CHAPTER ONE

COUNT ON ME

Artist: Bruno Mars

MCKINLEY HALLWAY

OUTSIDE OF CHIOR ROOM

4:12PM

"Everyone is staring." Kitty looked over Artie's head; and slightly twisted her head passed her shoulders. She found the student body simply staring – all with different degrees of stares. By far the most count is the disgusted kind. She knew what they were thinking. How could a cheerleader be in the lap of the loser stuck in the wheelchair. She tensed up as she tried her hardest to remain feeling safe in her home. But; with everyone staring, and judging it was damn hard too. She flash backed to her old school – where all she received was hatred when everyone found out. She twisted her head back to look down in her lap. Fighting tears.

Artie felt how truly upset Kitty was. He could understand where she was coming from. Really. He could. He was used to the stares. The jokes. The hatred. He had a very strong feeling that Kitty was too truly. That was why she hid it with her 'don't come near me' attitude. He could address it now – but he knew that he would push Kitty away if he should approach the subject with everyone within close hearing distance. So he decided to play it off lightly. "Yeah, at our hotness." He kept pushing the wheels of the chair. Hopefully preventing Kitty from getting up. He was almost to the part of the hallway were he had to turn left for their next class. "Besides, we both know that the raw, animal attraction between us is undeniable. The rest of the student body just want to bask in it as second handed glow."

Kitty rolled her eyes; and stared into his blue eyes. "Did you really just say that?" She bit her lip as she desperately tried to swallow the sappy lovely diddly things she wanted to come spewing out of her mouth. "No wonder Tina broke up with you. And Brittany, and Sugar and the girl in the wheelchair with the disturbingly massive boobs." She had to hold herself tightly in check as a massive wave of uncensored jealously coursed through her blood at the thought of that bitch. Granted she had been dating Puck at the wedding. But; they had broken up the morning after. In the hotel room. But she had felt the jealously coarse through her system every time she spotted Artie with that slut in a wheel chair. She was sure that Artie would find Betty easier to date – seeing how she also was stuck in the wheel chair; that she would fully realize that Artie had a hard time in the sexual aspects of his life. After all her couldn't feel his legs past the hips. She had ease dropped on them while she had been dancing in Puck's arms. She had informed Artie that her spinal injury was different from his. Granted she couldn't move her legs either; but she could fully use her hips to push up; and down. Artie had looked very interested; and asked if he should get a room. The slut said yes. That was when she dragged Puck out of the room; and fucked his brains out the entire night.

Artie hid the smirk. But he felt his heart about to burst. Kitty was jealous of Betty. She was jealous. That meant that she truly had feelings for him in the romantic sense. "Go out with me. I can have dinner reversions at 'Breadsticks for tonight."

"I hate 'Breadsticks'. She honestly hated that restaurant. She knew it was an popular hangout of highs schoolers – especially McKinley's student body. She didn't know why through – it wasn't that great of an restaurant. They only served mediocre food. Very disgusting water. The water was from the tap. Which was really uncool for an restaurant to serve. They should have a water cooler for their water serving purposes.

"So that's why you did the 'Left Behind' scene there. You didn't look like you were enjoying being in there." Artie clicked his tongue.

"You were there?" Kitty looked down into his eyes in surprise.

Artie smiled. "Sure I was."

"I never saw you in any of the 'Left Behind' meetings." Kitty squeezed her eyes. She gently shook her head a she flashed back to every single of the 'Left Behind' meetings since she had started the club; on her first day of school. Not once was Artie in the room.

"I wasn't a member of the 'Left Behind' club." Artie smirked. "No offense but I wouldn't be caught dead in a club that like. Even through I was a virgin at the time (both times) of Quinn's celibacy club; I wouldn't join. But; every meeting I would be out in hall way with the door slightly ajar and I would simply listen to you go on; and on ..."

Kitty raised her right eye brow "Watch how you end that sentence buddy."

"I wouldn't insult your belief in God and the end times." Artie replied in a low voice. "I believe in God. I know that he's going to come and rapture his church; I know that the earth has to live in seven years of hell – which we deserve for turning our backs on HIM." He swallowed. "I haven't accepted him into my heart or life yet – but I'm close. Closer than I ever was before." He laughed; "You would think after my accident when I was eight – that I would be fully ready to accept him. But I told him then that I would accept him into my heart if he would heal me completely." He pushed the wheels of the chair forward; "You can tell that he hasn't. I was angry. Deeply angry at him. I was angry at him every time I had to sit in this chair – every time I couldn't will myself to feel my toes. Every time I got teased for being in the chair – for being sluiced."

"But; then Quinn Fabray got pregnant. With her boyfriend's best friend nerveless. She never once lost her faith in her God during her spiral of being on top of the food chain – to being thrown to the bottom. All in a flash. Even when she regained her spot on the food chain after she lost the baby weight – and rejoined the Cheerio's – then when she lost prom queen in junior year – and Finn broke up with her for the second and final time – for Rachel Berry nerveless. When she joined the shanks – not once did she lose her faith in her God. When she went crazy to get Beth back from Shelby – and finally came to realize that Beth truly wasn't meant to be with her. She remained faithful to her God." Artie sighed.

"I admire Quinn." He finished.

"I do too." Kitty softy said. "I have a feeling that you don't admire me, and my faith in God."

Artie looked her straight in the eyes. "Your faith in God is just as true as Quinn's is." He left it at that.

Kitty swallowed.

"Go out with me." He said in a low voice. "Anywhere you want to go; we'll go. If you want no one else to find out – than that's fine with me. Just go out with me."

Kitty slowly nodded.

"There's a carnival and the rest of the Gleeks are going. We can go together; and hang out with them. No one needs to know that you and I are together. All anyone will see are the Gleeks hanging out, and bonding." Artie said with a smile.

Kitty got off his lap and kept her hands on his thighs. "Okay; I'll drive." She winked.

Artie grinned. "You know those bumper cars? I can drive 'em. I don't need the use of my legs for those. After all they go no matter what. As long as someone steels the wheel."

Kitty tilted her head. "I never knew that."

Artie grinned; "I researched it."

"Okay; Mr. Abrams you drive the bumper cars." Kitty straightened up. "Personally I can't wait to see you behind the wheel of a car." She winked as she turned, and rushed down the hallway with a laugh.

"Oh you will. You'll see what I can properly do." Artie's blue eyes lite up as he watched Kitty disappear from view. He put his hands on the wheels and started down the hallway himself.

He missed the eyes that had been glued to him, and Kitty the entire time they had been talking. The eyes that had squinted in anger at the sight of a Cheerio in the lap of the wheel chair nerd.

LIMA FAIR GROUNDS

Kitty pulled into a parking space.

"Thank you for picking me up. I mean I know it's normal for the guy to pick up the girl for the date." Artie looked over at the blond.

"This isn't a date." Kitty roughly said staring out in the wind shield. "It's just two friends hanging out together. Two friends whom are going to meet up with a group of their friends. You may end up hitching a ride home with one of them." Her jaw tightened.

Artie noticed that her hands had been tightening on the steering wheel as she spoke. "Would you like me to find another way home?" He asked. He watched as her face tightened briefly.

"Do what you want to do." She jerked her door open and slammed it shut.

Artie watched in the side mirror as she stormed a few feet away from the car; and than halted. He saw her tight muscles through the back of her cheerleader uniform. He watched as her back heaved a few times before she turned back around to face the car. With a tight face she walked purposely back to the vehicle and he watched as the trunk door jerked open; hiding her from his sight. He unbuckled his seat belt just moments before his door opened. "I would like to come home with you. If you don't mind." He said with a smile.

She tilted his head. "Don't say anything that you won't follow through with." She said in a tight voice. She pushed the brakes the chair in to place. She held out her arm for him to take. She watched carefully as he maneuvered himself into his chair. Once he was fully in; and comfortable she pulled the chair backwards. She slammed shut the car door. She walked ahead of him; knowing that he was just fine wheeling himself. "Everyone said that they want to meat up at the hoop booth."

"Kitty …." Artie said staring at her stiff back. "I want to talk to you. Before we meet everyone else. Just talk to me. Please." He put the brakes on his chair. He watched as she halted in her steps. He patiently waited for her to turn around to face him once more.

Kitty rolled her neck as she tried desperately to fight down the raw anger that was coarsening though her system. She breathed in deeply as she fought to keep her temper in check. It wouldn't due to get Artie mad enough so he would take away his friendship from her. If he did that than she would never be able to be home again in his lap. She closed her eyes as she calmed herself down. Physically and mentally. Although her thoughts were racing in all the dark places.

"Kitty." Artie's soft calm voice said from behind her. He was waiting for her. Simply waiting. Waiting for what? She wasn't sure what he expected from her. What he wanted from her. He didn't want what everyone else wanted from her. What everyone else expected from her. He simply was just waiting for her. She was confused. Ever so confused. She slowly turned around to face him. She opened her mouth; and than shut it. All she felt was sheer anger and fear rushing to the tip of her tongue. She bit back from her normal reaction – well she didn't usually allow her fear to show in her voice too be people. Not even her parents. But; Artie somehow got under her skin. She wasn't sure when it happen – she just knew it had.

"I'm your friend, Kitty Wilde." Artie began. "I would like to go home with my friend."

"You have other friends whom would gladly give you a ride home." Kitty stiffly replied.

"Do you want me to find another ride home?" Artie tilted his head to the right; his hands resting comfortably in his lap.

"I don't matter. Whatever you want to do is fine with me." Kitty bit quickly out. She swallowed around the lump in her throat.

"You do matter." Artie gently replied. He watched as Kitty's head bowed down. "Look at me Kitty." He still spoke in the gentle smoothing soft tone. "Kitty I need to see your beautiful hazel eyes."

Slight heat bathed her face as she ever slowly lifted her eyes to meet the compassionate blue eyes. She tried desperately to hold onto the anger. The only emotion she wanted to feel right now as anger. It was the safe emotion. It was the emotion that helped her remain strong.

"You are my friend. You are the only friend that I look forward too seeing every single day." A soft smile pulled at his lips; "Ever since my freshmen year I was just waiting for you to grace the halls of McKinley. That no matter what hell the bullies would put me through every single day – from being pushed down the hallway; too being jerked to a stop suddenly or even worse being slushied – I was still looking forward to seeing you. Even though back then I knew I wouldn't meet you quite yet. You made me strong enough to keep coming back to that school. Even though you were not on my radar yet. But; you were on my radar. In here." He touched his heart.

Kitty desperately blinked back the tears that threatened to fall.

Artie put his hands onto the wheels; and gently pushed himself towards the blonde cheerleader. He stopped when the chair just barley touched her bare legs. "Even though you are fighting to push me away; I'm not going any where. I will always be there for you. I will always be here for you." He promised.

"You are going to New York." She husked out. Her eyes lowered once more. She stared at the hard packed dirt ground. She couldn't even look at any spot on him – because if she did she would just burst down in heart breaking sobs.

"I will always be here for you." Artie reached out, and took her right hand into both of his own. "No matter where in the world I'm the moment you need me; I'll be there. I could actually be on the moon; and I'll still be with you."

"You can't promise me that." Kitty wanted to jerk her hand out of his warm one. "No one can." Her chin tightened; "I all ready have God; I don't need anyone else being there for me."

"What have the human race done to hurt you so much?" Artie whispered. "I can see you are struggling with trust. Let me prove that you can trust me. Let me earn your trust – then you will know that I will never break it."

"I only told Ryder." Kitty whispered. She prayed that Artie didn't hear; otherwise he would question her. He wouldn't leave it alone until he had the truth. He was like dog with a bone in that fashion.

"Some day I hope you trust me enough to share with me what you shared with Ryder." Artie answered. He fully knew not to press Kitty for whatever she told Ryder. He had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach that he just knew what she told the younger boy. Kitty just had this soft look whenever she even glanced at the brown haired Sophomore; after Ryder told the Glee club that he was molested at age eleven. Artie inwardly cringed at his reaction to that news was. He was shocked to the core with Ryder told the group this – he didn't know what to say to let Ryder know that he had him on his side. That he wanted to tell him that it took great courage to publicly speak of that very sinful act. But then Sam made the rise crack about a older girl touching Ryder's junk. Artie snorted in laughter, and had the gall to put his own two cents worth in the inappropriate joke.

"Whom says I trust Ryder?" Kitty frowned darkly into Artie's eyes. "I never said that I trusted Ryder Lynn. I had a very weak moment; and I told him something personal. Something I should have never confide in him with. Something that I should never confide in any human ever."

She barked a rough laugh; "He's just waiting for the exact right time to tell everyone my deepest dark secret. The moment that I hurt his precious Marley Rose; then Ryder will be shouting from the roof tops what I told him." She bit her bottom lip. "I don't blame him. I would be right beside him with someone else's dirty secret. Only I wouldn't wait till that person pissed me off – I would just do it because I just can. I'm simply cruel that way. No matter how you look at it; I'm just one cruel heartless bitch." She was breathing heavy as she finally stopped speaking.

Artie gently pulled his hands closer to him; causing the girl to move forward. She silently slipped onto his lap; and her free hand was resting on the back of his neck. He finishing pulling her trapped hand to rest against his heart. "Do you feel that?" He whispered.

Kitty slowly nodded her head.

"That's my heart beat. Whenever you feel like life is out to get you; just think of this moment; just think of my heart beat. The one that steady beats for you." Artie finished.

Kitty just lost herself once more into Artie's intense blue eyes. She felt the tense leave her body as she just wrapped herself up into Artie's essence. She husked out in a dry voice; "What am I going to do come September when you won't be in those halls five days a week?" She tried to swallow around the thickness.

"You'll Skype me through out the day." Artie grinned "I always wanted to take high school via video any way."

Kitty lightly swatted the back of Artie's bare neck. "Don't doubt that I won't do that." She grinned. "You can learn the lessons along side me; while you try to learn whatever they are going to teach you at that film school you will be attending. I can just see one of your movies about a young college student going though college & high school at the same time."

"You know all the greatest ideas do come from real life." Artie had a gleam in his eyes. "I'll dedicate the film in your name."

"You better." Kitty once more gently swatted the back of Artie's neck. "If you don't; then expect me to hunt you down in whatever hole you try to hide from me in – because once I get a hold of you; I won't let you rest until you correct your rude laps of judgment." She smirked.

"Yes madam." Artie laughed gently. "Shall we join the others?" He raised his left eye brow waiting for Kitty to say if she was ready to face the world yet or not.

"Let's go." Kitty nodded her head. She felt his warm hands slowly remove from her own. She felt a chill hit her hand which was still resting against his heart. She missed the warmth in which his hands offered. But; she knew that he need to be able to wheel them down the hard pack earth; towards the entrance of the fair grounds.

END CHAPTER ONE

Author's Note: I seriously meant to have this chapter ready; and posted by the middle of December. But sadly as you can see I didn't meet my goal. Sorry but the holiday's just hit me a lot sooner than I thought. (Even though I couldn't buy any Christmas gifts due to seriously being dirt broke. Whatever money that comes my way right now has to go towards my rent & paying my power bill. Hopefully I'll be grainfully employed once more by the end of this month).

Wow; I didn't expect to have this section go so dark so fast. I meant this first chapter to be light and fluffy. I was planning on having Artie & Kitty being all flirty in the hallway (just like on the show) & have them meat up with the gang at the Fair - and then perhaps have them sign together "Drive My Car" - but obviously I couldn't do that. I had to get some angst thrown in. But the way that I have this story planned out - this early angst actually works better than just fluff at this point.