A/N: Bleh. Bad day today. Will ramble in next chapter. Luckily I wrote this chapter land QotU answer late yesterday.
My answer to last chapter's QotU: I actually don't have a schedule for writing, but I find that I get the best ideas while driving or in the shower. It's a saying at my school that 'scientists work in labs, engineers work in shops, theorists work in papers, and math majors work in the shower.' There are actually water proof white boards in a couple of the showers, always littered with math. So I take that to heart, and find that my best thought processes happen in the shower, so 9/10 times, I'm writing while wet, fresh out of the shower.
This time on QotU: What is your least favorite day of the week?

Chapter 21 : Defying Gravity

They watched as Quinn made her way out of the park, heading in an unknown direction. There was no telling where she might go. When she was out of sight, they turned their attention back on each other, still lying on the grass as the afternoon wore on.

"Why do I get the feeling that you and Quinn were having a whole separate conversation just then?" Artie asked, his face curious as usual.
Tina gave a weak smile. She wished he wasn't so oblivious all the time. "Because we were," she responded, trying to keep her mood as upbeat as it had been before. She felt a pang in one of her shoulders from laying too long on a particularly uncomfortable patch of earth, and decided to roll over, propping herself up on her forearms. Seeing his face remaining just as curious as before, she cut him off before he asked any more questions, "It's a girl thing."

He seemed content with this answer and allowed a smile to return to his face, now looking up at Tina, whose face was hovering beside his. "Do you think Quinn will be okay?" he asked, glancing in the direction she had gone.

"Yeah," Tina responded with a nod. "She might look dainty and elegant, but she's a fighter. She's been incredibly mature about this whole baby thing, even if she did kinda use Finn there for a while."
Artie thought for a while, then nodded in agreement. "At least she's willing to talk to us about what's going on now."

She smiled slightly at this. It was nice to have Quinn talking to them, rather than looking at them with distain- as had been custom until recently. Looking down at Artie, she met his blue eyes with her own. Her smile widened just by catching that incredible gaze of his. "I wish things could always be like this, Artie," she admitted softly.

Artie seemed taken aback slightly, then stopped to think. "Yeah, too bad Karovski will be replaced by some other jock as soon as they all notice that he won't touch anyone in glee," he answered with disappointment.
That wasn't what Tina was talking about, but she nodded anyway.

"You have grass in your hair, Tee," Artie suddenly pointed out with a soft laugh.
"Oh really? I wonder where that came from," she answered with surplus sarcasm. Shifting her wait, she quickly used a hand to brush some of the grass out of her hair.

Apparently she failed, because Artie reached up a hand to pick out the blades of grass from her raven and blue locks. Tina bit back a whimper. This was torture for her, having him so close, yet so far at the same time. Her smile faded as his hand lingered at the back of her neck for a moment, his fingers barely a whisper against her scalp. It sent a shiver down her spine, which did not go unnoticed by the offender.
"You cold, Tina?" he asked in quiet concern, searching her face. His fingers went back to picking through her hair for grass.
She could only shake her head and tear her eyes away from his.

Tina's mind was racing. She closed her eyes, trying to shut her brain up. Just do it, you baby. How much longer can you pretend that being around him isn't killing you?
But I can't live without him.
He's being a coward. If he's really your best friend, then you can get through this.

"You okay, Tee?" he cut off her thoughts, trying to meet her eyes.
She took a breath, gathering whatever courage she could muster. "Artie… I'm so sorry," she said quietly, finally returning his caring gaze.
"For what?" he asked, face turning from worry to confusion, which Tina would readily admit were both adorable looks for him. That, combined with his fingers in her hair, was making her increasingly nervous.
But she couldn't think about that now as she looked into his eyes with steely determination. "I know I said I'd try not to, but I can't take it anymore," she realized that she was on the verge of rambling, but stopped herself, speaking before Artie could interrupt. "So I'm sorry… for this."

She took one more second to scan his increasingly confused features before she leaned over him, pressing her lips down on his. Tina was hesitant, gentle and soft; but her heart broke as she felt Artie recoil from the contact.

It took Artie a while to properly react. His hand was still entwined in her hair, and his back was against the ground. He felt a sense of panic, his mind racing.
What is she doing? This changes everything…
Why don't you just let yourself enjoy it? She likes you- you like her, what's the big deal?
I can't live without her, this makes things difficult.
Artie managed to gain control of his arms, putting pressure on her shoulders, forcing her away from him. He was gentle, but stern.

"Tina…" he whispered, her face still only inches away from his, though he couldn't stand to look her in the eyes. Their breathing was ragged, and he could feel her shaking. He tried to get himself together to gently tell her off, but she apparently had other plans. Her shaking stopped and her voice returned.
"Shut up, Artie. If you really want, pretend this never happened," she spoke a little louder and with a bit more aggression than she had intended, trying to feel as confident as she sounded. He must have been comforted by this proposition, as he raised his eyes to lock with hers, and she took his lack of struggle as silent permission.

Lowering herself onto her side, Tina removed his glasses, tossing them aside before reclaiming his lips yet again, now able to use a free hand to touch the side of his face.
Artie remained still for a minute, still unsure of what was exactly going on. Maybe it's the boost of confidence from the Karovski incident. Or maybe she's feeling neglected with her parents-
He felt her move her hand from his face and into his hair as she moved her lips against him in a way that spread warmth throughout his body.
Shut up, brain.

And finally Tina was rewarded with his hand returning to the back of her neck, and the slightest pressure on her lips. She tingled all over as he started to return the kiss for once. On their 'date' all those weeks ago, he had received the kiss, earlier he had shied away from it, and now finally he was kissing her back. She could tell he was nervous. So, she moved her body closer to his, putting a bit more weight on his torso as she tried to deepen the kiss. He was still hesitant, but followed her lead, allowing his other arm to snake around her, placing his hand at the small of her back.

But all of the scooting on the grass had caused her shirt to ride up the slightest bit, so Artie's fingers came into contact with skin, causing him to flinch in embarrassment. Tina smiled, breaking the contact between their lips for a short second. Artie wasn't sure exactly what was guiding him in this venture, but he lifted his head to reconnect with her, letting his hand settle there on her back.

They stayed that way for another minute or two, going no further than innocent kisses before they finally parted, breathless. There was a moment of silent reverie before reality came crashing down on Artie. He groaned, quickly taking his hands off of her and bringing them up to his face.
"Tee, what are we doing?" he asked through his hands.

Panic started to rise in Tina, but she didn't quite have the self-control to retract her hand from his hair. "Please don't be mad at me, Artie," she managed to squeak. "I just… needed to let you know that we're… still an option. That, even though you have some irrational fear of losing me, I'll still be here if you change your mind," she tried to rationalize. While she wasn't being completely honest, it still carried the implication that she was going for.

He looked through his fingers at her, seeing the fear in her face. "Don't worry, Tee… I'm not mad. I could have stopped you, but I didn't," he pointed out. "But I hope that someday soon you will realize why we can't…" he drifted off for a moment, moving his hands from his face, surprising himself at how much strength this was taking, "we can't do this, Tina."

Her eyes dropped. "Then I hope that someday soon, you'll realize that you're wrong," she retorted quietly, but ended with a smile. He smiled slightly back, and reached a hand up to tilt her face up so he could see her eyes.

"Maybe, Tee. But for now…"

"I know," she cut him off. They would pretend this never happened. She sighed heavily and rolled back over onto her back, laying there for a moment before deciding to sit up. "But do me a favor- try to remember what we were talking about with Quinn. And read between the lines. That's the only way to understand girls," she gave him a little jab in the ribs as she said this, managing to get a chuckle out of him.

"Okay, I will," he agreed, rubbing the spot where she had assaulted him. As she stood up, he couldn't help but speak up, "I have to say, Tee…" he looked away to hide the blush that was threatening to take over his face, "…you're a really good kisser."

Offering him his glasses back, she smirked to herself.

"You need a little more practice," she teased, though as soon as she was behind his chair as he hoisted himself back into it, she found herself gently touching her lips as the tingling sensation lingered.