August 15th

Sorry for not writing sooner, Ellie. In between getting settled in this town and getting registered for classes at Glenview Valley Academy for Boys; I hardly had the time to even catch my breath. Anyway, Mom and Dad's been on my case for not spending more time with my distant uncle Ryan. It's not my fault. Every time that I try to catch him, I can't seem to get a good bead on his behind and vice-versa. Mom thinks that I'm being too good for him or his family (all a bunch of queers, if you ask me since Uncle Ryan and his sons live by themselves and haven't been seen with any women). "All he asks is for you spend at least one day with him," she scolds me every time that I'm on the phone with her. "Why can't you allow yourself to be seen with winners like your brother and sister?"

Oh sure, blame me for not having B's athletic skills or being model-worthy like S. Ellie, I don't know what the hell's going on, but I'm not liking this nagging from my Mom one bit. If it weren't for her and Dad selling the house back in Johnson City, I'd be back with the gang and doing my own thing. Everything was just fine before they all thought that I was being too cynical like Grandma Effie and Grandpa Smitty. Anyway, I'm supposed to finally sit down to dinner with Uncle Ryan and his brothers for dinner tonight and that's when I'll finally get to know them. But even after all of that, I'm not letting them near me or allowing myself to get too close to them even if it means pissing Mom and Dad off.

Sue me for being cynical, but that's how it is. Like Grandma said, if you lie down with dogs you end up with nasty cases of fleas. I intend to remain itch-free.

S.G. Hedare.

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

At Chandler's Bistro in downtown Glenview Valley, early evening...

"Thanks for getting me the hook-up to start working while we do some investigating about this town," Marquez Howard, a star basketball player at his old school, said gratefully to Jose Bermudez-Castro as the two teens came off from waiting tables and bussing messy dishes at the upscale restaurant. "Mom said that it'll be good for me to start learning how to earn my own pay."

"Pleasure, esse vato, though our main goal right now is surviving our junior year and getting Hedare away from these folks," Jose remarked as the teens got out of the building and into the humid and overcast sky. A low rumble of thunder echoed from the distance.

"Looks like we got ourselves a storm comin'," Marquez hummed, pulling out his cross pendant from underneath his shirt. "A bad sign. I don't like this."

"Dios Mio," Jose breathed, pulling out his rosary beads before crossing himself three times. "Think that Hedare is holding up okay at GVA?"

"I assure you boys that my son's getting along just fine with the gang at his new school."

Both teens whirled around to see Francis Quitman behind the wheel of his large Range Rover SUV. "Quitman," Jose breathed, crossing himself once more.

"You boys need a ride home?" Francis asked eagerly. "There's a nasty storm coming and you two shouldn't be out walking when it does hit."

"We'll be fine," Marquez replieed hotly, scowling. "We're taking the bus."

"All right, but the next bus won't run until later. And by then, you two will be soaking wet."

"We can walk," Jose shot back.

"Really? Why take a chance?" Francis rebutted just as another clap of thunder echoed as a fine mist of ring began to fall. "This makes no sense, boys. You might not like me, but I do care for your health and safety."

Jose and Marquez glanced at each other briefly. "You'll take us straight home?" Jose asked hesitantly.

"I give you my word. And I promise that you'll be taken home," Francis promised, his tone sincerely. "And if you like, you boys can stop by my place and get in a shower and change clothes."

"All right, but after that you're taking us straight to our homes," Marquez said, eyes narrowed at the older man.

The rain began to fall at a steady pace just as the two ducked into the luxury car, their clothes slightly wet before the passenger doors closed shut and the seatbelts fastened. "First, a shower and a change of clothes for you both," Francis said. "If the storm lets up, I'll take you home."

"Gracias," Jose replied as he bit back a shudder when the AC turned on and cool air began to crash over him.

"Yeah, but we're keeping our eyes on you," Marquez added. "Until we know for sure that Ja'Marco is okay, you and your family are on our list."

Francis smirked. "No need to fret, boys," he replied smoothly. "Ja'Marco is going to be just fine."

***********

At the Quitman residence, several minutes later...

"The storm won't let up until late this evening," LaVanna said miserably over the phone as Jose checked in with her. "And I can't believe that you're at Quitman's. Is Chanel's grandmother even there to keep things under control?"

"No, amoricita. Francis said that she's taking the day off," he replied as he stripped out of his slightly-wet clothes. "I give these folks one thing, they do live it up. If I wasn't spooked out, I wouldn't mind living in a place like this."

"Baby, focus. The longer you stay here, there's no telling what might happen. In all honesty, you and Howard should've walked home and told Quitman to fuck off. I don't like this."

"Me neither, but we don't have much of a choice. Just pray for me, LaVanna. Something's up and I think it's about to go down. Talk to you when I come home. Te amo."

"Love you too." They disconnected just as there was a knock at the door. Grabbing a drying towel to wrap around his waist, he opened it to see Francis at the entryway with some toiletries on hand. "Figured you might needed some soap and shampoo to get you cleaned up," the older man said. "I'll see about some fresh clothes for you and Marquez."

"Thank you, sir. The sooner I can shower, the sooner I can feel lighter and fresher. Just as I get home before curfew, I should be fine," Jose replied, taking the toiletries. "Is MArquez already showering?"

"As we speak. I'll leave you to it." With that, Francis closed the door.

Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves and the rush of electricity that raced up and down his spine, Jose ducked inside the adjacent bathroom and turned on the shower. He stepped inside, feeling relaxed as the hot water began to cascade over his naked frame before grabbing the bottle of body wash and began to lather his body. Poseidon,    the label read as he inhaled the scents of mint, seawater, and honey. "Smells sensual yet manly," Jose hummed to himself as he began to wash himself, unaware that his body began to tense and relax, packing on muscle and realigning his body to that of an athlete's. He felt his manhood grow stiff as began to wash his lower body.

Steam began to fill the bathroom as a loud clap of thunder filled the air outside, lightning illuminating the skies as the rain began to fall heavily. At the same time, Marquez was undergoing a similar transformation while he showered. And neither were aware of the imminent changes that would affect their friends while the boys' families who were blessed with a similar package of toiletries by none other than Mara Hedare.

Back in his master bedroom, Francis was smiling wide as he collected changes of clothes for the young men who would be immediately enrolled by Frederich at Glenview Valley Academy. "It's all falling in place," he hummed. "Two nobodies down, only a small handful left. Tomorrow's banquet will be prime for these neophytes' big debut. As for Ja'Marco, he'll soon learn the whole story in due time.

Letting out a dark chuckle, he left his bedroom and checked in on Jose...or rather, Joseph Balenda-Calllaway as he handed the transformed teen some sweatpants and form-fitting briefs. "Feeling like yourself, sport?" he asked.

Joseph grinned at the older man as he grabbed the clothes and slipped them on. "Never felt better until now," he remarked. "Thanks for the hookup, Mr. Quitman. I'm still hoping to be attending GVA."

"Lucky for you, you and your friend are soon to move in later this evening," Francis remarked just as a towel-clad Black young man strolled over to him, his eyes glazed over. "Martin Lennox, are you feeling all right?"

The young man formerly known as Marquez shook his head briefly. "Sorry, sir," he replied, coughing a bit.
"Still feeling a bit dazed from the summer heat."

"Happens to the best of us. Thank goodness that I arrived to check in on you two because you were in danger of heatstroke."

The easy chatter flowed between them as the magic of the Triton Nexus began to dance throughout the streets of Glenview Valley as several teens and their families began panicking over the sudden loss of memories regarding two of their former allies who were now pawns for the most dangerous game.

How do you like those egg rolls, Mary-Jim?

Marquez is now Martin and Jose is now Joseph, both of them soon to be attending GVA.

As for Ja'Marco, he'll be waking up and taking stock of his new appearance before he's lost in Frederich's sensual spiderwebs. And that's all happening in the next chapter, so don't you dare miss any moment of it.

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