"Auntie Rosa! Uncle Albert!" Kelante cheered as he made his way through the throng of weary travelers with suitcases in hand, catching sight of his great-uncle and his wife at the arrivals area of Berkeley International Airport.

"Kelante!" Mrs. Tillman cheered as she pulled in her great-nephew for a big hug. "Child, you're growing like a weed! Your mama been feeding you right?"

The young man nodded as Mr. Tillman grabbed the luggage, motioning for him and Mrs. Tillman to follow him outside to the parking lot. "Everybody back in Mississippi sends their love and has been praying for Kyle since they learned what's going on and all," he replied. "And boy, I can't believe that this town is full of superheroes and that Brian and Lisa have been in cahoots with them with getting Kyle into this hot mess."

"Believe it, boy, because your uncle and his wife are no good and basically signed Kyle's soul to the devil," Mr. Tillman huffed as they arrived at his rental car (Brian refused to let him drive to the airport in his rusty truck so he had a rental car arranged). "The Brownings are lying low for the moment so you can catch your breath, but you'll need to see them by the end of tomorrow."

"No doubt that things are heating up for all the wrong reasons at the moment," Kelante assumed as he placed his luggage in the trunk of the car. "And I'm glad that I arrived without another moment being wasted. Something tells me that things are not going to be looking well for all of us if we're not careful. And trust me when I say that Kyle could be too far gone at this point."

"That's what we're afraid of," Mrs. Tillman said morosely, remembering Kyle's request to her. "He said that we need to put him out of his misery if worse does come to wear and we have no other choice. I hate to do that, but we could be facing a losing battle."

"Not if Tamarious can help it," her husband vowed fiercely. "Come on, y'all. Let's head on back so Kelante could settle in and freshen up. The others are out and about, so we'll have time to regroup and all."

"No doubt about that," Kelante commented as he and his relatives got into the car, Mr. Tillman at the driver's seat as he started the car and began the two-hour trek back to the rich part of town.

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

"Gee, this is a swanky neighborhood," Kelante said as he strolled through the streets of the rich part of town, taking in the autumn-themed air with people cleaning their yards and enjoying their late morning. After unpacking his things in the guest bedroom and changing into some comfortable clothes, he was soon taking a stroll through the rich neighborhood and feeling grateful that his hosts were indeed out for the morning. "They'll be back to greet you with some lunch," his great-uncle had explained when Kelante was finished unpacking. "We're having dinner with the Dermotts where you'll get a first look of what to expect around here."

"Hey, you!"

Kelante whirled around, soon coming face to face with a well-dressed young woman who screamed "pampered princess" with her designer ensemble and platinum-blonde hair. "Oh, hello," he said, keeping a formal composure. "Are you from around here?"

"No, but I know that you're not from around here, either," she said, her voice hard. "Who are you?"

"Kelante Parrish, my dear. I'm leading the move here from Mississippi while my grandparents and mom are finalizing the sale of the house."

"Same for my parents, but I'm originally from Texas. Name's Kennedy Deveraux, by the way," the young woman replied, giving Kelante a cold once-over before sniffing in disdain. "I'd say that it's nice to meet you, but I'd have to lie."

Kelante's eyebrows went up. Ah, a queen bitch, he thought. "Ditto for me, my dear, since you give me the impression of a rubber chicken who just had a botched facial by a blind surgeon," he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he gave her a chilling grin.

Kennedy sniggerd sarcastically. "Ah, I see that you're part of those nobodies that my godbrother warned me about," she shot back, rolling her eyes. "Listen, newbie. I happen to be good friends with the Dermotts and I intend to make sure that losers like you remain at the bottom of Sandifer Bay's social ladder while I join Marcel and the others in ruling over you."

"Is that so? Well, sista, I intend to work with some dear friends of mine to take your chicken-legged and cross-eyed self down alongside those silly lot of snobs that brainwashed my cousin in some type of way," Kelante shot back, all formality dropped as he narrowed his eyes at her. "And let me tell you something, you Texan Barbie bitch. You don't want to mess with me at all because I can ruin you in less than a week. As for those 'friends' of yours? Marcel Dermott and company better be ready to batten down the hatches because Superstorm Kelante is ready to cause some hell!"

"Not if Hurricane Kennedy takes you and all the other losers down first, chump." Kennedy's sneer softened. "Look, Parrish. I can tell who has great potential and who doesn't. You obviously do despite your poor-trash background. Why don't you join me and the others in being with the winning team. Save face and join the cause of the Beautiful Teens and the Titan Club studs? With some polish and all, you can draw attention all around and be either a Titan or an ally like me."

Kelante snorted, rolling his eyes. "Please," he drawled, his Southern voice laced with sarcasm. "If I wanted to join the circus, I'd learn to juggle when I was in kindergarten. Though it's clear that you'd be a good fit as the bearded lady by the hair of your chinny-chin-chin!"

Kennedy's face warped in to a look of disbelief and livid, letting out a small shriek before pulling out a compact mirror.

Kelante bit back a laugh as he strolled up to her until they were inches apart from each other. "Let them know that Kelante Parrish has officially arrived, toots," he said lowly. "And let them know that I'm ready to turn Sandifer Bay High upside down and inside out! Now run home, Texan Barbie! Run like the wind."

She didn't have to be told twice, she storming away as if she was a baseball player who struck out at the bottom of the ninth and cost the team the game.

Kelante smirked as he watched her sulk away. "Good riddance to bad rubbish," he said. "Let the war games begin!" With that, he made his way back to his temporary home.

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

At the Lancaster residence...

"I just had the unpleasure of meeting that Parrish brat who's related to Kyle," Kennedy seethed angrily as she stormed inside Marion's bedroom. "And Mr. Dermott was right when he said that he's a little shit who belongs with Browning despite my plan to curry favor with him and bribe him into joining us."

Marion snorted softly despite knowing that his parents were out with the Dermotts and the other adult Titan allies. "Kennedy darling, there's no point in trying to turn cow dung into a jelly donut," he said. "The Outcasts have been rivals against everything we stand for, even me while I play Mata Hari on both ends."

"Right," Kennedy huffed, sitting on her god-brother's bed. "So, I gotta make nice with him at tonight's  dinner with the Dermotts and Kyle and his family. Let's just hope that the serum MArcel injected him with has him nice and agreeable. I hate to deal with two versions of Parrish."

"Well, Mr. York's not taking any chances with Kyle since the serum's designed to ensure that he is perfectly aligned with his future husband and all that. The serum's doing nicely, but who can say what can happen if things go south?"

"All the better to keep him under our thumbs," Kennedy agreed. "But what about the Outcasts and all?"

Marion turned from his desk to face his god-sister. "Their group is down to nothing with almost everyone being transferred, killed off, or simply off the radar," he intoned. "But we got two new allies who defected since they already know what's going down. And at this time tomorrow, we'll see the new versions of them joining the flock."

"Damn," Kennedy breathed. "How's that?"

Marion gave her a sly and wicked grin. "A little bit of science, a lot of superhuman abilities, and money can go a long way, dear Kennedy. Believe me when I say that this week is going to be memorable."

Kennedy blinked twice, finally realizing the meaning behind what he said. "Wow," she breathed, grinning softly. "This is why I am glad to have you as my godbrother, Marion Lancaster. My family and I are lucky that we're friends with your family- the Napoleons of espionage and crime!"

And as the two teens enjoyed each other's company and talked of school gossip, fashion and style, and plans for the Thanksgiving holiday; the winds of change were strongly blowing all around as preparations for a small dinner to welcome Kelante Parrish would soon give way to some startling revelations, scandalous game-changers, and plans for an upscale Thanksgiving dinner which would lead to a shocking announcement that'll set the stage for what's to come.

Don't even think about getting too comfy just yet, folks! The next chapter's when Kelante gets a look at the new and improved Kyle York as things get too real way too quick! And since we're getting closer and closer to the end of act two, you already know that things are about to get chaotic once again with a whole lot of shit hitting the fan leading to one shocker of an announcement that will change everything! Don't miss it!

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