Concerto of love

By Jase Hamilton Storm

Jeremy has a secret—a secret he thinks only one other person knows. A distressing experience happened in his younger years, and he’s never gotten over it. He changed from a laugh-a-minute boy with blond hair to a morose, guarded, black-haired Goth. Desperate to follow in his big brother’s footsteps, he creates a band at school. However, one male band member doesn’t like Jeremy—or so he makes out—and his anger toward Jeremy starts a chain of events that will reveal not only Jeremy’s past but expose that secret he’s kept hidden for so long...
Billy joins the school. Awkward in social situations due to his uncle keeping Billy locked away out of sight, Billy wants so much to be accepted as a ‘normal’ kid. He plays the piano perfectly, and although he can’t talk, he soon becomes a part of a school group who welcome him. But Billy also has a past, one that was so traumatic it took away his voice. Will he divulge his terrible home life? Will the group still accept him if he does?
The two boys form a special friendship, and life should be plain sailing, but fate has other plans, and Jeremy’s and Billy’s pasts come hurtling back to haunt them. Can they overcome their tragedies and find a new beginning, or are the people most intent on ruining them going to win?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jase Hamilton Storm
• Release date: Jul 11, 2018
• ISBN: 9781720857815

Jase Hamilton Storm

Jase Hamilton Storm was born in the USA, in the slightly southern state of Maryland, which borders the Washington, DC. He’s a man, of heart and compassion for those he is surrounded by, friend or stranger. Albeit single, he’s never truly alone. Jase has a great love for art, music, and the some of the simpler things in life. Adventure, travels and meeting new people, brings joy to him. Jase is proud of his cultural, and spiritual life. Jase believes in equality for all, and the strength of a community that can love, openly and freely with each other. Having no children of his own, Jase finds being near children and young adults, telling stories and giving of his time, that his purpose of being, is a well respect and appreciated. Jase is a creative soul, a jack-of-many-trades, you can say. He is known to dabble happily on the piano or sing joyously with local groups and choirs. He loves to be expressive in art, be it, sketch working, painting, dance. But most of all, he is deeply passionate about the stories he writes. Jase sometimes sees the darkness in life and tries to infuse light to what he sees. He hopes to channel hope, through his stories, that may touch the hearts of those who may need it most.

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Concerto of Love! - Text copyright © Jase Hamilton Storm 2018

Editing and Cover Art by Emmy Ellis @ studioenp.com © 2018

All Rights Reserved

Concerto of Love! is a work of fiction. All characters, places, and events are from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

The author respectfully recognizes the use of any and all trademarks.

With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.

Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded, or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the author’s written permission.

Acknowledgments

I would like to personally take this space to thank my beloved friends for their amazing support for my wanting to be a writer, all these years, and finally turning author. Emmy Ellis, you have been a true godsend to me. Your patience in doing many of my edits and my beautiful cover designs, I am forever in awe of you. To my wonderfully amazing parents, you are forever in my heart. You two have done nothing but make my dreams achievable. Thank you dearly, I am truly blessed.

Concerto of Love!

by

Jase Hamilton Storm

Jeremy’s Dissonant Norm

JR? Hey, JR… Wait up! JR is the nickname of Jeremy Rory, a popular senior in the Suitland High School of the Performing Arts in Maryland. Hearing the screeching female voice, Jeremy pauses and looks around him at the halls littered with before-the-bell students. He rakes his hair from his face and glances back, his gaze piercing into the crowd with his black mascara-trimmed lashes and green-flecked, aqua-blue eyes. He hungrily seeks out his friend, she of the familiar voice, while biting down on his tinted-black bottom lip. Jeremy’s Goth-like appearance contradicts the school’s colorful dress code of crimson and beige and sets him apart from a clear majority of the student body.

Jeremy’s big pale hands show his artist’s trait as a lead guitarist of an alternative rock band. The nails on his left side are all polished black, and well-manicured, except for the pinky which is notably longer than the rest. This is common among guitarists in the field, like his older brother, Zachary. His right hand is clear of polish and has no long pinky nail. A dangling earring hangs from his left earlobe, with two metallic black feathers draping low, one slightly bigger than the other. He sports a black nose ring and a tongue ring, while his matching ensemble is completed with a spiky, leather-strap choker.

For all of Jeremy’s radical dark eccentricities, which could flagrantly scream, ‘Get the hell back!’ Jeremy, surprisingly, is an above-average attractive young man, steeped in masculine sex appeal. The fairer sex wants him for his bad-boy image and ruggedly tight body, while the male majority regales him as the fixated idol of great musical talent…albeit that he’s living in Zachary’s shadow.

Twisting his body about, Jeremy squints to peer through the rush of oncoming students. He catches sight of a sliver of green poking through the droves of red and beige. That spark of green is the indicator he needs to focus upon. It’s exactly who he expected it to be. It’s his dearest and most supportive friend since early grade school, the spunky Miss Felicia Bitters. It’s strange how Jeremy’s slight height advantage didn’t aid him better in weeding her out amongst the crowd.

Pushing her way through the bodies is a feat for the average-size person, but Felicia, who is shorter than the average, accomplishes it triumphantly with wide-eyed zeal as she would handle anything set before her.

Much like Jeremy, she similarly crashes the color code with her own sense of brilliance. She’s sporting a short-layered, platinum-colored cropped hairstyle with a bright splash of super lime-green highlights diagonally streaking across her laser-cut bangs. The green in her hair matches perfectly to her favorite pair of eighties retro-inspired, lime-green glasses and lemon-lime, glittery-glossed, perky-plump lips.

Hey, thanks for waiting for me, JR. She anchors his body down with a hug, thanking him with a quick peck on the cheek.

Jeremy rolls his eyes, for he’s not into the gushy sentimentalities that Felicia loves to shower him with.

Wow…you’re springy this morning, Ellie. Jeremy uses the pet name he gave her years ago. His greeting comes across as inexpressive, and he regrets that.

I am always springy as you should know. Oh–? And how are you, Ellie? she questions to herself, with sarcasm, speaking for him, Why– I am great, JR! Thanks so much for asking—not! —Mister Mc-Moody-Pants. Her sarcasm shows playfully. A little smile in the morning wouldn’t hurt you, Big Guy, she expresses, a matter-of-factly.

With a baritone-graveled grunt, he says, Hmmm. Doesn’t help much either. His darkened mood punches through her perky sunshine bubble.

Felicia, as usual not allowing his words to dictate her sprightly spirits, changes the subject to a lighter note. Anyhow. Did you hear the recent great news buzzing about?

Jeremy shakes his head, not sure what she’s referring to. Felicia is always great about finding out things sooner than the public; presumably, it comes with the territory in her chosen field of interest at the school.

It’s just been released. The Battle of the Bands is going to be local this year. It’s happening in a few weeks. Can you believe it? Her voice channels a new level of enthusiasm.

Instead of eager excitement, Jeremy peers off into the distance with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Damn, much sooner than I expected it to be. I’m guessing Dax is over the moon at the thought of it. The perplexity of the situation is steeped in his thoughts.

Why didn’t Zach mention anything? Sure, he may be on tour and all, but still, a simple heads-up would have been nice, maybe? Or does he already have a notion that I am going to be prevented from entering, anyway? Jeremy’s mind rotates, back and forth with no resolve.

He loses track of Felicia trying to gain his attention. Are your Clippers going to enter this year’s competition? You and I both know they’re ready for any type of showdown. Your brother would agree if he was back from his tour out west. It’s going to be located at the Apple Gate Theater downtown. Felicia’s excitement is at a fever pitch.

Unlike Jeremy, Felicia is a junior and still tries to fit in with the mainstream workings of school life as a student journalist for the Suitland Gazette. Jeremy guesses his facial expression shows signs of a guy lost in deep thoughts. He sees Felicia’s pint-sized frame anxiously shifting weight from one leg to the other in a rhythmical motion as she awaits a necessary response. Seeing her pout makes him smirk with a huff.

From a distance, Jeremy’s six-foot-two height and medium athletic build make him tower over Felicia’s mere five-three. Minus the apparent dark obsession with appearance, Jeremy’s physical attributes stem more from a jock-type than the average musical-type.

Unbeknownst to the student body and teaching staff, Jeremy conceals a very detailed dragon tattoo under his crimson polo shirt. Only a tip of the dragon’s head can be seen emerging from the collar at the base of his neck.

Although being forced to wear the school’s bright colors, Jeremy performs a David Copperfield after the two-thirty dismissal bell. His darker fashion sense then overtakes, like Clark Kent transforming into Superman.

Jeremy’s band meets up in the Jam Room after school. They practice their music for several hours; both their old music and some of Jeremy’s new originals. The Jam Room is uniquely designed for them. As the school’s go-to band for all the various engagements such as dances, games, prep-rallies, and more, The Clippers have done it all for two and a half years running without a hitch. The band usually practices till dark, and then they’re able to catch the last afterschool shuttle activity buses for home, or they carpool.

Felicia is like a rogue rainbow, spurting out of control, a real contrast to Jeremy by far. As odd as their pairing may be, they uniquely fit each other like night and day. Felicia is unrequitedly fond of Jeremy and has been for many years, regardless of the girls who have come then split with him over the years, with Janet, his ex, is one of the worst. Firmly resolving the position of a lifelong anchor to him, Felicia finds solace. Jeremy and Felicia literally grew up as childhood next-door neighbors in their Penn Brooke community and clicked together like siblings.

Jeremy wasn’t always the broody guitarist; ironically, he was a bright, blue-eyed optimist who wanted so eagerly to explore the world in all its striking vividness. However, something drastic had happened and changed in him by the time he hit middle school’s sixth grade. After parting ways with his closest buddy in crime, Ryan, everything about him went to a dark place. A world void of color, emotions, and riddled with meaningless affairs.

Felicia is the only fraction of that colorful past that has managed to stay with him. She wonders if Jeremy’s older brother had something to do with his sudden transformation, to make JR more like him. Jeremy doesn’t really look at the world anymore with rose-colored glasses, and the only thing at peace in his life is his band, The Clippers. Their success is all that concerns him now.

So? Are you, JR? Felicia peeks out on a high note, Are you entering? Not giving Jeremy a solid chance to respond before she launches out again, "I would love to add it to the next editorial. Can’t you see it? ‘Suitland’s own, The Clippers, to challenge the world and conquer it by storm!’ can’t you?"

Felicia’s incredibly excited energy is almost nauseating to Jeremy particularly first thing on a drab school morning. He gives her a partial smile, like a big brother to a nagging sister, to make her shut up.

I’m not sure, he grumbles under his breath. It all depends really. Jeremy’s not sounding too optimistic about the whole thing, which is clearly egging at Felicia.

W-Why not? Felicia’s stammer voice reeks of curiosity. You always wanted to do something like this, and hell, this could really be big for you guys. She obviously finds it amazing, pitching something like this to Jeremy, of all people. Felicia starts up again. You are a brilliant guitarist. Fuck! Excuse my language. But, seriously, JR, I know the world would be so freaked by your amazing talents if you’d only get out there and do something with it. And I’m talking beyond fucking Suitland, you know?

He gives a subtle sigh. Hmm, nice and all, but it takes a full band to win such a competition, Ellie, not a grouping of misfits and lazy singers. Or a Super Ego, prima-donna… He pauses, catching his words. Oh, never mind. Jeremy folds his arms across his chest, gnawing on his lower lip, while not engaging her with eye contact. He duly understands in his mind, what his lack of direct attention will do, It’s going to be interpreted as a red flag in her imaginary caution book, Everything JR! She’ll instantly conclude something is obviously nagging at me and will want to investigate it assiduously methodical.

JR, The Clippers are the king’s shit, and everyone knows it. Twirling a locket of her hair with her finger, she goes on. And I know for sure they’ll bring the fire. She dramatically opens her arms wide toward the presumable heavens. On the grand stage—she closes her arms after nearly popping a student in the eye—with your roaring fans, screaming out your praises and their adorations, who can stop you? You must go after it, put it on the line. Rico on the bass, James on percussion. C’mon, y ou know it’s a match made in Heaven. You can’t ask for a better freaking keyboardist than Dax Trent, Jr. The guy is a legend around here.

If only I could, Jeremy mumbles, hoping Felicia doesn’t overhear.

Jeremy gazes at her, bewildered. When the hell did Ellie become such a groupie? Wow, kind of scary. His mind rumbles.

I get it! She tries to rationalize. You have always been a perfectionist when it comes to your music, but seriously, you need to open up and let the spotlights shine where they need to be.

Jeremy cuts her short with a hand on her shoulder. Yeah, I hear ya, Ellie. Believe me, I really do.

The Situation is Real

Felicia raises a brow; she must have heard the defeatist tone in his voice.

He continues, Look, don’t get all bent out of shape, Ellie. I want nothing more than to see my band grow. What you are referring to is not my issue.

Well, then what is it, JR? Talk to me, let me in. I hate it when you shield up like this.

It’s just the shit I’m so tired of dealing with, Ellie. God knows I’m tired of it.

Felicia’s facial expression shifts from perky-pleasant to a bitter serene instantly. Seeing her icy blues gazing up at him with frustration, he waits for her barrage. She hisses and says, Oh! It’s starting up all over again, aye? The whole ‘Dax wants to leave for better things’ crap?

The mere mention of the boy’s name sends shockwaves through Jeremy.

Without a word, the greenish-blue luster in Jeremy’s widened, rounded eyes appear diminished of their natural gleam. Unhappily muted by the unsettling silence from Jeremy, Felicia careens in the knowledge of knowing, Jeremy is answering her both loud and clear, with deafening clarity, all without uttering a single word, from his black-tinted lips. The truth is firmly residing in his silence.

She’s all too familiar with the arrogant charms of Mr. Dax Trent, of the senior class and an extremely talented keyboardist. She knows Dax hasn’t been happy being in Jeremy’s ensemble for some time now, but he always seems professional about it, or at least in the public eye.

It’s common knowledge that Dax only agreed to join Jeremy’s band because of Jeremy’s older brother, Zachary, who everyone calls Zach. Dax’s older sister, Patricia, also known as Patty, is currently dating Zach. Jeremy’s brother graduated two years ago and is now on tour with his posse, the Screaming Eagles. He’s been touring for the past three months in the midland states in little venues as the opening act for another group. He has every intention of returning in time for the Band Bash, which is sooner than Jeremy had realized.

Dax has made it clear that he wants