Chapter 1

Raivis packed his lunch and stuffed it into his backpack, trying to put on his jacket in the process. He ran out the door straightening his shirt and jacket and heaving his backpack onto his back. After his 20 minute walk to school, Raivis went to his usual morning routine: go to locker, hang jacket , go to washroom, comb hair, come back, and get stuff for next class. Raivis, went to his first class; History. The teacher came in a bit late but she had a surprise with her, a new student. The teacher pulled the new student, a girl taller than him with light brown hair, maroon coloured eyes and really pale skin, to the front of the room and introduced her.

"Good morning class, today we have a new student! Ana, would you introduce yourself?"

The girl looked around first then started to talk, catching Raivis's attention with her heavy accent.

"Privyet, my name is Ana Nikolaiyevna Braginskaya."

The whole class, including Raivis, just stared at the (presumably Russian) girl. Soon one of the girls started snickering.

"From what I heard, Slavic girls usually come here for the guys."

The girl giggled to her friends that sat near her as Ana glared at her silently, making the atmosphere in the class very creepy.

"Angeline! Detention! Ana was transferred from…"

The teacher glanced at the papers in her hand

"…Severodvinsk. Ana could you show us where that is."

Ana walked over to the world map and pointed to the very north of Russia. Raivis knew a bit of Russian from his Latvian parents, who learned at the time of the Soviet Union. He decided to speak, now was his time to show off. "Zdravstvuyte, menya zavut Raivis." Raivis said in his best accent.

Ana whipped her head around "Vy govoritʹna russkom!?" Her eyes widened and she had a ghost of a smile on her face.

"Ooh, love at first sight!" One of the boys said out loud. Raivis's face turned red as he sat down. The teacher calmed the class and looked around for a seat for Ana.

"Alright class! Ana, how about you sit next to Raivis. I usually don't allow foreign languages but you may speak to Raivis in Russian for the day."

Ana nodded and walked over to her seat. Raivis on the other hand, moved his bag so that the girl could sit down next to him. Ana took out her notebook and started to jot down some notes about the civil war in America. After 20-25 minutes Raivis decided he should engage in a conversation with the new girl, even though she was really silent and...slightly scary.

"So...Vy gavarite pa-angliyski?"

"Da. You may speak English if it's easier for you."

Raivis nodded then glanced at Ana's notebook. She was writing in Russian and Mrs. Hallow couldn't read Russian, she wouldn't get the mark if it goes like this. Raivis looked back up to meet with her suspicious gaze.

"Uhm, You shouldn't write in Russian. Mrs. Hallow won't be able to read it and you won't get a mark for it."

"You get marks for taking notes?" Ana asked as she took out her eraser to erase the cryllic writing. Raivis nodded and proceeded to tell the girl about the school system. After class Raivis went and asked his homeroom teacher if he could have a locker buddy.

"...Yes, you can have a buddy! I just need their information."

"...Um...Can you check with Mrs. Hallow, she has the information. My locker buddy is the new transfer student."

Raivis speed-walked back to his locker where he had left Ana. Raivis opened his locker and gestured inside.

"You're my new locker buddy! You can put your stuff on the high shelf since you're taller then me."

Ana smiled then put her backpack as Raivis told her the locker combination. He was a bit shocked to see the girl smile when she was acting so cold at History. Ana took her gym strip and got up.

"I have Physical Education now, do you know where the gym is?"

"Me too! Too bad my class is getting merged with the girls class since most guys don't come to P.E."

Ana nodded and followed the boy to her destination, the girls changing room. Raivis waved to Ana as they departed.