Too soon, it was now Monday morning and it was time for another week of school. Grandma, Grandpa, and I made a deal with Tamarious and the Outcasts that the three of us would play the roles of double-agents while they would do the heavy lifting. And now, the three of us were currently sitting down to breakfast with mine being mainly a health-shake since I was now on the keto diet plan.

"So, Kyle," Dad began as he finished sipping on some coffee. "I assume that you already know what you need to do since you're now close to Marcel as you two kissed. I'm giving you some freedom to be with those nobodies, even though I think that I should've placed you on a stricter lockdown."

I nodded to my grandparents, who nodded back as we'd known that I needed to make nice. Meaning doing something that I didn't want to do. "Actually, Dad, I had a lot to think about since this past weekend, even more so after the intense confrontation at the cafe," I began, making sure to sound sincere and choose my words wisely. "And I've talked with Grandma and Grandpa about this as well. What I'm trying to say is...I'm sorry."

That caught Dad's attention as he paused from reading the paper. "About?"

I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for what I said at detention from the first week fo school. And I'm sorry for storming out on you when I should've been keeping a cool head," I said. "I have no true excuse what I said and I know that you're trying to make sure that I start being a part of the solution instead of being a problem."

Dad hummed, his eyes training down on me before turning to Grandpa and Grandma. "And you both agree with him on this?"

"Surprisingly, yes," Grandpa commented. "Maybe it could be for the best that Kyle spends time with those kids- the Populars and that Dermott boy. And those misfits aren't really a  good fit for him. With the move to Oakland and all that, it could be a bit chaotic with wanting to keep the same routines going when we should be adapting to changes. Plus, Kyle's about to graduate from high school and it'll be time to discuss his future."

"Of course," Grandma agreed, her turn to throw Dad a bone. "Kyle's only young once. And he's going to need some new friends to help him bring out the best in him. Those other kids aren't the ones to do it."

Dad nodded. "Well, I'm actually surprised to hear all of this," he said, his tone a bit lighter though full of suspicion. To me, "So what brought this on, son?"

I paused from sipping on my green smoothie. "Well, I guess it's what you said on you thinking that it's a waste of time to have me be molded into your image when I was really sabotaging myself. And in a way, I guess you can say that it's time for me to start growing up and being proactive. I don't want to get left behind and miss out on living when I'm only on the outside looking in with scorn. That, and I guess I was just tired of thinking that I'm too abrasive. I guess I just missed the simplicity of being who I was. Remaining fake was easy, but being a part of something greater...that takes work. And I wasn't ready. But I'm willing to start new."

Dad cleared his throat. "Well, Kyle, I'm glad that you're starting to see that you're wanting to make some changes for yourself," he began. "But are you willing to walk the walk? Are you willing to be receptive and let us work with you?"

I nodded. "It's not going to be easy, but I need to move forward  with the times," I answered confidently. "The signs of the times are all around us, and it's time to make things right. Starting today, I'm going to give my lifestyle a reboot and be upgraded to the new level- one that I hope can make you proud. The past is history and the future is a mystery, so let's treat the present as a gift to live in the now."

Dad smiled thinly. "Then we're on the same page," he commented. "I'm glad that you're coming to your senses, son. I hope you're willing to follow through on your promise."

"Believe me, Dad, the time has come for me to be a part of the new generation," I told him. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to make you see it." And I'll make sure that your empire will crumble before your very eyes, I thought to myself.

"How lovely," Mom crooned as she'd been quiet until now. "Well, I guess it won't hurt you to join us at Lita's house for the dinner party tonight. It was supposed to be this past weekend, but they had other things to handle and you were with the lower levels. So it'll be tonight and the Dermotts will be there as well."

"I'll be there," I promised her. "Just as long as I have something tasteful to wear."

Dad gave me a wide smile that looked genuine. "But of course," he replied. "Just remember that you have swim practice today, so your outfit will be available at the end. You'll leave with Marcel afterwards and arrive at Lita's house."

I nodded. "Looking forward to it."

Let the games begin.

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

Of course, everyone at school was amazed how I was now getting closer and closer with Marcel and the Beautiful Teens. But the real shocker was how the quarterback announced that he and I were now going out as boyfriends before sharing a gentle kiss over lunch. All I could do was play the role of the winsome nerd who stole the jock's heart while letting him upgrade my life. "You're going to be a great asset for my flock, York," he had vowed as we sat down to lunch, his friends and my family (my grandparents included since they were now part-time teachers and PTA members) beaming at me as I won the lottery. "Ans with you now on board, I can truly say that you're going to fit right in."

The school day flew by without warning and I was now sitting next to Marcel in the large dining room of Lita's two-story McMansion that was as grandiose as everything else in the rich part of town. "You two boys look so cute together," Lita's mom, a former beauty queen and owner of a boutique store that Mom frequented, gushed as the chefs served everyone a full Italian cuisine (my portions scaled back since I was on keto). To me, "And Kyle, it's so good to hear that you're going to be a part of the winning team with everyone. Your old neighborhood and lifestyle wasn't doing you any justice. So it'll be good for you to start adapting to the changes here."

"Of course," her husband, the school's basketball coach and a former player himself, piped up. "Kyle, what are your plans after graduation? It'll be time to plan for your future."

"Well, I love fashion and like to design ladies' formalwear.," I replied, accepting a plate of Caesar salad with no dressing. "So I would like to major in fashion design and fashion merchandising, like Stephanie and Eric Forrester from Bold and the Beautiful."

"That's a good option," Lita hummed. "I'd imagine you doing something like that, mainly for the business side while you have other designers and tailors do the heavy lifting. Maybe Mom can give you a summer vacation in New York City with an internship at a fashion magazine so you can shadow the editors and get access to various showcases and all that."

"Maybe," Dad said as he enjoyed his steak Florentine, "but right now he needs to make sure to make the right connections with everyone before he could get ahead of himself. It won't be any problem since we're all holding him accountable to stay on the right path."

"Definitely," Marcel piped up as he swallowed a small part of chicken. "And he needs to focus on what's at stake around here and less time with the Outcasts. It's good to know that he's starting to see the light, but there's always going to be a hater to try and discredit everyone. But as long as he sticks by me and the others, he'll be working his grace."

"Excuse me," Lita's older sister Macey commented as she stood up. "Kyle, can you and I have a chat outside?"

I turned to my parents, who only nodded. Excusing myself, I followed Macey outside to the back veranda as the leggy brunette motioned me to sit with her at a patio table. "So, what's up?"

"You, kid. And I admire your grit on going along with this, even though this discredits everything you truly stand for," she said, reaching into her small bag and pulling out some gum. She took out two sticks and handed me one. "Anyway, you should be aware that the Dermotts hold sway over this part of town and everything inside it. And with your parents involved, you can be sure that it's all on you to fall in line. The Outcasts told me about you and your grandparents and I can see that you're more of the no-nonsense type that takes no prisoners. But be careful, kid. Not all eyes that are closed mean that they're asleep. Everyone's got you and your grandparents on their radar. And if you let your guard down for one moment, it's game over."

I nodded. "Look, I need to talk to Christine and get her side of the story on how things ended," I told her. "Can you ask her to meet with me sometime soon? I need to know where things stand around here and why she is insistent on me leaving town and how my parents are involved."

"I can arrange a shopping excursion this weekend and have her meet us at a department store that has some spies working for us," she replied. "But I can only say is that there's a lot of bad blood between her and the Dermotts. And let's just say that she knows a few dark secrets that can get her in deep trouble. Like I said, not all eyes that are closed mean that they're asleep. So watch out and look sharp because you never know who to trust if you're gullible enough to believe anything and everything."

"Right. We better get back, though. Everyone should be expecting us."

We headed back inside, Macey making the suggestion to her parents and Lita to arrange a shopping spree this weekend, which was met with approval by Dad as he asked her to keep an eye on me since Lita would be with Diane for a girls' trip. "And make sure that he has the proper clothes, young lady. I want him to look and dress the part. And most of all, make sure he has fun."

"Sure thing," Macey replied eagerly, giving my father an Oscar-winning performance. "I'll make sure that he spends a good day playing dress-up. And he'll be under the best care, sir."

Looks like this weekend is going to be interesting, even if I gotta shop 'til I drop.

It's time for a shopping trip, folks, as Kyle plays dress-up before meeting up with Christina who will be giving him her side of how she went from cheerleader to pariah and how she thinks that Kyle is heading for unfamiliar territory. Don't think about getting too comfortable because the next chapter leads to something...unexpected!

And if you haven't noticed, we're getting closer and closer to the end of act one! Prepare yourselves because chapter twenty is when the story OFFICIALLY turns things on its head!

Dedication: Zunaid_Lawrence.

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