Dear, Georgi,

Say 'Hello' to the boys for me :) You said that you've always wanted someone to write you a letter so here it is ;)

I'm at my new home. I have my own bedroom and everything, with tiny dino paws on the wall. Kalina says she's not a dino freak but I don't believe her. There are like two dino plushies, a drawing of a dinosaur hanged on the wall and even my night lamp is a tiny blue dinosaur. Yeah, totally not a coincidence :D Maybe they were thinking of adopting a boy before they settled with me. Who knows...

I know I've been gone for only a day but I already miss you. Isn't that weird?

I wish you were here.

I stopped there, not really knowing what else to write. Should I mention we were going shopping tomorrow? I didn't want to brag too much.

Should I write him I wish I hugged him goodbye? Nah, that would be way too cheesy.

Should I ask him to write me back? That wasn't too clingy, was it?

I gnawed at my pen in thought, trying to ignore how my stomach rumbled. Would it be impolite if I make some BT sandwiches before Kalina arrives with the lettuce? There's no harm if I start cooking the bacon before she comes back.

Yeah, I should finish the letter on a full stomach. I always think better after I've eaten something.

I set it aside on the nightstand, right next to the cute dino lamp, and went back to the kitchen.

I opened the fridge, taking out the ingredients I needed.

"Where do you keep the pans?" I turned towards Mr. Andonov, who was still reading on the small dining table behind me.

"The cupboard under the sink." He briefly glanced at me over his book.

I've found a pan, rinsed it with water and turned on the stove.

"Uhm, what about oil?" I asked, without turning back. Not that I would really need it... Not much anyway. The pan had a ceramic coating. I've seen people cook on such pans with only a dribble of olive oil. You know, on the cooking shows my mother liked to watch with a pizza in hand, but never actually tried to put into effect in real life.

"Top left." I heard Mr. Andonov answer.

I identified the bottle in question and used a single drop at the centre of the pan the way I've seen people do on TV. It's embarrassing but this was the very first time I used a pan, or a stove for that matter, to cook something. And yet, I think I did a very good job. I turned the bacon around at equal intervals of time, salivating at the sight of it.

The front door opened and Kalina was back with a grocery bag in hand, hopefully containing lettuce inside.

Life was good.

Everything looked better with bacon. And it was going to taste even better on a sandwich, with mayo, and tomato, and...

"I didn't find lettuce but they had cabbage so hopefully that works?" Kalina said, entering the kitchen.

It wasn't the first time I replaced lettuce with whatever was around so... "Yeah, no problem."

I was going to reach for a plate but Kalina was in my face, those big blue eyes of hers staring at me as if I had all the answers in the universe.

"Uhm, could you... like... pass me a plate?"

"Sure!" She spun around and shoved a plate in my face with the speed of light and the enthusiasm of a 5-year-old.

Way too close!

Has this woman not heard about personal space or social boundaries? I don't think I could get used to this.

"Uhm, thanks," I said lamely, even though all I wanted to do was shout in her face to get the fuck away from me. I was so not used to strangers standing that close. I could practically smell what she had for breakfast! Hint: something with lots of garlic.

I transferred the bacon onto the plate and... "Cutting board?" I asked Kalina. She was nearly rubbing elbows with me at this point.

She gave me a cutting board, engraved with 'Home. Sweet Home. Todor & Kalina'. Cheesy as fuck, if you ask me.

I've spent the next few minutes slicing tomatoes, spreading mayo on slices of fresh bread and setting Kalina to the task of washing the cabbage so she gets the fuck away from my personal bubble.

The result was yummy, mouth-watering and straight out divine!

We ate the sandwiches on the dining table Mr. Andonov has been previously reading on. Almost like a real family. But I was way too hungry to dwell on that.

I was sticking around only for a few months anyway. No point getting attached.

After lunch I went back to my room. I lay on the bed just for a brief second, because I felt drained from all this socialising and basically everything that transpired today, but I ended up dozing off.

When I woke up it was close to 4 pm. There was faint classical music playing from the bedroom/kitchen/dining room and I saw Kalina half-lying, half-sitting on their bed with a laptop on her lap. Mr. Andonov was nowhere to be seen.

Maybe it would've been polite to start a conversation or something but I didn't want to bother her so I hid back into dino heaven before she even noticed my presence. I sat on my bed, facing the window, and took out the calm-me-the-fuck-down dice I kept in my right pocket.

I had my own bed in my own room. It was too fucking good to be true. And yet it was. I still couldn't believe it.

I rolled the dice between my fingers, gazing at what appeared to be the top of a Norway spruce. It was a miracle that no neighbour decided it was too much of a bother and cut it down by now.

I remembered the fake Christmas tree at Adam's. The very first Christmas that made me feel like I belong somewhere. Maybe my luck was turning around...

Well, it was about fucking time!

I huffed, put the dice back in my pocket and got around to the usual workout routine. It was kinda lonely going through the moves without Georgi by my side but 'no pain, no gain'. I wasn't going to lose the little muscle I managed to gain for the past month and a half just because I felt lonely working out by myself! I could already see my abs forming, my biceps getting bigger... I was getting there.

I was planking on the floor, my eyes focused on the blue nightstand in front of me, when I heard someone knock.

Two light taps on the door. A brief pause.

And then again.

Was I supposed to say 'come in' like in the movies?

I rose to my feet and I was just about to say it, when Kalina opened the door.

"Uhm, we got you something." In her hands she was holding a laptop with a cute purplish ribbon.

I glanced at the laptop she was presenting to me as if it was a platter of exquisite delicatessens, and then at Mr. Andonov lurking in the background with a satisfied smirk.

My green eyes widened in wonder. "A laptop? For me?" This was the most expensive gift anyone has ever given me!

I carefully accepted the present, grinning like a lunatic. "Wow! Thank you!" I just didn't know what else to say.

I considered going for a hug but refrained myself from doing so. After all, we didn't know each other that well.

Mr. Andonov helped me set up the Wi-Fi, installed some kind of anti-virus program and then left me to play on my own with my new toy. The first thing I did, of course, was to check social media.

I scanned through the string of messages left by Alejo, still waiting for my reply. There were a few new ones as well.

You know, I would've come to your place by now if I even had the slightest idea where you live. 4 years of friendship and you haven't invited me in your home not even once!!! I should've known you don't care about me!

Today I had lunch with Angel and his jock boy toy. They were only talking about their stupid Christmas vacation and bragging with their matching couples pendants and... Ugh! I deserve a girlfriend that would give me a couples pendant! It's not fair!

Or a friendship bracelet. Why did you never give me a friendship bracelet? Do I have to think about everything?

Unfortunately, at this point I'm just ranting here because you'll probably never open your insta. Where the fuck are you?

I read through his messages a second time. Was I supposed to buy him a friendship bracelet now? And with what money? Self-centered rich prick! He's always been like this! It was like he expected the world to revolve around him.

I wrote him a reply anyway. Since I am such a generous guy!

Thanks for worrying about me and yeah, I'm ok. No, you're not getting a friendship bracelet. Stop acting like my jealous girlfriend!

Ok, maybe I was a bit harsh but... My emotions were all over the place.

On one side, I appreciated that he missed me. That he cared about me enough to message me multiple times even after not getting a single reply.

And on the other... He could be a real bitch sometimes. With his sheltered life and perfect little family. Sure, his parents fought from time to time but it was nothing like mine. And it just gave him a chance to always get what he wanted. If one parent didn't allow it, the other one usually did. He had them wrapped around his little finger!

See you on Monday, btw

I added as an afterthought. I wondered if I should tell him what really happened or make up some cool story about... I don't know... Maybe I should just say I was sick or something? That would work! And it was half-true anyway. I did spend a couple of weeks in a hospital.

•~°•♤•°~•

On Sunday I went shopping with Mr. Andonov and his wife. It was a surreal experience. I kept thinking I was in some kind of parallel universe and I would transport back to reality any minute now. It didn't happen. Instead, they took me to some pedestrian street full with little shops of all kinds. Of course, we mostly bought clothes but there was also one quirky shop with different bracelets and gemstones. I did remember Alejo's wish but he was being unreasonable so... I didn't even think about getting him a friendship bracelet. Ok, I did think about it but I didn't do it, which was more important. I won't let him boss me around simply because he was my only friend in this shithole called school.

At the end of the day we went back home with at least a dozen bags full of hoodies, sweaters, jeans, and even a pack of underwear, five pairs of boxers in one pack, white with a marine print. I especially liked the ones with the anchor. I was going to put them on as soon as we got back but Kalina insisted they pass through the washing machine first. I just shrugged my shoulders at her peculiarity and set to playing on my new laptop instead. There were like a ton of cool puzzle games, all waiting for me to test them out.

Life was good.

•~°•♤•°~•