Dear All,

As I promised last week and mentioned earlier in a message, here comes CH.1 of "The Princess & The Jerk" and I really, really hope you will enjoy it!

The chapter is very long and still quite introducing the two main characters, slowly taking us into their world and their small or big issues, their complex personalities and letting us know more people orbiting around them 😊

I believe this chapter will give the right kickstart to the entire story and I know still few of you are reading this, but I sincerely hope more will slowly give it a chance and express their thoughts via comments, messages, votes and such. I'd greatly appreciate that, thank you!

I would like to dedicate this chapter to all Viola and Sergey fans and supporter and in particular to my dear chocoshell as a big and sincere thank you for supporting and reading all my stories, thank you very much!

The song seems to particularly suit first Viola and then Sergey, if you think about it, and then a banner I designed when I had a bit of free time.

Now, let us get into the magic and sweetness of the story, and magic fairy-dust to all of you *°*

Happy reading!

"Have I gone mad? – I'm afraid so, you're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret...all the best people are," by Lewis Carroll in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"

SERGEY POV:

Since that stupid Friday night, when Alexa had disgustingly tried more than once to get physical with me the moment Audrey wasn't around, a couple of weeks passed and I still stood in the same place as before, not having moved forward of even a spit. I was pathetic, because I loathed most of this but I wasn't strong enough to change it, taking it out with my father and Denisov, since often we exchanged words and once almost a fight in the corridors, in class or at lunch. The other day we almost broke into a colossal fight in the cafeteria, him punching my face and me doing the same, for I had found the way to piss him off: insulting his family. And I did it, as lowly and dirtily as I could think of and he hit me for that, fucking hard.

However, the way he reacted and the strength with which he punched me both got in me and I didn't find it again to utter those words, to stoop even lower, to involve his family who had nothing to do with me. What would have my father said if he heard me? He would have kicked my ass very hard. Just as the damn queer hit me hard, painfully hard. And very much deserved.

Yet, I couldn't stop, I couldn't pull my head out of my ass and be better; so, I found more excuse to start fights with him, knowing he could take it, knowing he would take it.

Exactly like right now, Jonathan and Martin at my side and me grabbing that queer by his jumper, hissing at his face and calling him names. He looked down at me, as he was slightly taller than I was, beginning to pack more muscles, even if never at my cousin's level; yeah, he stared down at me with his smug and freaking arrogant expression, as if he was looking at a piece of useless crap, almost not caring about what I was telling him. I hated him in that moment, so much I prepared myself to hit him, but froze on the spot as a voice I knew too well called for him.

"Anatoly! Why are you here instead of meeting me where we said before?" Denisov threw at me quite the glare and then shoved my hands away.

"Hands off, jerk, you better leave before I decide to kick to hell my patience."

"You can't do Anatoly it, remember?" Viola reminded him, passing my two friends who stared at her more than I liked to admit and, as I took in her presence, my breathing struck in my throat. How the hell was she dressed? She had so much frilly and girly stuff on her I couldn't believe sometimes she was eighteen years old as I was, as Audrey and her friends were. Then, I swallowed down as she assessed me, as if she was forced to do so but not pleased at all, as if she sort of hated me. But could a person like her hate anyone? Yeah, probably she could hate someone like me.

She looked fucking weird with that black short dress reminding me of some dark crossover version of Alice in Wonderland and Wednesday Addams, sporting ridiculous knee-high socks in the rainbow freaking colours, a black rather absurd bow in her purple-pink, long hair, big earrings in the shape of big pink stars, sort of gothic looking ankle-length boots with a bit of heel. Her legs were so skinny that the boots look gigantic on her, the knees showing the shape of the bones quite obviously even covered by socks, and yet, they were long and well-shaped and I was staring at her like some idiotic moron, and our eyes met. Yeah, she positively hated me in that moment, because she slightly flinched as I went to say something and moved closer to Anatoly.

She was somewhat scared of me, but not scared enough not to go for her friend. She was the weirdest person I have ever met. Weird and so beaut...I had to stop staring at her.

"Anatoly, let's go, you don't need to waste time here," she spoke to him, ignoring me and it ticked me off big time, so I went to talk to her or touch her, but Denisov reacted faster, going for the collar of my polo-shirt.

"Hands fucking off, you jerk," he groaned at me and I was stunned by the aggressiveness of his tone, by the way he readily defended her thinking I'd do something bad. Were they already this close? I hated him so much and I sneered back at him, so he tightened the grip on me and Viola looked rather taken aback but also worried, worried we might start a fight and get him into troubles, because I very well knew all the professors had their eyes on him and waited for the smallest thing to breathe on his neck and make him pay for that. The same pretty much applied to me, but not nearly as much as for him...a bunch of hypocrites they were and, all in all, I was the biggest and most revolting one.

"Don't touch me, queer," I spewed back, going for his wrists and wanting to suddenly start a brawl, but she stopped us.

"Stop it, guys, you'll make us get late for lunch," Viola spoke mostly to me this time than to the queer, but before I could say or do anything, those two idiots I had for friends went to her and began to taunt her. Freaking bastards, first they ate her in one bite as they took in her presence and then this. Crap, I felt trapped and not sure what to do. Why did I care so much?

"Hey weird one, why don't you mind your business and beat it? And since you're at that, go eat something, so you won't look that sickly skinny," Martin said and I noticed both myself and Denisov widened our eyes, him believing me doing for a complete different reason than me, but I turned my attention on her and she appeared unaffected, but as it was only on the surface, because something passed by her face for a moment.

"Yeah, who the hell would like to get it with someone like you? Looking like a freaky skeleton, gross as fuck," Jonathan remarked in all of his disgusting idiocy, starting to laugh like a piece of crap and what he said ticked me off so badly I shoved Denisov away, but he couldn't care less because I saw how those comments, especially the last one, switched something inside of him and he was about to punch that jerk for his words and the fact was that I was going to let him. He would do what I wished to but didn't have the guts for.

I couldn't imagine what they would say or do if they found out how beautiful I actually found her, because yeah, she was freaking weird and never stood in the main crowd, always let her true self out and seemed not to care what people said behind her back. I envied her with all myself as much as I envied that damn Denisov queer.

But Viola went to say something, obviously wanting to stick to his side and avoid any issues, even if all of us froze on the spot as an apparently calm and quite lazy sounding voice spoke to us. Anatoly was grabbing Jonathan by his shirt and Martin didn't know what to do, eyeing me as to say to freaking do something, but he deserved his ass beaten for what he said, for making her looking like that, a slight tremor on her features, half step back, doubting herself, for it wasn't the first time she was being told things like that. I knew how Alexa and two other girls often sniggered behind her back, or in class or in every other possible occasion. I was somehow relieved Audrey never took part of that.

"Jonathan and Martin, I see," Taylor spoke with a relaxed tone of voice, his dark eyes then concentrating on mine, the smile growing more into a grimacing and very threatening expression, his hands stuck in the pockets of his jeans, apparently calm. "And Sergey, also, what a gathering we have here and bothering my beloved sister and my dear friend." He strolled to his sister and she immediately smiled at him widely, a smile that reached from ear to ear, her teeth showing even, her hands going for his arm. He reciprocated the same happiness and sweetness, the change of emotions so sudden it almost shocked me, and then the darkness on his face was back as soon as his eyes took us in. "Anatoly hermoso, let's go for lunch, as I wouldn't get your hands dirty with the likes of them, hmm?"

Denisov studied him a moment and snorted out something in Russian, pushing Jonathan away and bumping his shoulder against Martin, hissing at them they could consider their ugly asses very lucky today, and he was right. Viola then gave a quick kiss on Taylor's cheek and whispered him something, probably a thank you or don't worry, I couldn't tell, and then, to my incredible surprise and annoyance she jumped on Denisov's back, who at first rolled his eyes in what I knew being fake irritation, for yeah, we hated each other's guts with burning passion, but we had come to somehow know each other, telling her not to choke him with her arms and perfume, but then, he accommodated her so that Viola would be comfortably settled. And she looked so happy my eyes were staring at her intently, until I felt Taylor's gaze on me, and I dropped mine.

There was something about Taylor that always made me very much uncomfortable and I could see both my friends took a step back.

"Good boys," he mocked us, still sporting a creepy smile and having his hands shoved in the pockets, an apparently air of lazy leisure around him. I knew he had been adopted and that he was older than us, for I heard the only apparent way to convince him attending school was to be together with his adoptive sister and somehow, they let him, even if he should have been in college already for almost two years. I had heard what once happened in primary school, as he had sent to the hospital three other kids having tried to bully Viola; I heard it because one of the girls in my group went to the same school and witnessed that, saying he surely was very hot, but she'd be scared to date him. I understood what she meant. "Now, go on your business and not another word, claro?"

"Let's go, Adrian, I'm freaking starving and you're right, not worthy to dirty my hands with those fucktards, they wouldn't last a minute against me," Denisov provoked us and yeah, he might have been right, because he had learned how to fight when he was in that gang, being involved in a lot of shit, fighting against my insufferable and hateful cousin and his other friends. Yeah, and they now all went back to normally talk to him.

How the hell was that possible? How did they manage to forgive him for everything he did? Why the perfect and loyalty-freak Sasha forgave him but still hated my guts? What had happened?

"What did you say?" Martin hissed out, but I stopped him.

"Let's go, we don't need to get in trouble for a piece of disgusting queer as he is," I said, staring directly at Denisov and he flipped me off, throwing such a mocking smile that I really wished to punch it away from his face, but I didn't dare to do so, for I knew it was stupid and dangerous. She was there. She didn't need to hate me and despise more than she already did. She didn't need to get more involved in this shit.

"Suck it, Lebedev, and go to fuck off," he grunted out, still flipping me off and I returned the favour, for then moving from where I had been rooted by Taylor's threatening glare.

"Sergey, what's wrong with you?" Martin asked me and I just eyed him as to say to shut it.

Anatoly and Viola went away, and Adrian Taylor went to follow them, but stopped a moment after having turned the opposite way, tilting his head back and quickly running his eyes on us three, the same dark smile on his lips.

"You are all very lucky I don't wish to dirty my hands with your blood in front of my beloved sister," he very much quietly spoke, his eyes slowly assessing us and then, he just walked away, reaching up the other two and softly chuckling at something Denisov said.

"He gives me the creep, I swear it, but we'll catch him one day, we definitely will, and then, let's see who'll be smiling like that, freak," Jonathan muttered out, but if he wished to do so, he had to get the other guys, because I had a feeling that both Denisov and Taylor wouldn't go down very easily, and beating the crap out of them? She would cancel me from her life and possibly put a curse on me, wishing me dead.

"Let's go," I just said and then felt the need for some time alone. "Go ahead, I need to get something from my locker, save me a place and tell Audrey I'll be there, alright?"

"Sure Sergey," Jonathan said and went to move, but Martin remained rooted there and kept studying me in a way I began to very much mind.

"What the hell is wrong with you, buddy? Afraid of them? Or starting to entertain weird thoughts? Because, just as you know, your girlfriend is really hot, and I wouldn't waste everything for someone like that freak one." Oh, I was aware how much he drooled after my girlfriend and it should have pissed me off, but it didn't. He had been right, though: I couldn't waste everything and get myself in an even bigger mess, for what? What would I gain? Dasha's words played in my mind and I just wanted to be alone, nothing else. She had given me the obvious answer to those questions, but I didn't want to listen to her.

"Are you done with this crap, Martin?" I asked back, covering my growing irritation the best I could. "If anything, I should be the one asking what's wrong with you for thinking something so gross," I retorted back and he then cracked a smile, satisfied by my reply. Yeah, if they knew what was going on in my mind, I would find myself casted out and treated like some leper.

"Yeah, I thought so, I mean, Audrey is really hot and I'm sure she's quite amazing in bed, right?"

Oh right, that was what everyone believed in our wonderful and very sincere group of friends, for somehow she had made a comment in that sense about us two and I never bothered to rectify it, not exactly caring about that and thinking it perhaps made her feel better, especially in front of those other two stupid bimbos she called best friends. And who was I trying to kid? It helped me, too, avoiding unnecessary questions and annoyances, them thinking I was some retarded case or maybe queer like Denisov, or worse, understanding the truth behind everything. Yeah, better to keep lying in that way. It hurt nobody, right?

"Stop thinking about my girlfriend in such way," I told him, both to give him what he wanted to hear and because I honestly never liked the way he eyed Audrey, as if he eyed an object.

With that, I walked to my locker and looked around, seeing nobody was in the vicinity. Good. I needed some freaking time alone. My head rested against the cool metal and I wrote a message to Dasha, not even understanding why I had the need to do so. But yeah, what happened before disturbed me in some way and I had to let it out, and the rather pathetic thing was that she was the only person I could trust or count on. How incredibly laughable was that? I was in a big group of people, of "friends" and none of them really was, none of them could be really trusted. After a few minutes, the phone rang, and it was her.

"Seryozha, what happened?" She immediately asked in Russian, her voice slightly worried, the noise of other people's voices around her, for she was in college. "What did you do?" If that question would have come from my father, it sure would hold a very reproaching tone, but not from her. And she was a direct person, who never really beat around the bush.

"Nothing, why did you call?" I however replied in all of my lameness.

"Because of the message you wrote me, so now don't be stubborn and tell me: what happened?" The voices around her decreased and soon there was silence only. "I found a quiet spot and we can talk now, so talk," she ordered. "Did you have another fight with Anatoly? Or worse?" and I sighed out, playing with the ring on my finger and once more looking around. Nobody was there to bother me or overhear all this crap.

"I think you're right in something, Dasha," I admitted defeated and she was quiet for a moment, reordering everything I told her or everything she had already guessed on her own.

"In what am I right? Be more specific, because I'm pretty sure I'm right in everything, but you just said something, so spit it out."

"Don't make me say," I grunted out. "You know what I mean, we talked about it that Friday and the other week." She was the one sighing out.

"Did you do something stupid like telling her some foolish joke or remark you'll regret for the rest of your life?" Good, she immediately got what I meant, but she also understood it wrongly.

"No, it wasn't me, it's nothing like that..." I halted. It wasn't me? Yeah, I didn't directly say those words, but I also didn't say anything to stop them, to defend her, to tell Jonathan to go to hell. "I just stood there. Denisov defended her and then her creepy brother arrived and whatever."

"How do you feel now about this?"

"Like a gigantic and very stinky piece of crap," I admitted openly, even surprising myself and she stayed silent for a few seconds, processing what I told her.

"Well I hope you're at least smart enough to realize what this means, and you must talk to Audrey, because you cannot treat her this badly."

"I don't treat her badly," I defended myself.

"You also don't treat her nicely enough. Listen brother, I'm not crazy about her and not because of much, but simply we have nothing to talk about and I find her a bit too superficial, a bit too lost into her social media world and she follows too much that plastic bitch I cannot stand. You should tell her something about Alexa." Right, Dasha completely disliked Alexa. No, that was putting it mildly. She despised her entirely, for they had met a couple of times and my sister couldn't stand her. It was very much understandable, for she had seen how she was behaving with me, not just with me to be fair, and behind her so-called best friend. Alexa had tried to win her over by complimenting her and such, but Dasha saw through her and never liked her. "But at the same time, you must talk to her, I mean it. She's not bad, just too...vapid, a bit too pushover, which isn't good for her, considered the friends she has."

My sister was absolutely right in that and I knew the comment was also indirectly meant for me, I wasn't that stupid not to notice it and feel it.

"It'll just be a pain in the ass," I replied and kept playing with my ring, staring down at the floor, still resting against the lockers.

"Because right now what you have is perfectly fine and not a pain in the neck? Seriously?"

"I'll think about it and yeah, I know you're right," I admitted, still looking around from time to time, making sure nobody was there to listen to my own business.

"Good, so now stop doing what you're doing and start to grow up, because it's about time, and you know it." I grunted out at her words, but she didn't care about that. "I don't care what you think, Seryozha, I just care about you as my brother and I don't want you to wake up one day and regret everything you did."

Her words hit me. Was it what happened to Denisov? I had to admit he looked like crap months ago and I know he had left the gang, and, after that, he didn't come to school for two weeks, being in really bad shape. Had his conscience begun to bite him in the ass?

"I've got to go back because I still have to eat," I just replied, and she snorted on the other side of the phone. In some things, Dasha and I were very similar.

"At least think about what I told you, OK?"

"Yeah, I'll do that and Dasha...thanks," I munched out and she softly chuckled.

"I must be honest with you; I really would love to meet this other girl and see for myself what's with her and what's about her, because there must be something special in her."

"She's weird for sure," I snapped back, not even sure why I had to say that. Oh well, I knew why: the entire thing was pissing me off and I just didn't want to face all this crap. Too much effort, too much annoyance, too much of everything else.

"Aha, weird, sure brother, keep saying that to yourself. Perhaps, she's beautifully weird, hmm? Alright, I've a lecture now, and I'll see you at dinner, Shen will also join us tonight."

"Sure, whatever, later," I just said and after that, closed the conversation. I didn't mind her boyfriend, who was actually very smart and very quiet, always minding his own business.

I walked to the cafeteria and spotted two things at the same time. My group of friends eating and talking about something, two guys standing too close to Audrey all considered and her not even seeing it, Alexa being at the centre of the attention as always, and then I quickly eyed where Denisov sat, seeing him there quietly eating as the Taylor siblings spoke about something, that weirdo girl being her usual self, that queer nodding from time to time, and then, as if he had felt something or heard my thoughts, Adrian Taylor raised his glance and found me looking at them. He only briefly very eerily smiled but that was enough to have me going to my table.

There Audrey immediately got up and hugged me, greeting me with a kiss on my lips, to which I had to impose myself not to move away and humiliate her so much in front of our friends. Jesus, could I really call them as such? Let's leave it.

"I'm going to get something to eat, do you want anything?" I asked her, but she shook her blonde head and thanked me with a smile. Right, Dasha was very much right.

So, I went to buy something to eat and right when I grabbed a tray and placed something on it, someone followed me and stuck damn close, brushing her body on me with clear purpose. I clenched my lips together not to bark something in the middle of the cafeteria, but I stepped away abruptly, trying to ignore her as much as I could. Haven't I been clear enough that weekend? Apparently not, or as my sister thought, this one convinced herself I wanted her but didn't show it only because of my girlfriend. Well, Alexa couldn't be more wrong, because sure I wasn't that much of an asshole, but I also would never want to date her. Not even if she'd be the last girl on the planet.

"Audrey and I are going for a photo-shooting later this afternoon, why don't you come along with us?"

"A photo-shooting? Again?" I asked, already hearing my voice irritated by just the mere idea. Why Audrey let herself be dragged around by this bimbo here?

Alright, nothing wrong with being a model, and Alexa worked a bit as such, and also my sister had worked as a model for a rather famous photographer, for he had spotted us in some coffee shop in Manhattan and asked us if we would like to be his subjects for some branded line of clothes, but no way in hell I'd do it. It'd drive me crazy with boredom. Dasha took his business card and discussed it with our parents and her boyfriend, seeing it was something completely legit and clean. She was quite paranoid about certain things and I understood her.

The photos she took were cool and very nice, tasteful, classy, elegant and not showing anything, because yeah, my sister had elegance, dignity and pride. Also, my father wouldn't have allowed it otherwise and I knew she'd never expose herself, also out of respect for her boyfriend. Alexa was totally shameless and once they showed me her pictures, advertising some underwear or bikini or whatever the hell that was, well I thought she was posing for some porn magazine. I mean, Playboy pictures were nothing compared to that and I hoped Audrey wouldn't go for the that. Some of the guys in my group thought I was an idiot for not taking advantage and thought I was some stupid old-fashioned dick, but whatever the hell. Maybe I was and maybe I had my father to blame for that, but I couldn't just change it overnight.

"Yes, I will be posing for a very sexy lingerie brand and Audrey for something less showy, because you know how she is," she said with a rather sly voice, her lips tilting up in a smile that made my blood freeze and not because she was scary or hot, or crap like that. I just realized once more what a bad person she was, what a conniving and manipulative adder she was. "You should come with us and see it for yourself, I promise you a very good show," she insisted, getting closer once more, and I could see what she was trying to do not just with me but with Audrey as well. I gripped the trail harder and feeling anger rising inside of me, until I knew I had to cool it down.

"I've got no time for that and Audrey knows I don't like it much," I replied tersely, but she didn't budge an inch, still staying there and still seizing me with a stare that made me feel I was doing something wrong. A spontaneous and very refreshing laugh broke me from that state and my head jerked around at first, knowing who had done that, seeing Viola coming to our direction together with Denisov, her going for just some fruit salad, him obviously getting much more.

"What a freak," Alexa derided not very quietly, attracting their attention. "So flat," she repeated once more and I went to tell her to shut the fuck up, but the queer spoke first.

"Shut up, bimbo, and think about your lack of neurons," he hissed at her and I was glad that this time Viola hadn't minded the comment, just shrugging her very slender shoulders and going for a pudding. Obviously, a pink pudding.

Denisov hit the bull's eyes with that caustic comment and Alexa looked at me as if expecting a reaction or something to defend her, but I just had to repress a sneer directed at her, for I also shrugged my shoulders and went on with getting food. She could solve her own crap.

"I'm not coming today and just leave me alone with this and don't get Audrey doing something stupid," I told her, but the moment my words left my mouth, I knew the mistake I did, being already too late. Shit, I had served the suggestion on a golden plate and now, I had to make it up.

I walked back to the table with her at my side, whispering to me to think about it instead of just saying no, I sat beside my girlfriend, thinking about what Dasha told me. I ate silently, almost not tasting the food, not sure what I really got and feeling even more like a piece of crap. I sat on the chair and tried not to look too annoyed and bored as Audrey blabbed about whatever she bought with Alexa the other day, showing the countless selfies she took with the new clothes. Selfies she had obviously posted on Instagram, where she was even showing a new bikini. I shook my head thinking about it, because the whole thing was ridiculous and it bothered me, for I saw no reason why other guys had to see that. Not that I was the boyfriend of the year or that I deeply cared and loved her. I wasn't even jealous, but I minded she tried to copy her friend.

I looked at Audrey, and she smiled back at me, scooping closer and I let her. No. I definitely didn't love her.

Yet, I didn't like that attitude and the way she kept posting pictures of herself, especially taken with that other one over there who definitely enjoyed the attention and the tons of likes she received from guys. I rolled my eyes and tried to tune them out, as I had no right whatsoever to tell Audrey anything. Or maybe did I? Dasha was right and I had to talk to her. Sure, as I said, I wasn't the boyfriend of the year and I didn't really care because she was my girlfriend and because I was jealous or shit like that; I just believed she was smarter than that, but I was starting to doubt it. Alexa definitely wasn't a good influence, being a viper and not a real friend, considered the way she behaved behind her back, but also in plain sight.

My mind froze a moment and I quickly looked at my hands. Who was I to judge and say she had bad influence? Wasn't I the coward and shit-heat of the year? I closed my hands in fists and looked away, my eyes immediately resting on someone else. She was smiling in her usual open and ridiculous way and laughing at something that Denisov piece of shit had just said. What was so great about that queer piece of crap? Right, he was as gay as his brother and my cousin. Bunch of queer annoying idiots. Her purple-pink hair moved around her and seriously, she was so freaking skinny that I wonder what she ate. I looked away, because she might have been skinny yeah, but she was...I didn't want to say what everyone else around me did. It was wrong and disgusting. I got up and everyone looked at me.

"Where are you going?" Martin asked, eyeing Denisov's table and thinking I felt like creating trouble to get even for earlier, but not today. I didn't have the energy for that.

"Just need the bathroom," I replied grabbing my phone and leaving without adding further explanation. Someone stopped me and when I turned, Audrey stared at me with a pouty expression and questioning eyes.

"What's wrong with you in these days? You're so distant and so moody."

"Not very different than usual, then," I commented with dry tone and she tried to smile but failed in that. As I said, I definitely wasn't going to receive the boyfriend of the year award.

"You seem mad, sweetie, but I don't understand why. Is it because of the fight you had with Anatoly earlier? Martin told us before." Right, she didn't dislike him as I did. She went to say something else, but her phone beeped, and she looked at the screen, smiling. She opened the Instagram page and I could see her pictures there. "Wow, my latest post received so many likes!"

I turned around and went to walk out of the cafeteria, because I was in no mood for that bullshit. Why would she keep posting pictures of herself in such small bikinis and even underwear? Was I really an old-fashioned, narrow-minded jerk who didn't appreciate what most of the guys around me seemed to like? I had no idea and I didn't care to find that out.

"Sergey!" She called for me, but I waved her off and she ran after me, stopping me a second time. "Are you mad at me for some reason?"

"No, so stop asking me stupid questions. Go back and let me be for a while." She took a step back and I could see my words hurt her. "You shouldn't post those pictures, Audrey. You don't need them."

"Are you jealous?" She asked genuinely surprised and pleased at the idea I was perhaps really caring about her, but I wasn't jealous in any way. I just found it stupid and I knew that behind all this was Alexa, always trying to manoeuvre her and make her do such idiotic and bimbo-like things, just to get the attention she craved for. To push her in a direction that wasn't meant for Audrey.

"No, you know I'm not jealous, but stop doing whatever she does, because you're not like her."

"She's my best friend, Sergey," she replied defending her and I snorted at that. Did a best friend try to flirt their friend's boyfriend? Did I best friend try to steal the boyfriend away? I doubted that.

"She's not and just freaking wake up, Audrey. She's not your best friend, will you for once open your eyes and use your brain?"

I froze on the spot as soon as those words left my mouth and I regretted them immediately. Who the hell was I to lecture her about using the brain and being honest? I was such a huge and laughable coward and hypocrite that I deserved every punch and sarcastic comment coming from Denisov, every insult and growling words coming from my cousin, every lecture coming from my father. I hated Anatoly, yes, but simply because he found the guts to break through that bullshit and let himself be completely honest. I hated him so much I wanted to punch that ugly face and nose. How did he manage to do that?

"Are you OK?" She asked once more and I just nodded, already tired of this useless argument.

"I'll see you later in class, OK?"

"You promised to go to the movies today after the photo-shooting."

"I'll see later, OK? Maybe another day," I said and then walked away leaving her there.

I was a huge asshole. I knew it without having to hear it yelled from others and I damn knew I had to end things with her. I was being unfair for treating her like this, because she wasn't a bad girl and she genuinely cared about me, even if she definitely had no deep feelings. Dasha was right: I had to end things with her before turning into a complete asshole.

Right as I walked through the corridor, someone skipped in front of me singing something in a quiet voice and I halted, just to look at her going around in such childish way. Yeah, childish yet extremely cute. She must have missed me or ignored me on purpose, which annoyed me somehow, so I moved and quickened my steps, until I reached her. She heard my steps and stopped immediately, looking at me taken aback and slightly nervous. Awesome...I made her nervous and possibly afraid of me. A real piece of crappy idiot I was.

"Can't you walk normally around school, weirdo?" Who was the childish one now?

"Stop calling me weirdo, Sergey. Is there something you need to tell me?" She set her bright eyes on me and I couldn't help staring at her, seeing how she was dressed and how beautiful she was, what an incredible moron I was for always addressing her as such. Yet, she wasn't completely afraid of me. She might have been nervous, but she wasn't totally afraid or terrified at the idea of being alone in a corridor with me, and pretty much regarded me as the piece of trash I was. How did Denisov manage to become friend with her? Shit, I hated that damn queer so much I had the need to punch him. "So? Nothing to say, of course. If that's the case, then bye."

She went to turn around and I grabbed her wrist without thinking twice. I was going mental.

"What do you want?" She asked with a hard tone of voice I never heard on her and her eyes pierced mine making me feel the little shit I was. I dropped the grip immediately and she looked at the place I grabbed, rubbing it as if to remove the feeling given by being touched by me. I silently swallowed down what the gesture brought inside of my mind and guts. "You know what, Sergey?"

"What?"

"Call me weirdo as much as you wish, but I believe the true weird one is you. And I'm fabulous and all the best people are a bit crazy."

"What do you freaking mean?"

Instead of answering me, she simply smiled and stuck out her tongue, going away and leaving me there feeling an even bigger idiot. What the hell was that supposed to mean? I looked at my hand and felt like punching myself for the way I had just behaved with her. Why did I have to be such a shithead? I groaned out mad at myself and looked for an empty room, where to sit in peace and alone for a while. I found one and sat on a chair I first kicked a few times, browsing through Audrey's posted pictures and coming to the conclusion this weekend I had to end it. Comments left from other guys didn't bother me and I guess also that wasn't another good sign. She had insisted to create my profile, but I never used it nor updated it, because I couldn't care less, and I had no patience for this shit.

I wondered if also Viola had a Instagram profile and I searched for it, finding it and gaping at the ridiculous picture she had there; however, I felt my mouth tilting up as I scrolled down her page, seeing her posting things completely different, just like a picture where she was dressed as a fairy and surrounded by children also dressed like some magical creatures. It was taken in some place they cared about abandoned kids and she was there volunteering and making them smile.

Another one displayed some paintings and drawings and I realized she was the artist. I stared at them not believing she was that good and then read the post: "If you wish to donate a smile, please buy one of these." She added smileys and hearts and stars, plus a link to Etsy website. It must have been for some good cause and she had sold some already. I wondered why she did it and read through the comment, finding the explanation there. The kids needed new things or whatever the hell and she was trying her best to raise extra money; there was an email address and I knew what I would be doing later.

It would make her happy, right? It would make her smile like she did while listening to Denisov's bullshit, right? I hoped so and I hoped Dasha could help me in this. Yeah, my sister would definitely help and maybe, I would feel less bad, especially after the comments she had to withstand this morning. Yeah, for now, it was the only way I could make it up.

VIOLA POV:

I rubbed my wrist once more, not liking the way he had grabbed me and I went for my locker, having forgotten something in there I needed to give to Sharon after lunch. She and Cameron wanted to meet him, and they have been patient enough to wait for now, sometimes having lunch just by themselves as Anatoly wasn't ready yet. But today, I decided it was going to be the day, because in just two weeks he had relaxed more with me and because I was sure Sharon would absolutely adore him, while I had a feeling Cameron was going to need longer.

But it had to be tried and, after having found what I needed for Sharon, I closed the locker and took a deep breath, telling myself it was going to be alright and that the fairy of friendship would assist me and sprinkle us with her magic dust.

"Yes," I whispered to myself. "You can do it, Viola."

When I returned to the cafeteria, Adri and Anatoly were talking about something and I could see how my brother liked him, but for some reasons I was going to get explained later, he never stepped over some usual flirting. I never knew how to do that, feeling always somehow too shy for that or not exactly experienced in the department, and Adrian told me it didn't matter, because if a guy wasn't going to like the way I was, there was no reason to waste time or energy in that. He was right but apparently finding the knight in the shining armour was very difficult and so far, I never met nice guys or anyway, not very nice to me, saying I was too childish, or too naïve or a waste of beauty. The last comment I never understood to be honest, and the other two maybe were right, but what could I do to make it different? Not much, because I simply wasn't able to lie about myself and pretend to be someone else, it felt wrong and as if betraying not just myself but the people around me who loved me sincerely.

I skipped to the table and once more, two girls sitting where Sergey usually sat during lunch looked at me and made some faces, which I ignored really not carrying about their useless comments. Alexa was absolutely beautiful but she had a personality darker and nastier than Mordor, always reminding me of very wicked and evil sprites who would steal human children just to inflict pain in general, or one of those creatures disguising themselves as beautiful women for then revealing to be awful monsters sucking the soul or something like that. She always made mean comments against me and I brushed them off, because ignoring her was the best attitude; she gave me the idea of being someone in need to put other people down to feel good and why should I have given her that satisfaction?

Another girl sitting at her, Sergey's girlfriend if I remembered correctly, just looked at me and tempted a timid smile, which I returned as the others no longer paid any attention to me. We had exchanged a few words only, for we shared two classes together and Audrey was always with her friends while I was with mine, but she was never mean to anyone. I wondered why she sat with them and stayed together with someone like Sergey, and then I halted a moment, my brother having noticed me and arching a brow in a mute question. I shook my head and I mentally shook it another time. I never was judgemental, and I never wanted to be, afraid of misinterpreting things with people, but somehow, I was guarded with Sergey and I couldn't see if there was something else in him different than what he showed in school.

I just couldn't understand why he had it so much against Anatoly and why he disliked me that openly, for I never did anything to him, nor paid him much attention. Was he just plain bad as some people unfortunately were? For instance, I had my doubts Alexa would ever become any different, because there was a feeling around her that was murky, dark, and Adrian told me to stay away from her, for he sensed something quite wrong and twisted coming from her. I followed his advice of course; he never said anything about Sergey, though. Why was he behaving in such way? He wasn't a completely silly or evil person and he had normal grades in class, even if he often argued with professors, and he could curse as much as Anatoly did.

The fact was that his presence made me feel very uncomfortable and nervous, he almost scared me and I didn't like to admit that; I was afraid of being hypocritical, but I really didn't know what to do and as I sat down, beside my brother, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and whispered something at me.

"Don't get silly idea in your sweet mind, Vivi," he murmured very quietly, his voice always a calm balm and warm, fluffy blanket.

"How do you always guess it?"

"I can read your face very well and feel your emotions even better." I only smiled at him and snuggled closer. I was so happy he was my brother! "Hermoso, so you'll give me a ride home today, hmm? How exciting," he spoke to Anatoly, once more with a flirty tone but nothing more, as if he really didn't want to try and I wondered why? Did Anatoly really like someone else? I studied him and tried to decide what kind of person would suit him best and I realised he definitely would need someone able to take his rather strong and explosive personality, his sarcasm, and his very cute shyness. I giggled and he looked at me with a quizzical expression, but I just stuck my tongue out, to which he snorted something out. I was so happy we became friends!

"Sure, Adrian, if you can take my riding, you'll be fine," he replied, but there wasn't nothing of playful in his voice, just a normal answer.

Yes, maybe he had someone in his mind and if that was true, I definitely wanted to meet that person and hug him. Speaking about meeting new fabulous persons, I decided to tell Anatoly about my wonderful and magic idea.

"Anatoly," I called him, and he looked at me. "How about meeting my other two friends?"

"What? Someone else like you?" He asked creasing his forehead and leaning against the chair, letting his long legs rest more comfortably.

"No, Vivi is unique, Anatoly," Adrian commented with an amused smile and I giggled more at that.

"So, whom should I meet? Should I be afraid? Listen, maybe another day, OK?" I said nothing to that, because if I were to listen to him, the day would never come. He was mostly shy and afraid of what Sharon and Cameron might say or do. I had to push it a bit and I hope I wasn't going to regret it or make him feel uncomfortable, because I would really hate that and be very upset with myself.

"I'm your little fairy," I simply replied, and he rolled his eyes.

"That you definitely are, my loud and skinny fairy," he commented with apparent hard tone of voice, but there was a hint of a smile on his mouth and I stuck out my tongue.

I walked out of class with Sharon and Cameron, going to my locker that was right beside Anatoly's and telling them to please wait, for I knew Anatoly and Adrian would join us any time soon.

"Do you really think this is a good idea?" Sharon asked me, checking in a small pocket mirror in the shape of a cat if her two long tresses still looked well, and I smiled at her.

"You don't need to be worried or afraid, he's just a bit sarcastic sometimes, but he is really a nice person."

"I am not afraid, to be honest, and I'm very curious to meet him in person, but he doesn't look very sociable and I hope he won't mind us."

"I can live without meeting him, believe me," Cameron commented under his breath and I glanced at him confused. Why did he dislike Anatoly so much? "What, Vi? You might like him and good for you and your brother, but he's freaking scary and he used to be a bully, shoving people away, calling people names, getting into fights, being friend with Sergey and more...do you honestly think he changed over a few months? What if he is just acting up or something like that?"

I blinked a couple of times at his words, feeling even more confused. Did he honestly believe in what he just said? Even Sharon, who I knew was nervous at the idea of meeting him but tried her best not to show it, eyed him creasing her forehead. Anatoly wasn't acting up, as my friend suggested, and yes, he had behaved badly in the past, but he was making up for that, he wanted to really and desperately change, and yes, he was sarcastic, but that was his personality and I came to like that trait of his. He was actually very funny, and he had a talent for that. Plus, didn't he trust me? Or didn't he trust Adrian?

"What are you talking about, Cam?" I asked quite astonished by his open hostility, for he normally was never like this. "I told you already he is a very nice and kind person and I'm sure you'll like him. And yes, he did what he did, but I'm sure something happened, and he never meant to do any of that."

"Is that an excuse?" He asked back and I just shook my head, going to step in front of him.

"Cameron, you should know me very well and if I say that Anatoly is fabulous and a good person, then you should trust me and give him a chance."

"I'm up for that, you know I trust you completely," Sharon twitted, stepping at my side and smiling like a nymph. "Plus, he's super good looking and it wouldn't hurt to be around him, and yes, I know he's gay, because months ago he pretty much shouted out in the corridors, but I can still look, right? And anyway, if you say he's a good person, then he surely is." I laughed at her comment and hugged her tightly. I knew Sharon would understand me and that she'd give him a chance, no matter how nervous and slightly scared she was, and that was why I absolutely loved her as friend.

"You will love him, I promise you," I declared taking her hands in mine and right as I was about to say something more, Adrian and Anatoly joined us, him looking taken aback by seeing me in the company of my other two friends and slightly rolling his eyes. I really hope he wasn't going to be mad at me!

"Viola, remind me again please, why are we here?" Cam asked again and I saw him changing expression as soon as he noticed Anatoly himself and then Adrian, taking a step back and looking very uncomfortable.

I peered at Sharon, who also had changed expression, but was still trying her best to appear open and friendly, even if I probably just realized then that yes, Anatoly had quite a presence at first, which somehow I never noticed or felt, being around him feeling as something completely natural and that made me extremely happy and giddy. My brother placed an arm around his shoulders, probably as a way to tell him to bear with my things and I took a deep breath, going to try this and hoping I wasn't causing some major disaster. But I felt like a presence on my shoulder, a tiny fairy there with me and I let out the breath, smiling at my friends. They were definitely going to love him, because who would ever be able to resist Anatoly? He was a very special person, exactly like my brother and my dear friends.

"I wanted to introduce you both to my other best friend, this is Anatoly," I said smiling at them, and I was really happy Sharon tried to smile, while I really couldn't get Cameron's stiff and so not friendly reaction. Anatoly rolled his eyes and sighed out, hopefully not too annoyed at me. So, I went to take his hands in mine to bring him closer and he let me without stiffening or anything else, already being good for someone like him. Cameron though paled down and eyed Anatoly in a way that made me nervous, because I really never expected him to behave in such openly hostile way. Why was that? I had to talk to him later.

"What the fuck are you looking at? Got something to say? Then just say it," Anatoly snorted out and I could feel part of his tension leaving as he spoke out his mind, being always very direct and, as I said already, sometimes quite harsh. However, I just giggled at his words, finding them very typical for him, and I joked with him, taking another step, and praying I was not doing a mistake.

"Anatoly don't be such a dork," I playfully told him, knowing how that word somehow annoyed him, but not for real.

"Viola," he went to say, but I turned around and looked at Sharon and Cameron, asking the fairy of friendship to be here with us, helping in this and sprinkling her magic and much needed fairy-dust.

"So, this is Anatoly and he is my new best friend and he is very cool and smart, really," I began and Sharon listened attentively, really interested, eyeing him from time to time, her tension slightly disappearing as her curiosity and admiration for his outside and evident inner beauty increased by the second. "He drives a fabulous motorbike and has a twin brother, isn't this super nice?" I turned to look at him, still holding one of his hands and I was immensely grateful he let me do that, for I needed it. "Anatoly, these are my other super best friends, Cameron and Sharon. So please meet them and..."

I stopped talking noticing the change in his expression, the fact he had let go of my hand and that Adrian was staring at him as to say to calm down. He had stiffened up and snorted out something in Russian I did not understand. I felt terrible and very guilty, because I realized I shouldn't have pushed it, being too taken by my own enthusiasm and love for them all. I should have waited, and I went to say something, but he spoke faster.

"And now what? Are we all going for a tea party with dolls and stuff?" He hissed out evidently annoyed and my shoulders slumped down at my own silliness. He mimicked holding a cup of tea and went on. "Would you like a cup of tea, maybe a biscuit?" I noticed how Cameron took another step back, eyeing him with dislike, while Sharon returned to be slightly nervous, her eyes moving from me to my brother, probably trying to understand our own reaction. "I've got no time for this bullshit, Viola." Yes, I definitely should have not pushed it and try to hold on my enthusiasm for once. "So, see you tomorrow, and Adrian, get your helmet and let's get out of here."

His tone was very much annoyed and there was an edge in it, and I understood too late it wasn't only lack of patience or irritation...he was somehow worried to meet them, afraid he had done something to them and maybe disappoint me? Anatoly had his own special way to show affection and I just stepped aside, letting him go, feeling terribly silly and guilty.

Adrian looked at me worried and went to say something, but I slightly shook my head. It was my fault and he should have gone with Anatoly and enjoy the great chance of riding home with him on his supercool motorbike. I took a long breath and let it out, not wanting to get my mood showed in front of Anatoly, so I smiled at my brother and waved at him. Sharon moved to me, as I was sure she was going to ask many questions. I went to my friends, as we promised each other to go review a subject together in a new super cute cat-café, seeing Adrian going to follow Anatoly.

But he surprised me.

Anatoly halted in his walking and looked at me, shook his head at himself, ran a hand in his mohawk-styled hair and grunted something under his breath I couldn't hear. Sometimes he was worse than a brewing teapot and he could be terribly yet adorably grumpy. He walked to me and stopped right in front of us, his beautiful silver-blue eyes staring directly into mine.

"Look, I'm sorry, Viola. I'm not good with this crap," he said to me and I shook my head as to say to let it go, but he waved his hand, signalling to let him finish and I did so. "So, you two there," he spoke directly to Sharon and Cameron. "Nice to meet you, I suppose, and yes, like it or not, Viola is my friend and so is her brother." His words...my lips automatically tilted up and I believe he had no idea what his words meant for me and Adrian winked at me, while to my great rainbow-looking happiness, Sharon tempted a smile to Anatoly, who went on with his rather cute rambling. "If I did beat you in the past, I'm sorry. I was going through some shit and, even though that's not an excuse, that's how things are, like it or not. If you have got something to say, spit it out now."

I was so right about him...it had very little to do with lack of patience or annoyance. And he could be painfully direct sometimes, a trait I very much grew to love in him. I saw how his very Anatoly-like speech sort of shocked my other two friends, especially Cameron, who was debating whether to say something or not. He would need time to realize how fabulous Anatoly really was, while Sharon could already see it.

"Well, err...you did not beat us, but well, how to say it? You were an asshole," Cameron surprisingly said staring directly at Anatoly and I giggled at his expression, not at all offended.

"No shit, Sherlock, I could have won the award for the hugest asshole," he replied, rolling his eyes, as if to chase away whatever came over him by having to admit his fault. Oh...he was much more than fabulous! He was the best and I giggled blinking my love and fairy dust to him!

"Well, you still have chances," Cameron said, and I discreetly pulled the sleeve of his jumper, as to tell him not to push it, and he probably got me.

"Fine," Anatoly snorted out. "I still have some work to do on my attitudes, happy?" My friend widened his eyes at such open admission and frankness, definitely not expecting it, but Sharon also giggled with me, already liking him.

"So, you are gay, I see," Cam pointed out to change topic, showing the very not fabulous and quite badly written words sprayed on Anatoly's locker. I had to cover it one of these days, with some rainbows and stars and hearts and flowers. Yes, I would go buy the right colours in the afternoon.

Anatoly replied in his typical way and both my brother and I laughed out, for I really doubted Cam liked me, having a long-time crush on Sharon, who though never looked at him in the same way, considering him only as friend.

"So, Sharon, what do you think? I told you he was very cool and funny, right?" I clapped my hands in happiness and she nodded enthusiastically.

"You also said he was hot, and you were right," she admitted very openly, causing Anatoly to widen his eyes in what I believe being shyness and then he groaned out something quietly in Russian. I knew this was already a lot for him to take and I would never forget what he did for me today, his true kindness and real, beautiful sense of friendship.

He eyed my brother and Adri smiled at him, as to say to go. They greeted us and Anatoly warned me not to hug him, but I wouldn't do it right then, for he had already given me so much love and happiness that I could go on smiling and giggling for days with that. As soon as they were far from us, I turned to my friends, taking Sharon's hands in mine, and asked them what they thought.

"So, what do you think? Isn't he adorable and absolutely wonderful?"

"Yes, I really like him and is he really gay?" Sharon asked and I nodded, making her dramatically sigh out and mimic to faint. "Just my luck," she joked, for then smiling wide at me. "He seems really cool, Vi, and he obviously likes you as friend, you're very lucky. So, can we now all sit together for lunch? I have a feeling Anatoly and I would understand each other in terms of music!" Yes, I believed the same, for both enjoyed rock music.

"Absolutely, we must all have lunch together," I agree and then I looked at Cam, who hadn't said anything yet, looking not very happy or cheerful. "What is it?" I asked slightly concerned.

"I don't know, Viola...he is very...harsh, sarcastic and he used to be a bully. Can we trust him?"

"Cameron!" Sharon replied before I could even react. "And what if he was? He's clearly trying to change and amend for that. Do you think our super fabulous Viola and her super-hot and freaky sensitive brother would stick to him if something wouldn't be cool with him? Also, what about giving a second chance? Almost everyone deserves it and I like him," she declared, letting go of my hands to place hers on her hips, shooting quite the pointed look at our friend. She always had a touch of dark fairy in her and I loved her also because of that.

"I...I don't know, OK? Alright, I know I can trust Viola and Adrian, fine, but it doesn't mean I have to like this Anatoly at first," he replied and I decided it was better to let it go for now.

"Fine, Cam, but I'm sure you'll soon understand what I mean."

"I will see, because right now, I'm not exactly part of his fan club." There was a shade in his words I didn't completely like nor understood. Why was he so set against Anatoly and deciding immediately on not liking him? They had just met. Oh well, I couldn't impose him to like Anatoly, it would have been unfair and very bad. I simply had to give him time.

"Very well," I said, making a pirouette in front of them and mimicking to blow my fairy dust. "Let's all go study in that new place we spoke about yesterday and here, some of my magic fairy dust that will be much needed this afternoon. I cannot wait to study while having a cat sitting on my lap." The idea was making me very jumpy and I really was looking forward to it.

"Yay, let's go!" Sharon cheered, and Cam finally smiled a bit more relaxed.

"Sure, let's go, because I definitely need both of your help with for the next test and your magic, Viola."

-LATE AFTERNOON-

I stepped in the usual studio and tied my hair back, going already to start some quick warming up until our trainer would begin the class and at once I noticed a new face, a very beautiful girl slightly taller than me with a slender yet very athletic body, long wavy hair of the shade of dark honey, which she was now fixing into a long tress, bright eyes that looked a mix of forget-me-not blue and Aventurine green, well mostly green in fact, and an open smile as our glances met. I responded to that and waved at her and she replied at first, seeing she was new and then, I observed her in pure awe as she performed a couple of tricks on the hoop to warm up. She was very good! I wanted to talk to her, but the trainer began the class and we just exchanged another quick smile.

We learned how to do new tricks and some short combinations, for then learning part of a choreography we would need to perform for an upcoming competition. Hanging upside down on the hoop was a liberating and wonderful feeling, sometimes really making me feel I had wings like a fairy and a couple of times I giggled, the persons around me already used to me and just commenting they envied my natural flexibility. I was very lucky with that, because it allowed me to easily perform rather difficult tricks, not to mention I never feared falling down and somehow, the pain some combinations brought to legs, arms and so on never really bothered me. We learned the Russian split and many other more advanced movements, and I was really having great time. After a while, we took pictures and I couldn't wait to show them to my parents, my brother and tomorrow to my friends. I wondered what Anatoly would think of this.

About twenty minutes before the end of the class, our trainer asked us to try some combos in pairs and the new girl asked me if I wanted to try with her. I nodded immediately and noticed the way she looked at me, as if almost knowing me; I blinked a couple of times, because she looked familiar and I tried to think whether I saw her somewhere else or not, but nothing came to my mind. Then, she spoke first, appearing very nice, and there was something in her that immediately clicked in the right way.

"Hi, you're amazing at this and you'll have to show me the Russian split once more, because I cannot perform it as well as you did," she told me as she mounted on the hoop going to twist and wrap her legs tightly around the rope holding the hoop and then going upside down facing me, her hands ready for me. I followed on the hoop quickly and we linked hands as I let the tip of my left foot touch the hoop and, flipping around, my other leg went in the opposite direction performing a complete split. Her grip was strong and solid, and I didn't fear she would let go, clearly used at this and very talented, too.

"Are you OK?" I asked her.

"Yes, absolutely, you're very light and agile, so the perfect partner for doubles."

I smiled because she called me light and not skinny in the usual way people addressed me, as always reproaching me for a natural condition I couldn't do anything about; Anatoly also called me skinny-fairy but it never bothered me, for I knew he never meant to criticize me or look down on me. No, no. Anatoly wasn't like that and it simply was his way of affectionately calling me and I actually liked it.

"Thank you, you're also super good at this!" I cheered and I heard her quietly chuckling, and the trainer arrived to check on us, expressing her satisfaction and taking a picture.

I quickly dismounted from the split and we tried other combinations until it was time for stretching and she whistled at me as I was in a frontal split, touching the floor completely with my belly and chest, stretching my arms long in front of me.

"Wow, you're very flexible, I totally envy that, but I'm following some classes to get better," she said nodding in admiration, and I blushed, for she had been quite enthusiastic and very straightforward. "By the way, my name is Darya, or you can call me Dasha," she introduced herself and we shook hands, her eyes still studying me. Did she maybe know me?

"I am Viola, very nice to meet you and you do have a beautiful name," I said. "Does it have a specific origin or meaning?"

"It's a Russian name and I'm Russian, and I also like your name, Viola, right?" I nodded.

"Russian you said? My best friend is also Russian!" She looked at me with a smile and seemed interested in this detail.

"Really? What's his name?"

"Anatoly," I promptly replied, and her eyes widened for a moment, for then just nodding, still studying me with evident curiosity. "Do we know each other, maybe? You look familiar somehow," I tried to say, and she giggled only.

"Do you by any chance go to Holden Grimm high school?" She asked me and I nodded completely taken aback, not understanding how she could have guessed it. Then I thought she might know Anatoly and I wanted to ask her, but she asked me something else. "Then I think you must know my brother, right?" I blinked twice not really sure what she meant. "He goes to your same school."

"Your brother?"

"Yes, Sergey Lebedev," she replied with a smile and my eyes widened so much I was afraid to look like a frog, not to mention for an instant my mouth did the same, possibly making me look positively silly.

Darya was Sergey's sister? I blinked again, not able to make the connection because she was so nice and friendly, and they didn't look sim...I halted and observed her more carefully. Yes, now I could see why she looked familiar...they resembled each other, even if she didn't have his sharp and hard features and her hair was slightly darker, her eyes and face looking relaxed and not as gloomy as Sergey's, who had a constant sneer on his face. Oh...she really was his sister and I suddenly felt very nervous and not exactly knowing what to say.

"I see now you made the connection, am I correct? Do you know him then?" I just gave her a quick nod, not really knowing what to say. She was his sister, so I couldn't just tell her what I thought of him, it would have been very rude and inappropriate. "I take you two are not close friends, right?" I shook my head and she chuckled more. "How is he in school?"

Her question froze me and I really didn't know what to tell her, so I cleared my throat and tried to find the best way to describe him or somehow say something that was not going to sound rude or bad, but she broke out in a very open and carefree laugh, somehow reminding me of the sound of windchimes. She was so different than Sergey.

"I'm sorry, Viola, my question made you nervous and I can see you are slightly afraid of my brother," she said and I shook my head, not wanting her to know that and possibly tell him. "Don't worry, I will not tell him, and I know what a douchebag he is in school and I'm sorry about it. I hope he hasn't told you anything bad, because I'm aware he constantly fights with Tolya, I mean, with Anatoly."

"Tolya?" I asked and she nodded, but then another important detail registered in my mind. "You know Anatoly?"

"Yes, our families are very close, and my and his mother are very good friends, so yes, we know each other quite well," she explained and then we moved to do more stretching, still being surprised such a nice person was Sergey's sister and then I shook my head. Maybe I was being too hard on him and starting to be judgemental, which was something I really didn't like in general. Maybe he was not as bad as he wanted to show in school, maybe he was different, right? Oh, I really had no idea, he sure made me feel very, very nervous. "Did he say something to you in school? I promise I won't tell him, really."

"Not really," I answered sincerely. "He just calls me weirdo, but I am used to it, somehow."

"Weirdo?" She laughed more, holding her belly as she was now on her back and stretching her legs by pulling them closer to the face. "I am so sorry, Viola, he can be so childish sometimes, and you look super nice, I really like you," she honestly admitted, taking me completely aback.

"Thank you," I murmured feeling my cheeks reddening a bit. "You are very nice, too, and very different, but please do not take it in the bad way."

"Oh no, don't worry, I told you I know my brother very well." We smiled at each other and yes, I definitely didn't feel nervous around her. "Will you be here tomorrow?" I nodded. "Wonderful, so we can try more combinations and tricks together." I giggled at that, stretching more now in a side split position, and as we smiled more at each other, the trainer came to us and asked whether we would like to try a choreography together, for she felt we had very good connection and we were similar in skills and body type.

"I would like that, what about you, Viola?" Darya asked me and I also loved the idea.

"Yes, we can do that, it'd be wonderful," I replied, clapping hands.

"Very well, so think about the choreography, the music and such, and then we can discuss it in about ten days, OK?" The trained asked us.

"Sure," we both replied at the same time, for then looking at each other and laughing together.

Wow, Sergey's sister for real? She was so very different from him and so spontaneous, friendly and sweet even. As we walked to the locker room, she explained she had to change aerial hoop studio because the usual trainer left and the new one wasn't very good, not being precise and careful in the explanations; she found this on the Internet and seeing the reviews were high, she decided to try it, confessing she was very pleased with that.

"It definitely was very nice to meet you," I confessed. "Very surprising, but very nice."

"I agree with you, I definitely neve expected to meet you like this," she said, and I looked at her with a puzzled expression, not understanding what she intended to say with her words.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing in particular, simply that I never expected to meet one of my brother's schoolmates like this, that's all," she said, going to change clothes and checking her phone, seeing a missed call there. "I will call him later once I'm out of here and Viola, since we will need to work on this choreography together, why don't we exchange phone numbers?"

"Sure, that is completely fine with me." And so, we did that, also exchanging Instagram and Facebook, for the aerial hoop studio always posted the pictures from each class on a private group and I invited her to join it, hence she could see them. I eyed the shower cubicles and seeing they were completely full I decided to shower more comfortably at home, where I would have my usual things and my favourite bubble bath.

"Wonderful, I will see you tomorrow then," she said as we walked outside the studio, and I immediately smiled seeing my brother waiting there for me and I waved at her as I skipped to him.

"Yes, see you tomorrow!" She waved back and reached a car parked on the other side of the street, a very handsome and quite tall guy with Asian, possibly Chinese, features stepping out of the car and going to meet her in a tender and romantic hug.

"Who was that girl?" Adrian asked me as he drove us back home.

"You wouldn't believe it, Adri. She is Sergey's sister, I mean, can you believe that?" I asked him as I searched for something nice to listen to in the radio, not able to find much in there, so he pointed at the glove compartment, where he usually kept some CDs and I went for that, finding some mix of classical music, and thus we decided to go for The Nutcracker.

"She looked familiar, I must say that, yes, they have similar eyes and shape of mouth and nose, even though her traits are less sharp than his, and she definitely inspires different emotions," he observed as I hummed along with the music. "She didn't attend your same studio before, right?"

"No, she told me she had to change the old one and I like her, we will have to work on a choreography together." I quickly peered at my brother for I felt his eyes resting on me for a brief moment before going back to the road. "What is it?"

"Do you think you can trust her?" I smiled at him and leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek. He was always very protective and sweet, always guarding me and being the best brother ever. "I can sense a nice person, but you know what I mean."

"Yes, I understand what you mean and don't worry, I'll be careful and see how it goes. However, she said that her brother is a douchebag," I told him giggling and he also chuckled at that.

"Vivi preciosa, that is the statement of the year, but I can see she knows him quite well."

"I had the impression she cares about him," I commented, and he thought about my words.

"If she is a good and responsible sister, she will care for sure about him, especially someone like him, who gives me the idea of being trapped somewhere inside his rather obtuse and unpleasant mind." Adrian never liked how the group of his friends called me and took it very personal, knowing those comments were something I had often heard in my life, something that was not always easy to brush off, not even with the good-mood fairy calmly sitting on my shoulder. "He needs to see reason," he then said out of the blue.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure myself, Vivi, it's just a feeling, an impression I got by observing him in school. He shows his hate for Anatoly, yet I feel much more dread in him and even more jealousy. He's in a mess, but I cannot be certain, and he does not concern me." His voice was always calm and very relaxed, never speaking fast or too loudly. However, I knew him very well and I could tell when something did upset him. "I didn't like the way his friends dared to talk to you today and I saw Anatoly minded it, too. I hope they consider themselves lucky for today, because I would not want to upset you by reacting against them."

"Adri, you will never upset me and you must understand me...you know I was never scared of you, but just for you, because I don't want anything happening to you and I am afraid they might do something to you or Anatoly, so please, both of you, don't get into a fight with them. They can say whatever they want against me, because at the end of the day, they are soooo not fabulous!"

The idea of one them getting into a fight absolutely terrified me, because they had a big group of friends and none of them was a penguin lover or a nice person, mostly reminding me of those scary goblins from Tolkien, or worse creatures in The Witcher. I believe that was why I always felt uneasy and nervous around Sergey and why somehow, I could not push myself seeing something good in him; there was like a brewing storm around him and inside of him, worrying me it would soon explode on Anatoly and maybe on my brother, for he always took his side and never feared to tell them to leave us alone.

Nothing could happen to them! If they would do something to my beloved brother and my best friend, I would turn them all in some ugly creatures. There. But I really hoped that situation never appeared and that I was mostly seeing things. Yet, it was true Sergey felt restless and as if looming and nurturing a tempest. I hoped it washed away and just ended it in a soft rain and a beautiful rainbow.

"Do not worry about that, Vivi, you know me well and I never seek for fights, if I can avoid it."

"I know that and actually, speaking of Anatoly, do you like him or not?" I was really curious about this, for it was a topic we never discussed deeply until this moment.

"Of course, I like him, preciosa," he said with his usual playful and lovely smile, but he wasn't actually replying my question.

"You know what I mean, Adri..."

"I do like him, yes, he is very handsome and there is something hidden in him I'd like to discover, there is some wildness in him that attracts me very much, but I have a feeling he has someone in his mind and possibly in his heart, and I think being friends is the best for us. He doesn't see me in any way outside friendship and I'm fine with that," he calmly explained, the same smile on his lips, the same relaxed air he always had. "Also, as I spoke about something hidden, well Vivi, I don't think I'd be able to pull it out. It's not there for me, I sense it, I feel it whenever around him, and we shall see if I'm right or wrong."

"Uhm, you are almost always right, so I believe this time is the same. But it's a pity, because I would have liked you two together, but yes, maybe he has someone he likes or something like that and I'll still sprinkle my special fairy dust on him!" He softly chuckled and caressed my head.

"I am very sure he'll need it," he said as he kept driving. "I haven't told you something, but the other day I met his brother and a friend of his, an extremely handsome and very hot guy with a crushing handshake and apparently cold eyes, but I liked him as person, and his brother is very different than Anatoly in some things, being very outgoing and friendly at first, and you won't believe it, he's also gay."

"Not fair!" I complained suddenly looking at him. "Not fair you met his brother and one of his friends and I did not." He laughed at my tone of voice and shook his head.

"Don't worry, Vivi, because I have a feeling that sooner or later, we both will meet his friends. Anatoly just needs his own time and that's all, but you saw how today he accepted to meet Sharon and Cameron, even if he added his own touch."

"That's true and I will give him all the time he needs, because I have no doubts, we'll always be best friends," I declared entirely sure, smiling and giggling happily at the thought.

SERGEY POV:

After a short swimming practice, in ended up going with Audrey to that stupid and very much annoying photo-shooting, because I was worried about her, fearing Alexa would make her do something absolutely idiotic, manipulating her into some rather shameless decision. And she almost did it, also trying to freaking undress in front of me, Audrey for once telling her to do it somewhere else and not in front of us, and I really hoped she would soon begin to see things as they were. Alexa took a given kind of pictures and thank God Audrey did not, being too shy for that. Thank God not for much or because I was a gigantic hypocrite – which I was, and nobody had to spell it for me – but because knowing her a bit she was going to regret it.

I drove her home and promised to go to the movies with her on Friday evening, although there was a decision I had to take in the following days, because what I felt for her was nothing like love or even real physical desire, mostly seeing her as a friend and just caring she wouldn't get dragged around by the wrong persons, exactly like it happened to me. When I arrived at home, Darya was still out for her aerial hoop class and my father had just arrived from the office and looking tired for I knew he was working on some new software they were testing, him being some high-shot senior manager, lead, whatever of the engineering development department in some big software company, as he was an electronic engineer himself and very good at that, for all I knew.

Sure, he arrived at home tired, but not tired enough to avoid giving me the usual interrogation on freaking everything.

"Seryozha, why are you back so late?" We had basically arrived at the same time and I was supposed to be at home earlier and study. "You said you would study for the upcoming test and prepare for the competition you will soon have."

"I trained yesterday and one hour today, tomorrow I'll do more, don't worry," I replied quickly, going for the stairs to close myself in my bedroom and avoid more questions.

"That is not enough if you want to reach high levels and where have you been?"

"I doesn't matter what I do or if I win a competition, anyway, because I'll never be as perfect as the amazing Sasha, right?"

"What are you talking about, son?" He asked me planting his dark blue eyes on me, his hand tiredly passing over his greying hair, for he was older than uncle Vladimir, his hair always of a light brown until a couple of years ago when it began to slightly grey, some lines more marked under his eyes and around his mouth, making him look even more stern than he normally was. "I never said anything like that, aside the fact that your cousin Sasha dedicates time and passion to ice-hockey and because of that he gets great results. This is what I mean by saying he is a good example."

"Give me a break, father, you wish I'd also be in some hockey team, but it's not my thing and I don't really care about that," I snorted out, because he was just trying to make me feel more guilty for having misunderstood him, which I hadn't. "You wish I was more like him."

"You are my son, Sergey Kirillievich, and I do love you as such. I just would like for you to finally become responsible and dedicated. You do waste time and potential and you have not replied my question yet: where have you been until now?"

"I was with Audrey," I simply said, because he didn't know to hear the rest, and of course, by hearing her name he sighed out.

"She is a dear girl but not good for you and all your friends have very bad influence on you. I heard you have fights with Anatoly in school, is that correct?"

"Who told you that?"

"It does not matter, son. Answer my question," he ordered, and I stared at him defiantly, showing all the irritation he had stirred inside of me, all the annoyance triggered, especially by naming that pathetic queer.

"I cannot stand that queer, so yes, are you happy? We do fight against each other, because I hate him as much as I hate my perfect cousin, because no matter what, I will never be like Sasha, you fucking hear me?" I pretty much yelled out and then went up the stairs, but he called for me.

"Sergey Kirillievich come back at once," he ordered with imperative and thundering voice, but I kept climbing the stairs not caring about his bullshit, ignoring him completely. Why the hell did he care so much about Denisov? He had been a piece of shit as much as I was...right, he had been, but he tried to change. "Sergey Kirillievich," he called again and I believed he went to reach for me, but mom also came back and heard him, asking then what was wrong and I just slammed the door of my bedroom shut and dropped on my bed.

God, I was so pathetic that I pretty much made myself laugh. I sighed out and eyed a textbook on my desk, deciding to go for it and cursing my decision not even forty minutes later as I couldn't concentrate, and I damn hated the subject. I was about to throw the book on the floor, when someone knocked at the door and stepped inside as soon as I grunted a "come in". It was Dasha and she had just come back from training, still wearing sportive clothes, and observing me with quite the freaking annoying amused expression.

"What is it?" I asked curtly and she just chuckled, going to close the door behind. "Shouldn't you go shower and be with Shen? Where is he?"

"He's with our dad in the living room, discussing something about work or I don't know, I just said I would go upstairs and well brother, you'll never guess whom I met at the new studio of aerial hoop." I looked at her flatly, not really caring about whoever she had met there. "Are you not curious?"

"Just spit it out," I hissed, and she sat on the desk, smiling widely and quite creepily. Who the heck had she seen there?

"I met Viola," she said suddenly, and my eyes shot wide open as I heard that name, my reaction all too clear in front of my sister and my pathetic emotions completely exposed. Fuck that. "I recognized her at first, given the way you had described her and given the fact I busted you looking at her Facebook profile one day." She did what? She was kidding me, right? She couldn't have seen me doing something so lame...oh God, I was a really pathetic case. "Don't make that face, what do you take me for? I realized for some time already you have a crush for her, but I can see why you wouldn't want to admit it: she is definitely too nice and sweet and I can imagine she wouldn't uphold the ridiculous standards your even more ridiculous friends have, even though, she's absolutely beautiful and lovely."

"What are you talking about? She does aerial hoop like you?" I knew nothing about her...with all chances my sister had discovered more about her in ninety minutes of class.

"Yes, you didn't know it?" She asked me completely surprised me and I just shook my head. "You never talk in school," she said, more to herself than to me, but I automatically nodded. "Yeah, I got that from what she said about you."

"What did she say?" I asked way too eagerly and Dasha's smile only deepened. "Dasha?"

"She said nothing, only confirmed that you two go to the same school." It hit me, more than I wanted to admit. It freaking hit me, but what else could have she said?

"Aren't you hiding something?" I questioned my sister, because I couldn't believe Viola hadn't said anything about me, like that I scared her or that I was a piece of crap or whatever. If Dasha liked her at first, and she clearly did as I expected somehow, I was beginning to guess that also that weirdo probably liked her immediately and seeing how spontaneous and without barriers she was, why not saying what she honestly thought of me? "Didn't she say anything about me in school?" I silently swallowed down, but my sister shook her head.

"No, what did you expect her to say? We just met and it was quite a lucky encounter, believe me, but you know what? We exchanged phone numbers and contacts on Facebook and such, and if you'll be a good younger brother, I'll show you the pictures the trainer took tonight and that already posted on the studio's page group." What? Pictures of them doing aerial hoop? Of that super weird girl doing aerial hoop and possibly looking even more strange and off the wall? I sighed out and massaged my face. Who was I trying to kid? "What is it, Seryozha? Are you OK?"

"Show me the pictures, please," I said with a defeated tone of voice and Dasha promptly took her phone, unlocked the screen and searched through some page, for then showing me.

My eyes glued on the page and I couldn't believe at what I was looking...she was so beautiful, so light, so...yeah, she really looked like one of those magic creatures she blabbed about out every day. And she clearly was talented because, damn it, was she really doing that? Wait a moment, wasn't it dangerous?

"There are no mats on the floor," I observed. "What if you'd fall down? What if she'd fall down? She'd get crazier and weirder," I spontaneously said, without realizing the words had left my mouth, without realizing my mistake. Dasha did, though, and smiled at me in a less open way, her eyes showing a certain degree of concern.

"You need to take a decision, Seryozha, and not only because you have a crush on her."

"What? I don't have any crush on weirdos, what are you talking about?" I denied pathetically and she only stared at me for a few seconds in complete silence, for then gracefully hopping down the desk and walking to the door of my bedroom.

"I will go to shower and then, I believe dinner will be ready soon, so see you downstairs, OK? Shen will also be there."

"Dasha?"

"What?"

I glanced at her, but I no longer knew what to say, because it didn't make any sense and because it was all fucked up. I was well aware of my limits.

"Nothing," I quickly said, and she went to open the door, but stopped and turned looking at me once more with the same smug expression.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you something, Seryozha," she began, and I just stood there glaring at her, afraid of what she might have to say. "Viola and I will participate together to an aerial hoop event and we will have to work on a choreography together, so yes, expect to see her here, if she'll ever agree to meet me here, where my douchebag brother also lives." She showed me her teeth with her evil smile, and I shot on my feet, eyes wide open and my mind in a complete mess.

"What?" I just barked out, but she left right after the bomb she dropped, closing the door behind.

What had she just said? Viola here in this house? What the...? I hissed out and sat down once more, staring at the palms of my hands, remembering the face I saw sneering back at me two weeks ago in the club. Viola here? No, she would never agree on that, so, I had nothing to lamely freak out about.

Author's chit-chat:

What are your first reactions, emotions, thoughts, ideas, comments or even questions about this chapter?

I said it would be long and still introducing us to the story, but I also said that it would move it forward and I think we can all imagine how and where. All LYIF readers can guess already what will soon happen, between Sergey and Tolya, and let us see how our sweet Viola will react. But I won't say yet when exactly that will happen.

You can see that Sergey is a very conflicted character and let us see how his odyssey and growth will happen and occur. With a touch of magic, you say? Who knows?

Now, how about our Dasha? Isn't she cool and really helping her brother? How did you like (if you liked it, of course) the way she and Viola met for the very first time? Were you imagining in this way or very differently? I think Dasha will be a powerful ally 😊

What about Anatoly meeting Sharon and Cameron, the depressed shrimp? I think we all remember that moment in LYIF, right? But we had to see it from Viola's perspective to understand it much better.

And then our Adrian...as you can see, I'm leaving tiny hints and information here and there, as we will soon have his own book and we shall learn even more about him. However, being Viola's brother, I cannot not say anything about him and he is an interesting and quite intriguing character to write, because he has a certain side in him that gives me goose bumps while writing about him, imagining him in reality and seeing through his personality in depth. He'll be a very fascinating character, you'll see.

Then, we spotted the bad guys/girls in the story and I am trying not to simply depict them as bad guys, but much more. You'll see what I mean with time.

Please, one small note: what the characters say or think it's their own opinion and NOT mine, thank you for your understanding 😊

P.s. if you check the banner, you will see the picture of the trick Viola and Dasha tried, just know the imagine is flipped horizontally, so basically you should see it vertically, for the hoop hangs from the ceiling. Quite cool, right? I also do this discipline and I can tell you it's amazing!

Now, I really hope you enjoyed this chapter, so please let me know what you think of it with your amazing comments and votes, THANK YOU! Also, sorry I don't always immediately manage to reply to them, but I am quite busy with many things, among them, writing of course ^-^

Stay tuned, because we have more awaiting for us: CH.3 of BTIE coming out quite soon, and then more edited chapters of "Fire and Ice", and yes, I am working on the special one-shot between Tolya and Oleg. Plus, of course, CH.2 of this story 😊

Thank you once more for your wonderful and kind and very lovely support for me and my stories, as Viola would say, you're all absolutely fabulous!

Lots of Love, Magic, Hugs & Meows,
-TheWitchAndTheCat-