challenge #1 - Prompt #14: Stargazing
Title: Under the Stars
Prompt: Stargazing
Word Count: 1004
Rating: PG
Original/Fandom: Glee
Pairings (if any): Artie/ Kitty
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/Underage): none.
Summary: He’s just getting ready to let go. I won’t let him. // Missing scene from 5x13 - New Directions
He's crying. I can tell by the way his shoulders are slumped, how he's facing the lockers, even though there's nothing left inside. I approach him slowly, my hands holding my clutch tightly.
"Hey Artie," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
"This is so dumb." I swear his voice almost breaks. He doesn't even turn towards me.
"What's wrong? You should be celebrating." I can't even smile. My eyes wander down the dark, deserted halls. I know this is the end of something huge, but I can't let my emotions weigh in right now. He has accomplished a lot and I'm really proud of him.
He looks up at me slowly. His eyes are so big and sad. Honestly this isn't what I was expecting at all. "I don't feel like celebrating. I'm glad I'm finally done with high school, but I just want to get out of here."
"You're passing up a party? That doesn't sound like you at all."
Artie smiles, just a little. "I don't mean to sound negative. I just can't believe it's over. I can't believe my mom actually missed my graduation."
I sigh. I know they are close. They have their reasons. "We talked about this. I thought you were ok with it... You know she had to go to that conference."
He ducks his head. "I know. I just always had this thought that she would be there front and center, probably crying," he chuckles, shaking his head. "Look, you shouldn't have to do all this for me."
"Of course I would come to your graduation!" He's not making any sense.
"That's not what I meant. You shouldn't have to support me through this nonsense." He actually sniffles a little. I'm still not sure what he's talking about. He never needed my support before and I know he doesn't need it now. "I just feel like everything is different now. I used to think I would come back here after high school, just to visit, and everyone would sing and it would be like old times. Now there's nothing to come back to."
"Don't say that." I just study him for a long moment. “Just think about what’s next. I thought you were excited to go to New York.”
“I am, but I’ve spent the last four years of my life committed to this one thing. I’ll be OK, but I can’t believe this is over. I think I said that already.”
I try to laugh, but I can only sigh. I get it. I feel the loss, even if it’s only a fraction of what Artie must be feeling. I'm looking down at him, like I so often do, and I want to get down to his level. There's a chair propped against the astrology room door next to us. I meet his eyes, go over there and sit down. He doesn't follow. "Come here."
He shakes his head. "What's the point? We both know what's going on here."
"We're not breaking up." I pull my arms across my chest. I had heard a rumor about him almost breaking up with me by text, but I know he’s just getting ready to let go. I won’t let him. "Look Artie, I know this will be a lot of work with you in New York, but I really care about you. I want to make this work."
He smiles a little, but he's still too far away from me. I just want to hold his hand. He just sits there and I know he doesn’t really believe me. Finally, he shrugs. “Thanks Kitty, but I don’t know. I guess we’ll see.”
"Maybe I don't know where this is going either, but for now, let's just make the most of it. Go change and meet me under the stars... Outside."
We exchange a smile, we are both reminded of our first date. I stand, give him a look and walk down the dark hall towards the exit. I don't look back.
I know it will take him a while, so I sit down on the curb outside the school. My feet are aching from my high heels. I try not to think about glee club or about supporting Artie or our crazy relationship, but it all runs through my mind. I know he's probably right. We're going our separate ways, even if it's not tonight. We might not forget each other anytime soon, but how would we ever make this work? I want to be optimistic, but it seems impossible.
I have another thought too. He was the only person who was at every single glee club meeting. And unlike most of the rest of us, he never had an ulterior motive for being there. He just loves performing. Now we’re the only ones left at school and it feels strange. I've only been going out with him for a few months. I shouldn't have to be the one to be here now, at the end of it all. But I want to be. I want to tell him everything will be ok. That he's the most tenacious person I’ve ever met. I know if anyone can go on and do amazing things in New York, it’s Artie. I want to tell him he'll be the loyal, supportive one in his new group of friends. But how can I say all that, without it sounding like I'm losing him? I know I can't. Maybe I'm not cut out to be his support system after all. The worst part is I know he'll be ok without me.
I hear him approaching and I stand up. Suddenly we're staring up at the massive sky, filled with brilliant stars. It’s moments like this when I suddenly realize just how small my problems are. There is a whole universe out there. Who knows what the future will bring? For now, it's just us out here surrounded by the quiet spring night. No noise, no distractions.
There's nothing left to say.
Prompt: Stargazing
Word Count: 1004
Rating: PG
Original/Fandom: Glee
Pairings (if any): Artie/ Kitty
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con/Underage): none.
Summary: He’s just getting ready to let go. I won’t let him. // Missing scene from 5x13 - New Directions
He's crying. I can tell by the way his shoulders are slumped, how he's facing the lockers, even though there's nothing left inside. I approach him slowly, my hands holding my clutch tightly.
"Hey Artie," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
"This is so dumb." I swear his voice almost breaks. He doesn't even turn towards me.
"What's wrong? You should be celebrating." I can't even smile. My eyes wander down the dark, deserted halls. I know this is the end of something huge, but I can't let my emotions weigh in right now. He has accomplished a lot and I'm really proud of him.
He looks up at me slowly. His eyes are so big and sad. Honestly this isn't what I was expecting at all. "I don't feel like celebrating. I'm glad I'm finally done with high school, but I just want to get out of here."
"You're passing up a party? That doesn't sound like you at all."
Artie smiles, just a little. "I don't mean to sound negative. I just can't believe it's over. I can't believe my mom actually missed my graduation."
I sigh. I know they are close. They have their reasons. "We talked about this. I thought you were ok with it... You know she had to go to that conference."
He ducks his head. "I know. I just always had this thought that she would be there front and center, probably crying," he chuckles, shaking his head. "Look, you shouldn't have to do all this for me."
"Of course I would come to your graduation!" He's not making any sense.
"That's not what I meant. You shouldn't have to support me through this nonsense." He actually sniffles a little. I'm still not sure what he's talking about. He never needed my support before and I know he doesn't need it now. "I just feel like everything is different now. I used to think I would come back here after high school, just to visit, and everyone would sing and it would be like old times. Now there's nothing to come back to."
"Don't say that." I just study him for a long moment. “Just think about what’s next. I thought you were excited to go to New York.”
“I am, but I’ve spent the last four years of my life committed to this one thing. I’ll be OK, but I can’t believe this is over. I think I said that already.”
I try to laugh, but I can only sigh. I get it. I feel the loss, even if it’s only a fraction of what Artie must be feeling. I'm looking down at him, like I so often do, and I want to get down to his level. There's a chair propped against the astrology room door next to us. I meet his eyes, go over there and sit down. He doesn't follow. "Come here."
He shakes his head. "What's the point? We both know what's going on here."
"We're not breaking up." I pull my arms across my chest. I had heard a rumor about him almost breaking up with me by text, but I know he’s just getting ready to let go. I won’t let him. "Look Artie, I know this will be a lot of work with you in New York, but I really care about you. I want to make this work."
He smiles a little, but he's still too far away from me. I just want to hold his hand. He just sits there and I know he doesn’t really believe me. Finally, he shrugs. “Thanks Kitty, but I don’t know. I guess we’ll see.”
"Maybe I don't know where this is going either, but for now, let's just make the most of it. Go change and meet me under the stars... Outside."
We exchange a smile, we are both reminded of our first date. I stand, give him a look and walk down the dark hall towards the exit. I don't look back.
I know it will take him a while, so I sit down on the curb outside the school. My feet are aching from my high heels. I try not to think about glee club or about supporting Artie or our crazy relationship, but it all runs through my mind. I know he's probably right. We're going our separate ways, even if it's not tonight. We might not forget each other anytime soon, but how would we ever make this work? I want to be optimistic, but it seems impossible.
I have another thought too. He was the only person who was at every single glee club meeting. And unlike most of the rest of us, he never had an ulterior motive for being there. He just loves performing. Now we’re the only ones left at school and it feels strange. I've only been going out with him for a few months. I shouldn't have to be the one to be here now, at the end of it all. But I want to be. I want to tell him everything will be ok. That he's the most tenacious person I’ve ever met. I know if anyone can go on and do amazing things in New York, it’s Artie. I want to tell him he'll be the loyal, supportive one in his new group of friends. But how can I say all that, without it sounding like I'm losing him? I know I can't. Maybe I'm not cut out to be his support system after all. The worst part is I know he'll be ok without me.
I hear him approaching and I stand up. Suddenly we're staring up at the massive sky, filled with brilliant stars. It’s moments like this when I suddenly realize just how small my problems are. There is a whole universe out there. Who knows what the future will bring? For now, it's just us out here surrounded by the quiet spring night. No noise, no distractions.
There's nothing left to say.