Viktor and I fell into a routine over the next few days, coming closer and closer each day as I helped him shift over into American studies. We talked a lot, him of his home land and old friends while I listened mostly, not having anything to interesting to tell about myself really. It turned out that even though Viktor could speak English very well, his reading and writing skills were lacking somewhat. But I guess you learn to speak before anything else, not that I totally minded teaching him any chance I got... He was just...attractive. There was no other good word for it. Strong, but intelligent, cocky, but sweet, and those eyes-

"Caleb?" a gruff voice called, snapping me back to reality. My eyes slowly came from the heavens back down to Earth. Viktor was watching me in a concerned manner.

"Oh, sorry," I said, focusing again. "Zoned out for a bit there." I looked back down at the forest of notes spread out over the table and our textbooks. Note to self: do the work, not him. "Where was I? Oh, yeah, the economy of Czech Republic..." He continued to stare at me.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine, just a long day, really." The double doors of the study hall swung open at the same time. I looked over Viktor's shoulder to see Courtney Gibbons strutting her glimmering pinkness into the room. I rolled my eyes. The only reason that dumb, spoon fed cow would ever come in here- I looked at Viktor. "You've got a visitor, mate." We both pretended to occupy ourselves with the work laid out before us as she came over to our table and sat down on top of it right in front of me.

"You're Viktor, right?" she cooed, flipping her bleach blonde hair over her shoulder. Her sickly sweet voice made my ears want to bleed. Viktor looked around her hip, raising a dark eyebrow at me. I shrugged. He looked back at Courtney.

"Yes. I am."

"You're much cuter in person," she giggled sluttishly.

"Is there something you want?" Viktor asked almost out of boredom.

"Well, I know it must be hard coming over to a new country and all so I was wondering if you wanted a tutor or something?" The look on my face then must've been priceless. Viktor, however, handled it very well.

"I already have one," he replied. "You're sitting in front of him." Courtney looked back at me, scoffed, then turned back to Viktor.

"That loser?" she jeered. I looked down at my feet distractedly.

"I would appreciate it if you would not talk about my friends that way," Viktor said darkly, making my eyes widen in surprise a little. He was sticking up for me.

"But, he's just a-" Courtney started.

"You should leave now," Viktor cut in. Courtney flipped her hair annoyingly once more, then slid off the table and stalked off. She wasn't used to not getting what she wanted, and Viktor was way up there on the list. I kept my eyes down, ashamed to meet him face to face. "Why do you let them do that to you?" he asked softly after a while.

"They're just people," I muttered, keeping my face down. A strong hand gripped my chin gently and raised my head. My eyes had been down the whole time, but now they flicked up to meet his.

"You should not let people talk to you in that way," he said, true concern in his voice. I gave a small grin, and he grinned back, letting his hand fall. It was like losing a blanket on a cool night for I suddenly felt cold without him touching me as we went back into our studies. My feelings for him were growing. But how would it ever work out?

We went from class to class, always seeing each other except for last period. I was surprised Viktor hadn't learned an instrument and slid his way in there as well. There was something between us, more than friends, but I don't think it was what I think I wanted it to be. Though there had been awkward moments when his intense eyes were only focused on me. Don't get me wrong, several girls had attempted to pull a Courtney, but none had been close to being successful. I guess Viktor wasn't quite ready to settle down, 'cause he easily could've gotten any chick he wanted. The guys weren't interested in that way, of course, but his athletic ability and level of intelligence had caught their attention. However, he still spent his time only with me. It was kind of odd being so waited on especially by him. And I had noticed the looks we'd been getting, always being together. But we were just really good friends, right?

Rumors had their own funny way of being half true, or at least, convincing enough to start something.

Turns out Courtney wasn't going to be the only thing trying to get between. Gym was truly my worse nightmare, and what happened next only made it Freddy Krueger. People were staring at us oddly as we ran laps in sync again.. I honestly knew why. I had never had many friends before Viktor, and certainly none of them I had gotten as close to as him. And now, seeing me with him (especially after Courtney's relayed account) was becoming uneasy with them. I knew whispers of a certain "couple" had gone around, but nothing had really surfaced. That is, until now. POW! I heard the heavy medicine ball coming at me before I even turned to see it hurtling straight at my face. Viktor moved faster than I had ever thought possible, moving in front of me to take the full blow with a single hand. He didn't even flinch as it slammed into him with an echoing thud that made everyone in the vicinity go quiet. It fell to the ground with a loud plop. I stared up at him as he bent to pick up the ball, then held it up for everyone to see it. "Who's is this?" he demanded softly. A group of older boys came forward. Jocks, all of them.

"It's ours, what of it?" said one of the boys. I could hear the itch for a fight clearly in his voice. Viktor's dark eyebrows furrowed.

"Viktor, don't," I pleaded behind him. He ignored me.

"I think you need work on your aim," he said back to the boys angrily. "You almost hit Caleb here."

"That was the point, you dumb queer-" The medicine ball slammed into the speaking boy's face so hard, it knocked him off his feet, and he fell, bleeding to the gym floor. Several shocked gasps went through the gym. The other boys looked at Viktor, then to the bleeding boy on the floor, then back to Viktor, anger appearing on their grizzled faces. One was stupid enough to advance, ready to fight when Coach Howell finally showed up, leading to controversy. It was put off as a "little scuffle", but I knew this was far from over.

I stretched at my locker the following morning, glad to be rid of another awful test. Fiddling with the lock, then opening the metal door, I filed around inside, searching for the next piece of work to carry for after lunch periods when I felt someone's hand grab at my right shoulder. I spun around and came face to face with two chocolate-colored eyes. "Viktor..." I whispered, heartbeat quickening a little. I never usually saw him at lunch. He was always busy doing some kind of transactions in the guidance office. He leaned nonchalantly against the opposite locker, grinning. He was even better up close. Those hazelnut eyes and the thick muscles popping from under his clothes. I returned the smile, brushing my bangs away from my face.

"Did you want something?" I asked nervously. His presence; it was enveloping me, holding me to the spot. As if I'd run away...

"I am your shadow, remember?" he smiled. More fluttering in my chest.

"Well, it's lunch. Do you have anything to eat?" He held up a paper bag.

"Something from mum, though I would not mind trying American food." I pulled my lunch bag from my locker.

"Wanna trade?" Bulgarian food was new to me, but I wouldn't mind trying it. He switched almost as soon as the words left my mouth. I attempted to open his bag, but he stopped me, grabbing both my hands in one of his.

"Not yet." I eyed him, he looked at me. "It's a surprise."

"Well, then, I guess we should find someplace quieter." I grabbed his hand and led him through the vocational wing, up a flight of stairs, and into the rooftop greenhouse. We passed the rows and rows of beautiful bouquets, strange inklings, and wonderful scents all mingling in the cool, damp air of autumn. I pushed at the door opening onto the roof and invited him to sit on the edge with me. He gladly accepted and set, dwarfing me. He opened my lunch: a greasy burger, some fries, a shake. I looked at his: a hunk of some kind of meat, what looked like a powdered bread, a dark sphere, and what smelled like a heavy liquor.

I tried a bit of everything (except the alcohol) from his lunch as he did mine, and we both seemed to enjoy the little piece of the other's culture. "You know, you didn't have to do that today," I muttered, pulled the plum out last; it was the darkest plum I'd ever seen. It was such a deep shade of violet, it could have been the darkest shades of black. I bit into it, and smiled warmly as the sweetness burst into my mouth, some of the juice spilling out to run down my chin.

"I've grown used to having protect you; I don't mind." Viktor leaned forward and gently wiped it away, flashing me another of his signature smiles and forcing my heart to about explode out of my chest. You have been all I can think about lately, to tell you the truth." He continued to stroke my face, though, a light, feathery touch that made me shiver a bit. I could feel my pants tightening. Was I getting turned on? My hardening dick was giving all the answers I needed. I was growing nervous. Could this really be happening?

"Viktor, I-" I began.

Viktor suddenly moved closer to me. He was so close, I could see the flecks of gold in his dark, but warm eyes. He gently pushed the hair out of mine. I was getting lost in those eyes when I felt his hand move down onto my thigh. Was this really happening? Did he feel for me like I (mysteriously thought) I felt for him? "Viktor..." I whispered, almost a moan as I stared at the Bulgarian in surprise. The tiny whimper seemed to turn him on even more because he began to press up against me, our lunches falling uselessly to the gravelly rooftop. I felt a hardness on my leg. Was he getting hard over me?

"The food-we need to-get..." My brain went totally blank as his rough lips pressed onto mine. He smelled foreign like deep musk that was arousing me so much, I...

I pushed him away forcefully, looking away almost shamefully. "Caleb..." Viktor began shakily. "I am so sorry. I had thought..."

"Thought what ?"

"The way you kept looking at me. How you get nervous when I am around you. I thought that you had had feelings... Am I wrong?" I tried to speak, but I was still shaking from what had just happened. Viktor attempted to put his hand on mine, but I pulled it away before he go the chance.

"If I am upsetting, just say so, I'll leave..." His eyes were almost pleading that I wouldn't.

"But, Viktor, I just met you... And, for you...to like me...but, you can't be ga-"

"I choose who I like," he snapped angrily at the mention of the taboo.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to piss you off..." I reeled. "It's just you could easily get any girl in this school you wanted; why me?"

"Because I want you. I don't want somebody else." My breath caught at this. "You are kind," he continued. "And you can put a smile on my face so easily. And you...are beautiful..." My eyes had been down the whole time, but at this, they snapped up to meet his warm, brown eyes. "I am upsetting you, aren't I?" he said after an awkward silence.

"You're not... This is just...new...to me..." Viktor kept staring deeply into my eyes, searching me. I felt my heart hammering again. Did I really want those warm lips again? To feel his body pressed against mine? A bell rang off in the distance, signaling the end of lunch. I stood up. "I...have to go, Viktor." I turned to walk off, but he grabbed my wrist, holding me fast. I turned to meet the top of his chest as he stood up.

"Will I see you again?"

"Of course...you're my shadow,...remember?" Viktor chuckled.

"I need to see you again." His eyes burned into mine, and I pulled away, rushing back into the greenhouse not even noticing the looks I was getting from the newly gathered group of students. My heart was thumping hard against my chest with a mix of lust and fear. What was happening?