Way too soon I was back at the social home, having my regular Wednesday session with Miss Simona. New year, same me.

"A New Year's resolution list?" I parroted her words, gazing into her friendly brown eyes.

"Yes," she confirmed with a smile.

"And why would I need that?"

"It's a great opportunity to evaluate your life over the past year and decide what you would like to change during the next. It puts your future into perspective."

I got it. She wanted to remind me that I do in fact have a future. Or as she once said, "The past is just a lesson, not a life sentence. The future is in your hands."

"I have absolutely no idea what to write there!" I thought aloud. "Maybe keep my grades up? Work out more?"

"There, you have it! It doesn't need to be super long! Just focus on a few achievable goals and work towards making them happen!"

"And what was on yours?"

At that she blushed. "That's personal! Plus, we're here to talk about you. Not me! You're deflecting again."

I rolled my eyes but let it slide.

"I didn't want to tell you before it's set in stone but..." She started just to break the silence that settled between us. "There's someone interested in taking you under their care."

"Like a foster parent?"

"Yes."

"Is it Ms. Buchvarova?" I asked, no longer scared that I might get pranked if it was her. We left her house on pretty good terms with the prank boys. In fact, I had the feeling they were no longer so interested in pranking people. Maybe considering entering the showbiz as a duet or something... It didn't become quite clear from their ramblings.

"No... It's someone from your past..." She said, assessing my reaction.

"Who?"

"A teacher of yours... His name is Todor Andonov." She was approaching the topic as if I was a scared animal about to hurt itself. I wasn't that fragile!

Whatever she was expecting to read in my eyes, I had no idea, but after a few long seconds of staring me down, she kept going, "Him and his wife have been trying for a child for some time now and as it appears she has some kind of condition that prevents her from getting pregnant. They have already been considering adoption before your... situation arose."

"Taking me in a few months before my 18th birthday? Am I the training wheels?" I had nothing against Mr. Andonov. He was a nice guy. I was certain he would be a good father. I don't even know why I said that.

"We thought it would be best if you're with someone you know. You might even go back to your old school, finish your education there. It would look better on your resume than ours. It is sad but... some people are prejudiced towards orphaned children and..."

"I get it," I cut her off, trying to save her the embarrassment of having to explain why jerks exist. "So when will I know for sure?"

"They're coming on Saturday to arrange a few details. Maybe even take you with them if everything goes well..."

"Cool." I could tell conversations like that pained her the most. How many times did a would-be foster family change their mind?

For some reason, I didn't feel like oversharing today. I waited patiently for our time to be over, deflecting the conversation towards her or the stupid weather. She knew exactly what I was trying to do but she let me anyway. Sometimes we talked about my feelings and sometimes... about random insignificant things. Like what they would serve us for dinner. Apparently we were having fried chicken today. It was greasy, undercooked and it only made me miss Ms. Buchvarova's cooking.

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On Thursday I managed to get a turn for the computer. I had a few messages from Angel, mostly asking how I've been and if I was sick or something. Pavel was cursing me for failing the Biology assignment, Enver asked if I switched schools...

I left Alejo's messages for last. I don't know why. It's not like I had all the time in the world.

Where were you today? You missed the new Chemistry teacher. Man, I ain't gay but the guy is HOT!!! #nohomo

Are you ok?

My parents had a fight again ;( Mom says that dad is cheating. With the amount of time he spends in the office no wonder if he's fucking the secretary!

We had a test in Chemistry. Mr. Stoyanov's tests are much more challenging than Georgieva's. Not that I mind. It was on amino acids and neuromodulation.

Pavel is raging. You better stay sick for at least another week or your head will fly :D

I baked a chocolate cake today :) And you can't have any :P

Man, at least scribble a few lines so I know you're ok!

Are we no longer friends? You switch schools and forget all about me?

Merry Christmas! Mom got me a yoga mat. Can you imagine that? She says it's so we can do her morning exercises together. Like I would ever rise half an hour earlier just so I can twist like a pretzel!

Happy New Year! Still ghosting me I see. You better be death or in a comma or something! The nerve!

You're not dumping me! I'm dumping YOU!!! We're not dating but still... RESPOND GOD DAMN IT!

That's it! I'm not writing you a single line anymore! You're dead to me! Mom says I'm way too precious to pin over a boy! After Winter break is over, I'm finding myself some new friends! I won't take you back even if you beg me on your knees!

"One minute left!" Miss Nora announced, tapping at her watch.

I logged out without replying to a single message. At least now I knew no one was informed about what happened. Mr. Andonov turned out to be quite trustworthy. Would he really take me in? He wouldn't change his mind at the last minute, would he? What if his wife didn't like me?

"I might get a foster family on Saturday," I told Stoyan, slumping next to him on the overused sofa.

He whipped his head towards me, forgetting all about the stupid TV show he was watching. "Ms. Buchvarova is taking you in?" He asked, his beautiful green eyes wide in astonishment.

"No! Not her!" I let out an exaggerated laugh. "One of my old teachers. It's not certain yet! Miss Simona says there's always something that could go wrong so... I didn't know if I should even tell you about it."

"You're right. You better wait until you disappear and we all wonder where you went." He was trying to joke about it, I could tell, but it only made me think about Alejo and his frantic messages. This self-centered prick was actually worried about me. I should have replied... But what do I say? My father beat me up so I'm under social care now? I don't want him to pity me!

I glanced towards Maxim and Luke, whispering to each other in the far corner of the room.

"Are you and Maxim ok?" I asked, trying to steer my thoughts in a neutral direction. Overthinking my own drama never helped anyone.

"Why wouldn't we be?" Stoyan raised an eyebrow at me.

"You know..."

"It was just a kiss! Forget about it!" He hissed, leaning forward.

"Then why is he talking with Luke instead of sitting in your lap like usual?"

"Aren't we noisy today!" Stoyan glared at me.

"Ok! Forget I said something!" I turned my eyes towards the TV show that wasn't even that interesting. It was about a little girl serving in some rich people's mansion. Total soap opera! And of course, she was actually the daughter of one of the rich guys and he still had feelings for her mother!

I groaned when one of the TV couples started discussing their feelings but plenty of the boys found it interesting so I didn't dare change the channel. I went to the school yard instead, where Georgi was doing his afternoon workout. Usually, I would join him but it just so happened that I got a turn for the computer at the same time he scheduled his workouts.

My lazy ass just gawked as he did his crunches, taking slow, perfectly measured breaths.

I wasn't the only one enjoying the show. There were always a few boys observing him from a respectful distance but not quite brave to try matching his pace.

He finished his set and stood up, greeting me with a nod. "Hey."

"Hey yourself back!"

"Did you message your friends?" He asked, starting on butt kicks.

"No... I just read their DMs. They weren't that many but by the time I was done, I was out of time."

"That sucks," he breathed out.

"I might see them soon anyway."

"True."

I watched in silence as he finished his last exercise for the day and started stretching. This is where I joined him, matching his movements in perfect sync.

"Miss Simona found me a foster family," I dropped the bomb.

He paused in his movements but only for a brief second. "Cool."

"I'll miss you."

We glanced at each other at the same time, hands behind our backs for a biceps stretch.

"Me too, man," he uttered at last.

I felt my heart swell as he said it. As if just these three words filled a void I didn't even realise was there.

"We should keep in touch," I said, planning to actually go through with it. But yet again, I thought me and Alejo would be friends forever and I haven't called him, not even once, since I came here.

"Yeah," Georgi muttered, twisting his body left and right with hands on his waist.

He was like the older brother I never had, even though he was two years younger than me. When I was around him I felt protected, sheltered, safe. I didn't want to let go of that feeling.

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Hello, dear readers!

Thank you for staying with me so far!

Do you have a favourite ship already? Who do you imagine Radomir with?

Any thoughts and ideas are welcome 😊

And please feel free to vote if you liked a chapter 😉

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