Fic: Like A Satellite Trapped In Orbit (Around You) (13/18)
Media: Fic
Title: Like A Satellite Trapped In Orbit (Around You) (13/18)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Overall angst
Word Count: ~3,500
Summary: Continuation to Gravity Thou Art A Heartless Bitch. Since Darren ended their relationship, Chris has been trying desperately to move on. But it’s not that easy. For either of them.
7th July 2013
‘Blackbird!’ Chris shouts suddenly, causing Jake who is dozing on the couch next to him, to jerk awake.
‘Huh?’ he mumbles blearily and focuses on the screen to see that Chris is still watching Chasing Evelyn, the reason he fell asleep in the first place.
‘Don’t you see?’ Chris says. ‘A blackbird. Of course. It all makes sense now. I just saw it in tonight’s episode and my suspicions were aroused. And then I went back to episode one...’ Chris gestures wildly at the TV, ‘and there it was!’ Chris didn’t add the fact that he had just watched through episode one three times in a row.
‘You lost me at blackbird’ Jacob says bluntly.
‘Just... go back to sleep Jake’ Chris says impatiently. ‘I have the potential to get a free dinner out of this.’
‘I’m gonna head actually. You’re scaring me.’
‘Right right, see ya’ Chris says waving him away absently, attention already focussed on his laptop. Jacob laughs and rolls his eyes fondly.
‘Bye then’ he says, not offended by Chris answering grunt and leaving him to indulge in whatever insanity he’s got himself into now.
Chris types one word to Darren.
D
BLACKBIRD!
C xx
He realises that that’s probably pretty nonsensical about a minute after he hits send and is just wondering whether to write another email, clarifying what he means when Darren’s reply falls into his inbox.
C
I assume you are referring to the important object in Chasing Evelyn? Because if you aren’t then I have no idea what you are talking about.
D xx
Chris laughs, surprised that even after all this time Darren still knows what’s going on his daft head.
D
Of course. The small blackbird figurine on Vince’s shelf. I assume it’s a throwback to the days when he used to go bird watching with his father or some sentimental bullshit like that? So... am I right?
C xx
Chris waits impatiently, fingers drumming on his desk as he waits. He’s pretty sure he’s cracked it. Darren doesn’t leave him waiting for long.
C
Yeah you’re right! I knew you’d get it. I was allowed to pick and they let me have it because of the bird watching connection like you thought.
D xx
Chris, initial happiness at having cracked the puzzle passing, suddenly realises the connotations of Darren picking that particular object. Blackbird had always been one of Darren’s favorite Kurt songs and Chris used to sing it quietly to him when Darren was having trouble sleeping, the same way Darren would sing Teenage Dream to him.
He wants to ask about it but is scared that the answer isn’t what he wants to hear. He wants to hear that Darren picked it because it
reminds him of Chris or at the very least Kurt and all the fun they had together during their Glee days. He doesn’t want to hear that he’s just been over thinking it as usual and it was just a random coincidence. So he doesn’t mention it.
D
If I remember correctly I think you now owe me dinner. That was the deal was it not?
C xx
C
Actually the deal was if you solved it before Episode Two. Seeing as Episode Thirteen has just aired I think that horse has well and truly bolted.
D xx
‘Oh’ Chris says aloud, weirdly disappointed.
D
Well we could still have dinner right? You’re coming into LA for the Emmy’s I’m guessing (no way that Evelyn won’t get nominated) so we could have dinner then. It would be a shame to miss each other again after the whole gig debacle. Er only if you want to of course.
Chris frowns and backspaces that last line. What is he, a teenage girl? This is a lot harder than he imagined especially when the worst that can happen is just Darren saying no. But that would break me he realises.
We can go Dutch. And by that I mean split the bill so get your mind out the gutter. So what do you reckon?
C xx
Chris spends the next agonising few minutes nervously shredding up what is most likely an important document and obsessively rearranging his pens in ten different ways. When Darren’s reply comes he almost can’t click on it and it takes a minute of self berating before he can bring himself to do it.
C
Sounds great to me, that is if Evelyn really does get nominated (I am astounded by your optimism). And I would love to go Dutch with you ;)
Just name a time and place and I’ll be there.
D xx
Chris releases a breath that he didn’t even realise he was holding. He feels a little foolish now, not even sure why he was so worried Darren would say no. He has no reason too, as far as Darren is concerned they are just friends.
D
Text you nearer the time yeah? Not even sure what dates you’ll be around yet ;)
C xx
C
Sounds perfect
D xx
Chris grins widely. Sounds perfect. It sounds pretty perfect to him as well.
11th July 2013
Chris is awoken by a phone call.
‘Hello’ he mutters sleepily into the phone.
‘Ahhhhhhh!’ screams a voice down the line and Chris flinches, ripping the phone away from his ear and resisting the urge to drop it.
‘Cool it Han’ he yells in the direction of his phone, before tentatively bringing it to his ear again. Now it’s just a lot of meaningless gibberish which is definitely preferably to screaming.
‘Oh my God we’re all so proud of you. I can’t believe it. Well of course I can because you’re my brother and amazing and awesome and of course you would get it but... yeah wow. It’s a big deal. And Darren too of course! Massive congrats to him as well.’
‘Hannah please explain what in the merry hell you are talking about’ Chris says but not unkindly.
‘Oh my God Chris you are so out of touch it’s almost embarrassing.’
‘Well as your big brother I do basically live to embarrass you’ Chris chuckles.
‘Aren’t you there to provide me with company and support etc?’
‘That’s just the small print. It’s not that important.’
‘The small print is always important!’
‘Han please get to the point’ Chris says fondly.
‘You’ve been nominated of course!’ Hannah squeals and it takes Chris to get his head around that one.
‘Wait. You mean Emmy noms? That was today?’
‘Yeees Chris! I got up specially to see that you got nominated. Because if you didn’t I would have to get down there and found out why the hell not!’
‘Well thank God they’ve been saved that horror. Hell knows no fury like a teenage girl especially a fangirl.’
‘Exactly. Anyway you got nominated for Outstanding Drama Series and Writing for a Drama Series! They’re not the only ones, some of your actors got nominated as well!’
'Oh my God. That’s brilliant news! Thanks Han!’
‘Just delivering the news. Although if you are in favour of doing the opposite of shooting the messenger and rewarding her instead there are some new shoes I’ve had my eye on.’
Chris laughs. ‘Nice try sis but you have no hope of suckering me into buying you anything after that whole coat incident in which it turned out to be five hundred bucks.’
‘It was designer!’ Hannah replies, sounding horrified that Chris doesn’t seem to understand this.
‘I wouldn’t know much about that. I have people that dress me when it’s important’ he says.
‘You suck’ is Hannah’s conclusion after a long pause. Chris was extremely tempted to make a dirty joke at that but felt his little sister was perhaps not an appropriate recipient of it.
‘Mmm’ he says instead. ‘Well I have to go and call the gang and tell them the good news. Thanks Hannah, I love you!’
‘I love you too, even if you don’t buy me things’ Hannah says. ‘You better call the parents later, I’m sure they will want to congratulate you themselves.’
‘Will do. Bye honey!’
‘Bye Chris.’
*
After Chris has called the entirety of his cast, most of his key crew members and his parents, celebrated so much that his voice hurts and having agreed to a party around Alex’s in a few days time, he gets a moment to look up the complete list of nominations. He gets a small thrill at seeing his name in black and white next to two awards. And to see Alex nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series and Seb up for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series was just the icing on the proverbial cake.
He can’t help but feel proud when he sees that Darren is also nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series and is amused to see Jack up for the same award. That must be interesting, with them living together. Chasing Evelyn has also been nominated for Outstanding Drama Series so Darren’s show was in direct completion with his own.
At that moment there is a knock on the door, obnoxious enough that Chris is pretty certain of who it is before he even opens it.
‘Hello Alex’ he says, unsurprised to see his friend standing there.
‘Alright Chris? I bought beer!’ Alex steps past Chris and makes himself comfortable on the sofa.
‘Come in’ Chris says sarcastically and shuts the door. ‘Can you try not to mess up the place? I am moving tomorrow!’
Alex completely ignores him, putting his feet up on the coffee table. ‘So that’s where all your furniture’s gone. Anyway have you texted Darren yet? We need to engage in come suitable smack talk to psyche out the competition.’
‘What good will that do?’ Chris asks. ‘We’re not in control of who wins.’
‘Yeah but it’s fun’ Alex shrugs.
Almost as if in answer to Alex’s question, Chris’ phone picks that second to go off.
‘It’s Darren’ Chris laughs. ‘Clearly he had the same idea.’
Darren Criss
Congrats on all the noms! Not that I'm surprised - you are far too talented to be ignored. Roll on September. (But I hate to say that there's no way this Alex guy is getting my Lead Actor award.)
‘He says you’ve got no chance Alex’ Chris says. ‘Are you gonna take that?’
‘Certainly not! Tell Curly to watch himself, it’s on!’
Chris complies with Alex’s demand, typing out a quick reply.
Darren Criss
Bring it! Name the time and place...
Alex, reading over Chris’ shoulder, grabs the phone and taps out his own reply.
Chris Colfer
this is alex c u in la in sept 4 the showdown u r goin down!!!!
‘Urgh Alex, we’ve spoken about punctuation. And don’t get me started on everything else that is wrong with what you wrote.’
He types out another quick reply to Darren.
Chris Colfer
Oh god. My eyes. My beautiful text box has been sullied! I'm so sorry!
Darren Criss
I think my eyes are still bleeding. What did SPAG ever do to offend Alex?
Chris read the text aloud.
‘Tell Darren to bring this SPAG bloke with him. I’ll take them both on’ Alex says determinedly. Chris snorts with laughter, looking at Alex, expecting him to be joking. But Alex looks deadly serious. Chris laughs again and taps out Alex’s response to Darren.
They text back and forth for a while and Chris is pleased when Darren asks if he’ll have a look at the advanced copy of his new album for him. Even after all this time Darren still trusts his judgement and it still makes Chris feel happy to know it, especially when Darren says he’ll send it off straight away. Except...
‘Oh no he didn’t’ Chris mutters.
‘What?’ Alex asks and Chris jumps, having forgotten he was there. ‘He’s actually text speaking me right now. This is not acceptable.’
He writes something to that effect to Darren but just gets more text speak in return which makes him laugh.
Chris Colfer
I'm calling 911. You're clearly having a stroke.
Darren Criss
U <3 me & u no it
The grin that has been plastered on Chris’ face as a result of joking around with Darren the way they used to, fades immediately, causing Alex to glance up from the TV that Chris hadn’t even realised he had turned on. Because yeah... even after all this time he still does and he knows that it was just a typical response and that Darren didn’t mean anything by it but it still makes his heart sink. He wants to say of course I do or even the cheesy but ever relevant always. He wants to say he misses Darren and his jokes and his laugh but...
Chris Colfer
A fact that is up for constant review.
Is what he says instead and he curses himself for his cowardice.
The conversation trails off then and Chris sighs, thumbing his phone absently.
‘You truly are the most pathetic human being I have ever had the misfortune to know’ Alex says.
‘Well you’re the most pathetic human being anyone has had the misfortune to know’ Chris counters childishly.
Alex just gives him a withering look. ‘But seriously. You’re like a teenage girl. All ridiculous heart eyes one minute and love sick sighs the next.'
‘Yeah well...’ Chris starts defensively but then realises he doesn’t really have a defence. ‘Just shut up alright, you don’t know what it’s like.’
‘No I don’t’ Alex muses. ‘But it’s people like you that make me glad that I’ve never been in love. You don’t make it look like much fun.’
‘Well... sometimes it isn’t’ Chris agrees. Then he remembers being curled up into Darren’s side, one hand absently running through Darren’s curls, squabbling quietly over what movie to watch, and sharing popcorn, fingers getting tangled up in the bowl. It felt safe and sweet and right.
‘But a lot of the time it’s wonderful.’
*
12th July 2013
‘You’re dead to me’ Chris snaps down the phone.
‘So the moving is going well I take it?’ Alex asks drily.
Chris looks around his new house which is right now a jumble of boxes and ill sorted furniture. The only things that have made it to the correct places are his bed, food and his laptop. The important things in life. Apart from that the only thing he is certain of the location of is the CD that Darren actually over nighted to his agent and was given to him that morning and is currently sitting next to his laptop.
‘You were meant to help me move jackass!’ Chris yells.
‘Yeah well shit happened and then, insert convoluted but believable excuse here.’
‘This is why you have no friends.’
‘Well My Crabby Pants maybe I’ll call you back when you’re being less bitchy.’
‘Look if you come round and set up my internet connection all will be forgiven’ Chris says quickly.
Alex hesitates. ‘You’ve got yourself a deal.’
*
Five hours later not only has Alex set up his internet connection (possibly buying Chris’ eternal gratitude) but also helped him move most of his furniture to its correct place and started on the boxes.
He leaves after that, genuinely having previous plans but he’s more than redeemed himself in Chris’ eyes and he sends him off cheerfully enough, agreeing that he will be at the Emmy celebration party the next day.
The first thing that Chris does when he is alone is to email Darren to tell him that he’s got the disc.
D
My agent passed me Another Lifetime today, I’ll have a listen soon and get back to you on it. Trust you to over night the damn thing :) And how are you feeling now that it’s all had a chance to sink in? Nominated for an Emmy second year running. And for Lead Actor this time Dare, you really are going up in the world aren’t you? I don’t think I said this yesterday but congratulations, you really deserve it.
I hope your director picked a good episode for you, I’ve seen the other nominees and I think you’re a sure win if he played it right. Hope it was episode four, your performance is particularly stellar in that episode, the part where you see Evelyn for the first time breaks my heart every time I watch it.
Of course I probably shouldn’t be supporting the competition but Alex will never know right?
And of course I was completely unsurprised that Jack was nominated what with him carrying the series and all :P Have you killed him yet?
Drinks are most definitely on me when we go for dinner!
C xx
Chris wastes some time replying to the various emails he has received over the course of the day, congratulating him on his nomination, including a particularly lovely one from his grandmother who had actually been with him at the 2011 awards. He makes a mental note to call her and then another to decide who to take as his plus one this year.
He kills a bit more time with a phone call from Ashley who yells dramatically about his phone being engaged for whole of yesterday and hoping that he hasn’t got too big to remember who his friends are. He assures her that he hasn’t and by the time he’s finished setting a catch up date with her, Darren’s reply has come.
C
Glad that it got to you OK! I’m really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it, a few tracks in particular.
And yeah the nominations are such a buzz! I’ve rethought the killing Jack plan. We’ve got our second season and we’re gonna need him for it to work so unfortunately my career sort of relies on him at the moment. I guess I’ll just have to work on discrediting him instead ;)
And talking about going up in the world you actually wrote a show that got nominated! That’s so much more impressive than a nomination for acting (even if it is lead :P). So well done Chris, you deserve it more than anyone I know. Geez you’ve done more in 23 years than most people do in a lifetime, I’m so proud of you. And as you know I have been an avid watcher and fanboy of Satellite TV and I’m thrilled to see it getting the recognition it deserves.
But I think you’ll find the drinks are on me!
D xx
D
Why don’t we buy each other a drink? Then the drinks are on both of us! And I guess I just can’t help being impressive, it’s just inherent I’m afraid.
I’ve just realised that I guess I’ll have to watch for your Grammy nom now won’t I Mr Overachiever, what with your new album coming. Of course I have yet to pass judgement on it but I’m sure it will be incredible.
Congrats on your second season although there was never any doubt in my mind that it would happen. And tell Jack that I’m still his biggest fan and that if he doesn’t win then he’s been robbed :D
C xx
It doesn’t take long for Darren to reply and Chris can’t help but wonder if Darren had remained glued to his laptop or iPhone, waiting for the reply the same way he had.
C
Who are you calling an Overachiever?
And I see how it is. Supporting Jack over someone from your own show just to spite me? Low man, low :P
But Jack says that he’s glad that you remain a faithful fan and that he will send you those signed DVDs if you still want them. By the way Martin (my director) submitted Episode Nine and will be a bit pissed off when I tell him that his choice didn’t meet with the Chris Colfer seal of approval.
D xx
D
Of course I’m supporting him! I wouldn’t want to see you getting above yourself would I?
Tell Jack that I definitely want signed DVDs (I promise not to sell them on eBay :P.) And Episode Nine would have been my second choice. It’s more powerful as an overall episode but perhaps doesn’t showcase you as strongly.
C xx
The reply comes one minute later and is only a few sentences long.
C
Well why don’t you just go email Jack if you love him so much? I gotta go, speak soon!
D xx
Chris grins knowing that Darren isn’t really mad and shuts his laptop. He wants to listen to Darren’s album straight away but he’s tired and he wants to dedicate his full attention to it. So instead he spends the next half an hour trying to find toiletries.
He curls up in bed thinking of Darren, not for the first time. He’s in a new place now, Darren hasn’t had a chance to stamp his presence all over it so somehow it’s easier to think of him.
I gotta go, speak soon!
It’s hardly a heartfelt promise but for now, it’s enough.
*
Darren's POV
Title: Like A Satellite Trapped In Orbit (Around You) (13/18)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Overall angst
Word Count: ~3,500
Summary: Continuation to Gravity Thou Art A Heartless Bitch. Since Darren ended their relationship, Chris has been trying desperately to move on. But it’s not that easy. For either of them.
7th July 2013
‘Blackbird!’ Chris shouts suddenly, causing Jake who is dozing on the couch next to him, to jerk awake.
‘Huh?’ he mumbles blearily and focuses on the screen to see that Chris is still watching Chasing Evelyn, the reason he fell asleep in the first place.
‘Don’t you see?’ Chris says. ‘A blackbird. Of course. It all makes sense now. I just saw it in tonight’s episode and my suspicions were aroused. And then I went back to episode one...’ Chris gestures wildly at the TV, ‘and there it was!’ Chris didn’t add the fact that he had just watched through episode one three times in a row.
‘You lost me at blackbird’ Jacob says bluntly.
‘Just... go back to sleep Jake’ Chris says impatiently. ‘I have the potential to get a free dinner out of this.’
‘I’m gonna head actually. You’re scaring me.’
‘Right right, see ya’ Chris says waving him away absently, attention already focussed on his laptop. Jacob laughs and rolls his eyes fondly.
‘Bye then’ he says, not offended by Chris answering grunt and leaving him to indulge in whatever insanity he’s got himself into now.
Chris types one word to Darren.
D
BLACKBIRD!
C xx
He realises that that’s probably pretty nonsensical about a minute after he hits send and is just wondering whether to write another email, clarifying what he means when Darren’s reply falls into his inbox.
C
I assume you are referring to the important object in Chasing Evelyn? Because if you aren’t then I have no idea what you are talking about.
D xx
Chris laughs, surprised that even after all this time Darren still knows what’s going on his daft head.
D
Of course. The small blackbird figurine on Vince’s shelf. I assume it’s a throwback to the days when he used to go bird watching with his father or some sentimental bullshit like that? So... am I right?
C xx
Chris waits impatiently, fingers drumming on his desk as he waits. He’s pretty sure he’s cracked it. Darren doesn’t leave him waiting for long.
C
Yeah you’re right! I knew you’d get it. I was allowed to pick and they let me have it because of the bird watching connection like you thought.
D xx
Chris, initial happiness at having cracked the puzzle passing, suddenly realises the connotations of Darren picking that particular object. Blackbird had always been one of Darren’s favorite Kurt songs and Chris used to sing it quietly to him when Darren was having trouble sleeping, the same way Darren would sing Teenage Dream to him.
He wants to ask about it but is scared that the answer isn’t what he wants to hear. He wants to hear that Darren picked it because it
reminds him of Chris or at the very least Kurt and all the fun they had together during their Glee days. He doesn’t want to hear that he’s just been over thinking it as usual and it was just a random coincidence. So he doesn’t mention it.
D
If I remember correctly I think you now owe me dinner. That was the deal was it not?
C xx
C
Actually the deal was if you solved it before Episode Two. Seeing as Episode Thirteen has just aired I think that horse has well and truly bolted.
D xx
‘Oh’ Chris says aloud, weirdly disappointed.
D
Well we could still have dinner right? You’re coming into LA for the Emmy’s I’m guessing (no way that Evelyn won’t get nominated) so we could have dinner then. It would be a shame to miss each other again after the whole gig debacle. Er only if you want to of course.
Chris frowns and backspaces that last line. What is he, a teenage girl? This is a lot harder than he imagined especially when the worst that can happen is just Darren saying no. But that would break me he realises.
We can go Dutch. And by that I mean split the bill so get your mind out the gutter. So what do you reckon?
C xx
Chris spends the next agonising few minutes nervously shredding up what is most likely an important document and obsessively rearranging his pens in ten different ways. When Darren’s reply comes he almost can’t click on it and it takes a minute of self berating before he can bring himself to do it.
C
Sounds great to me, that is if Evelyn really does get nominated (I am astounded by your optimism). And I would love to go Dutch with you ;)
Just name a time and place and I’ll be there.
D xx
Chris releases a breath that he didn’t even realise he was holding. He feels a little foolish now, not even sure why he was so worried Darren would say no. He has no reason too, as far as Darren is concerned they are just friends.
D
Text you nearer the time yeah? Not even sure what dates you’ll be around yet ;)
C xx
C
Sounds perfect
D xx
Chris grins widely. Sounds perfect. It sounds pretty perfect to him as well.
11th July 2013
Chris is awoken by a phone call.
‘Hello’ he mutters sleepily into the phone.
‘Ahhhhhhh!’ screams a voice down the line and Chris flinches, ripping the phone away from his ear and resisting the urge to drop it.
‘Cool it Han’ he yells in the direction of his phone, before tentatively bringing it to his ear again. Now it’s just a lot of meaningless gibberish which is definitely preferably to screaming.
‘Oh my God we’re all so proud of you. I can’t believe it. Well of course I can because you’re my brother and amazing and awesome and of course you would get it but... yeah wow. It’s a big deal. And Darren too of course! Massive congrats to him as well.’
‘Hannah please explain what in the merry hell you are talking about’ Chris says but not unkindly.
‘Oh my God Chris you are so out of touch it’s almost embarrassing.’
‘Well as your big brother I do basically live to embarrass you’ Chris chuckles.
‘Aren’t you there to provide me with company and support etc?’
‘That’s just the small print. It’s not that important.’
‘The small print is always important!’
‘Han please get to the point’ Chris says fondly.
‘You’ve been nominated of course!’ Hannah squeals and it takes Chris to get his head around that one.
‘Wait. You mean Emmy noms? That was today?’
‘Yeees Chris! I got up specially to see that you got nominated. Because if you didn’t I would have to get down there and found out why the hell not!’
‘Well thank God they’ve been saved that horror. Hell knows no fury like a teenage girl especially a fangirl.’
‘Exactly. Anyway you got nominated for Outstanding Drama Series and Writing for a Drama Series! They’re not the only ones, some of your actors got nominated as well!’
'Oh my God. That’s brilliant news! Thanks Han!’
‘Just delivering the news. Although if you are in favour of doing the opposite of shooting the messenger and rewarding her instead there are some new shoes I’ve had my eye on.’
Chris laughs. ‘Nice try sis but you have no hope of suckering me into buying you anything after that whole coat incident in which it turned out to be five hundred bucks.’
‘It was designer!’ Hannah replies, sounding horrified that Chris doesn’t seem to understand this.
‘I wouldn’t know much about that. I have people that dress me when it’s important’ he says.
‘You suck’ is Hannah’s conclusion after a long pause. Chris was extremely tempted to make a dirty joke at that but felt his little sister was perhaps not an appropriate recipient of it.
‘Mmm’ he says instead. ‘Well I have to go and call the gang and tell them the good news. Thanks Hannah, I love you!’
‘I love you too, even if you don’t buy me things’ Hannah says. ‘You better call the parents later, I’m sure they will want to congratulate you themselves.’
‘Will do. Bye honey!’
‘Bye Chris.’
*
After Chris has called the entirety of his cast, most of his key crew members and his parents, celebrated so much that his voice hurts and having agreed to a party around Alex’s in a few days time, he gets a moment to look up the complete list of nominations. He gets a small thrill at seeing his name in black and white next to two awards. And to see Alex nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series and Seb up for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series was just the icing on the proverbial cake.
He can’t help but feel proud when he sees that Darren is also nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series and is amused to see Jack up for the same award. That must be interesting, with them living together. Chasing Evelyn has also been nominated for Outstanding Drama Series so Darren’s show was in direct completion with his own.
At that moment there is a knock on the door, obnoxious enough that Chris is pretty certain of who it is before he even opens it.
‘Hello Alex’ he says, unsurprised to see his friend standing there.
‘Alright Chris? I bought beer!’ Alex steps past Chris and makes himself comfortable on the sofa.
‘Come in’ Chris says sarcastically and shuts the door. ‘Can you try not to mess up the place? I am moving tomorrow!’
Alex completely ignores him, putting his feet up on the coffee table. ‘So that’s where all your furniture’s gone. Anyway have you texted Darren yet? We need to engage in come suitable smack talk to psyche out the competition.’
‘What good will that do?’ Chris asks. ‘We’re not in control of who wins.’
‘Yeah but it’s fun’ Alex shrugs.
Almost as if in answer to Alex’s question, Chris’ phone picks that second to go off.
‘It’s Darren’ Chris laughs. ‘Clearly he had the same idea.’
Darren Criss
Congrats on all the noms! Not that I'm surprised - you are far too talented to be ignored. Roll on September. (But I hate to say that there's no way this Alex guy is getting my Lead Actor award.)
‘He says you’ve got no chance Alex’ Chris says. ‘Are you gonna take that?’
‘Certainly not! Tell Curly to watch himself, it’s on!’
Chris complies with Alex’s demand, typing out a quick reply.
Darren Criss
Bring it! Name the time and place...
Alex, reading over Chris’ shoulder, grabs the phone and taps out his own reply.
Chris Colfer
this is alex c u in la in sept 4 the showdown u r goin down!!!!
‘Urgh Alex, we’ve spoken about punctuation. And don’t get me started on everything else that is wrong with what you wrote.’
He types out another quick reply to Darren.
Chris Colfer
Oh god. My eyes. My beautiful text box has been sullied! I'm so sorry!
Darren Criss
I think my eyes are still bleeding. What did SPAG ever do to offend Alex?
Chris read the text aloud.
‘Tell Darren to bring this SPAG bloke with him. I’ll take them both on’ Alex says determinedly. Chris snorts with laughter, looking at Alex, expecting him to be joking. But Alex looks deadly serious. Chris laughs again and taps out Alex’s response to Darren.
They text back and forth for a while and Chris is pleased when Darren asks if he’ll have a look at the advanced copy of his new album for him. Even after all this time Darren still trusts his judgement and it still makes Chris feel happy to know it, especially when Darren says he’ll send it off straight away. Except...
‘Oh no he didn’t’ Chris mutters.
‘What?’ Alex asks and Chris jumps, having forgotten he was there. ‘He’s actually text speaking me right now. This is not acceptable.’
He writes something to that effect to Darren but just gets more text speak in return which makes him laugh.
Chris Colfer
I'm calling 911. You're clearly having a stroke.
Darren Criss
U <3 me & u no it
The grin that has been plastered on Chris’ face as a result of joking around with Darren the way they used to, fades immediately, causing Alex to glance up from the TV that Chris hadn’t even realised he had turned on. Because yeah... even after all this time he still does and he knows that it was just a typical response and that Darren didn’t mean anything by it but it still makes his heart sink. He wants to say of course I do or even the cheesy but ever relevant always. He wants to say he misses Darren and his jokes and his laugh but...
Chris Colfer
A fact that is up for constant review.
Is what he says instead and he curses himself for his cowardice.
The conversation trails off then and Chris sighs, thumbing his phone absently.
‘You truly are the most pathetic human being I have ever had the misfortune to know’ Alex says.
‘Well you’re the most pathetic human being anyone has had the misfortune to know’ Chris counters childishly.
Alex just gives him a withering look. ‘But seriously. You’re like a teenage girl. All ridiculous heart eyes one minute and love sick sighs the next.'
‘Yeah well...’ Chris starts defensively but then realises he doesn’t really have a defence. ‘Just shut up alright, you don’t know what it’s like.’
‘No I don’t’ Alex muses. ‘But it’s people like you that make me glad that I’ve never been in love. You don’t make it look like much fun.’
‘Well... sometimes it isn’t’ Chris agrees. Then he remembers being curled up into Darren’s side, one hand absently running through Darren’s curls, squabbling quietly over what movie to watch, and sharing popcorn, fingers getting tangled up in the bowl. It felt safe and sweet and right.
‘But a lot of the time it’s wonderful.’
*
12th July 2013
‘You’re dead to me’ Chris snaps down the phone.
‘So the moving is going well I take it?’ Alex asks drily.
Chris looks around his new house which is right now a jumble of boxes and ill sorted furniture. The only things that have made it to the correct places are his bed, food and his laptop. The important things in life. Apart from that the only thing he is certain of the location of is the CD that Darren actually over nighted to his agent and was given to him that morning and is currently sitting next to his laptop.
‘You were meant to help me move jackass!’ Chris yells.
‘Yeah well shit happened and then, insert convoluted but believable excuse here.’
‘This is why you have no friends.’
‘Well My Crabby Pants maybe I’ll call you back when you’re being less bitchy.’
‘Look if you come round and set up my internet connection all will be forgiven’ Chris says quickly.
Alex hesitates. ‘You’ve got yourself a deal.’
*
Five hours later not only has Alex set up his internet connection (possibly buying Chris’ eternal gratitude) but also helped him move most of his furniture to its correct place and started on the boxes.
He leaves after that, genuinely having previous plans but he’s more than redeemed himself in Chris’ eyes and he sends him off cheerfully enough, agreeing that he will be at the Emmy celebration party the next day.
The first thing that Chris does when he is alone is to email Darren to tell him that he’s got the disc.
D
My agent passed me Another Lifetime today, I’ll have a listen soon and get back to you on it. Trust you to over night the damn thing :) And how are you feeling now that it’s all had a chance to sink in? Nominated for an Emmy second year running. And for Lead Actor this time Dare, you really are going up in the world aren’t you? I don’t think I said this yesterday but congratulations, you really deserve it.
I hope your director picked a good episode for you, I’ve seen the other nominees and I think you’re a sure win if he played it right. Hope it was episode four, your performance is particularly stellar in that episode, the part where you see Evelyn for the first time breaks my heart every time I watch it.
Of course I probably shouldn’t be supporting the competition but Alex will never know right?
And of course I was completely unsurprised that Jack was nominated what with him carrying the series and all :P Have you killed him yet?
Drinks are most definitely on me when we go for dinner!
C xx
Chris wastes some time replying to the various emails he has received over the course of the day, congratulating him on his nomination, including a particularly lovely one from his grandmother who had actually been with him at the 2011 awards. He makes a mental note to call her and then another to decide who to take as his plus one this year.
He kills a bit more time with a phone call from Ashley who yells dramatically about his phone being engaged for whole of yesterday and hoping that he hasn’t got too big to remember who his friends are. He assures her that he hasn’t and by the time he’s finished setting a catch up date with her, Darren’s reply has come.
C
Glad that it got to you OK! I’m really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it, a few tracks in particular.
And yeah the nominations are such a buzz! I’ve rethought the killing Jack plan. We’ve got our second season and we’re gonna need him for it to work so unfortunately my career sort of relies on him at the moment. I guess I’ll just have to work on discrediting him instead ;)
And talking about going up in the world you actually wrote a show that got nominated! That’s so much more impressive than a nomination for acting (even if it is lead :P). So well done Chris, you deserve it more than anyone I know. Geez you’ve done more in 23 years than most people do in a lifetime, I’m so proud of you. And as you know I have been an avid watcher and fanboy of Satellite TV and I’m thrilled to see it getting the recognition it deserves.
But I think you’ll find the drinks are on me!
D xx
D
Why don’t we buy each other a drink? Then the drinks are on both of us! And I guess I just can’t help being impressive, it’s just inherent I’m afraid.
I’ve just realised that I guess I’ll have to watch for your Grammy nom now won’t I Mr Overachiever, what with your new album coming. Of course I have yet to pass judgement on it but I’m sure it will be incredible.
Congrats on your second season although there was never any doubt in my mind that it would happen. And tell Jack that I’m still his biggest fan and that if he doesn’t win then he’s been robbed :D
C xx
It doesn’t take long for Darren to reply and Chris can’t help but wonder if Darren had remained glued to his laptop or iPhone, waiting for the reply the same way he had.
C
Who are you calling an Overachiever?
And I see how it is. Supporting Jack over someone from your own show just to spite me? Low man, low :P
But Jack says that he’s glad that you remain a faithful fan and that he will send you those signed DVDs if you still want them. By the way Martin (my director) submitted Episode Nine and will be a bit pissed off when I tell him that his choice didn’t meet with the Chris Colfer seal of approval.
D xx
D
Of course I’m supporting him! I wouldn’t want to see you getting above yourself would I?
Tell Jack that I definitely want signed DVDs (I promise not to sell them on eBay :P.) And Episode Nine would have been my second choice. It’s more powerful as an overall episode but perhaps doesn’t showcase you as strongly.
C xx
The reply comes one minute later and is only a few sentences long.
C
Well why don’t you just go email Jack if you love him so much? I gotta go, speak soon!
D xx
Chris grins knowing that Darren isn’t really mad and shuts his laptop. He wants to listen to Darren’s album straight away but he’s tired and he wants to dedicate his full attention to it. So instead he spends the next half an hour trying to find toiletries.
He curls up in bed thinking of Darren, not for the first time. He’s in a new place now, Darren hasn’t had a chance to stamp his presence all over it so somehow it’s easier to think of him.
I gotta go, speak soon!
It’s hardly a heartfelt promise but for now, it’s enough.
*
Darren's POV