Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.
Note: Kurt will make a cameo in most of the chapters (at least, in those that he's not a main character in), hence why he's the main character tag on this. Again, these are just drabbles/short one-shots that are in no way related to each other except in regards to the song. Please do review this. Pairings are listed in the first chapter.
And constant (constant) craving (craving)
Has always (always) been
"I really can't do this right now," Tina puts her Chemistry book in her locker and shuts the door. "I'm so sorry. I just…I can't do this."
"Tina, please," Artie begs. "You know I still love you, and you do this to me?"
"I do love you," Tina quietly admits. She catches herself and gulps. "I mean…"
Artie blinks, trying to comprehend what she's just said. "You still love me?"
"I…oh, God." Tina closes her eyes. "Artie, you were my first boyfriend. Of course I love you in…some way or another…"
"Oh," Artie sighs heavily. "I understand."
"Well…I'll see you around," Tina says awkwardly and begins to walk away. Artie watches her longingly, her long black hair swaying behind her as she makes her way down the hall. He pulls his gloves up and pushes himself in the opposite direction. Another soul comes along and gives him a hand.
"Thanks," Artie murmurs.
"You're welcome," the soft voice answers.
Artie turns so he can see. "Kurt?"
"You still love her," Kurt says, his head low and close to Artie's. "Tina. I can see it in your eyes. It's been, what, over a year, and you still have feelings for her?"
"Yes," Artie says after a moment. He doesn't bother to lie to Kurt, who was excellent at seeing through people. "I can't help it. She was my first kiss."
Kurt suddenly stops and quick as a wink is squatting on the floor in front of Artie. "She's with Mike now. I don't mean to be cruel here, but you've got to get over her."
"I can't," Artie insists. "I've tried, and you know I have."
"No," Kurt shakes his head. "You haven't tried. Sleeping with Brittany doesn't classify as trying to get over Tina."
"And what would you know of getting over people?" Artie snaps, trying to go along his way, but is unable to due to Kurt blocking him.
"I got over Finn, did I not?" Kurt quirks a brow.
"I suppose that's true," Artie concedes. "But I just can't get over Tina Cohen-Chang. I mean, she just told me she loves me! There's hope!"
"Yeah, as a brother," Kurt reminds him. "Nothing more, nothing less."
"No, there was something in the way she said it that implied she still has feelings for me," Artie bangs the armrest of his chair with his hand. "And for that, I still have hope."
He wheels away, pushing past Kurt and knocking the diva on his ass without a second thought.
Later
"Who dis be?" Artie asks as he picks up his phone.
"Tina," the voice whispers. "Artie, I'm so sorry about earlier."
"What do you have to be sorry about?" Artie rubs his nose, an anxious habit.
"I promised I'd never lie to you again after I told you I faked my stutter, and, well, I lied to you today." Tina sighs heavily and listens to the silence from the other end. "Artie? Are you there?"
"Yes, I'm here," Artie says after a moment. "What did you lie about?"
"I think I still have unresolved feelings for you," she admits. "I mean, Mike is wonderful and all, but he's just so…Asian. And everything revolves around dance or dinner with his mother. With you, it was different. You knew what it was like to be different."
"That's what I used to think about you," Artie finally says. "Until I found out that you lied about something for years just because it was easier and because it got you out of doing oral reports." He pauses. "But I didn't care, because I loved you."
"Artie, Mike hit me the other day," Tina blurts out, a confession she'd never shared.
Artie sits in stunned silence. "What?" He manages to gasp out.
"He just lost his temper with me…see, I was just expressing my views, nothing all that big…and he just sort of hit me." A tear slides down her face. "You're the only person I've told…and you're the only person I thought of to tell."
"What was the argument about?" Artie flusters, still shocked to hear this news.
"I told him that I still had feelings for you, and that I was confused and frustrated over it, and he got pissed." She clears her throat. "So I tried to break up with him, after he hit me, and…well, he just hit me again."
"And this was all because of…me?" Artie breathes.
"Yes," she says quietly. "I know you probably don't forgive me for cheating on you with Mike in the first place, but…I want to give us another chance, Artie."
"I don't know," he says slowly. "How do I know you won't cheat again?"
"Maybe because I never stopped thinking about you, not once? Maybe because even when I lost my virginity to Mike, I was wishing it had been you?" She pauses again. "Maybe because I've changed, and so have you. Maybe-"
"Tina," he grins. "I'm going to stop you right there. I will take you back, on one condition."
"What is it?" She presses the phone to her ear. "Anything, I'll do it."
"You tell me you love me face-to-face so I can tell if this is real or not."
"It's a deal," she smiles, and lets the phone fall out of her hand.
Up next: Puck/Kurt
