Victor

A series of screams echo throughout my head and I can practically feel my eardrums bursting.

I groan and slowly lift my head from where it had been laying against my pillow. My eyes crack open and, almost instantly, light invades them.

I immediately turn my head the other way and catch sight of a dark spot on the other side of my pillow, no bigger than my fist.

I cringe when I realize what it is.

I roll my tired eyes. A nearly-dried puddle of drool. Of course. Every night when I was child, I always drooled in my sleep, no matter the day or what I did to try and prevent it. I guess, even at the mature age of eighteen, I still haven't completely grown out of the tendency.

The screaming continues.

For a moment, I think an actual person is screaming which really freaks me out until my eyes find my incredibly annoying alarm clock sitting in its usual place on my nightstand.

I feel my eyes roll again before I lean over and slap my hand down on the accursed thing, silencing its irritating shrieking.

Of course, when you cut off one hydra head, another immediately grows in its place.

In my case, once I stop a source of screaming, another quickly replaces it without missing a beat.

"VICTOR, I HEARD YOUR ALARM! GET READY FOR SCHOOL OR YOU'LL BE LATE LIKE YESTERDAY!"

I groan again at the sound of my lovely mother's voice. Why is it she always sounds like a banshee on steroids when it's a school morning?

I slowly roll over in bed and check the time on my alarm clock.

7:30 AM

I narrow my eyes. Why am I not surprised?

Suddenly, my door bursts open and in marches the very cause of my morning suffering.

My cousin Yurio Plisetsky looks down at me with a sneer, the look that is usually on his face. His real name is Yuri, but I call him Yurio just to irritate him (well, actually, everyone calls him that). "Get up, idiot. Did you not hear tetka screaming her head off?" he huffs, placing his hands on his hips. Yurio lives with my parents and me and has lived with us since he was little. I was six and he was five when his parents died in car crash, and apparently, my parents and I were the only family he had left, so long story short, he moved in with us and we've been living together ever since. To be honest, he's more of a brother to me than a cousin.

But, just because I love him, doesn't mean he doesn't irritate the shit out of me.

I continue narrowing my eyes at him. "You set my alarm to thirty minutes before the usual time I'm supposed to get up, didn't you?" I don't have to ask; I know he did.

Yurio's sneer turns into the smallest of smiles. "Maybe I did. Don't wet your big boy boxers, Victor; it's literally only thirty minutes. I think you'll live."

I sit up in my bed, eyeing my annoying younger cousin. "Why do you do that? What's the point of you taking away precious minutes of my sleep?" I demand, still glaring at him pointedly.

Yurio clicks his tongue. "Well. Does it even really matter? Getting up early is good for a person, especially when they have someplace to be, such as school," he says in a duh voice. "Besides, the early bird gets the worm or whatever. It's beneficial to rise early!"

"Please," I scoff, not buying a second of his bullshit. "You only did that to irritate me and satisfy yourself. Well, I hope you're happy, Yurio. I hope it was worth it. Anyway, it won't matter after today. In fact, today was the last day you could do that to me. You know why?"

Yurio rolls his eyes. "Of course I know why."

I smile and tell him anyway. "Because today is the last day of school. The last day of twelfth grade. After today, I'm free and get to do whatever the hell I want with my life," I speak proudly.

Yurio gives me a look. "We both know that last part's not true," he points out, and I know, unfortunately, that he's right.

I have no control over my life. No control over my future. My parents have had my entire future planned out ever since my father saw me playing basketball in the park with my little friends for the very first time. I was seven, and he had already deemed me scholarship-worthy and that I'd instantly be scouted out of high school.

He wasn't wrong.

I've been playing basketball for eleven years now, and I've always been good at it. I've made every team I ever tried out for. I'd even go as far as to say I'm probably the best player on my school's team, which is probably true. Although, all throughout my sports "career" I'd never really thought about taking basketball all the way. I have other hobbies I'm interested in.

But, then again, it doesn't matter what I think; I'm going to college on a basketball scholarship, whether I want to or not. Especially when it comes to sports, my father's word is law.

As I pointed out, I have other hobbies, but none of them matter a fraction as much as basketball does, no sir. No way no how, not in the Nikiforov household.

I sigh and avoid Yurio's gaze. "Okay, so you're right about that. Whatever. That doesn't matter right now," A grin splits my face as I begin to get back into my triumphant mood. "My point is, after today, no more high school for us!"

Yurio gives another small smile. Even though he's a year younger than me, this is his last year as well because he skipped a grade awhile back due to his intelligence and excellent test scores. "That part you're right about, and it is such a relief. After today, never again will we be forced to see those ignoramuses we call classmates! Duraki, every last one of them!" he spits, rolling his eyes.

My eyes narrow again, albeit only slightly. "Hey. Not all of them are fools. Some of them I'll really miss; some of them are quite enjoyable to hang around."

Yurio scoffs and raises an eyebrow. "And who exactly are enjoyable to hang around? Your friends?" he questions before he snickers.

"As a matter of fact, yes. My friends are quite enjoyable to hang around," I reply, defending my friends.

Yurio just snorts. "Anyone who's in your position at school would say that about the kind of people your friends are."

I glare at him again. "And what exactly does that mean?" I ask evenly.

Before Yurio can respond, my laptop, sitting in its usual spot on my desk, dings. I recognize that ding immediately.

And so does Yurio. He rolls his eyes again and nods at my laptop. "There's one of them now. Have fun with that." Without another word from either of us, he turns and stalks out of my room, closing the door as he exits.

I roll my eyes for about the hundredth time this morning before I reluctantly get out of my bed and walk over to my desk and laptop. I sit down in my comfy chair and get on my laptop and see exactly what I expected to see.

A message in the chatroom my friends and I use all the time. It's a chatroom for everyone on the basketball team, and most of my friends fall under that category, so each of us uses the room and knows the password to get in.

I read the new message I just received.

Chris_is_daddy: Oh my god dude last day ever of school!!!!! Are you psyched or what??????

I type a message back.

TheRealVictor: DEFINITELY. I'm completely ready for high school to end. Oh and have I told you lately that your new username is STILL weird and creepy and that everyone STILL thinks you should change it? Really Chris it's just creepy.

I instantly get a reply.

Chris_is_daddy: Would you just shut up about my username already?! Number one, I don't care what you think. Number two, it's 100% accurate. Don't be a jealous bitch Nikiforov.

I chuckle at his crass response. Ah, that's classic Chris right there.

TheRealVictor: Whatever. I'm excited about summer. You?

Chris_is_daddy: Of course I'm excited! Why did you even ask that question??

TheRealVictor: Because I care about what my best friend thinks?

Chris_is_daddy: I always knew I was your best friend! :)  Thanks for confirming!

TheRealVictor: No problem.

Chris_is_daddy: I gotta go or I'll be late. See you when you get here bro!

I type in my last message.

TheRealVictor: See ya' later Christophe! :D

Chris_is_daddy: For the millionth time DON'T CALL ME THAT! You know I hate my real name! I don't go by Chris for my health ya' know!! >:(

I snort in amusement as Chris leaves the chatroom before I leave and sign off as well.

I am just closing my laptop and beginning to get ready when I am loudly interrupted.

"VICTOR NIKIFOROV, I SWEAR, IF YOU'RE LATE FOR SCHOOL ONE MORE TIME—"

I cut her off before she can finish. "I'M COMING! Take a big, fat chill pill..." I mutter that last part until my breath. She's such a mom. I have a feeling she enjoys yelling at me.

"WELL, HURRY UP!"

Yep. She definitely enjoys yelling at me.

***

After I swallow my last bite of my breakfast, I'm on my feet and slinging my backpack over one shoulder like I usually do. Yurio is up right after me, doing the same.

I smile as I approach my car—a very sleek and very expensive blue Ferrari, a gift from my parents for my seventeenth birthday. I'm eighteen now, so I've had this baby for a little more than a year, a glorious year of all my basketball teammates being incredibly jealous.

I ended up lucky; my family has always been wealthy, so all my life I've pretty much gotten everything I want. Yurio as well, though he doesn't ask for much things for some reason. Yurio has a car too (a red Ferrari he got for his seventeenth birthday), but he hasn't used it much even though his seventeenth birthday was literally four whole months ago on the first of March.

Yurio's a very odd guy.

When I asked him why he never used his car, he simply replied, "Because I prefer you to have to drive me everywhere, slave."

Yeah. A very odd guy.

Staying true to his claim, he climbs into my car on the passenger side before he settled in, throws his backpack in the back, and closes the door. I get in right after him and do the same. Once we both have our seatbelts on, I start the car and drive off in the direction of our school.

Ten minutes later, we arrive and I park. Yurio and I then grab our backpacks and get out, closing the doors before I lock the car and stow the keys in the little front pocket of my backpack, like I usually do.

Not even two seconds after Yurio and I exit the car, about seven of my friends are suddenly right in front of me, smiling and greeting me.

And this is where Yurio and I go our separate ways. I throw him a wave and a smile. "Have a good last day of school, Yurio!" I call.

Yurio grumbles something incoherent that sounds like a sure before he cuts through the crowds of students and is gone.

I've always sensed Yurio never liked any of my friends, and I never knew why.

Oh well. It's not my problem.

Chris approaches me. "Hey, Victor." We hug like guys and I do so with a few more of my guy friends before we head inside the school.

The second we're inside the school, everyone turns and watches us. Mostly it's girls, checking out my guy friends and me, although there are some guys staring at us, wishing they could be us.

That has never changed; we're the guys every girl wants to be with and every guy wants to be. My friends and I have long since gotten used to the stares of envy and longing.

Just another day in the life.

I smile to myself as I continue to watch people stare at us. Every girl I pass waves flirtatiously at me or winks, every guy I pass smiles at me and gives me their usual nod of friendly acknowledgement.

Chris nudges me as we walk down the hall. "Guess what, man? Katsuki isn't here today. Again. I would have already seen him if he was."

I sigh. "Really? Again?" Yuri Katsuki is another one of my classmates, and although he isn't popular like me and my friends are, everyone knows who he is. Even though I hadn't moved here yet, it was in the seventh grade that Yuri Katsuki was caught making out with another guy underneath the bleachers after the volleyball team's practice ended. Well, it was actually probably just a rumor that someone saw him and another guy, but according to Chris, true or not, it spread like wildfire and Yuri Katsuki was officially outed as gay, a freak of nature.

Ever since then, he's been a regular source of entertainment for my friends, and after I moved here from Russia during the summer before I started high school, he become my source of entertainment as well. My friends and I would always have a good time calling him names and "accidentally" tripping him in the halls and other stuff like that. So, for four years now, I've been having my share of fun with Yuri Katsuki, and that's that I suppose.

However, for the past two weeks, our usual source of entertainment hasn't been at school. No one knows why, but Katsuki just simply stopped coming to school and hasn't come back. Until, yesterday, he suddenly showed up at the end of the day and was seen collecting all his belongings from his locker. Once we had seen him, my friends and I had a little fun with him as usual before he suddenly burst into tears, seeming to forget about his things and leaving them behind before he left the school.

And, I guess he isn't here today just like he hasn't been here for the past two weeks for some reason. His sudden appearance yesterday was the first time any of us had seen him for two whole weeks, period.

"But, you know, I was finally able to find out why he's been gone all this time," Chris continues. After he says that, he gets all my friends' attention. They all listen closely to Chris's next words.

"Katsuki's dad died," he says in a low whisper.

All our eyes widen.

I certainly didn't expect that.

"Seriously?" Leo de la Iglesia (another one of my friends) asks, raising an eyebrow. "His dad's dead?"

Chris nods in response. "Yep. I heard someone talking about it yesterday at the mall. It might be a rumor, but they sounded pretty convinced that it isn't."

"If it's true, that definitely explains why he hasn't been at school these past two weeks," I say, scratching my chin in thought. "His dad dying has got to be horrible for him."

Leo pouts. "I'm just pissed that he's not here for us to have some fun with him. It's so boring here without our main source of entertainment!" he complains.

I actually don't blame Katsuki for staying home. His dad DIED; he's got to be depressed and I doubt school is on his mind.

Chris gives Leo a nudge, his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Hey, take it easy, man. His dad died," he tells him in a disapproving tone of voice.

If I didn't know better, I'd say Chris just defended Katsuki. It certainly sounded like it.

Leo scoffs at Chris's remark. "So? Since when did we start caring about Katsuki? Plus, that could just be a rumor like you said. And even if it isn't, his issues aren't my problem," he retorts with a huff.

I suddenly feel the urge to smack him, even though he's been one of my friends since I first arrived here in Japan. He had been one of the people to welcome me to this country that was so new and strange to me, yet here I am wanting to hit him. I mean, Katsuki's dad died; if Leo was in his place, I doubt he'd want anyone saying stuff like that about him.

And, well, to be honest, Leo's kind of always been a jerk. We just all accepted it awhile ago. He's blunt and straightforward, and certainly isn't afraid to shove whatever he thinks in people's faces. It definitely gets annoying at times, but we stick with him anyway because he's on the basketball team as well and therefore we're pretty much obligated to hang out with him.

Chris continues giving him a disapproving look. "Still, man. Lay off a little," he insists.

Leo rolls his eyes. "Whatever you say, mother," he replies in a sarcastically sweet tone. Chris looks like he wants to slap him too, but he settles for rolling his eyes instead.

Ringing is suddenly heard throughout the halls.

"Come on, guys. That was the warning bell. We'll be late if we don't hurry," I point out, and my friends and I pick up our pace to get to class.

"So," Chris says to me, wiggling his eyebrows as we all hurry down the hallway, "tell me about Yumiko. Have you finally made your move yet, Victor my boy? I saw her eyeing you up as we came in."

Yumiko is yet another ones of my classmates and she's incredibly hot. She's probably the most attractive girl in this school. Maybe even in this town. For a couple of weeks now, I'd been trying to seduce her or get her to date me or something, but she's been playing hard to get. So I've held off lately and waited for her to come to me instead of the other way around.

I sigh. "I don't know, man. I mean, she seems interested now... but you know how fast girls move on! She could already be making a play for another guy."

Chris lifts an eyebrow at me. "What? Are you just not interested anymore? Come on, Vic, she's the head cheerleader, and you're the captain of the basketball team—according to the rules of high school, you are obligated to date her! And you've shown interest thus far, so what's up?" His eyes scan me up and down, as if he's looking for some notable sign as to why I'm suddenly not very interested in Yumiko anymore.

I shrug. "To be honest, Chris, it's the last day of high school ever, so if Yumiko and I aren't together by now, then there's really no point. We probably won't see each other ever again after today, so who cares? I mean, she was definitely enjoyable to look at, but who knows how long we'd last anyway? We'd probably be together for about a week before she'd decide to dump me and move on to the next best thing; you know how fickle girls can be."

Chris simply blinks at me. "But according to the rules of high school, you're the 'next best thing' always."

"And the rules of high school won't apply to me or anyone in our grade after today, so there's no point."

This time, Chris sighs. "When did you get so wise, Nikiforov? Where did the old, ignorant you go?" he asks me with a chuckle.

"I don't know," I reply before we stop walking and approach a door, "but here's my class. I'll see you guys at lunch."

My friends start in the opposite direction as Chris waves and says, "See ya'!" just as I walk inside the classroom in time for the tardy bell to ring.

***

The final bell for the day rings and everyone immediately pools out of their last classes for the day to head home, most of them not having to return to school until after summer vacation. But for us seniors, of course, we'll have to come back three days later for our official graduation ceremony. However, as of right now, we are done with high school for the rest of our lives. After the summer, most of us will be heading off to college to officially begin living life as independent adults.

Of course, the college I'm going to has already been selected by my father. We had plenty of options to choose from because I had been scouted by most of the best colleges for basketball, so my parents had a field day deciding which I should attend.

My whole life has been mapped out by my father since I was seven, so it really isn't surprising that I get no say in which college I'm going to.

I continue walking down the halls and making my way to the main entrance of our school and waiting for my friends to join me.

It's then that I notice all the phones.

Now, people my age are usually attached to their phones 24-7, but this brings it to a whole other level.

As I look around, everyone around me has their eyes glued to their phone screens. They seem to be reading something, and by the looks on their faces it appears to be something shocking.

The reactions range from widened eyes to dropped jaws to even gasps of horror.

I continue to monitor everyone's expressions when my friends approach me, on their phones as well. I turn to them to see Chris's eyes are widened and his face is slightly pale. I also notice that Leo's jaw is dropped and his eyes are dancing with... nervousness? Or could it be excitement...?

"Chris," I say as calmly as I can, looking again at everyone's faces, "what's going on? Why does everyone look like that?"

Chris swallows. "You haven't heard? We all found out last period," he says in reply, his voice wavering slightly.

"Haven't heard about what?" I question.

Leo hands me his phone. "A link was sent to everyone in school last period."

I take his phone from him. "My phone was turned off," I reply.

Leo looks around. "Well, it seems that you're not only one just finding out," he says with a hum before he clicks his tongue.

Before I can even begin to read the news article on Leo's phone, Chris's voice rings out.

"Victor," he says, looking me in the eyes, "Yuri Katsuki is dead."

I blink at his words and it takes my brain a moment to catch up to what he said. "W-What?" I gape.

Dead. Yuri Katsuki is dead. That's what Chris just said.

Is he SERIOUS?

This time, it is Leo's voice that rings out. His surprised eyes dart around before they meet my own, and I still can't quite decipher what is dancing in them as he says the words that would potentially change my life.

"Yuri Katsuki killed himself."