{Mikhail}

I yawned softly and rubbed my eye forcefully. I managed to get three hours of sleep last night. I was up doing laundry and studying in between. Dad offered to stay up with me and help but I sent him away not wanting him to mess up the colors like he did last time. He bought the detergent but also bought a pack of cigarettes.

He tried explaining himself but I refused to listen. He just fed me empty promises and hollow apologies like always.

I had him explain what that weird guy wanted yesterday. Dad said he was the son of a loan shark he owed money to. I should have expected it. I didn't know how much money he owed and, quite frankly, I didn't want to find out.

Apart from doing laundry and studying, I was trying to find a solution to my dad's problem. I was worrying about what would happen to us if he didn't give them the money he owed. I was positive we didn't have that kind of money. At this rate, I was going to have to take a separate job aside from our small shop. We were going to need a stable income if we were going to pull through this mess.

Dad refuses to get another job because he says that the flower shop is his life. I just wish that if there was any truth in his statement that he would actually take it seriously.

"Are you taking every thing by yourself again, Mikhail?" Dylan asked bumping into my shoulder softly.

We were on our way to school along with my other friend, Danielle she preferred to be called Dan or Dani. "Tell that worthless father of yours to pick up some of the responsibility. You're going to end up dropping dead on the floor one day. I'm worried." Dan said inspecting my face. "Don't say you have it handled. You look awful."

"Thanks for the boost in confidence, Dani." I said shaking my head, "Seriously, it's all handled." I tried explaining.

"You have bags under your eyes. How long did you sleep last night?" She asked.

"Enough." I lied.

"I call bullshit." Dylan said, "We already offered to help out. We are friends for a reason." He said frowning slightly.

I felt guilty. I knew that they only cared and wanted the best for me but there was no way that I could bother them with my own problems. Mom was always the kind of women who never let her burdens show. I wanted to follow in her footsteps and have people depend on me.

Dan rolled her eyes and said, "Maybe Dylan and I are the only people who think of us as friends."

I shook my head rapidly, "That's definitely not the case!" I assured her and grabbed her arm as we walked. "Sorry, but honestly. You guys don't need to worry about it. I've handled it this far."

Dylan scolded me, "You've handled it only because you work yourself down to the bone. Look at yourself. You've got no meet on your bones anymore!" I clicked my tongue quietly and let go of Dan's arm. "Seriously, Mikhail. Take a break every once in a while. You're not doing anyone any favors if you end up dying from exhaustion." He continued, "hang out with us today after school."

I sighed softly, "As lovely as that sounds, I have to go job hunting-"

"No, Mikhail. You're not taking on another job. Between your studies, job, and your father, you've got too much going on as is." Dan said putting her foot down, figuratively.

"Fine." I said reluctantly. There was no use arguing with Dan because I wouldn't win anyways. She was stubborn as hell so it either has to be her way or a shoe up the ass. She was very caring though, we've been friends since middle school and has been very supportive ever since.

"Did that actually get through your head or are you just saying what we want to hear?" He asked knocking on my head.

I swatted his hand and grimaced, "I got it." I said, although I didn't promise anything. I was sure if I would take the second job but it was still on the table as an option if shit hit the fan.

Dylan shook his head. He knew me too well by this point. We've been friends since elementary school. He moved to my school and we got along right off the bat. I wasn't expressive even back then but Dylan was the kind of kid that befriended the whole school. He has a very cheerful personality and cares about everyone around him.

Dan and Dylan started talking about something else and laughing. I would smirk every once in a while but never laughed as hard as they would. I never had a grasp on my emotions. I've been told that it got worse after my mom died but I didn't see it. I was who I was and no one would be able to change that fact.

I could already see the school in sight as we turned the corner. I felt a cold breeze hit as I snuggled into my scarf and looked to my right. I completely froze as I saw the loan shark's son from yesterday. I wasn't scared of him, but instead cautious. At first glance, he didn't look real threatening but who knows how many people him and his group have actually killed. I didn't want to involve my friends in with him but the situation seemed inevitable. His eyes had already locked with mine and he was coming my way.

"Mikhail? What's wrong?" Dylan asked stopping and looking back at me. "Hello? Earth to Mikhail?!" He cupped his hand and shouted in my ear. I flinched and pushed him off. "If you can hear me then just say-"

"Uhm, guys." Dan asked pointing to the loan shark's son. Only then did I realize that he had two other people standing beside him. The same red head from yesterday was there and another boy I didn't recognize. He looked quite young to be hanging around with them. Dylan turned around and looked surprised.

"Mikhail. We meet again." He said coming and stopping in front of us with a mischievous smile.

I watched him carefully, unsure what he was going to do. I only nodded as a response. I didn't want to talk to him. I didn't want him to bring up the fact that he was a loan shark. That would only worry my friends unnecessarily.

"Cat got your tongue?" He teased and took his hand out of his pocket and ran it through his hair gently. I could see his black roots when he lifted his hair. It fell back lightly over his eyes.

"You're interested in a mute?" The young boy said beside him. His cheeks and nose were red from the cold air hitting his face. He noticed me staring at him and glared back, "What?" He asked harshly.

"I'm not mute. I just don't have the time to waste speaking with you all." I corrected him. "Hello." I said nodding my heads towards the red head.

She smirked with a light laugh and said, "hi."

"Huh!?" He asked. He looked like he was asking for a fight. Even if he was younger, I was sure he would win. He probably had more street smarts than me. His knuckles were red so I assumed he had probably been in a fight just before this.

"Now, now. No need to be blunt so early in the morning." The loan shark's son said with a light smile.

"Mikhail, who are these guys?" Dylan asked keeping his eyes on everyone in front of us.

"They look like trouble." Dan said keeping her gaze on the red head. The red head looked back at Dan with a flirtatious smile.

"No one. Let's go." I said as I walked forwards and tried to get around them.

The loan shark's son stopped me and said, "Woah. Don't be in such a hurry to leave. You'll hurt my feelings." He teased again with a light smile.

"That's not my problem." I said looking up at him.

"How rude of me." He said looking at Dan and Dylan. "My name is Nico. This here little kid is Max."

"I'm not little or a kid." The supposed Max said elbowing him.

He effortlessly caught his elbow and then turned to the red head. "This is Seraphina."

"Call me Sera." She said holding Dan's stare.

"Uhm, Danielle. Or just Dan. I also go by Dani. Oh, but anything works." She said fumbling for words nervously. I watched her with a small squint of my eyes. I didn't like the way that was going at all.

"I'm Dylan." He said with a smile. "Are you friends of Mikhail?"

My head turned rapidly towards Nico. Slightly, I shook my head and hoped he caught on. I didn't want them finding out who they really were. "Yeah, you could say that." Nico said with a grin and a raise of his eyebrow.

"It's nice to meet you, then." Dylan said politely but cautiously. "Do I know you from somewhere?" Dylan asked Max.

Max sniffed from the cold and shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "Dunno. Perhaps you bought me."

Dylan frowned slightly, "What?" He looked towards me with confusion in his eyes. I knew exactly what he had meant and was a bit taken aback from his statement as well. He looked real young to be selling himself and I wondered if he did it because Nico forced him into it.

Mentally, I cussed. He only arose more questions with his statement. I looked at Nico for help. Nico looked at me with surprise on his face that I was actually asking for help. "He means that you probably bought from him. He runs a candy shop. Family business." Nico lied effortlessly.

"Oh." Dylan said as if trying to wrap his mind around it. He rubbed his neck and said, "I do have a sweet tooth so that makes sense." He said with a laugh. Max looked confused but didn't bother to speak up. Instead, he turned his head away with a dissatisfied look on his face.

"We should go." I spoke up, "you're going to make us late to class." I told Nico looking up at him. "Can you move out of the way?"

Nico looked amused, "where are your manners?"

I sighed loudly and said, "Please move out of my way before I'm forced to kick you."

Sera finally looked away from Dan and took a step towards me, "Hey! Where do you think you stand to speak to-"

"Sera." Nico said and silenced her, quickly. She stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest, annoyed. "I'll get out of your way if your promise to meet me after you're done with your classes."

Dylan and Dan looked at me curiously. It was evident that they thought it was a bad idea. Nico didn't look like a thug today but he still looked like he was up to no good. "No." I said simply, "I don't have time to mess around with you." I grabbed both Dylan and Dan and pushed in between Nico and Max to get through.

Nico put a hand on my shoulder to prevent me from passing and whispered into my ear. "Ahh, so sour." He said with a chuckle. "How deep do I have to bite to get to the sweet parts?"

I shivered slightly feeling the heat of his breath against my ear, "Don't waste your time." I called back and shrugged his hand off and walked away with Dylan and Dan.

"What the hell was that?" Dan asked raising an eyebrow as I let go of them and barely made it in time before they closed the gates on us.

"I don't know what you mean." I feigned ignorance.

"You two have something going on that I should know about?" Dylan asked.

"No." I said quickly. "Don't be ridiculous. Oh, don't get close to them. Next time they approach just go the other way." I told them as we walked to class.

I could still feel Nico's warmth lingering as we got further away. I felt myself getting nervous and quickly pushed the feelings away.

What was I doing? Guys like him were only going to be a hindrance. I was just something entertaining for him to pass the time. I tried convincing myself. Besides, he's the son of a loan shark. He's probably done some pretty bad things that I can't even begin to wrap my head around. I didn't need someone like him in my life to further make it difficult.