Dear All,

As promised, here comes the new chapter for "The Princess & The Jerk" and yes, we have another pretty long update, which I hope you will really enjoy 😊

I won't say much about it, aside explaining why I decided to write it as such. The fight is a turning point for many characters and many reasons, both in this story and in "Loving You is Forbidden", so I couldn't just jump into it without first letting you see how Sergey arrived at that point, what made him behave like that, his emotions and, as well, Viola's feelings and doubts.

They are both complex characters in their own specific way; even if Viola appears to be very sweet and sort of naïve with her constant good mood, she also has fears and doubts, and this situation sure doesn't help. You will understand by reading.

I would like to thank my faithful readers and their precious feedbacks! You know who you are, and you know, my dears, you have my gratitude and love and magic.

The song I chose from Imagine Dragons seems to perfectly fit the chapter, especially the dynamic between Viola and Sergey.

Enjoy it and please, let me know what you think of it with your fabulous comments, messages and votes: THANK YOU!

"I want to believe that I'm not wrong. I want to believe that life isn't full of darkness. Even if storms come to pass, the sun will shine again. No matter how painful and hard the rain may beat down on me," by Natsuki Takaya in "Fruits Basket".

SERGEY POV – THURSDAY, BEFORE THE FIGHT:

I arrived earlier in school once more, mostly to avoid listening to my father's sermons during breakfast about setting my head straight, saying it was good I had succeeded in the latest test and that this should have been the usual, and not one-time exception only. Because, of course, he couldn't just compliment me as every other normal person or parent would probably do; of course not. He had to throw back at me the fact I generally never did so well in school, as he expected higher performances from me, declaring that one success wasn't enough to prove anything. It had to be consistent and I had to work hard for that. What burned inside of me and made me so angry was the fact I knew he was right, the fact he was saying something absolutely, damn right and accurate, since I could see it applied on the situation with Viola.

Being nice one day and being a complete piece of crap the following? This was wrong and completely twisted. My father was a gigantic, stuck-up pain in the neck, possibly seeing only a failure in me, but he had a point in that and the fact he had a point made me furious, wanting to deny it. Ahhh...I was so pathetic and screwed up that it no longer was funny. All I did was only whining around like some lame kid and I had to make it stop, in a freaking way or another.

I walked to my locker, but first decided to go for hers, wanting to see if Viola as well arrived early and my heart thumped strongly as my eyes took in her beautiful and breath-stealing figure, the fact her long, purple-pink hair was pulled back in a very intricated tress, a colourful dress wrapping around her and ending in a large skirt with tons of that fluffy material she called tulle, exposing her perfectly shaped legs, giving her an ethereal and fairy-like look. My mouth dried up as I couldn't help roaming her figure and trying to swallow down what that stirred inside of me, how my hands almost shook.

God...she was so beautiful and the loud, yet twitting sound of her laughter rendered me completely numb to anything else. I was sucked by its melody and all I wanted was to make her laugh in such way with me, imagining the smile she must have had in that moment.

Alexa's words replayed in my mind and my heart sank down just as my mood. Martin's taunting followed that memory and I froze on the place, unsure what to do. Viola stood in front of her locker animatedly talking about some Japanese anime with her two very weird friends, the guy called Cameron a real piece of annoying and judgemental wuss; but a real lucky bastard who could enjoy her company and voice every single damn day. The girl seemed fine enough, never really looking at me as if wishing for a sudden black hole to suck me away, but obviously having her friend's back at every moment. She was a bit Gothic looking, enjoying enhancing it with marked use of makeup and, sometimes, dark clothes.

However, their friend, whom I knew Denisov must have found very much insufferable, regarded me with open and irritating disgust. That small fry definitely wished for me to disappear in some other remote planet and I saw the same look on his face whenever he stared at that queer. He hated our guts, and, in a way, it made me happy knowing that one of Viola's friends hated Denisov. I wasn't alone in that and not everyone loved him and treated him as the prodigal son; it gave me a secrete and very much fucked-up satisfaction and I knew I was beyond recovery. I was way over the simple definition of pathetic and so, I went to walk away, since Viola hadn't noticed me. Why should she do so?

But when I turned around, her beautiful and twitting, clear voice called my name, which blocked me and made me turn around as if invisible fingers were playing with strings attached to my body. It was like being under a spell and I didn't mind it one bit. It was a sweet and nice spell, and her smile obtained one on my face the moment our eyes met.

"Morning Sergey," she called, smiling more openly than she ever did with me and everything else faded away. I didn't care about the way the Cameron wuss glared at me with evident hate and fear, how the girl named Sharon blinked surprised once, how Taylor was about to join them. I didn't give a damn about any of them. My eyes and attention were only focused on Viola and on her welcoming, sweet smile. "How are you today?"

"Morning weirdo," I replied in my usual way, but she just giggled at that taking a step in my direction. Why couldn't I be different and behave like a real man? "It's morning and I'm in school, so you can do your math," I sarcastically said, but she had registered the fact my tone wasn't actually mad or annoyed, but simply making a sort of joke.

I mean, who would be happy to be at freaking school early in the morning knowing a possible interrogation was behind the corner?

"Not a morning person?" She asked tilting her head to the side and observing me, as if searching for the answer by looking at me, and I shook my head, because I actually was a morning person.

"I actually am, can you believe it?" Conversing with her was so easy and natural and I didn't need to mind anything I was saying, there was no need to measure my words or being afraid of being judged. She just smiled and nodded back.

"Hmm, somehow I thought you were," she agreed taking another step in my direction, just as I did, stopping right in front of each other, my hands wanting to touch her so badly I had to stick them in my pockets. "How was swimming practice yesterday?" She really cared about that and, I would have paid a priceless amount of money to stop the time in that moment.

"It was OK, just preparing for an imminent competition and I have to do my part, or else my father will never stop nagging over that."

"But I heard you're very good and fast," she observed, once more striking me with almost blinding surprise, since I had no idea she ever paid attention to things said about me and because she had obviously believed it without doubts.

"I might be, but I still need to do better," I only said and she softly giggled, looking away once and fidgeting with a bracelet on her wrist, the same one Audrey had given her. She was timid sometimes and it only made her cuter than she already was. What was she thinking about while her eyes moved away and stopped somewhere in the corridor? If only I could read her mind! I wanted to ask to come see the competition, because with her in the public I knew it was going to be awesome and I'd win without issues, but my mouth couldn't utter those words, since cowardice and fear took over me. I couldn't invite her for so many reasons I felt like sinking in deep quicksand.

"When is it?" She however asked and our eyes met again, her shyness visible on her face just as the uncertainty that veiled her smile, accompanying the question. I stepped closer, seeing her friends, especially the annoying one pretty much murdering me with his upset grimace, were observing me intently.

"In a bit more than three weeks," I said only, and she nodded, still playing with the bracelet. God, she was so fucking beautiful that my eyes couldn't stop roaming her entire figure. Why people made fun of her for her very slender body? She was perfect and she looked so graceful, ethereal.

Then, a very cold shiver crawled down my back and a set of apparently amused eyes were glancing at me with interest, but also with a not so veiled warning. I swallowed down as I crossed glances with Taylor, and he hinted a smug smile. Shit. He had busted me big time and for a moment I felt trapped, wanting to run the hell out of there, but I calmed down immediately; he was her brother and I always sensed there was something unusual in him and, as much as it sounded screwed up and crazy, I didn't care he knew I was gone for his sister.

Just like my cousin, Adrian Taylor was the kind of dude always minding his own business, unless the people he cared about were involved; at that point, you didn't want to be the receiving end. I knew Sasha had sent people to the hospital for what they had done to his man and, as much as I couldn't stand him and never really clicked with that guy called Travis, he had done the right thing. I couldn't stand Sasha, sure, but it had to be said he wasn't a coward as I was. He defended his partner, while I couldn't stand the ground for the girl I liked.

Pathetic, very and ridiculously pathetic.

"If you come to watch our performance, I'll come to watch your competition and throw some magic fairy dust at you," Viola twitted in all of her sweetness and cuteness, beaming at me in a way she never did before, threatening my heart to give in at any time.

My eyes glued on hers and I really had clench my hands tightly in my pockets so to avoid touching her, because the need was about to overtake me big freaking time. What was about her? She made me feel so...I didn't know how to phrase it, but I guess the right way to describe it was alive. Yeah, I felt I could breathe normally whenever around her, and I didn't care how her annoying, short friend was eye-murdering me and wishing for a meteorite to land right on my head.

"Deal?" She asked still beaming in that child-like yet gorgeous way, the many bracelets she wore tingling together.

"Deal, weirdo," I replied and I inched closer on purpose, wanting to test something and, there it was, she quickly widened her eyes and looked away for a moment, for then moving the stare back to me still mirroring her adorable shyness. I was trying my luck big time, because her brother was watching me and because we were in school, my "friends" and Alexa's not-so-veiled threatens still playing in circles on and on in my mind.

But in that moment, I didn't care. I just wanted to be with her and, again, I wished for the time to stop right then.

"If your magic crazy stuff will make me win a competition, my father would be happy and maybe shut up for once," I joked and she nervously giggled, but not because afraid of me. It was our vicinity that seemed to make her nervous, and I really wished to have the guts to change everything and kick the asshole she was seeing in his ass, so to chase him the fuck away from her. "You'd me a big favour."

"Would you show me more how to play the piano?" She asked back, this time setting her bring and vivid eyes on me and I could just nod, but then Taylor stepped closer and wrapped an arm around her slender shoulders, a lazy yet warning smile on his face. She leaned into the embrace with a wide grin.

"Good morning, Sergey," he said only, and I just nodded. "How are you today?" I gulped down at the tone of his question and by the fact he stressed the word "today". Had he guessed more than I thought? This guy was so creepy sometimes.

"The usual, Taylor," I replied staring directly into his eyes and he grinned more, another cold shiver slithering down my spine. There was no point in lying in front of him.

"Hmm, not sure I like to hear this," he mused with his usual lazy and laid-back way of talking, a hint of native language tinting some words. "The usual, you say?"

"Meaning a fucking asshole-like jerk as every day, right Lebedev?" The annoying and smug voice of Denisov kicked my temper at once and I noticed how Viola stiffened looking at us two nervously, afraid we would break into some huge fight, afraid her precious queer friend would get into trouble, because I knew he couldn't afford it, just as much as I couldn't afford that shit.

"Fuck off, Denisov," I only spat and then decided to leave, because his presence had already dropped my mood and spiked my irritation, my hands now itchy to break his insufferable and arrogant face, and it was completely mutual, considering the way he walked around me and stopped right beside Viola, having completely misread the situation.

"Beat it," he growled back, and I noticed how she went to say something, but I just let it go, yet not before snatching that queer's jumper and sneering at his face.

"I'm out of here before I get sick at just looking at you," I hissed feeling my blood rumbling in my veins and demanding to explode out.

I let go and walked away without saying anything, feeling a tumult of emotions I wasn't so happy to have to deal with as first thing in the morning. I was torn between too many things and the idea that Viola was a close friend with that damn Denisov queer was definitely something it wasn't going to be digested any time soon.

He was probably talking shit about me in this very instant, having being way too lucky in finding a friend like her, and even though he showed differently in school, he obviously cared about Viola and thought I was there to make her feel bad. I halted in my track and sighed out, massaging my forehead. Of course, he would think that, because I had been a gigantic douchebag in the past and I got Taylor's subtle message and warning; being my usual was not going to cut it and we both knew that.

But what could I do?

Ahhh, shit!

This was so annoying. I groaned out frustrated and my blood froze in my veins as Alexa stood standing in front me with a venomous smile. Who did I piss off this morning? Someone with a very twisted sense of revenge.

"Good morning, Sergey," she greeted me with a voice that gave me the same feeling of the bifurcated tongue of a snake rasping against my throat, searching for a pulsing vein. "I'll need another lift home today and I'm sure you'll be fine with that, right?"

"I have swimming practice," I hissed out and swallowed down my sudden growing anger as she stalked to me, placing both hands on my shoulders, leaning way too close for my taste. I noticed a moment too late the fact both Martin and Jonathan stood not far behind with ogling and envious eyes, and they could perfectly switch place with me. They could take her away from me any time they wanted.

"But I saw you being all nice to someone who really doesn't deserve you and really, Anatoly Denisov is very arrogant and she is so friendly with him..." Shit, her twisting the knife in the wound was just what I missed right then, not to mention the fact she had caught what happened. "Be careful about whom you choose as friends, Sergey, because some can create many troubles," she whispered against my ear, and I knew I would never get it up with her, not even if I took drugs for that. My entire body and mind screamed to push her away, but I kept it cool only to avoid a scene and get myself and Viola in deeper shit. For now, Alexa was toying around solely, but I had witnessed enough to not be stupid to underestimate her. "How about you save a seat for me in class?" She was now moving her hands on my arms and lower, about to reach my jeans' pockets, until I grabbed her wrists and removed them from me. Her touch made me feel dirty.

"Suit yourself, but I already told you last night, and today I won't have time to drive anyone at home. Ask Chris or Martin or whoever you want in our group, they'll be happy to comply with that," I noted with a touch of sarcasm that came out harsher than intended.

"But I want you and..." she paused a moment and her arms went around my neck, while her smile turned into a fake imitation and her words froze me. "Sergey, I'm so happy you asked and yes, I'd love to come see your swimming competition."

I stiffened and felt like throwing up as Viola and her friends, together with Taylor and Denisov, passed by us, Viola looking away with an expression that hit me in the guts way worse than Denisov ever did with his beating, himself flipping me off and Alexa, of course, poured fuel on the fire.

She had been watching me.

Watching us.

Seriously, who the heck had I pissed off to get such rotten luck?

"What are you looking at?" Alexa taunted Viola as her eyes once more quickly glanced at me, confusion all over her face. I had a feeling she wasn't very good at hiding her emotions. "Maybe the cafeteria will open for you right now, so we won't have to stare at your bones." I went to move away and react to this, but she planted her nails in my skin. I saw red and I was about to explode, but Taylor acted faster, his expression making the viper pale down. He stopped very close to Alexa, who finally let go of me, and leaned against her ear, smiling in a way that describing as creepy wouldn't do it justice.

"Another word like this against my beloved sister and, Alexa, you'd really wish to be a good and obedient girl keeping her useless and possibly not very talented mouth shut, believe me," he said calmly and slowly, letting every single word dipping into her brain. He pulled back and Denisov joined, seeing my friends had come over to see whether we were going to start a fight. Then, Taylor eyed me, and all the apparent calm and laziness had evaporated. "The usual, hmm?" He tilted his head and smiled once more, but there was no mirth in it. "How disappointing," he added tilting his lips up unnervingly. "Stay away." It was an order directed at me only, but the tone froze us all.

"Adri, Anatoly," Viola called and she looked worried about all of this, obviously not wanting any of the people she loved getting involved into a fight, but then she planted her glance on me, on us all and stuck out her tongue, flipping her tress back, showing a strength of mind I never realized she had. "We are going to get late for our first class and I definitely don't want to get scolded because of these boring, fake and unicorns-haters people."

She skipped to them and grabbed their hands, a quick look at me that made me feel like the most stinky and disgusting piece of crap.

"C'mon, let's go, leave them be the way they are." They went to walk away, but she then turned around and eyed Alexa. "Isn't Audrey your best friend?" Alexa went completely rigid and changed her expression into a very nasty one. "Then, you're a very bad and fake one, exactly like your lips." Viola stuck her tongue out again and skipped away with her friends and brother, who had placed a very protective arm around her shoulders, silently telling us all to piss off.

I had no idea what to do and I almost didn't hear what my friends yapped about, how they all wanted to get it even with them, but I heard a few words very clearly.

"Buddy, what the hell is wrong with you?" I turned to look at Martin. "You can't be serious, right?"

"What the fuck are you talking about?" I sneered, getting more annoyed by the second.

"You can't really have it hot for that one, right?" All of them looked at me and I felt trapped. Why was I so stupid and obvious? "Wake up, Sergey, you freaking look at her as if she were the hottest girl in the world, but what the hell is wrong with you? She's so skinny it'd be like fucking a skeleton."

I grabbed his sweater and readied my punch to crash his nose, because what he had just said about Viola kicked my anger to levels that I never knew possible, creating a new meaning for short and dangerous temper, possibly worse than my own cousin. This dickhead here couldn't dare to talk about her in such way...not to a girl like Viola.

"What did you just say?" I growled out, pulling him closer and seeing panic in his eyes. My hand tightened harder into a fist and my breathing came out ragged, trying to control whatever was now howling in my mind and guts. But Jonathan and Chris came to my sides and placed hands on my shoulders. Was I ready to start a fight with them all? "Take it back," I ordered Martin and he swallowed down, for then beginning to laugh.

"You are a joke, Sergey...do you really like that one? Wait until the other girls hear about this." God I wanted to punch his face so much I saw stars for how wildly the blood pumped in my head, but a glint of sense downed on me and let me realize I wasn't creating problems to myself, but to Viola. I shoved him away and snorted out.

"Are you drunk? Why should I like someone like her?" I asked irritated, seeing he didn't sense the true cause behind that. "I wouldn't waste my time over that weirdo and stop asking the same shit over and over."

"So, will you walk me to class?" Alexa asked, obviously putting me even more at the centre of the attention and scrutiny, fucking testing me and wanting me to prove my words. I was in the corner and I had no way out of this.

"Fine," I sighed out, feeling so tired already and she linked her arm around mine, Audrey joining us with other two girls and a guy named Neil, her eyes immediately stopping on us and hurt flashed on her face the following instant.

God, I just wanted this day to be over, because I had hurt not one, but two persons I care about and because, I was feeling more and more disgusting, more and more angry at myself, more and more envying Denisov for his new found guts, hating myself for my stinky cowardice, hating him out of disgusting jealousy, hating my cousin just because he was better in everything, because he knew damn well who he was.

I no longer had any clear idea.

VIOLA POV:

Had he really asked Alexa to go watch his swimming competition? I had formed the idea he didn't like her, considered what he told me about her and thinking about how uncomfortable he looked a moment ago, while she had her hands on him. But, if he felt so uncomfortable with her touching him, why didn't he say a clear no? Saying no was not that complicated in my opinion and I had already did it a few times, some guys not exactly behaving in the romantic way I had always dreamed of. But if he didn't ask her, as I was hoping for, why would Alexa behave as she did in front of me? I sighed out and Anatoly eyed me.

"What's up?" He quietly asked while the professor was busy on writing something on the board.

"Nothing," I whispered back, and Adrian quickly glanced at me and smiled, shaking his head as if answering my questions.

"Don't think about that dickhead's words and behaviour, alright? And don't let that damn Lebedev get close to you, because he's fucked up," he went on with very upset voice and I couldn't help concentrating my eyes on him.

"Why are you two hating each other so much?" Anatoly hesitated at my question and then shook his head visibly annoyed.

"Because he's a gigantic jerk and..."

"Mr. Denisov, would you like to maybe render the entire class participant of what you are talking about?" The professor asked with a very unpleasant tone and I didn't miss how Anatoly rolled his eyes, possibly counting until ten before replying.

"It was my fault, Mr. Welsh, I asked Anatoly to explain me something I didn't understand well," I said at first, seeing how my friend slightly shook his head with a tiny smile on his lips. The professor looked at us both and then sighed out murmuring something none could hear, assessing Anatoly once more with narrowed and suspicious eyes, then me, as I kept my usual broad smile and pointed at the text book open right between us two.

"Very well, so let us resume the class without further distractions, and, Miss Taylor, if you have doubts about this subject, please be aware I can also elucidate on it," he pointed out and I just smiled, politely thanking him. He wasn't the nicest one and I was never really fond of his judging manners and rather obtuse views, but there was not much I could do about that; not even my fairy-dust worked with him, as I suspected it was not going to work with people such as Alexa and some of Sergey's friends.

"Thanks," Anatoly breathed out barely audible and I just shook my head, as to say to not even mention it. He was my best friend and I would always have his back, no matter what.

As the explanation of today's class resumed, other questions popped in my mind: why didn't they want us to be friends? What was so wrong about that? Why couldn't Sergey be honest with himself? I halted as my hand was writing notes and my eyes widened. Why was I caring so much about him and why did it bother me thinking Sergey had invited Alexa to his swimming competition? I swallowed down and placed the pen down, a hand going to listen to my heart, feeling it beating faster and faster as I recalled the moments of before, especially when he stood so close to me, his beautiful, peculiar eyes sort of smiling and directly staring at me.

Had he really invited Alexa? I couldn't believe it, because he looked so uncomfortable around her, as if he disliked her touch, as if he felt guilty, but guilty for what? Then, thinking about guilt, I remembered what I told Alexa, about being a bad friend and, really, I had no idea why I went that far, as it wasn't my business and I knew nothing of their friendship. She had just really upset me, and I didn't like the way she claimed Sergey as if he were a toy, knowing he had just broken up from Audrey. I had been unfair and a bit too harsh probably, and...I also wanted to be friend with Sergey, but that wasn't the same thing, right? I just wanted to discover the real Sergey, and nothing more, so had I also behaved wrongly toward Audrey?

I felt eyes on me, and they belonged to Adrian, who was observing me silently and carefully. I smiled back, but it didn't reach up as usual and he did not miss it. He shook my head and I understood immediately what he wanted to say; I really loved my brother very much and he was the best brother ever! Yet, again the same doubts nagged at me like some unpleasant creature; if Sergey wasn't sincere and, in fact, only playing around with me...well...that would really hurt and discovering this was very, very confusing. If Sergey was just having fun behind my back, as other people already did in the past, it was going to be more painful than then.

My phone vibrated and I checked the message, seeing it was from Ryan, my face warming up slightly as I read the content of it; he was asking me out for a more official date on Saturday and I waited a moment before replying. My thoughts were very confused and I decided to wait a bit before agreeing on that, even when I imagined his deep grey eyes staring at me with that usual very confident light, which sometimes was a bit too difficult to withstand. He had behaved nicely and romantically on yesterday, but as we went on separate ways, he had tried to kiss me on the lips, and I wasn't ready for that, so I pulled back. He stood a moment in silent staring down at me, but then just smiled and nodded, understanding me. Or so, I hoped.

I read the message again and then placed the phone away, for I needed some time to consider it and maybe, see Sergey later.

I paused in my considerations and, my heart beat faster as I pondered the causes behind my worries, which could not be what I was thinking. Adrian asked me if I liked Sergey, but I didn't, since we were so different and because I was still nervous and slightly scared of him, even if I tried my best not to show it; plus...I didn't know yet if I could really trust him. I was ready to give him the same chance I gave to Anatoly, as deep down I believed he was a good person just surrounded by wrong people, but what if this was wrong?

My phone was back in my hands and I replied to Ryan quickly, agreeing on meeting on Saturday evening for dinner and then cinema, as he had suggested. He said he would pick me up and it was a good way to introduce him to my brother. The reply arrived sooner than I believed, and a giggle almost escaped me while reading a rather funny meme he had just sent.

"Ryan?" Cameron asked in a hushed tone, his eyes darting on Anatoly still very nervously. "Do you think you can trust him?"

"I am just going out for dinner and cinema," I replied even more quietly, being able to whisper mostly because the professor was busy in writing things down on the board.

"Well, let me know how it goes and Viola, you're my best friend and I don't want to see you crying again, as a matter of fact, I don't want to see you crying at all, so..." he hesitated a moment and eyed Anatoly once more, but I smiled at him shaking my head, as if to signal Anatoly was a truly good and sweet person we could all trust, and he shrugged, "well, be careful with that Sergey psycho, I don't get why a moment he calls us names and then talks normally. Something must be up." He signed out and took a couple of notes, frowning as he didn't get everything the professor was writing down.

"We can study this together, if you want, the four of us," I proposed, well knowing Anatoly would never accept it and not wanting to abuse of his patience, and so my friend grinned at me nodding.

Cameron was so cute and good looking whenever he smiled more freely, but he lacked confidence due to his slender body and not very prominent height; yet, self-confidence wasn't something very easy to obtain or conjure up if it wasn't in you. I just hoped he would find it in him soon enough, maybe meeting a girl he really, really liked. He often dressed in dark clothes and had even dyed his hair of a darker shade of his usual deep brown, reflecting the same colour of his eyes. Cammie just needed to get out of his shell, and I knew he was a person who needed more time than the others, having an issue with trust.

"Thanks Vi, without you and Sharon I'd be screwed in school," he murmured as he flipped through the textbook trying to follow what the professor was talking about while still writing on the board.

Sharon beamed at us both and then poked Cameron on his side, making him almost jump up on the chair since he was super ticklish. She suffocated a giggle and we all pretended to be super busy taking notes as the professor turned around checking who was making noise. The three of us super quietly chuckled as soon as Mr. Welsh turned his attention back to his writing, seeing how Adrian shook his head and Anatoly snorted, obviously trying to hide a smile.

"For sure, without you guys, school would be boring as fries without ketchup and mayo," she breathed under her breath and we all nodded, but then Cameron moved his eyes on me with a more serious expression and took my hand.

"Just be careful, Vi, OK? I-I really don't want anything bad happening to you." He was super sweet, and I leaned closer to leave a kiss on his cheek.

"Thanks," I only said and, deciding not the push our luck further with Mr. Welsh, we went back listening to him silently and really paying attention.

I was hoping the answer given to Ryan wasn't too rushed or produced by my inner confusion, but then, the events that happened during the day and the following one, the sudden change in Sergey's attitude, the hostility and the harsh words he hissed at me in front of his friends for no apparent real reasons, made me see that perhaps I had been wrong in wanting to be friends with him and arbour doubts about seeing Ryan.

Right on Saturday evening, as I did my makeup while listening to some music in my bedroom, Adrian lying down on my bed reading a book while keeping me company before going out and meeting Ryan, Sergey's hurtful words came back and thundered in my head all of a sudden like a summer storm. They felt like a sharp slap I had never received or experienced in my entire life and I paused completely. It was like when a spell broke and reality suddenly rushed over.

"What is it, Vivi?" Adrian asked concerned, seeing I was staring at the mirror without moving, the mascara brush in my hand still having to touch the lashes.

"Nothing," I tried to lie, but he placed the book down and moved to my side, squatting down and taking my hand in his.

"Talk to me, preciosa, and tell me what's bothering you, or should I say, who is bothering you." What happened on Friday really disturbed him, even though he had not witnessed it, and I asked him not to say a word to Anatoly.

"I was just thinking about what Sergey told me yesterday, when we met in the corridors before lunch and I tried to greet him, wanting to see how he would react in front of his friends." I sighed out, as it had been a rather silly idea and it hurt me more than I expected.

He had thrown at me a look so hard and upset it had almost scared me and then his voice had hissed in his usual way to get lost and not bother him, since he didn't have time to waste with losers and weirdos. There was not a hint or tiny touch of humour and sarcasm in his voice, as he had meant those words, and his friends began to laugh. It was a good thing Anatoly and Adrian weren't around in that moment, just having Sharon and Cameron at my side, who had stiffened and almost said something back, noticing the effect Sergey's words and attitude procured in me.

It was good they weren't there or else I knew there was a high chance for a fight, the last thing with which I wanted them all involved. I couldn't remotely think or stand the idea of the three of them fighting together and harming one another, no matter what Sergey said to me. I couldn't stand or even consider the idea of my brother and best friend getting hurt; his sudden change of attitude had struck me deeply and it felt like betrayal almost, but I was exaggerating it because we weren't friends and because, maybe, I really wanted to believe he had another reason to behave in such way.

"A real pity I wasn't there with you," Adrian calmly replied, but his tone of voice had changed and so did the look in his eyes.

"No Adri, I would never want you two involved in a fight, because I love you and Anatoly very much and he definitely cannot afford it," I explained, trying to smile in a more relaxed way. "And we both know he has quite a temper."

"Sergey has no right to talk to you in such way and, if he will dare to do so again, I am not sure how it will end."

"Adrian..."

"You're a my precious Vivi, my beloved sister and also best friend, the one who helped me going through my nightmares and many ghosts, so do you think I can remotely stand someone deliberately or not hurting you?" I shook my head, knowing all of this. "Exactly, not on my watch and I won't arrive using my hands on him only because of the promise I made to you, but this depends on him and his friends; Sergey is a coward and I can feel it, but whatever mess he has going on in his head, whatever problems he must be going through, well, that doesn't give him the right to treat you in such way. I warned him already."

I hugged him tightly, trying to forget the feelings Sergey's words brought upon me, not wanting to upset the people around me with my silly worries.

"Let's not think about it, alright Adri? I doubt we will talk to him anymore, as maybe he doesn't want to be friends with me, or he has his own reasons. I will let him be and hope he won't start another fight with Anatoly, as whenever they cross the same corridors it seems to look at two big werewolves trying to get at each other's throat." My brother only nodded and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Anatoly has you as friend and let us not forget he has your magic fairy-dust," he commented winking in his usual way, the upset and cold light having left his normally warm eyes.

"He has us both," I reminded him.

"True enough." He checked the time on my phone and then chuckled. "Shouldn't you finish to get ready for your date?" I gasped and hurried back to complete the makeup.

When I was done, I asked Adrian what he thought of my outfit, which consisted in a brand-new pair of pink pumps, white and dark pink dress and a purse in the shape and colour of a rainbow, and he said I looked absolutely beautiful; so, I rushed down the stairs and found my parents in the kitchen talking as mom prepared something for dinner.

"Viola honey," she immediately greeted me. "You look so beautiful, pink really suits you, and tell me, when can we meet this guy you are seeing tonight?"

"Yes sweetheart, please let us exchange a couple of words with him, because he is taking my daughter out on a date," dad continued, but as I went to reply, Adrian reached us in the kitchen and stopped right beside me.

"I'm meeting him tonight, so don't worry about this for now," he mused with a very wicked smile.

"Oh good, then we can relax," dad exclaimed chuckling and coming to us, placing a hand on my brother's shoulder. "I think for now we will leave it on you, Adrian, and next time, if you will keep seeing this young man, please invite him over for dinner." Mom shook her head very much amused, trying to repress a giggle, and I did the same. I loved the fact dad was always extremely busy with his work, but always very present as parent no matter what, giving us all his unconditioned love and support.

Adrian and I had been extremely lucky and we both knew it.

"You do have the pepper spray in your purse, right?" He continued asking, mimicking holding a small tube, his expression very serious, making his black eyes appear darker, the few wrinkles around them standing out as he squinted concentrating his attention on me. At that point mom really started to chuckle very much amused and dad turned around frowning. "She is my daughter and she is going out with a complete stranger, so I'm just normally worrying." He shook his head and ran a hand in his greying hair. "You never know what can happen."

"But darling, Adrian will see him now and we can entirely trust Viola, right?"

"I trust her, of course, but whom I don't trust is other people." Both dad and my brother were extremely protective. Right as he went to say something else, the doorbell rang and I quickly jumped up to hug him tightly, giving him a kiss and giggling since his dark, short beard always tickled me, then doing the same with mom.

"Enjoy your evening, honey, and be careful," she added with a kind smile and I nodded vigorously.

"And Viola?" Dad called for me.

"I won't be late, promised, and yes, I have the pepper spray with me," I replied, seeing he nodded more relaxed. I sent them another kiss and skipped to the hall, Adrian following me quietly and staying right beside me as I opened the door, Ryan immediately smiling at me for then frowning a short moment when he assessed my brother.

"Hi Ryan, this is my brother Adrian and I wanted to introduce him to you," I said, taking his hand and smiling widely, since he looked really good, having left the hair free to cascade has a dark curtain on his shoulders, his grey eyes immediately regaining the usual confident light. "Adrian, this is Ryan," I twitted to my brother, who remained silent at first, for then reaching out to shake hands.

"Pleasure to meet you, I hear you two will go for dinner and cinema," I bit my lower lip not to giggle at his apparently calm and laid-back tone, because I could tell Adri was studying him intently, and after that, he said something that really surprised us both. "Do I know you already? You look somehow familiar." I went back observing Ryan and I couldn't understand what my brother meant, but an expression quickly travelled his face, his brows arching and his overall stance stiffening. Why did he do that, had he minded my brother's question?

"I don't think so and I believe we never met, but pleased to meet you, too." Adrian smiled and then shrugged at that, resting his eyes on me.

"Very well, enjoy your evening and see you later." He had refused another invitation and decided to simply spend the Saturday evening watching something on Netflix, saying he wasn't in the mood for any date.

"See you later, Adri," I hugged him and, while he did the same, his lips very quietly murmured in my left ear a few words in Spanish only I could hear.

"Be careful and let me know in case." I blinked twice stunned and then followed Ryan, taking his hand when he offered it to me, walking to his car and letting me choose the music.

Dinner was really nice and we found ourselves talking about school, his lectures at the university and some movies he liked to watch, but not sharing much more else about himself; when I asked whether he had siblings or not, he just replied in a few words he had a younger sister and the brisk tone of his voice made me understand I shouldn't have pushed it; maybe he still didn't feel comfortable to reveal too much with me, because, truth be told, I also felt like pulling back and avoiding saying everything I had in mind. He was surprised when I declared being vegetarian and he made a joke I didn't really understand.

"So, maybe you're this skinny because you never eat some meat, hmm?" He joked, biting into his big burger while I had opted for a vegetarian version, the waiter being super nice in saying they would free style something for me considered they had run out of portobello mushrooms.

"Well, it's not related," I replied, taking a sip from my soda. "I am not following any diet, but I simply don't eat meat and try my best to eat what's sustainable for the natural environment and animals." He chuckled at that and took my hand, seeing he was trying to touch me more than before.

"I was just teasing you and you look very nice tonight," I beamed at his words and he smiled back, the same very confident light dancing in his eyes. "But if you ever decide to try some meat and taste how good it is, feel free." I just shook my head firm in my choice and belief, not really getting the way in which, he smiled at me and touched my fingers, making me retreat my hand with a polite excuse.

When dinner was over, we went to the movies and he bought a big basket of popcorns for us both and one drink, granted it was going to be enough considered the size of it. As soon as the lights went off, he placed his hand on my knee, as I had crossed one leg over the other, and at first I did or said nothing, because it probably was normal and we were on a date. I also didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable by always pulling back and such, afraid he would feel rejected. It was simply all very new to me and I had never been physical with anyone before, for one reason or another, so taking it very slowly and following my emotions and small fears was the only way for me. I had no experience, while I was sure he did, hence I really didn't want to disappoint him much with that.

However, his hand moved more up, grazing the hem of the dress and two fingers almost slipped under that, so I stopped it and moved my legs away, my heart beating fast for how the gesture made me feel, having been a touch too forward and intrusive. Ryan glanced at me surprised, but he smiled right after that and I silently sighed in relief, seeing he had not minded it.

Maybe I was just really naïve as Sergey's friends and Alexa kept calling me, but how to change it? Forcing oneself in the wrong way was never something very good and wise. How would Sergey behave in this occasion? Yesterday he had behaved like a goblin and his words hurt me, but I still believed he would maybe just quietly sit beside me, perhaps resting his arm on my headrest or on my shoulders, something I wouldn't have minded.

My eyes widened as those thoughts flowed my mind, almost jumping on the seat and gasping realizing I was thinking about him while on a date with Ryan. What was wrong with me? It was so bad and unreasonable! And Sergey made quite clear he didn't want me to bother him in school.

I resumed watching the movie, Ryan sitting beside and fishing popcorn from the big basket I was holding, sometimes brushing his hand on mine. I shook my head as I kept returning to Sergey's words and the unfriendly expression on his face; the date was with Ryan and he had been nice, understanding I wasn't ready for much. Adrian told me to be careful and I was, which reminded me I had to ask what he completely meant by that or by believing they had met already. I observed him during the evening, but no familiar resemblance did strike me, so, I wondered.

"Did you like it?" I asked when the movie was over, and we left the mall holding hands.

"It wasn't bad," Ryan only replied, being quieter than his usual self. His phone rang and he checked it, reading a message. "My sister," he only commented to me and I just nodded. "She is at some party having fun with her group of friends, good for her." Oh, she liked to party and maybe he also liked it, finding this date a bit too calm and boring?

"Would you like to join her?" I spontaneously asked and he arched his brows.

"You wouldn't like that place and some of her friends might be drinking quite a lot."

"I...I didn't mean to invite myself and my parents are expecting me home soon," I immediately explained, absolutely not wanting to appear out of place and inconsiderate.

"You must go home really so early?" He asked a bit taken aback. "I thought we could stop at my place for a bit and that you wouldn't take their curfew so seriously." I blinked at those words and looked away, as I definitely didn't feel like being alone in the bedroom or place of someone whom I had only met a short while ago. Also, I had promised my parents, so no way I would make them worry or turn back on my words.

"Mom and dad always worry a lot, especially about me, so maybe another time?" I ventured with a smile and he just nodded, placing his arm around my shoulders and pulling me closer to his body. My heart skipped a beat, but I realized there were not tiny fairies and butterflies making summersaults in my tummy and my shyness was mostly dictated by the fact he appeared more at ease with this, obviously having had experiences before. What would he think if he knew I never...? I stopped it and just enjoyed his presence, trying to chase my tension away.

"Sure, another time Viola," he replied. "How about we meet during the week to watch a movie? Maybe at your place? I will have less lessons the next few days." That seemed a good idea and I agreed at first, thinking I could have invited also my friends and introduced them to Ryan. "Us two alone?" He asked and I closed my mouth before formulating my question. Oh...so maybe not my friends and I nodded once only. At my place it was going to be fine.

He drove me home, talking about his upcoming exams and asking me what I would have liked to watch for our next date; I left him the choice, curious to see which film he was going to pick, maybe discovering more of his personality, his likes and dislikes. I glanced at him while sitting beside and he truly was handsome, so much my lips tilted up happy. When we reached my house, he stopped the car and switched the engine off, so we remained in there a moment continuing to talk, until again his hand moved on my thigh and his face too close to mine. The surprise almost froze me on the spot, but I managed to pull back.

"Not even a kiss?" He asked with a slightly disappointed voice, removing his hand.

"Sorry...I prefer to wait a bit more, because we just met and..." I really didn't know how to explain it and he once more seemed to understand, even though he should have gotten it already when we were at the movies. I mean, for sure I didn't want to have our first kiss like this in a car.

"It doesn't matter, we can wait and, anyway, we will meet during the week, right?" I nodded at that, the smile on my lips reaching only halfway, as I wasn't sure what his words implied. I widened my eyes when I realized the meaning behind them and grabbed the handle of the car's door. No, I was thinking too fast and, however, Delia was always around the house and my brother...yeah, Adrian would make sure that nothing was going to happen, same as me.

"Next week we will watch a movie and I'll be looking forward to seeing what you'll choose," I said, and he remained silent.

"Alright, shall we go? Before your brother calls the 911," he joked and I quietly giggled, knowing Adrian wouldn't do that but simply come searching for me. "He seems very protective for a brother."

"We are very close and I totally love him," I spontaneously remarked, because in my eyes the protectiveness in Adrian was only natural, just as I was toward him, remembering what we both faced in the our past, recalling his nightmares and my fears, how we slowly won them together. Not many could understand the depth and sincerity of our bond, but I was happy my friends did.

"That's cool," he said, opening his door and I did the same, for then walking to my house's main entrance door again holding hands. This was something I enjoyed and my face blushed as I recalled what happened Wednesday after school when I spotted Sergey playing the piano. I had to stop thinking about that. Sergey didn't want to have anything to do with me. "Good night Viola, I had a nice time tonight with you," Ryan spoke quietly, leaning closer to me with a very fascinating smile, slightly caressing my face. "Let me know when you want to meet during the coming week, okay?"

"Sure, and thanks for everything, I really, really enjoyed our date," I spoke with cheerful tone of voice, smiling more broadly than before. I tiptoed to give him a kiss on the cheek and he chuckled. "See? One kiss yes."

"Well, this is how kids kiss each other," he answered, and his words hit me, which must have been evident on my face considered the way he shook his head. "I was just joking, Viola, really, and you really look very pretty tonight." I let out a nervous laugh and then opened the door, waving at him once more and closing it behind me.

I wondered if he really was just joking, or if he had then covered his real thoughts only after seeing my expression. Was I that childish? But we had just met, and it was only our third date. Adrian's words returned to me and, after going to greet my parents, who were in the living room watching something on TV, I went to look for him immediately, in need to talk, just as I longed to talk to Sharon. I sent her a message and we decided to meet the following day at her place, since she also wanted to show me new songs she had learned to play with the guitar, given she played for fun in a band.

SERGEY POV – SATURDAY NIGHT:

I sank in the couch of the damn club where we decided to spend the night, seeing how Audrey was surrounded by both Martin and Chris, the former one having broken up with his girlfriend and now behaving like a moron right there in front of me, not much noticing the fact Audrey looked slightly uncomfortable, not exactly welcoming his attention. If he kept it up, I was going to tell him something, because I knew her well enough, aware she wasn't going to say much yet, being too docile sometimes.

In the end, I decided to follow my "friends" here, in need to forget what happened yesterday in school, the horrible and very disgusting way I behaved with Viola, clearly hurting her and having her friends hating me even more. The wuss called Cameron had muttered "asshole" under his breath while eye-murdering me and he hit the bull's eye. It was good her brother and the queer weren't around, because I had a feeling that would have signed a ticket for a big fight.

Alexa was still sulking for the way Taylor had spoken to her, but mostly because it was clear he really despised her and never thought her attractive or hot as most of the guys in school did, brushing her away like dirt. On my part, I still felt shivers down my spine whenever I recalled it. Not to mention Denisov's behaviour, acting like Viola's protector and best damn queer, fucking annoying buddy, wishing to kill me every time we crossed path in the corridors.

God, how much did I wish to break his nose!

I went to down a shot of vodka, which we could afford even if underaged for drinking because the owner of the club and bartender were friends of Alexa's older brother, so treating us favourably and closing not one eye but both of them. The fact we were all spoilt rich kids added to that, since we wasted quite a lot of cash on it. The glass touched my lips, but I stopped, placing it back on the table. Drinking wasn't going to change anything and, since yesterday, I felt in a terrible mood, worse than a tiger in a way-too-small cage and irritated by everything and everyone. I so wanted to punch Denisov that I felt like going insane, not to mention, I wanted him to beat the shit out of me, as punishment for the coward I was.

Dasha had given me a good piece of her mind and we almost argued, something that pretty much never happened; she let me be, understanding I had to cook slowly in my own broth of pity and misery, yet she was going to kick my ass soon enough.

To boot it and add the freaking cherry on the top of the crappy cake, I knew Viola was out on a date with that very lucky bastard, because I overheard her speaking about it in class, when she and her weird Gothic looking friend talked before the professor began to bore us all. Fucking lucky idiot who could enjoy normal time with her...I gritted my teeth and rubbed my eyes, hoping he was going to treat her well and not try anything douche-like, or else I would really need to find him and kick his ass.

The awareness of my words hit me, and I stiffened like a piece of ice, my eyes going to stare the palms of my hands, my heart pounding like crazy. Yeah, if anything would happen to her I would really hunt that bastard down, even if I had no right whatsoever, especially after what I told her yesterday.

Ahh...I was such a gigantic and pathetic jerk that even Denisov and my cousin were right in calling me so, rendering me even more mad at them and at myself for never proving their words wrong. What could I do? Not much and, since my dear and wonderful "friends" realized my interest for her, or simply thought I had some, never really knowing the depth of it, they began to taunt her more, Alexa nastier than anyone else.

Behaving like this was the only way to avoid her getting into more troubles, right? I was no longer so sure about that and I felt so lost I really couldn't find the way out of this shit. It felt like I was only pulling at many straw-like excuses, which would soon snap and break, letting me fall on my ass.

My eyes trailed up and noticed Audrey going to dance with a couple of friends, Martin following them a moment later, and then of course Alexa slipped beside me, wearing such a short and exposing black dress that not much was left to the imagination, the red lipstick on her lips and very high heels enhancing the overall look even more. Guys drooled after her and they could all ask her for a dance, because I had eyes for another girl only.

"Sergey, why are you sitting here all alone?" She slipped her hand on my thigh and I sighed out, going to remove it. "Don't give me the break-up excuse once more, handsome, because Audrey is now dancing with Martin, being obviously very much over you two as item and, unless you like someone else, such as that super weird and really skinny girl, I don't see the point in refusing me."

God, Alexa had a very unhealthy power to make my hands twitch to slap her, but I knew I was never going to do so. As I had no doubts about never getting hard with her, given even her voice grated on my nerves.

"I am just not in the mood and stop talking about her, alright? I already told you and every-fucking-one else that I am not interested in weirdos."

Why couldn't they just leave me alone? Well, this wasn't the question that actually mattered.

"Good, or else I would have much more fun, as I doubt her brother would do anything to me." My blood turned into ice at her words and malicious smile, the very blunt menace thrown at my face without much care, but I wasn't so sure Taylor would really stop just because she was a girl. She didn't get it very well and I refrained from trying to explain it to her, no doubt being a waste of time and oxygen.

Alexa leaned closer and I let her, because my mind was a complete mess and deafening chaos, my thoughts feeling like mud in which I was slowly sinking, my throat dry. I didn't realize when she placed her lips on mine, her tongue touching my mouth. I first went to jerk away, repulsed by that, but then I tried to close my eyes and kiss her back, wanting to forget everything and leave it behind, since I doubted things would ever change for me. Criticising Alexa only made me a bigger hypocrite and maybe I deserved her, no matter what, because for sure I didn't deserve such a sweet, pure, kind, beautiful and honest to herself girl like Viola.

No, indeed; and Viola would never like me. Not to forget, I would never change like Denisov did, I could never be as perfect as Sasha was, nor make my father proud. I was screwed and so I tried to kiss Alexa, our tongues touching and her hands getting greedier, touching my thighs and one of them slipping up, almost reaching my groin. My eyes shut as if to chase away the feelings of disgust and recoil her touch provoked in me, as her mouth was on mine, as our tongues locked; I shut them tighter and fucking forced everything to shut up and stop being such a pain in the ass, but as she pressed closer, I shot them open and pushed her away.

What was I whining about all the time? I was ridiculous and a joke of man.

Shit...this was so wrong, and I never felt dirtier and more disgusting in my entire life. I was kissing Alexa and I felt guilty. Guilty for what I told Audrey when we broke up, reassuring her I never intended to have anything physical with her best friend, and guilty toward Viola, because she was the girl I wanted to kiss, while instead my behaviour had only hurt her. Guilty toward myself, for always lying to everyone.

"I am really not in the mood," I curtly said, pushing her away and standing up. I looked down at her, sensing a very dangerous storm brewing into her grey eyes and a sigh escaped my mouth. I couldn't force myself this much and, physically speaking, there was no excitement when her hands touched me, and there never will be. My mind and body recoiled against that, no matter how hard I tried, and all this incessant whining was getting on my nerves. "Sorry, I am really not interested, and you are Audrey's best friend."

"Just as that annoying super skinny girl pointed out the other day," Alexa remarked.

"I don't know what you are talking about, and I am leaving, because I've got headache."

"Be careful, Sergey," she purred while getting up and slithering closer to me once more.

I ignored her and went to the bathroom, going to wash my mouth and face, scrubbing my lips with anger, removing every trace of her red lipstick. I was such a jerk...such a pathetic and really unforgivable jerk. When I walked out, I spotted Audrey sitting alone and looking around herself uneasy, a rather sad expression on her eyes, so I walked to her and sat beside.

"What is it?" She almost jumped on the spot and looked away from me immediately. "Audrey, what happened? Did anyone do something to you?"

"Alexa told me you two are sort of together for sex," she whispered, and I cursed under my breath not exactly quietly, attracting her attention and finally having her really looking at me. "Was it a lie? I saw you two kissing before."

"Yeah, she came to me and I tried to kiss her, since I'm a gigantic asshole, but I couldn't, because you know what I think of her and that I don't like her at all, and no," I said firmly, resting my eyes on hers with a strong expression. "I am definitely not with her, nor I ever had sex with her or planning to have it. At all. It was stupid trying to give in to her attempt and I'm not proud of it, believe me, but there is nothing going on."

Audrey smiled and touched my face softly, in a way she never did before, and I understood we had finally become friends, the only two persons understanding each other among a group of people none of us could consider real friends.

"I am glad you're not doing this because I am starting to see what you were always talking about and, yesterday, we had a sort of fight when she really was too harsh and rude against Viola and Sharon." I swallowed down, anger boiling in my veins.

"What happened?" I demanded too fast and she looked at me surprised, for then smiling tenderly.

"So, you do like her."

"No," the denial crap immediately left my mouth, but she shook her head.

"Then why do you behave like that with her? She is such a sweet and wonderful person and I wish we were friends, because I saw the way she and Sharon are, making me realize I don't have anyone like them around me. They are loyal to each other and even that guy, Cameron, seems very nice and a good person." The wuss always eye-murdering seemed a good person? He just gave me the idea of being a super annoying one, but I left it.

"Let's drop it, Audrey, OK? I don't like her, and I have no idea why everyone thinks so and do you have any idea what they would do or tell her if it were true?"

"Aren't you maybe more afraid about yourself than about her? Aren't we both just making excuses?" Her words struck me like a train at full speed, like the punch my cousin once gave me for having talked shit about his man, for the simple reason also Dasha the other day had asked me the same damn questions.

"Are you going out with Martin?" I demanded instead.

"Sergey..."

"Be careful if you are dating him, because he is, well, you know how he is and you looked uncomfortable before, so just stay sharp." She sighed out and smiled sadly. Why was she smiling sadly? "Do you want to go home? I personally have enough of this place and people. I didn't touch a drop of alcohol and came with my SUV, so I can drive you home if you wish."

"I think this is a good idea," she agreed nodding, "I am also quite tired and somehow, tonight, I am not really enjoying it, the music, the drinking...everything." What she said was all too understandable and relatable and I got how she felt very well.

"Let's go then," I told her and, right when we got up, Alexa and a couple of guys joined us and threw inquisitive glares on why we were together and obviously about to leave.

"Where are you going?" She asked with a tone of voice dripping entitlement I didn't like one bit, since it wasn't her damn business.

"Home, we are both very tired, see you all on Monday," I said in a tone that admitted no replies or bullshit and, with that, I turned my back at them and grabbed Audrey's hand, dragging her after me. I stopped only when we reached the exit, waiting for her to wear her coat. "Sorry, I didn't realize I was basically pulling you behind, I didn't mean it, simply wanted to get out of here as soon as possible."

"Thank you," she only said, for then resting her head on me. "Sorry, I just feel very tired and I am not sure on what to do."

"What do you mean?"

"It doesn't matter," she answered, pulling back and going for the door, but I stopped her.

"Audrey, did something happen? I know Martin can be an idiot and touching around too much."

"No, nothing really happened, but I am starting to understand why sometimes you seek solitude and keep for yourself, I am seeing through your words more clearly, but I am not sure what to do, because I am afraid of finding myself completely alone," she honestly explained, sighing out and shaking her blonde head. "I am sorry for saying all of this and you have your own issues, that much is clear for me now, since I have finally begun to really look at you."

It took us to break up to find each other as friends, being honest to one another, and I smiled at her.

"You're not alone," I confirmed, and she laughed amused, realizing I was telling the truth, for then checking her reflection in the phone.

"Blonde doesn't really look good on me, right?"

"I think your true colour suits you better, but up to you, Audrey."

"I am hungry, what about you?" I was surprised she admitted that, as it didn't miss my attention, she always followed some rather strict diet, afraid of gaining a couple of extra kilos, running and exercising regularly, being really obsessed with her figure.

"How about pizza?" She nodded smiling openly and more relaxed for the first time since we arrived at this damn club, and we left together, happy I at least cleared things out with her. But still feeling bad and angry at myself for having even only tried and considered kissing Alexa, a bitter taste still lingering in my mouth, as if I had eaten something rotten. I was regretting it very much and it felt as if such vile action built more distance between Viola and me.

It was disappointment in myself that wrapped around my mind and heart, and, while I drove, the desire to have that loud, bubbly and always smiling girl beside me in the car was almost devastating. She would have soothed my anger down and she would have giggled in her rather childish yet super cute way...but...sure my behaviour burned pretty much all the chances.

What scared me the most? I had to find it out and only after I maybe could get things straight.

VIOLA POV – MONDAY MORNING AT SCHOOL:

I skipped to my locker and Anatoly was already there, since his and mine were very close, giving us a chance to meet every morning. I giggled thinking about my outfit, wondering if he was going to like it, since I had really put effort into it and I wanted to show all my support to his being gay and to the entire LGBT+ community by wearing a super cool t-shirt and tights in the colours of the rainbow, completed by a fabulous pink skirt made of tulle. I hadn't forgotten what Sergey always sneered at my best friend and I wanted to show them how silly that very narrow-minded mentality was.

Anatoly eyed me as if thinking about ditching school, since I very well knew he still wasn't that much used to my rather loud and cheerful personality, but he needed a push, and so, I ran to him and jumped on his back. He protested, of course, trying to say he minded my new vanilla-scented perfume and declaring he wasn't a morning person or fond of touching and such, which was true.

However, he let me stay on his back and said nothing when I kissed his cheek, desiring to simply give him all my love and support. Adrian stayed a bit far just observing us with a very amused expression, enjoying how Anatoly pretended to be annoyed. If only I had a feeling my antics were going too far, I would have stopped; nevertheless, my dear and wonderful friend, mostly grunted out because of shyness, for then letting me have my way. I loved him very much! I knew he went to ride his motorbike during the weekend, and I was dying to hear more about that, considered it was a particular about him I found super cool.

Sharon and Cameron joined us and I couldn't contain my laughing as Sharon asked permission to also kiss Anatoly, since she genuinely liked him; but he wasn't ready for that yet and she just shrugged, just complimenting his style and going back talking to Cammie, who kept quiet and very much uneasy.

Today, there were several reasons to be in wonderful and fabulous mood, two of them being that first, the people I loved and cherished were always around me and secondly, the fact today we were going to discuss who was going to be part and direct the committee for the Halloween school party. Sharon and I had super beautiful ideas and we already presented our projects, hoping the professors in charge were going to accept it. I think we had a very good chance, because we already organized other two big events for the school and they always turned out in a complete success. This year Cammie planned to help us more and I couldn't ask for anything better.

"So, what do you think of my t-shirt?" I asked again, now a bit aware I was testing his patience and I almost felt bad, but well, truly Anatoly needed a tiny push; the t-shirt had written "I love my gay friends" on it and I was very proud of that.

"Fine, your damn t-shirt is cool, and I will order thousands of them, and I'll give one to my idiotic brother and to his chipmunk." Chipmunk? I couldn't contain my laughing as he spoke about his brother's boyfriend, now really wanting to meet them. Oh, Anatoly was priceless and very colourful when speaking and I knew also Sharon loved his rather sharp sense of humour.

"You're the best!" I twitted and then surprised him with another kiss on his cheek, because he really deserved it and I giggled as he faked a gagging expression, since I hadn't missed the quick smile on his lips as I hopped down from his back and our eyes met. He shook his head and I let him be, going ahead talking to Cam and Sharon while he fell behind discussing something with Adrian.

Right as we walked through the corridor, Sergey and a couple of his friends passed by us and, even if I felt his eyes on me, I pretended not to see him, because the way he had treated me on Friday still burned. I heard him snorting and then he must have stopped right in front of Anatoly, letting out words that really displeased me. Why was he always behaving in such way? Why couldn't he simply be the Sergey I met at his house?

"Hey bitch," he hissed at Anatoly, "did you get accepted in the losers club?" I stopped in my track and froze on the spot. The anger and hatred in his voice couldn't be missed, just as the insult indirectly aimed at my friends and myself. Again, he had turned back from his words again, showing a lack of sincerity that truly struck me painfully. He had said he was sorry, and that Alexa was a dangerous person I should have been mindful of, but what about him?

What about his lies?

I turned around and went to take a step to where they stood, but Cameron grabbed my arm and shook his head.

"Let them be, Viola, Anatoly used to be friend with that jerk over there, so let them sort this out alone."

"Anatoly is my friend now and I cannot let him alone, as I would never leave either you or Sharon alone. You're my friends," I simply pointed out and he signed out, letting go of my arm and shaking his head. I went to march over there, desiring to really give Sergey a piece of my fabulous mind and let him know that he really was worse than an orc and deserving a fairy to spike his meals, but halted as Anatoly replied, surprising both my brother and me.

"The fuck did you say, asshole? The only one here being part of some nerds club it's you and your confederacy of dunces." I bit my lip not to laugh out loud, because I had no idea Anatoly had read that book and from Sergey's expression I could tell he didn't understand what was going on and what Anatoly meant; however, I gasped loudly when Sergey went to snatch my friend's jumper and I frantically thought of a way to get all of this over. Adrian although acted faster and took his stance beside Anatoly, hence declaring his loyalty and support, something that made the others pause.

"What the hell do you want, Taylor?" Sergey groaned out, throwing an annoyed look at my brother, who just stood there completely unfazed by them all, just resting a hand on Anatoly's shoulder as to silently tell him to keep calm. "Stay out of this. Why do you even waste time with such trash?" My eyes widened at the hatred coating those words, at the way his face twitched in a way I never saw before, as if about to tick off like a bomb, his fingers tightening around the piece of cloth. What was wrong with him? What happened that made him change so much? Was he really just playing around with me for fun? No...it could not be like that; I didn't want to believe it. "Oh, maybe because you want a fuck with this bitch here?"

I heard Sharon gasping and that was enough, insulting both my friend and brother. I went there, but Anatoly lost his temper by going to grab Sergey and once more Adrian cooled him down by clutching his shoulder, aware he couldn't afford any troubles and unaffected by such words. I knew my brother very well, but enough was enough.

"Oh, you are soooo annoying, Sergey," I told him with a tone of voice that left no doubt on how I felt, flipping my hair back as if to challenge him, shaking my head in disappointment.

He stiffened and looked at me not sure about what to reply, but I was so upset with him! And thus, I spoke faster and left him no time.

"I don't want to be late because of someone like you," I continued, and his eyes widened, his mouth twitching. I wasn't being nice, and I knew it, but what was the point? "You have something against gay people? Well, guess what? We don't really care, and we think you are absolutely not fabulous and nice." I stuck my tongue out and grabbed my brother's and Anatoly's hands, going to drag them away to avoid further issues. "Let's go," I told them, but then I stopped and turned around, still upset and hurt for the way he treated all of us. "You know, Sergey, you look so boring, do you even have a girlfriend? I don't think so, because your clothes are so boring!" Not to mention his personality was so wrong. I stuck out my tongue again and went to move, hearing Adrian chuckling very much amused.

But then Sergey opened his mouth and his words completely hit me in the most painful way, since I never expected him to talk to me in such terms.

"What the hell did you just say, you bitchy barbie?" He hissed out and I slowly turned around, feeling the blood draining out of my face, my eyes blinking away what his words threaten to break in my emotions, a painful lump forming in my throat. How did he just call me? Did he really use those words with me, the same as Alexa sometimes whispered behind my back? He widened his eyes, as if realizing what he had just blurted out.

Anatoly tightened the grip around my hand, while Adrian let go it and quickly moved to him, snatching Sergey's shirt and looking about to turn him into a statue of salt.

I couldn't believe I had even considered we had a chance to be friends.

SERGEY POV:

Blood rushed in my brain and I saw red, wanting to hurt them all, and so, I gave air to my stupid and pathetic trap and voiced something I would regret it for my entire life, words I would never be able to take back.

They were right in saying that words hurt more than hands, damn right indeed.

"What the hell did you just say, you bitchy barbie?" I groaned out and wished to punch myself as soon as such low and hurtful bullshit left my mouth, witnessing how Viola froze on the stop and slowly turned around to stare at me with evident pain, feeling betrayed and disappointed, possibly thinking I had been just toying around with her to have fun with Alexa and the others.

What did I just say? No...no, no, no, I didn't mean it and I took a step toward her, but Denisov stepped in front of me, his hand tightly grabbing hers and, if looks could kill, I'd be dead meat for rats already. They truly were friends and I screwed everything up. He was there protecting her, although I should have been the one doing it.

"Shut the hell up, mama-boy," he mocked me with growling voice, wishing to punch me and not doing it mostly because of Viola, while I said nothing to that, given he was right. "Get lost, because I've reached my patience's limit for today." He turned abruptly around after having murdered me with his glares and dragged Viola away, who was still looking at me with such hurt expression I wished to shoot myself.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I went to take another step or say something, but Taylor grabbed by shirt and pulled me closer to his face, his eyes drilling holes into mine with a calculating and eerie coldness my body almost shivered as if true cold had touched me. He was mad beyond words and I understood him, more than he will ever imagine or realize. I hated myself very much and I hated Denisov in the same way, for being able to protect Viola and be at her side, just like I craved with all my moronic self.

"You heard him, Sergey, get lost and don't you dare talking to my beloved sister like that ever again, am I understood?" The tone of voice had been apparently very calm and levelled, but the menace was right there openly shoved in my face and it crept under my skin, just as his eyes kept chained on mine, not admitting me to look elsewhere. He pulled me closer and I stayed in complete and dead silence, because something had broken inside. "In fact, don't ever dare to utter a sound to her, given what a pathetic coward you are." He pushed me away and smirked once, freezing my blood. "Get lost, Sergey, I won't repeat it another time."

With that he spun on his heels and lazily sauntered away with his hands in the pockets, going to reach Viola and the others, turning around only once and jerking his head. I uprooted myself and walked fast to the opposite direction, my "friends" calling after me, but I needed to be alone and so, I basically ran to the bathroom and, after having checked it was empty, I called Dasha.

"What happened, Seryozha?" She immediately fired out in Russian when she answered the phone, having done her math quickly.

"I...I..." I stuttered unable to repeat what I said before.

"What did you say to Viola this time?" She inquired with firm and clearly displeased voice, since she genuinely liked her, and I knew they were often exchanging messages or chatting together. "Seyozha!"

"I used the word bitch with her," I muttered out, resting my back and head against the wall, seeing my twisted reflection in one mirror hanging on the other side.

"You did what?" She barked out for then sighing and staying silent a few seconds, processing what happened.

"Dasha?"

"You must be joking, brother, because you seriously are an award-winning idiot and how could you call a girl like her in such low and insulting way? What's wrong with you? I thought you liked her and very much."

"I do," I murmured, and more silence fell between us. "Dasha?"

"I cannot do much to help you right now, because you first don't want to be helped, and I really don't understand you, I really cannot get you. So, Seryozha, this time you are on your own, because you are the only one who can pull your head out of the gutter and set it straight. Apologize to her as soon as you can and pray, really pray, she'll forgive you, since I have a feeling that she might do that at some point, but..."

"I am not so sure she will ever want to talk to me or see you."

"And whose fault is that? Anatoly's fault? Sasha's fault or maybe, yes, your friends' fault?" I swallowed down at her words, coming out fast and hard, hitting me like a rock, hitting me in the all the painful points. She was fucking right. "You say nothing, because you know I am right, hmm? You are just making excuses because you still cannot free yourself from your many fears and bullshit."

"I'm an asshole and I..."

"Yes, you are and, now, you must really do something to fix this mess, do you hear me? Get your head straight and start to behave like an adult should, stop being bothered by bullshit that have no sense and stop listening to you friends, who in fact aren't real friends. Whining around and making excuses isn't the way. Grow up, Seryozha, and do it before it gets too late, before you'll regret too many things."

She dropped the conversation right after that and I stared at the phone just trying to swallow down, even though it was impossible considered how dry my throat was and I rushed into a toilet, feeling like throwing up. I had never heard my sister so mad at me and she was right, but I just didn't know what to do and I knew Viola by now hated me with all herself and she had every right to do so. What was wrong with me? I disappointed Dasha and then hurt Viola, not to mention her brother would never forgive me or allow me to step close enough to talk to her. Not forgetting Denisov would punch the shit out of me if I tried, as I hadn't missed the way my words triggered his temper, obviously caring about Viola deeply, much more than he showed around school. But yeah, hadn't he always been like that?

I stood up since I threw up just water, a very bitter taste in my mouth nauseating me and my punch collided with the door of the toilet, no pain registering in my body, as if what happened in the morning had numbed my senses. I walked out of the bathroom as if in some stupefied daze, not really hearing what people spoke about around me, not wanting to talk to anyone, not even to Audrey, who hadn't missed my state and looked worried. Alexa appeared very satisfied and no doubts those two shitheads had told her everything.

And something else snapped inside of me as I stepped in one of the classes I shared with Viola, witnessing how she deliberately ignored me and treated me as nothing, Taylor sparing me such cold stare that I just sat down and kept silent the entire time, earning a written warning from the professor for having refused to reply to the addressed questions, for I really gave zero fucks about school. When the class ended, I left the room and Denisov bumped against my shoulder, hissing under his breath I was a gigantic asshole.

He was right, but more anger mounted in me and something else snapped and broke.

I really wanted to punch him and have him punching me; I wanted and needed it like nothing else.

When lunchtime approached, I noticed Viola and her friend going to sit in an empty classroom and thus, I followed them, listening to what they were talking about and my heart sank and shattered more.

"I thought he was a nice person and he really confused me, making me doubt myself about Ryan...Sergey really seemed a nice and kind of sweet in a bit of a harsh way, but it was just a lie and I am mad at myself for having believed in that."

What had I done? I could never deserve such a girl, then the name of that moron made me pause, having heard it already. I shook my head, as no way it could be him, and anyway, the problem at hand was something else; things were irreversibly screwed up.

"I'm so sorry, Vi, I wish I could smack his head with a baseball bat, like, seriously, I cannot believe the way he called you, and after having being so different last week and, ugh, I also thought he was a relatively nice person, someone else, but I don't know what to say. I am just very sorry to see you like this and super mad at him."

"I was wrong and I don't know why this is affecting me so much, I don't know why it hurts so much," she quietly murmured and I wished to really punch myself unconscious, because her voice trembled, a note that completely broke me. "I truly wanted to be friends with him and getting to know him better, discovering more about him, but it's not possible and I...I...I must admit after what happened that I'm a bit scared of him, since he changed his behaviour too much and too quickly." She paused and sighed out, the sound of it bitch-slapping me hard. "We can't be friends, I believe," she murmured out quietly.

I stared at my hands and then walked away, having listened enough and not sure I could take more of that. The rest of the day passed by in a blur and my emotions were so messed up it felt like being in some trance. Everything was madly boiling inside of me and threatening to get out. It was so screwed up because it took me this to realize how much I really liked Viola, whom I was losing...no, whom I had already lost.

When Martin, Chris and Jonathan left school with me, needing to find a way to kill time since practice had been cancelled, I noticed Denisov and Adrian riding away together, and everything downed back on me, as if the lid trying to repress my anger had been kicked away and thus it all exploded outside of me. The resentment and rage for too many different situations blasted like a mine someone had inadvertently stepped on, triggering a chain reaction; a chain reaction to my many emotions and the blow was going to scatter splinter around that were going to hurt and hit in various directions.

I knew it, but I couldn't control it.

"How about we get even with Denisov for this morning?" I hissed out and all of them first glared at me thinking I was joking, but then smiled satisfied when they realized I was dead serious.

AUDREY POV:

Sergey looked completely empty and it seemed everything and everyone got on his nerves, more than usual, which made me worry very much. I hadn't been a very good girlfriend and, in fact, he was right in saying we weren't good for each other and there was no real love; I thought of loving him, because after we broke up I was really down and it hurt, but it went away fast and I was mostly missing him. He was not the bad person he convinced himself of being, quite the contrary, and I just wanted to help him if possible. We became friends and we realized it on Saturday, when we could see how both felt out of place in that club, how the group of people around us somehow rendered us both uncomfortable.

Yes, Martin was being very insistent, and he was good looking with his black short curls and greenish-brown eyes, his body well defined with muscles due to swimming, being slightly shorter than Sergey and having a bit of sense of humour, but I wasn't ready yet and the more I thought about what Sergey told me regarding them the more I observed my friends quietly. Alexa and I had a fight on Friday, but it cooled down, since it wasn't anything big and, deep down, we were friends. However, I didn't like her lies about Sergey and I always knew she liked him very much, just as many other girls in school and in our group.

Chris told us what happened in the morning and I couldn't believe Sergey of all spoke like that to Viola, who was the sweetest and nicest girl I have ever met; we almost never interacted, but I will never forget when she helped me, the bright, wide grin she gave me as to say to cheer up, how her two friends also smiled at me, Cameron more reluctantly and less spontaneous, given I had an idea he disliked us all and with good reasons. Not Viola, though, nor Sharon.

As I heard them again talking about that, saying they should have gotten even with Anatoly, I observed Sergey and the silent, looming way in which he sat at our table. Alexa twice tried to approach him, but he had brushed her off harsher than usual, gaining a couple of hostile glares and comments from two guys, but she let him be.

If only I could help him to get out of his problems; although, I never knew what really bothered him, aside the fact he never had a good relationship with his father, who seemed to pressure him in a way that sorted out the opposite effect. I think he also had a very strained relationship with his older cousin, an extremely handsome guy named Aleksandr I met twice only, and who sort of scared me for the way he regarded us with glacial distance and disinterest, tall and very strongly built, obviously mutually disliking Sergey. But I couldn't help him because he never let me and also due to the fact, I never really paid much attention, lost in other things.

Viola seemed to affect him, because since Martin, Alexa and the others joked around that, I noticed the way he would look at her in class whenever he thought nobody else observed. He would unconsciously smile in a way I never witnessed before, softly, tenderly and completely lost; at first it hurt, knowing such smiles were never directed at me and I almost wanted to hate her, but I couldn't do it. It wasn't her fault and she wasn't even aware of that, simply being in good mood every day, enjoying the company of her friends, brother and recently of Anatoly.

They had been the only ones giving him a second chance and I envied them for their honesty and sincerity, seeing it struck Anatoly quite a lot, given how close they slowly became. Viola was just this incredible person bursting happiness, sweetness, selflessness and radiating optimism, and it was contagious, because everyone around her was influenced by in the most wonderful way. Sergey included, so, I really couldn't understand why he behaved like that and why...I shook my head. We both were simply scared of finding ourselves completely alone and casted away, not sure we would be given a second chance.

When lunch ended, he kept alone falling behind everyone else and thus, I took my chance and tried to talk to him, since he had already brushed me away once during the morning.

"Sergey," I quietly called him and he simply casted back quite the hard and annoyed glare, not really directing his resentment at me personally. Why so much anger? "What happened to you? And why did you have that big fight in the morning? You know that..." He gave me his entire attention and I closed my mouth as his face grew dark and his lips twitched in a sneer.

"Mind your own fucking business," he hissed bitterly, and I went to say something else, but he cut me off quickly. "Get off my back, Audrey, and mind your business."

I remained rooted on the spot and let go of him, not able to find the right words to make him reason or calm down, feeling very bad because also as friend I wasn't being very helpful. Although, I had a feeling that right then nobody would have been able to make him reason and I really hoped he wasn't going to do something he would greatly regret.

Author's chit-chat:

What are your emotions, thoughts, impressions, ideas and comments about this chapter?

I think we can all now understand why Sergey arrived at this point and what "guided" him, the anger inside of him and the fact he will definitely regret his actions and words VERY MUCH.

I wanted to show more of Viola's friends and her interaction with Ryan and so, I wonder, what do you think of him? Have you figured out who he might be, why Adrian thinks he has seen him somewhere?

Also, have you noticed some references Viola made about her past? Have you thought about it and maybe ventured some ideas? I wonder...

With many characters it's not always easy to introduce them and give all the right multi-dimensional personality and role, so that' why sometimes things are a bit slow and it can take some time to build it up, but no worries, they will all have the right weight and parts.

Adrian and Darya are the kind of siblings everyone would like to have, I believe, given the way they support the main characters and the important role they played. Any favourite one? Actually, any favourite character? Aside our Anatoly, because I know everybody loves him ^-^

Well, we had a new POV, which I think was due and well, we shall see more of Audrey in this story, because I found myself like her character and also, wanting to develop it. She deserves it. Any ideas or guess on this?

Well, I will post CH.5 later on in the day or tomorrow morning, according to my time 😊 I am completing CH.3 of "Beyond Those Irresistible Eyes" and I plan to post it tomorrow, or Monday evening at the latest, in case I cannot manage with time.

In the next chapter, the fight and well...we will see how both Viola and Sergey will react to it.

Thank you for you support, patience, love, kindness and lovely messages. Please, stay healthy and take care in this moment! And stay tuned with Witchy and her Cat, since more will come!

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