AUTHORS NOTES

Just a one-shot from a prompt on Tumblr, but I might be convinced to turn it into a full story if anyone wants :D Review Review Review!


"Ryder? Ryder!"

Jakes voice seemed to echo above the others as Ryder lay on the cold floor. His eyes fluttered open, the world around him shifting into focus as he was lifted into a chair.

"What happened?"

His voice came out as a low croak as he looked around him, eye resting on each member of New Directions for a second before falling on Jake.

"You fainted, man, at the end of Gangnam Style"

Ryder looked to his left to where the voice had come from, and saw Finn sitting next to him, looking concerned.

"You look kind of pale, when was the last time you ate?" This time it was Blaine speaking, and Ryder leaned back, head spinning.

"I…I don't remember. Yesterday morning?"

Jake bit his lip and crouched next to his ex-rival. "Why haven't you been eating? And you've been throwing up too, I heard you before we went on stage. Don't even try and lie."

Ryder sighed and hugged himself, looking at his knees. "I just wanted to look good for sectionals."

The whole club shifted and frowned deeply, leaning closer to him.

"What do you mean? You look good, Ry." Blaine spoke again, resting a hand on the footballers shoulder. Ryder curled his arms tighter around himself and looked away.

"I don't…I-I'm fat. And everyone knows it."

He squeezed his eyes shut as the room exploded into a mixture of gasps, yells and eye-rolls from a certain blonde cheerleader. Then suddenly, all was quiet. Ryder opened one eye to see that Jake had pushed all the other New Directions out of the door and was now sitting in the chair next to him, head in his hands.

"There is no way in hell you are fat, Ryder." Jakes voice was low and oddly calm as he turned his head to look at Ryder.

He started to shake his head, but was stopped when Jake cupped his chin gently.

"You're not, Ry. You look amazing, all the time. You're muscular, have great sense of style, a smile to die for and to top all of that, you're on the football team. Every girl in school is throwing themselves at you."

Ryder bit his lip gently and looked into Jakes eyes.

"But…"

"No buts. You're gorgeous. And don't you ever forget it."

Before he could open his mouth to speak again, Jake had closed the gap between them, pressing their lips together gently. He stayed there for a moment before pulling away, resting his forehead against Ryders.

"Gorgeous."

Ryder was afraid that if he opened his mouth he would blurt out something stupid, so he resigned himself to a slight nod. He knew then, that this was only the beginning.