-RING-
"Class, remember the test is on Monday, as in this coming Monday. Prepare. Study. It's good for you!" The biology teacher spoke in a heightened volume in a futile attempt to overpower the ringing of the bell and the shuffling sounds of the students gathering their belongings.
Wearing a blithely smile, Quinn caught up to Artie as he exited the classroom and coyly bumped her hip against his wheelchair. "We so aced the presentation." She beamed with pride. "We make a good team."
Popping his collar, Artie dipped into his silky smooth playa voice. "That's what you get when you roll with A-to the-R-to the-T-I-E. Nothing, but A's ye-yeah!"
Hanging her head forward, she palmed her forehead and began snickering softly. He didn't know if she was laughing at him or because him (what was the difference, again?) so he did the only thing he could do. He chuckled awkwardly and adjusted his glasses. Turning completely red, Artie stared straight ahead and focused on wheeling himself down the hallway. Sometimes he was too dorky (a.k.a. too cool) even for himself.
Rolling her eyes, she sighed and came to a stop at her locker. "Do you want to stop by your locker before heading to the cafeteria?"
Artie's expression widened. Did Quinn just imply that they were going to be eating together? As in next to each other? In the cafeteria where other people would see them? Awesome! Awesome because…because that's what friends do. They eat lunch together...yeah. "I can wait until after. I'm starving." He patted his stomach. "Let's hope they're serving something edible today."
In mid bag to locker book exchange, Quinn dropped her jaw and eyed Artie down as if he sprouted another head. "Please tell me you're joking." She placed a hand on her popped hip. "You did bring your own lunch, right?"
"Was I supposed to?"
Her eyes widened. "Not if you want to contract the surprise part of meatloaf surprise."
Artie grimaced. Meatloaf surprise was every student's worst nightmare when it came to lunchroom meals. No one knew what the surprise consisted of, but the rumor this year was that it contained grounded up baby teeth. Last year, people were convinced it was a gallon of sweat donated from the faculty. Needless to say, everyone did what they could to avoid it. Only parents of the cruel genre sent their kid to school without a packed lunch on meatloaf surprise day.
"You didn't bring anything, did you?" She shook her head at his misfortune. "You must really hate yourself."
He pushed his glasses up higher on his nose. "In my defense: the lunch menu is out of my sight range. There was no way I could have known."
"Right, and the menu that is sent home?" She raised a disbelieving brow. "That was out of your sight range as well?"
He shrugged. "It can't be that bad, right?"
Sighing, she retrieved her red and white lunch bag (the one that went hand in hand with her cheerleading uniform) from her locker and opened it. "Here…" She pulled out a plastic wrapped sandwich and handed him half of it. "It's turkey." Blushing slightly, she released a breathy laugh. "My mom still thinks I'm eight or something. She even cuts the crusts off."
Artie couldn't stop himself from smiling. The sandwich was a little soggy and there was more lettuce than turkey, but Quinn (Princess Quinn) was sharing her lunch with him. Without being asked, no less. "I think it's cute. Thanks Quinn." He took a hefty bite out of the middle as she simpered at his impatience.
"No problem. I doubt I would be able to sit there and watch you eat meatloaf surprise without gagging myself." Slinging her bag loosely over her shoulder, Quinn shut her locker and nodded towards the cafeteria. "C'mon, I have some grapes too."
Placing the half sandwich in his lap, Artie gripped his wheels and gave them a push. It didn't take more than a second for him to realize that Quinn wasn't following. "You forget something?" He spun his chair around and when he glanced up at her, she looked tensed. Her brows were wrinkled, her mouth agape, and she was staring blankly past him down the hall. "Quinn?"
"Mom?" It came out breathy and anxious. "Mom? Wh-what are you doing here?"
Ignoring the boy in the wheelchair, Ms. Fabray breezed past Artie and wrapped her fingers about Quinn's elbow. "You have to come with me…" When Quinn continued to stand there flabbergasted, Ms. Fabray tightened her hold. "Now, Quinnie."
"But, I'm in school. I can't just leave. What about Cheerio practice?"
Ms. Fabray visibly clenched her jaw. Artie was starting to get a little worried. The only time a parent visited the school was when their child was in trouble or if something really bad happened at home. Artie knew there was no way that Quinn could be in trouble, so whatever reason brought Ms. Fabray to the halls of McKinley High during school hours had to have been severe.
"Quinnie, please! Don't make this anymore difficult. Just come with me." Ms. Fabray tugged on her daughters arm.
As she was being dragged away, Quinn tossed her lunch bag onto Artie's lap and called out. "Here, start without me. I'll meet you later, okay?"
"Okay…" Artie watched as Ms. Fabray barreled through the crowded hall, yanking Quinn along the entire way.
Quinn was crazy if she expected Artie to start without her. He was much too worried about her. As far as Artie was concerned, he was going to remain exactly where he was and wait because…that's what friends do.
After school let out, Artie wheeled himself over to Quinn's locker. She never made it back or to the cafeteria and he hadn't seen her since her mother dragged her out of school so he was becoming more than just a little worried. He spotted Santana heading towards the locker rooms and called out to her. "Santana! Hey, wait up!"
She spun around in a huff, her ponytail flipping forcefully. "And you are talking to me because?"
"Do you know where Quinn is?" It came out more panicked than he intended.
Santana scoffed. "You think I keep tabs on little miss goodie tattle tales? Please." Rolling her eyes, she turned on a heel and walked away.
Searching the halls, Artie was unable to find Quinn anywhere and decided (grudgingly) that he should give up. Defeated, Artie made his way towards the back exit. It was still the only entrance/exit with a ramp. Apparently, Principal Figgins hadn't found an economical contractor yet. As he turned a corner, he spotted Mike and Tina. Their hands were clasped between them and they both looked solemn with their eyes diverted to the ground and their foreheads resting against one another. Mike brought his hand to Tina's cheek, rubbing it softly with his thumb, and then Artie felt it. Nothing. He wasn't jealous or hurt. He didn't feel the need to turn away or hide. There was no longing within his heart and there wasn't any resentment. He felt absolutely nothing.
In that moment, he knew. He no longer had feelings for one Tina Cohen-Chang.
Feeling more liberated than ever, he wheeled passed the couple without a care, head held high and a smile on his face, and exited the building.
His happiness fell to the wayside when he heard the sniffling sounds of a girl crying. Quinn was sitting on the bottom step next to one of the bushes that lined the school's walls, with her knees held close and her face buried in her arms.
"Quinn?" Hurriedly, Artie maneuvered himself down the ramp and pulled up in front of her. "Quinn, what's wrong?"
Ignoring him, she continued to sob as her nails dug deeper into her flesh.
"Please, talk to me." In an attempt at comfort, he rubbed her upper arm lightly, but she jerked away and his hand fell. "Quinn?" It pained him to see her so broken, so hurt. "Tell me what I can do to help."
Bitterly, she laughed. "There's nothing you can do."
"I might surprise you." His voice dripped with sincerity as he was willing to try anything to console the tear streaked girl before him. "Tell me what's wrong."
"What's wrong?" Her jaw constricted as she tensely shook her head. "He hates me alright!" Angrily, she wiped her tears away, but she didn't stop crying.
"Hates you? Who hates you?" He was becoming upset. All he needed was a name and he was prepared to lay the smack down on whoever hurt her.
Staring down at the pavement, she shook her head again.
"Quinn? Who hates you?" He attempted to rub her upper arm again and this time she didn't jerk away. "You can tell me."
"My dad!" She cried out as sobs racked her slender form. "My parents finalized their divorce today and he fought for the house instead of me." In tears, she fell forwards, her arm falling across his legs and her eyes hiding themselves against her forearm. "He doesn't even want the right to visit me." She continued to pour out her pain as Artie petted her hair soothingly. "Now, mom and I have to find some place else to live. I know he's disappointed in me, but I can't believe he doesn't even want the option to see me. Let alone the fact that he's taking our home away."
"Shhh. Shhh." Artie continued to pet her hair. "Don't take this the wrong way, but your dad is an idiot if he thinks he can go even one day without seeing you." When she lifted her head to look up at him, he took the opportunity to wipe her tears away.
"I'm so sorry." She pulled away and took over wiping her own tears. "God, I am such a mess!"
Shaking his head, he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him.
"What are you doing?"
"Come here" He tugged her onto his lap and brought his hand to her chin. "Look at me. You, are not a mess. You wait, one day your dad is going to wake up and realize what a monumental mistake he made. Trust me, his greatest regret will be letting you go. I know it would be mine." Keeping his hand at her chin, he brushed away her tears with his thumb as they continued to roll down her cheek.
Her expression twisted in a mix of pain and comfort as her hazel-green eyes met his blue ones. "Why are you being so nice to me?"
With gaze softened and voice heartfelt, he told her the truth. "Because…you're a princess and you deserve nothing less."
She choked on a gasp-like sob, refusing to drop his gaze. Having her so close and smelling of sweet vanilla caused Artie's heart to race. He became caught within her beauty.
A moment later their eyes remained locked on each other. A moment after that, the distance between them was lessening. And a moment after that, their lips brushed hesitantly against one another.
It took a second for her to kiss him.
It took two seconds for him to kiss her back.
It took three seconds for her arms to wrap around his neck.
It took four seconds for his hand to cup her cheek.
And it took five seconds for her to pull back in shock.
"Oh God." She clasped a hand over her mouth. "Oh God, I'm so sorry. Oh God." With staggered breaths, she jumped out of his lap, grabbed her bag, and bolted without sending a second glance in his direction.
At a lost for breath and at a lost for words, Artie ran a shaky finger along his lips and watched as his princess ran away.