Axky didn't have a good feeling about this.
Walt Games enterprise was having their fifth nightmare in a month. Another system had crashed.
Again.
As head of data security, Axky had no way of retrieving the data they had just lost and was angrier than he cared to show.
Who was this nuisance challenging his position? Axky swore he would find this person and send him/her straight to trial and retrieve the data they had stolen successfully. Even if it was the last thing he ever did.
He was in charge of security and what had he done so far? Let some idiot steal priceless information with next to zero resistance. He didn't even have any penetrable loopholes in his codes to his knowledge, then how was their data being hacked?
The police had been notified, but honestly, they were in the habit of consulting Axky when such cases arrived not the other way around.
Axky looked wearily at the computer system inside a guarded cubicle. Their most coveted game, preparing for launch a month later was thankfully undamaged.
Whoever was trying to sabotage Walt Games still hadn't been able to land the final blow. Yet.
He had an unsettling thought...what if there was someone smarter than him, someone better at hacking than him out there? For now it certainly looked like there was.
Axky solemnly decided he needed to meet the company President and get some questions answered. He didn't care how busy the man was.
***
"You were making out!" accused Gary as soon as he looked at Vicky's messed up hair and dulled lip gloss.
"Victoria Fannington do you not know better than to be deflowered on your first date?" demanded Jason looking livid. No doubt he inherited this reaction from Brielle.
"Deflowered?" she asked trying to suppress a laugh.
"Did he force you?" asked Gary pushing past her with his baseball bat. "I am going to kill him."
"Um guys, it's okay really," said Vicky, blushing furiously and trying to calm the boys down. "I wanted to ... I mean I wanted to make out with him."
Levi, who had taken refuge behind behind the door sighed audibly before stepping out to greet the boys.
"Hey." he said coming in full view of the twins. "I'm Levi. Don't think we've met before."
They gaped at his crumpled shirt and messy hair.
"OH MY GOD!" cried Jason horror
"How do you want to die?" asked Gary taking a couple of menacing steps towards Levi.
"I don't really plan to do that so soon." said Levi giving an easy smile to the boys.
Jason fumed. Why was this cheeky boy not intimidated?
"You and us. Man to men. Outside now." ordered Jason swinging his bat and beckoning Levi.
Levi nodded cheerfully.
"Sure." he said merrily as he followed the shell-shocked boys outside. "Stay here okay Vicky? We'll be back real soon."
Jason and Gary scoffed. "Yeah right Romeo." said Gary.
"You stay inside Vicky." said Jason glaring at Levi mercilessly. "This might get bloody."
Vicky stared after them as they disappeared into the back garden hoping the three didn't hurt each other.
She shut the door and quickly rushed to the study room and opened the window to get a first row view of what was happening with the boys she loved the most.
"Who do you think you are?" demanded Gary. "Waltzing in here and getting all touchy feely so soon?"
Levi had the decency to look a tad ashamed.
"Yes, I know it's probably rushing things," he said thoughtfully. "But just so you know, she's the one who asked if she could kiss me."
"She WHAT?" exclaimed Jason.
"Well it seems she had a crush on me all these years--- six in fact--- and I had a crush on her too. But I never thought we could ever amount to anything." said Levi his entire demeanor changing to one of smug contentment. "Then all of a sudden, she dropped into my life all over again. You have no idea how hard it is to know that she cares about you and that you care about her and not get to hold her."
"Hmm." said Gary reluctantly. "You've had girlfriends before. Vicky as obviously not been an integral part of your love life."
Levi laughed. "Yes of course she wasn't. I had no idea she would be interested in someone like me. She remained a distant fantasy for the most time since I've known her. I assure you that for as long as she wants to be with me, I am hers and hers alone."
Jason looked torn between wanting to justify the baseball bat in his hands and trying to resist giving his blessing to the relationship.
"Are you dating?" demanded Gary.
"Yes. I just got asked out." said Levi with a smirk.
"She asked you out?" said Jason in surprise. "Gary it looks like she's the one calling the shots here."
"I know Jason." said his brother. "Maybe she does have Crow Hair wrapped around her finger after all."
"Crow Hair?" asked Levi looking horrified. "Is that supposed to refer to me?"
"Duh." said Gary rolling his eyes. "Do you even own a comb?"
"Or some hair gel? Dad says you can use men's hairbands, if your hair keeps falling on your face." said Jason smugly.
"Wow." said Levi consciously running his hands through his tousled hair. "You kids sure are salty. Who the hell are you anyway?"
"My names Jason and this is my twin brother Gary. Vicky is our sister from another mister and we love her very very much." said Jason.
"Okay." said Levi with a laugh. "I promise never to hurt Vicky. Ever. I really like her and want to get to know her better. Is it alright with you guys if we start dating?"
"You are asking us for permission?" gasped Gary with disbelief. "Jason, he's showing us respect!"
"If you break her heart, you die." declared Jason. "Slowly and painfully."
"Surrounded by foul smells and rabid rats eating away at your remains."
"No one will even know you are gone."
"Until it's too late."
Vicky banged her head against the window. Levi was going to end their relationship before it even started.
"Agreed." said Levi shaking hands with both the boys. Vicky looked up in surprise.
"Agreed?" asked Gary shocked.
"Of course." said Levi easily. "She sought me out after all these years. Least I could do is not let her down."
"Um okay. You can date our sister." said Jason, the words coming out of his mouth painfully.
"But a fair warning, if Uncle Axky finds out you're dating Vicky he might go postal on you." said Gary.
"Axky?" repeated Levi, brows furrowing.
"Yes, that's Vicky's Dad."
For a fleeting second, Vicky swore Levi looked troubled, but then he was smiling again, asking to say goodbye to Vicky so he could leave before her parents turned up.
She opened the door as the three boys walked in. Levi stood at the threshold, grasping Vicky's hand when she came close.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked expectantly.
"Sure." she said kissing him on the cheek and earning retching sounds from the boys in the background. "Our lockers are nearby aren't they?"
"I figured you had something to do with that." he said as he kissed her chastely on the lips. "Bye Vicky. Thanks for ---everything."
"Bye Levi." she said a twinkle in her eye. "And you're welcome."
The troubled look returned to Levi's eyes as he turned and raced out of the compound.
Vicky wondered what was bothering him. She hoped that one day they would be close enough where they could share anything with each other. For now, she would be patient and supportive.
"Vicky, we're hungry!" whined Gary.
"How about some of the plum pudding Aunt Paula made yesterday?" asked Jason.
Vicky laughed. "Yes, yes boys, sit down at the table, I'll bring in the strawberry shortcake and pudding."
A/N: Why do you think Levi is troubled?
I love plum puddings. What's your favorite desert?
Thanks for reading!
Lots of love,
Andy