Chapter 1: Prologue

It's senior year and here I am sitting on the boat, looking at everyone having a good time. Wallflower as usual, I'm by myself, leaning against the side of the boat. I don't know why Kitty even invited me to this party. I mean she could've just skipped me and only invited the jocks and cheerleaders since they already took over the club. I'm just in the club cause of my voice. They need a belter, and I'm the best in the school. If it wasn't for that, Kitty would've kicked me out. Since everyone else in the club is either a jock or a cheerleader.

I notice Kitty and Ryder dancing happily together and realization hits me. She wants to rub their relationship in my face. She wants to show me she can have who she wants and what she wants very easily. Honestly, how can anyone be friends with her? She's a self-centered bitch who wants to control everyone around her. She even tried to be my friend once but turns out all she wanted was to get close to me so she could humiliate me. That's what she did, and I hardly speak to her anymore. What she did was horrible, too horrible to repeat. I shrug off the memory.

I miss Wade. He would always tag along and cheer me up at parties like these. But he graduated last year, we do keep in contact when he's not too busy in New York living the dream as he calls it. But I'm happy for him, there he can be Unique all the time without having to worry about being judged about it. New York is full of weirdos anyways.

I turn around and lean towards the side of the boat and stare at the water. Somehow staring at how the waves crash against the boat is calming. I feel how my mind is going blank as I just stare at the water. Back and forth, back and forth. Suddenly I hear a grumbling in my stomach. I should probably get something to eat. I stand up from the leaning position and heads over to the buffet table. As I do, I could've swore I saw Ryder looking at me. I look at him, but he just has eyes for Kitty. Damn imagination, playing tricks on me.

I arrive at the table, and there are an assortment of pies and cupcakes and other salty and sweet snacks on it. Everything on the table can be eaten by hand.

"Can't decide what to eat?" A familiar and charming voice asks. I look up from the food to see Jake looking at me with a teasing smile. Jake Puckerman, the school stud and closeted nice guy. We've been friends for the past three years, well on and off. Sometimes he would be very sweet and sometimes he is just a complete ass. But most of the times I'm glad to see him. He's the only one I can talk to when I want to be really serious. I could never talk to Wade about some things since he would try to change the subject as quickly as possible. Jake, on the other hand. would always listen when I wanted to talk, sometimes he would even have helpful suggestions.

"Marley?" Jake looks at me, a little worried.

"Yeah?" I say back, sounding stupid.

"Where is your mind, you haven't heard a thing I said." He smiles, and I just nod "I asked if you can't decide what to eat"

"There's too many choices," I nod.

"May I suggest the cheese and sweet chili pies and the chocolate pie." He said knowing it was my favorite food. I love cheese anything. Also love sweet chili anything. If I had a choice between chocolate pie and anything, I would always take the chocolate pie.

"I love pie," I say as I smile at him and take some pies and a slice of chocolate pie and put in on my plate.

He chuckles and only takes a slice of chocolate pie "I know you do" he looks me in the eyes. "So why are you standing there alone by yourself over there?" He points to the side of the boat.

"I don't know," I mumble as I start eating a pie.

"Why don't you walk around with me on the boat?" he asks, smiling a little.

"And watch how you try to pick up any girl that is single on this boat with your cheesy pickup lines that they seem to fall for?" I say with a hint of bitterness in my tone.

"If they seem to work, then why am I here talking to you then?" he counters, and I smile at him

"Because I'm too nice to chase you away like they do" I knew that had to hurt a bit, but he knew I was only teasing.

"That hurts Marley Rose." He fakes a pained expression before smiling "You sounded amazing at Sectionals. I never knew you could sing that high"

I blush at his words "Thanks! Yeah, it's all thanks to the New Directions' vocal coach."

"What? That annoying Rachel chick?" He looks at me with a frown.

"Yeah, that annoying Rachel chick. If you don't know, she's the reason the New Directions won Nationals for the first time. She's here on a break from NYADA and thought she could help the New Directions for Regional's," I counter.

Jake raises his hands in defense, and I think I might have sounded a bit too angry "I'm not disagreeing with you; she can really sing, and so can you" He smiles before biting into his chocolate pie.

"Yeah, but I'm not as amazing as her. She was coached since she was a toddler," I say softly.

"But you are still the most amazing singer in New Directions," He tries to cheer me up.

I smile at him "You know what?" I bite my lip, and suddenly the boat yanks me down along with everybody else. "Jake!" I scream, trying to get to him. We try to grab each other's hand, but when we almost did, the boat tipped to its side in some freaky way. I hear everybody starting to scream, and people yelling "I'm too young to die!"

"Marley!" Jake yells, but there is nothing I could do as I fell into the icy cold water. As I hit the water, I could feel my head hit something really hard and everything begins to fade to black. We're here in the middle of nowhere, and I'm blacking out. I'm trying to shake myself awake, but the light is just getting smaller and smaller and then it's -

Gone…