“Why are you being so quiet?”, Jocelyn asked me as we walked. “You've been quiet ever since lunch. We always fight and be buddy buddy again after.”

I had my hands in my front pockets of my jeans and shrugged my shoulders, “I—it's not you. My father had decided to call me while you were gone and again, it did not go well.”

“Oh.”, she said. “What did he say?”

“Nothing important.”, I lied then took one of my hands out of my pocket and put it shoulder her shoulders, pulling her close to me. “You sure are nosy.”, I chuckled.

“You're acting as if you just realized that.”, she chuckled. “Come on, let go into the frozen yogurt palace place before it gets to cold and they turn into a cafe.”, she said as she dragging me into the store. I recognized a few people from the school in here and I was use to the looks I got from them like I was some star—or the son of a star.

After we got our yogurt and Jocelyn payed before I could get my credit card out. We sat at the table closest to the back since she didn't want anyone bother us. Jocelyn groaned and pulled my hat off my head, “What have I said about wearing this thing inside places? It's rude.”

I chuckled and snatched it back, “You and your southern rules.”

“Well now you got to meet most of our classmates, will you finally go to the festival this Friday?”, she asked. “Can't be a hermit forever.”

“I doubt the festivals here are as fun as the ones back home.”, I said, leaning down on the table. “But I know you already, you will make me go.”

“That's true.”, she said, shrugging. “I really want to go to Moscow, Yuri. You talk about it with so much pride.”

“It's my home, of course I will.”, I told her.

“Yet your running away from it.”, she said and I groaned, running my fingers through my hair. “Sorry, sorry right. You're not going to talk about it right now. Just one day I want you to show me your home. Everyone was right in school, Moscow is exciting. Though anywhere else than here is exciting.”

“Kind of dangerous in some part, it's a big city.”, I said and she rolled her eyes.

“I know you will keep me safe.”, she said and I chuckled. “My parents said the same thing about Rome and I was safe the whole time.”

“Because I was there.”, I said grinning. “No one will mess with a strong guy like me.”, I said, puffing out my chest a little and held my chin up high. “I'm Russian, no one would dare mess with me.”

“And this is why you wouldn't survive in New York, you would get into so much fights with how big your head is.”, she laughed, hitting my chest, making me breath out hard. “You are not a Russian mobster.”

“Your such a Western.”, I chuckled. I reached out and pinched her cheek, “My little Amerika.”

The door to the shop opened and I watched the guy Buck come in with a few of his friends laughing about something. He must have felt my glare on him because he turned my head my way and he didn't look to surprise to me then looked at Jocelyn next to me who was awkwardly looking down at her cup of yogurt as she twirled her spoon around.

I looked away, deciding to ignore her him. “Do you want to leave?”, I asked Jocelyn and she looked up at me.

“No, I always went to this place before. Buck knew I would be here though, I always made him take me here before.”, she said, looking sad.

“What is wrong?”, I asked and she shook her head. “Come on Jocelyn, tell me.”, I said as I took her hand.

She pulled it away though, “If you don't tell me your problems, I wont tell you mine.”

I grinned down at her, “You really think you can hold your feelings? You are one to express yourself, you'll tell me. I'm the one to hide behind a smile because I'm--”

“'because I am Russian' ya de da.”, she mocked me and rolled her eye. “Just because your Russian doesn't mean you have to act strong.”

“Russian men are strong.”, I said, hitting my chest hard, making her giggle.

“You're a dork.”, she said and I playful put my hand on her head, pushing it away.

“Whatever.”, I said, mocking her.

“You're Yuri, right?”, a guy said when he sat down at the table with two others guy.

I gave them a confused look and nodded, “Yes.”

“So are you actually like from Russia?”, another asked, laughing. “You've got to come with us to the lake, you're really cool.”

“Huh?”, Jocelyn asked. “Matt, I doubt Buck will want us there.”

“Screw Buck,”, Matt said and I was already starting to like him. “We gotta show newbie Genesis has more to offer then handing out bibles. I'm sure you haven't shown him anything fun to do since you got back, Jocelyn.”

“Getting drunk by the lake with loud music is more to offer?”, Jocelyn asked.

“Even, Yuri can hold his alcohol I'm sure. He is from Russia, I hear the vodka there is three times stronger.” he said and I couldn't help but laugh.

“Forget what Buck would want or not, you two should come. We seniors gotta celebrate return to that hell hole who has reconstructed since the seventies. It's traditions to go out there.” the other guy said.

I turned to Jocelyn and shrugged, “It does more fun then going to your house and working on the farm.”

“I thought you liked doing that, said it's fun because it was different.”, she said, scoffing.

I brought the spoon up my mouth, “Awkward. . .”, I said and she hit me in the arm. “Jocelyn, davay, lets go and have fun. Pozhaluysta.”, I said. “You do want me to make friends, right?”, I asked, laying my crossed arms over the table and grinned at her.

Her button nose scrunched up in defeat, “Okay, okay, fine.”

{}

Jocelyn

“Wow, this is not so bad.”, Yuri said as he looked around the lake and crowd of seniors all around hanging out either by the lake or in groups. Music was playing, people were talking and eating and dancing. I wonder if anyone going to be able to get up tomorrow to make it to school again. It was stupid to have a party on your first day of school and you got to go again tomorrow but it was a thing for them to do. When Genesis has a chance to throw a party, they do it.

“Yuri!”, some group of girls said and they rushed over to us, pushing me aside as they gang up on Yuri. I almost yelled at them to go away but I bit my tongue and blew out heavily, making my bangs fly up as they as talked to him at once saying how they were excited for him to be here and he should do this and that with them.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. I knew Yuri would become cool, but not that cool in one day at school! I barley got to be with him, only at lunch which didn't end well. Back in Italy, it was different because Rome was big and they didn't care who Yuri was. They weren't interested in him but people in Genesis have nothing else better to do with their lives.

“Ladies, ladies!”, Yuri said, holding his hands up as he chuckled. “I cannot even get a word out, please.”

“Did you bring a bathing suit? You have to get into the lake with us! It'll be much fun.”, Sarah McClain said, wrapping her arm around his arm.

“Well actually, I di—”, Yuri started but got cut off.

“Are you hungry?”, another girl asked.

“I'll go get you something, do you like hamburgers or a hot dog? Chips? Coke soda?”, another asked and I couldn't help but get amused at the painful annoyed look on Yuri face as he was getting pissed off at the group of girls.

He looked at me and gave him a pleading look to help, but I just grin at him and waved bye to him as I turned around and walked away. I caught something in the side of my eyes and turned my head to look at the bench where I saw a familiar face. She had blonde hair this time though but she still had pale skin and light blue eyes. Autumn was a girl I was sorta of friends with back before I left. She was very shy with brown hair and her height didn't help her stand out. No one noticed her but me, I was always nice to her and friendly. When I saw her get bully, I would stick up and even invited her over a few times. I spoke to her a few times when I left but we just sorta of lost touch.

I walked over to the table and she was on her phone, scrolling down on her Facebook page. “Hey,” I said, catching her attention as her head snapped up. I smiled, “Autumn, wow, it is you.”

“Oh, Jocelyn, I didn't know you were coming.”, she said as I sat down next to her.

“My friend Yuri wanted to come, so I had to come with him because he doesn't like going anywhere without me.”, I said and her mouth formed an 'O' as she nodded. “I almost didn't recongize you, blonde suits you very well.”

“Thanks, it's different I know. My brother girlfriend works in a salon and suggested it.”, she said.

“It's really nice.”, I said, smiling at her. “It's really nice to see you again. I just can't believe you would come here, it doesn't seem like you.”

“My mom making me. She saw the Facebook invite because she's nosy and made me come.”, she said. “There's is no no in my mom dictionary, she said I should start becoming social.”

“I'm glad that you are. Since Yuri,” I groaned out before laughing as I looked at my annoyed male friend before turning back to her, “is kind of busy right now and I'm still invisable to everyone. Even if Yuri is my friend.”

“He's really something—he was the talk all day long. He seems cool though.”, she said, looking at Yuri for a second. “Kinda...cute. Do you two go out or something?”

I didn't know why but I got really jumpy at that. My eyes widen, “Wha-what? No! Me and Yuri? Never in a millions years would I date him. He may be funny, but he can be a hot head and a spoiled brat something and—“

“Whoa, whoa, whoa relax Jocelyn.”, Autumn said as she chuckled. “You don't need to go all defense on that. A yes or no would have just been great.”

“Oh, my bad.”, I said as my face flamed up in embarrassment. “No, we're not. Just friends.”

“Oh.”, she said. “How's Buck with that?”

I snorted and rolled my eyes, “Buck has nothing to say because it's none of his concern anymore. He broke up with me.”

“Yeah, but he seems to like you still. Remember, he's my cousin, I know him. He tried to date Kimberli last year.”, she said and I couldn't stop my mouth from falling in shock. She chuckled, “Don't worry, it didn't last long. Three weeks because he couldn't stop talking about you.”

“Oh.”, I said, looking away awkwardly. “Well I'm sure he's over me now. A year is long enough time to get over someone.”

“So you still don't like Buck?” she asked, turning to her right where Buck and his friends a dozen feet away were playing football. I bit the side of my cheek and almost sighed as I watched Buck play, trying to remember that night he broke up with me and left me at the diner all alone. I couldn't right now when he's shirtless and has gotten a four pack, looking like soon it'll be a six pack probably. And he's so tan! Like golden, a real tan from the sun because he works on his parents ranch.

I did not want those feelings back, I was already confused enough with Yuri. I don't need to add Buck to those confusions.

“Buck and I won't ever happen again.” I said when I looked away.

“That doesn't answer my question though, Jocelyn.”, she said.

“Why are we talking about Buck?”, I asked, planning to change the subject. “I haven't seen you in a year, what have you been doing lately?”

“Nothing. More foreign movies to watch on Netflix and less more bullying.”, she said.

I frowned, “I'm sorry, I wish I could have been there those times.”

“It's okay, Buck was there to actually save the day.”, she said. “Tell me about Rome, I want to know all your advantures. I hear it's beautiful there.”

I smiled excitedly, “Oh God, I wonder where I should start. The host parents home, God they had a cute medium size house that had—“

“Ahh! Ahh! Get it away from me!”, I heard Yuri voice and I turned to look at him to see he was walking away from a girl who was holding a plate—I saw something fly around it. I groaned, shaking my head at my stupid friend. Yuri continued to freak out and when none of the girl decided to help but stand there to look confuse, I got up and walked over.

I swat the bee away from him because it was flying near him and when it finally went another direction, I turned to Yuri with my hands on my hips, “Really, Yuri? You need to get over your fear of bugs.”, I said as I reached into my bag and grabbed his bug spray he makes me carry around. I grabbed his arm and pulled him near me, “I know your OCD, but come on. They wont hurt you.”

“Bugs carry germs and diseases, Jocelyn. Diseases can kill you. What if that bee stung me?”, he asked as I sprayed him like a mother does to a child.

“I have tweezers on my bag.”, I said as I finished.

“Are they clean?”, he asked and I glared up at him before hitting him in the head. “Ow!”, he said as he brought his hand up to the back of his head.