Chapter Two: Reality

RPOV

"So Rose, What are you going to do when Dimka leaves for college? You going to stay with him or run to someone new as soon as he's gone?", Sonja said.

She is the only Belikova sister that has always hated me. I have known her since I was six years old and she, to this day, has it out for me. Even though Dimitri and I have been dating for three years and have been best friends for nine, she still doesn't think I am worthy of her little brother.

"Sonja you know I would never do that. Dimitri and I have been dating for 3 years and I have no intention of changing that at any point in time, ever!" I was honestly getting tired of her constant digs and comments about my relationship with Dimitri. Not to mention she is hitting a very strong nerve right now. I am well aware that he is leaving in 6 short months for college. I have been aware of it since the first day of school this year. His last first day of High School.

We have talked about college and where he is looking, much to my liking 2 of his top choices are in Texas. Meaning he would still be reasonably close and I could visit and go to his games. But I know his number one choice is in Tennessee. Vanderbilt University. It's a great school and they put out some of the best players in the Majors. But it is a bit farther than I would like, even if it's only by a few hours.

The size of Texas being what it is, it would take 4 hours to drive to Houston to Rice University. Driving to Tennessee would take roughly 10, but my over protective father won't let me drive out of state. I don't understand why, can't be any different than driving here right, it's not like I'd be driving through Russia. Just a different state, with different speed limits.

"Well, I will be keeping my eye on you Rose. Don't think for a second I am going to let you screw over my brother."

"Sonja, give it a rest. Don't listen to her Roza. We know you and Dimitri will be fine.", Karolina said coming to my rescue.

"Thank you Karo. I love him more than anything. I do worry about the 2 years we will be apart though. What if he meets someone and doesn't see the point of being with me anymore. I mean he will be in a whole new world at college and I will be here, still in high school." I have never been insecure in my relationship with Dimitri. We have always been two halves of a whole. I never worried or wondered if he would rather be with someone else. But now, now reality is setting in and I know there will be many different women from different places around him. What if I am no longer good enough, pretty enough? Will he leave?

"Roza, let me tell you a little secret," she leaned in real close to me, "Dimitri loves you more than his own life," she stepped back and laughed. "Which you know full and well. Don't worry about what if's, could, would or should. Just focus on what is. You are his and he is yours. End of story."

Sometimes the similarities from Karo and Dimitri astonished me. Going beyond just physical appearance, their personalities are almost identical. The both have the same humor, likes and dislikes and they both do really well with the "Zen Life Lessons". I gave her a tentative smile and nodded.

"Thanks Karo. Lets get home, your mama hates when were late for dinner."

It only took us ten minutes or so to get home from the restaurant Karo worked at. I meet up with her after school everyday and study while she works. Sonja comes when she gets off from the pharmacy and we all walk home together. I spend a lot of time at their house, even before me and Dimitri officially started dating. My parents are always out of town, so to prevent me from starving, Olena started making extra for dinner and it just became the normal.

We just opened the front door, I could hear my Russian god in the kitchen, talking to I assume was Olena. Saying something about waiting for me to open something. "Open what Comrade?" He hated that nickname I gave him when he was 10. I was 8 and learned that comrade was another word for friend, partner if you will, plus he's Russian and has his ridiculous obsession with the old west, it just fit. Or at least to me it did.

"I got a letter from Rice University, I wanted to wait for you to be here when I open it to see if I got in." He looked so eager to find out if he had been accepted, I was honestly shocked he wanted to wait for me. I don't have the patience he does, I would have torn it open by now.

"Well.. What are you waiting for? Tear it open!", I all but yelled at him. Secretly I was terrified for him. What if he didn't get in? What if they didn't give him a scholarship. I knew he couldn't afford college without financial help, and loans were such a hassell and would take forever to pay back. We were really counting on a scholarship to one of his top choices.

"Dear Mr. Dimitri Belikov, It is my privilege to inform you that your application for admission to Rice University has been approved." He was half talking half mumbling but I am sure he just said "Approved". He was scanning the letter, I knew what words he was looking for, as soon as I thought it, he read, "...it is with great pleasure that we offer you an instate reward for academics and athletics...total value of 275,000." I heard his breath hitch the same time mine did. That is all we were praying for. Now I hope Chris and Ivan got it too.

"Oh Comrade, this is amazing! I am so proud of you!", I jumped him, right there in the kitchen, throwing my arms around his neck and legs around his hips. I peppered his face in kisses. His hands grabbed under my thighs and kissed me passionately. Lord how I would have loved to not be in his mother's kitchen right now. Forcing myself I pulled back.

"I need to call Christian and Ivan and see if they got letters too." Dimitri phone chimed just then and I went to grab my own from my bag. I could hear him talking to Ivan so I started to dial Lissa. I knew she would be with Christian, those two were hardly ever apart, though me and Dimitri weren't any better.

"Hang on, Ivan. Roza can you call Lissa and see if she is with Christian?" Dimitri asked.

"Already on it, line is ringing now." I waited for the call to connect. "Lissa are you at Christian?"

Her voice came through like she had just ran a marathon, what were they doing? "Yea, I was just running to call you, guess what came in the mail today?"

"A letter from Rice University?", I was hoping it sounded like more of a statement rather than a question. I really hoped he got one.

"YES! He hasn't opened it yet, he's nervous."

"Well tell Sparky to hurry up and open it, Dimitri and Ivan got ones too and have already opened them." I heard a small gasp on the line, then a deep breath from Lissa.

"Well he was accepted, has a partial academic scholarship for 100,000, but nothing for athletics.", that's not what I expected to hear. Christian is extremely smart and talented. Wait did I just say that, is Sparky finally growing on me?

"Well tell him that's amazing anyways, he got in and will get some help with paying for it"

"Do you think this means he can't play, or they won't have a spot for him? How are we going to pay for the rest?"

"I don't know Liss, but something is better than nothing. As for the first part, I am sure something can be worked out."

"What did Dimitri and Ivan get?"

"They got full scholarships, Any others or just Rice?"

"Just Rice for now," she sighed heavily and I could hear Christian in the background talking about being a failure. He should know better, he got in, that is a huge accomplishment. Maybe they had to be selective on how much they could grant in a year. I will have to get Dimitri and Ivan to talk to him later. "Look, I've got to go, Chris is really upset."

"Yea, Okay, Well tell him congrats from all of us."

"I will, and pass our congrats onto Dimitri and Ivan would you. Love you Rose."

"Alright, love you too Lissa."

I filled Dimitri in on the other half of the conversation and he was just as shocked as the rest of us. But as I knew he would, he said they can choose later when the see what school offers them all the same thing. That has to be one of the top reason I love him so much. He is always willing to sacrifice and make changes to his life to benefit others, but not this time. This is his future and his life, well our lives. I didn't want him to make any decisions that could hinder his dreams and our future.

So I made him promise me that he would not make any choices that would compromise his future, just so they can stay together to play ball. He just grinned that beautiful smile and looked right into my eyes, "I promise Roza."