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: Nope.
A/N: The Hidden Feeling first off your review was so nice, so thank you so much! And to everyone else who left a review, I am so, so happy that you did :) They truly mean a lot.
-ooo-
It's the next day on set that Naya finds herself in the line of subtle looks, and knowing smiles. And she just knows the other cast members have read the script.
It's a cold morning and Naya's black coat hugs her fittingly as she thunders across set. So she's late, sue her. She spent the better half of her night googling herself, and then googling Heather. Which if she's honest she was weirdly disappointed that there were in fact no nudes of the dancer, but also a little relieved. Of course, Heather had been joking, but Naya's like some damn cat… curious as fuck.
Oh shit! The kitten!
She forgot to feed the kitten! Backtrack, backtrack!
Spinning on her heels, Naya does a 180 twirl that Heather and Harry would both be proud of and then she slow jogs it towards her trailer. She needs her car keys and an extra hour. Maybe she could ask one of the crew to go to her house and feed the kitten. No. No. That would be highly unprofessional. And Naya would not feel right about it. Besides she lives close by, she'll just hurry.
God! How could she have forgotten to feed the kitten?
Stupid!
Stupid!
"Stupid!" Her palms smack the door of her trailer with a thud and she reaches for the handle. "So fucking stupid…." She rips the door open and it whines in protest, and a small part of Naya feels like she just violated the damn thing. So with a reckless breath in she bursts into her trailer.
The instant she sees Heather and Dianna however her lungs empty with a small 'oh' and she comes to an abrupt stop.
Heather's the first to smile, completely unaffected by Naya's quick entrance, and then Dianna sends her one.
Naya ignores the sound her trailer door makes as it thuds shut. She settles for a confused gape, and another exhale. "What are you doing?" She asks. It sounds accusing and Heather's head twitches back at the tone.
"Talking…." She offers.
Internal panic aside, because Dianna fucking knows about them and she's talking to Heather, Naya shakes her head.
"That's not what I meant. You're both in my trailer."
This time Dianna twitches her head back. Although compared to Heather's, hers looks more like she's tilting her head up than anything else. "Are we not allowed to be in your trailer?" She questions so politely it kind of annoys Naya's disconcerted morning haze she's always in when she hasn't had caffeine.
"It's just weird that you are both here when I'm not. Like do you always hang out in my trailer when it's empty?"
"It wouldn't be empty if we were hanging out in it." Heather says simply. She's being a smartarse.
Naya ignores it. And Dianna smooths down her dress, or really, Quinn's dress. She's in costume already. Naya hasn't even made it to make up. Although Heather isn't in character either, so maybe Quinn has other scenes before them or something. Either that or both herself and Heather are extremely unprofessional and late.
When nobody says anything else, Naya's eyes go wide. "Oh my God, you guys totally just hang out in my trailer together don't you?"
Heather's smile is amused, "No, I mean we could. Because it's so much nicer than Dianna's, and Lea always has her door locked for some reason."
"She runs vocals in her spare time." Dianna interjects.
Heather looks to her, "Really? That's why she has her door locked? I thought she was like sleeping, you know?"
"She just sits and sings and drinks lemon and honey tea." Dianna adds and her smile grows at Heather's bafflement.
"Legit?" Heather asks.
Dianna gives her an amused look and nods, "absolutely."
"Ok. Can we not talk about Lea's vocal runs and warm ups, because I'm confused –"
"You're always confused." Heather interrupts with a cheeky grin. Naya holds her hand up abruptly.
"I'm confused as to why you are both in my trailer, when I'm not even here."
"Oh no, Dianna!" Heather says around a mock gasp. Dianna practically looks to her with so much genuine worry, Naya's a little thrown. Heather covers her heart. "Naya's not here, she doesn't exist!"
God! Heather could be cheesy sometimes!
Naya grits her teeth and then Dianna's cottoning on, and her eyes glance to Naya mockingly as she squints.
"Then who are we talking to? If Naya's not here that is."
Oh great. Now Dianna is playing along. Their stupid mocking didn't even make sense!
Heather follows Dianna's squint, and peers at Naya like she can see through her. "An imposter?" She suggests. Her head tilts and she takes a step forward, mocking mistrust of Naya.
Naya looks at her incredulously, "seriously? You're not even being funny. I meant that before I came in you were both in here, talking, and I wasn't around." She snaps.
Heather's smile drops a little. "Hey, relax." She hushes. Her concern makes Naya feel edgy because Dianna is staring at them both and Heather's voice sounds intimate somehow. "I was just being stupid." She frowns apologetically and Naya feels like an idiot for making Heather's mood drop.
She didn't even mean to sound so upset. She is just tired, and deprived of caffeine and worried for Heather's hungry kitten. And maybe super paranoid about Dianna hanging around Heather. Which even she can see is irrelevant because Dianna is Heather's friend as well, and if she wants to ask Heather about well, stuff. Then she can do so.
"No, look. I'm sorry." Naya says quickly. Heather's little frown doesn't disappear so Naya steps into her personal bubble with a soft smile, "I guess I'm having a bad morning. I didn't mean to be rude. I just forgot to do something really important before I left home, and now I'm late and disorganized." She explains.
Heather tilts her head, "what did you forget to do?"
"Nothing." Naya's pride is sometimes a hindrance. "I mean. It doesn't matter. I'll fix it anyway. But I need to go home real quick, so I'm going to need you to cover for me."
"We're filming in like forty minutes, Naya." Dianna's voice softly reminds.
Naya nods her way and then focuses on Heather's intent pout. "Can you cover for me?"
A cheeky grin curves Heather's lips. "That's a big ask. What do I get if I do?"
So many things cross Naya's mind in an instant and they are all M rated. Maybe Heather can tell because the little look she gives Naya is priceless.
Naya is thankful Dianna can't see it.
"I'll buy you coffee." Naya suggests.
Heather crinkles her nose. "You'd get more enjoyment from that then I would." She tells seriously.
Naya smirks. "Maybe. But come on, please cover for me."
"What do I get?" Heather asks again.
Naya huffs; looking dubiously at Heather. "Coffee…, I just said that."
"I'm going to need more of an incentive than that, Nay."
"It doesn't get any better than coffee."
"Use your imagination." Heather says. Naya thinks she might blanch a little because her face feels cold all of the sudden, and then Heather is backtracking casually. "Like, say, I don't know… a coffee and a bagel."
Naya lowers her eyebrows. "You want a bagel?"
"Amongst other things," Heather's tongue wets her lips and she gives Naya a devilish smirk. Again Naya is thankful that Dianna is standing behind and can't see Heather's face. "I'll settle for a bagel for now though."
"Maybe that's all you'll get." Naya replies, her face is neutral because Dianna is watching her like a hungry vulture. But her flirting is still picked up by Heather and the blonde grins wickedly.
"Don't play hard to get, Naya." She chastises.
Naya nudges her foot forward until the toe of her shoe hits Heather's. "I like games though."
Heather licks her lips quickly. "What kind of games?" She rasps.
The topic just went from innocent flirting to bedroom eyes in a second, and Naya feels her throat going dry as her face flushes with a hot blush.
Dianna swoops in like the vulture she is a second later, and steps next to Heather as she stares at the blonde. One eyebrow perfectly raised in silent curiosity. "How much more suggestive could you get, hmm?" She inquires. Her grin is hardly suppressed, but Heather, the champ she is just shrugs noncommittally.
"I was just asking for a bagel." She tells innocently.
Dianna hums and Naya quickly talks over anything the shorter blonde might have been going to say.
"I'll get you a bagel, Heather. Just cover for me. And Dianna I'm getting you one too, you vulture."
She grabs her car keys and turns to leave, ignoring how utterly confused both Dianna and Heather are at her final words. However when she reaches to open her door, it doesn't comply.
She tugs again.
And again.
Nothing.
"Shit."
"What?" Dianna's voice sounds sharp and Naya turns to face the two blondes.
"I can't open the door." She explains with the horror one might have if they were in a horror film and about to die.
Heather's face blanches of all colour promptly and Naya looks away as she forcefully pulls on the doorhandle again.
"I can't open the door." She repeats.
"Pull it harder." Dianna's unhelpful suggestion interjects.
From somewhere in the corner of the trailer Naya can hear Heather's meekly whispered, "The air is getting thinner." And she turns around like a whip to stop that train of thought Heather is going down, because the moment is all too familiar and Naya doesn't want Heather panicking. However sometime during her and Dianna's struggles to free themselves, Naya finds herself blindly overtaken by some panicked force that has her screaming moronically at the stubborn door.
"I have to feed the kitten!"
. . .
"Naya, you forgot to feed our cat?"
-ooo-
Fifteen minutes later. After a lot of effort on Naya's part to simultaneously calm Heather and shoulder-force her way out of her trailer, Naya finds herself freed.
She promises Heather a bagel, reassuringly gives her a smile and ignores Dianna's not-so-subtle eyebrow wriggling. Then with the calm of an expert actress, she marches to her car to go home and feed Heather's kitten.
Because she's a professional, dammit!
She also needs to get her door fixed.
-ooo-
It's around midday when Naya finds herself sauntering up to Ryan in the crafts rooms. Why he is in the room, Naya isn't completely sure. But hey, maybe the man is simply hungry. Although normally Ryan eats other places and not at the communal eatery like the cast does. Which honestly, Naya's a little thankful for. Because he is the producer; their boss and having lunch with your boss is awkward, no matter what the setting.
Either way she finds him looking over the array of food with a frown. His signature yellow cap is bright against the rather dull lighting and Naya sidles up as casually as she possibly can.
She ignores how horribly awkward her face must look, and instead focuses on a polite nod in greeting.
He returns it.
Time for some speech! "Long day…." Her voice is strong and thankfully she sounds off-the-cuff. But then she realizes that it sounds like she is complaining. And making complaints to her superiors probably isn't what actresses are meant to do. Naya grimaces.
But Ryan is quick to answer her words with a sharp nod. "Some days just never end." He looks to her and simply stares. It's not an intimidating look by any means. But with everything Ryan Murphy does, there's a grander tone to his gaze. A more self-governing, superior look, that Naya wishes she could master.
She nods back and Ryan looks away from her and back at the food.
"Did you want to ask me something?" There's that superiority again. His tone is practically laced in it.
Naya breathes in, "actually, uh, I did want to talk to you about next week's script." She states.
Ryan purses his lips in thought, lifts his chin and then settles his gaze back on Naya evenly. Grey eyes wait for her to continue with a patience that is steely.
Naya fumbles inaudibly until her words work again, she swallows. "There's a line between Brittany and Santana that I'm a little confused about."
Ryan's adams apple moves around his own swallow and then he turns his body so that he is completely facing Naya. "You're referring to the phone scene I presume."
Naya bobs her head in confirmation.
"Does Brittany not know what sex means? Or is she confused in some way? Because the scene reads and implies that she and Santana have had some type of friends-with-benefits relationship."
Ryan hums with a simple press of his lips and then he twitches his eyebrows, it could come across as arrogant but surprisingly it doesn't. "It reads how it's intended." He explains. "Brittany knows what sex means. She and Santana have had sex. Which is why Brittany refers to her when talking."
"It's not some throwaway line?" Naya asks. Ryan doesn't answer her right away so she continues. "I don't think it should be just a throwaway line." It's her opinion and she wants it known.
Ryan doesn't seem fazed and he lifts his chin again, setting his jaw. "It's funny you say that actually, because Heather came by earlier with questions of her own. It's seems you are both generally interested in what this line could mean." He gives her a smile. It's tight lipped and thin, but still responsive. "It's not a throwaway line if you don't want it to be."
Naya's a little stunned. Had Ryan just given her the option and choice of possibly choosing how her character developed? She really wants to fight for the storyline simply because it's not something to joke about. It is something that should be taken seriously and given screen time and honestly she kind of really wants to sink her teeth into such a rare opportunity of portraying that kind of relationship between two friends.
She's still thinking when Ryan clears his throat to speak.
"Give it some thought. Talk to Heather if you would like and we'll see where things progress from there."
All Naya can do is nod and then Ryan is strolling away as he adjusts his ridiculously bright cap, he didn't even get anything to eat.
-ooo-
"Hello!" Lea says as she strides over to Heather with a large smile, "Did you read the script? How's the kitten? Do you want to share my fruit with me?" She asks, quickly.
Heather just smiles back until Lea stops directly in front of her. "Yes, good, and no thanks." She answers.
Lea takes a breath, holds up her plastic bowl of mixed fruit and wobbles it a little. "Are you absolutely sure? I had a salad earlier so I'm not as hungry as I thought."
"I'm sure."
"Okay. So you read the script then?"
"Uh huh, sure did."
Lea nods, pleased. "And?!"
"And…?"
"What did you think?" She inquires. Her eyes go wide with excitement. "Honest opinions!"
Heather, despite herself, gives a small laugh that sounds tight and then she swallows. Her shoulders shrug on their own accord. "I don't know."
Lea looks disappointed, "you've got no thoughts on what this could mean for Brittany's storyline?" There's a beat, and then Lea looks mortified. "Are you nervous about what the line could mean?"
"No." Heather's abrupt reply does little to cover up how awkward she's being. It's not that she doesn't like the fact that Brittany and Santana might get a bigger role story wise, it's just that, well, Heather's not an actor. She dances.
Sure, she has taken a few acting classes. But not the kind that tells her how to 'act' being in love with her best friend. Because sometimes she thinks there wouldn't be much acting going on. It's a thought that kind of worms its way into her head more often than she would like.
"I just don't know if I can act… in love properly." She admits.
Lea raises her eyebrows slowly like she's seeing something Heather isn't. "No one said anything about love." She says softly, "The script is vague and the line is even vaguer. I think what the writers are trying to express is that Santana and Brittany have a relationship that is close; friendlier than most friends. If you catch my drift." She tries for a wink but it doesn't work out and Heather dips her chin.
"I do. And that's what I meant. I just don't think I can act it."
"Honestly, just be yourself." Lea informs. Heather looks up and Lea nods as if to confirm her own words. "Where do you think the writers got the idea of Brittany and Santana being together?"
There's an alarm that goes off in Heather's head and it's so loud she's sure Lea can hear it.
She manages to play it cool, and with a confused frown she tilts her head. "What do you mean?"
Lea picks a piece of fruit from her bowl and pops it into her mouth before she chews it. It's the longest pause Heather has ever had to wait for. Lea is a surprisingly slow eater.
"Sorry," Lea says around another bite, she swallows quickly. "The writers write a lot from the cast's experiences or from what they hear on set." She explains. "They write for our characters, but they also add some things that relate to each of us as individuals. I think it keeps our characters fresh." Lea's smile is large again and Heather's frown becomes thin.
"They thought Naya and I were a couple?" If Heather had blurted that question any louder, she's sure she would have knocked Lea backwards from the sound waves.
Lea doesn't look shocked by the intensity behind Heather's words. In fact she looks like she expected them. Weird.
"Well it is just hearsay; I can't confirm that they did believe you two had something going on. But I'm quite confident that the line came from suspicions on the matter." Lea says.
Heather suddenly can't breathe. "That's not even logical. We're friends. It's like you and Dianna. No one think you're a couple."
"Of course not," Lea's laugh suggests she finds Heather's comparison amusing, and Heather crosses her arm defensively.
"Why is that funny?"
"You're comparing Naya and yourself to Dianna and me, when it's very obvious that you are much closer to Naya then I am with Dianna."
"You live together!" Heather states.
Lea just nods, "And even then you and Naya still have a closer bond. I'm just trying to say that you are both really good friends, that is all. And honestly, Heather, don't worry about how you're going to go with the acting. Like I said, be yourself and it'll be fine."
"I don't think that will work."
"Method acting," Lea suggests with a chirp. "Just relate whatever scene you are doing with an experience in your life that matches the emotion. I do it on occasions."
Heather squints, "but you can cry on cue."
"Yes, but sometimes going back to basics can help set up the scene, emotionally as well as physically. You've got to give it everything!" Lea explains with enthusiasm.
"You're going to need to teach me." Heather states.
"Absolutely," There's a pause and then Lea fishes for another pieces of fruit as she holds it to her lips, "or, you could get Naya to help you with it." Her words are almost suggestive. Almost that is. Because Heather can't tell when Lea is trying to be sassy or when Lea is just being Lea.
That is until Lea speaks again.
"I'm sure she could help you sort through your emotions related to her."
Now that sounded a little too real-life and relevant!
Heather squeaks a laugh, "You mean Brittany's emotions that are related to Santana's?" She tries to correct.
Lea crunches on the apple she has picked and her eyes dance with amusement, "that too." She says and then she is turning swiftly and walking away.
Just like that.
She just strides off Rachel Berry style and leaves Heather with her mouth open and her eyes suspicious.
-ooo-
"Lea knows."
That is the first thing Heather says to Naya when they meet in the car park that night. It's actually the first time they've gotten a chance alone together all day, so Naya was expecting less of Lea's name and more of Heather's lips.
She frowns and pulls her keys from her handbag. "Lea knows what?"
"Lea knows." Heather stresses. Her scrunchy face is cute, Naya decides.
"I know, but what does she know?" She asks, she holds her keys up as if to show Heather she found them, and then she reaches out for Heather with her free hand.
Heather doesn't take her hand. She just walks straight into Naya's offered affection and wraps her arms around her in a hug.
Although slightly surprised by the gesture, Naya is quick to return the embrace.
Heather breathes out, "Lea knows about us I think." She tells quietly.
Naya just hums. "This feels like a familiar conversation." She jokes and with her hand not holding her keys, she lightly digs her nails into Heather's side.
Heather pulls back with a grin. Her eyes shine with laughter. "I missed you today." She informs honestly.
"We were in every scene together." Naya states, although her smile shows easily.
Heather rolls her eyes, "I meant, I missed being alone with you. It's kind of hard to have a conversation when Cory keeps taking photos of everyone."
Naya's lips curl into a playful smirk. "And by conversation you mean kissing, right?" It's a joke, but Heather looks completely serious.
"Yes." Heather answers and Naya wants to kiss away her serious pout. But then Heather's lips twitch and she breaks into a goofy smile. "I'm coming over to your place tonight, if that's alright? I want to see Zach." She adds.
Naya couldn't be more confused. "Zach's never been to my house. Why do you think he'll be there?" She asks slowly.
Heather for a second looks just as confused as Naya and then she shakes her head, "Not Zach." She says around a grin, "Zach." She exclaims in a different tone.
"I'm not following."
"The kitten."
Naya frowns, "you named him without me? And you named him Zach?"
"It just came to me today. I thought it was funny." Heather appeases. "Did you want to rename him? We can google cat names if you'd like, and chose together."
"No, it's fine. I don't want to google with you."
"That sounded sexual, Naya."
"You have the dirtiest mind."
Heather wiggles her eyebrows. "Only for you."
"I appreciate it." Naya replies. Her smile is so wide it actually kind of hurts. But it's so hard not to smile with Heather around. Naya badly suppresses a giggle and turns to her car, the lights flash as it is unlocked. "Are you coming with me –?"
"Dirty."
"I didn't finish. Are you coming with me now? Or are you dropping by later?"
"Later." Heather answers. "I need to get changed, plus Ash wants my opinion on a song she's going to use in her video."
Naya nods and goes to undo her car door when Heather's arms wrap around her from behind. A kiss is placed to her neck and Naya leans into the touch, accepting Heather affection eagerly as her own hands cover Heather's.
"It's rude to leave without a proper goodbye." Heather whispers against Naya's skin, she kisses the spot her breath hit a moment later and Naya's smile grows soft.
"Mm, I guess I should apologize then." Turning in Heather's embrace, Naya's hands find Heather's waist and she presses her own kiss to Heather's jaw. Even in the dim evening light Naya can see the blush crawl across Heather's cheeks, and to the tips of her ears. She smiles at the sight and then places a more serious kiss to Heather's lips.
Heather's responsive little hum has the butterflies in Naya's stomach twirling in circles.
She pulls back, wrapping her arms around Heather as she does.
Heather licks her lips, "apology accepted." She husks.
There's a car door shutting from behind them a moment later, and then Dianna's voice is calling out across the parking spaces; "See you both tomorrow!" Her voice is loud. Intentionally so, and Naya pulls away from Heather slowly to look at Dianna.
She's not actually worried that Dianna saw them, which surprises even herself, but she still has to spot the loudly spoken blonde anyway.
Dianna is in her car with the window down and a thrilled smile fixed firmly on her lips, and then she waves. She just waves in a casual manner and drives off.
It's so normal; Naya almost wishes everyone was as accepting as Dianna.
"She got an eye full." Heather says. Her expression suggests she doesn't know how Naya is going to react; it's one of caution but also reassurance.
Naya shrugs, "it was a good eye full though." She says around a silly smile.
Heather returns it.
"Oh," Naya says, "I talked to Ryan today."
Heathers eyebrows rise with interest. "Me too."
"So you know that the line wasn't just a throwaway then?"
"Yeah, he said you and I should talk about it."
Naya nods, "He said the same to me. How amazing is this though? He's basically letting us decide if we want to have this become something more."
"He still gets final say though." Heather reminds.
It doesn't dampen Naya's smile. "But if we pushed for it hard enough, he'd go for it."
"Do you not hear how sexual you sound?!" Heather's voice comes out high and her chuckle is loud and Naya smacks her arm lightly.
"It's your mind!" She exclaims. "But seriously, I think this is a really good chance for us to explore Santana and Brittany together."
"Again, that sounds dirty." With a smile, Heather shrugs off her laughter and breathes out. "You have to help me with my acting though." She adds around her exhale.
Naya looks confused, "why? There's nothing wrong with your acting."
"I want to be better at it though, especially if things progress with our characters. I want to make it real, you know?"
A soft look passes across Naya features and she nods, "I can give you a few tips when you come over tonight." She states.
Heather hums her approval and thanks before she leans forward and pecks Naya on the lips.
"See you tonight."
Naya nods. "See you tonight." She echoes.
-ooo-
TBC