Leandro was dancing with Jean. He had never thought he ever touch a girl before he was married let alone dance with one. Jean had made him change his principles or rather bend them slightly. He couldnt believe he was dancing with her. Before meeting Jean he never thought of girls. He ridiculed the idea of having a girlfriend. He wanted to wait until he went to college. He wanted to wait until he felt he was mature enough before he brought any girl home to introduce to his parents. But now everything had changed. Jean had a pull about her that he couldnt resist. He had been spending the previous night kneeling next to his bed praying hoping he could lose his feelings if it was not meant to be. He had been praying that if Jean was not going to be the one to become his wife, he should have lost all feelings for her. He preferred to have no feelings for any girl at all until he met the girl he one day wanted to marry. He hadn't lost his feelings the next morning and in fact this dance was not helping him at all. In fact his feelings for her was getting more and more intense.
As the music stopped playing marking it's end, Leandro realised students were staring at them whispering. He gave the a look and they all looked around the room or down
Just then they were interrupted as a call for live music was made outside. Elena and her band were playing. The students around them quickly got excited and left probably grateful with an excuse to leave Leandro presence before getting detentions and push ups for getting on his nerves.
Everyone left quickly and Jean slowly stepped away.
Only Jacob was left. "Flowerpot. Let's go."
Jean was motionless just taking in what had just happened. She just felt her cheeks heating up under his stare. His eyes hadn't left hers. He was looking at her in a way she just felt even more nervous than she ever was before around him. There was intensity in the room. Was she developing a huge crush on him? He was handsome and gentle. She never expected him to dance.
Leandro turned to Jacob "Leave for 5 minutes. I need to talk to your sister privately."
Jacob sighed and didn't protest. He just couldn't fault Leandro. The look in his eyes told Jacob to pack up any protest. He never thought a guy could make him feel like he was interrupting some personal matter in a room in his sisters presence. It was bizzare. But the way Leandro looked at his sister made him feel like he couldn't argue with him in anyway. He said "Fine. Call for me flowerpot if you need me. I will be outside." He then left not hearing any protest from his sister.
As he watched Jacob leave, Leandro turned to look at jean "You... have changed my life."
Jean didn't know what to say. Was it a bad thing or a good thing? He seemed not so pleased. His eyes held sincerity but also seriousness.
Leandro said "Before I met you, I had rules for myself. I had plans. You have changed my path."
Jean wasn't sure what to tell him. Was she meant to say sorry. For some reason she didn't feel the need to. After they had danced she just felt at peace. Leandro was still intimidating and she felt nervous around him as he was huge and masculine but she didn't feel fear. She fancied him but she was not scared. He was just so gentle.
Leandro continued "I never knew a girl could have such power to change my principles. I always used to frown upon boys and girls holding hands. I used to always think it was a sin to look at anyone with affection before I put a ring on their finger and made it official ... in a church. I had discipline. I had patience. I had self restraint. I had plans. But you changed it all."
Jean just was finding it hard to speak. What could she say to his speech. Jean bit her lip "I am sorry..." She didn't know what else to say.
Leandro said "I don't want an apology jean. I want to know... Do you have any idea how much you mean to me? You probably don't. You mean enough to me that I ... have changed my plans... My faith is important to me... You have made me change my beliefs."
Jean looked down "I didn't mean to do that... I am sorry ..."
Leandro said " Don't say sorry. It's my responsibility. I can't change how I feel. I tried. I can't. I just want you to know, how much you mean to me..." He then took a step towards her.
She looked up at him and saw him take a tiny box out of his pocket. He handed it to her. "This is for you." He said. She hesitantly took the box. She then opened it not knowing what else to do. She saw a iridescent clear quartz crystal necklace.
He explained "I made it for you... This morning..."
She looked up gasping "You made this?"
He nodded "Yes. I have one looking similar." He then unbuttoned his top buttons showing his quartz crystal necklace that was pure black. He then buttoned them back up." Do you accept it?"
She answered honestly "I don't mind wearing it... it's beautiful. Thank you for making it for me."
Leandro smiled. "May I put it on?"
Jean nodded and turned around as she took a deep breath. Having her back to him was even a stranger feeling within itself. She felt relief not having to endure his penetrating stare but then her heart was jumping as his fingers touched the back of her neck securing the necklace.
Leandro leaned down and whispered "Can I have one more dance."
Jean took in a shaky breath "We can do at the dance club tomorrow." She wasn't sure she could take any more of his intense stare.
Leandro said "I may not be in school tomorrow or the days that follow. I can't know."
Jean could hear the urgency in his tone. She turned around. Something was bothering him "Is everything ok?" She didn't know why she was asking. Why wouldn't he be ok? He seemed like a rock. Nothing phased him.
Leandro stated "Regretfully I have to help out a friend. My father won't like it. I know he won't. He may discipline me in his own way that involves missing school..."
Jean became concerned. His tone sounded unsure. She asked "Why Won't he like it if you are helping a friend? He may understand?"
Leandro said "Because my friends father is my father's friend and i have to go against my friends father to help my friend. He won't be pleased. I may or may not see you tomorrow. I can't know. My father is away on a business trip but he will cut it short to come to deal with me when he finds out."
Jean was curious "What if he doesn't find out?"
Leandro smiled weakly "He always finds out. Always."
********
As Jacob was waiting outside watching the music performance staged on the large lawn he kept glancing back at the tent where his sister was. It had been longer than 5 minutes. He didn't want to be a controlling brother. He wondered if all was alright. But the look in Leandro's eyes that he gave to jean and jean only, was promising honour and respect. He could not shake the thoughts how sincere Leandro was. Just when he was losing his patience, he saw jean come out. He walked towards her and smiled "Hey. What did he want?"
Jean shrugged "We danced again... He also gave me this necklace that he has made himself." She then pulled down the neckline of her top slightly.
Jacob said "He gave you a quartz necklace?"
Jean said "Yes. To remember him by."
Jacob said "He is hard to forget though. Isn't he? He is everywhere you look at this campus. Why would he make a necklace for you to remember him by when he won't let you forget him by showing up everywhere?"
Jean sighed "He has problems... He said his father may discipline him and keep him out of school for a while after he finds out about what he is about to do. It sounded serious. I hope he is not in trouble."
Jacob said "That guy won't be phased by any trouble. I can tell you that. Don't get me wrong. I don't get joy in seeing he can get into trouble but I feel kind of relieved to see at least there is something in his life he fears. Only his father seems to worry him. That's a blessing. I am saying it as nicely as I can."
******
Leandro decided to leave school early to join Nicandro and Arcangelo's camp that they were setting up in a base that had so much open space right next to Arcangelo's house. He had his military school alumni status. So he could go to their events on and off the base. He was accompanied by his father's guards in his usual car. As he got off and entered the base he knew it was time for freedom. They were told to pick him up near midnight. No one expected him to rebel. No one expected him to break his father's rules.
As he made his way inside, he started to get to work as he used all his knowledge of Arcangelo's father's house. The house of Rossi shared a wall with the base. There was a secret passage way in that he was going to use to get in, to disable security, make distractions and get michangelo away. It was a few hours of work and no one had arrived yet.
*******
After Michangelo had come home from school he had been ambushed by Leandro at his bedroom who had dragged him out. He knew Leandro was good but that good.
He was now following Leandro who didn't speak a word to him. There was a tunnel to follow.
Michangelo told him "You can let go of my arm now. I can walk."
Leandro ignored him and kept dragging him faster and more roughly.
Michangelo said "I said I can walk."
Leandro said with a harsh tone "The visibility is not good. It's a bit dark here. My task is to get you safe to your brother. That's what I do. Stop talking or I will knock you out."
Michangelo said "Try it."
Leandro stopped walking and turned to him.
Michangelo said "I was only kidding. I prefer to be awake." He knew it wasn't the time to challenge Leandro. But was worth getting on his nerves. Right then he was doing a favour for Arcangelo so it was the best time to wind him up and get away with it.
Leandro gave him a hard look and continued dragging him.
Michangelo asked "Why are you helping us? You can get into trouble with your father."
Leandro said " You talk too much. It's nothing you need to concern yourself with. You have bigger problems than worrying about me."
Before Michangelo could reply, he noticed a door on the side. They were underground and as the door opened he felt like they entered a building. A basement. It was too bright in there so he looked down and blinked as he was getting used to fluorescent lights. As he was dragged in, he was pushed forward roughly. He almost tripped.
He heard Leandro's voice from behind him "Here he is. All in one piece... As promised. Not a scratch on him."
As Michangelo looked up he came face to face with his big brother.