Vienna was coming out of the exam hall walking to the cafeteria to get breakfast. She had breakfast in the morning but she had become hungry after thinking so much. The exam was really hard. As she walked into the cafeteria and towards the counters, she watched the students clear away and get out if her way. She sighed. What was going on? She had no idea that at that moment, Tristan was watching her from far and the students were conscious of it. She walked to one of the counters without noticing him and asked for a glass of orange juice and hot pastry.
Tristan was sitting opposite Vincenzo on a table close to the counters in the cafeteria as they were discussing their strategy for the next game. They had sheets of paper in front of them and were writing down their strategies. They had discussed their tactics in the morning but of course, they were discussing it further until the afternoon when the practice was.
Vincenzo noticed Tristan had gone quiet. He looked up at him and saw how he was staring into the distance. He then looked to the direction he was looking. He turned back sharply to Tristan "Are you kidding me? Seriously? Give my sister some space to breath.. Stop looking at her like that..."
Tristan looked at Vincenzo "If she doesn't want me to look at her, she needs to ask me herself. I told you I wont do anything she is not happy with."
Vinncezno argued " She wont tell you even if it bothers her.... She is just too nice... I know her.... She is my baby sister...."
Tristan defended "Of course. She wasn't your baby sister when you threw her paintings away. Now suddenly she is..."
Vincenzo spoke "You don't know what you are talking about. I just don't want her to throw her life away."
Tristan warned " How can you say that? Your uncle Costanzo is a painter in his spare time."
Vincenzo spoke "Its different with him."
Tristan stated "How?"
Vincenzo stated "It just is... He is beyond saving" He then got on with writing down strategies as he was sketching the basketball court.
Tristan announced "You know, I would never do to Clarisa what you did to Vienna and her art work. How can you treat her like this? She told me she hasn't entered the art challenge because you may get mad. Have you got anything to say for yourself?"
Vincenzo looked up and sighed "Well, you can inform her that I have been given a last warning by my father that I shouldn't interfere in her art ambitions. So she can go ahead and waste her time if she wishes, because no thanks to my mother, I can't do anything. She told my father she was fed up of me giving her a hard time. Guess what? This time the threat is quite serious because of my dear mother. Vienna is allowed to throw her life away if she wishes and waste her time painting. no thanks to my mother..."
Tristan shook his head "You know, you are so lucky to have a mother who is so caring. She is stopping you from making mistakes. If my mother was as caring as yours my life would have been easier."
Vincenzo spoke "I don't even know what you are talking about. Just do this and stop pressuring her like this...."
Tristan stated "She hasnt complained that I am looking at her."
Vincenzo spoke without looking up" Let her have her breakfast in peace. If she chokes on her food while you look at her, I will choke you...."
Tristan laughed "You know, this situation is so comical. Suddenly you have become more protective of her ever since I have said, I like her. That's how it works Vincenzo. My old man says, you don't appreciate what's in front of you until you feel its under threat or you lose it. He had a near death experience so he has taught me to appreciate little things that others may not. I wonder what else you take for granted. I wonder what else should become under threat or taken away from you in order for you to appreciate it."
Vincenzo spoke without looking up "Give me a violin.... I don't know the answer to your question. But I do know what I would never miss .... Your genius ideas about how I should treat my siblings.... And I would surely not miss your opinions about my personal affairs. Keep them to yourself. I don't tell you how to treat Clarisa or Trent. Do I? "
Tristan stood up.
Vincenzo sighed as he kept on writing "Seriously? Let my sister eat her food in peace... Sit down" He then glanced up and saw Tristan was looking into the distance with murder in his eyes. He looked behind him in the direction Tristan was looking. He saw Edward Blake at Vienna's table, showing her a bunch of papers busy talking.
Vincenzo sighed. There was so much drama. Why couldn't boys leave his sister alone? Vincenzo stated " He is probably discussing his scripts with Vienna..." Then he saw in astonishment as Edward's hand hit her orange juice glass which made it split on the table and all over the papers.
Tristan gritted his teeth "That's it." Tristan then walked away to her table.
Vincenzo rolled his eyes "Stop being dramatic Tristan. That's just orange juice." And then he noticed how Edward Blake signed his death warrant. Vienna and Edward had both reached their hands for the napkins box on the table to clean up the table and Edward had just touched Vienna's hand as they both reached for the napkins. Edward seemed to be frozen as he had his hand on hers and he was looking at Vienna.
Vincenzo didn't know why he even bothered but he had to warn his sister so he whistled in a way that his sister knew it was his whistle. That made Vienna look in his direction and she saw Tristan coming her way from his brother's table. She turned to Edward who was hyperventilating and apologising as he had his hand on hers frozen in spot. She stated "Run." She then free her hand and pushed him away.
Tristan's eyes were zeroed on his victim who was fleeing from the cafeteria. He wanted to kill him. How dare he spill her drink and touch her?
Tristan then saw how Vienna slowly and cautiously side stepped her bench and walked towards Tristan. He wanted Edward dead. That kid was history. There was no way she could stop him... He looked past her at Edward Blake as he left through the front exit. He had every intention of following him but then his breath hitched in his throat as he felt her touch.
As Vienna had reached him, she had instinctively put her hand on his chest. She was shaking. He looked like he was about to kill and he truly was. She spoke in her shaky voice. "Please calm down... It was an accident."
Tristan closed his eyes and took a moment to compose himself. He then opened his eyes and looked at Vienna. She was wearing a beautiful white dress. He looked closely at her dress and noticed there was no orange juice spilt on her dress. He was relieved. White really suited her.... He wondered how many years from now he could see her in a wedding dress..."
Vienna was breathing hard from panic "Tristan. Please... stop."
Vienna was petrified. He looked scary and had his hands balled into fists.
Tristan whispered "Are you okay?"
Vienna nodded "I am fine." She was worried about what he was to do next. She breathed "Can we talk about this?"
Tristan sighed "You don't need to explain.... I will get you breakfast."
Vienna didn't argue as Tristan walked away to the counter. He had to force himself to get away from her for a few seconds. What was he to do? She had just touched his chest and he was feeling like his heart was about to burst. In a most twisted way he was slightly glad Edward had done what he had done. If it wasn't for him, he wouldn't have had that moment with Vienna when she had touched him. he would have given anything to have that lengthy moment. He relived that moment as he was buying her another pastry and a glass of orange juice. Her rosy lips had trembled, her shaky hands had landed on his hard chest. Her gorgeous eyes were looking directly into his. He had been in heaven in that moment. Her voice had been soothing to hear. But how she had pleaded for Edward fuelled his jealousy. That kid never went away.... But again he was trying to only focus on that moment with her.
Tristan finally walked away from the counter to a bench next to Vienna's "Sit here. Its dry here. Edward has made a mess there." He said the last sentence in a harsh tone without meaning to make Vienna jump. She gulped and walked to the bench and sat down.
Tristan smiled "Good. Now you can have your breakfast while I take care of someone."
As he was about to walk away and turned, she quickly spoke "Wait... Why don't you sit." She really needed to distract him from Edward.
Tristan heart melted as he heard her suggestion. He thought to himself "How can I get up if I sit next to you." He turned around. He wanted to say no but this was too tempting to say no to. He asked "Are you sure?"
Vienna nodded. "Do you want to share this breakfast?"
Tristan sat down "No." He didn't understand why she actually thought he would ever take her food away. He was never going to do that.
Vienna spoke "But you will just watch?"
Tristan nodded "Sure."
Vienna felt self conscious as he started watching her. She took a few sips of orange juice and found his stare on her unbearable. She finally cut her pastry in half with a knife and handed one half to Tristan "I can't have this whole pastry. Have half or I wont touch either half."
Tristan shook his head "Its your food..."
Vienna sighed "Have half or I will have none."
Tristan raised an eyebrow "Are you threatening me? Do you think this is the way to go?."
She responded automatically "It was a promise. Not a threat." She then swallowed hard as she saw his expression. She had just said the words that had come to her mind. She didn't think a dangerous glint would come to his eyes. What was he going to do next?
Tristan didn't like to be threatened. He gave her a playful smile and said it as gently as he could "You really shouldn't threaten me Vienna about anything. I have a limit..." But he decided to take her half of pastry "But fine if it makes you happy..." He then reluctantly took the pastry and took bites. It was the most heavenly tasting pastry. He had this pastry before but for some reason it tasted most delicious now that her hand had touched it.
As Vienna finished her pastry, she decided, enough was enough with the silence. He just kept staring at her and she kept looking away. He didn't seem so scary but she knew she should have been scared of him. Edward Blake could be dead... She decided to speak carefully and slowly about her worries " Tristan...."
Tristan put his hand under her chin, staring into her eyes giving her a smile as he was glad she could finally look into his eyes and look not petrified of him. The art exercise seemed to have worked. She seemed abit nervous but he didn't mind. At least the fear was mostly gone from her eyes. He responded "Yes, Vienna... What is it?"
Vienna bit her lip "You know what happened with Edward.... It was just an accident Tristan."
Tristan stated words that brought chills down her spine as his tone changed to a serious one that was almost cold "I will be the judge of that Vienna."