Quitman residence, the following day...

"Ja'Marco?"

The young man snapped out of his thoughts to face Mrs. Lancaster, the older woman stepping into his bedroom and wrapping him in a big hug. "What's this for?" he asked.

"Your friend Ro'Niah told me what happened," she explained. "How are you holding up?"

Ja'Marco inhaled sharply, composing his thoughts as memories of being sedated with endless hours of carnal pleasures from the day before making him feel unbalanced. "Given how I lost my virginity to four playboys who can really make me feel...unlike myself, I'm surprised that I'm holding on as best as I can," he replied.

"Any thoughts regarding how your mother set things up?"

"Mrs. Lancaster, I assure you that my son is going to thank me one day for getting him on the right track," Melinda's voice intoned as the woman in question came into the room. "Besides, I think that him losing his virginity was a good start."

"Even so, Mrs. Hedare, you have to admit that this was a bit out of Ja'Marco's league."

"Maybe it is, but maybe not. All I know was that it had to be done and things needed to change for Ja'Marco's life. He spent his life behind books and spending too much time with people who dragged him down. It was time for him to let loose and be open to new opportunities."

Ja'Marco shook his head in dismay.

Mrs. Lancaster stood to her feet. "Mrs. Hedare, consider my words as a concerned grandmother," she intoned. "Think about your ways. If you're not careful, Ja'Marco might burn for your sins." She left the room.

"Really," Melinda sniffed as soon as the housekeeper was out of earshot. To Ja'Marco, "She's just one of those nobodies like your little friends and her granddaughters. All of them trying to bring you down and scare you out of town."

"Why did you bring me to Glenview Valley?" Ja'Marco asked, finally looking at his mother.

Melinda was caught off-guard, but quickly composed herself. "I told you, you needed to branch out and meet Francis and his family," she began.

"Stop it, Mom," Ja'Marco interjected, feeling exasperated. "I know you too well that you have some ulterior motive to ensure that you got out of Compton so you can live it up like a socialite. You, Wayne, Gianna, Ciara, Beau, Mara, Joel, and Rose- all of you weren't happy with being closer to the ghetto despite living in a decent neighborhood, so you wanted to come here to be with the movers and shakers. I don't know the full story about the Quitmans and I'm not sure if I want to know; but I know you want something out of this. So, Melinda Victoria Everett Hedare, what do you want out of this and what's your endgame out of this? Why did you bring me here?"

Melinda inhaled deeply. "I do have a big endgame for you and myself," she admitted. "And yes, our family wasn't happy in Compton, so we came here to live it up. But what I do have in mind for you...can't be truly explained by me because it's not my place to tell you. All I can say is that this was meant to happen. You have a giant stake to claim within the Quitman legacy and you can't do that with Adamson and your other friends hovering around you."

Ja'Marco stared at his mother. "What are you saying?"

"I said too much," Melinda replied. "But know that you are staying in Glenview Valley. There's nothing left in California and you need this more than you know. Now, you won't see any of that riff-raff at the barbeque/dinner party this evening and I threatened them with arrest if they dare to crash. You're to spend time with the Quitmans and the other guests all night long. I will be monitoring your behavior and will ensure that you have a good time. You will smile, greet your future GVA classmates and teachers, and make arrangements for future outings. The others and I have invested a lot in your time here in Glenview Valley and you will not sabotage anything for your benefit. I won't allow it. Am I clear?"

"Understood," Ja'Marco replied, keeping his voice even while his hatred for his mother rose like a vengeance.

"Good," Melinda chirped, smiling widely. "You'll understand the whole story when the time is right. For now, understand that this is for your own good. I'm doing this to make you into a proper man who can thrive without being bullied into it. You'll see. Now, Ivan and Isaac will pick out your party outfit, so shower and get prepared."

Ja'Marco watched her leave, shutting the door behind her. She's up to something, he mused to himself as he began to pick out some underclothing before grabbing his new toiletries (courtesy of Lachlan as a welcome-to-town gift) and ducking for the bathroom. The Quitmans and Hedares are planning for something and it's all centering on me. I don't like this one bit. And I hate them all for isolating me from my true friends. All of them can burn in hell for this.

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

Later...

"It's going to be awesome at Glenview Valley Academy, bro. Once you start the Triton Mystique Initiative, you'll see that you're going to be a thriving student and citizen."

"Those group of friends will only bring you down, Mr. Hedare. Since they'll be at South Vicente High School, it'll be more the reason to stay with the course set for you. It'll be good for you to make progress with men of our caliber."

"We see a lot of hidden talent in you, young men. All it takes is the right kind of friends and mentors  who can polish you up and make you into a real star."

Those were some of comments that were made as the barbeque-themed dinner party held in Ja'Marco's honor was underway. And it shouldn't go without saying that Ja'Marco was far from being happy. He wasn't allowed to spend time to himself since Melinda and the Quitmans kept him occupied with meeting the other male members of the town- all of them looking as if they belonged in fitness centers despite them dressing up for a casual dinner party. He barely had anything to eat since Gianna and Ciara kept him occupied with various games and random conversations.

"You're going to love Glenview Valley Academy for Boys, bro," Reichen said cheerfully as he, Lachlan, and the Estrada twins were sitting next to him with plates of food in hand while Ja'Marco only had a bottle of water to sip on (his first and only beverage for the night). "And since your mom signed you up for the highest  package, you can bet that you're going to be kept on your toes and too busy to even talk with your ragtag group. Besides, you can spend more time with me and the gang."

"There's an idea," Melinda cheered as she came to the fray with the Quitmans following suit, the boys dapping and cutting up with the four. To Ja'Marco, "See how fun this is? This is way better than spending time with chickens who flap around. You need eagles who can teach you to fly high into the nighttime air."

Ja'Marco nodded, deciding to sip on his water to prevent himself from saying something he would later regret. "It's quite a party," he managed to say after a minute.

"That's the spirit, lad," Ferguson boomed, grinning cheekily. "Now, Freddie here has a surprise for you- two, actually. And it's going to be one that you will definitely love."

Not unless it's a one-way flight back to LA and plans to stay with Ro'Niah, Ja'Marco wanted to say. "Really? Do tell."

"We do, and we shall," Frederich said, smiling  softly. "You see, Ja'Marco, your mother was concerned that you wouldn't get enough attention with just being a commuter student at GVA, coming home to face those distractions known as your friends from LA, even though they'll be at public school and all. It just wouldn't do for you to lose what you'll learn from the Triton Mystique by being with Mrs. Lancaster who means well but doesn't understand the true nature of what's going on. So after a few discussions with other members of the board and your family, we came to the following decisions."

Ja'Marco inhaled sharply, bracing himself for what was next while the other guests gathered around for the news

"You'll be a full-time on-campus resident at GVA effective tomorrow when you'll move into the dorms," Frederich announced proudly. "As part of the exclusive and VIP package of the Triton Mystique Initiative, you'll be a resident of the dorms and be surrounded by your peers who will lead you in the right direction."

The crowd cheered wildly as Ja'Marco felt as if he was stabbed in the back.

"Not only that, lad, you're to sign up for the men's swimming and diving program," Ferguson cheered. "It's an essential part of GVA's program and all students will be required to take swimming classes. But since I am the head coach alongside Frankie and Freddie, you'll get first crack of the tryouts."

Do NOT go to the swimming pools or the beaches if you value your life, Chanel's warning echoed in his head. Do NOT go to the swimming pools or the beaches if you value your life.

"Wait, I'm not sure if-" Ja'Marco began.

"It's a great idea," Melinda cut him off, shooting him a glare as if warning him to protest. "You took swimming lessons at the local Y back in Los Angeles, so there's no need to say that you can't swim. And you were  on the swim team back in middle school. From what I know, you won a few competitions."

"That's great," Francis cheered, grinning as if he was a proud dad. "A natural athlete. That's what you need to be, Ja'Marco. Trust me, you're going to love being on the team with the other guys, Reichen and his friends included."

"Damn right," Lachlan boomed, wrapping his arms around Ja'Marco's shoulders. "He's going to fit right in, Mr. Q. The guys and I will make sure of it."

Ja'Marco couldn't believe what he was hearing. He looked around and saw Melinda looking as if she won the lottery while the rest of the family hung back yet smirked at Ja'Marco's shock. He inhaled deeply. "All right," he conceded, knowing he would have no other choice but to accept. He granted everyone a winning smile that earned him more approving nods. "I can't wait for school to begin. Thank you all for making this weekend and my last few days of summer break memorable. I promise to make you all proud."

"That's the spirit," Melinda cheered happily. "Mrs. Lancaster and the other help has already started with packing your things for you move-in day and you'll move in as early as tomorrow morning. Your junior and senior years at GVA will be memorable. I guarantee it."

Gentle reader, as I said before, it would indeed be a memorable two years for Ja'Marco Hedare that would never be forgotten for a long time.

Damn right it is, folks! And trust me when I say that you're going to want to fasten those seatbelts because what would happen next is going to leave you wanting more and more.

But coming up next, the Adamson extended family sit down to dinner with Kristen Yuen and she relays to him about what happened to her father and brother before they learn what's about to happen to Ja'Marco. Don't go away!

Dedicating this out to Nablai and rhymeswithfry.

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