At the Freeman residence...

While Ja'Marco was lost in a sea of desire with his uncle, Chanel called up Ro'Niah and his cousins over for a study session as well as an impromptu meeting to read some more entries from Steven Hedare's private journal. "I figured that we needed to start reading more about what we could find out about what my mom's best friend went through," the blonde had said after spending an hour finishing their homework assignments and studying for incoming midterms. "Something tells me that we need to find out more about what's going on around here."

"Well, the sooner we learn the truth, the sooner we can finally get the ball rolling and get my best friend out of this place," Ro'Niah remarked. "I hate to put him down like a rabid dog, but sometimes we have to do drastic actions to save someone's life. He's really a good guy, y'all."

"I bet he is, given that his momma's a witch from hell," LaVanna said. "I'm still not over how my ex-boyfriend and Howard crossed over to the other side while Yuen decided to drop us like a hot potato. They oughta know better by now."

"At least Felicia and the Westons are far away from this," Kimani piped up, looking at her phone. "If they stuck around, who knows what might've happened?"

"Right now, guys, we got a journal to read," Chanel said. To Kimani, "Do you have it?"

The dark-skinned beauty nodded, pulling the notebook out of her bag. "Dad said to keep it out of harm's way," she replied. "Let's get the show on the road."

She opened the notebook and started to read.

September 24th

It's getting ridiculous, Ellie, that you'd keep this grudge against the guys and being so annoying with you warning me to stay away from them. I keep telling you that there's nothing to worry about. Yeah, I originally had my doubts and was dead set against staying here, but things have changed.

I have changed.

You can say that I needed to branch out and let myself be more willing to embrace what's to come and the changes that are happening with me. But you still think that this is a bad mistake and that I should've fought to leave town.

Despite all that, Ellie, I still see you as my best friend and I want nothing to keep us apart. You've been my only friend since we were in diapers and we've never let anything keep us apart.

I hope we can move past this, girl. I really do.

-S.G. Hedare.

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

October 1st

TGIF, Ellie!

A LOT has been happening since the last entry with swim meets, attending endless dinner parties, being mentored by the Quitmans, and all that jazz. But I just had to write this entry before I head out. I'll be attending a beachside barbeque when I'll finally know what's going on and why my family and I came here. "Your uncle decided that it was time that you learned the truth about everything and the inheritance that you're about to claim," Mom had explained. "I had my doubts about this, but you deserve to know the truth, son."

I was worried about how she said that with her tone being full of anxiety for some reason- as if she didn't want me to know. But I can't let any negativity get to me because Freddie and Frank said that there's going to be a bunch of surprises tonight, hence my plans of staying with them until tomorrow night. I'll be taking this notebook with me because I feel like I can talk to you and let you know EVERYTHING! I may not be allowed to say it to you in person, but they didn't say about writing it down in a journal.

Oh, there goes Fergus' car! Gotta go!

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

October 2nd

Tonight's the big night, Ellie, and I know that you're going to be out with your family as you head to Virginia to check in on your grandparents. Meanwhile, I'm dressed to impress with plans for this beachside barbeque. And after some family time this afternoon and a study session with Freddie before that, I'm so excited to finally see what's about to happen. And though you're still having doubts about everything (I'll admit that I had some questions myself), I can only allow myself to be open-minded. Contrary to popular belief, I like a good surprise or two. In fact, I love surprises. They're so...surprise-y!

Hold on, girl. I got a phone call coming in. Be right back!

***

Oh, it's just Mom checking in on me, telling me to be open-minded and not act the fool on everyone. She and the others are already at the beach and they're getting things set up for tonight. Anyway, Frank had one of his friends gift me a new outfit from Tommy Hilfiger and it's kind of outlandish since it's starting to feel like fall already and I'll be wearing shorts and a short-sleeve button-down shirt. But I'm not one to be picky, so I'm wearing it anyway. Besides, it would be rude to accept a gift.

Okay, the guys are hollering me to come down, so I gotta shake a leg and head out! But before I go, I just wanna say this!

No matter what happens tonight, I believe that this is going to be a night to remember! I guarantee it!

Wish me luck, Ellie!

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

"That's all the entries," Kimani said, flipping the pages only to see blanks. "There's nothing left."

"Wait, what?!" Ro'Niah groaned. "What anti-climax! And we still don't know what happened to Steven Hedare."

"I think I know what happened," Chanel said. She raced towards a bookshelf, grabbing an album book. "Mom said that she kept a newspaper clipping of what happened on that day when she, Grandma, and Grandpa were out of town."

Returning back to the others, she sat the album down and opening it before flipping the pages until she reached one with a large newspaper clipping. "There it is," she said. "And...oh, no!"

The other three teens looked at the article, Ro'Niah gasping as he saw what she meant.

Murder Suspect of Glenview Valley Academy Student Still at Large

Glenview Valley Police Department are still hunting for the killer of a Glenview Valley Academy for Boys student who was shot and killed while waiting for his classmates to exit Gaston's Convenience Store off Saratoga Boulevard. The victim, identified as sixteen-year-old Steven Gregory Hedare, was shot twice in the head while sitting in the front passenger seat of his friend's car.

No leads on who the suspect might be, but police believed that Hedare was the victim of a hate crime coming from one of the members of the Rebel Squad.

Hedare's mother Adelaide Hedare said that the young man was supposed to be enjoying a special party where he was to learn about his true heritage. "My son was at the prime of his life, only to be cut down by someone who didn't understand the whole story," she had said while her husband Andrew comforted her, their other children Beau Hedare and his twin sister Selena silently standing behind her. "My Stevie thought that he shouldn't have come here in the first place. If only I had listened to him, he would've been with his relatives in Tennessee."

The family said that they will have a private memorial service where the body will be cremated in two weeks before they move back to Johnson City, Tennessee by next month. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Hedare family.

"Damn," Ro'Niah hissed, shaking his head. "Someone must've thought the same thing we're thinking right now. Only difference is that your momma didn't know what was going on until it was too late."

Chanel sighed. "Guys, we reached another dead end," she said. "The only thing that we've gotten so far is that Steven Hedare died before he could know the truth and the books that my crew and I got from the forbidden drugstore- the ones written by Goddard."

LaVanna's eyes went wide. "Freeman, that's it!" she exclaimed. "You're a genius!"

"How?" Ro'Niah and Kimani asked in unison, confusion lit in their eyes.

Their cousin reached into her bag and pulled out two hardcover novels with a black cover on each of them. "Read the whole story by this weekend," she replied. "Chanel, do you still read your book yet."

The blond shook her head no. "I couldn't get around to it," she replied.

"Now's as good of a time as ever," LaVanna remarked. "And since time's not on our side, we gotta move fast and get ready for this weekend."

"Right," Ro'Niah said, taking the book from his cousin before turning to Chanel. "And it might help out if you could tell us what you saw, Freeman. Any information right now is critical if we're to get ready for this weekend."

Chanel's breath hitched. "I'm not sure if I can, let alone will," she said hesitantly. "Let's just say that what I saw that night proved that my family and I were never to be trusted by anyone in this town."

"But you have to tell us if Jay's future is in danger," Kimani rebutted gently. "It's all on you and that book we're reading tomorrow. Can you and your family help us prepare for what's next?"

Sighing deeply, Chanel nodded. "Have your parents come over for dinner tomorrow," was all she said. "Mom and Dad, as well as Gwen and Grandma will be there as well."

"Right," Ro'Niah said as he and his cousins gathered their belongings just as a car horn blew from outside. "You hold the keys to solving this mystery, Freeman. This weekend is crucial for what's to come, so we can't waste any time."

As she watched them leave, Chanel couldn't help but let the tears fall for the one person who would have to make the biggest life-changing decision of his life. And she also cried for the young man who never learned the whole story...because her mother was the one who hired the hit to end Steven Hedare's life.

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

At an undisclosed location...

"Everything's been arranged for this weekend, right?"

"Yep. It's all been settled."

"What about the Adamson-Thade-Turner-Freeman group as well as the Yuen duo?"

"Yuen and her mother have bowed out, citing that they won't be part of what's going to happen. If anything, they've accepted defeat and plan to either join our side or leave town. At least those two know when to leave things be."

"Wish Adamson, Freeman, and their families did the same. Such a pity that it has come down to this, but there's no other way. The kid has a legacy to fulfill and he's set to claim the biggest prize when his birthday arrives."

"Wish we could've done it with S.G when he was alive. He didn't even have a chance when-"

"I know. But since Ja'Marco is here, he's going to finish what we've started."

"Right. After this weekend, there's no going back!"

Ooh, child! The tea is boiling and thing's are going to be full of surprises when the weekend arrives!

Now, I hated to end Steven Hedare's journal entries, but it would've mean giving things away too soon! And to drop the bomb sooner meant having the rest of act two being anti-climatic. But don't worry, folks, because you'll know everything soon enough!

Coming up next, it's a private lunch for Ja'Marco and the sons of the oldest families in town, including his brothers as they talk about the planned weekend. Meanwhile, Melinda and her brood (Wayne, Beau, Mara, Joel, Rose, Gianna, and Ciara) plan for the weekend before Jeremiah confronts them and things get nasty Don't miss out!

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