WARNING: If you haven't watched Happy Death Day (2017) yet, there are spoilers ahead ;)

•~°•♤•°~•

We ordered gyros for dinner. They weren't anything special but I ate mine without complaining. Kalina tended to pick the meat out and set it aside just so Mr. Andonov can devour it later on in one swift bite.

Alejo and I retreated to my room to watch some of his favourite scary movies on my laptop. He changed into sweatpants and a T-shirt and situated himself under my bedcovers as if he was at his own home.

He started me off easy, according to him, with an old movie about a creepy doll, containing the soul of a serial killer. After we were done watching what appeared to be only the first film in a series of seven, I was eyeing the dino plushie that decorated my room with distrust, grateful I didn't have any hammers casually lying around.

"Awesome, huh?" Alejo gushed while I scooted down further under my covers. "I watched the remake first but the original movie is so much better!"

If you say so...

"Do you want to watch the second movie or go with another slasher series?"

"Anything else, please!" I whined.

Boy, was I wrong! The butt-ugly guy butchering people left and right with a chainsaw made creepy doll look like a little angel compared to him.

"No more!" I begged, covering my eyes after the chainsaw started working for a second time. To be honest, I was surprised I could last that long.

Alejo thoughtfully paused the movie, petting my hair for comfort. "We can watch a comedy if you like?"

"Yes, please!" I muffled, still not daring to look.

He sighed and started browsing through his favourites.

My traumatised eyes settled back on the screen as a decent-looking chick woke up in some nerd's bed. I could almost sympathise with the guy with how fast she bailed out of his dorm room. There were still people getting killed, mostly sorority chick, but it wasn't so gruesome so I felt myself relax after she died a couple of times, reliving the day of her death over and over again and failing to save herself each time. She was stabbed, impaled, drowned, ran over by a campus bus, poisoned, and whatnot... This chick was made of steel!

As interesting as the movie was, I dozed off before the end. Unfortunately, dreaming about chainsaws and a menacing Alejo trying to slash my guts out. Only the Alejo from my dream wasn't the cute narcissistic nerd that I knew. This one was bigger and broader, and had a creepy smile on his face, amber eyes gleaming with murderous intent. And of course, I woke up screaming, nearly banging my head on the nightstand, trying to run away from real Alejo, the poor guy looking at me as if I grew a second head.

"Never... again," I wheezed. "No more horror movies! Ever!"

The bastard chuckled.

Right then, Mr. Andonov barged in my room, his fists balled for a fight. He scanned the area with crazy eyes before assessing there was no real threat around and crouched to my side.

"Rado? You ok? What happened?" He asked in a firm but gentle tone. The concern is his misty grey eyes was almost painful. I don't remember the last time someone looked at me like that.

"I'm fine." I managed to smile. "Just a nightmare."

"Of your father?" He asked.

"Uh, no." It wasn't like I never had nightmares about my father but at least this one wasn't about him.

Mr. Andonov's cloudy grey eyes kept assessing me, trying to read my soul.

"I'm fine. Really!" I tried to reassure him but I had the feeling he could read past my 'fine' and grasp the real meaning behind the words.

"Ok..." He said, helping me up. "We're having pancakes for breakfast." He turned towards Alejo, my friend's eyes lightning up like Christmas lights.

"Great!" Alejo squeaked and clapped his hands, my little freak out long forgotten.

And this very morning, while I ate pancakes with my foster parents and my best friend, I felt almost human.

Peaceful.

Loved.

•~°•♤•°~•

After breakfast, Mr. Andonov drove Alejo home, Kalina went to some dancing class and I was left alone with my thoughts. And the letter I've been postponing for almost a week now.

I reread what I wrote over and over again, trying to express my feelings on paper, without coming off as too creepy or desperate. It was tough.

I know I've been gone for only a day...

Yeah, that wouldn't work. I should rewrite it.

I copied the first two paragraphs word by word and went with affectionate but not in a romantic way. I didn't want to scare him off.

I miss you, man. I wish you were here.

Yep, that was much better.

I thought about his deep green eyes but it would be weird to write about them, wouldn't it? Too lovey-dovey.

We were just friends after all.

Yeah, better not tell him how often I daydream about him.

I got a little something for the boys. Definitely better than the tasteless rice pudding they serve you for dessert ;) The cards are for you though.

So you can think about me when you use them. Or when you don't.

No, I shouldn't write this!

I think about you all the time.

Damn it!

What do I write?

Mr. Andonov bought me a ton of new clothes, and a laptop, and... well, I got lucky. For once, I look like any other preppy kid at my school.

Anyway, I hope all is well with you. I know you probably won't be able to write back but... I might come visit soon.

I considered closing the letter with 'Love' but... Too soon? It's not like I was telling him I'm in love with him or something!

So maybe it was ok?

Sincerely,
Radomir

Yeah, that would work!

Only... I didn't have an envelope so I had to snoop around my foster parents's stuff a little bit.

I've found a bunch of sketchbooks in one of the drawers. Mostly of flowers - irises, orchids, roses, dahlias. Whoever drew them was really talented.

I admired the different drawings, forgetting what I was looking for to begin with. For a brief second, I wished I could draw like that. But somehow, I didn't see myself as an artist. Plus, my perception of colour was kinda... obscured.

A career in Computer Science still seemed as appealing as it did before. I was into botany and entomology as well but realisation there was trickier, harder. And I already had it hard enough.

Yeah, Computer Science it would be.

I didn't search through the rest of the drawers. I put the sketchbooks back in place and went on my laptop, looking for universities I could apply to. Yes, it was still early. I had one more year till I got to that point. But for some reason, I felt the need to research my options now rather than later.

I was always like this. Thinking a few years into the future, setting myself a clear path to follow. I liked having a goal to strive for.

There was a university, situated pretty close to the social home Georgi was living at. And it seemed like the best option. Not only because they had the disciplines I was interested in at an approachable price but also... I could see Georgi on visitation days.

He was two years younger than me so by the time he leaves the home, I should already have my own flat so we could room together...

No, this wasn't healthy. My infatuation with him was turning into obsession.

But I kept the university in question as my first choice anyway. I could make it work! Even if Georgi wasn't thrilled by the idea of us living together, we could still meet up for coffee or something. There was absolutely no reason for us not to keep in touch.

•~°•♤•°~•

When Kalina was back from her dancing class, I asked her for an envelope and we sent the package to my boys together, the letter to Georgi safely tucked and settled inside. I both felt accomplished and worried if the package would arrive in one piece. With our crappy post service you never know.

I walked to school like any other day, halting in my steps when I saw my mother hanging in front of the school gates. She hasn't seen me yet. I could still go around, use the back entrance and slip inside unnoticed, shielded by the crowd of students, eager for knowledge. More like eager to sit around all day, playing on their phones but whatever. For some reason, they still poured inside like a horde of savages as soon as the front door was unlocked and I could use it to my advantage.

But I would have to talk with her eventually, wouldn't I? Better now than... Actually never would've been better but I had to man up and face my fears. So I squared my shoulders and moved forward, taking slow, calculated steps towards her, paying attention when she would finally notice my approach. She didn't. I stopped merely a step in front of her and she was still looking around.

"Mother," I greeted her with a blank face.

I should've been nervous, I should've ran to the hills by now. But I didn't. Maybe if it was my father in her place things would've been different. But she was rarely physical with me. She left this role to him.

"Radomir?" Her dull green eyes settled on me, mouth parted in shock. I haven't changed that much, have I? It was barely a few months since I last saw her. Not even that much. "Oh, my God! Look at how much you've grown!" She covered her mouth with her hands in surprise. The next thing I know, she was squeezing my biceps and I was thankful that my jacket prevented skin-to-skin contact. Considering how rare it was for her to touch me, any attempt at affection on her part now seemed awkward and weird. Even disgusting at times. I didn't like it.

I pried her hands off of me, not bothering to do it in a gentle or even a polite manner. After all, she never bothered to be polite with me. Why should I?

"What are you doing here?" I barked, my voice coming out harsher than I initially intended it to.

Her pale face contorted in shock. "I came to see you!"

"Why? Shouldn't your visits be supervised or something? Did you ask for permission?" I glared at her, crossing my hands in front of my chest.

"Am I not allowed to see my own son?!" She started shouting at me. This woman loved to shout. But it didn't scare me. Sadly, I was used to it.

"No, you aren't!" I shouted back. "I have a family now! A real family! You better not ruin this for me!" I accusingly pointed my finger at her.

"I am you mother!"

"Kalina is my mother now!"

"Kalina? Who is that woman? What did she do to you?!"

"More like what doesn't she do? She doesn't shout at me, she doesn't make feel like a useless shit! She doesn't sit around and watch while my own father beats the shit out of me! You know what else she doesn't do?! She doesn't come at my school to stalk me just when I'm starting to get my life back together! Get the fuck away from me! And don't you dare come back!"

I stormed inside the school yard, her crocodile tears doing nothing other than annoy me. I was so done with this woman!

I scanned the area for Alejo but he was nowhere to be found. This fucker was late again!

I stood on my own, hands crossed over my chest, glaring at everyone that dared to even glance in my direction. Yes, I was mad. I was beyond mad. I was livid!

How dare she come at my school, pretending to care! And she even called herself my mother! The fucking nerve of this woman!

Someone touched my shoulder and I spun around, ready for a fight.

I was met with Angel's concerned brown eyes. He took a step back, raising his hands in surrender. "Chill, man. I was just... Do you need a hug or something?"

I nodded at him, my teeth still gritted in a sneer. I must've looked like a rabid dog ready to tear someone apart. I was wondering when the anger gene that runs in my family would come to surface.

Angel put his arms around me, slowly, hesitantly, as if afraid I would lash out at him. He was shorter than me so his head just awkwardly leaned on my shoulder while I tried to untangle my hands and return the hug. I inhaled the peachy scent of his shampoo, enjoying the softness of his hair under my chin. It has been a while since I had a proper hug.

I noticed Dragomir awkwardly hanging a few steps away from us, his eyes trained on his boyfriend as he bit on his lower lip. I so did not want to know what he was thinking of right now!

"Group hug!" I heard Alejo's cheery voice before another set of hands locked me in an embrace.

Dragomir half-heartedly stepped ahead and joined us. I would say he had nothing against hugging his boyfriend but Alejo and I were extra.

I allowed my body to relax, even closing my eyes for a second. I had friends. I wasn't alone. I had Alejo, and Angel, maybe even Dragomir if he stuck around for long enough. I had Mr. Andonov and Kalina. I still had Georgi and the boys even if we didn't see each other that often. I had people to lean on when needed.

I didn't need my mother. I didn't need her to love me, or care about me. I realised a long time ago you can't force a parent to love their child. It just didn't work that way. Not everyone was capable of love.

And that was ok.

Because I had them.

They were my real family.

•~°•♤•°~•

A/N: So... movies I was thinking about while I wrote this:
° Child's Play (1988)
° The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) - This one had too much horror and slashing for my poor heart.
° Happy Death Day (2017) - I liked this one though.

If you forgot how the letter started, it's in the beginning of chapter 12.