AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Happy Holidays!

With the exception of a few paragraphs here and a couple of lines there, this chapter was almost entirely written by the amazing gigundoly! I can't thank her enough for contributing to this story!

Please leave us a review after reading! :)

Chapter 11: One Short Day

ARTIE

Artie was sitting at the desk in his bedroom, trying to complete his calculus homework, when the door to his room suddenly burst open. He didn't have to glance up to know that it was Sebastian standing there.

"What's up?" Artie asked, completely unfazed, as he continued completing the equation he was working on.

Sebastian closed the door behind him before flopping on his back onto Artie's bed, showing that he planned on staying for a while. "I was thinking about what you said the other night- about me not understanding anything about the physical aspects of yours and Betty's relationship." Frustrated, Artie rolled his eyes as he put his pencil down, still refusing to turn around and meet Sebastian's eyes. "And so I thought, you're right. I don't get it. So I turned my trusty friend Google-"

"You didn't…" Artie said in alarm, turning around to face him now.

"I did," Sebastian confirmed. "And that was a mistake because I got a whole lot of information that I really didn't want to know about you, dude." Mortified, Artie's face reddened and he hid behind his hands. Rather unbothered by this, Sebastian continued: "So, then, I was like, 'Wait! I know someone who does get it and can have this conversation with Artie and then, hopefully, he'll get his head out of his ass and realize that things can work out between him and Betty!'".

Sebastian typed something on his phone just then, and a moment later, Artie's own dinged with a text message. Looking down at the notification, Artie saw that Sebastian had sent him one of his phone's contacts.

Reading the name, Artie met Sebastian's eyes with a "Really?" look.

"You were right, Artie. I could never understand. But here's someone who might. It couldn't hurt to reach out, right?"

Artie appreciated Sebastian's passion for setting himself and Betty up. He guessed that Sebastian felt he owed it to him, hence why he wasn't letting up on any of this. Artie maneuvered himself over to sit beside Sebastian on the edge of the bed, glancing down at the phone number on the screen in his hand.

He didn't know why he was doing this, but in a moment of bravery, he selected the contact, and before he knew it, the line was ringing. Artie almost hung up before the other guy picked up, but before he could do that, the person he was calling answered.

"Hello?" He sounded confused by an actual call, as opposed to a text, from a real person.

"Hey, uh, hey Watson," Artie began, nervously, just as Sebastian mouthed, "Put it on speaker!", and Artie didn't know why, but he did just that. "It's Artie. Artie Abrams. Uh, Sebastian gave me your number. I wanted to ask you something."

"Yeah, what's that?"

Artie had changed his mind. This was a stupid, stupid idea. He hadn't spoken to the Warbler- who was also a wheelchair user- since the wedding in June. It felt a little bit weird to be seeking the younger kid out for some advice in that department, yet here he was. However, he had already picked up the phone to call him and couldn't very well leave him hanging. Sebastian was urging him to speak again.

"Well, I was wondering," he began, trying to think of how to phrase it. "Have you ever… have you ever considered dating another, um, another par-paraplegic?"

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. His eyes met Sebastian's and the other guy shrugged.

"Artie," said the younger guy. "I'm, uh, flattered, really, but I barely know you and…"

"What? No!" Artie spat out the words before he realized how bad that sounded. Sebastian fell over onto the bed and shoved a pillow into his own face, so as not to be heard as he cracked up. "I mean, uh, I mean, Watson… you're great and all, but I'm straight. Sorry, I was asking because I met a girl and she's in a chair and…"

"Oh, okay, a girl!" Watson interjected. "Sorry, I just thought… you know, with show choir and all…"

"You're entirely justified in thinking that," Sebastian butted in, unable to keep out of the conversation. "He was also a gymnast… Mmph!"

With an impressive lean and a reach, Artie managed to shove the pillow back into his step-brother's face.

"My apologies, Watson," Artie said. "You're also on with Sebastian, who is all up in my business all the time."

"That's quite alright," Watson said. "Sebastian, you're sorely missed on The Warblers. I hope the New Directions know that they stole our secret weapon."

Artie pulled the pillow away long enough for Sebastian to speak. "Thanks for saying so, Watson," Sebastian said, fixing his messed up hair.

"Anyway, back to your problem, Artie," Watson went on. "I don't have personal experience. What I do wonder is, have you asked the questions about her injury level? Whether she's completely paralyzed, or if she's got some degree of sensation or movement? Those are important factors to consider if we're purely talking about the physical aspects of the relationship."

"We are…" Artie trailed off. He thought about all of their conversations. They'd barely even said the word 'chair', which was honestly refreshing. He didn't want to bring it up. Not if she didn't. "Um, thanks, Watson, that's good advice. Looking forward to seeing you and The Warblers at Sectionals."

As he and Watson hung up, he noticed Sebastian was scrolling on his phone. "What are you doing?"

"Looking at the district calendar for Belleview," Sebastian said. "I found your next opportunity to see her. On Monday, we have a holiday off from school but Belleview doesn't. We could go there."

"We?" It was a great idea, but Artie didn't exactly want Sebastian to come and spy on him again.

"Yes, we," Sebastian went on. "You'll look awkward being there by yourself. I can be your wingman. Wheelman? Whatever kind of man you need, I can be that."

"Just be quiet," Artie warned.

Sebastian's eyes lit up. "So, I can come?"

…

Artie knew that Betty's rehearsal for Wicked was after school, so he decided to wait until the end of the day to show up and find her there. He was really curious to see her as Glinda, given that he thought she was absolutely perfect for the role.

When he got there, he and Sebastian attempted to sneak in and hide in the back, but when you're in a chair, there's no such thing as being inconspicuous. Their presence drew stares, but they just pretended they had a good reason to be there and settled into the back.

Artie saw Betty look his way and then turn to address someone else. She glanced over her shoulder, and Artie knew he was the topic of their conversation. But then she smiled and gave him a little wave.

As luck would have it, she and the girl playing Elphaba were rehearsing "What Is This Feeling?" today, as well as putting the finishing touches on their blocking. They had two beds on wheels that they rolled out onto the stage. Elphaba (or whatever her real name was) sat on her bed while Betty remained in her chair, and Artie mentally complimented whoever was responsible for that decision on their choice to put the girls on the same plane.

"There's been some confusion over rooming here at Shiz," the girls sang.

"But, of course, I'll care for Nessa," sang Elphaba.

"But, of course, I'll rise above it," Betty belted, and Sebastian nudged Artie, clearly impressed already.

"For I know that's how you'd want me to respond, yes. There's been some confusion, for you see my roommate is…"

"Unusual and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to descriiiiibe…" She caught Artie's eye in the audience now, as she stretched out that last note, and smiled at him.

"Blonde," Elphaba concluded.

They stayed and watched the entire thing. It looked like it was still fairly early in their rehearsal process since several of them were using scripts, though it seemed that Betty was mostly off-book. Hers stayed in her lap and she only glanced at it a few times. She was very believable as the popular Glinda, chair and all, and it amazed Artie to watch this. Maybe she was right, maybe he did need to find a way to be onstage himself one of these days.

At the end of the rehearsal, Artie and Sebastian waited by the stage, while she talked to the girl playing Elphaba. The other girl walked over with her, and Artie noticed she was looking right at Sebastian. Artie gave him a meaningful look that said, "Okay, wingman, don't let me down." He was pretty sure this wasn't what Sebastian had in mind, but given his performance in auditions for Grease, Artie knew he was fully capable of playing straight when needed.

"Uh, Artie and Sebastian, this is Bree," Betty said, glancing up at the brunette. "Bree, this is Artie and Sebastian. They go to McKinley, in Lima."

"You two look so cute together," Bree gushed, at which point Betty looked very, very uncertain about that statement.

"Would, um, would you like to see what we're working on, Artie?" Betty offered. "Our sets are coming along nicely. Maybe we could work out some kind of exchange between our schools, if you guys ever decide to do Wicked and we do Grease." She did not offer this to Sebastian, and Artie hoped he caught her drift that he was not supposed to follow them.

"Bree can keep me company," Sebastian said, with such a flirty tone that nearly convinced Artie that some small part of Sebastian was curious about girls. Well, or would've convinced him, if he hadn't watched him stare longingly at Spencer during every single Glee rehearsal.

Artie proceeded to follow Betty onto the stage, by wheeling up a ridiculously steep ramp that had obviously been a clumsy addition to their stage. He watched Betty as they rolled behind the curtain and realized that she was a little bit stiff throughout her trunk. Possibly, he thought, her injury was a bit higher than his? He absolutely did not feel comfortable asking. Watson's idea was out of the question.

"This is the backdrop for Emerald City," Betty was saying, as she showed him backstage, where several people were still painting it. "And if you follow me back out to the stage, I can show you how we're going to change our sets. We're putting everything on wheels. Including me," she punctuated with a giggle, and it was so much like something Artie himself would say that he couldn't believe it had come from her.

"I can't wait to hear you sing 'Popular'," Artie said, wheeling a bit closer to her and brushing their knees together. Her eyes fluttered down and back up for a second and she smiled. He instantly knew that the visit had been a success. Betty was liking him more and more by the minute.

Hold up, did he even want that? He couldn't remember why he'd come. All he knew was, she was gorgeous and funny and she didn't exactly seem to hate being the object of his affection.

"Well, you don't have to…" Betty grinned. "Popular, I know about popular. And with an assist from me to be who you'll be, instead of dreary who-you-were, well, are. There's nothing that can stop you from becoming popu-ler... lar."

"You guys," Bree interrupted, standing up from where she'd been sitting with Sebastian. "Are so cute together, in your chairs. Are you two going out?" The tone of her voice was so sickeningly sweet that Artie couldn't differentiate if she was being genuine, or creepily infantilizing them.

Sebastian raised his eyebrows, looking from Bree to Betty and Artie.

"Nope." Betty's mouth was set in a thin line. "Just friends."

"Well, you should," Bree went on. "You look really sweet together. I hope you don't mind. I took a couple of pictures and Instagrammed them." She stood up and threw her backpack over her shoulder, looking down at Sebastian and giving him a flirty grin. "It was really nice meeting you."

"Likewise…" Sebastian watched her go, then turned back to Betty and Artie. "She seems nice."

"She's a stone-cold bitch and she's out to destroy me," Betty said, glaring at Bree as the other girl headed out of the auditorium. Sebastian quickly pretended to be interested in his phone.

"Look, Artie…" Betty said, then she seemed to change her mind, mid-sentence. "Um, maybe we could go someplace and talk. How about… how about back to my place? My parents won't be home for a while."

"I'll take the car home," Sebastian said, glancing up at them. Artie mentally thanked him for his work here. It looked like Artie was getting a lot more than he bargained for.

…

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian had invited Tina over because he had a retake opportunity for his failed Biology exam, and she was the only one who could help him study that evening, especially since Artie was now busy. Sebastian stays home, Artie goes out. Artie stays home, Sebastian goes out. He was seeing a pattern here. They were so often finding themselves on different schedules that Sebastian was starting to miss the nights when the two of them were able to hang out on their own and play Halo or watch Harry Potter.

"When did Artie say he was gonna be home?" Tina asked, when she'd noticed that the sun was starting to set and he still wasn't back. Sebastian had filled her in earlier, about how they'd gone to see Betty's rehearsal, only for him, in turn, to go home with her.

"He didn't say," Sebastian said, with a shrug. "I think we're just about done here, don't you? Thanks for coming over. I feel… a lot more ready than I did."

Tina opened her mouth to say something, but just then, they both heard the sound of a car pulling up. They rushed to the window in Sebastian's room to spy. Sure enough, it was Betty. Artie was pulling his chair out of the back and setting it up to get out, as she waited. After a few minutes, he transferred into it and wheeled around to the driver's side. Betty opened the door and he wheeled a little closer, as the two talked.

"I think he's gonna…" Tina didn't finish the sentence. Instead, she gasped and covered her mouth as they both watched Artie lean just about as far forward as he could without toppling over, to kiss her in the front seat. Despite their awkward position, the kiss wasn't a quick one, and it made Sebastian wonder what had just happened over at her place.

As soon as Artie started to wheel towards the front door, Tina made a break for the stairs, with Sebastian right on her heels. Breathlessly, she greeted him in the living room.

"You kissed her!" Tina didn't even bother to pretend she wasn't spying. "Are you and Betty an item?"

"What? No!" Artie said, immediately, but then he realized there was no point in hiding it. They'd seen him. "I mean, yes. I mean, maybe? I'm unclear."

"What's so unclear about making out with her in the driveway?" Sebastian asked, innocently, as he settled onto the couch, to meet Artie at eye level. But it was Artie who looked away.

"We've been through this already," he pointed out. "I'm taking a shower. See you tomorrow, T."

As Artie retreated to his room, leaving Sebastian and Tina alone, she crossed her arms in front of her body and looked at him, sharply. "You need to help him."

"I'm trying," Sebastian protested. He was getting a lot of this. Suddenly, Artie's affairs were somehow his responsibility. There was only so much he could do to meddle with Artie's relationship; he just wanted to be treated like a normal guy and be left to figure it out on his own, and at some point, a line needed to be drawn, and Sebastian needed to respect that. But what about his own needs? His own life? Didn't anyone care about how his love life was going?

Tina softened at that. "I know," she said, as she sat down on the couch beside him. If there was anybody else who knew just how stubborn Artie could be, it was her. "And I wanted you to know, I… I really like this new side I'm seeing of you, Sebastian. I know you're trying to help Artie. He's my best friend, and I really care about him. I never want to see him get hurt, and I know that you don't either. And, well, that makes me like you even more."

Without warning, Tina Cohen-Chang leaned in and kissed him. She seemed equally surprised that she'd done it, as she jumped back and then got to her feet in a hurry. "Well, good luck on your test, I'll see you tomorrow, bye Sebastian," she said, without even taking a breath, before excusing herself right out the front door.

Sebastian touched his lips and shook his head. He really needed a boyfriend.

We decided to bring Bree (the mean cheerleader who was rude to Kitty and Artie at the start of their relationship in the show) into this story, but instead of going to McKinley, she goes to Belleview with Betty. We felt that she'd be best utilized this way!