Going Nowhere - Xavier's Story

Chapter One - Surprise!

There is nothing more terrifying then the realization you're about to come clean to people you've lied to for years, and it's worse when those people are your family.

I had needed to leave town, to escape from the pain inside my head and heart and telling my parents I was headed for business school seemed like the best way to get them onside. It had worked, but I wasn't destined for college.

I used the money my father had given me to find a place in New York, and then I had put an ad out looking for band members. Before long Going Nowhere had formed.

At first music had been an outlet, I hadn't expected fame. My father helped run a talent agency, but that had never gone in my favour. He'd laughed at my dreams once before, and without even realizing it he had pretty much blackballed me to the entertainment world.

But after a night of drinking, the courage inebriation enabled us to bit the bullet. We sent a demo straight to my father's friend DJ. He signed us, and promised me that he would keep my secret as long as I needed him too. He'd never let me down, not once in almost four years.

I had planned on never coming clean. I had stayed away from LA at all costs. There was too much keeping me away. Then everything changed, my world collapsed and I'm still trying to put it back together.

That's why I'm here.

To fix everything I broke and tell the truth.

And hopefully, she will forgive me.

I stood in front of the Jacksons house, a house I'd been too at least a hundred times before while growing up, but not once in the last five years. It hadn't changed much, and for a moment I remembered the night of our prom, the way scarlett had looked in her dress. I had almost told her how I felt, how I'd always felt... but then her date showed up and I lost my nerve.

I shook my head and walked up the paved path. I turned and looked at my other family, the band, Jay, Doc and Cris. The sat grinning like goons in our rental car.

"Go get her tiger." Jay grinned leaning across the driver's seat.

If only it was that easy. I waved them off, and watched as they drove off down the road. Once they were out of sight, all I wanted to do was run. Run from responsibility, like I had for so long. But I didn't, instead I mustered every ounce of courage coursing through my veins and walked up to the foyer door, knocking hard on the door in time with the thudding of my heartbeat.

My parents, my sisters.... Scarlett. They'd all be in there. This was it. No turning back.

The door opened and Nick looked at me, he didn't seem even slightly surprised to see me, long hair, piercings, tattoos and all. He gestured for me to come in, glancing over at Sarah as I walked through the door. They knew. My heart dropped, Did everyone else already know the truth too?

I stepped into the kitchen and looked down at the floor for a moment, summoning all the strength I could before I looked up. Everyone else looked shocked, my parents especially. Only Sarah and Nick knew... I wasn't sure whether I was relieved or not.

I didn't have time to think about it, because out of the confusion stood Scarlett.

She stood there, a dumbfounded smile on her beautiful face. Everyone faded from my peripheral vision and all I could see was her, I knew coming here to move on once and for all was never going to work because I was never going to be able to stop loving her. I wanted to take her in my arms and kiss her then and there, but I knew it was impossible.

But why did she look happy to see me? After everything I'd put her through.

"Surprise." I said with a half-smile and a shrug. Her expression changed, she looked confused.