Novel

You'd just arrived in the village, and you weren't exactly thrilled. You wanted to return to your hometown, to feel at home, not to be somewhere you didn't belong. But what could you do? Your father had gotten a promotion, and you had to move here.
On your first day at school, you ran into the local bullies, Roman and Andrey. Andrey was like a dog on a leash with Roman, only occasionally agreeing with him.
The boys ignored you, even when the village's biggest gossip had already set her sights on you, wanting to find out more about you and spread untrue rumors. But you didn't care.
You started noticing that Roman's gaze would linger on you for a few seconds, as if he were trying to figure out what was going on in your head. Or, even worse, maybe he was thinking about how to empty your pockets with threats or give you a few punches in the teeth?
One snowy day after school, you left school and walked along the road toward the woods where your house was nestled. You shifted from foot to foot, trying to shake the snow off your boots, and occasionally wiped your glasses, fogged up from your breath.
Suddenly, an eerily familiar voice called out to you, coming from somewhere to the left. Roman. That very voice—like the voice of a grown man, ready to give orders to an entire army.
Your mouth went dry. You replayed a dozen scenes in your head: Roman breaking your glasses, beating you for no reason, and Andrey's nasty laugh nearby, encouraging his partner.
You reluctantly turned around, your gaze frozen. Roman stood before you, in his usual Adidas tracksuit, with that same gaze that always sought out the weakest in the crowd.
You stood there stunned, collecting your thoughts and trying to understand what was going on.
Roma handed you a bouquet of snowdrops, the petals of which were strewn with snowflakes.

• Let's go, I'll walk you home, there are all sorts of maniacs walking around here.