Pavane for a Lost Boy (Or Rather, How to Survive Loss after Rejection)

Chapter Sixteen

Jillian's POV

"That went well," Epiphany remarked as she, Serenity, and I were led back to the gym by one of the assistant principals before we returned to the bleachers as the other kids were playing volleyball. "I think we might have scared Bader off."

"I think that he'll be ready to refuse us," Serenity commented as she opened a stick of gum and popped it into her mouth. To me, "You might have overdone it by being too coquettish, Kendricks. No wonder that everyone is either jealous of you or too intimidated to stand up to you."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "But at least we gave Demario plenty to think about," I shot back. "You all know that he was a crooner thanks to his concert that's still the talk of the school and how Bermudez-Estrada wants him in the band. Besides, he might say yes to singing at your party, Serenity."

Serenity heaved a sigh. "Yeah, about that," she said. "You're not thinking about doing your usual stint to get Bader out of town, are you?"

I feigned innocence, knowing what she meant. "Why, whatever do you mean?"

"Don't play the innocent girl on us, Kendricks," Epiphany barked. "You're still thinking that anyone who catches Ryan's attention is a threat to your twisted fantasies of wanting to be the girlfriend of the Golden Boy. Not everyone is out to get you, you should know that."

"But why take a chance?" I fired back. "Ryan is supposed to be my boyfriend."

"And he would have if you weren't so damn clingy all the time and acting like a possessive bitch, ready to put innocent bystanders in hospital beds or in the funeral parlor," Serenity commented, her eyes narrowed in silts as she glared at me. "Do you even remember how Artem almost died because of-"

"Yeah, I remember. And I'm glad that he and his family got the message and left town. I did what had to be done and I wasn't going to let Ryan go, even if our parents decided to end things and him coming out of the closet."

Serenity and Epiphany looked at each other briefly before turning back to me. "So you're not going to stop, are you?" the latter asked. "You know what your parents said. One more stunt of spiking the punch at any more parties, and you're going to kiss all of your designer clothes and accessories goodbye. It'll be a one-way ticker to Brownsville if you keep this up."

I was tired of this. "Look, you guys. Ryan is destined to be mine and I won't let anyone, not even a kid who has mommy issues and should've ended his life just like his late brothers wanted, ruin my chances of being the future wife of an NFL star," I said firmly, my tone brooking no argument. "I have big plans for my life. And as for Demario Bader, I hope he'll consider my offer to becoming a musical superstar because I want him far out of Ryan's reach. He should be lucky to even be given an opportunity to become a celebrity. If it was anyone else, I would've already made plans to poison him or her."

"I can't believe this," Serenity groaned. "Jillian, Demario is still the new kid around here and I strongly believe that he just wants to focus on his mental health. He doesn't need any more drama. And from what I can tell, I think that he's not interested in dating anyone for the moment."

"Definitely," Epiphany agreed, nodding. "That mother of his was wrong for treating him like he was nothing more than garbage."

"At least his mother knew that Demario was nothing more than what she thinks of him," I shot back. "And now that he's here, I hope he'll make the right choice to sing at the birthday party after Homecoming. If he refuses the offer, I'll make Demarcus' last wish come true after all."

"That's what we thought," Serenity commented, she and Epiphany gathering their things. "Jillian Kendricks, whatever friendship you thought that we had is now over. You can count us out with whatever scheme you have in mind."

I waved them off. "Fine by me," I said. "You're both just dead weight anyway."

As I sat back and continued to watch my now former friends walk off, my mind still flittered back to what happened to that Artem kid. I knew that he had health issues and everyone said that he didn't deserve to get my "lethal treatment." But I did what I had to do. Ryan was mine and I wasn't going to allow him to leave me just because I was too possessive and he came out after being unhappy.

As for Bader, let's hope that he wouldn't be my enemy. If he refuses my gesture of goodwill, then Demarcus will be happy in heaven after I put his ratty brother through hell and in a casket.

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

Ryan's POV

"Jillian did what?"

Those were the words that left my mouth after I learned from Vice-Principal Callaway about Jillian's offer for Demario to sing at Serenity's birthday party. And needless to say, I wasn't happy.

"That's the truth," Mrs. Callaway commented. "I was lucky enough to break up the party, but something told me that McVeigh and Sutton were unsure about the whole idea, the former more so since her birthday is coming up."

"Did Demario accept her offer?" I asked, dreading the answer and knowing what Jillian could do with some Vicodin and other drugs that she bummed off from those suicide-happy kids with the leader being her cousin.

"Demario didn't answer since I took him to the bandroom, but I did warn him about what Miss Kendricks could be capable of, whether or not the other victims accepter her previous gestures of goodwill," the vice-principal commented. "And I bet that he has some questions about Artem as well as knowing about what had happened."

A tide of goose flesh crawled over my skin at the mention of the epileptic FTM teenager who had almost died because of me wanting to be best friends with him. I steeled away the memories of having to keep vigil over him as his mother and father were saddened and ready to sue Jillian's parents for every penny. "I guess that someone has to tell him someday," I replied. "I just don't want-"

"I understand," Mrs. Callaway cut me off, giving me a motherly look. "But you will need to make sure that Miss Kendricks is out of Demario's reach. With her being his brothers' former lover in the past, she'll make sure that Demario's life is nothing but hell-bound if he refuses her offer."

I nodded jsut as I saw Serenity and Epiphany come up the hallway. "And what the hell do you two want," I asked gruffly, my frown apparent.

"We have no problems with you, Peavey," Epiphany commented. "And we knew that Jillian's too damn nutty to let things be. More so than ever, given that she plans to end Bader if he refuses her offer."

"I'm considering cancelling my party, if push comes to shove," Serenity added. "I mean, I can't even think what might happen if Demario gets on Jillian's blacklist. And we all know that he's been through enough hell no thanks to his late mother and her family."

"Right," I replied. "I'll need to call her parents so they could warn Demario about what Jillian could be capable of. And you guys need to talk to Demario yourselves. Serenity, hold off any plans to cancel anything until Demario says otherwise."

"Right," the brown-haired young woman replied. "Let's just hope that we can keep Demario alive and out of Jillian's hands. If he dies, then his road to healing will be for nothing."

That's what I was afraid of, even as I know that Demario Bader had talent yet was used and broken in more ways than one.

I pulled out my phone and opened the messenger app. Mr. Kendricks, it's Ryan, I texted. Look, you already know what your daughter can be capable of, and she might target the newest kid on the block named Demario Bader. You may or may knot know what he's been through, but Jillian might want him gone if he refuses her offer for him. Can you and Mrs. Kendrick talk to him about your daughter and warn him about her? Call me asap.

Demario has to say no. He has to.

Well, folks, looks like the heat is on. Jillian wants Demario to say yes. Ryan wants him to say no. But it's up to Demario to choose for himself. And he'll have his answer revealed at lunch in the next chapter. And let's just say that things will start getting chaotic from there.

Dedication: FlyingInColors.

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