A/N: Wow, thanks for all the reviews and story alert additions! I'm so happy that you guys enjoy this story, I woke up in the middle of the night a couple nights ago and just started writing.
Matthew was in his trailer, humming to himself. I knocked tentatively on the door and a few seconds later he'd sat me down with a glass of iced coffee.
"What's up?" he asked, shutting the door for more privacy. I glanced around nervously, used to crazy fans and publicity-seekers putting surveillance cameras in our trailers. Even innocent newscasters got on my nerves sometimes. "Don't worry," he reassured me, clearly understanding my worry. "I just had the cinematographer check. Nothing."
"Thanks." I took a sip of the coffee. Matthew was a great guy. I mean, he was only a few years older than me, so our relationship was more of a friendship than the mentor-mentee thing Finn and Will had going on. And he knew a lot about girls from multiple hook-ups on Broadway and his short-lived relationship with Chrishell Stause. "Um, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you."
"You got it, man." He smiled encouragingly at me. "What can I do for ya?"
"Well, see, I'm kind of in love with this girl."
"Wow! What's she like?" He looked impressed, since I hadn't been in very many relationships, and to his knowledge had never really been "in love".
"She's…" How does one start to describe Lea Michele? I faltered. "She's, like, really really pretty. Stunning. And she's this amazing person, so kind, and… and she's just… she's warm, and funny, and just… yeah." What else could I say?
"Interesting." Matthew ran his hands through his hair casually. He was such a laid-back guy. "How'd you guys meet?"
Here it came. "Uh…" Oh, god, was I really going to tell him? How could I trust he wouldn't run to Ryan in an instant? What would Finn do? He'd probably just jump, never mind where he ended up, and tell the truth. So I went for it. "I kinda… work with her."
Matthew's eyebrows shot up. "I see. And who might this young lady be?"
I ducked my head, feeling like a sheepish schoolboy once again. No, don't think of school… dropping out, drinking, mixing with the wrong people… I shut it out of my head. It was a miracle I'd ever even gotten this far, and yet here I was, backed up against a wall once more.
"Cory?"
Fine. "It's… it's Lea." Whoa, it felt really good to say that out loud, to finally admit it. "I've liked her since, like, last season at least. You've seen us together – we have chemistry, you gotta admit it!"
"Actor chemistry. Not real life chemistry."
"Come on, man, don't go all Mr. Schue on me. I just… I don't know what to do. I can't tell her, because then she'll think I'm a loser and never talk to me again and make the show awkward. I can't trust anyone to keep the secret, though I think Dianna's onto it, and if it gets out, both of us are totally and completely screwed. What should I do?"
There was a long pause. Then Matthew nudged the glass towards me. "Drink up, Cory," he said gently. "We'll figure something out."
Gratefulness shot through me. I raised my head. "So you won't tell?"
"Nah, Will wouldn't do that and neither would I."
"Dude, thanks!" I said, fist-bumping him. He was a good guy.