Jean's heart was racing as she was taking in his words and what it meant.
Jacob appeared in front of jean just then "Leandro. Let go of her arms. Why are you holding her like this?"
As the first aiders started tending to the injured boy on the ground, Leandro let go of her arms.
Jean was not prepared to face Leandro. She stood there holding her hands on her cheeks thinking of the situation. She whispered "Give me a moment please." She then took one step away keeping her distance.
Leandro was about to walk around her to talk to her face to face but Jacob stood in front of him hitting his chest "Don't hold my sister like that again. If she bruises, I will bruise you in the same spot."
Leandro said "I didn't hurt her. I would never. Now I suggest you think twice before your next move." He then pushed him away as he took a step to jean.
Jacob put his hand on Leandro's shoulder " Didn't you hear Flower pot? She needs a moment. Give her some space."
Leandro said to Jacob "Of course she needs space from you Jacob. She was fine until you showed up."
Jacob said "Excuse me? She is my sister. But you ... are from another planet, my friend. Give her space to breathe."
Leandro was getting tired of Jacob interfering. He said "Jacob. This has nothing to do with you."
Jacob said "Just because you are honourable with a good reputation and you seem to have a book on having honour I am giving you the benefit of the doubt. Let my sister breathe when she asks you to." He then turned to jean "Flower pot. Do you want to go outside for a minute. It's too crowded here."
Jean turned around not looking at Leandro "Yes. Ok." She felt like a coward walking away from the situation but she didn't know what to do or say. What could she say to that? He didn't want her to touch others and he was even willing to ... kill them. She shivered at that as she walked alongside Jacob leaving the arena. She decided to look back and see if Leandro was following them and he could not be seen.
Leandro was watching them from far and had every intention to talk to her. He saw the siblings leave the building and followed them to a bench where they sat in front of the woodland area. He watched over her and waited. They siblings didn't say much. Jacob obviously cared. He put everything down for her and just tended to her.
Jacob cleared his throat "Flowerpot. Are you alright?"
Jean said "I am fine. Thanks Jacob."
Jacob said "Do you want to go home?"
Jean turned to him "Home? This is school time Jacob. It's not home time yet."
Jacob said "I don't mean the dorms. I mean home. Hale. Michigan."
Jean shook her head "Jacob. We won't be allowed to go home."
Jacob said "We can take time off."
Jean said "We can go back for thanksgiving. For vacation only like everyone else."
Jacob said "Flower pot. Do you want to tell me what happened back there? Why was he holding you like that?"
Jean hesitated and then said "He was jealous."
Jacob asked "Of what?"
Jean said "Because I offered to help those boys. He got jealous."
Jacob said " He can't get jealous. You are not even officially his girlfriend. Are you sure that's all there is? He is just jealous?"
Jean nodded "Yes. He is."
Jacob sighed "If he was here I would tell him to take a cold shower."
"You can tell that to me now..." Leandro appeared from the woods and stood behind their bench with his arms crossed over his chest.
The siblings were surprised to hear him. They stood up. Jean slightly moved behind Jacob instinctively. She wasn't sure what she felt. But she did feel fear. He meant it when he said he was going to kill that kid.
Leandro said "You know, I take a cold shower every day..."
Jacob asked "What? Who does that? ... How long have you been standing there?"
Leandro said harshly "Long Enough to hear you trying to take her away to Michigan. Nice try Jacob. You think I will forget this?"
Jacob said "What do you want?"
Leandro said "I just came by to ask jean why she suddenly left. It's not very polite to leave when she asked me to get her a note for her to join the country club. Isn't that right jean?" He then bent to the side looking right at Jean who was hiding behind Jacob.
Jean breathed "I am ... sorry."
Jacob turned to jean "Don't apologise. Allow him to do so." He then turned to Leandro. Jacob said "You need to cool down. What's up with your jealousy? Jean told me You reacted because of the prospect of her touching boys."
Leandro said "I told you Jacob. Don't interfere when this matter does concern you." He then took a threatening step towards him "I need to talk to your sister. Leave."
Jacob took a step towards Leandro "I am quite civil with you because I know it will upset flower pot. You know she doesn't like fighting ...."
Leandro said "Exactly. She doesn't like fighting. So leave us."
Jacob said "No." He then took one step closer to Leandro dangerously in his personal space.
Leandro raised an eyebrow and put his hands on his hips "Are you challenging me?"
Jean could not let this go too far. She could see a fight happen. She said "Jacob."
Jacob immediately turned. His tone changed to a softer tone "Yes, flower pot."
Jean said "I want to talk to him ... alone."
Jacob looked at her "Really?"
Leandro said "Yes. Really. Leave. Now."
Jacob turned to Leandro and gave him an annoyed look. He then turned to jean "You are sure you want to be alone with Mount Etna here? Mount Etna, the Sicilian eruption house has honour but has no soul."
Leandro said "Watch it Jacob. Don't mock my heritage. My people have respect."
Jacob turned to him "What? You don't like the title I gave you.... For your information... I am a quarter Sicilian actually. My mother was born there. So I am technically your people."
Jean whispered "Jacob. Please go. I need to talk to him... alone." She then looked away.
Jacob turned to jean "Flower pot. You don't have to talk to the man. If you want to touch any guys, then its his problem. Not yours. He will deal with the guys..."
Leandro said "You have three seconds..."
Jacob turned to Leandro "Fine. I go. I will check on her later." He then walked away saying "Mount Etna eruption is is expected any minute... He may give you push ups flower pot. Watch out."
Leandro kicked the back of Jacob's knee making him almost fall. Leandro ordered "Walk faster."
Jacob sighed and walked away. "Go cool off Mount Etna... Oh... I forgot... You already are cooled off and you act this erratically.
As Jacob left, Jean looked down as she felt Leandro coming close.
Leandro said "Look at me jean."
She glanced up at Leandro.
Leandro stared at her "You look beautiful in the sun..."
Jean breathed "Leandro... Can we talk about what happened?"
Leandro nodded "Sure." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Jean "This is the paper you wanted... Its stamped..."
Jean took the paper and had a look "Thank you."
Leandro said "You are welcome... Now tell me Jean. Why did you leave abruptly?"
Jean put the paper in her pocket and said "You must know why. You said ... you wanted to.. you know.. kill him... that boy I wanted to help..."
Leandro said "And... how is that a problem?"
Jean gasped "You said you ... are jealous... So you wanted to kill him..."
Leandro said "Of course. You don't want to go out with me yet. I can wait but it doesnt mean I will wait patiently. I will eliminate anyone in my way who I feel deserves to be dealt with Jean. You must accept it... Every time you look at anyone, every time you talk to anyone ... every time you touch anyone, it makes me jealous ... But I can hold back. I can. If you touch any boy, I won't hold back. I will eliminate them and won't discriminate... See you around Jean."
Jean couldn't understand what she was even feeling. She was meant to be afraid. But she wasn't. He said it in the most least threatening way possible. He was calm. He spoke softly to her. He spoke to her the way he spoke to no one else.
Leandro walked away " Now. Do what you want... But if you touch any boy, they are dead."
The threat was lingering in the air. Jean was planning to question him and have a long talk but for some reason she was unable to form any sentences. Why did he have so much effect on her? She couldnt explain it. His words were unjust and unfair. But she couldnt argue back. There was something about how he said things that ended the conversation.
Jean heard her brother who appeared next to her "Are you alright flowerpot? What happened?"
Jean said "Yes. Nothing happened. He just wanted to give me the paper permission for riding horses."
Jacob said "Oh. So Mount Etna didnt erupt on you? He doesnt mind you riding horses but he minds you performing first aid... The city boy is strange."
As Leandro was walking away he thought about how he was going to teach Jacob a lesson to not interfere in his business. But he could wait.
Leo suddenly bumped into him coming out of the building. Leandro stopped "Watch where you walk."
Leo said "I am sorry... Leandro... I had contact from Nathan. He said you are breaking into the Rossi mansion..."
Leandro said "Thats correct."
Leo asked "Are you crazy? Father will come down on you very hard for this."
Leandro said "I know."
Leo hesitated and then said "Leandro. I can help..."
Leandro said "No. You cant. You and Nathan sit out of it. You are not needed. Nicandro and I are going to buy the Rossi kids time to see their mother... "
Leo said "Come on. I cant let you commit such act without me... I want in."
Leandro ignored him and walked past him as he murmured "You will stay at home Leo. If you come out tonight following me then I will skin you alive myself."
Leo groaned "Please. Take me with you..." Leo was so annoyed. He felt left out. He said carelessly "If you dont take me with you, I will tell father what you are planning."
As Leandro turned he was going to berate him but then he looked past his brother to Leo's surprise who just wanted to get a rise from his brother out of spite. Leo looked behind him too.
Someone had just ran into Jean by the sound of it and her soda bottle was empty now as it had spilt.
Jacob said to the boy who was standing there "Oi. I just bought that drink for flower pot."
The guy apologised and reached into his pocket to offer money.
His brother was going to spill this kid's blood now. Leo watched his brother walk slowly to his prey who had to face Leandro. Poor soul.
Jacob noticed Leandro walking to the scene. "Oh man. Flower pot doesnt like fights. What is this school? A war zone?"Â He then told the kid "There is no need to pay up. Leave. While you still can... in one piece." He then pointed at Leandro.
The kid didnt move. He froze. "I am so sorry..."
Jacob stood in front of the boy. "Wait. Its alright. Flower pot is fine..."
Leandro pushed Jacob away to walk to the kid "I will kill him."
Jacob held onto one of Leandro's arms "Leave it. He said sorry. Nothing happened." Leandro was dragging Jacob with him as Jacob was holding him back or rather was trying to. Jacob turned to Leo "Help me man..."
Leo reluctantly joined in and tried to hold his brother back by holding his other arm.
Jean was holding the empty soda bottle in her hand and watching the scene. She watched as Leandro was not backing out and she was so afraid now her brother could get hurt. Leandro was warning Jacob and Leo to let go or he was going to hurt them.
Jean whispered "Stop. Please stop Leandro. I am fine..." Just then the time stopped for her as Leandro stopped. He didnt seem to want to stop... Only for her he stopped.