Author's Note: Hey readers! I just wanted to thank all of you for the positive feedback I received for chapter 1. I really am in love with this couple! Anyways, I just wanted to say that this chapter paints Jake in a negative light and I had absolutely no intention in offending anyone but its just how I wanted the story to go. I personally like Jake too, but I prefer Marley with Ryder. So here's chapter 2! Enjoy!

Chapter 2

As they pulled away from each others embrace, Ryder and Marley were staring into each others eyes so longingly, they were beginning to forget their surroundings. Ryder wanted to kiss her right then and there, but he wouldn't. He knew that even though he didn't like the fact that Marley was with Jake, he had to respect it. Just when he was about to pull away, he realized that they were not alone.

"Oh, no. Please continue. Don't let me interrupt your little date," spat Jake at the two.

"Jake, what are you doing here?" questioned Marley nervously. Jake was now standing directly in front of Marley, who was trying her best not to shake out of fear. She knew Jake had an anger problem...

"Oh, hey Marley. I just came by to pick up my book I left here yesterday but I think the better question is WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE ...WITH HIM?" Jake yelled violently. He grabbed Marley roughly by the shoulders and shook her. Marley winced at the rough contact.

"Dude, stop it. What the hell are you doing? You're hurting her!" Ryder tried to make Jake let go of Marley. Jake let go with a slight push that sent Marley a few feet back. She was scared. She knew Jake was raging, but she just hoped that he wouldn't hurt Ryder. It wasn't his fault.

"What the hell do you think you're doing with my girlfriend?" Jake was fuming. He shoved Ryder and his aggressive side was making an appearance.

"Jake, calm down. Nothing happened. I was just making sure Marley was eating properly so I brought her some lunch," Ryder tried to explain and calm Jake down.

"Don't tell me to calm down! I knew it! I know you've been after my girl ever since I saw you kiss her backstage. And she has me! She doesn't need you to take care of her! Stay the hell away from Marley!" Jake shouted while pushing and shoving Ryder.

"Are you serious man? You don't even know what Marley is going through and if you actually give a damn about her, then why didn't you try to defend or try to figure out what's been going on with her. I was just worried about her. I-." Ryder was cut off by Jake's fist slamming into Ryder's left eye. Ryder fell to the ground from the blow and Marley shrieked as she ran to Ryder's side.

"Stop! Stop! What the hell is going on here!" Finn ran over to the trio as he had caught the incident just in time.

Finn looked at Marley and directed her, "Marley you take care of Ryder. Jake, you're coming with me to Figgins office." Finn and Jake left the scene. Marley was at Ryder's side.

"Are you okay? Oh my God, this looks bad. Come on, I'm taking you to the nurse," said Marley while gently stroking his face. She helped him stand up and walked him to the school nurse.

After they visited the nurse they were on they're way to class.

"Thanks for helping me," said Ryder.

Marley began speaking, "Are you kidding me? This is all my fault! You would've never gotten hurt had Jake not seen you with me. I'm so sorry."

"You don't need to be sorry. It's not your fault," replied Ryder sincerely.

"Not just that...I'm sorry I blew you off. I was so selfish and I regret it. I just didn't want to be the girl who got played again, but I should have known that you're better than that. You helped me with my problems so I think the least I can do is help you. How about I help you study for the history test?" asked Marley hopefully.

"No, that's ok. I don't want to give Jake anything to be mad at you about anymore," replied Ryder.

"I don't care about him. He just proved that he doesn't care about me and I don't want to have anything to do with him after what he did to you. Please?" Marley asked him again.

"You don't have to help me. You don't owe me anything,"said Ryder.

"I know. I WANT to help you," she said determined.

"Fine. Come over around 5. I should be done with practice by then," said Ryder finally giving in. He flashed her a quick smile before walking off to his next class. Marley smiled to herself slightly before walking off to her own class.

At exactly 5 o'clock, Marley rang the doorbell at the Lynn house. She already felt out of place. His neighborhood was on the upper side of Lima. She thought to herself, "What am I even thinking? Look at his house. I wonder what he would think if he saw where I live...he deserves better..."

The door opened and Marley looked down. She saw a little boy that looked around the age of 5. He took a look at Marley. "Are you Ryder's girlfriend?" he asked teasingly.

Marley's face instantly turned a deep red. "Um...no..I...uh..." Marley stammered.

"Blake!" Ryder called out from the top of the staircase. Marley looked up at him. Blake ran away giggling.

"Sorry about that...he's just like that sometimes.." Ryder explained.

"No..I get it. He's cute. He's your brother?" she questioned.

"Yeah...um we can go upstairs and start studying.." Ryder started to say.

"Ryder! Who's that!" a woman called out. She walked out into the foyer of the large house and greeted Marley with a warm smile.

"Why hello there! You must be Marley. Ryder told me so much about you. It's so great to finally meet you. I'm Ryder's mom, Karen," Mrs. Lynn greeted Marley as they shook hands. Ryder blushed a bit at his mothers embarrassing comment.

"Mom, we were just gonna study for our history test. Marley offered to help me," Ryder told his mom.

"Oh that's great! But you have to stay for dinner," his mother insisted.

"No really, that's okay. I'm just here to help Ryder..." said Marley.

"Nonsense! Why don't you two wash up! Dinner will be ready in 10 minutes and Ryder you father will be home too," Mrs Lynn said before making her way back to the kitchen.

"She's sweet," said Marley.

"Thanks. The bathroom's on the left. You can go wash up," Ryder said as he directed Marley toward the bathroom.

Marley, Ryder, Mrs. Lynn, and Blake were all seated at the extravagant dining table waiting on Mr. Lynn to come so they could begin dinner. Ryder's father rushed in and bent down to kiss Mrs. Lynn's cheek briefly before taking his own seat. They began eating.

"So," began Mr. Lynn, "this is Marley huh? It's nice to meet you Marley." He gave a warm smile.

"It's nice to meet you too Mr. Lynn. Thank you for having me," Marley responded sweetly.

Throughout dinner, Ryder's parents made small talk with Marley. Then it happened. "So what do your parents do, dear?" Mrs Lynn asked.

Ryder looked at Marley. He knew she was extremely sensitive about this matter after all the taunting she'd gone through because of it. He held her free hand under the table as a sign of support.

"Umm...well my father left my mother when I was young. And my mom...she works in the cafeteria at our school," Marley barely spoke. She wondered what Ryder's parents would think I her now.

"So she's the lunch lady?" Blake asked innocently.

"Oh. Well I'm sorry about your father, dear. Your mother must be a very strong woman. She's obviously raised a very lovely young woman," responded Mrs. Lynn kindly.

Marley was shocked. This was one of the first times she wasn't being judged because her mother was the lunch lady, or that she didn't have a father. Ryder was relieved that his parents didn't make Marley feel uncomfortable.

"Marley, you've barely touched your food. Did you not like it?" Mr. Lynn asked her.

"Oh no. It's delicious. I'm just not very hungry, that's all," said Marley.

Ryder gave Marley a look that told her that he knew she was lying and she had better eat. Marley didn't want to give Ryder a reason to think she wasn't okay so she finished her dinner.

After dinner Marley offered to help out with the dishes but Mrs. Lynn refused. Ryder and Marley went upstairs to his room.

They walked in and Ryder pulled up an extra chair to his large desk. They sat down and opened their books.

"I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable..." he said apologetically.

"Umm..no, it's fine. Really...your family is really nice," she told him.

Marley worked intensely at helping Ryder. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to work so hard but still have so much trouble.

"You're doing great," Marley told him.

"What about you?" he asked.

"I think I'll be fine. History one of better subjects so..." Marley began.

"I'm not talking about that. Why did you do it? The purging? How did that even cross your mind?" Ryder asked in a serious tone.

She knew she couldn't just change the topic. Her eyes filled with tears as she spoke to him softly, "I don't know how it happened. I guess it was people teasing my mom and Kitty telling me that being fat is just in my genes and it's just a matter of time before it happens to me. I was scared. I was scared that no one would like me anymore. I was scared that people would start teasing me the way they tease my mom. I love my mom no matter what but I just didn't want to end up like her. I know is gross. I hate it but it's addictive. I just thought that unless I puked right after, I couldn't eat anything. Santana told me that Kitty had been sewing my clothes tighter everyday to convince me that I'm gaining weight...and then you cancelled on me too, so I just thought that even you though I wasn't worth your time..."

He took her trembling hand in his. He spoke gently, "You're perfect. I know you don't believe me when I say it, but your the most beautiful girl I've met, inside and out. I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. And you're worth every minute of my time."

He raised her hand to his lip and kissed it tenderly. The feeling of his soft lips on her skin sent shivers up her spine. She remembered the time when he kissed her. When he stole her first kiss. She still hadn't told this to him this, well, not anyone to be honest. She already had too many things going against her. She didn't want to seem like a complete loser who was 16 when she shared her first kiss.

He stared into her eyes. It was almost like he was searching for something. A hint, a clue that let him know that she shared the same feelings for him. Her blue eyes followed his deep brown ones. They stayed that way for a while.

She broke the silence. "I think I should get going now. It's pretty late."

"I'll drop you off. It's way to late for you to walk by yourself," he said concerned.

They both sat silently in his car as he drove to her house. He pulled into her driveway. He broke the silence this time.

"Before I go, can I ask you something?" he asked.

"Um..yea...sure," she hesitated.

"I can't keep on wondering if my feelings for you are one-sided. I need to know. Do you feel about me the way I feel about you?" he asked carefully.

She blushed. "I do," she responded shyly with a slight smile.

He flashed one of his adorable smiles at her.

"Goodnight Marley."

"Goodnight Ryder."

Please please review! I would love to here your comments!