A/N: I'm flattered by all the story alert additions and positive reviews, thanks so much!

Lea caught up with me heading out of Matthew's trailer. "Hey, what were you doing in there?" she asked. I shrugged, then gestured to the script in her hand.

"Rehearsal?"

She nodded. "In ten. So, how's the – " Her phone went off. "Whoops, sorry, I gotta take this – it's Theo."

I tried not to be bothered by it, but couldn't help wondering – would she have dropped everything if it had been me calling her? Now she was ambling off in the other direction of the lot, probably for privacy. Damn. I kicked the heavy tire of Amber's trailer. This was so unfair!

"Cory!" Dianna was jogging towards me. Great. "Hi," she said brightly, smoothing back strands of her blond hair. "So, uh. I have a question for you."

"Yeah?"

"What's up with you and – and Lea?"

"What d'you mean?" Crap crap crap.

"Well, something's clearly going on with you guys, and Lea's refusing to tell me, which is probably the first thing she's EVER refused to tell me, and… and yeah. So, I want to know if something's going on."

"Nothing's going on," I said flatly. "We're friends, Dianna. Probably always will be."

What was it with her, well, with girls in general? Their uncanny ability to sense that something's going on in a guy's mind? They weren't always right, but Dianna, sensitive as she was, seemed to have a knack for getting me.

"If you say so. But just so you know – "

"Yes, Di, I know. Co-worker romances are strictly advised against, blah blah blah."

She looked mildly hurt. "No, I was going to say that Lea's in a sensitive place right now, with Theo, and she didn't want anyone to know, but I'm telling you since we're both her best friends. So just be careful, be nice. She might need you more than you think."

What in the world was I supposed to say to that? I felt like Finn again, all bumbling and awkward and stupid when it came to love. "Uh… okay."

"I'm serious. I don't really care if – "

"Hey, Di! Hey, Cory! Sorry about that." Lea was out of breath and sounded off, but before I could do anything her phone rang again. She glanced at the screen, then up at the two of us, and then, with a little sigh, hung up on the caller. She and Dianna exchanged one of those girl looks while I stood there feeling incredibly dumb and out of the loop.

All our phones vibrated simultaneously; Chord had sent out a group text: rehearsal, rm 3b, pronto! scene 4, cory & lea start. hurry, ryans in a huff.

The three of us walked silently to the designated room, getting there just as Heather, Naya, and Jenna did. Ryan was sitting on a tall stool, pointing at people and yelling out instructions to crew.

"There, put it there, right there. No, there. Oh, Cory, Lea, Dianna, take a seat!" He jabbed the air rather vaguely. "Lea, we might have to switch up your singing part."

"Yeah, so I can have the solo!" called out Chris. "No offense, Lea."

Lea gave that laugh of hers, the one she gave when we were doing our Teen Vogue shoot. She stuck her tongue out at Chris playfully, then turned to me. "Are you ready to rock and roll?"

"Wait, Lea's supposed to be wearing the necklace!"

"Oh, come on, Ryan, this is a rehearsal. It doesn't matter."

"No, it's important to this scene," he insisted stubbornly. Someone handed me the gold star necklace Finn gave Rachel. I looked nervously at Lea, who was checking her iPhone, and tentatively slipped the necklace around her neck, clasping it gently in back. She smiled up at me, all gorgeous long lashes and chocolate brown eyes. Not cliché at all (yes, I know that word. Finn doesn't).

"Phones! Off! Everyone in their places!" shouted Ryan. "And… action!"

And with that, we both fell into our characters, so comfortable it was like a second skin, and for a moment I felt like it was Lea who was curling up next to me and lacing her fingers into my hand, but then, with the plummeting drop of a reality check, I knew reluctantly that it was only Rachel.

So what did you think of it? I have a few questions that I'd appreciate your input, or else I'll just do whatever I want, but I think you all deserve a say too. Should Dianna become more involved? Does she have feelings for Cory? Should she be on Cory's side and talk to Lea, or will she tell Lea? What other people do you want to see get involved in the story? Drop by and leave a review saying what you think of the story so far and also answering these questions. Thanks! Love you all 3