Happiness [Book 2]

Chapter 31 - When You're Gone

Was I nervous about having to sing When You're Gone in front of the Glee club? Yes. I knew I was going to cry, and that'd just be embarrassing. 

When I walked into school that morning I was feeling a bit sad because Ryder and I hadn't talked last night, but the thing that made my morning suck was that I was greeted with a cola slushie. There was a chorus of laughter around me as I stood, stunned from the cold. "Well, back in Loserville again!" One of them hollered as I blindly stormed away, crashing into people. 

As soon as I got into the bathroom, I broke down. I knew had done this last night, but I just didn't feel the same without Ryder, and all the bullying made me feel sad, like I really hadn't shrugged off my old life. Like it was all still there, but it just faded into the background because I had something else to focus on; Ryder. And now he was gone, and I felt like the old Marley. The Marley that would break down whenever something didn't go her way, and that would cry because she never felt good enough.

"Breathe." I told myself, wiping my eyes to rid of the slushie. "I can't get too crazy," I probably was being crazy by even talking to myself, but it was encouragement. 

I wiped off my face with a paper towel, trying to get the cold sensation off my skin, and the stinging out of my eyes. 

As I was cleaning, I heard the door open and looked to my left to see Kitty. "You know, I like it when you're slushied," Kitty smirked, walking up to the mirror, releasing her ponytail. "But I feel sorry for you when it's in the morning." She smirked, wrapping her hair up again.

"Thanks, Kitty," I grinned sarcastically.

"Well," she sighed, turning to face me. "I'll see you at Glee club later." 

"Bye." I waved at her as she left. I stared back at myself in the mirror, my face tinged lightly with brown - giving me a bad fake tan look. I sighed and pulled my jacket out of my bag. I pulled it on, slinging my bag over my shoulder, and walking out of the bathroom into the now busy hallway

***

I sat in Glee club, watching Jake and Angie dancing yet again. They were in love with dancing with each other, and nearly every day I saw them this close. I think it was an excuse just to touch each other and have contact, and I wondered what they were going to do when Sectionals was over.

Everyone was here, besides Mr. Schue and Finn. We were all chatting amongst ourselves about the craziest things, but I stayed silent, staring at the sheet music for When You're Gone. 

"Okay!" Mr. Schue called, walking into the classroom. Jake and Angie darted to their seats and paid their full attention to Finn. "Sectionals is in a week, and we need to fit more practice in, so if you can be here tonight at nine-" I looked over at Angie who seemed aggitated by this almost. "-and tomorrow at ten until three." Mr. Schue smiled as Angie shakily stuck up her hand.

"Um, tonight, I can't really come." She said quietly

."Why not?" Kitty asked.

"P-parent stuff... Mom and Dad don't really like me staying out too late." 

"Why don't you come here and leave before you have to get home?" Finn suggested.

"Um, they're strict, so they said I can't really go out at night..." Angie bit her lip as Mr. Schue nodded.

"Well, you can miss out on tonights practice, but you'll have to work extra hard tomorrow." Angie nodded and smiled to herself. 

"Mr. Schue, Marley has one more song she has to sing." Finn said, signalling for me to get up. I sighed and handed the band the music for it. I stood in the centre of the room and took a couple of deep breaths before telling the band I was ready to sing, even though I darted I really was.