Changed Directions

Rachel slid into the opposite side of the booth from the three ex-Cheerios that were staring at her with varying levels of shock and curiosity. “Ok, so I have a few things to say before being interrogated.” She held up a finger. “First, please ask one at a time, I don’t like headaches.” She held up a second finger. “I hold the right to veto a question, constant badgering will not make me any more likely to answer, so I wouldn’t bother trying.” She paused before shrugging to herself. “Alright, that’s it. Let the questions begin.”

“How the fuck did you become gay?” Santana blurted out.

Rachel snorted. “I never became gay, Santana. I’ve known about my attraction to the female form since freshman year. However, I was already mistreated for having two dads, and at the bottom of the social ladder because of my ambition, I didn’t need to be kicked further down for being a lesbian. I know that sounds terrible, but I was teenager too, I made mistakes, and hid myself. I didn’t use Jesse and Finn though, if you’re wondering. Denial is a very powerful thing.” She gazed out over the dance floor.

“Pick up the da- KURT! I need your help, please.”

“Rachel? Honey, why are you crying? Where are you?” The worry was evident in the boy’s voice.

“I’m at the park near your house. Please, get over here.”

“I’ll be there in just a few minutes, hon.”

Kurt’s concern grew as he saw his fellow diva huddled form sitting on top of one of the park’s picnic benches. Taking in the tear tracks on her cheeks, he quickly pulled Rachel into a hug which she returned, burying her face in his neck.

“Sweetie, what happened? What’s wrong?”

The brunette pulled back to face her best friend; they’d grown close after his transfer to Dalton and had stayed close through junior year and his subsequent return to McKinley.

Kurt’s frown grew at the clear pain, fear, and confusion etched in her face. “Hon, I need you to talk to me.”

“I… Kurt. I’m such a coward. Such a fucking coward. How did you do it? How do you handle being-“ She cut herself off, looking down at her hands.

Realization dawned on the boy’s face. “Being gay?”

Rachel winced, and then nodded, burying her head in her hands.

Kurt looked out over the park. “It wasn’t easy. We live in a small town, with a lot of bigoted people, as you know from growing up having two gay parents. I’ve had to deal with close minded people, insults, bullying, sometimes violence. But, I realized something. Being myself? True to who I am, and embracing that person? It’s worth all of the bullshit I’ve had to go through.” He placed an arm around the girl’s shoulder. “It also taught me that the people who are my real friends will stick with me, and support me, and love me no matter what gender I’m attracted to. I’m here for you too Rachel, even if I can’t gush over guys with you.” He winked at her.

She gave a watery chuckle, a small smile now adorning her face. A thank you was whispered past her lips before she engulfed him in a hug again.

“I’d better get home. I kinda ran out on my dads in the middle of our movie night.” They both stood up. “Kurt I… I don’t think I’m ready to come out yet.”

He smiled at her. “I understand, hon. When you are ready, just know that I’m here for you. So will your dads, and Blaine. So will Glee Club.” He pulled her into another hug, then walked back home, not seeing the diva sit there for another half hour, contemplating his words, before heading home herself.

“Berry!”

Rachel shook out of the memory, turning back to the trio across from her. “Sorry, took a bit of a trip down memory lane there.”

Santana raised an eyebrow. “I asked if you ever told Finn you were gay. ‘Cause I would’ve loved seeing him realize three of the girls he dated are now gay.”

The singer stared at Santana in slight disbelief, before bursting out in loud laughter. It took a minute to stop the gut wrenching chuckles, tears of merriment rolling down her cheeks. “You don’t know?” She turned to Quinn. “You never kept in contact with Sam?”

Quinn frowned. “Not really. Kurt and Mercedes are the only Glee clubers any of us have really kept contact with.”

“Well. Let me just say that it seems Karofsky and Azimo weren’t actually incorrect in stating that our Glee club was full of homos.”

“No way!” Santana shouted in disbelief.

Rachel nodded. “Yeah, Sam and Finn got together a year back. They come here regularly when they aren’t touring. At the moment they and their band are performing with Warped Tour.”

“Band?” Quinn asked.

“Mhm. They started up in college.”

“What’re they called?” Brittany asked.

Rachel chuckled again. “Out, Proud and Open.”

“Fuckin’ eh. Anyone else part of our rainbow parade?”

“Not that I know of, Santana. Asian Fusion is still together, Mercedes is dating a member of the Green Bay Packers, and Matt and Artie are still single the last I heard.”

“You keep in contact with everyone still?” Quinn asked with a little surprise.

Rachel shrugged. “Not really. But Kurt does. I trade emails once in a while, that’s about it.”

Brittany whispered in Santana’s ear causing her to chuckle.

Rachel raised an eyebrow. “What’s so funny?”

Brittany grinned. “Every guy you and Quinn dated ended up gay.”