Two months later...

In the days that followed, I was immediately establishing a routine with playing the perfect double-agent as being a part of the Beautiful Teens and helping out the Outcasts with that. Unfortunately, it meant that my social schedule was getting more and more demanding as Dad and Mom teamed up to make sure that I was spending more time with Marcel and Company and less time with the Outcasts. "It's the principle of making sure that you know what's really important- being a part of the in-crowd while being well-rounded," Dad explained. "Of course, your grades are also important as you're expected to apply for college and be on top of everything. But you owe it to yourself to be more and more outgoing."

So in between practices and meets with the swimming and diving team (our team was part of the top ten in the state of California), being involved with house parties and various outings on the weekends, catching up on my classwork (which wasn't hard since I was part of the Honors Society and wanted to get into a good school), and even making nice with the All-American jock and his masculine family (Sandifer Bay deemed Marcel and I as the "It couple"); it was getting more and more complicated to make sure that I kept myself on track with making sure that I fulfilled my duties.

As for the Outcasts, they were still impacted with the death of Velasquez (I wasn't allowed to attend the funeral since Dad had me attend an all-boys weekend with him and the Dermott family), plus their group was starting to diminish. According to Tamarious, Jake was suddenly transferred to a private boarding school in Boston due to his dad's new job that required the family to move while Omarion was gunned down unexpectedly alongside his parents. Tiffany's brother was soon sent to a private school. "Something's up, man. My crew and I are getting targeted by something or other and my sister's not over Omarion's death," he had said over Grandpa's phone back in September. "We have to act fast and make sure that we expose those Beautiful Teens once and for all and get you and your grandfolks out of here. You're in the middle of what's happening, man. Just keep your game up and your heart on guard."

If only that were simple, folks. The more that I was spending time with Marcel and the others while seeking Dad's approval, the more that I was starting to lose my genuine self- the one where I could clock my dad for missing out a dinner party for his clients, losing myself in a few sketches for hours at a time, or even spend my allowances on books at Barnes and Noble. Sure, I made time for a couple of my old hobbies, but I only had time for those things when Dad was feeling lenient enough for me to be by myself.

"All eyes are on you, Kyle," Dad intoned as he and I sat at a football practice and watched Marcel and the other players work their magic. "It's not easy being away from your usual circle of misfits, but it's for your own good to be a part of the inner circle and live in the now. You owe it to me and your mother to fit in. You owe it to yourself. As long as you play ball with me and everyone else, you'll never go wrong and you can have some freedoms."

Oh, I'll play ball and do what he expects of me. But the moment that Tamarious gets the dirt on you to ruin him, I'm getting the hell out of here with Grandma and Grandpa.

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

It was the week of Midterms as October was now in full swing and the air of Homecoming at Sandifer Bay was thick with anticipation. "So, Kyle, Homecoming week is next week after we deal with these midterms," Diane chirped as we sat down to lunch (Dad and Mom included alongside Marcel's two dads). "And with you still the new face around here, it's time to make sure that you get involved in the school spirit."

I hummed, sipping on my carton of milk. "Well, I mainly didn't get involved in that kind of stuff," I admitted. "I originally stayed away from all of that since my old circile of friends thought it was pointless being a part of something that didn't think of us as cool enough. Or rather, they thought we were too 'ignorant' to be a part of that world. We mainly focused on school and our own lives before using Friday's Homecoming game to mainly do our parties and all that."

"That'll change," Lita promised me, her eyes trained on me as if they were laser beams. "And we've got a nice schedule that involves you helping out with the festivities and even attending the game against Purcell Memorial plus the following dance."

Dad nodded, giving me a sheet of paper. "This is a tentative schedule that details the events for next week," he told me. "When you're not with me or at practice after school, you're to be at the meetings and planned moments that are on that list- from bake sale fundraisers that your grandma will also participate in to helping out with planning the decorations for the school dance at the gym with your grandpa and even being a part of the parade and running for homecoming king."

"There's an idea," Marcel crowed, giving me a wide grin. To me, "We had some same-sex crownings a few years back, bro. Maybe you and I can be crowed joint homecoming kings to seal our legacy as the Couple of the School Year. Dad will make sure that your tuxedo will be primed for Friday night and we'll be dancing under the stars all night long...and then some."

The guys hooted in laughter while I felt my face burning in mortification. Has he no morals for what he's saying? Is he really that explicit? Then again, he and I are dating so it's likely that I'll have to pop my cherry next week.

Yikes.

Talk of homecoming week went on as I kept my attention on my food while wishing that I could get a glimpse of Mavis, Tamarious, and the gang. I needed to talk to them about what needed to be done. And fast.

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

Bro, word of you being a part of Homecoming week is spreading thanks to Lita's circle of gossip hens, I read Tamarious' text message as I left the locker room after another grueling swim practice (we had another meet coming up this weekend). This means that Mavis and I have to get the dirt on the Beautiful Teens before Friday. We can't risk you getting involved now. Stick with the Populars and don't blow your cover. No communication from here on out unless necessary or your cover will be blown.

I heaved a sigh, knowing he was right. All eyes would be on the Outcasts as his group of rebels was diminishing every second while Dad had his eye on me to make sure that I was truly being a team player. For the moment, I needed to lay low and play the role of the jock's geeky boyfriend- which meant being a part of the Homecoming festivities.

Pocketing my phone, I trudged through the now-empty and dark hallway to meet with Mom and Dad. But no sooner than I reached the main entrance when I was suddenly hit from behind and then knocked down. I looked up to see a shadowy figure looming over me before I was hit with punches and kicks before the unknown attacker picked me up and threw me near the trophy case.

"What the hell?!" I grunted, landing with a heavy thud. "Help!"

"No one to help you now, kid," the attacker said in a deep voice before I heard the cocking of a gun. "Should've left town when you had a chance. No matter. At least your father will be-"

Before I knew it, the lights came on as a flash of blue spandex sped past me before I managed to see what was happening. I sat up tiredly, my eyes growing wide at the sight of the all-black and masked attacker being wrestled to the ground by my savior. He wore a superhero costume of blue that accentuated his athletic frame. His mask completely covered his face and head and was hinted with metallic black at the eye holes and mouth. He also wore black boots and briefs that hugged his lower frame and matched the tights perfectly.

"Who are you?" I breathed just as the police and my parents arrived.

The blue-dressed superhero turned around, giving me a wide grin. "Kyle York, we meet at last," he intoned in a deep voice. "You can call me 'Blue Sentry' the leader of the Titan Club."

Mom squealed giddily, clapping her hands in excitement while the officer who drove me home two months ago helped me up to stand. "Kid, you just met the leader of the Titan Club," she said, giving me a small smirk. "You're very lucky to meet him for the first time."

"That's for sure," Dad said, giving me a wide smile as he came to my side. "You okay?"

"Peachy," I commented, though I would get a check-up by a newly-arrived group of paramedics to make sure that I suffered no damaged.

Minutes later, the assailant was swiftly taken away to jail and my parents and Blue Sentry were waiting for me with my grandparents (they just arrived when they heard about the news). "Don't make any plans to stay in," Dad commented as we got ready to go. "Change into one of the outfits Lita brought you today because you're having dinner with the Titan Club tonight. And Blue Sentry will bring his team with you. I habe to head to the office to deal with a few things, but someone will bring me there."

"I don't believe this," Grandpa said as he, Grandma, and I got into his waiting SUV. "First, the Beautiful Teens and their social demands and now this mess with these superheroes. What the hell is going on here?"

"I dunno, Granddad, but something tells me that there's more than what meets the eye around here," I replied just as my phone buzzed with a text from Tamarious. "And Tamarious said to call him as soon as possible. No doubt he heard about this."

"We'll have to do it while you get changed into your clothes," Grandma noted. "But something tells me that things are going to get even weirder. And your daddy and momma are involved in some way or other."

And judging by her tone in her voice, I knew she was right.

Readers, if you're wondering when things would starting to get more complicated and when my life became one comical comic book, then you're in luck because what happens next will definitely amplify it all to the next level.

Don't get comfy yet, folks, because the dinner party with the Titan Club is coming up next. And soon, you'll know who they are as we're closer and closer to the end of act one! Don't miss out!

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