Demario's POV

Returning to school after a traumatic event (say, your biggest secret being revealed to the world through social media and word of mouth) can be daunting on so many levels, especially when one's traumatic past catches up to you and you barely have a strong support system. If you're really unlucky, you might face harsh judgment from all around and will have to face being a pariah for the rest of high school unless you're willing to take drastic actions.

For my case, me returning to Pacfica Glades High is one that I was facing a mixed bag of emotions since this week was now Homecoming week; and with Ryan now off the football team and suspended, all I could do was focus on finishing my original music piece for the jazz concert and brace myself for the worst fears. But I guess luck was on my side since the reception I received was nothing short of solidarity and transparency, almost everyone saying that what Ryan and Theo did was unforgivable.

"I admire your courage to come back, Bader. You being a love child and hated for it is one thing, but for that to be spread around by people who wanted to see you fall? That's just sick."

"Everyone suspected Theo to pull this kind of shit, but we all thought that Ryan had more decency to show you some kindness. Guess I was wrong, never mind being gagged that he and Theo were sleeping with each other."

"I warned that fool that pulling this kind of shit and stooping to Blake's level would be his demise. But those two together? I feel for you and Kendricks, Bader! You two got played like a Texan fiddle like Hillman did."

I expected shunning since Ryan was the top jock and all that, but I guess things changed since a golden-boy athlete were in cahoots with a bloodthirsty kid who could be the next Ted Bundy if he wanted to.

Anyway, it was day three of the Homecoming festivities (with the jazz concert being the following day) and I was at the library during break period since I decided to let my musical flow rest so I wouldn't choke up tomorrow, so I decided to meditate to calm my thoughts. Things were now so surreal since my failed suicide attempt. I never thought that I would make it this far since my ex-relatives (save for a repentant Denise and Trey, both of them still keeping contact with me) agreed with my late mother that I was a thorn in their sides. I went from facing homelessness and accepting a slow and painless death to having a semblance of solid foundations. And I knew that I still had a long way to go before I could move on with the past, but at least I was taking the initiatives to move forward with life. It was like I was...starting to see the sunshine after the rain.

"Demario?"

I snapped my eyes open to gaze into those of Oliver as he was in front of me. "Hey," I greeted him, inviting him to sit down at the table. "I didn't expect to see you here."

My boyfriend smiled gently. "Had to check up on you since tomorrow's going to be the biggest moment of you life at the concert," he replied. "Nervous?"

"A little, but I had everything set up and used all of yesterday to talk with the jazz and chamber music bands to ensure that everything would go smoothly. And Bermudez-Estrada insisted that I don't play anything today, telling me that it'd be bad luck to play music before a big event."

Oliver snorted. "It's kind of a tradition around here," he told me. "Anyway, I want to talk about us and where we stand. I know that we're a couple and all, but I want us to know where we'll go from here. So, tell me where you see us in a few years."

I took a deep breath. "Wow. Right now, Ollie, I'm not even sure if things can ever last between us with Ryan and Theo being on the warpath," I began. "If anything, I can only count my blessings for the moment and appreciate what time that you and I are enjoying together. And as much as I hate to bring this up, my late mother would tell me that I'd never live to see myself with anyone who would put up with me so I'd settled for less. But then I met you and saw how you were living in your truth. And the more that we spent time with each other, the more I felt like I could be comfortable around you. Oliver, I thank God and all the fates that you came into my life because you are one of the factors that remind me what I have to fight for. And thought I can't truly tell you what might happen in the future because it's never guaranteed that we'll still be together by then. I can only say that I want us to hold on to a piece of forever for as long as we can."

By then, I was shedding a few tears alongside a couple of female juniors who were witnessing the whole thing. I meant every word that was spoken.

Oliver pulled me into a hug, a few tears falling from his eyes. "I love you," he said through my muffled sobs. "I love you so much, Demario Bader. No matter what happens, I will always love you."

"Forever?"

"Forever."

And as we wiped away our tears and broke apart, I knew that both of us meant every word that was said. Despite how things could pan out for tomorrow and beyond, I wanted him and I to have our own piece of forever so we could remember the good times. So sue me if you must, readers. That's just how I feel.

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

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Demario Noah Bader."

It was now the day of the fall concert featuring the jazz and chamber music bands and after a morning of classes, everyone who could come over and support the students who put in their efforts to showcase their skills was there. Everyone else had already performed and I was slated to be the showstopper for the concert. Dressed in a simple black and blue outfit, I walked across the large stage of the auditorium and took deep breaths to calm my racing heart. I faced the giant audience, grateful to see my foster family, Aunt Denise and her husband, Oliver and his uncle, and even the Kendricks (all of them in their Met-Gala glory) there as I took my seat in front of the piano. "Hello," I said into the microphone, facing the approving stares of the crowd. "Most of you all here know my story by now- being born into a family who didn't want me at all and wished for my tragic end. And in case you haven't heard, I was born a love child out of an affair between my late mother and one of her lovers. I didn't have it easy growing up, so I had to survive. But up until my failed suicide attempt, I didn't know how to truly live life. It's because of my strong support group that has me learning more and more about who I am and who I can become in the future. So ladies and gentlemen, I'm giving you all an orginal music piece that was composed out of depression, rejection, and loss with an open ending for a ray of hope. Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you enjoy my original work known as... well, it's called "Pavane for a Lost Boy."

The audience clapped briefly just as the house lights dimmed and the orchestra was at the ready with me hovering my hands over the keys. Saying a silent prayer, I counted a four-four beat as I began to play.

The moment that the first few bars of the hauntingly wonderful opener to act one was when I shut out the world around me alongside all of my fears as I started to lose myself in the music that I created.

For the next two hours or so, I felt as if I was lost in my own element of blending contemporary and classical melodies that would form a rhaspodic lullaby which portrayed a kid who had to learn how to fend for himself in a world where kids like me were tossed to the streets and left for dead. This song told a story of the kid who was accused of not being one ideal in one moment and the other in the next, him taking care of everyone while sacrificing his own happiness but only getting more rejections and accusations for being too needy for his gains. This song portrayed a young man who was at the edge of giving up to satisfy the monsters that reigned in his head but had angels around him to keep fighting until he started believing that the ultimate victory was close at hand. It told of that young man learning to find his own identity while dealing with more trials and tribulations. But most of all, this story portrayed a young man who had been broken and left to die yet finding what he needed before seeing the ultimate rainbow after the storm.

This song was just about that and so much more as I let the music wind down and reach a spiraling climax which would offer a glimmer of hope after shedding tears of despair in the night.

The music now over, I stood up and bowed slightly as my mind was in a euphoric state of mind as everyone applauded and cheered wildly, Oliver and my foster family's cheers being the loudest of all.

***********

"That was amazing" sobbed a now-fully-pregnant Aunt Denise, her husband by her side as I was reunited with the gang. "I had a feeling that you were a talented kid that your mother should've loved, but your performance was magical."

"I'll drink to that," Joel cheered just as Principal Callaway came to us with a professional-looking Hispanic woman following him alongside Oliver. "And how can we help you?"

"Demario Bader?" the woman said, extending her hand. "Cristobal Machado, head of admissions from Berman-Dawes Academy of the Arts in Boston. Your principal told me that you had one story to tell and that you were a gifted musical despite your situation. So when the time came to see if there's any real talent and you were brought up, I knew that I had to see you in action. And it was worth the treat."

"Wow, ma'am," I breathed, shaking her hand professionally. "I'm glad that you enjoyed my performance. I got other songs that I plan to perform in the future and I hope that they'll be shared with the world."

"And they will, with a bit more polish and even some professional guidance," Ms. Machado replied, granting me a small smile. "Which is why I am offering you a one-time only scholarship to attend Berman-Dawes Academy with all expenses paid. We have various programs to help you tap into the true musician just like we have several sports to ensure that you are a trained athlete. Mr. Slade over here is strongly considering an offer to join us with his skills in creative writing and performing the guitar. I hope you'll be joining him."

I thought for a moment, knowing that everyone would want me to say yes. "I would love to talk more about it," I replied. "Shall we say, over break period tomorrow?"

"But of course," Ms. Machado answered, "but remember that this is a one-time offer that's not given again, so make sure that you've talked things over with your foster parents."

"We'll be there tomorrow," Taylor commented firmly. "Demario's been through so much lately and we don't want him to be taken advantage of."

"Understandably so, given how his late birth parents and siblings treated him with his ex-relatives and all," Ms. Machado commented. "Even so, sir, believe me when I say that Mr. Bader has true potential and that everyone at Berman-Dawes will make sure all of our students thrive and succeed wherever they go."

"Then we're agreed," Taylor said, nodding slowly. "We'll discuss more tomorrow during Demario's break period."

"Right."

"All right," Mr. Callaway said, clapping his hands. "Now that's been settled, I would like to take you all to the gymnasium where a masquerade-themed party will be held. Demario, you are the main guest of honor after your stellar performance as many people will want to talk to you."

"I'm down for that," I replied. "This is going to be a memorable night, I can already tell."

Little did I know, readers, that the statement would be true in more ways than one with one event being...lethally scandalous. And all because of two scorned young men.

Don't even think about putting this down just yet, folks! The long-awaited climatic cliffhanger is coming up next. And you won't believe how it all ends with a bang!

Dedication: MichaelSToledano and mestrin.

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