"You look as if you had a bit of a day on your hands, Demario."

That was the first thing that left Dr. Nguyen's mouth the moment I stepped into his office for another therapy session (guest-starring Gianna and Jose) after a day of classes. "Well, schoolwork and being on the aquatics team can do that to you," I commented lightly as I sat down between the orderly and nurse. "And I've been working hard with the jazz/chamber music band, so I guess I've been busy."

"We can tell," Gianna chirped, patting her braided hair. "Antonio and Evan's been telling me and Jose about your newfound friendship with one of the guys from the diving team and how y'all looked very cozy with one another."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Blast Taylor for telling his adoptive sons about my business! "We've been close, but it's been only a couple of days by now," I admitted.

"Long enough for Oliver to give you a kiss yesterday when he brought you home?" Jose teased.

Blast my nosy adoptive parents! "Well, that did caught me off-guard, so I really can't say how to feel about that."

"What makes you say that?" Dr. Nguyen wanted to know.

I inhaled deeply. "I mean, you know me and my uncharmed life with my family, right? Back home, there wasn't much time for me to experience any intimate relationships when Mommy Dearest would demand for me to cook dinners and clean after everyone in addition to doing my brothers' homework and putting up with the girls' attitudes," I explained. "Hell, I was even lucky to be given a reprieve when they go out of town for the weekend and I was locked out, having to either stay at the Tuckers' or at a homeless shelter. And with Mommy Dearest's threats of making me disappear thanks to Uncle Carl and his wicked cronies from his police department, I guess I never bothered with making any friends- not that I didn't want to, but you know how it was with Vivian Ingram-Bader being the so-called ghetto-queen of the streets."

No one would dare be your friend, boy. They could easily be persuaded to get rid of you if I paid them handsomely.

Why bother being like your manly brothers these days? No matter what you say or do, you'll always stick out like a drenched rat. You disgust me for every breath you take.

I closed my eyes, steeling away the venomous words from the woman who despised me.

"She can't harm you anymore, Demario," Dr. Nguyen said gently, who seemed to noticed my fleeting look of mental pain. "Your mother and her brood didn't deserve a kid of your caliber. They missed out on raising you to be a fine young man."

"Thank you," I breathed. "It's moments like now that I want to believe it, but her words continue to nag at me like a cancer that won't go away."

"You'll get through it," Gianna assured me. "Other than playing music and swimming, did you have anything else to channel your emotions?"

I shook my head no. "Mom said that anything else that could distract me from 'being the perfect slave boy' would give her trouble," I replied. "She wanted me to devote my other unused time to cleaning, cooking, and being there as the family's whipping boy and toy."

Jose cursed softly in Spanish.

Dr Nguyen put his pen and notepad down. "I think you're a man of poetry," he commented. "And the way you took to the piano and sung those songs proved my theory. So my next challenge for you is to start writing a few poems to help you channel some of that stress and negative words from your mother into literal music. Maybe even read a few to your English classmates and teacher."

I frowned slightly. "I dunno, Dr. Nguyen," I said. "Writing music is one thing, but writing poetry isn't really quite appealing. Besides, I don't even know if anyone would like what I write."

"You'll never know unless you try," Gianna quipped. "And if you can write music, maybe you can write poetry. And they both sound the same to me. Go for it."

I nodded. "I'll give it a try, but no promises," I said. "I still have a lot on my mind lately and-"

There was a ping from my phone. Pulling it out, I saw that I had another email from the mystery sender. My stomach churned once I opened the app from my phone.

From: ladybeauty@gmail.com
To: demariobader@gmail.com
Subject: Read below and you'll see

Hello, Demario, the email began.

I heard that you've been quite a busy bee lately, making waves and even gaining a few allies. I hate for anything to go wrong should you get close to Ryan Peavey, who belongs to me and me alone. I know you've been playing keep-away like you should be doing, but I can't take any chances. Ryan is mine and mine only, so don't even think about being in the same room with him. I'll be VERY unhappy if you dare defy me. It's better to stick with the freaks and anyone else who's below me, like that tranny boy Oliver Slade. He's more up your alley than Ryan will ever be.

Other than that, remember my words: stay away from Ryan if you value your life and your sanity. Like your late mother always told you, I wish for thunder and lightning to kill you dead. I can get rid of you in so many ways that Vivian would be proud of me for ending your life and getting away with it.

Stay away from Ryan Peavey, freak! Stay in the shadows where you belong!

With hate,
Your friendly femme-fatale known as ladybeauty.

Gianna took the phone from my hands, she and Jose rereading the message. "Oh, hell no," the former spat, eyes narrowed in silts. "Who the hell is this bitch?"

"Clearly the same one who sent me the first email weeks ago," I replied tersely. "Javi saw it the night of my first day of school and made me promise to tell if I got another one."

Dr. Nguyen came forward and also rereading the email, his face warping into one of fury. "I'm calling Judge McGillivray at once," he said as he grabbed his desk phone. "I have a strong feeling that Jillian Kendricks is sending you those emails out of jealousy."

"But I've been steering clear from Ryan since I turned down Jillian's offer to sing at Serenity's party," I defended, "and both Serenity and Epiphany said that I need to stay away from Jillian and Ryan for my sake. I don't even want to cause any drama on that front."

"Tell that to a diva who's not backing down when Golden-Boy Peavey's got your number," Jose commented.

"She won't listen unless Demario accepts her offer," Gianna commented. "All the more reason for him to continue to refuse and stay away from her crazy ass."

And that was the truth. I didn't need anything else to keep me from breaking free from my family's sins. As for Oliver? We'll see how things work out between us. I just need to figure out how to approach the subject without breaking his heart.

Yikes.

Looks like the drama is on and poppin, boys and girls! Who is this mystery sender of hate mail? And do you think that it's Jillian? We'll see as this story goes on!

Anyway, the next chapter is when we'll see Demario at the piano with another musical selection on hand as he tries poetry with some guests...and Ryan, who just can't seem to keep away from Demario. And you know how that will turn out!

Dedication: Jaynhi and LiamMcMarsha.

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