One hour of watching Marcel and the guys work their stuff on the gridiron (and being invited by their coach to attend their workout sessions, football practices, and all their games for the school year- all approved by Marcel's dads and my parents, Quelle surprise) later, I was back at the pizzeria and sitting in between Marcel and Kaleb as we waited for a hearty order of calzones. "So Kyle, I hear that you got yourself quite a packed schedule thanks to Marcel's folks," the latter said, pausing to sip on some soda. "The swim team's going to be a good fit for you since Vince's brother Chance is on the team. And with your grades, you're definitely a shoo-in for the Honors Society. Add being a reporter for the school's paper and joining the yearbook community, and you're basically on your way to being well-rounded."

"Well, I do wished that I could've at least joined the Art Club," I replied, keeping things professional.

Kaleb snorted, rolling his eyes. "That's for the nobodies and rejects- the future life-wasters," he commented before giving me a half-apologetic look. "Not that you're a nobody, though. You just like to be surrounded by them and let them restrict your mindset."

Bitch, don't make me pull an Elektra Wintour on your ass, I thought to myself, my tongue ready to lash this jackass down to the ground. "I just wanted to make sure that I don't let my designing skills go to waste," I said out loud.

"You can use that for the yearbook committee," Rory suggested. "I mean, your schedule alone isn't going to allow much free time to even breathe. It's everyone's job to make sure that you're kept busy and active so you'll be too busy to conspire against them or even think about making plans with your group of outsiders."

I pursed my lips as a waitress set my plate of calzones and a salad in front of me before refilling my glass of Coke. "But what about some alone time for me to compose my thoughts?" I wanted to know.

"We don't want you to not have a few moments to breathe or gather your wits, bro," Josiah said. "You still have time for some self-care for the mind and body, but we just don't want you to think that you can restrict yourself to thinking small. It's time for you to think big and lord it up. You're a senior like the rest of us, Kyle. It's time to show everyone who you can be."

"And we're going to make sure that you expose yourself to opportunities that you passed up in favor of other things," Marcel commented. "Dad, Pops, your parents, and I are working together with the guys here and even Lita and Diana to get you to enjoy the good life- house parties, weekend getaways with us, dinner parties with our families, sleepovers, and other events that will get the stink of too many books, fabrics, and old-people smell off you."

"And with you now working at the bakery," Kaleb said, "you can learn the value of the dollar while saving up for college and whatever you desire."

I nodded, though I was getting more and more tired of everyone getting on my jock to be more sociable. I was doing just fine with my old circle of friends, but my parents always accused me of being too good for everyone else. I wasn't being a holier-than-thou or anything, just being mindful of who I could trust.

"It's not easy for you right now, but this is going to be good for you," Marcel said, noticing my petulant look and making me turn to his gaze. "We see something that you keep hiding from everyone, Kyle. Maybe it's out of fear that it won't meet your parents' expectations or maybe you don't want to show it all off at once. But don't you think that you owe it to yourself to embrace that inner flame and let it shine like the stars?"

I took a deep breath. "Answer me this, if you will. If I did that, then will it be enough to satisfy everyone's demands?" I asked. "Or will I only get burned by the flames of impossible ideals?"

"You never know unless you dare to try," Marcel intoned, eyes trained on me with an air of ominous tension flowing between us. "No one will allow you to be lost in the dark, Kyle York. One way or another, you will become a illuminating star ready to claim what's rightfully yours. And we're not going to let you sit by and let life pass you by. That's our promise to you."

I didn't know why, reader, but I had a strong feeling that he meant every word. I turned my attention back to my food and started to eat, my mind being lost in a wave of confusion. Oh, how I can only imagine how my debut at Sandifer Bay High was going to go down.

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

Kyle's Diary.
DO NOT READ!

So, I'm now in Berkeley, California- a far cry from the rough neighborhoods of Oakland as I'm far away from my circle of misfits and rebels and now caught up in the circle of Beautiful People (the jocks, cheerleaders, and social-climbing wannabes). And unfortunately for me, my family and new set of friends (the latter being part of the Beautiful People) have planned for me to have less time for myself and being near any outsiders (the nobodies, as Dad calls them) and more time becoming someone that I'm not meant to be.

And then there's this football-playing Golden Boy named Marcel Dermott, the leader of his gang of Beautiful People at my new school. It turns out that he'll be my main guide to understanding the social hiearchy there and will make sure that I become a part of his clique. And to make things worse, he's going to be my designated buddy to keep me away from any "distractions" and on the right path to greatness. His words, not mine. I have a feeling that things are going to be...well, bonkers.

Satisfied with my journal entry, I pushed away from my desk and headed to bed. "Lord, please keep me from going off the deep end," I prayed softly as I got under the covers. "Who knows what might happen once I begin my senior year at my new school? I just want to have a semblance of acceptance from everyone who wants me to conform to their impossible standards. Is that too much to ask?"

I turned to the window just in time to see a shooting star. I closed my eyes. "Star light, star bright. First star that I see tonight. I wish that I may. I wish that I might. Have the wish that I wish tonight, all right? I wish that this senior year would be when things start making sense regarding my life and my purpose in life. I wish for acceptance and transparency. But above all, I wish that my family could accept me for myself- flaws and all."

I nodded, letting the waves of sleep take me under as I dreamed of social-climbing popular teens, mischievous-green eyes, and the strong scent of pizza in the air.

The old saying "Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it all and then some you don't want (Song lyric from "Home" by Daughtry)." If Kyle didn't know it by now, then his wish might be coming true in so many ways that he didn't expect!

Anyway, the first day of school and Kyle meeting his first Outcast of Sandifer Bay is coming up in the next chapter, and let's just say that the next two to three chapters are going to be gag-worthy and full of sass! Stay tuned!

Dedication: SilviaKrpatova.

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