The Competition

Yelena

After English, we got the news that there would be no art class because Ms. Thompson was sick. To make matters worse, the girls' gym teacher was also out sick, leaving the boys as the only ones in school until 4:00 p.m. Feeling somewhat liberated, but at a loss for what to do, I walk outside and spot Natalia on her phone.

"Hey, Natalia," I call with a slight smile on my face. "Do you want me to drop you off?"

She looks up, a little surprised. "No, don't worry. I'll take a cab."

"Don't be like that, Nat," I insist.

She chuckles quietly. "Okay then, escort me."

We walk together to Mr. Shuji's car. He drives us to Natalia's house and parks smoothly in front of it. When she gets out, she turns to me, a mysterious glow in her eyes.

"I have to show you something, Yelena." I look at her, confused, then at Mr. Shuji. "I'll wait," he says, understanding without words. Natalia leads me into the house and up to Viktor's room. My heart races, unsure of what she's about to reveal. She opens the door and goes straight to his closet. "Look at this," she says, pulling the doors wide open.

My eyes widen in shock. The inside of the closet is lined with pictures of me. Pictures of me at Venatrix Academy and Velour Academy, snapshots I didn't even know he'd taken, and a few recent ones, but mostly of me at my old academy, back when I didn't know them. They both knew me before I even joined their academy.

"Why does he have all these?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.Natalia sighs and leans against the wardrobe. "Viktor has been obsessed with you for a long time, Yelena. He never showed it because he didn't know how you felt. Back then you were rivals, I don't know if you still are, but I found this out when the accident with Noah happened and I didn't know how to bring it up. But after everything that's happened, I thought you should know."

I step closer and examine each photo. The realization hits me hard. Despite everything, despite the distance and the misunderstandings, Viktor cared deeply for me. "Why didn't he say anything?" I mutter, more to myself than to Natalia. "He's afraid," she answers. "Afraid of rejection, afraid of losing you as a friend. But I think he's also afraid of how much he cares for you." I feel a mix of emotions - shock, confusion, and a strange sense of relief. I turn to Natalia with tears in my eyes. She hugs me tightly. "You deserve to know the truth too, Yelena. Now you just have to figure out what to do with it." "Does that mean you forgive me?" "I do, after all we are best friends, aren't we?" "Yeah, about that..." "What? Don't tell me you have another deep secret that will haunt me?" "Is it bad to tell you that I slept with him?" she tenses. "With who?" "Your brother?" "Viktor?" "Yes, that's his name." "Wow. That's out of the blue. I mean I was expecting it but I didn't know that you two had already been screwing." "I know...I'm sorry," I tell her, looking at my watch and then back at her. "Like I said, I was expecting it. How was it?" she asks smiling. "Well I have to get back home, im working on the science project," I say ignoring her look. "Of course." As we leave Viktor's room, my mind races with thoughts and feelings. What Natalia has shown me has changed everything. And now I have to decide where to go from here.