"Okay, guys," Mr. Schuester was saying, as glee club convened Friday's rehearsal. "Week one of our Beatles fest has been epic."

Artie rolled forward a pace and waved at Kitty as she pranced into rehearsal, her Cheerios skirt swishing with each step as she found her usual seat. She didn't notice that Tina Cohen-Chang was sitting cross-legged on the front row, wearing a very pinched expression on her face.

"I think we've really unpacked what made the Fab Four such an instant sensation," Mr. Schue went on. "But now I want to turn to their often ignored middle period."

Tina Cohen-Chang shot her hand up into the air just then. "Mr. Schue, would you say that the early Beatles looked out for each other even when they didn't want to be looked out for?"

"Oh, God, no." At the front of the room, Artie turned to face Tina, freeezing there on the spot.

"Yes, Tina, if I understand your question, the early Beatles always had each other's backs."

"In that case, I'm sorry, Artie, but this is for your own good." Artie fixed her with a menacing expression and shook his head slightly, but there was no stopping Tina, once she was set on doing something. She crossed to the front of the room and turned to address the group.

"Everyone, Kitty and Artie are dating," she announced. "But Kitty's making Artie hide it because she's embarrassed by him, and I think that's emotional abuse. Artie is a great guy, and he deserves to be loved openly, and proudly, and without conditions."

Artie ducked his head, as Tina moved to stand behind him, leaning on one of his chair handles in what amounted to, in Kitty's opinion, an unnecessarily protective stance.

Kitty felt every pair of eyes on her now. Everyone, that is, except for Artie, who was choosing not to look at anyone in that moment.

"For once, we agree," Kitty said, after a pause. In a way, though, it was sort of a relief to get this out in the open. And to correct a certain busy-body's rude assumptions.

Artie timidly looked up, daring to meet Kitty's eyes.

"It's true," she continued, addressing the rest of the room from her seat at the top of the risers. "Arthur and I are dating."

"We are?" Artie asked, looking astonished by her confession. "Officially?"

"And, for the record, and not that it's anyone's business," she went on. "Especially not yours, Tina Cohen-Agitator. I did want to keep it hush-hush."

Artie probably would have pretended to be okay with many more weeks of secret make-out sessions in the astronomy classroom, if not for Tina's ambush. And Kitty would have continued down a dangerous path of self-preservation that wouldn't have ended well for anyone.

"Because you were ashamed," Tina supplied, her expression stoic.

"Yes, Memoirs of a Lame Geisha," Kitty said, rising to her feet. "Because I occupy a certain place in the McKinley hierarchy. And you all occupy a different, lesser place in that hierarchy. And before exploding said hierarchy, by jumping up and down on Oprah's couch, declaring my undying love for someone who is, let's face it, not my usual body type—"

At this, Artie pressed his lips together in a tight line, but he didn't look angry. If there was one thing Kitty had learned about Artie, in her time of getting to know him, it was that he appreciated honesty. Even brutal honesty.

Kitty sighed, taking a step down towards him. "I wanted to be sure," she said.

"Of what?" Marley proded her.

At this, Kitty took a seat on the middle riser, to look him squarely in the eye. "That I really, really liked him," she said. At this, Artie smiled and approached her, moving his chair so that he was right in front of where she sat.

"And that I would be willing to risk, not just my social standing, but also getting hurt, by letting him wheel into my heart," Kitty added, the corners of her lips turning upward as Artie's did, too. "And even though I know he's getting ready to graduate, and we're probably just as doomed as any other couple in this sad, broken, backwards relationship that's ever started in this Jesus and love-forsaken choir room..."

"Kurt and I will have a happy ending," Blaine piped up.

"But I do like you, Artie," Kitty continued, as though she hadn't been interrupted. "You make me laugh, and not just with those stupid YouTube fail videos you're always showing me."

At this, he laughed a little, and so did she.

"Look, asking us to keep our stuff private wasn't cool," she said, taking both of his hands in hers and looking him straight in the eyes. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Kitty," Artie told her. "But, um, as far as, like, updating my Facebook status...?"

At this, her face lit up. "Yes," she said. "We are officially, shockingly, publicly, a thing."

This proclaimation, followed by a kiss, was met with cheers and applause from all but one person in the room. Tina Cohen-Chang, who moments ago had been the one to force Artie and Kitty to go public about their secret relationship, just crossed her arms in front of her body and looked annoyed.

After rehearsal ended, Artie wasted no time in going public with the relationship. As soon as Kitty had given him the go-ahead to share them on Facebook, share he did. In fact, he was so busy posting the update that he didn't even bother to push himself out the door as the final bell rang. He let Tina Cohen-Blabbermouth do it.

Kitty really hated it when Tina pushed his chair. He didn't need her to do that.

She followed awkwardly behind Tina and Artie. Although Kitty worked very hard not to make anything she did look awkward — it was a skill she'd practiced to perfection — even she had her moments. She sort of tripped while walking out behind them, because she was so caught up in watching what Artie was doing. Tina turned then to give her a sharp look. The kind of look that clearly meant one thing — hurt him and die.

Reluctantly, Tina released her grip on Artie when they were in the hallway. "I'm glad I could help you guys come clean," she said, as though she was sure she'd done them both a favor. Even if that were true, Kitty wasn't about to say so.

"Have a good weekend, Tina," Artie said, trying to hint that he wanted her to leave now.

After a moment's hesistation, Tina did just that. But not without shooting another meaningful look Kitty's way. Artie leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees, and put his head in his hands as Tina walked away.

"I've tried to call my bulldog off many, many times, Kitty," he said, raising his head to look at her. "Believe me. Look, for what it's worth, I didn't feel like you were ashamed of me, specifically, just my social status. Which, I'll admit, wasn't entirely an accident, on my part. I sort of liked it that way."

"Liked, past tense?" Kitty asked, smiling over her shoulder as he followed her to her locker. "And what do you think now? Now that you're dating a Cheerio and you just plastered the fact across social media?"

"We-ell," he said, pretending to think as he adjusted his glasses. "I've been trying to change my look a little for you. More future film student chic. I hope you noticed. There are still certain things I don't want to change, but I think we agree, this is an improvement?"

Artie gestured to the brown sweater with the stripe across it that totally clashed with the rather retro print shirt he had buttoned up all the way to the collar. His fitted khakis were nice.

"If you say so." Kitty was good at being mean, and Artie liked it. She wasn't about to change it now, just because they were suddenly official. "Why don't you lose the top layer?"

Artie shrugged and did what she suggested, taking off the sweater and folding it up, to put in his backpack. "I thought the shirt underneath was a little too tight to wear by itself," he said, by way of explanation for his choice.

"Uh-uh," she said, grinning and fixing his collar. "It's way better that way."

She punctuated that statement with a kiss, right there in the middle of the hallway that was filling with people. She'd meant it to be a peck, but Artie drew her in a little longer.

"So cute!" squealed absolutely the last person Kitty wanted to see that day. Bree held up her phone as she approached them, as Kitty straightened up and faced her, forcing a tight smile across her face. Artie looked like he kind of wanted to film this on his phone but he restrained himself.

"I just saw your relationship status update, Kitty," Bree said, in her best fake, sugary-sweet voice. "I wanted to drop by and tell you both that I support what you're doing here."

"What are we... doing here?" Kitty didn't like Bree's tone or where she was taking this conversation. As usual, Artie maintained that charmingly clueless facade.

"You know," Bree said, her big, plastered-on smile never faltering. "Overcoming adversity. Breaking down barriers. Showing everyone that true love conquers all. McKinley's very own after school special."

Kitty looked like she might pounce just then, so it was then that Artie wheeled his way around her, putting himself between the two girls. Kind of a weird fantasy of his, although it turned out to be less appealing than he'd expected.

"I realize I'm taking on a lot," he said, coolly, addressing the other Cheerio. "And you're right, Bree, most seniors don't date sophomores. Just wanted to assure you and everyone else, though, we can handle it."

Kitty looked sort of impressed. Bree just looked confused, though, and she'd started to open her mouth to correct Artie, but neither of them gave her the time. When they were a safe distance away, Kitty started giggling, and Artie just grinned, looking proud of himself.

"C'mon," he said. "You're coming to my house. Mom's cooking spaghetti because my older sister is in town for the weekend, so we'll have plenty. Besides..." he held up his phone. "Amy already texted me about my status update and insisted I bring my new girlfriend over."

"Sounds like a date," she said. "If it's okay, I'll walk beside you today. You don't need to wheel me. I ate a big lunch."

"I wasn't going to offer," Artie replied, to which she smacked his arm playfully. As she headed out with her new boyfriend, Kitty felt a huge sense of relief, not to be looking over her shoulder anymore. She could finally enjoy a weekend with him in peace.