Chapter 19 – Knicks and Cold Medicine
"Wait you woke up cuddled next to one another on the couch?" Lea asked as her, Dianna and Naya laid out on her roof top patio enjoying the warm weather. Naya was laying the furthest from her, sunglasses on her face as she answered the million questions Dianna and Lea had for her.
"That's what I said."
Dianna was now propped up on her forearms. "Way to wait out the storm Nay." She laughed as she watched Naya to see any sort of reaction but didn't get one.
"So you woke up and what?" Lea pressed, hanging on every word Naya was saying.
Finally Naya sat up, pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head. "We had coffee then I headed home, Maurice had to eat and I didn't want him eating any more food he shouldn't."
"What a good mom you are." Dianna laughed. "Using that poor sweet innocent dog to get you out of an awkward situation."
"That wasn't awkward, not like it's the first time we've cuddled. What was awkward was the almost…"She trailed off as she caught herself in what she was about to say.
Lea was not practically in her lap. "No, no, almost what Naya Marie?"
"Kiss?" She said sheepishly as she moved her sunglasses back down and laid back.
"What!" The other two both asked.
"Oh it's not like it's the first time its almost happened. It was an in the moment thing, I can't help that she's hot."
Dianna laughed. "So you admit she's hot?" Lea questioned as if she was a lawyer.
"I don't think she's ever disputed that, in fact wasn't that discussed at length a few years ago."
"Shut up." Naya told them both before closing her eyes and continuing to enjoy the weather.
"Oh that that's right, it was. I remember now as if it were yesterday, little miss over there was drunk and came knocking at my door at an ungodly hour in the morning talking about how Heather Elizabeth Morris is the most beautiful woman in the world and that she missed her and her, what was it again?"
Dianna thought for a second just to annoy Naya. "Sparkling blue eyes?"
Lea snapped her fingers. "Right, sparkling blue eyes that reminded her of clear ocean blue California waters at sunrise."
Sitting up Naya looked at the both pointedly even through her glasses. "Fuck you."
"Better save that for Heather." Dianna couldn't contain her laughter as Naya threw a small pillow at her.
"Bow chica wow wow." Lea sang from where she had laid back down, a triumphant smile plastered on her face.
"Whatever you guys its not like that, James and I just broke up."
Dianna and Lea looked at each other and smiled before laying back down. "If you say so."
An hour later after Naya left for work Jenna opened Lea's apartment door. Without waiting for the girl to get comfortable Lea and Dianna shouted out to her. "They almost kissed!"
They had never seen Jenna move so fast as the girl appeared in the living room. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, and Naya was all coy about it." Lea smiled.
"Which means she is definitely into her." Jenna set her back down and sat on the arm chair of the couch.
Dianna shook her head, she knew Naya and she had the same feelings as her two counter parts in the room but she didn't want to jump to conclusions. "I know it's weird for me to say this but maybe Naya rebounding, you guys know how she is. Heather really hurt her, as inadvertently as it was she did a real good number and I don't think we can jump to that conclusion too fast. We need to keep a steady pace here and not get ahead of ourselves. At the same time I don't want Heather to be her rebound."
"Fate Dianna, fate. I've been saying it since before day 1." Lea stated as if it was a matter of fact.
"Who cares, they almost kissed, our plan aside that's awesome news because Heather is so obviously into her." Jenna said as Dianna and Lea nodded happily.
Heather was running through the park, hair pulled back into a pony tail, earbuds blasting the sound of Gotye through her eyes when she felt her phone buzz in her pocket. Slowing down before coming to a complete stop, she took a moment to catch her breath. Looking down at her phone she couldn't help but smile at the caller id. Naya Rivera.
"Hello beautiful."
"Hello yourself gorgeous." Heather smiled, Naya was definitely being a flirt and she loved it.
Heather moved out of the way of other people and stood by one of the benches that lined the path. "To what do I owe this honour?"
She heard Naya laugh on the other end of the line and regardless of the bustle around her she thought it was the single best thing she had ever heard. "I scored a pair of Knicks tickets for tomorrow nights game. I could use a hot date, you interested?"
"Yeah, I mean I don't know that much about basketball but it sounds like fun." There it was again, the sound of Naya's laughing. Only this time it caused butterflies to rise up in Heather's stomach.
"That makes two of us, I thought it would be nice for you to get out and see the town though. Experience New York like a New Yorker."
"And I do that by going to a basketball game?"
"It's playoffs, and it comes with at least one free beer, maybe two if you're lucky, so what do you say?"
"I'm in."
Heather could almost hear Naya smile over the phone. "Awesome, I have to work that night but I'll meet you outside Madison Square Garden, west entrance, say 7 o clock?"
"See you then."
"Oh and Hemo?"
"Ya?"
"You look good today." Without thinking about it Heather started to look around and that's when she spotted her at the other end of the path. She could see her smile even from a distance and the cute little wave she gave her as she kept walking could have made her heart melt. With that she heard the phone click before looking at the screen and putting it back into her pocket.
"So do you." She whispered to no one but herself as she put her earbuds back in. She couldn't have been more excited, not only had Naya called her but the woman was starting to flirt with her again and nothing was better than a flirty Naya.
Heather stood outside the west entrance of Madison Square Gardens just as 7 o'clock hit. She looked around but didn't see Naya. It wasn't like the girl to be late but she figured the girl had gotten stuck at work. Ten minutes later she saw dark brown locks blowing near perfectly in the wind the woman emerged from the subway steps across the street. Heather felt her heart start to beat rapidly as she took in the sight of Naya walking across the street smiling at her. She had certainly missed her and everyday that she spent with her seemed to put an exclamation on just how much.
"Hey sorry I'm late, missed the first train." Naya leaned in and gave Heather a one armed hug as she adjusted her purse on her other arm. "You ready?" She asked as looked in her purse, pulling out the tickets.
"Let's do it."
Once inside they looked for their seats as Heather took in her surroundings. Naya seemed so comfortable amongst the large crowd that didn't seem to notice or care who she was. It was only when Naya linked her arm through Heathers that the blonde snapped back to reality and followed Naya down the steps. They weren't quite floor seats but they were close enough. The atmosphere was already electric, the crowd was filled with a mixture of blue and orange jerseys.
"Where's your jersey Nay?" Heather leaned over asked.
Naya laughed as she took her jacket off. "I might live in New York but I will forever be a Lakers fan."
As the game went on Heather couldn't help but laugh at Naya yelling at the players as if she actually knew what was going on. One thing they had both always had in common was their lack of sports knowledge so Heather found it cute that Naya seemed to know what she was yelling about.
"What's with the yelling?"
Naya laughed with as she put her hand up to call the guy with the ice cream over towards them. She got two and handed one to Heather before she answered. "I don't know James always yelled at the game so I picked up a few things. Mostly, it's a lot of fun to yell at them, gets out some aggression." She opened her ice cream wrapper and started to eat it, managing it to get some on her upper lip. "Trust me, next half when the ref makes a call and everyone else starts yelling, join them, its fun." She said as she turned towards Heather who looked at her as if she was a cute puppy at the pet store. "What?"
"You have ice cream on your lip." She tried to show her wear but Naya kept missing so without giving it much thought Heather reached her hand over and softly wiped it off with her thumb.
"Thanks." Naya smiled, unable to look away from Heather.
It wasn't until someone taped them and pointed up at the big screen did they break their stare to look up. Both girls couldn't help but laugh as they saw themselves on the jumbotron, a heart frame around their heads. The crowd cheered and hollered for them to kiss and kiss me by the cranberries played. Finally the camera moved to someone else both girls cheeks red from embarrassment and laughing. Just as they thought they were in the clear the camera was back on them. Shrugging Naya moved her head to the side and pointed at her cheek. Without hesitating Heather leaned over and placed a really light kiss on Naya's cheek, where the girl had just pointed.
Unbeknownst to Heather the minute Naya felt the blondes lip on her skin her heart sped up, her palms got a little sweaty and she felt as though the room temperature had sky rocketed but she kept her cool.
Heather had had somewhat of the same reaction except all she could think about was really kissing Naya. They had come so close so many times, and she couldn't but think that this was yet another sign of fate that it was meant to be, eventually.
Once the game was done the two women made their way through the happy crowd of pleased Knicks fans. "Want to grab something to eat?" Heather asked as they stepped outside into the warm night air.
"Sure, what'd you have in mind?"
Heather thought for a minute before deciding. "Mexican for sure, I'd kill for a burrito right now."
Naya laughed as she nodded her head towards the subway station. "I know just the place."
Not to long after they boarded the train Naya pulled Heather out the trains doors and led her upstairs. "Why are we in Brooklyn?" Heather asked once she saw the sign.
"You said you wanted burritos so you get the best burritos in the city."
After a ten minute walk Naya held the door open so that Heather could walk inside the small restaurant. "It smells amazing in here." Heather whispered in Naya's ear who smiled.
It didn't take Heather long to decide what she wanted. The two women sat a table in the corner of the restaurant eating, and a beer to wash it down.
"How did you find this place?"
"She stumbled across it one day and I haven't been able to get rid of her since." The owner, Carlos, said as he walked over and gave Naya a hug.
Naya nodded, agreeing with Carlos' story. "True, but I am your best customer so I wouldn't complain if I were you." Carlos looked at Heather and then back at Naya. "Oh right sorry, Carlos this is Heather, we used to work together."
"I remember, Brittany right?" He questioned.
"That would be correct, this place is amazing by the way."
"Thank you, hopefully I'll see you both soon, I need to get back to the kitchen though. Have a great rest of your night, and Naya stop being a stranger." He said over his shoulder as he walked away.
Two hours later they found themselves back in Manhattan. "New York really suits you." Heather said softly as they continued walking.
"You seem to be gelling pretty well with it yourself."
"I don't mind it, and the company is pretty good." She winked at Naya before nudging her with her shoulder.
Naya grinned from ear to ear and linked arms with Heather. "It is pretty good. Anyways, tell me about your love life, we live in Manhattan after all."
"Non-existent. I do have a bit of a crush on someone, but I don't know we'll see what happens I guess. I'm just trying to live my life, I spent enough time living it for someone else."
"About time, that's the way it should always be, I'm glad that you're happy with where you are and for the record I'm happy for you." Heather looked up at the buildings they were passing and she couldn't help but laugh. "What's so funny?"
Heather pointed up at the Waldorf Astoria. "When Ashley and I first came to town I was standing just inside those doors and I saw you walk by and now here we are. Ashley thought I was crazy, that I was never going to run into you in a city this big yet time and time again I seem to do just that." She paused and looked over at Naya who was now looking at her. "You're my best friend."
Before Naya could respond her phone started to ring. It might have been two in the morning but apparently that wasn't something to stop the person that was calling. Looking down at her phone Naya sighed. "I am so sorry but I have to take this, it's my sister." Heather nodded, that would explain the late call with it only being 11 p.m. in L.A.
"I had an awesome time tonight…" Heather started to say but was stopped when Naya held her finger up. Instead of letting her walk away she linked their arm once again and continued their walk.
Twenty minutes later they were outside Naya's door. "My sister said hi and bye."
"Tell her I said hi the next time you talk to her."
Naya nodded. "Will do. Thanks for coming out tonight, I missed our hang outs."
"Anytime." They leaned in and hugged before Naya pulled away and headed up her front steps. As she was unlocking her door she looked back and Heather couldn't help but smile.
"Did you want to spend the night? I know you're not to far away but its late and if you're as exhausted as I am, you don't want to make that walk."
Without saying a word, Heather simply continued to smile as she walked up the stairs. They were finally falling back into their old routine and unbeknownst to them they weren't the only ones who had just witnessed their routine being put back into place. From just inside her place Dianna smiled triumphantly to herself. Their plan was definitely working.
Once inside Naya let Maurice out before leading Heather upstairs. She got her some clothes to change before leaving her alone to go back downstairs. A couple minutes later Heather walked back downstairs into the living room. She hadn't really taken the time before to look around the room but a certain picture caught her attention on one of the bookshelves. Walking towards it she picked up the frame and studied it.
"That was a good night." She heard Naya say from behind her. "Maxim always throws a good party, and we looked pretty smokin'." Heather set the picture back down and sat down on the couch. Naya sat down next to her and handed her the remote. "You choose. Maurice." She called out but she mumbled it slightly since she was so tired.
"Yeah?" Heather said looking over at her.
Naya laughed as Maurice ran into the room. "I wasn't calling you, I was calling him ya goof."
"Oh I was wondering, because it sounded like you said Morris and I'm sitting right here." It was the first time that Heather realized just how similar the two names sounded.
One Week Later
"Hey Jen, what's up?" Naya asked as she answered her phone as she was walking home from work
"I was wondering if you've heard from Heather, we were supposed to do coffee the other day but she said she was sick with a cold and I haven't heard from her since."
"No I haven't heard from her in a few days." Naya said as she walked into her front door.
She heard Jenna sigh on the other end of the line. "I'm at work so do you think you could possibly check in on her?"
"Yeah absolutely, I'll head over to her place in a few."
"Thanks Nay."
"No problem, I'll call you later and let you know how she is." With that she hung up the phone and headed upstairs to get changed.
Heather's Apartment
Naya knocked on the door and waited for an answer. Nothing. She knocked again. Nothing. Taking a chance she twisted the doorknob, sure enough it was unlocked. She slowly pushed the door open and moved inside. She heard the tv playing in the living room and so she figured that'd be a good place to start.
"Hemo?" She asked, so that if Heather was here she'd know who was wandering about her house.
"Hi." She sniffled as Naya walked into the room.
Heather was sprawled out on her couch, blanket pulled up to her chin with Zach sitting on the back of the couch looking over her. Her eyes and nose were red and puffy, and she looked tired beyond on belief. Without asking how she was feeling Naya set the bag she was carrying on the table and sat down next to it. She reached her hand out and touched the back of it to Heather's forehead. "You are burning up." Heather nodded as she closed her eyes at Naya's touch.
"Doctor said it's the flu."
"Seems to be that way." Naya said as she stood up. "I'm going to get you a glass of water and I'll be right back."
No sooner had she gotten up, Naya returned and sat back down on the coffee table facing Heather. "Can I get you anything?"
Heather shook her head. "I don't want you to get sick too."
"My immune system is a beast, so don't worry about me." Heather nodded and Naya knew that she was really sick, if her looks and the sound of her hadn't been proof enough Heather not arguing was another sign.
"What brings you by?"
Naya smiled as she put a cold compress on Heather's forehead. "Jenna called and asked me to check in on you, she said you weren't feeling well." As the words came out of her mouth Heather coughed, bringing her hands up to cover so almost as quickly as the couch had started.
"What's in the bag?"
Naya wiggled her eyebrows and reached for the bag that was sitting next to her. "Magazines, some green tea," she set the contents on the table before reaching back into the bag, "medication to help with the symptoms and help you sleep, and a cute little stuffed bunny." She left everything on the table except for the bunny that she handed to Heather.
"You didn't have to Nay."
"I know, I wanted to. You might not get sick often but when you do I know how hard it hits you, there's some soup in there too but we'll deal with that later." She moved off the table, lifted Heather's legs and sat down on the couch placing the blondes legs back down covering her own. "What are we watching?"
"Laff a lympics." Heather said, turning her attention back to the tv.
"You and your cartoons when your sick, lucky for you I love me some old school cartoons."
After the second episode, Heather looked over at Naya. "You really don't have to stay you know."
Naya nodded as she rubbing up and down Heather's leg. "I know, I want too, you need someone to take care of you for once. I'm staying for as long as you need me too, unless you want me to go."
"No!" Heather said with a little more force than she intended but her reply only made Naya smile a little more. "I want you to stay."
"Then I will stay." There was silence as Heather laid her head back down on her pillow, her eyes were closed but Naya could tell that she wasn't intending on sleeping. "Want to know a secret?" She watched Heather's head move up and down ever so slightly. "I named Maurice after you, I missed my best friend, not having you in my life didn't feel right, a piece of me was missing. The day I saw him I was having a rough day, I was exhausted and not used to the New York lifestyle. I called you that day, I don't remember why I just remember my fingers instinctively dialing the numbers. It went right to voicemail and I heard you and Taylor on the machine and I guess it all just really hit me. That's where Maurice came from, I thought it was close enough so that it wouldn't be too weird and people wouldn't figure it out but Lea and Dianna are smarter than I give them credit for."
At this point Naya hadn't realized that Heather had open her eyes to look at her so when she looked over at the other woman she wasn't sure what to do next. "I was mad at you Heather but that doesn't mean I didn't miss you because I did."
Using all the strength she had Heather sat up and wrapped her arms around Naya's neck. Naya held her close as the blonde rested her head on the shorter girls shoulder. "Come on, let's get you something to eat and we can continue our laff a lympics marathon." Heather nodded as she slowly let go of Naya and laid back down. "I'll be right back, don't go anywhere."
"I won't." Heather said weakly as Naya got up and headed into the kitchen.
Later that night Naya helped Heather upstairs and into bed. She tucked her and made sure she was comfortable before moving back towards the door. "Please stay." Heather's voice was so weak and vulnerable that it caught Naya off guard. Snapping back to reality Naya nodded, turned off the light and climbed into Heather's bed. It didn't take long for Heather to roll over and rest her head on Naya's chest. "Thank you for coming to check on me and telling me about Maurice."
Without answering verbally Naya began to run her fingers through Heather's hair. It didn't take long for Heather fall asleep after that, leaving Naya to lay awake thinking about how she really felt about the girl that was currently lying in her arms.
