A/N: First things first; this is going to get very dark, very fast. Next things next; this is probably the first and likely only Marley/Bree pairing, but that doesn't make it a romance. More of a co-dependence sort of thing as Marley claims her dominance and Bree becomes addicted to being protected. Finally; there's a reason Brad is listed, and a reason why it's only after 'Puppet Master' So, enjoy:
You are the wrecking ball, Marley. You are the wrecking ball.
Marley chanted her mantra in her head as she fought back the annoying voice that pointed out that the wrecking ball was unable to penetrate those walls in Cyrus's song. Emboldened by her ability to resist his entreaty to get back together, Marley thought back just as hard that she wasn't trying to break Jake's walls- she was just trying not to crash in to them and be dashed to pieces. Even if a wrecking ball couldn't break a wall, it most likely bounced off of one. At least, I think that's how it works- Marley's thoughts were interrupted by collusion with another warm body.
"Damn it." Marley instinctively kneeled to pick up the cherry red binder, a bit more hesitant, figuring it was a Cheerio's, and froze completely when she saw the name scrawled in bold, large letters.
Spelled Bree, not like the cheese. Marley winced and picked the three-ring as quickly as possible handing it over to the shorter girl.
"Here," she managed evenly, stiffening her spine to level a steely blue grey glare at the cheerleader. Her resolve dissolved when she saw the other's gaze marred by welled tears, barely held back. "What? I didn't bump into you that hard."
Bree sniffled and grabbed the binder, muttered something that sounded like "nothing" and side stepped around her. Marley practically twirled to watch her rapidly retreating form, confused.
The next day in the choir room, Marley avoided Jake's longing stare, until she got to her chair and found from her peripheral, the boy was going to maintain his watch until she gave in and looked back. Marley decided to do one better.
Stalking over to the mildly surprised boy, who looked to be preparing for a slap or some other sudden violence a moment later, she stopped just short of his chair, having relocated her own spot to the corner- grateful that the gas leak had been fixed- aware of the wary glances of the rest of the glee club.
"What did you do to Bree?" Jake reacted as he though he had been slapped.
"Wha-what?" Marley let her head tilt to the side and sighed.
"You heard me," suddenly she was tired, and regretting this, even as her curiosity lingered. "She was crying. Why?"
"We broke up?"
"So?" Marley hadn't meant to sound dismissive, but given the derisive snort from Kitty, that's how it had come across. Marley rolled her eyes. "I mean, she didn't seem to care before; it was a fling. So, why cry?" Jake shrugged.
"I don't know. Like I don't know why you would care."
"Maybe because I'm a human being," Marley responded sarcastically. "Look, just tell me you didn't do anything stupid?"
"It's a little late for that, isn't it?" Jake stared off into the front of the classroom. Feeling a lull in the conversation, and more importantly, not seeing it going anywhere, Marley retook her seat.
Really, Jake had a point- she shouldn't care. And until a day ago, Marley probably wouldn't. The only thing that was keeping her from feeling like a complete sap was that what she was feeling was empathy; people can't help but feel for a small (from Marley's self described 'skyscraper' height perspective) somber individual who looked surprisingly vulnerable when not being proactively bitchy and manipulative.
Marley Rose had discovered that Bree was not going to continue to play the antagonist, and she honestly did not like it one bit.