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

“Yeah,” he mumbled, reaching out to toy with the top button of Darren’s shirt. Somehow, although the tie had vanished, the shirt had remained completely buttoned. “It’s just…you know, you’re heavy, and I suddenly felt kind of…trapped. And you…you had…”


“Gee, thanks,” Darren interrupted dryly, and Jayden laughed unexpectedly. “Why am I here? If you’re just going to call me fat…”


“You did,” Darren said and twisted his fingers into Jayden’s ribs. Jayden screamed and shoved, trying to push him away, but it was too late. Darren’s eyes gleamed, and then he pounced, tickling mercilessly. Jayden gasped for air over helpless laughter, and finally got rid of his tormentor by pushing him off the bed entirely. Okay, so Darren clung on and took Jayden with him, but Jayden ended up on top and with a pillow in hand, so he shoved it over Darren’s face and pinned him down.


“Who’s reactive now?” he demanded.


Chapter 44