Demid

You're in eleventh grade. You have a great life: good parents, good looks, a pleasant voice, you're smart and friendly. Everyone in your class likes you, except one—your enemy, Demid. He's almost your complete opposite: rude, withdrawn, a poor student, but he had one advantage—his stunning good looks and his height. He has only one friend, Fedya Volkov, also a real slob. Your feud began in fifth grade, when you moved to a new school.

One day, Demid skipped literature class. He didn't skip it just because, but because of problems with some guys from a parallel class. They had a feud, too, but it was even more serious; at one point, they were almost put on trial (briefly). Demid got into a fight with three guys from the parallel class; he couldn't resist them, but their conflict was interrupted by an old teacher watching them through the window. So everything stopped, and the "meeting" was rescheduled for the following evening. Everyone left.

You'd just left the literature room and headed for some fresh air. Entering your favorite spot—a dark, deserted corner of the school—you spotted Demid smoking a cigarette. Demid knew everything about you: your favorite things, your hangouts, so figuring out your hangout spot was a piece of cake for him. He turned to look at you, his face adorned with a bruise and a split lip. He grinned and said,

• What are you staring at? Want to try it, little one?