Lavinia got off the stage after performing her solo performance. She walked to the bar and saw a cans of soda coming her way. She glanced at Jacob "For me."

Jacob said "Yes. Thank you for the music and thank you for being so nice to my sister. She said how you have been watching over her. I won't forget it you know. If there is anything you want me to do for you, I am always up for it."

Lavinia smiled sweetly and pushed the drink towards him "Thanks you are so sweet. But ... do me a favour... Never buy me drinks. I have a jealous admirer. He won't like it..."

Jacob put his hand up in surrender "Woah. I am not meaning it in that kind of way. It's just a thank you. I am also the direct kind. My words are sincere. I am sorry if you think I am flirting or anything."

Lavinia put her hand up "I didn't say you are flirting. I say he will think that you are..."

Jacob said "In that case he must learn to listen to logical explanations. I won't change just because some guy gets jealous. He must listen to reason. It's just a thank you. I am in your debt for being so kind to my sister..." He then pushed the drink towards her "I won't change my ways because someone is jealous. I got this soda for you. You are no one's property to tell you what to do..."

Lavinia looked around her. "You are not getting this." She looked back at him "You seem like a nice kid. I just don't want him to come after you. I am looking out for you. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Jacob said "Don't worry about someone like me."

She looked at him up and down wordlessly. There was something about him that made him different. He was fearless and strong. Leo said to her how he managed to take on some tough guys. She hoped he didn't get hurt.

Jacob pushed the soda towards her "I insist. It's only a drink. A thank you drink for being nice to my baby sister."

She took the soda. "Fine. Thank you. Your sister is lovely. Are you always nice to people who befriend your sister? Someone so kind like her I bet must have a lot of friends."

Jacob sighed deeply "She hasn't been so well... Her health has not been great. She has been mostly home schooled so she has lost her confidence mostly. She attended school but had to keep taking time off because of her health... She is fine now. She can get back to mainstream school. But I worry because she has no confidence and low self esteem she can find it hard. It's nice you look out for her because she is new. She told me you gave her your phone number if she needed anything."

Lavinia said "It's no problem. She is new but also sweet. Its my pleasure."

Leo suddenly appeared there "Lavinia. I need your help."

Lavinia turned to him "What can I do for you?"

Leo said "Leandro is sending everyone out to the front for open air party time. It's karaoke. I need you to pair me up with Elena."

Lavinia said "What? What do you mean? Jeanelle is performing next."

Leo said "No. He wants everyone vacating this section and you are leading it."

Lavinia then heard the announcement on the speakers. She rolled her eyes "I am not getting it. When I told Leandro I want to run an open air karaoke he said no repeatedly. Now suddenly he says yes..."She then mocked his tone "My club is not a karaoke bar." She then reverted back to her own voice "Well... I never said his club is a karaoke bar. That's why I suggested we do it in the gardens. The open air space sits useless and can generate some money if he invests in it..."

Leo was becoming impatient as people were making their way to the exit "So are you going to call it off then? Come on Lavinia. I need you here."

Lavinia said "Oh no. I am going to lead this... before he changes his mind." She then raced past the crowd.

Leo turned to Jacob "You are coming?"

Jacob said "I am looking for my sister. She has been gone for a while."

Leo said "Don't worry. She is safe here. Let's go. She might be gone already."

Jacob sighed. He nodded and followed Leo out while searching the crowd for his sister. He looked everywhere. He made his way back inside but found the doors locked. The guards locked all the doors. He decided to go look inside so he asked the guards and they didn't reply to him acting like statues. Leo had said to him they only respond to Leandro.

Jacob had another look around the noisy grounds where there was karaoke happening. He couldn't find Jeanelle. He asked around and it seemed like she hadn't been seen after going back stage. He decided to go back inside through the windows instead of the doors. He managed to find a quiet section. There was a window open so he claimed the wall effortlessly and got inside the building. He heard his sister instantly. He walked towards his sisters voice. His sister was singing. It sounded like her. He walked through a corridor towards the stage. He smiled as he saw his sister singing. He liked to see her with confidence. As she ended the song she turned and spoke "Thank you Leandro ... for letting me practice without the crowd. I didn't think I could do it. She then shyly lolled down at the piano. "Can I play the piano too?  I want to practice playing for next time."

Jacob heard Leandro saying yes. He walked around the back of the stage quietly. He didn't want his sister to see him. Maybe if she didn't know he was there it was easier for her to practice. He found Leandro at the back taking a sit further back. Then he heard the piano play knowing jean couldn't hear him. He stood behind Leandro and was about to speak and then found himself against the wall. Leandro had his hand around his neck. His eyes widened at how fast Leandro reacted. Leandro let go as quickly as he had attacked. "You?"

Jacob reached his hand to his neck and rubbed the spot Leandro had in his grip afew seconds ago as he coughed.

Leandro looked at him with a displeased expression "What are you doing here? I said everyone out. Didn't I?"

Jacob said weakly "Thanks for helping my sister practice. She wants to get a scholarship with drama and music departments in colleges maybe... It helps if she gets the chance to practice."

Leandro said "Who let you in?"

Jacob said "I let myself in. I came through window. I climbed the wall... Your people didn't let me back. I know my sister has stage fright but you could at least let me stay behind here... I watch out for her."

Leandro said "Leave."

Jacob said "What? Why? She won't see me. I will be quiet here. Besides I don't want her alone here. She is my baby sister."

Leandro said "I don't think you understand. Let me spell it out. Leave. When I ask you to do something, do it first time."

Jacob said "No."

Leandro was not used to being told no. No one refused him. His family and cousins at times challenged him but he was not used to being challenged. Jacob had backbone for sure. He admired him for that. Leandro stared into his eyes "I said leave Jacob. I don't think you understand. What I say goes on my club."

Jacob said "What I say goes when it's my sister being alone with strangers."

Here there was this word again in Jacobs vocabulary. Strangers. Leandro didn't like that. He said "You know. How about this? I give you to the count of ten. You leave or I batter you."

Jacob raised an eyebrow as Leandro started counting "Just batter me now. I am not leaving my sister all alone in a building under your watch. She is my baby sister. Don't count down. There is no need." He then pointed to his chest "Right here. Punch me..."

This kid was tearing Leandro's patience. He sighed in the middle of his count down "You know what? I don't have time for this. I will talk to you about your defiance later. I am kicking you out."

Jacob couldn't believe the nerve of this guy "She is my baby sister and you are kicking me out? What is your problem? What do you want from my sister keeping her here alone? Why can't I be here? She is my sister."

Leandro said "Let me show you the exit. This is my club." He then reached for his arm.

As Leandro grabbed his hand, Jacob upon instinct in self defence head butted him.

Leandro growled and let go.

Jacob got free and watched Leandro looking at him with murder. He had struck the Titan and he was going to get a beating of his life. His instinct said run but he held his ground. He declared "What is up with you? What do you want from my sister?" He then took a fighting stance ready to get battered.

Leandro didn't want to fight him. It was jeans brother. He kept telling himself. He was going to make him pay for striking him maybe in football practice some time or in hokey. But he didn't want to hit the boy who was jean's brother. He looked into his eyes and then said "I am going to tell you this once. Only once. If you want to remain in my good list you will not question what I say."

Jacob said "I am in your good list? I head butted you. If anything you must get me expelled for striking the dean. It's goodbye to scholarship and it's help to a horrendous reference... That's in addition to getting beaten up by you. I can hold my own but I know you can do damage. Your brother says you are a military school graduate. An assassin. You can do damage. But I take my chances..."

Leandro asked "You knew the consequences yet you struck me?"

Jacob said with promise behind each word "For Jeanelle I will give up anything if it means protecting her."

Leandro stated "Me too."

Jacob asked "Pardon me? What do you mean you too? She is not related to you and she certainly isn't your girl..."

Leandro took a step forward and stood in his personal space as he said "She is my girl. Do you have a problem with that.

Jacob stared at him with his mouth open. It suddenly it hit him. Leandro had been so strange around his sister. It was as though he was .... possessive of her. Of course ... But no it couldn't be. This Titan and his baby sister? No definitely not. He was imagining this.

Leandro said "Jacob. I can keep away from your sister if that's what she wants. I live with honour. I swear to the lord I will put a bullet into the heart of any man who hurts her... including my own."

Jacob was frozen. He felt like he was in a nightmare. Who was this guy? He wanted to say to him to back off. But he couldn't help see the sincerity in his eyes. What stopped him from punching Leandro was because he said something he respected. He said if Jeanelle wanted him to back off he would. Putting her choice above all was respectable. He was protective but he wasn't a cave man. He believed his sister could make her own mind up. Jacob stared at Leandro silently for a few seconds longer and then whispered "If you lie..."

Leandro looked at Jacob looking bewildered. "I do not lie. Do you?" Jacob had nerve implying he lied. He was never challenged like this. He had to keep himself under control. He kept telling himself this was Jean's brother. He had to make exceptions.

Jacob said "Alright. You don't lie. But let's say I believe you. So you like my sister ... " He then closed his eyes and composed himself reminding himself he was not a Neanderthal. If his sister could choose he had no right to get mad. He then opened his eyes "Alright so you like her and she doesn't know?"

Leandro said "No. Only you know. Because you asked and I didn't lie. I could. I didn't."

Jacob took a deep breath "You are right. You could get me kicked out of the school for head butting you..."

Leandro said "Then what's there to be said? I said I like your sister. Now leave.

Jacob put his hand up "You didn't clarify this... Why did you try to kick me out of your club? You could just tell me the truth."

Leandro said "I am still kicking you out of my club. Out."

Jacob felt strange "But why? Is it because you are possessive?"

Leandro said "Pretty much. Yes. Why do you have to ask? Either accept it or challenge it. If you accept it, leave. If you challenge it then tell me why."

Jacob said "You are a stranger. I don't leave my sister alone with you. Trust is earned."

Leandro looked behind him and said "She stopped playing. If she doesn't want to play she can go outside with you. I don't like karaoke. I will make you trust me Jacob if that's your problem. Then believe me when I say, after I prove it, you will see that the safest place for your sister is under my watch." He then walked towards the stage where jean was.

Jacob had seen so many sides of him. He had a complex personality. He followed him and said "It wasn't so hard to talk was it? That's what we do in the country. Talk. You made me defend myself. I even head butt you when you could explain everything..."

Leandro said  "You will pay for that tomorrow. Have no doubt."

Before Jacob could reply, Leandro got on the stage where jean was. He remained at the entrance to the stage. He watched them closely. Leandro was quite nice to his sister. He didn't talk to her like how he did with the others.

Leandro complimented jean and said "Your brother broke into the building and watched you. I preferred that he didn't..."

Jacob came out at that moment.

Jean gasped "Hey, you're here Jacob? You listened to me play."

Jacob said "Always. You know that. There's karaoke outside, would you like to come join?"

Jean bit her lip "No, I'm good. Thank you though. I don't like karaoke. Can I stay inside and play some more? It's not every day I can borrow a stage to practice on..."

Jacob glanced at Leandro and saw triumph on his face. Obviously Jeanelle trusted Leandro.

Jacob said "It's so much fun out there... You get to meet new people"

Leandro said "Oh. Jacob. Do you think its wise to push strangers to your sister. You will be overwhelming her with .. strangers..." He was making a statement that what he suggested was not welcome.

Jean shook her head "I know you like socializing more than me. You can introduce me to people later....when it's less wild."

Jacob asked " Are you sure flower pot?"

Jean said "I'm sure Jacob. You should go. I don't want to stop you from mingling.

Leandro chuckled "Jean is right. You can go Jacob. Why don't you go out there?"

Jean said "I would feel guilty if you stay inside because of me..."

Leandro said "You don't want to upset your sister. Do you? So leave. I will stay and help Jean here maybe changing the lighting for her and bring what she needs on stage..."