Ryan's POV

"I assume that you and Jillian know why I called you both to the office," Mr. Callaway intoned, his "don't give me any reason to suspend you" persona on full display alongside that of his wife's as Jillian and I were in his office after learning what had happened to Demario after I kissed him.

Yeah, I didn't think that through since it led him to a panic attack that required him to skip school for the rest of the day and miss tomorrow as well.

"It's about Demario," I replied formally.

"Of course," Jillian chirped, though her eyes were blazing in fury at the mention of the boy. "I heard that he went into a nasty tizzy and needed to go home for the day."

"It wasn't just a 'tizzy' that had him collapsing, Miss Kendricks," Mrs. Callaway retorted calmly. "He had a nasty panic attack after running into Ryan over here and being kissed by him, frantic that knowing you're still clinging onto him and fearing for his life- Demario, that is."

Jillian turned to me with a scathing glare. "You kissed him, or did he lead you on?" she demanded. "If he led you on, I'll understand because he's just being a little incubus and needs to know his place."

"No, Jillian. I was the one who kissed him," I replied tersely. "A bad move on my end."

"Of course, Ryan. You're always the one who attracts the scum of the pond. Why would you settle for a downgrade when you can have me by your side and take you to new heights? And besides, Bader's better off with that Olivia tranny. Two rejects who are suited for each other."

"It's 'Oliver Slade,' Miss Kendricks," Mr. Callaway spat lowly, his ire growing bigger every moment that Jillian opened her mouth. "We respect the transgender and nonbinary community in all forms. But back to the two of you, I wanted to let you know that Demario already has a lot going on with his mental and emotional health. And you both aren't making things any easier."

"Ryan, I understand that you feel some sort of attraction towards Mr. Bader and that you want what's best for him. Even so, you already know that Miss Kendricks over here is still not over you despite you being gay and all. And you also know that she's not willing to swallow her pride and back down from anyone she deems a threat, hence her wiles and offer to make Demario a star by him singing at Miss McVeigh's party," commented Mrs. Callaway. "It's a blessing that he rejected the offer-"

"But not fully," Jillian interrupted. "He still has until Homecoming to change his mind."

"Yes," Mrs. Callaway sneered. "Still, he said no and he plans to stick to his guns. But he already can tell that there's a lot of bad blood between you two and just wants to play keep-away and respect your spaces. Even Sutton and McVeigh agreed that he should not be near either of you at all, as do some of the students and teachers here. All he wants is to focus on his studies and his mental health, so it would be best for both of you to leave him alone and let him get through his high-school years in peace."

To Jillian, "You're already on thin ice, young lady. And if I know better, you're not going to stop until you get what you want and either have Demario leave town or end his life. I already had your parents contacted and we came to a decision."

At that moment, a statuesque woman in her forties with a blonde pixie haircut and dressed to kill in a simple business outfit strode inside with a briefcase in one hand and a document in the other. "Jillian Kendricks?" she said crisply.

"Who wants to know?" she replied.

"Miss Kendricks, as of right now, you are ordered to have little to no contact with Demario Noah Bader at the request of Joel and Taylor Lomax," she intoned. "They have stated that with their foster's mental and emotional well-being at stake, you are to leave him alone and let him finish his junior and following senior year here at Pacifica Glades High School of the Arts. Other than school, you are to not bother him or make any attempts to contact him through email, phone, social media, or even make visits to his home. If you see him walking down these hallways, you are to look the other way and not acknowledge him. Also, you are to not bother him with your vanity-press offers to make him into a celebrity. Any attempt on either will result in you being arrested."

Jillian scoffed. "Says who?" she shot back, crossing her arms.

"Says the family attorney," I heard the voice of Antonio Lomax as he and his twin brother came into the office with Javier following suit. "My dads, brothers, and I all agree that you're a nuisance who won't quit with harassing Demario after all the shit he went through."

"He's just being a little baby and all since no one from his mother's extended relatives didn't want to take him in," Jillian replied nonchalantly, rolling her eyes. "Demarcus and DeSean should've had him drowned in a bathtub when he was literally a baby. And maybe his late mother should've have an assassin kill him when he was disowned after reading her will. He might not have to deal with what's coming to him in the first place. In my book, he should've succeeded in ending his life if it weren't for those nobodies from his old apartment stopping him."

"That's enough, Miss Kendricks," Mr. Callaway boomed, finally livid after that last statement. In a way, so was I. "You heard what that lawyer said. You're given a restraining order and you're to leave Demario alone for good. If you dare to defy those rules, I will personally make sure that the hoosegow is where you're next destination will be."

Jillian snorted, standing to her feet. "I'll bide my time, for now," she said calmly as she got her designer bag from the right side of her chair. "But this isn't over. As for Demario, he still has time to make the right choice. All he has to do is stay far away from what's rightfully mine and stick to what he knows best."

"Leave, Kendricks," Javier barked.

We watched her sashay out of the room. "Joel and Taylor was right when she warned me that Miss Kendricks was a piece of work," the woman said. "I can see why."

"For sure," I commented.

"Ryan, you're not in the wrong for all of this. But be mindful of your situation as well as Demario's as he's currently caught between a rock and a hard place," Mr. Callaway reasoned, a calm demeanor on his face. "He doesn't want any more drama and Jillian's not making things easier for him. Just let him breathe and keep things acquaintance-like for now."

I nodded, though I had other plans in mind. "I will, sir," I replied before standing up to leave. To the Lomax trio, "Tell Demario that I'm sorry for my actions, you guys. Tell him that I was wrong for kissing him like that earlier. It won't happen again."

I promised myself that what happened to Artem would not happen to kids like him or anyone else with the same caliber that he had. Especially Demario Bader.

Possessive much, bitch? Things are definitely getting intense with Jillian showing her true colors regarding Demario and not willing to back down from a challenge! As for Ryan, he's not going to back down from claiming our star either. The showdown is on and things are getting drastic!

In the next chapter, we'll join Ryan in a trip down memory lane as he remembers how he met Artem and learn how it all began. Folks, this is the starting point to how things between Jillian and Ryan came to be.

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