Theo Blake- one-half of the duo who had arranged for my deaths alongside those of most of my former blood relatives (those who wished me dead), Artem, Jillian, and even Yvonne (who didn't deserved to die)- is now out of the picture. And yet, I was one of the small handful of students from Pacifica Glades High School of the Arts to attend his funeral. Oliver came along as a show of support alongside Holly and Derrick and Theo's former Goth friends; but there wasn't much to be said since it turned out that even Theo's family didn't show him much appreciation. In a way, he did suffer rejection after confessing his initial feelings for Ryan back in middle school. But he was lost in bitterness that he ended up being everyone's venom that needed to be eradicated out of their systems. He had people to lean on, yet he chose to lash out in anger and retribution. I almost had no one around me and I ended up learning to heal from my scars. At the end, Theo went to his grave a bitter young man who was lost in his darkness.

But I didn't know if there was any lost between him and Ryan since they were in cahoots after my past was revealed and they began their murder sprees. If there was, I guess you can say that Ryan saw him as unwanted baggage or that he just got tired of being Theo's eye candy. In either case, Ryan Peavey is now watching my every move and somewhere hoping that he could finally get his revenge by making me his or finally ending my life. His parents told me that they wished that they could've seen the warning signs earlier and warned me to stay away from him. Well, back then I did think that our initial encounter when Holly introduced me to him was a sign that he was more trouble than he was worth. Little wonder that I vowed to stay away from him until things finally went down the tubes at the after-game party.

The Thanksgiving holiday came and went and school was soon back in session as it was now Monday and everyone was getting prepared for finals next week before winter break began afterwards. Oliver and I were finishing up the paperwork for our boarding-school ventures with scholarship and housing applications. "School never has any patience even with death going around," my transgender boyfriend complained as we were in the band room finishing up a study session. "Thank God that you and I are ahead of our classes."

"Yeah, but it doesn't mean that you and I can afford to slack off since you and I are set to leave for Boston after New Year's Day," I reminded him. "If anything, it's all the more reason for the both of us to hunker down and make sure that we stay on top of everything."

My cellphone buzzed briefly with a text message. "Hmm," I said, looking at the message from Mr. Kendricks. "Looks like I'll be off to have tea after classes. They want to talk to me about what's going on and check in on me. They said that I can bring some people along for company. You in?"

"Anywhere you go, I'll be there," he said, giving me a peck on the lips. "What about Holly and the others?"

"We'll have to ask them over lunch, but I'm sure they'll be busy with whatever plans they have in mind," I replied. "It'll be good to be distracted with what's going on. But we gotta be careful since Ryan's still on the prowl."

Oliver nodded. "He's not going to be causing any shit around us," he vowed. "I love you, Demario Bader, and I plan to show it to you every single day."

"I love you too," I told him before we spent the next few minutes in a deep makeout session that left my mind and soul feeling like my feet never touched the ground.

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

The rest of the school day flew by as Oliver and I were soon joined by my adoptive brothers and Holly for tea at the Kendricks manor (Derrick had basketball practice as Epiphany and Serenity had to spend time with their families and schoolwork). "Demario, we're so sorry that you lost your aunt Yvonne to that nasty murderer," Mrs. Kendricks said as she and her family gathered me and my friends in the parlor with an exquisite tea service waitied for us. "I can't imagine how it must be like for you right now."

"It's been chaotic, ma'am," I replied as I helped myself to a scone with cream and jam. "But all I can do is move forward and know that Yvonne and I made amends. She, Aunt Denise, and Uncle Trey were as much as victims of my mother's wiles as I was of her abuse. She controlled those two to make sure that I had no one on my side."

"Shameful," Madame Endora said, pausing to sip on her cup of tea. "And your other aunt and her husband, are they okay?"

"They're in protective custody as they're staying in Arizona to stay away from Ryan," I responded. "The only reason Ryan spared them was he didn't want to shoot a pregnant woman and that he must've saw something redeemable in them. Or maybe it was pity that spared their lives. In either case, they're staying away for their safety."

"Can't fault them for that, given that the boy's still out and about somewhere," Mr. Kendricks huffed, helping himself to some brandy before handing me some. I gulped it down, revulsed by the taste. "I assume that you talked to the Blake family about what's going on and what went inside that fallen boy's mind?"

"I'm surprised that his family was affected by his nasty attitudes and suicide threats," I replied. "It's like they wanted him to suffer after Ryan initially rejected him back in middle school. I almost feel sorry for him in a way."

"You shouldn't have to," Mark said. "I mean, I think that he got what he deserved for everything he pulled, and I thought that Jillian had a nasty streak."

"We all did," Holly piped up as Oliver and my foster brothers nodded in assent while a loud boom of thunder rumbled from outside. "But at least Jillian came to her senses and ended things while Theo was lost in his twisted fantasies. I'm still not over how he and Ryan exposed Demario being a love child."

"None of us are," Antonio commented, sipping on his tea. "That was the ultimate act of betrayal against Ryan's family and Demario."

I inhaled sharply, not wanting to let my mind reflect on that memory.

Mrs. Kendricks noticed my look. "It's okay, Demario," she told me gently as another rumble of thunder emanated outside while a steady rainfall came down. "Ryan will soon get what's his in the end."

"Let's hope so," Oliver said. "The sooner that he's put away, the better off we all will be and the sooner Demario can breathe again."

"Aww, I hope I can be the one who can help him breathe...and in more ways than one, at that."

All eyes whipped to the doorway of the parlor to see a smirking and soaking-wet Ryan standing, his drenched T-shirt giving little imagination to his athletic build. "Ryan," I gasped.

"What the hell?!" Oliver bellowed, eyes flaring in anger.

"Oh, my God," Candice breathed as her father dialed 911.

"I'm going to kill you!" Holly screamed angrily, leaping out of her chair and charging right at him to give the brunette-haired jock a nasty beatdown.

Talk about the face-crack of the millennium!

And I oop...CUE THE SNIPER!!!!!!!

Don't think about going anywhere just yet, folks! Ryan's got an offer that he doesn't want Demario or Oliver to turn down, and he's ready to make his case known! The next two chapters following this are going to be full of drama, scandals, passion, and so much more! And with this, we're closer to the ending of Demario's saga! So you already know that this story is going to be on fire! Get ready, my fine friends, because this novel of mine...ooh, wee! You're not ready for this!

Dedication: MiriamElade.

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