I yawned. My parents were out with friends and my big bro was asleep up stairs. The door bell had rung and Sparrow had decided that whoever it was was evil and let out a never ending string of growls and barks to warn me. As I approached the door she started howling in the kitchen. "hello? uh..." Alisa waved at me.
"hey Nina... he was uh... looking for you house." She waved behind him.
In full out gangsta gear was Yuri. Even though it was late evening he still had shades covering his eyes. He looked like a thug, no wonder Alisa looked scared out of her wits.
"Um.. I have to go home." Ali said quietly "I'll see you at school."
"ok," I whispered. She trotted off down the road, leaving myself and Yuri alone. "Bye!" I called after her. "Hi Y-yuri." I mumbled.
he took off his shades. "hey."
"Do you want to come in." I asked. He nodded and followed me inside. I went through to the kitchen with him hot on my heels. The second the door opened sparrow flew to Yuri and I had to grab her. Lifting her onto my shoulder. "This is Sparrow." I introduced.
"Hi," He murmured, glaring at the dog untrustingly. It had just leapt at him after all. She wriggled and squirmed trying to reach him. I got her to sit, getting Yuri to pat her on the head as she did.

He sat down at the kitchen table as I put on the kettle. "tea?" I offered.
He nodded once. Supprisingly meek. "Black please."
"ok."

I set the mugs down and on the corner from him. "so um..." I mumbled, "what brings you... here?" My voice died off, staring over his shoulder. My brother leaned in the doorway. Eyes on fire.
Yuri noticed my distrction and turned around just as my brother spoke up, "Whos this Nina?"
"m-my friend." I stuttered.
"uh huh," He practicaly growled. "why is here so late at night." Yuri stood, crossing his arms.
"Whats it you?" Yuri snapped.
"I'm her brother, punk," he pushed away from the door, taking a step towards Yuri. "So I wanna know why a devious looking brat is having tea with her in the kitchen at night."
"Evening," I Popped in quickly, but was ignored and Yuri stepped towards my brother.
"She's perfectly capable of making descisions for herself, no one likes a bro with a sis' complex."
"um..."
"Its naturally to not want some little gangsta like you hanging around siblings." He fired back.
Yuri rolled up a sleave taking a step again, almost nose to nose, my brother stared down at the enraged boy. This was tumbling south very fast. I tumbled inbetween them. Trying to push them apart, damn athletes were so strong. "Wait! stop, stop, stop!" I begged, pushing my brother away, "Yuri, can we talk another time?" I whispered, he glared down at me for a second then sighed. Running his hand though his blond hair.
"ok, I'll go now." He relented. I took him to the door, my brother watching like a hawk a few metres back. I opened the door and let him out. He glanced at my brother thn down at me, Leaning down my ear to brush a few locks away. Warm breath tickled my ear. Gosh he was close. Subconsciously I took a tiny step back. "I'm offended by being called a friend." Leaning away he left with a quiet, "see you on saturday." and then he was gone.

I stared out for a moment before closing the door, ignoring my brother and stooping to pick up a very waggy little dog. She yipped as I carried her back to the kitchen.
"Ok..." My brother started. "Who the hell was that!" He poitned agrily to the door."
"I told you! My friend."
"That is not the type of person you make..." He added air speech marks at this point, "Friends, with."
I put the dog down and stomped up to him, "How, Would, You know?" I gave him a hearty poke in the chest each time, "Butt Out Dimitri!" I yelled. "Hes a good guy!"
I stormed upstairs, slammin gmy door shut before sinking to the carpet, face beat red. Hes a good guy? that sounded like I was defeding my...

I shook my head, thinking back on what Yuri had said, 'I'm offended by being called a friend?' what did he mean by that. Was I really annoying? Not cool enough to be an official friend? Bit harsh. He sounded smug, was he just arrogant? I rubbed my eye, irritated, tired and confused it was hard to think logically about this. What could it mean quickly turned into, obvioiusly he hates me. I knew I was being more than stupid but emotions were funny like that. I fought off a few trickles of tears.

Yuri leaned against the ice rink walls. Nina was late. He sighed, Viktor jumped out behind. "YU-RI-O!" He yelled.
"HUH!?" The boy sprung away, falling back onto aggression. "WHA!"
"thinking of Nina?" he asked coyly. Smirking.
Yuri blinked supprised and snapped his head away. "NO!"
"Eh? But you so are~" Yuri snarled an angry reply. "You were going to ask her out were't you?" He asked, taking the boy by supprise again. "Aw! Yurio!" Viktor yelled. "what went wrong? chicken out?"
Yuri yelled angrily chasing the older skator from the room, ripping open the door just as (Nina) gathered the courage to knock. He almost threw Viktor at (her ) in his haiste but stopped.
"OH Hell-o!" Viktor smiled. "we were just - "Before he could finished Yuri pushed him past (her) into the corridoor and pulled (Nina) inside. He locked the door,
"Stupid geiser." He growled.

I stared up at him, both his hands held me close by the shoulders. His hair brushed his cheeks in such a hypnotic way. left, right, left, right, lef- he was staring back now. "ah, h-hello."
"Yo," he grunted. "Lets go." He lead me to the ice. Entering a head of me. Over the course of my lessons I could now go the length of the rink without falling. Turning was another thing altogether. He skated next to me, ready to grab if I fell. I had almost done a full lap. Passing that corner again, I did a lap! "well done," he breathed, "you've got it. now just keep it up, but don't think too much. You'll fall." he steady me with abrush of his hand, "see? just going through the movements."

Tired I stumbled out of the rink. "I'll see you tomorrow." I murmured.
"Wanna get something to eat first?" He asked, not looking directly at me. If the lighting wasn't so bright I wouldn't see the pink along his ears.
If he didn't want to be friends, why ask? I nodded and left with him.

After sunday I felt warm and happy. He had lunch with me twice in two days, we talked about everything and anything. He complained non-stop about Viktor and Yuri although stopping to lsiten to me too. That was more than my brother and parents did most of the time. He was supprisingly cute and sweet at times but when he noticed he would hole up becoming defensive and grumpy. It was wednesday when he appeared outside the school while I walked home with Vervara. She pointed him out asking not so quietly, "Snogged him yet?" He frantically waved my hands,
"Gosh Vara!" I yelped, "NO!" Hoping he hadn't heard I waved. He slid his shades off. Nodding a greeting. He waited until we got close before asking;
"Hey Nina, got a sec?" I shrugged looking a vervara who was already turning away.
"Bye Nina, Bye scary gangsta boy." The she left, dissapearing behind a corner. Yuri started to walk the other way.
"Coming?"
I nodded and followed him.

He wandered into the empty park. I hung back as he sat on top of the kiddy tunnel. "come on," He grumbled.
I sat next to him, tucking my school skirt under myself. "s-so."
"Ni-Nina?" He spoke quietly. Nervously he took off his shades. Pulling his hood down. I turned to look at him, he seemed to have an internal struggle. Eyes staring into mine, my cheeks warmed by my blush,
"yes?"
he still said nothing, something soft touched my hand, his own. He moved his fingers to hold mine. I almost flinched. He swallowed and I found myself doing the same. The air felt tense, gosh his eyes were beautiful. heart pounding I said something I regretted so muhc and at the same time was a huge load off my chest.

"The portrait was you."

"Huh?"
I broke eye contact, staring at our joined hands. The tiger sweat band was around his. Oh dear... what. had. I. said? My breath felt heavy, his hand tightened around mine. "You were hung up on my portrait?" He asked slowly, thumb brushing my knuckles. Tiny electrical currents tingled up my arm. I hung my head slowly in an awkward nod. He was quiet, quiet for too long before he finally spoke. "Good." Good? Whats good? I tucked my chin in, failing to escape, He leaned down, looking up into my blazing red face. "I was extremely pissed off." He practically growled. Words slurring very slightly together. My spine stiff he tipped my head up and his from below. Then very slowly his eyes closed, pressing his lips to mine. I froze, eyes widening in shock. He taisted like those marshmellows we had in the cafe. His other hand came up to cup my cheek, all I could do was sit stone still, flailing lost in the moment. He broke away, opening blue eyes. His soft hair fell inbetween our shared gaze. "I like you." he murmured, breath caressing mine. "a-a lot."
I gulped, confusion clouded my hapiness, "b-but you said... offended... friends." I stuttered, unable to look away. He blinked. Then groaned. dropping the hand on my cheek to his side.
"F-friends don't kiss." He muttered. "I want to be more than friends. I like you, is that a problem?" He was angry now, his ears red.
he liked me... back. "I-I-I l-like you t-too." I breathed.
He smirked, "I know." Anger faded into the air. He whispered. "Your way too obvious."
"what?" I squeeked. Hiding behind one hand. He reached up and yanked it away.
I could feel him close, knees touching. "6.00 friday," He ordered. "I'll pick you up."
"huh?" He was blushing looking away. Holdig both my hands now.
"6.00pm, friday." he half stood, looking back at me. "a date." he grumbled bluntly.
My face got darker, colouring crimson. "-o-o-ok."
"Cya," He walked away. Just liek he did last time we were here. Leaving me dumbfounded.

He liked me back?
My hands were warm were he had gently let go. Rough calouses bruhsing the 'writing bumps' on my forefinger and thump.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. Knocking me out of my daze. I fumbled, flipping it between both hands as I failed to catch my clumsy manuver. I failed gym after all. It dropped into the sand, i stooped to pick it up. Vervara was calling. "H-hello," He breathed.
"woah! you sound out of breath." She laughted. "To think i was just checking on my kidnapped friend and I ofund her kissing a iceskating world champion in the park."

"Nina?"
"What?" i asked seathing, The next time she answered it wasn't through the phone.
"i got a little worried." I spun around, she stood there smirking coyly, hand on hip. "But who knew? and by the sound of your voice it was pretty damn good kiss." All I could do was stare. Talk about ruining the moment. "I don't think we should tell Nat and Ali, do you?"

A/N - I'm so happy I finally got to this chapter. I found it really hard to write. I had no clue how the confession would go and who would sayit first. Plus I think Yuri was a little OOC here. I struggled to get his cute side, along witht he whole gangsta exterior and his attitude. So tell me what you think?