Big Plans

In front of the busy lecture room, two young men were having a standoff, as other students passed by them hurrying to their own afternoon classes.

"It's been a while, Norton." Alex Maxwell, one of the young men said, with a smirk on his face.

"You haven't changed at all Maxwell." The other young man, Andy Norton replied, trying his best to force a smile and stay courteous.

"The last time I saw you were at the regional tournament," Alex said while feigning to reminisce about past events.

"Let's see… it was after I beat you?" Alex nonchalantly added, trying to infuriate his interlocutor.

Andy Norton is a proper and handsome young man, his composed demeanor and his sharp brown eyes exhibit his intellect, and his confident behaviors and old-fashioned mannerisms display his distinguished upbringing.

Andy Norton is the eldest son of the Norton industry, since his childhood, he was told the importance of winning, which drove him to succeed in whatever he does, academic or athletic.

One of his biggest successes is fencing, where he started during middle school. He has accomplished several triumphs, accumulating prizes and trophies, making a name for himself in the fencing community.

He met Alex Maxwell during their first year of high school in the fencing club, where Alex was a newcomer. But soon, Alex overtook him, winning that year's national tournament by defeating him.

Worse, he also lost the affection of a girl he liked to Alex Maxwell in the same.

Feeling humiliated about his defeat against a newcomer in his first year in the competitive fencing sphere, Andy yearned for revenge to reclaim his love and re-establish his position, but Alex never gave him the opportunity.

Alex never took fencing as seriously as Norton, considering the discipline as a hobby despite his talent. In their second year, Alex didn't participate in the national competition, giving Norton an empty victory.

Since then, his small wish has grown into a deep grudge, leading to their actual relationship.

____

Andy Norton's face is slightly distorted, as he tries hard to compose his expression after Alex's provocation.

"Hahaha! Big word for someone who runs away." Andy retorted back.

With the lightning flying between the two gentlemen, Lily Lambert and Eliana Carter couldn't utter anything and were astonished by the scene, wondering the stories between the two young men.

Ryan Doyle was as confused as the beauties but was more interested to attract the young ladies' attention.

"Well, I'm sure you will run away again this year, so I will leave you to your business..."

"... Let's see how long you can run."

Andy said to Alex, pats Ryan Doyle's shoulder to say good-bye, and leaves for his own class.

"You two are good friends?" Eliana said sarcastically to Alex, who replied with an awkward smile.

"Is he also a friend of yours, I saw him coming with Doyle earlier." Lily also intrigued, asked Alex, after noticing their previous strange interaction.

"We are on the same fencing club." He replied to both young ladies and leads to way inside the lecture room.

Alex and his group take place in the middle section of the amphitheater, he sits in the middle of the two flowers, and it goes without saying that attention has been always on them.

"I didn't know you were on the fencing club," Lily exclaimed, surprised by the new fact about the young man.

"It's just a hobby, It has been a while since I have shown up there," Alex explained to the two beauties, as their eyes were beaming with curiosity.

Ryan Doyle, who has followed them from the beginning, not wanting to appear as a leech, purposefully separated himself from the group and sat in the first row just in front of the podium.

The teacher enters the room, pressing the latecomers to quickly take their seats, in order to start the lecture.

"Good afternoon everyone! Before I begin the lecture I would like to make an announcement." The middle-aged man stated.

Whispers rise throughout the lecture room, as students talk among themselves wondering about the teacher's announcement.

"For the upcoming 75th founding anniversary of West-Castle high school, Norton Industry will be sponsoring the festivity."

Hearing the news, Alex has a bad feeling about the unexpected development, and he quickly understands Andy Norton is involved in this progression, but he cannot fully perceive yet, what he is plotting.

"And, from the suggestion of students from the literature class and agreed by the dean himself, the members of the literature class would be tasked to write and present a speech on behalf of the school during the festive opening."

Alex turns his head toward Lily Lambert, herself a member of the literature class, asking if she knew about the situation, but she shakes her head, denying her involvement, being as much surprised as he is.

Alex manages to deduce "the students" is a student, and most probably Ryan Doyle, with the suggestion of Andy Norton, but the reason was still unclear.

Following the professor's announcement, class resumes as usual.

During the few hours of the lecture, in between talking to the beauties at his sides and taking notes for himself, Alex wonders why would Andy Norton and Ryan Doyle use such random maneuver, at the same time he was enjoying the interesting progression.

____

After the lectures ends, the complementary courses were left before the day concludes. Before separating and going to their respective course Alex suggested to both ladies.

"Lily, how about I accompany you and your sister home again? Of course, the offer extends to yourself to Carter." He said, with a friendly smile on his face.

Before the young women could answer, he added.

"On the way home, we can stop nearby and discuss our science project." He knew that using the reason that the three of them were in the same science project group, would lessen their guards and raise the chance they would accept.

"… I guess it would be okay," Lily said after she hesitated for a few seconds.

"I also don't mind." Eliana followed casually.

"Then, I'll meet you both at the front gate after the comp-class."

"Oh Lily! Do not worry about Ivy, I'll inform her with text." Alex added, reassuring the young lady about her younger sibling.

"Thank you!" The young lady responded and a warm smile emanated from her usual cool visage the moment she heard about her sister.

Next, the group leaves for each of their respective courses, Lily Lambert to her literary class with Ryan Doyle, Eliana Carter to her catch-up course, and Alex to his history class, planning to gather up again at the end of the day.

____

Before long, the sun approaches its twilight marking the end of the school day, as the bell rang throughout the campus, students were coming out of the buildings, heading toward their respective activities or going toward the gate.

Alex came out earlier than the young ladies, he approaches his driver who gives him the car keys for a red sport utility vehicle, different from what he habitually commute with, and waits for the girls leaning against the hood.

Coming out first among the ladies is Eliana Carter, under the denim shorts she was wearing, her long golden legs were striding sensually as she approaches Alex.

"Nice car young master!" She teased Maxwell, looking at the slick curve and sporty line of the car behind him.

"As long as you behave in our agreement, you can get any car you want." He replied, smiling at the exquisite girl in front of him.

Eliana didn't immediately say anything back, as she reminisces the discussion they had about her agency and upcoming contract.

She arranges her wavy blonde hair with her hand, looks at Maxwell with her misty gray eyes, and asks.

"You're really going to purchase our agency, huh?" She asked in rhetoric while digesting the situation once again.

"Don't worry, I have told you, your mother and you are safe as long as you help me," Alex answered the young woman, attempting to ease her worry.

And once again, hearing his gentle tone and looking at his clear brown eyes made Eliana Carter strangely reassured.

Soon after, Lily Lambert comes out with her little sister beside her, before she approaches the car she was discussing a few things with Ryan Doyle at the front of the school buildings.

They were too far to hear or to discern lip-syncing movement, perceiving this unfortune, Alex calls Eliana Carter resting inside the car.

"Carter, help me out!" He said with a serious face.

Understanding Maxwell was about to instruct her of her first task, she puts her smartphone away and unplugs her earphones, she was all ears.

"It could be said that you are Lily's best friend." He said and she nodded.

"From now on, I would like you to inform me about Lily and Ryan Doyle." Alex continued as his eyes were still on Lily Lambert and her interlocutor.

"What did they discuss about, what does she think about him. Anything you manage to collect." He followed looking back at the young lady, now outside the car, leaning against the door, a few feet behind him.

"So you like her." She playfully said, a mischievous smile on her sultry face.

"No need to be jealous." Alex fired back with a smile.

"You wish," Eliana responded with an amused tone.

After Lily said goodbye to Ryan Doyle, She and her sister join Eliana Carter and Alex Maxwell in the car.

"Sorry to make you wait, I was discussing some matter with Doyle." Lily apologized while entering the passenger seat of the car.

"It's okay," Eliana replied to her in a relaxed voice, while plashing with her smartphone on the front.

On the other side, Ivy is also entering the passenger seat, seeing Alex in the driver's seat, the energetic young girl exclaims in surprise.

"Big brother, you know how to drive? That's so cool." Ivy said, with her gleaming blue eyes.

"I got my license during the last break," Alex responds, turning himself to look at the young girl with his signature friendly smile.

"Awesome, now you can bring big sis on dat-" Before she finished her sentence, she put her hand on her mouth, aware of his blunder, and noticing her sister glares.

Alex Maxwell was a well-educated gentleman and didn't pry any further.

A short awkward silence filled the car, as everybody was buckled up in their seats.

"Well, everybody is okay? Let's go now." Alex said, breaking the silence, as he starts the engine and depart.

"Lily! I saw you with Doyle earlier, what was that about?" Eliana casually asked Lambert, glimpsing back to look at her.

"Oh! Doyle and I were elected to deliver the thank-you speech, during the school anniversary."

Hearing this, everything was made clear in Alex Maxwell's head, he finally understands Ryan Doyle and Andy Norton's aims.

They created a situation for Doyle and Lily to be together, Alex was thrilled.

____ End of Chapter 5 ____