Luigi was in his sister's room sitting on a chair opposite her as she was laying on the bed. They had just returned and their mother had not even paid attention much to why she was back early and did not ask how the sleep over went. The thought of what Lena could have been upto did not cross her mind.

Luigi looked at Lena sadly "Are you going to the TV room to watch a show?"

Lena shook her head "No. I do not feel like it. I just want to lay down here alone and rest. I feel so tired. I was so scared..."

Luigi said "I understand. You rest. I will go speak to mother about changing our school... Then I am going out... Is that ok? If you want me to stay and keep you company, I will."

Lena said "No. I am fine. I just feel exhausted. You go ahead. You are going to see Eden. Right?" She smiled weakly as she said her name.

Luigi said "Well, I am going there yes." He then stood up and walked to Lena. He reached his hand to hers and squeezed it gently "Lena. I know you are shaken up. But it will pass. I promise you. You will be ok."

Lena said "I know... I will be ok... I won't be breaking any rules from now on. No more sneaking out..."

Luigi said "You can sneak out if you tell me about it. Then I can protect you and keep you safe... You are allowed to be rebellious. But you need to be safe too."

Lena nodded "I am sorry I let you down. It won't happen again. I think you should go now. Don't worry about me."

Luigi smiled at her "Goodnight Lena."

Lena smiled back "Goodnight Luigi."

Luigi gave her hand one last squeeze and made his way to the TV room. He told his mother Lena was too tired to leave her room and she was resting for the rest of the night. He then started slowly telling his mother about him moving school. To his surprise it worked out well. He managed to convince his mother to change school. But as expected his mother said that his father cared for their grades so much and if Luigi and his sister didn't keep up their grades it meant the new school was responsible so they had to keep their grades up or they had to move back. Their mother was not so strict with grades but their father was.

Luigi left the house and made his way to his favourite chemist place.

When Luigi entered the Chemist he saw no sign of Eden. There was just Ethan there standing behind the counter tending to a customer. Ethan nodded to him and smiled.

Luigi walked to his usual chair and sat down.

Once the customer was gone, Ethan turned to Luigi "Hey man. Good to see you."

Luigi said "Why are you alone?"

Ethan said "My father is doing deliveries tonight and my sister is just upstairs I think.

Just then as Luigi was about to speak, Eden walked through the back door and entered.

Eden looked at Luigi and sighed "You? What is your business here tonight I wonder? Don't you have some other places to be?" She then walked to a shelf tidying it up.

Ethan frowned and turned to his sister "Eden! You can't be mean to him like you are to my other friends. He saved me from a severe beating. They were going to beat me to a pulp if Luigi didn't come to my rescue. I owe him big time. You could be more polite to him you know..." He then turned to Luigi and said "She hates the male population... Sorry Luigi..."

Luigi said "That is alright with me. Trust me..."

Ethan sighed "I do not understand her. Whenever I bring any friends over here or to our home, she is not nice to them... their only sin is being guys... She chases them away."

Luigi said "Interesting. So maybe you should bring girls home."

It was Eden who chuckled "Yes Ethan. Why don't you bring any girls home? That would be the solution."

Luigi loved hearing her laugh. That just made him so happy.

Ethan said to Luigi "I haven't met the right girl yet to bring home. Well. Maybe I have met some girls I liked to hang out with but mostly they were taken..."

Eden walked to another shelf and said while she was tidying the goods on the shelves and checking the rearranging the tags "Luigi, you did not answer my question. Why are you here?"

Ethan rolled his eyes "He has just come to visit. Leave him in peace Eden. He has just simply come to say hello. I told him he is more than welcome to drop by..." He then turned to Luigi "I am sorry Luigi. I do not know what her problem is with guys... I feel bad for her future husband..."

Luigi chuckled as he noticed Eden's reaction.

She turned sharply and gave her brother an annoyed look "Enough Ethan."

Just then two customers walked in and the brother and sister tended to them.

After the customers left, Ethan said to Luigi "Luigi I have to go do a quick delivery now. I will be back in fifteen minutes I think. Make yourself home. There is tea and coffee at the back. When we return maybe we can go get a hotdog or something from down the road and catch up." He then turned to Eden "Please be nice to him Eden. And if he wants to buy anything from the shop it's on the house." He then walked away and filled up his back pack with an already wrapped package and left.

Eden turned to Luigi "You heard Ethan. Go get tea or coffee if you want."

Luigi said "That's nice of you to offer. Thank you..."

Eden said "You are welcome. I am just offering it because I want to get rid of you... That could keep you busy for a while. So off you go. Do me a favour and get yourself a slice of cake too and eat it at the back."

Luigi stood up from his chair and started walking towards her. "Eden... Don't you want to know why I am here though? You kept asking why I came here... Now don't you want the answer?"

Eden said "I bet you are hear to ask me when I am ready to go out with you on a date as you are so eager to make it happen. Right?..."

Luigi shook his head "Well. I do want you to go out with me. That is true. I am eager... However I am willing to wait as long as it takes. So no that's not the real reason I am here..."

Eden said "Then what do you want?"

Luigi said " I came here for different reasons. I missed you. I wanted to come by and say hi. But I also came to ask for your assistance."

Eden raised an eyebrow "What kind of assistance?"

Luigi said "Some guy messed around with my sister and upset her. He betrayed her trust. She feels very down and hurt. I was wondering do you sell anything that can help her relax? I don't know... A herbal tea or anything. I don't know... I am very worried about her?"

Eden thought for a few seconds and then said "Luigi. She needs time. Only time can mend a broken heart. If she is letting her sadness show enough for you to notice I guess it's a good thing. At least she is not able to hide it from you. I think people just need to be there for her and listen to her. No herbal tea or anything can solve her problem. She needs friends so she can trust people again not to to hurt her. I guess you are not just a handsome jock then. You sound capable of caring for your family and putting their needs above your own... You surprise me there..."

Luigi raised an eyebrow "You called me a handsome jock..."

Eden sighed "That is all you heard. Is it?"

Luigi said "So how close are you to coming on that date with me that we agreed on. You said you will come on a date with me but you didn't say when..."

Eden said "How close? Well. Closer than last time... That's all I can say Luigi." She then walked to a cupboard in the corner and took a small box out. She put it on the counter. She opened the box and said "Give this to your sister when you go home. Consider it a gift from me..."

Luigi walked closer to the counter. She saw Eden take out what was in the box. It was a snow globe.

Eden explained "Tell her, she can shake this snow globe and watch the snow fall and then watch how the snow clears away. Just like our problems in life. It may be snowy and stormy for awhile but then it all clears away. No snow storm is eternal... There is always an end." She then put the snow globe back in the box and put it in a paper bag. She handed it to Luigi.

Luigi was so blown away. Eden was such a considerate girl.

Luigi smiled "Thank you Eden... I would pass it on to her... But if you are giving my sister a gift, it is only fair you accept a gift too."

Eden said "That won't be necessary."

Luigi reached into his jacket pocket and took out a small rectangular box. He handed it to Eden.

Eden opened it and smiled "A collection of different coloured pens... This is such a thoughtful gift. These pens are good pens too. They don't run out very fast... Oh there are words engraved on them... What do they say..." She chuckled "Don't ever say never... So because I told you I am never going out with you, this is written to remind me... What does the other pen say on it... Hands off. Property of Eden Carter... On the other one it says ... No obstacle in my way is big enough to stop me ... Hm. What does the other one say ..." She looked up at Luigi "You have a way with words Luigi." She looked at pen again " It says ... Every door has a key..." She looked at Luigi "Guess what... Every heart has a key too just like a door. You have found mine... I love pens..." She then winked which made Luigi's heart jump.

Eden said " You just got abit closer to that date." She then took a serious tone "Now. Go to the back and make your self tea or coffee and get out of my way. I have work to do Luigi."

****

It was early morning and Lena was listening to Gabriela who had just started giving her a tour of the school. The school had just opened its doors and there were hardly any students around at that early morning hour. She had been accepted on arrival at the reception. Her grades and Luigi's grades were so high that they were accepted as they had glanced at their school reports. Luigi had been spending time with Gianluca that morning because football was a huge deal to the school and the first thing Gianluca was doing was introducing Luigi to the team during the early morning training and then he was going to give him a tour.

As they had just left the main building and went into the open space, something grabbed her attention. As they were walking Lena asked "What are those buildings? Are they part of the school? Why is there a tall metal fence there..."

Gabriela said "That is our partner school. They are an Irish school. We are an Italian school. Those building are new... That school was only built a few years ago... I take it you have met Christian. Right? He goes to that school. He wanted to be able to hang out with Gianluca so his grandfather sponsored that school to be built next to us on his territory right next to our school that is in our territory..."

lena said "That school is in Kavannagh territory?"

Gabriela said "Yes. That fence marks the border... We are in Bellagio territory where most our bsuinesses and business partners reside and the local services are in our control... At the other side, well everything is in Kavannagh control..."

Lena gasped "So if Luigi crosses that fence he will get hurt?"

Gabriela said "Pretty much..."

Lena said "So, only Gianluca goes to that school to meet up with Christian? Is that all that happens between the two partner schools?"

Gabriela said "Not exactly... There is more to it... They are our partner school. We share resources, teachers and clubs... Some students from both sides cross the security gate that is along the border fence and attend classes or clubs that their school does not offer. There is no problem to cross the border to the Kavannagh side... If you are not on their hit list it is fine... If your family has no ties to Italian-American criminals in any way. You are not related to them and don't do business with them, Kavannaghs don't mind if they see you at the other side. They may be hostile to some still but it won't be a big deal..."

Gabriela then lead Lena to the library. "The library is huge. We do have some good collections here and many silent and group study rooms. The library was the busiest part of the school so far at this early morning hour. There was a girl who was just returning a library book. Gabriela waved at her from far. The girl then started to walk towards them after she returned her library book.

Lena asked "Who is that?"

Gabriela said "Ciara MacKenna. She is from that Irish school but she does cross over to meet with me and attend some clubs or the library from time to time."

Lena had heard of Ciara before. She knew she was a friend of Gabriela. Ciara was fifteen like her and Gabriela. She had an older brother called Connor who was sixteen around Luigi's and Gianluca's age. The MacKenna crime family were like all other Irish-American crime families that she knew about. They were hostile to Italian-American crime families.

Ciara reached them and whispered "Hi Gabriela. Who is this?" They were in a library so they spoke in low voices.

Gabriela said "This is Lena."

Ciara smiled and looked at Lena "Nice to finally meet you. Gabriela talks about you all the time. I am Ciara."

Gabriela said "Today is Lena's first day here. I am giving her a tour of the school. Do you want to accompany us too?"

Ciara said enthusiastically "Sure. I would love too."

The three girls then continued with the tour and talked about their lives and interests.

****

Gabriela had entered the Irish school and walked to the physics building to attend a meeting for attending the astronomy club that her Italian school did not offer. It was after school and the physics building was almost deserted. She was busy looking at the notes in her book. She had spent hours the last week reading books and making notes on astronomy and was eager to show that she was interested and committed to the club and ask her questions. As she turned to a corner in the corridor, she heard a voice "Well, well, well..."

She knew that voice but she did not expect to bump into anyone so she was startled and the note book fell from her hand to the floor. She wanted to pick up her notebook but Christian quickly beat her to it picked up the notebook. She was hoping for him to give it back. How Christian acted towards her varied. Sometimes he messed with her and sometimes he was civil and could hold a serious conversation. She sighed as she saw him take a step back opening the notebook and looking at the pages.

Christian's eyes were on the notes in her note book "Impressive... So you want to attend attend the astronomy club this year? Do you?..."

Gabriela said "Yes. Today I have a meeting about attending the club..."

Christian said as he was looking at her notes "I never knew that astronomy was a passion of yours."

Gabriela said "It is a passion of mine. I have spent hours researching the topics that this year's projects will be based on in the astronomy club. I made notes. Hand over my note book Christian..."

Christian closed the note book and looked up Gabriela "What's the word for when you ask for something?"

Gabriela was so frustrated "Please..."

Christian said "Now use it in a sentence..."

Gabriela said "Christian..." She then reached her hand towards the note book and Christian hid it behind him.

Christian said "Well, saying my name was a very short a sentence and you did not even used the word that I wanted to hear."

Gabriela said "Fine. Can you hand over my note book please?"

Christian smiled and offered the note book to her "Of course... Here is your note book."

Gabriela took the note book and then tried to side step him but he blocked her path "What is the rush?..."

Gabriela said "Christian. I am going to be late. I don't have time for this..."

Christian said "Actually you do have plenty of time left. The club won't start for another thirty minutes... The members are socialising right now in the cafeteria. Relax, today is the first session so there is a late start."

Gabriela explained "I am not attending the club yet. So I can't go to the cafeteria yet... I have not been accepted yet. The club talks about advanced content and involves lots of projects. So I have to attend a meeting before the first session with the Astronomy club president who runs the club. I am going to be late." She looked at her watch "Damn it."

Christian said "The club president is not in his room right now. So you are not late..." He then pointed to a room "The room is right there."

Gabriela took a deep breath "That is a relief to know. I know this is a selective club. Not everyone gets in. There are so many opportunities like internships in physics departments of colleges if we do well in the projects. I was worried I was going to be late. I know the chances are low of getting in but I get to try it."

Christian pointed to her notebook in her hand "You are obviously fully qualified with your good research skills. There are some complicated calculations in that notebook. I think this club will be lucky to have you."

Gabriela said "You think? Well. I am not so optimistic. I was talking to Gianluca about joining this club and some friends of Gianluca commented that this club has a reputation of being so strict and people should avoid this club because the one who runs it is a bit extreme. Gianluca told them to back off before they could tell me more and changed the subject..."

Christian's eyes hardened as he took a step towards her and said "Oh Really? Which friends of his are they? Who exactly told you not to join this club? I am very interested to know their names."

Gabriela said "Jasper and Drake."

Christian raised an eyebrow and said "I think the president of the Astronomy club should make them pay for this if he gets his hands on them..."

Gabriela didn't pay much attention to what Christian said. She was busy thinking of the meeting as she was looking around. She then looked at her watch. "Where is he? Maybe he has changed his mind. Should I go ask around where he might be?"

Christian said "Let's go inside the office and sit." He then walked to the door of the astronomy office.

Gabriela said "I am not sure it is a good idea. It must be locked anyway... " She then saw Christian open the door. She said "Oh the door is open? Why doesn't he lock the door? Doesn't this guy worry about people breaking into his office?"

Christian said "Believe me. No one in their right mind would break into this guy's office... I am an exception of course."

Gabriela entered and sat down opposite the desk and Christian sat on the table facing her chair. She said "Come to think of it, Jasper and Drake did say this person refers people to detention too sometimes. So I guess people don't break in because they don't want detention."

Christian said " Getting detention would be the least of any one's worries if they trespass into this guy's office."

Gabriela said "The guy sounds territorial."

Christian said "You could say that. But defending his territory is not all that he does. He is into invasions too when needed..."

Gabriela was abit confused about what he meant "Ok. I guess..."

Christian said "But I assure you only those who deserve a detention will get detention in this club. Trust me.

Gabriela rolled her eyes "Says you.. What do you know about this club?"

Christian chuckled "I know enough... The guy who runs the club is fully qualified...."

Gabriela said "I have heard that he has won so many prizes..."

Christian said "I hope you do not change your mind about joining this club when you meet him."