New kids. You never really think about it, but they seem to change you life a lot even though it doesn't really seem that way when they waltz into your school life. Especially the foreign ones. It was another ordinary day in the middle of the fall term when, ta-daa, he waltzes. I hadn't really been attracted to guys before; everybody was a little gay, so I can't honestly say I hadn't looked at one in a certain taboo way before, but with him...that didn't matter anymore.

The class door swung open, interrupting our test period, not that I completely minded. Foreign History was not my greatest subject, I admit. The test wasn't looking too much in my favor, either. Through the door came Mr. Parris first, and our new student second. I know he was supposed to be on my grade level, but he seemed a several years older than I was: tall, large of build (did he work out? It showed if he did even through the large, leather jacket), an odd buzz cut, not blocky like our regular style, but shaped to his head with shady sideburns; dark, heavy eyebrows and even darker eyes with a stubbly beard at the end of his strong chin and slight faded mustache to match. His strong, dark features were almost chilling. I was guessing a far northern country somewhere in the far east. Transylvanian maybe? I wasn't the only one interested, apparently. Several of the girls in the room perked up, making last minute touches to themselves.

The principal cleared his blubbery throat, breaking my concentration from this guy. I cut my eyes at him to listen to just another boisterous announcement that everyone was going to tune out anyway. However, this one, I knew, would be worth listening in for. With a loud rattling, voice that sounded on the brink of death, Mr. Parris began. "Students." He made sure all eyes were on him...at least, for now. "Ms. Salvard," he added, with a wink at the somewhat young, brunette, flipping through paperwork on her desk. She gave him a look, then rolled her eyes, pretending to focus back on her work. He continued, "We have a new student to introduce to the class; foreign exchange. His name is Viktor. Viktor Krum. He's transferring from Bulgaria." My eyes immediately snapped back to the new student. Bulgaria...I had been close. Odd, why would he want to come here of all places?

"Viktor," the principal continued, "I'm sure you want to introduce yourself." The dark eyes went from distant, to cold, to warm all in a split matter of seconds as he looked out upon the class of twenty or so.

"Hullo," he greeted, in a deep, accented voice that seemed way older as well. Mr. Parris patted Viktor firmly on the back.

"Come on, I'm sure you can do a better demonstration than that." Viktor's eyes flashed dangerously, or was that me, 'cause the next moment, he looked almost worried. Was this some kind of act? "Come on, Vik, I know you must have a lot more to say than that. Share something, anything; maybe a past exp-"

"I don't think he wants to give out all of his information just like that, Mr. Parris," I cut in sharply, becoming tired of this man's useless cat and mouse game. And maybe because of Viktor, too, because just at that moment along with more than half of the rest of the class, he stared directly at me and grinned slightly. I found myself almost grinning back, then realized what I had just done. Mr. Parris seemed to be suffering a stroke or something, but I ignored him. Only Viktor... Wait, why was he so...important, all of a sudden? What would make me speak out like that? I didn't even know who he was, but I liked the look he was giving me.

Mr. Parris looked as though he was going to snap my head of with some form of nastiness, but Ms. Salvard foiled him, suggesting that maybe Viktor could sit down so she could continue with her class. The principal ruffled himself like a rooster that had just gotten knocked off its post and turned on his heel without another word. A few students whispered encouragements, but I didn't even see them anymore; all my focus was on him and I had no idea why. Ms. Salvard quickly assigned him a seat right behind me, wouldn't you know.

Viktor settled into his new seating as Ms. Salvard announced that tests were still out and we had last than a half hour to work on them. I scribbled another answer. Another guess. Crap. "Thank you for that." That voice. I peered over my shoulder. "Helping me out with that man and all." Loved. That. Accent.

"It was nothing, really," I replied, trying not to seem to indifferent about it. "You seemed...uncomfortable..." He laughed deeply, yet soft enough so only I could hear.

"You could tell?"

"Empathy is just one of my many talents," I replied slyly. Wait. Was I putting on sexy for him? He was a dude! What the hell was making me act like this?!

"You have more?"

"I can't show you all of them now," I added playfully. "It's only your first day; there won't be any surprises later on."

"At least tell me your name," he pushed, and I felt his hand fall on my shoulder heavily. My breath caught. It was like there was electricity coursing through the point of contact; I'd never gotten such a chill before.

"Caleb," I whispered, almost feeling that it was a great secret that we kept our names between us. He didn't lift his hand automatically like most would have, but squeezed my shoulder tight, sending another chill through me before he finally removed it, and I felt the strange curtain over me lift. What was that? Almost like he had some kind of aura about me after a single touch.

"I will enjoy sitting here, I think. I trust you very easily for some reason."

"I get that a lot," I replied strangely, pulling a couple of locks from my face and rubbing my hands together nervously, slightly darkening the already chocolate skin with the oils from my palms.

"Another one of your many talents?" I tried to focus on my work, but with Viktor behind me, boring his eyes... Wait, how could I feel that? I wasn't even looking at him. He seemed like a pretty nice guy; why would he? I faked a stretch and turned briefly to face him. He was staring at me intently; almost in dark longing. I jerked about face. I was being too obvious, he'd come on to me if he felt...things...

A tap on my shoulder. I jumped slightly, then looked over it. He grinned at me, and looked down at his desk. I looked over. It was a Foreign History textbook. I looked at him questioningly. He shrugged. I grinned, understanding. "Need help?"

"I do not want to be a burden-"

"It's cool; I'll h-"

"Caleb!" Ms. Salvard's voice cut in suddenly. We both jumped guiltily. I turned to face her.

"Yes?" I wondered politely.

"Since you seem to be so interested in Victor-" I felt my face get hot. "-he can be your shadow for the rest of the semester. I'm sure you can show him all the ropes." Ha, she thought she was embarrassing me or giving me some kind of burdened task; how wrong she was.

"If you see fit," I replied. She looked at me strangely. Was I smirking? I quickly buried my face back into the test. "Looks like you got your wish," I whispered back to Viktor. He chuckled.