Title – Halfway To Anywhere
Summary: Naya's not sure how she ended up in her bathtub; hung-over and with Heather on top of her, but the kink in her neck suggests they slept there. Sequel to Behind Closed Doors. RPF. HeYa.
Disclaimer: Nothing's changed since the last time.
A/N: Okay, WOW! Thank you so much for the reviews, I can't believe I've made it to 100 for the last chapter! Every review means a lot, so thank you.
-ooo-
Heather is lying on the sand, well, kind of. Her head is resting on Dianna's lap and she's got someone's jacket beneath her so it's really only her legs that are on the sand.
It's dark. Almost pitch black save for the light from the bonfire Mark keeps agitating with dry branches and washed up seaweed.
Heather's not drunk. Not exactly. She's had about two beers and half of Dianna's drink, which she gulped down too quickly thinking it was coke when it was actually something that tasted a lot like Bourbon. It burned her throat and made her rasp out much like Naya would. She isn't even sure why Dianna is drinking such a strong drink; the blonde normally likes fruity drinks or wine, pink wine.
Heather also had a wine cooler that tasted bland but kept her hands busy for half an hour and at one point in the night she took a shot of vodka, but that was it.
So she's not drunk. Just really buzzed and at the same time tired.
Which explains why she is curled on her side with her head resting on Dianna's folded legs, she's comfortable enough to have her eyes shut and Dianna plays with her hair idly.
Pulling the strands in her hands and braiding them before undoing said braid and starting again.
It lulls her into a state that has Heather dancing on the precipice of sleep and she hugs her hands under her chin comfortably, listening to Dianna and Lea talk. Both girls' are next to each other, Heather's sure Dianna is still sipping from her can of maybe-bourbon and that Lea is drinking lemonade or something. Perhaps it is a light beer.
"I shouldn't be drinking tonight." Dianna lightly says, her words are airy and float around Heather's fogging mind. "It's the middle of the week, we have work tomorrow."
Lea hums a laugh, "But we don't have to be there early. So one or two more won't hurt."
"I'll have a hangover."
"Drink plenty of water before bed, works like a charm."
"Trying to get me drunk?" Dianna playfully inquires, Heather feels the blonde's legs shift slightly and it stirs her a bit. Dianna's fingers keep playing with her hair though so she's quickly pacified into half-consciousness again.
There's another laugh from Lea, low and mumbled. "It's early still, I'm not encouraging you to drink excessive amounts, but I am encouraging you to have one more rum and coke."
Rum and coke that is what Dianna is drinking!
Heather scrunches her face up at the choice of drink.
"I'll get another when this one wakes up." Dianna hushes lightly. She taps a finger against Heather's forehead.
Heather wants to say she's not actually asleep but before she can someone's hands are grabbing at her and shaking her firmly. If she wasn't affected by alcohol she might have screamed, although a voice stops any reaction from her.
"Get up chica!"
Naya.
She is shaken again and her head presses into Dianna's legs, she can hear Lea saying something along the lines of 'disturbing the peace' but it's mumbled and quiet.
She isn't even sure where Naya came from.
"You're not even asleep." Naya points out. It probably has something to do with the fact that Heather has her face scrunched up.
"Mm, go away." She grumbles.
Naya flicks her temple and it actually stings like a mother.
"Ow!"
"Well get up then, seriously, you're missing all the fun."
"I'm comfortable."
Naya flicks her again, softer this time. "Dianna isn't a pillow. C'mon, up!"
There's a moment of peace before Naya grabs Heather's upper arm and yanks on her to stand up, she's ripped from her comfy position and ends up resting her head on the sand instead of Dianna. The grains scratch at her face and she groans with annoyance.
"You're annoying me." She huffs.
Naya lets go of her arm and Heather thinks she's kneeling next to her, because she's poked on the cheek a second later. Naya smells like cherries for some reason.
"Get up and entertain me, I want to go in the water." Naya whines.
Heather's eyes shoot open and she squints, "bad idea."
"Party pooper."
"It's freezing in the water remember?"
"Don't care, come with me?"
Heather wiggles so that she is lying on her back. Her head feels warm and clouded. Naya is kneeling and she's also watching Heather carefully, chocolate eyes shine under the light of the moon and bonfire.
"Come with me?" She asks again.
Heather flops her head side to side, "no."
"Why?"
"It's too cold."
"You really don't want to?"
Again Heather shakes her head. She can see Dianna and Lea watching her almost curiously. "No."
Naya frowns, "fine, I'll just get Mark or my Bee to come in with me or something." She mopingly says.
Heather's chest feels cold at the suggestion of Mark and Naya being around each other and quickly she's rolling into a seated position, sand is stuck in her hair.
"No, I'll come with you." She rushes out.
Dianna and Lea's stares turn strangely amused.
Naya looks pleasantly surprised and a grin twitches her lips up a small fraction. "Good."
"Okay."
"Mmmh,"
"You aren't seriously going to get in the ocean are you?" Asks Dianna, she looks horrified at the idea.
Naya just shrugs, "Why not?"
"You're drunk." Dianna states.
"Not quite."
"Enough to think that swimming in the ocean at night is a good idea."
Naya holds her hand up, "Shhh," She hushes, she looks to Heather cheekily. "Ready?"
Nodding with new found enthusiasm, Heather wobbly stands, "lead the way."
"Bad idea." Dianna sing-songs.
Naya grabs Heather by her wrist and with a grin she pulls the dancer into a quick walk, Heather's quite positive that Naya's a bit drunker than she is. The zigzagging she is doing as she walks is evidence enough, but she's also laughing silently. Which is captivating to Heather's alcohol addled brain.
So much so that she finds herself giggling along with Naya's breathy chuckles, her bare feet sinking into the cold sand and leaving footprints.
It's eerily dark near the water and an icy chill is carried by the wind, but Naya's hand is warm around Heather's wrist and also comforting. When the sand starts getting wet Heather knows they're closer to the water although before she even gets a chance to voice her worries on crabs being out, Naya stops and turns to face her abruptly. Heather knocks into her in a manner formed of too much alcohol.
"Sorry," She mutters.
"Are you coming in?" Naya asks quietly, she's not whispering but her voice is hushed.
"I said I would." Heather assures.
"It's going to be cold." Naya grabs at her jacket clumsily before unzipping the dark material. She shimmies out of it easily and flings it past Heather to dryer sand.
Heather isn't wearing a jacket but without much thought she follows Naya's lead, her shirt is pulled over her head quickly. She's left in her bra and Naya's blush matches the colour of it.
"Quick, before I change my mind." Heather says, gesturing for Naya to take off her own shirt.
"You're not going to change your mind, Heather." Naya states although she rips her own shirt over her head speedily.
Naya grabs for Heather's shirt and throws both the apparels up with her jacket.
The wind is like ice considering it's not winter and Heather's skin is covered in goosebumps, she frowns playfully as she slips out of her pants, hardly caring that she is just dressed in her bra and panties. Alcohol seems to chip away at her apprehension when it comes to being practically naked.
"Hurry up, quick, its freezing!" Heather edges.
Naya is too busy smirking, a lazy smile that looks tired but also shameless.
"You're cute." She rasps and Heather's cheeks ignite in a fiery flame of heat at the compliment.
"Stop staring!"
"It's too dark to even see properly anyway," Naya shrugs, her smirk doesn't disappear.
"I can feel your eyes on me, stop it. Look away or something, or like, take off your pants too."
"This is moving quickly."
"I meant so we can get in the water."
"I know." Naya chuckles, "I'm teasing you."
Heather huffs around her own smile and her blush grows, painting her neck a soft pink. She crosses her arms to keep from shivering but Naya grabs her upper arm suddenly, causing Heather to flinch from how warm the actresses' skin is. Compared to her own skin anyway.
Naya tugs Heather's arm towards her, effectively uncrossing the girls' arms.
"I'm cold, Naya." Heather drones trying to reclaim her arm back.
Naya doesn't let her, "I can see that from the goosebumps. You know that the water is going to be colder right?" The smirk is back.
"Of course, but after a while we'll warm up because we'll be, like, out of the wind." Heather explains.
"But we'll be in freezing water."
"But we'll be warmer."
Naya chuckles, letting go of Heather's arm to step back. "Your logic makes no sense."
"So is your face."
"God you're a dork."
"Take your pants off already. I'm freezing my arse off."
Naya giggles and with a small shake of her hips she slides her jeans down her thighs, revealing tanned flesh underneath. It's a sight that has Heather looking away and then back again, and then away and then finally she just unabashedly stares.
Naya quirks an eyebrow at the leering, "now who's staring?" She asks before gathering her jeans and tossing them behind Heather.
Heather just shrugs, "got a good view."
"Still cold?"
"Decidedly not." She smiles when she hears Naya respond with a hearty laugh and she forces herself to tear her eyes from the perfect legs in front of her, "you go first." She directs, pointing at the dark ocean behind Naya.
Naya looks back briefly before she kicks her legs out and shakes them one by one, "warm up first, I'm running in." She explains.
Heather scoffs in a friendly manner, "of course you are."
-ooo-
"Shit!" Heather screams. "Naya, you're going too far out. It's too cold! I can't even," Another wave crashes against her waist and chest and Heather loses her breath. "Shit!"
"Stop swearing!" Naya screams back, she's hardly heard over the loud waves and wind. She is in up to her shoulders, surrounded by the black looking water that isn't half as cold as it was when she first waded in. She has her back facing the waves and is looking at Heather, Heather who is currently staggering around in the dark and waist deep water.
"This was a bad idea," the dancer yells back, squealing when another ice cold wave hits her torso. She turns sideways in an attempt to curl away from the cold lashings.
Naya smoothly allows her body to be lifted by the wave before she replies, "Come out further and the waves aren't so big. They're breaking right where you are."
Heather gets hits by the wave that had previously glided past Naya and she gasps roughly, her arms wrapping around her waist to keep some sort of warmth near her body.
"I wanna go back to the beach." She tells.
Naya is lifted by another wave gently. It really was peaceful once you got past the breaking waves, she just wish Heather would listen to her. "Stop being a sook, just keep walking towards me."
"I'll drown!" Heather dramatically protests. Although despite her words she takes a few hesitant steps further, feeling the sand below with her bare feet to keep herself steady.
She gets another few steps closer when a violent wave hits her, it's so cold that she involuntarily breathes in and salty water floods her mouth and nose. The cold slap of water hitting her chest and neck and a good portion of her face is almost painful and immediately Heather loses her balance. It probably has something to do with her intoxicated state, her lack of balance that is, because as a dancer Heather normally has perfect stability.
Her legs buckle and she feels her hair floating about her face. She's under the water.
She must have unconsciously held her breath because it wasn't a strong thought for her to do so. Either way her lungs are filled with cold air and probably a bit of breathed in salt water, and her eyes are shut tight.
The familiar ache in her chest suggests she needs air, but for the life of her Heather can't tell up from down.
Weirdly it's almost peaceful. It's certainly warmer under the water. Still freezing, but without the wind Heather isn't shivering. Bubbles leave her nose without her consent and she realizes her lungs are deflating, the intense urge to suck in air constricts her throat hotly and she pinches her lips together. Fighting away the natural instinct.
She can feel the sand scraping her thigh, scratching her skin annoyingly and somehow one of her hands ends up digging into the wet grains. It dawns on her then that she's closer to the oceans floor than the surface of the water and her need for air seems to double. She opens her eyes and it is pitch black under the water. Scarily so.
She's not panicking exactly, but the unease of her situation is starting to break through her alcohol fuelled mind and it leaves a cold wave rolling in her stomach.
The strange, although not completely redundant thought that a shark might be swimming around her has Heather's panic turning childish. Even the thought that there might be seaweed ready to wrap around her ankles and constrict her makes her heart pound with a needless fear.
Or crabs.
Fish.
Sharp rocks that turn out to be some ungodly sea creature!
A freaking whale!
It's the darkness making her so fearful, the shear fact that she can't see anything but a dull grey in front of her.
Her body is jolted up unexpectedly, and strong hands grip at her upper arms as they pull her to the surface.
Thank God!
She chokes as soon as her head is above the water and her own hands whip out to grab onto something to keep her floating, it turns out to be Naya.
"Famous last words, huh?" Naya is saying, her words are light but from what Heather can tell there is a tightness to her tone. Panic or perhaps relief. She keeps one arm around Heather's waist, hugging her close and the other she has held out to keep herself steady.
Heather coughs around her meek splutters and digs her nails into Naya's shoulders pushing herself up more in an attempt to breathe. "I had it under control." She wheezes out around another cough.
"Looked that way." Naya deadpans, although there is a soft smile behind her eyes. "I thought I would have to get a fishing rod and reel you in, you were under for a while."
Heather laughs sharply, her throat still tight from swallowing a bit of water. "I'm not a fish though am I?"
Naya adjusts her grip more securely before licking her lips, "Could have fooled me with your underwater act." When Heather coughs again, Naya frowns. "You right?"
"I breathed in some water."
"Much?"
"Enough to choke on." States Heather around a supressed cough. She loosens her death grip on Naya's shoulders and tries to relax, her lungs feel heavy and small. "My hair is all wet now." She complains once the urge to cough more surpasses.
Naya hums, "Are you cold still?"
"No, are you?"
"I wasn't really to begin with. I think I'm cold blooded or something." Naya smiles, letting Heather go and allowing the dancer to stand on her own. They are only shoulder deep anyway.
"Thick skinned maybe." Heather suggests.
"No I get offended easily,"
"Nerd."
"Ouch, see, that offended me."
Heather laughs silently, a breathy sound and Naya moves back so she can send a splash of water in Heather's direction. The man made wave hits Heather square in the face and she puffs her cheeks out in shock.
"You can't splash the girl who almost drowned!" She explains unevenly.
Naya slaps her palms against the water again, "I was around, so you wouldn't have drowned."
"Stop!" Another wave hits Heather and she shuts her eyes, slapping at the water viciously in hopes that some of it will get Naya.
Apparently it does because Naya makes a loud noise that is halfway between a squeal and a grunt and then there is a retaliating wave of water smacking into Heather coldly.
She reaches forward blindly and grabs at Naya's wrists, pulling the actress flush against her own body and in turn stopping Naya from splashing her.
Naya is quick to wrap her arms around the back of Heather and it brings them intimately close.
Heather can see Naya's eyes more clearly now and the soft brown is captivating, small flecks of gold break up the dark colour and dance beautifully under the moon light. Naya's eyes are expressive, even when the actress is trying to hide her emotions. There are certain tells and signs that Heather looks for, certain emotions she can place in an instant when looking into Naya's eyes. Other emotions she can't name or even place and it's those ones that make her stomach fill with butterflies.
Naya is beautiful, her expressions are beautiful. Heather could study her face all day every day if it wasn't weird to stare at someone so much.
A gentle wave brushes past the both of them and Heather tucks back Naya's dry hair, studying the different emotion that passes across her eyes.
It's a strong emotion, but Heather can't name it. Her stomach jitters warmly.
"Can we kiss?" She asks in a whisper. She didn't even mean to speak but her words don't break the lull that has fallen over them.
Naya's mouth curves up slightly, "If you want us to."
"You make it sound one-sided."
Naya leans closer, a dark look in her eyes that has Heather's breath escaping her lungs. "It's definitely not one-sided." She assures before she closes what little distance there is between them and covers Heather's lips with her own.
A fire burns all the way to Heather's toes and she can't help but smile into the kiss, an action that has Naya smiling as well before she presses her lips more firmly against Heather's own. Massaging them slowly and matching Heather's slow responses.
Another wave washes by them and the cold water chills Heather's heated skin, it makes a shiver run down her spine and she presses herself closer to Naya. She feels Naya do the same.
"Mm," She pulls back and smiles.
Naya matches it. "Your lips taste salty." She says.
"Yours taste like cherries."
"I had cherry vodka." Naya explains around another smile. "Mark brought it."
Heather's heart drops at the mention of his name and she hates herself for it, Mark is a nice guy. She doesn't want to feel that way about him. It's not warranted.
"Oh." She manages but her smile feels shaky. Naya quirks an eyebrow at the sound.
"Have you tried it?"
Heather hadn't.
She shakes her head and Naya's arms pull back until only her hands are touching Heather's hips. "You should, it's nice." She adds.
Heather shakes her head though. Her body moving when a slow wave hits her, Naya grips her strongly.
"You're shaking." Naya states.
Heather hadn't even realized she was.
"We're in the ocean at night. It's cold."
"It's not that bad."
Heather lowers her eyebrows, "just because you're thick skinned…."
"Cold blooded." Naya corrects needlessly.
"It doesn't mean the rest of us are." Heather finishes. "Plus my hair is wet and the wind is literally freezing my brain."
Naya grins. "Exaggerate much?"
"Maybe."
"Maybe, yes?"
With a light smack Heather hits the side of Naya's neck; pulling away from the actresses' embrace she splashes one last wave in her direction. It falls short but Naya still flinches.
"I'm heading in. My fingers are numb." Heather informs, she's wading towards shore a second later. Clumsily and drunkenly.
Naya trails with a relaxed smirk.
-ooo-
It's midnight.
Heather only knows this because Lea keeps telling people. Or really telling her. Because Lea and herself are pretty much the only ones even hanging around the dying bonfire now, the others are scattered along the beach in various states of drunkenness. Heather can hear Kevin singing somewhere close by and Jenna is screaming about how she dropped her phone on wet sand, she's not sure but Harry might be pacifying the distraught girl.
Dianna went for a stroll a while ago, Heather remembers that because she had jokingly texted the actress and said everyone had gone home. Dianna had yet to reply.
"Where's Naya?" Heather groans from her position on the ground. She is lying on the large blanket Mark had put down earlier, on her back.
Lea sits in a fold up chair a few feet away, inelegantly slurping from her plastic cup. The clear sides show the red liquid of what Heather thinks is cherry vodka.
They're both drunk. Both flushed pink from all the alcohol and both unable to really care that they only have each other for company.
Except that Heather is totally confused as to where Naya has gone.
"Where is she?" Lea mumbles in reply, giggling into her cup.
Heather pops her lips. "Where's Naya?" She asks again, her mouth feels numb and tastes like the beer she has just finished.
Lea gulps down a mouthful of her vodka, "Where is she though?"
"What?"
"Naya."
"I know, I-I was asking you." Heather explains, she's watching the stars above her blur and distort.
Lea giggles and hums simultaneously. "Not a clue. Not one, isn't that just so funny?"
Laughing at really nothing, Heather rolls onto her side lazily. Her hair is a mess and bits of sand sticks to the still drying strands. "You're not making any sense. Missy." She huffs, her stomach is burning but she's still trying to reach for another beer. The glass bottle sits just out of her reach and she pouts disappointedly.
"I'm drunk!" Lea exclaims proudly. "So drunk, tonight!"
"Shhh," Heather shushes with a laugh; she squashes her own hands over her mouth to signal to Lea.
"Shhh," Mimics Lea.
"Serious note, hmm, for a sec." Heather gabbles, "Serious note…, where's Naya?" She chuckles.
"I just told you I-I don't know… 'member, not a clue." Lea is taking a loud sip from her drink and then Heather's phone that is resting beside her sand covered head dings musically.
She pats around for it and brings it close to her face, squinting at the bright screen. It's a message from Dianna.
Di: I can still see the bonfire, you guys haven't left. :)
Heather frowns at Dianna's reply to her earlier sent joke that they were gone. She had wanted to trick Dianna into thinking no one was around. Stupid fire.
"We should put out this fire…." She mumbles absently as she taps her phone drunkenly, typing in her reply.
Lea's sharp laugh makes her jump.
Hemo: you so smrt ;) seen nayaaa?
She rolls back onto her back after she's sent her message and places her phone on top of her forehead precariously. It wobbles unbalanced.
Lea is humming a second later. Loudly.
Heather doesn't mind, mainly because in her foggy mind all she is really focusing on is ways to put out the fire, and also if it's worth counting the stars she is looking at.
Her phone lighting up blinds her and Heather snatches the device from her head to look at the message.
Di: No haven't seen her. Are you looking for her?
Obvious question, Heather thinks. Her reply isn't exactly coherent though.
Hemo: cnting the stars!1 lea is wit mee.
She groans from the concentration it takes to write the message and carelessly throws her phone towards her feet as she sits up, her head spins and she groans again.
"Gunna look for Naya," she tells Lea as she stands shockingly unsteadily. She nudges her phone with the toe of her bare foot. "You talk if Di texts again, Mm yeah?" God she honestly cannot talk properly.
Lea must understand her though because she nods. "Gotcha."
Stumbling off the blanket and onto the sand, Heather makes her way down the beach. It's dark. It's cold. And Kevin is still singing from somewhere.
She walks about five hundred meters from Lea when she hears the familiar voice of Naya, she's laughing, and someone else is laughing with her. A guy. Heather quickens her pace until she can see Naya sitting on a small sand dune, wrapped in her jacket and smiling at Mark.
Mark.
There's that cold feeling in Heather's stomach again.
Mark is holding a bottle of alcohol and sits closely next to Naya, leaning in to say something around thick lips. He is smiling as well but his laugh is quieter than what Naya's is.
Heather grits her teeth; grinding them together.
Naya looks so happy and so content and Heather hates that it's not her making the actress feel that way. It's a horrible thought to have, a selfish one too. But she can't help it. She's drunk. She's dizzy. And Naya is awfully close to Mark. So close she's now resting her head on his shoulder.
What if Lea was right about them dating?
No.
No!
It was just a rumour.
But Naya is laughing and Mark is touching her knee and Heather wants to cry…and God she needs to get a hold of herself.
She shakes her head and attempts a rough laugh to appease her worries but then Mark wraps his arm around Naya's shoulder and any control Heather has leaves her instantly.
It's because she's drunk. She tells herself.
It's because she has had far too many drinks tonight and not enough food or water in between them, she keeps telling herself that.
It's because she's drunk that Heather is currently storming up to Naya and Mark in a huff, her jaw clenched and fists balled.
She's not an irrational person, she really isn't. But it's either confront or cry. And crying would mean emotions; emotions would mean complications and complications scares Naya. So Heather opts for a confrontation. Because she's okay with only feeling random anger and unneeded jealously.
It's simple.
Anger is always simple.
"Hey!" She shouts and it sounds like a greeting instead of something that's meant to startle Mark.
Both Naya and Mark glance up and Heather sees the confusion in both their eyes. She ignores it and staggers to a stop a meter from them.
"Get up." She demands Mark. Again it sounds friendly, or at the very least polite. She's scowling though so that's something and Naya must notice because a second later she is standing right in front of Heather.
Heather blinks at the sudden movement.
"What's wrong?" Naya is asking her quietly. A concerned frown on her face.
Heather looks past her and at Mark, who despite her demand is still sitting down. "Can you get up?" She roughly asks and when Mark just stares at her she huffs. "Stand up for a second."
"Heather?" Naya pushes. She grabs at Heather's elbow softly. "What happened?"
"Nothing." Heather snaps. Naya visibly flinches.
"She's drunk," States Mark annoyingly. Well, annoyingly to Heather anyway. She scrunches her nose up and mouths his words lightly under her breath, mocking him.
It's an immature move on her part.
Naya turns to look at a smirking Mark. "I got that." She notes.
"Don't smirk!" Heather slurs, pointing her finger when Mark keeps grinning. Nothing is amusing. Why is he smiling? She's sad and angry, and he has no right to be smiling.
"Whoa, are you crying?" Mark questions loudly.
Heather smacks her palm against her face to wipe her cheeks clumsily. There are no tears, so she must just have glassy eyes or something. Naya's grip on her elbow is released and then Heather sees that Mark is now in front of her as well. She doesn't want him to be standing up now. He's too tall. It kind of ruins her whole plan of confrontation when she's shorter than him and drunker than him.
She looks to the ground, staring at the sand that covers her toes.
She feels sick and tired but the anger boiling in her stomach burns more painfully than she wants to admit, so she swallows down the urge to throw up and shuts her eyes.
When Mark tries to tap her shoulder Heather snaps her head up and without much thought she smacks his hand away forcefully.
He's quick to step back. "Relax!"
"Heather." Naya breathes straight after Mark, her hand is back on Heather's elbow and she's stepping closer so that she is directly facing Heather. Mark steps back a second time. "Tell me what's wrong." She pleads firmly and her face contorts into a worried frown.
Heather doesn't know what to say so she shrugs, "I wanna t-talk with you…." She slurs. "Without Mark."
Mark looks uncomfortable.
"Okay." Naya says with a soft reassurance, she's attempting a smile but Heather doesn't return it. "That's okay. We'll go somewhere quiet, alright?"
Heather nods, her cheeks are pink and eyes unfocused. She reaches for Naya needily and clumsily pulls her in for an unplanned hug. It's a possessive embrace but also a desperate one and Heather is relieved when Naya returns it. Warm arms snake around her and a calming hand runs up and down her back.
Heather's not shy in hiding her face in the crook of Naya's neck, loosing herself in the familiar smell and warmth.
She's so tired.
She just wants to hold Naya forever. She doesn't want to let her go.
"Maybe I'll just head back up the beach." Mark informs around a confused exhale.
Heather feels Naya nod strongly.
"Want me to bring back some water?" He adds as an afterthought.
This time Naya shakes her head, "No, I'll take care of her. It's fine. Thanks though."
"Mm, you'll take care of me?" Heather slurs quietly.
It's a nice thought she has to admit.
Naya's grip around her tightens, "Of course, you drunken mess. Now tell me what's wrong? Please."
"Tired."
"That's not it." Naya says seriously.
"No, but 'm still tired." Heather informs. She's quite certain she is resting most her weight on Naya because her legs are buckling; the anger in her stomach isn't so bad anymore. It's still there, but now that Mark has gone away, it's less. Now she's just feeling unsettled and slightly embarrassed.
"I'm going to drop you if you keep leaning on me." Naya grunts.
Heather pouts against Naya's neck, "so much for looking after me."
There's a soft laugh from Naya and then Heather can feel her body being jolted up, adjusted.
"You were not this drunk when I saw you last." Naya notes, her laughter is still in her words even if they hold a serious edge. "Are you pretending to be wasted so I'll hug you?"
Scoffing out a laugh of her own, Heather tightens her hold around Naya. "I don't – don't need to be drunk to get you, to get you to hug me. Silly."
"That's true,"
"Annnnd, and I'm also not ev -…. Do you know what's weird?" Heather asks around a noticeable slur. She feels Naya adjusting her grip again.
"What's that?" She hushes.
Heather breathes out, "normally you're more'r drunk than me." She sucks in a lungful of air, feeling dizzy. "I win."
"I think the one left standing wins." Naya says simply, "and at the moment, HeMo, you're not really standing."
Heather is jolted again and she realizes she's not even holding herself up anymore. In fact Naya is the only thing stopping her from touching the ground. She should thank her. Friends thank friends for helping each other out.
"M'thanks."
"For what?"
Heather doesn't respond. Mainly because she suddenly feels like she is on a ship and the strange sensation has her stomach rolling uncomfortably. It's such an unpleasant feeling that it washes away whatever anger there is left and her whole thoughts revolve around the running commentary of, 'I'm going to vomit or cough or maybe dry heave' she's still stuck on the repeated mantra when Naya speaks again.
"I'm going to sit you on the sand," She moves, only a little, Heather thinks it's probably just a step. But the motion curls throughout Heather's body like someone is shaking her like a salt shaker.
Ugh, salt…tequila.
The thought of alcohol just adds to her growing nausea.
"Stop moving." She stresses in a groggy voice.
Naya does. Promptly.
"I need to sit you down though." She explains in a calm voice, Heather is adjusted again and she has to swallow back the urge to dry heave.
Lovely.
"Just throw me down…. Can't – just, stop movin'. Drop me or something."
That seems like a good idea. If she is dropped it'll be quick and sudden, she won't have time to feel sick from the motion.
Naya chuckles, "I'm not dropping you, Heather. But I do need to put you down, 'cause you are starting to weigh a ton." Without any warning, not that there needs to be, Naya moves again and Heather finds her knees hitting the sand. She falls sideways and ends up sitting on her left thigh, her arms still around Naya.
"Touch down."
"Now let me go so I can sit with you." Naya instructs.
Heather does and clumsily she falls onto her back, laughing silently at her position. She can feel the sand getting caught in her hair although she honestly can't bring herself to care that much. Naya is pulling on her arm to get her to sit up a moment later.
"Are you serious right now?" She breathes, "How much have you had to drink?"
Like Heather can remember.
Sitting up slowly, or really, being dragged into a sitting position slowly. Heather shakes her head. "A little."
"A lot, maybe?" Naya smirks.
Heather shrugs, "A lot, then."
"Tell me what's wrong." Pushes Naya, she is serious all of the sudden. She's kneeling in front of Heather and her hands dig into the sand below.
"I told you, m'tired."
"That's not why you stormed over to Mark and me."
At the mention of the name Mark, Heather cringes. Whether out of embarrassment or anger she can't tell.
Naya leans closer, "you were angry."
"Captain obvious,"
"It was like you wanted to fight him or something." Naya continues, ignoring Heather's words. "Why were you angry?"
"Ask him."
"Does he know?"
"No."
Naya lifts one hand to push back Heather's hair, tucking it behind her ear swiftly. "Then why should I ask him?" She quietly questions.
Talking to a drunk Heather was confusing.
Heather breathes out and scrunches her face up in a sad looking pout, "you guys were sitting really close, I interrupted s-something didn't I?"
"What does that mean?" Naya's voice is gentle but there is an edge behind it, almost as though she's just predicated where the conversation is going.
Drawing a circle in the sand lazily, Heather looks down. "I don't want you sitting with him."
She has no right to demand that, but she still is.
Naya doesn't respond.
"I heard the rumour." Heather adds.
"What rumour?"
"I think you m'know."
"I don't." Naya informs, she's grabbing at Heather's hand a moment later. Stopping her from drawing circles. "Tell me."
"The rumour?"
"Yes." When Heather doesn't reply, Naya squeezes her hand strongly. "Who told you the rumour then?"
Slumping forward and almost smacking into Naya, Heather pinches her lips together in thought. "A little birdy."
"I'm serious, HeMo."
"Lea."
"Lea?"
"That's what I said, Mmhm." She leans closer again so that she's practically face to face with Naya and she grins lazily, "do you not know the rumour 'cause it's true?"
"I don't understand." Naya informs softly, she looks confused and concerned and her eyes run over Heather's face and body quickly. Like she is accessing her.
Heather pulls her hand away from Naya's grip and goes back to drawing circles in the sand, "if the rumour is true than you wouldn't think, you wouldn't think it was a rumour…."
Naya looks even more confused, "are you upset because of the rumour?"
Nodding, Heather looks away. The anger is back but there is also a sadness she can't quite place, it makes her heart ache.
"Is it a rumour about you?" Naya asks after a second of silence.
Heather huffs a laugh, "it's about you." She jabs her finger at the sand violently, "and Mark."
"Mark?"
Heather almost hates how naïve Naya sounds. She's being stupid though. She's overreacting. She is making a fool out of herself and she can't care less.
Alcohol probably has a lot to do with her carelessness though, and if she thinks about it also her irrational anger towards Mark. Kind-hearted Mark. She almost wants to apologize and just curl into a ball and sleep away her confusing thoughts. Her confusing emotions. She's thinking like Naya does, she's making things complicated instead of simple and her alcohol addled mind can't comprehend anything beyond the possessive anger scratching at her stomach, and dejected sadness making her chest cold.
Actions are simple. She should just make big gestures and maybe Naya will understand what she is on about.
Flicking at the sand, Heather grits her teeth. "Mark's nice," She says mournfully. "Seeing you together -…. He's a good kisser huh? Not that I know, cause I've not kissed him. But you have, before…, you and him when you guys were together. Mark's nice. He's nice isn't he? Like, he's a big softie really. You guys, you both…. 'Uh don't know." She flops her head into a bow and flattens her palm against the sand, curling her fingers into the grains. "You would both make really sexy babies."
"Heather." Naya says firmly. Her hands grab at Heather's shoulders and she attempts to make eye contact, Heather tries to wiggle free. "Stop. What are you talking about?"
"The rumour." Heather grinds out.
Naya exhales.
"Tell me what the rumour is."
Sighing, Heather wiggles more, trying to loosen Naya's grip. When it fails she grabs the actresses' wrists with both hands. "You and Mark are apparently dating again." She mumbles.
Naya doesn't react in anyway, well she does. But it's just a tiny frown; one of thought. "And you believed it?" She sounds almost offended.
"He's a nice guy." Heather states.
Nice guys always win in the end.
"That doesn't mean we're dating though." Naya says more firmly.
"He likes you though, I can see it. The way he l-looks at you like it's obvious." The jealously is back and Heather's certain Naya can hear it in her tone. She tries to pull back from Naya's hands but to no avail.
"Stop moving, you're going to hurt yourself." Naya chides.
Heather keeps shifting, "I'm sitting on the ground, s'cool." She tugs on Naya's wrists clumsily and finally Naya lets go, opting to instead shuffle closer.
"The rumour's not true, HeMo." Naya calmly states.
Heather's reply is a bit more accusatory. "Isn't it?" When Naya looks disappointed Heather shakes her head, "I get it. He's a nice guy." She repeats slowly, "Am I a nice girl?"
Naya is watching her with a look that Heather wants to hide from, and the actress stands abruptly. She grabs Heather's upper arm decisively and tugs on the blonde.
"I need you to stand up." Her voice is firm, tense.
Heather resists, looking up at Naya with glossy eyes. "Mark's a nice guy."
"Stand up."
"Don't you think?"
"Heather. Stand up." Naya demands. She tugs more strongly on Heather's arm but the dancer is barely paying attention.
"I'm nice too though." Heather quietly mumbles.
With a half annoyed, half caring sigh Naya lets go of Heather and crouches down. A hand smooths down Heather's sandy hair quickly, and with another exhale Naya licks her lips. "You're a nice girl, HeMo." She assures in a raspy tone, Heather looks to her tiredly. "You're a nice girl, okay?"
With a nod, Heather sways sideways. "But you like Mark better right?"
Naya is frowning sadly at Heather, the kind of frown that holds concern as well as pity. "Will you come back to my apartment with me?" She asks in a whisper.
Heather allows her heavy body to fall forward, and she rests her head on Naya's shoulder. "Yes."
"Thank you." Naya hushes, "I just need to get someone to help us out okay? Because you're about as steady on your feet as bambi and I can't carry you all the way up the beach on my own." She pulls back from Heather slowly, pushing more hair behind the dancer's ear affectionately.
"Not Mark." Heather slurs quietly. "Don't get Mark to help."
With a small pacifying smile, Naya leans forward to place a quick kiss to Heather's forehead. "Not Mark." She assures before standing up, "I'll be right back."
A/N: Next update may take a bit longer as I've been sick and haven't had time to write.
:)
TBC