Finally our first episode aired. It was such an amazing feeling. I had done the Broadway scene but now watching myself on TV was just a whole new feeling. Everything was going great. We were all about to embark in some extreme tour to promote our show. Traveling was one of my favorite things to do. Meeting amazing people along the way and learning different cultures. The past few months had been magnificent. No more awkwardness between Cory and me. Instead our friendship was stronger. I felt more and more comfortable with him.
It was great that Cory's and my friendship was doing so well because we were paired up in basically every interview. It was evident from the first episode everyone wanted our characters to be together. He did such an amazing Australian accent. We were doing an interview for a radio show in Sydney when they had us do a couple dialogue lines with an Australian accent. Of course he nailed it. He was so good at it, as for me I sounded British but it was still fun. Cory and I flew out together from Sydney to LA. It's amazing how much you can know about a person when dealing with each other on a 14 hour flight. Yes we were always together at work but we were always busy this was different we had to sit next to each other for 14 hours and had nowhere else we could go. The trip was great, he was great. Cory and I again would be heading on another trip this time to my home town, New York. We had to do a couple of interviews but would have a little down time. First order of business would be Central Park. We decided on the plane we would go together.
"Thank you for letting me come with you this morning to Central Park" I told Cory as we walked into the park each of us holding a cup of coffee.
"No Thank you for coming with me, this is so beautiful so breath taking" he said as he took a deep breath of the park. I couldn't do anything but smile. We walked together in silence taking in every bit of it. I had been here before but every time still felt like the first time.
"Hey Lea" he said shyly breaking the silence after a few minutes. "I was wondering since this is your city and well it would be your turf, can you take me to a Broadway show?"
"Your first Broadway experience right?" I asked him.
"Yes and I thought who better to show me a great Broadway show than you, I know how passionate you are about it. I can hear your love for it every time you talk about it. But please be easy on me on the show. I would hate to fall asleep on my very first show. What do you say?" he said as he stopped walking to turn and look at me.
"Well" I started.
"Please, pretty please, Lea with a cherry on top" he pleaded making his lips into a pout. He looked so adorable I knew there was no way I could say no.
I laughed "Alright I will take you tonight and I have the perfect play for you to see but I won't tell you which one yet. By the way it's not fair for you to do that face at me? You look too cute" I told him without thinking.
"Great now I know how to get things from you" he said with a chuckle. He then put his arm out for me to take, I put my hand in between his arm and we walked the rest of the park arm in arm. Such a beautiful park. Today felt like I could really see its true beauty.
Later that night…..
I arrived with my parents to the street corner where all the theaters were. Cory was waiting for us there, he seemed so nervous. My dad got off the cab first, and as soon as Cory saw him he came over to greet him.
"Hello Mr. Sarfati, How are you?" he said to him while giving him a one arm hug. My parents had met Cory before and thought he was a great guy. A guy "who has his head screwed on right" my father had said one time.
"Come on Cory I have told you call me Marc" my father said.
"Right, sorry sir" Cory responded shyly. My dad just chuckled and rolled his eyes.
"Let me help you out, Mrs. Sarfati" he said as he stretched his hand out to help my mom out of the cab.
"Oh Cory please call me Edith" she told him as she embraced him in a hug.
He then stretched out his hand to help me out. "Hello Ms. Lea Michele or do you want me to also just to call you Lea?" he said to me with a wide smile.
"Oh Cory don't be silly its Ms. Lea Michele to you." I told him with a laugh.
He laughed "I wasn't sure how to dress so I decided to just wear jeans, I hope that's ok" he said shyly. He was wearing blue jeans, a white t-shirt, a dark navy blue hoodie with his white sneakers. So typical Cory.
"You look fine, I say clothes are clothes" my dad said with a laugh as he walked to walk arm in arm with my mom.
"Ok everyone lets go inside, we have to get our seats." I told them. "Cory for your first Broadway experience I decide to bring you to see Rock of Ages because I really think you will like it, it set in Hollywood in 1986" I told him as we walked inside the theater.
"See I knew you would not guide me wrong" he told me with a smile. He then bend over to whisper in my ear "By the way you look beautiful tonight." He put his arm out for me to take once again.
"Thank you" I told him as I blushed and took his arm.
We found our seats on the first row. Cory and I sat together while my parents sat beside him. Throughout the night I could see Cory was really enjoying the play. We sang together every song specially "Don't stop believing" that brought back a lot of memories of a just a few months ago.
"Wow that was amazing, Thank you so much Lea" Cory said after the play.
"You are welcome. I was sure you would like it" I told him "So how about we go get something to eat, what do you say mom? Dad?"
"Well actually" my dad started to say "Since we are already out I wanted to see if Edith would join me tonight on a date."
I turned to look at my mom with a big smile. "I would love to Marc" she told my dad.
"Do you mind taking Lea back home Cory?' my dad asked.
"No of course not Marc, don't worry I will take good care of her." he said nervously.
We kissed them good-bye and watched as they walked into the New York City night.
Cory then turned to me "Lea would you mind before I take you home can we take a stroll in Central park, I've always wanted to go there at night" He said with a plea.
I stared up at him "Yes of course"
We walked over to Central Park and again walked in arm in arm. The park almost felt like a different park than the one we had walked in earlier today.
"Wow it sure does look different at night" Cory said as if answering my thought. "I love how the city lights just make this place look so magical, like a fairytale. Woah that sounded so cheesy."
I laughed. "Not at all I completely understand what you mean. I have been here several times and still get have to catch my breath every time I walk in here.
As we arrived to Bow Bridge there were a few musicians playing a beautiful melody it sounded so sweet I was almost sure it was a country song. Cory stopped put a few dollars in their empty guitar case and we began to walk towards the center of the bridge. It looked so beautiful. Besides the moonlight only 2 single light post lamps at each of the bridge lighted the way. Cory suddenly stopped and turned to look at me.
"Lea, I mean Ms. Lea Michele you look quite beautiful tonight, may I please have the honor of dancing with you this lovely song?" he asked as he bowed and extended his right hand to me.
"What? Cory are you crazy? Get up" I told him with a laugh. But he did not move. "Oh geez, Fine! Yes sir, you may have this dance" I made a small curtsy and took his hand.
He then took me in his arms and we began to dance the sweet slow melody.
'I know this song" Cory said with a laugh. Wait? Cory knew this song?
I think he waited for me to respond but I just stayed quite, unable even to raise my face to look at him. This song was so beautiful. We continued to move very slowly side to side, not really moving our feet.
Then I felt his breathe on the side of my face, "Better than I was, more than I am and all of this happened by taking your hand" he whispered the lyrics in my ear. Chills ran up and down my back. Was he singing to himself? Was he singing to me? I finally decided to look up at him and I found him looking down at me, still singing almost like a whisper, enough for only me to hear. He smiled and I joined him in the song. "It's your love it just does something to me, it sends a shock right through me, I can't get enough….."
We finished singing the song and just stood there looking into each other's eyes. He gave me one of his crooked smiles. I felt like he wanted to say something, his eyes were almost yelling. If only they could speak I though. He then backed away and just smiled but not the same grin he always did but a more apologetic smile.
"I think it's time to take you home princess" he said, looking over at the water stream behind me.
I had no response. I grabbed his arm again and we walked out of the park in silence. We got into a cab and took what seemed like a long silent ride home. I would look at him from the corner of my eyes and it seemed like he was contemplating something. Whatever it was he dismissed the thought as cab came to a stop.
We arrived outside my apartment, he got out to open the door for me and helped me out.
"Sir Can you please wait just a little?" he told the cab driver.
"Well I told your dad I would bring you home and well here you are, thank you again Lea you have made this trip to New York one of the best trips. Not sure anything else can top this."
"You are welcome Cory, I'm glad you have enjoyed my city" I told him cheerfully.
He smiled "I really have, again thank you. Well you should get upstairs. Sweet dreams and um, say hi to Theo for me" as he said the last part he just looked down at his feet.
"I will" I told him softly, "Good night Cory have a safe ride to the hotel" I reached up to give him a hug then we must have been thinking the same thing because as I went to give him a kiss in the cheek he did the same and our lips touched for a quick second.
"Oh sorry Lea" he said quickly "I went right and I guess so did you, I promise I wasn't trying anything" he said with a nervous chuckle.
"Oh, its ok Cory it was my fault too". I was so nervous now and I really didn't understand why. I just stood there looking down at my shoes as if they were going to run away on their own. He then bent down and slowly and softly kissed my cheek lingering there for a bit as he embraced me in a hug his lips still on my cheek. I felt my face go incredibly warm but I also embraced him like if I didn't want him to go. He started the embrace and he had to be the one to end it as I was just hanging to his neck.
He stepped back towards the cab, opened the cab door and turned to look at me "Good night Ms. Lea Michele" he said and got into the cab. He waved as the cab drove off. I stood there at my door steps for a few minutes then decided to go inside and as I went up the stairs I sung to myself "It's your love it just does something to me, it sends a shock right through me, I can't get enough."