Chapter 3
Rose POV
Lissa, Mama and I drove up to the Belikov ranch the next day with mixed emotions. Mama was still mourning the death of her mother, but I thought that being around other people would be the best thing for her. Lissa was excited to see Christian again and I was excited to see all of my old friends. I still didn't know why seeing Dimitri again felt so much different from the feelings I had before. Dimitri and Christian were waiting in the drive when we pulled up and we greeted each other. Minutes later Eddie and Mason pulled up and I was glad that I had my closest friends around me. Mama went inside to talk to Olena and Yeva, leaving us to ourselves. We decided that we would all go riding and we walked down to the barn. We saddled up the horses and rode out. Dimitri said he wanted to show me something so we broke off from the group, heading towards the old oak tree that divided the two farms.
Dimitri POV
This was going to be the perfect opportunity to tell her how I felt about her. We broke off from the group and I caught Christian's not so subtle wink, knowing exactly what I was doing. Rose and I rode to the tree that I had carved our names in the day she left.
"What is it you wanted to show me Dimitri?" She asked. She really had no idea what I was doing.
"Patience Roza." I said with a smile. She rolled her eyes at me. "I wanted to tell you something before you see what it is." I ran my hands through my hair nervously. "Roza, I was devastated when you left all those years ago. More importantly, it made me realize something. My feelings for you aren't just simple friendship anymore." Roza looked at me in shock.
"What exactly are you saying Dimitri? Don't you want to be friends anymore?" Roza asked and I scrambled to reassure her.
"Roza, I want to be more than friends. Come here." I took her hand and led her to the other side of the tree where I had carved the tree four years ago. "I carved this in there the day I read your letter. I love you Roza. I couldn't let you go back to Houston without you knowing my feelings for you." For the first time since I have known Roza, she was standing there utterly speechless. I waited patiently for her response.
Rose POV
I never realized until now that when I left, I felt just like Dimitri did. When I saw what he had carved into the oak tree, I honestly didn't know what to say.
"Dimitri, I really don't know what to say. With everything that has been going on lately I'm a little confused, but I think I feel the same thing. What are we gonna do Dimitri? I have to go back to Houston with Mama. I can't leave her alone right now." I said.
"It's alright Roza. We will both graduate soon and we'll work it out. I just couldn't let you get away this time without knowing." He said and cupped his hands around my face. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. He pulled back and looked into my eyes. "I love you Roza and I can't let you go again. Like I said, we will figure it out." I nodded still not sure what to say.
We got back on our horses and rode down to join the rest of the group near the river. Lissa was getting rather comfortable with Christian and poor Mason and Eddie looked like they didn't want to witness the two lovebirds. We rode back to the Belikov house and put our horses back in the barn. We ate lunch with the Belikov's and I noticed that mama seemed to be much better in the company of friends. Shortly after lunch we had to leave so that mama could take care of some last minute affairs before we headed back to Houston.
Grandma had left me the house in her will and it would be mine when I graduated high school. Her property also included the farmhouse that we used to live in and the acreage of the farm. Her property had been divided between the two of us but since mama and papa wanted to stay in Houston, they signed all of the property over to me. Once everything was straightened out with grandma's estate, I asked mama if I could go to the Belikov's before we left for Houston. Lissa rode with me over there. The Belikov kids and Christian had just got home from school and Dimitri was in the barn tending to the horses. I went out to the barn while Lissa was swooning over Christian. As soon as Dimitri saw me a smile spread across his face.
"Hello Roza, what are you doing here?" He asked.
"I asked mama if I could come over to see you before we left for Houston." His face fell instantly. He knew that we were leaving for Houston soon, but he was still sad that he wouldn't see me for a while. "I do have some good news though. Grandma gave me the house in her will and Mama signed her part over to me. The whole farm is mine after I graduate so I'll definitely be coming around a lot more." His smile made an appearance again and he rushed forward and twirled me around. I squealed in surprise and he set me back down on the ground. He cupped my face and kissed my lips softly and I returned it. We stayed in an embrace for a short time and walked out of the barn towards the car. Dimitri had promised that he and Christian would come to Houston for our graduation ceremonies. Mama wanted me back soon so we could leave for Houston before it got dark. Lissa and I got in the car and headed back to grandma's house after saying our goodbyes. We rode in silence for a minute until Lissa began to speak.
"Rose did something happen between you and Dimitri?" She asked but the look on her face told me that she already knew the answer.
"Liss, you already know the answer to that. Did something happen between you and Christian?" I asked her and laughed as a bright blush crept into her cheeks.
"You already know the answer to that." She laughed as she used my own words against me. "I really like Christian but I don't know if I'll ever get to see him."
"Well you will have to come and visit me after we graduate. You could stay with me if you wanted." I said and her eyes lit up like the fourth of July.
We pulled up at the house and we started to load our bags in the car. Mama looked like she was a little better, but she asked me to drive. We made the long drive back to Houston. Mama was quiet on the drive and I was a little concerned. When we got back to Houston, mama was asleep as I dropped Lissa off at her house. We had to go back to school tomorrow and we would have a lot of catching up to do. We had only missed three days of school, but as graduation neared, the teachers tried to cram everything they could into the last couple of days.
We went to school the next day in a pretty good mood. Jill and Mia met us at lunch and asked about our absence. Everyone was telling me how sorry they were and it was honestly getting on my nerves. I mean, I missed grandma, but I wasn't the type of person to dwell on death. I thought that once the funeral was over that the sympathetic looks would end. I wasn't trying to be harsh, but I didn't dwell on things I couldn't change. We went to our afternoon classes after lunch and I ran into someone that I had really been trying to avoid. I tried to get away without being noticed, but I failed.
"Rose" He called. Crap! I turned around to face him.
"Hey Adrian." I liked Adrian really, but I didn't feel for him like he wanted me to. "What do you want? I'm going to be late for class and after being gone for three days…yeah, not the best idea." He laughed.
"I just wanted to make sure that you were okay Rose. I heard about your grandma." Wow, talk about killing my good mood. "I wanted to ask you something, but I'm not sure that now is the right time."
"What is it Adrian?" I was so gonna be late for class.
"I wanted to ask you to go on a date with me?" He said nervously.
"Adrian, I am not interested in you like that. Honestly, agreeing to go on a date with someone I don't have feelings for would be a waste of time for both of us." I said. "You are a good friend Adrian, but that's it. I'm sorry Adrian, but I really have to go to class." Adrian looked dejected and I did feel bad for him, but I just didn't feel that way for him. Besides, I had Dimitri now. I barely made it to class before the bell rung.
The days went by fast and before I knew it, it was time for graduation. Mama and Papa were there and I was surprised to see the whole Belikov family was here along with Christian. When the ceremony was over, Dimitri was the first to find me.
"I'm so proud of you Roza." He kissed my cheek and gave me a big hug. After that, papa and mama wanted to take me out to dinner to celebrate. I would be staying with my parents for another few days and then moving back to the old place just before Dimitri was to graduate. Papa surprised me with a truck as a graduation present. I packed my things in the next days and before I knew it, Lissa, Mia and Jill were helping me move all of my stuff into the house. I decided that instead of living at grandma's old house that I would live at our old farmhouse. Everything was beginning to come together.
*Okay, I'm having a little trouble with how to continue with this story. I am asking for some advice. Please help me to continue this story. I really like it but I'm a little stuck right now. Thanks.
