Marley Rose wasn't the most outgoing of girls. When she walked to English class, she would look down at her feet and notice the sound that her shoes made against the over-polished, squeaky floors of McKinley hallway. Same with Geometry class and Home Economics. She didn't want to stir up any trouble or to be looked at differently and judged. Marley just wanted to blend in and get through the day; one boring and generic lesson at a time.

Lunch breaks were a little different, though she was not more conservative than she usually was. After receiving some questionable meals and out-of-date beverages, she would dart her head around the cafeteria, trying to locate another quiet and lonesome person hoping to start a requited friendship. However unsurprisingly, everyone was always in their group, hardly noticing anyone but the faces they called their friends. When she peaked around in the courtyard, the same situation was occurring but with more varsity jackets and perfectly curled pony tails. She pondered the possibility of having lunch with the New Directions; however she just wasn't feeling up for talking to many people today. One of those days, she supposed. There was always that table plus one red chair by the corner near the cafeteria entrance door. It seemed to always save itself for her sitting pleasure. It was secluded and in viewing distance of her next class. Practical, she thought.

Marley slowly walked from the courtyard exit to her common spot in the cafeteria. While balancing her tray in one hand, she softly flattened and fidgeted with her skirt, not wanting the material to bunch up and expose anything more than her knees. Even after performing the main leading lady in Grease and being kissed by Ryder, Marley's self-confidence was fragile. If not handled carefully, it could easily shatter and take a long time to be fixed. Although Kitty didn't really take that into consideration.

She cleared her throat and placed her tray on the table gently. Tucking part of her hair behind her ear, she sat down promptly and took a bite out of her bruised apple. She wasn't sure why, but the sound of her eating an apple always put her in a contemplative mood. Maybe it was because it was a very heavy sound, and triumphed over every other noise causing her mind to be more at peace. Or maybe she was just nuts. Either way, Marley took another generous bite and began wondering whether she should take another trip to the bathroom with the finger sisters. This apple is off; it'll be good for me to get rid of it. That's what her head said. But her heart told a different story. She pursed her lips and sipped her bottled water. Why can't comfort be the new skinny?

Realising she was daydreaming and probably looked like more of an outsider than she already was, Marley blinked rapidly a shook her head. She saw her mother serving the students and realised she was smiling at Marley. Her face suddenly lit up and she waved back, feeling a small wave of love wash over her. It's amazing how a small gesture of kindness can go a long way. Especially for a self-conscious girl who switches clothe labels and takes advice from every person she meets. Ms. Rose looked down and smiled to herself, then continued to put a heaping of the unclassifiable meat on each clean plate. Marley smiled to herself as well and felt blessed to have a family. Even though it was just the two of them.

"Hey lady!"

Ms. Rose looked up from her serving spoon swiftly and widened her eyes to signal that she had heard someone call for her. Marley's stomach instantly knotted up – and without knowing, she tightened her hand into a fist. Those idiot jocks from before. Jake and Ryder didn't know, but Marley witnesses the whole scenario from her usual seat during Dynamic Duets week. She was grateful to both of them. But clearly, some people still didn't understand the meaning of that word.

"Oh… hi there Phillip! Would you like a serve of surprising beef curry? It's good nutrition."

Beef curry? It looks like it's been digested than put back on that tray. Marley whimsically thought. She looked over at her mother again and chuckled softly. Her mother's optimism was always something that Marley envied. She was the type of person that could turn negativity back on itself and make it into a positive thing.

Phillip chuckled as well although there was something cold in the way he did it.

"You know…" He started saying to his friend next to him. "What's surprising is that she doesn't give smaller serves to everyone, I thought she would want about 2 pounds of left over beef for a small snack during her break." He laughed with a cruel tone, high-fiving the person beside him still sporting a large grin on his face.

Marley clenched her fist even tighter and her smile immediately turned into a grimace. Her heart ached for her mother not being acknowledged as a human being, but more as a dump truck. She saw her face fall and drop the serving spoon onto the tray with a clunk. Most of the time, Marley felt like crying when she saw her dear mother's face turn bleak. It was like a dark cloud suddenly appeared over her head. Then no matter where she went it still hovered over her.

"Hey, I wonder if she bleeds gravy." Phil's other friend commented standing on the other side beside him.

Suddenly, Marley felt it. 'It' being rude people making fun and disrespecting her mom. 'It' being no show of consideration from McKinley students – New Directions aside. 'It' being tired of letting other people run her life and being to afraid to take a stand and speak for herself. Out of nowhere, all of this adrenalin rushed through her body and she could hear herself breathing furiously. Not knowing what was happening but feeling very excited by it, Marley unexpectedly stood up from her chair, her fingertips still touching the table. No one seemed to notice her standing. She thought this was partly because the chair didn't make a peep… and that she was in the most isolated area of the cafeteria. Still feeling a little energized, Marley cleared her throat and waited. A few people looked at her with blank expression on their faces.

She swallowed the big lump down her throat and said, her voice a little shaky, "Excuse me."

Marley wondered if the jocks knew that was directed at them. Sure enough, the three of them turned around and they all gave her a puzzled yet amused look. She wished for a moment they would give her a bland expression.

"Oh hey guys look, it's dump truck's daughter! Now ma'am…" Phil turned around to Ms. Rose again. "…don't you go eating all that beef all by yourself. I know the salary here isn't much, so at least try to save a smidge of food for your poor underprivileged daught-"

"ENOUGH." Even Marley was surprised how loud that remark came out. When enough people were staring at her to feel like she was being noticed, she continued. "I know what you think of us. That we're some… poor unfortunate souls or dumb lost puppies that are helpless and depressed. And just because my mom and I are different than you, you think that you can treat us with disrespect and nastiness? I get it. You're young, you're popular and actually have a traditional family you can come home to and they all will love you back unconditionally." It stung Marley a little to say that sentence. "My family's not the most traditional but…" She looked her mom briefly and managed to smile a little. "I wouldn't change anything about her for a second. Anything. The bigger the person, the bigger the love, right?" She heard someone 'aww' from the other side of the room. It sounded a lot like Sugar.

Marley turned to face Phil, who hadn't moved a muscle or said a word yet. "Just… back off alright. Please. She's all I have."

Though probably minutes, the silence in the cafeteria seemed longer. Marley's adrenaline had long gone and now she was fidgeting with her fork. Phil looked at her with a bland stare then blinked and turned to his friends. He gestured towards the courtyard entrance door, mumbling a few words. Without looking back, he and his friends were out of the room in no time.

Marley stood there stunned, not knowing what to make of the situation. Apparently everybody else did though. As soon as she was out of her own little world, she discovered that the rest of the students had acted like nothing had happened. She sighed and shook her head with disbelief but amusement. Finally dropping the fork on the ground after ages of playing with it, she felt like normal ol' Marley again. As she was getting up from the floor, she looked up where her mother was staring at her, beaming so hard she could light up the school if it ever had a power outage. Marley smiled back and put her hand to her heart, making a fist. Ms. Rose did the exact same and mouthed 'love you.'

Overcome with emotion, Marley almost didn't hear the school bell ring to signify that lunch break was over. She packed up her things and headed to class. Marley Rose wasn't the most outgoing of girls. But as she just learned, she could be on the road to that path.

Hmm, the ending was a bit… eh.

I have an idea for a follow up of this one-shot. If you guys want to see it, of course?

BUT YAY OMG I'M UPLOADING SOMETHING, WHAAAAT?!

Please review as it would make my day and now I must go to bed. As I have a long day of setting up Christmas lights and decorating a large tree tomorrow.

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