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

Chapter Thirty-Four

"No fucking way!"

That was the first thing that almost everyone's mouth after recapping everyone with the biggest jaw-dropping news regarding one Ryan Peavey and myself: he and I were assigned to be partners for a project in Ms. Lancaster's class. And as much as the teacher knows that it was socially criminal for me to be paired with someone who was off-limits to everyone in the eyes of one Jillian Kendricks, there wasn't much to be done about it. I had to do this project with little to no fuss.

Needless to say, no one in my social group (Epiphany, Serenity, Derrick, Holly, my foster brothers, and even Oliver) were happy about this, much less the entire school since the news spread like wildfire.

"This is just nuts," Javi said bitterly as we all gathered at the vending machines. "Doesn't Lancaster know that this is like a recipe for disaster?"

"At least she was apologetic about it when I had to stay after class to talk with her about this," I replied, pausing to sip on some water. "She said that she and most of the teachers who were involved with getting this project formulated were against me being partnered with Ryan and that it was going to be a nightmare. She even talked to McNeese, the American Literature teacher for the juniors, about changing the partners. But McNeese wouldn't hear of it and insisted that this would be good for me to branch out and get to know Ryan better, even accused me of being so cynical to a guy who wants to be friendly with me, according to Lancaster."

"Do the Callaways know about this? Do your foster dads? Or even Nguyen?" asked Epiphany.

"They do now," Antonio intoned, shaking his head. "But their hands were tied as well since McNeese is a big fan of the football team and strongly believed that Demario needs to be around 'all-American men to point him to the right direction.' Her words, not mine."

"This is some bullshit," Serenity muttered, letting out an exasperated sigh. "This could go so wrong in so many levels that-"

"Bader!"

All eyes whipped around to see none other than Theo Blake and a couple of his Goth-dressed pro-suicide friends storming to us with sneers on their faces. "What is it, Blake?" Evan said. "Can't you see that-"

"I'm here for Bader only, Lomax," Theo spat before giving me a leering grin. "I heard all about what happened at Lancaster's class and Jillian's not too thrilled about you being partnered with what's not rightfully yours."

"Look, Theo. I-" I began.

"I speak, you listen," Theo interrupted, giving me a devilish glare. "Anyway, she knows that you're trying to slime your way into Ryan's life after she specifically told you to stay away from him. And while it's for academic purposes, she still hates it that he's with someone who should've killed themselves a long time ago."

"Watch it, Blake," Oliver growled tersely, standing to my right with fists clenched at his sides.

"Ah, so the tranny freak is ready to fight the loser's battles," one of Theo's minions mocked. "Pathetic."

"All the same, Demario needs to understand that Ryan Peavey is too much of a god to be seen with the likes of drenched rats like himself," Theo went on. "If I were him, he needs to tell Lancaster that he'll risk a failing grade to avoid my godsister's wrath. Unless he plans to accept her offer in becoming a music sensation as she hopes. I will not like when I say that he does have potential in becoming a recording artist. Why stick around with what's forbidden when you can take the easy way out and be part of something much better?"

I took a deep breath. "Because I already know that it's all smoke, mirrors, and lies- your saintly godsister's offer, that is," I replied thinly. "I don't know what's going on in her little head, but I do NOT and will NEVER- EVER- want anything romantically involved with Peavey no matter what she or he think. And if she continues to be lost in her jealous dark fantasies and you believe in what she says, then the both of you are completely and truly STARK RAVING BONKERS! B-O-N-K-E-R-S, in ALL capital letters!"