Author's Note: I am disappointed in the SLs for Quinn and Artie on Glee atm. And ALSO...they have ruined chances of my epic Sam/Finn Bromance! Ruined it, yo! Boo. :( It will live on forever in fanfic though! And also, Quartie...will...happen. I'm trying to have faith! They're the only couple from Ballad without an extended SL so...it'll happen...and Quinn will be redeemed...and Artie will be with someone (QUINN!) who doesn't focus on the fact that his legs don't work. /mini rant over!

Things were asked for...and guess what? Things are happening! Review please! I love reviews! :D

Part Thirteen: Dinner With You

"Prooooom!" hooted Finn, as he sat across the table from Sam, the soft lighting of Mario's illuminating his features, huge grin on his face.

Arching an eyebrow, Sam gave his friend a curt nod. "Yup, pretty soon we'll be at prom…"

Frowning, Finn stretched a hand across the table, placing his hand over Sam's. "Dude, it'll be fun. I'll make sure of it."

Picking up a piece of bread, Sam stared at Finn for a second, debating on whether or not he should squeeze Finn's hand. Shrugging, he turned his hand over and did it, laughing when Finn's face lit up. "Thanks, Finn. What're you ordering?"

After a brief examination of the menu, Finn announced, with some glee, "I think I'll get steak. Whoa, that's expensive!"

"It is," Sam chuckled, releasing Finn's hand, producing disappointment in the other boy, and grabbing a menu. "This place is expensive. You're paying right?"

Clearly, Finn had not been expecting that. "Uh…"

"Kidding!" Sam chortled. "I'm getting the chicken marsala and I will be paying for it myself."

After a sigh of relief, Finn started talking sports and the two boys spent the rest of the evening arguing about who the next Superbowl champion would be, though that game was a long time away.

The four sat at the table stiffly, awkwardly, eyes on the table, the food, the ceiling but never on one another. Finally, Kurt cleared his throat. "So, prom. This is one of the biggest nights of our high school careers. We should be…cheerful?"

Glaring at her date, Tina gave a fierce nod. "I'm cheerful. SO CHEERFUL!"

The other three at the table widened their eyes before Mike, glancing at his date, who looked like she had just stepped off the set of a magazine shoot, patted Tina's hand. "Did I mention you look…pretty?"

This only seemed to further agitate Tina and Kurt rolled his eyes at Mike's apparent inability to say the right thing. "Yes, yes, we all look fantastic. Waiter! We're ready to order."

Clearly uncomfortable and desiring to change that, Penelope leaned forward a bit. "Tina, you look lovely. I adore your dress. Where'd you get it?"

Apparently, Penelope's softly spoken question was just the ice breaker the group needed because conversation seemed to flow easily after it was posed…for the most part.

It was not shocking to Santana at all when Brittany announced that she wanted to go to McDonald's for their pre prom dinner. So, in their prom getups, the two girls sat across from each other in a small booth, eating big macs and french fries.

"I've been thinking, San, and I want to be a mermaid when I grow up but I don't know how to grow a fin!" Taking a big sip of her soda, Brittany's blue eyes grew very round. "Is Finn a fin or does he have one? Because his name is Finn and -"

"I don't think so, Britts." Licking the salt off her fingers, Santana sent a small smile her best friend's way. "But you and I can pretend to be mermaids in your pool like we did when were little. Remember?"

Sitting up straighter, Brittany squealed a little. "Yes! Can we do that after the prom thing?"

Laughing, Santana nodded. "Yes, we can." Picking up a stray piece of lettuce, Santana put it in her mouth, then chewed it thoughtfully. "I need to tell you something, Britts…I, um, I…lied on the survey."

In the middle of dancing her fingers on the table, Brittany looked up. "Was it comfortable?"

Though it was difficult, Santana resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Not that kind of lied…like I didn't tell the truth. I missed you and our friendship so I made up some of my answers, knowing what you'd answer. I just wanted us to spend some time together again."

Brittany was speechless for several long seconds before a rushed apology fell from her lips. "San, I'm soooo sorry! I'm such a bad friend."

"No, you're not," Santana protested, clamping her fingers around Brittany's. "I just…miss you."

"I miss you too!" In a short matter of time, Brittany had moved from her side of the booth to Santana's and thrown her arms around the other girl. Immediately hugging Brittany back, Santana closed her eyes and thought about how much she had missed this.

When Puck hadn't informed Rachel about any before prom dinner plans, Rachel had taken matters into her own hands and prepared a homemade vegan dinner, arriving on his doorstep two hours prior to prom, palms sweaty and heart racing.

"Berry? Kinda early." He took a moment to approve of her figure before stepping aside to let her into his home. "And thought I was picking you up."

Holding up the basket of prepared foods, Rachel grinned up at him. "Dinner." Walking past him, she placed the basket on the nearest table, as it's weight was starting to hurt her arms.

When he put a hand on the small of her back, she jumped. "One word response? Doesn't seem like you."

Rubbing her lips together, she faced him, took a breath, then began to bare her heart to him, regardless of whatever the consequences might be.

The tub of ice cream on the coffee table and the romantic chick flick in the DVD player were all Mercedes needed. Screw prom. Screw stupid internet profile matching thing. Pressing play, Mercedes settled back on the couch, preparing for her alone girls night when the doorbell rang. Wondering who could be at her door, since all her friends were out having wonderful evenings with their prom dates, Mercedes rose, frown in place. Stopping at the mirror that served as a key holder and teeth checker, Mercedes surveyed her appearance then opened the door. When she saw who was standing there, her mouth dropped open.

"What? But…how?"

Flashing her a grin, Matt said, "You don't look ready for prom at all."

"Give me two seconds!" Mercedes cried, racing up the stairs to her room, having no idea why Matt was standing on her doorstep and not caring about that reason, whatever it might be.

Artie showed up at Quinn's house promptly at the time he had said he would, blindfold in hand. Confused about that, she eyed him warily, before gushing over adorable he looked he in his top hat.

"Adorably hot, right?" he quipped.

Almost giggling, but not quite, she nodded. "Adorably hot, fo sho, yo."

His eyes lit up at her use of language. "You starting to sound like Artie-fresh, woman."

Crossing her arms over her chest, she mock glared at him. "Who you calling woman, man?"

Grinning at the playful banter, which was so easy with her, he held up the blindfold. "Ready for your surprise dinner destination to be unveiled."

"Yes but I am not wearing that! It'll ruin my make up. But I promise I'll close my eyes."

Humphing, Artie muttered "Okay" then ushered her to his truck. "Get in, hurry."

Not sure what the rush was, Quinn complied and entered the cab, shutting her eyes tight. "I have to keep them closed the whole way?"

"Yes or you'll ruin the surprise."

Smiling, Quinn leaned back against the seat, making sure her hair was nowhere near anything that would mess it up, folding her hands in her lap. They both remained quiet for several minutes when Quinn realized what was playing on Artie's stereo. She almost opened her eyes but remembered herself just in time. "I love this song! Is this an 80s mix?"

"Yup, made it for our time spent in the truck, yo."

Being occupied with singing along to every song on the mix that Artie had created, the ride to the secret place went by fast.

"You can open your eyes now, Quinn."

Doing as told, Quinn's eyelids fluttered open, lighting on the restaurant they were parked in front of. "Artie, it's…it's…I've been wanting to go here forever and Chinese is my favorite!"

Smiling, Artie replied, "I thought Chinese might me your favorite since it's mine and we're so compatible. And…I overheard you telling someone that you wanted to go here months ago. I was hoping that maybe you hadn't and this would be new for both of us."

"I haven't!" Quinn exclaimed, spontaneously wrapping both arms around him and pulling herself closer to him. A few songs played while they remained in the embrace.

Rather reluctantly, Artie broke it, drawing far enough away from her that he could look into her eyes but still close enough that her lips were too near to his and enticing at that. Gulping involuntarily, he squeaked, "Oh."

Blushing a bit, Quinn echoed, softly, "Oh."

"I'm, um, I'm hungry," Artie stuttered, dropping his hands to his lap and away from her sides. "Are you hungry? That reminds me of that game Hungry, Hungry Hippos. Have you ever played that? I actually own it so if you ever wanted to, you could play."

Quinn waited until his random ramble was through before speaking. "I think I'd like that. And, yes, I am hungry."

Scrambling, Artie got out first and, like the perfect gentleman, opened the door for Quinn. Taking his hand, she stepped down, the bottom of her red vintage dress swishing as she did so. "I'm so getting those crab cream cheese wanton things," she told him.

"Yum!" he cried, rubbing his stomach eagerly.

"Yum, fo sho."

"Fo sho, woman."

Feeling more light hearted than she ever had, really, Quinn went inside the restaurant, Artie right behind her. As a hostess guided them to their table, she felt extremely grateful for progress and technology pairing her and Artie together for the prom. It was as if fate had played a hand or something.