Strange
POV: Elena
Luckily for me, the weather is cool and the walk to school is easy.
On the way, I ask Anabela to tell the coordinator that I will be late for my first class.
When I get to school, I am tired, but my anger has evaporated and I am much more relaxed.
I walk into school and wait for the bell to announce the change of classes. I meet Anabela half an hour later as she leaves the classroom.
"What happened?" she asks me, seeing that I am still out of breath.
"I had to walk to school because none of my brothers would let me go," I say smiling.
She looks at me in shock.
"A bunch of idiots," Anabela says and we walk to our class.
The school day is simply perfect compared to sitting at home staring at the walls.
I talk to my friends who were worried about me for disappearing for so many days.
They ask me about Eloisa and I tell them that she was sent to another school in England.
My friends easily believe the story and are grateful to have one less cheerleader at school.
Breanna tells me that Alana and Sheila were also transferred; according to gossip, their parents went bankrupt and couldn't afford to pay them.
Liam tells me that three games of the soccer team were involved in a robbery and they were shot in the knees and will never be able to be on the team again.
I'm surprised by this information; my family has never said that they punished the others involved in Eloisa's pranks.
Recess ends quickly and I'm talking to Annabela when I bump into a boy.
I end up dropping my books when I bump into him.
"Sorry, I was distracted," I say and look directly at the boy.
Saying he's gorgeous might be an insult to his beauty. He's divine.
His light blond hair is slicked back in a well-behaved manner, his eyes are an intense blue, very similar to someone I know, his smile is perfect and captivating.
"It's okay, it was my mistake," he says and helps me pick up my books.
Anabela looks at us both with a small smile and leaves saying she needs to go to the bathroom before class.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Chris," he introduces himself as we finish gathering our things.
"My name is Elena," I introduce myself and he smiles.
My cheeks flush with the attention he's giving me and he notices.
"I hope to see you more often, Elena," he says and I wave wordlessly.
He smiles softly before leaving.
When he disappears, Anabela runs to my side, laughing excitedly.
"Man, he's gorgeous," she says from beside me.
"His name is Chris, I think he's new here," I say, just as excited as she is.
We talk about the boy until the end of class. Anabela is excited about the possibility of me dating a boy I've barely exchanged two words with.
But something inside me, as excited as I am, warns me to be careful.
Maybe because the last boy I met at this school raped me.
We leave the classroom and Anabela offers to give me a ride.
"Ana, you live on the other side of town, it's not your route" I say and she nods. "And I can call a taxi if you need it."
"Okay, but let me know when you get there and if anything happens on the way," she says before saying goodbye.
"Don't worry," I say and turn to leave.
At the entrance, two girls run past and end up pushing me. I lose my balance and fall forward towards the corner of the stairs.
An arm grabs my waist before I can fall.
I look up and see Chris with a smile on his lips.
"That was close," he says and pulls me to my feet.
I straighten my shirt and smile at him.
"You saved me from getting stitches in my forehead," I say, smiling. "Thank you."
"I'm glad I didn't ruin your pretty face, princess," he says, and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear.
My face flushes and the mood between us is broken by a honk.
I look at the car that honked and sees Giorgio, Vitorio, Sandro, and Luca, all looking very angry, looking at me.
"Your brothers are waiting for you," Chris says, and I look at him in surprise.
"Do you know them?" I ask, curious.
"Long story," he says.
I nod, not wanting to get involved.
"Bye, princess," Chris says, and pulls me in for a kiss on the cheek.
Is he trying to sign my death certificate?
"Thank you," I say, and pull away from him.
I avoid looking at my brothers' faces, but I don't need to. I can feel their anger from miles away.
I get into the car in silence and no one talks to me the whole way.
I watch Luca's hands on the steering wheel and his fingers are white from how much he holds the wheel, the car is also going faster than usual and I have to hold on to my seatbelt for fear of an accident.
We get home in record time.
I go inside and go to the kitchen, I know everyone is in the living room and that I'm probably going to get a lecture.
I grab a bottle of water and fill my glass, I go to the living room and lean against the door frame.
"Sit down Elena" Dante asks calmly.
"I'm going to stay here" I say in a calm tone just like his "If you want to talk to me I'm listening, but I'm not leaving here"
He sighs and I look at them waiting.
"The boys came to get you and said you were talking to Christopher Sinclair" Dante says and the others watch me.
"That's right," I say as I sip my water.
"Elena, you were given rules when you came to this house," Lorenzo reminds me, "and one of them was no boys."
"I didn't break that rule, Chris was just helping me out because I almost fell on my way out of school," I say, telling him what really happened.
"Then why did I see him tuck your hair behind your ear and kiss your cheek?" Sandro asks, irritated.
"That's called chivalry, if you've never heard of it," I say, irritated.
"Attitude," Lorenzo warns me.
"And he can just yell at me?" I ask, indignant.
I look at my relatives who are watching this in silence.
"Elena, do you even know who he is?" Vicente asks.
"No, I think he's a new kid at school," I say, and my relatives look at each other, "What don't I know?"
"He's from the family that runs the American Mafia, Elena," Uncle Massimo says, and I can't hide my surprise.
"But he wasn't mean to me," I tell them.
"Are you so naive that you don't realize that he might just be using you?" Leonardo asks angrily.
It's the first time he's spoken to me since Eloisa left.
"I don't owe you an explanation, Leonardo," I say angrily.
"But you owe us, Elena," Matteo says seriously.
"And that's why I'm here. I met Chris today and I'm sorry he didn't come with a sign saying he was part of the Mafia," I say angrily, holding the glass tightly in my hand.
"Elena, tone it down," Nicco asks calmly.
"No, fratello, I'm angry and upset with you and I'm not going to do that," I say loudly and they look at me in surprise.
"I already said that I understand that everyone is busy working to protect the family, but in three days this is the first word you've exchanged with me and it's to scold me," I say exasperatedly.
"We were trying to solve all the problems so that we could be at peace later," Aunt Isadora says.
"I don't want to sound selfish with what I'm about to say," I say, squeezing the glass in my hand. "But you say you don't have time and here you are to lecture me, the same time you could have spent having dinner with me yesterday, the same time you could have spent checking to see if I'm okay."
"Elena, we're sorry if you're feeling lonely, but this is our life," Uncle Salvatore says.
"So what's the point of you valuing your family above all else if you don't have time for it?", I ask irritated, and they look at me with guilt.
"She's right, that's not what I taught my children," a male voice reaches my ears and I'm surprised to see him standing behind me.
Leonardo approaches with a colorless face to meet the man.
"Dad?"