"Yurochka! breakfast! Victor is here," my Dedushka called as I laid in bed. Doesn't Victor have his own house? Why does he insist on eating here most days? It's annoying. As I sat up in my bed groggily, I saw a box wrapped with a bow on top. Today is Trevor's Birthday, but he invited me to come late in the day, so how on earth will I fill the time beforehand? I'd spend this time at Minako's studio in the past, but that's no longer an option. I decided to postpone brushing my teeth since I had yet to eat breakfast and made my way downstairs.

"Why are you here? It's Saturday." I ask

"Ah, straight to the point as always. I figured we'd walk together after breakfast." Victor explained, "You didn't forget, did you?"

"Walk where?"

"Ah, so you did! You see, you asked me to begin driving you and Trevor to school next year, and I said I'd do it if you helped me with tutoring in return. Today is your first day."

As he spoke, I remembered that day JJ had majorly pissed me off, and I wanted to ensure I didn't have to deal with him as much next year. So I asked Victor. I had forgotten his terms. And it's way too late to back out now.

"I still don't get why you'd want my help."

"Whatever could you mean? You're one of the brightest people I know. I could think of no one better."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, I guess, but this still seems like a bad idea."

"Nonsense, you'll do great!"

After we ate, Victor and I began our walk.

"This is gonna be great! I can't wait for you to meet the kids! They are a bright bunch!"

"You're pretty excited, considering you only started volunteering to get a head start on your senior exit." Victor paused for a moment as I spoke

"While you are right, that is the original reason I began tutoring. It's no longer my main reason. You see, Yuri. I'm not that person anymore. I've learned my lesson."

I remembered well who Victor was. You see, cause of his good looks and athletic abilities, everyone wanted to be friends with Victor, so naturally, he chose the worst people he possibly could. He spent his middle school years and most of his freshman and sophomore years as a bully. He and his friends would harass anyone who could be an easy target, women, robotics members, and of course, suspected members of the Lgbt. I know, super cliche. But cliches are based on reality, after all. Victor never participated in his friends' deeds, at least not publicly. His friends were incredibly mean to Trevor and me, not that Victor ever found out. It all came to a head when a member of his class. Alex Hardgrove came out as gay. His life became a living hell. I still remember everything, his house was egged numerous times, and he became an outcast. I'll never forget when I walked past Victor and his friends beating him up. That day changed the way I saw him forever. Alex moved away after his recovery, and 2 of Victor's then-friends ended up doing time. Though it was rumored he was involved, there never was any proof. After all, how could their beloved Victor be a part of such a heinous act? Victor cut ties with them soon after. At the time, I thought he did it for self-preservation, but I wonder if it was regret.

"Yuri. Can you do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Don't talk about my past actions. These kids look up to me. I don't want them to know I was the kind of person to just stand by and watch bad things happen."

"Why would I talk to children about that?"

"I don't know, but I know you were there that day."

"What do you mean?"

"I know because you haven't treated me the same ever since. Truth be told, I'll never understand why he lied afterward either."

"Who? Alex? What did he lie about?"

"As you know, I was one of the suspects in the case, but when it came time to testify, Alex lied and said I wasn't there. Even though I threw the first punch. I'll never understand."

"Maybe he pitied you."

"Maybe he had a concussion and couldn't remember right." Victor said, "that seems more likely. But I'm grateful to him. that moment in the courtroom. When he lied, I realized how horrible a person I had become. And as my then friends were led away in cuffs, I realized I was being given a chance. A chance to change, to be better."

"So.. what is your stance on gays?"

"I neither agree with their choices nor understand them, but I'll never stoop to that level again." Victor answered, "What about you?"

"Um….. Well, the way I see it, it doesn't affect us. So why should we care if they are gay or not? They aren't hurting anything."

'I suppose that's logical." Victor said "Anyways, we are approaching the library.. Time for a change in subject!" Victor said once again turning on his typical Victor charm "Today is Trevor's birthday, correct?"

"Um, it is; I'm going to his house this afternoon."

"That's good, be sure to tell him a happy birthday, will you? Anyway, we are here."

As Victor led me inside the library, I held my breath. Please let there be no one I know here. The last thing I want to socialize with is my classmates today. As I looked around, I was relieved to see it was mainly high schools, and by that, I mean Seniors and juniors working on their senior exit. But my relief didn't last long before I saw the actual worst person that could be here, JJ. this is fucking great. I agree to this, so I don't have to see his stupid face next year on the bus, but low and behold, he's here too, of course! As Victor walked away to begin his duties, JJ walked up to me. I sighed as he did. Only bullshit leaves his mouth when he opens it.

"Would you look at that, Yuri Pletsky, ranked 2nd in our class? What brings you here? I hope you know we tutor grade school students studying here won't help you surpass me in rank, you know."

"Oh, shut up, I'm not here to be tutored by an idiot like you, I'm here to be a tutor, actually."

"Interesting, considering when Mr. Celestino was trying to recruit you to be a tutor, you refused, saying.. What was it? Oh right! You wouldn't be caught dead tutoring snot-nosed brats."

"Oh, shut it; I'm doing this for Victor."

"Really?! You! Are friends with Victor Nikifaroff? I find that hard to believe, considering his feelings about your kind." I cringed as he pronounced his last name. JJ really can't be bothered to learn foreign last names

"What part of I'm not gay do you not get."

"Oh, I get it! You have a crush on him."

"Oh please, I could do better than Victor Nikiforov." I scoffed while it's true I did like Victor once. I definitely don't anymore. I got over that crush when the Alex situation happened. It was an eye-opener, not that I'd tell JJ, this of all people. "Also, Victor asked me to tutor kids, not talk to you. Goodbye."

"Honestly, your type shouldn't be allowed around children. Who's to say you won't groom one of these children for your sick, perverted lifestyle." JJ said under his breath. I had to stop myself from responding if I kept walking; he'll think I didn't hear that bullshit.

"Alright, try to solve this one," I said

"I can't. I don't understand," said Devin, the kid I was assigned to

"Come on... You just solved one just like it 3 minutes ago. All you have to do is plot the coordinates."

"This is stupid. What do plotting coordinates do for me? Why can't they just plot themselves?"

"I don't know, kid. But the sooner you finish the worksheet, the sooner you can leave."

"You know you're not like the other tutors. You clearly don't want to be here either, so why are you here."

"I made a promise to a friend." I sighed as I twirled my hair around a finger

"I thought boys couldn't have long hair."

"Who told you that? It's-"I had to stop myself from saying bullshit "incorrect." I settled on

"My mom says only hippies, drug addicts, and gays have long hair."

"Wow.. She sounds…."

"Awful, I know.."

"Listen, kid, throughout your life, people are always going to tell you who you should and shouldn't be, but your job is to tell them to f off 'cause you're gonna be you no matter what. Unless who you are, means punching babies and burning down churches, then you should probably get therapy." I replied, causing the kid to erupt into laughter; I guess this isn't downright awful. Soon the session was over 2 hours passed pretty fast.

"Will you come next week too?" the kid asked.

"Maybe, but I make no promises," I replied as the kid left

"I see you made a friend," Victor said, appearing from behind.

"Whatever, let's go."

As Victor and I walked down the street, I checked the time; I still had plenty of time before I had to be at Trevors enough to change and walk there, at least. As I walked, a boy caught my attention. A darker-skinned boy with black curls on a bike. I found myself unable to look away. I don't believe I had ever seen him before a day in my life. Prixia is small, so I would've noticed someone who looks like him before now. Could he be a visitor? Or perhaps he has the misfortune of moving to this miserable town. Before I knew it, our eyes met. His eyes were brown, almost so dark they seemed black. As our eyes met, something flashed before me. Like a vision, I had been knocked to the floor.

"Hey man, you alright?" A deep voice asked,

"Yea, yea, He's just a jerk.." I growled as I looked up; I saw the same kid before me. Soon, however, I heard a crash and was brought back to reality.

"Do you know him?" Victor asked

"No. I don't." I said

"Really, hmm. You seemed quite interested in him for some reason.." Victor said suspiciously

"Oh, I thought he looked familiar but was wrong," I said in a panic, realizing what had just happened. What on earth just happened? Was that a memory? But it looked to have occurred in Victor's school, and I'm only 14 and a middle schooler. So strange, as we continued walking, I spaced out again and had even more visions? Memories? Idk but these were vaguer. But all of him and me. First, a classroom, then the local ice cream joint. A bedroom I'd never seen before, and the most chilling, was the bridge entering the town. Something about that bridge made my blood run cold like it never did before. Something is off. Why do I have so many vague memories of a kid I've never met. And why is he hot? I shook it off, and soon enough, I made it to my house to prepare for Trevor's birthday.

"Did you have fun?" My Dedushka asked as I got home?

"Yea. Trevor liked his gift." I replied, still not entirely sure what just happened. I guess we are dating now. But I'm still not even sure I like Trevor that way. Why did I agree to this? But if I said no, it would have made things weird, and I didn't want to hurt him on his birthday. Damn it, everything is so complicated. Maybe that'll be fine after all people can fall in love after they begin dating, right? Don't most people go on a first date to decide if they like someone? But where on earth would we go on a date?! If we are seen in public like that, we'll never get to live normal lives again. This is all happening so fast that I don't know what to do. What do people in relationships even do? Kiss and stuff, right? We're 14. This is regular 14-year-old shit, right? You're overthinking this. It's not that big a deal. Trevor and I have been friends since we were children. The Japanese have a word for that. Osananajimi. Maybe this is the way things are meant to be. Besides, that person I saw earlier is a complete stranger. The chances I see him again are slim