A/N: Trigger warning for domestic abuse.
Lamar Hunter, age 17
District 4 Male Tribute
Two months before the Reaping
The concert starts in fifteen minutes. The music director walks to the center of the band room and orders everyone to quiet down and get ready for the event. Persephone Torres, my girlfriend, breaks from our embrace and smiles at me.
"Well babe, I'd better get to my seat," she says before giving me a quick kiss on the lips. "You'll do great. I believe in you."
"Have you heard from my parents, by any chance?" I ask.
"No, I'm sorry," Persephone says with a slight frown. "I know you'll be amazing no matter what, though. I'll be in the first row."
"Thanks, honey," I say, comforted by my girlfriend's encouragement. "I'll see you after the concert."
"Of course Lamar, now go rock that Ballade," Persephone says, kissing me on the cheek before turning away.
I have mixed feelings as Mrs. Cruise gets onto the stage to welcome everyone to the concert. I'm disappointed that my mother and father aren't here, but not surprised. My parents have never shown up for any of my events. At least I can count on Persephone.
I wait backstage as the less advanced performers complete their acts. Then my name is announced, and it's showtime.
Lamar Hunter, the greatest pianist the world has ever seen.
I walk out into the auditorium and come to a stop next to the piano. I give the audience my most charming smile, take a bow, and sit down onto the piano bench. My fingers drum out the first notes of the stirring piece, and I become one with the music.
The performance is perfect, just the way I want everything to be. I work hard to have it all. I want it all. I deserve it all. I may not have my parents' pride yet, but someday I will get there.
The Ballade is done. I put down my hands. I stand up, and the audience erupts in thunderous applause. I take an elegant, sweeping bow. They all love me, and I know I deserve it. Someday, Mother and Father will see me for who I am.
I don't see my parents in the crowd as the program ends, Mrs. Cruise delivers her final remarks, and the lights turn on, allowing everyone to mingle in the auditorium. I walk down the stage steps into the crowd and smile as Persephone comes barreling toward me with a grin on her face.
"Lamaaar!" she yells, wrapping me in a big hug. She steps back and hands me a rose. "You were so amazing!"
"Thank you, my dear," I say, taking the rose and kissing my girlfriend on the cheek. I affix the flower to my suit. "I only strive for the best."
"Dude, that was awesome!"
I look up and notice my best friend, Cress Fernandes, ambling over to me. I beam as he claps me on the back.
"You rocked it out there, my man," he says.
"Thanks," I say. "Have you seen my parents? I owe them."
"Nah bro, haven't heard from them all day," Cress says with a shrug. "We can go look for them though."
"That would be nice," I say, somewhat distracted as I scan the crowd of concert goers. I perk up when I spot a girl my age, standing off to the side and looking a little lonely. I still don't see my parents anywhere, but this is the next best thing. The girl is gorgeous, with golden blonde hair very unlike Persephone's brown. I haven't seen her around before.
"Hold on, you two, wait here," I say as I walk towards the stranger. I stand up straighter and adjust my rose.
"Hello," I say with a smile as I approach the girl. "Are you lost?"
"Oh, not really," the girl says, raising her eyebrows before smiling and shrugging. "I just don't know anyone here. You're… Lamar Hunter, right? The piano player?"
"Of course, only the greatest," I say with a grin. "I worked really hard on the Ballade so if you enjoyed it, it's my pleasure."
"I loved it," the girl says, her beautiful blue eyes shining. "I'm Clarissa, by the way. I'm from East Shore, just visiting family. They're total plebs, though, so I came here on my own," she says with a laugh. "You're really good!"
"And you look really nice in that dress," I say, edging closer to the pretty girl. "Very refined. It suits you well."
"You flirting with me?" Clarissa chuckles.
Her comment takes me by surprise. Things usually don't go like this. Not that I'm complaining.
"Of course, you're very good-looking," I say, reaching out to touch Clarissa on the waist. She doesn't pull back, so I smile and rest my hand firmly on her body.
The two of us talk for a while, and I'm glad that Clarissa didn't mind how quickly I made a move on her. This is a pretty great day. Only one thing would make it the perfect day I deserve, and that would be my parents being here…
As I let my eyes wander around the auditorium in search of Mother and Father, I spot Persephone. The brunette is talking to a boy in my class I don't know very well. My girlfriend is giggling, and I feel a surge of anger.
"Hold on a bit," I say to Clarissa before striding over to Persephone and grabbing her by the wrist.
"I'm sorry, but I need to talk to my girlfriend for a while," I say to the guy, managing to keep a straight face. I'm a refined person, after all. Inside, however, I'm fuming.
I deserve the best.
I drag Persephone through the crowd and into the janitor's closet, which is thankfully unlocked. I find the light switch and shove my girlfriend's shoulders into the nearest wall.
"Please don't ruin this for me," I growl as Persephone winces. "I was trying to have a good day even though my parents didn't show up, so don't go checking out other guys."
"Lamar, what's going on?" Persephone asks. I take a deep breath.
"That boy you were flirting with. You don't know him."
"I wasn't flirting, honest," my girlfriend protests. "Hey, is everything alright?"
"Of course not, I was having a good day and the only thing that could've made it perfect was my parents finally acknowledging me," I huff. "But they didn't, so I don't want my girlfriend to be flirting with someone else."
"I'm sorry," Persephone says, hanging her head. "It's just that I was waiting for you to get back to me, but you were talking to another girl so-"
"I wasn't," I say, my anger rising. I take a deep breath to formulate my next words because I can't lose the girl who, unlike some people, supports me.
"Please, Perse, don't go on about how I'm wrong. I get enough of that from my parents," I say, hoping that it's enough to sway her.
"I… alright," Persephone says softly, and I release her. She rubs her shoulder with a grimace. "Hey, maybe you can forget about what your parents think of you? It doesn't matter how they treat you because you know yourself that you're great, right?"
"Of course," I sigh. "I deserve the best."
"You do," Persephone says, giving me a hug. "And the night is still young, y'know? Maybe they'll show up after all, and even if they don't, there's food."
"I guess," I say.
I don't see Mother and Father all night.
When I get home, I find my parents watching a movie in the TV room. I announce that I'm home, and they pause their viewing and turn to me, looking annoyed more than anything.
"You're late," Father comments.
"Sorry," I say, hanging my head. "I was at the Spring Concert. I had a solo and I think I did well."
"Are you going fishing with Mr. Dawson tomorrow?" Mother asks.
"Fucking seriously?" I yell. Now that I'm home with just my parents, I don't have to be proper anymore. "I work my ass off practicing my long-ass Ballade, I give a fucking amazing performance, you don't even show up, and now you're not even acknowledging all that?"
"Lamar, honey, I've said it before and I'll say it again, I honestly wish you'd stop playing your piano and spend that time on something more practical," Mother says with a sigh. She gives me a hug that I don't return. "I know you want us to attend your events but we're just trying to tell you what's best for you."
"I know I deserve the best," I growl, shoving Mother forcefully away. "That's why I'm going to go practice."
"The school is closed," Father points out as I'm storming away.
"Fucking hell," I mutter as I march to my room.
A/N: Before we get into anything else, I need to make one thing clear: Lamar is a domestic abuser. He is controlling, gaslighting, and physically abusive towards his girlfriend, and his behavior towards her is absolutely not okay. In creating him I purposefully went for someone who seemed, even to readers, as sympathetic and likable at first, only to actually be a bad person. I wanted to use the opportunity of my M-rated SYOT to explore that concept. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions, and I would appreciate any and all feedback because I worked very hard on this chapter.
Chapter question: What are your first impressions on Lamar, our District 4 male Tribute?
Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you all soon!