Author's note: When I was re-reading Taking Chances I felt like I needed a transition before heading over to the next chapter. So i decided on this whole new chapter. :)

"Stop Cory, wait stop"

I tried to hide my laugh very unsuccessfully.

"Sorry Zach" Cory responded but laughing along with me. "I got a little carried away. One more time. Sorry guys" Cory added looking over at Jenna, Chris, Amber and Kevin.

But the four of them were too busy holding their own laughter. Today was one of those long days at work and we had already been yelled at once. After working for long hours we had gone into silly mode. Playing around and at times not listening but after being yelled at we had decided to stop with the silly and get to work, unfortunately for us Cory didn't have to do much to throw us back into giggle mode. Of course he did it unintentionally he just couldn't help it at times but that was just who he was.

I was in the middle of a laugh when he came over putting his hand on my shoulder. Automatically I stopped laughing.

"I am really sorry Lea, I promise that I am not trying to keep any of us any later."

I stepped away from him. "Don't worry Cory we have all had our moments tonight. We will get through this."

He walked near me again. "I am glad they let everyone else go. At least that way I wouldn't have a whole mob of people upset at my two left feet."

I stepped back again. He looked at me and stepped back as well turning to leave.

"Cory" I said.

He hesitated for a moment but then turned to face me.

I wanted to apologize. But I was not sure exactly what I would be apologizing for. He waited for me to get my thoughts together. "Come lets go do this one more time. I have a feeling this will be the last take"

He took a deep breathe put his hand in his pockets, gave me a slight smile and walked back next to me on to the set.

"Sorry guys" he said as we reached the others.

"It's fine" Amber responded. "We are all not focused Zach just likes to torment you making you think it's just you."

"Yeah Cory, don't worry we are all in this together. Plus it's not like we have anything else to do" Jenna added.

"Right, except sleep." Chris indicated.

We all laughed.

"Guys, are you ready." Zach came over breaking our laughter. We all turned to look at Cory. He glanced over at each of us, stopping his eyes on me. I gave him a quick smile before looking away.

"Ready" I heard him say.

"Alright one more time from the top everyone." Zach yelled around the room. Cory walked to stand behind me.

"This is it" I told him bending over in front of him. He looked over to everyone, we all took in a deep breathe.

"I know" he whispered. We heard playback being yelled on the other side of the curtain and then "Push it" began to play. That was our cue and the performance begun.

"Cut, that's it we got it" Ryan yelled.

The six of us started clapping and laughing. We formed a circle and hugged each other.

"Great job everyone." I said as we separated.

"Good thing we got it because I don't know how much actual push I still had in me." Chris added.

"Who has an early day tomorrow?" Cory asked turning to look at me.

"My day starts at 10 but in the recording studio" Amber said.

"I'm off" Kevin said. Jenna and Chris both raised their hands nodding as well.

"Lea?" Cory asked still looking over at me.

"Not until 1." I answered.

"Me too." He said, "So it's only you and me tomorrow." He said with a smile.

"Good night everyone." I said turning away from the group and leaving the set. It couldn't just be him and I tomorrow. That just couldn't happen.

The next afternoon I arrived to set relieved to find that Cory and I were not alone. Matt's car was the first one I saw when I pulled in. But I knew my relief came too soon. When doing Broadway I got used to going on stage and basically making out among other things with Jonathan. I was not shy or nervous anymore or so I thought because today my nerves had kicked up a notch. I quickly went to wardrobe and hair and make-up and on to set. I had three scenes today and I was mostly worried about my third but I couldn't lose focus now. I moved on to do my first of two scenes with Jayma. It was easy to work with everyone. Everyone wanted this show to work and not only that but we all loved it. We had days that came with long hours going from choreography class, to the recording studio and on to set. The show was building triple threats and we were all so grateful to be able to be getting this opportunity.

Jayma and I finished our scenes by six pm that night and I knew the scene I was dreading was already catching up to me. I was walking towards the set when outside Jayma and Matt where talking.

"Hey guys" I said as I came up to them.

"Oh hey Lea" Matt answered as he gave me a hug. "Are you still staying here?"

"Yeah one more scene tonight and then I am free. What about you?"

"We are both done for the night but I have to be at the studio tomorrow." Matt replied.

"Oh really. Who is still here?' I asked.

"Not sure, I thought it was just Matt and I who were still until this late."

"Oh" I said. "Nope I am still here."

"Lea there you are. Ryan and Brad are ready to start." Carrie, the set assistant said as she walked out of the set.

"Duty calls." I said hugging them both good-bye. I walked onto the auditorium set. The cameras were up and everyone was ready. I felt bad now realizing I was making everyone wait.

"Sorry Ryan" I said semi running towards him. "I was outside talking to Matt and Jayma."

"It's alright don't worry you are just on time." He gestured towards the stage. There sat Cory by the piano talking to Brad. I walked slowly behind Ryan.

"You two ready for this?" Brad asked when he saw me behind Ryan. Cory turned to look at me. It stopped me on my tracks.

"Sure" I said. "Let's get this done."

Cory gave me a puzzled look. "I thought you liked these characters together?" he asked walking over to me.

"I still do." I replied walking around him to get to my spot.

"Are you ok?" he asked walking to his mark.

"I'm fine." I said not looking up at him.

"Then why are you trying to brush off the importance of this scene."

"Who said I am brushing? I completely get it how important this is and I am right on board to get it done right."

"Right." He responded rubbing his face in what seemed like annoyance to me.

Brad and Ryan explained the scene and what was needed. Brad wanted this done right and perfect. Just like me he liked this couple and wanted them to work. He wrote a lot of the scenes these two had and I knew his passion because deep down I felt it too.

Cory and I got most of the scene down. I was sitting in one of the seats in the crowd staring at the monitors as they filmed Cory's close-ups. He was smiling so widely he was making me smile like an idiot to myself. I needed to get out of here. I needed some air. I got up from my chair and walked outside feeling the fresh air hit my face.

"There you are" Carrie startled me from behind. "They want you inside"

"Carrie, I bet you are getting tired of always chasing all of us down." I said taking her by the arm.

"Let's just say it keeps things interesting and keeps me in shape."

I walked up to the stage where Cory was already waiting on his mark.

"Hey" he said as I sat down on my mark.

"Hey" I answered shakenly. This was nothing, this was going to be easy. I have done things like this all the time and this one was not any different. I was not sure if it was just me but Cory looked just as nervous as I felt a few seconds ago.

"Ready to make some magic" I said trying to break the tension. He smiled weakly.

"Alright you two whenever you are ready. Action" Ryan yelled from behind the monitors. Cory stared directly into my eyes and then I saw his eyes flash to my lips. He leaned in and I followed his lead slowly laying down underneath him. His eyes darting from my eyes and back and forth to my lips as if asking for permission. I made a mistake my looking down at his lips. My nerves kicked in and I had to stop, I had to.

"Ow, wait" I yelled before his face came any closer.

"Are you ok?" he asked startled getting up away from me.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry"

"What happened?" Ryan and Brad asked in unison.

"I laid wrong on my hair and it was causing me to pull me to pull my head back. Sorry give me second. Carrie can you bring me the brush?"

Carried hurried to my side with the hair brush. I brushed it down peeking at Cory from under my lashes. He was looking around the room not sure what he was looking for.

"Ok, I'm ready" I said handing back the brush to Carrie.

"Alright from the top." Ryan yelled.

As soon as I got into my mark I felt it again the tension. But I couldn't break not anymore I needed this to be done and over with. Action was yelled and this time I was ready. Cory leaned in again, I followed laying down underneath him. He looked into my eyes and I knew he found the permission he was waiting for because his face came down closer to mine. Then his lips pressed into mine. I was going to push him away and stop this kiss but I knew if I did we would just to start again from the beginning. I then realized I still had my eyes open and shut them closed quickly. The kiss was slow and soft. My heart pounded just a little faster and something in the pit of my stomach I didn't understand. The kiss should have been over by now but I didn't feel him move anymore. I opened my eyes and his were open too staring back into mine now. I brought my hand up and pushed him off slowly.

"Cory?" I asked.

"Uh, yeah sorry." He said still looking down at me.

"Woah." Brad came over with a huge smile.

"What?" I asked.

"That was almost perfect. I mean I was nervous at first but now look I got chills." He said showing us his arm.

"Sorry, Brad we could of caught that in one take but" Cory started to say before Brad put a hand up.

"Cory its fine because if we would have done it in one take I probably would not have goosebumps now. But now we can continue where Finn leaves. Ready?" He asked looking back and forth from Cory and me. I looked over to Cory.

"Yeah" he nodded slowly. I laid back down. Cory followed giving me a smile as he looked at my concerned face. Why had he not continued with the scene? Why did he stop it?

He light placed his lips on mine almost as if he didn't want to touch them and I closed my eyes. We finished the scene and only twice did Cory have to kiss me. We were done for the night and I would have two days off to get myself together. I couldn't be any happier.

"Great night." Cory said as he caught up to me walking out of the set.

"Yeah" I replied. I rubbed my arms from the cold weather.

"Are you cold?" He asked reaching over to rub my arms with his hands. I stopped walking. He stopped along with me still rubbing my arms.

"I got to call Theo" I said starting to walk away.

"Right the boyfriend. Is he still in New York?" he asked from behind me.

I turned to look at him "For now, shouldn't be much longer until he is here."

He nodded and turned away from me walking in the opposite direction from where his car was parked. I wanted to yell after him but I was not sure why I wanted to do so or what I wanted to say. Instead I walked over to my car. I didn't have time to stop in wardrobe tonight I would just bring back the clothes on Monday. I needed to leave. I needed to get away. Away from the set, away from the tension, the confusion I felt being here at times. I need to get away, away from him.