***Author's note: Hey y'all…it's been FOREVER. Yup. I've been applying to a bunch of schools, trying to balance school, friends, etc, and pretty much getting sick every weekend. Anyway, thanks for sticking with me this long and I hope you guys enjoy the latest edition of Hell of a Ryde.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Kitty knew she was in for it when she started vomiting. All she could do now was buy a pregnancy test and pray that this was just the flu. Marley hadn't stopped calling her and even came over to bring her her homework since Kitty had basically been skipping school for a few weeks.

Why? Why? Why had this happened to her? Kitty prided herself on her skill of outmaneuvering horny boys. And now this dude, this Sawyer, had gotten her pregnant- no- she couldn't think like that. Positive thoughts. Still…Kitty thought it couldn't hurt to look up a few doctors who specialized in abortion.

"Hey, babe, you done with the bathroom?" Sawyer's deep, throaty voice rang from the other side of his bathroom door. Kitty hated practically living here, but how else would she hide not going to school from her parents?

"I told you, never ask a girl that!" Kitty yelled back, running her mascara wand over her thick eyelashes for the fortieth time. Anything to not have to go back out there and face reality.

"I got the pregnancy test," he replied softly, "I bought two extra… for double-checking." There was a pause. "Babe, please let me in."

Kitty rolled her eyes and opened the door, "Give me the box and stop calling me babe. I have a boyfriend. And as soon as this is over, I'm going back to him and treating this like what it's going to be. A past memory. A past mistake." Sawyer opened his handsome mouth to respond, but Kitty snatched the three First Response boxes out of his hands and slammed the door in his face.

A few moments later, she stared sadly at the positive sign that was clearly etched into the pregnancy test screen. Brutal, loud sobs shook her shoulders. The bathroom door cracked open.

"It's positive, isn't it?" Sawyer asked. He came in and sat down by her." Look, I know I'm an idiot for getting you pregnant. But I promise to be a good dad and a good guy…even if I'm not your guy. Can you trust me with that much?"

Kitty couldn't even protest as he wrapped his arms around her. Only one thought was resonating in her panicked mind. She had to tell Jake.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo Oo

"Marley, I said I'm sorry," Ryder said, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"And I said I'm not mad," Marley replied breezily.

"Y'sure about that? Look, the glee assignment was a bust, but-."

"Ryder," Marley said, turning him to face her, "You look. Just because I wasn't comfortable sharing my issues with everyone and singing about them doesn't mean I automatically hate you for the idea, okay? Please calm down. I love you."

Ryder smiled unconvincingly, "But you're acting like something's bothering you…do you want to talk?"

Marley sighed, "Well, Ryder, it's just-," Before she could finish her sentence, his phone buzzed and he pulled back.

"Oh, it's um…I gotta run. I'll come pick you up around seven, alright?"

"Yeah, I guess-." Marley barely had time to say her three-worded sentence before Ryder sprinted away, running his hands through his hair. He had been like this for the past couple days, strangely second-guessing and high-strung, not unlike the way she felt. Her blue eyes traveled down the hallway, looking for something to distract her mind only to land on Jake who was slamming a freshman against a locker.

"Hey!" she yelled, making her way over. "Quit it!"

Jake looked up to meet her gaze and she was momentarily stunned by his bloodshot eyes and drunken stupor. "Uhhh, now ya want me, huh?" he slurred and the tiny freshman quivered as he slammed him back again. "I shoulda known some ass-kickin would get you all wet-."

"Jake," she said, grabbing his arm, "Stop." He smiled and released the freshman, who took off down the hall, before pressing his body against Marley, trapping her.

"Kiss me," he said, and she could smell layers upon layers of alcohol trapping his breath.

"What's going on with you?" Marley asked, placing both her hands on his chest to leave some space between them.

"Kitty's pregnant," he chuckled, a strange smile curling his lips up. "Which means I'm a free guy again. So kiss me,"

"I don't think so." Marley and Jake both swiveled to see Ryder, his phone in hands, a very angry expression crossing his face.

Jake laughed, "Watchu gonna do bout it, pretty boy?"

Ryder sighed, "I hate seeing you like this dude, just let her go."

"So you can what? Hold hands and tell stories over campfires? With you, she's going nowhere. With me," Jake smiled and planted a kiss on Marley's neck, "I can make her into a real woman."

"Jake," Ryder said firmly, "I'm giving you ten seconds. Let. Her. Go,"

"Why? You still got Tami. Didn't you tell me she was texting you again, wanting to 'reconnect?' Go have your way with her. And let me have Marley."

Ryder snarled and his fist swung in one solid arc, connecting with the side of Jake's jaw in a sickening crunch. Jake crumpled and Ryder grabbed Marley, pulling her to him.

She whimpered and then pushed him away, "We didn't finish our conversation earlier. I wanted to talk about Tami."

Ryder's eyes widened. "Why You know nothing's going on, right? I've just been talking to her lately. I mean, c'mon, you saw how our last encounter went. There's nothing there, especially not when I have you."

Marley smiled sadly, "I believe you. But I also think there are still unfinished things between you and her…and I've been thinking that maybe you should finish them before we keep trying this."

Ryder stared, "What?"

"I mean, she's not going to go away right? I think you should talk to her and get whatever feelings you both have out before you come and say you truly really can be with me. I've been thinking that ever since that day when she was in my house."

"Marley," Ryder scoffed, "I'm not going to ask Tami for permission to move on with my life. That's my choice, it's my life, and she's not a part of it. You are."

Marley sighed, "You say that so assuredly now, and yet when she starts texting you or coming back in contact you can't tell her to go away. You know what I'm saying is right."

"But Marls-,"

"And you don't want my issues to get worse, right," Marley said, blinking back tears, "Do you think I can handle uncertainty? 'Cause I don't think I can. And I want you to heal. So you can be with me and only me."

"This isn't about her," Ryder said bitterly, "This is about Jake. Now that he's free, you're just jumping at the chance aren't you. I knew you liked him, but I didn't know it was this much."

"Ryder…Jake's girlfriend just got pregnant with another guy. He's not ready for anything and after this, I'm not going to be either. Think whatever you want, but I love you. And I want you to work things out with Tami."

"What if I don't want you to tell me what I should and shouldn't do?! What if I just want to be with you?! Is that too much?!"

"If I was okay with it, we'd both be lying to ourselves. I'm sorry, and I really, really love you-,"

"Don't say that," he snapped, "I don't want to hear it anymore. I can't believe you don't trust me." His eyes were wet with tears and he started to back away.

"But I do trust you," Marley said, "I trust you to do the right thing. Now, I have go bring Kitty her homework. Please give me a hug,"

"No," he said. "I don't want to see you anymore. You want me to be with Tami? Fine. I'll go do that. I can't believe I even loved you." Ryder turned and jogged down the hall, slamming past people who looked up, surprised not only to see the optimistic jock pushing people down, but also to see Jake still passed out on the floor and Marley crying. Marley ignored their stairs as she got her papers out of her locker and headed for the door. What she had done was right. But would trying to fix a crushed relationship ultimately end up crushing her?