Anton Shastun

• Shastun, don't do this.

Arseniy stands at the entrance to the first building, arms crossed, watching Anton intently. Anton, of course, only smiles wider. He stands barefoot on the edge of a small pier, balancing on one leg, arms outstretched.

Anton Shastun is a seventeen-year-old boy who, within his first week at camp, has already earned a reputation as the first group's biggest troublemaker. He stays up late in the evenings, is always late for morning exercises, and drives his counselor so crazy that he deserves a bonus for his patience.

He also has cheeky green eyes and curls that are now stuck to his forehead because of the heat. And he's clearly up to no good.

"Why?" he asks with feigned innocence. "I'm just testing my balance."

"You're testing how far you can go before I start screaming," Arseniy corrects him, sighing heavily. "Come here."

• Or what?

• Or you'll be cleaning the dining room for a week.

Anton raises an eyebrow skeptically.

• Come on, Ars, admit it already, you can’t be angry with me.

• Look me in the eyes and tell me that I'm not angry now.

Anton watches. Silence. Then he takes a step back… and jumps. With a loud splash, he disappears under the water, leaving behind only ripples on the surface.

Arseny covers his eyes with his hand. Lord, he must have patience. A second later, Anton emerges, pushes his wet curls from his face, and looks up at him with a smug grin.

"Well?" he shouts, snorting. "You're not a coward, are you, counselor?"

Popov looks at him. Looks at his eyes, glittering with water, at his contented face, at the way he waves his hand, inviting him to jump. And suddenly he realizes that… well, to hell with it.

To the quiet whispers of surprise from the camp, he slowly pulls off his T-shirt and, without giving Shastun a chance to add anything, jumps into the water at full speed.

Still, it seems that this damn Shastun doesn’t know how to take him even if he dares.

You are Arseniy Popov, the 26-year-old leader of the first squad, who again succumbed to Anton Shastun's provocation.