AN: Inspired by lyrics from "Goodbye To You" by Michelle Branch
Walking down the halls of McKinely, I ignore the whispers of other students. Many of them know who I am from the Junior prom last year. However, I don't care what they're saying about me - it's already been said in middle school. I doubt that they can come up with anything that hasn't been said before. Still, I don't let my guard down. Even three years at Dalton hasn't made me forget how dangerous public school could be for a guy like me.
I may be starting over again, but this time will be different. For starters, I know how to defend myself this time around. There won't be any repeats of the Sadie Hawkins dance for me or for Kurt because after all protecting him is part of the reason I transferred though I won't admit that part to him. All he needs to know is that I want to spend as much time as possible with him, which is the truth. Still, I've worried about him ever since I left Dalton. I know what public school is like for gay kids and it isn't something one should face alone.
And we had to face it at some point. People didn't get nicer when they graduated high school. The hate and the fear that we faced within these walls will follow us throughout our lives. McKinley is practice for the real world whereas Dalton was a sanctuary from it. A place where we could hide from the problems of the real world and pretend that everything was fine.
I'm done pretending now. It was time to start living now, and I planned to do that by my boyfriend's side.