A/N: Thank you guys so much for all of the wonderful reviews, and for subscribing or favoriting this story. XD And of course, even if you just read it, thank you so much!
I promised I would have this chapter up later this evening - well, it's technically the next day, being past midnight here (whoo-hoo; 2011, what's up?), but a promise is a promise. So, HAPPY NEW YEAR!, and I hope this chapter is an acceptable treat for such an occasion. :)
Chapter Three
Still Friday, after Glee Club practice.
"All right, I want all of you to have a fun Spring Break," Mr. Schue said. "And stay safe, okay?"
Puck chuckled moronically at this in that dumb heh-heh way of his; Rachel would've rolled her eyes had he not (for whatever strange reason) helped her get a much-needed solo today.
Everybody practically ran out of the classroom, except for Rachel, Puck, Artie, and Quinn. Even Mr. Schue hurriedly grabbed his things and headed out the door.
"Would you guys turn off the lights and shut the door behind you? It's already locked," he said over his shoulder, smiling gratefully. "Thanks! See you in two weeks." And then he was gone.
"Sooo…" Puck whistled low. "What do you guys have planned for the break?"
Quinn ignored him as she slung her purse strap over her shoulder, her expression stony. Rachel was rearranging some sheet music she'd brought and sticking them into her book bag.
Artie was the only one who answered: "What do you care?"
"I resent that – I'm a very caring guy!" He tried to ignore the eye-roll from Rachel and the smirk from Quinn.
"Well, I will be spending the break picking up the pieces of my shattered heart," Rachel grumbled to herself.
Puck heard her, though. "So you and Finn did break up, huh? I'm guessing he dumped you."
"Mind your own business!" she snapped, her nostrils flaring wildly.
"Quinn, are you and Sam really over?" Artie asked her quietly.
She turned narrowed eyes to him. "Yes; what's it to you?" Her tone was so icy that it practically sent a shiver down Artie's spine.
"I was just going to tell you that I know how you feel," he said with the smallest of smiles. "Brittany dumped me, too."
Something flashed within Quinn's beautiful eyes – which were clear as the summer sky and a bright shade of amber-streaked green – and her lips pressed into a hard line. She gave Artie a suspicious look, as if searching for ulterior motives. Finally, she replied.
"I don't know what you think happened, but I dumped Sam," she said coldly. "Because…because I don't want to be tied down."
Her word choice brought Artie back to Brittany's reason for ending things with him, and a dull ache throbbed beneath his chest. "Okay," he said, narrowing his eyes at Quinn's attitude. "I was just trying to help."
"Well, don't; I don't need your help."
"You guys all seem really stressed," Puck said. "Why can't you sissies just lighten up?"
"I'm sorry, Puckerman, but maybe if you actually had feelings, you would understand how each of us are individually suffering with the crushing weight of our respective break ups," Rachel hissed sharply.
"How can you say so many words without choking?" Artie asked her with a mixture of disbelief and amusement scrawling across his face. Quinn snorted back a laugh.
"I bet you losers are going to stay home and mope the entire break, huh?" Puck shook his head in disgust. "Where's your sense of adventure? Can't any of you guys ever delve into the world of badassedness?"
"I was going to give you points for using the word 'delve,' but you ruined it with 'badassedness,'" Quinn deadpanned.
"What do you have in mind?" Artie asked Puck, folding his arms over his chest and cocking his head.
"Puckzilla's going to have his house all to himself for the next two weeks," he grinned in the most arrogant of manners and bobbed his head. "Why don't you guys come over and I'll teach you the real meaning of a good time?"
Quinn scoffed. "Sorry, Puckzilla, but the last time you suggested that, I ended up getting pregnant. And as amazingly fun as that was, I don't really feel like doing it again anytime soon."
Rachel was remaining oddly silent. She twirled a lock of dark hair around her finger, either mulling over Puck's offer or thinking about something completely different. Probably the latter. Puck felt a hint of bitterness at being ignored by her.
"Yeah, I don't know," Artie frowned. "I thought you were going to have a good idea for once, but going to a par-tay at your house isn't really that appealing. No offense."
Artie and Quinn started forward at the same time, and Rachel was finally done organizing her sheet music into her bag, so she'd be leaving in a moment, too. Puck knew he had to act fast – honestly, he didn't really know what was compelling him to reach out to these dweebs, but something in his gut made him blurt out:
"What do you guys think about a road trip?"
It did the trick: Quinn and Artie stopped at the same time and Rachel swiveled toward Puck as she came down the risers, her eyes definitely showing interest.
Fuelled by the curiosity on their faces, Puck plunged forward. "Yeah, think about it: just the three of us, in my car, travelling to some awesome place. I bet you guys have never done anything like this before in your life – no wonder your relationships all ended; you're too boring."
The final word made Artie tense, remembering how Brittany had described him as exactly that. "You do realize there are four of us, right?"
"Yeah, well, you're not invited, Wheels," Puck shrugged unapologetically.
"And why not!"
"Because my car doesn't exactly have a handicap ramp."
Artie's eyes narrowed. "But my mom's mini-van does."
Quinn pasted a look of indifference onto her face, but on the inside, she was secretly considering Puck's spiel. She never did do anything remotely impulsive; but then again, why should she, when the last time she'd done so she'd ended up with a baby on the way? But it wasn't like she was going to be having sex with Puck – ick, as if! – no, she would just be going on a road trip. And she'd actually always wanted to go on one...
Rachel was thinking of Finn. He'd said the spark was gone between them, and she had been desperately trying to think of ways to get it back. Maybe she wasn't fun enough for him; maybe something like a road trip with fellow teenagers would both help take her mind off of her heartache and help her become someone more fun, someone more Finn-worthy….But did she really want to spend an entire two weeks with Noah Puckerman?...
Artie's mind was already made up – he had to go. It would prove to Brittany that he was daring and not-at-all boring, and he would have all of these on-the-road stories to share with her. She would definitely be impressed with his boldness at impulsively accepting such a ludicrous offer from Puck, and she wouldn't hesitate in getting back together with him.
"Well, what about if you have to go to the bathroom? No way am I changing your diaper or wiping your ass or whatever you have to do," Puck said bluntly, nose crinkling.
Artie rolled his eyes. "I can go to the bathroom by myself. How else do you think I do so at school every day?"
"Let's not get into the particulars, please," Quinn quickly said. Artie rolled his eyes again, but his face prickled with the heat of a blush.
Rachel had fully descended the risers and was now standing on the other side of Artie. "Will Finn be invited?" she asked, trying to sound apathetic but failing horribly.
"No; it'd just be the four of us," said Puck. Artie smiled, glad he was now a part of the group.
"What's our destination?" Rachel inquired.
"That's the best part – even I don't know."
"Are you a safe driver; no texting, drinking, or anything else distracting as you navigate the roads?" she prodded, squinting her eyes at him as if to detect dishonesty.
Puck made a show of rolling his eyes. "Yes, I'm a safe driver, okay?"
Finn's face suddenly flashed through Rachel's mind, and the image sent a physical pang into her heart. She would do anything to distract from the misery. "Fine; I'm in," she said in such a tone of serious finality that it was Quinn's turn to roll her eyes.
Rachel and Puck nodded toward each other, sealing the deal.
"The idea of being in close quarters with you and Rachel for two weeks makes me want to slowly rip my hairs out," Quinn said to Puck. "I'll pass."
"I should've known you'd be too scared to accept this ultimate adventure," Puck smirked. "Oh well, we'll be better off without you. Maybe I'll invite Sam instead, and he can have all the fun."
Quinn looked like she wanted to punch Puck, but also sort of like she was trying not to smile. "You're not going to bait me in, Puckerman."
"I'm surprised with you, Quinn," Artie said. "I always thought you seemed like a relatively cool girl, but now I realize you're not the life of the party everyone said you were."
"Yeah," Rachel said, catching on to Artie and Puck's scheme. "I figured you were brave, what with enduring a teen pregnancy and all, but maybe you're more chicken than I thought…."
Quinn knew what they were doing, but couldn't understand why they were doing it. They really wanted her to come along? She was kind of a bitch to all of them. But, as cheesy as it sounded, being wanted right now after what had happened between her and Sam actually made her feel better. A lot better.
"Whatever. I'll come, too, but only to prove I am not scared of adventure," she said.
"So you're all in?" Puck clarified.
"Yes," said Rachel, Artie, and Quinn together.
"Cool," he said, one corner of his mouth pulling upward in a lazy grin. "Just make sure to bring plenty of money to split for gas coverage and other stuff."
"Artie, how are we going to convince your mom to let us borrow her mini-van?" Rachel questioned.
A sly smile spread slowly across Artie's face. "Oh, just leave that to me..."