"Artie wait!" Quinn cried out as she saw Artie leave the choir room. Glee rehearsal had been tiring, it was country week, and it was hard on Quinn, because, well, she never liked country music.
Artie turned in time to catch the gaze of Quinn. That awkward 2 seconds was the most exhilarating and yet, the closest he felt to Quinn. "Hey Quinn, what's up?"
Only the 2 of them were left in the choir room. Even Mr Schuester, who was usually last to leave because he had to pack up the sheet music, had left as soon as rehearsal was done because he had a date with Emma Pillsbury. Artie could feel the awkwardness returning, the one from earlier, before rehearsal.
"What you said just now, did you mean that?" Quinn asked. Artie had the confused look on his face. He clearly had no idea what she was referring to.
"You mean, when I called Rachel annoying? Yes, I totally meant that." They both giggled. It was easy around Artie, Quinn didn't have to put up the barrier she did with everyone else.
"No, I mean when you said if I needed anyone to talk to..." Quinn stuttered. It was not usual for the Prom Princess to ask people for help.
Artie saw this, and immediately interrupted "Yes, I'm here Quinn. If you need someone to talk to. Do you?" He looked at Quinn, and suddenly felt red. He had never been on such personal levels with Quinn, and it was honestly starting to build up his hopes. He knew he couldn't, he didn't want to be disappointed as he did with Brittany or Tina, so he batted down the emotions.
"Well, the thing is...I've been living at Puck's ever since Beth arrived, but the Puckerman's have been driving me..." Quinn hesitated, "absolutely crazy." She chuckled.
Artie chuckled back. He didn't need to ask his next question. The look on his face said it all.
"I don't know what I'm going to do. I mean, I could just continue staying there and go crazy eventually..." She laughed this time, it was so easy around Artie. "I really don't know Artie." She whipped her hair around, as she usually did when she was frustrated and confused. Artie found this really attractive.
"I know, Noah's been complaining to me about your situation and how he's always in the middle of fights between you and his mother."
Quinn was shocked. He never thought Artie was one to check up on her. Maybe he wasn't, maybe Puck just complained to him. Yeah, that had to be it.
The bigger shock came thereafter. "So, I asked my mum to free up my brother's room. He had left for college and mum never had the heart to clear it up, but when she heard about your situation, she was glad to help. I mean, if you want to." Artie was inviting her to his house, to stay. That was... surreal.
"No Artie I can't. It is a really generous offer from you but I can't. I'm sorry I made your mum clear up." And with that, Quinn started for the door. It was quite easy of her to do this, storm out whenever a conversation went wrong, but this hadn't gone wrong, but rather Artie had just made such... a huge commitment to her.
"Quinn...Quinn!" Artie rolled towards her and accidentally bumped into the piano. "Ouch!"
Quinn turned. "Oh god, Artie, did you just hit yourself against the piano?" She chuckled.
"Yeah, how is that funny?" Artie was obviously in pain, his shoulder had the slight tint of black from the piano.
"Because you've got such a big...vehicle to protect you and yet you still hit yourself." Quinn laughed.
Artie prodded her playfully. He wasn't all that comfortable around her just yet, and didn't know that she could withstand a swat to her arms just like he would have done if it had been Mercedes.
"Here, let me massage it for you." Quinn stepped around to his shoulder, and started rubbing it, gently. Quinn realised what she was doing, and yet didn't stop. She probably would have just walked out if this had been Finn or Puck, but this didn't feel wrong like it didn't with the others. It felt right. Like, she had always done this for him.
Artie felt himself turn red again, and he knew why. He had brushed against Quinn's chest while trying to turn the wheelchair around such that his back faced her, when she started walking. Quinn may not have realised it due to the cushion behind the Cheerios uniform, but he sure as hell did, and it reminded him of 4th grade.
"Artie, you don't have to be so embarrassed you know, it's just a massage." Quinn teased playfully. She had seen him gone red, but had no reason why.
"It's.. nothing." Artie replied. "I'm fine thanks."
"How about I wheel you to the carpark? Your mum's coming to pick you up right?" Without a word from Artie, Quinn started to push Artie, and a faster speed than usual. Artie felt the breeze in his hair as Quinn's long, beautiful hair blew in his face. He smelled it, it smelled like peaches. This felt like the right moment.
"Quinn... I..I..." Artie began to pluck up his courage and do the one thing he never had the courage to do since the 4th grade...