It was after school in the afternoon and Leandro knocked on Jean's door. She opened the door.
"Hi." She said.
"Hi. Am I disturbing you right now? I need to talk to you about something." Leandro said.
"No. Come in." Jean said.
Leandro smiled and entered happy that she asked him to come inside. She walked after him to the kitchen and sat down.
Leandro sat down opposite her. He took a deep breath.
Jean said "Do you want tea or coffee?"
Leandro said "No. I am fine thank you." Just as he was about to speak, Jacob entered the kitchen and then looked between them. He said "Am I interrupting? I was just going to make omelettes."
Jean said "We will eat dinner soon. Cant you wait?"
Leandro said "Its fine Jacob. You can be present here. Its nothing private." He then turned to jean "He is burning alot of calories with football. Its perfectly fine to want some protein."
Jacob said "I am starting to like you Leandro." He then picked up a frying pan and got on with gathering his ingredients. "Do you want me to make you omelettes Leandro."
Leandro said "No thank you."
Jean put her hands under her chin. "So. What did you want to talk about?"
Leandro sighed "Its about an event that is happening quite soon. A charity home coming that being hosted by one of Rosario hotels."
Jean said "A home coming? I have been to home comings before. Is there a theme?"
Leandro smiled "Yes. Its black and white dress. Black for boys and white for girls. Boys will wear suit with black tie and girls must wear a white dress. Are you interested in attending with me? Everyone must attend as its for charity and as the hosts we must set an example. Everyone also must have a partner."
Jean said "Sure. Why not?"
Leandro smiled.
Jacob turned around and said "Hold on. What do you mean everyone must have a partner? I dont have one. But I dont mind attending if its for charity."
Leandro said "Then you must hurry and find yourself a girl. The home coming is in two weeks"
Jacob said "Dont be ridiculous. Two weeks to find myself a girl and convince her to go out with me? You cant be serious."
Leandro said "I am dead serious. By the way you dont have two weeks actually. You have less time. The invitations come out on Monday and you must RSVP by Thursday."
Jacob said "What if I cant find myself a girl by then?"
Leandro said "You can come alone but the day is full of events with activities where you need to be paired up... If you are single, you will be assigned a girl who is also single."
Jacob said "Really? What if no one is single?"
Leandro said "There are some people I know of who may come single. But they have attitude... So I suggest you find yourself a girl by then. There is not just our school there so you may get paired up with a girl from another school."
Jean said "Really. There are other schools coming to the home coming too?"
Leandro said "Yes. Many partner schools are participating and are donating so many funds. We have sponsors too with competitions and prizes on the day. Its a fun day happening at large scale. I promise you will enjoy it."
Jean said "The more people attend the more interesting it must be... But I am bit nervous. Would it be too crowded? What kind of activities are there?"
Leandro said "Dont be nervous. There wont be anything difficult. Some racing, games and international dance workshops. You will like it.... I wanted to ask you something? Can I take you dress shopping? Other couples do it and go shop together. Are you interested in a shopping trip this weekend?"
Jean said "I have a white dress already."
Leandro said "Sure. Why dont you try it now? Can I see?"
Jean shrugged. "I guess. I will be back." She then stood up and left.
Jacob served his omelettes on a plate and placed it on the table with bread."I cant believe how many rules everything around here has attached. I have never heard of a home coming penalising single people."
Leandro said "There is no penalisation. You can pair up with a girl for a day cant you? Besides you will be assigned a partner if you cant find anyone."
Jacob said "What if my partner hates me? What happens then?"
Leandro said "Then maybe you can swap partners with someone else. I am good with pairing people up."
Jacob said "You will pick the partners."
Leandro said "Its my fathers hotel hosting this event after all. I am in control."
Jacob said "Of course you are. I should have known. Isn't there anything that you dont control around here?"
Leandro said "Is that a sarcastic tone I am sensing. Watch it Jacob."
Jacob said "Fine." He then got on with eating his omelettes.
Just then Jean came with her dress. "What do you think?"
Leandro turned around in his seat and looked at her "Wow..." He was speechless. She was so beautiful. The colour white really suited her. "You look beautiful."
Jacob looked at Jean "It looks great but I think you should not wear heels. Go shoe shopping if you dont have comfortable shoes. Your man says there are many activities."
Leandro said "You can do the activities with heels."
Jacob said "You said there are races."
Leandro said "There is a boat race. There is also a go karting race.... Thats about it I think... No running is involved."
Jean said "I will wear my ballroom shoes Jacob. Is that ok?"
Jacob said "Not a bad idea."
Leandro said "I am glad its settled. You just have to RSVP to your invitations to the home coming that comes out this week by Thursday."
******
It was Friday morning and Leandro had decided to pay a visit to his cousin Nicandro at the O'Neil school. He was in Nicandro's office and had paper work including plans for the home coming scattered on Nicnadro's desk. He consulted Nicandro on such events. He was sitting opposite Nicandro who was looking at the plans. Just then Arcangelo joined them too and sat down with them looking at the plans.
Nicnadro said "It looks great and exciting."
Arcangelo said "The plan is good. What does your father think?"
Leandro said "He is happy."
Nicandro said "Now... Lets get to the pairing up part. Tell me how many single people have signed up?"
Leandro said "Not that many. I just have to pair them up. I havent got round to it yet."
Nicnadro said "We can help." He looked at Arcangelo
Leandro put a piece of paper in front of Arcangelo and Nicandro.
Nicandro started coughing "What? One person only from your school is single... Jacob Neuer?"
Arcangelo started laughing "No way."
Leandro sighed "Yes. I tried to convince him to find a girl. He failed."
Nicandro said "This should be interesting. Lets see who we can pair him up with. I want to set him up with a girl he cant stand and see how he handles it."
Arcangelo said "Great. His calm relaxed country boy act must show some cracks. But you never know he may hit it off with the girl we set him up with."
Leandro said "Who do you suggest will get along with him? I like to know your opinion?"
Nicandro said "Get along with him? No. Someone who cant stand him."
Arcangelo said "But again they say opposite attract. He will thank you later. Lets pair him up with someone he cant stand."
Leandro said "I am not sure about that... How about a safe option like... Lenora O'Leary or is it Lenora MacMahon now?"
Nicandro look saddened "I dont know what is Leyton and Lenora's decision on their family name. I didnt ask the last time I spoke to him. I am glad he is coming with Astrid Mancini. Poor girl. I heard she is now leaving with her aunt in Manhattan after her parents died. I dont think lenora is right for Jacob. I want to see some fire works. Lets test the country boy. Lets pair Lenora up with my cousin Nicholas. An Irish perhaps. My Uncle Trent's son is close friends with Leyton and Lenora."
Leandro said "You cant see fire works unless it Sinead O"Leary."
Nicandro said "Shawn and Sinead are coming. Are they? I am against them attending. We all know the history but we need to invite all partner schools and Nolan O'Leary is almost dying."
Arcangelo said "Almost. He may still survive. Lochlan told me..."
Nicandro said " Annoying... Anyway... I say no to her for Jacob. Sinead is a match for my uncle Sebastiano's son. Rocco. He is partly Irish. The O'Learys dont accept non Irish I think."
Leandro said "So who do you have in mind to have fireworks with Jacob?"
Nicandro put his finger on a name "Her."
Arcangelo chuckled "High five brother." He then high fived Nicnadro."
Leandro looked at the name and thought carefully and said "No chance. I think come to think of it I am bending the rules for her actually. She can be single for the home coming. No partner. We cant have her cause havoc because we pair her up. She is as mad as her brother., Lochlan"
Nicandro said "Ah. Are you afraid for Jacob? He can meet the challenge. Levane Kennedy has to be his match."
Arcangelo said "The wall needs a big challenge on home coming night. Lets see if he can handle a fight with the man hater, Levane Kennedy..."
Nicandro said "I agree. You never know. Opposites may attract. I like to set him up with a girl who challenges him. Dont you? What do you say? Levane Kennedy. Yes or no."
///////////
Thank you for reading. Please comment your views.
If you want to meet Lochlan Kennedy he is in Arcangelo Rossi book. His sister Levane is briefly seen also
To know more about Shawn, Sinead, Leyton and Lenora you can read Shawn's book.
But you dont need to read other books to make sense of this story.