"I..." Artie could feel himself choking up. He never had problems talking to girls, not that many of them wanted to be seen around him, but he never had problems. Until now. This was Quinn Fabray after all.

"Yes Artie? Are you choking on some food? Or my hair?" Quinn laughed. She obviously didn't sense the tension in Artie's eyes.

"I know you've been with your share of guys, but don't you realise that none of them treat you the way Quinn Fabray deserves to be treated?"

Quinn wanted to interrupted, but decided on a nod.

"I mean, you're QUINN FABRAY! You're talented, pretty, brave, an amazing singer, caring...beautiful."

Quinn started to blush, but that last word hit her like a bee sting. Noone had ever called her beautiful before, even though she knew that she was. The guys always called her pretty, or hot. Not beautiful. Never beautiful.

"Artie..."

"God Quinn, I've been in love with you since the 4th grade! Oh crap!" Artie hushed himself with a mouth to his lips. But it was too late. The damage had been done.

"You...you...what?"

"But you've been the head cheerleader for years, and I'm just...this. That's why I never said anything. I didn't intend to. My stupid brain made me!"

Quinn chuckled. She never knew. After all these years, she felt guilty for not paying more attention to Artie.

"What I was about to say was... I want to take you out on a date, not to Breadstix, but to one that you actually deserve. A nice restaurant, a movie, a walk by the beach. I've had this planned out since the 5th grade. I knew I couldn't afford it in the 4th."

Quinn laughed. Why had she never seen this side of Artie? He was being so sweet... so.. non-Finn and non-Puck.

"Artie... God, why haven't you said anything to me all these years?"

"Are you kidding? I didn't want to get killed by your Cheerios squad."

Artie laughed, but Quinn didn't. She felt guilty. She felt as if suddenly, being on top of the world didn't feel so good anymore. She missed out on so many things, so many REAL friends.

"So...are you asking me out now?" Artie blushed. His romance with Brittany and Tina just, started. He never actually asked a girl out before. What would he do and say on the date? He start to panic.

He decided to tease her, at least maybe it wouldn't show that he was practically trembling. "Only if you say yes."

Quinn looked at the boy in front of him, and suddenly she felt something change. It wasn't that HE had changed, but its as if an aura lighted up around him. She felt protected around him, even if she WAS taller than him. She felt a sense of security that she never had with her ex boyfriends.

But, he sounded so serious, like, as if they were already a couple. He was committing way too much into this, and Quinn didn't want to break the poor boy's heart.

"Artie...God Artie, I'd love to, but I can't."

She could see the guy break right before her eyes. She didn't know what to do.

"It's fine. I knew it was never going to happen anyway. Worth a shot though."

Quinn smiled. She admired how he saw everything in such a positive light. She felt bad. She felt sorry. She felt stupid. There was a boy who loved her, or could love her, and she just turned him down.

"Bye Quinn, my mum's here. I'm sorry. about everything."

"Artie, wait. Let's do it. Let's go on the date. But, I can't promise anything."

Artie was shocked! He never expected her to say yes!

"Wo..ah. Okay. Wow. Really? Don't regret it." They both smiled.

"I'll tell you where and when later during the week."

"Sure thing." Quinn kissed Artie on the cheek. This felt right. Despite what people would say. She didn't care anymore. She wanted a boy who would love her, and treat her right. Ah who was she kidding, She just wouldn't let anyone know. Yeah, she could do that.

CRAP! SHE SAID YES! OH MY GOD! Oh no, how am I going to pay for the date? Oh no Oh no Oh no. He was freaking out inside. He had built up the date far more than he could afford for.

"Bye Quinn..."

They gazed at each other once more, catching each other's eyes. None of them would admit it, but, they both knew it was the start of something incredible, and suddenly the worries of both parties, disappeared.