The week passed by quickly. Just like Lorenzo had said, Leo had taken them book shopping. The triplets were still weary of Leo even though he seemed to be one of the friendliest brothers, he was still just as intimating.
Leo had tried to get the triplets to talk about themselves but they didn't.
After that the week passed, they didn't see much of their family.
Marco avoided them but if if he passed them in a corridor he would insult them. He hadn't said anything as bad as what he told Skye though. And Skye hadn't dared tell anyone. He hadnt been very happy when he found out they got in. He had warned them to stay away from him and never approach him at school. He didn't want to acknowledge their existence.
Nico was busy with schoolwork.
Leo started back a little earlier, he had opted to commute and so every day he would travel half an hour to his law school.
He didn't see the point of moving out if he only had to travel half an hour.
He was in his second year of law school and had already graduated from college.
Lorenzo was about but he had alot of work to do.
Rafael was caught up in France on his business trip. He had made sure to speak on the phone to the triplets to let them know how proud he was that they got in. He had hoped he would get back in time to take them to school but it wasnt possible.
Now it was Monday morning. The first day back.
Lorenzo was in the kitchen drinking coffee with his laptop doing important work.
Leo had a book in his hand occasionally eating breakfast.
Nico and Marco were yet to get up.
The triplets were terrified, they had never been around other kids before. They never interacted with anyone only themselves.
They didn't have much of an appetite but Lorenzo had told them they needed to eat breakfast.
Eventually Lorenzo closed his laptop and looked at his youngest siblings.
"Now would be a good time to go over some rules, yes?" He spoke in a serious tone, similar to the one he used at business meetings, a tone which no one dared challenge.
The triplets gulped. They hated rules, rules meant punishments.
"Yes sir" Alex responded for his siblings and himself.
Lorenzo gave him a slight dissaproving look. He didn't mention it though. They knew not to call him that.
"As you know father did mention briefly about how you are expected to do well, no smoking or drinking, but I think it's only fair to add one or two more" Lorenzo said.
"Yes sir" Alex quickly said. He didn't want to disobey Lorenzo at the moment. He was on edge, waiting for Lorenzo to lash out.
"Now as you know we are big on respect in this family, I want you to respect all your teachers, if you find yourself having a detention, you will do it. If they ask you a question, you anwser, if you don't know the answer that's okay you tell them you don't know."
Lorenzo looked to the triplets who all nodded.
"Good. Now rule 2, don't hide anything from us, if you don't want to tell Marco or Nico that's fine but you must at least tell either dad, Leo or I"
"Could you clarify what you mean sir" Alex said not wanting to mistakingly hide something from him or tell him everything.
"If you are bullied or anything like that. Which brings me onto my next rule, try not to get into fights, dad and I won't be to strict about this but no unnecessary fights"
The triplets nodded.
"And I know you have a habit of not eating so I'm going to make it a rule, you must eat lunch. If for some reason you miss lunch and haven't eaten you must make us aware"
It confused them how much their family allowed them to eat.
Alex gulped as he remembered the consequences for not eating. He would make sure they all eat. He couldn't go through that again. He wouldn't be so ungrateful.
"And finally this isn't a rule but I know you have a habit of calling us sir, I haven't mentioned it during this conversation because I know you know we prefer our names. This habit you have is not to be used when addressing other students, you call them by their name"
"Yes sir...Lorenzo we can follow those" Alex quickly said.
Lorenzo nodded they had all finished breakfast and were really just around the kitchen.
"Good, Skye can I have a word with you" Lorenzo relaxed his tone slightly.
"Whatever you have to say to her, it can be said here" Alex said not wanting him to do anything to her.
Lorenzo rolled his eyes, he understood Alex was protective of James and especially Skye so he chose not to make a comment.
He simply got up and walked to the door "are you coming Skye" he asked.
Skye was scared so she quickly got up and followed out of fear.
"We can always go back in the kitchen and talk but I thought you would appreciate talking about this just you and I"
"Yes sir"
Lorenzo turned to face her.
He didn't stop Alex saying it because he had told them so many times and he figured it was just his response to showing respect for the rules. He mentioned it at the end though. He knew it was a habit of theirs one he wanted to break.
But something about Skye saying it like she just had.
She sounded terrified and one glance at her, he knew she was.
He wanted to believe his dad and Leo. That they were just intimidated by them, that they were strangers.
But how could he?
The signs were there.
He found himself crouching so he was her level so he wouldn't appear as intimating. She was tiny compared to his 6 foot 4 frame.
"Skye you never have to be afraid of me" he said gently.
She looked at him with confusion and then fear.
She remembered how many times she had been told she didn't need to be afraid and then they would hurt her.
"I promise Skye, I only want to talk about your panic attacks, I don't have any bad intentions " he told her.
"Why do we need to talk about them, it isn't a big deal"Â she found herself getting defensive.
"Well I think it is a big deal so I'm going to treat it as such"
Skye looked away.
"Look at me Skye" he gently said.
He didn't expect her to lift her head so quickly.
"It's just nerves, you're being dramatic about something that isn't there" she refused to admit she had panic attacks.
"Okay Skye can we go talk about your nerves" Lorenzo asked.
Skye knew she wasn't getting out of it so she nodded.
They then went into the living room. As they walked towards it thru passed Nico and Marco. Marco looked angry which made Skye cower into Lorenzo, who instinctly wrapped his arm around her.
"Loose the anger Marco" Lorenzo said in a less than friendly tone.
Marco rolled his eyes in response.
Lorenzo and Skye continued to the living room.
"Do Alexander and James know about your nerves" Lorenzo said opting to call it nerves so they don't debate over it being a panic attack.
"Please don't tell them. They will only worry"
"May I ask how they don't know, you guys are inseparable "
Growing up Alex and James panicked themselves so they didn't see Skye's panicking as something to be more concerned abou however their panicked state was never severe panic like Skye.
She had been abused so much she became almost numb but bring in a new environment triggered her feelings. She knew what to expect with the men and that was constant abuse. Here she didn't know what to expect, she was in edge constantly.
"Probably because it's only recently this is happening, it's just the change in environment I guess" she told him truthfully.
"That's completely understandable. I am concerned about how it will be for you at school though" he replied.
"Is school really that bad" she whispered.
"No. You will have a great time, everyone I'm your year is new to so you won't be the only new student. If you feel panicked in any way are you okay to tell a teacher"
"I don't think I can"
"Okay how about messaging or calling me if you feel this way" he suggested.
"Aren't you at work all day"she replied.
"I am but I'll keep my phone with me just for you. You're more important than a business meeting so what do you say. Will you tell me?"
"Okay" she agreed.
"Good. I know you don't want to tell Alexander and James and I won't pressure you but just know they won't think less of you"
"Why are you saying this"
"I know the reason you don't want tell them is because you want to appear strong like you think they are. You don't want them to worry about you or see you as someone they need to take care of. You're the youngest though, they always will worry about you" he explained.
"Maybe one day I'll tell them but not today"
"Ok I respect your decision. I'm sure you will have a great day and make lots of friends though so you should be fine "
Skye had never had friends before.
"Come on let's get back to the kitchen" he said standing up and offering his hand to help her up. She slowly took it, he was suprised when she didn't let go not that he cared.
Back in the kichen it was just Nico, Marco, James and Alexander.
Nico and Marco were finishing their breakfast.
"Okay so I'll be taking Alexander, James and Skye to school, Marco I expect you to take them home and no driving recklessly whilst they are in the car or you will loose your car privelages again" Lorenzo told them all.
"But I was going to go out" he complained.
"Not happening. You are still grounded" Lorenzo said leaving room for no arguement.
"Fine" Marco knew not to argue with Lorenzo.
"Great. You can all go get your school bags now I'll be waiting in the garage"
Once they all left, Lorenzo quickly washed the plates then went to the garage.
Meanwhile
The 5 of them went to collect their bags. Marco was still annoyed from earlier. Before Skye could go down the oppersite hallway he quietly whispered "Lorenzo won't always be around to protect you"
Skyes eyes widened. All of them scared her but Marco scared her more. His little comments had her thinking thr worst.
She quickly ran off leaving Marco laughing and mumbling how pathetic she was.
The others never saw as they had gone down their hallway already.
Skye knew she shouldn't let him get to her but he did. In the end she got her bag the quickest and was quick to go back downstairs and to the garage.
"Someone's eager" Lorenzo smiled as he was grabbing the keys. He had only just come in himself.
"You will be fine Skye" he told her becoming serious when he saw how nervous she was.
"And Skye I'd it gets to much and you want to come home you can just tell me. I don't want it to be a habit though so try not to worry to much. I'm always here Skye, you can talk to me about anything, even things that might seem hard to talk about and you might prefer to pretend it never happened" he told her.
"Thank you" she whispered just as the door opened and the others came in.
"Right let's get going" Lorenzo announced.