Chapter 20: Ice cream and Calculus

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Darkness...

Stink...

And cries...

The sounds of the iron chains clinking and harsh wails of young voices echoed through the space. It was a trap, a claustrophobic sphere with no escape.

The sound of heels hitting the tiled floor and the screeching chuckles silenced the ambient cell rooms.

The quivering and whimpers of the young voices replaced the chaotic noises of a few minutes ago.

"Shss...my birdies. Mommy hates tears..."

An instant brightness...and her demonic eyes were right in front of him.

.

.

.

.

"NO!"

Alessandro shot up, gasping, from the bed. His frantic eyes scanned the whole room shrouded in darkness. She was here.

"ON THE LIGHTS!" he shouted.

Instantly the room lighted up and he finally breathe out deeply.

There was no one.

A nightmare, it was a nightmare.

He hadn't had one in several months. He ran his fingers through his hair and throw his head back. He knew he won't he won't go back to sleep.

He reached over and grabbed T shirt, he had previously thrown on the foot of the bed.

Glancing at the empty water jar on the night stand, he stood up and walked out of the room.

It was almost midnight, silence and darkness accompanied him as he strolled down the stairs to the kitchen.

Just when he reached the bottom stair, a small clinking of metal halted his foot. He tensed up, high and alert. His eyes wandered through the hallway, someone had sneaked in.

Silently, he ran his hand behind a flower vase to retrieve a knife. His mind and breaths focused on the possibilities of the intruder. He knew he had to deal it himself. Waking up the entire house will alarmed everyone including the sneaky rat. Another small sound of a door opening could be heard in the pin drop atmosphere.

He glided across the hallway skillfully, a small yellow light poked out of the kitchen.

It was strange...

What would an intruder find in the kitchen?

His back stiffened on the wall as he turned his head and took a swift look over the counters.

The fridge was open and someone was crouched infront of it.

"Ice cream chilling chilling...Ice cream chilling!"

Alessandro immediately breathe out and relaxed his posture. It wasn't an intruder. He slipped back the knife under a painting. It was a little bunny who decided to have a little midnight adventure.

He quietly walked up to her to see what she was doing.

A large tub of ice cream was on her lap as she cheerily scooped the spoon into her mouth all while chirping the same lines about ice creams.

His eyebrows drew together. "What are you doing here at this hour?".

Serenity jumped from her seat, all startled and shocked with her hands up in a surrender.

"OH GOD! YOU SCARED ME!" She flinched, turning around.

The Ice cream dropped on the floor, spilling on the cold tiles.

Serenity gasped loudly with a horrified look on her face.

"Nooooooooooo! My ICE CREAM!!!" She cried, trying to save the itty-bitty that was left on the tub.

Alessandro raised an eyebrow.

What was the big deal?

"You!" She looked up at him angrily, "You did this! You ruined my ice cream!"

Alessandro almost let the smile slip on his face. She looked like an angry little kitten trying to act like a tiger.

It was adorable.

"It was just an ice cream, love" he said.

Serenity shook her head angrily "No! It was the last tub in the fridge."

Then she looked down at the mess and her lips wobbled.

Alessandro instantly straightened up seeing her big doe eyes welling up.

"Okay...I didn't know that ice cream meant that much to you." He rubbed his neck awkwardly.

She shook her head again this time slower.

"No, I am sorry, it wasn't your fault. I was so frustrated and I took it out on you. I am so sorry." She said softly.

Alessandro nodded and looked around.

"Come with me."

She looked at him, confused.

"Where?"

He took her hand and lead her out of the door,

"To get your ice cream."

Serenity was shocked, she stopped walking. Alessandro looked over his shoulder and frown.

"No, it's okay...It's late anyway. You don't have to worry about me." She mumbled shyly.

He rolled his eyes and continued pulling her out, lending a deaf ear to her consistent protest.

Serenity gave up as he made her sit in one of his car.

He pulled out of the mansion and drove along the night life of the city.

"Can I let the window down?" She asked him.

Alessandro straight away replied, "No"

Serenity turned away and pulled a face, "Meanie."

"Why were you up this late?" He didn't stray his eyes from the road but he knew she was peeking at him.

"Well- I uh...I felt asleep right after dinner but then I woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom...and..." she smiled sheepishly, "I remembered I didn't complete my home assignments yet..."

"Is it why you said you were frustrated?"

"Umm...partly yes...I am learning calculus for the first time and...I don't know the ABC of it...I still haven't finished it. Mrs Orbit is so strict...I am scared."

He nodded and pulled up by a 24/7 department store.

"Flavors?"

"Raspberry and Vanilla and blueberry and strawberry."

Alessandro nodded again and motioned her to stay put in the car.

He didn't take long and came back with a tote bag and four large tubs of the sweet delicacies.

"Thank you so much" she squealed, tearing the wrapper on the vanilla tub and dipping the plastic spoon to scoop up some into her mouth.

She scooped another bite and turned to Alessandro shyly, "Y-You should try too, it's so good." She lifted the spoon near his lips

Alessandro stilled and looked at her with an unrecognizable emotion.

Serenity mistaken it as hesitancy and gasped, "Oh! I am so sorry. Silly me! Let me use another spoon. I forgot I used this one."

She thought he was stalling because of the spoon. Some people are way too careful with hygiene. She should've been aware of it. The thought didn't even cross her mind as she was used to eating from the same culinary with her best friend and brothers.

Just as she was about to pull her hand back, his cold hands grabbed her wrist, stopping the movement. Alessandro looked into her eyes and slowly brought the spoon to his mouth.

He parted his lips, all while locking their eyes together.

Serenity gulped at the clenching feelings in her tummy going overboard. She felt her heart drumming rather quickly as she watched, stunned and bewitched as he enclosed his lips around the spoon and slowly drew them out, the luscious envious pair of red cushion sweeping across its surface.

Enticing

Her eyes followed his every movement, the way he leaned back a little and the pinkish tongue darted out to lick the sides of his lips.

She didn't missed the slight turned up at the corner of his mouth.

"The second best ice cream I have ever tasted." He spoke.

Serenity blinked and blinked and blinked.

She immediately pull back and just like that the trance was broken.

Her heart continued hammering so loudly, her face was flushed and hot. And the funny feelings in her tummy worsened.

What was she feeling?

She had no idea.

Alessandro started the car and drove out of the parking lot.

The Ice cream, long forgotten lay on her lap, melting away.

The confusion and anticipation was bothering her and she didn't know what it was about.

It was weird, she was all fine till she left the Crystal mansion in Ireland.

Has she caught a disease?

Is this a syndrome of some sickness?

Ebola???

Serenity shook her head hurriedly at her thoughts. No! Not Ebola!

The whole way back to the mansion, nobody spoke a word.

Both lost in their own world.

With thoughts of one another.

***

Serenity rushed to the stairs once they entered the foyer. She needed to get away from him and the strange feelings.

"Wait!"

She halted and bite down on her lips, pinching her eyes shut.

"Are you sleepy?" He asked.

She slowly shook her head.

She heard him climb up the stairs till he was standing a step above her.

"Come to my office with your Calculus."

He sauntered away with his hands in the pockets.

Serenity silently groaned and dropped her head, staggering up as slow as she can.

She put away the ice creams in the freezer first and then went to her room to collect her books before stalking to Alessandro's office, which was a floor above hers.

She knocked on the door and entered shyly.

"Take a seat." Alessandro motioned on the couch adjacent to him.

She sat down and laid her books open on the coffee table infront of them.

"Y-You don't have to...I will manage..." she tried convincing him as she felt bad for ruining good night sleep.

"Which chapter?" he said as he flip the textbook and looked at its contents.

Serenity frowned and looked at him confused.

Alessandro eyed her sharply, "Which chapter?"

Understanding dawned her as she blushed profusely for acting stupid.

"Limits..."

Alessandro nodded and brought her notes infront of her as he explained the basic terms and concepts.

Serenity flicker her eyes over to him unconsciously every few minutes. His concentration showed on his features making him look sharper, edgier and...sexy.

She had never look at him like this before. It was always intimidation, fear or nervousness in the past.

His sharp jawline clenched and unclenched as he solved the sums and tried to enunciate it in easier terms.

He took a pen from her pouch and hit the top of her head with it.

"Concentrate."

"Ouch!" Serenity yelped and rubbed her forehead with a pout.

"If you focus more on the books and the concepts other than my face, you will understand it." He said with no ounce of hesitation.

Serenity's face flamed up red as she looked down at her notes.

She hissed at herself in embarrassment.

How can he be so straight forward?!?

Alessandro put down the pen as he watched her dozing away, she was trying so hard to stay awake but then every few seconds, her head will sway down and with a jerk she would get up and looked around confused and then act so focused as if she had never wink a sleep.

He had started noticing that when her handwriting got messier and song lyrics got in between the mathematical problems.

He didn't say anything, it was entertaining.

She looked drained and adorable at the same time.

Her work was almost complete and the clock had struck 3 am.

He silently cradle her in his arms, picking her up with as much restraint, not to disturb her beauty sleep. She snuggled onto his chest like a baby.

He walked to her room with slow and quiet steps.

As he laid her down on the bed, she let out a mewl of dissatisfaction and her hands hover around searching for the warmth she had conjured in his embrace.

Alessandro smiled slightly and tucked her in.

He kissed her forehead as a soundless goodnight and step out of her room, closing the door behind him.

***

"I am late!" Serenity wobbled on one foot as she strapped on her kitten heels on her other foot.

It was already half past 7 and school starts at 8. She had overslept, she didn't even remember how she got into her bed. And funny thing, nobody woke her up. Alicia usually barge in uninvited but just when she needed her the most, she hadn't even bother paying her a visit.

She had taken the quickest shower possible and slipped onto an easy floral sundress.

She ran down the stairs, clutching her half open bag tightly so as not to 'accidentally' spill the contents, kudos to her clumsy feet.

Alessandro looked up from the newspaper he was reading.

He was waiting for her on a couch the foyer.

"Slow down."

Serenity turned and smiled tightly, "I...Please excuse me but I am late."

"You're not." He said and stood up.

Serenity's brows pulled together as she glance down at her watch. She was really late.

"I have taken a 30 minute delay pass for you."

She gaped at him in disbelief, "How is that possible? There is no such thing."

He rolled his eyes and walked to the door, "It's possible when you're a Vitali."

"But I am not a Vitali." She scurried after him.

Alessandro opened the shot gun and waited for her to get in.

He mumbled something incoherent as he close the door when she seated in.

He rounded the vehicle and slide into the driver's seat.

"Did you say something?" She asked him.

He shook his head.

***

Indeed true to his word, Serenity wasn't called out when she enter the classroom late, except for the attention she received from the entire class of thirty students.

It was calculus the next period. Serenity was pleasantly surprised to see the Tsukumo triplets in the class.

She shyly waved at them.

"Hey!" They chirped together and waved back.

Serenity wondered if it was twin telepathy or something but they always seemed to speak the same words at the same time with the same breaks.

She thought it was cool and dreamed what if she had a twin. Someone who is a part of her and who she can connect the most.

Sadly she was the only pea in the pod.

"Why don't you come sit with us?" One of them suggested

"Sure." She gleamed at the idea and as she was about to take a step, someone grabbed her arm.

"I thought we were friends."

Serenity turned to her awkwardly, "Hi Svetlana."

Svetlana scowled and crossed her arms.

"I didn't know you were such a bitch, Serenity. I helped you around yesterday and this is how you repay me. First you chose that slut over us yesterday, insulting me infront of the entire team. And now you're befriending her minions."

"Mind your language, Yohontov." The nearest Tsukumo warned.

"Or what? What are you gonna do? Bring the entire Yakuza on my back?" Svetlana snapped

"You can't even fight without irking the families' name. Aren't you that pathetic?"

"And you can't even go by yourself a day without your two clones."

"That's it! I am karate chopping this bitch!"

Serenity gasped in shock when she flung over the table. The next moment, the two Tsukumos' were holding her back.

"Calm down Mini, she isn't worth it." Mina grumbled, pulling her sister from ripping her throat.

"Mina is right." Mona nodded and stepped up to Svetlana. She didn't hide her distaste, looking at her in the eyes.

" Svetlana Yohontov. You act so high and entitled all the time when you can't even look at yourself in the mirror. Fake hair, fake eyes. You are trying so hard to impersonate someone you're not just for the sake of attention. You're too fake that I believe someday your own mum won't even recognize you."

"HOW DARE YOU LITTLE YELLOW BITCH! GO BACK TO CHINA WHERE YOU CAME FROM" Svetlana screamed.

"Svetlana, please stop it! You're being unreasonable." Serenity intervened, having heard enough. She was even shamelessly bringing racist comment and that was the final stroke of her patience.

"SHUT UP! YOU STUPID-"

"What the fuck is going on in my class?"

A sharp sound of a ruler hitting the desk echoed through the room. Serenity blinked back the little tears in her eyes. She saw Mrs Orbit, walking inside and into the scene. She didn't even realize the entire class were crowding them.

"Five seconds! In five seconds, if you are not in your places, all of you! I will see to it that you're cleaning the entire toilets in the elementary block."

"5"

As quick as lightening, everyone was scrambling back to their seats.

"4"

Serenity panicked and look for any open spaces.

"3"

She found one at the back and was about to run to the empty chair, when she toppled over on the ground.

"2"

She bite down the cry at the sharp pain shooting up at her ankle and looked over her shoulder, terrified. Svetlana had a passive look on her face as she sit down on her chair leisurely. She knew she tripped her.

"1"

A hand grabbed her arm and she was forcefully pulled up. Serenity didn't register what happen but the next thing she knew she was sitting beside a guy with curly hair.

Mrs Orbit pulled down her tiny spectacles to the brim of her nose and look around. She clicked her tongue.

"Good, now back to continuation of Yesterday's chapter. The derivatives are commonly known-"

Serenity let out a huge sigh of relief. Her head was pounding with all the rushed adrenaline for a moment.

"Thank you so much." She quietly whispered to the boy beside her.

"My pleasure. The name's Justin." He whispered and held out his hand under the table.

She grinned and take it "Serenity."

As they turned back to the teacher, Serenity couldn't help but wander what the hell happened.

***

She avoided Svetlana and the Tsukumo triplets like a plague. Not that the triplets were at fault but she knew she needed time to figure out the mess. She couldn't believe Svetlana would do something like that to her. She was so rude and frightening.

She decided she can no longer be friends with her.

Friends don't push each other in messes. They help pull each other out.

" A penny for your thoughts?"

Serenity jumped, startled by the sudden sound.

"Antonio! How are you?"

He looked at her weirdly. Serenity frowned, and touch her cheeks.

"Is there something on my face?" She asked.

"Why are you limping..." his face morphed into horror, " OH MY FUCKING GOD!Did you and Alessandro d-do something l-last night?"

Serenity look at him confused. How did he know they went to get ice cream?

"Umm...Yes..." she replied.

Antonio suddenly looked constipated, "I-Is that the reason why you were l-late this morning?"

Serenity thought about it, technically yes. They stayed up very late, solving her calculus.

"Yes, we were trying so hard to figure out how to do it so we stayed up late till 3, I think." She blurted out.

She wondered why he was behaving so strange.

Antonio looked like he was choking on his breath.

"Damnit! You're so young...He didn't h-hurt you, did he?" He asked hesitatingly.

Serenity remembered the horror of the previous night.

"Oh Antonio! I almost wanted to run away. He made me do all over it again and again till I learn. I said that it was my first time and he was like, "You can learn faster if you don't focus on my face" I was not even looking at him like that. I am telling you-"

Antonio palmed his hand over her mouth suddenly.

"Serenity! You can't speak of such things like that. They should be talked in secrecy only."

Serenity's brows pulled together, she pushed his hand off her mouth, "But why? We were just doing-"

Antonio shut her mouth again, "No, No, No. Don't say it! Its bad!"

"Antonio! What is wrong with you?" She exclaimed, seeing his face turning redder every second. He couldn't even look at her in the eye.

"Listen Serenity." He heaved a huge breath, "I- I don't know what to say. Heck I don't have a say. If the both of you are fine with it then who am I to comment. I know it must be very hard for you and even for him but I just want to let you know that I am here for you. I-If..." he gulped loudly, "If he ever hurt you in anyway. Do not hesitate to tell me. I...I will try to help you to the best of my ability..."

Serenity stared at him like he had grown two heads, "I don't understand what you're saying..."

"Fucking hell! It's okay, not to be embarrass about it. It's completely natural."

"Antonio-"

He raised his pointer finger and shook his head with an understanding smile.

But Serenity wasn't understanding anything.

"Did Alessandro confess anything last night?"

Serenity bite her tongue and ponder on anything significant Alessandro said last night.

"The second best ice cream I have ever tasted"

She quickly shook her head at the intense scene. Her cheeks flushing a little at the memory.

"Yea- he said he likes Vanilla the second best..."

Antonio choked on his spit.

***

How was the chapter?

Good?

Bad?

Or just meh?

Before I start anything...

ANTONIO GET YOUR DAMN HEAD OUT OF THE GUTTER! MY BABY SERENITY IS INNOCENT!!!!

Phew! Okay so where was I?

Yes, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE, COMMENT AND SHARE!

Any scenes you'd like to see in future?

Which character is your favorite till now?

Until then,

Adios

Stella Cadante.