Sincerely yours, Viviana

Surprise

The boys strolled into the locker rooms, exhausted from two hours of gruelling rugby practise in the rain. They were cold and and aching, covered in mud.

"Good practise today, boys. Hit the showers." Coach Anderson walked in behind his players. "Campbell. Anderson."

"Yeah, Coach?" Theo turned to look at his dad.

"My office. Now."

Elijah and Theo shared a look at his severe tone of voice, and the rest of their team teased them for being called in.

"Have fun Campbell!" One of Elijah's team mates shouted at him.

"Fuck off, Daniels."

Elijah and Theo sat uncomfortably in the chairs in Coach's office, facing him on the other side of the desk. Coach was sat back in his chair, his hard stare flicking between his two star players.

"I trust you two not to feed me any bullshit. So, anyone going to explain to me why Tom Lloyd has a black eye?"

Elijah and Theo shared a look deciding who was going to speak first.

"It was Ana." Theo admitted to his Dad.

"Who's Ana?"

"Italian Ana." Theo emphasised.

"There's an Italian Ana?"

"Yeah, you know, short, dark hair?"

The man stared at his son, an eyebrow raised.

Elijah rolled his eyes. "Look, Coach, he has a black eye because he put hands on Adora."

"Your Adora?" Coach Anderson looked towards his son.

"Yes. My Adora." Theo's jaw ticked.

"And this Ana girl punched him?" Coach let out an impressed laugh. "I've got to meet her."

Theo looked towards Elijah with a smirk on his face, but Elijah ignored his friend has he leaned forward. "And what about Lloyd? He should be suspended."

"Like you should be?" Coach shot back. "Not happy with you from last Wednesday's game. You know better than that. Imagine my reaction when my captain decides to use his fists instead of dealing with a bad play. You're supposed to be setting an example. If you were anyone else's son—"

"Don't bring my dad into this." Elijah interrupted, spite laced through his voice.

"Just think before you act, Campbell." Coach ended his telling off, exhaling disappointedly. "Is Adora okay?"

Theo nodded. "Yeah, she's fine."

"Alright then. Lloyd'll be suspended for two weeks on poor behaviour. Let him know for me." Coach looked between his two players. "You're dismissed."

The boys get up from their seats heading back into the locker room.

"Lloyd." Elijah called out to his teammate.

"What do you want, Campbell?" Tom's was almost visibly seeking with spite. Elijah ignored the changing room going quieter as the others listened into their conversation.

"You're suspended from the team. Two weeks."

"The fuck I'm not."

"Don't argue." Elijah shot back. "Coaches decision. Clean out your locker."

"All because I danced with his bitch?" Tom signalled to Theo who, until that point, was trying to mind his own business facing his locker.

Theo turned around, and if looks could kill, Tom would be a rotting corpse. Elijah saw the anger on his best friend's face, and let out a laugh, rubbing his jaw. "Should've just shut up."

Theo stalked scarily towards Tom, an expression like thunder on his face. He balled his fists, fingers digging into his palm. "Leave. Before you have another black eye. I can guarantee you it'll hurt more."

Tom held his stare, trying to appear as intimidating as possible, but eventually gave in under Theo's six foot two height. He turned back to his bag, packed up his stuff and left.

"You can all finish up now." Elijah dismissively said to no one in particular, but all his team mates responded, turning back around and putting away their kit.

Elijah patted Theo on the back. "I can't have him disrespecting Addy like that. Twice."

"I know. You shouldn't have to worry about him anymore." Elijah comforted.

The two old friends shared a knowing look, as if they were able to read each other's mind.

"We shouldn't fall into old habits." Theo broke the silence.

"I know." Elijah nodded. "He's used two of his strikes. We'll do it on the third."

Theo nodded, the two of them coming to an unspoken agreement.

____________________

"That's looking amazing, Ana." Adora gaped as she walked into the studio. "I'll never understand how you do it."

"Thank you, amore mio." Ana put down her brush and took the second coffee cup, taking a long sip.

"I have some news." Adora admitted.

"Yes...?"

"And you're going to hate me, but then you'll love me."

"Addy. Tell me." Ana said, nervous for what her friend has done.

"I signed you up for the holiday guardianship program." Adora mumbled quickly.

"Okay, my English is good but not that good."

Adora sighed. "I signed you up for the holiday guardianship program."

Ana heard loud and clear that time.

"You're kidding me."

"I told you you'd hate me..."

"Che cazzo!" Ana exclaimed. "Why would you do that?"

"I wasn't going to let you be alone over the holidays, Ana."

"So you'd shack me up with a random family over christmas break? This wasn't your choice Adora. I would've been fine here."

"It's not a random family. They will be a student at this school, you know this." Adora tired to justify. "I know what Christmas means to you, and I know you need to be around people—"

"People I love, Addy. People like my family." Ana interrupted, forcing a tear back. "But I can't have that. You wouldn't understand."

Adora went silent, not finding the words to respond. A tear fell from Ana's eye, the feeling of missing her family, but also the guilt of snapping at Adora.

"I'm sorry, Addy." Ana voice was quiet. "That was unfair of me."

"I'm sorry too." Adora walked over to Ana, bringing her in to a tight hug. Ana wrapped her arms around Adora and held her just as tightly. "I should have checked with you before signing you up."

"It's okay. I know you only want what's best for me."

"That's all I've ever wanted." Adora wiped Ana's tear with her sleeve, the fibres of the cashmere tickling her cheek. "And don't worry, I ensured that you'll be with a good family."

"You know who I'm staying with?" Ana pulled away from the hug.

"No, but had the assistant lady put in a special note." Adora shrugged.

"You threatened her?" Ana raised an eyebrow.

"I threatened her." Adora admitted.

Ana let out a sigh. "I guess I shouldn't expect anything less from you."

"Hey, I don't like using status as a bargaining point either. But when the occasion arises..." Ana let let out weak laugh. "You'll be okay, Ana."

"I know." Ana nodded, hugging Adora. "Love you, Addy."

"See? I told you you'd love me after." Adora hugged Ana back, smiling.