Kitty could read people like books, even if she detested reading books. All she had to do was look at them and sense that something was going on with them. Something always gave them away, whether it was their posture or their facial expression. Either way, Kitty knew, and from that point on she wouldn't stop until she found out what was bugging them. Sure, it was nosy and rude of her to get involved, but she couldn't help herself. She was a busybody. It wasn't like she blackmailed them with it (well, not often).

As soon as Marley walked into Glee Club, she knew there was something wrong. Just yesterday, she had taken a phone call from Wade (yes, it is Wade, and not that stupid alter ego, Unique) and then come back in looking all frantic and worried. She left shortly afterwards. When Glee Club started the next day, Kitty watched her walk into the choir room, but it wasn't much of a challenge this time.

Anyone could have guessed that there was something wrong with her. She was slouched and had a nervous expression on her face. Jake had his arm around her as he always did, like he was protecting her from something. His expression was dead serious. Kitty had a hunch of what was wrong, but for once in her life she decided to wait for them to reveal their news before making so many assumptions that they didn't get a chance to explain themselves. As much as she loved to do that, it didn't help anyone, including herself.

Instead of sitting down in their usual seats next to each other, they stood in front of the chairs by the piano, waiting. Mr Schuester hadn't arrived yet, and nor had half the group. So far it was just them, Kitty, Blaine, and Artie. Kitty grew impatient with the latecomers. If the kid in the wheelchair could make it on time, why couldn't they?

Eventually, the rest stumbled in half-bothered, texting and chatting to themselves. She resisted the urge to scowl at them for being late, but she did comment on it:

"What's taking you guys so long? The first couple are obviously dying to spill the beans about something."

Marley flinched at the word, and Kitty suddenly realised what they were going to say. She felt awful for her poor choice of words and went silent, waiting for the others to sit down. They noticed the couple at the piano and seemed curious, waiting for the news.

Mr Schuester appeared through the doorway. "Afternoon guys, let's launch right in to today's class! We've got a lot to…"

He stopped, noticing Marley and Jake at the front. His enthusiasm died at the sight of their expressions. "Is everything okay?"

Marley bit her lip. Jake said: "We need to tell you guys something."

Mr Schuester appeared to understand the serious tone of their voices, so he took a seat and didn't question them. Others weren't so polite.

The first "oh my god, are you pregnant?" came from the not-so gracious Tina, who was once again sitting uncomfortably close to Blaine. As she said, everyone else began to believe it and there was a frenzy of questions being launched at Marley. She looked like she was about to cry.

"Guys, shut up!" shouted Kitty, and everyone did. "Just let her say what she has to say!"

Marley mouthed a "thank you" to her. Jake looked at Marley and whispered something to her. She nodded gravely, and then spoke.

"Yesterday, shortly after I went to find Unique during Glee Club, she tried to kill herself."
The room erupted into gasps, and once again questions were launched at the
vulnerable teenager.

"Is she okay?"

"What did she do?"

"Oh my god, is she dead?" That last one was from Tina.

Marley continued, and as soon as she spoke the talk died down. "She's in hospital. They'll have already pumped her stomach."

No one asked what Unique had done now.

"This morning, Mrs Adams called my mom to say that Unique's okay, but she'll have to stay in hospital for 72 hours at most." She let that sink in.

The group were astounded. Some held hands up to their mouths, their eyes wild with shock. Some of the guys put arms around the girls next to them. Tina was too upset to enjoy having Blaine's arm around her shoulder. Sam (who was next to Kitty) knew better than to make physical contact with her, but he wouldn't have done anyway, as he was still heartbroken about Brittney's departure for MIT. At least he didn't make some ignorant comment about how Wade should man up and deal with his problems. He often made a habit of offending people with his ignorance.

"Were you… there?" asked Blaine carefully, not wanting to interrogate the emotionally fragile Marley. "When it happened?"

"Yeah." The poor girl was trying to hold it together, but she looked just about ready to crumble. Blaine got the message and didn't say anymore.

"What did she do?" asked Sam. He wasn't the brightest tool in the shed, so he clearly hadn't processed that Wade having his stomach pumped meant that he had swallowed some pills.

"She downed some pills," whispered Kitty to Sam, "hence the whole stomach pumped thing." She knew she was being rude, but how could someone be so thick? Sam looked embarrassed, shrinking into a silent, protective shell.

After that, there was a tense silence. Mr Schuester cautiously looked around at the students, and then stood up, addressing everyone.

"I think we need to have a talk about this."

No one groaned at Mr Schuester's encouraging, dramatic speeches this time. They listened intently, paying attention to every word he said.

"I had a talk like this last year with you guys. Some of you should remember. Marley, Jake, Kitty… I'll fill you in." He took a deep breath, struggling to think of what he should say. "You've met Kurt, he was nice enough, right?"

The three of them nodded.

"Well, he used to be bullied by a student called Dave Karofsky. The bullying was so bad that Kurt transferred to Dalton Academy to escape, which is how he met Blaine. We were fortunate to get Kurt back in the end, but it was a difficult time for him, and for all of us. Dave eventually learnt the error of his ways and left Kurt alone, but this was mostly in part to the fact that Dave was closeted, while Kurt was confidently not." He paused for a moment. "After Dave transferred to another school for his senior year, his friends found out and outed him to the entire school. He received intense emotional abuse and was practically exiled from his friend group. He tried to take his own life last year."

Kitty had no sympathy for this Karofsky character, but she didn't interrupt. Mr Schuester continued.

"Kurt felt very guilty for Dave's suicide attempt, because he had ignored his calls. Some of you may right now be thinking of ways that you are to blame for Unique's attempt. Please don't. You'll only make yourselves feel worse than you already do. I saw how Kurt was, and it was horrible. I don't want to see any of you like that. What matters is that Unique is alive. From there we can figure out how to help her."

He looked around the room, at the crushed faces looking back at him.

"It's going to be okay."

"How do you know?" asked Marley suddenly. She sounded like she was on the verge of tears. Mr Schuester was taken aback.

"Because Unique is alive and well."

"Well? She's not well. She's sick."

"But she's alive, and we can help her from there."

Jake ran his hand through Marley's hair and whispered something to her. She softened, and looked back at her teacher.

"Sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry. You're understandably on edge after yesterday's events."

"Yeah. Yeah, I am." She jerked her head in a spasm and seemed distracted. "I'm sorry to have ruined your Glee Club today, but I don't think there's much point in me being here. I'll only be distracted."

She turned to leave, but Jake made a grab for her arm. She shook him off. He was about to go after her when Kitty appeared beside him and stopped him.

"Let me," she said. Jake understood and let her go.

Kitty caught up to her powering down the empty hallway for the exit. "Slow up, Marley!"

Realising it was Kitty, she stopped and turned around. "Please don't make me go back in there."

"I won't make you, but I need to talk to you."

Marley made an expression that was seemingly meaningless but Kitty got it. It was the expression she made when she expected Kitty to say something offensive.

"Marley, are you okay?"

Marley could have given a sarcastic answer and stormed off, but Kitty was serious for once. She hesitated.

"I'm… I suppose I'm doing okay, but I can't stop thinking about her. If she's thinking about me, hating me right now…"

"Stop it. Don't think like that. At the end of the day… she… did it and not you. There's only so much a friend can do to help someone."

There was a brief silence, filled by Kitty. "Come here, you." She pulled Marley to her in a hug.

"Everything's going to be alright." She had no idea if that would ring true in the future, but she had to say something.

Marley pulled out of the hug, looking considerably better than before. "I need your help with something."

It was completely out of the blue. "Okay, what is it?"

They sat down on the floor of the hallway, resting their backs against the wall. A noticeboard was up in front of them, with some flyers and pictures of students on it. They paid no attention to it.

"I don't know what her name is, but she's popular," said Marley after filling Kitty in on all of the details of Wade's bullying. "I was wondering if, once we find out who she is, you could like… talk to her?"

Kitty was unconvinced. "If this bitch is just like you say she is, then it sounds like she won't be persuaded to back down. We need to report her."

Marley clearly didn't like the idea. "But I don't even know who she is! And this school's not very good with bullying, is it?"

"You say that, but they can only be good if you actually tell on the people bullying."

"How are we gonna find out who she is, though? She's not in any of my classes, I've only ever seen her around once…" She stopped midsentence.

"Marley, what is it?"

She was staring at something. Kitty looked at where she was staring and presumed it was the noticeboard she was looking at. Suddenly Marley jumped and went to the noticeboard.

"That's her! That's the girl!"

Kitty got up and stood next to her. Marley pointed at a picture of a pretty girl.

"Look!"

Underneath her picture was some information about her winning some award in class, and then there was her name.

"Kelly Johnson," said Marley out loud, reading from the text under the girl's picture. "It says here she won some sports award. Wait…" She read closer. "A cheerleading award? She's a cheerleader?"

Kitty sighed. "I know this girl. A few weeks ago, Coach Washington did some crappy cheerleading award thing for most progress."

Marley looked surprised. "Since when did Coach Washington do awards?"

"Since never! Mind you, Kelly's parents are rich. They probably offered money to make up some award for their daughter."

"Or she was actually good at cheerleading?"

"I don't care about that, the important thing is that we know who she is now."

"When's the next time you have cheer practice?"

"Tomorrow lunch break. I'll talk to her."

Marley wanted to ask what she would say, but she wasn't sure the answer would be what she wanted.

"Now come on," said Kitty. "Let's go back to the choir room and sing some songs about depression."
Marley smiled at Kitty's dry humour and followed her back to the choir room.

** G ** G **

"Hey, bitch!" was the first thing Kitty said as she laid eyes on Kelly at cheer practice on the playing fields the next day. The rich girl turned around to look, and locked eyes with her offender.

"What did you just call me?" Two girls stood by her, acting like bodyguards but they wouldn't put up much of a fight.

"You heard me, Johnson. I know what you did."

Kelly laughed overdramatically, prompting her 'friends' to join in. "Did what?"

"Let's not play this game, rich girl. You've been bullying Wade Adams. You'll stop if you know what's good for you."

This girl was not intimidated easily. "You don't scare me, Wilde. You and that trannie are nothing. Just dirt under my shoe."

"Well that dirt could kick your ass if it wanted to."

"Why don't you try it, whore?"
Kitty wanted so badly to beat this bitch to a pulp, but what good would it accomplish? She'd get expelled, and Wade would still be bullied.

When Kitty didn't do anything, Kelly smiled. "I thought so," she grinned arrogantly, playing with her hair. "You can't do anything to me. I'm untouchable."

Kitty already had her plan thought out. "Yeah, maybe you and your daddy's hundreds of over-paid corrupt lawyers are safe from me, but your boyfriend isn't."

Kelly raised her eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

"What's his name… Rick, is it? I heard from a little someone that your Rick is a bit of a playaway. Who's to say he'll resist temptation when a mean hot bitch like me comes along and offers him things that you can't?"

Kelly's confidence was fading while Kitty's was growing. "You stay away from my boyfriend, bitch, or I'll end you."

"Actions speak louder than words. I'll keep away from your boyfriend if you keep away from Wade."

"You're protecting that freak?"

"That freak is my friend, and if you go near her again…"

"Her? You're delusional!"

"You're not listening, Johnson. Stay away from Wade and I might just not steal your boyfriend away."

She scoffed. "Like Rick would have you!"

"He had Lindsey Gammon last year and she looked like a horse. He'll jump at the opportunity with me."

"What are you accusing my boyfriend of, Wilde?"

"Being a normal straight guy. I've stolen enough boyfriends from girls like you to know what I'm talking about."

Kelly's friends were trying to stop themselves smiling, but it was too obvious. Kelly looked at them with rage.

"LEAVE! NOW!"

They wasted no time moving over to another group of girls. Everyone on the playing field could see and hear the argument. Kelly looked extremely embarrassed. Kitty smiled.

"Glad we've cleared that up. Say hi to Rick for me." She smirked at the frozen Kelly, patted her shoulder and walked away from her. Shortly after, Coach Roz Washington appeared on the playing field with a megaphone.

"Come on ladies, what'chu dilly-dallyin' for? We got Nationals to prepare for!"