Leandro was sitting at the bar drinking soda. His youth club was buzzing with noise. He was not sure how he had allowed himself to take actions as he had done in the past hour. What had just happened? He had relaxed the rules. He had allowed the students to catch the school bus to his club and had given up time he could dedicate to getting entertained watching the help less freshers. He was shaking his head as he was drinking his soda. He took a deep breath and turned around watching the performance that was playing. His brother was enjoying himself watching his girl. He didn't like her. But he didn't like any girl really except jean. Even his sister was annoying but she was family. He felt protective of her. But he just didn't like girls at all. Only one girl had ever occupied his mind and that was jean.
Her performance was coming up towards the end. He had done that deliberately. There was no way he wanted the whole world to see her. He was going to close the club and shove everyone out only leaving her performance for himself. His sister could perform before her but the joint partnership performance had to wait.
Leandro was feeling strange. He wanted to badly go backstage and watch her. But then he wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do. He wasn't sure if it was the right way. His way was the bible way. It always was. His father had taught him to follow the bible word for word when it came to relationships and interactions. But of course the business model was his father's model that he followed. Personal life and business life never mixed. He saw Jacob watching him from across the bar. He raised an eyebrow "What are you looking at?"
Jacob shrugged "You. I never thought I see bible scriptures hung up here. This is a club."
Leandro frowned and walked towards him "Do you have a problem with that? Your sister said you are catholic."
Jacob said "Well. We are but man... this is a club. I don't expect it to be religious. We lived in the country side. We had church for Sunday's but we didn't have choirs and religious music only policy."
Leandro said "Well. As you can see we are not that strict. You see that troublesome girl is playing rock or whatever she called it. We have free expressions here but it doesn't mean we welcome it. Follow my way if you want to have no problems." In a way he was impressed with Jacob. For a new kid he was observant and he spoke so freely and easily. There was a cautious tone but respectful tone. He would have liked him as an advisor one day. He was quite intelligent based on his file too.
Jacob sighed as he put his hand up "I am not here to cause problems. I just see you in a different light. You got your group to gang up on me and to beat me up. Then you stopped even though you could continue. It showed me you have principles. You have rules. I have never met anyone like you. Then I come to this club that has such ethos. I am very confused."
Leandro didn't think anyone would ever call him out like this. He wasn't used to being challenged. He wasn't used to have anyone even look him in the eye besides a few in his circle. He stood in front of him "You know. You have backbones. I give you that. But it can cost you if you don't watch what you say around here. I don't think you know anyone here well enough to make some comments like this. You may offend someone."
Jacob asked "Do I get on your nerve?"
Leandro thought to himself "You would have if I didn't love your sister." He then said "Well. There is only one way to find out. Isn't there Jacob Neuer. If you walk out of this club unharmed it means no." He then looked away "You have no idea what you have let yourself into by signing up to my father's school." He ordered a can of soda as he said "Now, let's move on to what I wanted to talk to you about ... I haven't found anything on your family yet." He glanced at Jacob "Tell me is there anything you are hiding? Is there anything you haven't disclosed? It's now time to disclose it."
Jacob was looking at Leandro strangely "What does that supposed to mean? We have no criminal records if that is what you mean. We are from the country. We work together, we eat together, we pray together and we party together back in Michigan. Maybe you should come visit for our mud festival some day."
Leandro licked his lips "Thank you for the invite. Consider my tickets booked to Hale."
Jacob was staring at him with his mouth open "You know where I live..."
Leandro said "Of course. I have read your file. My family own the school. Hale is beautiful in spring. I am coming to see if your family has anything else to hide. My father doesn't award scholarships to people with track records that he doesn't approve of."
Jacob went silent. He was there to get a scholarship. He was there so he could go to college. His parents were wealthy ranch owners but he didn't want to rely on his family. He wanted to go to college with a scholarship. He confidently declared "You won't find anything on my family. You are welcome to stay at our ranch and dig deep asking around in the neighbourhood."
Leandro wasn't going to wait for invitation but he was chuffed to get one to Jean's house. As his father said the lord worked in mysterious ways. He nodded "You bet on it I take you up on the offer. You don't mind me in your house?"
Jacob replied "Well. From what your people have been telling me you are a walking, living breathing bible following guy. I don't think staying at my family home would be a problem. If anything you might see us as non believers. Seriously. What kind of rules do you have here? Bible camp in school holidays for your house of alpha. Bible studies nights on Fridays and every other Wednesday of the month. Bible scripture memorising contests. Conferences by pastors and religious public speakers with strict attendance code. You put all these rules for whoever is in your house of alpha. How can you be so religious yet you have a gang? Is this kind of club not against your beliefs? You allow it..."
Leandro explained "I think you answered your own questions here. What ever I allow is allowed. What I don't allow I don't like. If you want to remain my good books you follow what I say."
Jacob raised an eyebrow "I am in your good books? How? Actually don't answer that. Your brother told me to do whatever I want to do but not question your decisions and intentions... Querying the rules are fine or so he said but questioning is wrong."
Leandro said "Of course querying is fine but if you query anything I query back..."
Jacob just recalled his conversations with the boys. No wonder no one messed with him. He seemed all calm and collected. But every action had a reaction in his presence. Everyone stayed out of his way. No wonder that part of the bar was deserted. The least interactions were encouraged with Leandro. But he didn't follow the rules by the book. In the country he quenched his curiosity and in the city he was willing to take his chances... He breathed "Your people warned me you always strike back. Go ahead..."
Leandro said "Tell me everything about you and your family in your own words. You and your sister got transferred here as exchange students initially. Tell me everything or I find out the hard way..."
Jacob knew he was going to at some point face him like this. The confrontation was coming. The guys warned him that Leandro didn't like new people and put them under watch especially if they weren't from New York City. He had been warned he could be interrogated by Leandro. He was going to report to his father directly or so they said if he saw anything with suspicion. He didn't want to be on the wrong side of the owners of the school. They could ruin his future as much as they could provide a platform for it. So he did not resist.
From behind the stage jean was watching the performance and was watching his brother talking to Leandro. She bit her lip. She didn't know what to think. She felt safe for some reason ever since she arrived. She was not nervous. The place was very different but for some reason he trusted the new school and the students. It was such a bizzare feeling. Leandro scared her so much. He was the scariest boy she had ever met. But he was most sincere too. What he said he meant. What he believed he followed word for word.
Lavinia stood beside her "I can't believe he is going to make us perform last? I can't stand my brother. He is just trying to make a statement that what he says goes. Now wish me luck when I go before you for a solo performance."
Jean smiled "Sure." She then watched Lavinia go on the stage with some girls who were there playing the violin. She sighed. Lavinia was just perfection. She could see how the girls looked up to her. But she wasn't conceited like she could be. However she was quite bossy. She was a born leader. She hadn't met a girl like her before. She was kind but she was quite harsh too and strict too when she instructed people to do as she said. There was a contrast.
As she was watching she remembered she hadn't taken her medication. She left quickly and walked back backstage asking where the water fountain was. She went towards the corridor nearby and took the tablet out and put it in her mouth. She then leaned close and drank water. As she finished and turned around she was startled to see Leandro there. He was standing there watching her with curious eyes. She put her hand on her heart and swallowed. She felt nervous not knowing what to expect. He was in her way in the narrow corridor. He was quite bulky and her path was blocked. Was she meant to politely point that out that he was in her way or wait?
Leandro stood unmoving in the middle of corridor "Are you well enough to perform? I don't think you should."
Jean shook her head "I .. am .. fine... Thanks."
Leandro said "Don't stress about the crowd. I am dismissing them for the next performance. You won't have to worry."
Jean gasped. She wasn't worried. She said "But it's fine. I don't mind the crowd."
Leandro thought to himself "But I do."
She said "But since you have gone into trouble of dismissing everyone I guess there is always next time to perform for all..."
He thought to himself "Sure there is next time and it won't be any different." He smiled "Your brother told me you liked your music and singing lessons back in hale in Michigan. You know my grandmother has a woman's charity. You can go perform for her woman's group if you like practicing with crowd." That was a compromise. He wasn't sure he wanted men to see or hear her but women were a better start. Jeans reaction was quite unexpected. She looked suddenly much calmer.
Jean was excited "Really? I would love that."
Leandro thought to himself "Me too." He then said "Jean that can be arranged... Can I ask you something."
Jean wasn't sure why he had to ask to ask her a question. She bit her lip "Yes."
Leandro hesitated and then asked "If I block you and your brother from leaving the college after your transfer year is over and you have your college scholarship secured without having to attend, would it bother you? Do you mind staying here until senior year?"
Jean wasn't sure why he had to ask. His father owned the school. She said honestly but nervously not sure of where Leandro was going with this and not knowing what to expect. "I won't mind as long as my brother doesn't. He is quite picky with such things."
Leandro gave her a nod "Oh. I won't worry about that." He then thought to himself "I will teach him not to be picky."
Jean then stared at Leandro waiting for him to leave but he was just standing there. She just nervously looked around her. She then noticed the bible verses framed on the wall as they were upon entrance too. One caught her eye ... a list of bible verses that were about waiting till marriage and significance of marriage. Other clubs taught rock and roll but this one taught waiting before marriage. She was reading the verses that she didn't realise he was now standing behind her. His voice came from behind "Found a few verses you liked."
She found her heart beat faster and faster. She couldn't speak when he was standing so close. Jean realised what time it was suddenly as she looked down and glanced at her watch. She breathed "I need to go perform ..." She then saw the corridor clear and decided to make her escape. As she was walking away she heard him say "Nothing shall separate what god has joined together..." As she walked away once she glanced back and saw him making the sign of cross and praying in Latin.