After much convincing and borderline bribing from Levs' mum, he walks into the administration building like he was sent there by force, which technically he was. His suit is too clean for a school check-in but it makes sense since he's heading straight to work after.
Clean, expensive, mismatched in that specific way that only works on certain people, a tie he clearly hates having to wear, a silver watch, usual jewellery and polished dress shoes from some shop he doesn't remember the name of and didn't need to.
Alex walks beside him in a semi-formal outfit of a simple black dress just above the knee and black heels she'd pulled from her bag. She always has something in that bag. His hand is light on her back as they step through the glass doors and she's choosing not to think about that.
"You didn't need to come," he mutters.
"You didn't either," she fires back. "And yet, here we are." At the front desk, the receptionist's reaction lands somewhere between startled and flustered. Her eyes flick from Lev to the logbook like she's half-convinced-praying- a parent will magically appear.
"Oh, Mr Armani. We had your parents listed-"
"They're not coming," Lev replies. "I'm on file as a Legal guardian." Alex leans casually on the counter, hands folded. Her smile is polite as always.
"I'm the nanny. Should be on file as well," she says lightly with enough charm in her voice to avoid pushback, and the woman simply nods and waves them through. They're led to a waiting lounge that looks more like a luxury hotel lobby than a school office, perks of a wealthy private school ig.
Alex raises a brow at the abstract art on the wall. Lev sits upright and rigid in a leather chair like if he relaxes even slightly it will swallow him whole.
A staff member explains that they'll be walked through Siena and Sasha's extracurriculars before going into academic records. Lev nods while Alex does all the smiling for them both.
☀︎
The coach is already on the sidelines when they arrive at the field, waiting like this is a scheduled inspection because it is. Out on the field, girls are in formation running drills.
"Siena is strong, confident, and listens when it counts," the coach says as walking them over, she's known the Armani family long enough to know Lev will listen to a specific piece of information and ignore the rest, so she keeps her words short and simple. "Sometimes takes things personally, but it's because she's invested." Lev watches, arms folded.
"She fights with refs?"
"Only when they're wrong," the coach replies. "And respectfully. Usually." Siena notices them mid-drill and jogs over with grass stuck to her cleats and a thin layer of sweat darkening her collar. She doesn't bother with a hug, she knows better, but her smile is wide.
"What are you guys doing here?" she asks voice kinda low. Alex answers.
"We're just here to judge you." she grins fixing Ena's flyaways that will go back up when she goes back to training. Ena smiles moving closer to stand next to her.
"You suck." Lev, being the best big brother says, Siena looks at Alex, who's smiling and shakes her head and raises her eyebrows.
"I dare you to do better" short story, Lev needed a change of shirt luckily Alex had an extra in her bag. Call her Mary Poppins atp.
☀︎
Sasha's already in-game when they reach the courts. The kid's form is near perfect, precise, technical with the kind of calm you don't usually see in someone that age. Watching him play feels like watching a ballerina become one with the music.
YOU ARE READING
The Sinner's Saint
RomansaJust Read bro like... *Under Construction* I found a mistake
