Find Yourself:
So here are the two chapters that I'm sure Gina was waiting for since I first teased Krissy/Artie together ages ago… I hope they are what you expected…PS need to fan girl for a moment that Lexi and Nathan are on the new GH opening…
Today was the day and as Kurt's car pulled into the driveway Kristina knew she was in for the longest and yet the most exhilarating day of her life in Lima so far.
Heading out of the house she allowed for Kurt's critical eye to pick apart her look.
On that day she decided on a simple denim skirt and pinkish colored top covered up by a light sweater, as it was February in Ohio after all.
"Pretty in Pink," he said smiling to her, as she got into the car, "nice."
Flashing him a grin of her own she reached over to play with his precious radio.
"Well it is Valentines Day… well technically since the 14th is on a Sunday and all."
Swatting her hand away from the stereo he flipped on some music and they made the drive to McKinley.
--
As they arrived at the school the parking lot was littered with couples in love and yet the person Kristina had longed to see was absent. Although that could have been due to the fact that the ramp was located on the opposite side of the school.
That being said she entered the building with Kurt and headed to her locker only to see a red colored envelope taped to it with her name written in a familiar scrawl causing her heart to skip a beat.
Pulling off the envelope she pulled out a piece of pink construction paper that was cut like a heart and had a note written on it.
I thought about it and roses are defiantly over rated and impersonal….
She paused hoping that he didn't mind her sending him a rose but continued to read on.
...Anyway I thought that this was more appropriate. Think of it as our generation's version of a mix tape.
Picking up the red flash drive that was most likely filled with MP3s she couldn't help but smile. Especially as she read the signature…
..with love, Artie.
It was then she felt a hand tap her from behind.
It was too high a reach to be his but she could tell that grip anyways.
"Hey Noah," she spoke without even turning around.
"I see Artie's already sprung something on you."
She turned to meet his gaze wondering how he knew.
"I watched him handing Tina the envelope to stick on your locker this morning."
Kristina just nodded as they walked into Chemistry together.
--
It wasn't soon after the lecture started that a handful of Cheerios, including Santana and Brittany entered the classroom to hand out roses to the students who were lucky enough to have a significant other to cared enough for them.
Kristina and Puck both didn't expect for one of those coveted roses to fall on their table. Kristina because of the heartfelt note she got on her locker and Puck because…well he was between girlfriends though he hoped his serenade to one Rachel Berry would fix that in a heartbeat.
However they were shocked suddenly as Santana placed a rose in front of Kristina and smiled before taking a second rose and handing it to Puck…scowling.
"So did you send it to yourself Puck?" she asked.
He didn't comment as she walked away.
They left and the teacher told the class they could spend the next few moments looking to see who their valentine was but then it was back to the lesson as usual.
Kristina reached for her flower first thinking of all the possibilities on who it could be.
Finn? Mike? Kurt?
As Overrated and Impersonal as they are I couldn't resist.
-Artie
She let out a little laugh though she wished she didn't just send him a generic rose with some quirky sentiment more suited for a conversation heart in the card. She would defiantly make it up to him, especially with the dress she planed to wear on their date.
"Abrams again."
Kristina nodded.
"So, who is your valentine?"
"Quinn actually."
"Quinn!" she exclaimed with a slight shock seeing as she heard about all the drama that went on and still went on.
Handing Kristina the card the young girl smiled as she read.
"Happy Valentines Day Daddy"
The card was signed Quinn and your daughter.
Handing Puck back the card Kristina cocked a smile to Puck thinking it was sweet.
And with that class began causing Puck and Kristina's attentions to turn to the lesson.
And with that the first leg of the day began.
--
Lunchtime.
A time that signaled the day, well at least the school portion of it was half way over.
This was also the first time that day that she saw him.
He was sitting at the table already, a smile on his face as she approached.
"I know that my gift was so cheesy but I promise I'll make it up to you…"
She was rambling, trying to remind herself to breathe between words as she talked.
"…I mean your gift…gifts were just amazing Artie…I can't wait to see what songs you put on my 'mix tape' a totally unique idea by the way."
He smiled his adorable smile to her as she finally took a seat besides him.
"Thanks," he spoke in his sweet tone to her as she turned her head and locked eyes at him.
And then it happened.
Their first kiss…well if you could call it a kiss.
Leaning over she placed a sweet yet lingering peck on his cheek.
She could swear his face was turning red as the rest of the group took a seat at the table.
"So," Mercedes spoke, "are you two official yet."
Artie looked over to Kristina who shrugged.
She was defiantly ready to be if Artie was.
"Not yet but we're getting closer."
Her heart sank however before she was able to say something more to him he turned to her.
"Ok so I don't want to spoil all the songs on the mix tape but I will tell you that 'our' songs are on it."
She smiled thinking of Love Bug and I'm Yours being on the USB drive and how much she couldn't wait to perform her mash up in with him on stage in a matter of hours. She just hoped she could get over her nerves before then.
After that the conversation turned to the regular lunchroom chatter up until the bell rang.
--
Meanwhile at the same time across campus Puck was spending his free period in the music room hoping that no one caught him as he rehearsed his vocal Valentine for Rachel.
He had no such luck however as he was instantly met with his friend or rather now frienemy Finn.
"Hey man, what are you doing wasting your period here."
Puck shrugged.
"I have a solo to practice."
"But you've sung it before man."
Puck knew he couldn't tell Finn the truth seeing as he was kind of sort of with the girl he loved and he didn't want to make it look like he was snagging yet another one of that mans girls and so he decided a little white lie wouldn't hurt.
"Yea but not in public like this."
Finn bought it and left as he picked up his guitar and began to strum 'My Girl' yet again.
--
By the time dress rehearsal rolled around things seemed to be falling into place.
Kristina's nerves were long gone as she and Artie finished their final run through before the big show.
Embracing one another for a job well done they began to go into the second acts set complete with Puck's performance.
Picking up his guitar he flashed a wink to Mr. Schuster who along with Kristina knew what game the young Mohawked jock was planning to play as he began to sing Sweet Caroline for the umpteenth time and was gifted with a round of applause from the rest of his club mates and even a flash of what Molly would of surely referred to as 'sex eyes' from Rachel.
-
Mr. Schu told them after this run through that they could disperse to grab a quick dinner before the show.
This had turned into a consciences that lead to Mike and Matt driving out to the local Pizza Parlor and bringing back a few pies for the club to split as they ran through vocal exercises and began to chime in about suggestions for songs to add to their repertoire for the upcoming Regionals the next month.
--
And then it was Showtime.
Dressed in their costumes which for the means of this non-competitive performance were quite simple (black dress pants, shirts, and white ties for the guys and black and/or white dresses for the girls) they all gathered around into a group, holding hands.
"Ok," Rachel said, "this is it guys, we are about to take the stage to perform. Now I know that it's not a competitive performance but it's no excuse not to give it your all."
She paused to look over to the young brunette.
"And as for you Kristina, I know this is your first time in front of an audience so don't let your nerves get the best of you…go out there and have fun."
Kristina just smiled as she watched Rachel not to their advisor to signify that they were ready to go on.
Will smiled motioning for the band to play the opening notes of 'Don't Rain On My Parade' while Rachel took center stage.
-
The crowd went wild as she sang her song with such enthusiasm just as she did opening their set up during sectionals.
After the standing ovation that Rachel received the rest of the club gathered on the stage to sing the next song on their set list, Somebody To Love which Kristina remembered Quinn smiling and telling her it was a crowd pleaser as she was in the process of learning the choreography.
Singing the song Kristina's eyes never left Artie's especially as he was singing his lines.
Again the crowd cheered as they geared up to sing the next group number which in her being acclimated to Glee club Kristina found out that this song (Don't Stop Believing) was the first song the club (or well Artie, Mercedes, Tina, Kurt, Finn, and Rachel) sang together in which they became confident about their talents as a group. They would of killed with this song at sectionals too if it hadn't been for the fact that Sue leaked their set list to the competing clubs causing them to steal this song along with a few other choice numbers.
Finally it was time for their duet and as the other 10 members of the club exited the stage
Kristina took a deep breath.
Singing background vocals was one thing but this was an entirely new experience.
Flashing Artie a look to signify she was ready he began to strum his guitar, which he had handed to him from backstage.
About halfway through the song all Kristina's worries seemed to fade away as she stood behind Artie and placed her hands on his shoulder, looking down at him.
I can't get your smile out of my mind
As Artie repeated the line Kristina flashed him a grin
I think about your eyes all the time
She sang as she skipped over to his side
Your beautiful but you don't even try
He sang back to her
You don't even try
She was now seated on the chair that was placed next where he now sat as they sang together.
Modesty is just so hard to find.
He changed up the tone of the song as he got ready to sing his final solo lines:
So I won't hesitate no more, no more
I cannot wait I'm sure
Locking eyes with him she seamlessly sang
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
He joined in on the last line.
This is our fate, I'm yours.
As the last line was sung Kristina rested her head gently on his shoulder while he entwined his fingers into her hair before gently kissing the top of her head.
They got a standing ovation as the curtain dropped on the end of the first act.
--
TBC
Ok… so next chapter is the continuation of the performance and it includes the arrival of Ethan, Kristina making a confession, and Puck's shocking solo.