The rush of classes went by in a blur and all too soon, I was satisfied with my progress in computers as Mrs. Rosseau smiled after approving my little freewriting session. "All right, boys. Before the bell rings, I want to remind y'all that the club rush is beginning tomorrow after dinner and group therapy sessions," she said as she returned to the front of the class. "And since I'm the coach of the swimming and diving team, I am offering you all a chance to sign up for tryouts. I'll be passing a sheet for anyone interested to join, so sign your names and swimsuit sizes if you want to participate. And since this counts as your P.E/Gym requirements, you can add this to yore credits."

The signup sheet began to make its way through the rows of computers and desks. "Are you going to sign up for the team?" Logan asked me from my right.

"I might if you will," I replied. "I did try out for the team once, but I was deemed too wiry or pudgy for some reason. That was back in seventh grade, though."

"You ought to go for it," he told me as he saw the sheet come our way. "And you know that I'll be around."

"All right." I took the sheet from the other student and signed my name before handing it to Logan. "And it's good to see a familiar face to offer me some support."

"I'll attest to that," said the chilling yet optimistic voice of Braeden Satillo as he came up to me with his backpack at his side.

"What do you want, Satillo?" Logan said curtly. "I thought you were told to"

The redhead cut Logan off with a raised hand. "I'm here to make peace," he replied. "And after a lot of thinking, I know that I was kind of a... well, a total brat in the past couple of weeks. I had no right sending Harding those threatening notes and I spent a lot of time eating crow. So I am here to bury the hatchet as Coco did with Alyssa. What say you, Wendell? Wanna let bygones be bygones?"

I hated that he used the Coco Montrese/Alyssa Edwards peace treaty after season five of RPDR and addressed in All-Stars 2. As Coco and Alyssa were sincere, I had a feeling that he was acting a bit sneaky for my taste. But as they say, keep your friends close and enemies closer. "All right," I said after a moment. "I'm willing to forgive and forget."

"Great," Braeden said cheerfully, surprising me with a quick hug. "And you can count on me to be your supporter for tomorrow. Heck, I'll even sign up for the team."

"You will?!" Logan and I said together in disbelief.

"Yeah," the redhead said as he snatched the sign-up sheet from a freshman and signed away. "It looks like fun and I want to channel my emotions into something positive. No more wars, no more pettiness. Just a way to repair old wounds and have a fresh start."

And that was what I was afraid of. But I wasn't going to let him know that.

"Are you sure about this?" Logan asked me when Braeden was out of earshot. "I don't trust him to be left alone with you. I think that he's planning something nasty."

"You and me both," I agreed as the bell rang. "But we need to just play it by ear and just keep on our toes. So look sharp and act natch. And we'll be sure to tell your uncle."

"Given."

**************

"Smart move with Braeden," Dr. St. Pierre said after Logan I recapped to him what happened in Computers. "It may sound like Satillo's making a good start, but I don't trust him as much as you two don't. Wendell, I'll be there as well as a few orderlies. From what you guys told me, he might be planning something dangerous. But anyway, I'm glad you're here in the music room. What do you think, Wendell?"

I turned my attention to the contemporary-themed music hall that was slated to look like a large band room full of musical instruments right down to the baby grand piano that took up the front of the room. "It's kind of cool," I agreed. "I wished McHell wasn't so sports-minded to have one like this."

"Well, I'm glad you agree because I want you to sing for your supper and a good friend of mine," the larger man said jovially as a statuesque brunette sauntered in wearing her flowing red hair in a bun and looking like a serene ballerina in her activewear. "This is Charissa Monroe, a prima ballerina and jazz pianist. She and I went to Cornell back in the day and I told her that you had a great singing voice."

"Nice to meet you," Charissa said as she and I shook hands. "When Luke told me that you had a great voice, he wasn't kidding around. He sent me a taping of you singing in isolation and I was hooked. Do you play the piano?"

I nodded. "Grandma Lillie Jean taught me when I was in fourth grade, but my father hated me playing classical music so he forbade me to go for a professional career," I explained. "It's been a while, but I think I have a song on my mind. You like Janet Jackson?"

Everyone nodded as I headed to the white piano and opened the lid, my soul feeling like I was getting ready to lip-sync (or sing and play for real) for the crown.

"All right, then," Dr. St. Pierre said. "Good luck, and don't fuck it up."

And there it was, folks- the classical catchphrase originated by Mama Ru herself. I took a few breaths to calm myself as I raised my fingers and began to play the haunting melody of one of Janet's classics.

[Spoken]

Here I am in your face

Tellin' truths and not your old lies

Seems to me that you care

And I know that you're runnin' out of time

See ya can't get away

I'll be here forever and again

Whisperin' in your ear

Do believe cause you know you cannot win

Janet Jackson's song "You" was one of my anthems that kept me through when I was dealing with a lot of haters getting ready to judge me for all of my flaws. It was also a way to remind me to make sure that people understood the realness of life.

[Verse 1]

Spent most your life pretending not to be

The one you are but who you choose to see

Learned to survive in your fictitious world

Does what they think of you determine your worth?

If special's what you feel when you're with them

Taken away you feel 'less than' again

That's right

[Chorus]

You gotta mean what you say

You gotta say what you mean

Tryin to please everyone

Sacrifice your own needs

Check in the mirror my friend

No lies will be told then

Pointin the finger again

You can't blame nobody but you

You gotta mean what you say

You gotta say what you mean

Tryin to please everyone

Sacrifice your own needs

Check in the mirror my friend

No lies will be told then

Pointin the finger again

You can't blame nobody but you

I was so lost in the melody that it felt like I was ready to fly into the night like I was channeling Janet herself while on tour.

[Spoken]

There's a feeling inside

No you cannot change it right away

Gotta make a try

And with time it'll start to go away

I'll be here when you need

That one to sit and cry to

Cause I'm the you you forgot

The only one you know you cannot lie to

[Verse 2]

Bitter you'll be if you don't change your ways

When you hate you you hate everyone that day

Unleash this scared child that you've grown into

You cannot run for you can't hide from you

Can't hide from you

That's right

The second verse was a stark reminder that being bitter and stuck in one's old ways would lead to more misery in the end and one had only themselves to blame in the end.

[Chorus]

You gotta mean what you say

You gotta say what you mean

Tryin to please everyone

Sacrifice your own needs

Check in the mirror my friend

No lies will be told then

Pointin the finger again

You can't blame nobody but you

You gotta mean what you say

You gotta say what you mean

Tryin to please everyone

Sacrifice your own needs

Check in the mirror my friend

No lies will be told then

Pointin the finger again

You can't blame nobody but you

You gotta mean what you say

You gotta say what you mean

Tryin to please everyone

Sacrifice your own needs

Check in the mirror my friend

No lies will be told then

Pointin the finger again

You can't blame nobody but you

And then comes the breakdown that I loved so much: when I was spelling "Conscience" backward.

[Breakdown]

E-C-N-E-I-C-S-N-O-C

(you can't blame nobody but)

E-C-N-E-I-C-S-N-O-C

(you can't blame nobody but you)

E-C-N-E-I-C-S-N-O-C

(you can't blame nobody)

E-C-N-E-I-C-S-N-O-C

(aw that's right)

By that time, I was so lost in the song that I failed to notice a group of students, teachers, and therapists coming in to listen in and sing along. I just ignored them all and sang on with my bluesy/and rock-styled twist to this pop/hip-hop anthem that I loved.

[Chorus]

You gotta mean what you say

You gotta say what you mean

Tryin to please everyone

Sacrifice your own needs

Check in the mirror my friend

No lies will be told then

Pointin the finger again

You can't blame nobody but you

You gotta mean what you say

You gotta say what you mean

Tryin to please everyone

Sacrifice your own needs

Check in the mirror my friend

No lies will be told then

Pointin the finger again

You can't blame nobody but you

"E-C-N-E-I-C-S-N-O-C," I finished, stopping the melody with my hands now clasped in my lap and my head bowed low as if lost in prayer.

Then...came the resounding handclaps from all around as I opened my eyes to see a stunned and overjoyed Charissa coming to my side and helping me to stand. "That was so amazing," she cheered. "I liked that pianized version of her song. Was that something you wanted to do?"

I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart. "Actually, it's a personal favorite of mine when I was facing a bad day at home or school," I replied. "And I like to think that the song was also my anthem in the end."

"Well, you didn't disappoint us at all," Dr. Valenzia cheered. "And I think that you could be on your way if you practice long enough."

"You think so?"

"I know so," the blonde therapist replied. "And we think that you can be a big hit at the Independence Day masquerade ball next month. We're looking for a few good students to perform. Plus, a representative from Cookman-Lanier High School of the Arts will be there and maybe you can apply for the senior year."

"What do you think about that, Wendell?" Dr. St. Pierre asked me, clapping me on the back. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that's never given to any other student. And this is a one-day-only offer. Choose wisely."

I turned to the faces of everyone, all of them wanting me to say yes and give this a chance. Only Braeden had a blank look on his face, but his eyes were telling me not to go for it as if he wanted the opportunity himself. And that's when I knew that I wasn't going to allow him to take it. "All right," I said, nodding my head. "I'm in, but I'll need to continue to-"

"Say no more," Logan said. "We'll continue your therapy sessions and keep you on your toes regarding your behavior."

"Thanks," I breathed, ignoring the looks of bitterness from the redhead. "And maybe after dinner, I can treat you guys to some jazz music- a mini-concert before curfew."

"Of course," the dean boomed, making everyone cheer out loud as Logan kissed me on the cheek that caught everyone's attention. "Wendell, it looks like you're on the way to healing after all."

Let's hope that the feeling lasts, sir. Because I had a feeling that Braeden is planning something big to make sure that I stay in the gutter.

 Ooh, folks! Janet Jackson's "You" is the song that everyone needs to listen to when in need of a reality check or to feel empowered as a reminder to stay true to yourself. And this song is the perfect one that fits Wendell's ongoing life story!

Coming up next: Danger, Wendell Harding! Braden is setting up a trap!

Dedication: peacybeau.

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