We were all very happy with Artie and Tina being endgame, but we wanted explanations, right?


Rachel entered the choir room on a Tuesday afternoon.

"Oh," she's surprised to see Artie sitting beside what looked like a romantic dining table.

"Hey Rach," Artie greeted her happily.

"Hey Artie," Rachel greeted back. She stared at him.

He was just sitting there – smiling, but not necessarily looking at anything. It was beginning to freak her out.

"I didn't know you were still here," she said. She eyed the utensils. She wasn't sure if he was finished or about to start. The kids would be here in an hour, and they needed the space to practice for Sectionals.

Artie noticed, finally awoken from his ridiculously happy state. "Don't worry," he assured. "I was just cleaning up."

"Oh," said Rachel, relieved. "Let me help you."

The two of them placed the plates and utensils back in the basket in silence.

The silence bothered Rachel. They never were the best of friends, but they were still close, she thought. Also, she admitted she was curious with who the lunch setting was for.

Finally, "So," she started teasingly. "What happened here?"

Artie couldn't stop himself from grinning every time he says her name. "Tina."

Rachel smiled at the thought. She remembered that time she had a picnic with Finn in the auditorium. "That's nice."

That was all she could reply. Despite the many years they've spent together, she never really had long conversations with either Artie or Tina. Still, whatever conversations they had, Rachel thought it was enough to seal a true form of friendship.

The silence came back, but it wasn't awkward anymore. Both of them were smiling. That was enough.

"I gotta go, Rachel," Artie replied when they were finished. "I have a wedding to plan."

Rachel looked surprised. Brittana and Klaine's wedding just ended. "Another wedding?"

"It's not soon," he explained. "But I like to think ahead."

As he placed the basket on his lap and wheeled toward the door, he turned to Rachel and smiled again. "I sorta proposed," he said.

Before Rachel could even react, Artie wheeled away with a wide grin plastered on his face like an idiot.

He couldn't even wait until he reached his house to sing Hey Soul Sister by Train.

They'd been singing this song the moment they first heard it on radio – when they were still dating. It was a fun song.

It was sort of their song. Or his song to her.

Heeey heeeey heeeeey

The song bursted out of him the moment he was alone in the hallways. It felt like it was waiting to come out of him the moment Tina agreed to the idea.

Your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brains
I knew I wouldn't forget you
And so I went and let you blow my mind

After all these years of kisses, dreams, heartbreak, pain, reconciliation, friendship, valedictorian speeches, stronger bonds, it all boiled down to how Tina always made him feel – smitten.

Hey soul sister, ain't that mister mister on the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair, you know
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight

He couldn't get the song out of his head all day. Which is surprising, given the fact that he had tried to avoid this song since they had broken up five years ago – or since that moment the Warblers sang it on Sectionals.

He knew this happy song was always going to make him fall in love with Tina Cohen-Chang again.

I'm so obsessed
My heart is bound to beat right out my untrimmed chest
I believe in you, like a virgin, you're Madonna
And I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind

Hey soul sister, ain't that mister mister on the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair, you know
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight

After all these years of trying to forget the tune, every word still came out of him perfectly.

The way you can't cut a rug
Watching you's the only drug I need
So gangster, I'm so thug
You're the only one I'm dreaming of
You see I can be myself now finally
In fact there's nothing I can't be
I want the world to see you'll be with me

This song was always in the back of Artie's mind.

Hey soul sister, ain't that mister mister on the radio, stereo
The way you move ain't fair you know
Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss a single thing you do tonight

Heeey heeeey heeeeey

Tina was always in the back of his mind - and now that thought comforted him.


The next chapter is ready and much much much longer than this. Thoughts would be really appreciated, like if I captured the characters well and song choices or suggestions would be gladly appreciated!