Author's note: Ho hum, why are these alerts and whatnots going funny again? I'm not sure either. But, thank you so much to all of you already working your way around these problems! Hopefully this chapter answers a few questions, and will probably give you a few more! Thoughts are much appreciated!
Disclaimer: You know what I'm going to say, it does not belong to me.
"So, you're probably wondering why you're both here," Miss Pillsbury looked at Artie and Tina expectantly. They had both been called to her office during their first period, and hadn't received note about what it was about, just that they were needed. They both shared the first class – Spanish, with Mr. Schuester – and had seen they both had the exact same time, so it was a bit nerve-wracking wondering what Miss. Pillsbury was going to talk to them about.
"Sort of," Tina said nodding her head, and her Artie shared a quick smile at the weirdness of the situation.
"Well, as you both are aware, you are both excellent tutors in our program. We have some new students that need tutoring, but they are both...needing some extra attention and care." Miss. Pillsbury said carefully.
Artie and Tina looked at each other again. They had experienced all kinds of students throughout their days tutoring at McKinley High, from the jocks who had thrown slushies in their faces, to students panicking that they had received an 89%, and not a 90%.
"What do you mean Miss. Pillsbury?" Artie asked.
"What I mean to say, is that both students are friends of yours, and both are in need of a lot of catch-up to pass their classes. They need help in math Artie, which is why you're here, and in history Tina, which is why you're here. Since they both need help in those subjects, and you two are our best tutors, we came up with a compromise. It's not been done before, and we can understand if you say no, but have a think about it."
Tina and Artie looked at each other nervously.
"What we'd like you two to do is set up times between all 4 of you that would work out, in which you would be studying History one night, and Math the next. It is a boy and girl, so we feel the influence you would both have would be calming to both students and it would aid them in studying. Of course, you are welcome to split up some tutoring sessions, so you can have 2 lessons to yourselves each week, and 2 together. What do you think?"
"It wouldn't be a problem Miss. Pillsbury. Tina and I are great friends anyway, and if it helps the other students, we don't mind in the least," Artie said earnestly.
"I'm cool with it too. It'll be cool seeing math being tutored, and we'll definitely be able to help each other out!" Tina said with an awkward smile.
"Perfect!" Miss. Pillsbury beamed at the pair, "Now, the last thing is that they are both students that you already know, and are friends with. It's Noah and Santana."
"From Glee?" Tina squeaked. As much as Glee had progressed their relationship with the two, this was the guy who had slushied her every chance he could get, and the now head Cheerio.
"Yes," Miss. Pillsbury looked anxious, "Will that be ok?"
"That's fine Miss. Pillsbury," Artie said, placing his hand on Tina's comfortingly. Then he remembered, and quickly took it away, "Piece of dirt," he said awkwardly.
"Great! So you guys will start tomorrow after school!"
At lunch another Glee meeting – minus Artie and Tina – was held.
"So what's the news Noah?" Rachel smiled brightly at him.
"We're golden. Miss. Pillsbury has assigned us both Artie and Tina, and we're going to be doing 2 joint sessions a week, and 2 independent sessions. Perfect for planting those green seeds!"
"Santana, what did Miss Sylvester say about missing that Cheerio practice one night a week?" Quinn said anxiously.
"Oh, she's cool with it. Since Mr. Schue told Figgins that half the Cheerios should have failed Spanish, she's been paranoid about it happening again, so she's fine with it."
"Perfect," said Finn. "Now, do you guys know the plan for the first lesson?"
"Where is everyone?" Artie said looking around.
"I'm not sure," Tina frowned. "Mercedes said her and Kurt were running over to the mall for some 'emergency shopping,' Rachel, Finn, Quinn, Puck said they were discussing something," they exchanged somewhat knowing glances at this, "And Santana, Britt, Mike and Matt said they were going out to lunch for a double-date," she glossed over this detail quickly, hoping to avoid the awkward silence that was abound whenever dating was mentioned.
"Well, I guess it's just us for lunch then!" Artie said cheerfully.
Tina nodded, laughing inwardly that she knew she could always depend on Artie's optimism. "So what do you think about this whole tutoring thing? I mean, we've never done double-tutoring before, and it's Puck and Santana."
"Well, I'm not really concerned about the double-tutoring aspect. I mean, I know you're a fantastic tutor," Tina blushed at this point, "And I'm not too bad myself," he winked at her, "So that's not going to be an issue. We'll just figure out what we can do to help each other out, and arrange who's going to be tutoring when. If Puck and Santana need help like it sounds they do, then I don't think they're going to be messing around. More like taking all the information that they can get. If Santana fails a class, she's off the Cheerios, and if Puck fails, he's going to be off the football team. Neither of them want that, so we have that in our favor."
"There is that," Tina conceded, still worried, "I know they've changed a lot since they've joined Glee, I'm just...I guess it's hard to forget some stuff, right?" Tina then groaned and smacked herself upside the head internally, Yeah, like maybe not forgetting about your best friend not having a stutter. Way to go genius.
"I know, but all we can do is hope and believe in them right?" Artie smiled bashfully.
"Well, at least we have each other," Tina smiled at him, hoping that with Artie's reaction, maybe he was really getting over her lie.
"High-five to that!" Tina laughed and high-fived Artie, giving each other goofy grins. They chatted about random things for the rest of the lunch hour, and started counting down the hours to Glee.
After Glee practice, Tina and Artie waited for Puck and Santana. Puck had told them at the beginning of rehearsal that they would wait for them to figure out a time to start studying. They were both talking to Quinn and Kurt quietly about something, although they weren't close enough to figure out what they were saying, and didn't want to intrude. Suddenly realizing that they were the only one's talking, Kurt's head popped up.
"And yes, I would absolutely love to give you a makeover for your pregnancy Quinn! Puck, please let me get my hands on your hair, and Santana, same thing!" Kurt said in a high-pitched voice.
Puck, Santana, and Quinn shot him weird glances, and then figured it out. "Right Kurt, I would love to find some pants that can expand with me," Quinn laughed quietly.
"We'll see about the hair," Puck shot a warning glance at Kurt and ran a hand through his mohawk. It was one of the things that showed him as apart from the crowd, and showed his coolness. Well, it was one of the things, beside his arms, Oh yeah!
Puck and Santana made their way over to where Artie and Tina were standing.
"Um, sorry guys," Santana said awkwardly, "You know Kurt and his makeover ideas!"
Tina laughed, Kurt had been trying to persuade her for a long time to wear some tighter clothing to "Show off that fabulous body," but she had successfully resisted him so far. She was comfortable showing some skin, she wasn't a prude, but she didn't dress to impress people. She dressed the way she did to express herself.
Artie gave a knowing grin to Tina, he had been on the receiving end of Kurt's fashion advice too. "But Artie, suspenders and sweater vests? Please let me show you some alternatives!" Artie still stuck to his clothing though, because it worked for him. When he was moving around, he couldn't let his clothing get snagged and start working it's way down. The first time he had fallen out of his chair and he had tried getting back in, he had successfully got back in, and then noticed his pants around his thighs. That could not happen in public. Sweater vests weren't the most 'fashionable' either, but they were warm!
"Yeah, we know what you mean, no worries," Artie smiled at them both. "So, do you guys want to figure out when would work for everyone?"
"I have football practice Monday, Tuesday after school, and Friday before school. Aside from that, I'm pretty much clear," Puck drawled.
"I have Cheerios at the same time," Santana nodded her head at Puck.
"Cool," Artie said cheerfully, "Why don't we do the two together sessions on Wednesday, and Thursday after Glee, and then the two separate ones on the weekend? Tina?"
"Yup, sounds fine with me!" Tina smiled at Artie.
"Sounds great guys," Santana grinned at Puck discreetly, nodding her head slightly towards Tina.
"Yeah, I'm really looking forward to getting to know some more...information," he smirked at Tina, running his eyes all over her.
Tina was slightly stunned. Why was Noah Puckerman checking her out? She felt...exposed. Scratch Kurt's plan, more clothing!
Although Artie was at a slight disadvantage at being on a lower height than Puck and Santana – Tina had sat next to him while they were waiting – he still couldn't miss the way Puck looked Tina up and down, and he didn't like it at all. She was his best friend first of all, they had only gone out on a date 3 weeks ago, and yeah, he'll admit it, he was sort of hoping for a second one but didn't exactly know how to broach it. Second they were going to be tutoring Puck, so it was pretty unprofessional. Thirdly, hey, he doesn't need a thirdly, back off Puck!
"Me too," Santana smirked at Artie, "I'm definitely looking forward into tapping all of that brain-power of your's Artie, and Tina," she leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
Tina nearly fell over in astonishment. What was Santana doing kissing Artie?! She nearly pushed her off him, but then remembered, she didn't exactly have the right to do that. They had had an amazing friendship which had turned into a romantic relationship, and her confession had screwed it up. She desperately wanted to turn the clock back, but knew she couldn't. She wished that there could be the possibility of a second date though. Still, he was her best friend, so she could technically push her off...thankfully it was only a quick second kiss though, otherwise Santana would most likely have been on the floor by now.
"Cool, so we'll see you guys tomorrow," Puck said lazily. "Bye guys!"
"Bye!" echoed Santana, blowing them an air kiss.
Puck and Santana looked at each other outside of the music room and instantly put their fingers to their lips and ran to the auditorium. They reached it just in time, pushed open the door and collapsed to the ground, laughing their heads off.
"Did you see Artie's face when I was checking out Tina?" Puck laughed hysterically.
"Um, did you see her face when I kissed him? I almost thought she was going to punch me right then and there!" Santana gasped in between breaths.
"So, I take it the plan is a-go?" Kurt said snarkily.
"Plan is a-go and is in full take-off!" Puck choked out.
"Santana, you know the next stage of the plan?" Rachel said bossily.
"Indeed!" Santana mock-saluted her.
"Puck, you know what's up next?" Mercedes said.
"Aye, aye!" Puck tipped an imaginary hat to her.
The rest of the group high-fived, maybe, just maybe, their plan could work.
