Tina was giving Marley one of her infamous glares. "I'm just going to say exactly what everyone in this room is is ALL Marley's fault. 'New Rachel' my butt. I was friends with Rachel Berry, and you miss are no Rachel Berry!"

Tina's words were stinging.

"Preach!" yelled Artie.

Artie's agreement only made Marley sink lower into her chair. She knew it. She knew this would happen. She messed up. She let everyone down. She wanted to crawl into a corner and never come out. She looked over at Jake, but even his eyes were cold. Was she so horrible that even Jake wouldn't support her?

It was quiet and the tension in the choir room was almost physically present when an unexpected voice was heard.

"You know guys, maybe we deserved to lose sectionals this year. Maybe we didn't just lose because Marley made a mistake, which by the way, everyone in the room can relate to. Maybe our sorry asses were so caught up in winning and looking the best that it's possible we may have forgotten what being here really means. I thought this was a safe place. Somewhere that everyone was accepted, no matter what. Whatever happened to being a team and supporting each other? Marley didn't even drink drop of water after she PASSED OUT before the topic was changed back to winning and losing. Did any one of you even try to ask Marley how she was feeling or what she was going through before you all threw her under the bus for a mistake! What happened to supporting each other? You know...I'm looking around and I don't see a team. I see individuals who are all too incredibly bitter about losing a competition that they've forgotten why they're here in the first place. And if this is what Glee Club is about, then, no thanks. I've already got enough things to worry about. I'm sure you all will be just fine without me," Ryder said to the group before storming out of the choir room.

Tina looked guilty while everyone was still trying to process the last few minutes. Marley's blue orbs were on the verge of spilling tears. She left the room not long after Ryder.

"He's right. You all should be ashamed of yourselves," Finn said disappointed.

Marley didn't show up during lunch. Ryder also decided it would be best if he kept his distance from the others for awhile. He looked over at the table occupied mostly by the New Directions. He didn't see her. To be honest, seeing that Marley was skipping another meal bothered him. He glanced at Jake who was exchanging giggles with Kitty and was clearly not too concerned about Marley. He walked out the cafeteria looking for her.

Marley found herself looking for a quiet place to take in everything that had been happening all day. The auditorium. No one could bother her there right now, she thought. Singing was her therapy and she needed it more than anything right now.

"Everytime" by Britney Spears

Notice me
Take my hand
Why are we
Strangers when
Our love is strong
Why carry on without me?

Everytime I try to fly
I fall without my wings
I feel so small
I guess I need you baby
And everytime I see you in my dreams
I see your face, it's haunting me
I guess I need you baby

I make believe
That you are here
It's the only way
I see clear
What have I done
You seem to move on easy

And everytime I try to fly
I fall without my wings
I feel so small
I guess I need you baby
And everytime I see you in my dreams
I see your face, you're haunting me
I guess I need you baby

I may have made it rain
Please forgive me
My weakness caused you pain
And this song is my sorry

Ohhhh

At night I pray
That soon your face
Will fade away

And everytime I try to fly
I fall without my wings
I feel so small
I guess I need you baby
And everytime I see you in my dreams
I see your face, you're haunting me
I guess I need you baby...

Marley heard quiet clapping. "That was beautiful," said Ryder, slowly making his way up the stage.

She was caught off guard. She didn't think anyone would have heard her. "What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to avoid eye contact with him.

"I could ask you the same question," he answered playfully.

She ignored his statement, turning around, about to leave, when she stopped.

He grabbed her arm to stop her leaving. He moved to where he was in front of her. He looked at where his hand was gripped firmly on to her own. Her arm was so thin...too thin. He looked at her body. She was so frail she looked like a single gust of wind could easily knock her over. Her eyes met his and she knew what he was doing.

"Have you had lunch yet? he asked trying to ease into the conversation. She nodded a no. He pulled her down to sit on the stage and reached into his backpack to pull out his lunch.

"I hope you like PB&J. Here," he gestured for her to take a half of the sandwich.

They ate in silence. The whole time Marley couldn't take her eyes off Ryder. Here she was, alone and hurt. And out of all people to be here with her, the guy who she hurt was the one to take care of her. Her own boyfriend didn't even think to check up on her. She felt guilty. How could he be so kind to her after what she did to him. She was a different person when it happened. With pressure from sectionals, worrying about whether Ryder and Jake would kill each other before the competition, and Kitty's manipulative comments, Marley lost track of herself. Ryder wasn't the kind of guy to blow a girl off. No...that was Jake. Ryder was obviously telling the truth about why he had to cancel the date. She was beating herself up for what she did to him. She knew what it felt like to be blown off. She could only imagine how Ryder had felt after finding out that she asked Jake out the minute Ryder canceled. All these thoughts were making her head hurt.

As tears threatened to spill from her blue eyes she choked out, "Why are you being so nice to me?"

Ryder looked up from his lunch, the question catching him off guard.

"What do you mean? I mean, I like to think of myself as a generally kind person. Are you okay?" he questioned.

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about Ryder. I'm such a horrible person. You just couldn't make it to our date and what did I do? I asked Jake out...I can't believe myself. This is not who I am. I'm so sorry if I hurt you."

"To be honest, it did hurt. I thought we really had something. When I kissed you backstage, I just felt something. I can't explain it, but it was amazing. I thought that maybe you felt that something too...so I asked you out. When I found out about you and Jake, I decided to back off because I wanted you to be happy. It Jake makes you happy, then I guess I have to deal with it no matter how much it hurts me.

She looked at him. The fact that he was being so nice about it only made her feel more guilty...

After a few seconds of silence, she managed to speak. "But Jake's not here now...you are. How come you stood up for me in front of the whole glee club while Jake never even once tried to defend me? How come you came looking for me while Jake is probably off enjoying lunch?"

"Because I care too much about you Marley Rose."

Before he had the chance to say anything, she had her arms wrapped tight around him while her head rested in the crook of his neck. She sobbed silently as they stayed that way, hugging each other tightly.