Author's Notes: Again, many thanks for your refreshing reviews. They are quite inspiring! They definitely keep me going and make me excited to write more chapters for this couple. And yes, I'm definitely taking this ship way too seriously! And I'm loving it!

So here's a new chapter for this series. And finally, things are definitely moving towards the direction everybody is rooting for! I'm taking my time with this, just to pace both characters well and prepare them for their further developments. Since I'm definitely leaning towards a more fluffy/romantic story, the pacing seems ideal for this genre.

My story mapping is relative done for this story. Later chapters still need to be written, but all seems to going well as of the moment. There are a few kinks along the roads that need to be dealt with, the closing and the like, but we're getting there.

I'd also ask for theme ideas from you guys. Those who are fantasizing about certain Tina/Mike scenarios, please feel free to share those. I'm currently working on a kiss-themed project (see story: Your Kisses). Just share your theme (or scenario) and I'll try to write about it and have it lead towards a kiss. (Genre and rating may vary, so I can try to do some sort of smut – I could give it a shot. Heh.)

But anyways, on with the story. Feel free to review and share your views. They make my day!

Disclaimer: Glee belongs to Fox.

As autumn reared its ugly head around the town of Lima, Ohio, Tina shivered as the crisp wind hit her face just as she stepped out of the warm confines of her car. Perhaps she should have opted to wear the black trench coat her sister gave her than just her plain jacket. Hoisting her bag over her shoulder and slamming her car door shut, she rushed through the parking lot and followed the crowd of students into the warm confines of WMHS.

With minutes to spare to loiter around the hallways, the school was alive with chatter and gossip as Tina maneuvered herself through the crowd. Taking a quick precautionary glance around the bustling hallway, she easily spotted a couple of jocks, though without any slushies in hand. With the cold season in, slushies were seen less and less in the hallways. Though the occasional beverage dumping still ensued, slushie or maybe some warm hot chocolate or coffee.

Pulling the sleeves of her gray sweater over her cold hands (she forgot her gloves), she rubbed them together to create some warm friction as she stood by her locker. After opening her locker, dumping her light scarf and some books into it, and taking out her AP Algebra textbook, she sighed and faintly wondered if she could get any warmer.

"Here," said a familiar voice beside her, as a steaming cup of coffee was thrust right before her face.

"Thank god!" Tina pounced the cup, taking it with both hands and cradled it against her face. Her flushed cheeks warmed and she smiled at the steady warmth the cup radiated. "I love you, Kurt,"

Kurt looked smug as he leaned against the row of lockers next to her, looking fashionable as ever in a wool sweater of Alexander McQueen fresh from this year's fall collection. He cradled his own cup of hot chocolate. "Me and Mercedes dropped by the coffee shop before coming to school, and knowing your caffeine addiction, we figured we'd get you a cup as well," he supplied.

Mercedes appeared next to Kurt, all ready for their first period. She eyed Tina with a knowing smile, watching the Asian girl take a greedy gulp of her coffee. "So,"

Looking over the rim of her paper coffee cup, Tina's eyes narrowed as Kurt and Mercedes watched her expectantly. "Why do I have a feeling of being cornered?"

"We're just two friends who brought a dear friend a cup of joe, girl," Mercedes looked amused. "Nothing wrong about that,"

The smug smirk on Kurt's lips grew and he leaned in. "Unless you want to share something,"

Tina shook her head in amusement, making all the beaded necklaces rustle. "I do feel corned right now,"

Mercedes' expression turned serious and she and Kurt huddled around Tina. "Girl, we do not know what is going on between the two of you, but from the way we see things right now, you and Mike Chang are looking quite cozy with each other," she stared at the confused girl. A cat-like grew on her lips. "So, spill,"

"I don't know what you are talking about," Tina said, staring at the two amused friends in bewilderment. She felt her heart leap at their assumptions and she oddly felt warm inside, and it was definitely not the coffee.

"We heard you two played house over the weekend," Kurt looked amused.

Tina blushed and turned back to her locker, shuffling things unnecessarily around. "I helped him watch over his nephew, no big deal,"

"Girl, it's a big deal when you spend three days over at a guy's house 'watching his nephew,' if that's what you call it," Mercedes placed her right hand on her hip and she grinned.

"I was watching his nephew!" Tina replied, blushing furiously. Rolling her eyes at the clearly unimpressed stares of Kurt and Mercedes were giving her, she turned to them and dropped her tense shoulders. Her resolve broke and she suddenly felt sad. "I don't know, alright?" She felt suddenly deflated and weak as she stared at the two with a miserable expression. "I don't know what's going on, is that what you wanted to hear?"

Kurt and Mercedes shared a startled look, taking in Tina's worrisome expression. "We're just worried," began Mercedes, taking a closer step to the slightly distraught girl. "After the whole Artie thing, you know,"

Tina nodded and offered them a small smile. "I know," she sighed softly and leaned against her locker. "I just," she faltered and looked at the two of them. "I just don't know,"

Kurt sighed loudly and offered to straighten the myriad of beady necklaces around Tina's neck. He smiled slowly. "After the whole Artie debacle, we do not want to see you get hurt again," he said slowly. Brushing imaginary lint off Tina's shoulder, he smiled encouragingly. "You're after all one of our girls, and we hate to see you get hurt again because of the male's species horrible machismo and inability to treat women the way they should be treated,"

Tina swallowed and felt overwhelmed at the sudden support of Kurt and Mercedes. "Thank you," she said slowly. She thought over what she was about to say next, and felt warm inside again at the thought of Mike and the days they seemed to have unknowingly spent together. "It's just that," she began. "Mike has been really nice to me. He's been sweet and kind, and," she paused and smiled slowly. "I like that,"

"Do you like him?" offered Mercedes.

Tina paused, thinking it over. "Maybe," she stopped. "I, I think I do," she corrected herself, smiling slowly and her hands curled into the sleeves of her sweater. She remembered Mike's sweater she wore and how nice and warm it felt.

"We'll it's clear that the boy likes you two," Mercedes began, smiling encouragingly at the girl. "Because, seriously girl, he definitely has a way of getting himself near you,"

Tina smiled slowly, though it seemed distant and mellow. "You think? I just don't know what's happening. I don't understand why?" she said. She stopped and looked thoughtful. "I just, I just don't want to ruin things," she paused, looking sad. "He's such a nice guy,"

"That's where you have to take your chances," Kurt said wisely. "You know, like Elphaba. 'It's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap," he sang softly.

"You look really happy, Tina," added Mercedes, smiling. "We'd like to see more of that. And you do that a lot, with Mike,"

Tina smiled. "Thanks guys," she looked thoughtfully at the warm paper cup of coffee. She felt lucky to have thoughtful (though extremely nosy) friends such as Kurt and Mercedes. "I'll check my instincts, then," she offered. She oddly felt lighter and she smiled. "We'll see,"

"Good," Kurt snipped, and reached out to adjust Tina's sweater. It didn't fit his taste, but what could he do anyway? He couldn't dress Tina everyday. "It was kind of tiresome to look at you with your semi-confused state. And all this post-Artie sadness was really depressing. There's just so much emo and goth we can take. Spirits need to be lifted and happiness sprinkled all around. It boosts team morale and we will definitely win Regionals in January,"

"So this was all about winning Regionals?" asked Tina, as they finally moved away from her locker and towards their first period.

"Girl, that and we're just looking out for you," Mercedes said. She looked serious. "And if that boy tries to do anything funny, I will cut off his balls,"

Tina laughed. "Why do I believe you can actually do that?"

"Open up!" Tina muttered loudly, fiddling with her car keys and turning them. The car door did not budge and she was starting to get cold. Her jacket did not help. Muttering a colorful expletive, she dropped her bags and books on top of the hood of her grey colored '98 Toyota and turned back to the door with renewed vigor. If she didn't get out of the cold anytime soon, she might as well die. Did she mention that she got cold very easily?

"C'mon!" she cursed loudly, nudged the door and turned the key. Was it even possible for the door to freeze into place? It wasn't really that cold yet.

"I hate you, argh!" having a conversation with her car wasn't really healthy. Tina sighed loudly and pressed her forehead against the roof of her car. Breathing in deeply, she tried to calm herself and figure things out. If she didn't drive away soon, she'd be late meeting her sister at the mall. And Michelle hated it when things were running late.

Crisp autumn air rushed through the parking lot and Tina shivered. This was not going well at all. "Kill me now," she mumbled.

"I don't think that's a good idea,"

Lifting her head from the cold roof of her car, Tina eyed an amused Mike Chang blearily. She hadn't seen him at all today, since neither of them shared any classes on Monday. After having spent so much time with him over the past weeks and not to mention over the weekend, it felt odd not seeing him at all today. "What?"

Mike looked at her with an amused expression, and he shifted where he stood. "Need any help?" he looked between her and her car. Taking note how she folded her arms around herself when she mutely nodded and stepped away from her car, he guessed that she was cold. Easily pulling off his letterman, he dropped it around her shoulders and ignored her surprised look and turned to her car door.

A moment of comfortable silence fell upon the two, as Mike jiggled her car door handle and Tina watched him with silent interest. With his letterman around her shoulders, she easily felt it warm her cold form as it was still warm from his body heat. That, and as she pulled it tighter around her form, his warm scent filled her senses. It was calming.

An audible pop could be heard and Mike let out a triumphant laugh as her car door opened. Grinning, he turned to her and waved at the open door. "There you go," he said. "You better get it checked out, so that it won't happen again. You don't want the same thing to happen when winter rolls around, or else the next time I see you you'll be a popsicle,"

Tina's hands curled into his letterman and she bounced on her heels. "Thanks, Mike," she smiled at him. They looked at each other for a few seconds, looking each other down and trying to come with something more to say.

"Thanks again for helping me with Jay-jay over the weekend," Mike finally said to her. Momentary flashes of the weekend's event came to mind and interesting feelings suddenly came up. Both shifted uncomfortably and they shared embarrassed smiles.

"He's a sweet boy," commented Tina, her gaze flickering from Mike's face to her car and down to her feet.

"My parents will be back in town on Monday from their wedding anniversary, so they'll take care of him by then," supplied Mike. He shifted uncomfortably, trying to figure out what to say next. He felt his pulse quicken and suddenly become incredibly shy again. C'mon Chang. Do it! He swallowed, staring at Tina hopefully.

"Listen, Tina," he began, stuffing his hands into his pockets and shuffling a little. He looked at her, offering a small hopeful smile and he faintly wondered if his heart could possibly beat any harder. "I was wondering if you're free Friday night?" He watched her eyes widen, and her cheeks blush. He blushed as well. "Since I'm off the hook from baby duty and all, I was wondering, uh, you know, if we could…on Friday…"

Tina watched him watching her with that hopeful yet bashful expression. She felt her heart hammer in her chest and she blushed as her stomach fluttered. The recent conversation between her and Kurt and Mercedes were still fresh on her mind. She felt incredibly warm. And she smiled softly. "A date?"

Mike cocked his head to the side, and smiled. "Yeah," he said. He swallowed. "If you like to,"

A cool breeze picked up around them, ruffling Tina's hair. Pushing her hair from her face and tucking it behind her ears, she smiled shyly at him. "Yeah, I'd like to,"

Mike grinned, and he bounced on his heels. "Good," he began. "Great, yes," he floundered around and offered her another shy smile. "Friday, then," He picked up her things from her car's hood, and grinned at her. Easy there.

Tina nodded and smiled at him, taking her things from his hands and dropping them into the backseat of her car. Slipping out of his letterman, she handed him back the jacket and smiled gratefully. "Thanks," she said.

Mike watched her slip into her car and she stopped as she sat in her driver's seat, looking up at him through her open car door. They shared a smile. "Friday," he began, leaning against her car door and ducking slightly to get to her level. "I'll pick you up at 6?"

Tina nodded and smiled. "Sounds great," And it felt great.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please review!