Glee Club kicked off after school. The students filed in through the doors to the choir room in their own sweet time, the majority distracted by their phones. Marley wondered into the room with Jake. They were holding hands, and her head was resting against his broad shoulder. Neither found the position particularly comfortable, but for some reason they didn't say anything about it. It was just what they did now; Marley would rest her head against Jake and they would both pretend that it was both romantic and/or comfortable. It was neither. If anything, it was pointless. But they did it anyway, because a small part of them let it happen as they wanted to be close to each other.
Marley couldn't help but think that her relationship with Jake was cheesy. Her friends (well, Kitty) had said as much before, but in a more insulting manner. She didn't mind the criticism. She had never had a boyfriend before, so she didn't know what was acceptable in the eyes of a bitchy cheerleader. Kitty could go screw herself when it came to Jake. That was the one time that her behaviour couldn't be excused.
Marley and Jake plonked down in chairs next to each other, while an often ignored Kitty rolled her eyes as the younger Puckerman wrapped his arm around his girlfriend. Marley thought Kitty was jealous because she didn't have a boyfriend. Jake had rejected her long ago for the way she treated Marley, and Ryder had lost his chance with her in favour of Katie. That turned out to be a bad choice, as Katie had turned out to be Unique, which resulted in the handsome dyslexic leaving the Glee Club. Kitty was more lonely than she allowed people to believe. Marley struggled to feel sympathy for her however, as when it came down to it, Kitty was a bitch. She drove people away. So when everyone asked where Unique was, Marley suspected Kitty had driven her away with her mean comments.
The first 'where's Unique?' came from Mr Schuester, who had walked in enthusiastically for the extra curricular class. He had been about to talk about the impending Nationals tournament awaiting them at the end of the semester when he noticed the glamorous transvestite was nowhere in sight. The attractive, fair-haired teacher scratched his hair in confusion. "He was in History today. Marley, have you seen her?"
Kitty rolled her eyes again at the idea of referring to Wade as a woman. At least she didn't make an offensive comment about it, although one was sure to be on its way.
"We were going to meet up at lunch," replied Marley worriedly, "but she didn't show. Hang on, I'll text her now to see if she's coming."
"He'll," Kitty interrupted with relish, "be stalking the gorgeous gullible guy home probably." She was of course referring to Ryder.
"That was weak, Kitty," sighed Blaine from a few chairs away, running a hand through his hair. "You usually have better insults than that."
Marley tuned out Kitty and Blaine as they resorted to casually throwing insults at each other that included hairstyle, attitude and sexuality. Blaine held his own in the argument, it seemed, but Marley couldn't help but notice how much sassier Blaine had got since Kurt had gone back to New York. Maybe it was a defence mechanism for his sadness.
Marley retrieved her phone from her bag and saw that there was a missed call from Unique.
"I'll be right back," she told Mr Schuester, but he didn't really notice as he was telling Blaine and Kitty to desist with their arguing.
Marley called Unique outside in the empty hallway. It rang for a few seconds, but then it was picked up from the other end.
"Hello?" said Marley, waiting for a reply.
There was some heavy breathing from the other end.
"Hello?" she repeated, not sure why her best friend hadn't replied.
"Marley." Unique sounded sad, but not just that. Angry.
"Unique, are you okay?"
There was no reply.
"Unique?"
There was this time. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"What were you calling for?"
"Nothing."
"Well, it was clearly something, otherwise you wouldn't have called me."
There was a pause. "Just to say I'm not coming to Glee Club."
"Oh. Is everything alright?"
"No."
It was a surprisingly blunt answer. "What's happened?"
Yet another pause from Unique. There was a sound of a stifled sob, or maybe it was a sharp intake of breath. Whatever it was, it was clear that Unique wasn't okay.
"Unique, what's wrong? You can tell me."
"Can I? Really?" It sounded like a judgement.
"I… I'm so confused right now, can you just tell me what's wrong? Come on!" She was getting irritated with her friend right now, but it was understandable. Unique was being unusually withdrawn. Where had she seen this before?
Yesterday.
"Unique… is this about the girls yesterday?"
"Y… Yeah, it is."
"Okay."
"But it's not just them."
Why are you so difficult to talk to? Marley silently groaned in frustration.
"Who else?" She knew she sounded impatient, and she was. She could be in there with Jake right now but instead…
Oh God.
She knew who else it was, but she couldn't help asking anyway.
"Unique, am… am I… 'who else'?"
Her friend sounded extremely upset now, but there wasn't an actual reply from the receiving end.
Marley knew it was the truth.
"Where are you now? I think we should talk. I'll…"
There was nothing on the other end. Unique had hung up.
Marley slowly brought the phone down from her ear and held it in front of her. The call was still going from her side. She hung up.
She was about to back into the choir room, but stopped herself. How could she have let this happen? How had she neglected Unique for her boyfriend so much? It wasn't like she was obsessed with Jake that she had forgotten about everything else. She hadn't even slept with him last night, like Unique had predicted.
Maybe Unique had only said it bitterly to herself. She was acting very bitter recently, like nothing interested her. She should be happy! They'd won Regionals last week, they were on their way to Nationals…
But Ryder and Brittney were gone, no one but Marley would have a full conversation with her and bullies were being as ruthless as ever.
Maybe it was understandable that Unique wasn't up for Glee Club today. Although, he hadn't said if he meant for just today or for the rest of the week, the month…
Or at all.
Marley redialled Unique's number.
"Pick up, pick up, please pick up…"
Nothing.
Marley gave up and returned to the choir room. Kitty and Blaine had stopped bickering. There was an immediate silence as whoever was talking stopped and stared at Marley, waiting for the verdict.
"So, what's going on?" asked Mr Schuester.
"Unique's not coming to Glee Club today."
He looked confused. "Okay then. Let's get on with today's agenda." He went to write on the blackboard. "Today is - "
"Actually, Mr Shue," said Marley, "I think I'm gonna go and talk to Unique."
She half-expected a cruel, sarcastic remark from Kitty, but she seemed to be biting her tongue at the moment.
"Shall I go with you?" asked Jake kindly. That was when Marley really understood Unique's feelings now. She did almost everything with Jake. In fairness, she had walked home with Unique yesterday, but even then she had been on the phone to Jake and then talked about him afterwards. Unique was lonely with Marley.
How long had this been going on for?
"No, it's alright," said Marley forcefully in case he hadn't got the idea that it wasn't suitable. "I need to see her alone."
Nobody noticed Kitty roll her eyes again as Marley backed out of the doorway and ran out of the school.
** G ** G **
She tried Unique a few more times but she wouldn't pick up. She was on her way to her friend's home as she continued to call and get no answer.
Normally, the prospect of skipping Glee Club just to cheer up a friend was a bit strange to Marley, but there was something in Unique's voice. Pain, misery. She'd heard despair, frustration and sadness before, but never before had she heard her friend like that before. It scared her. If Unique wasn't answering her phone, what else would she be doing?
The Adams residence wasn't too far by walk, so Marley was there in a matter of few minutes by running. She didn't know why she was running, but it just happened instinctively. Somewhere in the back of her head, she assumed the worst. She repeatedly pressed the doorbell impatiently, knowing full well that Unique's parents wouldn't be very happy if they were home. But Marley knew that they were both at work at this time. In fact, they were probably on their way home now.
"Unique, it's Marley! Let me in!"
Maybe Unique wasn't home. Maybe she was just walking around aimlessly for a bit so that his parents wouldn't suspect anything.
She was about to call Unique again for the umpteenth time, but then she heard something. A thudding sound. That was all the evidence she needed that she was home.
The front door was locked, so she went round to the windows and the back door. They were also locked. Marley groaned aloud in frustration.
"Unique! Let me in!"
There was the sound of a car pulling up. Marley ran round the front, hoping and hoping...
Mrs Adams got out of her car that was now parked on the drive. She saw Marley and feigned a pleasant expression. "Oh Marley, how strange to see you at this time! I thought Glee Club was…"
"Unlock the door."
"Excuse me?"
"Unique's inside. Unlock the door."
"It's Wade. I do wish…"
"We don't have time for this, open the door!"
Mrs Adams would have been shocked at her son's friend for being so rude, but there was a sense of urgency in her voice and facial expression. She rushed to the door and fitted the key into the lock and turned it.
Marley practically pushed past her and shoved the door open, causing it to crash into the wall. She vaulted up the stairs two at a time.
She made it the bathroom, but the door was locked.
"Unique, open up!"
She could hear her friend breathing through the door. But it wasn't just her breathing she could hear. Groaning and crying.
"Unique!"
Mrs Adams was suddenly next to her. "What the hell is going on?" she asked in a stern voice.
"We need to break this door down. Help me!"
"Calm down, there's a key to the door in the… in the…"
"Go get it!"
Unique's mother rushed off into another room. It sounded like she was hyperventilating. Marley didn't blame her. She finally knew what was going on.
Mrs Adams reappeared seconds later with a big silver key in his grasp. She fitted it into the lock and turned as fast as she could. The two of them barged the door open together hurriedly.
There was a note on the marble floor, with a few lines of scrawny handwriting. Next to it, Wade 'Unique' Adams was slumped against the wall, clutching his stomach and crying in pain. The empty pill bottle was by the sink.
