JOCELYN

I bit into my chocolate covered apple and chewed on it as I watched Yuri flirt with girls from school. I rolled my eyes and mocked Ashlyn Marco comment about how strong Yuri is. Yuri wasn't strong as she makes it seem and I was only annoyed because they were filling his ego and I'll have to deal with that when his newbie status grows old and no one care.

Or until he finds a girlfriend and all of them will back off.

I was at the end of the table since I was practically pushed away. I didn't care though, I knew this well happen. Yuri may be popular in school, but he'll be my friend again after. It's just now it's the festival and everyone in the town interested in the new Russian kid.

I was leaning on my arm, my cheek rested on the the palm of my hand as I took another bite. I guess I wasn't being very lady like because Mrs. Valentine and Mrs. James, two of the meanness old ladies in town were staring at me from the food booth with disapproving looks for slouching and not acting like a lady.

Since my mama taught me manner, I leaned up and kept my shoulder straight. I finally got the old bats eyes off me and I just wanted to pick the girls up from their pretty haircut heads and toss them away. I wish it was that easy though.

“Hey.”, I heard someone next to me and I turned my head to see Autumn.

I smiled, “Hey.”, setting the candy apple down on its plastic wrap. I smiled excitedly as I moved a little to give her space to sit down next to me, ''Sit.''

She did and leaned over to look at Yuri, "How's your day going?" she asked as she leaned back to look at me.

I chuckled, ''Fine. Yuri always had admirers and he likes attention. Have to share my friend with everyone.'' I said.

''Oh. How'd you to meet?" she asked.

''Rome in a cafe slash pastry shop. Long story, but ended throwing my drink on him. After we just became friends. Enough on Yuri, who are you here with?" I asked, giving her a teasing grin, "Boyfriend?''

She chuckled and shook her head, ''No, family but being stuck chasing your little brother is no fun.''

''Oh.'' I said. ''Well I'm glad your here, not lonely anymore. We can sit here and point out the cutest guys who walk pass.''

''Has Rome changed you.'' she chuckled and I shrugged my right shoulder.

''Rome has allot of cute guys,'' I said.

YURI

I was getting bored with being tossed around like a doll by these girls. If I wanted to be bored while force to try these games, I could do it with Jocelyn. She wouldn't be saying how great I was doing and acting fake when I missed the three stacks bottles. She would be saying how much I suck and push me away, trying herself.

I felt bad for not being to be with her since we got here. One minute we were together and the next the girls from my classes separated us.

''Okay, okay, if I miss this, I am sorry ladies but I must be going. I can not be spending all my money on one night.'' I said and they all pouted, but agreed.  I tossed my arm back and threw it at the bottles, but it barley made it since I didn't try.

''Awe.'' they said in disappointment  and I slid my body out of the girls grasp.

I gave them a charming smile, ''I will see you all Monday.''

I turned around and quickly got out there before they could stop me. When I felt it was safe, I slowed down and breathed heavily out my mouth, keeping my eyes for Jocelyn.

It took me five minutes before I spotted her with the girl from the other day. She smiled, but not at the girl. At a guy. . .a guy. My smiles dropped when I realized it was Buck who was smiling at as she watched him tossing the hammer down on the high striker, making the puck fly higher then half way, but not there exactly.

Buck said something to her and shrugged, but she clapped for him. He grinned down at her and my hands balled in tight fist. She looked pretty impressed.

That hurt a little.

Buck reached into his pocket and gave the man next to a dollar. Buck tossed the hammer behind his shoulders, took a deep breath, and threw it in front of him. The hammer slammed down on the wood, sending the puck high up and it hit the bell this time.

Both girls clapped for him and I scrunched my nose. It wasn't that impressive, I could do the first time. I moved against a pole and leaned on it, crossing my arms over my chest. Buck gave Jocelyn that panda prize and she hesitated, but took it.

She must have felt my eyes on her because she turned her head towards my direction. I quickly turned my head as if we didn't see each other, but in the corner of my eyes I saw her coming this way.

''Privyet.'' she said in Russian and I just looked at her since I'm usually impressed when she speaks in Russian though she only knew a few. She gave me a look, "What's with the sour look, Yuri?"

''Nothing.'' I said, shrugging.

''Liar. Why are you mad?" she asked.

''I am not.'' I said stubbornly. ''Come on, let go do something since we did come together.'' I said, snatching her hand before she could refused and dragged her away.

. . .

She gave me a stubborn look when we walks to my host parents home since her mom would be picking her up here. I wrapped my arm around her neck and pulled her close to my side.

''You can be a jerk.'' she said and I gave her a confused look. ''I was having fun since you were off with your groupie girls.''

''Oh so you are blaming me?" I asked. ''Of course you would.'' I said in Russian and she glared at me since she hated when I talked in Russian and she couldn't understand. ''You blame everything on me! Like back in Rome when you pushed me into that statue and it almost knocked over. A fifteen thousand dollar statue!"

''That was your fault! You pushed me first. And stop talking so fast! You know I can't understand you when you talk fast.'' she said and I snorted, rolling my eyes as I stuffed my hands in my pockets.

I mumbled in Russian and she quickly walked ahead of me. I threw my arms out and kicked the air, angry that she didn't want to fight anymore. Fighting was always our thing. I knew it was serious now.

At least if I knew I was right about leaving since Buck is a asshole, I jogged up to her and wrapped my arms round her from behind.

I swayed us side to side, ''Okay, okay, I am sorry Jocelyn. I was jealous.''

''Why though?" she asked.

I sighed, ''Because you are my friend and the only friend I have. I do not like sharing what is mine.''

''Buck was just trying to show off.'' she said.

''You looked pretty impressed.'' I said, placing my chin on the top of her head.

''So.'' she said. ''At least he wasn't abandoning me.''

''I thought he left you at a diner the year and half before.'' I said and she scoffed, I grinned. I tighten my arms around her, ''I promise not to do it again. Yell at the girls, I do not care. I am here for you.''

''How many times did you say that to Alexandria?" she asked and I laughed.

''Really? Bring up the old girlfriend?" I asked and she shrugged.

''Shameful to leave a beautiful girl back in Moscow to come here with me.'' she said.

''Alexandria knew it ended right there when I left.'' I said.

''You two still talk though.'' she started back.

''Her father is an important man back in Moscow. I would go back someday, I do not need any trouble when I go back.'' I said. ''If I loved Alexandria, I would have never left.''

''Yuri, stop that.'' she said and I was confused. "Stop making me feel like I'm so important. Why do you care so much about me? Goodness sakes, I threw soda on you when we met.''

Because I love you, I thought but would never say, Love ruins things and it would never work. Things never works, I know that. What if we grew apart? Our friendship is over. Jocelyn can quickly slip out my arms and I would regret it forever.

''We all need a special someone, Jocelyn,'' I said. ''Am I not yours?" I asked, chuckling as I looked at her when she turned her head to look at me.

"Don't put me on the spot!" she said, putting her hands on my arms. ''You are. . .some days.'' she teasingly said.

''Ouch.'' I said.