You've never really known what different meant.
You assumed it was a choice when you were younger. You assumed people just decided they didn't want to stick to the status quo so they made themselves stand out.
You realised what different meant when you were 11. You realised she was different. She being Rachel Berry. The one with the long, brown hair that wears ridiculous jumpers with various woodland creatures plastered on the front. The one who's lips are pink and just delicious. The one who has a voice like no other and an angelic laugh that echoes through the hallways. The one who is just so happy it's painful.
You also realised you were different. You loved how she lived her life like some Broadway musical, with mega-watt smiles and impromptu songs. You loved her eyes when they sparkled in the spotlights, and how her hands were delicate and beautiful. You loved her cute argyle socks and classic Mary Janes and how she looked adorable in them. You loved her.
That's what made you hate her.
You knew girls should love boys. That's just life. So when you began to love Rachel Berry, you knew it was wrong. But how did you stop loving her? She was just perfect. That's what you thought before you met Quinn Fabray. You don't know why Quinn hated Rachel, but you doubt you both share the same reasoning. You realised however that Quinn Fabray was awful to Rachel Berry. So when Quinn told Rachel her nose didn't fit her face and her hands were like a sasquatch, you laughed. A slow, evil, taunting laugh that got you a golden smile from Quinn. That day was when you became the Santana Lopez everyone knew. Santana Lopez, head bitch, school slut, second in command from Quinn Fabray, the girl every girl wanted to be and every guy wanted to get with.
When you were forced to join Glee you pretended to be angry, but instead you were petrified. You hadn't spoken to Rachel Berry, except for calling her Manhands and Treasure Trail, since you were in middle school. You were in high school now, and high school confused everything. Rachel Berry was sitting primly in her chair front and centre, skirt tucked under her legs and staring directly at you. You heard from Quinn that Berry was fawning over Finn, quarterback, golden boy and Quinn's boyfriend. That's why you were here. Quinn wasn't anything, even she knew that. She looked like a Barbie doll, fake and blonde with brilliant white teeth, but no heart. She was an illusion. Beautiful like a princess, but evil like a witch. But Rachel Berry was special. You knew that. So no wonder Quinn was worried . But it didn't dull the pain the way her eyes sparkled when she sang with Finn.
You get together with Brittany senior year. Rachel and Finn are getting married and she's going to New York to become the star she's always known she'll be. You tell Brittany you love her and you know now that being different isn't a bad thing. You wish you'd known sooner though, because back then, Rachel Berry's heart didn't belong to Finn Hudson. It could have belonged to you.