Devin was a little surprised to hear Niles fuming madly about Ryan and how he had kissed Skylar. He knew nothing of the news but as he saw his little brother walking across to his lecture room ahead of them as they each met up in waiting for their own lecturer to arrive and unlock the door so they could get in, he noticed that he was a little too happy, whistling to himself and flirting with a girl in his class. He had just suffered utter heartbreak from his break up with Ruby, he didn’t expect him to be hitting on anyone when he had protested so much to Niles’s teasing words. So hearing that he had also kissed Skylar at some point was a little worrying because it seemed obvious that he was trying to push aside his anger at Ruby and prove, in any way possible, that he was very much a desirable boyfriend prospect. When he asked him to explain what he meant, he was unsure of what the anger in his voice said, as to whether he was furious with Ryan or Skylar for allowing him to kiss her.
“The little prat saw her leaving Pepper and Eliza, saying she wasn’t feeling well and was going to lie down. He said he thought he’d walk her back to her room but she went to the chapel instead. He kissed her when she was vulnerable and then told her she meant nothing to him and wasn’t good enough for him.” He protested against it profusely, angry that when everyone knew that he had intentions towards Skylar, Ryan, who was supposedly heartbroken and couldn’t bear to face another relationship or girl had gone ahead and used her weak moment against her. He hadn’t just kissed her, he had taken advantage of a sad and confusing time for her and then had the audacity to tell her, to her face, that she wasn’t good enough for him. Well as far as Niles was concerned, Ryan was a loser who wasn’t good enough for any woman, never mind one as wonderful and beautiful and smart as his Skylar.
“He said that? I thought he was devastated about Ruby, what’s he doing kissing Skylar?” Niles thought the words aloud, before realising that they would hardly make his friend feel any better about the entire situation. It was complicated to such an extent that he would have to do something about it soon before the two friends ended up talking through it with their fists.
“I don’t know but if that little bastard goes near her again, so help me god I’ll knock him into the next century…whether he’s your brother or not.” Niles didn’t care anymore that Ryan was supposed to be his best friend, he didn’t care that he was Devin’s little brother or that he’d recently gone through a horrible break up. All he cared about was that he had used and hurt Skylar to such an extent that she might not trust another man again. They all knew how possessive and domineering her last boyfriend Zeke had been before he died and set her free from the torment so he saw no way for Ryan to excuse his actions. His kissing her could make her shy away from men altogether, fearing that they were all just like Zeke and Ryan, or worse. But when Devin practically ordered him to calm down, his anger took off again at the thoughts he had just considered. “Don’t tell me to calm down. He used the fact that she was upset and confused to take advantage of her. That’s not something I can stand by and let him keep doing.” Devin had enough sense to recognise how angry Niles was and do something about it, promising that if he kept his cool, he’d take care of it before suggesting that he went ahead and made sure that Skylar was alright. He couldn’t help his last question, of how he had found out about the kiss anyway, if it had been from Skylar or Ryan himself. “Ryan did, he walked up to me and started gloating. You’re damned lucky that I didn’t knock his lights out.” The words snapped out of his mouth in the same sense of a crocodile snapping at someone who’d stepped a little too close, warning them to back off before they lost an appendage. Only what Ryan would lose would be a whole lot worse than anything he could imagine.
“Just go and see to Skylar and I’ll deal with Ryan. He won’t do it again, I assure you.”
Niles did as Devin suggested only because he wanted to make sure Skylar was okay for himself. As soon as his lecture was finished he headed over to her dorm room to find her alone and lying on her bed with the curtains closed. He had knocked twice only for no answer to make him worry that she was crying over what Ryan had done to her and whatever had made her sad and vulnerable enough to allow him to kiss her. He bit the bullet and walked in, finding the door unlocked and Skylar lying there peacefully, curled up on her bed and supposedly sleeping on top of her bed. He couldn’t help but smile to himself as he crossed over to her bed and lifted the cover that was folded over the end of her bed, to lay it over her and keep her warm. He was a little surprised when she opened her eyes and smiled up at him sweetly. “Are you looking for me?” She wondered with a sweet smile, turning onto her back and stretching out in a way that made him think about why he was there and sit himself on the edge of her bed in order to broach the subject with her without upsetting her.
“I bumped into Ryan.” He growled in frustration, making her sigh in realisation of just what he wasn’t saying to her. She now knew that he knew about her run in with Ryan and she wasn’t sure what to say, only able to shrug and wait to see what else he was going to admit to knowing before she made any comments in case he had simply fallen out with his friend for another reason. “He told me he kissed you and that you were upset and confused. I just wanted to make sure you were okay and he hadn’t hurt you with what he said.” He couldn’t believe how easily she was taking it, practically shrugging it off as if it meant nothing to her, even though he knew differently. He could see it all in her eyes, every emotion she felt and everything she didn’t want him to know was right in front of him, telling him how exactly she was dealing with everything she had gone through.
“That I wasn’t good enough for him? It doesn’t matter.” She sighed, hoping that eventually that would be true. But she liked Link’s advice of clinging to Niles since he was a nice guy, a complete gentleman and he actually cared about her and wanted to protect her. What was so wrong with enjoying that rare feeling when all she had ever known was what Ryan was offering her…the pain and heartache, the lies and being used? “So you’re here to be my hero again? Can you explain something for me before I decide what to do about it?” She wondered softly, intriguing him into agreeing to hear anything she had to say, unable to do anything else as he sat there and watched her adoringly. “I was sitting with the girls just talking with them and then suddenly I was somewhere else…watching myself…watching memories as if I were standing in the room outside my own body. What do you think that means? I didn’t even know what was happening to me. The girls were looking at me like I was some kind of lunatic.” Skylar couldn’t bear to be treated like a crazy person just because she couldn’t tell anyone what was really happening to her, or even know for herself what was going on inside her head but Niles just laughed at her.
“You’re not a lunatic. You’ve been through a lot Skylar, I think it’s understandable for you to suffer the occasional blackout every now and then. Devin says that Pepper told him you’ve been through the same thing she has. She only guessed but it seems to fit into place.” He reasoned his explanation as best he could to make her feel better for admitting it but the surprise on her face was a little confusing. He was seriously hoping that Pepper hadn’t misread the signs in worry over Skylar’s wellbeing and when she asked if Ryan hadn’t told him, he wasn’t sure what she meant. “He knew and he still kissed you?” He guessed at something that made him even madder at the little troublemaker who had gone ahead and kissed her. That was bad enough in itself but knowing that he had done so whilst knowing that she had been beaten on a regular basis by Zeke, her last boyfriend, was something he couldn’t forgive him for.
“He guessed after he kissed me. He said the same thing about seeing it in Pepper first.” She acknowledged his recognition of the truth quietly without pinpointing the heartbreaking reality of it and without admitting to how intense it had been. But she ignored that admission and went ahead to explain just what Ryan had said to her when he had brutally kissed her and then told her that she had better be with someone else because he wanted nothing to do with her. “He said I need you to be my hero because you’re willing to be and I should be with you because he doesn’t do heroics.” Niles wasn’t surprised that Ryan would stoop so low and imply that he didn’t give a hoot what happened to her in the past or the future just as long as it had nothing to do with him.
“Yeah, he’s a loser that way. Anything bad happens and he runs a mile. But I’ll always be here for you…if you need me.” He started off angry, only for his voice to get softer when he admitted to always being there for her, gently brushing a fallen strand of hair from her eyes. It didn’t stop him from being desperate to get his hands on Devin’s little brother so he could teach him a lesson and make sure he didn’t even take a step towards Skylar ever again. He had no intention of letting him go until he made that promise to stay away from her. He couldn’t help but smile, however, when she asked if it didn’t count when she wanted him. “That too.” He admitted, with a smile, a little disappointed to see her smile go from happy to sad as she suddenly looked ashamed and frightened, either of what had happened to her or of the fact that Ryan had kissed her and she had let him. It hurt him to hear her asking him to stay with her a while because she had tried to sleep but was afraid to. He instantly shifted to lie beside her and let her snuggle in, lifting his arm around her to offer her some comfort. “You’ll never have nightmares with me, I promise.”
*****
Paige could see her mother’s smile as she heard the familiar sound of the engine from the driveway. It was a one of a kind purr that always seemed to gain the entire houses attention whenever it was heard. Silvia always got so excited when Angelo came over and Paige never really knew why, and she knew that she couldn’t understand it because she just didn’t see anything about Angelo that she could ever get excited about. And sure enough, it wasn’t just her mother. A second later Raya, the pretty dark haired girl who helped Silvia in her flower store, came rushing out of the kitchen, flattening out her flowery summer dress as she waited beside the sofa, only hoping to get a glance of Angelo. “What’s the big fuss about?” A gruff, yet sexy voice called from Paige’s side, and she couldn’t help but smile up at Danny, linking her arm through his as she gave him an answer.
“Angelo’s here.” She smiled cheekily, taking in the impatient way Raya was gripping the top of the sofa, standing on her tip toes as if to see better, even though no-one had entered the house yet. “You are going to be nice to him…aren’t you?” She asked hopefully, all too aware of the jealousy in his eyes as he wrapped his arm around her waist, burying his free hand in his pocket as though he were trying not to punch someone. Danny only growled a low reply that his actions would all depend upon whether or not Angelo spoke, frowning as the front door opened to Angelo and Julius’s laughter, the two walking inside together, Julius holding onto his young friend’s arm in a way that disappointed him more than he even thought Paige would guess. But he couldn’t help it. Her father doted on Angelo as if he was his son and yet Danny lived in the house, guarding Paige and practically already dating her, but Julius hated him. He couldn’t help the jealous question of what Angelo was going showing up at the house anyway, he hadn’t been invited as far as any of them knew and he certainly wasn’t welcome.
“He’s just bringing papà back home from work. That’s all.” She giggled softly, the sound making Danny smile down at her just as Angelo, his father and Julius walked into the living room. No-one could say anything as Raya suddenly screeched in excitement and ran over to Angelo, her deafening warning giving him time to catch her before she knocked him over, lifting her off her feet as he twirled her in circles with a smile before setting her back down on her feet. She was a sweet girl, only just having turned seventeen and she was very much like a little sister to him, although not everyone held the same thought about the two’s relationship, both Julius and Dino laughing at the young girl’s excitement as Dino crossed over to the drinks cabinet and poured two drinks for them.
“Did you buy me something?” She asked happily, glancing back down at the small bag in his hand, reaching out for it until he pulled it back out of her reach and held his finger up, asking for her patience with a cheeky smile.
“Good god…does he hit on every girl in this house?” Danny sighed to himself, Paige blushing in embarrassment as she saw Angelo’s discrete frown of disapproval, no-one else seeming to have noticed.
“Angelo…” Raya brought back his smile just by saying his name and it astounded Paige and Silvia equally as they watched him sit the bag on the arm of the chair nearest him, pulling out a small, delicate black box with a pink ribbon tied around it. And they could all see a slight adoration in the sweet, young girl’s eyes as she stared up at him, biting her lower lip nervously, watching his every move.
“Hold your hands out.” He smiled, placing the black box onto the palms of her hands. “Now don’t open it yet. I got something for all my favourite girls.” He announced softly, crossing over to Silvia as he handed her the entire bag, a strange sinking feeling settling into the pit of Paige’s stomach when she realised that there was nothing for her. “You can open yours if you want.” Angelo could see the delight in her eyes as she glanced over at Julius, the excitement of such an unexpected surprise overtaking her as she gave the inside of the bag a quick glimpse before letting out a shocked squeak, covering her mouth as if to hide it. The whole house had heart it but she just smiled to herself.
“Oh Angelo…Really…” She gasped, hugging him before looking around her guiltily and clasping the bag to her chest, a faint blush of pink filling her cheeks. “I’ll just…put this upstairs.” She smiled, leaving quietly, without another word.
“What did you get her?” Julius asked curiously, still not seeing why it was so important for them to stop at a little boutique store on the way back.
“Whatever it is, I’m not telling you.” He joked, scolding him silently as he glanced back at Raya who was so taken by the fact that Angelo had actually bought her something that she couldn’t even bear to open it, clasping it to her chest with both hands, staring up at him with tears in her eyes. “And you…when are you going to open that?” He teased, gently sliding the box from her grasp as he undid the pink ribbon and lifted the lid so that she couldn’t see what was inside. And he had to admit, he was quite enjoying the enchanting look of contentment in her eyes and knowing that he had been the one to put it there. Extracting her gift from the box, he held it tightly in his hand, not letting her get a glimpse of it as he discarded the box to the chair behind him and smiled down at the sweet girl. “Happy Birthday sweetheart…” Angelo held his hand out and let the small pendant fall from his fingers, dangling from the chain and there was no mistaking the happiness that Raya displayed as she traced a finger over the St. Christopher locket, the happy tears falling freely.
“Oh Angelo…mia famiglia.” She cried, falling into his arms in tears.
No-one knew what to say as Raya crumbled into tears. She was so young, but had never really had any other family other than Silvia, Julius and Paige. Her mother had been a beautiful Italian woman, one of Silvia’s childhood friends, who had fallen in love with a young Mexican boy when she was a teenager. Their families had forbidden them to ever be together, but they had been so in love that they had left Italy and made their way to America by themselves. They had married and had two children, Marcellus, the oldest and Raya. Tia, Raya’s mother, had died in childbirth and Thurstan had tried desperately to keep the family together. But Marcellus left to join the army, hating Raya and the part she had played, unwittingly, in her mothers death. He had been killed two years later and so when Thurstan became ill when Raya was just fourteen, Silvia had taken care of her as though she were her own. Both families had always been close and so, they all looked after each other, but just a year past Thurstan had died, and since then Raya had looked upon Angelo as both a father and older brother. Silvia and Julius hadn‘t seen any other option other than to adopt Raya as their own, it had only seemed natural but somehow Paige had never seen her as a sister, just another person wandering about her house. But Angelo loved her like a sister and didn’t see any reason not to let her know it.
“Shh…it’s alright.” Angelo tried to soothe her tears, but for a long time she just clung to his arms and cried. He could understand why and didn’t much like the fact that he had done that to her. But when he had found her locket on the kitchen counter one night, with the chain broken and rusted, he had known it was close to her birthday and had only wanted to give her her family. So he’d made sure to get it cleaned, have all the rust taken off and to give it a brand, spanking new chain to liven it up a little. And he was a little confused by the way everyone was reacting, as he could see the fond smiles on Julius and his fathers faces, looking at her as though she were a little puppy. Danny seemed perfectly happy, grinning smugly as he held his arm over Paige’s shoulder. But it was Paige that had him confused. If he didn’t know better, he’d have thought that there was a…almost a deep longing and admiration in her smile, however faint it was. Raya admitted finally that she thought she had lost them, holding onto his arms for support as she looked up, letting him wipe her tears away, his warm smile a welcome sight. “Well…that’s why I did it.” He smiled, gesturing for her to turn around so he could put it on for her. “I could see that it was broken and I wanted it fixed. And you never have the darned thing off, so I thought I’d take the chance when I found it.” He explained, letting her lift the mass of black, wavy hair from her shoulders as he fastened the chain around her neck, brushing his hand over her hair and putting it back into place.
The way she thanked him, blushing shyly, slowly turning to face him again, kissing his cheek in appreciation, was the sweetest thing he had seen in a long time and when she asked if she could go show her mother Silvia, he could only smile and send her on her way. “Off you go.” Angelo couldn’t imagine seeing anything more beautiful than the sweet seventeen year old girl running off into the hallway to go find her adoptive mother, moved to tears because of a simple locket, which held four tiny pictures. One of herself, one of her mother, another of her father and the last of her brother. “Well…I think she’s happy, don’t you?” He smiled proudly, accepting a bottle of cold beer from his father, who he noticed had taken a moment to sneak into the kitchen.
“You spoil her Angelo…anyone would think you were her father.” Dino laughed jokingly, as Angelo smiled to himself, unable to stop himself from noticing the way Danny took the opportunity, while he wasn’t paying attention, to get closer to Paige. And he wasn’t the only one to notice the way Danny began whispering in her ear even though he was staring directly at Angelo, as if deliberately trying to goad him. Neither Julius nor Dino liked it, but they were proud to see that Angelo didn’t care. He just laughed and asked what he meant because he was nowhere hear old enough to have a seventeen year old daughter and Julius agreed, tipping his glass towards Dino as if to make him rethink his words, asking what he had to say for himself in reply.
“I’m pleading the fifth.” He sighed, sinking onto the sofa.
“Good. But just you remember, I’m allowed to spoil my girls sometimes…I entitled to want to put a little bit of happiness into their lives.” Angelo defended himself, smiling up at Paige as he took a sip of his beer. “That’s just what you do when you love someone.”