Author's Note: How I feel about this chapter...eh. It is what is. Thank you to all who reviewed! And DryadSpeaks, thanks for the essay! lol Longest review ever ;) hehe. As always, read and review pleeeeease! :D

Chapter Seven: Fallen For You

Monday afternoon, Quinn ignored all of Artie's texts, which bothered him a little. At least, he was only willing to admit that it was just a little, even if secretly was more. She didn't answer any of the three (he hadn't wanted to send more and appear desperate) until that night. His requests to hang out were denied, her excuse being that she was too tired, and she asked if they could do something after glee club the next day. Grinding his teeth, he typed out a response then deleted it, deciding he'd talk to her about it the next day.

Unfortunately, the two didn't get the chance to have an actual conversation the whole day. Not even at lunch, as Kurt was having a mini crisis regarding his attire for some function he was attending with Blaine. Artie himself had no advice to give but Quinn seemed interested in helping so no conversation took place between the two of them.

He figured that glee club would finally give him a chance to tell her he did want to hang out, even if no making out took place, though he'd never (almost never) turn down an opportunity to make out with her.

Rolling to a stop in the front row of chairs, next to Rachel, he tapped his fingers on his wheels, watching the door as his fellow glee club members came in. Minutes passed and there still was no sign of Quinn. Looking around, he realized Puck wasn't there either. Turning his head, he addressed Rachel. "Pssst, Rachel…where's Puck?"

Lifting her head, she acknowledged Artie's presence before examining the room himself. "I have no idea, Artie. Late, apparently." Casting her eyes down, she resumed reading the book in her lap.

"Yeah but you guys are good friends. I thought you might have some kind of an idea."

"Just because we are friends does not mean I know where he is at all times," she snapped, sounding defensive. "And, anyway," she went on, softening her tone a bit. "You two are good friends as well and you do not know why he has not yet arrived."

Leaning back in his chair, Artie rolled his eyes at her, making sure she couldn't see him when he did so. " "Don't take out you standing him up on Saturday on me..."

Whipping her head in his direction, she narrowed her eyes. "You know nothing about it!" she whisper yelled.

"Actually," Artie began, sticking his index in the air. "Puck told me that -" He ended his sentence abruptly as both Puck and Quinn entered the classroom, Puck letting Quinn go in front of him, in gentlemanly fashion. "Wha…"

Also curious, Rachel squinted at the pair as they took positions in front of the classroom and Puck grabbed his guitar.

A faint shade of pink, Quinn smiled at the glee club members, her eyes lighting for a moment on Artie. "I'm going to sing Falling for You by Colbie Callait. It's the perfect song to describe…what I've been learning." She then nodded at Puck, who began strumming his guitar, before starting to sing the song.

Watching them sing and play the guitar respectively, their eyes every once in awhile touching, Artie remained completely frozen. The only time he moved during the song was to give a sidelong glance to Rachel, who was turning white.

It seemed hours later that the duo ended their performance. Everyone clapped and Artie winced, the applause seeming rather loud in his ears.

"I did not know Noah and Quinn were engaged in any type of romantic affair…again," Rachel murmured, turning her hands over in her lap.

"Neither did I," Artie muttered, clenching his own hands.

Grinning, Quinn sat down in the vacant chair behind him, Puck taking the seat beside her. As soon as Tina had started singing the song she had selected, Quinn leaned over, whispering in Artie's ear, "Did you like it?"

Her hot breath on his skin made him shiver. Closing his eyes, he gulped, then slowly exhaled and shrugged. Since she was behind him, he didn't see the hurt and disappointed expression on her face.

After glee club was over, Artie wheeled himself to Brittany's side, making sure Quinn could see and hear them both. "Hey, Britt. Want to go to Breadstix with me?"

Eyes lighting up, Brittany nodded over enthusiastically. "I miss going there with you," she said, moving behind his chair and taking the handles.

Grunting, Artie rested his hands in his lap, allowing her to push him out of the room, thinking about how Quinn always walked beside him, unless he asked for her help. Sighing, he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. This was for the best anyway. Hanging out with Brittany meant he wouldn't get in the way of Puck and Quinn's reignited romance and, of course, he wouldn't want to do that.

Biting her lip, Quinn watched Brittany escort Artie out of the room. Her eyes started to water almost immediately and, before Puck could ask the question posed on his lips, she bolted outside.

Not entirely sure what had just happened, Puck half shrugged, making his way out of the now empty classroom. In the hall, he walked quickly, hoping Rachel would be at her locker. Luckily, she was.

"Berry," he called out, sounding more confident than he felt.

Tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear, she faced him, a fake looking smile on her face. "Hello, Noah. Your performance with Quinn was lovely. Her voice and your guitar complemented each other so perfectly. And Quinn's been so nice lately, I completely understand why. Plus, with your past. You two are my friends -"

Cutting off her rambling, which made zero sense to him, he said, "Got that day set up for you to meet that Lorraine person."

Although she had still been speaking, she heard his words and at last ceased in her babbling. "You did?" she squealed in delight. "Noah, that is wonderful!" Without any hesitation, she launched herself into his arms, wrapping her own tightly around him. "I don't know how I'm going to thank you," she practically hummed into his ear. "Oh, yes, I do. I will bake you two dozen double fudge vegan brownies, your favorite!"

"Don't gotta do that," he told her, his voice rough and quiet at the same time. Without thinking about it, he closed his eyes, enjoying the hug more than he should've. He groaned when she ended it, stepping back and smoothing the front of her bright pink sweater.

"I'm meeting Finn. He's my boyfriend." Making a face at her uttered words, she walked backwards down the hall, eyes on Puck's shrinking figure. At the end of the hall, she gave a wave then darted around the corner.

Puck stood there dumbly for a few seconds before willing his legs to work and carry him towards the double doors. That wasn't exactly how he'd planned for that to go. He had wanted to tell her about going to see Beth, which meant seeing Shelby. He had wanted things to be casual and easy like they had been over the summer. As he got into his truck, he slumped, feeling defeated.

"Guess this is what happens when you fall for your friend," he muttered out loud, a part of him wishing that he could say those words to her.

But Finn made things complicated.