Author's Note: I thought it might be nice to see how all these internet paired dates are doing...so let's check in on them. Except for Sue/Shue. I dread writing Sue, to be perfectly honest. Anyway...other people represented. Read and review! THANKS!

Part Seven: All Over Town

Saturday nights had always been Britt and San night but that had changed when Artie and Brittany had started their ridiculous, ridiculous in Santana's estimation, relationship. Now that the two had sort of broken up, due to Santana leading Brittany to falsely believe that Artie was still into his ex, Britt and San had their Saturday night back.

While flipping through the channels on her television, Brittany asked, "Why am I wearing black nail polish for prom if my dress is white?"

Rolling her eyes, Santana stretched out on her friend's bed. "I explained this to you, Britts. I'm wearing black so you're wearing black nail polish. You're wearing white so I'm wearing white nail polish."

Tilting her head, Brittany thought about it for a long time. At least ten minutes passed before Brittany said, "Okay." Finally settling on some cartoon, Brittany moved her body next to her friends, resting her head against Santana's shoulder. "Do you really think Artie might like Quinn? The other day I couldn't find my pink notebook and he was nice and helped me and I think he likes me. And I like him."

Though Santana had concocted the story about Artie liking Quinn just to further push Brittany away from her boyfriend, she had been watching Quinn and Artie over the past few days and had noticed something real between them. She wasn't sure if either Quinn or Artie was aware of whatever was happening between them but she knew there was definitely something there. But Santana's internal debate regarded whether or not she gave voice to what she had seen. On the one hand, anything that undermined Brittany and Artie's relationship was good. On the other hand, she was sick and tired of guys always falling for Quinn. Not that Quinn's whatever with Artie was like Quinn's previous romantic (if the Quinn/Artie interaction could even labeled that) connections. Santana recognized that it was more, that it was different. "Um…I don't know, Britts," she whispered at last, snuggling next to her best friend and hoping that even if Brittany and Artie resumed their relationship sometime in the future, Santana would still get cozy, lazy, stay inside Saturday nights.

Across town, at Mike's house, Kurt and Tina were discussing their prom plans, while Mike barely paid attention, his eyes on the video game in front of him.

"I was thinking we could just go to Breadstix," Kurt told Tina, resting a hand on his knee. "I know it's so very typical but who cares?"

Turning towards her boyfriend, Tina asked, "What do you think, Mike? Would your date be okay with that?" When he didn't respond to her obvious seething, she smacked him on the arm. "Mike! Breadstix?"

Pressing pause, he blinked then faced her. "Uhhh…what? No thanks, I'm not hungry."

Sensing that Tina was growing angrier and might possibly do more than simply smack Mike soon, Kurt explained, "We're thinking about the four of us, including Penelope, going to Breadstix for dinner before the prom. What do you think?"

"Ooooh," Mike exhaled, drawing out the os. "I already made reservations at Breadstix." At Tina's glare and Kurt's "Seriously?" look, Mike quickly added, "For the four of us!" Swallowing, he glanced Tina's way, noting her smile which meant she believed him. "Um…be right back!"

Grinning, Tina focused back on Kurt. "He's so thoughtful."

"Yeah," Kurt murmured. "So thoughtful…"

Handing Puck four Polaroid's of herself in different dresses, Rachel questioned his opinion on each one. "I know that prom is in two weeks and I should have purchased my dress before now but I simply could not decide! These are all on hold at various stores. Perhaps you can help me select one, Noah?"

Eyes skimming over the options, Puck shrugged. "Not really an expert at this kind of stuff, Berry. This really why you invited me over here?" Raising both eyebrows, he half grinned at her, amused when she blushed.

"Of course it is! Why else would I have asked you over? This is a pertinent decision that must be made immediately!" Simultaneously stamping her foot and jabbing her finger against his chest only further entertained him.

Grabbing her finger, he pulled on it gently, until she was leaning against him. "Go with the blue. You look hot in blue."

Cheeks even more flushed, Rachel touched her fingers to his shoulders. "I do?"

Running his thumb over her bottom lip, he nodded.

Taking a breath, she pulled back, away from him. "Then I will choose blue. Finn likes me in blue too."

Disgruntled, Puck stood. "Good for him," he growled, stomping out of the room.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Rachel helplessly watched him leave.

In all honesty, it was pretty funny but Sam didn't feel like laughing. "It's awesome, right?" Finn asked, doing another twirl as he modeled the tuxedo for his friend. "Here's yours."

Staring at the matching tux, Sam grimaced. "Uh…thanks. But I already got a tux."

Finn's mouth dropped open. "What? Why didn't you tell me that, man? I wouldn't have gotten you one if I had known."

The other boy appeared legitimately distressed. Sighing, Sam examined the tux that Finn had rented for him more closely. "This is pretty awesome…much more awesome than the one I got. I guess I can wear it."

Face splitting in a grin, Finn actually clapped once, then cleared his throat, looking embarrassed. "Uh…cool. Dude, you excited for the prom?"

Sprawling out on his bed, while Finn leaned against the wall, apparently not planning on changing back to his street clothes just yet, Sam shrugged. "I don't know what to think about Quinn and Artie going together. They seem to really be hitting it off."

Shoving his hands in his pocket, Finn said, "I don't think you have anything to worry about. It's just Artie."

Reclining so that his head was against the headboard, Sam replied, "Yeah but…Artie's got game. Plus, Quinn always laughs at his jokes and he laughs at hers and I see them together and…I don't know." Closing his eyes, Sam attempted to forcefully rid his mind of the thoughts invading it. "I really like Quinn." The pat on his shin startled him and he jumped, hitting his head. "Ow."

"Sorry!" Finn exclaimed, withdrawing his hand. "I was trying to…comfort you."

Expressionless, Sam just muttered, "Thanks, Finn."

Even though Quinn knew Mercedes was home, as the light in the upper right hand window was on, she couldn't bring herself to knock on the door. Biting her lip, ignoring the guilt that was washing over her, she spun on her heel and marched back to her car, where she sat for several long seconds. Deliberation on the matter did not help and she ended up starting the car and driving away. Once at home, she almost started to cry. Why was it so difficult to resume her one time friendship with Mercedes? Maybe because she had discarded the girl once Junior year had begun for her former popularity, which she hadn't even really regained anyway. The buzzing of her phone distracted her from thoughts of how Mercedes had been there when she needed a friend and how Quinn was certainly not repaying the favor now, though calling it a favor seemed wrong somehow. Looking down, she saw that she had received an incoming text.

"Hey!"

Smiling a little, she typed in a response to Artie's text. "Hey."

"What you up to? Cause I'm super hungry and I thought you might be too?"

"I am actually. That'd be nice." Before hitting send, she thought of something. "And maybe we can invite other people. Like Mercedes? I know she hangs out with Kurt a lot but I heard him tell her he was busy tonight…"

He didn't reply for over five minutes. "Uh yeah, sure. I'll invite her and meet you both at that one diner on second street?"

Starting her car up again, Quinn returned with, "Sounds perfect. And I love that place."

In his room, Artie slumped in his chair, responding, "Awesome, see you soon," before texting Mercedes. Though he had asked Quinn to go out to dinner as a spur of the moment thing, he hadn't meant for anyone else to be included, which actually didn't make sense, did it? Or did he want to spend time alone with Quinn? If he did, could he be blamed? He really enjoyed her company. And…he really liked her. As a friend.

Pushing himself towards his door, he whispered, "As a friend…only as a friend."