Disenchanted Chapter 10
Artie sucked in a long lingering breath. He still couldn’t begin to fathom what was about to happen in a matter of moments as he began to pace the floor of Kurt’s basement bedroom.
“Your aware that your feet are warring down the oriental carpeting right,’ Kurt quipped causing Artie to silently laugh at that statement considering the state he’d been in just over a week ago.
“I’m sorry, I’m just nervous.”
“Because you’re worried that your out of Brit’s league…relax….Brit doesn’t have a league.”
“Thanks Kurt, that makes things loads better.”
“You know what I mean…hello the girl dated ME for a week last month and I’m…you know gay.”
“Yes, but you were all wearing flannel and having an identity crisis so….”
There was silence for the moment as Kurt looked over his friend’s outfit, which was similar to the one he had on his first day waltzing into school after his make over. A pair of dark skinny jeans paired with a crisp white shirt and a dressy vest only this time the vest was a deep chocolate brown color.
“Anyway you look good man, and like I said…Brit’s a sweet girl…spacey at times but sweet.”
Artie nodded.
“I thank you for the complement…anyways I don’t know if this feeling I have in the pit of my stomach right now actually is nerves or the thought that Tina and Mike are going out to see a concert this evening.”
Kurt began to rant about how he was jealous that Mike had managed to snag tickets to the show that evening while Artie rolled his eyes, shocked that Kurt knew the band.
“I mean they are no Gaga…anyway change of subject…where are you taking your date this fine evening.”
A light blush crossed Artie’s cheek as he was kind of embarrassed to admit to Kurt the dorkyness of the date that he had plotted out in his mind.
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Tina stood in front of the full length mirror of her bedroom wondering when she became the kind of girlie girl she loathed as she twirled a strain of her recently dyed red streaks around her finger, when did she ever give a damn about just how to wear her hair.
Perhaps thinking about some trivial vanity was in part do to her mind wandering to the thought of Artie and Brittany going on a ‘date’ that evening. Her best friend and a Cheerio, even if said Cheerio was Brittany just didn’t compute in her brain… then again she was getting ready for her own date in the moment so why should she be jealous of her best friend having a life when she was having one of her own.
And besides Mike…there was just something about Mike that had always drew her in as even before they became friends through glee he’d been one of the few jocks not to make fun of the ‘freak with the stutter’ that she’d once been.
Another sigh fell from her chest as she let that thought sink in.
‘I’m going on a date to see and meet one of my favorite bands with Mike!!’
Flipping on the bands latest CD, which sat in her stereo Tina, took one final look at her reflection before settling on the idea that leaving her long hair down would be the wisest way to go.
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The Hummel’s doorbell rang and it seemed that Burt must have answered it cause suddenly the older mans voice echoed down the stairs.
“Um Kurt, that cheerleader is here again….is there something that your not telling me?”
“Hi Mr. Hummel,” Artie said with a smile giving the older man a proper greeting as he’d still been at the garage earlier when he arrived, “no, Brittany is here to pick me up.”
Artie watched as the older man gave him a look before flashing him a smile.
“I’m sorry to stare, I’m just not used to seeing ya…you know.”
“In my chair.”
Burt just nodded.
Artie smiled. He knew his sudden change in appearance would take some getting used to.
“Try not to do anything I wouldn’t do,” Kurt said with a smirk as he waved goodbye to his friend.
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Once he got upstairs he saw Brittany looking around at the photographs that lined the mantel.
“Why are there so many pictures of Kurt here and none of you? I’m confused.”
“Because this is Kurt’s house…remember.”
“Right,” she said with a smile, “we used to date….did you know that?”
Artie nodded.
“He took me to his bedroom and we made out…are we going to go to his room and make out? Because I like to make out.”
Artie tried not to laugh thinking this was going to be an interesting night as he took her hand and lead her outside.
“I had something else in mind.”
Brittany nodded as her eyes glanced around the Hummel’s driveway as if she was looking for something.
“Where is your car?” she asked while Artie simply rolled his eyes, “never mind I’ll drive…but can we make a stop first?”
His first instinct was that she would be stopping at Santana’s place however when the car stopped just outside the local park he just decided to go with the flow.
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Artie watched as Brittany lead him to a small pond at the center of the park.
“I forgot to do this before I picked you up,” she declared as she reached into her purse and pulled out a slice of bread and began to rip off pieces and toss it out to the ducks that sat in the water.
“I come here every night,” she declared with pride in her voice before looking at Artie’s empty hands.
“I’m rude,” she replied as she reached in pulling out a second piece of bread and handing it to him telling him what to do, “if I don’t do this the ducks will starve and die.”
A smile crossed his lips as the sweet innocent way she said this as he ripped a piece of bread and tossed it into the water.
It wasn’t the initial way he thought to start his date but he kind of enjoyed it as he looked up to see the beginnings of the sunset fill the Friday Evening sky.
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The Cohen-Chang doorbell rang and Tina went to open it. Thankful that her parents were MIA as they would most likely subject Mike to the million questions as to where they were going and what they were doing before candidly whispering that while they loved Artie to death it was refreshing to see her dating another Asian.
“Looking good Asian,” Mike said with a smirk as he used the ‘nickname’ she gained somewhere down the line in glee club.
She chuckled as she looked down at her attire. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a black and red plaid skirt and a black T-shirt of the band they were about to see.
However she smiled thanking his words to be a complement as she took in the black jeans and band shirt her companion had on, deciding to toss back a flirtatious remark of her own.
“not looking that bad yourself Chang.”
He smiled watching her grab her bag and lock up her house before heading over to his car where he promptly opened her car door like the gentleman he was.
“So,” he said while she climbed in, “want to grab a bite before the show?”
“Sure,” She replied as he hopped in the drivers seat and started the car.
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Mike stood there studying his companion’s face as she took a bite of the fish taco that was in her hand trying to see her reaction to it. He couldn’t believe she’d never been to the ‘Macho Nacho’ Taco Truck that was usually parked just outside the campus to Lima Community College.
“Oh my god,” she said with food still in her mouth which to him was utterly adorable albeit a bit gross. She swallowed before continuing, “this is like the best Taco I’ve ever tasted…where did you find this place.”
“Short Answer, last year Puck was dating this chick…”
Tina glared.
“This girl from LCC and she took him here and then he told the team and I’ve never eaten a Taco anywhere else anywhere again.”
Tina just nodded.
“Do you think we have time for another?”
Mike just looked at his watch and nodded.
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After their moment at the duck pond Artie looked over to his date.
“Did you park by a meter?”
“A meteor? Like from space?”
“Never mind,” he said remembering where she parked with shocking precision just outside the confines of the park, “anyway we can walk to our next destination if you want, I mean it’s a nice night and all.”
He waited for her to make some remark about him and how he’d been in the chair in that childlike tone of hers however instead she just nodded her pony tailed head as she skipped along beside him.
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Roscoe’s was a restaurant slash arcade which was a step up from the juvenility that was Chuck-E-Cheese and yet not quite as sophisticated a place as Dave and Busters was. It was located in a huge former where house and sold staples like Pizza and Chicken Strips while showcasing both games such as skee ball, air hockey, DDR as well as a go cart track, carousel and an indoor Ferris wheel.
Brittany’s eyes lit up like a child at Christmas as she looked around this place.
“wow, it’s like the Carnival that came to town last week…how did you know I wanted to go there but couldn’t? can we go on the Ferris wheel and make out?”
Artie shook his head.
There his date was with the making out again causing his stomach to become a ball of nerves as he’d only before kissed Tina.
“I was thinking that maybe we could grab a bite to eat if that’s ok Brit.”
She felt her stomach rumble a bit and the thought of eating actual food as opposed to the shakes that coach Sylvester made her drink was highly appealing.
“Are you fine with Pineapple and Ham?” Artie asked.
Brittany let out a laugh as she commented to him that the combination was her favorite.
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“Are you sure the seats were free,” Tina asked of the floor seats that they were now seated at in the arena. Sure they were far back on the floor but still….floor seats at a sold out concert.
“I told you… my dad knows a guy,” he spoke in a faux Italian accent.
“So your dad’s in the Asian Mafia?”
“I don’t know? Is there an Asian Mafia?”
The duo laughed for a bit.
“Seriously, I owe you something.”
“You could buy me a poster or something for the band to sign.”
“Deal,” Tina said as the familiar chords to her favorite song began to play and she began to sing along to it.
She’d loved the band on her CD but singing along to them live was like a Religious Experience or something.
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After they finished their Pizza true to his word Artie took Brittany over towards the Ferris wheel only to be told that they were too tall to ride.
Brittany looked like she was about to cry and so Artie placed an arm around her shoulders.
“It’s ok Brit, there are plenty of other things to do here…. I mean look around there is wack-a-moll, and pop-a-ball, and skee ball, and air ho….”
He was cut off when he looked at her pointing over to the DDR machine, a huge smile on her lips.
“You were so hot dancing the other day with Rachel in glee, and I’m a dancer and…want to play?”
Artie smiled.
Pizza and DDR was his personal plan all along, however he wasn’t going to tell that to the popular blonde’s face as he let her drag him to the machine where she eagerly popped in coins and picked out some poppy tune for their first dance and began to move to the music. Surprisingly he didn’t miss a step as he followed along by her side.
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Adrenaline flowed through the young Asian’s veins as they waited by the stage door waiting for their turn to meet the band.
True to her word, Tina had purchased Mike a poster that he held in his hand while Tina was clutching a towel that she caught when the lead singer tossed it out into the crowd.
“You should think of going out for softball or something,” Mike asked pointing to the towel and referring to the catch she had made.
Tina couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
“Me, on a sports team….um no, and besides the catch was just a fluke.”
He simply nodded as they waited for the line to get shorter and shorter until finally they reached the stage door where the band was having their meet and greet.
Sure they weren’t a young band as the majority of the band mates were in their early to mid thirties but up close and personal they definitely looked good for their age.
For being big music stars the group was pretty down to earth and conversed with the teens and some of the other fans that were in the meet and greet as if they were all just regular people.
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Artie and Brittany managed to play DDR a handful of times verses one another and then some more times playing against various members of the group of amazed junior high scholars that were watching them.
Brit was in awe of Artie’s newfound moves while Artie was impressed by his date’s…well…flexibility though he wouldn’t say that out loud lest she get the wrong idea.
They walked back to Brittany’s car now and Artie’s soft blue-eyed gaze fell upon Brittany.
“I wish that I could be the one to drop you off at your place, walk you to the door…”
“Make out with me?”
Artie laughed.
“Well kiss you goodnight…yes.”
“You can still…you know…Kiss me?”
Artie just nodded as they drove to Kurt’s house where Artie had planed to stay for the evening much to his parents dislike. However he wasn’t about to tell them he was going out on a date now was he?
Once they arrived to the Hummel home Brittany looked over to him, a half smile on her lips.
“Since this is your house should I walk you to the door?”
Artie just shrugged as Brittany got out of the car and waited for him on the curb while he headed out and walked with the blonde up to the Hummel’s front door.
“Now?” Brittany asked.
Artie nodded.
The blonde’s face lit up as she leant in to give Artie a kiss.
Artie didn’t know what to think about the kiss as the only girl outside his mother or other female relatives he’d kissed this far had been Tina.
Once Brittany pulled back Artie looked into her eyes.
“Did I live up to your expectations?”
Brittany nodded claiming as she’d kissed practically all the guys at the school and only had to kiss that Jacob guy who was weird before commenting that his lips tasted sweet like ‘pineapple’ and that they ‘totally should go out again.’
Artie nodded as she headed back to her car and he entered Kurt’s house with the key his friend had lent him.
As he entered the living room he wondered what Tina’s night was like.
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Tina was upset to hear the Taco Truck was already closed for the evening and so instead they headed toward the Wendy’s drive through for Frosties to which Mike scoffed when Tina asked him to order a small French Fry as well.
It wasn’t weird right? Dipping fries into frosties, after all Artie did so as well. Once they finished their food they managed to drive up to the Cohen-Chang home where Mike walked around to the passenger door and opened it for Tina once more before walking her too her door.
“I had fun tonight Mike,” Tina said as the boy nodded.
“I had fun too.”
Their eyes locked as silence filled the air.
Soon Mike’s hand reached around to cup the back of Tina’s neck as he leant in for a long lingering kiss.
Pulling back Tina tried to catch her breath.
“So,” Mike said, “see you Monday at school.”
“Ya ha,” Tina choked out as her date spun round and headed toward his car with a spring in his step.
Entering her dark and empty living room Tina slumped down on the couch not thinking about the wonderful time she had that evening with Mike but instead thinking about that kiss and how it didn’t hold half the spark that Artie’s kisses held. And that’s when it hit her….
She was in love with her best friend.
TBC