes before we need to wrap this scene."
Cory sighed and nodded his head at the man who began to retreat back to the monitors.
"Can this wait till another time?" He asked his girlfriend, hit tone apologetic but hopeful.
There was nothing else Dianna could do but put on a smile and nod. "Sure." She couldn't stop their filming and get in the way. She'd just talk to him later about it.
He gave her his crooked smile and leaned down to place a sweet kiss on her lips, one she smiled into. She hoped Katie saw that.
Cory gave her one last kiss on her cheek and headed back to his place to film his next scene while Lea returned to Dianna's side.
"So, what did he say?"
The blonde sighed with an accompanying shrug. "I didn't get to say anything."
"Why?" Lea looked at her curiously; her brows furrowed.
"I wasn't sure how to bring it up. I mean, what do you say? 'Hey, I was just wondering if you've noticed that girl all over you or are just oblivious to the world? Are you too stupid to not realize she's been flirting with you non stop?' Yeah, I'm sure that'd go over well."
Lea stifled her laughter and raised an eyebrow. "No, not exactly like that."
"Yeah, see! It's a lot harder to bring up than I thought!"
"Di," Lea patted her on the shoulder. "It'll be fine. You'll find the perfect way to talk with him about it and it'll all work out. Plus, you just have to trust him."
Dianna closed her eyes and exhaled heavily and let out the words, "I know," in a whisper. Now if she could truly push herself to believe that.
Some five or six hours later Dianna and Lea were ready for the club. They decided to wait down in the lobby for Cory and the rest of the cast because they didn't know where they were going.
Since they didn't know how long they'd be waiting, they both took a seat on the couch.
"I'm kind of excited for this," Lea mentioned as she crossed one leg over the other to get comfortable and keep any view of her underwear covered in her dress. "I've never been to a club in France before."
"Yeah, it'll be… interesting but fun I'm sure." Dianna responded, smoothing down her own skirt on her legs.
Lea gave her a questioning look. "And by interesting you mean?"
The blonde chuckled humorlessly and shook her head. "Any time Katie is near Cory it's interesting-" She turned almost her whole body to the woman next to her with an angered face and Lea could tell she going to be getting an earful. "I mean, she always has to be around him and did you notice how she just had to touch him while we were talking about the club earlier? Ugh, she's just such a-"
"Di!"
Lea had to cut her off so she didn't draw more attention than she already had on her, plus she didn't want her to say anything she'd regret or that would be good gossip fodder for magazines.
There were a few people in the room that were blatantly staring at her and even though they might not have understood English, shouting was a language everyone knew. Once Dianna looked around and noticed, her cheeks turned pink in embarrassment.
"Sorry," She muttered to Lea when her cheeks started to settle down and people went back to what they were doing. "I just get really upset thinking how she wants to take Cory from me. I've never had this happen before and you know what? It really sucks."
"Yeah, I'd agree, it is very sucky," Lea said through a chuckle to lighten the mood a bit and was happy to see Dianna begin to giggle softly too.
"Is sucky even a word?" She asked, still laughing.
Lea's mouth fell open into a playfully appalled look and forced her brow down. "Of course it is! Plus, even if it isn't for some reason, I'm from New York City and we get to make up words like that!"
"What are you guys laughing about?" Came a voice from a few feet away.
They turned their attention up from each other and saw Cory towering over them with a smile on his face.
"Is sucky a word, Cor?" Dianna wanted to get a second opinion.
"It totally is right, Cory?" Lea gave him a scary look that told him to agree or else, so he did just that.
"Yes," He quickly answered to humor her and chuckled when Lea smirked at Dianna. It must have been an argument between them, and by the look on his girlfriend's face, she must have lost.
"So I went by your room and you guys weren't there. I'm glad I thought to check down here," He continued when he was sure they were listening. "You two look great per usual."
"Aw, in this old thing?" Lea joked as she gestured to her silver sequenced dress that she had bought only earlier that afternoon.
Cory laughed and nodded. "Yeah, it looks great and how do you always manage to look beautiful, Di?"
"Thanks, babe, I try." She replied with a sweet smile, easily forgetting that she was just fretting over the Katie situation. When he says stuff like that with all his attention on her it made it easier to believe he only had eyes for her and not strawberry blonde, fake southern bumpkins a.k.a. Katie Cassidy.
"There you guys are!" Selena announced as she, along with Pierre, Leighton, Luke and Katie came down the stairs to the lobby. "The limo got here about ten minutes ago. We've been trying to find you three."
"Sorry Selena, I just found them myself but we're ready." Cory explained. "Is everyone else good?"
"Yep, let's go mate!" Luke spoke for the group and they all made their way to the limo out front of the hotel.
As soon as they stepped out the doors, they were mobbed by French paparazzi whose camera flashes lit all their faces up.
"Hello!" One greeted them in his strong French accent. At least the photographers knew English so the group could understand them. "Pierre, over here!"
"How are you all doing tonight?" Shouted another.
Cory slid his hand into Dianna's to help guide her through the attack, which she was grateful for and she grabbed onto Lea's arm with her other hand to help her out as well.
"Dianna! Ms. Agron, over here!" This paparazzi's voice lacked a French accent. Huh, they had American ones here too. "Why are you in Paris? For Cory?"
They all continued to walk to the limo that was only a few feet away now and didn't speak to the photographers. Once some employees from the hotel came to assist them, they were finally able to get into the car.
When they were all in and the door was shut, the driver pulled away from the curb and they all found seats. Unfortunately for Dianna, she was squished in the smaller row between Cory and Lea.
"It won't be that long of a ride, Dianna," Pierre told her when he noticed the uncomfortable position she was in. "Sorry that row isn't that big."
"Yeah, would you feel more comfortable over here?" Katie inquired as she pointed to her seat. "There's a lot more room and I'd be willing to switch with you."
Dianna almost scoffed when she saw the smirk that Katie had on. Over her dead body would she let that girl sit squished against her boyfriend.
She wanted to bitch her out right then and announce that they were going to have a smack down HBIC Quinn Fabray style but as she looked around at everyone else, she knew now wasn't the time for that. She just smiled and shook her head. Keep it classy, right?
"No, that's okay but thank you for the offer. I'll be fine."
"I think you should just sit on my lap if you're squished," Cory said lowly to her with a smirk. She knew he was playfully flirting and she thought maybe she'd take him up on the offer. "You know, makes you more comfortable and Lea can have more room."
Dianna discreetly glanced over to Katie who was staring at them. She must have caught some of what he said. She smirked at the other woman and shifted her eyes back to her boyfriend. Hell yeah she was gonna take him up on it.
"I think I'd love that." She whispered back to him, which made him smile and she made a show of climbing onto his lap for Katie and was happy it worked when she saw her rolling her eyes.
"Thanks, baby," She thanked him with a lingered kiss which disgusted Katie and she went to looking out the window.
Little did Dianna know that Katie wasn't the one to take things lying down. It was so on at the club.
Just like when they left, it was a hassle to get into the club with more paparazzi swarming and taking their pictures. Luckily for them, this time people were there to escort them faster than the hotel employees leading them into the nightclub quickly.
"Oh, this is so cool!" Selena said, amused at the sight of the large club. Cory chuckled because she was so young and clearly hadn't been to many clubs.
The club was one large room with a bar stretching across the entire length of the wall to one side, a huge dance floor centered in front of a disk jockey set up on a balcony above it and a section with tables and couches on the other side of that.
"So instead of just standing here I say we have some fun!" Luke's voice carried over the music and everyone else happily agreed.
Pierre, Selena, and Leighton chose to go straight to the dance floor while Luke, Lea, Cory and Dianna made their way through the crowds and over to the bar. Dianna rolled her eyes when she noticed Katie right behind them.
"Hey, drinks anyone?" The bartender asked the group and Cory was a little relieved to hear the man had more of a British accent that was much easier to understand than a French one. He had nothing against French people but sometimes their English pronunciation was a little dodgy.
"Yeah sure, one minute," Cory replied and turned to Dianna. "You want something? I got it."
She smiled. "Thanks, babe. I'll just have-"
"W-w-w-wait, let me guess," He cut her off mid sentence. "Long Island iced tea?"
"Ooh, you know me so well." She said with an amused face and shot an, 'in your face' look to Katie but the other woman didn't feel the need to return the gesture in anyway when she saw Cory notice the exchange.
He tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. 'What's going on?'
Rather than confronting the two women about it, he chose to look back to the bartender and place their orders, but he'd keep an eye out between them.
"How about for you two?" The man behind the bar asked Luke and Lea.
"Oh, I'll just take a miller light in the bottle, please."
The bartender nodded and looked at Lea. "Would you like anything?"
"A cosmopolitan would be great, thanks." Lea watched the man prepare her drink and pour it. She was about to get her money out when Luke stopped her.
"I got you," He told her with a grin and pushed her hand back down into her clutch asking her to release the money. "Don't worry about it."
"Oh no, I can't ask you to do that. Cosmos are like, twelve dollars U.S. I don't even know how much they are in euros!"
Luke just gave her another smile and if she didn't have a boyfriend back home, that smile would have gotten her to do anything… well, almost anything.
"It's fine, really," He assured her and pulled out some cash for the man. "How much?"
"It's seventeen euros."
Lea watched as the Aussie pulled out the exact amount and handed it to the bartender. She felt bad for not paying but she had to admit it was really nice of him to offer.
"We should go find a table when we've all ordered to drink these." Luke suggested as he handed over her glass.
Lea agreed with a nod and they waited for the bartender to finish making Cory's order.
"Here you go," A second bartender threw a cloth over his shoulder and picked up Cory's drinks to hand them over. "A Long Island iced tea and a crown royal. Would you like anything else?"
Cory opened his mouth to say no but Katie's voice beat him to it.
"Cor, would you mind buying a drink for your lovely Monte Carlo girlfriend?"
Cory looked surprised at his costar's words and Dianna lifted a perfect eyebrow and let out a quiet, dry laugh while she seethed on the inside.
"Uhm…." He threw up his arms in a carefree manner and politely smiled. "Sure, why not?"
Dianna scoffed internally at hearing her boyfriend actually give in and so easily at that! She wanted to slap Katie for asking him to buy her a drink and for using the stupid, fake girlfriend card.
"What do you want?" He asked.
Katie smirked and winked at Cory when she answered, "Sex on the beach," In an extra lusty tone that had Dianna seething even more.
'Scratch that, I don't want to slap her anymore. I want to punch her in the face and hope her pretty, little nose breaks!'
Yet again, Cory politely smiled and nodded before he turned back to the bartender and placed the order, which came out quickly.
Cory groaned internally after hearing the price for the drinks. The damn sex on the beach was the most expensive thing! He reluctantly paid for the three, wishing he just said no to Katie.
He picked up his and Dianna's drinks off the bar first and gave it to his girlfriend. "Here you go, Di," Then, with his free hand, he grabbed Katie's drink and handed it over to her. "And here you go."
"Thanks, boyfriend!" Cory watched as Katie giggled and sipped her drink and when he shifted his eyes towards Dianna, he noticed her giving Katie a death glare.
What was going on? She couldn't be jealous of Katie. She knew she was his one and only, right? Well, he hoped.
"Yeah sure, no problem, Katie." He replied before he looked to Dianna. "How's yours, baby?"
Dianna felt a strong smile creep up on her when she heard him use a pet name. Maybe that would shut Home Wrecker Cassidy up for a bit.
"It's really great, thanks for buying it for me."
He shrugged and gave her a goofy smile. "What kind of boyfriend would make their girlfriend pay for her drinks?"
"You are a great boyfriend to both of us, Cor." Katie interjected once more, which in turn got a weird look from Cory who felt kind of uncomfortable about the comment but he tried to shrug it off.
"Thanks," he replied awkwardly. He was starting to think she was taking her role a little too seriously.
"Do you guys want to grab a table?" Luke questioned as he and Lea walked back from the other end of the bar and Dianna couldn't have been more grateful to the man for interrupting the conversation.
"Yes," she hastily answered and grabbed onto Cory's hand leaving Katie to huff out an unperturbed breath.
She didn't need to worry about Little Miss Blond, All-American. She had no doubt that she could pull Cory's attention away from her and all her little digs like holding his hand didn't bother her one bit.
"Alright, let's go." Luke announced as he led Lea and the rest of the group towards the other end of the room to the couches and table area. On the way there, Lea couldn't help but notice Katie's cocky smirk. It made her peeved at the woman for trying to get in between her two friends.
For the next hour, the whole group sat and chatted. Pierre, Selena and Leighton had all come back from dancing and joined them.
Cory continued to watch for any unpleasantries between his, awkwardly enough, real life girlfriend and movie girlfriend. He was happy to see that they weren't at each other like they had been at the bar- Or at least, like Katie had been with her weird comments and Dianna's glares.
Everything was pretty good until Katie excused herself to go to the bathroom. About a minute later, Dianna did the same thing and that's when Cory noticed this weird look in her eyes. He never saw it much, only around the first season when she had to fully embody the attitude of Quinn Fabray.
He watched her suspiciously as she walked toward the bathrooms and was a hand push off the table when Lea stopped him, noticing Dianna's and his looks.
"Hey, Cor, have you noticed the Canucks standings in the league?"
Lea had to suppress her relieved smile when Cory eased himself back into his seat. She knew he'd never pass up a conversation about hockey.
At the bathrooms, Dianna had a whole different conversation in mind as she entered through the door. She didn't have to wait long before Katie stepped out of a stall.
"Okay, we're about to have a smack down!"
Katie quirked a perfectly shaped eyebrow up at her and breathed out a chuckle.
"Well, that's a great way to start a conversation. I'm not really sure how to even respond to that and carry on this talk."
Dianna rolled her eyes as Katie began to wash her hands, seemingly unbothered by the blonde's hostile intrusion.
"No, you know exactly how we're going to continue this talk," She spat, her blood temperature slowly rising. "It's going to start with me not asking, but telling you to stay away from Cory."
Katie clucked her tongue and shook out her hands. "I don't think I can do that. You see, I'm under this contract that requires me to be near him. It's called, we're filming a movie together."
Dianna's blood continued to boil and Katie's smart ass reply only made it hotter.
She laughed dryly. "Don't be such a smart ass, you know what I mean. I don't appreciate you touching him and making flirty comments. What kind of girl are you to do this to someone else's relationship?"
"I'm a girl that knows what I want and I plan to get it anyway that I can," Katie smirked evilly when she saw Dianna's mouth agape and frustrated expression. With that response she decided to continue. "Whether it be goofing up a few lovey-dovey scenes just so we could reshoot them and kiss more or anything else. He's a real good kisser but I'm sure you're aware. I thought maybe once he kissed a real woman a few times he'd realize what he's been missing. What else, hm?"
Dianna opened her mouth to scream at her but Katie stopped her with a raise of her finger.
"Uh uh, I'm not done talking yet…. Does it bother you that you aren't the only one he's been kissing recently?"
"It's only a movie." She scoffed.
At the table, Lea and Cory were having an argument of their own.
"There's no way, Lea. You put the Canucks and Rangers in one rink and I can easily without doubt say Vancouver would blow your little New York team away!"
Cory chuckled at yet another ' I'm confused but I'll fake it', look that Lea had on. It was funny how she thought she could beat him in anything hockey related… but it was also a little suspicious.
"Hope they're both okay in there. They've been at each other's necks ever since Dianna got here."
Cory looked to Luke. "What?"
"Yeah, I mean, you haven't noticed all the glares and hostility the last few couple? I'm surprised because it only seems to happen when ever I hear your name come from them- Ow!"
Lea had to figure a way to shut the guy up. She didn't want Cory to figure out things this way. She wanted Dianna to be able to explain.
"Did you just kick me?"
She put on an innocent face. "No,"
As Luke rubbed soothing circles into his shin, questions kept arising in Cory's head.
Why had the Lea just blurted her Canucks question in the first place if she didn't know much about the team or sport, and why was it just at the time he was going to talk to Dianna about the look she had on her face before following after Katie? Why did Luke tell him of what seemed to be a rivalry between his girlfriend and costar and how could he have not seen it himself until tonight? Why did Lea kick him? To shut him up?
He was going to find out.
Lea opened her mouth to spout out the perfect comeback to their hockey banter to remove the now awkward silence when he stopped her.
"Hey, hold that thought, I'm going to go and check on Dianna and Katie and see what's taking them so long. They've been gone for a while."
With that, he stood up from his chair and pushed it in and was about to take a step towards the bathrooms when a small-framed Lea stepped into his path, effectively blocking him.
"Wait, we're not done with our conversation yet!"
Lea knew she had to come up with something fast when Cory stared at her like she was crazy and even quirked his eyebrow north. She imagined the situation in the bathroom wasn't going much better than theirs. It was probably worse.
And she was right.
"You know personally, I love this movie. It's full of love between couples and we're in Paris, the most romantic city in the world!" Dianna rolled her eyes as Katie swooned just to rub it in her face. "What else? The shot gun proposal here and there just like Cory proposed to me."
"You mean the way Owen proposed to Emma," Dianna corrected with a weirded out expression. This girl was starting to come off a little crazy to her along with being a home wrecking bitch. "It's just a movie and you're sadly mistaken if you think something that happened in the script is going to bother me."
Katie's smirk continued full blast as she laughed. "Oh, that didn't even get a little rise of you?" Dianna shook her head confidently. "Well, you're a lot tougher and less cookie cutter than I thought."
Dianna kept glaring at her and continued to keep her cool on her exterior but she was having an internal struggle unknown to the woman in front of her. The fact of the matter was, it did bother her a little bit. She knew that what Katie was quoting was all movie related and fake but it didn't stop her from getting a little jealous over a marriage proposal coming out of Cory's mouth. Realization hit her when she became aware that she wanted to hear those words come from him, herself. Hell to it if they've only been dating for a short amount of time. They'd known each other for years.
"Lea, I'm going to ask you again. Please move so I can check on them."
Cory's frustration was growing beyond belief when Lea still wouldn't step to the side.
"But we didn't finish talking about ideas to protest the use of horse drawn carriages in New York!"
He huffed out a frustrated sigh. "What? We weren't even talking about horses!"
Lea blinked fast a few times and gave him a sheepish look. She had been so busy just physically keeping him away from the bathroom that she forgot what topic she had gone to in order to keep him busy. "Oh, right."
"Excuse me," He said and attempted to side step her, but when she blocked his path again, he wanted to scream. He was just about to when he thought of something better. "Wait a second, does that lady over there look like Barbara Streisand or is it just me?"
"Wait, what? Barbara?" Lea exclaimed and flew her eyes over to the direction Cory had pointed. Failing to see anyone that looked like Barbara, she turned back.
"No, I don't think-" He was gone. She whipped around to see him stalking over to the bathrooms. Oh shit.
Finally he had made it past Lea and towards his destination. He was just about to knock on the door when he heard voices. Curiosity took over and he chose to stop himself and listen. He had to get some answers here.
"I don't know how many times I need to say this to you for it to make sense in that fake, color bleached head of yours! Cory is not yours and never will be! Stop trying to come between us!"
At hearing this, Cory opened the door a crack to hear them better and to see them. Dianna had her back to him while she faced Katie who was standing near the opposite end of the room.
"And how many times need I tell you that I like to get what I want?"
"Not this time," Dianna bitterly promised her and took a breath. "I came here to make sure of it…"
Katie quickly glanced to the door when she saw it open up and she smirked when she saw Cory standing there. She was just going to let Blondie keep talking. With her luck, she wouldn't even have to say a word.
Unlike Katie, Dianna was too upset and frustrated to notice the slight sound of the door creaking open, so she continued.
"I wanted to enjoy a nice time with my family back home and had to fly here when I knew you were up to no good. You were right. I couldn't do anything from six thousand miles away but I'm here now. I need to keep you away from him or both of you away from each other!"
Katie laughed mockingly. Okay, she could say one thing to hit this ball out of the park. "Why would you need to keep him away from me? He's made no advancements towards me. You'd think with such a great boyfriend like him, you'd give him a little more credit and trust."
Cory continued to watch the scene and narrowed his eyes once he heard her question. He'd like an answer for that too.
She wanted to remember her talk with Lea at the boutique but her emotions were on overdrive and logical thinking wasn't the first thing. She let her insecurities overtake her.
Dianna let out an exasperated breath and flung up her arms. "I haven't had the best record with boyfriends if you'd like to know. My most recent one before Cory cheated on me and it hurts to say that I trusted him. Trusting him killed me so yeah, maybe having trust in a guy is harder for me and maybe I don't trust Cory as much as I'd like to and that's why I'm here!"
"That's why you're here?" Came a broken, hurt filled voice from behind her. Her heart broke knowing exactly to whom it belonged.
She whipped around to face her boyfriend. "Cory…"
"So that's why you're here?" His voice was still hurt but it grew in anger.
"No, Cor, I-"
"Please don't lie to me, Di. I just freakin heard you say that!"
Dianna winced at the anger in his tone and felt awful when she saw his eyes start to go shiny from the build up in his tear ducts.
"It's not the only reason I came," She insisted. "I missed you."
Cory nodded his head heavily but she could tell by his pursed lips and on the verge of bursting eyes that he was having a hard time believing her.
"You know, that's what I thought you came here for; because you missed me and wanted to be with me and now I feel like a complete idiot for thinking in real, romantic gestures like that existed. They don't! They only happen in movies clearly."
He looked over to Katie for the first time and back to Dianna.
"I can't believe I couldn't see this stupid rivalry going on between you two. Maybe I am as oblivious as some of the characters I play and that just- that just sucks! But it sucks worse knowing that you don't trust me. I'm not Alex, Dianna!"
"I know that!" The tears were welling up in her eyes as well.
"No, I don't think you do because if you did you would trust me more! I'm not him, I would never cheat on you! Especially with some girl I only met a couple weeks ago and I'm working with! I mean, after liking you for over two years and finally getting to be with you, do you really think I'd go and ruin that in some pointless fling?"
"I know how all that sounded b-but I do trust you more than you think. Katie's just a slime ball!"
It hurt him to see his girlfriend crying and there was a part of him that just wanted to scoop her up in his arms and comfort her but the part that was upset was greater.
"No you don't!" He shouted. "But I really wish you did. Do you know how much I feel for you, Dianna? I lo-"
He immediately cut himself off. He knew he was yelling and he knew he was about to spill his biggest guts right then by admitting he loved her but he didn't want the first time he said it to be out of anger and hurt. He breathed heavily and with one last look to the two girls, he turned and began to walk out.
He didn't know what else to do. He needed to collect himself and calm down.
"Cory!" Dianna called after him, her voice wrecked with tears. "Cory, please wait!" She didn't want it to end like this and she desperately wanted to hear what he was going to say.
He took another deep breath and shut his eyes to will away the tears when he felt a hand on his arm, begging him to turn around.
"What were you going to say?" Seeing her tear stained face hurt. She was hurting him with those and just hurting him all over.
He prayed for a calmer, lower voice and was grateful when it came. "I know this is going to hurt both of us right now but I can't talk about this anymore."
"What?" She whimpered.
"I need to be alone right now."
She wanted to cry more. "No, Cor please, can we just talk? We need to talk."
"I don't want to talk about this anymore!" She winced again at the harshness of his voice. Feeling bad again, he lowered it. "Just give me a couple days."
'A couple days?' She wanted to scream but she couldn't. She could only agree no matter how much she wanted to do otherwise.
She felt worse than she ever had in the rest of her life when she watched him say goodbye to the group and walk out of the club. Not even beating Katie to a pulp was going to make her feel better. She needed someone, someone to talk to and comfort her.
With fresh new tears, she turned to see Lea smiling sympathetically with arms open.
Without any other need for invite, she rushed over to her and was engulfed by the petite brunette's arms that were ready to console her. She knew she had a best friend in Lea and she really hoped she had a boyfriend in Cory in the morning.
I'm moving back to school on the 26th so I'm going to try to have the next chapter of C,F,F &QF before then because things will start to get very busy afterwards. On another note, the majority of people preferred long chapters/slower updates so I'll continue what I've been doing. If anyone ever has questions about the story or anything you're curious about, anything at all, I'd love to hear from you! Leave it in a review or PM if you'd like.
Please review! There's not too many chapters left in this mongron goodness!