It was a Monday unlike any other. I haven't felt this nervous and jittery in years and I had no idea why. I knew the school. I've been there before. I was probably going to get the same old teachers, the same old boring classmates. So what the fuck was I so anxious about?

I started classes in the afternoon so I had plenty of time to fuss over which pair of jeans I should wear, since the shirt and sweater were the same for all students anyway, how to style my nest of a hair, whether my old sneakers are polished enough or not. You know, the stuff I shouldn't probably give a flying fuck about, and yet I did.

Mr. Andonov has already went to school so Kalina was more than willing to walk me there. It was surprisingly close to their apartment. It made you wonder why Mr. Andonov went there by car.

She stopped a few steps away from the entrance and wished me luck, waving awkwardly goodbye as I bravely went inside. I knew where my first period was at, I knew this school as the back of my hand. It felt strangely familiar, yet distant. As if going there was just a dream I haven't had in a while.

I've had this feeling a lot lately. As if I was dreaming. I was going through the motions without really being there. I mean, my body was present, but my spirit still struggled to catch up.

The first familiar face I saw was Alejo's. He almost passed me in the hallway on his way to class and then did a double take, his bright amber eyes open wide. "Rado?" His full lips moved like a fish out of water. "It is you! You bastard!" He screeched. "Where were you? I was worried sick about you, you damn morron!" He slapped my arm, glaring daggers at me. "And what was that jealous girlfriend bullshit? The first message I get from you in months and you... You!" He ended his rant short and engulfed me in a hug. Totally unexpected. And uncalled for. And it felt nice. To have someone worry about me. I had no idea he cared that much.

I wrapped my arms around him, noticing he's gotten shorter since I last saw him. Or perhaps I've gotten taller? Yeah, that was more likely.

I ruffled his short brown hair, enjoying the familiar flowery scent of his shampoo. "I missed you, too."

"Then why didn't you call?" He let me go, back to his mad bitchy self. Maybe I should've gotten him that damn friendship bracelet after all. You know, as a peace offering.

"Come on, now! I'm here now, ain't I?" I look down at him with a kind smile on my face.

"What happened? Where were you?" He started the interrogation I was dreading so much.

"I was... sick," I answered, rubbing my neck in an awkward fashion. "I didn't have my laptop with me at the hospital." Ok, this wasn't a lie. I can do this!

"Hospital?" Alejo screeched again.

"Yeah... It was... bad. But I'm better now! See?" I lifted my hands up as if to show I was at one piece. It was true. I've never felt better in my life. No bruises to cover or to remind me how I got them. I felt good. Whole. Safe. I felt alive. And I smiled. Not the usual timid smile I always gave to people. This was a full on grin. It was genuine. And it did the trick. Alejo believed me. And he didn't pester me for more information.

We walked together towards our classroom, like in the good old days, him blabbing about the gossip that I've missed, me nodding as if I cared who did who in this fucked up school. It was like I never left.

Yana, the infamous gossip girl, stuck to us like glue as soon as she saw a new face. It took her a while to recognise me either.

"You've gotten so much taller! And bulkier, too!" She emphasised by squeezing the life out of my bicep.

I removed her talons with a grunt.

I caught sight of Angel, sitting at his usual spot, on the front row next to his boyfriend. I gave him an awkward wave while he gaped at me in wonder, his black wavy hair styled on the side and falling freely over his left eye.

I haven't changed all that much, have I?

"Hey," I greeted briefly with a coy smile.

Not a sound left his lips while Yana kept bombarding me with questions I had absolutely no intention to answer.

"Hey," he finally croaked. "Uhm, nice to see you, man."

"Same." I slipped on my usual seat at the back before Dragomir, Angel's boyfriend, could get all jealous on me and pick a fight. By the looks of it, they were still together. I honestly thought they wouldn't last even a month.

Pavel, the annoying blond jerk, whose jade green eyes popped in my mind from time to time, was talking with Goran, another well-known jock with buzz cut, naturally blond hair. Both of them went silent when I sat next to Pavel. I saw recognition in Goran's cool grey eyes but Pavel acted as if he was seeing me for the first time, assessing my appearance, sizing me up to determine whether I would be competition with the ladies or not. As if he didn't fuck half the school already.

Before Pavel could open his stupid mouth and say something that would make sitting next to him even worse, Mr. Daskalov entered the classroom. His eyes paused on me as he was taking attendance. "Oh, Radomir. Welcome back!" He mustered something that resembled a smile and I gave him a nod in return. It was then that instead of curious glances and hushed murmurs, all eyes were set on me. My classmates whipped their heads in my direction as if detecting a prey. It was unsettling but I just leaned back further in my chair and made myself comfortable. Nothing new. I would probably be the centre of attention for about a day before they find something more interesting to gossip about.

Right then Teodor barged through the door, all red in the face, gasping for air as if he was running, and most of my classmates turned their heads towards him. Only Pavel's wide green eyes were still trained on me. "Radomir?" He gasped. "The nerd Radomir?" This boy sure was slow.

"You missed me?" I smirked at him.

"Nah!" Pavel shook his head after recovering from the initial shock.

"Great! Me neither!" I shot him a fake smile and turned my attention to the teacher. I was here to learn after all, not bother with immature man-whores.

By the time lunch break rolled around, which at this point was more of an afternoon breakfast, I've heard various rumours as to why I was absent. Thankfully, none of them even closer to the truth. My favourite was... He got kidnapped by some witch cult that required a virgin for their pagan ritual and was forced into an orgy that lasted five days and six nights, needing a whole month to recover afterwards. Second favourite: He got caught dealing drugs and spent time in juvie. Compared to the witch rumour it wasn't nearly as interesting but it sounded more like something Yana would say.

I've found myself wondering who was behind the orgy rumour but apart from that my day went more or less uneventful. Alejo never left my side and Angel and his boyfriend joined us for lunch, being annoyingly lovey-dovey with each other. I didn't have Literature today so the only time I got to see Mr. Andonov was when we passed each other in the hallway on my way to Chemistry. He greeted me with a smile and a nod as he kept walking and I did the same.

"This time you're definitely inviting me over! I'm not taking 'No' for an answer!" Alejo stated as we took our seats.

I wiped my palms on the brand new jeans I chose to wear today, feeling them exceptionally sweaty all of a sudden. I took my sweet time arranging my books on the desk, frantically thinking of a plausible enough excuse that would sit well with Alejo so he doesn't end up bitching about it all day.

"I can't today though," I forced out, licking my chapped lips. "I have... a date."

"A date?" Alejo gaped at me. "With who? Do I know her?"

"No... I met her... at the hospital." Once the lie materialised in my mind it was easier to let out. "I promised to take her to the movies today so..." Way to go me! Thinking of a fake girlfriend so my best friend doesn't learn I live with out Literature teacher. But I wasn't ready to tell him about my family situation just yet. Maybe I would in the future but... Not today.

"Great! I can come with!"

Uh-oh!

"Man, it's our very first official date. I'll introduce you some other time," I gave him a promise I knew I would never keep.

Alejo crossed his arms over his chest and pursed his lips in a cute pout. Which lasted for about five seconds before he was at it again. "So what is she like?" And I had to spend the next few minutes describing a girl that didn't even exist. I gave her Georgi's dark brown curls and deep green eyes. I said she comes across as cold and aloof at first but shows a softer side once you get to know her. I had to try extra hard to use 'her' instead of 'him' but I think I managed to pull it through.

Alejo whispered in my ear he has a crush on Olga, a girl with wavy blonde hair that tends to date a different guy each week. Knowing her, he most likely had a chance, and I told him so. Whether or not they would stay together was another question.

"So you think I should ask her out?" Alejo breathed in my ear.

I heard someone snicker behind us but paid it no mind. "Yeah, sure. Definitely!" I tired to sound as encouraging as possible, considering I was dividing my attention between Alejo and the teacher. It was a young guy I couldn't put a name to. He started work just a week before the incident with my father.

Our chatter attracted his attention and he set his eyes on me with a confused look on his handsome face. I watched him check something in the class journal, a big heavy book that the class representative had to carry around from one class to another and contained all our grades in it, before facing me again.

"I think I will," Alejo said next to me, oblivious to the teacher's actions. "Do you think I should give her one of those 'Will you be my girlfriend' cards with 'Yes' and 'Yes' options or is it too 7th grade?"

"And you must be Radomir, yes?" The teacher asked.

"Yes." I awkwardly cleared my throat and gave him a hesitant smile.

"Todor's boy?"

My smile froze.

Mr. Andonov and I agreed no one needed to know I live with him but that bit of information obviously didn't stretch to the new teacher. I could already feel going from the bad boy image my classmates were painting of me today to teacher's pet again. And all that with a single comment from the new teacher's mouth.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I scowled at him. He seemed to get the hint because the next second he was back to polymers and their properties.

It was kinda refreshing having the jocks keep their distance instead of shoving me around. I wasn't ready to give up on that just yet.

•~°•♤•°~•

A/N: So where I live we either have classes from about 7 am till noon, or from noon till evening, and we switch around between 1st and 2nd shift either each month, or each semester, depending on the school. That's why Radomir is starting classes in the afternoon. I've decided to write my stories totally ignoring COVID, lockdowns, and distance learning, because I thought it would be a thing only for a few months. Obviously, I was wrong, but I'm sticking to the old-fashioned school system back in the days when taking classes online wasn't even a possibility, let alone a necessity.

Stay healthy and safe!

Love,
Ash ❤