Yet again I have been lazy- this time there is no excuse- I just started new classes this week so homework is nil, we have had snow days galore, and yet I haven't updated.

I'm going to take this on past January because there is NO way that I am going to get it finished by then. Please review- I love getting every one!

The entire way home silent tears ran down Quinn's face no matter how many times she told herself that she was dating one of the most popular boys in school, getting straight A's, volunteering at the SPCA, and the head cheerleader; nothing helped. The more she cried the more she felt a big gaping hole in her stomach, as if a sudden black hole was formed that was eating away what she had left. As she turned onto Delray Street she saw her old obstetrician's office and suddenly she had to pull over because her tears were blocking her vision. Finally she understood that she was not only crying for her masked love life but for everything that she had lost in her life time, her grandma who was more of a mother to her than her own, her father, her own mother, her daughter, but most shocking of all was that she finally realized that she had lost herself in her frenzy to become popular. Gone were the days of sneaking ice cream bars with her grandma, gone were the days of being able to wake up and just walk out of the house without worrying about the state of her pores. Never again could she walk up to a random person to give a friendly hello without worrying about what they would do to her social status. But the saddest thing that overwhelmed her was that she would never be able to date Artie no matter what she felt for him. As soon as that thought crossed her head she almost started punching herself. Screw what everyone else thought of her. Screw them, she thought, why does their opinion matter? Why should I break my neck for someone who I don't even care about? Before she knew it the moping Quinn was gone, and the powerful Quinn was back, this time with a new motive.

Artie watched in disbelief as Quinn shot out of his room like a bolt of lightning had struck her. He didn't know how long he stared at his open door until realizing that his vision was obstructed by tears. Somehow he managed to fumble his way to shut his door and get in his bed before breaking down. "What is wrong with me," he tortured himself over and over again, he told his mother that he didn't want any of her pecan pie, and when Leah came to get him to read a bed time story he pretended he was asleep. Why him? He had asked himself that questions numerous times before, after the accident, when his golden retriever died, the time he first got slushied. His mother told him that God did certain things to people because He knew that they could handle it. "Yeah right, well, this is one thing I can't handle." After thinking that he almost started punching himself. His mother was right, God knew he could handle it, and that was exactly what he planed to do. He reached over and grabbed his phone. Before he could get Quinn's number his phone started to ring, it was Quinn.

"Artie? Can I come over right now?" She sounded upset.

"Quinn! Are you OK? It's almost ten!"

"We need to talk."

"Um, I'm not sure that's such a great idea, Leah is already in bed."

"Artie," her voice sounded dangerous, "We. Need. To. Talk."

"Uh, OK, come right over." Without even saying goodbye she hung up.

"Hey Quinn, my mom left some pecan pie out if you want any," Artie said to his feet.

"I'm sorry about the phone call, but I really need to talk with you, and I would love some pie!" She ended her sentence with a giggle. He grabbed two slices of pie and two glasses of milk to put on a tray. "Oh, I got that!" Quinn swooped in from nowhere and grabbed the tray from his lap.

"You look like Fleur in that picture above one of the chapters in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince," noticing her frown he quickly said, "in a good way of course." They made there way into the den and settled down on the same couch where they watched West Side Story.

"Listen, Artie, I'm really sorry about what happened earlier today, and I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for? Did I say that aloud?"

"Yes, Artie, you did." She laughed at his purple face.

"What I meant to say was, I'm sorry too, um could you not bring this up at school?"

"I have a boyfriend you know, it's not like I make a habit of kissing other guys and then telling him."

"No, not that! I mean obviously were not going to tell anyone about the kiss-"

"You and Quinn kissed!" Jeremy burst into the den followed closely by Keith who were laughing hysterically. "Hoo- I didn't know you had it in you little bro, that must have been why you shut yourself in to your room all evening, just not used to it."

"Jeremy Robert Abrams! Keith Garland Abrams! Get out of there and leave your brother and Quinn alone!" Caroline stomped in as softly as she could and grabbed the two by the collars of their shirts. "Sorry guys," she said as she lead the two boys out of the room.

You could have fried an egg on Artie's face it was so red by that point, "I can't wait until he goes back to school, it's just one more week and then freedom!"

Quinn was blushing as well, but was still focused on the reason why she was there, "You were saying?"

"Oh right, well, uh this week, Friday actually, is uh…" he stopped smiling and turned a sort of greenish color and was silent until he blurted out, "Friday is the anniversary of my accident, and I have been known to do some stupid things around this time, and I may not be acting like I should, and that was just another excuse." Quinn didn't know what to do; she could comfort him, laugh at his new excuse, or thank him.

"Artie, thank you for telling me, it means a lot that you told me that," He nodded and smiled at her, "and I don't really know why I kissed you, I guess that I was overwhelmed or something, I really like Sam, and it was a mistake." She tried to believe herself while she watched his face twist up and be silent for about thirty seconds.

Finally he said, "then we are at an agreement, I guess I will see you tomorrow for our performance." Not trusting herself to speak she took their dishes into the kitchen and walked out of the house, not knowing if she would ever see it again.