Several hours later, as dusk began to settle, an expensive sports car pulled into the St Elois parking lot. Students leaving their after school activities glanced over curiously and stretched their necks to get a peek of the man who stepped out. Tall and fit like a football quarterback, dressed in top notch brand clothes and handsome like an A-class movie star and a Brazilian model, he fixed the dress coat he was wearing before offering a short, polite smile to a group of girls standing nearby. The girls sighed in delight, as if one look from him had caused their ovaries to burst.<br/><br/>He walked inside, greeting the security guard and a couple of teachers. Being an old student and also a favorite of the Dean, he was always welcomed warmly in St Elois. After exchanging a quick word with the Dean, he made his way to the classroom where Alexandria was nearly falling asleep on her fiftieth page of Pi decimals. She looked up, however, when she heard the door open, and was both surprised and a little irritated to see it was Gabriel Perez.<br/><br/>"I heard you've been a bad girl." He spoke and walked over to her with a gentle smile. "Crushing hearts as you always do, except this time the guy sounds decent."<br/><br/>"It has nothing to do with you, Gabe." Alexandria responded coldly, but cursed when she was immediately punished for her mean tone. Gabe grabbed her chin into a death grip and forced her to look into his eyes.<br/><br/>"No, it has everything to do with me, songbird. If you use that tone again on me I'll cut off that wonderful hair of yours and make you walk down main street with your head shaved." His voice was low and dangerous. "Now, you're going to behave with me, Alexandria. You're going to pack your things, lift that sweet little arse off the chair and get into my car and we're going to buy you a lovely dress and a pair of heels for your date. Do you understand me? Or would you prefer to stay here?"<br/><br/>Alexandria gulped and winced, his grip hurting her. "Yes." She managed to say with a sweeter tone. "I will do as you say."<br/><br/>"Good girl. Once we're done shopping, we'll have dinner and you'll tell me everything about Keith Steinmoor." Gabriel instructed. "If you play nice and do exactly as I tell you to... and listen to everything I have to say, I'll make a call to the Dean and explain that the Sackville boy got you into trouble and is to be blamed."<br/><br/>The blonde blinked her eyes, but nodded. She knew not to disobey Perez. Without another word, Alexandria did as he instructed and followed him to his car. She wondered how he knew about all this and who had called him, but didn't have to search for long. It had to be Erika. She knew Gabe was her only weakness. There was no way she'd ever disobey him or disrespect him. "Why are you getting involved?" Alex asked as he drove off, heading to the mall. "What's in it for you?"<br/><br/>"Oh, quite a bit." Gabriel replied with a smile. "You know, I wasn't entirely convinced about this Keith guy when I first heard about him. But then I saw you. Ah, you're trying so hard, songbird. But it's crystal clear that you're in love. Also, judging from the way you wobble on your feet, he's good between the sheets."<br/><br/>Alexandria blushed hard. Wobbled? Really? She wouldn't contest him, he had a sharp pair of eyes. "I care about you, Alexandria." Gabe explained. "You're like a little sister, you know. I don't like the people you've been with up until now. I want you to meet someone truly special, who will make your happy. Someone who will make you weak in the knees and who will see you as something else than the queen."<br/><br/>"If this is love, then why am I so afraid?" She asked, honesty peeking through her demeanor. "I tremble at the thought of being with him."<br/><br/>"Well, obviously. You've never been in love, am I right?" Gabe grinned. "Your first love. Of course it's scary. You've probably never thought of showing so much of your inner self to someone. But what is there to really be afraid of? We all have our monsters."<br/><br/>"I am a monster." Alexandria sighed.<br/><br/>"No, you are a coward. That's why you're the queen." Gabe corrected her expertly. "If you weren't a coward you wouldn't feel the need to extend your power, to treat other people the way you do. I know behind all that you're scared and lonely, fragile like a castle of glass. But it's fine, Alexandria. It doesn't make you any less wonderful."<br/><br/>"I don't want to be that kind of a woman." She spoke, looking down. "Who needs a guy to survive."<br/><br/>"There's nothing wrong in needing him. Even without him you'll survive, no doubt, but it's not a zero sum game is what I mean to say." Gabe explained patiently. "He needs you as much as you need him. He has his monsters too, undoubtedly. His insecurities and weaknesses. That's why we need love. Do you understand, songbird? Love is when two people join forces and become companions, not when one dominates the other."<br/><br/>Meanwhile, Erika was happy to finally get through to Keith. "Keith! Where are you? Are you alright?" She asked, worried. "Listen, it's going to be okay. I promise things will be fine! I have a plan to make things right. I'm sorry about what happened today... she got out of line. I shouldn't have said anything either." The girl sighed slightly. "Perez is meeting Alexandria. I called him. He promised to talk some sense into her and... he wants to meet you. This is your chance. Don't blow it!"