Disenchanted
OK first off I just would like to say thanks lots for all the reviews, you guys ROCK. Secondly WOW guys I can't believe it's over…well for another three months or so…anyway here is another installment enjoy
XXX
He was ironically sitting in a vacated wheelchair in the nurse's office as he watched her flutter her brilliant eyes open.
Her eyes locked on his as a smile crossed her lips.
"Artie," she said, "I just had the craziest dream. You were standing in the doorway of the back entrance and I fainted."
A devilish smile crossed his lips as she said this, as she knew this wasn't a dream.
"You don't say."
She nodded.
"I mean I know I fainted but that's just my head reminding me breakfast is the most important meal of the day…right?"
He didn't respond and soon her eyes bore into him.
"Artie, talk to me…it was a dream wasn't it?"
He shook his head while he slowly stood up all the while trying to read her expression.
She was definitely shocked to say the least.
"When? How?"
In her mind she was thinking about all the treatment options she had looked up a few weeks ago when he had told her his initial dream of wanting to dance. Both of them had seemed optimistic for all of five minutes before Miss Pillsbury burst there bubble with the harsh reality that it would be years if ever that her friend would be able to walk and yet here he was.
"You wouldn't believe it if I told you."
"Try me."
"Madam Larue."
She flashed him a deer in the headlights kind of look. She was just a carnival psychic right? On shaky legs she stood up and began to circle her good friend like she was an anthropologist and he was some new and exciting find.
"I guess she was some kind of witch or something," he spoke, as his eyes remained glued to her frail frame until finally they locked in a moment on the cusp of a kiss when the sound of the warning bell rang breaking them out of their spell.
"You should get to homeroom," Tina's weak voice muttered in a whispered tone.
Flashing her a concerned gaze he reached up to stoke her long silken hair.
"Are you sure your going to be alright Tee."
She nodded as she assured him that she was fine and that it was just a case of low blood sugar mixed with the shock of the events at present.
He nodded thinking that he still was in a kind of shocked state as well.
"So, are you going to have the office call your parents to take you home or…"
"The rents are away at a medical conference in Philly, anyway just give me a pack of crackers or a banana or something and I'm good to go."
"So then I'll see you at lunch."
She nodded all the while wondering who else had known about this shocking development
XXX
Apparently Mercedes was out of the loop because when he entered the cafeteria the young girls jaw looked like it was about to hit the floor.
"Wow, I heard the rumors but seeing it for myself…wow."
"You said that already Mercedes," Artie said finding a fourth chair and dragging it to their usual table.
"Well for the first time in my life…I think I'm speechless."
The trio laughed while Mercedes' eyes drifted to the two other parties at the table who didn't seem to flinch at Artie's arrival.
"You two knew didn't you?"
"Well I drove him to school."
"And I usually meet him by the ramp which he so doesn't need any more."
Mercedes just nodded. She'd take that.
"So how has everyone's reaction been to this cataclysmic development?" Kurt asked with his usual curiosity.
"To tell you the truth Tina fainting earlier was probably the biggest reaction I got."
"You fainted?" Mercedes asked.
"Low blood sugar," Tina stated defensively before Artie rolled his eyes trying not to laugh.
"Anyways I guess it pays being a bottom feeder, everyone thought I was invisible before and now I'm either still invisible or I over hear a whisper or two behind my back with someone asking who the new guy is."
"Yes well I'm sure when we have Glee rehearsal the reactions will be epic,' Kurt stated.
The trio nodded back to him.
"Anyway I'm sure Abrams here doesn't want all the attention on him,' Kurt said placing a hand on his friends shoulder, "so ladies got any other juicy gossip you care to share with the group."
Tina hoped her face wasn't flushing pink at the moment as her mind flooded back to the thought of Mike Chang asking her out. Should she call it off because of this recent development in her best friends life? Or should she just go with it…after all Artie was her best friend he'd be happy if she was happy it was the unwritten law of friendship right?
Tina began to open her mouth when Mercedes beat her to it.
"Puck and I are official."
Three pairs of eyes looked on in shock.
"I know shocking right, and I mean awkward since his baby mama is currently my new roomie but still, the boy has changed in these past few weeks."
The boys wanted to comment about how this was definitely true and the young jock who'd recently shaved off his trademark Mohawk had been allot nicer, especially since he was no longer playing ringleader and tossing Kurt into the dumpster or locking Artie into Port-O Potty's.
The subject continued about Mercedes and Puck's relationship and Kurt openly issued the warning that if Puckerman broke his girls heart he'd be a dead man.
They talked some more however Tina never had another opening to talk about Mike, which was a good thing in retrospect. At least now she hopefully could pull Artie aside and tell him in a seemingly private setting, perhaps before Glee club when the attention fell on his newfound mobility once more.
XXX
He decided he'd go directly for the shock factor after all it worked pretty darn well with his three best friends. And so as soon as the final bell rang he headed to his locker to put up his books and instantly headed to the nurses office to 'borrow' the chair he'd been sitting on that morning.
As he rolled into the music room he instantly spotted Tina and Mike sitting over to one side of the room lost in conversation that he really shouldn't of started to overhear.
"So," Mike had spoken in a sweet tone, "where would you like to go?"
Tina had just smiled at that question. She really didn't know a response. Sure she'd 'gone' out with Artie to the movies or the music store or sometimes for Pizza or to the arcade or mall but she would never of considered any of those outings a date like she was plotting on going out with him.
She shrugged.
"You're the big man on campus, I'm sure you've had plenty of dates."
Was Artie hearing this right? Date? And was Tina, shy Tina, HIS Tina flirting or at least trying to?
"Just because I'm a jock doesn't mean that I'm Mr. Popular."
Tina just looked to him.
"Ok so I took Brit out once but seriously what guy at this school hasn't?"
Tina's eyes drifted to Artie who was sitting in a wheelchair by the doorway minding his own business.
She flashed him a sweet smile to which he smiled back to her.
By then the rest of the club including Mr. Schuster had trickled in and the practice was about to begin…but not before Artie decided to make his move and with Kurt and Mercedes eyes locked on his every move he stood up and made his way cross the room taking a seat on Tina's other side.
"I thought he couldn't move his legs?" Brittany asked stating the obvious.
"I know," Finn, said in shock, "since when could you walk dude."
Artie flashed the taller boy a grin.
"Since today."
"I'm not a genius or anything," Puck said, "but things like this don't just happen overnight."
It was then Rachel stood up with a smile on her face thinking that nothing out of the ordinary was going on and it was just another day toiling away at practice prepping themselves for Regionals.
"Mr. Schuster may I have the floor."
The teacher nodded seeing as how even if he did in fact say no the petite brunette wouldn't take that as a final answer at least not without a fight that usually ended in the mention of her two gay lawyer dads.
She stood in the center of the room eyes drifting between Finn and Artie.
"Now when we first started New Directions I know I was kind of harsh on you Artie and I know now the error of my ways."
"What's she doing now," Finn whispered in Artie's ear.
"I have no idea," Artie replied.
"Anyway I have a proposal, Artie and I should do a number together."
Artie looked in shock. Sure he had been pulled for group numbers and the occasional solo but to be hand picked to work with Rachel on a project BY Rachel well that was a whole new level.
"I mean he's obviously one of the strongest male vocals in glee with the exception of you and he's one of the few besides me that I have never seen slacking off. Plus it's a break in rutine..everyone expects me and Finn to sing together so I say let's shake it up."
The teacher just nodded looking from Artie to Rachel then back at Artie as if to think it all over before opening his mouth to speak.
"That actually sounds like a good idea, that is if your up to it Artie considering."
'Considering the circumstances,' Artie thought to himself holding back a small chuckle.
Looking from where Tina and Mike sat beside him and thinking about their tap dance during 'Dream A Little Dream' and the date they were talking about he decided that he was entitled to a bit of fun as well.
"I'd be honored…so Rachel I'm sure you have a number in mind."
She nodded blathering on about it was slightly original totally obscure and they were going to totally kill singing it.
The rest of the practice went on as they talked about changing up some of the choreography now that Artie could dance (not that he didn't have moves before they were just..well different).
Soon the practice ended and Tina looked over to Artie with a smile.
"Congratulations on being a 'chosen one'."
Artie totally understood that comment seeing as how his friend had a great voice all her own and yes she had only rarely been given the chance to sing lead in anything which in his mind was a complete and utter crime.
"Congratulations are in order to you too Tee."
She rolled her eyes.
"You mean about me and Mike going out on a date?" she asked.
"I'm happy for you, I really am."
And he was happy…jealous but happy.
She tossed her arms around his upper body surprised at how natural and comforting it felt before heading out.
"So," Kurt said as he approached his friend moments later in the parking lot, "are you up for that makeover now."
Flashing a half smile he thought that might not be such a bad idea after all and nodded.
"Not tonight though, tonight I need to sit down with my parents and let them take…" he paused motioning to his legs that were holding him up, "..well this in."
Kurt nodded as the boys hopped into his car and the fashionable soprano began to babble on about how he and Mercedes already had some look ideas in mind.
XXX
TBC
So still good? Ok I know the reactions were kind of weak and I'm sorry...so what should his parentals reactions be like? have they given his mom and dad names on cannon yet? anyways I have the Artie/Rachel song in mind and would prematurely like to give hugs to my friend Kat who although she is not a gleek and doesn't GET my love of the fandom is hard at work transcribing said song for me…