A/N: I'm so sorry this has taken so long to update. I stopped watching Glee and it's been hard to find inspiration. But, here it is, the concluding chapter of Guilty! I hope you enjoy.

When school started in September, I was a different person.

I was ruthless, willing to do anything to protect the social hierarchy of McKinley. My classmates feared me and my teammates admired me, but I had no friends. Football players laughed at my jokes about the new lunch lady and her daughter. Marley stood up to me and I couldn't stand her.

I made it my mission to teach her how things worked. She couldn't just stroll into my school and steal the attention of two cute boys. I started to call her names, but it didn't seem to make much of a difference. Slushies soon followed, but it never stopped her. Her smile came back every time. I had to do something bigger.

In October, I made the worst decision of my life.

I was getting annoyed. Marley wasn't backing down. If anything, a love triangle had started between her, Jake, and Ryder. No one was even paying attention to me anymore. I was a Cheerio, and she was just in Glee Club. But, it didn't seem to matter. I had to step up my game if my delusional state of normal was to be restored.

I tricked Marley into an eating disorder by altering her costume for the school play. She was crushed every time Tina complained that the zipper wouldn't go up. I had originally seen this as my greatest accomplishment. Marley was broken and wouldn't be able to steal the attention of the boys who should have been looking at me. All she could think about was her weight, causing her smile to slowly fade away.

In November, I realized I had made the biggest mistake in my life.

Marley collapsed on the stage because of me. I couldn't breathe. It was all my fault. I was jealous and mean. No one expected anything different, but that wasn't even the worst part. The worst part of all, the part the made me sick to my stomach, was that she didn't even blame me. She forgave me so easily.

In December, I got a second chance.

Once we began to spend time together, I realized she was the best person I knew. Not because she forgave me, she just was. She loved sappy movies and petting my dog. I started to fall in love with her. Before Marley, I didn't even think love was a real thing. Even while it was happening, I didn't think I deserved it, especially with her.

But then, Marley kissed me and changed my mind. I didn't have to be that cutthroat person my parents had trained me to be. Other people didn't exist solely as obstacles on my path to success. Marley couldn't be an obstacle, especially when she made me feel so… I don't know, warm, calm, good, something like that.

In January, I felt confident.

The first day back, I walked into the school with Marley on my arm and watched as jaws dropped along the way. I wanted to smirk, but I was too nervous. When we arrived at Marley's locker, I surveyed the hallway. I was a little surprised (and maybe disappointed) that no one was really paying attention. I crossed my arms and leaned against the cool locker doors, trying to look nonchalant.

"Are all the cheerleaders here gay?" I overheard a freshman ask a couple of his friends.

"I'm starting to think so. Maybe they should be called the Queerios," one of his friends responded, laughing at his own joke.

I started to laugh; I couldn't help it. Marley closed her locker and gave me a confused look.

"Did I miss something?" she asked.

"Queerios," was all I get out between giggles. "I'll see you at lunch," I said, giving her a quick peck on the lips.

I told Brittany about the nickname for our team during Chemistry and she thought it was even funnier than I did.

"That's awesome. And I'm glad things worked out for you and Marley," she said with a wink.

In Glee Club, Marley dragged me out of the bleachers to tell our friends about our relationship. The news was met with claps and cheers from most of the members, though Jake and Ryder shared a puzzled response. Things almost got awkward, but thankfully Artie broke the tension.

"Aren't you guys going to sing a song?" he asked.

I snorted. "We're no Finchel, thank you very much."

I sat down and Brittany high-fived me. Marley rolled her eyes and Finn turned a little pale. It was a great day.

Now it's February, and I know I'm in love.

I can't describe it, but I know it's true. I'm happy. Being with Marley makes me better. I was so naïve to think I had it all before. But I have finally learned something my parents could never teach me; I have learned to love. Not only to take it, but to give it. Only being with Marley could have done that. I don't know if I can ever tell her just how much she means to me.

But I plan to try. Tonight I'll tell her those three words for the first time and I can't wait to see her face light up at their sound. She knows I've never said them before; it's like all my life they've been waiting for her to release them. After that, I'll have to prove it to her every day. I know it won't always be easy, but she deserves it. She deserves all the good I have in my heart.

She texts me to make sure we're still meeting at my place at 7 to do math homework. I know it's not the most romantic time to say it, but it doesn't matter because it's the right time. I text her back with a yes and a smiley face before frantically cleaning my room. Gunner lies at the end of my bed, his eyes following me around the room. I smile, knowing he has been there for me this whole time.

As 7 grows closer, I stop in front of the mirror. I move a stray hair out of my face and smile at my reflection. This is it. This is the day; the one that I never believed existed in September.

I hear a knock on the door and run down the stairs. On the other side of the door is the girl who changed my life. I take a breath before opening it. There she is. Her hair is down, long and wavy, resting on top of her pink sweater, the one she was wearing the day I realized I wanted to be more than friends.

"I love you," I blurt out. I can't help it.

"I love you too."

Thank you for reading! I quite enjoyed writing this for you all. Leave a review if you have time. :)