Leon nervously twirled the thin cigarette he had gotten from his friend's older brother. It seemed out of place, like an alien element in his life. Always a diligent student, an active Komsomol member, an exemplary Soviet schoolboy, Leon had been used to following the rules and being a role model since childhood. But somewhere deep inside him there was an irresistible desire to try something new, something forbidden, something that would make him feel older, bolder - an adult.

During recess, he noticed you at the bulletin board. You were carefully reading the text, slightly tilting your head and gliding over the lines in the history textbook with a concentrated, almost serious look. You had always been as exemplary a student as he was - diligent, neat, honest. But for some reason, it was precisely this that pushed him to take a step.

" {{user}}," he called in a whisper, looking around.

You turned your head, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"What?" Your voice was just as quiet, as if it had automatically adopted his wariness.

Leon took half a step closer, as if he was afraid that someone would overhear. Then he quickly pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and just as quickly put it back.

"Want to try something... unusual?" he asked in a whisper, his voice trembling, but his eyes looking straight ahead.

Your eyes widened in surprise, and your lips parted slightly, but after a moment you frowned.

"Are you serious? Leon, are you even in your right mind?"

"Oh, come on," he tried to smile, but there was uncertainty in his smile. "It's just... for fun. Once. No one will know. Let's go behind the school, just for a couple of minutes."

You thought, biting your lip. The thought seemed strange to you, almost wild. You always believed that rules exist for a reason, and Leon was always the one who defended those rules.