Jacob was standing not far away looking defiantly at Leandro. He put his hands on his hips "The team needs you now... Only 10 minutes left... Captain." He wanted to say to him to let his sister breathe. But hoped Leandro got the message. Jeanelle could not have peace it seemed like... His poor sister had not even had breakfast yet.
Leandro narrowed his eyes at him but then as he saw Jean looming worriedly between them, he decided to pretend to be fine. He said in a deep voice "Run along Jacob. I am ... busy..."
Jacob coughed. He wanted to say "You are busy my sister? You ginger-snapped bull, let my sister breath. It's not even 7 in the morning yet.... freaking opportunistic sauce box." But he kept composed as he pointed to his watch "Would you like to run with me captain?"
Leandro said to himself " Run with you? I would like to run you over with my bike and bounce you around like I handle spaghetti meat balls..." He said in a low tone "Move along... I will run ... after you Jacob... or is it you are just not into running... you want your personal horse to take you to practice..."
Jacob told himself "At least I can ride a horse, you city boy... Can you even ride a carousel horse? You couldn't even ride your way out of a wet paper bag." He smiled at his own private joke. He said to Leandro "Very well. I will run to the training ... but ... I will race you. I don't need no horse..." He then started jogging and turned to Leandro "Are you afraid of a challenge? Do you want to make a bet who wins?" He then ran knowing Leandro would never let anyone challenge him and walk away. He just wanted Jean to breathe. The guy had no sense when it came to overwhelming jean. After he ran for a while and saw the training grounds to be within a few meters, he stopped and he looked behind him. But he didn't see Leandro. He was annoyed and disappointed. Why didn't he follow? It was impossible. Leandro would never have let anyone walk away if they spoke to him like that. He stopped running and turned but then came face to face with Leandro who was standing in front of him a few meters away in front of the entrance to the grounds leaning to a pillar. Jacob breathed. "How in the world?"
Leandro said "I won."
Jacob laughed "What?"
Leandro said "You heard me." He then started walking towards him.
Jacob asked "Where did you come from?"
Leandro said "You took the longer route to the grounds. I took a direct route. A bet is a bet..." He was standing in front of Jacob "Next time take the direct route..."
Jacob said "Short cuts are making the results void..."
Leandro said as he started circling him "It was a direct route. I will show you on the map." He then stood behind him "Now, you want to bet I won't kick your backside for disturbing me from seeing your sister? Don't think I don't know why you did it... I could see it in your eyes. The same feeling I have when Arc tries to get close to Lavinia too much overwhelming her."
Jacob turned "It's good we have an understanding. I knew you have sense... You won fair. What do you want me to do for losing?"
Leandro chuckled darkly "Oh. Insignificant. That is. You will run extra laps for the bet, but for deliberately interrupting jean and I When I was planning to spend time with her. You disturbed that plan... So I will kill time with you until the training starts... My dear brother has given the guys time off this morning or so they told me. But I know you liked getting in earlier than other in the past week to run more..."
Jacob just remembered. Of course. They started late that day because that day was a half day. They only had drama auditions in the afternoon. He said "Alright then. Kill time with me. How are you planning to do that?"
Leandro was not pleased with Jacob but he found himself not being as cross as he liked to be. He couldn't be too cross with Jacob. When he looked into his eyes he saw jean's brother. So that held him back from being too harsh. But it wasn't just that. He was trying to put his finger on what it was. When he looked at Jacobs eyes he saw a fearless spirit. That was what it was. But there was more... His honesty stood out too. Jacob was transparent and daring. Two qualities that were rare. Jacob had no idea what plans Leandro had for him in his mind long term. He stated "Follow me Jacob."
Jacob sighed and told himself "The weather back in my home town was more predictable than you..." He then followed Leandro trying to figure him out. He said "Why are you full of riddles?"
Leandro said in a bored tone "Why are you full of questions you will find the answer to eventually. May I inform you that I am noting it whenever you question me. You will get a lot of sanctions this week if you go at this rate. I am the dean. Don't question me. I am going to refer you to detention at this rate as your demerits won't suffice if you keep going..."
Jacob presser his lips. He thought to himself "You control master." He didn't miss any offence as the dean.
Leandro said "You made a bet. You lost. You can't object. Remember that. You object, I prolong it..."
Jacob replied honestly "Do as you wish. I don't care. As long as my sister gets some peace early morning. She likes looking at nature in peace in the mornings you know. She used to do that to keep calm..."
Leandro said "So you do admit you threw the ball to take me away from my quality time with your sister? The sentence is heavy..."
Jacob just mocked Leandro's voice as Leandro entered a building "Sentence is heavy." He then shook his head "I swear.... Your brain needs a screw driver to fix. Your nuts and bolts up there are beyond repairing though..."
Leandro ordered from inside the building "Follow inside..."
Jacob complied. Then he noticed that Leandro lead him to a common room of some kind for the house of alpha that he managed. He saw Leandro's deputies reading or talking in the room. They all stopped what they were doing as they noticed Leandro enter. Leo was there too. They looked at them like they were contemplating what their leader was going to do next after leading his possible next prey to an unknown destination.
They didn't need to keep guessing as Leandro announced "Come to the fighting arena... My sparring partner and I would like audience. Lesson time..."
Jacob made a face "What?"
The boys all stopped what they were doing and complied.
Jacob hated showing off. He just did. Of course. Leandro knew how reluctant he was to use his strength and now that he had lost a bet, Leandro was going to use his inability to show unwillingness to his advantage.
As they reached the fighting practice arena, Leandro jumped onto the rink and announced to those present "Watch and take notes... We are here until breakfast. Then ... we continue until after lunch... You are excused from football practice. But you go to drama auditions.... Let's not forget. There are no rules. In this arena... one fights. Anything goes..."
Jacob got on the rink and took off his shirt and stood there in his vest and football shorts as he put his gloves on mirroring what Leandro did. He looked around as more boys came in. It was so noisy now. Boys were cheering and shouting. "Where did they come from? Don't they sleep?"
Leandro said "There are early morning study groups. Not everyone is a night person like you..."
Jacob then watched him as Leandro with his hand encouraged the boys to be louder. He liked to engage his audience to pay attention. But here he seemed to like to hear their noise.
Jacob asked "How do you know that?... which one are you? Night person or day one?"
Leandro said " It don't apply to me... I can go without sleep some nights ..."
Jacob said "Is there anything about you normal?"
Leandro said "You do know I am recording it on your report card for questioning me... every time." He then smiled. "Detention it is."
Jacob sighed "Can you answer my question? What's normal about you? Honestly. Give me this one straight answer."
Leandro stated "I love your sister."
Jacob said "Love is a strong word. He then threw the first punch.
Leandro docked and kicked Jacob knocking him down. It was a fight. Not a match. This was not boxing. Anything went.
Leandro said "You can punch. I give you that..."
Jacob quickly stood up as he said "Why do you like my sister? Tell me. So quick you ambushed her..." He then threw a punch to Leandro that he blocked.
Leandro said "You can't question me Jacob..." He then punched Jacob who didn't try to block it and just took it.
Jacob said "Pain is nothing to me Leandro. I question you. Write it in the report card."
Leandro smiled as he punched Jacob but this time Jacob docked. "I decide to give you special treatment." He then started a frequent offensive on Jacob. Punch after punch as he took steps towards him.
Jacob didn't back down and was cornered after fighting hard to block Leandro. He then managed to slip away going back to the middle of the fighting rink "I already feel special Leandro. I am condemned as your sparring partner for how long Exactly? ..."
Leandro said "As part of your special treatment I decide to go easy on you... Your sanctions can add up to ... community service ... to me..."
Jacob objected "Not a chance..." He then attacked Leandro with his punches who blocked punch after punch but Jacob caught him with a kick.
Leandro backed off and chuckled "Did you just kick me?"
Jacob then was attacked mercilessly but he held his ground or rather tried to. Leandro went behind Jacob and held him in a head lock "I could snap your neck like this. Never let your opponent go behind you..."
Jacob coughed but then skilfully freed himself slipping away but fell down as Leandro tripped him. Jacob turned around and saw Leandro standing tall looking down at his lying form "Where did you learn to fight like this?"
Jacob said "I don't have to answer. Give me community service instead..."
Leandro nodded as he kicked his stomach. "With pleasure. It's community service to me... I like sparring as a service by you... Punch me.."
Jacob jumped up and punched Leandro hard in the stomach. Leandro said "You punch like a pro. I like that. Where did you learn to do it?" He then kicked Jacob but Jacob managed to remain standing and held his ground. Leandro insisted "They don't teach such skills in school. Last time you held back... It's coming to the surface. I like it... What else are you holding back? Use your full strength. I want to see.... your real fighting..."
Jacob said "I don't want to hurt you Leandro.. Jean doesn't like to see blood... that I spill in boxing..."
Leandro nodded "How many times have you spilled blood in the rink?"
Jacob stood there in a defensive stance.
Leandro said "You are hiding something. Who taught you to fight? They don't teach you these moves in school."
Jacob said "My father taught me everything just like how your father has taught you I bet.. That's what fathers do. They teach their sons how to fight and protect their family..."
Leandro threw a punch but Jacob docked. Leandro said "Then why doesn't your file say anything? Your father is no boxer..."
Jacob said "He knows how to fight."
Leandro shook his head "There is something you are not telling me... That's not on your file even. How do you fight like this?"
Jacob was getting frustrated with his questions as he attacked with punches "Back off. Just back off..."
Leandro blocked him and then kicked Jacob down to the floor. But Jacob stood up and it impressed Jacob how resilient his sparring partner was.
Leandro said "My father taught me how to fight but I went to military school too.... You didnt have military training... How can you fight like someone who ... fights for his life on the streets..."
Jacob said "I dont... If I did, you will know..."
Leandro said " I know you do. You are holding back..."
Jacob said "So are you..."
Leandro said "I do it so I dont break your bones..."
Jacob said "Same here..." He then punched Leandro.
Leandro blocked him "Tell me why you know how to fight like a pro?"
Jacob said "You dont answer my questions... Why should I answer yours?"
Leandro punched Jacob in the gut hard making retreat slightly catching his breath. Leandro said "Watch how you speak to me..."
Jacob said "I know how to fight to survive. Why does it surprise you?"
Leandro said "You lived in a peaceful place..."
Jacob said "It was peaceful because we had guns and fists..."
Leandro said "I will find out more about you..."
Jacob said "You are welcome to do so.... I even invite you to my place. Stay as long as you need and dig deep. I have nothing to hide... I just dont show off my achievements... I dont like attention... I told you. My father taught me how to fight to survive... Now... You want me to not hold back. Show me what you got first and then I will retaliate..."
Leandro said " Its time for the wall to take the floor...The stage is yours. Go on gunslinger from the old west..."
The crowd were looking in shock and awe at these two hoping they never had to spar with them. Jacob was now the new lieutenant beside Leo and he didnt know it yet.