Ten Years

For the movie "But I'm a Cheerleader" because I've always wondered what would happen after the end of the movie. The life that Megan and Graham share after high school. Mostly Megan-centric. Also, I made up Megan and Graham's surnames because they're never mentioned in the movie or on IMDb

CHAPTER ONE: 1999 – Megan's Graduation

"Megan Bishop, please come up and accept your Diploma."

Peter Bishop smiled proudly and clapped his hands so hard he thought they would go numb. His Little Pookie (something only he was allowed to call her) was graduating high school with a B+ average, and he couldn't be prouder as he watched her walk up to the principal and gracefully accept her diploma. A part of him felt bad that it had been such a difficult year for her, especially after coming back from True Directions – her former friends were ignoring her, and some of the nastier girls had taken to harassing her at times. Her ex-boyfriend – whom he and Nancy had once hoped to have as an in-law – had turned particularly vicious too, leaving horrible notes in her locker at least twice a week, and encouraging other members of the football team to call her names such as "dyke" and "lesbo".

But Megan had become a surprisingly strong and resilient young woman during her time away, something which filled Peter with a sense of pride. In the case of her former friends - she wasn't really surprised. They had basically helped to send her away, so as far as she was concerned they were never really her friends to begin with. She had been very hurt about her boyfriend though, and had come home in tears more than once, unable to understand why he was being so spiteful towards her. Peter had done the only thing he could think of at the time: Made her a nice, hot cup of tea, sat her down at the table, and just listened to his only daughter pour her heart out. Once she was done, he asked her if she wanted to call Graham to talk with her, and she smiled through her tears and hugged him.

Aah…speaking of Graham. Peter smiled and nodded at the dark-haired young woman sitting only a few seats apart from him. She smiled and nodded back. Peter would be the first to admit that he hadn't been exactly delighted when Megan had bought Graham home for the first time. The fact that his daughter had been unable to "go straight" like Mary had promised she would had thrown his whole belief system into turmoil. How could his little Megan be a lesbian? She was beautiful, feminine, refined, and a devout Christian who went to church without fail every Sunday and read her bible at least three times per week. And it wasn't as if she hadn't tried to be straight – she had worked very hard at the camp and at the beginning, she had honestly believed she could be straight again.

"Mommy, Daddy, you have no idea how sorry I am that I failed you both." Megan had said at the time. "I tried so hard, I really did. I prayed to God every night to help me be straight, like everyone wanted. But he never answered my prayers, and now I know why. God wanted me to go to True Directions not to become straight, but so that I could truly understand who I am, because sometimes realisations can only appear after suffering. If I had never gone there, I never would have realised that I'm a homosexual. I never would have fallen in love with Graham either."

Nancy had stormed out after Megan's confession of love. Peter had simply sat in his armchair for what seemed like the longest time before speaking.

"Pookie…you know I love you more than anything, right? But homosexuality is against the beliefs of our church, the church that we were all raised to believe in." He wasn't angry, but sad. "I want to understand you, I really, honestly do. But at the same time, I'm so worried that your eternal soul is at risk. And Graham's soul too."

"Mr. Bishop, what church does your family belong too?" Graham had asked.

"We're Roman Catholics, Graham. Do you belong to any particular church?"

"No, Mr. Bishop. My father is very traditional, but he isn't religious – he's all business. My mother was a Unitarian, and she used to tell me that I could go to church with her once I was old enough to decide for myself, but…" Graham looked a little sad when she paused "she died when I was seven."

"Oh, you poor child." Peter reached over to pat Graham on the shoulder. "Nobody deserves to lose a mother so young. I'm sure she's always watching over you from heaven though." Graham smiled sadly at him.

"Thankyou." She paused to clear her throat. "Um…Mr. Bishop. I know you don't like the fact that I'm in love with your daughter, and we can't really change anything about it. But I just want you to know that my intentions aren't bad ones. I want to be in a committed, monogamous relationship with Megan, and only Megan. I'm assuming that you could do with somebody to talk with - for a neutral view." She pulled a piece of folded paper out of her pocket. "There's a group called PFLAG – Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. You'll be able to talk to people who are going through what you're going through right now. I hope it's of some help to you."

Peter couldn't help but smile.

"You're a very nice girl, Graham. I don't know where I stand at the moment on your relationship with Megan, but until I make a decision, you will be welcome in this house as her friend."

It seemed like he had said that such a long time ago. Peter smiled as Megan got off the stage with all her fellow graduates and ran to hug her girlfriend. PFLAG had really opened his eyes, and it was thanks to Graham. It had been such a relief to get answers to so many questions that he had had at the time. To learn that there were other parents out there just as confused as him, and that his little girl was still the exact same person she always was, but also lead him to question his religion. He still very much believed in God, but his faith in Catholicism had declined.

Peter made a mental note to do some research on Unitarianism when he got home.