And we finally have some Rachel Berry! Showing that she has a nice side (as nice as it gets with Rachel) waaaaaay back before anyone knew it existed. The takes place somewhere around/during the third episode of the series.

10. Autumn 2009, Tenth grade - the time he lied to his rival

Rachel Berry was the most annoying girl Kurt had ever met. She was absolutely full of herself. Ok, yes, she had talent. So did he. So did Artie and Mercedes and Tina too. Even Finn though he couldn't dance. It sure was wonderful watching him though. Even the cheerleaders had talent though Kurt didn't like to think about them too much. He wasn't sure why they were there but he didn't like it. At least it was just the cheerleaders. They weren't so bad. Their worst weapons were words and Kurt had gotten used to those a long, long time ago.

Kurt settled down at the piano in the choir room over lunch. He wasn't really feeling like sitting in the cafeteria with everyone staring at him today. His fingers graced the ivories. It was so familiar and yet so foreign. He hadn't played in a while. Now he just had to decide what to sing.

It wasn't too hard. He delved right into Journey, Mr. Shue's favorite. Don't Stop Believing. Deep and heartfelt. He put his every muscle into every word. He knew he deserved a solo. "Workin' hard to get my fill, everybody wants a thrill. Payin' anything to roll the dice just one more time." Then she had to join him.

"Some will in, some will lose."

"Some were born to sing the blues." He glanced briefly. He only faltered for a second. But they did sound beautiful when they sang together.

"Oh the movie never ends

It goes on and on and on and on.

Strangers waiting

Up and down the boulevard,

Their shadows searching

In the night.

Streetlight people

Livin' just to find emotion."

"Hidin' somewhere in the night!" Rachel had backed off. She let Kurt have that note. That beautiful, bombastic, 'look at me' note. Why? He didn't understand. It wasn't like her. She always wanted to be the star and have all the attention and she always got her way. His hands dropped from the keys.

"Why did you stop?" she stuttered.

"Oh I just. I don't know the next part." Rachel didn't look like she believed him but she didn't press the matter. He scooted so that she could join him on the bench.

"I didn't know you could play piano."

"I don't play much. But my mom taught me. A long time ago." They sat in silence for several long moments. Was this bonding? Kurt couldn't see Rachel bonding with him. They were rivals. In love as well as in glee it seemed. Though in both she was, of course, the clear winner. Mr. Shue favored her, Finn was most likely straight as a board, and for some reason those fits of hers always got her what she wanted. With everyone. Kurt knew if he tried the whiny fussy baby routine he'd get sent down to have a chat with Miss Pillsbury. As nice as the redhead was he wasn't a fan of talking to her. She always tried to pry his problems out of him and there was a reason he didn't like talking about those.

Of course she ruined the silence. "Don't think this changes anything."

"What is this anyway?"

"Exactly. We just sang a nice duet together, that's all. But don't expect your innate homesexual musical talents to land you the solos. I have worked very hard my entire life for this!"

"First of all, I've been working my whole life too just because my dad doesn't spoil me rotten doesn't mean I'm not just as hard a worker as you. Second, I'm a boy. Finn is my competition and lets face it Mr. Shue wants to stick to the typical duet style anyway and I am well aware that I don't exactly scream 'manly' but that leads me to the third point. I. Am not. Gay." That gave her complete pause. Her jaw dropped open as she looked him over. "Do I need to repeat myself?"

"No." Her voice was very quiet all of a sudden. "Are you sure you aren't gay?"

"Yes! I am probably the straightest guy in this whole school! I like girls! Hips and legs and all of that! Why can't people just get that through their thick heads!" He stood, waving his arms as he paced around the piano.

"Probably because you're more camp than either of my dads. And they're both pretty camp." And very much out and very, very proud of who they were. Rachel had always thought that Kurt was just as proud even if he didn't talk about it with people. He didn't talk about much of anything deep with anyone. All his conversations were about music, Broadway, fashion, who was dating who, and the last history test.

"Camp?"

"The clothes, the way you talk, walk, please Kurt. You're practically a one man pride parade. That's been set on rainbow fire. With glitter exploding from your mouth every time you open it." It took him a minute to process everything. The image in his head wasn't exactly a pretty one.

"I'm not gay! I know high school students just love their stereotypes but they need to get over it. I like fashion, I like dancing, I like music and musicals, and I am going to be on Broadway someday. But that doesn't mean I'm gay! What, do you like it when people say 'oh hey Rachel Berry we know she's jewish because of her big nose?' I really doubt it. Your nose doesn't make you who you are!"

"My nose isn't my choice!"

"And this isn't my choice either! This is who I am and I am not ashamed it!"

"Then why don't you start acting like it?" She wasn't buying his song and dance. Not for a moment.

"Because I'm not gay!" He would have ranted more but there was a sound from the doorway. It seemed they weren't the only people who had decided to stop in the choir room during lunch. Mercedes and Mr. Shue were watching him very closely. Mercedes strode over and took hold of his arm.

"Come on Kurt, we were supposed to have lunch together," she stated, giving Rachel an almost smug look as the boy took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow. As they left he fixed his bangs.

Rachel ran to find Tina.