Jeanelle was looking at the tall girl who entered the library with a mixture of awe and admiration. She was different to other girls. She just was. There was something that made her stand out. Jeanelle watched her walk in with a lady who seemed to be the librarian as she quickly walked to her desk separating herself from the girl.
Jeanelle looked at her approaching. She felt about nervous suddenly. She reminded her of Leandro. Her eyes shouted authority and her demeanour demanded it but just as she was about to look down she was surprised at the smile she gave her. She instantly relaxed. She seemed friendly.
"Hi. I am Laviana. Nice to meet you Jeanelle Neuer." She stooped right in front of her towering over her.
Jeanelle looked up into her eyes "Hi... Sorry... May I ask how you know my name?" She just had to know. She asked before she could stop herself. She couldn't help her curiosity.
Laviana smiled "My brothers have told me about you. You must have seen my brothers, Leandro and Leo." Leandro told me you are a house of alpha member and I need to escort you to the initiation party. It's fun. Don't look so worried. Leo said to me to look out for you because you saved him. You see the boys in my family have a competitive edge I can't comprehend. It's bizzare." She then looked at her watch "Let's go." She then brushed her hand against her arm and smiled at her reassuringly.
Jeanelle followed but she couldn't stop looking at her. She was just so intriguing. She breathed "You must have heard it from someone but you are very ...." She then got distracted at looking into her eyes and lost her balance and fell forwards. It happened so fast but she didn't hit the floor as expected. Lavinia stopped her body from falling so fast she couldn't believe it.
As Lavinia set her down on her feet effortlessly she put her hands on her shoulders "Are you Ok?"
Jeanelle nodded and looked embarrassed "Yes. Thank you. I am a bit clumsy. Thanks for saving me. How did you do it? How could you react so fast?"
Lavinia let go and sighed "Let's Go. We don't have time. Leandro will tell me off if we are late." She then grabbed Jeanelle's hand and said "I hope you don't mind me holding your hand. I need to deliver you safe or Leandro will demote me from student chief executive to just chief. I hate working under him. He is boss from hell."
Jeanelle nodded and let her be lead away. She was absorbing what she was telling her but it didn't mean she understood it.
As they left the library Jeanelle decided to try again "Sorry. Can you answer my question please? How do you react so fast?"
Lavinia asked "Is everyone from Texas so curious?"
Jeanelle gasped "How do you...?"
Lavinia said "My brother was reading your file when I turned up to his briefing about the girls initiation side of things. You don't need to be alarmed or anything that he was reading your file. We are not a normal family so we have to background check people we interact with. He checks everyone's file. Because you arrived late he hadn't managed it. I think you should count yourself lucky. Your ranch in Texas is one of the favourite businesses of my brother. He loves to own property in country side just like he prefers the privacy of small country side communities in Sicily I guess. He has always been like that. So, since your family runs good business he has appointed you as my deputy in training...."
Jeanelle almost tripped again but again she caught her in time "Look where you are stepping Jeanelle and don't look so stressed. Don't worry. I teach you all you need to know.... Let's go or he will tell me off... He seemed very restless today. Sometimes he is very hard to please. Today is one of those days... Don't get me wrong. I get along with my brother but when he is riled up it's hard to talk or negotiate."
Jeanelle felt sorry for her almost. She complied as she nodded and followed her as she held her hand again leading her to the library "Why do you hold my hand?"
Lavinia said "Because you nearly fell... You can't fall on my watch. He wants you unharmed...."
Jeanelle was confused "Unharmed? Does he ask for anyone ... harmed?"
Lavinia nodded as she kept walking fast and even increased her pace to much faster "He certainly does."
Jeanelle said "But, how do you harm people?"
Lavinia said "I don't think you want to know..."
Jeanelle couldn't make sense of what she was saying "Please just answer my questions. I think you are actually quite attractive, tall, confident and authoritative even which I admire but I never can see you hurting people. I just can't see it."
Lavinia said "I don't hurt people Jeanelle. I just hurt those who get on my nerves and those who my family members see as deserving of getting hurt. Does it make sense? I know you country kids come from friendly places. Guess what? New York is not friendly. People will do anything to get what they want from who they want at any cost. I also hurt people mostly in self defence."
Jeanelle asked "Has anyone ... you know ... tried to hurt you?"
Lavinia said "Not recently. No. My twin brother Leandro acts like a big brother even though he is hardly a minute older than me.... But also ... I have an infamous admirer. His name is Arcangelo Rossi. Most boys who want to ask a girl out at fifteen get them some chocolates or concert tickets. He did none of that."
Jeanelle asked "What did he do?"
Lavinia looked at her watch "We dont have time. Its a long story.Besides you may not like it..."
Jeanelle said "Is it that bad?"
Lavinia said "Its not bad. Its just bizarre. Fine I tell you... Its inserting how you dont let things go. My brother Leandro is like that too. He is persistence. But he is like that in an annoying way but you are ... how can I say it ... you are like that in a caring way..."
Jeanelle bit her lip "Sorry. I just find city life interesting. I have lived on a ranch all my life and was mostly home schooled...."
Lavinia smiled "Dont say sorry. Its good to be curious. I am just protecting your innocence. My admirer is not exactly like other fifteen year olds. He has hit on me a few times but he meant business this time. That day when he wanted to ask me out officially, he ambushed me like he always does when I was in boarding school and took me to his dormitory area in the middle of the night. He then... handcuffed me to a chair while he started cooking dinner telling me about his feelings. He then brought in this guy who had dared talking to me. It was a military school by the way so we had guns. He blindfolded him and started shooting him around his body while he was chair up to the wall. All this while he was cooking. He wanted to get it out of him that he liked me so he had excuse to make his life hell... Anyways. He did it until dinner was ready and beat the guy up. Then he served me dinner which I had no interest in tasting. While he was kicking the guy out and sorting him, I opened my handcuff and left. Thats when I left military school. That was a few days ago. I graduated from my courses I signed up early with whatever credit I could cash in that night. Leandro was graduating too. So I didnt want to be left alone there with him. But he is coming for me. Lucky he has unfinished business there with my cousin. He could graduate too but duty calls...."
Jeanelle said "Did you tell anyone what he did?"
Lavinia replied "Yes. I told my only family member there, Leandro. But Arcangelo had asked Leandro for permission apparently or had been asking for a long time. Leandro said yes finally. Thats why he did it. But I am not ready to really be his girl. That means too much trouble. Do you have a boyfriend?"
Jeanelle blushed and shook her head "No. I was home schooled mostly due to health reasons. If you have read my file you see my medical conditions. But went to girls schools when I wasn't home. I never have been asked out."
Lavinia said "We have proms and parties. I bet you will be asked to go to the next prom pretty soon. I dont see how guys can resist you. You are very adorable."
Jeanelle went red and shook her head "Ah... I dont know about that..."
Lavinia said "Boys here are alright. They care about three things in life; loyalty to family, going to church every Sunday and capturing a girl's heart. They write love letters a lot here. But I get none because I have a big brother watching me like a hawk and a very infamous boy has claimed me as his girl who no one likes to mess with."
Jeanelle said "But that boy is not here. How can people fear him? How do people find out?"
Lavinia said "Because his reach is beyond borders. He has people everywhere watching me. Trust me. People will try to find out in the easy way rather than the hard way."
Jeanelle was confused "The hard way?"
Lavinia said "Yes."
As much as she was intrigued she was even more curious about her too. Who was this girl? She was quite a complex person. That was it. She was complicated "So sorry to ask you but why do I get the feeling you are not like other girls? You are very athletic. Is it all military school?" She recalled how she had said she would hurt people if she had to. She was trying to make sense of that. But she didn't expect any less from Leandro's sister."
Lavinia said " I work out a lot. Also I don't like depending on my brothers to fight my battles for me." She then pointed to a building "Here we go. Let's go in."
As they entered Lavinia, froze at seeing her brother appearing in front of her suddenly. Where has he been "You are late."
Lavinia said "We drifted off chatting. Sorry."
Leandro said "About what?"
Lavinia said " Ah. Well..."
Leandro said "I will ask Jean. You go. I will come in five minutes."
Lavinia found it strange her brother had a nickname for this girl. That was friendly. So she didn't feel guilty about leaving her.
Jeanelle looked around not knowing what to do. She had walked a few steps backwards by now. He just had the presence that made people want to run.
Leandro asked "So... what did you and my sister talk about?"
Jeanelle wanted to make it short. What could she say. She looked up shyly and shrugged "Boys." She then gulped at his expression.