#34: Amnesty Round - #19: Seven Deadly Sins (envy)
Challenge #19
Title: Breakaway
Word Count: 723
Rating: PG
Original/Fandom: Glee
Pairings (if any): None
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/etc): None
Summary: Tina might be a little jealous of Artie's success.
My breath catches when I see him sitting in one of the auditorium's house chairs. How had he even gotten there? It's silly, I've seen him out of his wheelchair a million times. Sitting on his bed (never mine), sitting on the floor in Rachel's basement (even after she moved to New York), sitting up on ledges, on the edge of our circle of friends. Maybe it's just weird to see him sitting here all alone in the dark auditorium. I walk up to him.
"I told Sam I wanted to be left alone," he mutters.
"Sam wasn't even outside the auditorium," I chuckle softly, sitting down beside him. "I'm sure he got distracted by something. What are you doing in here?"
He finally looks up at me, his eyes big and clearly upset. "I was just thinking. I don’t know if I’m ready to say goodbye to this crazy high school and all my friends here…” He doesn’t really wait for my response. “Anyway, I could ask you the same thing. Don't you have class now?"
I didn't realize he still knows my schedule. There had been a time when we spent hours comparing our classes and complaining when we didn't like our teachers or the fact that we never got any classes together. I had thought those days were long gone. I finally shake my head. I'm still looking at him. "I just wanted to practice. Why does it matter anymore? I sent in my college applications, now it's just a waiting game. And you've already got your spot reserved for you in New York."
He tenses up a little at the mention of New York. "Jeez, don't sound so happy for me."
"I didn't say anything. And I am happy for you." But I'm not so sure.
He looks over at me suddenly. "Tina, this could all be a huge mistake. I try to be confident, but what if I'm terrible at it or can't get a job or something? I could use all the support I can get right now."
I actually let out a huff. "Don't worry so much. You have plenty of support and it seems like you get everything you want."
He just chuckles sharply. "Are you kidding me? I couldn't even get to this seat when I wanted to." His voice fades off a little.
I shake my head. "I just meant that you're good at everything you try. I wish it was the same for me. And everyone just loves you. It's like no one even cares about me." He's frowning. I don't like the way the corners of his pointy mouth turn down.
"Are you actually jealous of me right now?"
I can't believe what he's implying and he can't believe he's actually said it.
I just shrug. Maybe he's right. "I don't know."
"Oh Tina. First of all, I care about you. No matter what happens." He nods, staring at me, telling he's being completely serious. I hate it. What did I ever do to deserve such an amazing friend? I've been terrible to him and he always just forgives me. His sharp words seem to sting in the moment, but I know he never means what he says. I'm being terrible right now, actually jealous of the success that he's worked so hard to achieve. Maybe even that success is premature. He's still got a long way to go.
I imagine a little boy crying in his bed as the rain streaks against his window because he can't even go outside. I imagine a boy, older now, trying so hard to belong, but it always just goes wrong. That boy would do anything to change his fortune and breakaway… and I don't have that drive. I talk about change, but I just can't seem to make it a reality. I shake my head, my thoughts are flying by too fast. "I'm sorry, Artie."
He pulls his arms across his chest tightly. "Don't be sorry for me. And don't be jealous of me."
I can't quite meet his eyes. I just sigh. There's nothing I can say now besides, "I know." Even though I don't know, not really. I know that urge to get out of here at any cost, but I can't imagine what he's had to do to move on.
Title: Breakaway
Word Count: 723
Rating: PG
Original/Fandom: Glee
Pairings (if any): None
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/etc): None
Summary: Tina might be a little jealous of Artie's success.
My breath catches when I see him sitting in one of the auditorium's house chairs. How had he even gotten there? It's silly, I've seen him out of his wheelchair a million times. Sitting on his bed (never mine), sitting on the floor in Rachel's basement (even after she moved to New York), sitting up on ledges, on the edge of our circle of friends. Maybe it's just weird to see him sitting here all alone in the dark auditorium. I walk up to him.
"I told Sam I wanted to be left alone," he mutters.
"Sam wasn't even outside the auditorium," I chuckle softly, sitting down beside him. "I'm sure he got distracted by something. What are you doing in here?"
He finally looks up at me, his eyes big and clearly upset. "I was just thinking. I don’t know if I’m ready to say goodbye to this crazy high school and all my friends here…” He doesn’t really wait for my response. “Anyway, I could ask you the same thing. Don't you have class now?"
I didn't realize he still knows my schedule. There had been a time when we spent hours comparing our classes and complaining when we didn't like our teachers or the fact that we never got any classes together. I had thought those days were long gone. I finally shake my head. I'm still looking at him. "I just wanted to practice. Why does it matter anymore? I sent in my college applications, now it's just a waiting game. And you've already got your spot reserved for you in New York."
He tenses up a little at the mention of New York. "Jeez, don't sound so happy for me."
"I didn't say anything. And I am happy for you." But I'm not so sure.
He looks over at me suddenly. "Tina, this could all be a huge mistake. I try to be confident, but what if I'm terrible at it or can't get a job or something? I could use all the support I can get right now."
I actually let out a huff. "Don't worry so much. You have plenty of support and it seems like you get everything you want."
He just chuckles sharply. "Are you kidding me? I couldn't even get to this seat when I wanted to." His voice fades off a little.
I shake my head. "I just meant that you're good at everything you try. I wish it was the same for me. And everyone just loves you. It's like no one even cares about me." He's frowning. I don't like the way the corners of his pointy mouth turn down.
"Are you actually jealous of me right now?"
I can't believe what he's implying and he can't believe he's actually said it.
I just shrug. Maybe he's right. "I don't know."
"Oh Tina. First of all, I care about you. No matter what happens." He nods, staring at me, telling he's being completely serious. I hate it. What did I ever do to deserve such an amazing friend? I've been terrible to him and he always just forgives me. His sharp words seem to sting in the moment, but I know he never means what he says. I'm being terrible right now, actually jealous of the success that he's worked so hard to achieve. Maybe even that success is premature. He's still got a long way to go.
I imagine a little boy crying in his bed as the rain streaks against his window because he can't even go outside. I imagine a boy, older now, trying so hard to belong, but it always just goes wrong. That boy would do anything to change his fortune and breakaway… and I don't have that drive. I talk about change, but I just can't seem to make it a reality. I shake my head, my thoughts are flying by too fast. "I'm sorry, Artie."
He pulls his arms across his chest tightly. "Don't be sorry for me. And don't be jealous of me."
I can't quite meet his eyes. I just sigh. There's nothing I can say now besides, "I know." Even though I don't know, not really. I know that urge to get out of here at any cost, but I can't imagine what he's had to do to move on.