I, Ian

Chapter Nine

"Ian Levine, we meet at last."

That was the first thing that was said when Tremaine Deveraux-McLaren (dressed in a tasteful red-and-black ensemble) came face to face with Ian as the latter came from downstairs. With Tremaine were Asha (in a flowy sundress) and her parents as well as Antoine Deveraux (in a deep purple semi-formal tuxedo) and his mother Kaneva (in a simple red dress with a matching turban). "Pleasure's all mine," Ian replied formally, shaking the young man's hand. "And I take it that you are my personal guide for my new life."

"That he is, Levine," Antoine commented, taking off his hat and jacket. "Meet Tremaine Deveraux-McLaren, Georgia born and raised. His parents and older sisters shunned my kin for who I was, but Tremaine is still my kin because he'd stay with us when we were younger."

Ian nodded, turning his attention to Tremaine. "I hope you're not too intimidated by me, given that you've heard what I've done," he said.

"Just as long as you stay real with me and play by the rules of the game of your new life, we'll get along just fine you and I," Tremaine commented. "I won't lie, I have my doubts about you and your past as Ivy. If anything, I initially think that you should be left to fend for yourself for a change. But given who I am and how Antoine insisted that you needed someone to lean on, I'm willing to work with you if you do the same."

Ian took a deep breath. "I can do that," he said.

"Excellent," Victor said, clapping his hands twice. "Now, Joseph and I got the dinner table set and there's a nice meal ready to be enjoyed. Shall we head to the dining room?"

"We shall," Antoine purred. To Ian, "Tremaine will be setting some ground rules later on, and I'll make sure that you'll be following them to the letter, if you get my drift."

Oh, I already do, Ian thought as he followed his dad and stepdad to the dining room.

Minutes later, everyone was seated at the large dining table and helped themselves to grilled chicken with Cobb salad, twice-baked loaded potatoes, and dinner rolls while a beautiful three-tiered raspberry shortcake served as the centerpiece and would be the dessert. "So, Tremaine, my husband and I learned that you'll be going to college at UCLA," Joseph began. "Any academic plans?"

"I'll be studying journalism for the most part, but I'll also minor in business," Tremaine answered. "I'll be the first on in my immediate family since my sisters didn't finish college with them being moms and all after their freshman year."

"You're going to make positive strides, son," Victor remarked. "From what we heard, you were at the top of the class at Mary Persons, right?"

"One of the top five, actually. I was close to being the salutatorian, but someone else had the honors. My sisters wanted me to stay in Georgia to commute to a community college so I can take care of my nieces and nephews while my sisters got to party hard with their boyfriends."

"Why?" Ian asked.

"What do you mean, why?"

"I'm not trying to be mean and all, but why choose to come here when you could've stayed and be a big help to your family?"

Tremaine stared him down. "Because my family didn't take too wisely to anyone who wasn't straight," he said, his tone low and hard. "Two days before I arrived, I was forced out of the closet and got kicked out of the house."

Ian sat back, not expecting that. "I'm sorry," he said.

"Are you? I mean, your past as Ivy showed everyone that gays like me got what we deserved. Even more so since I'm a dude," Tremaine shot back. "If you weren't hexed to be a gay dude yourself, you'd agree with my sisters and try to send me to a conversion camp or force me to kill myself."

Ian knew that his designated guide was right. Ivy would have no regrets in trying to tear down Tremaine and have him kill himself after total humiliation. "You're right," he replied. "And I know that Asha and Antoine would make my life hell if I did."

"That we would," Antoine drawled, his eyes glowing in power. "I would have no regrets in turning you into stone if you did ruin my cousin."

"No one would shed a tear or intervene if he did," Joseph pointed out. "Be thankful that you got this chance to do right as a gay man. It could've been MUCH worse."

Ian believed it, gentle reader, given the fact that he gave all the hell to others when he was a homophobic young woman who could give other Karens a run for their money.

Ian sat up straight and turned to his dinner while conversation flowed around. He decided to keep his words to himself to avoid being criticized any further.

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

Once the meal was finished, Joseph and Victor cleared away the dinner plates while the Deveraux-Montrose clan and Ian retreated to the living room. "Ian Levine, my cousin Tremaine is going to be the all-around gay guru to help you adapt to your new life as a gay man," he began as he stood in the middle of the room. "He, Asha, and I talked with our parents as well as your family- your dads in particular- in how things should be for you and how you will behave when he is with you. And to make sure that you are on the right path, you will be magically bound to the rules that Tremaine will lay out for you. These rules will be non-negotiable as your curse will be multiplied threescore times ten if you dare step out of line or insult Tremaine."

Tremaine turned to Ian. "One. I expect total transparency between the two of us," he said. "The one thing that I cannot stand is a liar or someone who keeps secrets from me. Two. You are to be a willing participant in any LGBTQ-related activity that can benefit the community- support rallies, volunteering, or even participating in Pride events in June next summer. Three. I want you to start being more respectful towards your dad and stepdad. You know that Joseph wasn't happy with his marriage to Mrs. Levine and he only stayed to be loyal to your late maternal grandmother and his late family. He deserved to be happy and live in his truth. Four. There will be NO MORE homophobic activity or comments from now on. You no longer have any access to your past life. As far as anyone is concerned, Ivy Levine is dead and gone and you are now Ian Levine, a proud gay man who lives in his truth. Five. When you're not spending time with me or my family or anyone from the LGBTQ community, you are to start living in your new identity. You'll be enrolled in college and you're to also start getting more serious about being a responsible young man. And most of all, this final rule is to be obeyed with no hesitation: you are to start enjoying life and be more confident in yourself. This second chance of life is something that Antoine doesn't give to anyone, even if it's a curse that's irreversible. You need to embrace the new you fully."

Ian nodding, wincing in pain as he felt Antoine's magical bonds that came from out of nowhere with every rule that was spoken out loud.

"There will be more rules in the days to come," Kaneva warned, "but these are the main rules to follow. Your friend Pilar Andrews will be given the same rules after her transformation into a gay man and will lean on her gay brother when the time comes. Both of y'all deserve what you got, but no one will stand by and let you wallow in your pity parties. It's time to see what it's like as someone you despise."

"We're going to be holding you and Andrews accountable for every move that you two make," Asha added. "Ebony, Candide, and even Mariah and their families will be doing the same. Trust us when we say that there are more worse fates than being a gay guy."

Ian gulped as he soon felt exhausted from the magic of Antoine Deveraux. He lowered his head. "I accept the rules," he whimpered.

Antoine smirked. "There may be hope for you yet," he drawled. "Remember your promise, Levine."

Ian would indeed remember, gentle reader, now that he was fully bound by magic to play the new game of being a gay man. He just hoped that Pilar would do the same after she would transform into a gay man.

And so it officially begins, folks! The journey of self-acceptance for Ian Levine is now underway and Ian's not going to have it easy. As for Pilar? Well, let's just say that she'll be in for her rude awakening earlier than expected in the next chapter as she deals with the fallout from her parents after losing her ex-friend to magic.

Media: "Revenge" by P!nk ft. Eminem.

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