Here it goes: all of Gina's secrets finally revealed!

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"Oh-kay," Ryder says, frowning a little. "This is clearly going to be a very serious conversation. Proceed."

Honestly, Gina doesn't know where to start. She hadn't really planned this conversation, and she is clueless as to what she should say first. She takes a long, deep breath, and tries to calm her mind down.

"Back in Indonesia," she begins, "I wasn't always this sarcastic. Not always this mean, or bitchy, or whatever you want to call it. I was… actually kind of shy."

Ryder gives her a look and raises his eyebrow. "All right, all right," Gina scowls. "I was very shy." She hesitates for a moment. "I was that kid in the background, the kid no one really notices. The one that never spoke, the one that never participated in anything. I didn't really have friends. I had these big glasses on, real dorky, and everyone thought I was the big nerd of the class. To make a long story short, I was target practice for the bullies in my school."

She grimaces as the memories of her junior years rewind themselves in her head. "People would trip me or steal my books and call me names. They would push me around, hide my bag, even hide my glasses one day. I was pretty much miserable. I couldn't stand up for myself. I was too much of a chicken to even defend myself. I was lame, I was the loser, and I was the one everyone made fun of."

She glances at Ryder for a moment to check his expression, but he keeps his face blank. She knows that he's listening to her, though. Really listening. So she goes on.

"Um, Kitty was right about one rumor, though," she says. "As much as I hate saying this. She was right about me… not being the leader of my choir group."

At this, Ryder frowns. He is about to ask questions when Gina quickly says, "I was not even in the choir group at first. I mean, I've always loved to sing and dance, but I didn't show it to anybody." She clears her throat. "I… I didn't have the guts to even try out for the choir group. I had this song prepared and all, told myself I would do it, but I just couldn't. But one day, I was singing in the bathroom, and one of the members of the choir group heard me. She asked me to help them out, because one of their members was sick and they had no substitute for a competition next week. By some sheer dumb luck, I found myself joining the choir group, and entering my first ever competition."

Gina laughs at the memory. "Imagine how I felt that night, when the competition started. I was sweating like crazy, and I almost fainted onstage. But I just… I don't know, I guess I just forced myself to do what I had to, and by some miracle, it all turned out all right. And we won." She smiles. "We won, just like that. I was thrilled, happy beyond belief." She sighs. "After that, everything just fell into place. The choir group accepted me as one of their members. They were really nice to me, all of them. They became my friends, my family. I joined in more competitions, and my confidence started to grow. I was starting to believe in myself. I was advancing, too. I wanted to become the leader, so I could get a solo, and I was halfway there when, boom, my family decided to move to the US."

Her eyes travel along the dimly lit auditorium. Her memory travels back to two years ago; she was in a similar auditorium, only that time the place was packed with audience. The air was cold and the polished floor seemed to glow as she and her choir group stepped into the middle of the stage. The music started playing, and they started swaying, and Gina could feel happiness swelling inside of her. Then they started to open their mouths, and –

"When I got here for the first time, I felt completely lost. No friends, no relatives, with a completely different surrounding. But I knew one thing: that here, in a place where I could start all over again, where I could be whoever I wanted myself to be, I would not let myself be trampled or bullied by anyone. I promised myself that in here, in Ohio, I would not let anyone call me names, or degrade me, or push me around, or hide my things. I would not let people torture me again. And I promised myself that I would turn myself into someone confident, strong, and fearless. At least that way, I thought I would survive longer in this place. That I would be left alone. So… I shielded myself with the sassy attitude." She shrugs. "Thought it would save my life."

There is a moment of silence as Gina finishes her story and Ryder thinks it over in his mind. He looks so serious, Gina is almost intimidated by him.

Finally, he speaks. "You have confidence issues," he concludes. "Just like Marley. You never feel that you're good enough for something. You always think that other people are better than you, and you're just a pathetic loser."

"Are you done with the psycho-analysis? Cause I'm starting to feel a little crazy here…"

Ryder smiles. He takes both of Gina's hands in his and stares right into her eyes. "Gina, listen to me," he says. "You're amazing. You're talented. You're beautiful. Gina, you have everything. You're a wonderful singer and dancer, and you're also very smart. People degrade you because you degrade yourself, Gina. Listen, listen," he shifts his seat so he's closer to her. "There are always people who are better than you. But what you need to remember is that everyone's unique. You can do things that some people can't, right? You have your own special thing, the one thing that makes you Gina. If you don't even believe in yourself, then how are other people going to respect you?" He smiles. "Don't look at the things that you can't do, but focus on the things that you can do. You gotta remember that. That's the important thing. You are you, and no one can take it away from you. You're unique. You're special. And there's nothing to be ashamed of in being yourself. You get that?"

Slowly, deliberately, Gina nods.

"There will always be people who want to bring you down," he continues. "Always. Doesn't matter where you are. Indonesia, Lima, wherever you are, people will always try to find a way to make you feel bad about yourself. But the important thing is, you know how to handle them. You know how to stay strong. You know how to ignore them and just… be yourself. You have to remember that, Gina. Life's too short to be someone else. You have to be yourself, and be proud of it."

Ryder smiles and ruffles her hair. "Especially in Glee club. That's the one place where you can be whoever you want to be, and everyone's going to be okay with it. Well, maybe not everyone, but… well… you, you know… you know what I mean, right?"

Gina laughs out loud, and it feels good. It feels right, laughing and talking here with Ryder, the only person she can really talk to. Her best friend. Her new best friend in this new, estranged world.

"You're such an idiot, Ryder," she says. "But… thank you."

Ryder pulls her into a hug. "Aww," Gina says. "I love you, Elmo. You're the best friend ever."

"Right back at you, G," Ryder chuckles.

They pull away and stare at each other, smiling.

"Now what?"

I hope you like Gina as a character. I tried to make a background story for her and why she acted all crazy and angry when she first came. It's not a very controversial or jaw-dropping secret, but that's all I could think of.

Also, are you interested in reading about Gina, Ryder, Marley, and Jake again in the future? If people are interested I might have another story up my sleeve. Please share your opinions! Thank you!