The quad was full of hungry and gossiping students. Ryder was seated at his usual glee table on the north side of the quad, surrounded by members of the club and chatted casually with them while he waited for his girlfriend – and Jake's target – to arrive.

Jake stood strategically off to the side of the cafeteria by the south side doors. The night before Kitty had texted: We're done and so are those losers. Quad tomorrow at lunch.

Straight ahead, he watched Brittany run up to Marley by the pop machines. From the looks of it, Kitty had done her part by getting Brittany to catch her and Ryder's make-out session just before lunch. Being a loyal friend to Marley, Brittany had to tell Marley what she saw.

Sam spotted Jake and started towards him. He was holding a guitar in his right hand. "Hey man, what's up with the guitar?"

On his way to the cafeteria Jake passed by the glee room and saw the guitar sitting there. It had been a while since he played but his connection to Marley was music. And if playing the guitar again helped him get closer to her faster, then so be it.

But Sam didn't need to know that. Instead, he motioned his friend to be quiet and to watch the scene in front of them unfold. Sam turned just in time see her storming over to an unsuspecting Ryder.

As Marley reached for Ryder's arm, she accidentally knocked his peanut butter sandwich out of his hand. "Come with me, now."

"What the…? Marley, what the hell?"

Marley spun angrily around to face him, "Is it true?" Her voice was loud enough to silence the entire student body.

"Is what true?"

Marley reiterated her question in a hushed tone, hoping everyone would go back to their lunches. "You and Kitty; Are you sneaking around behind my back with her?"

"What?" Ryder denied, " Uh, no."

"Don't lie to me, Ryder."

"I..I...I'm not" He stuttered.

"Really? Then what were the two of you doing together in Coach Sylvester's office earlier? "

Ryder squirmed. He looked to Kitty for help, but she sat at her table and laughed along with the rest of her Cheerios. Just before Marley confronted Ryder, Kitty told her squad that she was messing with around with the Glee club's very own 'it' couple. She lied and told them that she wasn't really interested in Ryder. She was attempting to cause a rift in their little club in hopes that they fall apart and disband.

"You're unbelievable," Marley brought her hands up to his chest and shoved him away.

"It didn't mean anything, Mar..."

SLAP!

"Stay the hell away from me. We're done."

She was humiliated and in front of her peers no less. She felt like a fool. As she walked away from Ryder, the stunned and silent students came back to life, buzzing about what they had just whispered. Marley wiped her fallen tears away as she stormed out of the quad.

Sam looked at a calm Jake in complete shock. He knew his friend was good, but he just couldn't believe how good.

"You had something to do with that, didn't you? Man, you're unbelievable."

"Funny, that's what all the ladies tell me," Jake patted Sam on the back. Jake swung the guitar over his shoulder and walked out of the quad, "Looks like you'll be working some double shifts at the burger palace."

Jake practiced a few chords on the guitar as he waited on the bleachers. He wasn't completely sure she would show up after the big break up but he figured that of all places in the school, this was the only place Marley could hide.

Slowly Jake started to connect the chords and soon a tune started to form. When he heard her footsteps coming up the steel steps, Jake kept his focus on the guitar.

"Hey, thought this could help with us practice."

Marley stopped at the second row. She turned to the side, hoping that he wouldn't be able to see her face. "I don't really feel like practicing right now." Her voice was barely audible. She was curious about the guitar though. "You brought your guitar to school?"

"No. I passed by the glee room…"

Stunned, Marley looked up at him, "You stole it from the glee room?"

Her eyes were puffy and red. It was clear to Jake that she had been crying. He had to admit that a tiny bit of him did feel bad. He was human after all. "Hey, are you ok?"

"I'm fine." She turned away and looked out onto the field. A few more tears slid down her face.

He quickly set the guitar down and climbed down the steps. "Could have fooled me with those tears."

"I just want to be alone." Feeling exhausted, Marley sat down.

Jake ignored the comment and sat down beside her. Before leaving the house that morning, Jake took a small package of Kleenex from his mother's purse and was now offering them to Marley.

She carefully eyed the napkins and then him.

"It's just Kleenex. No strings attached."

"Thanks." she mumbled as she took a Kleenex from him.

"K, well maybe one string; what's wrong?"

"I'm an idiot that's why. Ryder has been fooling around with Kitty. How could I not know?"

"Ryder and Kitty? Are you sure?"

"Oh right," Marley wiped her tears. "While you were busy stealing that guitar you missed the whole show in the quad."

"Hey, I prefer the term 'borrowed'." He grinned, but Marley didn't find it funny.

"God, why are you guys such jerks?"

"Uh, guys or Ryder?"

"Ryder. You."

"Me? What did I do?"

Marley bitterly laughed, "I know how you treat girls. I've heard the stories."

"Stories? How do you even know those stories are true? You don't know me."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I'm just… I'm just angry right now."

"Look, I know I have a reputation, but it doesn't mean I'm proud of it. I just…go along with it."

"Why?"

"I'm the star quarterback; the popularity and the girls, it just comes with the territory."

Marley rolled her eyes and scoffed.

As soon as the sentence left his mouth he knew how idiotic it sounded. He needed to say something to change her mind quickly, "And maybe I go along with it because I'm afraid of getting hurt again."

"You. Jake Puckerman, the star quarterback, had his feelings hurt?"

"Believe it or not, we have a 'friend' in common – Kitty. I was head over heels for her but she was screwing around on me. That was the first and last real relationship I had. Since then every date, every party...all those girls, I don't let it mean anything to me."

Marley thought for a moment. "So why'd you tell me all that? I mean if you're trying to tell me to become more like you…"

Jake shook his head, even though he wanted to nod his head, "Actually, it's the opposite. I mean it sucks feeling betrayed and heartbroken. But if I could go back and change things, I would. I'd give almost anything to be in a real relationship. I miss holding hands with someone I care about in public or being able to kiss her whenever I want. Most of all, I guess, I miss having meaningful conversations."

Marley didn't know what to say. She never imagined that hidden behind his confidence was this sad and heartbroken boy.

"Look, for what it's worth, Ryder blew it. And you deserve someone who will treat you better." He held his hand out for her, "So why don't we go up there, sing a few songs and forget about him."

Jake Puckerman, the best player - on and off the field - had either just opened his heart to her or had just played her. Not knowing what to believe plagued her mind. Before she knew what she was doing, Marley put her hand in his and followed him.

The first song Marley sang was I Hate Everything About You by Three Days Grace. She had to admit that it felt pretty good to scream the chorus out. She followed it up with Adele's Rolling In The Deep. Jake didn't know how to play either song, so he tapped the guitar to help keep a beat.

As she sang, Jake couldn't keep his eyes off her. Her voice was amazing. She made it look so easy and effortless.

The third song, Good Riddance by Greenday, Jake did know. At least he used to.

"Shit. Sorry." Jake apologized for the millionth time for screwing up a chord.

"It's ok." She said, laughing.

"Stop laughing. I'm trying to help you and clearly I'm not." Jake started to laugh along with her.

Marley thought it was cute the way Jake got mad at himself. His lips would press together before he would like out a frustrating swear word.

"I told you I was a bit rusty. I haven't played since my brother…" he stopped mid-sentence and started to play a few chords. He hadn't meant to mention his brother. It just came out.

Marley noticed the sad look that fell upon his face. She wondered if this was the reason why Jake quit music. She remained silent, hoping that Jake would continue on his own.

Suddenly Jake put the guitar down on the bench in front of them. He stared out onto the football field and tried to sort out his thoughts. What was he doing? He was supposed to be cheering Marley up enough to make her want to rebound with him. Being a downer and bringing up his sob story past wasn't going to do that. Or would it? Chicks like sensitive guys, right? Jake let out a sigh and went for it.

"My brother, Noah, is the one who taught me how to play. If we had any free time, we'd go down to our father's basement and play. We were going to start our own band and everything but he...he moved to L.A. and I haven't seen him since."

"Have you tried finding him?"

Jake shook his head. "No. And I don't really want to."

"Well what if he does want to but is scared that you'll reject him."

"Then I'd say he'd be right if he thought that."

"Are you mad because he left?"

That angry feeling he felt every time he thought about his brother started to spark inside him. "Look, I don't really want to talk about him anymore."

"Ok. But one last question," Marley grinned, hoping that she could cheer him up again, "Who was gonna be the lead singer in that band of yours?"

Jake let out a shy smile and chuckled, "Me."

"Really?"

"Don't look too surprised. You know, you don't have to be in glee club to know how to carry a tune."

"Prove it," She handed him the guitar, "Sing me something."

Reluctantly, Jake cleared his throat and started to tap his foot to keep a steady beat. He practiced a few chords before his fingers were ready to strum. A tune Marley didn't recognize started to form and then suddenly Jake palmed the strings, silencing the guitar.

"You'll just have to wait and find out." Jake teased.

As if on cue, the school bell rang, signaling that third period was over.

"Aw, come on." A disappointed Marley pouted.

She couldn't believe how fast the time went. It felt like she was just crying a few seconds ago. She had completely forgotten about what happened with Ryder.

"I should get this back before Shuster notices it's missing." Jake said. As he turned to leave, she called out.

"Hey. Thank you."

Jake nodded, "I'll see you tomorrow."

As he walked away, Jake wiped the sweat off his brow. He never planned on telling Marley about Kitty or his brother. It just came out. He wasn't sure what came over him and it was starting to scare him.