Author's Note: Well hey guys! I'm pretty sure this will be the last update prior to Christmas, but I hope to return soon! This may be a bit different for some of you, and may be a bit wrong. Where I'm from, you finish High School and go to University, or College, or somewhere else. Also, sorry if some of the information about the Universities are incorrect, I just did that so it works with the story! Please understand if it's different for you! As always, happy reading, and I love to read your comments! Happy holidays !
Disclaimer: Glee is NOT mine sadly.
One of the most important High School decisions Artie made was not actually related to him being in High School per se. It was more of where he was going to go after High School. When he was younger, Artie had decided that he wanted to get a degree in Astronomy, and then continue to get his Ph. D, and continue researching in the field. When he had officially decided what he wanted to do, he had picked his dream university, the University of Phoenix.
He had visited the University numerous times with his family, looking at the buildings and thinking that in the next couple of years, he could be one of those students running around and looking harried. He loved the name, the Phoenix was a mythical creature, and he felt a connection with it on some level. He loved the colors of the university: maroon and gold. He couldn't particularly pull of either, but it was better than yellow of some universities, there was absolutely no way in his wildest dream he could pull of that.
The major issue with this University though, was that it was in California. Not that the location was the problem particularly, because who wouldn't like the sun? But the fact was, he lived in Lima, Ohio. He had lived there his entire life, and his family was there. His family was tightly-knit, made even more so with his accident, and he knew that he would be moving out sooner or later, but he just wished that maybe he could move somewhere in the same state so that he wouldn't be that far away.
The entire Glee club looked around morosely at each other. They knew it was coming close to the end of their time together with only a couple months left of school. They knew that they would see each other again, they were part of each other's 'family' now, and you didn't just leave family behind, except if they were that really mean family member who kept picking on you, and then maybe you only saw them once every other year.
"So have you guys picked where you're going yet after Grad?" Finn suddenly spoke up.
"Yes, Mercedes and I have had the dream of attending the Art Institute of Ohio in Cincinnati for fashion for at least 10 years." Kurt gently pushed a piece of hair out of his eyes and combed it back. "I feel the world needs my fashion style, god knows what the next fashion could be without me." he shuddered.
"Me and Brittany think we're going to go to the Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology," Santana said. The group murmured their approval, they had seen the photos that the girls had taken during their competitions and they were amazing.
The rest of the group said where they were thinking of going, and with each different university name, the group grew a little more sad as the geographic distance of their choice became apparent.
"I think I'm going to go to the University of Phoenix," Artie said, "I've wanted to go there since I was about 8."
"I think I'm going to go to the University of Toledo," Tina admitted.
She and Artie had talked about their University choice for awhile. The U of T was her best choice for getting her Teacher's Degree. It was a pretty prestigious university, and was close to home which was a bonus. They had also discussed Artie's choice of the U of P in detail as well, noting the separation that they would have. It had been a conversation that they didn't discuss much over the past couple of months, because they each had a lot of respect for each other.
Tina knew that it was Artie's dream choice of University. As much as she tried not to think about it, she knew that quite a few dreams had been taken away when the crash had happened, and she would not be the cause of taking another dream away from him, no matter how much it hurt her to not be close to him. The U of P did not have a teacher's program, and the U of T was the next nearest university which had that program.
They had talked about the future extensively, and knew that even though it would be hard having a long-distance relationship, it was worth it. They were still deeply in love with each other, and knew that they were more in love now, than they had been when they had first started dating. They knew that distance wouldn't change that, but it could be hard for both of them.
The next 2 months passed in a bit of a blur. There were so many things going on that it seemed as though life was in high gear, with no brakes. Prom had happened in March, and Artie had learned how much his friends cared for him. He had enjoyed one of those "High School Rites of Passage," and that night would be forever engrained in his memory.
"New Directions" finished first again at Regionals, and it was one of the best moments of Artie's High School career. They had won the trophy before, but that was amidst all the turmoil of baby-gate and all that associated drama. They had come so far as a group since then that it was made even more special when they all won as a group together.
There were a whole bunch of other small events, like when the Glee club had gone to a water park and they had floated down the lazy river together, just laughing at Artie's expression when he kept bumping of the walls. They had gone to restaurants in Cincinnati were Regionals took place after they won, and they had given an impromptu performance when the judges had recognized them and asked for an encore.
All in all, it would be tough to leave, but life is as life does, and it's forever full of change, and no matter what you do, you can't change it. You either had to accept it and adapt to it, or get stuck in sadness that you couldn't hold on to something.
Artie knew that his time with Tina was coming closer and closer to a close. When they went to University they wouldn't be able to see each other as often, and it would be tough for both of them. When they had problems, no matter how big or small, they knew they could always depend on each other. When they had something to celebrate, no matter how big or small, they shared it with each other. Even if their days were bland, and filled with nothing, they still discussed them with each other, and there would be no way this could keep happening when they went to University. He was still torn in two, wanting to go to his dream University, and wanting to stay with Tina.
He knew her like he knew the palm of his hand, and knew the reason she didn't talk to him about University was because she didn't want him switching Universities for her. She thought that he had too many dreams taken away from him, and didn't want to be the cause of another. He didn't tell Tina, because he knew that she didn't want him switching a dream for her, but he had asked Miss. Pillsbury to keep an eye on something for him for University, hoping that it would finally happen.
There was only one month left of school, and Artie was getting a bit nervous. He was sitting in his first period Astronomy class, and they were debating theories on black holes.
"Um, excuse me Sir," a voice piped up. Artie looked up and saw a scared ninth grader outside the door, "I have a message for Arthur Abrams from Miss Pillsbury."
The teacher took the note from the student, read it, and told Artie to go see her. Artie grabbed his stuff as quickly as he could, hoping that this was what he had been waiting for for all this time. He got to the guidance office in the quickest time he had ever made, and noticed Miss Pillsbury already waiting for him.
"Wow, Artie, that was quick!" she exclaimed. "Good news! They've done it!"
Artie sagged back in his chair and sighed in relief. Finally, after all the planning and conversations that had occurred, it had happened. His smile was wide and it felt like a great weight had been taken off his chest. "So we're all good? I'm registered for the right one?"
"Yes, you just have to submit your final acceptance, choose your classes and you're good to go!" she smiled at him, knowing how hard he had been working for this.
"Thanks so much Miss. Pillsbury, thanks for all your help." he smiled goofily at her, and wheeled out of the room. The wait to lunch felt like days, and he was counting down the minutes till he could see Tina.
He finally saw her after he had finished his final morning class.
"Artie, where were you this morning? I came to your Astronomy class, and you weren't there?" she mock-frowned at him.
"I've got something to tell you," he looked up at her, his happiness radiating off him. "Do you want to come with me to the Glee room?"
"Sure," she said frowning at him for real this time, wondering what he was up to.
They made it to the Glee room with relatively little trouble. The jocks that had bullied them relentlessly had backed off finally a little more, with everyone realized that their High School days were numbered.
Artie guided Tina over to a chair and gestured for her to sit down.
"Artie, was it? You're kind of worrying me," she laughed nervously.
He stared down at his hands, and then back at her. "Remember when we had those 3 choices for university?"
She nodded. "Well, did I tell you my three choices?"
"Yep, U of P, Strayer, and Akron."
"Well, I may have slightly lied about one of those. I didn't actually apply to Akron, I applied to U of T." He pressed on quickly, noticing her expression, "I got accepted, and I know that they didn't have an astronomy program when I applied, but I talked with Miss. Pillsbury at the beginning of the year, and she said they were supposed to be getting one for next year. So, if I applied in a general science program, and got accepted, I could switch to the astronomy program next year."
Tina started protesting, "Artie, we've been over this, I don't want you changing your dream university for me. It'll be tough going to different universities, but we'll manage."
Artie shook his head, "But Tee, I don't want to manage without you. I want to be with you through the different stuff that's going to happen."
Tina shook her head, "Artie, I'm not going to let you give up your dream university for me."
Artie smiled, "I'm not giving up my dream university for you Tee, I'm giving it up for us. Sure, it was once my dream university, but you're my dream girl. Your more important than any university could ever be."
Tina shook her head and laughed as Artie pulled her into his arms, and gave her one of the sweetest kisses they had ever shared.
Artie shared the news with the rest of the Glee club later, and they all burst out laughing. It turns out that Puck had known a little bit about Artie was doing, and he had shared it with Finn, who shared it with Quinn, who shared it with Brittany, who shared it with everybody. The club had placed bets on when Artie would switch universities, not betting if, but when. Kurt looked up from a list, "And, Brittany won!"
It turns out that the U of T was even better than Artie could have ever thought. He was attending a University whose astronomy program quickly became famous in the country, and he got to see Tina everyday. It was still tough, because of the schedule and the amount of work expected off them, but they still got to see each other at least every other day, something they couldn't have done if Artie had gone to the U of P. He learned that giving up a dream for something better wasn't so much of a sacrifice, and when that dream is worth it, is so much better.
Bit more fluffy for you guys! Hope you like it, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!
