An authors note...We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful readers out there, your feedback is much appreciated. So without further ado, here is the next chapter, written by the extremely talented, DryadSpeaks:D
Disclaimer-Glee is the property of FOX, the creators and the writers.
Every Step of the Way
Artie sat, alternating between staring at his hands and pretending that he was paying attention to the duet currently being sung in front of him by Joe and Quinn. Part of him felt a little sick as he watched. He thought about the duet he and Quinn had sung, just a couple of weeks earlier. It had been so great…their voices blending perfectly, Quinn's smile genuine as they sang and danced while the glee club looked on. Quinn's laughter had been so happy, carefree almost. But, of course, that was before he'd reminded her that maybe her optimism was misplaced. And, while they had sort of patched things up, it was still a little weird. He figured their encounter at physio hadn't helped either.
As he sort of watched them perform, his mind continued to wander, his eyes finding their way back to his hands as he fidgeted with the velcro on his glove. He hated it when people saw his legs. They were so white, and thin, and they just kind of…sat there, most of the time. It made people feel uncomfortable, because they just looked so…sad. And pathetic. He hated for anyone to see him like that, vulnerable and exposed. It made people feel uncomfortable, to see something damaged and broken like that. It probably made Quinn feel especially uncomfortable, because it was like a constant reminder of everything she was trying to get away from. He couldn't blame her, really, but it still made him feel…all sorts of things.
He liked Quinn, a lot. But she probably didn't like him, his brain said, in a quiet little voice. Because even if she walked again, if she made a complete recovery…having anything to do with him at all would probably only result in feelings she didn't need to be having anymore being stirred up.
He glanced up, briefly, taking in Quinn's face. She was smiling, but it looked forced. Then he glanced over at Joe, noticing the creepy grin on his face. What was that? It was just…wrong. He thought about how happy Quinn had been when they'd performed their duet, her smile carefree and genuine, and then compared it to what was going on in front of him, and it made him feel kind of sick. He started looking around the room, trying to find something to take his mind off what was going on, and breathed a sigh of relief when it was over.
…
Later in the day, Artie sat in the library, looking for a book, and…hiding. He didn't think Quinn would be there, and he certainly hoped she wouldn't be there with Joe. Artie just wanted to be alone.
According to the catalogue, the book he was looking for was somewhere he knew he could reach, but he soon found himself staring up at the shelf above him, the book perched there, almost defiantly, just out of his reach. He looked around on lower shelves, hoping there would be something similar that he could just use instead, but unfortunately there wasn't.
He was in the middle of trying to figure out if he could brace himself enough on his chair to reach it without having some sort of unfortunate and embarrassing Library accident, when Mercedes rounded the corner, coming to a stop beside him, hands on her hips.
"Need some help?" she asked, looking up at the top of the bookshelf. "What are you looking for?"
Artie mumbled the name of the book, and Mercedes reached up, plucking it easily from the shelf. Yet another thing he couldn't do, Artie's own voice whispered into his ear. He couldn't even get a book off a shelf.
"Thanks," he said, as she handed it to him and he placed it in his lap.
"You ok?" she asked, following him over to the table where he'd left the rest of his school books. "Are you not feeling well? You looked a little green in glee club."
"What?" Artie asked, shifting in his chair. "No, I'm fine. Feeling great!" he added, trying to plaster a believable smile on his face.
"White boy, you are seriously the worst liar ever," Mercedes said, laughing a little as she sat down. "Got anything to do with Quinn? I know you guys got something going on," she added, deciding it best to cut right to the chase. After all, she'd gone to the library specifically because she figured he'd be there, since he wasn't any of the other places she thought he might be. "Right?"
"I don't know," Artie said, sighing. Suddenly it was like he was unable to stop the words from falling out of his mouth. "I might have…feelings for Quinn, but I screwed it up, and then I thought it was ok, and now she's hanging out with...that other person, and it's just…it sucks."
Mercedes gave a knowing nod. "Figured that's what it was. You got it bad, don't you?"
Artie didn't say anything, faintly nodding his head. "But it doesn't matter," he said, shrugging and rearranging his books.
"And why's that?" Mercedes asked, raising an eyebrow. "I see the way you look at her."
"It doesn't matter, Mercedes," Artie said, looking down and studying his gloves. "She's not into me. She can barely even look at me…I just remind her of everything she doesn't want to be."
"Boy, you're trippin'" Mercedes said, placing a comforting hand on his arm, her action and words not exactly fitting together, but she didn't care. "You need to talk to her about this. You can't put words into her mouth, or...whatever this is," she added. "You know that."
"Like I said…it doesn't matter," Artie said, shrugging. "Don't talk to anyone about this, please. Ok? I'll just…deal. I always do. This time is no different."
Mercedes leaned forward, hugging her friend. "I won't," she said, "don't worry."
…
After Mercedes left the library, Artie sat for a little while, staring at his books, and thinking about it. He knew he needed to talk to Quinn about it, but he just…couldn't.
