Demario's POV

Two blissful hours of sensual and passionate lovemaking later, Oliver and I made our way back downstairs dressed in our school clothes and grateful that we were given the rest of the day off (I had the rest of the week off while Oliver had to head back to school tomorrow) with plans to relax for the rest of the day. "Thanks for the distraction," I said, kissing my boyfriend on the cheek, which made him laugh. "I feel like myself when I'm with you, Oliver."

Oliver grinned widely as we made our way to the kitchen to raid the fridge. "Glad I could take your mind off things," he replied, swatting my butt cheeks playfully. "Today's been very chaotic for you and I didn't want you to fall back into the dark mindset, so I knew that some...sensual passions were needed for today."

"Well, I was all for it," I replied as I opened the fridge, deciding to make some sandwiches just as the doorbell rang. Believing to be Noreen, I hurriedly walked to the front door and prepared myself to help out with the groceries." Instead, I was face to face with none other than a saddened Jillian Kendricks with her parents and grandmother in tow just as I saw the housekeeper pull up to the driveway with my foster dads following suit.

"Hi, Demario," Jillian said, her voice calm yet laced with sadness. "Can we come in? We need to talk about Theo and Ryan."

I sighed, the feel-good energy from earlier slowly creeping away at the mention of the boys' names. "What happened?" I asked.

Mr. Kendricks stepped forward. "It's about earlier," he said gravely. "And let's just say that what you and your family and friends are going to hear will definitely make your jaws drop."

Oliver came to my side, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the forlorn blonde young woman. "What's she doing here?" he asked tersely.

I turned to my boyfriend. "I don't know, but I have a feeling that this...is going to get only crazier," I told him, allowing the Kendricks to come inside before helping the housekeeper and her daughter with the groceries. And just when I thought that I could escape today's problems, this had to drop on me.

**********

"No effin' way," I breathed as Jillian finished telling me what happened when she went to Theo's house to confront him. "Theo and Ryan? Together? And sleeping with each other while in cahoots to humiliate me? Kendricks, are you sure that's what you saw?"

"She saw it with her own two eyes," Endora commented crisply, accepting some lemonade from Noreen (who was also with me and Oliver alongside Holly, my foster family, and a newly-arrived Serenity as Epiphany and Derrick had other commitments). "Her parents and I were also there and were equally disgusted with the latest developments. And I thought that Ryan came from a good-standing family with good values."

"Clearly, we were wrong about everything," her son harrumphed, rolling his eyes. "Jillian was so devastated and furious about Ryan seeing that unstable boy behind everyone's back and was furious for you, young man."

I shot a glance at Jillian, who was wiping a tear away. "How's that?"

She sighed. "Demario, I can be a very spiteful diva who doesn't like to be intimidated," she said. "I admit that I love blackmailing people to get what I want, I don't mind that at all since I have a reputation to uphold. But there are some lines that I never dare to cross, you being a love child being one of those lines. Secrets like that are meant to be kept in private. I was already in hot water beforehand, so I didn't dare to cross that path. But Theo was already planning to wreck your reputation in either way, so that was expected. However, everyone else expected Ryan to keep a high standard in cases like this and have some common sense. And he failed everyone- you, his parents, our classmates, our community, and even me. He was sleeping with my godbrother and was willing to make you pay for spurning him when you two worked together for the art project- which was pretty badass in my book, though I was worried about the consequences before this. All in all, Ryan Peavey has committed a civil crime that was low even by my standards. And he and Theo Blake have to pay."

"And how do we do that?"

"Right now, Demario, you can't be involved since you're still the trending topic at school and I can't allow you to be seen in a negative light," Jillian answered. "But you and I- and even Artem, since he too is also affected by this- share two common enemies and have one thing in common: we've been betrayed and played like a fiddle from hell by Ryan and Theo and we've been scorned in so many ways. I threatened those two to never cross your paths at any costs and if they did, they would answer to me as I'll be the one to put them in their place. And if you don't know, my family name alongside the Lomaxes have some weight in the Dallas-Fort Worth metopolitan area. Your late birth mother may have ruled her kingdom with her brood with raging fists, but our clans can make hers look like a puppet show. And when it comes to kids of your caliber, no one makes a monkey out of them and expect to get away with it."

"Wait a minute," I said. "How is Artem affected in this? And how do you know that my birth family is-"

"All you need to know is that I've been waiting to take down the Bader-Simmons-Ingram clan for quite a while," Mr. Kendricks interrupted. "And once Joel and Taylor gave me and my family the rundown of your life story, it's all the more reason to finally ensure you that you have justice."

"As for how Artem plays into all of this," Jillian added, "he also had some secrets in his past, one being that he was intersex and was able to give birth before his transition to be a full man."

My eyes went wide, as did Oliver's. I turned to my boyfriend. "Did you know about this?"

"Not until now," he replied. "He did tell me that his journey had some complications as he was still in middle school when it began transitioning from Allison to new identity," he replied. "We'll need to talk to him."

"You'll know his story in due time," Endora replied gently, nodding slowly, "but the two of you can't be involved in this developing plan we're setting up in motion with some help from Joel, Taylor, and even Judge McGillivray and the DFW chief of police. You two will need to focus on school and the incoming jazz concert that'll be held next week."

I nodded. "I'll stay out of the way," I promised, gripping Oliver's hand who squeezed mine in return.

"We'll hold you to that," Taylor warned. "You have a promising future, son. We can't afford to watch you be caught up in the approaching storm, so stay out of the way."

"I'll hold myself to it." To Jillian, "Thank you for telling me all of this. I know it's not easy, but-"

"I did what needs to be done," she interrupted. "Demario, I may have been a cold fish who was jealous over something that I can never have. But after what I know now, let's just say that I'm still eating crow for giving you a hard time. Can you ever forgive me?"

"I already have. You're a victim as much as I was, but at least you're willing to make amends."

"Thank you," she breathed. "I don't see you as a victim. I see you as a warrior who's been through hell and back. Consider me as another friend on your side."

And just like that, two rivals who were scorned and betrayed soon became allies. What even.

Wow.

Just wow.

I have no other words after writing this. And I bet you guys were surprised to read this.

Anyway, it's flashbacks galore with Demario talking about his late grandmother Lottie Mae and Ryan reflecting on his newfound relationship with Artem before he and Theo talk about their next move regarding Homecoming week and how they want Demario, Artem, and Jillian to finally suffer.

Dedication: Outrider51.

Vote.
Comment.
Share.
Follow.
Add.
FAN!