Two weeks later...

From: marcopolonegro@gmail.com
To: [email protected]
Subject: Summertime Madness

First off, sorry for the radio silence. It's been hell here for me since you last texted. I never knew that my mother and the others could be so demanding when it comes to planning the last days of my summer vacation. Since my confrontation with them, they've been as bad and true as their word with keeping me busy with whatever they got planned. When I'm not with the adults (Francis and his brothers, my birth father and uncles) or my mother and stepfather; I'm being dragged around with shopping for new clothes, bullied by Gianna to spend time with my half-brothers and male cousins, and brow-beaten into attending parties all around despite Chanel's warning to not attend. I try to get in some private time or at least a nap, but Mom said that I needed to be out and about all the time. "It's the principle of being out and being a teenager," she insists. As if.

Anyway, when I'm not at a house party, I'm dressed up for dinner parties that Francis would hold for his friends (more guys who belong in fitness calendars alongside the younger guys). Turns out, word of my arrival traveled fast and I'm expected to fall in line with something called the Triton Mystique. If you ask me, it's all some strange cult. Anyway, I finally got a good look at Glenview Valley Academy for Boys and it's definitely out of my league and over my head. It's like a boarding school and a college all in one. Hell, the campus looks like a town itself with the dormitories being like condominiums. Uncle Frederich said that I'll be thriving here when school starts after this weekend. I dunno what's going on, bro, but I don't like the looks of it.

Pray for me, fine friend. Pray for me as if your life and mine depends on it. I better go. If I know better, something tells me that my last weekend will kick off something wicked. Go hug your mother for me.

Just as Ja'Marco pressed the SEND button, in strolled Gianna and Ciara with them holding more shopping bags and shoeboxes. "How's tricks, Ja'Marco?" the former asked.

"Tiring," the young man replied, stifling a yawn. "I could use a night in and maybe-"

"Sorry, but that's not happening because Aunt Mellie said that you're attending a party of one of Adam's friends tonight," Ciara interrupted. "Not only that, you're spending the weekend there before coming back on Sunday for the 'Welcome-to-Glenview-Valley' barbeque."

Then came Melinda with her in a flowy sundress and her hair in a bandanna. "I expect you to take plenty of pictures and sharing them on social media," she intoned as the girls began hastily packing Ja'Marco an overnight bag. "And you're to stay the whole weekend until the barbeque-themed dinner party. Frederich said that he has some surprise for you."

Ja'Marco nodded, deciding not to argue. "I look forward to it," he said formally.

"This is for your own good, Ja'Marco," Melinda said gently to her son. "Once you start hanging out more with the young men at GVA and become more open, you'll see that this is all a good thing. Who knows? You might end up thanking me for sending you here. There was nothing left in Los Angeles, anyhow."

Once the bag was packed and a party outfit was laid out for him, the ladies left just as Mrs. Lancaster arrived. "Another party? Your family is really upping the ante on your social life," she remarked.

"I'll bet," the teen replied as he sat up in his desk chair. "I'm lucky to get a nap in, even though Gianna keeps piling up cups of coffee to keep me hyper. I dunno how she can stand it all."

"Well, at least you'll have some time before tonight to relax," Mrs. Lancaster assured him before her smile faded. "But I must warn you that this party is hosted by one of the more-roguish teens of GVA. Reichen Bundchen. He and his friends Lachlan Buies and the Estrada brothers Felix and Felipe are known to be quite a handful."

"All the more reason to stay away from them."

"That won't be possible. Their fathers are good friends of Francis and his brothers and they are good friends of the boys. Not only that, your mother and the girls were charmed and they'll expect you to play nice all weekend long."

Ja'Marco groaned. "Fine thing for me," he said sarcastically. "If I'm even suspected of being ornery or treat them with disdain, I'll never hear the end of it. Mrs. Lancaster, I think I need an aspirin because this mess is giving me a headache."

That was an understatement.

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

The Bundchen residence, later that evening...

Gentle reader, it shouldn't go without saying that Ja'Marco Hedare wasn't known to be a party boy despite his recent appearances since his arrival in Glenview Valley. He honestly believed that academic kids of his caliber shouldn't bother attending any unsupervised party because they would lead to anything that one teen would regret in the future.

If it wasn't for his mother's domineering demand to attend, he would've gladly stayed home and dealt with the consequences. But he was at the Bundchen home after a light dinner with his half-brothers and cousins (with Gianna and Ciara playing watchdog) as the music was playing and party snacks and drinks flowed like water

It wasn't how the place was a bit gaudy that set him off or how there seemed to be a lack of alcohol for a change much less anything that made up a typical house party. No, gentle reader, it was that he was surrounded by many young people (mainly young men) who belonged in fashion magazines and seemed to attract to him like bees to nectar and pollen.

Of course, Ja'Marco did all that he was asked by Melinda, knowing that he would get the blues if he failed. He made nice with the party guests and made efforts to strike up conversations about school and social life while accepting phone numbers.

Danced his feet off and participated in dance-offs.

Took endless selfies (and filmed videos) while sharing them on his Instagram and TikTok profiles, all of them gaining approval from his new friends (and Melinda who insisted that he posted more).

Enjoyed the party food and cups of punch that came his way by the servers (with small cups of ginger ale in case he had indigestion or an upset stomach).

And still, he felt uneasy about being there.

"Cool party, huh?"

Ja'Marco looked up from his cup of punch to be greeted by a blonde-haired football player of a teenager who was the epitome of teenage masculinity, his athletic frame hugging his Polo outfit. Next to him was a handsome Black male and two Hispanic twins. "That it is," the young man breathed, downing the last of his drink. "You must be the party host. Reichen Bundchen, am I right?"

"That he is," the Black young man chirped. "I'm Lachlan Buies, his second-in-command of the gang. And with us are none other than our friends the Estrada twins- Felipe on my right and Felix next to Reichen. We've been hearing a lot about you, Ja'Marco."

"Not all bad, I hope." Ja'Marco shook hands with everyone as another cup of punch came to him by another handsome and athletic young man.

"Not at all," Felipe (in shades of blue) replied. "But tell us, amigo, why you seem to be so tense. Why do you         need to hold back on your potential."

"What do you mean by that?" Ja'Marco wanted to know, pausing to sip on his cup of punch and surprised to see that this serving was sweeter than the previous cups of punch.

"He means that you seem to be so otherworldly yet doesn't want to be seen as a showoff or come across as arrogant," Felix (in charcoal and gray) explained. "You have this aura that gives off dominance yet you easily hide it and come across as cynical to the world. Are you afraid to show off the real you? If you want to go after something that belongs to you, then you should claim it for your own. That's our lesson of the day for you, free of charge."

Ja'Marco arched an eyebrow, sipping on his cup of punch for a moment. "And you guys must be teachers," he said. "You're a bit young to be teachers."

Lachlan grinned. "We're teachers for our fellow Triton classmates, but we're also students with so much to learn," he drawled teasingly. "And there's still a LOT that we don't understand yet we can truly enjoy. You wouldn't believe us if we told you what we learned."

What's all the riddles about? Ja'Marco asked himself. Time to dive for the throat. "Try me," he said out loud before downing the glass.

"Why don't we show you?" Reichen asked cheekily before he branded his lips on Ja'Marco's in a passionate kiss. Before he knew it, Ja'Marco was led upstairs to a private bedroom and was soon lost in a whirlwind of discarded clothes, dark chuckles, and sensual yet forbidden passions.

And from there, this story will lead into something more revolutionary.

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

Quitman residence...

"And so it begins," Melinda cheered to herself as she enjoyed a glass of martini while sitting in her pool chair, watching the light of the full moon emerge from the cloudy skies. "Everything is falling into place. After tonight, there will be no going back. Ja'Marco is going to become what he is meant to be and no one- not even those nobodies he was friends with or any of them here in town- will stop what is meant to be."

She raised her glass in a silent toast. "To the future. May it shine as bright as the Triton moon."

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

Thade/Turner/Adamson residence...

Felicia Adamson woke with a scream that shook the whole house, making her younger brother race inside her bedroom. "Felicia, what is it?!" he said hurriedly, eyes full of concern.

She let out a sob, shaking her head. "Ja'Marco...sea-green moon...wickedness...dark evil..." she said.

The young man's eyes went wide just as Kimani and LaVanna came inside with their parents  and LaVanna's older sister Trenyce following suit. "We need to pray right now," was all he said. "Daddy, do you have your Bible?"

"I do, son," he said as his wife came to comfort Felicia who continue to sob heavily. "Something tells me that Melinda set her son up for the first wave of what's coming his way."

"I'm calling Chanel and my crew," LaVanna said. "Kimani, call up Weston and Howard. Let them know what's up and tell them to pray like hell. If what happened really happened, then Ja'Marco is in danger."

If only they knew the REAL story of what's really going on, folks! And boy, what'll happen onwards will blow your mind and theirs!

Coming up next, it's the morning after the party and Ja'Marco...well, just stay tuned for what's next because you're going to want to brace yourselves.

Song: "Cheap Thrills" by Sia. Dedicating this out to Wimbug and CamSchells.

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