August 17th.

Something amiss and wicked be going on at Glenview Valley.

The moment that I met Uncle Ryan and his sons Rory and Edgar was when something in my spirit told me that my family was setting me up for the PERFECT demise of my current sanity and livelihood. For one thing, the trio were build like athletic gods while my family and I were known to be a bit on the chunky side. And while they were nice and tanned with gilded blonde hair and mischievous sea-green eyes, the Hedares were prone to bad sunburn since we had pale skin and depressing black hair. And our dark-brown eyes were of no beauty.

As if that wasn't bad enough, they were living it up in their mini-mansion that should be outlawed back in Johnson City and drove those fancy cars and shit. I'm telling you that these folks have sold themselves to the devil.

Still, I wasn't going to say that out loud since Mom and Dad would give me the blues if I did. So I wisely kept my mouth shut while making nice and courteous. Hey, I am from the South after all. Anyway, Mom, Dad, S. and B. decided to make their appearances (or as I put it, play watchdog to make sure that I didn't run out on everyone) before Mom announced that not only was I to attend Glenview Valley Academy for Boys, I was to be a part of a mentoring program known as the Triton Mystique Initiative. Not only that, Dad would also be at the school to make sure that I stay on track while S. and B. would make sure that my social schedule was full of parties, outings, and more time spent with my future classmates and less time with you or staying locked up in my room.

That's when I decided to put my foot down and told them that I wanted no part in the so-called mentoring program and I would be just fine being a normal student. "I'm only here to get y'all off my back until I graduate and head back to Tennessee," I said fiercely. "I think that this is a big mistake and that we had it good back."

Of course, Mom and Dad were pissed off. "You're acting like a total baby," Mom sneered. "And Uncle Ryan just wants you to give this a chance."

It went on and on until I was given an ultimatum: either go along with the plans everyone set up or be under strict lockdown until I started acting like a winner. Guess what I'm choosing, Ellie?

They can all hate me, but that's what it is.

-S.G. Hedare.

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

August 29th.

When you're being browbeaten and nagged to death to get with the program while being fit to be tied, what do you do?

For most kids who are being grounded until you start being more agreeable, they would just give up and go with the flow.

Me? Ellie, you already know the deal. When I'm pushed to the limits, I push back with a vengeance.

So what if Mom and Dad took away all my books that Grandma Effie gifted me and had me join Edgar for some bonding time at the batting cages? It was no problem with me sneaking off to the town bookstore.

When S. kept dragging me to the mall to shop for new clothes that were too gaudy for my taste and would've had Grandpa on a tear, I would donate them all and fight Dad in keeping my old clothes.

Beau keeps dragging me to the gym with Rory and place me on a strict diet? I'm hoarding snack cakes and soda pop in my bedroom no matter if he throws everything away. "You need to start eating healthier," Beau would rant. As if!

And as for Mom? No matter how much she screams in my face or keeps me in my room with no dinner in the evenings, I'm not going to back down from this fight.

Everyone's patience was running on fumes the longer that I continued to remain as stubborn as a mule. I made it clear that I wanted no part in whatever game was going on. Even Uncle Ryan was starting to get pissed off when I stood him up at a dinner party that was held in my honor last week. "It's like you don't want to be seen as a potential winner," he spat at me the day after when he came over. "We all have high hopes for you, but you keep letting us down. Don't you think that you deserve to improve your life and allow yourself to do better for everyone?"

"Hey, I was doing just fine back in Tennessee," I rebutted to him. "Mom and Dad are fools as are my brother and sister for falling for your wiles. Where I come from, the facts never lie: if you lie down in the dumpster, you start to stink real bad. I dunno what kind of game you or everyone's playing on me, but I'm not the one to play with. The sooner that I finish with high school, the sooner I can head back to where I belong and be free from this nightmare."

Uncle Ryan looked as if I kicked his puppy. "You just don't know what you're missing out on," he said, his tone angry. "You're not going to have it easy unless you start playing ball with everyone. There's a whole world ready for you to claim, but only if you decide to shed your bias and bigotry while learning to move forward."

Please! He's trying to sell me a circus on its last legs. But I'm not buying it.

At the moment, Ellie, I'm still grounded until I give in and be more agreeable to the plan. I might be acting mean for this, but I'm not going to crack. There's no way in hell I'm getting involved, and they can all drop dead if they hate me for it.

-S.G. Hedare.

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

August 31st.

It's almost the Labor Day weekend...and I'm still going on strike.

But it looks like Mom's finally playing a low hand. This morning, she sat me down after everyone else took off and she just stared me down until she asked, "Do you really hate this family?"

"You all want me to be something that I'm not," I answered honestly. "And I know you're going to think otherwise, but this move to Glenview Valley is the biggest mistake of our lives. I'd understand if we were in Providence, Newport, Nagasarret Bay, or Seton Springs. But there's something about this town that's...too good to be true."

Mom just sighed. "You know that we can't go back," she intoned, giving me a look as her eyes were full of defeat after days of fighting with me. "Our family wasn't happy in Johnson City and your father's job wasn't good enough. Coming here to this town is the reboot that we need."

She just sat there, looking as if she lost a boxing match even after going through one hundred rounds with a heavyweight fighter. Before I could reply, she cut me off. "Just give it until your birthday on Halloween," she pleaded. "If you still think that this isn't your kind of place, your dad and I will send you back to Johnson City and you can stay with your great-uncle Terry and his family."

I  inhaled deeply, knowing that she would play the hand of me allowing to stay with my favorite great-uncle if it meant making her happy for a while. "Well, I guess I can give it a chance- the move here and all that," I said slowly. "I'll even consider the Triton Mystique at GVA. But if I have any suspicions or feel that this isn't my cup of tea..."

"I give you my word," Mom vowed.

Ellie, I might be setting myself up, but I'm not that heartless. If Mom was going to allow some concessions, then I could do the same. I might stick around Glenview Valley and see what's really behind the surface. It might be a big mistake or it could be a good opportunity after all.

And since I am going to be a part of this Triton Mystique Initiative, I might as well pack my things to move on campus. Wish me luck, girl. Something tells me that I'll need it more than ever before.

-S.G. Hedare

Boy, S.G is really playing hard to get, isn't he? And in case you didn't know, S.G is a guy and is more hardy and stubborn than Ja'Marco. All the same, S.G's time at GVA is going to be one for the books. Of course, the journal entries will be more sporadic as he'll drop cryptic clues for what's going on in this town. As for who he really is? Well, you'll have to wait and see to find out.

But coming up next, it's time for the Back-to-School Masquerade Formal as Ja'Marco is surrounded by beautiful people...and two new additions who will be EXTREMELY familiar and yet so unfamiliar (hint-hint: read chapter fifteen!)

Dedicating this out to SianaghGallagher and Snape75.

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