JOCELYN

I saw the last thing I wanted to see when I walked into school today. Yuri was talking to Lauren who was giggling. Yuri back was facing me so I didn't even know what he was doing. Was he annoyed? Bored? Smiling back? So many questions as I slowly walked over.

I forced a smile on my face as I appeared in front of them back, “Hey.”

“Oh, hey.” Yuri said as Lauren forced me a smile, clearly mad that I interrupted their conversation.

“What were you two talking about?”, I asked, my hands coming together and laying in front of me. Yuri knew me well enough if I start waving my hands around or mess with them as I talk that I was nervous.

“Lauren was telling me about the time when she was in a beauty pageant in year nine and she almost slipped.” Yuri said.

“All the judges thought it was adorable and sweet how I put on a brave face.” Lauren said and I shuddered at the beauty pageant since my mom forced me into that also. Not my best year. Thanks to curvy bottom my butt was kinda of big and my mom had shrunk my dress when she put it in the washer when the tag said dry clean only. “Jocelyn was in it to.” she said and my eyes widen.

No! No! No!

“Really?” Yuri asked and I forced a nervous laugh.

“Oh, it's was so long ago.” I said and gave Lauren a hard look, telling her with my eyes to shut up.

“Don't be embarrassed, Jocelyn.” Lauren said. “It could have happen to anyone.”

“What happened?” Yuri asked.

“Nothing.” I said a little to quickly.

“Jocelyn dress rip on the bottom as she tried to pull it down since it was riding up.” Lauren said and I only strangled her. My face burned as Yuri looked at me amused and I just wanted to go hide. “She had the cutest pair of panda bear undies on but poor thing also gotten her period.” she added to finish hitting the nail in the wall because she had said it pretty loudly.

My mouth opened as I looked around when the people closest enough to hear turned their heads and looked at me, chuckling. I tried to come up with a quick comeback to that but I was to embarrassed so I turned and ran.

“Wait! Jocelyn!” Yuri cried out behind me but I pushed myself through the crowd of people and down the flight of steps. I went into hallway near the gym that no one coming and I sat down on a bench and pressed my back against the window. I brought my knees up to my chest and covered my face.

Lauren wanted to embarrass me, she wasn't being as cute as she thought. She may have sounded innocent as she talked, but she wasn't. She knew what she was doing and so did I. I knew she was jealous of my friendship with Yuri.

“Jocelyn,” I heard Yuri and my hands balled into a fist. “You never care what people say about you.”

“Go back to flirting with Lauren.” I said coldly. I was only embarrassed because she had said in it front of Yuri. I never want him to know anything embarrassing about me because well—it's embarrassing! It's one thing to tell him stuff as my friend, but stuff to make me look like an idiot? No, I never would tell him. That day was one of the most embarrassing moments in my life and it was talk of the town until Camille Hinton got pregnant three week after. “I never want to be in that stupid pageant, my mom only guilt trip me into doing it.”

I felt Yuri sit down next to me because his leg brushed against mine, “Jocelyn, it's okay.”

“No it's not, Yuri. Go away.” I said and he scoffed.

“Why are you mad at me?” he asked.

I clawed at my jeans since I was holding back at yelling at him. I was jealous, I knew I was jealous because Yuri had been laughing and flirting with Lauren. It drove me crazy, it always has with the pretty Italian girls back in Rome. But since this is Lauren, it was ten times worse! “You like her more than me.” I whispered.

“Huh?” he asked. “Jocelyn, you're my friend. That’s crazy.”

Not what I meant, I thought and I just decided to ignore him. Give him the silent treatment.

“You are not going to talk to me?” he asked and when I didn't answer, he spoke in Russian. He sighed heavily, “Fine, when I was year two—second grade, I had two much orange juice for breakfast and our teacher was reading to the class from this book. I was sitting in the back of the class and she was pretty old. I had to pee so badly that I couldn't hold it. I sat in pee drenched pants until the recess and the kid next to me saw when I got up and started laughing.” he said and I only wanted to laugh. “I had on black pants, I thought no one would see. My mom had to run to my school to give me a new pair.”

I lifted my head up from my knees and smiled at him, “That's embarrassing.”

“It is, I still have nightmares about it.” he said and I chuckled for a moment.

“You didn't come over yesterday.” I said and he frowned, looking down at the floor for a moment before looking back up at me.

“Really bad day yesterday.” he said. “I don't want to explain, but allot of arguing with the parents.”

“About?” I asked.

“They wanted me to return with my father after he visits.” he said and my eyes widen. I opened my mouth to protest but he spoke, “I said I wasn't, don't worry.”

“I don't understand though.” I said. “What could be so big?”

“It's nothing important, something stupid and kinda of funny because of how untrue it is.” he said and I arched an eyebrow. “Stop being so noisy.”

“Why can't you tell me, Yuri?” I asked. “We've been friends for over a year now, I hardly know anything about you to much. You never talk about your family other than how horrible it is. I mean, for all I know you could actually be the son of some mafia criminal!”

He started laughing, “You'll know allot more about me soon.” he said as he brought his arm up to my shoulders and wrapped his arm around them. “I promise, no more secrets soon.”

*

I sung to the song Yuri had translated from Russian to English. He played the piano and it was a little awkward for me to sing out loud. I was so nervous singing, it wasn't like I was as good as Yuri makes me out to me. Yuri host parents had a big piano in their living room though and this was one of Yuri favorite old songs apparently. It was a slow heart breaking song about missing your old love.

When it was finished, I put the notepad down onto the piano, “I have never heard you play that song before. The instrument doesn't sound familiar.”

“It sorta of lied.” he said. “It's not a song from any artist. . .I wrote it.”

“You're lying.” I said and he chuckled. “Since when did you start writing songs?”

“It's a secret talent. That song took me a couple of days to get all the words right and I kept changing it. I am no good, though.” he said.

“No good?” I questioned. “That song was amazing, Yuri. Do you think I would finish it if I didn't like it. I guess if you know how to play many instruments you will want to write a song. What does this mean though?” I asked as I grabbed the notebook. “I will have to let it all go soon—what do you have to let go of?”

He stared at the notebook and shrugged, “Nothing, I just wrote it. Look, I just want you to sing it.” he said as he snatched the notebook from me. “I wrote a snappy love song, oh well.”

“Yuri—“

“You want some hot tea?” he asked and I opened my mouth to argue, but knowing Yuri I just closed it and nodded. He got up from the bench and went into the kitchen. I pressed on a few of the white keys, “Lets not kill the birds outside, okay?” Yuri teasingly said and I rolled my eyes, but chuckled. Dumb Yuri. I'll admit, I did miss hanging out with him though. It's only been a week since we actually hung out, but it felt like forever.

I heard a buzzing sound and I looked at Yuri cell phone vibrating onto of the piano. I bit my bottom lip as I reached up and looked down at it. It was a message and because Yuri phone program his language to Russian, I barley understood much other. I knew his password—which he doesn't know that I know—but I had a hard time with the keyboard since I didn't know the letters in Russian, but I guessed and got it right.

I wouldn't have known who the text message was from if his father picture wasn't next to his message. He wrote in Russian and there was a link. I know I shouldn't read Yuri messages, but it's not like he hasn't done the same with me before. He wouldn't be really mad anyways. I can't even understand a lick of Russian.

I opened the link and it was some Russian article. A picture of his father came down next to the paragraphs, I thought it was a little strange but he did say his father was some owner of a big company in Russia. I would have never questioned if some picture of him holding a gun, bloody bruised face, and in a race car didn't come up as I scrolled down. It looked like some shoot from a movie.

My eyebrows furrowed together as I got a picture of me and Yuri. Our arms were wrapped around each other and we were smiling at Yuri camera as he took a picture of us. What was that picture doing in this article? Why would people care if this article was about his dad? Another picture was of Yuri, his dad, a women, and two small kids at some premiere. Yuri didn't seem pretty happy in this picture and it was an older picture since he only looked fourteen.

There was a video so I grabbed my bag and took my headphones out. I plugged it in and clicked on the video as I put the buds in my ear. It was some talk show interview and his father was talking to some lady. I got nothing of what he was saying but I knew his father not a some owner of a company for construction. It was like he was some actor by the way the show was showing some picture.

“Oh, yes, my english is getting perfect.” his father had said in English. “I am very excited for this movie in America, Catcher is my first English action movie so wish me luck.”

I brought my hand up to my mouth as I blocked the intake of breathe. I heard the interviewer say Yuri name and a same picture came up of both of us.

“It's hot, so I would—what are you doing?” I heard Yuri and I jumped, completely forgetting he was in the other room. I jumped up from the bench and looked at him. “Jocelyn?”

“Who is you father?”, I asked as I looked down at his phone. He set the drinks down and walked over to me, trying to snatch the phone back but I held my arm back, “Yuri!”

“He's no one!” he yelled and took the phone from me.

I scoffed, “You're a liar.” I said and he looked down at the carpet. “Vladimir Abramov—I thought it was srange when my brother Luke said that name about that movie Catcher. I just thought it was just some other guy.”

“Jocelyn—“

“Don't touch me.” I said when I pulled my arm back. “You lied to me, Yuri. For a year, you lied about your whole life.”

“It isn't that bad.” he said and I scoffed.

“What? I should be happy, excited because you're dad actually some movie star? Fine it cool?”, I asked and he actually had the nerve to shrug. “You lied to me!”

“I know!” he said and he took a deep breathe. “I lied, I know. I shouldn't have thought you will be fine, it isn't cool.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”, I asked. “What would you think I do if you told me from the beginning?”

“I thought you would only act being my friend.” he said.

“You think I'm like that, Yuri?” I asked. “That I would use you?”

“No!” he said and took my hands in his. “I know that now though, I didn't think we would be friends this long. I didn't think our friendship would be this close. Only a few people back at in Rome knew about me, I wanted to keep it all a secret from everyone. I have lived my whole life with everyone being fake around me.”

“You could have told me the truth though even after.” I said. “Even after knowing me awhile, you could have told me. I had to find out myself. Were you ever really going to tell me?”

“Yes, I was. Tomorrow when my father came into town.” he said. “When you two met, I was going to tell you. I know you wouldn't treat me any differently.”

“Why is our picture in this article?” I asked and he groaned as he let go of my hands, looking down at the hard wood floor. “Yuri?”

“It's stupid.” he said. “It's nothing.”

“It's not nothing!” I yelled. “You're father is a actor, I don't know how big but pretty big apparently. Our picture is being seen by everyone in Russia! You will tell me why it is.”

He hesitated but looked up at me, “They think you are my girlfriend and. . .” he trailed off and I gave him a look to continue since all of this was making me anxious and impatient. I couldn't believe what he just said though since it was hard to imagine myself as his girlfriend, but all of Russia? Wow. “And that since I'm almost eighteen, that I am. . .eloping.”

My eyebrows furrowed together as I stared at him. He pressed his lips together as he waited for me a to answer but only thing I could think of was, “With me?”, I asked and he nodded. I started laughing, “Are you serious?”

He nodded and I stopped laughing, replacing my look with a horrified expressions. I brought my hands to my stomach as I suddenly felt sick and he brought his phone up, “This picture does make us seem pretty close.”

I gave him I-Can't-Believe-You look and I pulled his arm down, “Yuri! That isn't true.”

“I know,” he said and I rolled my eyes. “My dad handling it though. I'm happy I changed my number because apparently everyone back home is trying to contact me.”

“Why are you taking this to calmly?” I asked. “Because I'm freaking out!”

“I already freaked out over the weekend while you were on your stupid date.” he said and his eyes than widen as I took my hand off his arm and stepped back. “Okay, I went alittle far with that—what are you doing?” he asked when I grabbed my bag.

“Going home.” I said. I started to walk pass him, “I don't want to hear anymore of this.”

He grabbed my arm, turning to look at me, “Jocelyn, I'm sorry.”

“You know, Yuri, if I was just more crazier than I thought, it would sound like your jealous.” I said. I snorted, “But how stupid of me to think you would be jealous. I mean, we're only friends.” I said as I jerked my arm out of his hold. I turned took a step forward but he grabbed my hand, pulling me back, “Yuri, stop—“

He cut me off when he pressed his mouth against mine. My eyes widen as his other arm went around my waist tightly to press me against him. So many things raced threw my mind and I almost thought I was dreaming because Yuri wouldn't kiss me! I know him, he said the other time it didn't mean anything. Why would he kiss me again? I had a feeling it wasn't so he knew what it felt like.

He put his hand that was in mine behind my neck and tilt my head back since he was almost a foot taller than me. I closed my eyes and put my hands on his shoulders as I kissed him back. Last time he kissed me we stared at each other awkwardly and it was more like a long peck.

It felt like my first kiss again, butterflies racing around my stomach. Yuri cologne only drew me closer to kiss him and he did have a nice pair of full lips. I was waiting for me to come to my sense for kissing my best friend but I didn't want to end it. I rather wait until he stopped us.

Which took him two minutes apparently to realize and stop. My shaky hands lifted off his shoulders as I stepped back as we stared at each other and I almost ran right of there. What had we just done? No, that was not suppose to happen! I was suppose to leave after his comment about my date with Buck and wait for his apology! Not makeout in his host parents living room where there are children outback! Oh God, what is going to happen now?

“Forgive me?” Yuri asked, giving me a boyish half grin as he looked nervous. “I have loved you for awhile now, Jocelyn. More than my friend, I don't want to lose you.”

I scoffed, “Yuri!” I hissed and his smile dropped. “It took you a year to tell me that?” I asked, giving him a shy nervous smile.

He chuckled as he put his arms around my waist and kissed me again.