TW (I don't really understand how these work): there are a few minor slurs in this.

'Hey, Ryder.' Ryder glances towards the choir room door, the direction that his name came from. Jake's leaning there casually, so he winds his way through the students to reach his boyfriend. 'You don't have class now, do you?'

When Ryder shakes his head, Jake grabs him by the arm, tugging him inside. Ryder can't help but wonder what's going on. Surely it's a bit risky to be making out here?

'I wanna do a song for glee,' Jake explains. 'For the guilty pleasures assignment. I wanted your opinion.'

Ryder goes to sit down. 'Yea, sure. Show me what you've got.'

Jake starts a music track playing before taking his place in the centre of the room. Ryder thinks he recognises that the song is by Chris Brown just as Jake starts dancing. Jake's dancing. Suddenly, Ryder's mind can't really focus anymore. Because dancing.

This is the first chance he's really had to really watch Jake dance since they started dating. And sure, it had been impressive to watch him when they were preparing for Sectionals. But now, now there weren't really even words for it.

Ryder doesn't realise that Jake's finished dancing until he's sitting down opposite. 'So, what did you think?'

'Yea, yea, um, yea.' Ryder isn't capable of anything else.

Jake's hand is on his shoulder now. 'Are you ok, Ryder?'

'Yea, fine. It's just, I guess,' he takes a deep breath, 'your dancing is kinda my guilty pleasure.'

'Aww, really?' Jake looks like he's actually touched. Although at the same time it seems like he's trying not to laugh. 'Well, for the record, your everything is my guilty pleasure.'

Ryder can feel himself blushing like an idiot, and he's trying to work out what to say in response. Suddenly, though, there's a third voice. Ryder had been sure they were alone.

'Hate to break up this love fest,' Tina calls, 'but Jake, please tell me you're not doing Chris Brown.'

Jake shrugs his shoulders. 'Why not?'

But Tina's already on her way out the door. 'You'll regret this.'

'For the record,' Ryder tells him once she's gone. 'I thought you were amazing.'

Xxx

In the end, Jake doesn't perform his Chris Brown song. He does a Bobby Brown one instead. Not that Ryder's complaining. Because when Jake started stressing about choreographing a new dance, he'd wanted Ryder there while he prepared. And Ryder would never get sick of watching Jake dance.

When Jake has sat back down, Marley turns to Ryder. 'So, are you gonna be performing this week?'

'No, I – ' he starts to explain.

'Oh, please,' Kitty cuts in. 'He doesn't need to. We all already know his guilty pleasure is Jake's dick.'

'Kitty,' there's a warning tone to Blaine's voice. 'You're meant to be being supportive.'

'Yea, and I'm being supportive of the fact that Ryder likes it up the arse.' There's a general chorus of noise at that, although Ryder can't help but notice that Artie looks curious. That fact makes him feel even more embarrassed.

But the way she says it makes Ryder think. The way that she makes it seem like such a bad thing, something that he should feel inherently guilty about. Although, suddenly, he's kinda thinking on a grander scale.

Xxx

'So, I've been thinking,' Ryder begins as they're walking home from school on Thursday. 'About the whole guilty pleasures thing. And what Kitty said.'

Jake's face quirks into a smile. 'I'm trying real hard not to say something inappropriate right now.'

'It's just, she's kinda right, y'know? Because society would say that you should be my guilty pleasure. That we should feel guilty about our relationship.'

'Yea,' Jake agrees absently. 'That's what you get for living in a homophobic world.'

Ryder continues, wanting to get this all out. 'It's just, I'm tired of the world dictating how I should feel about this. I worry about what all these people will say, but at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter.'

Jake's walking slower now, and his face is screwed up in concentration. 'What are you trying to say?'

'I think I want to come out. At school.'

'Why?' Jake's completely stopped now, and Ryder turns to face him.

'I see all these other couples, and I want what they have. I want to be able to hug you, and hold your hand, and kiss you good morning.'

Jake nods his agreement. 'I want that too. But why now?'

'I think that's what we're meant to be getting from this week's lesson. That we shouldn't let people dictate how we feel about ourselves. That we take ownership about what we like, and take away their power over us.' Jake's nodding slowly, clearly thinking it over carefully. 'Besides, it's so hard just acting like bros, when all I want is to kiss you all the time.'

Jake starts walking again, and Ryder begins to wonder if he'll ever understand this weird quirk of Jake's. After a while, Jake looks up. 'I'm scared. The bullying's gonna be hell.'

'I know,' Ryder agrees. 'That scares me off as well. It would be so much easier to just hide from the world. But that would be giving them the power.'

'How would we get through it though?' Ryder can see the fear in Jake's eyes. While that's not a good thing, it does at least show he's seriously considering this.

'I don't know,' Ryder admits. 'But we'll have each other. And the glee club will back us up. Besides, I already know that you can land a good punch.'

Jake winces at the memory before he begins speaking. 'Alright, I think I'm in. Although can we not do anything about it till Monday?'

'Yea, sure.' Ryder knows he needs the time to prepare as well.

'Although,' and suddenly Jake looks shy, 'would it – could I maybe hold your hand now?'

Ryder feels himself beam. 'Of course.' He slips his hand into Jake's, and instantly feels him link their fingers together, safe and comforting.

Xxx

Suddenly, all Ryder can think about is them coming out. Constantly, it seems to be on his mind. On Sunday, when they go to the food court, it comes bursting out of him.

'How're we gonna do it?' he asks, the moment they find themselves a quiet corner.

Jake seems confused, his head tilting slightly. 'Do what?'

'Come out. Because I don't think we should sing about it this time.'

'No,' Jake agrees with a laugh before falling silent. 'How about we don't make a big deal,' he finally suggests. 'We could just act like a normal couple. Since that's what we were really wanting. I'm sure everyone will work it out quickly enough.'

Ryder thinks for a moment. Yea, that should work. Holding hands down the hallway, a peck on the lips, putting their arms around each other. Everyone should be able to work out what that means.

'So long as we don't go too overboard,' he agrees.

Jake laughs at this, and his voice takes on a teasing tone. 'You mean to say you won't blow me in the hallway?'

Xxx

On Monday, as he walks down the hallway, Ryder spots Jake waiting at his locker. He smiles at Jake, a full-blown smile for once, and he's pleased when Jake smiles back.

'Hey, babe,' he greets once he's in earshot. He leans forward, placing a kiss on Jake's lips. It's just meant to be a little peck, nothing for anyone to get too outraged about, but Jake has other ideas. His arm winds firmly around Ryder's neck, and he's forcing his tongue into Ryder's mouth. At first, Ryder's surprised, but he just goes with it, quickly forgetting about the crowds in the hallway. When Jake finally pulls away, Ryder immediately notices how quiet it is. It's silent. Everyone is staring at them in absolute shock.

'Ready for class?' Jake asks, and Ryder can hear his nerves in his voice. Ryder links his hand with Jake's and pulls him out of the hallway. He'll have to cope without his books for his first class.

Xxx

It takes three hours before Ryder's aware of anyone reacting to the news. He figures that everyone's been gossiping about it during that time, but until that moment, they'd been keeping their distance.

He and Jake are walking down the hallway, hand in hand, when it happens. Out of nowhere, Phil and Bobby are standing before them, and suddenly, Ryder's very aware of just how cold he is. He tries to reopen his eyes but he can't. They burn too much.

'Welcome to Fagdom, pansies.'

Ryder just stands there, not knowing what to do. He can feel Jake's hand clenching in his.

Suddenly, he feels an arm at his elbow. 'Here, let's get you to a bathroom.'

'This your doing was it, Anderson?' Bobby continues to taunt. 'Get your fairy dust all over them?'

Ryder feels Blaine steer him down the hall. By the sounds of the cursing, Sam's there as well. Leading Jake, he figures.

Ryder's sight has been restored to him before Blaine begins to speak. 'So, did you two decide to come out, then?' Ryder just nods dumbly.

'Why didn't you tell us?' Sam wants to know. 'If you'd given us some warning, we could have protected you.'

Jake speaks up, voice sounding almost hollow. 'We can handle it.'

'You shouldn't have to,' Blaine tells them emphatically. 'Besides, this is only the beginning.'

Ryder lets the words sink in. Things are going to get worse. Sure, he knew things would be rough, but he hadn't really prepared himself. The slushy was an awful shock, and he isn't sure if he can cope with more.

Was this really the right decision?

Xxx

When they make it to Jake's house that afternoon, he's immediately digging through his wardrobe. They'd both been stuck in their gym gear for the rest of the day, and they were desperate for some clean clothes.

Ryder watches as he hunts through the piles, until Jake's getting distracted by the clothes hanging up. He just stands there, holding onto the sleeve of his leather jacket.

'Babe?'

Jake turns to him, sleeve still in his hand. 'Will, um, would you wear my jacket tomorrow?'

Ryder knows the implications of that. He'd seen enough girls wearing it at the start of the year. It would be a public declaration of their relationship. The thought scares him, and he needs to buy time.

'It's a bit late for that, Jake. I think the whole school already knows about us.'

'That's not the point,' Jake replies. 'The point is that we're not gonna try to hide.'

Ryder thinks about it for a moment. Really thinks about it. Can he do this? Can he live with the ramifications of being out? Can he handle making himself even more of a target?

Eventually he replies. 'Only on one condition. Only if you'll wear my letterman.'

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate how hot Ryder would look in Jake's jacket.

So, I know some of the events in this fic probably seem to be in a really weird order. But I figure that irl that would happen, so it is realistic.

I also feel like now is the time to have a little disclaimer. I don't know too much about the whole coming out experience. It's not something I have ever experienced, so there is a limit to how well I can appreciate the emotions. In saying that, I feel like I have covered a lot of the issues, and I've done a much better job than I expected to when I was just starting this fic. But, I dunno, I guess be warned that it might not apply well to the real world.

So there are only five episodes left to write about! I have a plan for Shooting Star (for those of you who said you were excited, it should be good). I also have another storyline that would last for maybe two chapters. At this stage, I don't know where I'll fit it in, but at a push I could probably force it into Sweet Dreams. It really depends what the Lights Out episode is like (I won't be seeing it until next week, so please no spoilers).

But, I would like some input from you all. Let me know if there's something that you think should be included in this fic. Or if you have any ideas for what could happen in Sweet Dreams.

Finally, I'd just like to thank the person who linked this fic on their tumblr. I stumbled across it the other day (even though I don't have tumblr) and it was super exciting.