******

Amara's eyes opened slowly only to be clenched shut tightly again upon seeing the bright, morning light coming in through the large glass windows of her room. She groaned lightly, her arm curving up to rest half over her forehead and half over her eyes.

She needed to get up, she realised, and start preparing to leave for school but after a night of fretful sleep, she had very little energy to do so. Even then she sat up on the bed, being driven by the surprisingly huge well of motivation.

For today she would be seeing Valerio for the first time since the party in Newyork that had taken place three days ago.

Unlike the Valentini's who had left the very same night for Italy, the Romero Don had decided to extend the family's stay by another day and a half on her Grandpa Sean's insistence.

Amara blushed slightly as she remembered the brief farewell that she had exchanged with Valerio.

Aware of the several eyes on them, Amara had only been able to offer a shy smile to Valerio, bidding him to a safe journey.

Valerio on the other hand had no qualms to take her hand in his and place a small kiss on her wrist in the clear view of her grandparents, much to Amara's horror, before walking away without another word.

Amara shook her head to dispel her thoughts, a small lighting up her face unconsciously. She felt her cheeks getting hot as she remembered their discussion on the beach. Even she couldn't believe that she had said 'yes' to Valerio Valentini.

Amara could only hope that her decision had been right.

*****

"There you are", Rose said as she saw her niece running into the dining hall, simultaneously trying to braid her damp hair."I was just about to come and see if you were awake myself."

"I'm sorry Aunt Rose", Amara apologised as she took her seat next to Damien,"I couldn't sleep properly at night."

"It's alright. Have your breakfast",she said.

"You look exhausted", Amara spoke in greeting, when her eyes fell on Damien.

"I had an intense work out session", Damien replied back with a tired smile.

Amara winced at his reply. He was still under probation.

She had seen how her cousins trained usually, like militants preparing for battle. Uncle Rickard didn't cut them any slack when physical trainings was concerned. But never before had Damien looked so exhausted. Amara could only wonder what he was going through. She couldn't help but feel guilty for the part she had played in his punishment.

"You both complete your breakfast before leaving", Aunt Rose said, disrupting Amara's train of thought, as she stood up from her seat while one of the servants came forward to clear up the table.

She wished them a good day before hurriedly leaving the dining hall.

"Why did she leave earlier than usual?", Amara asked curiously.

"Mother has an important meeting with one of the clients", he replied.

Amara nodded her head. Her Aunt was one of the leading attorney's in the country and most of the times had her schedule packed with meetings.

"Did Allister leave?", Amara asked, "And uncle isn't here as well."

"They are on the manor grounds", Damien answered. "We'll leave after our breakfast is done."

Amara looked at him in confusion but Damien did not elaborate. Why were her Uncle and cousin on the manor grounds instead of inside? Instead of answering when he felt her questioning gaze on him, his mouth curved in a very wicked smirk.

Amara resisted rolling her eyes at him and continued with her breakfast despite the nervousness that she could feel in her gut.

After finishing their breakfast, both Damien and Amara walked out of the manor only for Amara to stop short at the shocking sight of Valerio and Uncle Rickard talking to each other, near one of what she realised was the Valentini car.

"He has come to pick you up for school", Damien muttered from next to her, "Father wasn't really thrilled with it."

Amara heard his words faintly, her eyes completely focused on the scene in front of her. Valerio had a very stoic and hard expression on his face as he nodded in reply to whatever her Uncle was saying. She watched as they spoke for a few more minutes Uncle Rickard finally nodded, as he thumped Valerio's back once and the two turned around to head back inside.

At once, Valerio's eyes seemed to connect with her's, losing it's cold edge and softening considerably, causing Amara's heart to flutter.

"Have a good day at school", Uncle Rickard wished them on his way inside the manor but not before dropping a small kiss on Amara's head and combing his hand through Damien's hair before disappearing in.

"Father is much calmer than he was when Valerio showed up", Damien told her softly, very aware of the intense stare that his sister was being subjected to.

"I..uhhh... I'll go and help..... Pietro with the security check", he mumbled suddenly, beating a hasty retreat before Amara could stop him.

Amara stood on the steps, completely still, as Valerio finally made his way over towards her.

"Good morning beautiful", he spoke in greeting.

"Good morning Valerio", Amara replied back shyly, trying to hide her face discreetly behind the curtain of her hair.

Valerio chuckled internally at her attempt to hide her blush.

"I wanted us to travel to school together today. You don't mind, do you?", he asked her.

"But I always go to school with my cousins", Amara told him simply.

"Your uncle has no problem with you coming with me today", he replied just as easily.

Amara didn't know why but the prospect of going anywhere with Valerio was making her heart race.

"W...where are Silvano and Serena? You always come to school together, don't you?", she asked, holding the strap of her bag tightly with one hand.

"What's with the twenty questions?", Valerio asked her, amused.

"I was just wondering", Amara murmured, trying to look anywhere but not at him.

Valerio smothered the urge to pull her in his arms and just carry her with him to the car.

"Are you afraid of coming with me alone, Amara?, he asked her in a low voice.

YES!

"No", she squeaked out in embarrassment, still not looking at him.

Valerio chuckled at her,"I'm not going to eat you", he said, his dark eyes trained on her, his voice lowering an octave. "Though I can't imagine anything that would taste sweeter,"he murmured under his breath.

"Did you say something?",Amara asked him curiously, as her eyes finally snapped upto his and her breathing hitched slightly at the smoldering and unwavering gaze that he had set on her.

"Everything seems to be fine with your security and cars", came the voice of Allister, breaking her out of her reverie.

She turned around to see him walking towards them.

"Your security seems fine", he repeated, an annoyed look on his face.

"I'm glad you approve", Valerio replied back sarcastically.

"Shall we?", he asked, turning back to face her and extending his hand for her to take.

Amara bit her lip, eyeing his extended limb for a few moments before hesitantly placing her own hand in his. Valerio wasted no time in entwining their fingers, holding her hand firmly.

"The Romero cars are going to be right behind yours", Allister stated coolly.

"Great!",Valerio replied, pulling Amara with him and towards the line of the bulletproof Valentini cars. He opened the door of the third car for Amara to get in and once she was settled, he closed it shut, turning to walk towards the other side.

"I don't mind providing security to you", he quipped, "Afterall, you are my girlfriend's dear brother."

He snickered at the furious look on Allister's face before getting in the car and shutting the door behind him.

"Move it", he ordered coldly to the driver and the guard sitting beside him in the front who conveyed his orders to the other security cars through his ear piece and one by one the Valentini cars statred rolling down the manor's compound gates.

Valerio took a small remote control and pressed a button causing a partition to come up between the front and the back seat.

"Amara, I came all the way to your house to pick you up not so that you can sit at the very edge of the continent",Valerio spoke, an underlying edge to his words.

Before Amara could reply, she was pulled in his arms, now sitting a lot more closer than she initially had been.

"What are you doing?", Amara asked him.

"We are going out now, Amara. We are allowed to be this close", Valerio explained to her.

Amara ducked her head in nervousness. She jumped slightly on her seat when she felt Valerio's finger tuck her hair behind her ear, effectively exposing her rosy cheeks to his keen eyes.

They sat in silence for the next few minutes, with Amara glancing outside the window, feeling Valerio's eyes on her the entire time.

"Will I be coming with you everyday from now on?", Amara asked him shyly, trying her best to block out how his hand rested comfortably on her waist.

"No",Valerio replied in aggravation, "I've been restricted to take you to school only three days a week."

"Ohh", she mumbled, biting her lip. He sounded very annoyed.

Valerio sucked in a deep breath and she felt his arm tighten for a moment, causing her to turn to look at him.

"Val?",she spoke, her face flushing at the sudden possessiveness in his eyes.

"Yes sweetheart",he murmured after a few moments, still staring intently at her face as if mesmerized, leaning down almost imperceptibly.

"Uhh...we've almost reached",she replied, smiling softly at the look of surprise that flashed on his face as he looked outside the tinted window, only to see the car being pulled in the school's enormous parking lot.

"That was fast",he observed, his eyes narrowed in contemplation. He was definitely going to order the driver to take the longer way to school the next time he picked Amara up.

Amara hid her smile by turning her head to look out through the window. There seemed to be quite a good number of people present on the Academy grounds, seniors and juniors alike.

Once their car stopped, the Valentini guard jumped out of the car rushing forward to open Amara's door for her.

Amara stepped out, closely followed by Valerio. She heard several gasps echoing around her. She even saw a boy trip over his own feet as he saw the two get down of the car together.

Amara flushed as the fourth student slipped and fell on the hard concrete, sheer disbelief on his face.

"Does Serena know?", she asked, turning to look at Valerio.

Her best friend hadn't been present at the party hosted by her Grandpa.

"What exactly is Serena suppose to know?", he question her, raising one eyebrow expectantly.

"A...about us?", Amara murmured, her face heating up.

"What about us?",he asked innocently.

Amara blinked several times. Her face heating up by the second. Was he really going to make her say it?

"A-about you and m...me?"

"I'm sorry sweetheart, you've got to be slightly more clearer than that", Valerio answered, leaning back against the car with his arms crossed across his chest. His eyes dark even as she could see humor swirling in them.

Amara couldn't help but feel that he was teasing her.

"What does Serena not know?",he prodded after she didn't speak for a few seconds. "What about us?"

"Nothing", Amara murmured, her face heating up to a point she was sure she could boil eggs on them.

She turned around to leave, only for Valerio to catch her wrist in his hand, tugging her closer to himself as he finally straightened up from his nonchalant position.

"Does she know that we're going out now?",he asked her rhetorically in a low voice. "Does she know that her friend is now her cousin's girlfriend?"

"Yes", Amara replied shyly.

"Ask me then and I might tell you the answer",Valerio commanded.

Amara took in a deep breath as she looked at him from under her eyelashes, "Does Serena know that I'm your g..girlfriend?"

Valerio smiled at her, "That's what you are, aren't you?"

Definitely teasing her.

"Don't forget it mia piccola colomba", he leaned down and whispered in a husky voice in her ear, letting her go and straightening up just as Allister and Damien jumped out of their cars.

"Bye", Amara whispered hastily to him before walking hurriedly towards Damien and the two entered the building while Allister made his way towards Valerio.

"That was one fast ride, wasn't it?", Allister asked him, smirking wickedly.

Valerio's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he contemplated his words.

"I just had to let slip to your security team how upset my sister would be if she were to reach the school late on her first day back. It was enough of a threat for even your driver to drive the car as if his very life depended on it ", Allister answered nonchalantly.

"I am going to make you regret playing your little trick",Valerio sneered dangerously at Allister.

"You need to give my sister some space", he replied in an equally cold tone. "Anyway, we're even now."

Valerio laughed coldly, they weren't even close to being even. Allister had made him lose the precious little time he had with Amara.

Now, he would have to simply find some other way to compensate for the loss that had been caused.

******

"I was quite shocked honestly",Serena admitted in a quiet voice, "When Silvano finally told me what was going on, I thought that he was just making it up even though I know that he wouldn't, not with such a matter."

"I didn't know what else to do", Amara replied, "I was worried."

"Yes, and you thought leaving the safety of your house and going out during a lock down was the best option",Serena teased her.

"Ohh shut up!", Amara snapped, flushing.

Serena just laughed in reply.

"The boys are here", Andrea interjected suddenly.

Amara turned around to see the elite boys entering the cafeteria in groups of two and three, talking and laughing loudly, uncaring about the fact that they were pulling the attention of the occupants towards themselves.

It was lunch time now, the day flying away in the blink of an eye. To Amara's astonishment, the news that she and Valerio were now a couple had spread through the entire school rapidly.

Girls and boys alike had cast her looks of sheer fear and possibly awe. Her new status as Valerio's girlfriend had made everyone fear her more if that was somehow even possible.

Earlier in one of her classes a boy had almost started weeping when he had been asked by the professor to show his notes to Amara. He had been terrified that Amara wouldn't understand his writing or something and had kept on apologising for his untidy scrawl.

Tired, Amara had just thanked him for helping her, handling him his notes back and deciding to ask Allister to help her later.

"Amara! Valerio is staring at you", Aurora whispered to her excitedly.

Amara blushed, hiding her face behind her hair. She could feel his burning gaze on her back.

"I never thought I would see a day when Valerio Valentini would finally claim a girl", Andrea muttered faintly.

"No one could have guessed it. I mean, Valerio doesn't even give the other girls a spare glance", Aurora replied back sagely.

"I remember the party that happened in Germany last summer", Serena interjected,"Valerio needed only a single glance to scare away the girls who even dared to approach him. And Grandpa never forced him on dates with other girls.... I guess I now understand why", she said smiling at Amara.

"I heard my parents saying that he threatened the entire Riccardi family if they were to come after you", Emma whispered, fearful of being overhead by Valerio.

Ever since the incident with the frisbee, she had been terrified of him. And with her father barely escaping the Valentini wrath, she knew that a single wrong glance aimed at him would get her family slaughtered.

Amara tuned her friends' musings out. She could still feel him drilling holes at her back. Her stomach felt like a thousand butterflies were fluttering their wings inside her, dancing, and it made eating rather difficult.

Perhaps she was ill. Yes, that was it, Amara decided.

Her cheeks did feel rather flushed. She tried to cool down this heat she felt underneath her skin with a glass of water, but like gravity her eyes were drawn to the boys table, where those glittering dark eyes were looking right back at her.

She turned away quickly, cheeks hot.

Amara stood up from her chair, "I...I'll be right back", she told her friends, quickly walking over to the drinks counter.

The students already in the que scattered away when they saw her approaching, graciously allowing her to order first.

"Thank you", Amara said politely when the juice was prepared and served, opening her purse to pay for it but before she could retrieve the necessary amount, someone was already sliding up the money on the counter.

"Here, let me",Valerio told her.

"Val, it's alright. I'm paying for it", Amara told him, embarrassed.

"Don't use your money when I'm around",Valerio ordered her simply, his tone indicating that he didn't want to pursue the topic anymore.

"But -"

"Amara, this is non- negotiable", Valerio told her in a hard tone.

"Hey! Valerio?", Gino called as he and Alexander walked towards them.

"What?!",Valerio answered in exasperation, turning to address his two friends, his annoyance clear as day at the interruption.

"We need to plan an effective strategy before our game today",Gino answered, his tone betraying none of the apprehension that he was feeling under Valerio frustrated gaze.

"Take the boys to the court, I'll join you shortly", he ordered.

"Sure", Alexander answered. But the two boys didn't make any move to leave.

Valerio's eyes narrowed, "Hundred laps of the court for you two, now leave fast before I make it a thousand."

Their eyes widened slightly before they nodded grudgingly and left, shouting orders to the rest of their team to follow them the basketball court.