"Uncle Jeremiah, what are you doing here?" Ja'Marco asked as he was swept in a giant bear hug by the older man in question, inhaling the scent of Joop! cologne and store-brand aftershave. "And how did you know that I'd be here?"

"Well, boy, the Good Lord directed me to teach here at this school, seeing that my time at South Wesleyan High back in Los Angeles wasn't meant to be," Jeremiah replied as he broke away from the hug. "And since I learned that you're now among these fly boys here at this fancy-schmancy school among other things, I knew that I had to see my favorite nephew and see how you're faring along. I knew that yo' mama brought you up here against your will and all."

If only he knew, Ja'Marco thought.

"Ja'Marco, who is this?" Martin asked, giving Jeremiah an uneasy stare. "And how is he related to you?"

Ja'Marco faced Martin and Joseph, giving them an apologetic stare. "Sorry about that, bad manners and all. Anyway, this is Jeremiah Colby, my mother's brother and the one person alongside my friends who kept me grounded," he introduced. "Uncle Colby, this is Joseph and Martin. They're one of my many guides to ensure that I stay on track here as the new kid."

Martin and Joseph introduced themselves, shaking the older man's hand. "Charmed, we're sure," the latter replied, giving Jeremiah a cool stare.

"Likewise, boy," Jeremiah remarked, narrowing his eyes at the athletic teens before turning his attention to his nephew. "Are you sure that you belong here, Ja'Marco? I mean no offense, but-"

"Ja'Marco belongs here, Jeremiah," came the sharp voice of Melinda, "but I can't say the same thing about you."

Ja'Marco fought a groan as he saw his mother and Frederich come up the hall with the latter'd face warped in a scowl. "Mom, there's nothing wrong with a little family reunion and this was a chance encounter," he defended. "The guys and I were on our way to class-"

"Which you should be doing in the first place," Frederich interrupted. To Martin and Joseph, "Make sure that my nephew heads straight to class and far away from this adult nobody here."

"Yes, sir," Martin replied solemnly as he and Joseph led Ja'Marco away.

"Sorry to cut the reunion short, bro, but you can't get too distracted with anyone- even the teachers- who might be a bit...well, let's just say that Mr. Colby might mean well, but he might be another hater who wants to scare you away."

Ja'Marco sighed heavily, knowing that it was better to leave it be as he was taken to his Chemistry class with little to no complaint.

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

"I know that Adamson family has sent you," Melinda hissed angrily, whirling on her older brother as soon as her son and his escorts were out of earshot. "I dunno how or why you know what's going on, but I'm not going to allow you to try and lead him away from this place or this town all because you're aligning yourself with that riff-raff."

"First off, that 'riff-raff' gang is a group of my nephew's friends that Mama and Daddy approved before they passed on," Jeremiah retorted. "And secondly, I do know a bit of what's goin' on with your wiles, you witch, and I'm here to make sure that my nephew doesn't get himself caught in some spiderweb more than he already has."

"And how is that?" Frederich sneered at the older man.

"Simple, sir. You're looking at the newest Algebra II teacher for the tenth graders as well as one of the advisors for the junior class. Not only that, I'll be staying on campus to ensure that I get to see Ja'Marco as long as I can."

"No. Absolutely not," Melinda barked. "It's bad enough that you're in town trying to cause some shit in this town, but I'm not letting you regress my son into his shell once again. He needs variety and growth, to start being more of a true man and to be surrounded by those who can break down his walls."

"Break down his walls be damned. I know that Ja'Marco's birthday is in October and I know that you want him to claim whatever he's soon to claim for your and your family's personal gains," Jeremiah shot back. "And I know that you're hungry for whatever piece of the pie that he's soon to face when he does turn seventeen."

"What I want for Ja'Marco and what my true desires for him are different, and it's really none of your business. All I know that you and those group of wannabes attending South Vicente aren't going to take him away from me."

"We can try."

"I won't allow it," Frederich said, his voice low and firm with anger as his eyes flashed sea-green. "You'll be on your best behavior if you value your creditability as a teacher.

Jeremiah glared at the older man, but felt a twinge of fear. What's all that about? he asked himself. "Watch yourselves," he warned. "As long as I'm around, you can bet that I'll be solving this mystery and ensuring my nephew of his escape from this town."

"Is that a threat?" Melinda snarled.

Jeremiah shot a scathing look at his sister. "That's a promise," was all he said before walking away.

Melinda and Frederich watch the older man storm down the halls, hearing him bark at two young freshmen to head to class. "Looks like Adamson's got a new play-pal in the form of my uncle," the former said. "And to make matters worse, he's now on campus with my son."

"Think he knows of the history and legacy of this town?" Frederich asked her.

"If he does, then there's no doubt that we gotta make sure that Jay doesn't know the truth just yet. Make sure that my son steers clear of that bastard, Freddie. And I want to make sure that S.G's journal isn't in his hands."

"Your will be done," Frederich promised before shooting a firm look at her. "Just remember that all eyes are also on you and your kin. If all of you do have dark intentions for Ja'Marco as do Adamson and Company, then the Quitmans will not be lenient with you at all."

Melinda gulped as she saw his eyes glow in power, her ears full of music that resembles of a woman in love singing a sensual lullaby. Composing herself, she walked away and headed to the counselor's office.

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

Headmaster's Main Office, later that afternoon...

As expected, gentle reader, Ja'Marco was indeed at Frederich's spacious main office for the first of many planned afternoon tea parties that he was to attend. With him were all the Quitman men (Frederich included) as well as Melinda, Beau, Wayne, Reichen and his friends, Isaiah and his mother, Joseph, Martin, and even Dominique as everyone was enjoying freshly-brewed cups of English tea, scones, cucumber sandwiches, and mini-snacks.

"See, Ja'Marco? This is much more pleasant than sticking around with the lower-rung peons and posers," Dominique purred as she accepted a small plate of sandwiches. "I mean, this is one of the many benefits from being a part of the Triton Mystique Initiative. With a little more time and dedication, you can truly experience things that being an average high-schooler can't."

"Exactly," Felipe agreed, handing Ja'Marco a cup of tea and motioning him to drink. "And though the size of the tea party might vary, you can bet that time with us will help you shape your destiny."

Ja'Marco wisely took a small sip of tea. "I'll bet," he said. "But I want to talk about Uncle Jeremiah and how-"

"Let's not," Ferguson cut him off. "Lad, the boys and I were unfortunate enough to run into him earlier today and he does give off those nasty hateful vibes that might scare many of the other students away. A few minutes with him, and it was enough for me to know that he's as bad as your friend are- Adamson and Company, that is."

At least he's not harping on me to be a part of this preppy-themed Borg Collective, Ja'Marco wanted to shoot back. "I'm sure that he only means well, Uncle Ferguson. He was the one person who did take me places while Mom and the others left me to fend for myself when they treated Gianna and Ciara to fine events."

"But you could've at least tried to gain my attention,"Melinda rebutted. "I don't get why you want to blame me because you're this wallflower ready to cast stones when you never experienced living life."

Ja'Marco sighed, ready to make this confession known. "It's because you and everyone else kept changing the rules on me all the time," he said icily. "Whenever I was focused on school, you accuse me of being a bookworm and insisted that I get some air in my lungs. And whenever I am out and about, you get on me about my grades even as I was a stellar student. One day, you'd say that I'm letting myself go whenever I treat myself and you'd accue me of being too thin if I am on a diet. You say that I'm begging for attention. You say that I'm being antisocial. It's like I can't win and there's no point in pleasing you."

"She just wants you to find the balance and wants you to be more than you limit yourself to be," Francis said calmly. "Your mother believes that you just have to-"

"She wants me to be her perfect little bitch boy," Ja'Marco spat.

"Watch it," warned Wayne, giving his son a glare. "You're toeing the line, son."

Ja'Marco scoffed. "As if I can give two shits. The way I see it, it's either I assimilate into this program and let you all drag me into being like these guys or being nagged to death. And for what it's worth, I'm really starting to regret being bullied into coming here and giving all of this a chance."

"Ja'Marco," Dominique huffed. "This is getting a bit out of hand."

"Quite," Frederich agreed, turning his attention to his nephew. "Ja'Marco, all we want for you is to let us work with you and help you break down these walls that you hide yourself behind. Don't you think that you deserve to be a thriving young man with possibilities and opportunities? Why  do you think that it's better to hold back and stay in the shadows?"

"It's because I know that no matter what I do or say, it's never going to be enough for my mother's standards until it's all for her benefit," Ja'Marco answered honestly. "In her eyes, all that I do is wrong and all attempts will only be met with failure until it's done to her ideal. To say that she's my mother would have to be a lie. I mainly see her as my jailer."

"Ja'Marco!" Melinda hissed.

The young man gave her a nonchalant look. "Sorry not sorry, Mom, but it's the truth and nothing more."

With that, he stood to his feet and sailed out of the main office, slamming the door behind him. He ignored all the voices hollering after him as he planned to find the journal and start reading more entries from S.G. Hedare.

And so it will be, gentle readers! The next chapter will feature more entries from S.G. Hedare as we'll see him in action at school and meeting more guys from GVA before Lachlan, Bradenton, and Broderick confront Ja'Marco about his ornery attitude. Don't miss a beat!

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