For the next two years or so, the three teens kept their secret…
At the high schooler's local outdoor hangout "The Brick", as Keith was watching from the other side, his only company, Alexsis and Dunya were busy practicing Russian conversations on their cell phones via text messaging. A sly look came on "Alex's" face.
"Вы помните, чтобы получить таблетки? (Did you remember to get the tablets?)" asked Alexis.
"Da, Alex." replied Dunya on her phone.
"Вам здесь нравится? (Do you like it here?)" he typed.
"Он хорошо выглядит. (It looks good.)" she said.
On the other side, Rafael Marquez, after meeting Natalie, came over to Johann on one end near the water. "Cigarette?" he offered. Johann looked at it suspiciously before replying: "Why not?" He took about three puffs when he saw Keith, Dunya and Alexis on the other side before trying to slip quietly away. "Sorry if we bothered you." said Natalie's friend, Brooke as Johann gave her left cheek a small rub. "For me, one cigar is enough." he reprimanded. "I can't take any such pleasure while some get cancer from it, good night." He left from the shore and walked around to where Keith's yellow 1962 Chevrolet C10 was parked.
Back at the high school a day later, when Keith and Natalie would eventually begin their relationship as lab partners, Johann would sit opposite of two while Dunya and Alexei remained on the right side two seats down from them. Johann looked at the couple-to-be with a wince and said, "I don't believe we've introduced." and said in Russian while shaking Natalie's right hand with his left one: "Меня зовут Иоганн Литов. (My name is Johann Litov.)" Alex looked up from his paper and gave the boy a small remark. "Дух, я знаю, кто вы. Это Иоганн Garbanzo, вид, который исходит от благочестивого человека, больного двоюродного брата может принести позор и бесчестье в преступную жизнь. (Duh, I know who you are. It's Johann Garbanzo, the kind that comes from a pious man whose sick cousin could bring shame and dishonor into a life of crime.)" Knowing he was referring to Billy, Johann gave Alex a disappointed glare. But soon, it was time to leave and Alex who gave Keith a parting wink said to Dunya: "Давай, сестренка, я получаю немного устал. (Come on, sis, I'm getting a little tired.)" Johann just sat there, confused and wondering if anything were to happen to his younger relative. "How many thousands of lives on the brink of cancer do I have to condemn by keeping my mouth shut?" he asked to himself.
Natalie, who had stayed behind for a little while, said to him, "Well, at least you have certain skills." Johann left in an awkward expression on his face, he didn't know if the girl had understood him or not.
Outside, Natalie came across Dunya looking out over the field; the latter turned to her and said: "Do you have any gum?" Natalie looked in her right pocket taking out a solid piece of bubblegum. "All I have is this." "After just spending the entire sizzle at the Brick, sure I would like some gum after all that partying." Natalie threw it in Dunya's mouth, "Thank you." she said. "By the way, Вы говорить на русском?" "Hmm?" asked Natalie, who leaning her left ear into Dunya's lips as she repeated in English. "You speak Russian?" "I haven't had too much interest in foreign languages. What about you? Are from Russia?" Dunya gave a sweet negative response. "Oh, we're just a bunch of American's who like to speak Russian if you who I am referring to: Johann and Alex. I can't understand it when they quarrel like our younger selves."
Natalie eventually became one of the curious who would ask them. "Well do you know what they said at science class, in English, please?" All Dunya could say was, "What does it matter? Добрый день. (Good day.)" and with that, she left, beginning to leave Natalie completely in the dark.