113. His Strictness

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Tristan was training alongside his team at the outdoor basketball court. Vincenzo was training on the opposite one with his group. Tristan was training as he was shirtless under the summer sun.

Tristan was thinking over the events of today. He had arrived few days ago back in New York from the long trip. He had been stock in the exam rooms for hours and hours for days hardly getting the chance to say hi to Vienna and then just in final moments of his last exam she had to pull a stunt that pushed him to the edge of his self control. It was so hard being away from her and wondering if she was safe and sound. Just when he was looking forward to see her she had watched her on that race risking it all.... The bike races were dangerous and she knew it. She had hardly asked for anything from Vienna except for her not carry out certain activities like bike riding that had ridiculous speed. But she couldn't adhere to his request. He was beyond livid when he had found her. He wished she wasn't so looking scared by the end of it but he didn't take chances on her safety and she didn't grasp that sometimes as well as he wished.

He stopped and blew the whistle at his team " Start all over again. You call that press up. Do you? All of you start all over... You have twenty laps after finishing the warm up."

This Friday afternoon was the last day of practice but he wanted to make sure he reminded his team to be fit for the summer. This was a taster of the gruelling exercise that was coming up when school started. He had made the team start all over again mid warm up. They had lost count of how many press ups and sit ups they had done. He was going to make the run laps again and again. Of course the ending was bear crawls across the basketball court until the team had no energy left. He was a strict one in training.

Training went on smoothly and it was close to the end of the session. Just then as he was doing training he froze as he saw her. He straightened up and watched her beautiful form. There she was staring right at him. She had a lovely dress on. It was for the drama production that happened in the evening. The girls had done the cheer leading last practice and now it was their free time since Vienna had time to do her basketball practice earlier. He had exams so behind in sorting out his team.

His eyes followed her walk to the other basketball court watching her brother training his team. She wasn't looking at him. He was annoyed that she had picked the other team to watch. She had her steward badge on for that sports afternoon so it meant she had to at some point come around to check on the team because it was her duty. When they had half day events of sports the whole school went into sports and extra credit work. She was a steward from heaven.

Tristan carried on practicing but looked over at her. To his delight, she walked to the resources cabin and walked out with a water bottle trolley. She took it to her brothers court and handed the water bottles out as Vincenzo was announcing water break. He knew his court was next. She walked to the cabinet and then he saw as she walked out with the water bottle trolley, she called one of the juniors who were on taster day at the school to come grab the trolley.

Tristan narrowed his eyes at the boy who enthusiastically grabbed the trolley and pushed it towards Tristan's court. Tristan stood at the entrance looking at the boy like he was ready to kill him. They boy looked up and his lips quivered as he saw the menacing look in Tristan's eyes. The junior was half Tristan's size. He gulped " Water for your team, the lady said..,"

Tristan spoke in a harsh tone " Do you have a name kid?"

The boy stuttered " Toby ... Blake."

Tristan asked " There is more of you? What's your relation to Edward?"

Toby didn't think the bulky muscle powerhouse in front of him was fond of his cousin. He spat out the word " Edward." So he whispered " He is my cousin sir.,," He then watched the expression on Tristan's face harden. He automatically said " Sorry sir."

Tristan was not in the mood. That morning the Nasa trip had happened and he didn't want anything more than getting that Blake kid. But his cousin was close enough.

As the exchange was going on, Vienna was watching. She gasped as Tristan grabbed the boy's neck and pinned him to the court's fence as he whistled and called up the boys around. She heard him say "Come guys. He doesn't know the password. Let's show him some hospitality and welcome him on his first day."

Vienna's heart sank. What was she thinking? Sending a junior over to Tristan. She hadn't noticed that the kid was new and obviously by the sound of it he was in trouble for not knowing the password. Seriously severe hazing happened to new comer juniors when they were somewhere they shouldn't have been unless they knew the daily passwords. It was an intimidation tactic to help them gain respect to their elders... But this was the last day of school. She didn't think that juniors were in danger that day. These past few weeks that the alpha male boys were away from school it had been quieter and there was less trouble for weaker kids. She had to help the kid. It was all her fault. She ran to the court. She had come to grasp that everyone else could be fair game to Tristan's wrath and vengeance regardless of if they were boys or girls, juniors or seniors. She always knew Tristan didn't have mercy but today she had experienced it in a painful way. She had witnessed what Tristan was capable of first hand even for the most minor offences she committed. She had endangered herself in Tristan's view and that was a major crime in his eyes but wasn't in her view. This was their first disagreement.

Vienna knew she needed to talk to him about what had happened to give him her perspective and reasons why she had gone against his advice and had taken part in a risky bike race. In the end she had opted to avoid him to think about what to say and how to go about it. But of course life around her boyfriend was not easy. She didn't have the luxury of time. She had avoided Tristan and had hidden herself from him at all costs that afternoon after the incident with the cyclists and Tristan had noticed that too. But some part of her told her that the longer she kept him waiting and the longer she ignored him the worse he was going to react to her ignorance and avoidance of him maybe at the cost of others getting hurt. She knew Tristan missed her but she had deprived him of seeing her.

Vienna approached the boys semi circle and heard Tristan taunting the boy " Do you know what we do to juniors who don't know the password? Didn't you read your induction pack?" She could feel the threat and promise in his voice. The rage. The anger. She had done all this. She had endangered herself today against his advice and had paid for it by watching others suffer but she had gone on to avoid him and had ran away when he had tried to approach her to talk to her earlier on.

The boy choked " I don't know anything about a password... I wasn't there at the beginning of induction."

Tristan let go of his neck and condemned the boy " Guys. He is all yours. Teach him not to forget his password."

The boy was crying now  " Please no..."

Just as the boys were about to grab him, Vienna cleared her throat " It's time for water break. Can you kindly take your water bottles so I can return the trolley?"

The boys turned instantly recognising their queens voice and saw Vienna standing behind them. They immediately looked at Tristan waiting for orders.

Tristan turned and raised an eyebrow. He walked past the boys towards Vienna. He stared into her eyes and watched her look at him defiantly. At that moment Vienna resembled her father a lot. The posture she had. Her hands on her back standing up straight looking into his eyes.

Vienna had to face him. She had learnt that avoiding him made things worse. She was overwhelmed by his intensity and dominance from earlier on. But now was not the time to show weakness. Tristan didn't respond to pleading and apologies just like Vincenzo. Tristan needed reasoning and Vienna sometimes had none.

Tristan looked away from her suddenly after silently checking her out " You heard the queen. Get your water bottles and one of you return the trolley once you are done. Practice is over." He then grabbed two water bottles and offered one to Vienna as he took one. Then he glanced at Toby " Run fast kid. Or I will get the boys to chase you if I change my mind."

Toby whispered " Thank you" and then ran for his life. His thank you was mostly directed at Vienna.

Tristan drank from his water bottle and then watched Vienna leaving her bottle untouched. He was frustrated. He was hoping she was going to give him a feast for his eyes that he had missed so much. She just stood there looking at him. He found her tense as she started looking around " I think your team needs more water. l should I get some?" She kicked herself mentally for trying to avoid him. His gaze was too intense making her feel hot. She could feel her cheeks feeling hot.

Tristan frowned " They are fully capable of getting water. You take your Steward duties too seriously."

Vienna looked up " Its my duty. Just like how sanctioning people is your duty as team captain."

Tristan looked at her with an unreadable expression. He asked " Vienna... Take a walk with me... I need to talk to you... away from here. We need to practice our lines one last time for the drama production. Right?"

Vienna looked away. " I agree. But , do you mind covering up? Can you put a shirt on... You will burn in the sun. It's part of my steward duties to advise you on health and safety...." She had a good excuse to get him to put a shirt on. She felt herself melting on the inside. She couldn't be concentrating  when he looked so handsome right now .

Tristan spoke " Vitamin D is necessary Vienna. But fine. I take your safety advice unlike you who don't take mine." He gave her a hard look and walked away.

Vienna watched him walking away to get a shirt from a basket. She found it a fair come back. She had gone against his safety advice and had gone Bike riding when she had history of getting hurt in the sport.

After Tristan came back he offered his hand for her to take " Let's go."

Vienna took his hand and he lead her away. She wasn't sure where they were going but that was irrelevant. As they were walking Tristan stated " Vienna.... You are not meant to help the juniors Don't you know that?"

Vienna whispered " I am fully aware." What was the point of lying?

Tristan sighed " Don't make a habit of it Vienna. If someone digs themselves a hole, let them lie in it." He then looked at her " Tell me this... Why did you run when I came out of my mother's office today? Are you avoiding me?"

Vienna admitted " I wasn't feeling like talking to you Tristan. I was in shock... But why were you in your mother's office? I thought you had gone to the common room when you came out of the main building...."

Tristan explained " My mother had a go at me for not paying attention during my exam. It's an extra credit module... She told me if I have to retake the exam she would ground me ..." He then chuckled " I passed the extra Italian literature exam... Luckily you distracted me near the end when I saw you getting past the building... I won't have to retake... so don't look so worried Vienna..."

Vienna felt bad for distracting him but believed him when he said all was well.

They entered the drama studio block. Tristan kept the door open for her and Vienna found herself entering the empty hall where they were going to perform tonight. Tristan closed the door soundly " Lets talk now..."

Vienna jumped and turned around. She watched him giving her a hard look " did you find your punishment fitting Vienna?"

Vienna objected " Tristan... You can't do this... You can't do this every time I defy you. We can talk about it.... You were too harsh today on the girls. You were mad at me and punished the girls too severely..."

Tristan took steps closer " We are talking about it now. Aren't we? Vienna you don't know the meaning of severe punishment... I do... The girls were lucky. I was in the mood to hold back. You put yourself in danger and ignored my warnings."

Vienna whispered " Tristan... You can't protect me forever..."

Tristan narrowed his eyes " You just threw an insult at me Vienna...I am capable of protecting my woman. I am pretty certain... Do you doubt me? Do you?"

Just then she lost her confidence as she gulped st his harsh look that he gave her.

It had become easier to talk to him now as she had gotten to know him. They had heart to hearts enough on dates that she knew his heart... But now she was back to fearing him. Was she meant to apologise. A part of her told her to apologise for offending him.

Vienna breathed " I trust you..."

Tristan took a deep breath of relief " Good to hear... You know Vienna ... When I was away I couldn't stop thinking about you... I didn't want to be away but had to be... But I had given instructions to people to watch over you.... Today some people failed to protect you and stop you... I would like them to give you an apology... Would you like to hear it?"

Vienna was confused " Its no one's decision but mine to take part in the bike race...."

Tristan shook his head " That's not what I asked. I asked if you want to hear the apology.... I think you deserve an apology.. Follow me..."

Vienna didn't know what to expect. Tristan opened the fire exit and then at the back space where some equipment were stored, Vienna saw the horrific sight of the entire cycling president board kneeling on the floor crying with sheets of paper in front of them writing while guards were circling them.

Vienna looked up at Tristan as she caught up to him " Tristan? What is this about?" She could guess what was going on. The race was run by those students. They had let her name in when Tristan had instructed them not to.

As they approached, Tristan instructed " Apologise..."

Vienna felt terrible for the students who were still kneeling. They slowly approached her as still kneeling and crawling almost as they handed her their tear soaked apology letters. This was too much. They begged her for forgiveness.

Tristan asked her " Do you accept the apology?"

Vienna replied automatically " Yes...."

Tristan nodded at the guards " Let them go. They don't get expelled. My queen forgives them... That's satisfactory.., For now."

Vienna knew expulsion from this school could put students names in black lists of colleges and even employers. If sancia O'Neil signed your expulsion with the O'Neil school stamp you couldn't even find any jobs illegally sometimes never mind legally. So she understood how disturbingly the students approached her and cried as they thanked her.

Tristan nodded to Vienna " This is out of the way. Let's go,"

As Vienna was lead outside all his questions and arguments went out of the window. She always knew she was an untouchable queen but now she understood fully in action what untouchable meant. The word was going to spread around fast. Even if she was put in danger indirectly and didn't even get hurt Tristan was going to deal with whoever crossed her path. She had been determined to tell Tristan to stop punishing others for her crimes but after this demonstration, she understood this was beyond changing. Tristan O'Neil was going to protect her his way and there was nothing she could do. But again she was a Rosario. She understood why Tristan was protective but this was costly to those around her. If anyone made a mistake it was going to be deadly. Gone were the days Tristan was going to be satisfied with a punch in the gut to the boys. He meant business now. He was transforming himself into a mob boss and maybe he had been transforming for so long but she hadn't been seeing it so clearly.

Tristan declared " Let's practice. I know my lines by heart. Do you?"

Vienna sighed " Yes. I do..."

Then they practiced their lines and slowly other members of the drama production entered the room too.

There were some changes in cast. Azurine was back from Australia to direct the production and was going to leave. But she was annoyed that sancia O'Neil had ordered for Letizia to be suspended from the drama production. It was part of her punishment. She had replaced her with Clarisa who was reluctant to take part for some reason.

Clarisa was complaining to azurine " I  am not going to forgive you for this?"

Azurine sighed " We have Hollywood people coming to watch tonight. My career can be endangered. I want to make movies in Europe. You have to do this for me. Put up with him. You are the most fitting one for the role and good at drama."

Clarisa felt bad for replacing Letizia. She blamed her for all this. If she had not messed with Vienna she didn't have to spend hours with Vincenzo that day.  She saw him enter the drama studio. She sighed and rolled her eyes. She walked up to him and stated " Don't you ever stop drinking soda?"

Vincenzo took a sip from his soda can " Don't you ever stop entertaining me? Nice necklace."

Clarisa sighed " I like Rome... Part of my mother's family is from Rome. That's a nice souvenir Vincenzo... So I thought I repay you... I got you something too." She reached into her pocket and took out a box from her pocket and handed it to him. He opened the box  " A key ring of an Irish castle. You shouldn't have..."

Clarisa explained " You know, the Romans never managed to conquer Hibernia or Ireland as we call it. I just thought I point it out. Always remember wild wolf. An Italian never conquers an Irish."

Vincenzo nodded " What about an American?"

Clarisa replied " some of the Irish became American...."

Vincenzo nodded " Some of the Italians did too... So Terza.... There is nothing an American can't do."

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