I couldn’t believe it! I had made it to the finals of Singers. I left my small hometown in Alabama to hit the big time, and it looked like I was finally going to get my dream. I was the oddball among my friends, always into heavy metal while they listened to country. I never really felt as if I quite fit in. Add in the fact that I was gay and — well, I really didn’t fit in.

I was in Phoenix, Arizona, with the rest of the finalists and I was still trying to wrap my head around everything. The producers had flown us to Phoenix to promote a tie-in with a new reality show premiering here. Our first performance and voter elimination show would happen here. So far, I was loving Arizona.

I peeked in a store window as Evander, another guy in the finals, and I wandered around a mall. We hit the game store and I bought a few I needed to bring my collection up to date. Evander was busy checking out his purchases as I decided which store to head to next. I noticed two guys pass us on their way into the store we’d just left; we nearly collided. I zoned in on one of them and gasped as I recognized him. It was fucking Jinx Jett of Skull Blasters! My heart stopped and then nearly exploded as I swatted Evander’s shoulder.

“What, dude?”

“Oh. My. God. That’s Jinx Jett!”

“Well damn, Jayden — go say hi before you wet yourself!” Evander was laughing at me.

I walked back toward them and realized Gareth Wolf was the guy with Jinx. He had become a role model for me recently. I had come out because Gareth had the balls to do it. That didn’t win me any points with my family, and that gave me the nerve to leave for California, to make it big.

“Oh my God! You’re Jinx Jett!” I practically screamed.

“He is.” Gareth Wolf nodded with a smile.

“Can I have your autograph?”

“Um, sure. What’s your name?” Jinx checked his pockets.

“I have a pen. It’s Jayden. J-A-Y-D-E-N. Can you sign my shirt?”

“Sure.”

“Can you sign it too, Gareth?”

“You bet.”

“This is so awesome! I love you guys!” I exclaimed. “I can’t believe you’re just walking around the mall!” I didn’t even care that I sounded like a 12-year-old girl.

Jinx finished signing his name and handed the pen back. I swear to God, I wanted to jump his bones right there in the mall. “Um, so, thanks a lot, you guys. You’re so cool.” I began walking backwards.

“How about a picture?” Gareth asked almost as an afterthought, it seemed.

Oh my God. I was going to pass out. “Really?!”

“Sure,” Gareth shrugged.

I all but squealed and handed my phone to Evander. I got in the middle of them and smiled. The flash went off and I took the phone from Evander, making sure it came out okay.

“Thank you so much,” I must have said for the umpteenth time.

“No problem,” Jinx mumbled.

Evander tugged on me to go but I kept sneaking peeks at Jinx Jett over my shoulder. The guy was so damn fine it should be illegal. I had wanted him from the second I had heard his drum solo on the first album. The guy was seriously talented. Then when I Googled him? Holy shit, he was gorgeous!

 

Evander and I went back to the hotel and cleaned up for the night’s show. The ballroom was crowded as the judges took their seats. I fidgeted nervously as the judge from England began reading off who was staying and who was going.

“Jayden Dempsey, Evander Torrin, and the Spiros twins will be staying on, but there’s a twist, boys. You four will form a band.” The judge smiled.

“Excuse me?” I stammered.

“I see more potential putting you together than I see any of you going solo,” he explained. “I suggest you boys get some rest. We’ll be knocking out a track by next week.”

 

One month later, we won the contest. I was now one quarter of London Boys, a boy band. I guess I couldn’t complain. I wanted the dream and now I had it. I was out of Alabama and making a name for myself. I had groupies and now I was the one signing autographs. It was all surreal. I talked over my sexuality with our manager and he gave me the green light. I came out in public and never looked back. I haven’t heard a peep from my parents, even after I had a moving truck go to their house for my belongings.

This was my life now.

I was going to embrace it.