Author's Note - The first half of this chapter was another contribution from QuinnAbrams. Props to her! Enjoy!
The famous Santa Monica Pier was only a short walk from the hotel they were staying at, the perfect sight-seeing excursion for their first day in the City of Angels.
The four seniors, plus Kitty, were going to stick with Mercedes. Even though Kitty hadn't always been the biggest fan of the girl (especially after she had brutally torn apart her number for Artie during Stevie Wonder week), she was steadfast on trying to put their differences aside for the weekend. Besides, after what Mercedes had just done for Artie, she was feeling incredibly grateful.
Mercedes hadn't stuck around for pizza, however, citing that she had a lunch date with an important record executive. It had given Artie and Kitty just enough time to sneak off to their personal hotel room. They'd reached another relationship milestone, made all the more exciting as they did so while sneaking around on a school trip. Kitty had managed to put herself back together quickly when Tina came knocking to ask for their help in getting the costumes ready. As for Artie, he'd pretended to be asleep. Kitty was fairly sure Tina wasn't stupid enough not to realize what had just happened. As if it weren't obvious enough, Kitty had accidentally answered the door, wearing her shirt inside-out. She only noticed it after Tina had left in an apparent hurry. Kitty tried to act like she didn't care that they'd been caught, but in reality, she did. She didn't want everyone talking, and seeing as Tina wasn't known for keeping her mouth shut, they'd be talking soon enough.
"Alright, Mercedes just texted and said that she's going to meet us at the Route 66 sign on the pier," Sam reported to the seniors and Kitty, as they set off.
The others nodded as they followed Sam's lead. He was practically giddy over the fact that he was going to get to hang out with his ex-girlfriend for the evening. (Artie had told Kitty all about the brief history of 'Samcedes.') Kitty wondered what this was going to mean for Sam and Penny.
In anticipation of their warm-weather trip, Artie and Kitty had hit the mall a few weeks before to get some new clothes. Seeing how happy it made her, Artie had given in and let Kitty style him for the occasion. Now, she could see that he wasn't 100% comfortable just yet in his new ensemble (which consisted of a light blue v-neck shirt, a pair of shorts that ended a few inches above the knee, and low-top Converse sneakers), but she loved that he was giving it a chance, for her sake.
Kitty was wearing a yellow sundress that Artie picked out for her, insisting that it made her eyes pop, a welcomed change from her typical Cheerios uniform. It had been such a relief not to pack that.
It was a comfortable seventy-five degrees as the whole club headed down the sidewalk that gave them a view of the water, and it wasn't long before they reached the pier and all began to head off in different directions. The three Cheerios linked arms to stick together, of course, and the four sophomores banded together, naturally aware that Kitty wasn't part of their group, at the moment.
"Remember to meet me right back here at eight o'clock!" Mr. Schue shouted after them, from where they stood right under the ferris wheel.
The four seniors and Kitty spotted Mercedes in no time. Mercedes and Sam seemed eager to pick up right where they left off, as he wasted absolutely not another second. He slipped his hand into hers, as if this was a perfect normal thing for exes to do.
"Where to first, Ms. Jones?" Blaine asked. "You know L.A. better than any of us, so you should lead the way!"
Mercedes smiled smugly, clearly liking the chance to be everyone's tour guide.
"Well, I was thinking we could go on some of the rides first since I know that Sam and Artie are itching to ride them," she said, flashing a knowing glance in her friends' direction. They didn't notice, however, as they were too busy admiring the rollercoaster and ferris wheel.
With everyone on board with her idea, the six friends eagerly headed towards the entrance of Pacific Park. Artie and Kitty brought up the rear of the group, as Kitty found herself looking at the amusement park rides through his lens. What she noticed first were metal stairs leading to where you got on and off most rides.
While Kitty knew that he wasn't a huge fan of being carried by the other guys, he didn't look bothered by the idea today. She remembered Artie's affinity for amusement park rides, him having bravely gone on that spinning one at the carnival in town on their first date, chair and all. He loved a good adrenaline rush as much as any other teenage guy.
"Rollercoaster first! Rollercoaster first!" Sam cheered as they got in line for the attraction. Lucky for them, the pier wasn't too busy that night, so it wasn't long before they got to board.
"Need a hand?" Sam asked Artie, noticing the predicament that the raised platform caused.
Artie nodded and wrapped his arms around Sam's neck as the taller blonde boy lifted him in the air before depositing him safely on the seat on the ride. Kitty took that moment to wheel Artie's chair towards the exit to be retrieved afterward before climbing into the seat next to Artie's.
After the operator assured that everyone was buckled in, the ride started. Kitty grasped Artie's hand as the coaster picked up speed. He had decided to forego his fingerless gloves tonight, and Kitty liked the feeling of his warm (but slightly calloused after years of wheeling himself around and guitar-playing) hand in hers. They both screamed with joy as the ride twisted and turned in the air.
After departing the first ride, the crew immediately headed over to the ferris wheel. To Artie's pleasant surprise, this ride was much more accessible than the last. He was able to roll right up to the cart they'd be riding in and transfer into it all on his own. Once again, Kitty had pushed his chair off to the side before boarding herself.
Mercedes, Sam, Blaine, and Tina sat together in one cart, leaving Kitty and Artie to their own.
"Alone again," she'd teased. "Should we rock this thing?" He'd squirmed then, his mind clearly back at the hotel again. Then he'd laughed, in surprise, as the car lurched upwards, to load the next group.
"Hey, guys, look up!" Tina called, and when they did, she snapped a quick picture of them from where she and the other three hovered above Artie and Kitty.
As the ride lifted them up in the air, they were able to get a bird's eye view of the pier.
"Woah," Artie breathed, admiring the pink sky as the sun began to set. "I've never been to California before. The sunsets here are much prettier than the ones in Ohio, huh?"
Kitty nodded. Small, intimate moments like these between the two of them were her favorites. They were also what was going to make it so hard to say goodbye when he headed off to film school in the fall. If he headed off in the fall. She was beginning to hope he'd opt for the Ohio State idea, only not if he was just doing it on account of her. She didn't think he owed her that much say in his future.
"I don't know about these shorts," he said, suddenly tugging them down at the knees. "They ride up all the time and I don't even notice 'til I've already flashed a whole lot of skinny, white thigh."
"Maybe sock suspenders then," Kitty teased, as he gave her a dry, ha-ha-you're-so-funny smirk and a playful shove.
"It's almost eight," Artie observed. "Do you think this still counts as meeting Mr. Schue back here at 8:00 sharp, if we're up here?" He pointed at the ground. "I mean, my chair's down there, so technically, I did what he said."
"You're such a rule-follower," Kitty teased him. "Although, it didn't stop you from sneaking me into your hotel room earlier..."
"About that," Artie squirmed again. "Uh, I know you told me you take the pill. Do you take it ever day at the same time? I read online that that's very important."
Kitty arched a brow. "You ask me this after the fact, Abrams?" she said, pointedly. "Yes, I do. Although, until today, it was only for keeping my acne under control."
It was a few seconds before Artie really grasped what she was telling him. "Wait, are you saying—" He turned his head to the side. "No way, uh-uh. Kitty, I promise you, I'm not that insecure, you don't have to lie to me."
"I'm not lying," Kitty said, and she wasn't. She'd actually been lying to herself when they'd come close, on Artie's "eighteenth" birthday, and she'd reasoned that she was putting on the brakes to preserve a bit of mystery. In reality, she was stopping herself because she didn't much want to lose her virginity in a parked car. She fancied something just slightly more romantic, and sneaking around in a hotel room on a school trip was slightly more romantic, she supposed.
"But Jake," Artie was saying. "And forget Jake, how about the other Puckerman? And even Ryder, right? What about all those guys?"
"All of those relationships were so short-lived that they barely counted," she reasoned. "Especially Ryder. We had one boring dinner date. And, as you yourself pointed out, I'm a habitual liar. I couldn't have the Cheerios knowing my reputation was a total lie. But you have to know, I wouldn't dishonor my mother like that, by being a total slut. Plus, Artie, remember, I'm only fifteen..."
"No, no, no," Artie shook his head. "I don't want to remember that. Can you just hurry up and turn sixteen, so I don't have to feel like I'm doing something wrong?"
Next month couldn't come soon enough. The difference between "fifteen" and "nineteen" did sound like a whole lot more. And yet Kitty didn't want to rush the next few weeks.
Artie sat back and stared out at the sunset. "Wow, so I was your first time..." he trailed off. "I had no idea, I mean you really... seemed experienced. More so than me."
"Oh, Artie, could we not?" Kitty begged. "Not discuss your experience, that is. I know, I know, we've got Tina, Brittany, Sugar..."
"Nothing happened between me and Tina!" Artie countered. "And not Sugar, either, for that matter. It didn't get that far. She had fake Asperger's and told me it wouldn't work, since my legs were thinner than her arms."
"Ouch," Kitty replied, wincing. "Well, okay, fine. So just one other girl then. You know, you're not as slutty as you pretend to be, either."
"There was one other girl, but I didn't sleep with her either," Artie suddenly shared.
"Huh? Who else?"
Artie looked briefly uncomfortable. "Her name was Mack," he said. "Mackenzie. She, um, she passed away. It was my junior year. It's a long story, but we briefly had... a thing. Nothing happened, we just... there was a mutual attraction there."
"Sorry." Kitty didn't know what else to say to that. She decided just to change the subject. "So, what about me? I know I'm not your first, but at least tell me I was your best?"
And at that, Artie pretended to mull it over.
But Kitty immediately laughed, unable to pretend she was actually mad. With a slightly relieved look, he began chuckling at that, too. She leaned over and kissed him, deeply, for his troubles. They sort of forgot that an audience of their friends was hovering just one cart above them. Fairly soon, they heard a low wolf whistle from Sam.
"Settle down, you two!" he called. "Or you get me as a chaperone for the rest of the night!"
After a few revolutions, the ferris wheel came to a stop and a ride operator remembered that the empty chair sitting there was Artie's. After thanking the guy, Artie moved himself back into his chair and checked the time, as Kitty climbed out after him.
"Eight-fifteen," he reported, checking his phone and looking a little worried about being later than Schue's appointed meet-up time.
Sam, Mercedes, Tina, and Blaine piled out of the next one. Kitty was pretty sure she was getting weird looks from all of them, as it seemed Tina had used the ferris wheel ride as an opportunity to bring them up to speed on the latest gossip. She could feel their eyes on her as their group went to join everyone else, who had already gathered around Mr. Schue.
"Okay, guys," he was saying. "I'm thinking a sit-down dinner is out, for tonight. We need to meet back at the hotel, no later than 10:00. Not 10:15." He looked at the seniors and Kitty. "So grab something before we go, and check in with me at the lobby before you go up. Remember, you have my cell number, but don't use it to text me and say you'll be late. Ten 'o clock curfew. We've got a show choir competition to win tomorrow."
"I've got a car, I'll get something and bring it back to me and Artie's room later, if you guys would rather keep having fun," Mercedes suggested, to unanimous approval.
"How about we grab coffee by the pier and take a restroom break," Artie suggested. "And then — how about the beach?"
That was probably the last thing they expected Artie to suggest, but he then went on to explain that he'd done his research and there was a paved bike path that went around the beach. After that, he said he wouldn't mind parking his chair and accepting a lift from Blaine or Sam to the water's edge. The most impressive part of all of this, however, had been when Artie reached into his backpack and produced a chain and padlock.
"Then I figure I'll just lock my chair on the bike rack," he concluded, to amused looks.
"And just how long have you planned this particular outing?" Mercedes asked, a laugh escaping her throat.
"Hey, what can I say?" Artie shrugged, also laughing at himself. "Being in a chair makes you a master planner. I figured I was going to be staying near a beach, I saw the bike path on the map, and I imagined a scenario where this might be handy.
"I mean, I'm glad that's the explaination for the lock and chains," Sam said, at which point Mercedes hit him and Blaine and Tina just looked embarrassed to be standing nearby.
Artie's master plan was the perfect way to spend the short time they had left. After coffee, they found the entrance to the bike park, where Artie bragged that he was the only one smart enough to bring wheels for the occasion. He impressed-slash-scared then by flying down some skate park ramps, then explained that this was a favorite activity of his in Lima. Kitty had no idea. There was a lot that she was still learning about him.
At the end of the night, they locked up Artie's chair and Sam hoisted Artie up on his back. Not to be outdone, Tina jumped onto Blaine's back. Blaine and Sam both kicked off the sandals they were wearing. Sam was in shorts, Blaine in rolled up chinos — Kitty didn't think she'd ever seen him in shorts, as it just wasn't his style. It was either the pants, or maybe the fact that Tina was possibly heavier than Artie and he was smaller than Sam, that slowed him down. Sam thrust his fists into the air, as he kept going, til he was standing in the waves.
"I don't think I've ever seen Artie so carefree, like he is now," Mercedes said, strolling up beside Kitty. "Not sure if it's just the mood or if it has anything to do with Tina catching the two of you in my room tonight."
Kitty felt her face catch on fire. "Uh, M-Mercedes, listen, I—"
Mercedes held up a hand. "I'm just messing with you, Kitty," she said. "And I'm glad you really like him. I have to admit, when Tina first told me about the two of you, I definitely had my concerns. I know you and I didn't get off to a great start. But can I ask you something?"
"As... long as it's not too personal, sure," Kitty said, feeling a bit guarded. She hardly knew the girl, other than the times she'd visited to tell them all what terrible singers they were.
"What are you planning to do when he goes off to college next year?" Mercedes wanted to know. "I'm sorry, it's just that, in my experience, it doesn't work. It's the reason why Sam and I didn't work out, it's the reason Tina and Mike didn't work out..."
"Well, none of you are us," Kitty argued. "And besides, Artie might not even go very far next year. He might go to Ohio State." Kitty wished she hadn't added that last part. She didn't think Artie meant for anyone else to know that.
Mercedes stopped, in her tracks. "Well, I hope that's not true," she said. "Because that boy doesn't need to rearrange his life for some girl in high school. I'm sorry, I know it's harsh, but..."
She'd stopped talking though, as she gazed down the shoreline at Sam, who currently was spinning in circles with Artie on his back. "Does it feel like you're doing pirouettes?"
Kitty couldn't hear Artie's response, but whatever it was, it got Sam to stop. He put him down right where the sand met the waves, as Artie in turn, removed his shoes. The reason why he did this wasn't entirely clear. He then looked up and waved Kitty over. Eager to leave this depressing conversation with Mercedes, Kitty jogged towards him, taking a seat by him and removing her own shoes.
"Hey, Artie, we're gonna walk a little ways further down the beach," Blaine said, as Tina finally slipped off his back. "You good?"
"Yeah, just don't forget to come back and get me," Artie said, with a smirk. He glanced at Kitty. "We're good."
Kitty caught a weird look from Mercedes as they went. It happened in the blink of an eye, and then she linked arms with Tina as the four of them began walking away.
"Having fun out there?" Kitty asked, cozying up next to him, copying the way he was leaning back on his hands, looking at his toes. She stuck her foot atop his before she remembered. "Oh, oops," she said, giggling and moving her foot.
"No, please," Artie said, quickly. "Do that anyway, I don't mind." She paused, as their eyes met, and after a moment, she resumed what she'd started to do. Artie watched, maybe because by watching, he'd somehow be able to imagine what that felt like.
"Are they still looking?" asked Artie, who had his back to the other four as they left them behind. He grinned at Kitty. "Or are we truly alone yet?"
"Well, Artie, we're on a public beach, I wouldn't quite call this being alone," she said, laughing. Then, leaning in closer, she added, "Not like at the hotel earlier."
"Ah, no," Artie said, blushing. "Definitely not." It was getting pretty dark now, save for the stars and the streetlights along the bike path behind them. Artie continued to watch her foot, as she ran it up and down his leg. The waves were splashing across their ankles now, as the ocean continued moving closer with each wave.
"It must be so weird to see that and not feel," Kitty blurted out, before she could think to stop herself. "Sorry."
"It's cool," Artie said, unbothered. "You know, memory is a pretty powerful thing. We went to the beach when I was eight. My accident didn't happen until November that year. Anyway, I can clearly recall the feeling of the wet sand, squishing up between my toes. And how it's really hard to walk across the beach. You practically walk sideways. And how the hot, dry sand burns your feet. All of that."
Kitty smiled at the way he described his memories. She'd never heard him talk about anything like this before.
"You know, it's kind of like a tease," Kitty said. "That this is just a school trip. I'd rather have a real trip with you, where we didn't have to worry about getting back to Mr. Schue on time." She sighed, pulling out her phone. "It's 9:40."
"Ah, shit," Artie said, pulling out his phone to begin texting Sam. They were going to have to hurry if they were planning to make it back to Artie's chair, back down the bike path, and back to the hotel in twenty minutes...
"Well, while we wait..." Since they weren't going to be able to go anywhere until Sam got back, Kitty figured she may as well be using this time to kiss her boyfriend. They didn't even care when Tina, Mercedes, Sam, and Blaine came back to find them in the middle of a steamy make out session.
"Uh, sorry to interrupt, but it's time to haul ass across this beach," Sam said, scratching his neck awkwardly as the two parted.
At exactly 10:15, the sheepish seniors and Kitty met an annoyed Will Schuester in the lobby. "Get some sleep," he told them, not saying a word about their tardiness, but giving them a stern look, just the same.
Was it Kitty's imagination, or did Mr. Schue direct that last comment right at she and Artie? Ducking her head, she scrambled to the elevator. Laughing behind her as they went in was Artie, who still had his shoes in his lap, his feet still covered in sand.
"Worth it," Artie whispered, grinning up at her, as the elevator closed.