A/N: Again big thanks to all my reviewers. I got a specific question from xnerdark:
Q: What are you going to do after the fall finale? Are you going to continue
during the hiatus?
A: Well, a lot of this depends on what kind of material Sectionals gives me. The final chapter has no specific episode context, so it could, in theory, come much later than Sectionals. So if I can find a creative way to extend the plot, it could very well continue through part of the hiatus. That was actually my original plan, but I ended up updating a lot faster than expected. And there's always epilogue fluff to be had.
That said, I want to hear input from you guys on this: Would you like to see this fic end after sectionals, or would you rather me come up with original content during the hiatus? Mind you, it would probably be rendered false when the back 9 come out in April. Let me know what you think.
Without further ado, I think I can get 2 good chapters out of Mattress. Might have more flashbacks to earlier in the season or more original content if content is looking thin like in the last chapter.
Chapter 7 : You Keep Me Hangin' On
Artie didn't sleep that night. Awake in his bed, Artie folded his hands behind his head as he explored his thoughts. Mainly, that encounter with Mercedes a couple days before. He had meant what he said. Tina did mean a whole lot to him. But as what? He was still convinced that they had nothing in common now that she had no disability. You know, besides loving to sing, similar tastes in music, dry sense of humor, and general dislike for most of the student population at McKinley. But other than that, there wasn't anything for them to relate about. So he couldn't possibly want her the way he had before, right?
He sighed. Not only that, but now that she was normal, she wouldn't want him anymore. She might have thought so at first, but now that she was just a beautiful girl with a wonderful voice, she might see what she was missing. Artie accepted the fact that she had settled for him earlier. He looked down at his motionless legs. He just couldn't be a normal guy. Artie thought about that kiss- his first kiss. Tina had to lean over, supporting herself on his chair. That couldn't be very comfortable. Now maybe, if he had pulled her into his lap, he could have had a better angle-
Artie! Stop it! You're going off topic!
He had to mentally berate himself for daydreaming about him and Tina again. He was supposed to be mad at her, not fantasizing about kissing her again. She lied. The end.
But Artie wasn't going to pretend like he could continue treating Tina as if she was just any other person. Even if she lied, they still had a bond, and he knew he couldn't sever that just by ignoring her.
He couldn't be with her the way they were before. But maybe- just maybe- they could be friends again.
The next day, Kurt called a Rachel-less meeting about Figgins' decision to omit the glee club photo. And he presented a good point. The fact that glee was still relatively unknown was saving them from more torment. Even Artie, who got most of the worst bullying around anyway, admitted that it was unsettling. Lucky for them, Mr. Shue promised them that they will all be in the Thunderclap. Great. Once he had left, everyone looked around at each other, slightly panicked and disappointed.
But good news came quickly. Mr. Shue announced that they could only get a quarter page, so only 2 "captains" would be appearing in the photo. Everyone thought the same thing, writing down Rachel's name. She wanted to be in the picture- let her have it.
However, Mr. Shue was not satisfied by this, and sent Rachel on a manhunt to find herself a co-captain. While just about everyone in glee could have bet ten bucks that Finn would end up getting suckered into it, they didn't expect her to go after others first. Mercedes did a good job ditching her, Artie watched Rachel look around in desperation. He decided to hide near a corner, under the stairs. But it was to no avail, he was spotted.
Rachel came at him like a rabid dog, and he feared for his life.
"Why, hello Artie! I think you would be a great candidate for the glee club co-captain position. We could give of an image of diversity and acceptance!"
She was backing him into a corner. Literally. His chair hit the wall and he had no way to escape. He had to think fast.
"I'd love to be in the photo, Rachel, but… you'd be standing and I'd be sitting, and it would throw off the whole composition," he was rambling. And doing a bad job. He flailed his hands and his voice was a little too quick.
Rachel though for a split second, then added, "I'll lean over!"
Drat. He searched for an answer. He had to stall. "But... if you lean over…" he looked around, hoping for a way out. Somehow he thought of one. "it'll look like you have stomach rolls!" He finished quickly. Ha, he knew Rachel valued her appearance, especially in the yearbook.
She looked horrified, straightening up. "On second thought, I don't think that you're leadership material, Artie!"
He adamantly shook his head, "Follower," he emphasized, pointing to his face. He slipped past her, rejoining the hallway. He knew Rachel would be searching for her next victim. He saw Tina coming down the stairs. Crap, Tina didn't deserve this torture. He looked around quickly, and spotted Brittany.
"Hey Rachel, I see Brittany down the hall, you should ask her!" He quickly added, pointing down the hallway, trying to distract Rachel from her radar-like tracking ability.
Without a word, Rachel took off. He sighed, feeling bad for Brittany, but it was for Tina. He watched Rachel catch up to Brittany and smiled slightly. He knew Brittany wouldn't really be bothered. He glanced up at Where Tina would be turning the corner off the stairs. Good, she hadn't noticed.
But she had noticed something. As Tina came down the stairs, she saw Artie down at the bottom. And he was smiling after… was that Brittany? Tina's heart nearly stopped. Maybe that Crazy in Love choreography had gotten to him after all. She sighed to herself. She should have expected this. He really was over her.
Tina watched carefully during glee rehearsal. Every time he even looked in Brittany's direction (which, if she was being rational, was about as often as he looked everywhere else), she was more and more certain that he had successfully moved on.
Later, Rachel called a meeting of some sort for all the glee kids. Reluctantly, everyone showed up. But, oddly enough, she didn't have bad news. They were going to be in a mattress commercial. The entire club erupted in excited chatter. Tina, who was sitting next to Artie, could hear him babbling about getting nice black suspenders. God, he's so cute. She mentally sighed. She had to stop being such a lovesick puppy and get over it. He wasn't hers anymore.
But Artie's mind went elsewhere. With Tina so close, he couldn't help but think about what he had pondered the night before. He needed to tell her how he felt (or at least what he had convinced himself that he felt). Plus, Mercedes would probably 'take him to the carpet' if he stalled any longer.
When the meeting was over, he turned to face Tina.
"Hey, Tina" Artie intercepted her before she could rush out of the room like she had been the past few days. "Can we talk for a minute?"
Tina felt a rush when he spoke to her. She didn't know whether to feel excited or nervous. Was he finally willing to talk about what happened in the halls of McKinley that night? Or was he going to tell her to back off and let him pursue other girls? She just didn't know, so she just nodded and lingered like she used to, waiting for him to gather his things. She sat on one of the maroon plastic chairs, watching him anxiously. Finally he faced her, and wheeled a little closer.
"Can we be friends again, Tee?" He paused. Since Tina gave no immediate response, he assumed that was an invitation to explain himself. He sighed quietly and continued. "I mean I want things to go back to the way they were before." Before she got the wrong idea, he added quietly, "you know… before before." He looked over his glasses, his expression slightly worried.
"Sounds good to me," Tina forced a smile. What she really meant was better than nothing. She understood. When he meant before, he meant before they were romantically interested in each other. Problem was, she knew that the point when she started to really like Artie came much earlier than when he returned the sentiment. Maybe this was him asking permission to move on. Seemed like a reasonable conclusion. Tina tried not to look devastated. She did an okay job at it.
Artie smiled slightly, too. He could sense something was wrong, but he was sure things would be better tomorrow. They were shooting a commercial; it was going to be fun. And maybe they could have fun together again. He offered to accompany her home, but she quietly refused, making up an excuse that Artie could see right through. Maybe this hadn't been the right choice. But there was nothing he could do about it for now. So he left her there.
As Tina watched him exit, a last glace cast over his shoulder, she sighed sadly to herself. Maybe this was the way it was going to be now. Pretending nothing ever happened between them. At least being friends was better than being awkward acquaintances as they had been the past couple weeks. If it meant that he would look at her with the same joy that he used to, then it would have to be enough for her. Even if she couldn't be with him, she wouldn't have to live completely without him.
Listless, Tina sat in the empty music room for a while longer, trying to rationalize that this was a good thing. And somehow she stumbled onto the one memory she really wished she could ignore.
It was when Mr. Shue was going to leave the school to take a new, better-paying job. And glee club was going to be over, yet Finn surprised everyone by bringing everyone together. He assigned everyone jobs to do- except Tina. But when Rachel came back with choreography, Tina did end up with a special job. Or at least Rachel made it sound as special as possible to make Tina feel better about being basically passed over by Finn. Tina was supposed to push the wheelchair-bound guitarist during his solo. Tina sighed. She didn't judge Artie like some of the other kids in school did, but pushing wheelchair kid wasn't exactly a special job.
But then they finally got a full rehearsal together. They performed Don't Stop Believing in the empty auditorium. When it came around to Artie's guitar solo, Tina made her way over to his chair, and spun him around as he completely rocked the solo. She couldn't help but smile. He looked so focused on the performance, totally unaware that he was finally in the spotlight. And he did a really good job on the solo, to boot.
When the song was over, they heard the lonely applause of Mr. Shue, who had heard them on his way out. And then came the good news that he was going to stay on as the director.
Everyone celebrated on stage, giving high-fives and laughing happily. But then Tina felt a touch on her arm, causing her to turn around rather quickly to see Artie sitting beside her. He was smiling up at her.
Wow he has a nice smile.
"Thanks, Tina." He softly spoke, not wanting to interrupt the boisterous celebration of Rachel and Mercedes. When his words were met with a confused look, he sheepishly cast his eyes down at his lap. "I can't play and move at the same time. So thanks." He looked back up at her, slightly embarrassed.
Wow… he has really pretty eyes…
It took Tina a moment to snap out of her strange reverie and smile back. "N-no p-p-problem, A-Artie."
She was smitten.
A/N: I ended up writing this chapter backwards. Lulz.
