Of Shields & Trees [BxB]

14 | Of Cake & Friendship | Hard-Core

Tuesday was weird.

First, Kalina insisted we shop for shoes. I should've gotten used to her need to shower me with gifts by now but it still felt awkward. I picked a pair of black sneakers, because black suits everything and for the life of me I could never match colours right. Kalina was hesitating between two pairs of boots that looked the same to me but obviously one pair was in coffee brown and pomelo orange while the other one was in gingerbread brown and scarlet red. Throw a cinnamon in there and you got yourself a Christmas drink! She picked the ones in orange at the end.

We passed through a book store and while Kalina was browsing the books on display, my attention was drawn to a deck of cards with an intricate beetle design. Even pip cards had beetles drawn on them and it made me think of our midnight game of Crazy Eights. It would be a nice gift for my boys! Mainly Georgi. It was always Georgi.

Kalina didn't need much convincing before she bought the deck for me. We also got one of those cute little gift boxes and I made a mental note to fill it up with candy before sending it over. I felt like an ex convict preparing a gift basket for his former cellmates. I wanted to get pumpkin-flavoured candies but Halloween was long over so I could only find regular chocolate ones. I also threw in a bag or two of gummies and some peppermint candies for good measure.

By the time we were done shopping I was already late for first period and still in my casual clothes. I hurried to school without changing into my uniform first. Big mistake. As I think about it, I should've skipped first period rather than having to explain to every teacher in this stupid school why I wasn't dressed according to regulations. They treated me like some kind of delinquent and I had an oral exam in each and every class for the day, except Mr. Andonov's. Needless to say, I nailed all of them but still, it was exhausting.

Between 3rd and 4rd period I was approached by Olga, Alejo's crush, and she asked me to the movies. Right in front of Alejo, might I add. I turned her down, of course. But my only friend in this fucked up school might or might not be a little mad at me right now.

Pavel was strangely friendly today too. He was never friendly. Not with me anyway.

It was the same school, the same people, but their attitude towards me was different. It was like I was in the twilight zone. Not quite dreaming but it didn't feel like reality either. Or at least not the type of reality I was used to.

Enver seemed to be scared of me, Angel was avoiding me... and I had absolutely no clue what I did wrong.

Yeah, Tuesday was weird.

And Wednesday wasn't much better.

We were supposed to have a test in Chemistry but when I went to school I've heard there was a bomb threat and for some reason, everyone thought it was me that called. Like I wouldn't ace a little Chemistry quiz! Did these people not know me at all?

I was hanging at the park all by my lonesome self, having some raspberry-flavoured drink straight from the can, when I saw Alejo approach.

He stood before me, arms crossed over his chest. "I'm willing to forgive you if you buy me dinner," he stated without a trace of remorse. I did have some lunch money but would they be enough for a full-course meal? I don't think so.

"How about some raspberry soda?" I gestured to the drink in my hand.

Alejo pouted but accepted the peace offering anyway. "At least get me some cake or no deal," he said before taking a sip.

And just like that we were cool again. He couldn't stay mad at me for more than a day.

"Do you know why Angel is avoiding me?" I asked once we were seated at the closest pastry shop.