It was now Monday and the weekend was over as quickly as it had begun as the ranch dealt with the aftermath of Kitty's dramatic fall and disappearance. X-Rays revealed that she had broken her left arm and the rest of her was just severely bruised. The doctors had told her that she was going to be very sore for the next few days. Ryder had the day off on Sunday so he didn't get to see her when she got home but he planned on finding her today at school to check she was all right.

It was now lunchtime and Ryder still hadn't seen Kitty so decided to go looking for her. He threw his books in his locker and began the walk towards Kitty's locker, which was in a different corridor to his. Ryder felt his stomach drop as he rounded the last corner to see Kitty at her locker, surrounded by a group of people. He felt anger rising inside him as he saw some of the McKinley football team and a few cheerios laughing at something Alex had just said. He was the one who kept picking on Kitty since their first encounter at the start of term. The anger continued to rise as he realized they were mocking her for the sling she was wearing which meant that she couldn't carry her books properly. Ryder then glanced at Kitty's face… had he not got to know her, he would have just assumed that she was fine due to the glare she was giving them but Ryder had got to know her and he could see the hurt behind the glare. That's when he knew he had to do something.

Kitty jumped at the loud noise of something slamming against a locker. She looked up to see Alex flying against the locker opposite her. She didn't understand what had happened until she saw Ryder pinning Alex against the locker. He looked furious as Alex attempted to fight back.

"What is wrong with you?!" Alex was just as furious now at having been embarrassed in front of the Cheerios, who were sniggering at his failed attempts to get out of Ryder's grip.

"What's wrong with ME? What's wrong with you?! You're picking on innocent girls who don't need your crap. I know you're an insecure little girl on the inside but pick on someone your own size" Ryder was shouting as Kitty stared at the floor, wishing it would just open up and swallow her whole.

"Innocent? She's a bitch. Don't you remember how she spoke to you?"

"It's called freedom of speech. She can say what she goddamn likes, it doesn't give you or anyone else a pass to pick on her for it." Ryder was picking his words carefully. He knew it wouldn't end well for anybody if Alex found out about his growing friendship with Kitty. He glanced at her but she was just staring at the floor and avoiding all eye contact.

"She's a rude, spiteful little cow." Ryder finally let his grip on Alex loosen.

"Thank you! I'm glad you've seen sense" Alex brushed himself off as Ryder's hands left his shirt.

"No, you don't understand… I sort of need my hands for something else." Ryder commented sarcastically as his fist flew up to punch Alex square in the face. There were gasps from the crowd that had gathered to watch the confrontation. Alex staggered backwards before flying towards Ryder. Ryder had been distracted, looking at Kitty for a split second too long as he felt Alex tackle him to the floor. He had nearly freed himself from Alex's grip when two teachers came sprinting down the hall towards them.

"HEY! Knock it off guys! What is it with this school and fighting?!" It was Mr Schuester, the Spanish teacher and Glee Club coach. Coach Beiste, who managed the football team was also with him.

"Why can't you boys use this passion and anger on the football field?! We'd be doing a whole lot better if you did!" Beiste added.

"This weirdo just jumped me for no reason." Alex was trying to sound pitiful.

"For no reason? How about bullying girls who have done nothing wrong?" Ryder snapped back. At that moment, the bell rang so Schuester and Beiste let them off with a warning before sending them on their separate ways to their classes. In all the commotion, Kitty had managed to sneak off to her class and Ryder had yet again not managed to talk to her.

Ryder sat through his next lesson, which was Biology and was extremely boring. He struggled with his schoolwork and he found it hard to pay attention in class. They were halfway through a class when there was a knock on the door. Ryder didn't even bother looking up but just kept staring down at his desk, wishing time would go faster, "Hi… I've been transferred to this class?" Ryder's head snapped up as he heard Kitty's voice coming from the doorway.

"Oh… hi there dear. Yes, come in, come in. Now… where to sit you…" The bumbling teacher shuffled towards her. Ryder hurriedly cleared his bags off the seat next to him, he always sat alone in Biology because none of his friends were in this class. He caught Kitty's eye and nodded at the spare seat next to him. She shrugged as she followed the teacher to the front. "Right, you can sit next to Jeremy over there." The teacher pointed at a boy on the opposite side of the room to Ryder.

Ryder sighed as Kitty sat down next to Jeremy. He didn't know much about Jeremy but he seemed alright. He spent the rest of the lesson trying to catch Kitty's eye. He managed a few times and tried to mouth "Are you okay?" at her but she didn't understand what he was trying to say. Finally the teacher told them to pack up and he shoved his books in his bag before looking over at Kitty. Most the class had bolted out the door so there were only a few people left. Kitty was struggling to put her books in her bag, which was Ryder took as his cue to jump up and finally talk to her.

"For fuck's sake!" Kitty grumbled under her breath as she dropped her book on the floor for about the hundredth time that day. She reached down to get it but Ryder beat her to it, holding it out with a cheeky grin on his face.

"I believe this is yours"

"No shit, Sherlock. Stop enjoying this so much."

"Awww I promise I'm not enjoying it! How are you anyway?"

"I suppose I'm alright apart from the broken arm, the not being able to ride and the having to go to this horrible school."

"Horrible school? Hey! I go here which automatically makes this school awesome!"

"Thanks by the way."

"For what?" Kitty had now confused him.

"For the whole thing with Alex earlier…" He could tell this was making her feel awkward although he wasn't sure why.

"Oh right! Wait… did you just say thank you? I thought you'd be pissed! I once took a slushie for you and you yelled at me… what's happened to you?" Ryder feigned concern and dodged Kitty's attempted punch that she had aimed at him with her good arm.

"Well you didn't know me then… you had no reason to take that slushie other than you thought I was some weak girl that needed defending. At least now you knew who you were sticking up for now that we're…"

"Say it. I dare you."

"I don't want to… I still can't believe it."

"Go on."

"Fine… now that we're friends." Ryder grinned as she rolled her eyes at him before they made their way out of Biology and back down the hallway.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and will keep on reading my story :D I have a few chapter ideas in my head… some of which will involve alcohol and karaoke… it could be an interesting combination ;)