Andreas arrived in school accompanied by his father's usual security in a bullet proof car with tinted windows. He got off the car and walked to the school entrance as he was biting his apple. He looked ahead as usual ignoring the fearful look that other kids gave him. The groups of kids dispersed staying out of his way. They feared him and they should have. He was not exactly in a good mood that day. When he was angry he could be anyone's worst nightmare and the kids knew it well to keep their distance if they saw him looking furious. It only meant he could take out whatever he was annoyed with on some one else and no one wanted to be that someone.

Andreas was known as the German-Italian popular footballer of his high performing American school. He was one of the top achievers in his year group with plenty of prizes to his name. He had everything he wanted outside the school too. He had acheived so much in his life but he was yet to ever achieve his father's full approval.

No one had any idea of all the crap Andreas had to go through to keep his father happy. Nothing was good enough for his father. Being the only child was hard when you were an Agostini. He was expected to be the best of the best in every field, from archery to martial arts to shooting and of course his academic performance had to be high too. The slightest slip up was unforgivable in his father's eyes. Andreas could handle the pressure but sometimes he wished his father gave him some more choices and let him achieve his high goals in his own way rather than trying to control every part of his life from his morning training, his tutors, his school hours and even who he spoke to. Now he wasn't allowed to talk to the Biaggios after his father had agreed to give them an extension.

Andreas threw away his almost eaten apple into the bin as he made his way around the school's main building into the front yard where children were sitting on benches having breakfast and socialising. Again, the kids tried to keep out of his way and some vacated their benches fearing he wanted to sit where they were. Andreas walked through the benches to the canteen and bought himself a can of soda. He then came outside and sat on one of the benches as he took out his calculus book studying for his upcoming assessment.

Vitale Votorino Rosario, his number one rival walked past him and waved at him. Andreas responded with a nod. He was Pietro Rosario's son. His parents had moved away from Sicily when he was at school age and lived in milan. His father handled Vitale's grandfather's businesses in Milan and neighbouring cities. Of course, vitale returned to Sicily during holidays but he spent more time in Milan. They were in the same school eversince he had come to Milan. He was alright to hang out with but most kids didnt agree. He was cocky and demanding just like any Rosario.

Vitale Vittorino sat down on his usual table a few benches away from Andreas. He sat on the table top and rested his foot on the bench as his circle of friends gathered around him greeting him respectfully. He had an air of authority around him. He was alot like his grandfather. He was strong build and athletic too as the captain of the American football team which added to his authority and influence in school.

Andreas got fed up with the staring match with Vitale.

Vitale kept staring at Andreas as though asking him to join the group. It was the whole football team gathering around Vitale. They had Andreas missing.

Andreas put his book in his bag. He got up with his head held high and walked to Vitale's table. As he got close he stared down the group around Vitale making them take a few steps backwards standing well out of his way.

Vitale smiled as he got up and walked to him. As the boys faced each other, they stared into each others eyes with a hard stare.

Andreas was the one to speak first " Hello Vitale."

Vitale raised an eyebrow " Hey Andreas. Are you game tonight?"

Andreas shook his head " No. I can't come."

Vitale raised an eyebrow " Are you grounded again? Don't tell me..."

Andreas spoke " I was almost grounded yesterday but I dug myself out of it...."

Vitale spoke " So why cant you come and hang out with us tonight?"

Andreas spoke " I am mot grounded but my father has arranged extra training for me in evenings at home."

Vitale asked "Cant you reschedule to early mornings perhaps like how I do?"

Andreas spoke in a frustrated tone "This is my father we are talking about. Do you really think he hasnt scheduled any thing for me in the mornings? Our fathers are not so different."

Vitale spoke "At least I am free in the evening..."

Andreas spoke "But you have schedules in the weekends instead. I cant do that. Weekends have to be spent with my mother. You know how sensitive my father is if I cant spend time with my mother if she wishes it. He cant make weekends because of work mostly and if I dont make time for my mother, I am dead. You are lucky you have a sister who keeps your mother company in weekends."

Vitale spoke "Still, this is insane.Your father is way too extreme."

Andreas shook his head. Obviously Vitale was wrong. This was nothing. " Trust me. It could be much worse. Yesterday, he came so close to transferring me to a different school far away but I managed to make a deal. You are welcome by the way for saving your team. If I hadnt made a deal, I wpuld hwve been completely grounded and tjere could be no football practice on any afternoon. How far do you think your team could go?"

Vitale sighed " Point taken. But tell me what did you do this time to get close to getting transferred out of this school?"

Andreas shrugged " What do you think? I just hung out with the Biaggios in their territory. My father wanted to kill me. I must keep away from them now. My fathers orders..."

Vitale spoke " You could at least take me with you. Why didn't you call us. Me and the guys could come. Maybe you wouldn't have been in trouble if we were with you. Next time you want to defy your father, give me a call."

Andreas spoke " Sure. I will keep that in mind."

Vitale spoke " So ... Is your decision final? You can't come hang out with us tonight? Come on. Go talk to your mother."

Andreas spoke " Talking to my mother is for emergency only. She can't save my backside all the time. It's bad enough I had to ask her to go to my father to convince him to give the Biaggos an extension of deadline for the deal they can't make. Poor souls. My father just can't stop wiping off weaker families.."

Vitale spoke " Ha, you say that but I say you will do the same. Why put up the pretence?"

Andreas frowned " What does that supposed to mean?"

Vitale spoke " You know full well you don't care about any other family. You just care about the Biaggios since you know them. Your loyalties are with your father."

Andreas shook his head " I don't deny that some families deserve getting hit hard since they are potential enemies but some are just weaklings like Biaggios. They are no threat. I don't think it's else to try to destroy everybody."

Vitale smirked " Maybe one of these days, your father would be declaring war on us. I would like to see him try."

Andreas laughed shaking his head " My father could but wont. Impossible. Rosarios are never on my fathers hit list unless they hit my father first. My mother is a Rosario for crying out loud. The question is why would you make such comment? Is your father thinking of hitting us?"

Vitale spoke " Even if he was, I would not tell you. Would I? ... Only kidding. My father is a peaceful Rosario but just like how your father operates, if we are hit, we hit back...... So back to tonight... Why can't you come. Me and the team are at my place studying and then we hang out in my fathers hotel for a few hours. We might sneak off to the basement and do some cage fighting. Your father can you give you this evening off. Just tell him you are studying.... He doesn't need to know about anything else."

Andreas spoke " The last time I did that, he slaughtered me. No way. My mother would freak out again."

Vitale sighed " Fine we will just do studying then. He will give you the evening off for that. Deal?"

Andreas knew alot more could happen when Vitale was involved.