CHAPTER FOURTEEN

In the hallway, people are snickering at him. Some Cheerios girls are whispering and pointing at him, then they break into giggles.

Ryder doesn't have the simplest clue as to what is going on. He had come to school early and stayed in his classroom to catch up a little bit on his studies – he is left behind a few subchapters now. No one gave him any trouble this morning. He hadn't seen or met anyone from Glee club today – not even Marley, who usually comes early too. He had been quietly sitting on his desk, furiously trying to write an essay about the Industrial Revolution, when suddenly Gina appears and starts shouting at him.

Gina said something about a text. What text was she talking about? What exactly is he framed for doing? He has never told anyone about Gina's feelings for Jake. Never. And he would never do that to her. These last few days, Ryder has felt some kind of connection with Gina. She's cooler than he thought she was. After practicing their song at Ryder's house, they sat in the garden with cookies and lemonade and talked for hours. They exchanged favorites, jokes, and stories. Gina told him stories about Indonesia, and Ryder told her stories about McKinley high, his family, and the Glee club. They had opened up a little that night; Ryder confided to her about his dyslexia, and Gina told him how, on her first week of school, she actually considered joining the Cheerios.

After the duet, they grabbed drinks from the vending machines and talked about future duet possibilities. Over the weekend, they had texted each other and shared more hilarious stories. He really liked her as a friend. He couldn't really express his love for Marley to anyone on Glee club, but he could say all he wanted to Gina. He had accepted her as a friend. He had felt comfortable with her. But now, what is this craziness that is going on?

Ryder notices Tina, Blaine, and Brittany walking down the hallway towards him. He stops them and demands an explanation.

"Didn't you get the text too?" Tina asks, confused. "Everyone from Glee got it. Even Mr. Schue."

"I don't know anything," Ryder says helplessly. "But Gina thinks I was the one who did it, whatever happened."

Tina sighs and gives Blaine a thoughtful look.

"I think you should just read this," Blaine suggests, taking his phone out of his pocket.

Ryder reads the text on the phone, and immediately his blood freezes. This text clearly states that Gina is in love with Jake Puckerman, and it accuses her of being friends with Marley only to get close to Jake. The text rambles about how Gina doesn't care about Marley and is only taking advantage of her, and several insults about her. Insults that Ryder suspects are nothing but lies. Who dared to do such a cruel thing to Gina?

He hands the phone back to Blaine, and the seniors walk away. Ryder feels numb. He doesn't know what to think. If he talks to Gina now, she would only resent him more. She would probably scream at him again and punch him. But if he doesn't, then how would he set things right with her?

Ryder is still thinking when he sees Kitty strutting towards him, with that impish grin on her face.

"Where's Panda Girl?" she asks in fake concern. "I thought you and Asian midget had grown into Siamese twins these past few days."

A sudden thought strikes Ryder. "Do you know something about this, Kitty?" he narrows his eyes suspiciously.

Kitty flashes him an angelic smile. "Know about what?" she asks sweetly.

"You know what I'm talking about," Ryder snarls. "How did you find out, Kitty? How could you do this to her?"

Kitty cocks her head to the side, amused and enjoying Ryder's anger. "I've told her not to mess with the Kittycat," she says, still with that angelic smile on her face. "Now she's brought out the femme fatale, and this bitch isn't stopping until the bamboo princess is dead."

"How did you find out?" Ryder demands.

"I have my ways," she says.

Ryder shakes his head, disbelief, anger, and sadness written on his flushed face. "Kitty," he whispers, his voice trembling. "How could you? Not only to Gina, but to Marley too."

"She declared war on herself, ostrich-brain," she says, the smile vanishing from her face. She now looks murderous. "She wanted to find out who would break first, bitch to bitch? Well then, I'm only doing her a favor." She smiles again and wiggles her fingers at him. "Toodle-doo, Bieber-hair. See you at Glee club today."

She twirls around, her ponytail brushing Ryder's shoulder. He shoves her away in disgust, wanting nothing but to plant his fist on her face. Maybe choke her to death.

But there is nothing he can do, so he punches the wall instead.