A Small Town Romance (a Otayuri story)

New Friends

<Next Day>
<Otabek>

School wasn't the worst for Otabek. River would only glare at him and Otabek didn't make many friends so he stayed with homework. His job also took up time.

Suzu and Cece were his friends, kind of. He hung out them at lunch and somedays after school. Otabek didn't mind being alone that was until Yuri's parents took him away.

Otabek could still look at the posts Yuri made but he could message or comment on them. It was like they were taunting him.

It was Sunday so Otabek started walking to the grocery store he worked at. It wasn't fancy but it was a place that most kids from his school didn't go. Everyday he did see a girl a year or so younger than him come in everyday, buying some random chocolate bar.

She was walked in as soon as Otabek started working his shift. She picked up a chocolate bar and walked over to Otabek's check out. The flannel she wore on a daily basis didn't make Otabek overthink anything though.

"I didn't see you at all last week," she chuckled.
Otabek nodded, "I was busy."
"Oh yeah?" She smiled. "With a boyfriend?"
Otabek rased an eyebrow, "and is the chocolate for a girlfriend?"
"You know it," she said, proudly. "Sarah."
"Otabek," he informed,
She nodded, "Yurio's boyfriend?"
"He's not my boyfriend," Otabek added as he gave her the chocolate bar.
"There's a rumor you two kissed," Sarah smirked.
Otabek mumbled, "is this an interrogation?"
"I just wanted to figure out what you are. I need some more queer friends," she laughed.
"Talk to Suzu and Cece," Otabek's frowned. "I don't do friends."
"You do with Yuri," she added. "Or is he more than a friend."
"He's a family friend," Otabek sighed slightly.

She nodded and walked away. Otabek went to back to his job, thankfully there wasn't a line at all.

It is a small town so rumors most likely did spread a lot. As long and it was Yuri and I and not River or someone else.

An older lady comes to check out so Otabek clears his mind.

<Yuri>

Many people were around the skating rink Yuri liked. Well, Yuri didn't like this one more than the one back in a America. He pulled up his hood and went in the crowd.

The noise was unbearable, he already listened to his parents lecture for the day. Ever since Jackie told him about her second job he likes to make sure she got the intel... it brings him a little bit of comfort.

He finally gets through the crowd and makes his way to the doors, he walked in like he owned the place.

"Yuri! How did you not get eaten alive?" Mila joked, poking him in the gut.
Yuri glared at her, "they aren't here to see you, are they?"
"No," Mila frowned. "There here because of who's in rink number 3."
"Who's in rink number 3?" Yuri asked.

R-3 was Yuri's favorite rink. It was the farthest from any window and it was the most sound proof.

"Jason Krell," Mila mumbled.
Yuri froze a little, "Jason Krell? Why the hell is Krell in my rink?"
"I don't know," Mila crossed her arms. "Go look and find out. At least it's not the Canadan skater you hate, JJ was it?"
"You're right, at least it's not JJ," Yuri mumbled as he walked to R-3.

He walked for a little bit before he got to the room. Yuri took a deep breath before pushing the doors open. He saw Krell skating around.

"Jason Krell," Yuri yelled. "Why aren't you outside with your fans?"

Krell looked at Yuri with a smirk and skated over.

"I had to ask you something," Krell informed.
Yuri crossed his arms, "well, ask, then get out."
"Ouch," Krell joked. "Is it true how your parents act? The rumors on the street are they're horrible creatures."
"Why would you like to know?" Yuri hissed.
Krell smirked a tiny bit, "they asked me I wanted a cat."
"Potya. Why the hell would they try and give you Potya?" Yuri asked, filled with anger.
"Chill, they said it isn't confirmed yet but they wanted to know if I wanted it," he informed.
Yuri looked at him dead in the eyes, "my parents aren't bad. They could be worse they're just working humans who wants a good company image. I'm giving them a good image."
"How many languages do you speak?" Krell asked.
Yuri sighed, "not enough. Can you leave?"
"I'm here to make friends," Krell admitted. "If we're friends you could see Potya. It could possibly be a good for our names."
Yuri sighed, "you want to be friends so you can get your name up in the skating world?"
"And you can see your cat if I said yes," He added.
Yuri thought it over, "fine. I'll be your friend but I better see Potya."
"Great," he smiled.

Krell's coffee brown hair was started to freeze a bit.

"You should get out before more of your body freezes," Yuri sighed.

Krell looked at him confused.

Yuri pointed to his own head, "hair."
"I'll start by following you in instagram," Krell started. "Then we can make a plan."
"Got it," Yuri mumbled.

As soon as Krell left the room Yuri started to laugh.

So Kre- Jason wants to be my friend. I know it's just for publicity but it's still funny.

Yuri sighed and went back to Mila, who was still by the entrance.

"Did Jason come by you?" Yuri asked.
Mila shook her head, "nope. He's waiting is the back for the crowd to leave."
"I swear he's the strangest man," Yuri sighed slightly.
"What did he want?" Mila started. "I assume he wasn't here to skate."
"He wanted me to help with publicity stunt," Yuri informed.
Mila chuckled, "what do you get out of it? You don't do anything for free."
"I'll get to see Potya, even if my parents give her away," Yuri smirked softly.
She nodded, "that's a deal Yuri would say yes to."
"I said yes, so you're right," Yuri started. "I should go home and talk to Jackie."
Mila smiled, "goodbye and good luck!"

Yuri went to the door, the crowd died down a little bit. He put up his hood before leaving.

"Is Krell inside?" "Can we see Jason?" "Are you a skater too?"

The power of the hood, I guess.

"Krell left over 30 minutes ago, and you're still waiting? Go home!" Yuri yelled changing his voice a bit.

The crowd all had a sigh and left. They all went their own ways. Yuri smiled softly and put in his earbuds.

He started walking home, keeping his hood on. His phone buzzed.

1 new Instagram follower: Krell.Jason

Yuri somewhat smiled as he opened instagram and followed Krell back. As soon as he did he message Jason.

Yuri: the crowd left. You are safe to leave in 5 minutes.
Jason: thanks! :)
Yuri: no problem. we're 'friends' after all.

Yuri put his phone in his pocket and continued his walk. He told Jackie not to drive him anywhere today, so she could take a break. He arrived home after another 5 or so minutes.

"I'm home," Yuri called, closing the front door.
Jackie smiled, "welcome back! Did you have any trouble?"

Yuri shook his head and typed something in his phone. The notes app is one way he and Jackie talk without his parents knowing.

Jason Krell and I talked today. He wants to be friends to get a higher ice skating stat. He said that my parents offered to give him Potya. Jason said if they do end up giving away Potya I'll be able to see her.

Jackie nodded, "that's a great photo Yuri!"

Yuri nodded and went up to his room. He decided to send another message to Krell.

Yuri: we should do something tomorrow. If you want to get a more popularity (I don't see why) we should do something and post it to Instagram.
Jason: or you just want to hang out with me :)
Yuri: I'm doing this for my cat.
Jason: ouch.
Jason: I'm able to hang out after training tomorrow. So 16:30? (4:30 pm)
Yuri: works for me.