Hello again! Here's a new chapter for you guys :-) Sorry about any mistakes, it's almost the end of the school year and I feel like a zombie...

DISCLAIMER: are these even mandatory now that I've said it for 19 chapters? Oh well. If you were wondering if I owned Glee or the characters or whatever, please check to the beginning of the many chapters before this one. HINT: I don't.

My love must be the kind of blind love

I can't see anyone but you

I only have eyes for you…

Marley gazed above her at the thousands of twinkling stars above her, pondering over the reasons she was here on this starry night in the middle of a deserted, local park. The song continued on the nearby portable radio as she revelled in the old fashioned singer's silky voice.

There were only a few weeks until the end of the school year, and the brunette still longed to make the days count; determined to get a spot on the Cheerios once more, determined to make amends. Especially with him. Awkward chats were all that came between her and Ryder now, which is why she was so surprised that he had asked to meet her tonight.

"Sorry, I almost forgot I had this," Ryder returned to her, having gone to his car to fetch a blanket for them to lie on, and the fabric was now draped across the boy's forearm. Marley just looked up and smiled at him.

"So, why have you brought me here, Bieber?" Marley bit her lip, somewhat nervously (she was still trying to figure out exactly what she felt towards the boy).

"Well," Ryder started, spreading out the blanket onto the grass and sitting on it, patting the spot next to him and beckoning Marley as she got up off her previous spot on the grass to join him. "I guess I just wanted to talk."

"Really?" Marley raised her eyebrows. "Any specifics? Politics, Glee Club, the meaning of life… what?"

"Marley Rose," Ryder spoke seriously, grasping her hand between his own larger ones. "You know exactly what I want to talk about, don't you?"

The brunette just looked in his eyes for a long time disbelievingly in return, before then fixing her glance securely to the grass nearby. Her cheeks began to burn up, adding to the nerves and somewhat embarrassment. "I… I mean-"

Without further explanation, Ryder lifted her dropped chin up with a finger and leant ever closer, until the pair were kissing softly. Marley, although her eyebrows high in surprise at the first touch of his lips, began relaxing and adding grins into the kiss, as well as separating the action slightly and kissing him more frequently and in peace. She had forgotten what it was like to kiss him after the stressful weeks that had followed from their last one, and as she reacquainted herself with the pleasant feeling, she intensified the action further. Soon enough, they were leaning back on the soft picnic blanket, the one he was carrying to her only minutes ago-

"BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!"

Marley arose in a hurry, blurting out meaningless banter to do with her dream and her true – she now realised – feelings. She turned her head – her alarm clock was shrieking. It was now she understood it had all been a fantasy dream in her head, and she crossed her leg as she sat up fully, now with a head in her hands in realisation and embarrassment for herself.

She was still crazy about him, as stupid and cliché as that was. Heavy and tired exhales escaped her mouth in a disbelieving string as she thought over the dream, before realising yet another obstacle and trying her best not to scream in frustration out loud: Ryder was still with Katie – not only that, they were happy together. And by now their happiness should have been her happiness too, but that obviously hadn't occurred.

"What the hell do I do now?" Marley whined quietly into her hands like an exhausted child. Since when was Marley Rose herself stuck in the friend zone? She decided to keep that a rhetorical question, as to not put another damper on her already-ruined morning.

"Uh, no dessert, please. We'll just have the check." Katie spoke sweetly to the waitress at Breadstixx, having engulfed her entire tuna fillet with vegetables and potatoes.

"Hmm, are we having ice cream at your house again, then?" Ryder questioned as the waitress whisked his finished plate away.

"Uh… maybe…" Katie said uncertainly as she bit her lip.

She was sure it wasn't just her unusually jealous imagination anymore. Lately, just by a simple flicker of the eye or a quick turn of the head whenever it was her that was around, Katie had noticed how Ryder was mesmerised by a certain Marley Rose; or undoubtedly still thinking about her at the least. Ryder would never cheat, and for that, the blonde was pleased. It was just the fact that he seemed so restrained whenever they were together now. Even in the simple things like holding hands, the chestnut-hair's grip never remained as tight as it used to be. Katie wasn't bitter, and she certainly wasn't envious of Marley's captivating qualities – the ones that had managed to snatch up her boyfriend more than once now – Katie was just concerned. Concerned that Ryder wasn't enjoying things as much, concerned about everyone's feelings (she hated it, but it was part of her caring nature), concerned about Ryder and how he inevitably belonged to someone else. Although honoured that Ryder was pushing whatever other feelings he had aside just for her, it had to stop before Katie herself became the villain; the guilty one for getting in the way of innocent, unrequited, teenage love that was some kind of society icon to everyone else in the world. She didn't want that to happen and, although it would hurt seeing the boy with someone else, at least she wouldn't be drowning in remorse for the rest of her high school career. Besides, Marley seemed like a nice girl and, from the way she's been stealing glances back at the boy, maybe this love affair wasn't so unrequited after all.

"Katie? What's wrong? You've been zoned out for, like, 2 minutes…" Ryder spoke cautiously.

"I, um…" This is it – bite the bullet. "I wanna talk to you about something."

"Sure, what's up?" The boy was now greatly concerned.

"Ryder," Katie grasped his hands in hers and gave a warm smile. "You know I love you. Like, a lot. Which is why…"

"Which is why what?" Ryder gulped, not liking the sound of what the conversation was spiralling into.

"Which is why… I can't be in a relationship with someone I care so much about, when they belong to… someone else." Katie breathed apologetically, the warmth still evident in her eyes. She knew this was the right thing.

"Someone else?" Ryder exhaled. "Katie, I would never cheat on you-"

"I know, Ry. I know you wouldn't. But I also know exactly what you're doing right now." Ryder looked confused, so Katie took the time to elaborate. "I see the way you look at her now, Ry. I see the way you always want to say something to her, but you can't think of anything that would even pass as even a fraction of everything you've ever wanted to confess to her."

Ryder looked down into his lap before squeezing his eyes shut, wrapping his head around the sadly true words. Katie continued.

"I don't want to be responsible for keeping you two from each other anymore. You know, it will hurt for a while, but ever since we first started dating I've wanted nothing more than to see you happy. And with me, you're not happy anymore."

"I am happy with you." Ryder insisted desperately, looking up from his lap in an instant.

"But you'd be so much happier with her." Katie retorted calmly. "And I don't want guilt to wash over me for not letting you guys be happy."

"But she doesn't even like me back… there's no way in hell she'd take me back after what happened, it would be a huge risk to her reputation."

"She voluntarily joined Glee Club, Ryder. Trust me, she's still crazy about you." Katie smiled sadly before a silence occupied the space between them. "Ryder, please let go. It will hurt so much more for me if you try to hold on, okay? You still love her and she still loves you back, so what are you waiting for?"

A thinking silence swallowed them whole for a few seconds, before the chestnut-haired boy huffed and answered finally. "Okay. If you really think so, maybe we'd be better off as friends… I still don't want to lose you completely."

Katie leant over the table and kissed his cheek chastely, realising this may be one of the last chances she'll ever get, before mumbling: "I would love that."

After the check was paid and the two had left the building, Ryder drove Katie home as promised earlier that night.

"So… I guess this is it?" Ryder said once they had pulled into the Fitzgerald household. The sun was setting in the sky, causing an orange and pink kaleidoscope through the atmosphere.

Katie bit the inside of her mouth before replying quietly, more to herself than the boy in the driver's seat. "Yeah, I guess it is…" Without any further information, Katie wrapped her arms around Ryder's neck, immersing him in a hug. They sat like that for long seconds, embracing each other, thinking over her sacrifice for him. Eventually, they broke away. "Take care," Katie whispered with another warm yet sad smile.

"You too," Ryder smiled, before watching Katie hopelessly as she exited the car and instead entered her house.

As Ryder drove away, he contemplated the bizarre events that had escalated through the summer evening. To be completely honest, he didn't know how he felt. Part of him was incredibly distraught – after all, how could he not be? His girlfriend had basically dumped him because she knew he had feelings for someone else who, despite her plummet in popularity, was still incredibly out of his league. Another part of him was guilty. Katie had sacrificed their relationship so he would have a chance at love; Katie left herself single and alone so Ryder could carry on with this stupid love affair with Marley, which he really should have gotten over by now. But he was young and foolish, regardless of his high test scores. He hadn't stopped thinking about it. And now, that meant that someone he cared so incredibly deeply about, someone he was so fond of, put her heart on the line for slaughter so Ryder had a fraction of a chance at being even remotely happy. He was sure the weight would never leave his shoulders.

Nonetheless, there was another emotion… he was relieved. He felt ashamed of it, but he was glad that everything between him and Katie and hiding his other feelings had been lifted off his chest. Ryder wouldn't have cheated, but what if he snapped and ruined everything between both Marley and Katie? But Katie initiated the breakup, and he eventually, mutually agreed to break it off and be friends instead. The blonde was a smart, funny girl, and Ryder looked forward to spending time with her without the pressure of relationships. Sure, it would, inevitably, be awkward for a little while, but the chestnut-haired boy knew that afterwards, they would just be able to enjoy their companionship.

With this lifted weight came another dilemma: Marley. The boy had not the slightest idea on what to do next. Despite what Katie said, the brunette obviously didn't feel the same way at all. What would he do next? Jump right in and get rejected straight away, or drop subtle hints and drive himself off the edge in the process?

Ryder got out of his car, having reached his house, and went straight up to his room upon arrival. He landed flat on his bed, which screamed in protest, and huffed, irritated. Not in his wildest dreams did he think that by the end of the night he would be in such a situation.

Sorry it's a bit shorter than other chapters lately!

So, Katie and Ryder broke up! That's probably what you've been expecting, eh? Anyway, what do you think is going to happen next?

Oh, and… there will be a song in the next chapter. Just to let you know ;-)

Just in case you didn't know, the song at the very beginning of the chapter was I Only Have Eyes For You by, like, thousands of people. Literally everyone has done that song.

Until next time,

-Beth :-)