“I can't, I can't.” I said as I pushed myself away from some of the guys from the baseball team who said I should come play with them. I've never been the sports type, I played a little football back home but I always had to be study and playing instruments. Sports wasn't something my father think I needed and my mom agreed. Sports isn't going to support me my whole life. “Thanks for the offer though.” I said before I quickly hurried out of the school building.

I ran my hand threw my hair and had to decline another offer from people who wanted to hang out. This is what I dreaded about going somewhere people don't know who I am, people always want to be your friends for the wrong reason. I know I’m a handsome guy, so girls attention never did bother me but now everyone even teachers are taking interest in knowing about my father become a big pain in the ass.

It felt like being back home.

It would have been so much different if Jocelyn was here, I could always get through these days lately with her with me. She had told me she was sick this morning, but I had a feeling she was avoiding me. It hasn't been very easy with all this either, everyone only thinks she used me no matter how many times we said she didn't know either as well.

When I looked Karen's car that she had let me used to come to school my bag dropped from my hand and I ran over towards it. The passenger window was smashed and yellow paint was splashed all over the red car. The windshield was cracked and on the hood was sprayed 'Go home!'

I was parked all the way at the end and as more people came out of the school building, they started huddle around me. I saw Buck in the corner of my eyes and I turned my head to see him chuckled across the parking lot with his friends. He slapped the guy to his right and my hands balled into a fist.

I walked over to him, “You did this?” I yelled coldly to him and he smirked, walking towards me.

“I have no idea what you're talking about.” he said. “Seems like someone must really hate you though.”

I pushed at his chest, cursing at him in Russian.

He pushed me, “Speak English dude, you're in my country!” he said.

“You got a lot of nerve.” I said. “That isn't even my car you asshole!”

“I have no idea what you're talking about.” he shrugged. His friends came up behind him as he turned his head to look at them and snorted, “Do you guys have any ideas?” he asked as he looked at me.

“No.” his friends said.

“Doesn't seen so much like a problem though, Yuri.” he said. “Just get daddy to fix it.”

I nodded, knowing the whole truth why about this and why he did this. “Pissed because Jocelyn wont take you back, huh?” I asked and his smirk dropped as he glared at me. I scoffed, “Move on, man. Maybe you should have left her all alone in dinner calling her a ungrateful bitch? Damn, I would never go that far.” I said.

I started to turn when I was tackled to the ground. I landed on my side painfully and I felt a punch to my head. I brought my hands up to my head to block his hits and I heard the yelling of students.

Buck moved my hand, “You know you dickhead, you're not much of a fighter huh?” he asked coldly. He snorted, “What does Jocelyn see in you, huh? You're not a man, just go back home playing on you're guitar.”

I swallowed back the pain and chuckled, “I'm just not fighting back because I know how well Jocelyn will take care of me and hate you even more.”

I saw his hand fly back and my eyes widen so I quickly moved my head. His fist slammed right next to my head on the concrete road of the parking lot. I brought my elbow up and hit him in the face with it pretty roughly. I was almost tossed by down on the ground by one of his friends. I felt a kick to my rib and I cried out in pain.

“Hey! Stop it now!” I heard a male teacher. “Break it up! All of you get on your way and go home! Hey, you four don't go anywhere! Principle Torres office now!” I felt a pair of hands go around me and lift me up. I cried out in pain, hissing as I brought my hand to my right side where a burning fire feeling spread, “You alright kid?”

I turned my head to look at Buck walking back towards the school. Both our eyes met and we glared at each other.

*

The doctor patted my shoulder lightly after he came back with my x-rays of my ribs, “You'll be alright kid, it's just bruised. I'll prescribe pain medicine to help with the pain. If the pain worsen or you start not be able to breathe, come back to the hospital.”

I nodded, “Thanks.”

Richard sighed heavily when the doctor walked out of the room, “Sorry this happened, Yuri. Must not be what you expect when you came here.” I grabbed my shirt and got off the bed, but the pain spread quickly and I gasped, stumbling back. Richard caught me from behind, “Whoa there, you shouldn't have got off to fast.”

“Thanks.” I said as I stood up. Not very straight, I was hunching since standing up straight was no an options. Richard took the shirt from me and helped put it on since I was forced to act like a helpless child. Me and pain don't mix very well, it's why I don't get into fights. It's true what Buck said, I can't fight. My father didn't teach me to grow up to fight, I was raised by my mother who was against it.

I think they’ll change now. I need to join a gym.

“I feel horrible about Karen car.” I said as we walked out of the room I was in after getting my prescription. “I didn't know it would get destroyed.”

“How were you suppose?” he asked. “Karen isn't angry with you, Yuri. She's pissed at the boys who did it.”

“My father will have it fix, I promise. If not him, I'll figure it out.” I said.

“Yuri, don't worry about it. Just worry about getting better.” he said as he patted my back and I winced a little since it was on my right side.

+

When I walked into Shaw's household, I saw Jocelyn on the couch. When she looked up, she got up from the couch and ran over to me. She quickly hugged me and I groaned in pain. She loosened her arms around me, “Sorry! How bad is it?” she asked.

“Just bruised, but I still feel like I’ve been hit with a car.” I said as I walked into the kitchen. I grabbed a water bottle and took two pains to help ease the pain. I lifted my shirt up and grimace when I saw a bruise already appearing where I was kicked.

Jocelyn frowned and touched it, making me jerk, “I'm so sorry, Yuri. This shouldn't have happened.”

Emily came over with a plate of cookies, “I bought you these to make you feel better.”

I forced her a smile and took the plate, “Thank you, Emily. They do.”

Richard came into the kitchen on his cell phone and he looked stressed as he rubbed his forehead, “Mr Abramov, I sure you I didn't know anything about Yuri having problems in school. I know he came here to learn about being in another country but I didn't—yes, I understand but I really didn't know.”

“Great.” I sarcastically said as I rolled my eyes. I went over to Richard and held my hand out, “Let me talk to him, he'll just keep yelling.”

“Mr—Mr Abramov, Yuri wants to talk to you.” he said and as he handed me the phone, I heard my father yelling.

I brought the phone up to my ear, “Hello dad.” I said in Russian as I walked over to the stool and held my side as I sat down on the chair.

“Yuri, are you aright?” he asked in a concern voice that I never heard him used when he talked to me.

“Yes, yes, I'm fine. Just my first fight is all.” I said sarcastically as I leaned against the island counter. I sighed heavily, “I'm fine, stop freaking out on Mr Shaw's. He really didn't know.”

“Okay, explain to me then.” he said. “I barley got what that potato mouth Principle said to me earlier.”

“These guys who have something against me ruined Mrs Shaw's car and I confronted them. Of course they didn't admit it, but I said something to this guy who use to date Jocelyn and that's how it started.” I said. “Wasn't very long fight, got broken up by the teacher. I got a good swing in.”

He snorted, “Yuri, that isn't the point. I've just gotten an email of the picture one of the kids took. I'm hoping to get this handle before the press sees it.”

I scoffed, “Can you stop worrying about them for a moment? Is that the only reason why you're freaking out?”

“Of course not! Don't interrogate me, Yuri.” he said and I rolled my eyes. “I just thought you rather hear all the babying from you're mother who I'm sure is pissed I beat getting to you first. I think you should come home early.”

I laughed humorlessly until pain fired in my side and I hissed. Jocelyn put a hand on my shoulder and I nodded to know not to laugh like that again, “Not gonna happen.” I said.

“It's clear that it isn't seeming very good down there if you are getting into fights.” he said. “That isn't what I agreed on.”

“You know, most father would encouraging their sons to be a man.” I said and he snorted.

“This isn't the old days, Yuri. I want you safe, not hurt.” he said. “Even, you were raised by you're mother who babied you.”

“Well you never wanted me.” I said and I heard him breathe heavily.

“Look, just think about it. If these guys don't like you, why be there?” he asked. “And give me a better reason than because of Jocelyn.”

“Because running back is just what they want.” I said in English this time, my voice cold and hard. “Running back home to you or mother is what they want and I'm not going to run away like some coward. I'm not going to give them that pleasure thinking they beat me.”

He sighed, “You are my son, stubborn as hell and hard headed.”

“I'm not coming home.” I said to him back in Russian. “I'm going to finish this quarter here. Don't fight or be angry with the Shaw's, they didn't know or anything. It's my fault that Mrs Shaw's got ruined.”

“Am I going to have to pay for the damages?” he asked, sighing heavily.

“I don't know that yet.” I said. “I should get off the phone and wait for mom call though. Or she'll be pissed at the both of us.”

*

Jocelyn was to busy on Facebook as we waited for one of her brothers to come pick her up. I only knew she was still avoiding me though so I walked over to her on the porch, “You know, this is when a girlfriend should be loving and take care of her injured boyfriend.”

“Only good boyfriend get that.” she said as she scrolled.

I scoffed, “I am a good boyfriend. So I left a little information out. I feel bad, Jocelyn.” I said. “What was with the whole hugging when I came back, huh?”

She lowered the phone and glared up at me, “I was worried but now that I see you're fine, it's back to the silent treatment so shh.”

“Oh come on.” I said and she looked back down at her phone. I grumbled in Russian how stubborn she was and she rolled her eyes. I put my left arm around her waist and lowered my head to kiss her but she moved her head, shaking her head. “Stop being stubborn.” I said and she glared at me. “You really want to fight with then being with me? Because I only have two months Jocelyn.”

“Want me to break that rib?” she coldly asked and my eyes widen slightly.

I glared her, “You wouldn't do that. You wouldn't hurt me—so you're really just going to stay pissed?” I asked as she walked away from me. “I think you're messing a big point, Jocelyn. I want to stay but I can't.” I said, emphasizing the words to make it clear to her, hoping it'll go into her head and not go out the next ear.

“You're messing another big point.” she said. “You lied.”

“I know I did and I have been feeling like shit. I thought my parents would agree on letting me stay by now but I was wrong. I don't want to leave you.” I said. “I have to though, I have no other choice. I'm still in school, my parents have a say in what I do stil. Now will you come over here and kiss me because I took a few good blows to the heads from your jealous ex! Damnit!” I hissed as I grabbed onto my side to ease the pressure since I had been talking pretty quickly and strong. I turned away from her and leaned against the banister, glaring at the wooden porch.

“You really thought you were going to stay longer?” she asked after a moment.

“Da.” I said. “Da, yes, si. Should I learn another lanuage to say it?”

She walked over to me, still glaring at me. I waited for some sarastic comeback but she just put her arms around my waist gently, placing her head on my chest. I put my left arm around her and kissed the top of her head. She lift her head and kissed me, “There, now I can be the sweet girlfriend.” she said. “But just to be sure, is there anything else you want to tell me? I promise not to get mad if you just tell me.”

“Nothing else.” I said. I just wanted to hit my right side again though.