"Tina, Tina," Artie shouted, rolling desperately towards the scene of confrontation. Too late, he could already see her fearlessly approaching the large gang of jocks. She looked up at them and said something. In the five years that he had known Tina, Artie had never seen her so brazen. What was she doing? That jock with the stupid mohawk, Puck, actually seemed to pause for a minute. Kurt just looked on, wide eyed, waiting. The silence seemed to fill the whole parking lot and still Artie raced towards the scene in his wheelchair. Finally, Puck just shrugged and walked away, not laying a hand on Tina or Kurt. The other jocks reluctantly followed. Artie rolled up to the scene. "What got into you?"

She just shrugged, seeming to retreat back into that little shy girl I knew so well.

"She was great!" Kurt volunteered. "I didn't know you had it in you, Tina."

"I-it was n-n-nothing." She shook her head, but she was smiling ever so slightly. "I j-j-just asked th-them wh-what th-they wo-would do in his sh-sh-shoes." Kurt shot her a questioning glance, but Tina just ignored it. "W-we b-b-better g-g-get go-going." Tina turned and started wheeling Artie away

"Thanks again," Kurt called after them. "Hey, maybe I'll see you at auditions for the glee club later."

"Y-yeah, m-m-maybe." Tina called back as they walked towards the huge school building before them.

"Will you stop pushing me?" Artie asked a bit too loudly; a few people turned to look at the pair. He roughly pushed himself away, trying to gain some independence. "What happened to you back there? That wasn't like you at all."

Tina skipped a few steps, trying to catch up with Artie as he ruthlessly rolled up the school's only handicap ramp. "A-A-And th-this isn't like you. Wh-Where's your s-s-smile, your p-positive a-attitude? I-I-I d-don't like th-this s-s-side of you."

Artie shrunk back slowly. If anyone knew how hard he worked to keep up that positive attitude, it was Tina. There were a lot of hard days at Lima High School. "Sorry," he sighed. "I guess I'm stressed out... and tired. I didn't sleep much last night. You really scared me back there. Something could have-"

Right as they turned down the hall towards their first classes, a blast of bright blue slushie met both their faces. "At least my shoes aren't covered in slush," a nameless jock laughed in their faces.

"Uh, g-g-gross." Tina said, wiping slushie out of her face.

"There's still some time til the bell, go clean yourself up. I've got to get to Math." Artie's eyes filled with concern, his brief outburst momentarily forgotten.

"O-OK. I'll m-m-meet you be-before S-S-Spanish?"

Artie looked up into her dark round eyes, finding something beautiful in the bright blue slush dripping off her round cheeks. He swallowed, fighting to control his emotions. "Yeah, I'll see you," he said, a shadow of his usual smile returning.

Artie watched Tina start down the hall for a moment, a sly smile forming. How come he never realized how brave and beautiful that Tina could be? Most people probably thought she was shy because of her stutter, but Artie knew better. As he turned off towards the elevator, he easily recalled the countless times that Tina had stood up for him or for one of their friends. He owed her so much... the least he could do was help her out when she was in need.

"Hey Wheels!" somebody called from off to the side and before he could turn towards them, a tall jock strode up to him. It was Puck again. "You know, your friend isn't half bad."

Artie blinked up to him, in shock. "Why are you talking to me?"

Puck looked around the hall, but they were almost the only ones left still in the hall. They were almost late. Puck nodded to himself, thinking it was alright to continue. "I need a favor."

"Look, Puck, it's the first day of school. I don't think you need the math test just yet."

"Come on, let's take the elevator and talk about it." He clasped Artie around the back, walking him towards the elevator. Shocked, all Artie could do was take the key ring off his belt loop and unlock the elevator's controls, his hand slightly shaking from the unexpected turn of events.

"No offense, Puck. You know I love your company, but the stairs would be a whole lot faster."

"Oh, nonsense. Come on. We're almost late for class." Puck steered him into the elevator and Artie had the worst feeling as the elevator doors slid slowly closed.

Sure enough, Puck's lips curled up evilly as the elevator started raising. "This isn't about the math test, is it?" Artie asked quietly.

"No," Puck laughed. "Let's just say that I have a friend who is interested in your little girl friend."

"Who, Tina? She's not my girlfriend."

"Details." Puck narrowed his eyes and jerked towards Artie threateningly. "So if you, my friend, knows what's good for you, you'll stay away from the girl and from me."

"OK,OK," Artie raised his hands in surrender. "You've got my word."

"Oh, and while you're at it, you might want to get me that math test." Puck laughed and the elevator doors opened, as if on his command. Puck kicked Artie's wheelchair. "I'll see you in class."

Puck kept laughing as he walked away, intentionally blocking Artie's way as he set off towards class. Artie raised his eyebrow and started to roll himself after Puck's retreating figure. Only his wheelchair wouldn't move. One wheel was completely stuck... locked in place. Shit. Puck must have kicked down the wheel lock. Artie turned around, but he couldn't even see the lock from where he sat, much less reach it. The elevator doors started sliding closed before him and, at the same time, the last bell sounded. He was late and school had barely started. This was gonna be some year.

Artie stared at the elevator doors, willing them to open again. There was no way he could reach the control panels from where he sat. He sat, stuck, as the seconds ticked away. He had forgotten his watch at home again and he imagined himself stuck all day until some janitor finally watched the survellance tapes and came to free him. Damn it! Damn Puck! Losing patience, he hit his thigh and nearly jumped at the noise. There was no pain, but he must have landed a hard hit, judging by the sound. He grunted in dismay.

"Artie?"

Artie thought he must have imagined the sound of his name, but there it was, painfully familiar. "Tina? Open the door."

And suddenly, there she was, smiling down at him. "Wh-what hap-happened?"

She was always there and somehow, there again. "Puck." Tina did not need an explanation and just nodded solemnly. "He pressed the wheel lock. You see it? Could you just undo it?"

Tina squeezed in behind his wheelchair. "Yeah, h-here it i-i-is." He heard a soft click and moved himself forward, immediately feeling relieved.

Tina came around, sweeping her long black hair out of her face. "How come you're not in class?" He asked.

"I j-just fin-finished c-cleaning up. I-I-I th-thought I-I h-heard you s-still in the el-elevator." Her eyes feel on his and she was suddenly leaning way too close to comfort.

Artie begged himself to think of Puck. He coughed, moving away from her approach. "We'd better get going. We're late enough as it is."

He started wheeling out of the elevator, but she called him. He looked around and found her puzzled gaze, looking hurt. "Artie," she said softly. "Artie, we-we're on the fir-first f-f-floor."

Artie had to laugh and they traded places. He went back in the elevator and she moved out of the way. "I guess I'll see you before Spanish?"

Her gaze was still shielded, far away from where they were. "O-oh, yeah. S-Spanish. S-s-see ya."

"See ya," Artie sent her a warm smile as the elevator doors closed on him a second time.