#chartie

So he was sitting across from this loud, blonde haired boy at Breadstix. Let people think what they wanted to think. He was used to people judging him all the time anyway, being a cripple and all. But Chandler didn't treat him like he was scarred; he treated Artie like a normal human being.

"So what musical do you think McKinley is going to try to perform next year?" Chandler wondered aloud. "Not that anything could beat your directorial debut this year. West Side Story nearly ripped my heart out. You can never go wrong with Sondheim."

"You were there?" Artie was confused. Artie knew Chandler went to North Lima High, and Artie had only met him one day when he was at Between the Sheets trying to pick up a song book for Rachel before Nationals.

"I never pass up a chance to see local productions. You never know when inspiration will strike!" Chandler smiled sincerely at him.

"That's a really great way to see things."

"Well you can never miss an opportunity to better yourself. That's always been my motto, not that you need to be any better! I saw your Christmas special on PBS! That was a stroke of GENIUS! My family and I usually watch the Yule log burning every year, but as you know it was cancelled. But your Glee club's special, wow it just amazing! A true Christmas classic contender!"

"Wow Chandler. Thank you. Really that means a lot."

"Well people look out for each other in showbiz!" He winked playfully at Artie. " You know what would be absolutely fantastic! If you got in touch with the local actor's guild in Lima! I'm sure they would love an assistant director, and you would be a shoo-in for it!"

"Dude, where do you come up with these ideas? That would be so awesome!"

"Oh My God! You must let me help get your audition presentation together!"

Artie had to get it out there. It was on his mind now, and Chandler needed to know if this was going to go any further. "You know even though I may be paralyzed from the waist down, I still have full working use of my penis."

"Excuse me?" Chandler sounded abashed.

"I just wanted that out there now because if you're going to come onto---"

"What?!" The sudden outburst and look of shock on Chandler's face gave Artie second thoughts about his declaration.

"Dude, you were totally coming onto me. And I just thought you should know I am fully functional."

Eyes wide and head nodding thoughtfully, Chandler cleared his throat. "Okay."

"Dude, okay? That's how you're going to answer that?"

Chandler looked down at his hands, and Artie wasn't sure how to take this new, weirdly quiet Chandler. Usually he could feel the enthusiasm pouring out of him about everything, but now just silence. Artie wanted to put the smile back on Chandler's face for even just one second.

He was getting scared that he had messed everything up between the two of them. Artie knew he may have been a little overconfident. But that's how he lived his life. He had to tell people how it is instead of backing down like people expected. It was the one way he could make sure his disability wouldn't define him.

Chandler took the napkin off of his lap and placed it back on the table. Artie was about to beg him not to go and apologize for his bluntness. But, instead of heading out the door, Chandler approached his chair instead.