I got super bored since I don't celebrate holidays so I decided to upload early. I'm still posting Saturday but now you get a midweek pick me up. :)
Enjoy and review!
NJPNJPNJP
Marcy let the twins in before her and arched her back.
"You seem stressed, brah." Jude shut the door behind himself.
"It's just I have to go to the pharmacy to pick up these new pills. I'm fine." The truth was, Marcy was exhausted. Which is what the doctor told her.
"Do you want to go lie down? I can watch the kids. I'll bring you some of the soup your sister made Tuesday."
"That's too much. I just need some lemon water."
"You need to eat." He lectured.
"You sound like that blasted doctor. I eat fine."
"Since I've been here, you've pecked at your food."
She narrowed her eyes. "I don't need you telling me how to live my life!"
"It's me, brah. Remember when we were in Romania? It was just us against all those sadists. It's us now. You know I've got your back. Through whatever."
"Thanks, Jude." Marcy hugged him.
He hugged her back. "Anytime."
"Sorry I snapped on you. You live better than me anyway. I should listen to you tell me how to live my life."
Jude waved her away. "Go get in bed and I'll be up there soon."
"Thanks." She crawled up the stairs and toed her shoes off before slithering onto her bed. She promptly fell asleep.
Jude came in with the soup and set it on her nightstand. He left quietly and went downstairs to play with the twins.
MMC
Mercedes felt like crying. These girls were horrible! "Thank you." She waved to the last one.
The girl flounced out.
"Yeah, we're done." Puck sat back roughly.
"Can I panic now?" David already had strains of it in his voice.
Florera checked her phone. "No. We have ten minutes. Somebody could walk through any second-!"
"Really?!" Santana snapped.
"Yes!"
"Excuse me?" A girl poked her head in. "Is this where the auditions are held?"
"Yes." Ringo smiled. "Please come in. What's your name, dear?"
"Tiffany Spudini." She stood in front of the table. She looked completely nervous.
"Hi, Tiffany. Tell us a little about yourself." Mercedes wanted to put her at ease. Quite a few girls had thrown up earlier.
"Um… I'm eighteen, about to turn nineteen. I go to the University of Milan. I'm studying marine biology and I like to read old time mysteries."
"My father likes old crime novels."
Tiffany brightened. "I like old gumshoe movies, too."
"My sisters like them."
Tiffany was fully relaxed now.
"What are you going to sing for us today?" Mercedes asked.
"Paper Dreams by Christina Barnes."
Mercedes was surprised. It was a throwaway song on one of her grandmother's albums that not many people thought about. It was a beautiful song though. "Go ahead."
Tiffany opened her mouth and the voice of an angel came out. She finished with tears in her eyes but a shaky smile.
The group was gobsmacked. They began clapping. "That was so good!"
Tiffany tucked a strand of honey colored hair behind her ear. "Thank you."
"What do you guys think?" Mercedes looked between them.
"She was awesome!" Puck raved.
"Such a high clear voice." Ringo approved.
"I liked it." Florera nodded.
David held up a thumb.
Mercedes sighed. "Me too. Tiffany, you're in!"
Tiffany squealed and jumped up and down. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you!"
"We meet for practice tomorrow at this address." Mercedes handed her a piece of paper with her address on it.
Tiffany took it. "Thank you! I'll be here! Bye!"
They waved her off.
"I knew someone would come in." Florera boasted.
Santana mocked her. "You got lucky. I bet nobody else is going to walk in here and blow us away."
A girl knocked on the door. "Is this the audition?"
"Yes." Mercedes was excited. "Come in."
The girl walked up to the table. "My name is Brianne."
"What are you going to sing for us, Brianne?"
"Run the World by Beyoncé." She smiled confidently.
Mercedes liked the choice but the only person she could hear singing it was Brittany Pierce. "Go ahead."
Brianne… was just awful. They were blown away alright. Blown back into hating that they were there.
"Thank you! Thank you, Brianne!" Ringo shouted.
Brianne stopped warbling. "Did I get in?"
"We'll call you." David lied.
Brianne raised her nose and stomped out. "Humph!"
"Oh my word!" Florera breathed.
Puck yanked on his ear. "I can't hear anything!"
"I have a headache." Santana rubbed her forehead.
"Well that's it for today." Ringo shut the doors.
"What are we gonna do? We have three days to find at least another girl." Mercedes fretted.
"We'll put up an ad tomorrow while we're practicing and pick someone that way."
"We need somebody soon."
"Put it up tonight then we'll go over them during practice tomorrow."
"Okay. That's a good plan."
"What time is practice?" Santana asked. "I want to hear this."
"What time do you have to work?"
"I go in at night. Someone switched out last minute and I got their shift."
"We'll get started in the morning."
"I'll be there. I won't miss this!"
MMC
Artie finished editing the piece he was working on and sent it to the correct director to look over. He took his headphones off and rolled his shoulders. He was exhausted and felt the pain of sitting hunched over a keyboard in his back.
"Artie!" Chris jogged over.
Artie looked up with a smile. "Hey, Chris!"
Chris sat on the edge of the desk. "I've got bad news and good news."
"What's the bad news?" Artie eyed him suspiciously.
"We don't want you as an intern anymore."
Artie felt crestfallen. He knew he was leaving next week but that didn't mean he wasn't having the time of his life. He was learning so much and having so much fun. "What's the good news?"
"We want you as a junior assistant director."
Artie frowned in confusion. "What?"
"Donatello's been paying attention to you. He likes your style and what you bring to the table. He wants you to work under him."
Artie realized Donatello was the one who liked the work he was doing on the music video. "You're serious?!"
"Yes! You get a cubicle next to his office, a nameplate, everything!"
Artie blew out a breath that sounded like a laugh. "Can I think it over? I'm supposed to go to school-"
"We can work around your schedule. A lot of us go to school. I'm at Kendall."
"Kendall?"
"It's a film school. It's two year and I'm in my second year. They teach you a bunch of stuff. You should check it out."
"Can I still have time to think it over? This is a lot." Artie's head was spinning.
"Sure. Take the weekend. Donatello will want to know by Monday."
"Okay. Will do." Artie nodded as Chris left. Oh boy, did he have a lot to think over!
MMC
Mercedes opened the door softly. "Marce? Are you up?"
Marcy moved her head.
Mercedes climbed into the bed and stroked her sister's cheek gently. "Hey, Moppet. How you feeling?"
"Sick." Marcy coughed.
"What'd the doctor say was wrong?"
"I have a cold and I'm exhausted. He said I need to eat more and take some time off." Marcy said.
"I told you, you were doing too much!"
Marcy turned away.
Mercedes cuddled close. "I'm sorry. You don't want to hear I told you so's."
"I don't."
"Did he give you anything to take?"
Marcy nodded. "Jude got it for me."
"Have you taken it?"
Marcy nodded again.
"Okay, I'll let you rest. You're not going in tomorrow, are you?"
Marcy shook her head.
"Good. You can come through and listen to our new singer."
"You found a couple girls?"
"No, no, one girl. We're kinda screwed if we don't find somebody by Saturday."
"What are you gonna do?"
"Well we put up an ad for girls to submit clips of their singing like with the bassist ad. We're going to look over them tomorrow."
"That's good. I hope everything works out for you."
"Me too." Mercedes laid her head against Marcy's.
Marcy was quiet for a moment before she whispered something.
"Huh?" Mercedes straightened her head.
"I said I was ready."
"Ready for what?"
"To have sex with Pierre."
Mercedes sat up quickly and turned her sister over. "What?! You are?! When'd you decide this?! You are?! What?!"
Marcy took a deep breath. "I've been thinking about it for a while."
"And you're ready?!"
Marcy nodded.
Mercedes was blown away. "I can't believe this! Who all have you told?!"
Marcy shook her head.
"I'm the first one? Even over that rotten Rou?"
Marcy smirked.
"You know that means we have to go shopping! Saturday morning! We'll all go shopping for something for Mikey's show then you can buy you something sexy to wear for whenever you do the deed. When were you thinking?"
"Saturday is good. We're already going to the show together and I can just go home with him." She bit her bottom lip. "If he wants me."
"He'll definitely want you!" Mercedes didn't like when Marcy had self doubts.
Marcy wasn't so convinced. "I know I have to talk to him but I don't want to do it by myself."
"You want me to hold your hand?" Mercedes teased.
Marcy put her hand up.
Mercedes's brows rose. She was serious. She took her hand. "I'm here for you."
MMC
Artie opened his mouth then closed it again. He did it again. And again. And again.
"Artie, do you want to tell us something?" Mike inquired.
Artie grinned sheepishly. "We've had fun here these past few weeks, haven't we?"
"Are we breaking up?"
Puck laughed. "I knew it was too good to be true!"
Artie pursed his lips to keep from laughing. "Nah, that's not it. You know I got love for you."
"I don't believe him, Mike! Now that he's gotten a free vacation from us, he's ready to make tracks!"
"My feelings are hurt." Mike teased.
Artie laughed. "No but I'm serious. We've had a good time, right?"
"Yeah. But you're not leaving until next week. It could turn."
Artie laughed again. "How about if it was a little more permanent?"
"Permanent?" Puck lifted his brows. "You mean you staying here with us forever?"
"Forever is a big word."
"That sounds like your commitmentphobic best friend." Mike smirked.
"You're not lettin that go, are you?!" Artie side-eyed him. "She's a good friend!"
"I know but we were tight before you ever knew she existed."
"And we still tight!"
"Humph!"
Artie slapped his arm. "So what do you think?"
"About what?" Mike knew what.
Artie glared at him. "About me living here? For the foreseeable future?"
"What about your parents and sister?" Puck asked.
"I was going to be away from them in New York anyway."
"Speaking of New York, what about film school?" Mike put in.
"Did you know there was a film school here? I looked it up. It's called Kendall and it's pretty badass. I already sent in my demo."
"Wow, you're serious. What about Santana?"
"I don't know. I gotta talk to her."
"Is this about your internship?" Mike was confused.
Artie felt pride fill him. "Actually a director wants me to study under him as his junior assistant director. It's a great gig and I'll be getting paid so it's not like I'm mooching off you guys."
"Yeah, I mooch enough." Puck sighed.
"Calm down." Mike waved him away. "Congratulations, Artie. I'm proud of you."
"Thanks." Artie smiled.
"I'm proud of you, too." Puck clapped him on the back. "Are you telling the girls?"
"Not until I can figure this all out. I have until Monday."
"Do you think your boss will pressure you today?" Mike asked.
"I don't know. I hope not. I really haven't come up with an answer and I really need to talk to San."
"Well you can stay here as long as you want."
"Thanks, bro." Artie calmed down.
"You're welcome. Now let's either talk about my show or Puck's search for a singer."
Puck groaned.
MMC
Mercedes answered the door. "Hello!"
Tiffany smiled and slipped her purse higher up on her shoulder. "Hi!"
"Come in." Mercedes stood back to allow her to come in.
Tiffany stepped inside and looked around. "Wow! This place is gorgeous!"
"Thanks. We decorated ourselves. Did you find it okay?"
"Yeah, I come down here all the time for coffee and breakfast."
Mercedes led her through the house to the studio. "We make breakfast all the time but I do like the coffee place three doors down. They make it just how I like."
"I love the designs in the foam."
Mercedes nodded. "Just to let you know, the whole band's going to be there and my sisters. One is kinda sick so I want her to sit in. I know it won't actually make her feel better but…"
"Music is therapy." Tiffany said seriously.
Mercedes beamed. "Yes!" They arrived at the studio and Mercedes opened the door. She waved Tiffany through. "Okay, Tiffany, this is Ringo, he's on the drums. David is on the keyboard. Puck is the guitarist. Florera is the bassist and these are my sisters, Marcy and Quinn. Santana, who was at the audition yesterday, is as good as my sister."
Tiffany waved. "Hi."
"Hello!" They waved back.
Mercedes pointed to a chair for her to sit in before sitting in her own. "So we need to listen to clips of singers, think up a name and rehearse. What order should we go in?"
"I think Tiffany should get a copy of the lyrics and study them while we think up names." Florera said.
"You always have great ideas." Mercedes handed the lyrics over.
Tiffany took them and perused them quickly. "I really like this song. And I love Rainclouds! I use to sing it at talent shows all the time."
"Meet the singer's daughter." David grinned.
Tiffany frowned and cocked her head in confusion. "Daughter?"
"Rosie Taylor is my mom." Mercedes smiled.
Tiffany gaped. "No way!"
"Yeah."
"That means Christina Barnes is your grandmother!"
"She is."
"And all your aunts…?"
"Yup. Those famous ones."
"Oh my goodness! This is insane!"
"Will that be a problem?"
"Never!"
Mercedes laughed. "Okay! Do you think you have the song?"
"Can you play it for me?"
Mercedes nodded before playing the song.
"Oh wow! I really like that. It's fun and exciting."
"We think so, too."
"Okay, let's go through it."
Mercedes began singing and Tiffany jumped in. They sounded beautiful together.
"Wow! This is going to work!" Puck was happy.
Quinn took his hand. "You guys are going to be famous in no time."
"Not without a third voice." Santana pointed out.
"I'm sure you'll find somebody." Marcy said.
"Let's check the website." David suggested.
After a half hour of listening to the shrill shrieking that was the clips, they took a break.
Mercedes massaged her head. "What should we do now?"
"I think you should have some dance moves." Marcy told her.
"That makes sense. It's a fast song."
"Turn it on." Marcy stood up.
"Marcy, you're sick."
"Turn it on."
Mercedes pressed the button and Marcy started moving. She kept the moves light and clean, slightly impressive but nothing that would take their breath away. "I love it!"
"I think I can do it." Tiffany acted out a few moves from her seat.
"Tana, stand up." Mercedes stood herself. "I need blocking."
Santana stood up.
"Okay, Marce. Break it down."
Marcy stood in front of the three and danced again slowly.
They caught on quick and was able to run through it twice without messing up.
"Yay!" Mercedes hugged both. "Let's sing and dance together."
So the trio sang and danced in sync to the song.
Quinn lifted a brow. "You guys sound amazing together."
Mercedes smiled and glanced at Santana and Tiffany before staring hard at Santana.
"What?" Santana lifted her shoulders.
"You have to join the group!"
"What?!"
"You know the song. You know the dance. You know everybody in the band. You can sing. We get along like fire. Our voices are magic together. It'll be just like the Troubletones again!"
"Yeah, without Britt or Sugar."
"It won't be exactly like the Troubletones but it's better than being a waitress for the rest of your life. You still want to be famous, don't you?"
"You know after that cat porno, I'm done trying to be famous. At least the quick way."
"Cat porno?" Ringo asked.
"It won't be bad." Mercedes put her arms around Santana and set her chin on her chest. "Please? We need you."
"I'm sure Q doesn't want me crashing with you guys." Santana was close to caving in.
Quinn rolled her eyes. "If we can survive the past five years as friends, we can survive more."
"Even if I'm living in your house?"
"We haven't killed each other yet."
Santana grinned. "How can I turn that down?"
"You can't!" Mercedes kissed her cheek. "You might as well say yes right now."
"What about RT?" Marcy asked.
"Marcy!" Mercedes whined.
Marcy's eyes widened and she shrugged. "What?"
"She was so close!"
Santana smirked. "Jimi might not like having a long distance girlfriend."
Puck grinned. "Ask him to stay."
"He will never give up film school for me."
"You never know."
Santana rolled her eyes. "I'll think about it."
"It's not like your life in New York is great." Quinn mocked. "You're a waitress at a singing diner and you take one dance class at NYADA."
"Not to mention you don't even have your own room." Mercedes brought up.
Santana blinked. She was offended by what Quinn said but it was true. She had no real ties to New York. And Mercedes was right, too. She didn't even have a room, cramped or otherwise in New York. But here she had space to grow. "I'll have to talk to Jimi."
Mercedes eskimo kissed her. "Get back to us by- when, guys?"
"Maybe tomorrow?" David put in. "We need to know as soon as possible."
"Okay, tomorrow. Can you do that, Tana?"
Santana nodded. "I'll talk to him tonight."
"Good."
MMC
Mercedes connected with Laura. "Hey!"
"Hey, Mercy." Laura looked tired. "Hey, Quinn. Hey, Marcy."
"Hey." Marcy yawned.
Quinn inclined her head. "Hey."
"You look tired, Big Sis."
"I am." Laura yawned. "What were you guys doing?"
"They were watching me rehearse with the band." Mercedes told her. "Are you sleeping?"
"Not much. I tossed and turned over today. I wish I didn't have to do it."
"I think our parents are going to notice you showing up with a baby." Marcy wrapped her arms around her legs.
Laura glared through the computer's camera. "Shut up!"
Marcy grinned and leaned her head on the back of Mercedes's couch in her sitting room.
"Why do you look so tired?"
"I have a cold."
"Don't tell me you have a cold and you're infecting everyone! Are you staying away from the twins?!"
"No! They're my kids!"
"You should be in bed and someone else should be taking care of the twins!"
"Oh well!"
Mercedes slapped her thigh lightly. "Her friend, Jude is taking care of them. We're making her rest."
"Good." Laura nodded once.
"You're stalling." Quinn crossed her legs.
"I am not! Why do you two pick at me all the time?!"
"They're already expecting your call." Marcy ignored the question. "Maddie must be on pins and needles at camp, waiting for you."
"For us. I'm not doing this by myself."
"Fine. For us." Quinn rolled her eyes. "Let's get this over with."
Laura dialed their mothers and Maddie in a conference call. Both screens appeared atop Laura's.
"Hi!" Maddie waved.
"Hey, Mad!" Her sisters waved.
"Hello, Maddie!" Her moms waved into the camera. "Hi, girls!"
"Hi, Mom!" They waved back.
"How's it going in Italy, London and Montana?" Jeanette asked.
"Camp has been so much fun!" Maddie sprouted off. "I've told everyone about you and Mal having the twins and they can't believe it! Even with the pictures I have!"
Marcy smirked. "Crazy, huh?"
"So much! But everyone says congratulations."
Marcy nodded.
"How's Italy, girls?" Rose demanded.
"Italy's fine." Mercedes bobbed her head. "We have the whole band and are just working out details. School's starting next week. It's all good."
"You're not working too hard, are you?" Judy asked.
"Marcy is." Quinn teased. "Her doctor says she's exhausted."
Marcy reached over and hit Quinn.
"You have to take care of yourself, Marcy." Jeanette lectured.
"Please leave me alone, Mrs. C. I am fine."
"Do we have to come to Italy?!"
"You won't get in."
"Mal will let me in."
"Mal's never home."
"He told me about that eccentric mentor of his. Is he keeping him out all day and night?!"
"I don't trust that man but he comes home for dinner then shuts himself up in his darkroom. He's obsessed."
"You sound worried about him." Quinn taunted.
Marcy leaned across Mercedes to swipe at Quinn, who screamed.
Mercedes used her arms to separate them. "Guys, stop!"
"Marcy!" Jeanette laughed. "You can worry about him without it being more."
"Although it's totally more." Maddie said airily.
"Don't be like her, Mad!" Marcy barked.
Maddie giggled.
Rose shook her head with a smile. "How's England, Laura?"
Laura smirked. "It's fine."
"Except for her and Marc." Marcy calmed down.
"Marce!"
"Oh, so I can't tease you about Mal but you can tease her about Marc?" Quinn sulked.
"She's having trouble with Marc. Mal and I are fine." Marcy said haughtily.
"Trouble?" Rose repeated. "What has he done now?"
"It's what they both did." Quinn muttered.
Jeanette's eyes widened. "Are you together now?!"
"Mrs. C!" Laura burned.
"That's it, isn't it?!" Judy grew excited.
Rose hugged her. "In-law!"
"In-law!"
"No!" Laura screamed. "We're not together!"
"Well technically, you are." Marcy supposed.
"Come on, Laura!" Judy grew impatient. "What is it?!"
Laura huffed and closed her eyes. "What would you say to another grandchild?"
"From who?!" Maddie scrunched her nose.
"Quinn?" Judy asked.
"No way!" Quinn paled. "I'm dry until I'm twenty five!"
"Twenty five's a good age."
"Mercy?" Rose didn't think so but she could be wrong.
Mercedes shook her head. "Nope."
"Don't even think about it." Marcy bit off.
"Laura?!" The moms gasped.
"Laura's pregnant?!" Maddie's jaw dropped.
Laura nodded. "Yeah. About ten weeks."
Judy touched the screen. "My baby. You're keeping it, right?!"
"Of course! Mom, geez!" Laura rolled her eyes.
Rose covered her mouth. "Another baby?"
"Sorry it's not in wedlock but your son's a jerk."
Jeanette smiled and clapped. "We have to visit!"
"No need. I'm fine."
"What are your plans?!" Judy demanded.
"I'm setting up an interior design place. I have a place all picked out and I'm setting up. I've done a few jobs for friends and family of friends. I'm building up a portfolio."
"What about you and Marc?" Rose asked.
"I haven't spoken to him in weeks. I also don't want to speak to him."
"You need to speak." Judy said firmly. "Does he know he's going to be a father?"
"Yes."
"And what'd he do?"
"He proposed."
The moms and Maddie screamed.
"I said no!" Laura made that clear.
Mercedes, Quinn and Marcy giggled at how fast their faces dropped.
"Why'd you say no?!" Judy demanded.
"I don't want to get married. Right now or for the foreseeable future. Especially to Marc. Or because I'm pregnant."
Marcy shrugged. "All good points."
"Thanks, Marce."
"They should be together!" Rose snapped. "They're having a baby!"
"All this foolishness should be dealt with and put behind them!" Judy added.
"Girls, calm down." Jeanette wrapped an arm around both.
"This is the twenty first century. You're behind a few." Marcy lifted a brow. "Feelings matter and she doesn't feel like marrying Marc. The baby won't suffer."
"You're never going to marry Mal, are you?" Maddie pouted.
"No." Marcy shook her head.
Jeanette rolled her eyes. "I still have time on my wager. You'll be engaged by December 31."
"Not even. I'd rather pluck out all of my eyebrows, one by one."
"I should be offended that you'd rather inflict torture on yourself than be with my son."
"It's not a reflection on you as a parent." Marcy told her. "I just don't want to be with Mal. I've thought it over and I just don't want to."
They all looked at her stumped. It was the calm and emotionlessly way she said it.
"I feel the same about Marc." Laura said after a while.
Rose sighed. "I guess I can't make you be together."
"I'm not giving up!" Judy declared.
Laura rolled her eyes. "That's all I wanted to tell you."
"Are you taking your vitamins and taking care of yourself?"
"Yes. I'm eating healthy and walking everywhere. I'm drinking plenty of water and taking the vitamins."
"Good. We need to get out to see you. Soon."
"Please don't. I'm fine."
"We want to see you. And we'll see you three, too."
"Remind me to be busy." Marcy uttered.
Jeanette glared through the camera. "Stop that! We'll see you soon."
"I got to go." Maddie was still in shock. "I have to finish packing so I can catch my plane."
"Okay. Be safe." Jeanette blew a kiss.
Maddie waved and signed off.
"We should go as well." Judy said. "Take care of yourselves. We'll see you."
"Bye." The girls waved as their moms signed off.
"That wasn't so bad." Marcy stood up. "I gotta go. I gotta make dinner."
"Order out and rest." Mercedes lectured.
"I'll think about it." Marcy left.
"I'm worried about her." Mercedes said.
"She's not resting." Quinn agreed. "She's going to fall out."
"Should I come there and make her rest?" Laura asked. "She can't fight me back. I'm pregnant. I can't believe this is working for me."
"We'll see." Mercedes nodded once. "So tell us more about your design office. How's it look?"
MMC
Santana slipped into the room undetected. She crossed to the bed and slipped under the covers.
The door opened after her and a clicking sounded as wheels traversed over Italian tile.
She kept silent until the covers were pulled back. She bounced up. "Hi!"
Artie clutched his chest. "What the hell, woman?!"
She lifted a shoulder. "I wanted to surprise you."
"You mean kill me?!"
She smirked. "I didn't scare you."
"You're right! You terrified me!"
"Stop being a baby and listen."
He side-eyed her.
"Come up here." She patted the space next to her.
He shifted from his chair to the bed and laid back. "What?"
"Have you been avoiding me?"
He blinked then looked down. "No."
"Bullshit."
He looked at her. "Maybe I have but I notice you haven't sought me out either."
She twisted her lips. "There's a reason for that."
"And it would be?"
"What would you think about staying here a little longer?"
"What?"
"I know you have film school and all but maybe you can go next semester or something?"
"Why would I defer?"
"To stay with me?"
"You don't want to go back to the States?" His heart thumped.
So did hers. "Would you be okay with that?"
"I've honestly been thinking of a way to ask you to stay."
She blinked. "What? Why?"
"Orangutan Productions offered me a full time gig."
"What about film school?"
"There's one here called Kendall."
"What about your parents and sister?"
"They would have missed me in New York. Besides they can visit here."
"So you were going to ask me to stay to be your little lap dog?!"
Artie glared. "And what were we supposed to do if I stayed for you?!"
"Were you even going to tell me?!"
"Yeah. I have to give them an answer by Monday."
She scoffed. "That's just great!"
"Why do you want to stay?"
"What?!"
"You heard me. Why do you want to stay? I know it's not just for the shopping."
She picked at a loose thread in his covers. "I feel different here. In Lima and New York, I felt like I was either being held back or held down. I feel free here."
He nodded and took her hand.
"It's an easy pace that's not too fast or too slow. Things are good."
"And?"
"And Aretha offered me a spot in her band."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I miss singing. Being a part of Kurt's band was fun but I knew it was never going to go anywhere but this is different. They have a real chance of making it."
He sat back. "So we're staying?"
"I guess so."
He smirked. "How are we going to get our stuff from home?"