Author's Notes: Hi guys, thank you for reading this story. Here's a new chapter. We're building things quite nicely and I'm liking where this story is going. This chapter will offer more character build up for Tina. Likewise a deeper understanding of what is happening with Artie and Tina. Things are coming along nicely, and I like what this chapter promises.

I'm buzzing with excitement with the upcoming premier of Glee Season 2. I just cannot wait how things will play out with Tina and Mike. That just offers a whole new playing field for stories. Likewise, I have a new plot bunny that I'm nurturing at the moment. I'll see if I can grow this one into a story.

Disclaimer: Glee belongs to Fox.

Artie and Tina found themselves at the mall one afternoon, idly sitting by one of the cafés and watching people pass by. Since their break up, it was a rare occasion that the two of them hung out together alone. While they still talked to each other these days, things were still a little awkward for both of them. Though both seemingly agreed that they had (would) move on.

"This is nice," Artie said suddenly, looking at Tina momentarily smiling at her softly and waiting for her reaction.

Tina stopped watching a group of middle schoolers gossip by the fountains and looked at Artie. She smiled and slowly nodded her head. "Yeah, it is,"

Artie swallowed, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. He watched as she dropped her gaze and returned watching the group of girls. He momentarily watched her as a heavy silence fell on them. As much as they tried to assure themselves that things were alright between them, things really weren't.

That, and he kind of missed her.

He sometimes wondered if she had moved on from their breakup. Sometimes, it seemed so when he saw her laughing and hanging out with other people. And sometimes, he wondered if he had moved on, though he wasn't so sure at times.

"Tee?"

Tina looked Artie, started out of her reverie. Looking at him confused, she noted his serious expression. "Yeah?"

Artie looked at her, trying to figure out what to say. I miss you. "Is everything okay?" He smiled at her. "You look like there's something on your mind,"

Tina watched him thoughtfully before tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "It's nothing," she said, smiling. "Just a lot is going on. My sister's been calling us every day about the wedding. Things are just crazy,"

"I see," Artie nodded and adjusted his glasses. "Your sister is not making you a slave, right?"

Tina chuckled and shook her head. "So far, not really. She just keeps on calling from New York asking if everything is in order. She and her fiancé are trying to fly in every other weekend this month,"

"That's good," replied Artie. He fiddled with his coffee mug as they fell into another round of silence again. Clearing his throat, he looked up at her and watched her finish off her brownie cup. "Tee?" he asked with hesitation. "Are we okay?"

Tina swallowed and watched him for a second, thinking over his question. "Artie," she breathed, sitting up and watching him. She offered him a small smile. "We're okay,"

"Oh, okay," Artie began to look flustered and his gaze switched between her, the brownie cup, and the crude cartoon drawing of Ms. Sylvester on the table. "It's just that I…uh, we…you…I, uh,"

"Artie," she stopped him, looking at him directly. She swallowed and slowly smiled at him. "We're good. We're friends,"

"Friends, right, yes," Artie breathily chuckled. He leaned against his wheelchair and smiled. "Yeah,"

"Yeah," Tina watched him skeptically, wondering what he was thinking. Having an inkling where the conversation was going, she shifted and sighed. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "We're okay, Artie," she said in assurance. Who she was assuring, she wasn't really sure though.

Nodding his head in understanding, Artie looked at Tina. "Are you…" he began, looking uncertain and oddly vulnerable all of the sudden. "Are you seeing somebody these days?"

Tina stopped stirring her coffee and went momentarily rigid. A million thoughts went through her head all of the sudden and faces crossed her mind. She swallowed when some lingered more than they should. Her gaze shifted to Artie, who was watching her carefully. All of the sudden she didn't like where the conversation was going. "Artie,"

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked," he began and looked away. He started to fidget and fiddle with his hands, and he looked crestfallen. "I'm sorry. I just…I…"

"Artie, stop,"

Artie stopped rambling, shocked at her tone. Looking up at her, he caught her intent gaze. "Tina,"

"We can't, Artie," Tina looked at him, swallowing. She felt her throat tighten, this really shouldn't happen – not again. She sighed loudly and watched him. "Just don't go there. We tried before, and it didn't work out. We can't keep on doing this. I'm tired of getting hurt, and I'm sure you are too. Don't you think we owe it to ourselves to move on? Artie, we will be fine. We will be,"

Artie sat there, and he swallowed the lump in his throat. He suddenly felt his heart drop and he shifted his gaze to hide his sad demeanor. So much for that. He adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. "Right," he mumbled. Looking up, he offered her a rueful smile. "Right, you're right. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up. I'm sorry, Tee,"

Tina nodded and shared his rueful smile. "It's okay," she sighed. Pushing away her half-empty cup of coffee, she stood up and looked at him. "How about we go around the mall a bit until your dad picks us up? Maybe we can check out the comic book store you like,"

"Okay," Artie nodded and allowed her to push his wheelchair. Their trip around the mall was filled with small talk and pathetic attempts at jokes. After purchasing some Spiderman comics and a couple of pretzels, the two met up with Artie's dad.

"Thanks for the ride, Mr. Abrams," Tina smiled at Artie's dad, as they stopped in front of her home. Slowly scooting out of the car and hopping out, she offered Artie another smile. "Thanks for this afternoon, Artie. I'll see you in school on Monday,"

"Right, bye, Tee," Artie waved at her and watched her close the car door.

"Bye," Tina smiled, adjusted her bag over her shoulder and stepped away from the car. She waved at the father and son pair and watched them drive off. Her smile dropped as the car sped off and she sighed as she thought of how the day went.

"Just great," she sighed, walking into her house and hanging her head. Hopefully, things would be better between her and Artie. Enough with the pretending.

Decked in a pair of shorts, tank top and running shoes, Tina bounded down the stairs early the following morning. Holding her iPhone in one hand, she waved at her mom with the other. "Going out for a jog," she announced.

"Surprise, surprise, on a Sunday morning?" Her mother grinned at her from across the kitchen.

Tightening her ponytail, Tina made a face at her mother. "I fell asleep absurdly early last night. So I'm wide awake now. Might as well go for a run,"

"Right," Her mom smiled and nodded, while cradling a cup of coffee in her hands. She watched Tina strap her iPhone around her arm.

"Gotta go. See you later, Mom," Tina waved and turned on the mp3 player of her phone. Shoving the earbuds into her hears, she rushed out the front door and started jogging down the road.

With a mix of Cobra Starship, Beatles and U2 songs blasting in her ear, Tina steadily jogged down the sidewalk passing homes and neighbors that were standing on their patios on an early Sunday morning. Waving at the old couple that was having breakfast on their front lawn, Tina rounded a corner and picked up her speed a little bit.

"Are you seeing somebody these days?"

Artie's question from last night hung heavily over her head. Since the breakup, she hasn't dated anybody else. Sure she had hung out with other guys, but she really wasn't sure that constituted as dating. Tina frowned. Maybe she should start dating again. She was feeling lonely, and it would be nice to be with somebody again. To cuddle, to hug, to kiss, to…

"Right," she sighed, cutting off that train of thought. Perhaps it would be best to date somebody again. She faintly remembered the guys that came to mind when Artie asked that question yesterday and she smiled. Dating again was definitely a good idea.

As she entered the nearby park, she softly sang to 'Good girls go bad,' of Cobra Starship, Tina smiled and bobbed her head to the beat of the music. As the music ended, she reached out to her arm strap, trying to adjust her playlist and loop another group of songs. Not even bothering to stop in her run or even look up, colliding into somebody seemed inevitable.

And luck never seemed to be on her side anyway.

"Oof!"

Tina yelped loudly as the wind was knocked out of her as a solid body hit her square in the chest. She shrieked as she stumbled backwards, and in fear of hitting the pavement she blindly reached out in her backward tumble fisting a t-shirt and grabbing hold onto a forearm. Both of them tumbled backwards nonetheless, teetering to the side, and solidly landing on the grass next to the pavement. If possible, the wind was once again knocked out of her as whoever she bumped into fell on top of her.

"Ah," she whined, wincing in pain, lolling her head to the side and closing her eyes. "Au, au, au, au,"

"Oh god, Tina! I'm sorry,"

Black eyes snapped open at the familiar voice, and she stared wide-eyed at Mike's face that hovered just inches away from her own. Trying to think through the haze of pain, she faintly became aware of his close proximity and how he just lay sprawled on top of her. Swallowing, Tina stared at him and grimaced through the dull pain. "What's wrong with us? We seriously should stop meeting like this,"

Mike breathed unevenly, taking in the close proximity they were in. Despite the circumstances, it felt gloriously wonderful. Swallowing at that train of thought, he watched her wince and he blushed and apologized. "I'm sorry," he said, and rolled off of her, and came to lie down next to her.

"I think," Tina wheezed, while staring at the blue sky above them. "I think I saw my life flash before my eyes,"

He abruptly sat up, worried that the impact might have actually done some damage to the girl. Looking down at her sprawled out form, with her hair all fanned out beneath her, and staring intently at the sky, he wondered if he should be really worried. "God, I'm sorry, Tee. Are you hurt? Did I hurt you? Is something broken?"

"Mike," Tina stopped him, her head lolled to his side and she clutched his jersey to make him stop talking. "Shut up,"

"Okay," Mike blinked, and watched her close her eyes and turn her face to the sky again. He watched her intently. Shadows of the leaves from the tree nearby danced across her face, and he smiled. Beautiful.

"Lie down," she mumbled, and tugged his shirt sharply urging him to lie back down next to her. Letting go of his shirt when she thought he got the message, she placed both of her hands on her stomach and tried to level her breathing. The fall still got her dizzy.

Mike smiled and slowly obliged to her request, easily filling the space he lay in earlier. Relishing in the close proximity, he spared her a sideward glance. "You sure you are okay?" he asked again, confused at what was just happening and worried that the fall might have caused some damage.

Tina opened her eyes, she breathed and turned her face to him. She smiled. "Yeah, I am,"

A/N: Please review and tell me what you think!