A/N: Hello all, here's the sixth chapter. There isn't much to say here so...enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, I do not own Adele's music and I do not own Mr Hudson's music.
We need to talk.
Artie Abrams hated those four one-syllable words. With them, a significant part of his life had been drastically altered.
It all started yesterday. On that fateful afternoon, Rachel Berry felt that it would be fitting to all but publicly humiliate Finn Hudson by singing a rather passionate rendition of Adele's "Melt my Heart to Stone." While Artie found the whole thing quite silly (he had a side bet going with Puck, Mike and Sam for how long the two would remain apart), he never thought that it would affect his own love life.
That's what he got for thinking.
As soon as the period was over, Brittany had dumped Artie. She'd said that Rachel's song choice had made her realize that her own heart was melting when she was with Artie. The wheelchair-bound boy didn't even bother telling Brittany that it was physically impossible for one's heart to melt. He'd been too busy trying to repair what was left of his.
He knew that wasn't all, though. Artie, though physically impaired, didn't let such a thing hinder his observational skills. He knew about Santana and Brittany's confusing relationship and he also knew just how manipulative Santana could be. Artie was sure that Santana had convinced Brittany to dump him so that they could be together.
Artie snorted at the thought. How could she be so selfish when she wasn't even willing to go public with her relationship with the blonde?
It didn't matter, though. Artie cared deeply for Brittany and he wasn't about to lose her so easily. He'd show her how much she meant to her in this afternoon's Glee Club meeting. He turned around to see that Brittany was resting her head on Santana's shoulder as the brunette stroked her thigh. Artie wasn't a hateful person but in that moment he couldn't help but to feel a small bit of loathing towards Santana.
"Alright guys, who's ready to sing?" Mr. Schuester bounced into the choir room, sporting a rather unfortunate looking sweater vest as he excitedly surveyed his students.
Artie's hand immediately flew into the air but a slight movement to his left caught his attention. Santana was volunteering as well.
'Whatever she has to sing can wait until after I've done my song,' Artie thought, bitterly. He was in no mood to be courteous and follow the 'Ladies First' rule.
"Mr. Schue, I can wait. Wheels can go ahead and sing first." Santana shot an almost gloating look at Artie as she spoke. She was mocking him. The former Cheerio clearly felt that she was doing Artie a favor by allowing him to sing first.
'So be it. If all goes well, she won't be so smug when I'm through.'
"How kind of you, Santana. Your generosity knows no bounds." Artie didn't bother to conceal the sarcasm in his voice as he wheeled himself to the front of the classroom.
"I chose to sing Mr Hudson's Supernova. This is for someone in the room who needs to realize that she's making a terribly misguided decision." Artie held Brittany's slightly confused gaze as he began to sing.
And I feel like takin' off
Let me be your supernova
Before you make the biggest
Mistake of your life
Just give me a chance to get it right
Santana was faintly irritated when she heard the opening bars to Artie's song. He would go with something so obvious and so painfully cheesy. Santana glared daggers at him between occasionally kissing Brittany's forehead.
They've got it all
They've got all the things
I thought I wanted
But I can't afford
To fake anymore
To live this facade
And smile as the warm champagne pours
Artie really wanted to look away from the two former Cheerios, practically cuddling in the back row. He really did. But he also had to make sure that Brittany knew that he was singing to her. Not even Santana's death glares could deter him from trying to win Brittany's heart back.
Out on the road
We'll pretend we're having tons of fun
In a world where we don't belong
Some bloke on her lawn
Is she thinking of me?
Or did she forget
What we once had?
Santana was pissed, to say the least. Couldn't Wheels take a hint? When Santana Lopez wanted something, she went after it until it was hers. This applies to everything, including certain, slightly clueless blonde Cheerios. Sure, Brittany and Artie might have made a cute couple or whatever, but that's only out of pity. Santana knew that she and Brittany were way hotter together.
Besides, Brittany was the only one who really understood her. Santana wasn't the type of person to just let people in on a regular basis. Her trust wasn't earned easily, but somehow Brittany had snuck up and taken it without a backward glance. Did Four Eyes really think that she would back off so easily?
And I feel like takin' off
Let me be your supernova
Before you make the biggest
Mistake of your life
Just give me a chance to get it right
Seemingly out of nowhere, Mike sprang to the front of the choir room and began busting out his trademark moves as he actually rapped along with the song. Artie didn't have time to appreciate his classmates' shocked faces. He was only concerned with watching Brittany's reaction as he maneuvered around the front of the room in time with Mike's moves.
Oh
They got it all
You can see they got it all
They got the house, the boat
And the beautiful house by the shore
And you know there's more
But I can't take a minute
Of it all
Santana raised an eyebrow at the display before her. The only thing that kept her from storming out of the room and defacing a specific locker was the look on Brittany's face. She was following the boys' moves closely with a look of longing that clearly showed how much she wanted to join them.
Santana had to admit it. Wheels knew his stuff. If ever dancing was involved, no matter what the situation was, Brittany was almost always the first one to hit the floor. But he had to know that it would take more than an upbeat, 'baby-please-take-me-back' song and a few slick moves to win her over. The brunette sighed and squeezed Brittany's hand slightly and was rewarded with a brilliant smile.
There was no way she was giving this up.
He wants his kids and his dog
He wants his breakfast in bed
He's got his trust fund saved
Not a word in his head
But it's not you know me
I want to break up the scene
And see you running back to me
Artie took control of the vocals again as Mike danced back to his seat. He ignored the slight pang in his chest when Brittany turned to smile at Santana at the end of their little routine. She should have been smiling at Artie. After all, he was the one who was laying his heart on the line even though he knew it was pretty much hopeless at this point.
'Cause I feel like takin' off
Let me be your supernova
Before you make the biggest
Mistake of your life
Just give me a chance to get it right
Get it right
Yeah, I feel like takin' off
Let me be your supernova tonight
Before you make the
Biggest mistake of your life
Just give me a chance to get it right
Get it right
Artie tried to maintain eye contact with Brittany as he sang the last of the song. He needed her to know that Santana wasn't good for her. He knew the type of girl that the Latina was. She only wanted what she couldn't have. Once she'd achieved her goal, she'd get bored and move on to the next conquest.
Artie couldn't just watch as Brittany set herself up for heartbreak. He might not be able to give her everything, but he could definitely give her so much more than Santana ever could. He needed her to realize that.
You've got it wrong
If you say our love is gone
You've got it wrong
If you say our love is gone
Yeah I feel like takin' off
Let me be your supernova
Before you make the biggest
Mistake of your life
Just give me a chance to get it right
Applause rang out as Artie wheeled himself back to his usual place in the front row. He flushed with happiness when he saw Brittany clapping especially enthusiastically.
"Alright guys, wow! That was a great performance! Especially from you Mike, I'm glad to see you come out of your shell a little bit!" The tips of Mike's ears were still red from all of the praise he received from his classmates for his impromptu participation.
Mr. Schuester checked his watch and frowned with disappointment. "I'm sorry Santana, we don't have enough time for your song this afternoon. Do you mind pushing it back to tomorrow?"
"Whatever. It's not like I have much of a choice."
"Okay why don't you guys just head on out? I'll see you all tomorrow!" The Spanish teacher called out to the retreating backs of his glee club and shook his head, smiling.
He was really glad to see that his students were taking this week's assignment to heart. Mr. Schuester continued to gather various papers and the rest of his belongings until he heard raised voices outside of the choir room. The school day was over by now and most students fled the building as quickly as possible, so there couldn't be that many people around, save for a few staff members. He decided to investigate.
"- to my girlfriend? What did you think you would accomplish?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm trying to get her back! She doesn't deserve to be with someone as awful as you!"
It was Santana and Artie. Though Santana was quite intimidating with her defensive stance looming over Artie, the bespectacled boy looked calm as ever as he spoke.
"Oh, so you think she's better off with a cripple like you? Don't kid yourself."
"In case you've forgotten, Brittany and I have been perfectly happy during our time together, despite my condition."
Santana let out a derisive laugh. "That's only because I was the one keeping her happy while you two watched nerdy movies or whatever. She was only with you because she felt sorry for you."
Artie's face reddened. "That's not true. Brittany genuinely liked me and she was happy with me."
"Whatever, Wheels. You keep telling yourself that if it helps you sleep at night." Santana flipped her hair and started to walk away.
"She deserves better, you know." Artie spoke so quietly that Mr. Schuester had to strain his ears to make out what he said. He knew he should intervene but it wasn't as though either of them was in any real danger. Besides, with his own social life stuck in the toilet, it wouldn't hurt to indulge himself in a little high school drama. The guilt in the pit of his stomach said otherwise.
"She needs someone who can treat her with kindness and respect. Not just a warm body to fool around with. Isn't that all you want her for?" Santana turned around very slowly and watched Artie as he spoke.
"Look, even if she's not with me, she doesn't deserve for someone as heartless and cruel as you to take advantage of her."
Santana walked back to Artie until she was almost touching him and very slowly squatted in front of him until they were at eye level.
"Two things, Wheels, and I'm only going to say them once, so you'd better listen up." Santana's voice was dangerously low and even from his position down the hall, Mr. Schuester could tell that she meant business. Perhaps he ought to intervene after all. But...maybe not. It wasn't as though she was touching Artie.
"One; I assure you that I am not taking advantage of Brittany. She is a very, very willing participant in whatever we do together." Santana paused to admire the affect her words had on the boy in front of her. He was positively seething at this point. "Two; heartless and cruel? I only seem that way because of douchebags like you who don't take two seconds to pull their heads out of their asses and look past what they think they should see. You know nothing about me."
Santana rose swiftly and walked down the hall and out of sight, leaving a heartbroken, frustrated and slightly confused boy in her wake.
After watching that exchange, Mr. Schuester took a few seconds to remember that he had legs. He moved to go comfort Artie, but before he could take the first step, Artie was speeding off towards the school's entrance.
Mr. Schuester sighed. He didn't think that this assignment would cause such unrest within the club. He'd have to have a talk with the kids tomorrow.
A/N: And there lies chapter six. Good, bad, indifferent? Let me know what you think! I don't know when the seventh chapter will be done but I hope it'll be around the same time next week (Saturday or Sunday). We'll see how that goes.