Time for some more fluffy fluff! Or...like that thing that comes before the fluff...

I hope you enjoy this chapter!

I sighed out of boredom for the sixth time before receiving an understanding glance from Jesse. "Sorry for dragging you along, you know how I am with shopping." "You're better than I am." I mumbled which was true since most of the clothes and such I owned were due to my mother's I'd never bothered setting foot inside the mall.

"I could be bored in my own house, in my own room, in a much more comfortable chair right now!" I complained he simply rolled his eyes and handed me a twenty dollar bill. "Go complain to smoothie vendor." We exchanged glares before I snatched the money from his hand and left the store.

Now, it wasn't that I resented being here with Jesse and Rachel it was just that I felt bad intruding on any alone time they could possibly have. I knew Jesse settled with being a part of our Glee Club meetings just to be with her but they really needed to go on a one on one date without me. After their on stage kiss one would assume they'd be able to do that.

I shook the thoughts from my head as I approached the employee behind the bubblegum colored laminate countertop. "Two Strawberry Bananas and a Very Berry Blast, please, oh and a salted soft pretzel." I said handing them the twenty.

After a few minutes I was heading back to my starting point when I spotted a familiar face heading in my direction. "Artie?" Shocked blue eyes met mine before a nervous smile formed on his lips. "Hey, Es….you're not planning on drinking all of those smoothies by yourself are you?" I laughed.

"If I did I'd owe the two people behind you money." He turned briefly to see Rachel wave at him with the hand that wasn't laced with Jesse's. "That's cool…well, I, umm, I should go." And like that he was gone leaving me to look at the spot where he was only moments before.

"Was that, Artie?" I nodded in Jesse's general direction still confused as to what had happened. "Don't you find his behavior a bit odd, Es? I feel as though this is the third time he's made an excuse to leave after coming into contact with you." I looked at Rachel and handed her one of the cups when it hit me that she was right.

Flashback

After getting my notebooks and a new pen from my locker I tried to hurry to first period when I ran into Artie. He looked worried and somewhat troubled by something. "Are you okay?" I asked his expression changed and I could no longer tell what he was feeling. "Yeah, I just…All's good I'll talk to you later, okay?" He was gone before I could reply but I walked on class figuring that maybe he was just in a hurry.

It was hard to think about my morning run in with an out of character Artie when teacher's kept on asking me to answer questions we hadn't gone over so I pushed it to the back of my head. After taking care of all of my assignments I headed to the choir room where Sam and Mercedes were having a 'creative discussion'.

"What up, my peeps?" I asked making both of them acknowledge my presence. "Sam, won't give me back my phone!" exclaimed Mercedes as Sam walked over to where I was standing and held out the phone. "Tell me you don't think that she looks great in that outfit." I looked at Sam and quickly grabbed the phone from his hands tossing it to Mercedes.

"Now you're gonna get it." He said with a mischievous smile on his face. I squealed when he threw me over his shoulder and began chasing Mercedes around the room as well. "Sam, put me down!" I yelled and when he did we all ended up laughing about it.

When we calmed down I noticed Artie again. "Ready for Mr. Schue's lesson today, Art?" I asked. "I just remembered I forgot my notes in science class." When he had retreated I saw Mercedes and Sam share a questioning look.

"Come to think of it….I feel as though he's avoiding me." Rachel nodded taking a sip of her smoothie before asking why. I shrugged and silently wondered why too as we headed, drinks in hand, to another one of her preferred clothing stores. Whatever the reason, it had left me so confused.

Don't worry, Es, I'm sure Artie is just as confused as you are! But that's all I'm saying till the next chapter 3