Summary: Deleted scene from the beginning of 4x09, "Swan Song." Finn waits with Marley, for her mother, after she collapses on stage. WARNING: References eating disordered thinking. Characters requested by: The Allyphant.
Prompt: Autumn
Marley Rose had grown up not caring what others thought. She had gone to school in hand-me-downs, got the discounted lunches and couldn't afford birthday presents for other kids, so she wasn't invited to their parties. But she had been strong. She had been okay. When kids had picked on her mom, Marley had told herself she would rather have her mom heavier, but happy, instead of thin and so depressed that Marley had grown up in a constant state of fear. She never knew what it was that made her mom so sad, or made comfort something she craved so much her mom ate to achieve it, but Marley adapted, because she had to.
She didn't know when she started caring. Marley didn't know when the shift happened. When her life and herself had suddenly stopped being enough. But when wasn't really the question that needed answering. The question that needed answering, she thought woozily as she sat alone in the choir room was why.
The questions were numerous, it was the answers that were hard to come by.
Why had she allowed herself to be manipulated and why hadn't she asked for help? Why didn't she realize what was happening until it was too late? Why hadn't she stopped herself before it came to this?
The questions swirled in Marley's head as she held the juice box in her hand that she didn't really want.
"Drink that," came a voice, sterner than she was used to hearing. Oh, right. She wasn't alone after all. Finn was here. He'd refused to leave her alone while Mr. Schue had led the rest of them out so she could wait for her mom.
"I'm fine," Marley insisted, though she wasn't. Though she was devastated and sick and weak. And no one seemed to understand that drinking the juice wasn't a choice right now, it was a physical impossibility. Even if Marley wanted to, she couldn't have done it.
"Talk to me, huh?" Finn said, getting down on her level. "What is this? What did I miss with you?"
Everything, she wanted to say, but no words would come. It wasn't his fault, really. Secrecy was part of it. Having control over something in her life was so important that she had become willing to starve herself. It was embarrassing. Humiliating. She couldn't stop it.
Her mom arrived then, insisting that they go to the hospital, even though Marley knew they didn't have money for an ER visit.
"Marley, listen to me," Finn said quietly, supporting one side of her as her mom supported the other. "I'm not good with words or whatever, and I don't want to say the wrong thing, but I'm here for you. The glee club's here for you. All right?"
"But Sectionals…" she protested even as the ground lurched beneath her. The wind whipped through the trees, rustling their dying leaves. They were so fragile. And they felt like she felt. Cracked. Brittle. Dehydrated. Marley felt autumn in her veins.
"Do you honestly think I'd put Sectionals above your health?" he asked. "Sectionals doesn't mean anything. You do. All right?" he asked gently, making sure she was safely in the car.
"I'm so sorry, Finn…" she managed, swallowing her own guilt and feeling it weigh her down like stones. His words didn't register at all. She was so clearly the reason for losing. She could see nothing but that and Finn could see nothing but her.
"Just get better," he encouraged.
She wanted to. God, Marley wanted that more than anything. She sighed as the door was closed between them.
Finally, something they agreed on.