Chapter Text
Lidya.
Sophomore year better offer more than freshmen year did. I see a handful of fresh faces- curious, excited, shy, confused, cheerful. I was one of them, last year. Now that I have tasted first year of high school my expectations have significantly decreased. As excited as I am to learn new things, I am also dreading the idea of learning new things, if that made sense.
My foot steps falls in a staccato rhythm against the pavement, as I make my way towards the school grounds. The parking lot- where the driver dropped us was shady and cool, but exiting the space, leads us to a pavement towards the school grounds which will eventually lead us towards the main building.
Crestview Prep High is massive- a private school sought after by the elites of New York, therefore the majority of the population is filled with rich kids and even kids from the underworld, like myself. And about 1 or 2 per cent of the population makes up the scholarship kids.
"Vau-" I turn around to talk to my cousin behind me but before I could even say a word, i bump into someone. Immediately, i turn around to apologise- the person I bumped into crouched down to pick up the book that fell out of her hand.
We apologize at the same time.
"No, I'm sorry I shouldn't have been walking so recklessly." I chuckle. She was shorter than me by an inch or two, Asian, she had glasses and looked really smart. Not because of the glasses but she just exuded that I am brainy energy.
"It's alright. I wasn't looking either." She tells me.
"I'm Lidya."
"I'm Jane."
She must be a freshman or a new transfer because I don't recall seeing her or recognize her name. But before I could say anything more, she nods her head like she is bidding her respect before walking past us.
"She must be new." I turn to my cousin, who for once wasn't aloof- instead he had his head tilted slight and eyes trained on the figure that just passed us.
"Hmm whatever." My cousin shrugged and gave me a bored look, before making his way to the main campus once again without me.
I dont think he heard what I said. Ugh, brothers.
"Wait up!" I sighed before making my steps to his. We get our schedules from the office and compared it to see that we have some shared classes- less compared to freshman year. After parting our ways, i walk toward my locker keeping the things I wont be needing for the first few periods. Fluffing up my blonde hair, I reapply my lip gloss and shut the locker before making my way towards my first class- which happens to be my favourite subject- Political Science.
Vaughn and I enter the living room of my house, my mom invited his parents- Uncle Kirill, dad's brother, and Aunt Sasha- over for dinner. Quiet ramblings can be heard from inside the kitchen- must be dad and uncle Kirill. Vaughn enters the kitchen like he built that place, he always carries this air of confidence around him. Rightfully so, if someone ask me, but I would never admit it out loud.
Vaughn is always learning different subjects and matters- academic or not. He is especially good with mathematics which helps him in coding, hacking and other computer related issues. While I am more inclined towards world history and politics, hence why I am looking forward for opportunities to not only enter the debate team but also co-lead it with Theodore Dubois.
"Hey, Princess. How was the first day?" Dad asks as soon as he sees me behind Vaughn's six feet and two inch frame. I am tall, standing at five feet seven inch, but my cousin is a giant. He is like a tree.
"It was... fine." I shrugged. Nothing interesting happened to gossip about anyways. Pouring myself a glass of water, I try to pry the conversation that took place prior between dad and uncle, but it seems like they aren't discussing about it anymore.
Two pretty women- Aunt Sasha and mom enters the kitchen greeting us. Aunt Sasha almost immediately pulls her son towards her, it looks like she was checking a little kid for any injury or bruise and Vaughn just sighs and gently pry his mom's hand away from his face.
"I'm fine, trust me, Mom." His deep voice rambles- despite the deep, bass-like tone, he speaks with so much gentleness towards her. It is rare to hear such tone from Vaughn, only ever reserved for his mother or women close to him. But never to me, he says he I am a brother to him. Me. Lidya Morozova. He is stupid for saying that.
"If anything, my ears are ringing from listening to Lidya talk all day."
"Hey! At least people don't assume that I am selectively mute." I couldn't help but retort.
"Children." Mom chides, shaking her head.
After dinner, Uncle Kirill and dad makes their way to his office- Vaughn eyes them, maybe contemplating to join them. Not like they will permit him to. Despite being the next in-line to become the Pakhan, his parents have already made it clear that they don't want to burden him with the responsibilities at such a young age, Vaughn told me his parents said he'll be involved once he graduates High school, but I have this feeling that he knows all the current affairs, the matters inside the Bratva despite not being involved yet. He is always updated about everything necessary.
"What's so important?" I hear my cousin grumble under his breathe.
"Its regarding Tempest." Aunt Sasha let's us in on the gossip.
A few weeks before Sophomore year started- one of the cargo, Tempest, belonging to the New York Bratva, disappeared- or so they thought, until she came into the radar again a few days after its disappearance. It was not surprising that most of the drugs and weapons were stolen, causing a loss of at least 10 million. Of course, no one let us, children, in on the gossip, it was only after we pastered Vaughn enough to disrupt his study hour, did he let us know, before locking himself in his room again.
'We' in this context is me and every damn kid in the inner circle of the Bratva. Even Jeremy, who is away in the UK for college, called Vaughn for details.
Now how he knew all those informations is something even we are unsure of. He doesn't lie, but he doesn't say the direct truth either. Sometimes talking to my cousin is like trying to put in pieces of a puzzle with the vaguest instructions.
"Something is bound to happen again, if we aren't careful." My cousin warns quietly. And I know this tone, it wasn't a threat it was something he knows for sure.
"Whoever did it has humiliated the New York Bratva enough to last a year." He finishes with a sigh and then pockets the car key.
"Let's leave, Mom. I'm tired." He swings his school bag around his shoulder.
"Your dad-"
"Can drive himself back or let one of the drivers drive him back."
"Vaughn." Aunt chides.
"Not listening." He mumbles and pulls his mom, who despite her strong resolve, don't protest against her son's action.
"He is going to sulk."
"He'll live, Mama. Goodnight, ladies." Vaughn bids us before walking out of the front door. His mom sends us an apologetic look and wishes us goodnight before following in suit. I catch a glimpse of Vaughn, speaking to someone on his phone- probably Uncle Kirill because I hear a faint, 'no worries, dad.'
I turn towards mom, hugging her petite frame. She smells like expensive perfume and home to me.
"Tired?" Her sweet voice reaches my ears and I nod.
"Go and take rest, baby. Its been a long day."
"I wish I had something to tell you, but today was just productive without news to share."
She chuckles upon hearing my words.
"It's alright, Lidochka. It's just the first day." I nod taking her words.
"You should get some rest too, Mama. I don't think dad and Uncle are getting their business done anytime soon." And maybe that's why Vaughn dragged his mother back home.
I kiss her cheek and make my way towards my room. The start of school year was peaceful and I hope it would be so until the end of it. Soon, the recruitment for clubs and different activities would start and I need to build up my curriculums, and for that I plan to start being more involved in school works, make connections and build my skills.
After all, I can't be a mafia princess who is a block of wood, I plan to spread my wings and rise beyond what my family has built.