Quinn forced herself to keep looking into Artie's eyes, bracing herself to see the anger and hurt in them, but mostly anger. However, it was neither and instead confusion. The question that came through his lips the next second was one she knew was to come eventually.
"Why did you kiss me?"
She bowed her head and looked down at her lap again as she answered his question, constantly fidgeting with her fingers. "I'm so sorry, Artie, I know it was wrong of me to have kissed you and run off like that, but…" She scoffed. "God, I'm such a selfish person."
Quinn looked up at him again as she continued. "The reason I kissed you was because…because you understood me. You empathized with what I'm going through and I though by liking you, I would finally be able to get over Finn. Stupid me decided to test that out by kissing you to see if I would feel anything. I didn't. I like you, Artie, but just not in the same way as I do Finn." She stopped talking then.
Artie let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding in that entire time. He also realized that Quinn was right – he was angry, but most likely not in the same way she though he was. It was more of an irritated feeling. But what surprised him even more was that he didn't feel hurt, or used, when Quinn told him she still cares for Finn.
He then thought of what would happen if Tina said she cared for someone else, or had decided to move on and felt a sharp pang to his heart. It was clear to him now that he still harbored feelings for his best friend; he'd just been kidding himself this entire time to spare himself more heartache. Obviously that wasn't working out as well as he had thought it would.
"It's okay, Quinn." She looked up at him, slightly surprised. "And by okay, I mean that I forgive you. I guess I get why you did what you did, I just wish you would have done it without all this resulting craziness."
She laughed quietly. "I know. I'm sorry."
"Just one more thing." Artie's voice was laced with curiosity. "Why do you think that I would judge you?"
She gave him a sad, half-smile. "I thought it would have been obvious. I don't deserve Finn, after everything I've done to him. Loving him now won't do me any good and just cause me to be more miserable. Plus, everyone is going to think of me as the bitchy, pregnant girl who won't leave him alone."
He shook his head. "Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"Bring yourself down like that. You're not a bitchy, pregnant girl. You're Quinn Fabray, a beautiful, kind person whose confidence can make most people falter backwards. You deserve anyone you want, and if that's Finn, go after him. Who gives a crap what anyone else says or thinks? If he makes you happy, then that's all that matters."
Quinn wiped away at the tears that had finally shed from her eyes and her voice was slightly thick when she spoke to him. "You're amazing, Artie, you know that? You always know the right thing to say." She smiled at him. "Thank you for being my friend. God knows I probably drive everyone insane with these stupid mood swings."
Artie laughed. "Not as bad as you'd think, you know. And besides, I'm sure Puck has it worse, he's stuck being with you almost all the time. The horror!"
She ripped some of the grass from the ground, flung it at him and laughed when he shook his head like a wet dog, attempting to get it all out of his hair.
"You know," she began thoughtfully, rubbing her left hand against her stomach. "That was some pretty good advice you just gave me there. Plan on following it yourself?"
Artie gave her an oblivious look. "What are you talking about?"
Quinn rolled her eyes at him. "I've seen the way you look at Tina. You miss her." She said this like it was a statement and not a speculation she had happened to observe.
It was his turn to start fidgeting with his Velcro-covered hands. "Yeah well, it doesn't really matter if I miss her or not, I screwed things up with her pretty royally."
"And I've never done the same?" she asked him sarcastically. "Look, you still have a chance to make things right with her. She misses you, too."
"Really?" he asked, his voice highly eager. Embarrassed, he cleared his throat and repeated more nonchalantly, "I mean, really? How do you know?"
She threw some more grass at him. "Yes. And a girl just knows. For someone who's awfully great at giving advice, you're in great need of it yourself." Not so good at comebacks, Artie merely stuck out his tongue at her and Quinn laughed at his immaturity.
She was beginning to feel better now, thanks to Artie. She resolved to try to make things right with Finn as soon as possible.
"Tina, wait up!"
It was after school now and Artie had been waiting by the school's main doors for Tina to come out. She eventually did but kept on marching straight towards where her car was parked in the student parking lot without acknowledging that Artie was there.
"Tina, come on, just a second." She sighed and pivoted around to face him.
"Is this important? I have tons of work waiting for me." She said this in a slightly cold tone and Artie winced.
"I just need to talk to you," he clarified.
"Well what is it?" She secured her bag over her shoulder more tightly and crossed her arms over her chest.
Artie looked around the parking lot, filled with students milling around. "This probably isn't a great place to talk. How about we meet up at the park after school tomorrow?" The park was where Tina and Artie would usually hang out after school and procrastinate on doing their endless amounts of school work.
She hesitated for a moment, but in the end gave in. "All right, fine. See you tomorrow."
Artie gave her a smile before wheeling away, determined to make her understand and hopefully win back her heart.
"Mr. Hummel, you are amazing. Thank you so much!" Quinn was at Hummel Mechanics after getting a call to come and pick up her now properly working (once again) vehicle.
"Nah, it wasn't a problem. Just a small fix was all she needed," replied Burt, throwing an oily hand-towel over his shoulder.
"I feel so bad about not paying you for this, I really – "
"Quinn, I already told you," interrupted Kurt, who had been standing next to his father, "on the house. Capiche?"
Quinn grinned at the fashionable boy and swiftly gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks again. I'll see you at school."
It was a sunny day, so Quinn decided to let the cover of her car down as she drove back to Puck's house. Feeling spontaneously giddy and happy, she popped in one of her ABBA CD's into her CD player and sang along to the song that came on.
Mamma mia, her I go again/My, my, how can I resist you?/Mamma mia, does it show again?/My, my, just how much I've missed you/Yes, I've been broken-hearted/Blue since the day we parted/Why, why, did I ever let you go?/Mamma mia, now I really know/My, my, I could never let you go!
Quinn could feel the baby kicking in time with the music, but it didn't pain her at all. She laughed out loud joyously and carefree, feeling happier she had for a long time.
AN: I'm scared right now...I'm so, so, so sorry for not having updated sooner! My ideas have been getting more jumbled lately, thanks to the return of Glee. But I hoped you all enjoyed this chapter, and we're getting near the end! Maybe one or two more chapters left. The song used in this chapter is called Mamma Mia by ABBA. Please remember to review! You guys are amazing. :)
