Two months later- March 2012
That snowy, January evening was only the beginning of Alina and Dmitri's friendship. By the start of March each aspect of Alina's life had seemed to improve. She was selling more paintings, almost every day was a good, productive day and above all she felt happy, as if she had something to look forward to. She was one hundred per cent smitten; spending days and nights hopeful for some more positive developments between them.
A week or so later Alina awoke to rain beating against her window and a grey mist coating the world. She pulled herself out of her cosy cocoon and into the chilly land of her drafty flat. She was used to the cold, experienced it every morning, but it wasn't enough to make her wear large, stuffy pyjamas. Instead she wore her girl boxer shorts and some form of small t-shirt. Alina clicked the kettle on and prepared herself a coffee. She was now where near fully awake, so when there was a knock at her front door she, in a dazed-like state, fumbled with her key until she unlocked the door. She opened it wide allowing a gust of sharp wind to gush in and whirl around her. She jumped as if she'd been dropped in icy water. Only then did she realise she was in her underwear on display for the whole busy high street to see, and of course the one who knocked in the first place.
It was a young woman, a few years older than Alina, but looking much younger. She had large greenish eyes sitting underneath pristinely shaped eyebrows. Her faced was rounded and her cheeks were flushed slightly red. Her blonde hair was partly hidden underneath an oddly fashionable, woolly hat; the rest lay over her shoulders in curls.
"Cute pants honey." She stepped in through the open door, "But honestly sweetie, it's a tad cold for those."
She pushed the door closed behind her, slipped her large, white fur coat off and walked straight to the kitchen. She draped her coat over a chair and prepared herself a cup of coffee, then poured hot water into Alina's and her own.
"Drink this darling." She sat down at the table with one legged crossed over the other showing off her new winter boots. "It'll do you a world of good."
"Thanks," She held the steaming cup to her lips, but did not drink from it. "Eva, it's lovely to see you—"
"Oh doll isn't it always?" Eva gulped down a mouthful of coffee then quickly exhaled, "Hot."
"Yes, of course." Eva had always been very sensitive so Alina tried her best to choose her words carefully, "I was just wondering… Well, I mean…" But Alina soon decided it was too early to worry about causing offense, "Why are you here? And why so early?"
Eva looked utterly injured,
"Can't a girl spontaneously visit her beloved little sister without an interrogation?" She slammed her cup down on the small wooden table. Alina inhaled sharply before she could stop herself. Eva was sweeping her blonde curls out of her eyes, her eyes darted to Alina.
"What?" Eva had always been skilled at injecting poison into words, for as long as Alina could remember Eva had had a knack for it.
"Nothing, nothing." Alina knew where this was going and she was desperate to avoid it, she contemplated running for the front door, if she hadn't had been in her underwear she very well might have.
"No. Say what you have to say. If you don't say it now, you'll just bitch about me later. I know what you're like Alina."
By now Alina usually found her sister's words humorously inaccurate. She'd learned to look past the venomous tone and focus on the actually words. It was something Eva failed to do. Alina had never had any time for gossiping or bitching, frankly it bored her. Besides that Alina had never spent much time with other people, so she couldn't have been a gossip even if she'd wanted to.
"Coaster." Alina spoke through gritted teeth.
"Is that all? Jesus Christ, Alina! Look at this table," Eva scooped up her cup and small drops of coffee dribbled down the outside of the cup. Alina followed them with her eyes, tuning out her sister's ranting. Eva's voice became a buzzing sound that was barely recognisable.
"Alina? Alina!"
Eva stood up and held herself so still that it seemed like she has been flash frozen. Alina shook her head slightly,
"Sorry Eva, I'm really tired." Alina waited for Eva to tell her that 'that is no excuse, after all we are sisters', but no reply came. No quick witted retort, no response of any sort. Instead Eva poured the remainder of her coffee into the sink, put the cup on the draining board and left. As she headed towards the door Alina ran after her.
Even though Alina was the younger sibling she had always felt it her place to look after Eva. Anyone who knew her well knew that her attitude soaked, tough gal exterior was all an act. She relied very much on the approval and opinions of others, a quality which Alina did not possess, usually. Although she tried to protect Eva as much as she could, that did not cause unusual sibling behaviour. Growing up they wound each other up and drove each other crazy, but not once before had Alina driven Eva to the point where she gave in. That wasn't Eva; Eva always had one more thing to say.
"Eva? Eva? I'm sorry, please, Eva." As Eva reached for the handle of the front door Alina took hold of her hand. Eva stopped. Flash frozen again. She didn't turn to look at Alina, she just froze.
"Eva, what's wrong?" Alina was very aware of the pleading tone in her voice. Eva pulled her hand away.
"Alina, you never listen." Eva, still facing the door, ran her hand through her hair. "Do you even know what I was talking about?"
Eva turned, watching Alina, awaiting a response. Alina pondered a moment; obviously she was getting very good at tuning Eva out.
"Coasters?"
"No," Eva leant back slightly against the closed door, "No, Alina, not coasters."
"Ah, well see I thought you were that's why I stopped listening. I mean, would you listen to me go on and on about coasters?"
Alina tried to force a laugh and a grin to lighten the mood, but her laugh sounded awkward and her grin looked inspired by terror. There was a long pause. Alina wasn't used to being in a situation with her sister where she was in the wrong; it always seemed to end with Eva stubbornly rejecting the blame that she rightly deserved. Not this time though and Alina was totally aware of her mistake, she had assumed her sister would act in her usual way. Alina had created a caricature of Eva in her mind and now she had acted in response to that rather than Eva herself. It dawned on Alina how much she could have hurt Eva, who was already so insecure. Alina didn't dare speak first; she had been careless enough with her words. Thankfully, Eva spoke,
"I should go. It was nice to see you. Next time why don't you haul your ass up to my place instead of expecting me to do all the travelling?" Eva's attitude had returned and at the corners of her mouth were the tell-tale creases of a forgiving smile that just wouldn't stay hidden.
"That sounds like a plan," Alina nodded and reached out to give her sister a hug. Eva accepted the hug. There was a loud knock at the door behind their embrace. Eva clamped her arms around Alina and squealed directly into her ear.
"Jesus!" Alina struggled free from the shaking Eva, trying her best to repress her amusement, "It's just the door."
"Alina?" A muffled yet familiar voice crept through the small chips and gaps in the door "Are you alright?"
Alina recognised the voice immediately,
"Dmitri." The word came out in a barely audible whisper, but Eva picked it up straight away.
In the past Eva had tried to explain love to Alina, who was not at all intrigued by the subject. Eva had described it as being unable to contain yourself at the sight or sound of them, her example had been Eva cried out the boyfriend-of-the-moment's and ran open armed towards him when spotting him getting of a bus. Alina's equivalent of that would have been whispering a name beneath her breath. So Eva was excited.
"Dmitri? Who's that? Do tell my honey." Eva brushed some hair out of Alina's eyes, at first Alina assumed it was an affectionate action meant to help coax information out of her. But when the preening did not stop Alina realised Eva was trying to "pretty her up".
"Eva, leave it." Alina brushed off Eva's hands and turned to open the door. She turned back just before she touched the handle, to give a stern look and a warning, "Don't, you dare say anything about me. Eva."
She opened the door to see Dmitri looking out on the street; he was rubbing his hands together, but waiting patiently for her. A moment after her front door opened Dmitri turned to face Alina, they simultaneously grinned. Alina took another moment to admire him.
While Dmitri was some years older than Alina, he had a modestly stylish appearance. On that cold March morning he wore slim, black jeans, a grey blazer style jacket, that hung over his thin frame. He had old and worn red fingerless gloves offering near to no protection from the cold. His dark hair reached just below his jaw line, it lay in waves that had had no preparation other than a hand pushing stray strands from his eyes.
His eyes always seemed so dark, so beautiful. Alina always thought there was a trace of eyeliner around them, but on a sly closer inspection there was none, just dark, tired, bold, beautiful eyes.
"Come in." Alina's face dropped as she felt a cold breeze brush over her bare legs. "Damn."
Alina had frozen to the spot, she was unsure of what to do. She considered closing the door and getting some clothes on, but that seemed rude. Her other options were inviting him in and leaving him with Eva while she got dressed, or inviting him in and acting like nothing was wrong.
"Come in,"
"Aren't you a bit cold?" Dmitri's grin grew, Alina's cheeks redden and Eva interrupted.
"Come in honey!" She called from the kitchen; she had retaken her place at the table.
"Of course, you must meet my sister." Any possible enthusiasm that could have been felt for any part of that statement was completely absent, but Dmitri just smiled.