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

She shook her head at him; Darren shrugged. “Well, yeah,” he said. “Every school has bullying. Nobody’s going to carve things into his locker door, if that’s what you mean.” Or dump coffee on his head or shout at him in the street, but he didn’t add those bits. Jayden would strangle him. Or pour the hot tea on his head.


Mrs. Phillips raised her eyebrows. “Are you out at school, dear?”


Well, he hadn’t been expecting that question. Maybe Mrs. Phillips wasn’t as soft and fluffy as Darren had decided. Still, it was hardly a horrendous question. “Not really. It’s not a secret, but I’ve never said anything either.”


“None of their business,” Darren said, leaning back in his chair and stretching. Despite her being there, and despite the heavy conversation, he noticed Jayden’s gaze flicker along his torso, and he smirked.


“Do your friends know? Your family?”


Chapter 83