Thursday, February 7th

Where we last saw our Music loving protagonist, he was just beginning his middle school life in the 6th grade. Boy has time gone by since then.

Young Leon has grown quite a bit since then. Now at 18 years old in his graduating year of High School.

But as kids grow older, things are bound to change, and Leon is no different. As the years went by, his parents started to get more pushy about his future.

Laying on his queen sized bed in his bedroom, Leon was doing what he loved to do most. Listen to music. Wearing a high quality pair of headphones that he managed to obtain by saving his money.

"Hmm..." Leon blissfully hummed as his music brought him into that same daze that music always puts him in.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Leon's daze was abruptly interrupted by his mother knocking on the door. He quickly put his headphones away and slid them under his bed before springing off of his bed and sitting at his desk in a panic.

His mother only grew more suspicious as to what he was up to. "Leon, what are you doing in there...?" She asked in a serious tone as Leon sighed in annoyance.

"Studying like you told me to, Mom..." Leon muttered. The door suddenly swung wide open as Leon's mother then peeked inside and pointed at him in a scolding manner.

"You better not be giving me attitude, Young man!" His mother warned. This only made Leon more annoyed, but he had to put up with it.

"I'm not giving you attitude, Mom..." Leon muttered as he pretended to write on an empty piece of paper, yet his books weren't even open.

Thankfully his Mother didn't notice this. However something she did notice was the jack sticking out from under the bed.

"Leon, if I catch you listening to music after I asked you to study, I'll be taking those damn headphones away. Do I make myself clear?" She warned in an angry tone of voice.

"But I bought them with my own money..." Leon argued. But his mother wasn't having it. If anything his little attempt to make a fair point only made her angrier.

"Leon Flores, if you keep arguing with me then those headphones are going in the garbage!" She shouted as Leon was on the verge of his breaking point.

"Why can't you just let me be what I want to be?!" Leon shouted. It finally came out. After years of pressure from his mother, he was finally standing up for himself.

"Excuse me?!" Leon's now surprised mother asked in shock as she recoiled in response. "You're one of the smartest kids in this neighbourhood! I won't let you waste your intellect on something so pointless!!" She shouted back.

Leon then stood from his desk with a blaze of rage in his eyes. "It's not pointless! Music makes me happy! How is it so hard to understand that?!" He screamed as he slammed his hands on the desk.

"Leon? What's going on up there?!" Another voice boomed from downstairs. It was Leon's father. While he also wanted him to study, he was also understanding of his passion for music. He had Leon's respect for that.

Neither Leon or his mother responded to this question as the two just kept arguing with each other. "Tell me, if you don't want to go to University to actually BE something, what will you do?!" His mother questioned. She demanded an answer as Leon struggled to find the words.

"I-I...I..." Leon stuttered as he struggled to get the words out of his mouth. Causing his mother to simply cross her arms as her lips curled into a smug smirk.

"That's what I thought." Leon's mother stated. She was about to walk out when she was stopped by the sound of her son's voice screaming.

"I WANT TO BE A D.J!!" He shouted. Confessing his dream to his mother for the first time. Leon's now even more angry mother slowly turned around with a dumbfounded look on her face.

"You...what...?" She asked with her voice being cracks away from breaking.

Leon then picked up the pair of headphones from under his bed and placed them around his neck. Giving his mother a look that she had never seen before.

"This is my passion! This is my dream! This is MY LIFE!" He screamed. It was a lot to take in for Leon's mother, but she eventually got herself back together and got right up in his face.

"If you won't go down the path we've set for you, then you're on your own! I want you OUT of this house by 6:00 pm SHARP!" Leon's mother demanded as she pointed towards the door.

Leon looked his mother in the eyes with a look of disbelief. He knew that she was keen on sending him to university, but he would have never guessed she would kick him out for it.

After regaining his composure, he stood tall and boomed back at his mother once and for all. "Fine!" He shouted. Grabbing all the stuff he needed, which wasn't much, and stormed out of his room in a huff.

Grabbing his headphones, his Cellphone, his school supplies, and some snacks to go, he stomped down the stairs as his confused father was still trying to figure out was was going on.

"Leon, where are you going?" His father asked with concern in his voice. "I don't know. Away from here" Leon said calmly as he opened the door, walked out, and slammed it behind him.

Walking across the semi-snowy yard and onto the icy sidewalk, Leon then pulled his phone out and started walking. He didn't know where to go this very second, but he had a few options.

He swiped through his contacts while putting his stuff in his book-bag. Eventually finding Donovan's number.

Leon was about to call him, but their situation was bad enough already. Daniel and Donovan's family didn't have much money. They could hardly afford to put food in the table everyday. The last thing they need right now is another mouth to feed.

So instead he resorted to plan B. Finding Vince's contact and calling his phone. It beeped a few times before he picked up.

"Hello?" Vince's voice asked through the phone as Leon spoke into it. "Hey, Vince..." He muttered.

"Are you good? You don't sound very happy..." Vince said with concern in his voice. "My mom kicked me out and I'm currently walking on the streets. I know it's a lot to ask but...could I crash at your place for a bit...?" Leon shyly asked.

"Shit, I'm already on my way, man. Where are you exactly?" Vince asked as Leon could hear the sound of his car going off. "I'm close to the cafe. You'll see me walking." Leon stated.

"Gotcha. Sit tight. I'll be there in a flash." Vince said as he tried to comfort Leon after what just happened. "Okay..." Leon bluntly blurted out.