AN: Thanks for reviewing, everyone! I really appreciate it. There's been a lot of good fic coming out of the ArTina ficathon, and it's been an honor to take part in it. Without further ado, here's the 2nd installment, from Miss. Tina's perspective. The 3rd and last chapter will be up next weekend, just making the deadline!*Phew*
Reviews are love :)
May 17th, 2011. 7:30am.
Mike asks her if she can come to school early, 7:30 at the bleachers. They need to talk, and no one's at school that early but the Cheerios practicing in the gym.
He tells her that he feels she's been distant, lately. She tells him that she's not sure what's he's talking about. He tells her that he's noticed her looking wistfully at Artie. Especially when that chick from Jazz Band – Sarah – is pushing him down the hall.
Tina tells Mike he's crazy, but she can only do it half-heartedly. Mike says he's not mad at her. And that they've had fun – but he's about to go off to college, and maybe they shouldn't prolong the inevitable, especially if she thinks she still might be in love with Artie.
May 17th, 2011. 7:46am.
Did he say "love"? At this Tina protests loudly, she's not "in love" with Artie. She's just –it's just weird to see an ex-boyfriend with someone new, that's all. It doesn't actually mean anything. More infuriating than Mike's accusation is that he's not challenging her, or even saying anything. He's just giving her this beatific, know-it-all smile that she desperately wants to wipe off his face.
May 17th, 2011. 7:50am.
Now Tina's just full-on pissed that they're breaking up and she seems to be breaking down and Mike is just…calm. It's not fucking fair.
May 17th, 2011. 8:00am.
Students are starting to stream into the parking lot. Mike gives her one last hug, picks up his bag and leaves. Tina's alone on the bleachers, and she puts her head in her hands and starts to cry.
She's confused and hurt and sad…but mostly confused. She couldn't be in love with Artie. But…she can't deny the little pinpricks of jealousy that crawl up her spine every time she sees Sarah hanging by Artie's locker either.
Tina knows she has no right. She broke up with him. Yet…all the things that were appealing about Artie, all the things that tugged at heartstrings, all the things that made her smile, never quite went away.
May 17th, 2011. 8:12 am.
Tina takes one more deep, shaky breath to calm herself. She dabs a crumpled tissue underneath her eyes in an attempt to clean off as much smeared mascara as she can. Standing up, Tina squares her shoulders and heads for first period.
May 17th, 2011. 6:07 pm.
She thought if she sat still and quiet enough, no one would bother her, yet here Artie is, asking her about the breakup. He's the last person she expected to give a flying fuck.
May 17th, 2011. 6:10 pm.
Tina's heart is in her throat as she tells Artie that someone-or-something-else has been on her mind.
May 17th, 2011. 6:14pm.
She can't help it – she's a little disappointed at his non-reaction. And she knows he heard her. She can feel her heart pumping against her ribcage, and prays fervently that he can't hear it. Trying to dissolve the tension, Tina offers him a ride home, and he accepts. For a moment – things are looking up.
July 5th, 2011. 4:00pm.
All the Glee clubbers are at Mercedes' "Leftovers-from-Fourth-of-July" BBQ. Tina's sitting off to the side, picking at her hot dog and potato salad as she watches Artie and Sarah splash each other in the pool. Sarah's wearing a red and white stripey bikini and not even Kurt who is gay as a pink hand-basket can stop from looking at her.
July 5th, 2011. 4:05 pm.
Puck makes a sexist and inappropriate comment about just how much he'd like to see what's under that bikini and Tina wants badly to punch him in the nose. But that would break her cover.
July 5th, 2011. 4:15 pm.
Tina's officially sick of the sympathetic looks Quinn and Mercedes are casting her way, so she strips off her t-shirt, and cannonballs into the pool so she can cool her head. Tina always thought she was far too sensible to be the kind of girl that dithers over a boy and wants what she can't get, but here she is.
July 5th, 2011. 4:17 pm.
As a staunch feminist, Tina would never in a million years admit this to anyone, but it feels good that Puck makes the same sexist comment about her and her black and purple bikini that he did about Sarah. What the hell is wrong with me?
August 11th, 2011. 2:00 pm.
It's the hottest day of the year, and Tina's stranded pulling double-duty at her summer job – working at the local ice cream shop. She's sure she'll never want kids after this day, having cleaned up 6 ice-cream spills, glared at 15 screaming children, and doled out 40-and-counting ice cream cones. Well, at least she's eaten a good amount of free mint chocolate chip ice cream to soothe her frazzled nerves. Small consolation.
August 11th, 2011. 2:30 pm.
The bell jangles again, and Tina normally wouldn't even look up, except the door is being held open an abnormally long time and they're letting out the precious air-conditioning. She lifts her head, all ready to tell whoever the selfish bastard is to Please. Shut. the. Goddamned. Door when she sees that it's Sarah, holding the door open so Artie can wheel in. Just my fucking luck. Well, at least her boss doesn't make her wear some embarrassing old-timey ice-cream shoppe outfit complete with striped paper hat. Small consolation.
August 11th, 2011. 2:35 pm.
Sarah is taking forever and a day to decide what she wants, and Tina might have imagined it, but she thinks that Artie just shot her an embarrassed "I'm sorry" shrug. She wills herself not to smirk.
August 11th, 2011. 2:40 pm.
Tina grins a little too brightly, tells them their ice-cream is on the house, and heads to the back to take her 15 minute break so she doesn't have to watch Artie and Sarah feeding each other.
September 10th, 2011. 4:30 pm.
Tina's staring at Mr. Schue in disbelief. He had all of sophomore year, when Artie and Tina were actually on good terms, to do this. But now? Now is when Mr. Schue decides that Artie and Tina should sing the Invitationals duet? Tina arranges her facial features carefully into a bright smile as Mr. Schue hands her the sheet music, but when she sees the title, her stomach sinks a little even as her heart flutters.
"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." Her favorite song from his favorite band. Does he remember?
September 10th, 2011. 4:34 pm.
Tina casts a surreptitious glance at Artie, he's staring at the sheet music, and his cheeks are tinged pink. She takes it as a sign that he does remember, and she feels like she's won a great big shiny gold trophy.
September 10th, 2011. 4:50 pm.
They're running through the song – it's supposed to sound rough, seeing as they just got the sheet music…but it sounds right already because Artie and Tina have sung it together a million times before. Singing this song is like falling back into an old, comforting routine.
Tina looks Artie square in the eye as they belt out the chorus, and the look of pure joy on his face as he meets her eyes only makes her grin wider, and sing louder.
September 10th, 2011. 5:30 pm.
Everyone's heading out of Glee rehearsal and Tina watches as Sarah bounds in the door, grabs the handles of Artie's wheelchair, and wheels them both out. Sarah's leaning down, her red curls grazing Artie's shoulder. She's whispering something in his ear and Tina hears the unmistakable sound of Artie's chuckle. The magic is gone.
December 19th, 2011. 3:00 pm.
It's the last day of school before the holidays. Tina's grabbing the last few things from his locker as Artie and Sarah head her way. He stops short for a moment, smiles, and simply says "Merry Christmas, Tina."
All she can do is give him a small smile.
January 1st, 2012. 12:00 am.
Tina makes a resolution – to stop pining after Artie. They're awkward and just friends – and that's the way it's going to be.
March 23rd, 2012. 8:00 pm.
Tina's putting the finishing touches on her makeup for the Spring Senior Dance. She and Mercedes and Quinn are all going together – date-less, but no less determined to have fun. Tina's dress is floor-length, and a deep midnight blue with a black lace overlay. It swishes beautifully when she twirls, and Tina feels like some sort of Dark Princess. She adamantly wears her combat boots though, and no amount of Quinn's cajoling is going to convince her otherwise.
March 23rd, 2012. 9:00 pm.
Tina's leaning against the bleachers in the gym, panting from doing some sort of crazy made-up jig with Kurt across the dance floor. It's a slow song, and she's using the chance to catch her breath before Quinn, or Mercedes, or Kurt, or hell even Finn, comes by and demands another dance.
Tina knows they're all trying to keep her occupied, so she won't think too much about Artie and Sarah. But for once, Tina's having too much to even care that he looks dashing in a suit, and Sarah is glowing in a sunny yellow dress.
March 23rd, 2012. 9:02 pm.
Or so she thought. Tina knows she shouldn't have looked, but it's like the car wreck that you simply can't stop goggling at. She's watching as Sarah settles herself in Artie's lap. She keeps watching as Artie kisses Sarah on the forehead and twirls them around in lazy circles. They're freaking Cinderella and Prince Charming over there. It's so perfect it makes Tina want to cry.
March 23rd, 2012. 9:15 pm.
Tina's declined the last two fast dances, and not even the ever-demanding diva Mercedes could peel her off the bleachers. The DJ slows the tempo down once again, and before Tina even knows what's happening, she's staring at a set of wheels in front of her.
March 23rd, 2012. 9:16 pm.
"How about a dance, Tina?"
She lifts her head, and there he is, grinning lopsidedly at her.
She can't help herself. "Where's Sarah? Don't you think she'd want to dance this one with you?" Tina mentally kicks herself for being such a jealous bitch and letting it show.
Artie seems unfazed, though. He shrugs and says "She's off dancing with some of her sophomore friends. Between you and me – they're awful."
Tina can't help herself again – and chuckles. She keeps her voice light and airy. "Alright, one dance. But only because I'm taking pity on your sorry self."
They head onto the dance floor, and Artie pats his lap. "Settle in, Tina."
March 23rd, 2012. 9:18 pm.
Artie loops an arm around her waist, and Tina feels like her skin is on fire. She follows his lead and places an arm around his neck. Artie smells like Old Spice, and Tina enhales the familiar scent deeply, willing herself not to completely lose it.
Artie glances down at her feet, chuckles and says "I should've known you'd be in your combat boots. I approve."
March 23rd, 2012. 9:21 pm.
It feels like an eternity since either of them has said a word. The song ends, and Tina finally releases the breath she's sure she's been holding for the last three minutes.
Tina reluctantly gets up off Artie's lap. "Thanks, Artie, for the spin." She turns, ready to head off the dance floor, when –
March 23rd, 2012. 9:22 pm.
"Hey, Tina? I heard from Kurt you're hearing from art programs soon – I hope you get RISD, like you've always wanted."
Tina spins around. "You remember?" She's pretty sure her mouth is agape.
Artie blushes "Well…I won't lie, Kurt reminded me." He pauses. "You deserve it Tee, I saw your exhibition last month – your stuff is really good."
March 23rd, 2012. 9:25 pm.
Artie's wheeled back to join Sarah a full three minutes ago, but she hasn't moved. She's not sure which she's more stunned by – the fact that he saw her art exhibition, or the fact that he called her "Tee."
She hasn't heard that nickname since…well, since a year and half ago, when she and Artie were "Artie-and-Tina."
May 25th, 2012. 11:30 am.
Tina's weeping openly, and for once in six months it has nothing to do with Artie. She's graduated. She, and Kurt, and Mercedes, and Matt, and Finn, and Quinn, and Rachel, and Artie, and even Santana are all hugging each other and crying and taking photos and promising to keep in touch. They're leaving McKinley after four years of slushies, solos and Spanish classes. And if you had asked Tina at the start of her freshman year if she'd be surrounded by so many friends at the end of her tenure at McKinley she'd have laughed in your face.
May 25th, 2012. 12:00 pm.
Tina's finally extracted herself from her parents' grasp, after promising them again and again that she'll be back in time for her celebratory pizza dinner. She looks around and sees that most of her friends are gone – probably at the party that Mr. Schue's throwing them in the choir room. Except Artie. Artie's waiting for her by the gym doors, gesturing at her to hurry up.
Tina's heart feels warm and fuzzy. A feeling that she hasn't associated with Artie in a long time.
May 25th, 2012. 12:12 pm.
Tina's grinning ear-to-ear. The Glee clubbers are singing loudly, regaling Mr. Schue with a raucous version of "Ride 'Wit Me" – their go-to warmup song. She poops out after a verse or two, and plops herself down on a chair, just to watch everyone spin and dance around her.
May 25th, 2012. 12:17 pm.
Tina doesn't even notice that Artie's positioned himself next to her until she's shocked out of her reverie by Kurt's high note. She looks over at him, covered head-to-toe in Silly String and laughs out loud. It's been a long time, frankly, and it feels good to laugh.
Artie grins at her, picks off some of the blue Silly String and drapes it on Tina's head. "There. It goes with your hair."
May 25th, 2012. 12:19 pm.
Don't do it, don't do it, don't do it…This mantra does nothing to stop Tina's word vomit, and she blurts out "Where's Sarah? I didn't see her at graduation, either."
May 25th, 2012. 12:20 pm.
"We broke up a month ago." No six words had ever brought Tina as much joy as these six did now.
Artie looks and acts perfectly casual as he explains that he and Sarah just grew apart, and that sometimes she just felt so young. But Tina can sense a bit of sadness beneath the façade. Artie's always been very, very good at hiding his feelings.
May 25th, 2012. 12:25 pm.
Tina reaches for Artie's hand. It was just supposed to be a reassuring gesture, but she ends up holding his hand for a full five minutes before Rachel comes and pulls them up for their last reprise of "Somebody to Love."
May 25th, 2012. 2:30 pm.
The Glee party's over. Everyone has head off in different directions, all going off to various family celebrations. Tina watches as Artie rolls down the path outside McKinley, and she summons the last bit of courage, before it's too late.
"Hey, Artie? Sign—sign my yearbook?"
May 25th, 2012. 2:31 pm.
There's a grin on Artie's face as he holds out his hand for the yearbook she's hugging to her chest, wiggling his fingers impatiently.
"My feelings were hurt there for awhile, Tee. I was wondering when you'd ask."
May 25th, 2012. 2:32 pm.
Tina smiles just a little sadly as she hands over her yearbook. And she finally says the thing that neither them have had the courage to say in two years.
"We haven't really been friends for a long time, Artie. I didn't know if you'd want to sign it."
The mischievous light in Artie's eyes dims a little, but he nods. "I know. And it's as much my fault as yours. But…we had some good times Tee – my high school life wouldn't be the same without you."
He pauses. "I'd like to sign it, if you want me to."
May 25th, 2012. 2:34 pm.
She's handed over her yearbook, and he's rummaging around in his bag for a pen. Tina ventures another proposition, while this spurt of courage lasts. "Maybe we can fix that this summer. I miss you, Artie."
Tina's tries to say this as casually as possible – she's fervently hoping that he won't see through her completely. Too late. The way his eyes are boring into hers, she can tell he knows she doesn't mean that she misses him "as friends."
May 25th, 2012. 2:36 pm.
The tension is shattered at the sound of Artie snapping her yearbook shut.
"You know, I don't think I can write in your yearbook now – all that sugar I had at the party is making me loopy. And it want it to be good, not cracked out. Let me keep it overnight? I'll get it back to you tomorrow."
May 25th, 2012. 2:37 pm.
Tina stupidly says "But…there's no school tomorrow. We've graduated, Artie."
May 25th, 2012. 2:38 pm.
Tina's mentally kicking herself for sounding like a total airhead, but Artie just grins at her.
"So, let's meet at the park for the Great Yearbook Exchange – the bench by the swings. At two?"
Tina nods, and she can feel his eyes on her again.
"It's a date."
May 25th, 2012. 2:40 pm.
Artie's at the end of the street, and she's still standing in the same spot.
It's a date.