Jocelyn arms went around me as she started over my shoulder as we watched the music video by a Russian singer. She reached up and touched the pore strip on my nose that was drying up. She was laying on the bed and I was on the floor.

''I can't believe I let you do you this.'' I said. ''My pores are fine, this is a women problem.''

''You said you'll try it with me if I bought them. And guys care, don't you want a clean nose?' she asked and I rolled my eyes.

''I'm sure if someone saw me, they'll punch me.'' I said and she giggled. ''This is like when you wouldn't wax your eyebrows and I had to get my upper lip wax.''

''You didn't have to shave your upper lip though for awhile.'' she said as she touched under my nose.

''It hurt.'' I told her.

''I know it does, which is why it was funny watching you in pain.'' she said.

''I care to much.'' I said. ''What guy does this?''

''A best friend does it.'' she said. ''You'll do anything for me.''

''Sadly.'' I said as I scrolled down my phone and she hit my head, making me chuckle. ''How much longer?"

''Uh—oh! Now!'' she said excitedly as she got up from my bed and grabbed my hand. She forced me up and into the bath from. She touched the strip on her nose, ''Slowly, you won't get much if you just rip it off quickly.''

I just peeled the strip off and it pull skin, but didn't hurt very much. I watched Jocelyn wince and hiss in pain, giving up. I got the strip off and saw stiff from my nose on the strip, ''Shit.'' I chuckled and showed her.

''Ew Yuri.'' she chuckled. ''See, this is a good thing. Now help me—gently!" she said when I reached up.

I huffed and grabbed an end, ''Stop moving.''

''Ow! It hurts!'' she said, grabbing my shirt.

''Stop being a baby, I easily took mine off.'' I said as I pulled.

''Yuri! Ow! Uh, that—ow!" she hissed when I just ripped the rest off. She rubbed her nose and glared at me before snatching the strip from my hand, ''Ew, that isn't so bad. How does my nose look?" she asked, showing me her nose.

''Perfect. Happy I did it?'' I asked and she smiled, nodding.

*

''The country is gorgeous.'' my Scottish friend Brodric said. ''Ye should come visit sometime Yuri. Lots of ladies would love you.'' he chuckled as he hit me playfully in the arm.

'' Lennox does sound nice .'' I said as I looked down at my navy blue sweater with the academy logo on the right side of my chest for a second. ''I probably might take you up on the offer if that means more freedom--''

''Ey, Yuri, check it out.'' my Italian friend Nico said as he cut me off. ''I think that girl over there is watching you. I think she is American, She has the weirdest accent.'' he said as he bopped his head to the left and I followed where I saw the girl from a few days ago quickly looked back at the board of activities. She brought her finger up to her mouth and tapped it as if she really was interested on anything on it. ''This school really need to stop bring them here. Third American I seen. This one has legs to.''

''Shut up.'' I said and Nico grinned.

''You know her, Yuri?'' he asked. ''I have Chemistry with her and I'm surprised she got here. Smart, but bad at Italian. If you're into curvy girls, she does have amazing long hair and has bedroom eyes.''

I brought my tennis racket up and hit him in the back of the head, cussing at him in Russian and he snatched the racket from my hand. I stuffed my heads in my pockets as I walked over to Jocelyn. She did have a curvy frame and it was different from the girls I knew back home who starved themselves. I never really noticed until now because the girl dress code was a navy skirt and white or navy blouse. She had nice legs so, it was clear she didn't just let herself go. And she was beautifully naturally tan. She did say she worked on her parents farm.

''Hello.'' I said, tapping her shoulder and she jumped, turning to face me. I smiled charmingly and moved right next to her to look at the board, ''Anything look interesting? I hear the swimming team is fun.''

She crossed her arms and gave me a confused look, ''Do I know you?''

I arched an eyebrow and grinned, ''You don't remember? I know you do, you can't ever forget my face.''

''Hmm,'' she said as she looked over me. ''Uh. . .Nickolai right? Oh, no Sasha. Wrong still? It was some Russian or Ukraine name right? Dmitri?''

''Ha-ha.'' I sarcastically said. ''You threw soda on me, remember?'' I asked even though I know she did.

''Oh! Yuri! I remember now.'' she said smiling. ''Stalking me now?''

''No, just apparently go to the same academy.'' I said as I pointed at the owl logo on my shirt. ''How'd we not know that?''

''School only started two weeks ago and it seems like you are friends with the rich kids.'' she said as she looked behind me at Brodric and Nico. ''I mean, you're rich yourself.''

''My parents are rich, I'm not.'' I said and she snorted.

''That's what rich kids say.'' she said and touched my sweater, ''Knock off hand me down uniforms are still expensive, I can only imagine the new store bought prices are.''

''You want the new stuff?'' I asked and she gave me a confused look. ''Come, I'll be you new stuff if that means getting out of here.''

She laughed humorlessly, ''Sure, whatever Yuri. Look, I need to go back to my host parents home and write this essay for Creative Writing class so if you'll excuse me I'll--''

I grabbed her arm when she tried to walk around me, ''Did I offend you?'' I asked as I went in front of her and she looked pretty mad.

She snatched her arm away, ''I don't know how easy girls fall to their knees for your looks, but I don't. And still won't for your money.''

''Fall to their knees?'' I questioned and she rolled her eyes. “I didn't mean it in any wrong way, Jocelyn.”

“Buy me stuff if we can get out of here?”, she questioned, crossing her arms over her chest and I shrugged. I didn't want to be at school any longer then I have to when I have a whole country I can be touring around at the moment. Brodric and Nico are fun, but they like to flirt allot with the girls and it's no fun when they're pulling me away from my tour guide notebook. Jocelyn seems. . .laid back. She's someone I could actually talk to the other day. “Do you always buy girls stuff to get them to sleep with you? I may be some farm girl, but I’m not stupid.”

My mouth formed an 'O' when I realized what she was talking about. I grinned and chuckled, making her nose scrunched in anger as her arms flew to her side in fist, “I really did not mean it like that, Jocelyn. I just want to get out of here, literally. School over so where else would I go? I do not want to sleep with you. You think I’m that much of a scum?”

Her cheeks redden, but she continued to look angry, “Whatever, I don't want to.”

I grabbed her arm and pulled her back again, “Why not? You talk about having no friends so you are really going to make me work hard enough to be your friend?”

She gap at me for a few second before sighing, her facing soften, “I don't want new uniforms, Yuri. You can't buy my friendship.”

Strange. Usually everyone wants my money and friendship. Only reason Brodric and Nico hang out with me is because Brodric my roommate and Nico great uncle the Headmaster of this Academy, so he quickly found out about my past and I managed to bribe him in keeping it a secret.

“Okay, I am sorry.”, I said as I let go of her arm. “How does cheesecake sound? Back in Moscow, my grandmother use to make it all the time when I was a little boy and it is my favorite desert. Join me?” I asked charmingly as I held out my arm.

“I hate cheesecake.”, she said, slapping my arm away. “But I do like the pies they make here.”

*

“Th-the more she went dow-wn the street, the closer it g-got to seeing the str-street light and—I cannot do this.”, I said as I closed the book we had to read for this class and sat down at my desk, completely embarrassed. I could speak English perfectly fine, but reading it? I start stuttering and looking like an idiot. I hate that! I hate looking like an idiot.

Lauren who was beside me reached over and put her hand on my shoulder, “It's okay, Yuri. You did really good. Hearing it in a Russian accent made it seem so interesting.”

I brought my hand up to my forehead and rubbed it, getting a headache.

When the class was finally over, I packed my stuff up and got up. Lauren walked around her desk and stood in my way. She smiled and pushed her dark hair behind her shoulder, “So Yuri, I thought I'll let you get use to Genesis High. I finally got the courage to come up to you and ask if you want to hang out this weekend?”

“I can't, sorry.”, I said as I began to walk around her but she quickly blocked me.

“Why not?”, she asked. “I'm really fun to hang out with, ask anyone.”

“I have plans already.”, I told her.

“With Jocelyn?”, she asked, snorting. “I know you two are close, but you need to make more friends Yuri. Isn't that why you came here, to learn new culture? It's very rude here to reject an offer.”

“And it's rude to cancel the plans you already have with someone.”, I said. “Maybe next week.”

“Well it apparently seems Jocelyn calcined the plans.”, she said and I arched my eyebrow, confused. “I heard Buck asked her to hang out this Friday and she said yes.”

My hands balled into a fist as I pressed my lips together tightly. “I have to go.”, I said, quickly walking around her and left the room. I was chewing my bottom lip which I always do when I’m nervous as I walked down the hallway.

I saw her at her locker taking books out so I walked over to her, “Are you going out on a date with Buck?'' I asked and she turned to look up at me totally surprised.

“So?”, she said and I scoffed. She sighed heavily, “Yuri, what's the matter? We always hang out. So I said yes to going out to dinner with Buck. So?”

“So?” I mocked her and she gave me a hard look. “I came here to be with you.”

“You're not my boyfriend!”, she said coldly, taking me back as my eyes widen. “You're my friend and as my friend, you should be wishing me good luck on my date. Buck—he's nice. He was a nice guy before and still is.”

“He hurt you.”, I said and she sighed again.

“I can let it go, it's not good to always hold grudges Yuri.”, she said. “Please, just don't be mad. Why do you care so much?”

“Because I—“ I cut myself off and she gave me a look to continue. I took a deep breathe and looked away, “I am happy for you.”, I said as I looked back at her. “You're right, I should be happy for you. Buck—he is nice.”, I painfully said and it tasted like vinegar was in my mouth.

“Okay.”, she said, closing her locker. “See you when school over.”

“Da.”, I said, nodding my head before she walked passed me to her next class and I leaned against the locker, hitting my head against it as I squeezed my eyes shut, cursing how much of an idiot I am.