Leandro gave Jean the softest kiss, she could ever imagine. It was so gentle, so simple but so soft and warm.
Leandro pulled away.
Jean stared at Leandro who had just kissed her cheek. She had no words to say. She didn't know why but she said "Thank you..." She was thankful. He hadn't pushed her away. He had given her a soft kiss that she didnt think could ever be felt the way it did. He was a good kisser. Even a kiss on the cheek by him felt surreal. He made her feel like the only girl who existed for him. He made her feel so special with his respectful and gentle treatment of her. She could only imagine a kiss on the lip by him could make her feel more special to him than the kiss on the cheek did.
He was taking steps backwards now.
There was surprise and disbelief in his eyes. He said "I can't believe this.... How could this be? I just let go of my inhibitions... You did it..."
Jean said " You regret it?" her lips were trembling now. His beliefs were sacred to him about abstinence..."
Leandro smiled weakly "I dont regret the kiss... I love you... I didnt think I had it in me... To break my own rules... I did it for you... I would do anything for you..."
The bell suddenly rang. There were several bells across the campus. It was time to get back.
As Jean got on with tidying up, Leandro helped her wordlessly. Again he showed his manners. He didn't have to say anything but mesmerised her with his politeness and respect.
At the end when jean grabbed her back pack and was about to make her way to her lessons, Leandro said "Thank you..."
Jean said "For what? I made you break your rules of abstinence."
He said "I am still thankful to you jean... For making my first kiss so ... memorable and special..."
Jean couldn't help but smile "It was just a kiss on the cheek..." He sounded so innocent yet he was the toughest kid on campus. The most feared with biggest reputation of being able to cause pain and destruction. But he was just so innocent."
He said "It was just a kiss on the cheek jean. But it was a special moment. Because you made it special... You are special to me jean. The moment was perfect. When you made me break my rules ... I didn't feel guilt even though I should have. It's because I love you..."
She blushed and looked away. She said honestly "I am sorry. I can't take too much complicate... I have to go to class... We can talk later..." She looked at her watch " I need to run now..."
She then walked to the exit quickly. He walked past her and held the door open. "You don't need to rush."
She said " I will get detention for being late... I need to run... Aren't you going to run?"
Leandro said "No. I don't need to run. Neither do you. Trust me..."
Jean said "I don't like detention. Sorry. I run..."
Leandro closed the door and watched her run. He said in Latin "Running away with my heart..."
***
Jean reached her class. She opened the door and noticed it was in the school gym. She noticed everyone slowly appearing from the back of gym with their causal clothes that was quite sporty. There were students from different year groups.
She saw Jacob and walked to him "Jacob. I thought class started already..."
Jacob said "We get ten minutes changing time in this hour..."
She asked "Why? Why do we need to change?"
He sighed "I forget you are new..."
She said "So are you..."
He laughed "No Flower pot. I have copied the Dean's handbook and I am more familiar with the regulations... So I feel more like a local than you..." He pointed to the whiteboard at the front of the gym "Look at instructions. Comfortable casual clothing: sports trousers and T-shirts only... Ten minutes. Get changed."
She asked "But this is not gym class. This is our enrichment period... Why do we need to get changed."
He said "There is practical work involved. You will see..."
She sighed and went to the back of the gym. She found her gym locker and got changed to trainers and sports wear. When she was about to go back she noticed she was the last one out of the changing room. When she walked back into the gym, she saw students sitting in pairs on the gym floor with space between them. The instruction on the board said; sit in pairs, one girl, one boy."
She only found one person alone. Leandro. He was sitting in comfortable sports wear at the front row alone. She didn't want to be the odd one out so was grateful to sit next to Leandro.
As he sat down next to him, he turned "I told you there was no need to rush. This lesson starts late to give people a chance to get changed."
She breathed "I couldn't take the chance." She then bit her lip feeling mischievous as she joked "How did you get changed so fast? Are you like Clark Kent fast?"
Leandro raised an eyebrow and looked at jean. She had actually joked with him. He couldn't believe the ice around her was broken to this point that she felt comfortable enough to joke with him. He was so happy. His heart in fact was jumping with joy but he hid it well and just said "I don't like super heroes... They are unrealistic..."
Jean asked "Why?"
He said "They win too many times... They almost always win..."
Jean said "Don't you always win? I am pretty sure you have won every trophy, certificate and medal at this school. Your name and picture is in every department on the achievement wall."
He said "I lose."
Jean gasped "You do."
He nodded "Yes. To my father..."
Suddenly the door opened and a group of teachers entered with paramedics uniform. This period was about various topics. This time it was about first aid it seemed. Students were given booklets and theory work was explained on the board.
It was time for practical work. It was announced by one of the paramedics "Time for demonstrating your skills. You are all in mixed pairs. One girl, one boy... Now. Listen... Girls. All of you lay down on the floor as victims unconscious on the floor and the boys need to pretend to be passer bys trying to rescue you.
Jean was looking at them with their mouths open. Was this normal? In her old school they didnt need to perform such acts. But she never did much outdoors activities at her school when she wasn't being home schooled.
Jean slowly looked around and she noticed others laid down quick. She looked at Leandro who said "Dont worry. I know what I am doing... I know how to rescue you if this ever happens in real life..." Leandro then stood up.
A paramedic walked past Jean and noticed she was awake. He said "Girl, act unconscious. It needs to look real."
Jean didnt mind the practical work but she wasn't sure if she wanted to have her eyes closed. She laid down on her back too like others and closed her eyes. It was hard to stop smiling. She was finding the situation abit comical. She having to act unconscious when she knew Leandro was standing a few steps away acting like a passer by pacing the floor. There was silence now in the hall but she could recognise Leandro's near her. She thought if she closed her eyes she was going to feel what happened more because her senses were going to be sharpened. She knew this school was different to other schools so they didnt even follow the protocols of other states or their own. They had their own rules books. The first aid she was going to get was going to be a basic one designed for what happened with fellow students. So she wasn't sure what to expect in a practical.
A paramedic blew the whistle. "Passer bys. Pass by the victims and act fast. Follow my instructions one by one boys."
"Now. Look for danger in the surroundings. Is a car coming by? Is there any boulder coming your way. Is there isn't any danger, walk to the victim..."
Jean felt him close as she heard him whisper "My girl is no victim. She is a survivor..."
A paramedic said "Ask for consent. You need to inform the victim that you are going to try to help them and you will need to check their pulse and touch them. Ask if they are ok with it. If they are unconscious they cant reply. But in this case, they can tell you. So any one who wants out, dont take part. Its no problem."
Jean heard him close by as he spoke. She said "I give consent. You dont need to ask. I would rather be rescued than die..." She then opened her eyes and smiled.
Leandro said "Wow. A miracle. The injured person I am treating woke up just at the thought of knowing I will be the one treating her... So go back to sleep, injured person."
Jean bit her lip and closed her eyes but was struggling not to smile. She tried to think of another scenario. But it was hard to forget that she was unconscious and Leandro was treating her.
He got on with the work as he was instructed. She felt his hands on her wrists feeling her pulse. She sucked in a breath. His touch was soft. Very gentle.
"Watch the chest of the victim rise and fall. If you see no movement get close and put your check close to their face to feel their breath and watch their chest rise and fall as they breathe in and out. But they may not be breathing. Then there is no movement." The paramedic instructed.
She felt his breath close on her face. She couldnt help it and opened her eyes. She saw him as he was looking at her face with his gorgeous blue eyes that were. It made her feel strangely safe to stare at them when she was in such vulnerable position and then she watched as he turned his face feeling her breath on his face to check she was breathing. She had seen him turn his head to look at her chest rising and falling.
He said "Back to sleep, injured person."
She closed her eyes.
A paramedic said "Check the body for injuries and then put the girls into recovery position."
She held her breath as she felt his hands on her body as he was checking for any bumps and injuries. Then she felt him freeze and he reached his hands to her knees. He announced. You are injured."
She opened her eyes and said "Injured. She noticed where his his hand was "Oh. That..."
He said with a tense expression "I can feel a bump above your knee. Are you in pain right now?"
She said "Its nothing. I am fine. No pain... Honest..." She could see his expression looking like anything but convinced.
He said "You need to see a doctor..."
She shook her head "Honestly. I am fine... I forgot it even happened. I swear. I feel no pain. Its just a small bump,.."
He took a deep breath "Fine... I believe you.... How did this happen?"
She said "Oh... I ... fell..."
He raised an eyebrow "You fell. Really? How?"
She said "I fell. I just said..."
He asked "No. I meant how did you fall? Was it an accident? Did someone push you or hit you?"
She said "Well... Its nothing really... I forgot it happened... Honestly. I am used to bruises and cuts. I lived in the country side..."
He said "But you live in the city now... How did this happen?"
She looked around as all the girls were put in recovery position. "Can we finish this first... Please... People will stare... I dont like it when they stare because I am the odd one out..."
He said "If they stare at you, they can spend the rest of their day staring at that brick wall over there and the rest of the week actually if they dont learn their lesson. I want an answer... But fine. I dont want you to feel uncomfortable Jean. He then put her body in recovery position.
He whispered "I will find out exactly what happened Jean... whether you tell me or not. So I suggest you tell me what happened...Now..."
She could hear the threat and promise behind his words. He was so protective. That kid, Arcangelo had not even touched her and he was so adamant on defending her when she was safe and intact. Now of course he wanted to find out how she had a bruise... She was sure he was going to find out... Even if it meant questioning the entire school population one by one.
A paramedic blew the the whistle and said "Well done. Great job. If you notice, this is the position all of you were in last night and the night before and the night before that when you slept. We sleep on the side in a similar posture for most of the night as its more comfortable than being on our backs. Its the perfect position and its easier to breathe, you wont choke as body fluids drain if there are any piled up if you are injured. This will save lives... Now its time for a quick break before we teach you CPR."