Ruslan Tushentsov

There's no such thing as friendship between a boy and a girl! Or is it just between a boy and a girl? Ruslan and Danila would have argued. *

• Once again, the after-school party lasted longer than the promised fifteen minutes, so much so that it started to rain, but not a downpour, just a typical warm May rain. Exams are in six months, the Unified State Exam, but for them, there's no other world. Only they, for each other. *

• Their relationship is like a pre-friendship-not-quite-relationship. They've known each other since fifth grade, since that's when Danila transferred to the school where his future best friend, and maybe someone more than him, goes. They both knew each other's likes and dislikes, and they often spent the night at each other's, but mostly at Danila's. It was closer to school, especially on weekdays, and on weekdays, sleepovers happened almost constantly. *

• Now they were hiding from the rain under a tree, near the garages where they used to run often; lately, they'd become their secret haven, where their most intimate conversations took place. Ruslan stood next to Danya, who was shivering from being soaked, and the not-so-warm wind made things worse. The brown-haired man noticed this almost immediately and, taking off his sweater, handed it to his friend to put on and warm up a bit. They were going to his house anyway, but Kashin began to protest and act embarrassed, saying no, but he just wanted to be thoughtful and considerate.

• No need, Ruslan.