It was speech class and students were sitting in groups to finish their speeches on a topic of their choice.

The teacher announced, "Now you have fifteen minutes left until the end of this double period lesson. Make sure your practice your speeches to present to class one by one for the next lesson. Use the time left to finish the speeches and also swap your papers to get the people in your group to proof read your speech and make corrections."

Letizia who was in an all girl group alongside Vanessa put her hand up and spoke " Can I use a book please. I just need to check my facts."

The teacher nodded " Of course. Check the resources cabinet at the back."

As she stood up and walked to the back of the class, Vincenzo glanced at her following her movements. He loved how her dress looked. It really suited her curves. He found her frustrating but he loved everything about her. One day he was going to make her his. He was certain. He then took a deep breath and went back to work on his speech.

Vincenzo was sitting at a table of six with Cain, Tristan, Alton, Sebastiano and Alexander. They were almost finished now.

It was Tristan who put his pen down first. I am done. "Who is swapping with me?"

Vincenzo spoke " Give me a minute. I am writing the conclusion. Check over your conclusion and ending because for me that is the section that matters most if you asked me to check it."

Tristan spoke " I am done with this. Hurry up. Will you."

Vincenzo chuckled " You don't like this class. Do you? Come on. We are in this class because we don't want to hire speech writers when we take over our fathers' businesses. We should be able to write our own speeches for our employees."

Tristan sighed " Who are you preaching? My mother has a PhD is English literature and Law. She has made me take extra tuition for this kind of exercise for a while now and I am getting sick of it. I want extra classes in law. My father said he will arrange it."

Alexander looked up " Are you going to do that internship in that law firm then? For summer holidays...."

Tristan nodded " Yes. It's not my first choice but I might as well prepare for it well. Some law tuition can help." He then turned to Vincenzo " Where do you go for your internship?"

Vincenzo looked up " A journalism internship for a section that reports Wall Street forecast. I do a week of that and another week at a law firm."

Tristan raised an eyebrow " I did journalism over last summer. It was pretty boring. No action..."

Alton laughed " You got to interview a genius trader. I know he must have passed you some top secrets of trade you haven't shared with us. So don't say it was boring. It got you some knowledge."

Tristan sighed " It was an office role. I am not interested in office work that much. I like moving around. My father is hardly in one place...."

Vincenzo looked up " Done. Here is my speech. Rip it apart with criticism." He handed his speech to Tristan.

Tristan handed his speech to Vincenzo" Sure. Don't I always?"

Alton McNamara handed his speech to Alexander "You have written enough. Check it."

Alexander sighed "Alright. Here you go." He then handed him his paper.

Sebastiano handed his paper to Cane and took his as he spoke "Alton... Can you ask your sister, Azurine to get me into the Drama production? I really want to get in..."

Alton asked "Why don't you ask her yourself?"

Sebastiano spoke "Haven't you met your sister?"

Alexander laughed "Oh yeah. She is a year younger than us but as tall and her temper is real short. She hates the entire male population. She directs the drama production that most colleges like to see on applications. There are hardly any roles for boys. She has done it on purpose I am sure. Can you get her to add some more male roles this year so more of us can get a role?"

Alton spoke "I will tell her. Fine. But she is fine with boys. Viggo was offered the lead role..."

Sebastiano spoke "Exactly. She just shows favouritism to Viggo. Not that he tries to get into her good books for us."

Alexander spoke "But we will get her back. She is on the cheer leading squad and has to cheer at all our games with other schools till the end of the year. The girls basketball team lost to us yesterday and that was the bet's condition. So now the entire basketball team have to join cheer leaders..."

Alton spoke "What? Azorine would not like that. She does not get along with half the team. Who's bright idea was this? couldn't you ask for something else?"

Sebastiano spoke "Thank you. That was Stefano's stunt. Not ours."

Alton nodded "Of course. He is just too soft. He does not act like a Rosario at all."

Vincenzo looked up from his paper "He is not too soft. His mother is no Rosario material but he is."

Alton did not argue and sighed "Sure..." He then got on with working on making corrections.

As the bell rang, the boys swapped back their speeches, and walked out to their next lesson.

Tristan was walking alongside Vincenzo through corridors when he saw his brother walking towards him.

Trent reached Tristan and quickly spoke " Edward Blake has insulted us. He has to be dealt with..."

Vincenzo walked to a nearby water fountain and started drinking. He was glad he was not involved. He was not in the mood to deal with Edward Blake. He was a real weakling and not worth his time. On the days he was captain and Tristan was Vice Captain, his responsibility was just to make final decisions when a final vote was needed and when an offence was committed against the basketball team or the common room area, then he had the final say. But that was it. He didn't need to deal with anything else. When he turned around, he saw Tristan dragging Trent inside a nearby empty classroom and closed the door. He laughed bitterly. Tristan always dealt with Trent in private of course and he lectured him for dealing with Viggo the same way.

Vincenzo had no idea his sister was being discussed at that point. The thought could never cross his mind.

Vincenzo entered his next class and sat down feeling annoyed not having Letizia in the room. This was Italian Literature, the optional unit he had picked to avoid dance. He never thought he would consider dropping this unit and picking dance that he hated with a passion. But if it meant he could spend more time with letizia, then it was worth it. He then took a sigh in frustration as he saw who the teacher was. It was Dr Sancia O'Neil. She had apparently sacked the teacher since she thought he was not good enough on her first day in the role and was now advertising to recruit. She had of course taken over temporarily because she was qualified. The first thing she did was setting a 2,000 word essay on the poem collection "La Vita Nuova" by Dante to be written in the lesson. Vincenzo didn't mind the work. He loved Italian literature. But he minded Sancia O'Neil. She just was a double edged sword like any O'Neil as his father always said. He got on with work and wondered where Tristan was.

Minute later, Vincenzo watched as Tristan walked in late looking quite serious and even angry. Of course his mother did not acknowledge his lateness and arrival. He just walked in with no consequence as he muttered in a low tone "It was an emergency. Sorry I am late".

Vincenzo had been taught by Dr O'Neil before as guest lecturer and she always gave detention with 1000 lines to be written if anyone was even one minute late but of course she was not going to do that to her son. Tristan did not seem in the mood to do any work. He just sat down silently and just looked into distance out of the window with furious eyes. He looked in deep thought.

Vincenzo spoke "Are you awake man? We have a 2,000 word essay to write in this double lesson."

Tristan whispered "I have done it before. Yesterday on the same topic."

Vincenzo sighed and carried on writing his essay. He finished in good time too. Once finished he looked up and he started stretching. He had half an hour to spare. He saw Tristan in the same pose but he looked mad. Truly mad. If he was mad at Edward Blake, that kid was dead. Tristan was a mixture of his mother and his father in being unforgiving and brutal but surely like his father he was good with diplomacy too. Truly a double edged sword who was deadly and dangerous.

Tristan noticed Vincenzo had finished his work and was stretching staring at him. He murmured "I need to have a word. Follow me outside." He then got up and went to his mother who was sitting at the front and reading journals behind her desk. Tristan spoke "I need to step outside. It is urgent. I need Vincenzo." As his mother nodded, he walked away.

Vincenzo followed him. Tristan's behaviour was different in public. He never defied his mother in front of anyone else in public. But in private in their mansion he did answer back if he was displeased and challenged his mother.

Vincenzo followed Tristan to an empty classroom and walked in as Tristan held the door open. As Vincenzo walked in he froze at what he heard " I love your sister."

Vincenzo's eyes widened as he turned around " What? Pardon me."

Tristan's eyes narrowed " You heard me. I want her and I will have her. She is mine. She always was and she always will be... Now I brought you here to ask what do you think? Are you going to oppose it? Is your father against it?"

For the first time in his life Vincenzo was lost for words. This was different. This was about his baby sister. He had just heard, Tristan, one of the most dangerous kids in school declare he liked his sister. His first reaction was a protective one. He took a step towards him and grabbed the collar of his shirt. He looked into his eyes " If you are playing around, I will kill you Tristan. I don't care who you are. I don't care how many men work for your father, I will kill you with one bullet to your brain if you are lying. Now I am going to give you the chance to walk away and take back what you said. Vienna is my baby sister. Her life is more precious than mine and Viggo's. She is a Rosario girl. She is not to be messed with. I promise you Tristan that I will kill you if you are lying."

Tristan looked at him with his cold eyes with determination in them " Who are you threatening? I tell you now that from today that I declare her as mine, if you hurt her in any way, I would be the one hunting you down no matter where you hide, no matter where you run. I will find you and I will destroy you. I want to protect her just like how you do right now. You remember how I always helped you go around school and warn off any boy that wasn't worthy of her who was even looking at her. We both know your father's rules. It's identical to mine when it comes to the girls in the household. No weaklings or wimps are allowed to be associated with them and get friendly with Clarisa and Vienna. Only worthy men capable of protecting an O'Neil or a Rosario can get close and personal with them. I am worthy enough. If you question it or if your father questions it, I will prove it. Just say your verdict."

Vincenzo looked into Tristan's eyes that only held sincerity and promise. He slowly let go of his collar. This was it, the moment his father had warned him of. His father had said to him that if at any point any boy approached Vienna then he had to protect her from the weaklings, wimps, opportunists, spies, abusers but also was to make sure he let Vienna make her choice amongst the most worthy who ever caught her attention. His father's rules did not forbid Tristan to take action. His father didn't like the O'Neils that much but the O'Neil family was never mentioned to Vincenzo as ones to keep Vienna away from. Tristan was no wimp, he was no abuser, he was no opportunist. He was .... the right man to protect his sister..."

Vincenzo breathed " So ... What if Vienna says no? What will you do?"

Tristan sighed " I know she may say no. I am prepared to hear it. I will be waiting until she is ready. I would watch her closely and would try to get close to her. I kept away because my father asked me to keep away. Trent told him I liked Vienna along time ago. He took me aside and told me to wait because her father may not appreciate any boys to try to get close to her so early on. So I waited. I can't wait anymore. My father told me to hold it in until a threat appeared. No danger occurred till now. You warned off anyone who looked at her and so did I. But danger appeared on this very day forcing me to act...."

Vincenzo spoke " Hold on ... Is this about Edward Blake? No way. He is nothing. No threat...,"

Tristan spoke " Trent heard him say to Vienna that he liked her. He heard him say it and he saw Vienna give Edward a smile she never gave anyone else."

It was Vincenzo's turn to get furious. He balled his hands into fists " That punk.... Tell me what else happened?"

Tristan stated " Trent didn't stick around to eavesdrop. It's not his style. He only heard their conversation because at the time he was collecting Bunsen burners from a nearby cabinet. He just saw Edward helping Vienna. That was it. I can't risk him getting close. I will deal with Trent later for not stopping Edward from getting close to Vienna. He knew how I felt. He was the only person I told about how much I loved Vienna and then he told my father of course. I want you to deal with Viggo. I asked Trent where was he? and Trent said right there. How can Viggo be so reckless. Edward's family are businessmen but not powerful enough to be worthy of her and can't even protect her. So I tell you now. Fix your brother up or I will. That's a promise. Don't make me disturb the peace we have between us. I won't hesitate to teach Viggo a lesson if he endangers Vienna. That's a promise. Now I will fix the mess Viggo has made. I will have a small chat with Edward and that would be the end of it. I am not going to rush Vienna. She has all the time she needs but damn right I won't stand by and watch someone else take her away right in front of me. Do you have any objections. Speak now."

Vincenzo chuckled and walked to him " I will be watching you very closely from now on. If you hurt her, I will come after you as promised. As long as you keep a good distance and don't try to force her and rush her to do anything she doesn't want to do. We won't have a problem." He then spoke in a sarcastic tone " Do you have any objections. Speak now..." he then warned " You won't need to threaten me. Keep your threats for the other guys. I don't blame Edward that much. You kept your distance long enough and he moved in."

Tristan spoke " You have no girl, yourself...."

Vincenzo spoke " Not yet. I don't. But still I was man enough to tell her as soon as I got her alone. She knows. I fight to have her. She is fighting back. You didn't even tell Vienna anything when you could. So don't put all the blame on Viggo or Trent. You made a choice and it nearly cost you. Learn from your mistakes. Tell her you want her and make her fall for you just like the rest of us. Hiding in a distance is no good. Take my advice."

The bell suddenly rang. Vincenzo and Tristan gave each other a hard look and left the room. That day, the school finished earlier but students remained to do extra curricular activities. They had basketball practice as a result.

Tristan blocked Vincenzo's path before he left " There will be a late start to the basketball practice. There is something I have to do."

Vincenzo nodded and walked away " Fine, thirty minute delay for the team. Use it wisely."

Tristan spoke " I will. Don't worry." He then followed Vincenzo out of the classroom and went the opposite way. He walked past classroom after classroom until he found the one he wanted. There were already half the basketball team waiting there outside the door for him. He had told Trent to keep Vienna and Edward behind for a few minutes by excuses like asking for help for a couple of calculus questions. When he walked in he saw Vienna, Trent and Blake were deep in discussion to notice him. He signaled for his team to come in. He then closed the door and that was when the three turned and found, a dozen boys from the basketball team starting to surround them. Tristan walked to the fire exit and opened it. That door had a corridor that lead to the gym, the place he wanted to teach Edward Blake a lesson. He signaled for the boys to get to work.

Vienna and Edward were in shock as everything happened so fast, before they knew it, the guys including Trent, grabbed Edward and threw him to the floor.

Vienna protested " What are you doing?" Then she watched in horror as everything unfolded but before she could take a step to the guys, a pair of strong arms held her back. Tristan held her wrists in place as he whispered " Don't worry about him. We need to talk."

Vienna froze. What did Tristan want from her? Where were Viggo and Vincenzo when she needed them? The guys in the room were all loyal to Tristan and she did not recognise them as Viggo's or Vincenzo's best friends. They restrained Edward and covered his mouth with a tape and carried him to the fire exit to take him down the stairs to where Tristan wanted to deal with him.

Vienna tried to break free with no avail " Let me go now. Let Edward go. What is going on? Last week you agreed to leave him be and did not break his hand.... Edward hasn't done anything else. Has he?"

As the guys disappeared through the door and closed the door behind them, Tristan let her go and whispered " Stop keep saying his name. I warn you."

Vienna turned around and faced Tristan who was looking at her with an intense stare.

Vienna spoke " What is the meaning of this? Tell me why you took Edward away and why you want to talk..."

Tristan's eyes were cold and his tone was firm. He spoke with venom " Do you like him? Do you Vienna?"

Vienna was shocked " What? I don't like any boys in the school....."

Tristan for some reason slightly looked relaxed. Vienna spoke " You are acting odd. Could you please let him go? What has he done again?"

Tristan stated " His crime is heavier this time."

Vienna spoke " What has he done?"

Tristan spoke " He told you he likes you?"

Vienna frowned " How do you know that? But what does it matter what he said?"

Tristan reached his hand up and touched Vienna's chin with his hand as he stood even closer to her. He tilted her chin upwards as they were inches apart " He had no business saying that. You are mine Vienna. I like you. I liked you before he even knew you...."

Vienna gulped as she felt the meaning behind each word and his sincere tone. She was in total shock. He was Tristan O'Neil. A close friend and rival of her brother who hardly ever spoke to her. He was protective of her and warned off boys from her and Clarisa alongside Vincenzo in that school. Now she recalled how sometimes he was over protective. It all made sense. He liked her but she didn't feel the same. He was scary, mean, intimidating and cruel. He was the last person she wanted to go out with ever.

Vienna shook her head and freed her chin from his grasp. She then took a step backwards " I don't think of you in that way. So what you are saying is that you ambushed Edward because he said he likes me?"

Then she saw it. The change in his expression. The part of him that she feared and despised was revealed. His eyes were now holding menace as he took a step towards her but she retreated back until her back hit a wall. He closed the distance between them and was standing within inches of her now.

Tristan stated "I just said I like you and you push me away. I thought rejection was not going to hurt this much but it does. But I won't stop. I want to get to know you. I want to make you like me.... I have waited long enough ..... So is this it? Your final answer? You are not ready to give me a chance? Is that your final decision? Fine then.... I will be waiting. I have waited a long time for you..... I will wait longer if I have to. But I won't stand it if you choose anyone else over me. Not a chance. I don't share.... I will make you mine one day. But if you dare choose anyone else and let another boy near you again, I won't be so forgiving as I will be this time round. I will have a chat with Edward and will warn him off in my way to deter him. Next time I won't be so nice." He then walked away to the fire exit.

Vienna followed him " What are you going to do to Edward? Tristan you have to let him go. He hasn't done anything wrong. He was just helping me with the work."

Tristan opened the fire exit and walked down the stairs dismissing Vienna's words " You know, your brother always says this sentence " If you can't do the time, then don't do the crime." I agree with him. If Edward can't handle the consequences, he should not have come into you. He should not have approached some one else's girl if he couldn't handle the competition. You are not his and never will be. You are mine."

As they reached the bottom of the stairs and were about to enter the gym , Vienna grabbed his arm, making him stop in his tracks. " Please.... Let him go..."

Tristan looked at her hand and then at her pleading look she was giving him. Too bad that look was not a look of love or affection, too bad the look she was giving him was for someone else's sake.

Tristan spoke " It's the first time you have ever touched me. But you have someone else on your mind that you shouldn't. That makes me very angry...."

Vienna spoke quickly " Edward talked to me because Viggo asked him to."

Tristan narrowed his eyes " Viggo? Really? He did what?" His voice was raised and his eyes became more menacing.

Vienna explained as she let go of his arm and rubbed her forehead " Viggo asked Edward to help me with my science project. That was what Edward was doing. He wasn't coming into me. He was helping....."

Realisation hit Tristan. He thought to himself "He is so dead." He shook his head. Viggo was really a pain in the backside. He had to be dealt with soon.

Tristan put his hand on the door knob as he turned to Vienna "Walk away Vienna. You said no to me. There is nothing else to discuss. I will just have to convince you to go out with me. I have given you space all this time. I will wait longer but wont wait forever and damn right I wont share. Edward will pay up. Now turn around and walk back. You don't want to come inside. Trust me. How I deal with my enemies is not for the faint hearted." He then soundly opened the door and walked into the gym before Vienna could react to plead further to stop him.

Vienna followed him and saw in horror how there was a large circle of boys around Edward who was held standing by two people. The boys took turns to walk to him and were punching him. She didn't see Viggo and Vincenzo or any of their friends. It seemed like the half the basketball team was missing from this training room where they trained at this time.

Vienna walked quickly after Tristan who was walking to the circle "You said, you will have a chat with him."

Tristan spoke "This is gentle treatment. This is a chat. Now go back. You do not want to watch this."

Vienna spoke "Please... Let him go."

At that point the door opened. Vincenzo followed by Viggo, Stefano and the rest of the basketball team who were loyal to Vicnenzo walked in. Vicnenzo shouted orders "Warm up for half an hour. We will wait for Tristan to finish before we start." The boys immediately dispersed around the place. But Viggo and Stefano were in frozen in spot looking at the scene with disapproval as they started whispering.

Vienna walked to them "Vincenzo. You have to stop this."

Vincenzo was drinking from his water bottle as he spoke " Let the men do what they have to do. You don't understand Vienna. You shouldn't be here by the way. But I take it you said no to Tristan. Right? It looks like it when I see how he is punching the Blake kid."

Vienna turned around in horror and saw Tristan now circling Edward and taunting him as he punched him. Vienna tried to walk back to the circle. Vicnenzo grabbed her arm and pulled her towards himself "Look at me Vienna."

Vienna looked at Vicnenzo "You knew about this?"

Vincenzo sighed 'He talked to me today about fancying you. He promised he will behave himself and back off until you were ready. Tell me this. Did he do anything he shouldn't? Did he hurt you? You will tell me if he did. Right?"

Vienna spoke "He didnt hurt me.... But... do something, please.. How can you be ok with this in the first place. You warned off all boys...."

Vicnenzo spoke "Well, it is father's orders that you choose who you wish to make friends with but .... no wimps or weaklings are allowed. I tried to look out for you and I still do. I don't trust the majority of male population in this school. I warned them off you, not people like Tristan. He wont do anything you don't want. He promised."

Viggo walked to Vincenzo "Go ahead and stop this. You didnt tell me he was going to put up a show and make her watch. This is madness. Stop him Vincenzo."

Vicnenzo spoke "I don't care about the Blake kid. I am here to train my team. This is not a matter that I have to get involved in. This is a personal matter for Tristan to sort out. There is no need for having a final vote and this is not a sporting or team issue so I won't need to have any say in this. The Blake kid should have kept away. Why should it bother me that he is getting a beating of his life? It is really not my problem....."

Viggo spoke "It is, if it upsets Vienna."

Vienna then heard laughter and boys shouting "Let's give him a wash down the toilet."

Vienna cringed. They were going to dip his head in the toilets. This was so sickening to witness. She turned to Vincenzo and Viggo "Please do something. No one can stop this whole team but you and Tristan. Vincenzo, you are their leader alongside Tristan. They listen to you. Please halt them."

Vienna watched in surprise as she saw Viggo walked away towards the entrance. Vienna didnt expect to see him leave but then she gasped as she saw how Viggo pressed the fire alarm button. Now they all had to leave and wait outside in the assembly point since security guards were going to be all over them checking the rooms to ensure danger was identified or an all clear situation was announced before all could get back in. Viggo was clever in his tactic. Vienna put her hand on her heart and was relieved that Viggo had bought some time for Vienna to talk to Tristan.

Tristan ordered "Untie Edward for now and let him walk out. We will deal with him shortly." Boys started complaining and they untied Edward and let Edward walk outside.

Vienna started walking away to the exit alongside Vincenzo and gulped as she heard Tristan whispering to Viggo as he was walking outside angrily "I will get you back for setting up Vienna with that wimp and for stopping his punishment. You are done for."