"Alright, New Directions! Big news! As you all know, vocal adrenaline came in second at nationals." Mr Schue says, walking into the choir room. "The only good thing to come out of that lost weekend," Finn mumbles, getting a nudge in the ribs from Rachel. "Apart from us getting back together." He adds. "Well the boosters at Carmel don't donate tens of thousands of dollars every year to come in second, so they fired Dustin Goolsby.." Mr. Schue explains. "So handsome." Artie sighs, earning a few strange looks, Venus pats her hand on Artie's leg.
"...and they're having trouble finding a new coach." He continues. "Seems that no one wants to take on that pressure cooker." He says, hoping they catch on. "That means they're vulnerable!" Tina adds, thinking out loud. "Yes. And if we work hard enough, we can beat them! Which is why I've realized that I can't direct the musical this year." Mr Schue explains, looking nervously at Rachel. "But Mr Schue! You can't cancel the musical! My New York dreams depend on it!" Rachel screams, desperately.
"I'm not canceling it, I'm just not directing it," Mr Schue says calmly. "My sole focus has to be in here, nationals, nationals, nationals! And it's not me that's going to have to focus harder this year, I've been too easy on you, so every day after choir practice I'm instituting a mandatory 'booty camp' so that we can work on our dancing. Now it's not for all of you, just for the people that I think need help like..."
"Finn." Finn mumbles. "How did you know?" Mr Schue jokes. "And Puckerman, Hummel..." He continues. "I must protest!" Kurt gasps. "You kind of only have this one move, Kurt, it's like this... sashay and it's super distracting." Mike explains, doing an example of the move. "Jones." Mr. Schue continues. "What? Hell to the nizzie-no!" Mercedes protests. "You told me once you were Beyonce, you don't think she spends extra time in the dance studio." Mr Schue tells her. "Mike and Venus have offered to be my assistants and we start tomorrow, and yes, Puckerman, it's mandatory."
Puck sighs in defeat, dropping his hand. "Mr Schuester, would you mind if I dropped by for a bit? I really need to catch up with you guys," Blaine asks, as Mr Schue nods. "Okay, Mr Schue I'm glad that you're concerned with our special needs members but what about me? Who's gonna direct the musical?!" Rachel blurts out.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your co-musical directors, Miss Pillsbury and Coach Beiste!" Mr Schue announces, as the two come into the room. "How long were they out there for?" Venus asks Artie, leaning over to whisper to him, as he shrugs. "Now Miss Pillsbury did such a good job helping me out with rocky horror last year that I knew she could handle the job." Mr. Schue says.
"And I'm here to keep the football guys in line, and I've also talked them into playing the jets." Coach Beiste smiles. "Mr Schue, with all due respect to Miss Pillsbury and Coach Beiste, this is crazy, they have absolutely no experience in directing a musical!" Rachel yells. "Not true, in college, I was in 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. I played the Forum." Coach Beiste replies.
"The teachers at this school are already overworked and unfortunately a lot of them agree with Sue that the arts are a waste of time. Besides, they are going to have some help. I've decided to include a student director this year." Mr Schue adds. Venus looks at Artie excitedly. "Mr Schue I'm honored but Barbra was forty when she directed herself in Yentl, so it's just too soon." Rachel says, assuming he meant her. "Would you shut up?" Venus tells her, looking away from Artie, to glare at her.
"I was actually hoping that Artie would take the job." Mr Schue says, looking at Artie hopefully. "Me?" He choked out, surprised. "I've developed my whole persona around conflict avoidance." He says. "Come on Artie! You've made short films, directing is your dream! You can do it!" Tina encourages. "Yeah, come on Ari. I'll help you if it gets overwhelming." Venus tells him. He thinks about it for a second before smiling.
"I'm in!" Artie decides, smiling proudly. "Alright!" Mr Schue cheers, excited for the new project.
**************************************************************************************************
Venus was talking with Sam when her phone was snatched out of her hands. "Hey!" She yells looking up to find Santana holding her phone with a disapproving look. She pushes the end call button and walks down the hall, causing Venus to walk up with her, trying to get her phone back. "Like I said, we need to get you a boyfriend." Santana says, casting Venus a glance before looking back to the front. "I don't need another boyfriend. I'm gonna date Sam again when he's settled in." Venus tells her, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, okay. How long ago did he tell you that?" Santana asks her. "A few weeks ago." She tells her. "Yeah, he should've already been 'settled in' by now." Santana tells her. "Okay, say you're right. Who would you think would want to date me?" She questions. "As much as I hate to say it, wheelchair. I cornered him the other day and he told me that he likes you too." Santana tells her. "When did I ever say I liked Artie?" Venus asks her. "Oh please. I could see it on your face ever since you were in freshman year."
"W-what?" Venus says, surprised. "Anyway, shoot your shot. You'll never know when you'll see Trouty Mouth again." She says, handing Venus her phone and walking off without another word. She looks down at her phone before looking up and catching Artie wheeling down the hall.
**************************************************************************************************
"Artie?" Venus asks, walking up to him at his locker. "Yes?" He says, looking up at her. She now noticed the blush on his cheeks, gaining more confidence. "Do you wanna come with me to the movie theater tomorrow?" She asks him, standing up taller. "Like- like as a date?" He asks her. "If- if you want to." She says quietly, losing her confidence. "Yeah, I'd like to." He says. She perks up at the answer and leans down and kisses his cheek. "See you later." She tells him, walking off.
**************************************************************************************************
Surprisingly, it wasn't awkward as Venus thought it would be. When she picked him up, they started talking about the stuff they'd usually talk about. Venus had decided to pick 'Final Destination 5.' Final Destination was her favorite franchise, she had watched them with Artie a few years ago and they'd have a rerun of them every 3 months ever since.
When they left and they were in her car, they were talking about it afterwards. They were talking about how it looped together and what a surprise the ending was. Venus took Artie to a little tea shop she had found on the edge of Lima. It had quickly become one of her favorite places to be in, with a little resting area and bookshelves filled with books you could read while eating and drinking. Her and Artie had always tried new teas together as it was their 'thing'.
When she took him home, neither wanted the date to end. "I had a great time Ven." Artie tells her. "Me too Ari." She tells him. They look at each other with soft smiles, and Artie glances down at her lips before looking back into her eyes. It was her choice she realized. He was waiting for her to make a move, scared that if he did, it would mess up anything. She thought about it, before leaning in and kissing him, thinking of Sam the whole time.
