The next day at school, Alexander and I barely talk. Every now and again I'll catch him glaring, or staring contemptuously, but no words are spoken. Lunch time rolls around and he sits with me again. This time it is an orange and a bottle of water. 

"Are you not hungry after only eating that little?" I ask, scowling at the single piece of fruit. 

Alexander glances at me. "What does that matter?" I look at him shocked, that's definitely not enough food for him. "I eat a large breakfast and dinner, so I eat less at lunch."

My eyes narrow. "I still think you should eat more." All fruit and water is free. Is it a matter of money? "Here." I shove my tray his way. "Eat the sandwich. You'll focus better in class if you eat." 

Alexander looks at the sandwich. "You need to eat too." He counters, pushing it back to me. 

"I ate the salad already. It was good, and I'm full. If you don't eat the sandwich, it'll go to waste." I say back, sliding the tray back to him.

He pauses, then picks up the sandwich. I guess I'll be getting two lunches from now on. 

Alexander finishes eating, then puts our trays up. When the bell rings, he walks beside me, glaring at everyone around us. We take notes in chemistry, and he watches me leave school again. 

My brothers discuss bringing up the fact that a boy is seeing me off to our father. I can't say anything, because they think I don't know what they're saying but I hope they don't.

We get home and walk to our father's office. The boys greet him, and I bow my torso, waiting for him to acknowledge me so I can stand straight. 

"Lelia." I look up at my father. His cold gaze pierces my soul. 

"Father." We lock eyes for a fraction of a second and I look away. His gaze is a whole lot scarier than Alexander's. Compared to my father, Alexander is like a baby. 

"How was school?" My father asks us. 

My brothers look at me, and the eldest, Vincent speaks up. "I believe Lelia has been showing a new student around school. It seems she's a respected enough student to get tasks like this." He's up to something. 

Father nods approvingly. "Good, I'm glad you're doing so well in school."

"Yes," Vincent sighs. "I'm glad she's doing well too, but it seems the boy has taken an interest in her." I knew it. He's going to get Alexander roughed up just for being there when I leave the school.

"Is this true, Lelia?" My father sounds calm, but his look tells me that he's anything but calm. 

I shake my head and bow it slightly. "No sir. We're barely even acquaintances. He doesn't talk to me, and is only around me because I'm the person he knows the most. Give him a week to find some friends, and he'll forget I even exist." Hopefully that will appease his anger. 

Father sits quietly for a moment. I can tell he wants to find some reason to have my brothers threaten Alexander.  "Why isn't he interested? You're a beautiful young girl. Any man would be lucky to date my daughter."

I give him a smile. "Thank you, father, but I believe the reason he isn't interested is because he knows my last name." His lips are stiff, and pressed together. He knows what I'm doing. "You see, he's from Italy, and he knows who you are, so he's probably terrified of what may happen if he tries to be my friend."

My father lets out an uncharacteristic laugh, and I almost step back from how evil it sounds. "As he should be. You're dismissed Lelia."

I bow and turn to leave his office. As I close the door behind me, I breathe out a sigh of relief. 

Alexander better realize that I just saved his life. 

The Next Day

I walk into the school, my bag half slung over my shoulder, and my notebook in my hands. I should probably give Alexander a warning. If my dad thinks we're even friends, things will get bad. 

Speak of the devil, and it shall appear. "Morning." I say as he starts to walk beside me. 

"Mmm." Not even a greeting, good.

I stop at my locker, and he stops too. "You shouldn't do that." I say, putting a few things up for later. 

Alexander doesn't say anything, and instead decides to glare at people that look at him for a little too long. When I shut my locker, he looks at me. "I shouldn't do what?" His expression is flat and disinterested. 

"Stick around me for no reason. My brothers think you like me or something." I readjust my bag. "I had to tell my dad we pretty much hate each other to keep him from sending people to beat you up." 

Alexander scoffs. "I'd like to see someone try to beat me up."

"Alexander, don't act all cocky like you weren't terrified the second I said my last name." I roll my eyes as we continue to walk down the hall. 

He clears his throat. "I prefer to be called Alex."

"And I prefer to not have to bow down to my sexist ass of a father, but here we are." I wave a hand in the air and let out an exasperated sigh. "Just, don't watch after me when I leave school today. That's what they're seeing and getting confused about."

Alex sighs. "Fine, whatever. It's not like I wanted to anyways." I glance at him, and he's staring ahead. We get to my first class, and I almost get through the door when Claire stops me. 

"Oh, Lelia, who's your friend?" She's staring at Alex like he's a fresh piece of meat. 

I push down my irritation. "This is Alex, Alex meet Clai-"

"Alexander. My name is Alexander." His eyes are narrow, and he's glaring at Claire. She doesn't seem fazed. Actually, she seems almost excited by it. 

"That's such a nice name. So regal, like Alexander the Great." She bats her eyes and I nearly vomit. 

Alex looks at me without responding to her. "I'll see you after class." I nod my head then walk into the classroom. Claire is left, dumbfounded that she failed to pull Alex into her claws. I wonder why he didn't want her to call him Alex?

Class goes by, and I end up having to stay a couple of minutes to finish up some paperwork for Mr. Hill, since I don't want to have to come back later. 

I look up at the door because I feel eyes staring at me, and Alex is propped up in the door frame, just watching me. I pack up my bag and walk over to him. "What are you doing here?" He lets me out of the room, and we start to walk to our next, separate, classes. 

"I said I'd see you after class." He says it nonchalantly. His hands are in his front pockets, and he seems relaxed. 

My eyebrows draw up in confusion. The whole three days I've known Alex, not once has he ever been relaxed. "I thought you only said that because you were irritated by Claire." I shrug. "Didn't expect you to actually come."

Alex tilts his head to look at me, his green eyes showing off his frustration. "Well I did, can we move on?" His hair falls in front of his eyes, but is a bit more maintained today, like he actually brushed it.

I hold up my hands. "Fine, no need to get prickly. I see you've started to get more comfortable here. You're not tense in your shoulders, and your head is sitting up higher." He stays quiet. "I'm just glad you're loosening up. I don't need a ticking time bomb walking beside me all the time."

Alex lets out something close to a scoff, but it could've been mistaken for a chuckle. "I can still blow up at any moment. I haven't become complacent yet. I'm just biding my time." He brushes his hair out of his face, and does his scoff laugh again, almost mocking me.

"Hm, biding your time for what?" I ask, presuming he's trying to catch me off guard. 

Alex points beside us. "You should get to class." He's right. This is my next class. "I'll see you afterwards." He smirks at me and I roll my eyes, then walk into the room.

I sit down at my desk and pull out my notebook. When did I start smiling?