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

“Oh, come here,” she said and held out her arms. Jayden hesitated before walking into the hug, hooking his chin over her shoulder. Without her heels, she felt surprisingly short, and her hair tickled his face in a floaty sort of way. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart,” she murmured, hugging him tightly. “You’ve dealt so well with all of this, and…You know, you’re still my sweet little boy, but you’ve become such a good young man, and…I’m just very proud of you, Jayden.”


Jayden swallowed against the lump in his throat and ducked his head to prop his cheek on her shoulder. “Love you too, Mum,” he mumbled. Hopefully, Darren was way, way under, or Jayden would hear about this for the next month. Or year.


“Right.” She let him go and stepped back. “You call his brother—Scott, was it? You call Scott about any dietary needs, and get him to bring any medication round if it’s needed, and I’ll start dinner about six. No funny business up here.”


Chapter 105