The Mentor

Chapter 28

*my amazing friend who chooses to go anon for this project has been using an AI app to make amazing character art for this story, mostly of Jamie and Scott (since they aren't real people) editing and putting in her own photos to send to me for this fanfic, and I couldnt be happier. Though they choose to remain anon, please give them your thanks in the comments, this is amazing!"

I sat in my room after ordering Doordash waiting anxiously to tell Kyle about my birthday. What would he say?

I glanced at the clock. 6:45pm.

Kyle would be here in 15 minutes.

I was so overwhelmed with everything that Scott told me on the balcony that I couldn't even really focus on the whole birthday thing. I had so many feelings about what he told me. He chose me to be the person he wanted to sleep with after losing his wife.

I started nervously cleaning up my room when I found my old songwriting notebook under my bed. Of course, I didnt write music. This notebook was only used to help Sam write that new song for the promo thing we did months ago. All my lyrical ideas and themes were still written down in it.

I didnt think too much of it, I just flopped on the couch and wrote a poem about Scott. My feelings bubbled over so much that the words just flowed out of me without much of a push.

*knock knock*

Shit, Kyle was at the door.

I slammed the notebook shut and stuffed the notebook under the bed again. I let Kyle in and motioned for him to sit down on the couch. He obliged and pulled a vanilla cola out of a paper bag from the gas station. I thanked him and put the drink in the mini fridge.

He was wearing a white t-shirt for a band I didn't know and dark, faded jeans.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" He asked, concerned.

"Well, it has to do with the competition and...well, us." I muttered.

"Jamie, you know that if we don't win we are getting shipped back to the same place. You take that job offer from Scott and I'll be with you every step of the way. You don't have to worry that I'm just going to disappear."

I put up a hand to silence him.

"I-I know that. But I've been spending some time with Scott lately and...God. Did you know he lost his family in that accident?"

"I uhm...I didn't know that, no. That sucks. Why have you been spending so much time with him?" Kyle asked.

"He's interesting, that's all really. He seems to have his ways of finding me when it's convenient for him. He told me his whole story earlier today but...he also admitted he peeked in my file when he got here."

"What does that have to do with anything or with me?"

Oh boy, here it comes.

"Well, Kyle, I uhm...I haven't been entirely honest with you or anyone else in my time here."

"About what...exactly?"

"I've been lying saying that I was nineteen to give myself immunity to doing stupid things and to avoid being berated by the older people in the competition, like Jime."

Kyle paused for a second. He swallowed hard.

"Wait–so...you're not nineteen?" He asked.

I nodded.

"How old are you, then? Can't possibly be younger, can you?"

I chuckled.

"God, no, no...I'm going to be twenty-six in two weeks...I figured that if Scott knew I should tell the people in my close circle before it comes out in a way that I don't want." I said softly.