My body aches all over today, and I think I'm still in shock. My father was gone when I woke up this morning, and I thought about skipping school today, but I don't want Kurt to worry, so I put on a sweater to cover all of the bruises, and I drive to school, numb.

I should tell someone, of course. I should tell Kurt or Mr. Schue or Ms. Pillsbury or something. I should tell someone. Someone can probably help me.

But I remember Bellville, where I tried to tell people, and nobody cared. If you're gay, you're gunna have to put up with this kind of thing.

But not from my own fucking father.

It was the first time he had ever laid a finger on me. He was drunk. It sucks, and it's scary, but I don't want to cause some huge drama when it might not ever happen again.

But Kurt will hate me if he finds out.

Do I won't say anything. But if it ever happens again, I'm moving out of that house faster than anything.

And there's no fucking way I'm going to quit glee club.

I seriously need to punch something.

I pull into the parking lot and notice Mike Chang parking in the row over. My heart-rate climbs, and I get out of my car quickly to catch him before he gets into the school.

"Can I talk to you?" I ask, stopping him as he locks his car.

Mike raises his eyebrows. He and I get along great in glee club and have similar taste in music, but he's a year older than I am and we've never really talked outside of rehearsals before. "What's up?" he asks, putting his car keys into his pocket.

I'm usually good at talking to people, but I feel awkward and uncomfortable right now.

He leans against his car and waits for me to collect my words. I blurt out, "My dad works with your mom."

"Oh yeah," Mike says, nodding, "She mentioned that. Small world, huh?"

I nod. "Yeah, sure. I guess. But uh… have you ever mentioned… me and Kurt… to your mom?"

His eyes widen, and he thinks for a moment. "I… I don't think so," he says. He obviously knows why I'm asking.

His uncertainty makes me uncomfortable, but I'm a little relieved. I say, "Okay. Listen, can you do me a favour?"

He says, "I won't say anything to her."

Mike's understanding lifts a huge weight off of my chest. "Thank you," I say.

"But seriously, Blaine? You still haven't come out to your dad? I thought that you were Mr. What Makes You Different Makes You Stronger."

Grimacing, I say, "He knows I'm gay. It's complicated. I'd just rather he didn't hear about Kurt from anyone but me. And I'm not ready for that just yet."

"Okay," Mike says, and I feel like he's judging me.

Probably too defensively, I say, "It's not like I'm ashamed or I'm trying to hide anything. My dad just isn't ready to know that his son has a boyfriend. He nearly shit his pants when your mom told him I was in glee club."

I laugh, but I think my tone is a little harsh, and Mike looks a little guilty.

"Hey, I get it, bro," he says, "My dad literally disowned me when I told him I wanted to be a dancer. But he came around eventually. I'm sure your dad will too."

Not fucking likely.

"Thanks for understanding," I say.

He nods. "Not a problem," he says.

We walk into the school together, but Brittany intersects me at the door.

"I need to talk to you," she says.

Mike makes eye contact with me and mouths, "Good luck," and heads inside.

I follow Brittany inside too, and she takes me to the choir room, which is empty this early in the morning.

"Santana and I are dating," she tells me.

Jesus Christ. I am so not in the mood to get into this right now.

"Does she know that you're telling me this?" I ask.

Brittany's expression doesn't change. "She know that you know," she says.

I say, "I only had my suspicions. Why are you telling me this?"

She said, "Because it's really confusing for me, and I think you can help me."

Last year I helped Kurt come to terms with his homosexuality, and I don't know if I have it in me right now to be anyone else' mentor.

But Brittany is so sweet and endearing that I can't help but sit down next to her and say, "What are you confused about?"

Brittany says, "Santana won't let me tell anyone. And all I want to do is hold her hand."

Adorable.

I say, "Britt, coming out isn't easy. You know that, right?"

"I don't know why she let the whole world know that she loved Karofsky, but she won't tell anyone she loves me."

Sighing, I say, "It's great that you understand that love is love, Brit," I say, "But I know you know the rest of the world isn't as willing to accept that."

She nods. "But Blaine, Santana was furious that you know about us. Maybe the rest of the world isn't ready, but I'm pretty sure you're gay too, right? So it shouldn't matter that you know."

"She's afraid I'm going to tell someone else," I say, "She's just scared."

Because the world is not kind to our kind.

Brittany nods. "Blaine, is it really that bad?" she asks, "I mean, are people really so awful that someone as fierce as Santana Lopez should have to hide who she is."

What a difficult fucking question to answer.

My ribs hurt like hell because my homophobic father kicked them in an attempt to scare me straight, and I have to answer this question.

"I guess you just have to find the people who aren't awful. You and Santana already have that with glee," I say, "But it's hard to say. Kurt and I get by at McKinley without too much harassment, but I know a lot of work has gone into ensuring that. Santana herself worked to ensure that."

Brittany says, "I just feel like the longer Santana keeps this secret, the fewer friends she's going to have left. Secrets make her angry."

Secrets make me angry too. I want to punch something really bad right now.