A/N: Thanks for reviews and such on the last two chapters - so this one is essentially a flashback one and explains how Marley and Ryder met one another; and as you will see their friendship/relationship progressed rather quickly, which probably explains why they are having the problems that they are now having and that's because they really didn't take the time to let it grow more naturally to be something that was long lasting; on top of that of not talking things over that they both really should have discussed before getting married.
There are are couple of OC's of mine in this; although they really aren't complete OC's; being that they have been taken from another show, not all connected to Glee, but they are characters that I have been writing for many years along with that of my other OC Juanita (who solely is mine and cannot be used without my permission; and the same also goes for that of the character Hannah who is mentioned in this chapter), in another story; and when thinking I need a couple of non Glee characters, they were the first ones to spring to mind.
So whilst I can't claim them, I do claim them in this kind of reality of things and therefore in the Glee verse; these version of the characters cannot be used without my permission.
Thanks for reading and you all know what to do at the end; review, fave or follow.
Love,
KJ xoxoxoxoxo
Chapter 3 - Flashback
Arriving around at her friend Karone's; who she worked with at San Francisco School of the Arts, and who she had even though only know for about a month or thereabouts, but struck a rather good working and personal friendship with, looked at the house that she shared with her fiancé Zhane, and was there for their engagement party; Marley knocked on the front door.
Opening the door with a smile, the blonde haired girl smiled when she saw Marley on the other side.
"Hey Marley" she said, with a smile to her. "Glad you could make it, come on in"
"Thanks" replied Marley, as she walked into the door that was held open to her. "You have a lovely home, Karone"
"Thank you" replied Karone as she close the front door, and Marley held out the small present to her that she had also bought along with her.
"For you and Zhane" said Marley, as Karone took the small wrapped gift from her, with a smile. "It's only something small, but hopefully you both will like it"
"I'm sure we will" replied Karone, with a smile to her. "Come on through and you can finally meet Zhane"
"That would be nice" said Marley, with a nod; as she followed Karone through to the living area.
"Babe" said Karone, heading over to a blonde haired male who was talking with another male; and he turned to look at her.
"Yeah hey" he replied to her with a smile, as the other male also looked at her as well.
"This is my friend Marley, who I work at the school with" replied Karone. "Marley, Zhane. Zhane, Marley"
"Hi Marley, nice to meet you" said Zhane, looking to her with a smile
"Nice to meet you as well Zhane" replied Marley, with her own smile to him.
"Yeah" said Zhane, with a laugh. "Same you; and this is my friend Ryder"
Marley looked at him and then to the other male, who she knew now to be called Ryder. "Hi Ryder"
"Hey Marley" he replied. "So you're a teacher also then?"
"I am yes" she replied with a nod. "Teach music at the same school as Karone"
"Music cool" said Ryder.
"Yeah, Marley and I are in charge of this year's school production" said Karone, with a laugh. "Which is actually quite a scary and daunting task"
"I'm sure you will both do just fine" replied Zhane, with a smile to his fiancée; as another male in the living area yelled out his name and he turned to look at them with a laugh.
"Yeah, just sec Andros" he said with a laugh and turned back to Karone with a smile. "I swear your twin brother"
"Yeah, you better go and see what he wants" said Karone, with a laugh. "And if it's really bad baby pictures of me, please try and get them off him; because I do not want those ever getting out"
"Promise" replied Zhane, with a quick laugh also; and kissed her on the cheek before heading over to the other male, just as there was another knock at the door.
"Sorry, excuse me" said Karone, looking to both Marley and Ryder with a quick smile before walking away.
"Guess that's the problem with also being the person who is the hostess" said Ryder, with a laugh and looking to Marley. "You also have to answer the door"
"Yes" replied Marley, with a smile to him as well. "So what is it that you do Ryder? How do you know Karone and Zhane?"
"We all went to school together" replied Ryder ,with a smile to her. "Karone and Zhane actually dated for a bit in the tenth grade but you know how high school is, and they broke up; and just through chance met up again a few years ago after reconnecting on Facebook, and I guess the rest is pretty much history"
"Yeah, that's nice they could reconnect" said Marley, with a nod.
"Uh huh" replied Ryder, with his own nod. "And as for what I do, I'm an electrician"
"Oh that's pretty cool" said Marley, with a smile to him. "I struggle to even change a light bulb sometimes, so the fact that you could probably rewire a whole house is pretty impressive"
"Well if you ever need a light bulb change" said Ryder, with a laugh. "I could definitely do it"
"I will keep that in mind" replied Marley, with a laugh also; and spent a bit more time talking with Ryder before, going and talking with the now engaged couple and also some of the other people at the party who she also worked with and had been invited along; before heading back to her own apartment.
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Getting back to the apartment, that she shared with Hannah Fletcher who she had met when at college; Marley parked her car in the parking area, and walked through the front door of the complex and headed up the stairs to the level that their apartment was on; and opening the door and walking inside, saw Hannah sitting on the sofa in the living area.
"Hi" said Marley, putting down her bag and taking a seat in the arm chair.
"Oh hey" replied Hannah, who was on her computer looked up to her with a smile. "How was your friend's engagement party?"
"Yeah, it was okay" replied Marley, with a nod.
"Okay, cool. Well whilst you were out a guy called Jeremy called here" said Hannah, looking to her with a smile. "Someone of interest maybe?"
"Jeremy" replied Marley, with a laugh. "Definitely nothing more than friends with him"
"Oh he just called you little Rosey, that's all" said Hannah, with a laugh. "And I thought well that's something I haven't heard you called before and thought maybe he was like a special someone"
"Nope" replied Marley, glancing to her watch and seeing that it probably was a little too late to return Jeremy's call with the time difference between California and Alabama. "He's actually my older sister's boyfriends older brother; and he's a friend, has become like a big brother to not only Mikki, but also myself, Kitty and Rod"
"That's really nice" said Hannah with a smile.
"Yeah" replied Marley with a nod. "It's especially good for Rod, since he's pretty much surrounded by females, with three sisters and two female cousins on my mum's side only being the ones close by; so to have Seb and his two brothers to talk with is good for him"
"It is" said Hannah, with a nod also. "I kind of feel his pain there, having two younger brothers around only; and my half sister like miles and miles away over the other side of the country"
"There are male's on my dad's side" replied Marley, looking to her friend. "However my uncle, that's my dad's sister husband; he is in the army so they are sort of always moving around; and we don't really get to see much of Clint, Spencer and Joe; except for that of maybe every few years"
"That would kind of suck" said Hannah, and Marley nodded.
"It does" she replied. "I think the last time I saw them was like three years ago at Christmas, when we went to my grandparents for it; and they were there also"
"Yeah the last time I really got to hang out with Patty" said Hannah, looking to Marley. "Was last summer; and with her being just that bit older she was working even then, so it wasn't all that much time together"
"Well hopefully she might be able to get over here for Christmas then" replied Marley with a smile to her. "And won't be working, so you can catch up some more with her"
"Hopefully" said Hannah with a nod. "So you're going to ring this guy Jeremy back, he said he tried your cell phone, but it wasn't working and said you would have his number"
"I will, yeah" replied Marley, with a nod also. "But will do it tomorrow, as it's pretty late in Alabama now; and I don't want to wake him or Karen up if I were to call"
"Smart idea" said Hannah with a laugh. "Although I am not sure as to why your cell phone number wouldn't be working. I've never had any problems calling it"
"Knowing Jeremy, he probably didn't get the message about my changing numbers" said Marley, with a laugh also. "And was calling my old number instead"
"That's probably the reason, yes" said Hannah, with a nod.
"Yeah, there's a good reason why Seb calls him Tweedledum" replied Marley, with a smile, as she stood up from the armchair and looked to her friend and roommate. "Anyway I am really beat, so I am going to head to bed; and will see you in the morning"
"Sure Marley, see you in the morning" said Hannah, with a smile to her; and heading to her room to sleep Marley left the blonde in the living area to continue what she was doing before she arrived home.
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After most guests had left the engagement party, Ryder was helping Zhane to collect the empty cups and put them to rubbish; and the blonde male looked to his friend.
"So you seemed to spend quite a bit of time talking with the girl that Karone works with at the school" said Zhane, with a smile to him; and Ryder looked to his friend.
"Uh yeah Marley" replied Ryder, with a nod. "She's kind of cool; pretty also"
"Yeah" said Zhane, with a laugh. "So you got her number then?"
"Umm no I didn't actually" replied Ryder, looking to him. "But I'm sure, if she's at the wedding I will see her again there"
"Dude" said Zhane, with a laugh. "Karone and I haven't even set a date yet, so who knows how long you will be waiting to see her again"
"Didn't think of it that way" replied Ryder, with a laugh also. "Oh well, so be it"
"Yeah, you know what" said Zhane, with a smile. "I will get Karone to talk with her at work; and just casually mention that you liked talking with her, and that maybe she should 'friend' you on Facebook; because who knows then what could happen, buddy"
"Yeah, just look at you and Karone" said Ryder, with a laugh. "Never did I think you'd be getting married to the girl you dated in tenth grade"
"Me either" replied Zhane, with a laugh; and the two of them continued to clean up whilst talking, before Ryder headed home to his own apartment.
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Sitting in the staff room of her work, Marley sat reading over some sheet music that she had printed off that she wanted to be getting her students to perform; and was silently humming it to herself in her head.
"Hey Marley" said Karone, as she came over and with her own lunch in hand; sat down at the table with her.
"Oh hi" replied Marley, looking up to her with a quick smile as she took another fork full of the salad that she had bought for her lunch and ate it.
"Thank you for that really cool little countdown board" said Karone, with a smile to her. "It's hanging in the kitchen, so when Zhane and I do finally set a date; we can start the countdown"
"I'm glad you like it" replied Marley, with a smile of her own to the blonde. "I have like a whole Pinterest full of engagement ideas, for when my sister and her boyfriend finally do get to that point"
"I'm sure they will soon" said Karone, with a laugh. "How long is it that they have been together now?
"Umm four and a half years now" replied Marley, with a nod to the other female. "However I'm pretty sure they will wait till after Seb graduates from law school before they even think about getting engaged; so maybe another year or so I reckon"
"Yeah" said Karone, with a nod. "I don't think I'd want to even think about planning a wedding if either I or Zhane was still studying; the extra pressure would be insane"
"Yes it would be" said Marley; with a small smile. "So you don't know yet, when yours will be?"
"I'm thinking maybe a spring wedding or summer one" replied Karone. "So I still have some time to think about it"
"You do, yeah" said Marley, with a nod.
"So you know that guy you were talking with, Ryder" said Karone, looking to Marley with a smile.
"Umm Zhane's friend?" asked Marley, and Karone looked to her with a nod and smile.
"Uh huh" she replied. "Seems you made quite the impression on him"
"Really?" asked Marley, with a laugh and blushing ever so slightly; as Karone gave a laugh also.
"Yep" said Karone, giving her friend a smile. "And he is actually upset that he didn't ask you for your number"
"Oh wow" replied Marley, with a laugh. "I admit I did like talking with him as well, but didn't even think to give it to him"
"Well you should have a look for him on my Facebook, and add him as a friend" said Karone with a smile to her. "After all you never know what might happen"
"That is true" replied Marley, with a nod. "And I'll look for his profile on there later tonight and add him"
"Okay" said Karone, with a smile to her friend. "And just remember those who introduced the two of you, when you get married"
"Karone" said Marley, going red in the face. "I'm only going to talk with the guy"
"Hey, I never thought in a million years" replied Karone, with a laugh. "That I would be marrying the guy who I dated for like six months in tenth grade; so never say never"
"Yeah" replied Marley, with a laugh also; and the two of them continued to talk before having to head to the afternoon classes that they were the teachers of.
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Having connected with Ryder over Facebook and gone out with him a few times after talking for a little bit on the site, Marley was sitting in the coffee shop where they had agreed to meet; and was looking over the app on her phone at possible places for maybe renting that were a little closer to the school she was working at, since the lease that she had currently had with Hannah was about to come to an end having been only that of a six month one; and with the blonde wanting to move closer to where she was working also; meant that they were both regrettably having to look for their own places to rent.
"Hi" said Ryder, as he walked over to the table Marley was sitting at; having like she had gotten a coffee before coming over to her.
"Hi Ryder" she replied, with a smile; and then also a small sigh closing up the app on her phone put it to her handbag.
"Everything okay?" asked Ryder; and Marley gave a quick nod.
"Yeah, it's fine" she replied, and picked up her coffee cup and drank some of the warm beverage. "I'm just looking for an apartment to rent that's all; and the prices are kind scaring me a bit"
"What's happening with your other living arrangements?" asked Ryder, looking to her. "I thought you said you lived with a friend from college"
"I do at the moment, yeah" replied Marley, with a nod. "But for Hannah, that's who I am currently living with; she is like forty five minutes from where she works and myself about twenty. So since the lease on the apartment is coming to an end, we both thought it would be easier to find a place on our own, closer to each of our jobs; however that does mean it's more costly for each of us, and hopefully I will find something soon, otherwise I might very well be squatting in the school at night"
"I'd offer you a room at my apartment" said Ryder looking to her with a smile. "And if it was a few months ago, you could have definitely had it. But my older brother Sam moved back from New York a few months ago, after trying it to live there with his now ex girlfriend who got a job dancing on Broadway; and when he did come back he had nowhere to stay, so he's in the spare room"
"It's fine Ryder" replied Marley, with a smile to him also. "Thank you for the thought though"
"Sure" said Ryder, with a nod. "I would suggest you stay in my room, but since we've only really just started dating; that might be a little too soon"
"Probably" replied Marley, with a laugh. "And at least I'm not still in college and moving in with a guy, like my older sister Mikki did"
"Mikki is the one who still lives in South Carolina, right?" asked Ryder; and Marley looked to him with a nod.
"Yes" she replied looking to Ryder. "She and Sebastian, that's her boyfriend; they moved into together just before the start of senior year"
"Wow, and they're still together?" asked Ryder.
"Uh huh" replied Marley, with a small smile. "They met just before end of sophomore year and have been together ever since"
"That's kind of cool" said Ryder, with a smile also. "They must be really committed to one another then"
"Yeah, they're actually quite sickly sweet together to be honest" replied Marley, with a laugh; and Ryder laughed also.
"Brittany, that was my brother Sam's ex; the two of them were kind of the same" said Ryder, with a smile. "And it's kind of surprising that they broke up, but Sam just isn't the type of guy who could live in New York, which is why he came back here to San Fran"
"Hmm, it would be weird seeing two people who clearly are meant for one another breaking up" said Marley.
"Yeah" replied Ryder, with a smile to her. "Well if you don't find anything; the offer for staying even for a short time is there, as long as you don't mind sharing a bed"
"Now would that be with you?" asked Marley, with a laugh. "Or your brother"
"I think it would be kind of creepy to ask the girl I was dating" said Ryder, with a laugh also. "To share with my brother"
"Yes, it would be" replied Marley, with a smile. "And thank you, it's good to know if I do need something; I won't end up living out of my car"
"You definitely won't, I promise" said Ryder, with a smile to her also; and the two of them continued to talk some more before both heading off to their own places of residence.
End Note : Thoughts on chapter?! Hence why I said that Marley and Ryder's relationship very different from that of what you might have been expecting - and how quickly they maybe did go to be living with one another; and also not taking the time to get to know each other probably as well as they should have in the 3 years before they got engaged, compared to that of Mikki and Seb for example; who clearly took their sweet ass time - and depending on which canon you prefer for my stories; split up and never get back together after nearly six and half years, OR take that of a small break from being together and after nearly eight years of knowing one another get engaged.
Anyway as always, thanks for reading; and there will be another update soon, and until then please do check out all the other Glee based stories that I have in progress on here!
Love always,
KJ xoxoxoxoxoxoxo