AN/ Looked this one over too. I'm slowly working through 'em! C:

NATALIA WOKE up on Kateryna's couch, stiff and groggy. A pain shot up her neck when she tried to move, making her freeze. The woman sighed and went limp, closing her eyes as she heard footsteps coming downstairs.

Kateryna's movements quieted as she tiptoed to the couch. Natalia evened her breathing quickly, pretending to still be asleep. Kateryna paused for a moment, checking on her sister. With an upbeat sigh she headed into the kitchen.

Natalia peeked an eye open, glancing around the familiar living room. She heard Kateryna start cooking and moving pots and dishes. A radio crackled on, giving news, weather, and traffic. Natalia closed her navy eyes again, the familiar sound soothing her. She had grown up with that ancient radio, and it held memories and mostly good ones at that. The young woman didn't put emotions into much, but that radio was an exception. And her feelings were held close and strictly watched. Even trinkets and objects could hurt her. As Kateryna busied herself with morning activities she continued checking up on Natalia. Her sister continued to 'sleep', knowing that soon Kateryna would head off to the grocery store and other errands like she did every other Saturday.

Finally Kateryna left, leaving a kiss on Natalia's forehead. Natalia opened her eyes as the door closed, waiting for the sound of her sister's car to disappear down the road before sitting up with a groan. She cracked her back and stretched out, then headed for the kitchen. As she expected there was a plate of pancakes warming in the microwave for her. Natalia took the plate, and reminded herself that next time she should get up when Kateryna is there to thank.

"It's so cool that you are willing to do this! Thanks, these pictures are awesome." Emil looked through the pictures on his camera, "Have you ever thought of being a model?"

Natalia didn't answer the question, or ask to see the photos. She had her own things to discuss, "How's your brother?"

Emil rolled his eyes and put his camera away, "Fine."

"How's his girlfriend?" Natalia said, trying to be nonchalant.

Emil smirked, "Oh, I see… They're doing good."

"Hmm…" Natalia shifted in her seat, looking around. They were in a small garage, worn down and falling apart. There were holes in the wall and ceiling, and the pale green paint was chipping off the gray wood. Junk lie around, collecting cobwebs and spiders. Birds lived in the rafters, and fluttering in and out as they pleased. Natalia could see how someone like Emil could enjoy this place. She preferred the warmth of a cozy home. But it was the type of place that Lukas would take her for a picnic.

"Do you still have a thing for my brother?" Emil stared at her, struggling not to.

Natalia whipped her head around, "Is that any of your business?" She snapped.

Emil shrugged, "Is my brother any of your business?"

Natalia looked away, hoping her long hair hid her blush from the boy's lazer blue eyes, "That was small talk."

Emil laughed, "And my brother's girlfriend? How do you even know he's seeing somebody else?"

Natalia huffed, "Why wouldn't he be?"

Emil tilted his head, "You aren't."

"Well maybe he's a slut! And that didn't even answer my question!" Natalia raised her voice, growing flustered and emotional.

Emil frowned, sensing her shift in mood, "He is a slut. But you aren't, and it doesn't make sense that you aren't seeing anybody."

Natalia give him a confused look, sorting through his words, "… What? How can you… What?"

It was Emil's turn to blush, "I-I-I… I was trying to help!" He defended, "I mean, you could be dating if you wanted to! Why don't you want to?"

"Again! None of your business."

Emil threw his hands up in defeat, "Forgive me for trying to be kind!"

Natalia took a deep breath, and the two sat in awkward silence. She glanced at the teen, watching him pick at a piece of thread coming off the rotting couch they sat on. Natalia chuckled sarcastically, "I can't believe this."

"What?" Emil looked back to her.

Natalia leaned back on the couch, not thinking of what could be living in the old piece of furniture. "Lukas is dating my best friend, and I'm too pathetic to even tell her."

"I told you he was a slut." Emil laughed a little.

Natalia blinked, and then laughed with him. She smiled, "He isn't all that amazing, is he?"

Emil pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, "I don't think so. But I've known him his whole life." He offered Natalia a cigarette, she refused, and he lit the one his mouth with a puffin adorned lighter.

Natalia found herself watching him again, "He really hates that you do that."

"Oh well." Emil sighed breathing a smoke ring, "I've had enough of people changing for Lukas."

"…What do you mean?" Natalia watched the smoke, slightly amazed.

Emil thought for a moment, "When we were younger Lukas was very spoiled, everything revolved around him."

Natalia started to laugh again, realizing she hadn't in a long time.

Emil smirked, "And that's an understatement. I mean, my parents were at his every hand and foot. Lukas hated it too! He was always trying to do things himself and be alone and everyone was going on and on about how smart he was. And how creative he was. And how talented he was. Oh! Let's have Lukas play his violin for us. It was absolutely sickening!"

Natalia couldn't control her laughter at this point. In her mind's eye she saw a smaller version of Lukas, being show off and boasted about like a prize pig. Knowing him and how he despised attention was enough to imagine how he felt for it. His grumpy, pudgy little face in her head made her lose her composure.

Emil took another drag, "And he's painfully shy. And he hated it. So he started acting like a spoiled little brat and my parents did all they could to pacify him. You should have seen his temper tantrums."

Natalia calmed down, although a little Lukas throwing a temper tantrum was just as hilarious. She fixed her hair, "I don't think I've ever seen Lukas angry."

Emil raised his eyebrows, staring at a spot on the wall, "It's scary if he's mad at you. Like, really mad. But when it's at someone else it can be hilarious."

"Really?"

"It depends on the person a lot though to. Like, he was mad at me once, right? I stole something or shit like that and he was chewing me out. And he actually yelled. Screamed. I've never seen him do that before. But then he gets mad at a friend of ours and they just go at it! He just beat the crap out of him! And he doesn't give any warning he just blows up and starts kicking your ass!" Emil shrugged, "We've only ever gotten in a few fights though."

Natalia blinked, enthralled, "He never told me any of that. Were they bad?"

Emil nodded, "They were pretty bad… And I'm not surprised. He used to have a bad anger problem when we were kids. But he got a lot better as he grew up."

Natalia crossed her arms, "Now that I think about it, Lukas and I never really talked about our childhood. He always said that everyone had a past and we kind of moved away from that subject."

Emil took the cigarette from his mouth, flicking off some ashes on the dusty floor, "He's ashamed of our past."

Natalia tensed, and looked at him, "He only told me that it was… bad."

Emil shrugged, "Not so bad. I survived just fine."

Natalia did not answer right away, thinking of her options. She could point out the fact that Emil was an obviously troubled, smoking, school-skipping delinquent and call him out on the 'just fine' part. But that might be too cruel for a teenager, maybe she should ask him if he wants to tell her. But why the hell would she do that? They weren't friends. Just two people who had one thing in common and were strangers enough to tell some secrets to. Either person not interested enough in the other's problems to actually think – let alone talk – about the other outside of their meetings. Those were the people you could really confide in. You could count on. Natalia furrowed her brow and opened her mouth to speak.

"I'm an orphan. To answer your question. And Lukas is my legal guardian. I mean, it's more complicated than that but…" He sighed smoke, leaning on the arm of the couch.

Natalia closed her mouth and waited. For what she wasn't sure.

"Lukas had… he had a lot that he never got to work out with our parents. Stuff that I did. He carries that around and, it wears on him." Emil pulled out a wallet from his back pocket, "How much do you want for the pictures? It's my brother's money so think big."

Natalia smirked, "How big?"

"Well I need sixty bucks so how 'bout fifty?" He handed her a couple of bills, smiling around his cigarette.

Natalia took it, remembering fondly how Lukas used to spend a seemingly endless amount of cash on her, "Thank you." She got up, "Just text me next time you need a model." Natalia walked out of the garage, to her waiting car parked on the dirt road outside.

Brigitte punched her time card with a happy sigh, relieved the long day was over. She left the bakery from the back door, shaking out flour from her short blonde hair. The chill outside made her shiver and she wrapped a scarf around her neck, burying her face in its warmth.

Someone fell into pace next to her, hooking their arm with hers, "Escort you home, Miss?"

Brigitte tilted her wide green eyes up, and relaxed as she recognized Lukas. The usual smirk found its way onto her face again, "I don't know. I think somebody else might have taken that job tonight. It is Saturday after all."

Lukas smiled lightly, "Looks like his luck has run out then."

Brigitte grabbed his arm with her free hand, "Are you taking me out on another adventure?" She asked excitedly.

Lukas's blank face gave away nothing, "Want to guess where?"

Brigitte giggled, "Um… are we going out on the ocean?"

Lukas shook his head, "Much too cold. For you at least."

Brigitte hummed in thought, "Uh… the fish market? You like that place..."

Lukas chuckled quietly, "What kind of gentleman would I be if I took my lady to a place that reeked of fish? And besides it's closed for the year."

Brigitte scoffed, "Just tell me!"

"No."

"Lukas!" She whined, "Please?" He didn't answer, smirk tugging at his lips. Brigitte leaned her weight on him, dragging at his arm, "What kind of gentleman are you if you cause your lady distress, huh?"

Lukas sighed, "Just trust me, how about that? It'll be better as a surprise… You can count on me."

Brigitte groaned, "You're awful!"

"Mhm, completely wicked."

She rested her head on his shoulder, "But so awesome too."

"Don't know if that's the right word…" Lukas grumbled.

"Just take the compliment!" She slapped him lightly on the arm, laughing.

Lukas adjusted so he could wrap his arm around Brigitte's waist, "Thank you, Princess."

Brigitte smiled, letting Lukas lead her through the streets, "That's better."