Naya/Heather Fic: I Am The Liar and You Are The Saint Chapt 16/? (Part 1)
Title: I Am The Liar And You Are The Saint
Rating: R
Summary: She had become an expert at putting on a face when she was around Heather. Naya just hoped it was enough for people not to realize it, because honestly Heather was wearing her down.
Pairings: Naya/Heather, Other: Heather/OC, Naya/Mark, Side Dianna/Lea
Disclaimer: I do not own anything, this is a complete work of fiction. These two are not a couple… unfortunately.
Spoilers: Season 1 and Season 2
Word Count: ~2,800
Warning: Angst!
And it continues…
I Am The Liar And You Are The Saint
Chapter 16 (Part 1)
September 28th 2010: 8:27 PM
Once in the kitchen, Naya poured a tall shot glass of tequila and downed it in one gulp. She winced as the hard alcohol hit her stomach, making her feel queasy. Or maybe it was because Mark was in the room…
“You were really great, Naya…” he started.
“Thanks,” she grumbled in reply, pouring another glass full.
“Hey…” Mark said, grabbing her wrist and stopping her from raising the glass to her lips. Naya sighed and placed the glass back down.
“What do you want Mark?” her headache was building
“I told you… I just wanted to talk,” he began, but then corrected himself. “No… I wanted to apologize.”
Naya looked up to him expectantly, arms folded across her chest.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. While I was recording my album, things were getting messy. I’m a fucking douchebag, I get it. I messed up. I came to terms with that when I realized more than half of the songs on the record were about you… It was supposed to be my cowardly way of apologizing and trying to win you back,” he admitted depressingly.
“But, while we were running through one of the numbers last night I realized that if I’m going to apologize, you deserve to hear it out front. Not through some lame ass lyrics… What I’m trying to get around saying is that I’m sorry…” Mark said, green eyes sincere and dejected.
“I’m sorry for cheating on you, for hurting you, and most importantly for breaking your heart. No one deserves that.”
She never thought she would, but Naya actually believed him. She had been weary at first; she always had to be around Mark. His emotions were as unpredictable as the million dollar lottery. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was because she had just been rejected by Heather… But she accepted his carefully plotted out words. She took his proffered hand and squeezed it.
“But, Naya…” he continued with confidence. “I don’t take back what I said that night. I do love you. I care about you and I still want to be with you.”
And there it is… Naya sucked in a tiring breath, but before she should speak Mark butted in a final comment.
“Look I know that it wouldn’t be easy at first, but being together in the end will be. You’re worth it to me. I can make you happy… I’ll work my ass off to make you happy. I understand if you don’t want to get back together… I just… I just wanted to get my feelings out there.”
Naya suddenly felt guilty. She knew from the start of their relationship that she would never be able to love him back if he ever started to feel that way towards her. It was just supposed to be short… fun… The sole purpose of them being together was so she could forget about Heather, which ended up failing anyways. Now, here’s this amazing guy professing his love for her and all she could say was no. She was a selfish bitch and she let it go too far.
“Mark…” she sighed, lip quivering. What should she say? His green eyes sparkled with hope; hope that she would soon crush. “I… I should be the one that’s sorry.”
He furrowed his eyebrows.
“I don’t feel for you like that… I don’t think I ever had. I’m so sorry to ever let you believe that I did because really I’m…” she paused hesitantly. Letting go of the air in her lungs she spoke in a whisper, “I’m in love with someone else.”
It was pretty much a slap in the face. Mark looked like he just got punched in the gut by a sumo wrestler. Naya felt horrible and pleaded in hope to save their friendship.
“It was never your fault Mark… except for the cheating thing, but there was nothing you could have done to change the way I felt. You have no idea how badly I wanted to fall for you… to convince myself that I could. But, I just couldn’t let go. My heart was stolen and I never got it back…” Naya was on the brink of tears as she watched Mark slowly react to all of this.
“So that’s it? I don’t get a say in anything,” he finally managed, rubbing the back of his neck while the other still desperately clung on to Naya’s.
“I’m afraid so…” Naya quietly replied.
“Who is he?” Mark asked, jealousy biting in the back of his throat. “Do I know him?”
“Uh well…” Naya tried to search her brain for some sort of lie, but that fucking tequila shot was making everything function ten times slower.
“Is it someone on set?” Mark continued to interrogate.
“Y-Yes…” she replied nervously. “But Mark-”
“What the fuck, Naya? For how long? Please don’t tell me it’s that creepy runner who gets a boner every time he sees you…”
“No, no! Mark, stop. Just listen, please? I let you explain. Can’t you just give me a chance to help you understand?” Naya’s eyes were already misty talking about all of this. Mark breathed in deeply, calming himself down. He nodded curtly. She dragged a long breath in.
“It happened about a year and a half ago when we first started filming. I didn’t think anything of it at first because we were all such good friends and everyone was just getting to know each other. But it wouldn’t go away, no matter how hard I tried to ignore it. It’s stupid though. It’s all a hopeless cause… they’re off the market. But I can’t help myself. The way I feel towards this person hasn’t changed. I don’t think there was anything you could have done Mark, and I’m so sorry to have put you through this. I know I’m a bitch. I know it’s fucking cliché and I hate clichés, but it really is me… I’m just not attracted to you like that…” Naya said slowly.
Then bravely, she added, “Or any guy for that matter.”
Realization struck Mark’s facial expressions. His mouth hung open slightly in surprise. Naya wasn’t really sure what she was expecting from telling him all of this. She was just hoping she could salvage the little of the friendship they had left.
When Mark couldn’t say anything, Naya continued, “I get that you probably hate me… but you deserve someone that is going to love you back completely and won’t afraid of saying so. When we’re on set, we’ll just have to be professional and-”
“I don’t hate you Naya…” Mark told her firmly. “I mean I’m not gonna lie… This fucking hurts like a bitch and I never thought I would ever be someone’s gay beard… Still, I don’t want you to pretend to be with me if it’s not what you want. You shouldn’t have to settle, you know that?”
“Unfortunately, I may have to…” she admittedly sadly.
“Hey…” Mark cupped her cheeks softly in his hands and looked deeply into Naya’s tear filled eyes. “You are the most… amazing girl I’ve ever met. I’m lucky to have had you when I did. I’ve never been this hung up on someone as bad as I am… was… hung up on you. You’re a hard one to come by, Naya. If Heather can’t see what I see, then she’s more like her character than I thought…”
Naya furrowed her eyebrows at Mark; her voice hitched an octave higher “Who said anything about, Heather?”
He snorted, dropping his hands away from her face, “You’ve got to be kidding? I know that 90 percent of the time I think with my dick and not with my brain, but I’m not an idiot, Naya. I mean I always thought you were secretly fucking each other… You two are way too close to be ‘just’ friends.”
Naya rolled her eyes, “In your dreams…”
“Probably in yours too,” he retorted and Naya managed a small chuckle. “But hey, at least I know I’m being rejected for a hot chick and not an ugly ass dude. You’ve got pretty good taste… for a lesbian.”
“Oh god… I should have never told you. Now I’m never going to hear the end of all your lesbian jokes…” Naya said with a smile, taking her tequila shot and draining it down the sink.
“Come on, who do think I would be if I didn’t? But honestly, Naya,” Mark said reclaiming her hand. “If you love this girl as much as you say you do, go out and get her. Be the Naya Rivera I know best.”
“It’s not that easy…”
“Yeah, it is. You just choose to make it complicated. You deserve happiness, Naya. I don’t know why you’re so convinced you don’t…”
It was one of the first times that Naya had ever heard something so sincere leave Marks lips; more sincere than a million of his ‘I love you’s’ combined. She could feel herself breaking down, her hand grasping onto Mark’s for support. He squeezed back comfortingly. How could he be so accepting after all this shit I put him through? It doesn’t make sense? She looked up at him, eyes watery.
As if he read her mind he answered, “I still care about you Naya. We all care about you and we just want what makes you happy.”
She smiled feebly. Mark sensing she was about to crumble engulfed her in his arms. She fell into his embrace weakly, a few stinging tears leaking onto his jacket. She was thankful he finally came around and that she could save their friendship. She felt closer to him now than she ever had during the months of their relationship. A small smile slid onto Naya’s lips. At least I did one thing right…
“Naya?” the familiar blonde’s voice rung out.
Naya pushed Mark away, wiping the corners of her eyes as she heard Heather’s voice. It was strangely weak and hesitant. She looked at her curiously through her puffy eyes.
“What… What’s going on here?” Heather asked slowly, taking another step into the kitchen. After her conversation with Dianna her mind had been reeling. She had so many questions for the Latina and now a hundred more piled on top of that as she observed Mark holding Naya’s hand so gently. Heather needed to clear things up so they could move on with their lives… separately or together.
“Nothing,” Naya said simply. She smiled up at Mark, thankful of his patience. “We were just coming back over.”
She began to walk past Heather back towards the living room when she felt the dancer’s nimble fingers encircle her wrist.
“Naya… I need to talk to you…” she whispered pleadingly. She didn’t want to chase her around anymore. Her emotions were in a jumbled mass on her sleeve. She needed Naya to untangle them.
“Not now… W-We shouldn’t keep everyone waiting,” Naya replied shakily, slipping away from Heather. Everyone else was probably waiting in the living room to start the episode back up. They were already fifteen minutes behind the airing time.
“But, Nay…” she was already out the door. Heather sighed, feeling more defeated with every minute that ticked by. She was running low on time… and determination. She felt eyes staring at her and she looked up to meet Mark’s heavy gaze. He clenched his jaw, jealousy rippling through his body. But he exhaled slowly and nodded his head in admittance.
“You’re real lucky, you know that?” he told Heather sadly.
“Um…” her brow line creased in confusion. “Thanks… I guess…”
“Don’t hurt her.”
“D-Did she tell you something?” Heather asked tensely.
“What her and I talk about doesn’t concern you,” he said with a harshness he didn’t intend, but the jealously in him was boiling. Heather flinched, as she pursed her lips angrily. “Just… Just don’t hurt her.”
“I don’t want to, Mark. And unlike you I don’t intend to,” she shot back. Mark glared at her dangerously and Heather simply glared back. With that Mark grabbed the two beer bottles left on the counter and stalked out of the kitchen.
“If anything… she’s hurting me…” Heather whispered sadly to herself. But she won’t give up; she could never give up on Naya.
September 28th 2010: 10:35 PM
There are some days where Heather really hated being so close to the Glee cast. This was one of those days… She was trying not to be a rude hostess, but all she could think about was Naya. Entertaining everyone was on the bottom of her list. It wasn’t helping that everyone was in the process of getting drunk or were already passed out. Kevin and Jenna were trying to figure out their right hands from their left, Amber and Chris were both on sugar highs, Chord and Cory’s cheeks were beet red, Ashley was a complete goner on the couch, and most annoyingly Lea was hanging all over Naya.
“Lea!” Naya hissed. “You’re fucking crushing my toes!”
“Oh! Those are toes?! I thought they were little marshmallows!” Lea laughed drunkenly loud in Naya’s ear, “You have super soft feet Nay-Nay…”
“Stop talking about my feet, you’re weirding me out…” Naya said trying to help the girl to a chair so she wouldn’t fall over.
“And marshmallows are really delicious… Marshmallows remind me of Dianna… Like when we used to bake each other cupcakes. I don’t know how she did it, but she made the best marshmallow frosting…” Lea started to wander. “She makes really amazing cupcakes…”
Naya frowned sadly at her friend, knowing the girl’s subconscious longing for the blonde was speaking out.
“Okay, I think it’s time for you to go home,” she said collecting Lea’s things. She looked around the room at everyone else who were either in a similar state as Lea or worse off. “I actually think it’s time for everyone to go home.”
“Whatchu talkin’ bout Nay-Nay! We jus getting’ started in here! It’s only 10:30!” Kevin yelled obnoxiously loud, using a piece of licorice to sip some of his mixed concoction.
Naya pointed at Kevin and glared, “You especially need to go home.”
Kevin put up his hands in defense.
“Veiled Fairy is being a party-pooper…” Jenna whined. “You used to be the life of the party!”
“Yeah… well some things change…” she said bitterly helping Lea with her shoes. Jesus, she’s like a child… “Will you stop fidgeting? I’m trying to help you.”
Lea kicked at Naya who scowled, “Stop… I want Di…”
Naya looked over to Dianna who had been watching them the whole time. She had her purse and keys in hand, ready to leave. Naya noticed how Dianna’s face lit up as Lea requested her. Naya smiled towards the blonde.
“Dianna can you give me a hand with this one?”
“Sure…” she said a small smile growing on her lips. As Dianna helped Lea, the smaller brunette instantly fell into the crook of the blonde’s neck, nuzzling affectionately.
“Can you take her home? I’ve got to do damage control here.”
Dianna nodded all too enthusiastically.
“Thanks, Dianna. Oh and… I’m sure you know this, but Lea has a tendency in spilling the truth out when she’s drunk. You’ve just got to ask the right questions,” Naya hinted. Dianna gave a small knowing nod and walked Lea out of the house.
Naya breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s one down…”
Naya looked over and saw Heather attempting to get Ashley up to her bed, but the girl wouldn’t budge. Naya couldn’t help, but smile at how adorable Heather was playing the big sister. She quickly wiped the smile off her face, get your head on straight, Rivera.
“Hey,” Mark tapped her shoulder. “What can I do to help?”
“Sober driver?” Naya asked hopefully.
“I was afraid you’d say that…”
“Only if you didn’t drink too much,” Naya lectured.
“Don’t worry, anything I tried to drink Kevin over there stole from me. I’m good.”
“Thanks, Mark,” she squeezed his arm. Before he could go collect the wailing idiots she asked, “When you drop them all off, could you come back to pick me up?”
“I thought you were staying the night with, Hemo?” he asked, wagging his eyebrows up and down.
“I told you. I kinda got rejected earlier…”
“That’s hard for me to believe,” Mark clenched his jaw, suddenly annoyed with the blonde dancer.
“Doesn’t matter anymore,” Naya brushed off, “Don’t worry about it if you can’t. I can catch a ride with Chris and Amber.”
“Nah, what kind of lesbro would I be if I left you solo?” he bumped her shoulder and she smiled appreciatively.
“Thanks.”
*************
And keep going…