Hey guys, thanks for your awesome response to the last chapter and the kiss… Also, I should tell you that for the sake of moving along the plot and to not risk falling into some Jarley-esque boring-ness, the story's timeline is now in early to mid- November, just over two months since chapter 1 and 3 weeks since the events of chapter 11, just to let you know :) So, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, sadly.

"So…you're dating her?" Jake asked Ryder in disbelief, as they sat down at their usual table in the cafeteria at lunch break.

"Kind of." Ryder replied. And it was the truth. In the past exactly three weeks since that perfect Friday night, he and Marley had been seeing each other as much as they could. They hadn't really put a formal label on it yet, partly because it was still very early days, and partly because they were both very new to this whole idea of being in a committed relationship; Marley because she was a shy wallflower who had never been kissed until now, and Ryder because he had, before Marley, been much more interested in lustful one-night encounters than actual romance. Ryder also had an idea up his sleeve. If all was still going well in the next very few weeks, he wanted to go public with Marley as an official couple in style, at the Sadie Hawkins dance.

"…and you still haven't banged her yet?" Jake continued his interrogation crudely, smirking as he shoved a forkful of pasta in his mouth.

"We're taking it slow, man." Ryder shrugged. "And don't think you have a chance now!" He added.

"I know, I know. She's all yours," Jake conceded. "But wow bro…kind of dating, not pushing for sex, and still wanting more…could it be the notorious Ryder Lynn is finally in lurrrve?!" he teased dramatically, causing the rest of the jocks, who were eagerly listening, and equally astounded by their friend's sudden interest in commitment, to roar with laughter.

"Um…I'm not in…I mean…let's not get ahead of ourselves Jake," Ryder stuttered, avoiding his best friend's watchful gaze and trying and failing to be 'cool'. Jake continued laughing, clearly not convinced.

"Whatever you say bro…whatever you say," he sniggered. Ryder felt a buzz in his pocket, and pulled out his phone, drawing obnoxious cheers and wolf whistles from his friends, and cries of things like; 'text from your princess, Ry?' or 'message for lover-boy!'

"Shut up!" He yelled, his tone serious, worrying that Millie, who was of course working mere metres away, might overhear and get the wrong end of the stick- she was just beginning to come round to the idea of her daughter dating him, and he didn't want her to think he'd been saying inappropriate things about her again, far from it; aside from Jake, who had evidently been closely following the relationship from day one, the rest of his friends only knew about his seeing Marley because he couldn't stop himself from talking about how amazing she was. Once he had calmed them down, he looked at his phone and his face fell. The message was not from Marley. It was from Katie, the first contact from her in at least a month, and unwelcome contact at that. He contemplated deleting the message without even looking at it, but, out of curiosity, pressed open, for Katie hardly ever texted him, even back over the summer break, when they would spend hours every night talking online.

"Since you've abandoned the chat room I decided to text you. I know about your little girlfriend, babe. But I also know that you loved me before you even met her, and you'll love me after she's nothing but a high school memory. I forgive you for seeing her, too. It's not too late to salvage our relationship. Please reply. Katie xxx"

Ryder read back the words slowly, took a deep breath and sent a fake smile to his friends, wanting to hide the reality of the message. They had known he had previously been talking to a girl called Katie, but that was all they had known. They didn't know how serious it had gotten and they certainly didn't know that she had turned into an obsessive bunny-boiler. He managed to keep his cool, and text back.

"How can I love somone who refuses to meet me? And I never loved u, I liked u. Ill come online after school and explane everything" He typed simply, deciding that, however crazy she was, it was unfair to leave Katie hanging and not give her any closure. He would end things officially with her today.

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When he got home from school, Ryder went immediately online, grimacing at the prospect of the conversation he was about to have. Katie was already waiting for him, so he wasted no time, and set right away about getting it over with.

ryder_lynn: So im just gona come out and explane everything too u. ive met a girl, yes. a girl who likes me and I like too, and who I have actualy met in real life. Weve hit it off and, honestly, (im telling u this becos ive told u lots of personal stuff before) honestly I think im falling for her. I want to be faithful to her in every way. So this stops now. as far as im concerned it ended a wile back, but now im making it offishal. Wotever we had is now over. Im sorry it had to be this way but you have to undastand that I cant commit myself for life to and give up the chance for somethng reel for somone behind a computer screen. Maybe one day we can be frends, but for now, no contakt. I dont want to mess up something potenchully realy special.

He gulped, hoping it wasn't too cold, and pressed send. Katie did not respond for an awfully long time, so he began to think about preparing a picnic for tonight, another Friday night date with Marley. It was not until after he returned from making and packing two helpings of sandwiches and snacks, that his computer finally jingled, indicating a reply.

katie_xoxo: You're really gonna break my heart over her? You're really gonna choose some girl you met like two months ago over someone you've told everything to? And you can stop being so cryptic about her, I know that her name is MARLEY ROSE, and that she's a senior at your school. I also know she's a whiny little stuck up bitch who doesn't deserve someone as awesome as you. She doesn't love you. She just wants a chance to be popular for once in her pathetic life! So choose carefully Ryder, think very carefully about this choice you're making.

Ryder read the girl's cruel, acidic reply, and began to furiously type back, almost stabbing at his keyboard.

ryder_lynn: ur crazy! I dont know what I ever saw in u! firstly, marley is NOTHING like that, and secndly, how do u know who she is?

Katie replied much more quickly this time.

katie_xoxo: It doesn't even matter how I know who she is. What matters is you saying you're gonna dump me for some bony little skank. You know, she just pretends to be all innocent cos she knows guys like a chase. You should know that you're actually considering trading me in for some SLUT.

Ryder almost laughed dryly in disbelief. Katie had somehow transformed from a shoulder to virtually cry on to a vindictive psycho.

ryder_lynn: UR A LIAR. And even if Marley had slept with other guys, who wud I be to judge. Ive slept with tons of girls and she knows that and still acepts me for it. I could have been with u, if u met up with me, but u didnt. So dont blame this on me or marley. If u had met up with me rather than stringing me along on here, maybe id be dating u now, not her. GOODBYE.

katie_xoxo: Ryder you can't just leave me!

ryder_lynn: I have to go anyways, I hav a date with Marley in less than half an hour. Dont message me agen.

With that, Ryder angrily closed his laptop. He hadn't wanted to be quite so firm, or rub the fact that he was going out with Marley tonight in Katie's face, but she wasn't getting the picture and was being downright horrible about the girl he cared most about. He sighed, wishing he had never gotten involved with Katie in the first place, but brushed it off. It was time to forget all about it, and just have some fun with Marley again.

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About two hours later, Ryder and Marley were sat on a blanket beneath a tree at a quiet nearby park, after having devoured the picnic that Ryder had made earlier. Ryder was leant against the tree trunk and Marley was cuddled into his chest, his fingers lazily tracing circles on her back. They had been chatting excitedly whilst eating, and were now enjoying a pleasant silence, and the feeling of being snuggled together. Ryder however, had something on his mind, and decided now was the right time to breach the subject.

"Marley," he began, causing the brunette to look up slightly, into his eyes. "Do you…know anyone called Katie?" He asked. She furrowed her brow, and thought for a minute.

"No, I don't think so. To be honest the only people I really know here in Lima are people in the Glee club and you," she admitted. "Why?" She asked, curious to know why Ryder was concerned about a girl other than her; jealousy was evidently her thing.

"Oh it's nothing. It's just someone told me they knew about us and they had heard it from someone called Katie," he lied. It's technically half true, he thought.

"Do you not want people to know about us?" Marley asked worriedly.

"Oh that's not what I mean, I don't mind at all, I just wondered if you knew who was spreading the gossip, that's all," he told her.

"Well I did tell a couple of my closest friends in the Glee club," she admitted. "I told them to keep it quiet but maybe they told someone." She suggested. They fell silent again, Ryder wondering what the link could be. Maybe she did know one of Marley's friends from Glee club? He internally shook it off. It didn't even matter. Katie was a finished chapter of his life, and besides, a girl who couldn't bring herself to meet up with someone she claimed to be in love with couldn't be much of a threat to his and Marley's blossoming relationship.

After a few minutes, Marley looked up at Ryder again, the familiarly beautiful smile stretched across her face.

"You were right you know," she said. Ryder raised an eyebrow, urging her to explain. "You really are a romantic guy. A picnic in a park that we have nearly all to ourselves whilst the sun's going down? Lord knows I would have not thought you had this in you when we first met…" she chuckled, and Ryder cringed, his mind flashing back to when he had unknowingly insulted her mother during their very first conversation. It was only just over two months ago, but it seemed like a lifetime. He himself felt like a different person.

Almost as if she was thinking the exact same thing, and didn't want him to be any more embarrassed, Marley leant up and stretched her neck to reach Ryder's face, crinkling up her nose and brushing it against his cheek. He took the hint and turned to meet her lips with his own. Marley grinned into the kiss and moved her arms to run her hands through his long, floppy hair, before gasping slightly as Ryder slowly ran his tongue along her bottom lip, asking permission. She paused, then obliged, and before she knew it, was lowered back onto the blanket, Ryder hovering over her as they kissed more deeply than ever, it was her first 'heavy make out session', she supposed, and least it was until Ryder ran his hand, without realising on reflex, towards Marley's chest.

"Stop!" Marley said, abruptly breaking the kiss, before catching her breath. "Please…I'm sorry, I…"

"Shit!" Ryder muttered, realising he had let his hands roam a little too far. "Sorry Marls," he pleased, looking into her eyes. "I wasn't thinking, I'm so sorry-"

"It's fine," she interrupted, sitting up and brushing down her shirt. "Don't be sorry…I just…I only kissed a guy for the first time three weeks ago, I'm not ready to…you know…do that…" she explained. "Especially in a public place…even if it is getting dark," she chuckled awkwardly.

"It's fine, Marls," Ryder assured her, also noting that, as if it needed proving, that Katie's accusations of Marley being a 'slut' were totally made up. Marley smiled slightly at his nickname for her, then frowned.

"I'm sorry…I must be so frustrating…" she groaned. Ryder immediately cupped her cheek.

"Don't say that! You are perfect. And I'm the one who should be sorry. Look, I am prepared to wait as long as you need, Marley, whether that's ten days, or ten years," he said sincerely, smiling.

"Oh…well…I hope it'll be less than ten years," she giggled, before looking up at him. "But thank you." She told him, smiling once again. Ryder bent down to give her an eskimo kiss, before pecking her chastely on the lips.

"Come on dork," he teased. "It's getting late, I'd better get you home; your Mom is just starting to like me and I don't want to screw up again."

"I don't want to leave," Marley sighed. "But I guess you're right."

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Ryder got home after dropping off Marley and walked upstairs with a spring in his step. He didn't care about Katie's Marley based vitriol anymore, nor how she knew who she was. He had had another perfectly romantic date with his favourite girl despite the minor mishap caused by his own wondering hands, which had only served to allow them to open up to each other further still.

He walked into his bedroom with the intention of collapsing immediately into bed after the end of another jam packed week. (Balancing school, football, extra dyslexia help sessions and now a sort-of-girlfriend was exhausting.) However, he noticed a dim glow from his laptop, and, remembering that he had simply slammed it shut in disgust earlier, went to open it and shut it down properly. As it burst back into life, he noticed that one last reply from Katie had popped up. He sighed and clicked on it, deciding in advance that it would be the last time he ever opened that chat-room. He scrunched his eyes to examine what it said.

katie_xoxo: You're going to regret this.

Dun dun duuunnn…

Well quite a lot happened in that chapter, what did you make of it and what do you think its effect might be on future events? Let me know below, only has to take about 10 seconds :)

To my lovely reviewers from last time:

Sydney: Hey! Thanks, I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter! I hope you continue to find it amazing :)

Gleeotch13: Ah, I see. I'm so pleased you liked the kiss! I know you love the fluff so I hope you enjoyed the fluffy part of this chapter too. Hope it continues to please you :)

Ember411: Hooray, even more kissing! :p Yeah, still undecided on smut, probably not in this story, but maybe I'll put some in another story!

Savannaramirez35: Woop, they sure did! Me too, Jarley needs to go! Here is your update, lovely :)

Guest: I'm so pleased you liked it! Here is the more you requested, and I hope you enjoyed this too!

Gleeatic713: Eep, I love your reviews so much! Haha yeah, it was certainly more romantic than mine XD Aww thanks! Only fleeting mentions of Millie, but she's starting to like him atm. I think the problem is that Marley, in fact all the newbies put together except Kitty, have had like 3 lines between them in 3 episodes…me too, gimme canon Ryley!

TeaAndGlee: Aww, thank you so much! Glad you thought it was cute, I hoped people would think that :p Here is more, hope you enjoyed this chapter also :)

Thanks again everyone, and until next time,

Lauren xxx