Who's a bad updater? I am! I had a massive writer's block that cut off all connection between my brain and my fingers! It didn't help that I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my fics, they're my babies so of course I want them to turn out as good as possible :)
Cookies to Addicted 2 Romance 101, Average Everyday Sane Psycho (x2 for reviewing on both chapter 8 and 9!), survivingthefear, x XRoweenaJAugustineX x and Abberz the Awesome for reviewing! I swear, I have the best readers in the world! No, really, I brag about you guys on Twitter all the time after checking back on a new chapter :)
This chapter might be a little longer, but I really didn't want to scoot quickly over everything. Besides, I figured this chapter needed a heavy dose of Kurt, because A, who doesn't need a daily amount of Kurt, and B, like I've said before, I absolutely love writing him. When I type something he says, I automatically have his voice inside my head, and if something's slightly off, I try to change it to make it more like him, simple as that :)
Enjoy the chapter guys and gals, I know I enjoyed writing it, especially the ending (wink, wink ;D)
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything that's in any way affiliated with Glee. I wouldn't mind keeping several of them under my bed, though.
On the way home I had told Blaine and Kurt about my singing to Artie and agreeing to meet him later for dinner.
"Well, it sounds like you have a date," Blaine chuckled.
"I don't know if it's actually a date, though. I mean, I'm supposed to tell him what I told you about my sickness. That's not really a normal date-topic," I replied.
"Well, you like him, don't you?" he asked.
"Yeah, I do. A lot, actually," I told him.
"Then don't worry. He will appreciate you being honest with him," he said. Kurt nodded.
"From what I have heard from my sources," said Kurt.
"You mean, from what Cedes has told you," I cut him off with a chuckle, making both boys smile as well.
"Alright, yes, from what Cedes has told me, Artie likes you as well. Apparently there has been some serious tension between you in the last couple of weeks," he said.
"Yeah, I probably could have done things smoother," I mumbled.
"Well, don't worry your gorgeous head, when you leave for tonight we'll have you looking absolutely stunning," Kurt said happily.
"We?" I questioned.
"Well of course, you didn't think you were going to get ready on your own, did you?" he asked, turning in his seat to look at me.
"Actually, I did," I told him.
"That's out of the question sweetheart. I obviously don't question your fashion-skills, but second opinions are golden," he told me.
That's when I noticed we had missed the turn to the Anderson home.
"Blaine, where are we going?" I asked.
"To my house," chimed Kurt happily.
"Don't worry, we got out of school early today, so we took the liberty of picking out some clothes for you. They're all at Kurt's," Blaine told me. I nodded.
"Alright, well, let's do this then!"
Two hours and several outfits later we had finally picked out one that both Kurt and I thought was perfect. He had then insisted on doing my hair and make-up, which I let him since Blaine warned me with his eyes that there was no point in trying to refuse.
"Sweet Gucci, your eye colour is spectacular," Kurt muttered after applying a minimum of mineral powder to my skin.
I chuckled. That was not the first time I had heard that.
"Blaine, come take a look, I can't decide whether they are green or hazel," he then called out to his boyfriend, who looked up from the magazine he was reading at the call of his name.
Blaine stood up and walked over to take a look. I felt slightly awkward having two guys staring at my eyes to determine my eye colour.
"I would say hazel, they're too brown to be green," he then said. Kurt nodded.
"That's what I thought," he said before grabbing a palette of eye shadows. My eyes widened.
"Kurt, pardon my asking, but why do you have a full 15-palette by MAC?" I asked.
"Honey, this is just one of many. I live for makeovers, and I wouldn't be a proper artist without the right tools, would I?" he replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Now close those peepers, I need to get to work," he ordered before continuing to apply makeup to my face.
As 6 o'clock came around, I was finished and the nerves were starting to kick in. Kurt noticed this and put a hand on mine to stop my fidgeting with the hem of my peasant-shirt.
"If you ruin this outfit, I will hunt you down and kill you," he said in a stern voice.
My hands fell at my sides.
"Don't worry, it's going to be just fine," Blaine said giving my hand a comforting squeeze.
I exhaled deeply.
"I hope so," I said.
"Sweetheart, Abrams will not know what hit him when he sees you," Kurt chimed in placing a comforting arm around my shoulders.
"Yeah, he will positively be blown away," Blaine chuckled.
"Hopefully not so much that he will be distracted from what I'm going to say," I mumbled.
"Don't worry so much. Artie is a cool guy. I'm sure he will understand why you didn't tell him sooner," Blaine said.
I nodded.
"I really hope you're right."
"Well, we should get going. Better five minutes early than five minutes late," Kurt said.
Blaine and I agreed, and after slipping on my beloved black wedges that I had persuaded Kurt to let me wear, we were soon on our way to Breadstix.
"Alright, have fun tonight and I'll come pick you up at 9, all right?" Blaine said out of the window of the driver's seat. I nodded and waved at them as they drove away.
I took a deep breath before entering the restaurant and was slightly surprised to see Artie already there sitting by a table.
He noticed me right away and waved me over. I smiled and made my way to the table and sat down.
"Hey, you're early," I told him.
"So are you," he retorted making me smile.
"Yeah, as Kurt said, better five minutes early than five minutes late," I giggled, making him chuckle.
"Do I give Kurt credit for how amazing you look tonight as well?" he asked making me blush.
"Yeah, he insisted on giving me a slight make-over," I told him.
"Well, you look really good," he said blushing a little as well.
"Thank you, you don't look too bad yourself," I smiled at him, receiving a bright smile in return.
"Hello, my name is Stacey and I will be your waitress tonight. Are you ready to place your orders?" a blonde woman asked, her voice heavily laced with disinterest.
"Sure, I'll have the Spaghetti Bolognese and a coke, please," Artie said after quickly scanning the menu.
"Same for me please," I said. Artie shot me a look as Stacey took our orders and left.
"What?" I chuckled.
"Of all the delicious stuff on the menu you decided to go for Spaghetti Bolognese?" he asked.
"Well, you chose to order it, so I decided it would be a safe bet," I chuckled, "Besides, nothing beats a plate of old-fashioned spaghetti."
"Touché," he laughed as Stacey returned with our drinks.
"So, I believe there was something you wanted to tell me?" Artie said after once we had finished eating. I nodded.
"Artie, first I want to apologize for going around this like I did. I really wanted to tell you but I just wasn't ready," I told him.
"Don't worry, that's all water under the bridge, as they say," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
I took a deep breath and told him everything. I told him how I got diagnosed, how I wouldn't leave my bed for days except to eat and shower when I remembered to do both, how I would go for days without any contact to the outside world, how just picking up the phone when someone called seemed like an unbearable task, how I had sunk into a deep black hole before my mum had pulled me out of bed to the doctor's. The entire time he just listened to what I had to tell him and didn't interrupt.
Once I was done, he reached across the table to take my hand.
"Why didn't you just tell me this?" he asked.
"Because I wasn't ready for everyone to know, I was just beginning to settle in here. And because I don't want you to pity me. Like I said, Artie, I have baggage. You deserve someone who can get it together to actually get out of bed to see you," I said, trying to ignore the tear that made its way down my cheek.
"Being sick is not baggage. Addiction to drugs, that's baggage. Yes, you're sick, but that's part of who you are, and if I may be so frank, I don't care," he said, making me look at him in confusion.
"I don't care that you're sick, or that you might find it hard to do normal, everyday stuff when you're having a bad episode. I really like you, Ella. Sickness or not," he stated while gripping my hand tighter.
"I really like you too, Artie," I whispered, unable to hide the smile that spread across my face.
He smiled warmly at me before looking at his watch.
"Um, my dad will be here in ten minutes. Should we pay and wait outside?" he asked.
I nodded yes, and we paid for our dinner. Artie insisted on paying for everything, but I wouldn't hear of it.
Once we got outside, Artie grabbed my hand and gently tugged on it, making me sit on his lap before putting his arms around my waist.
"I had a really great time tonight, Artie, and I'm really glad I got to tell you everything without having you running off screaming," I mumbled, leaning my head on his shoulder.
"I'm glad you were honest with me," was his simple reply before he kissed the top of my head, making the heat rise slightly in my cheeks.
"I wouldn't want to be anything but honest," I told him. "These last weeks with you not talking to me have been horrible."
I felt him nod in response.
"I was hurt and confused. I don't want to talk about that, though, since it's all in the past now," he said.
I raised my head to look at him.
"I agree. Let's not talk about that," I smiled, receiving a smile in return.
Silence fell as we waited, and about 5 minutes later Blaine pulled up at the restaurant parking lot.
"Well, that's my ride," I sighed still with a smile on my face.
"Would it be too daring to ask for a kiss goodnight?" Artie asked in a mumble while blushing furiously.
I simply smiled at him before cupping his cheek and giving him a soft kiss. He immediately returned the kiss, though it was quickly cut short by Blaine honking his horn, making us break apart.
"I guess I have to go," I whispered. He nodded before giving me a quick last kiss.
"I'll see you tomorrow Ells," he smiled. I nodded.
"See you tomorrow, handsome," I winked at him before getting up off his lap and making my way to Blaine's car, leaving a smiling Artie behind.
Y'all know the drill by now :) Reviewers get cookies!