Ryder had no idea what he was going to do now. He couldn't go to Regionals. If he even left the house this weekend there was no telling what his father would do to him, but he couldn't miss Regionals either. They needed him. He was singing a duet, they needed him for the group number and Marley was probably going to have him sing whatever original song she was going to put in the competition.
They needed him, but Ryder couldn't risk it. His father would probably be standing outside his door or worse. Who knows? His dad wasn't going to let him go. His father probably found out about Regionals and was just using the hospital visit as an excuse for him to beat him and make him miss the one thing that might give him happiness.
Ryder didn't know how he was going to tell them. How he was going to tell Marley even, some of them might even be made at him for what he said the other day when he found out the Courtney was the one who was 'catfishing' him. His own sister. He had the right to be pissed though.
Ryder really hated this. He didn't know what to tell them, or if he could tell them for that matter. He went to his locker, when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He looked over and saw Marley. She wasn't smiling, probably worried that he was still mad or something.
"Hey." Ryder said.
"Hey." Marley repeated. "Are you still mad at me… us or…?" She tried to ask Ryder.
"No, I wasn't really mad at you, or Blaine, or Sam… Well I kind of was at Blaine and I was my sister, but it wasn't Blaine's fault that you guys found out. She told you guys and created this whole Katie chaos." Ryder said.
"I was afraid you were mad at me." Marley said. Ryder closed his locker and then pulled her in for a hug. He wasn't going to the lose her. Seeing her face was all he had. He had nothing else. She was his person.
"I could never be… or at least stay mad at you." Ryder said.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Marley asked.
"You can't tell anyone." Ryder said, knowing that she was talking about the abuse he was getting from his father.
"Why? I mean, you could get help and your father could be put in prison. You could get away from him." Marley said, but Ryder didn't listen.
"He'd kill me."
"We would get you out of there. You could stay with me and my mom or Blaine and his dad." Marley said, only to be cut off by Ryder.
"I can't Marley. I he already knows about my little hospital visit and that didn't end very well for me. Do you know what might happen if he finds out that some people… know about this. That I've told them?" Ryder questioned. "I don't want to find that out."
Marley sighed. She just wanted to help him. Just like how Blaine wanted to help him. Just like everyone would want to help if they knew. But he kept pushing away. Blaine warned her about that. She had to get through to him somehow.
"We've all got your back."
"Nobody cares about me, Marley. Except my mom, and she's gone. He killed her and I have nobody." Ryder said and Marley sighed.
She knew that he felt that way, but couldn't believe after everything. Everything that Finn, Blaine, Sam, and everyone in the New Directions have done for him, he still sees himself alone. That he has nobody.
"Ryder, did he hurt you again, recently?" Marley asked and Ryder shrugged. Even though it was an easy answer. He didn't like talking about it, especially at school. What if someone heard him?
"Just a few punches in my stomach. That's it." Ryder lied. True he did do that, but that wasn't just it. He has hit, punched, and raped Ryder and that was only this week. For the last few months he's done everything possible except stab Ryder directly to make his life a living hell. But he wasn't going to give Marley all the details.
"Ryder… are you…?"
"Marley, please. Just don't worry about it." Ryder begged and Marley didn't want to leave it alone. She wanted nothing more than to help him. He's done nothing but help her so much. But decided to drop it for his sake at the moment.
"Anyway, what amazing original song is going to be featured at Regionals?" Ryder asked, trying to change the subject. Forgetting that he could go to Regionals.
"I actually just wrote one last night." She told him, reaching into her folder, pulling out some papers and handing it to him.
"You'll be singing it with a few people. I highlighted your parts." Marley added and Ryder nodded, looking it over. He liked what he saw. "And here is a CD you can listen to. It's a recording I did of the song. There are more people singing than just us."
"I love it." Ryder said, wishing he could sing it at Regioanls. He had to tell her that he wasn't going to be there because of his father.
"Marley, I have to tell you something." Ryder said and she nodded and gave him her full attention. Ryder struggled. He was he supposed to tell her? He just couldn't. He couldn't let her and the whole team down, no matter what the risk. Even if it was his father.
"I can't wait to sing this song at Regionals tomorrow." Ryder said and Marley smiled.
"Is it that good? What do you think of the lyrics?" Marley asked, it was like there was something in the lyrics she wanted him to read.
"I'll have tor read it tonight. When I don't have class. I'll see you later." He said and both them went to their classes.
Ryder ran into Blaine later, who apparently was happy to have run into him. "Hey." Ryder said to him.
"Hey." Blaine repeated. "Look, I'm so sorry…" Blaine tried to apologize, but Ryder stopped him. What was he apologizing for? It wasn't his fault and he was still alive so he was okay.
"You don't have to apologize. It wasn't you fault. I mean, really it was my sister all the way. I swear, I wish I could get a restraining order." Ryder said and a slight chuckle escaped Blaine.
"I feel you sometimes, but you know she was looking out for you. She wants to help you. Like we all do." Blaine said.
"Nobody cares about me." Ryder insisted.
"Come on, you can't still believe that, can you?" Blaine asked.
"It's just the facts. Anyway, I have to get to class." Ryder said, but then remembered something that would be a good thing to ask.
"Could you by any chance give me a ride to Regionals? I know it's here and it's not a far walk, but…" Ryder asked and Blaine nodded, happily.
"No problem. Your father is okay with this?"
Ryder shook his head. "Quite the opposite. He says if I leave the house this weekend he'll kill me, but I think I can make it from and back to the house before he gets home. He works until 9 on Saturdays. If I'm home by then, then I'm in the clear." Ryder explained to Blaine and he nodded.
"You're going to take a chance like that?" Blaine asked and Ryder nodded.
"I'm not missing this. You guys need me and I seriously need to get out of there any chance I get." Ryder said. By this point, Blaine has decided, at least for now to give up on trying to get Ryder to go for help. It was useless. He wasn't going to go for help.
"I'll take you home too." Blaine said and Ryder smiled.
"Thanks." Ryder said and then left Blaine's side in a hurry.
Ryder went home after school and had no idea how exactly he was going to pull it all off. Sneaking out of the house without his dad knowing. Then getting back in time before his father gets back and or notices that he is gone. It was going to be a challenge, but Ryder wasn't going to let that stand in his way. He was going to Regionals. He had a team and a special girl he wasn't going to let down.
He walked in the door and his father was right there waiting for him. "What? You didn't think I was going to give a day off did I?" Logan asked him and Ryder sighed, if only that could happen. Just for once. But not without his mother. There was no way that Logan couldn't go a day without beating someone. Someone had to suffer and Charlie was already in the ground.
Ryder backed up and then he felt a fist impact his face. He fell to the ground and then he saw his father reach into his pocket and take something out of it. Whatever it was, it was small and Ryder couldn't make it out. "What is-?" Ryder asked, but then realized what it was and his eyes widened. He was stiff with fear, too scared to move. He didn't know what to do- or if he could do anything.
Logan walked closer and smiled as he gripped the small knife in his hand then cut Ryder's arm. Ryder screamed, very loudly. He was surprised that someone didn't get concerned with the volume of the noise and knock on the door.
Logan then went to his wrist and cut it there, right on this veins and Ryder screamed even louder, but then Logan put his hand over his mouth and 'shushed him. "Scream again, I cut again. So I'd shut up if I were you." He whispered.
And then he cut Ryder's other wrist and arm and Ryder gave all he could not to scream, he whimpered and whimpered. Tears fells as the knife cut him and the pain was indescribable.
"Careful, or I might just cut your throat." Logan said and then was about to cut his side when there was a knock on the door and Ryder stopped crying. He might have just been saved by the door. "Get out of here, you make a sound or try anything, I will make sure you have a reason not to leave your room this weekend." Logan threatened as he slapped Ryder to get him to stop whimpering.
Ryder then ran upstairs and then Logan opened the door and talked to one of the neighbors that obviously heard the screaming. Logan cleverly lied, saying it was the TV and him getting pissed off about something. He also talked a little about Charlie which made the screaming understandable for the woman. She nodded, even though she was still concerned, she left and Logan closed the door.
Ryder sat on the floor of his bedroom and looked at the blood that seeped out of his cut wrists and arms. The cuts weren't too deep so no stiches. He was sure Logan intended that so no doctors were needed. And that way, he wouldn't have to lie about how he got them.
Logan probably chose to cut his wrists so it would look like a suicide attempt, so he wouldn't be able to blame it on him, but that didn't make sense for the arms. At least his friends would believe him otherwise. At least after he told them that Logan did it. Not him.
Ryder reached for towels that he luckily had in his room. There was no way he was going to leave that room. His father could be out there waiting for him and he wasn't going to risk getting another scar. Ryder took each towel and wrapped them around his wrists and arms, hopefully the bleeding would stop soon.
"What did I do to deserve this?" Ryder asked. What did he honestly do? It wasn't his fault for his disability and he really wished, he could have one day, one day when it was over. Or at least one day when he wouldn't have to suffer. All he knew is, he wasn't going to let anything stop him from going to Regionals. He had to escape to Regionals.
The next day, luckily Logan left so Ryder would be on his own all day. Ryder opened the door and found a note on his door. It read…
I'll be back later. You better be here when I get back or you will wish you were dead.
Ryder sighed, he didn't give a time, and luckily there were only three songs. He'd sing them, see what they placed and then get back. Thank god for Blaine. He was giving him a ride, hopefully that would be an advantage. He just needed to get home before Logan did.
Thank god nobody was home all day, he wouldn't have to deal with his father while he figured out how he was going to do this exactly. The real problem was getting back. What if his father was back first? He couldn't chance it by walking through the front door. He would figure it out by then, hopefully.
He had to get his costume at school from the choir room when he and Blaine got there, but for now, he focused on learning the song that Marley wrote for the competition. He worked on un-jumbling most of the words last night, but not all of them. He wasn't really in good shape after what happened.
Would you be after your father cut your wrists? Anyway, it took Ryder a while to figure out what the words actually were and once he did, he worked on finding his key and memorizing the lyrics. Thank god Marley gave him a CD also to listen to. It was only her singing, but it was good. And her voice always put a smile on her face.
After a couple times of listening and figuring out the song for himself, he knew he was ready for tonight. He really was. They had to win. He knew they had to and they would because they had great voices, great dancers, great performers, and great songs. They were going to win. They had to.
Blaine got to Ryder's house around seven. They had an hour before they went on, and that was if they were last and they usually were. Blaine would usually honk the horn, but not with knowing what might happen to Ryder if he did. He was sneaking out. Blaine must have forgot about Logan not being home until late. Instead, he texted Ryder from the car.
Blaine: Ryder, I'm outside. I would honk, but I didn't want to incase your father was home.
Ryder smiled. Blaine was smart and he was a really good friend for doing what he was doing. He then opened the message so he could reply to it.
Ryder: Great. And he's not home. Not yet. I'll be down in a minit.
Ryder put his phone and his pocket and then went outside the window. It'd be easier this way, so if his father was back first, he would see- or at least think he never went out the door. Ryder climbed out and once he touched ground, he went up to the car in the driveway.
Blaine smiled when he saw Ryder. "Did you climb out the window?" Blaine asked him and Ryder nodded.
"Yeah." Ryder replied.
"I thought your father wasn't home. Yet." Blaine said and Ryder nodded.
"He isn't, but that's how I'll be getting in. I had to remember to keep my door locked and the window open so. And he'll know I went somewhere if he doesn't have to unlock the front door." Ryder explained and Blaine nodded.
"Get in." Blaine told him and Ryder opened the car door and got into the passenger seat. Blaine then pulled out of the driveway and started heading towards the school. "You okay?" Blaine asked him.
"Haven't gotten beaten today, so good so far." Ryder replied.
"And yesterday?" Blaine asked and Ryder sighed. Were they really going to have this conversation now. He didn't and wasn't going to tell him about being cut. Only if he had to because the cuts look like an attempted suicide.
"Are we really going to talk about my relationship with my father?" Ryder asked. He was really getting annoyed with this. He really wished that Blaine wasn't there that night. That way he wouldn't know and he could deal with this by himself.
"Sorry, I just want to help. I mean, my father is going to back soon. He offered for you and your mom to stay with us once…" Blaine tried to say, but he knew Ryder wasn't interested. All he wanted to do was focus on winning the competition and Blaine thought it'd be good to drop it. At least for now.
"Okay, did you memorize Marley's song?" Blaine asked, changing the subject and that instantly got Ryder's attention.
"Yeah. Wait are you singing it?" Ryder asked and Blaine nodded, happily. Ryder smiled too. His girlfriend and one of his best friends. Marley was good. "Do you know anyone else who's singing it?"
Blaine nodded. "You, me, Marley, and Sam." Blaine told him and Ryder liked that.
"We're going to win this. We got great songs and everything." Ryder added and Blaine agreed.
Blaine and Ryder got there soon enough and Ryder went into the bathroom after grabbing his change of clothes. He only need a few minutes to put it on. He fixed his hair in the bathroom mirror and then looked and saw he was alone.
He then rolled up his sleeves and then removed the bandages he later put on his cuts so nobody would see them. They were a little red and swollen, he hoped they wouldn't get infected. Hopefully they weren't infect already. He could bring anymore problems for himself.
His wrists were worse than his arms, they were a little more swollen, he would have to clean them later. He should have done that earlier, but he didn't really have the option of leaving the room last night.
He put the bandages back on and covered them with his sleeves. He left the bathroom and saw that Marley was right outside, waiting for him. "You made it!" Marley said, giving him a hug.
"Wouldn't miss it. We're singing together." Ryder told her and Marley smiled. She was really beautiful. Her eyes sparkled in the light and her hair was in beautiful, flawless curls. Her hairs was the perfect shade of brown. And her face, she was flawless. She was amazing. Her dress was perfectly fitted and it looked amazing on her. She was also wearing the necklace Ryder gave her. Marley Rose was so amazing and perfect. Ryder was a lucky guy.
"You look so beautiful." Ryder said and Marley couldn't hide the huge smile. How was she so lucky to have Ryder? It took her so long to realize that he was the guy that would love her no matter what. The guy who knew her and understood her.
"Thanks." Marley said and then Ryder noticed she was holding something.
"What's that?"
"Oh, it's for you." Marley said, handing him the box. "You got me something on Valentines day, and I got you something. Because I love you." Marley said as he opened the box and saw a necklace.
"Marley, how did you…?" Ryder asked, wondering how Marley could afford it.
"It's not real gold. I got at the mall. I saw it and knew it was perfect for you." Marley explained to him. Ryder was glad, she didn't have to dig into her and her mother's food money to pay for a present for him. It was a necklace like he got her. But different words and it was a chain necklace, so a boy could wear it.
My Strong Ryder.
Ryder loved it. He put it on and then leaned in and kissed Marley. "I loved you so much, Marley Rose." He said after he kissed her and then they went to go join the others in the choir room.
"Alright, everyone's here. Great. We're on next and whatever happens out there guys, we did our best. Marley and Ryder, the duet is first, then the group number." Finn said.
"Thank god. I thought the only time we'd get solos would be when we're getting our diplomas." Tina smirked. "Even though I do not like these songs, I'll take what I get."
"Shut it Jackie Chang! Nobody's perfect. Even if one of these artists is crazy enough to hump a wrecking ball and one is emotional enough to try and kill herself." Kitty added.
"Anyway, then we have Marley, Ryder, Blaine, and Sam ended with Marley's original song. Are you guys ready?" Finn said and the four of them nodded.
"I hope you like what the song is saying, Ryder." Marley whispered to Ryder, but he didn't understand what she meant. He liked the song, but didn't see any message.
It was time for the New Directions set. They went out to their spots. They stayed where they couldn't be seen. Yet. The music for Wish You Were Here started and Marley and Ryder took the stage.
[Marley]
I can be tough
I can be strong
But with you
It's not like that at all
[Ryder]
There's a girl
That gives a shit
Behind this wall
You just walked through it
[Marley]
And I remember all those crazy things you said
You left them running through my head
[Ryder]
You're always there, you're everywhere
But right now I wish you were here.
[Marley]
All those crazy things we did
Didn't think about it, just went with it
You're always there, you're everywhere
[Marley & Ryder]
But right now I wish you were here
Damn, Damn, Damn,
What I'd do to have you
Here, here, here
I wish you were here.
Damn, Damn, Damn
What I'd do to have you
Near, near, near
I wish you were here.
[Ryder]
I love
The way you are
[Marley]
It's who I am
Don't have to try hard
[Marley & Ryder]
We always say
Say it like it is
[Marley]
And the truth
Is that I really mi-I-iss
[Marley & (Ryder)]
All those crazy things you said (things you said)
You left them running through my head (through my head)
You're always there, you're everywhere
But right now I wish you were here.
All those crazy things we did (things we did)
Didn't think about it, just went with it (went with it)
You're always there, you're everywhere
But right now I wish you were here
[Marley & Ryder]
Damn, Damn, Damn,
What I'd do to have you
Here, here, here
I wish you were here.
Damn, Damn, Damn
What I'd do to have you
Near, near, near
I wish you were here.
[Marley]
No, I don't wanna let go
[Ryder]
I just wanna let you know
[Marley & Ryder]
That I never wanna let go
[New Directions (Harmonize)]
(Let go, oh, oh)
[Marley]
No, I don't wanna let go
[Ryder]
I just wanna let you know
[Marley & Ryder with (The New Directions)]
That I never wanna let go
(Let go let go let go let go let go let go let go)
Damn, Damn, Damn,
What I'd do to have you
Here, here, here
I wish you were here (I wish you were here)
Damn, Damn, Damn
What I'd do to have you
Near, near, near
I wish you were here.
[(Marley) & Ryder]
Damn, (Damn), Damn (Damn)
What I'd do to have you (to have you)
Here, (here), here (Here)
I wish you were here. (Wish you were here)
Damn, (Damn), Damn
What I'd do to have you (to have you)
Near, (near), near, (near)
[Marley & Ryder]
I wish you were here.
The song ended and everyone in the crowd got up and cheered and screamed for them. Marley and Ryder put their arms around each other and smiled. The audience must see the chemistry between them. They loved each other.
"We're the New Directions!" Marley and Ryder yelled and then went back with the rest of their group ready to perform the group number. The beginning music for We Can't Stop started. Artie and Sam stepped up in front wile everyone else harmonized.
[Artie & Sam]
It's our party we can do what we want
It's our party we can say what we want
It's our party we can love who we want
We can kiss who we want
We can sing what we want
It's our party we can do what we want
It's our party we can say what we want
It's our party we can love who we want
We can kiss who we want
We can sing what we want
Tina then stepped in front as Sam and Artie stepped back. She looked happy to finally get a solo. It was time for some girls to shine. Followed by Marley and Kitty close behind her.
[Tina]
Red cups and sweaty bodies everywhere
Hands in the air like we don't care
'Cause we came to have so much fun now
Bet somebody here might get some now
[Kitty]
If you're not ready to go home
Can I get a "Hell, no!"?
'Cause we're gonna go all night
'Til we see the sunlight, alright
[Kitty & Tina]
So la da di da di
We like to party
Dancing with Molly*
Doing whatever we want
This is our house
This is our rules
[Kitty & Tina with New Direction Girls]
And we can't stop
And we won't stop
Can't you see it's we who own the night?
Can't you see it's we who 'bout that life?
And we can't stop
And we won't stop
We run things, things don't run we
Don't take nothing from nobody
Yeah, yeah
[Sam & Artie]
It's our party we can do what we want
It's our party we can say what we want
It's our party we can love who we want
We can kiss who we want
We can sing what we want
Music switches from We Can't Stop to Heart Attack and Marley steps up in front of the others.
[Marley]
Never break a sweat for the other guys
When you come around, I get paralyzed
And every time I try to be myself
It comes out wrong like a cry for help
[Kitty]
It's just not fair
Pain's more trouble than love is worth
[Marley & Tina]
I gasp for air
It feels so good, but you know it hurts
But you make me wanna act like a girl
Paint my nails and wear perfume
For you make me so nervous
And I just can't hold your hand
[Marley, Kitty, & Tina, with the New Direction Girls]
You make me glow, but I cover up
Won't let it show, so I'm
Puttin' my defences up
'Cause I don't wanna fall in love
If I ever did that
I think I'd have a heart attack
I think I'd have a heart attack
I think I'd have a heart attack
[Kitty & Artie]
It's our party we can do what we want to
It's our house we can love who we want to
It's our song we can sing if we want to
It's my mouth I can say what I want to
Say yeah, yeah, yeah, ehh
[Tina with Sam]
You make me glow, but I cover up
Won't let it show, so I'm
[Tina & Marley]
Puttin' my defences up
'Cause I don't wanna fall in love
If I ever did that
[Kitty]
I think I'd have a heart attack
[Tina]
I think I'd have a heart attack
[Marley]
I think I'd have a heart attack
[Marley, Tina, & Kitty with (Sam & Artie)]
I think I'd have a heart attack (And we can't stop)
The song ended and the crowd gets up and cheers again, now it was time for the final song. Marley's original song. It had to be perfect and great and hopefully it would live up to the other songs and performance. Marley, Blaine, Sam, and Ryder took the stage and the spotlight went right on them.
[Ryder]
You feel like you're alone (in the world)
When you are thrown (aside)
[Marley & Blaine]
Because you're so small (so it's easy to fall)
And you think there's no one who cares…
[Marley, Blaine, Sam, & Ryder]
But you belong.
That's why we're singing this song.
Be with the ones who care.
The ones who will bare the pain.
When you need a friend,
That will mend the scars on your heart.
When you need a friend that will lend a hand,
Even when you don't…
You think you're alone,
But when you shed those tears,
We're here. (ooooohhh, we'll be here)
Ryder now knew what Marley meant by 'message'. The song had a message. Not just a meaning, but it was to tell someone something that you couldn't express any other way. This song was for him. Marley wrote the song for him. And the ones who loved him the most were singing it to him.
[Sam]
Don't give me lies or say goodbye,
I know you need us.
I can see it in your eyes.
[Ryder]
And with the way things seem, you die (inside)
[Blaine & Ryder]
But even when you're life gets bad, and it only makes you sad.
And you think that no one cares.
[Marley, Blaine, Sam, & Ryder]
But you belong.
That's why we're singing this song.
Be with the ones who care.
The ones who will bare the pain.
When you need a friend,
That will mend the scars on your heart.
When you need a friend that will lend a hand,
Even when you don't…
You think you're alone,
But when you shed those tears,
We're here.
Tears started falling out of Ryder's eyes as he sang. He looked at his friends and girlfriend's faces as they sang. Marley wrote this for a reason. They were trying to get through to him that they were there for him. They had his back no matter what. He felt loved.
[Ryder]
I know it it's bad.
I know you can be sad.
This world is mad…
[Marley & Sam]
Because the one that hurt you is your dad.
[Ryder & Sam]
You're the one who suffers and you say no one seems to notice.
[Marley, Blaine, Sam, & Ryder]
You should know,
You're not alone.
[Marley]
(You never were)
[Marley, Blaine, Sam, & Ryder]
But you belong.
That's why we're singing this song.
Be with the ones who care.
The ones who will bare the pain.
When you need a friend,
That will mend the scars on your heart.
When you need a friend that will lend a hand,
Even when you don't…
You think you're alone,
But when you shed those tears,
We're here.
[Marley, Sam, & Blaine]
Yeah… We'll be here.
To fight the drones,
That have broken your bones.
Because we care…
[Sam]
We're here.
[Blaine]
We're here.
[Marley]
We're Here
[Ryder]
You're here.
The music stopped and the song ended and tears still fell from Ryder's eyes, he looked over and saw that tears fell from Marley's as well. She loved him so much and she put not just her heart into the song, but Blaine and Sam's too. They were crying too. They loved him so much and they needed to show him that they were here for him.
The crowd got up again and cheered and screamed and whistled. They were so loud. They must have felt the emotion and friendship and passion in that song because the feelings and heart in the song were real. Much more real than the other two. The love they had for Ryder, for each other was much more than anything. They were friends, they were his family. They loved him. Ryder knew that now for sure.
As they cheered, Blaine, Marley, Ryder, and Sam gathered around each other and bowed. They then hugged each other and tears still fell, mostly from Ryder's eyes because he felt the love that he needed. That he's yearned for a long time. It's been there this whole time. The other New Directions went with them and hugged and then they bowed too.
They exited the stage and went back to the Choir room. Blaine, Marley, Sam, and Ryder met with each other. "Marley…" Ryder tried to say, choked up from the crying and emotion running through his system currently. All four of them had so much emotion at the moment it was hard to say anything.
"We're here for you Ryder." Marley said, giving him a kiss.
"Not just the three of us, Ryder. But the whole Glee Club. We're a family. If they knew, they all knew, because Jake and Kitty know, well they'd do anything for you because we all love you. We care about you and we don't want anything to happen to you." Blaine said and Ryder nodded.
"For the first time in a long time, I feel, loved." Ryder said and the four of them hugged. Kitty and Jake then walked over to them.
"That was a beautiful song." Jake said to Marley.
"We care about you too. We love you. You guys are one of the closest things I have to a family." Kitty added.
Kitty and Jake joined in and hugged the four of them and then the rest of the New Directions did too, even though they didn't know why it was only them. They had no idea, but they loved each other. They were a family.
Then Will and Finn came through the door with a trophy and everyone started cheering and screaming, they were so happy they won. They started jumping and hugging. They were all so happy.
But Ryder some how felt weird after a little bit. He felt dizzy and light headed. Then he felt pain in his arms, it was probably from the cuts and all the dancing he did under the stages lights probably got sweat onto the cuts which would make them burn.
Ryder then started to fall backwards, he was blacking out. Luckily they saw it in time and Finn caught him before he hit the ground.
They all stopped celebrating and gathered around Ryder, they were worried. They had no idea what just happened. "Ryder?" Finn said, trying to wake him up. Then Blaine, Sam, and Marley helped him, but nothing. Yet.
Then Blaine got closer and it was just him and Finn and then Ryder started to blink his eyes open. He was out for less than a minute, but it was still scary. They had no idea what just happened. It was like a Marley Sectionals 2.0. Only this was backstage and they had no clue why this happened.
"Ryder? Are you okay?" Finn asked.
"Wha- what?" Ryder asked, he had no idea what just happened.
"You blacked out. Finn caught you before you hit the ground." Blaine told him and then Ryder sat up. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just t- tired I guess." Ryder lied. He was, but not enough for passing out. He felt dizzy and his cuts burned. They hurt and he now knew how Marley must have felt when she passed out at Sectionals in a way.
Ryder looked up at the clock and it was going to be 9 soon. He had to get home. Now. Before his father did. He couldn't risk getting cut again. Ryder looked at Blaine and he knew what that meant.
"I'll take him home." Blaine said and he helped Ryder up and got him outside. They got in the car and Blaine started driving towards Ryder's house.
"Thanks." Ryder said and Blaine nodded.
"No problem. So what was that about?" Blaine asked.
"I felt light headed. It was hot and I'm tired." Ryder said and Blaine nodded. He actually bought it and then glanced at Ryder as they stopped at a red light. Blaine then got a glimpse of his wrist that was wrapped with a bandage.
"What's that?" Blaine asked and Ryder, pulled his sleeve up.
"Nothing. Something for good luck." Ryder lied. It wasn't his best, but he was too worried about his father to come up with something better. Blaine let it go as they got in his drive way.
Ryder was about to get out when they saw the lights on in the house and they saw a car in front of them in the driveway. That only could mean one thing; Ryder's father was home. They feared that.
"Oh god. My dad's home." Ryder started to panic. "I'm dead. I'm dead."
"It's okay. You get to your bedroom and I'll distract him."
"But, how-?" Ryder tried to ask, only to be cut off by Blaine turning the car off and getting out.
"Trust me. Just go!" Blaine yelled and Ryder did so he got under the window so his father wouldn't see him as Blaine knocked on the door. Logan went and answered it and frowned when he saw Blaine. He looked okay, but of course had a drink in his hand.
"What? Who the hell are you?" Logan asked.
"Hi I'm Blaine Anderson. A friend of Ryder's, is he home?" Blaine asked, kindly even though he wanted to punch him in the face because he knew Logan's true colors. The true kind of guy he was. An abuser. A dick.
"He's in his room. Why do you care?" Logan asked and Blaine had to think quickly. He saw that Ryder was making his way up to his window.
"Uh we had a competition tonight that he missed." Blaine said, cleverly. "I just wanted to let him know we won."
"I'll let him know." Logan said. "Anything else you want?" Logan asked. All Blaine wanted was Ryder to be safe. Blaine saw that Ryder had made it into his room and smiled at Logan. "Nope. Have a nice night, sir."
Blaine then left and frowned as he got back in his car. He really didn't like his father from the look of him and just hoped he helped Ryder escape abuse for one night.
Logan shut the door and headed for Ryder's room. He banged on the bedroom door of his room. "You better be in there boy!" He yelled and once Ryder was in regular clothes and his formal clothes were hidden, he answered the door.
"Good. I hope you've learned your lesson about trying to escape me." Logan said and Ryder stayed silent.
"Looks like 'your friends' did better without you. See how much better life would be without you." Logan said and left Ryder. He shut the door. Those words didn't hurt him because he knew they weren't true because he was there with the team when they won. He was loved by the whole Glee Club. Blaine, Marley, Sam, and Finn especially.
He felt the love. That was all he needed. Which he hadn't felt for a long time.
MY LONGEST CHAPTER YET!
IT TOOK FOREVER, EVEN AN EXTRA HALF HOUR IN STUDY HALL TO GET THIS DONE! I HOPE YOU LIKED IT!
And what did you think of Regionals? The song choices! In case you don't know or you skipped them (lol), they were…
Wish You Were Here , We Can't Stop/ Heart Attack (mash up :))
And finally, "We're Here", that song was an original song, I wrote myself. It took ,me a while and I hope you liked it. It's the story inspired song, written during the story (haha). I hope you liked!
And a couple more chapter to go! Next up, Brian returns from his long, long trip! :)
I hope you liked this chapter! Thank you guys for all the support! I hope you loved this chapter, and everything about! I hope my song was good.
Please Review! :) They are love! :)