Artie POV:

I was shocked with myself.

I had just told Quinn I thought we should forget everything I'd said about taking it slow.

Judging from her reaction, it was exactly what she'd wanted to hear. She started going on about how maybe we should just start over, together. Forget everything that had happened to both of us.

She said she thought this was our chance to be happy, and maybe we should just take it and run with it.

And then I did something that shocked even me. I said no.

I know...totally screwed that one up. First I told her we should take it slow. Then I told her we should forget that. Then she opened herself up to me and said it was our chance to be happy, and I shot her down.

Sometimes I confuse even myself. I hadn't been drinking, so I couldn't blame it on that. I panicked. I felt like I was going to throw up.

She looked absolutely crushed.

"Quinn..."

She cut me off.

"I can't believe you! Is it so hard for you to see what's staring you in the face right now? I've poured my heart and soul out to you tonight. You even agreed with some of it, and then you say no? MAKE UP YOUR MIND! Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to even come here? I've spent the last two years sitting by myself knowing that the only place I wanted to be was with you, and, after seeing you, I thought that's what you wanted too. Is this some sort of sick joke? Did you just say you'd get together with me tonight, and then lead me on, so you could tear me apart? You knew I was more vulnerable than I HAVE EVER BEEN BEFORE, AND YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT. IF YOU WERE LOOKING FOR SOME SORT OF SICK, TWISTED REVENGE FOR WHATEVER YOU FEEL I DID WRONG TO YOU, YOU SURE AS HELL FOUND IT!"

By the time she stopped, she was pretty much just screaming at me incoherently. Her face was soaked with tears, and I felt like the world's biggest asshole.

She was completely right. First I said no. Then I said yes. Then, when it really counted, I got cold feet and said no again. What was wrong with me?

For about the fiftieth time that evening, I was speechless. I didn't know what to say, but I had a feeling that, no matter what I said, it would be the wrong thing. I kind of wished I would be struck by lightning right then and there, so I wouldn't have to deal with it.

My entire life up to that point had been one big string of "oops, I said the wrong thing," and apparently it was getting worse as I got older. I knew I had hurt people before (mostly unintentionally), but never like that. The look on her face almost broke me.

I tried to say something.

"Quinn..."

"Don't. Just don't. I think you've said enough for one night. I'm going to bed now, and I'm leaving tomorrow morning. Don't bother getting up...I can show myself out."

Her words were like daggers, and if looks could kill I'm pretty sure I'd be dead right now.

But...at least she was staying the night. That gave me at least four hours (it was late by that point) to come up with something. Saying "I'm sorry" wouldn't be enough. I had to make it right, and it had to happen fast.

I decided to wait until I stopped hearing movement in her bedroom before heading to bed myself. I already knew I wouldn't be sleeping, so I decided to put all the energy I had left into coming up with something to make her see that I was honestly and truly sorry.

I was completely disgusted with myself. If I didn't know that punching myself in the face repeatedly would have been counter-productive, I would have been doing it.

Well...either that, or I would have run out the door and thrown myself into the street, but due to the fact that I can't run, and the fact that I wasn't sure that I actually wanted to die, that didn't seem like a viable option.

Finally, when it was completely quiet, I rolled myself into my room, and shut the door, being careful to be quiet just in case she was sleeping.

I rolled over to my bed, before deciding I didn't actually want to be in it. I twiddled my thumbs for a bit (didn't even know that was really a real thing), and thought. What could I do to make it up to her? Would she accept an apology, if it were done properly? If I really showed her that I was sorry, and wrong, and stupid, and a thousand other things that were running through my head, would she give me another chance?

How did such a wonderful thing turn into something so ugly and cruel? Why was I such an impossible jerk? She was right, and I was wrong. I WAS WRONG. I should have just shut up while I was ahead.

I sat there for a bit more, deep in thought, and then suddenly it hit me.

I knew what to do.

A/N: I have mixed feelings about this chapter. I feel like it should have been better than it is.

However, it is what it is, and it gets the point across, so there you have it! I've been working on not letting my perfectionistic tendencies get to me too much...which is kind of rough, but also somewhat therapeutic.

I'll be posting the next chapter tomorrow! This started out way longer, before I realized I needed to break it into two, and make the second half from Quinn's POV. Sorry, I know I promised a long chapter with a lot of action...at least I delivered half of that!

I also just want to take a moment to say how much I am loving that so many people are reading this (and my other stories). You all are making me feel pretty special here :)