I walked next to Buck as the waiter towards a table. It was pretty nice Mexican restaurant and I was surprised since I had expect some place like Apple Bee's or Red Robins.

Once the waiter showed us our table, he tool out drink orders and gave is a moment.

''I know it's not as fancy as the places Yuri probably took you, but the food here is good.'' he said and I smiled at him.

''It's great, Buck. Not to shabby.'' I said and he grinned. I picked up my menu, ''Now I may have changed a little, but I'm still not a salad eating girl so don't expect me to be shy eating.''

''Wouldn't want it any other way.'' he said.

I looked down at my menu when I got a text. I took my phone out of my bag and it was from Yuri, asking how I was. I frowned and thought about replying, but things have been a little awkward the last few days. His host parents he told me was taking them into the city so they could all bond together.

I set my phone down and looked back down. I don't get Yuri controlling way when it comes to Buck. He's my friend and he should have been happy for me, but no. It's like he's jealous, which I don't get it since in a way he told me he doesn't feel like that for me like I had hoped last Saturday after he kissed me. The kiss meant nothing he had said. I guess that was my answer for Buck, Yuri doesn't like me as I thought and I won't be sad about it forever when Buck a great guy and old feelings did come back.

''I don't know what to get.'' he said.

''I want the crab burrito, I'm so over pasta.'' I said and we chuckled together.

YURI

I was watching my host dad Richard helping Daniel when on the video game. They were bonding as my host mom was helping little Emily with the chipmunk games. We were at the arcade in the mall, but I rather be home.

"There, there Danny! Ahh, proud of you.'' Richard said as he patted Daniel head.

I looked down at my cup of tokens for the arcade games and frowned.

''Papa! Papa!" I yelled as I ran into my father bedroom where he was sitting on his bed with a familiar script in his hand. ''Look! I finished another book.'' I said as I went over to his bed.

He took it and smiled, ruffling my hair, ''Good job, now tell me what it was about?''

''A boy name Ivan and his father went on a boat trip, but the father was kidnap so the boy with these magical monkeys had to go look for him.'' I told him. ''Strange since Ivan is only eleven, same age as me.''

''You wouldn't come look for me if I was kidnapped?" he asked.

''Only if monkeys can really talk and I know they do not.'' I said. ''But papa, you promise if I finished four books before Sunday, you'll take me to the fair.'' I told him.

He phone rang and he picked it up, but smiled at me quickly, ''I know, I know Yuri and we will go. One moment.'' he said before answer his phone as he got up and walked to then other side of his room. ''I know it's important, Alexi, of course I want the role.'' ''Why am I giving you a hard time? Because I told you I have Yuri for the week and his mother will piss me off about not spending enough time with him.''

I frowned, knowing where this was going. He had tried to whisper it to save me from my feelings, but I heard him. I am a kid, but I'm not dumb.

''Alexi, what do you want me to do? Last time I saw Yuri, it was two months ago and—I don't know. You think so? He did mention some new video game. But wait, no, I had promised to take him to this fair in town but I'm sure Gabriella wouldn't mind.'' he said. ''Okay, let me call you back.'' My dad turned around and smile, ''Yuri, my little star, papa has to--''

''No!" I yelled stubbornly. ''No! You promised!"

He sighed heavily, ''Yuri, I'm sorry but this is how daddy is able to give you everything you want.'' he said.

'I don't care! You can take it all back, you promised to take me! You can't take that back.'' I said, tears stinging my eyes. I grabbed the book, ''You said read all the books and I did.''

''I know, Yuri, but you will still have allot of fun with Gabriella.'' he said.

''I don't want the old maid to take me, I want you to!'' I said and opened the book.

''Yuri, I know--stop it!'' he yelled when I started to rip the book. He took it out of my hands, ''Now look Yuri, I know you are mad but I'm your father so you do as I say. I'm sorry, but this is my job. Next thing you want to do, we'll do it. Not this time though.'' he said as he bent down to me. ''I'll buy you that Halo game you've been wanting. Your mama thinks it's dangerous, but we'll keep it a secret. Will that make you happy?''

''No! You always do this!'' I yelled, running out of his room.

''Yuri, come back here!'' I heard my dad but I ignored him. I ran into my room at his house and slammed the door shut. I pressed my back against the door as hot tears went down my face. I slid down to my knees and brought them to my chest as I cried.

''Yuri?'' I heard Karen, waking me up from the memory and I turned to look at her.

''Sorry, I was think.'' I said.

''Well come on, Emily wants you to come play with her.'' she said, pulling me over towards Emily.

*

JOCELYN

I couldn't help but laugh as Buck held the spoon of ice cream towards my face, ''Open.'' he said and I did. He suck the spoon the in my mouth and I pulled away, bringing my hand up to my mouth.

''That's so cold!" I said threw the month full of ice cream. I grabbed my spoon and took some of my tres leches cake, holding out towards him. He shook his head, pulling away, ''No! You have to some of mine now.'' I said, pressing it against his mouth until he open it.

''Oh wow, that's sweet.'' he said as he chewed, making me giggle. He swallowed and took a sip of his drink, ''This is great, Jocelyn, it's like old times.''

''It is in a way.'' I said, smiling. ''I was worried it might be awkward and weird, but it's nice.''

''Then does that mean your willing to go on more dates with me?" he asked and I shrugged, shyly smiling. ''Come on, Jocelyn, you must realize I still care about you. I tried dating other girls--''

''That comforting to hear.'' I sarcastically said as I rolled my eyes.

''Let me finish--but I always thought about you. Ask anyone, they even know it took awhile to get over you. You weren't just my girlfriend, but my best friend. Maybe that's why Yuri likes you so much, you're amazing to be around. You're the girl a guy wants to bring hone to meet their mothers.'' he said.

''Yuri doesn't like me in that way.'' I said.

''Oh come on, Jocelyn, don't act like you don't know.'' he said and I gave him a confused look, shrugging. ''Everyone at school can see it, how he follows you around.''

''Yuri still figuring out everything, he's never been to the country part of America.'' I said. ''And I know Yuri doesn't like me, he told me already.''

''Has he?'' Buck asked, though he didn't sound very convinced.

''Yes, he has. Yuri just—Russian as he likes to say. He had a hard life, he never got along with his parents and he never seemed to have real friends before. He can just be protective.'' I said. ''I'm not here to talk about Yuri though.''

He leaned on the table and grinned, ''Then why are you?'

My face heated up, ''Because you asked me.''

He reached out and placed his hand over mine, ''I've missed you—I've missed us.'' he corrected. ''I never felt like I could just be me around anyone more than you, Jocelyn.''

''Buck. . .I don't know if it's the best time.'' I said. ''Though please go on.''

He chuckled and moved next to me on the bench, ''I know I was a jerk last year and I hated myself. I drove to the airport, but I was stuck in traffic and didn't make it.''

''Really?'' I asked, not knowing that.

''Yes, I was angry with myself. I thought about messaging your and video chatting, but I thought you might be to pissed at me and my friends convinced me to let you go. That I shouldn't ruin your time in Rome.''  he said.

''You should have, Buck.'' I said.

''I know that now, but don't you think if I did, you might have wanted to come back?'' he asked and when I didn't answer, that just have been my answer. If Buck had apologized and said he still loved me, I probably would have rushed home back to him. ''Even, you were running around Italy with another guy.''

I pulled away quickly, ''Oh come on, Buck--''

''I'm not accusing anything, just stating the obvious.'' he said. ''Jocelyn, if your so sure Yuri doesn't like you that way, why are you still holding back? Don't you still care about me?''

''It's—it's hard to explain.'' I said.

''Because you care about him to?” he asked and my mouth dropped, scoffing. I then stopped and looked down at the table. I did care about Yuri, I think I might even love him more then a friend. I have always loved him ever since a few weeks after we met. I always thought Yuri would never go for a girl like me though even though he was completely nice to me. And last week proved he didn't care if he could just flat out say the kiss didn't matter even though to me it did. Allot.

''I don't want to wait for him to return anything, there's a big chance it wont happen.” I said and looked up at him. I gave Buck a small smile, “It's why I want to be cautious with you. Like always, you want to jump a step ahead and get back together.”, I said and he chuckled. “I don't want to do that to you, Buck, hurt you. I don't want to hurt you by still having feelings for Yuri. The only way I could get rid of them is if Yuri leaves and I don't want him to.”

*

YURI

I put the box that my mother had sent from my from home and opened it with a box. Filled with stuff was the usual stuff. Candy, some new clothes, pictures and letters from the family, kid drawings my siblings made, some books, and the new CD's I had asked for. I let Daniel and Emily try some of my candy, some they liked and hated. There was a magazine at the bottom and my mom had put a sticky note on top.

Page 34, Russia has been wondering where Vladimir Abramov son has been doing

My eyebrows furrowed together in confusion and I opened the magazine to page my mom had wrote. It was an article about my father, but what caught my attention was at the bottom where a picture of me was. I would have never cared, they always put his children in his magazine so it would never have bothered me if Jocelyn wasn't in it! We we were hugging each other in front of the Trevi Fountain as we smiled at the camera phone I had use to take of us. Of course they choose an old intimate picture of us. That isn't the problem though.

Everyone back home now thinks she's my fiancee and that's why I hadn't come home who I was eloping with. Eloping? Who in the Hell uses the word eloping these days? I would have laughed if this was someone else, but this is Jocelyn! I had put Jocelyn into my life I’ve been trying to keep her from.

“Yuri, can I ate the rest of this?” Emily asked, holding the small bag of chocolate. “Their so good.”

I hadn't looked until she said that. I took a few since Jocelyn love this brand of chocolate, “Da, go ahead.” I said as I turned and went up to my room. I video called my father and when he answered, he was rubbing his eyes since it was 1am in Saint Petersburg.

“Yuri, do you know in God name what time it is or have you forgotten?”, he asked.

I brought the magazine up, “What is this?”

He leaned closer to the screen, “That, my boy, is a picture of you and Jocelyn. You made me get out of bed for this?”

“Why are we in it?”, I asked coldly. “Everyone thinks I elope now? Please tell me this is some funny joke.”

“Eh, maybe this is why Maxim asked me how it felt to have a run away son.”, he said as he ran his hand down his tired face. “Yuri, why are you freaking out? It's smut, you know no one ever believe that bullshit.”

“Yes, yes people do! How long have people been talking about this? You know this is a scandal.” I said. “People get in your business allot.”

“I have heard things, but I know it's bullshit. I know you didn't runaway to elope, you ran away from me.” he said and I scoffed. “I'm sorry that I’m such a terrible father.” he said, though he had lack of emotions in it.

“Yeah, me to.”, I said and his look harden. “I really wish you weren't.” I said and he started going off but I ended the video call.