A/N: I opted for Lea's POV for this chapter! Sorry, I've had the rest saved in a document for awhile but just haven't gotten around to posting them. More reviews mean more chapters! Thanks for your support! 3
What just happened? I perched on the back stoop of Cory's house, feeling like my head had been mixed up in a industrial-strength blender. These feelings were familiar, yet different. I was accustomed to looking at Theo with another woman and feeling itchy with jealousy. Not Cory. Besides, Cory and Heather? I knew nothing was going on between those two. So why did I want to punch Heather in the face when I saw her holding Cory's hand and giggling with him?
The door opened quietly behind me. I spun around, hastily wiping the tears of frustration from my eyes, but it was my best friend.
"Hey," she said in that soft, slightly nasally voice I knew so well. "You okay?"
I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "Yeah, I guess."
"Lea, I'm just going to cut to the chase." She hesitated, then plunged in, "Is this about Cory?"
What? "I… Dianna. I'm engaged."
"…Which we all know isn't going well whatsoever." She looked at me, her blue eyes tender and kind. "Come on, Lea. It's probably natural."
"I'm not saying I'm in love with him! Jesus. Maybe it's just from acting with him for so long that I don't really – that my character – that – that.. oh, I don't know, Di. I guess I… maybe, possibly, I have feelings for Cory, okay? But he's clearly not interested in me."
"That's what you think," Di replied quietly. She reached fondly for my hand, cradling it in her soft one. "You're like my sister. We're like twins. Always together. Meant for each other. I love you and I promise you, I would never advise you to do anything that wasn't going to end well. But if your feelings for Cory are so strong that you're sitting here and crying, well, maybe it's time for a change."
"Dianna, I can't just break off my engagement with Theo. It isn't that easy."
"Oh, I know."
I leaned onto her shoulder. "Should I go back in there?"
She nodded, pushing her hair out of her face as she stood up. "Go get 'em, Lea."
I kissed her cheek. Only with her could we exchange so few words and yet resolve an entire issue – namely, that of what was going to happen with me and my on-screen love interested. "Thanks, Di."