The sun rose from behind the tall buildings of the city, shedding its first rays on the highest point of the tallest buildings first. Faint sound of birds echoed in the distance and Alandria eyes fluttered open. She let them wander around the room before closing them again. She was still living in the 'lair' of Zayden's gang.

On the previous day, Emmeline was sent to school for camping. When she returned home, she spent some time talking to Zayden and after that, they had lunch together. She thought that they would be spending the afternoon together, but Zayden had to leave. He went to search for for his father, bringing some of his men with him. The other guys who stayed in the building did not bother her. They knew she was Zayden's 'guest' and that no harm was supposed to be done to her.

She spent her day reading books she found in the library, because the lair also had its own library, which was odd. Then she went to watch TV and before she knew it, it was already 8 pm. One of Zayden's men knocked on her door and told her to have dinner. She had dinner alone in her room while the others sat in the dining room. She thought it was better this way. 

After a few more hours of waiting for Zayden, she got too tired and fell asleep before even realizing it. It was now early morning.

She opened her eyes and Zayden looking at her.

"Good morning" he whispered.

"Hi...I..."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up. For these two days you won't see me."

"What? You're leaving? I can't...."

"Don't worry" Zayden smiled, "I'll be here at night and I'll bring something for you. I'll also be here for lunch..."

Alandria did not know what to say.

"Don't be afraid. You can use the phone to call me anytime. I worte my number on a paper. I kept it on the table. Some of the guys will stay here. They won't hurt you."

"Ok...but how long are we going to stay in hiding?"

"Give me these two days." Zayden sighed, "I'll work something out."

After that day Zayden was not in the lair during the day, except for lunch and he chose to always have lunch with her. He was very kind. They would talk about schools stuff and he would even make jokes, but most of the time he was serious. Alandria started knowing him better. He told her about his life a bit, his childhood and asked her about Emmeline. At night, he would come to see her in her room and they would chat a little until she felt sleepy. Without knowing it, she started looking forward to his little visits. On the second night, as they talked, she accidently let out a little yawn and Zayden smiled.

"I guess we've been chatting for way too long. Goodnight Alandria."

"No Zayden...I...can chat some more..." she always felt a bit sad when he left her.

"We can talk in the morning. I will be here" he smiled at her.

Then he did something he never did before. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. Then his eyes found hers. Alandria did not know what to say.

"Good...goodnight..." Zayden whispered, looking away. 

He then left. 

Why did he kiss her on the forehead? That question made her smile like an idiot and she fell asleep with a smile on her face.

********************************************************

The next morning, the blue eyed girl got up and went to shower. She showered, brushed and changed into some new  clothes. Then she descended the stairs to head to the dining room, hoping to find Zayden there. What she found...was not Zayden.

She stopped dead in the middle of the room as 8 pair of eyes fixed themselves on her. Eight of Zayden's men were at the table having breakfast. She gulped and looked at them. Her feet were frozen. She looked at them all and felt very weird.

*Why the hell did I come down here!* she was so angry at herself.

*Because you are hungry...* her thoughts replied.

They were all very quiet. No one said a word. For the first few seconds, they all froze. No one knew what to say.

A screeching sound was suddenly heard.

Someone was pulling a chair.

Alandria looked carefully to see the man who had opened the door the first time she got here smile at her. He pulled the chair next to him and motioned her to come.

Alandria looked at them all...they were staring at her. She felt her cheeks redden and slowly walked to the table.

She sat down quietly.

She put her hands on the table, then reached out for a piece of bread as slowly as she could...knowing that they were all staring at her.

*You're surrounded by mafia....* a thought popped in her mind.

*Thanks...that makes me feel better...*

Her heart started beating faster. She gulped and her trembling fingers touched the bread when...

"I'M MARK BY THE WAY!"

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" she shrieked and looked at the man with huge eyes.

The man named Mark looked at her with wide eyes before...

"Ahahahaha!" the whole party started laughing their hearts out.

Alandria chuckled at that and joined them. It was really funny! Why the heck did she scream like that? The poor guy was only trying to introduce himself.

"Well...I guess that means your name is Ahhhhh?" Mark asked with a smirk.

"Hahaha..." Alandria beamed, "No...I am Alandria. Nice to meet you Mark...and nice to meet all of you..."

They were all looking at her with amused eyes now. 

"My name is Danny!" someone suddenly said from across the table, "You really know how to scare the hell out of mafia!"

Alandria laughed at that.

"I'm sorry..."

She suddenly felt better. They were not as scary as she thought them to be.

"It's ok!" Danny smiled, stuffing his mouth with cheese.

"My name is Lane!" another guy added.

"He was born on a train, that's why...you get it, Lane, train..." his neighbour added and Alandria giggled.

"That's not true!" Lane chuckled, "You bloody....oh sorry..."

"I'm Fernando by the way, I'm the hottest one here" the guy added and Lane rolled his eyes.

It was true. He really was very handsome.

"My name is Ken..."

"Hey! It was my turn to introduce myself!" another guy scolded, "My name is..."

"No...shut up!"

"You shut up!, I wanna introduce myself!"

Alandria watched them with a smile twitching at the corner of her lips.

"He peed in his pants until he was 14! My name is Alex!"

"I DID NOT!" the other guy retorted, "Silver, pleased to meet you, oh and Alex used to think that he could enter the TV and get transported to a new world until I told him the truth yesterday!"

"What the hell!" Alex yelled.

"Ok stop!" Alandria ordered, "That is enough! There are two more people here who have been very quiet. What are your names?"

"My name is...name...."

"Huh?" Alandria gasped.

"He means Nayum" Mark corrected, "Like dayum....damn..."

"Oh cool I guess" Alandria smiled and they all laughed.

"And my name is Kelsie and I am proud of it" the last man said in a serious tone.

Everybody was quiet.

"Don't ever tease him about his name" Mark suddenly whispered to her.

Alandria nodded quickly.

"Nice to meet meet you Kelsie"

Kelsie looked at her with a staid face then nodded.

"Call me Kel"

Alandria nodded immediately.

"Well then, have breakfast then!" Mark suggested and she smiled.

Alandria did not why, but it felt like a family atmosphere. These guys did not sound like they were part of mafia at all!

She started eating while the others chatted. The conversation went towards her school and they asked her about her favourite subjects and they all chatted merrily about theirs as well.

"I loved Biology!" Alex added.

"You?" Silver cackled, "You don't even know how if the word nose takes an 's' or not."

"What the hell!" Alex cried, "You think I would figure it out if I break yours?"

"Try me!" Silver laughed.

"Oh my..." Alandria gasped.

"Don't worry" Mark reassured her, "They won't hurt each other. They all like to joke here. Look!"

Alex sprinkled butter all over Silver's nose and they all laughed.

"You idiot!" Silver said as he put some of it on his friend's face.

"Here, take these" Alandria laughed as she handed them some napkins.

They wiped their faces and Silver smiled:

"At least there are polite people here at this table"

"Thank you" Alex teased and once again all of them laughed.

"I see there is much of a reunion here"

They all look to their right to see Zayden standing.

"Zayden!" Alandria beamed.

Zayden was not smiling back.

Author Note: Hello! I apologise for such a late update! I have been so busy with work during the past weeks! I am so sorry. I hope you like this chapter.