As Jacob was in the rink, he had noticed a boy in military uniform watching him from far. He was looking at him in a strange way. He was standing at the entrance leaning to the wall with crossed arms. His stare was only on Jacob and Wass following him.
Jacob couldnt understand what his problem was. When he was fighting with leandro and was throwing himself around the rink or was on the floor he had noticed him watching.
But suddenly he disappeared. He wanted to show him to Leandro but he vanished. In the middle of the fight he noticed him on the second floor in the stands watching him as the arena was big.
Once Leandro was satisfied and had announced the end, he had happily stopped but he separated himself from everyone and waited for everyone to leave. He stood in the middle of the rink. "Who are you? Show yourself."
Suddenly he heard from behind him and turned around. The boy was now in front of him. "What the hell?"
He looked at Jacob silently as he stared into his eyes.
After a few moments of silence and staring match Jacob said "Who are you?"
He said "You fight well. Who taught you to fight like that?... "
Jacob said "Not another Leandro... Seriously? He asked me the same question."
He asked "Did you answer him? I will ask my roomie to tell me what he knows of you. He has kept you under wraps..."
Jacob asked "You are Leandro's roomie?"
He nodded "Yes. In military school. He never said to me you fight like this... You are classier than a street fighter but rougher than a typical boxer."
Jacob said "I dont know who you are but nice to meet you... I am Jacob. I am from Hale, Michigan. If you are Leandro's roomie then you must be like him... A total head case... See you around." As he was about to turn to leave, he noticed he blocked his path. Jacob said "What do you want?"
He just stared him down with an unreadable expression "Lets shake hands."
Jacob put his hands on his hips "I dont even know who are? What is your name?
Just then they were interrupted with Leo's voice "Arcangelo."
Jacob looked at a boy with a different light now. He looked like the Arcangelo that was described to him. He looked quite well trained, he had an air of authority and arrogance in him. The way he looked at others was cold but calculated. Now it all made sense. How the kid could just sneak up and ambush him. He was a captain from Leandro's military school and only 4 kinds including Leandro, Nicandro, Leyton and this Arcangelo guy had only survived the training that academic year to reach captain rank.
Leo sprinted to the boxing rink and picked up a duffle bag that was left behind. He then jumped on the rink "What are you doing here? Leandro said you will come to pick up some supplies and resources for the special trainings you are running... The delivery came last night I think... All specialist stuff. I like to see whats inside the packages. Leandro said I cant open them until you get here... We didnt think you show up this early."
Arcangelo said " We started at 4am today."
Leo nodded "Cool. Will you come by to play football today with us?"
Arcangelo said "No. I have to get back."
Leo put the duffle bag on his shoulder "Next time then... I see you have met Jackey boy."
Arcangelo looked at Jacob "I have... I was about to give him a welcome handshake."
Leo stood between Jacob and Arcangelo "Welcome handshake... You mean hostile welcome handshake... I dont think that would be necessary."
Jacob was just watching the exchange and was curious to know where it lead. He wanted to know what this kid wanted. He had been giving funny stares.
Arcangelo said "He seemed like he can fight. There is no need to protect him..."
Leo laughed nervously "Well. Arc. I wont put it that way... You see... You two fighting wont be necessary. It can get messy, if you two battle it out. Alfonso broke his hand trying to punch this guy..."
Arcangelo raised an eyebrow "He broke his hand? Punching this guy? Where did you find this guy?" He then walked past Leo and took a good look at Jacob.
Jacob just held his stare. "It was self defence. I dont go around breaking people's hands." He didnt like how Leo introduced him to Arcangelo. It didnt matter who Arcangelo was. He didnt want to give the impression that he was violent. He wasn't.
Leo said "Arc. You wont have any problem with him. Just let him be. He is reluctant to join anything from fight club to cage fighting and free style martial arts. I have tried recruiting him... If you dont bother him, you wont hear from him. So dont give him a welcome hand shake. I dont want to see a fight between you and the wall. You know when you punch a wall you break your hand. Thats this guy.."
Arcangelo was looking at him thoughtfully.
Jacob could tell why this guy was talked about so much. He was a strategist as Leandro had said. He had just seen Jacob for the first time and was trying to judge him.
Arcangelo finally said "If you stay away from my girl, we wont have a problem."
Leo sighed "Is this about my sister? Come on? She is like Jacob's sister."
Arcangelo looked right at Jacob "This wall... bought her a drink... He held the door open for her... "
Jacob took a step back "I cant believe we are discussing Lavinia. Are you sure you are her man? Wall or no wall... She will crush me for buying a drink for her if I was being nice with hidden intentions while she has a man... I was being nice... Something you city kids must learn to be once in a while... In the country we are nice to ladies... Sorry... I dont care who you are... But if you dont hold the door open for her, I will be the one giving you some hostile welcome handshakes of my own... I dont know about you people but in my community back home we give hostile handshakes of our own to anyone who has eyes for another man's woman... Good day Arc... Arcade. Whatever they call you..." He then looked away and said "I should go to football practice. Jean will be wondering where I am if she is there cheering for me." He then left the rink.
******
Jean was sitting in the stands watching the football practice. She was there with the cheer leading squad who were making notes and just talking about this season and what songs to sing to rhyme. They were looking for inspiration. It was early days and it was the start of the season.
Jean was chuckling at some of the rhymes they were coming up with. She helped them too.
She sucked in her breath as she saw Leandro enter with his first team. They had been boxing till then. This school had such a packed timetable for extra curricular activities even in early mornings. He saw him line his team up and shout orders to them. He asked "Where is Jacob?"
Leo said from the line "He was still in the boxing arena. Can I go get him? I left my duffle bag there with some stuff in it."
Leandro seemed frustrated and signalled to him to go. He was then walking around the team as they were training together. He had his hands behind his back as he was walking and ordering them around. He then stopped suddenly as he saw Jean. His eyes softened and told his team to carry on as he walked towards her.
Jean felt her face heating up as she noticed the cheer leaders sitting around her just scattered and made room for Leandro. More room than he needed. They knew to give the captain of their football team and the dean some room. He stood in front of her "Hi."
Jean slowly stood up "Hi." She then looked around and took a deep breath.
Leandro asked "Are you joining the cheer leaders?"
jean turned to her "I have done some gymnastics... The singing and rhyming seems fun."
Leandro smiled "I am glad."He then ran back to the field.
Jean watched the rest of the practice as she moved to sit with other cheerleaders once again. She then saw her brother and Leo join the practice. It was intense training. As the balls came out and the training involved kicking balls she gasped as a ball hit his brother right in the stomach making him groan and bend. He looked into the direction of the ball with narrowed eyes.
There was a boy with military uniform standing far away from Jacob who was smiling at him "Come on wall. It was just a small kick..."
Jacob shook his head and carried on training.
Jean walked to the boy to tell him off. She saw him walk to a ball that was farther away from the field.
Jean noticed the boy had found another ball to pick up.
Jean ran to him and just as the boy was about to pick up a ball on the ground she picked it up. She said "You are gutless... If you have real guts go and play on the field..."
He looked surprised at her objection. The boy didnt seem like the kind of kid who was used to being challenged regarding his actions by anyone often... His military uniform did not hide his muscles and how strong he looked. He gave Jean an intimidating look that made her take a step back and another step. Her back hit the wall suddenly. They were out of sight now in the corridor that lead to the dressing rooms. She hadn't realised how far back he had gone to get a ball.
His voice was as scary as his looks "What did you just say?"
Jean gulped.