"I still can't believe it," Serenity commented after Oliver and I recapped her and the others about what was said at the meeting with Ms. Machado and the letter from Theo and Ryan hinting about their plans for my demise. "I had a feeling that those two are out of their minds, especially after the shooting. But they're really adding a lot of unwanted stress around everyone here."

"Tell me about it," Holly said, shaking her head as we all made the trek after a long day of classes. To me, "Demario, how are you going to handle this mess with them?"

I shrugged my shoulders, taking a deep breath to ease my nerves. "For the most part, it's really out of my hands," I replied. "I mean, Joel and Taylor told me that I needed to stay under the radar and focus on my schoolwork. Plus, McGillivray's been informed about the letter as there's an APB placed for the infamous duo. But in reality, I'm bound to be placed under protective custody by the Lomax clan for my safety, meaning a curfew and less time with you guys unless you come over to visit."

Oliver nodded. "My uncle said the same thing since I'm connected to Demario," he commented. "Unless we're at swim meets or supervised dates, we're fit to be tied."

"Probably for the best," Epiphany chirped, brushing a stray hair back in place. "I mean, you two are linked to Ryan since you two slept with him, albeit while drugged, and you both refused his offers for a throuple pairing."

"Which is a smart move, since I think that Ryan is too demented to be dating anyone," Derrick noted. "But still, Ryan's not the one to be rejected. We all should know that he's not to be denied anything that catches his eye and we thought that Jillian was one persistent pest."

"Don't remind me," Holly scoffed as we began to separate for our after-school activities. "Anyway, something tells me that there's going to be more chaos in the air. And Demario, I hate to say this, but there's going to be some craziness that'll be thrown your way."

As much as I hated to say this, I had a feeling that she was right on the money.

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

Douglass and Evangeline Bader.

You may have forgotten their names since they were mentioned in passing back in the earlier chapters, so here's a quick recap for you.

1.) They were my ex-paternal grandparents who didn't want to take me in because "the economy was already bad and they had to consider it." The way they said was like I was a newborn that needed a diaper change when I could've easily gotten an after-school job to fend for myself.

2.) They, like everyone else who took my late mother's side, thought that I was a waste of space and that I broke the family because I was a love child.

3.) Yvonne warned me that they were soon to visit me and they weren't too happy to learn that I was still alive even after my failed suicide attempt, being drugged by Ryan, and that shooting.

And now, even as I came in from a tiring diving practice (thankfully, Oliver and his uncle also accompanied me home), I was now face-to-face with the well-dressed older couple who was sneering down at me while Joel, Taylor, the Nguyen twins, and even the McGillivray-Sullivan clan (the judge included with a few cops outside in case of any unwanted drama like before) were glaring down at them with contempt full in their eyes.

"Demario," Mrs. Bader said crisply, her eyes narrowed in silts as I sat down. "You look...very adequate."

I sat back in the sofa as Oliver grasped my hand. "And you two look very elegant."

"Thank you," Mr. Bader said in his deep baritone voice that brook every bit of hatred for me yet kept it formal. "My wife and I will cut straight to the point, young man. Your mother and her family- except for that traitor Denise and her husband- all had the right to hate you since you're not really a Bader by blood. Lottie Mae insisted that you stayed alive and bring light to our family. Frankly, we were better off if you were aborted so our families never liked anyone who was deemed as a weak link that could end the family name."

Tell me something that I don't know, fool.

Mrs. Bader sniffed in disdain as Oliver placed a comforting hand on my back. "How distasteful," she spat. "You're with someone who's a disgusting faggot. It's bad enough that you're living with them, but you're being friends with them."

It was my turn to speak. "I beg your pardon, ma'am, but this is my boyfriend," I clarified, keepig my voice even. "And just so you know, he's transgender."

Mr. Bader scoffed. "Typical," he said. "A young woman who mutilated her body so she could pass off as a man. I  swear to you that this world is coming to an end these days."

"Watch it," Taylor warned, his lawyer persona in full effect. "Now, about the reason you're here today."

Mrs. Bader sat up. "Well, we already know that Demario is still alive and remains a pathetic waste of space," she began flippantly. "My husband and I just came to see it for ourselves. And while Yvonne's now defecting and joining Denise and her husband in disowning us, the rest of the family still agree that Demario is- and always will be- an unwanted child who should've been put down a long time ago. I find it ironic that two gay men have adopted him. It's fitting that the son of a gay man belongs with them since this family is now free of any ties with him."

"Your point?" Noreen said.

"Why, this family will soon be going on the up and up since Candace and Amelia are soon to be engaged to two perfect bachelors who are running for US Senators," Mr. Bader commented. "Vivian and our son Damon had plans to make sure that our families were linked to game-changers and social-climbers, people who can make a difference, not be seen with wannabes and so-called artists like Demario. The only reason that Demario was allowed to live was not only Lottie Mae would give our daughter-in-law grief if she had him aborted, but also because she wanted him to be sold away into slavery. We had everything planned yet never formally arranged since De'Sean and Demarcus were slated for college scholarships at Texas Southern. When the car crash happened, everything fell by the wayside and we thought it best to just let Demario rot away in the streets."

"When we heard about him swallowing those Vicodin pills alongside some vodka from Damon's flask, we hoped that it was a sign that Demario was finally going to grant his mother's last wish of ending his life because he was never meant to live," Mrs. Bader added. "But alas, those Tuckers found him and they just had to get his stomach pumped. We- my husband and myself alongside Carl and his family and the others who are still on our side- kept praying and hoping that Demario would just give up on life or someone would kill him already so he wouldn't have any claim to what's rightfully his."

"What does that mean?" I couldn't help but ask.

Mr. Bader inhaled sharply. "Well, since you asked, the Ingrams are linked to high connections through some powerful families here in Texas," he explained as if I was a toddler. "And they all believed that they had no room for anyone who didn't measure up to the standards of what we believe in- strength, success, power, dominance. All the things that you will never have all because of Granny Lottie believed in 'the simple values of life,' as she liked to tell you. In all honesty, it wouldn't have mattered if you weren't under her or the Tuckers' care, you will never have any claim to the inheritance for as long as we declare it. Demario Noah Bader, you are- and always will be- an unwanted pest that should've been exterminated a long time ago. And as your mother said in her final words to you, so say Evangeline and I: we wish for thunder and lightning to kill you."

"Are you finished?" I said, my voice laced with contempt.

"No," Mr. Bader said, giving me a mocking sneer. "We know of those boys who shot you at that gala, and you shouldn't have rejected that Kendricks girl's offer to help you become a music superstar or rebuffed Peavey's advances of being his or accept his offer for a throuple pairing with that transvestite beside you. In all honesty, my wife and I are all for you being killed off so our family can be rid of you for good. You can have all of these people as your support group for all you care, but your time on Earth is all but running out. Sooner or later, you will say goodbye to everyone and you will finally be exterminated. And when the time comes, the Bader-Simmons-Ingram  family will finally be free of you so we can be living it up in luxury while you rot away in some unmarked grave."

With that, he and his wife stood up and casually took their exit as if they were coronated king and queen.

I just sat back on the sofa, not wanting to feel like I was about to collapse into a world of tears. Why was it that people still hate me for being who I was? Is this the price I had to pay?

Because if it was, I was already paying full-price with interest yet everyone wants to take more and more until there was nothing left of me. And even then, they'll demand more.

I guess the Scripture from the Bible still rings true: "The leech has two suckers that cry out, "more, more!" And my life's full of leeches that still demand more of me until I'm basically empty. And they're part of the Bader-Simmons-Ingram family.

Hot damn, folks! Demario's ex-blood relatives still don't want him to be happy and live a prosperous life. Other than Denise, Trey, and Yvonne; they wish for him to die and have dropped yet another bombshell about them being connected to a few powerful families. The worst part is that they hope that Ryan and Theo to finally put him down like a rabid dog.

And speaking of which, we'll hear from them in the next chapter as they get an unexpected surprise while in hiding. You can't afford to miss out on this, folks!

Dedication: HicksScribbles and hudsonmillerr.

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