Author's note: the next chapter should be the confrontation but I had to get some things out of the way first like the build up that saves Artie/Mercedes but ruins Artie/Kurt for a while (because seriously until Artie stands up for him where did their friendship disappear too?)- And on that note I am keeping on the vein Mercedes isn't subtle because I don't think she is (and it's very glee not to be subtle on the message at least I'm not using a bird okay.)
And I'd be remised not to set up some other things that weren't set up (or were barely set up) in the series. I'm not sure how this chapter will go over, but I do think it advances the story to where it needs to be. Thank you for all the reviews and please continue (you guys are like the best!)
Kurt had been studiously ignoring Artie out of fear and Mercedes had been on him every second of the day. Something was wrong Artie could see it in both their eyes but he couldn't force the words out of his mouth to ask, he wasn't sure what was causing them to simultaneously look like they were attending a funeral but he didn't want to be involved. He didn't want to know.
Mercedes took him out to ice-cream one week before Tina was due to return, they would normally try to get the wackiest combinations of ice-creams they could think of and wince through mouthfuls and eat to quickly and keel over from brain freezes.
But Mercedes ordered French vanilla and ordered him triple-choc ice-cream, he raised his eyebrow as she paid. "Are we on a date, Cedes?" he joked "I don't mind I just need to know," she snorted with laughter but gained composure much quicker than she normally would. "I just think we should try new things, you know, experience something a little more normal" she looked at him with painful intensity "different… is good?"
She beamed at him, and once they began to eat they started talking, "are you ready for school?" he asked mixing his chocolate ice-cream into chocolate soup, he missed mixing things like blue bubblegum and coffee together but he didn't dare tell Mercedes that. "Yeah, I mean over the summer I had a change of heart I mean I had wanted to history and I signed up for it but now I really want French." He nodded listlessly, "I mean, I know it's really inconsiderate and I didn't even tell Mrs Korram that I was switching but I've been studying French ALL summer."
"Hey Cedes," he grabbed her hand sincerely "if you like French that much you should go for it, they'll just have to accommodate" and smiled an easy smile. She smiled back strained, "I just think someone's going to get hurt" she muttered, "what do your parents have their heart set on history or something?" she shook her head and downcast her eyes "I'll just call the school or something."
"Yeah maybe it's not to late, maybe drop something else and do both" she shook her head and then did laugh, "maybe."
"how's Tina then?" it was such a sharp change in conversation ice-cream soup dribbled down Artie's blue and marron argyle sweater vest, "okay I guess, she hasn't really called."
"hmmm" she sighed then perked up, "so tell me what your doing now that band practice is starting up again?" and she flicked some Vanilla at him, apparently not fond of the different taste either.
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Rachel and Finn got to spend some quality time now that Mercedes was back, and band had started up its summer rehearsals for the performance they did the first day of every year, so Artie wasn't around as much.
He laced his fingers with hers and felt surprised he had missed the feeling so much. It wasn't like he felt like he was missing an arm or anything, but it felt like he wasn't quite complete. Sort of achey but not like in a cheesy country song sort of way.
But the mere sight of her was like breathing in fresh air, even if she was going to use up all the good oxygen talking about glee club and sectionals. "I think we need to decide on ballads," she said the decision clearly already made. "Sectionals not for ages Rachel" he groaned and lay down on her bed, she rolled her eyes and laid next to him.
"You know I think these things are important," she huffed, "you'll be great no matter what" he promised, her chest puffed out proudly. It really paid to feed her ego sometimes as she crawled half on top of him, kissing his cheek, then neck, then mouth… and then pulled back completely.
"your right of course" she said smugly and moved over to the mirror to sit down and brush her hair and pretend Finn wasn't staring after her like a fish gulping for water. "Yeah" he murmured, he was actually getting used to her hot and cold act, and flopped back down on the bed from where he had been sitting perched and annoyed for a good minuet.
She smiled, like he had passed some test. "I should call Artie" he muttered and she scowled, "what?" he asked clueless at her pronounced frown "your lucky Tina's not here" she practically sung, diverting him from her scowl. Finn's eyebrows creased in confusion, "Tina?" he queried "yes Tina, I fear she would not be as 'accommodating' as I am to your budding… 'bromance' as I. She is fairly possessive if you hadn't noticed."
He hadn't, but Rachel was possessive so she could probably spot it better than him. "She doesn't like people taking up Artie's time that aren't Mercedes and Kurt- and that's only because they aren't threatening." He sat up gingerly "and I am?" he would be affronted, but it wasn't a word he used just something he heard Rachel sling around once or twice.
"of course not dear" she laughed fixing her smeared lipstick neatly, "but I still doubt you'd sit well with her, Artie and Tina are different from us after all" she motioned at them. "They're best friends."
"Do you think it'll be a problem?" he asked worriedly, she winced "some how I don't think in the list of their problems right now, you'll be ranking very high."
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Kurt had been working non stop at the shop again and his dad had started to worry. Kurt was letting his clothes get dirty and while his hair was still clean it wasn't the pristine, immaculate masterpiece his dad had learned to deal with when Kurt had turned eight and discovered product.
Mercedes came over a bit, and then not as much. There was some break in communication there but Burt couldn't work out for the life of him what it was. Kurt's other nice friend, the boy in the wheelchair had made an effort to visit but the visits always were highly uncomfortable and Burt had never seen Kurt been that terse with anyone.
Burt might have thought it another crush gone wrong, but Kurt went sullen and sunken after what happened with Finn- now he looked just plain miserable. He wanted to go over and give Artie a piece of his mind, but he could tell from one look at the boys open honest face it wasn't this boy who had done anything to his son. Plus only a fool would tangle with the Abrams family- sober at least.
Kurt stopped carrying around his mobile and Burt wondered if that meant something, most likely since he usually couldn't put the damn thing down five minuets to have a proper conversation with Carole at Friday night dinners. Now he only check it for a moment in his room before throwing it half hazard on his bed.
Burt was non to proud of himself but her stole his son's phone, just briefly not that it justified anything, but the memory was wiped clean anyway with the exception of two text messages, seemingly related to each other. Burt praised the Gods Kurt had taught him how to work the contraption and opened the messages, one from Mercedes which said 'whut do u want me to do? This is killin me 111' the poor grammar frightened him on levels he couldn't understand but it was nothing sinister (unless the use of three ones in succession carried insidious undertones) and one from Tina which simply read 'don't.' and Burt honestly didn't know what to make of that.
He put it down and much later he would wish he hadn't because if he had checked the voice mail he would have heard one short angry message from a deep disturbed voice, who simply said 'I wish you were dead.' And maybe he could have stopped something before it had truly started.
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Artie was finally getting around to cleaning her room; it had remained the essence of guydom for most of the summer with Finn and him occupying it. But Tina would be back soon- still no word but he wasn't to worried, it was easy to forget to call when having fun, and he hoped she was.
But before she left she had threatened him with some kind of fusion between Asian vampire magic and karate. She had been tripping over constantly and had complained that the room was trying to disable her, he hadn't noticed the wording and had actually thought it funny- right up to the point she almost bit through her tongue clamping it shut so tight.
She'd been home soon and that sent a rush of warmth to his stomach, sort of like sunshine or maybe a metaphor that wasn't completely stupid. He hummed a bar of 'you are my sunshine' and knew it was a lost battle anyway, he'd been looking stupid in front of Tina since they meet and she'd never cared before.
Maybe he'd sing it too her?
He just put down the duster when there was a knock at the window, it was a surprise really, who used his window? He recognised the shaven head and slightly annoyed expression anywhere, Puck stood in the middle of his garden, impatient, arms crossed holding a bottle in a brown paper bag.
"Hey" Artie blinked hard, he hadn't expected to see Puck until school- he didn't like to public acknowledge their friendship if you can call it. "Well" he drawled "let me in idiot." Artie moved back to let Puck jump through, he caught his foot on the frame and careened into Artie knocking him over with Puck looming over him, legs shredded by the wheels and tangled and bloody with Artie motionless ones.
"Crap" he swore mildly, "are you, did that..." he trailed off, "hurt? No not really" Artie laughed until the uncomfortable looked slowly ebbed off Puck's face. He untangled himself and Artie pulled himself across the floor so he could manoeuvre over to the bed and Puck stood up with a wince to right the chair.
"Come on tough guy," Artie rolled his eyes and motioned to the bed, Puck hovered unsurely before pain over came him and he fell heavily on the bed. Artie pulled his pocked first aid kit from the dresser next to the bed and checked Puck's legs. He pulled up the ripped pant legs and stroked his leg inspecting the cuts- mostly shallow.
Puck looked like he desperately didn't want to be there and his face suggested he was on the verge of something he'd probably regret. Artie pulled the chair over to get back into it and went silently to get water. When he came back Puck lay flat on his bed, a perplexed look drawn across his face.
Artie started to clean mourning his bloodied sheets, a necessary sacrifice. "Puck what are you doing here?" Puck's eyes lolled half open up to the ceiling and his words slurred- not drunk but… something. "Puck can- can you here me?"
"Yeah wheels" he murmured, "I just… wanted to see you" he glared at Artie "don't tell," Artie shook his head, who would believe him? Puck put his hands over his eyes, "where have you been this summer?" Artie tried, "shame spiral" Puck laughed motioning his hands to wave like a spiral "I miss her so much it's like being shot over and over."
"Quinn?" Artie tried, "no not her" Puck moaned, "well yes, but not her" Artie gave Puck a wet towel to dab his sweat slick face but Puck cradled him to his chest, "no money, no morals, no good" he muttered.
"ah- I need more bandages" Artie told Puck and went to the kitchen to grab some, when he returned there was a blood trail out to the window and a fear spiked through Artie.
He didn't see Puck or his towel until school started and he would always regret that he let what happened next prevented Artie worrying more for Puck.
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You Are My Sunshine
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away
The other nite, dear,
As I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms.
When I awoke, dear,
I was mistaken
And I hung my head and cried.
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.
I'll always love you
And make you happy
If you will only say the same
But if you leave me
To love another
You'll regret it all some day;
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.
You told me once, dear
You really loved me
And no one else could come between
But now you've left me
And love another
You have shattered all my dreams;
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.