It was after school and after dinner Luigi decided to pay Eden a visit. He looked forward to it. He was driven with his fathers men to the chemist. As the car parked in front of the building, he didn't get off.

He was now reading the banner on the now closed shop that said sold on it. He noticed a smaller print at the bottom of the banner. It was an address for the new shop. Obviously had relocated.

The guards in the car asked him. " Sir. Is there a problem?"

Luigi shook his head "No. Not really." He then told the guards to drive off to the new location. They had relocated to a street that was part of the Bellagio territory. It was actually closer to his house. But he was more worried about why they had relocated. Was there a problem? That was all he cared about. It was nice to be nearer to Eden. But he had to make sure he got to the bottom why this move had happened.

He was driven to the new location. He dismissed the guards and told them to drive off after he got off. He took a good look at the new shop. It seemed bigger from the outside and much busier by the looks of it.

Luigi walked inside and scanned the busy chemist. There were a couple of shop assistants behind the counter now as there were more customers. This was a good area. Obviously business was booming for the Carters. He walked over to find Ethan walk from behind the shop with a box. He handed it to a guy "The delivery address is on it. Please deliver it on time." It seemed that they had hired a delivery driver too.

Ethan waved when he saw Luigi. He walked to him and said "I am glad you found us... Sorry, the move happened so suddenly I didn't get the chance to tell you about it. Let's go to the back room and hang out."

When they reached the back room, Luigi sat down on a chair behind a round table and Ethan sat opposite him.

Luigi asked "Why did you move?"

Ethan said "My father decided it. He arranged for it and did not even warn us about it. He said now that we can afford to buy a bigger shop, why not move to a nicer place? We have so many new contracts, there is some money left in the bank. Dad had to invest it. Eden was so upset about it."

Luigi said "Why was she upset. It seems like a good business decision. You have more customers and shop assistants."

Ethan said "The problem is not the shop relocating here... The problem is having to move school."

Luigi said "You have to move school?"

Ethan said "Yes. We haven't moved house or anything but our father will be coming to work every day and he can drop us off this way on his way to work and picked us up too at the end of the day. He used to drive us to our old school and drop us off and picked us up every day. It was hard for him to pick us up though when he had no assistants. Some local friend used to cover the shop while he did that. So now he said we have to go to a school locally here. He has plenty of assistants and he can even come to our school events and watch us play sports and stuff like that."

Luigi said "These are not negative points. You said Eden is upset. Why? There are plenty of good schools around here. I can recommend a few." He hoped she picked his school.

Ethan said "Well. The problem for Eden is ... our father picked our school for us. Without consulting us he went ahead and submitted application forms for us. We have places now. But Eden is not happy with the choice of school."

Luigi asked "Why not?"

Ethan pulled out a small business card from his jacket pocket and showed it to Luigi "It's a private school. She prefers a public school."

Luigi's heart jumped. That was his school. He was so happy. But he could not be jumping in joy in front of Ethan. So he nodded with a passive face "Right. I see..." He allowed Ethan to continue.

Ethan said "You see. We have good grades so both of us got in with scholarships. So our parents don't have to pay anything. But Eden is still not happy. She prefers a public school. She just does. I don't mind at all. A school is a school. We will go there to learn. It's not long until our senior year. Then we will go to college. I keep telling here that it is not for long. But she prefers to go to another school. She had picked it. She spent ages arguing with my father over it saying the other school was better."

Luigi said "So did you manage to convince her to join this school that your father picked?"

Ethan said "Not really. Our father said he will not change his mind and will not give her permission to go to the other school. So here we go. She is now in the back room preparing herself for the interview that she has tomorrow at the private school."

Luigi said "She has an interview? I thought you said you and her were accepted."

Ethan said "Well. We are accepted but we had to discuss what subjects we are taking. This school has specialisms that our old school didn't. We don't mind taking some new subjects. We just have to go in for talking about our options, asking for more information and whether we just want to continue with our old subjects."

Luigi said "Aren't you going for your interview tomorrow? Why aren't you preparing?"

Ethan said "I had mind a few hours ago. Eden refused to go to her appointment. She hoped to maybe she could convince our father and asked him one last time to change his mind. He didn't. So she just gave in. Even though she doesn't want to go there, she wants to still do her best like she always does even at this informal interview."

Luigi smiled. So she was joining his school. That was bonus. Luigi said "You know this school is a great choice. I attend that school."

Ethan gasped "No way. This is fantastic. Then we can hang out more. Let me tell Eden. She will be very happy to talk to you. She was hoping for more information about the school than what the catalogue offered. Wait here." He then quickly walked off and went to a different room. Seconds later he came back with Eden and announced "Eden needs to make some notes and ask you questions. I will be back."

Eden was standing there at the door looking at Luigi "You attend that school? What a small world? Of all the places you live around here. Do you?"

Luigi replied "I don't live around here actually."

Eden asked "Then why don't you go to school near your house?"

Luigi sighed "You know that incident I told you about concerning my sister? How someone broke her trust?"

Eden said "Yes. I remember. What about it?"

Luigi said "My sister and I moved school after what happened. It was a good decision I guess to get her away from our school where that guy went to school to."

Eden's expression slightly softened. There was something about Luigi that unnerved her. There was something dangerous about it. She could not explain what it was. Something told her to be careful around him. But when he talked about his sister she could see a side that she could explain as being unlike Luigi or what she perceived him to be like. He sounded genuine and sincere. But he was still an over confident, cocky jock who radiated danger."

Eden sat in the far corner of the room as she crossed her legs and put her notebook on her lap. "Ok. Can you answer my questions about your school?"

Luigi said "Of course. What do you want to know?"

Eden said "Tell me everything about this school."

Luigi chuckled "I like that. Straight to the point. Well I only started recently but I can tell you everything I know..."

Luigi was so happy that Eden was finally more receptive to him. Obviously she was being civil with him for different reasons that he would have liked. But he did not mind. He had more of a chance to convince her to go out with him now. She was going to attend his school. He could not believe it.

***

Eden had an lunch time interview at the school. Luigi had made sure that Gianluca knew about her arrival. He phoned him once he got home and told him all about her interview the day before. Gianluca had assured him that he will make sure her safety will be guaranteed and even if she chooses any options in Irish school either him or Gabriela will accompany her or watch over her there to make sure no one dared to look at her the wrong way.

At the beginning of lunch Luigi greeted Eden when she arrived on time at school and accompanied her to the interview room and wished her good luck. He went to lunch and came back to check on Eden. He saw that the interview room was empty. He walked to the receptionist "Where is Eden Carter? Has she left? Has her interview already finished? Is she already gone? What was the outcome?" He did not think she would finish so early.

The receptionist looked up "Oh. Eden Carter. She was told bout her options... She preferred to go to the Irish School. She preferred to visit that school because they have more interesting options for close to her specialism. So the interviewer accompanied her to the Irish site for her to have another interview..."

Luigi froze. This was bad. Real bad. No security arrangements had been put in place. Eden was not supposed to go to the Irish side that day. She was just supposed to have an interview and leave.

Luigi did not trust the Irish side. He did not know anyone on that side. His first instinct was to go find Gianluca. He went to look for Gianluca. He saw Gabriela walking around. He went to her and said urgently "Do you know where Gianluca is. There is an urgent matter I need to see him for..."

Gabriela said "He had to go home. My father picked him up to take him to a business meeting. It was not planned. Sorry about that. Is everything alright? I heard Eden Carter, you know the girl you are friends with had her interview today. How did it go?"

Luigi's thoughts were all over the place. He said "I am going to the Irish school now..." He then walked away.

Gabriela gasped and followed him "What? Are you crazy? They will kill you there."

Luigi said "They can try..."

Gabriela said "Why do you have to go there?..."

Luigi explained what had happened with Eden's interview as he walked even faster to a point Gabriela was having a hard time to keep up with his steps.

Gabriela said "Luigi. I know this is not ideal that she has gone to that School but don't you think you are over reacting. No one over there knows who she is. Not yet anyways. The only ones who know who she is, are me, your sister and Gianluca. Since yesterday you told Gianluca she is coming, he has pre-warned people that you are good friends with Ethan Carter and respect his family so they need to show them respect. It is not uncommon for us to have American friends and extend our protection to them. The Irish school do not harm Americans we are friends with. It has not happened before. Their problem is with Italian American crime families. No one else knows she is special to you."

Luigi said "It does not matter. What if they give her a hard time. I need to watch over her..."

She then blocked his path and made him stop walking and said "So calm down. I will go there and bring her back. I promise."

Luigi said "I have to go to make sure she is ok..."

Gabriela said "I can do that... It is ok... I tell you what? You wait here next to the fence for 5 minutes. I will bring her back by then. If I did not return after 5 minutes you can come cross the border."

Luigi said "5 minutes. No more... Do you even know what she looks like?"

Gabriela said "Yes. Gianluca and I look at the applications that come in because I am head cheerleader and he is captain. We do get the information on successful applicants so we know who to target for our teams when we do recruitment once they join. I will be back in 5 minutes." Gabriela then walked to the borderline and they opened the gate for her to cross. She just needed to get to the main building and the reception. She knew where they did the interviews.

*****

It was lunch time. Christian was walking to the school reception to pick up some packages he had ordered for his astronomy club to be delivered to school. He entered the main building and walked to the reception desk but the place was empty. There was a sign that said "Back in 5 minutes". He sighed and started walking around the lobby with his hands behind his back. He noticed a girl sitting in the waiting area who had a note pad on her lap and she was writing things down. He was going to walk past her and ignore her but then he stopped in his tracks as he noticed what she was writing with.

It was one of those pens that the Alessandrinis manufactured. But it was not just any pen. They only gifted these pens and they only gifted these pens to people who were very special to them. You could not buy this particular edition of pens anywhere else. They were personalised pens. He tried to figure out if this girl was an Alessandrini. But she could not be one. They knew they were not welcome there. She had a badge that they only gave to visitors. So she was not a student there. She must have been there for interviews. This waiting area was reserved for the prospective students waiting for interviews.

He walked closer to her and to read her name badge. The name was "Eden Carter".

The girl noticed someone was standing in front of him. So she looked up and saw a tall athletic boy with a similar build to Luigi looking at her with a curious and hard expression. She raised an eyebrow "Yes?" She looked around and saw no one else there. She looked at him again "What is the matter?"

Christian said "Nothing. Nothing is the matter." He then sat down opposite her on a chair "I was just looking at your pen. It writes really well. Where did you buy it from?"

The girl said "I do not know where it is from. It was a gift."

Christian said "Really? So you don't know where they got it from? Can you ask them?"

The girl shrugged "I guess. I can. But I do not know how to contact you to tell you his answer. Maybe you can ask him if you see him though... He goes to your partner school next to you. They told me students from these two schools share classes. His name is Luigi Alessandrini. Do you think you can ask him yourself if you see him in your classes?" She said dismissively and looked down and carried on writing. She wanted to get rid of this guy. She preferred to spend her time on preparing for the interview that waste her time answering some guy's questions on her pen.

Christian was now certain this was the girl Gianluca told him about that Luigi was dating. There was no way Luigi would gift one of the special pens reserved for those they considered dear to them to just any girl. The recipient of this kind of personalised pen had to be very special. He would have given this pen only to his own girl. He said "Well. We have mutual friends. I guess. Forget about it..."

The girl looked up quickly. She became slightly less defensive now with this stranger chatting with her. "You have mutual friends with Luigi?" He must have been ok to trust if he had mutual friends with Luigi. Luigi had saved her brother from a beating and it was a big deal. It said about his character that he was not indifferent. He also sounded so descent when he mentioned his sister. So she was slowly warming up to Luigi. She trusted Luigi or rather trusted him more than he trusted any guy in her life besides the males in her family but she was mainly defensive with Luigi because he wanted to date her. She was not convinced yet if he deserved a date.

Christian nodded "Yes. But may I ask. Why aren't you going to the other school. Why are you here for an interview?"

The girl asked suspiciously "How do you know I am here for interview?"

Christian pointed to a sign on the wall that said "Waiting area for prospective students and interviewees."

The girl looked at the sign and said "Oh. Of course." She then turned to look at Christian "Well. I did go for an interview there. It sounded so good. But then at the interview they said that I have the option to attend this other school too because the two schools are partner schools and just two separate campuses of the same system. I looked at the options that this school offers. It is closer to what I want to do. So I decided to come here and ask if I can have all my lessons here instead of the other campus. The options are are more interesting and there are no timetable clashes between my favourite subjects. So I don't have to choose..." He had mutual friends with Luigi so she felt it did not hurt to answer his questions.

Christian said "Are you sure about this? The other school is good too. Can I have a look at your list of subjects and options you want to do? Is it ok if I have a look?"

Eden took out a folder piece of paper from the middle of her notebook and handed it to Christian. The boy had said he had mutual friends with Luigi. So she did not give it much thought and handed him her list of subjects.

Christian was looking at the list of this girl's favourite subjects and options she had listed as her preferences. In his mind he was forming the argument he was going to put forward to this girl to push her to the Italian side. He thought hard. He needed to give this girl the strongest argument possible to push this girl closer to Luigi. He needed to knock his rival out of his way this way. Gabriela was not friendly with any guy except for Luigi. If Luigi got himself a girl, maybe he was no longer a danger to take Gabriela away from him. He wanted Gabriela. His only rival was Luigi.

Christian turned to Eden and gave her the best arguments possible. If there were ever any oscars or any prizes for debates and arguments he was going to win in all categories. He went on and on until Eden stood up. She stood up and said "Oh my god. I never looked at it this way... The other school is more beneficial to my choices. Thank you. Sorry if I took your lunch time..."

Christian kept a straight face but was laughing on the inside at the irony. He said to himself "No... Thank you Eden. I need your union with Luigi to go ahead... Forget about my lunch time. I will give up my life time to make sure you walk down that aisle and Luigi puts a ring on your finger and locks you in wedlock so he stays away from the only girl I have ever loved." He just said to Eden "No problem. I think you should hurry. To please them, try to take all your subjects there if the timetable allows it. Do not forget, Luigi's classes have the best teachers. Believe me. I know. Make sure you are in all his lessons where your subjects match. Also because you are new and Luigi is new you will be paired up in most projects I am betting. Take the option. Refuse the teachers' offers to pair you up with their experienced students. When new students pair up, they get more one to one hours of guidance from teachers for projects. It will help push up your grades."

She nodded. She then looked at her watch and said "I better get back to the other side. I hope it is not too late to tell them I want to attend the other campus."

Christian nodded. "You better run back to the other side."

Eden left the reception building and walked towards the border fence. She was looking at her notes and then thinking about what she would say to the interviewers now on the other side. She then heard her name being called "Eden Carter? Thank god I found you."