Out-and-regretting-it comprehensive attendee Jayden Phillips turns his cast-iron plans for life upside-down by falling in love with private-school violinist Darren Peace, a sardonic boy with the craziest hair Jayden's ever seen.<br><br>But all is not what it seems, and Jayden's bullying problem becomes meaningless when he is confronted with what the music does to Darren. How do you stop a dangerous depression rooted in the same thing that makes someone what they are? Dark moods, blank apathy, and the undertow of self-loathing all simmer beneath Darren's dry and beautiful veneer, and Jayden feels powerless to stop them.<br><br>Then a mugging gone wrong takes the music forcibly away, and Jayden is finally given the chance to change Darren's life -- and, quite literally, his mind.

Vivaldi in the Dark

Sure enough, he dropped his bag on the floor and bounced down onto the bed, one of the shortbread fingers already in his mouth. He made a noise that was obscene. “God, I love these.”


“Uh, yes?” Darren gave him a look. “Mrs. Smith—Paul’s mum—she makes amazing homemade ones, but I’m not picky.”


Jayden sat gingerly beside him, uncertain of what to do, still fumbling with his bag. “I, um,” he began, and Darren cracked open the Coke. “I was kind of hoping you could help me with my maths revision,” he blurted out.


Darren raised an eyebrow and swallowing an unhealthily large amount of Coke. “Really?”


“Um…well…” Jayden flushed as Darren set the drink and biscuits on the side table, having to lean right over his legs to do it. “Maybe…that would be a nice…side-effect.”


“I don’t think I can kiss mathematical ability into you,” Darren murmured, pushing Jayden down into the duvet and settling himself on Jayden’s chest. His weight was both pleasant and scary


Chapter 43