September 4, 2006
Monday was crawling to an end. Remains of the last lesson stretched like the chewed-up gum he was trying to stick under his desk. It clung to his fingers and refused to let go, strongly resembling Kamila.
Arkadiy was sitting with Terry, a cool British guy. Terry was writing something. Arkadiy was not. At times—perhaps, a bit too often—English became too incomprehensible and slipped passed his brain without living the slightest trace.
There’s too much new and unusual. Not that much interesting, though. It’s interesting, for instance, why does Milana keep ignoring me so stubbornly?
It is a truth universally aknowledged that the less information Google has on you, the more chances you have to live a normal life. There were very few facts about Smolenskaya, only the stuff he already knew: that she was the granddaughter of a construction magnate. Arkadiy was strongly disappointed by the results of his last night’s internet surfing. The following day, however, he managed to get her number. Not from Google, obviously. From Terry.
Milana was now sitting with Kamila, or, rather, sleeping fearlessly in the front row. Kamila was listening to their history teacher, her chin propped up on both hands. Arkadiy only just noticed a strange similarity between the two girls.
Are they sisters? Kamila—Milana. Even their names complete each other… but they seem to be so different. One’s attractive, the other one’s annoying; one’s evasive, the other one’s pushy; one’s…
‘Miss Smolenskaya!’
Milana’s sweet dreamy state no longer remained unnoticed. Awoken by Kamila’s friendly nudge, she raised her head and said in a soft sweet voice, ‘Sorry, professor, I’ve got a terrible headache.’
Headache, my ass.
For some reason the professor believed her. He nodded and continued teaching. Unabashed, Smolenskaya found a softer spot on the desk and continued sleeping.
Maybe I should do the same? Or maybe now is not the best time to push the boundaries? The next Monday I’ll set my own rules, and in the meantime it’s better to play fair.
The chewed-up gum fell glumly to the floor.
Damn! What a torture.
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Previous episode: 3. "Have we met before?" "I don't care. Totally."
Next episode: 5. Friday evening. Kamila talked about Novikov. All day long
Contents. Part 1
- 1. Summer in France tastes of freedom. September, UK, dive into school
- 2. Long legs, model walk. Awesome, thanks dad!
- 3. «Have we met before?» «I don’t care. Totally.»
- 4. They’re so different. One’s attractive, the other’s annoying
- 5. Friday evening. Kamila talked about Novikov. All day long
- 6. He was waiting for her. Smolenskaya appeared ten minutes later
- 7. Castle in the air? Can’t she buy it?
- 8. You try on someone else’s life for a second, and then you feel so empty in yours
- 9. Welcome to London, welcome to life. And Smolenskaya, my guide to life
- 10. Novikov, I’m with you now only because we’re a diaspora
- 11. I behave according to my status, Novikov
- 12. So prim and proper, but there’s something in her that I like. What’s that?
- 13. Kamila can be distracted. You know what? I’m gonna help you, bro
- 14. Smolenskaya, Arkadiy Novikov has got serious plans on you!
- 15. Boss in a tee and shorts, testing the limits of her power
- 16. I’d rather give in to the waves than lose a fight with Kamila
- 17. She likes to rule millions and millionaires
- 18. Smolenskaya, you don’t mean what you do
- 19. I’m fifteen and I want my vanilla romance!
- 20. He’s not the man with whom I can cheat on myself
- 21. French manicure, shining diamonds, victory
- 22. At the end of October Smolenskaya changed her status on Facebook
- 23. Flowers? Teddies? Diamonds? What to give her? Fucking trouble!
- 24. Tenth of November, time for decisive actions!
- 25. Milana continued to ignore him, and so did Kamila
- 26. Let them resist, I’ll get what I want! Like with Novikov.
- 27. The Smolenskie are having a Christmas party. You’d better think of a present, if you know what I mean