Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, profit from this story and all creative rights to the characters belong to Richelle Mead.
I stood there frozen like a deer caught in the headlights.
Can you say busted?
"Hey comrade," I laughed nervously. My laugh sounded so off.
"Lets go." He said.
I stepped off the table and automatically smoothed out my skirt like the proper lady would.
Just play it cool. I thought.
He just caught you red handed! There is nothing cool about this situation.
"What the fuck are you all looking at?" I screamed towards the onlookers.
So much for going out with some class. I could kiss that dream good bye.
The students hastily lowered their heads in shame and resumed picking at their trays.
Their heads were tilted slightly as they leaned their ears forward—undoubtedly eavesdropping.
What normal person wouldn't? This was juicy.
Not to mention I was the star of the show.
I usually preferred to be the center of attention—especially in bad situations—but having everyone in the entire cafeteria stare at me with the same disappointed expression made me feel small and powerless.
I wanted to be a coward and go crawl in a hole somewhere so I could escape reality.
"Miss Hathaway," Dimitri barked. "Watch that mouth of yours."
"How is that possible? It's on my face." I couldn't help the small giggle that escaped my lips.
"Would you be able to see your face if you had a mirror?" he regarded me with utter seriousness.
Pfft. What a stupid question, of course I could.
"Yes." I scoffed. "How could I possibly miss this pain-staking beautiful face? Although, I don't believe the mirror does me justice, I feel that I am much prettier in real life."
Dimitri cocked an eyebrow in amusement. "And how come you feel that you are much prettier in real life?"
One thing I disliked about Dimitri, he was so intimidating and could make anyone feel what they said was stupid and pointless.
He sure knew how to make me feel belittled.
There was no way in hell I was breaking; I had to show him what Rose Hathaway was made of.
Though I had a feeling he already knew.
"Because many people have told me—more specifically, men."
Dimitri tilted his head to the side like a curious puppy. "Men?"
"Yes." I nodded confidently. I was used to lying through my teeth.
"And what would you know about men?" He was humiliating me in front of all the other students, I realized.
"Probably about as much as you do, if you know what I mean." I winked.
I heard the slight gasps come from nearby students.
Got you, I thought.
"Oh, come on, that was good and you have to admit it." I laughed.
"Slap it high, Mase, slap it high!" I held my palm up in the air. Surprisingly, Mason didn't even spare me a glance; he kept his face blank and stared at his food as if I wasn't there.
"Anyone else?" I ran over to multiple tables, holding my hand up proudly. Disappointingly, no one had the guts to give me a half five.
"What are you all brain washed?" I screeched. "Have some fun! Take advantage of your youth!...you only live once, enjoy it."
I was channeling my inner Confucius; I couldn't believe I was actually resorting to moral lessons.
What was this Military Academy doing to me?
I glared at Dimitri.
Reaching into the pockets of his army green camouflage pants, those long graceful fingers of his pulled out that damn black radio.
I hissed under my breath. My enemy was back to haunt me.
"Don't you dare." I narrowed my eyes into tiny slits.
Smiling that dry, mocking smile of his that I'd learn to become familiar with, he pressed a button.
"Celeste? General Belikov speaking. Over."
"Celeste here. Over." The line buzzed.
"Do you really have to say 'over' every time you talk? It gets under my skin." I pointed out.
"As you do mine." He replied dryly.
"You love it." I smiled sweetly.
"Want to see something I love?"
I gulped.
"Misbehaved students here at the academy who act in such distasteful ways getting rightfully punished. That's what I love."
Dimitri pushed the button again. "Have E4301's bathroom mirror removed immediately. Over."
I gasped. "That's what gets you off on? You're one sick son of a b—"
"Scheduled for removal. Confirmed, Sir. Over."
"You make me sick, Belikov." I muttered.
"Thank you, Celeste. Over."
"First my doors, and now my mirror? That's pure evil. You're pure evil." I pointed with my finger to add dramatic emphasis.
"What's next my bath tub? My sink?...Hell, why don't you take my toilet while you're at it! Would that make you happy?"
"Actually," he pretended to think about it for a moment. "Yes it would make me happy, very much so."
Dimitri searched though his pocket. I saw that black antenna raise its ugly head.
"NO!" I screamed in horror.
"Please, oh god no, not the radio." I pleaded. "I'll do anything…just please, not the radio…"
"Very well," Dimitri looked smug with himself. "Why don't you tell me why this apple was thrown across the mess hall with the threat of it being an actual Grenade? You sent all of my students into a panic."
I spun around to face Mason.
"Mason!" I scolded. "How dare you play such a horrible sick joke on these people? You've nearly made every student in this cafeteria shit them selves! Now they'll probably have to go back to their dorms and change their clothes."
Mason gave me an 'are you serious?' look before glancing at Dimitri nervously and hastily looking away with an uncomfortable cough.
"Please tell me these uniforms are machine washable. Oh Lord. If not, send your dry cleaning bills to Mr. and Mrs. Ashford."
I looked around the room once before continuing.
"Because they have to be dry cleaned, right? There's no possible way these beautiful uniforms can be machine washable! What is this?" I plucked at my jacket. "Polyester? Velvet?—"
"Hathaway!" Dimitri's deep voice broke my ramble.
"Let's go," he walked over and grabbed me by the bicep firmly.
"Ouch! Let up, will ya?" I tugged on my arm but his iron grip tightened until it bit into my skin painfully as he hauled me out of the cafeteria.
I gave the students the finger with my free hand. "You can all SUCK IT!"
"Was that really necessary?" Dimitri sighed exasperated.
"Yeah," I shrugged lazily. "I like to go out with a bang."
He sighed again and closed the Mess hall doors behind us.
"So comrade, where are we headed to?...Got a hot date planned for the two of us?" I waggled my eyebrows.
"To the wardens office."
"The wardens' office?" I purred seductively. "I'm liking this more and more by the second. Is he hot?"
"She," Dimitri corrected. "The warden is a woman."
"What a bummer."
A few moments later, we arrived at the main office building.
"Hey would you look at those!" I pointed towards the carefully tended garden in the front.
Dimitri gave it a glance.
"I always thought those flowers were beautiful, Birds of paradise…strange name for a flower huh?"
No response.
"Want to know why they're called birds of paradise?" I asked.
"No."
"They're called birds of paradise because of their resemblance to the actual birds in the paradise. Fascinating huh?"
Dimitri nodded. But honestly, I don't think he was listening to a word I was saying.
"Want to know what my favorite flower is?" I asked once he opened the door.
"No." he grumbled.
"Roses' duh!" I chuckled. "How could anyone not guess that? My name is Rose for heavens sake!"
Dimitri gritted his teeth.
"Am I irritating you?"
"Just you opening your mouth irritates me. So yes, you are irritating me highly."
I shrugged. "Whatever."
The pretty receptionist looked up when we came in and once she saw Dimitri, she was practically drooling all over her paperwork.
I glanced over at him.
His deep shoulder brown hair was tied at the nape of his neck. It was damp so I assumed he'd just stepped out of the shower.
Lucky bastard…at least he has a bathroom door.
The darkness of his eyes was powerful but sultry at the same time. His skin smelled of a minty crisp aroma.
"Do you wear aftershave?" I asked, unknowingly interrupting the conversation he was having with the receptionist.
"What?" He asked. The way he said it made me feel like an idiot for asking such a stupid question.
"Do you wear after shave?" I repeated slowly. "I'm assuming you do because your face appears clean shaven, and the scent doesn't exactly smell like cologne. It's more crispy and clean—"
"Yes." He whispered tightly. "I do wear aftershave. Now, can I please finish talking to Ms. Rinaldi here?"
"Fine," I crossed my arms over my chest. "You can talk to your precious receptionist. I was just asking a question; now need to be such a bitch over it."
Despite having just called the General a bitch, I didn't get in trouble. Dimitri simple ignored me and continued talking to the girl at the desk as if I wasn't there.
Was he running out of ways to punish me?
No way. That was impossible. Dimitri could think of a billion ways to punish me.
"General Belikov, the warden will call you out momentarily. Please, go have a seat…or you can stay here, I don't mind." The girl with blonde ringlets batted here lashes at him.
I rolled my eyes and snorted.
"Thank you Mia, but I'd rather have a seat." He gave a heart stopping smile before taking a seat in one of those boring chairs you see in a hospital.
I trotted right up to Dimitri and plopped down on the seat beside him.
"So how long have you been a General?" I asked.
"Four years." He answered monotonically.
"Four years? Wow. That's a long time. I don't think I'd ever find a job that could hold my attention for that long." I stated.
"Probably not," He muttered.
I glared at him.
"I am agreeing with you." Dimitri said.
"So four years?...You must be older than you look. What are you…31? 32?" I tried to make my voice sound casual, but I desperately wanted to know his age.
"24."
"Oh, nice." Was my genius response.
Dimitri sure did know how to make a situation awkward. I would have had a better conversation talking to a wall. A wall would probably say allot more than he ever did.
But his silence and strong demeanor was sort of hot. Not that I'd ever tell the bastard that. Hell, I hated admitting it to myself…
"General Belikov." I looked up to see a bony middle aged woman standing in a doorway. She had gray hair and a long nose with gold glasses perched on the bridge.
Something about her reminded me of a vulture.
I had a feeling the two of us weren't going to be best friends. What a shame.
"Come in please, I'm ready." The woman said blandly.
"Go get em' tiger." I nudged Dimitri's shoulder with my elbow.
"Let's go, Rose." He said.
'What if I don't want to go?"
He flashed me his black radio.
"Okay okay, fine. I'm coming." I stood up from my chair. "Just know that I am not happy about this."
"Fine by me," Dimitri shrugged indifferently.
I don't know what I was thinking at the time, but I decided to kick the wall, hard.
"Son of a bitchhhhh!" I yelped, grabbing my stubbed toe.
"Seriously?" Dimitri cocked an eyebrow. "What would make you want to kick a wall?"
"It seemed like the right thing to do at the time." I began limping towards the door that led to the vultures' office.
"Going out with a bang?" His voice held a tinge of amusement.
"Fine…go ahead mock me!" I said dramatically. "Just know that when you're lying in your comfy bed tonight, watching western movies on your flat screen, and enjoying the privacy of having doors. I'll be in my freezing dorm, with no T.V. and no doors, nursing my bruised and battered foot!"
"Thanks that will definitely help me sleep tonight." The ghost of a smile flickered across his face.
Dimitri's face suddenly became more serious. "How do you know I like western movies?"
I shrugged like it was no big deal. "I saw you patrolling the grounds last night with a duster on," I chuckled. "It sort of makes you look like a cowboy so I assumed you liked the old west."
Dimitri looked puzzled and taken aback for a moment. He smiled. A genuine smile that showed his perfect white teeth and made butterflies flutter in my stomach. "I do like the old west. I cannot believe you figured that out, not many people know about my fascination with the old west."
I smiled.
He quickly regained his composure. Dimitri was back in General mode. "Warden Kirova is waiting for us, come on."
"Fine, hold on one second. I have a feeling I'm going to need this." I rummaged through my uniform jacket and pulled out my inhaler.
I pressed the container to my lips and slowly inhaled two wonderful breaths.
My lungs felt instantly relieved.
"What is that?"
Dimitri's eyes were wide with fury and anger.
"Oh shit." I mumbled, unconsciously shoving the inhaler back into my jacket.
I had completely forgotten about what Mason had told me earlier. Nearly all of St. Augustine's applications were turned down if a student had asthma. Rigorous training made it a safety issue for students when they had asthma, so they didn't like to run risks for any accidents. It had been so natural for me to grab my inhaler without a conscious thought.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid me!
It was times like these that I actually wished I'd think before acting.
Now it came back to bite me in the ass.
"Is this a bad time to mention I have asthma?" I closed my eyes waiting for his answer.
I giggled when I felt his warm hands slip into my jacket. "If you wanted to feel me up, General Belikov, you could have just asked."
"Shut up." He hissed under his breath.
"Oh, I like a feisty one," I giggled louder. "Why don't you spank me with a paddle and call me dirty words in Russian?"
I was suddenly slammed against the wall. I opened my eyes to see Dimitri standing there, his dark eyes a roaring fire. "This is no time for jokes, Hathaway!"
"Oh, papi I like it Rough!" I winked sarcastically. "Press me harder against the wall! HARDER!"
"Hathaway!" he growled menacingly. "This is no time for jokes. Have you informed anyone of your medical condition?"
"No."
"No?" he asked incredulously.
"No."
"How is that possible?" Dimitri asked more to himself than me.
I shrugged. "Obviously, it's possible. Your colleagues didn't check my record well enough."
"Every cadet's record is check thoroughly several times before being approved to attend the academy. I personally approved yours and found nothing out of the ordinary."
"Are you saying I'm not special?"
"General Belikov?"
"One second, Kirova." He snapped.
"This is serious, Rose. This could be the difference between life and death. Something could have happened out in the field earlier. Why didn't you tell me?"
"So the 'Hey Dimitri, I can't breath!' didn't do it for you? I thought it was being pretty specific out on the track."
"That's different," He said defensively.
"I'm fine, Dimitri, honestly." I said. "As long as I have my inhaler with me, no one will even notice I have asthma. So chill."
"General Belikov?"
"Coming," he shouted over his shoulder.
Dimitri grabbed my forearm. "Let's keep this between the two of us until I can figure something out. Okay? I don't have any control over you getting kicked out this school and I don't want that to happen."
"Really? That's the nicest thing you ever said to me." I grinned slightly. "Usually you look like you want to hold a pillow over my face when I'm sleeping—"
"Come on," he said abruptly.
Dimitri led me into the office and took positioned himself like a statue against the wall.
"Please have a seat." Kirova gestured towards a chair placed in front of her giant wood desk.
I nodded and sat down. I tried to keep my nerves calm but my insides were in knots.
"So Miss Hathaway," She ripped off her glasses and twirled them in her bony hand. "General Belikov has informed me of your behavior lately, and I must say I'm surprised…I haven't had a student act the way you have in years."
Kirova sighed tiredly. That type of sigh that says 'I don't want to deal with you, you're wasting my time.'
I narrowed my eyes at her.
She walked back in front of me, her black heels clinking loudly against the tile floor. Her whole demeanor screamed 'BITCH!' and I fought the growl of annoyance that wanted to escape my lips.
"I'm putting you in General Belikov's hands." She slammed her hands against the desk.
"What?" I exclaimed.
"General Belikov has expressed to me that he believes this is what's best for you."
"And what do you suppose he does to help improve my behavior?" I spat with venom.
Kirova shrugged. "Train you, punish you, both…I don't know Miss Hathaway, what ever he feels is right."
I spun around in my chair to face Dimitri. "You set this up?"
His face and voice were emotionless. "Yes."
"Why is this even necessary? Is it really going to help me?...I'm already training in the morning, school hasn't even started yet. How am I supposed to have any time for anything else? This is absurd. " I was angry now.
"General Belikov will teach you self control, self discipline, and respect—things you are tremendously lacking in from what I have seen in the past few moments."
I glared at her.
"If you want to stay in St. Augustine's Military academy, then I suggest you take up this offer."
"But I don't even want to stay here!" I shot out of my seat. "My mother is forcing me to stay here! She forced me to enroll here! She is the only reason I am here."
"Very well," Kirova's voice was neutral. "If you would like to leave, Ms. Hathaway, the bus is right outside waiting for you. There is nothing keeping you here. Take the easy way out and quit."
"Is that a challenge?"
She ignored me. "Or you can stay here and fight your hardest to achieve what you desire. I assure you it will never be easy or fun…but in the end, you will be thanking General Belikov for what he has taught you."
Kirova paused for emphasis.
"The choice is yours Ms. Hathaway," she lounged in her comfy chair. "But if you shall choose to stay here, you have to try your hardest…no more pranks like the one you pulled earlier."
"But it was funny." I pointed out.
"I have not got all day Ms. Hathaway," she said. "I've other important issues to attend to, so please decide what you're going to do now."
I chewed on my bottom lip and glanced back at Dimitri. His face was blank and his body still. But I noticed when his warm brown eyes flickered over to me, they held some emotion.
Was that emotion Faith?...Encouragement?
It was all the motivation I needed.
If Dimitri believed I could do it. Then I could do it.
I paused and let out a big breath. "Okay."
"Okay what?"
"Okay," I nodded hesitantly. "I'll take up General Belikovs' offer."
1 week later.
"I hate you so much, Dimitri! You're my living nightmare!" I screamed, and wiped the sweat from my forehead with my sleeve.
"You don't hate me." He chuckled.
"No," I puffed. "I'm pretty sure I do. You make me want to rip my hair out!"
"Aww," Dimitri said sarcastically. "But such pretty hair...that would be a waste."
"Really?" I asked surprised.
Dimitri nodded and then his face suddenly became alarmed. "Watch out!"
Wham.
I ran into a pole.
I felt the wind leave my body as I dropped to the ground.
"Why is there a fucking pole in the middle of the track?" I gasped.
Dimitri looked concerned as he knelt down beside me. "It's not a pole, it's one of the academies cannons'."
"What?" I fell into a fit of giggles. "Why in the hell are there cannons?"
"Because there set to launch off tomorrow when classes start. Are you okay?"
I couldn't stop laughing and it began reeking havoc on my lungs—not to mention I'd just had the wind knocked out of me.
That panicky feeling set over me like a blanket.
"I need my inhaler, NOW!" I exclaimed.
Yelling caused more distressed to my lungs as I began gasping for air.
"Where is it?"
I laid back on the grass.
"Rose, Rose...where is it?" He hurriedly searched through my pockets.
"It's not here." His voice was frantic.
"It's in my-my..." It felt like a huge weight was pressed against my chest. "It's in my bag back at the gym."
Before I knew what was happening, I was being scooped into his arms as he began sprinting towards the gym doors.
I wanted to make some inappropriate comment about being in his arms, but the pain in my lungs was excruciating. The only thing I could compare it to was when you stay under water for too long.
Except it wasn't like that.
It was ten times worse.
"Stay with me Rose," his voice was frustrated as he grunted to open the gym doors. "We're almost there."
Black spots danced before my vision.
I was trying so hard to hold on...but it was a useless battle. I'd gone without oxygen for longer than a minute.
I was loosing consciousness.
Right before I blacked out, I heard a soft velvety voice whisper. "Don't worry, Roza, I've got you."
Unsurprisingly, I awoke to blaring white ceilings and the sound of a heart monitor beeping.
I'd been to the hospital so many times over the years that I was used to being here, it was like my second home.
"Fuck," I groaned, my lungs felt like they had exploded.
"Rose?"
I craned my head to see Dimitri in the chair beside my hospital bed. He had on the same workout clothes he'd been wearing earlier and with a faded western novel in one hand.
"Hey," I croaked.
"Hello." He released a breathtaking relieved smile. "I'm glad you're awake."
"Me too."
Dimitri chuckled, the sound was rich and warm. It reminded me of chocolate drizzling onto a fresh cute strawberry. It was wonderful.
"How long have I been out?" I sat up trying to clear my head.
Surprisingly, the only pain I felt was in my chest. It was that same familiar pain of a recent asthma attack. Nothing I couldn't handle.
Dimitri tired to help me sit up, but I pushed him away. "I'm fine, really...I'm used to this. I don't need your help."
He nodded and sat back in his seat. "You've only been out for 20 minutes. You passed out right when I got to your duffel bag."
"Just my luck," I muttered.
"You had an asthma attack."
"Yeah," I nodded. "I've had many before, it's no big deal."
"I'm just glad you're okay."
"Me too," I laughed outright. "I can't believe I was taken down by a pole. I was doing so good out there!"
"Yes," Dimitri lips curled into a traitor smile. "You were doing great...really, really great."
Just then, I heard a small knock on the door.
"Hello?" In walked a petite blonde woman dressed in nurse attire. As she got closer, I was able to see her jade green eyes. "I'm Lissa, Dr. Olendzki sent me in here to check on you."
"Hi Lissa," I smiled.
"How are you feeling?" She asked kindly.
"Good, great, wonderful, amazing. Is that good enough? Can I go now?" I asked.
"Relax, Rose," Lissa chuckled. "Dr. Olendzki wanted to make sure you were fine. She's already ran a few standard tests and you appear to be okay." She flipped through her clip board.
"I have to go," Dimitri's voice came from beside me. "I'll see you tomorrow for training rose, 5:00AM sharp...don't be late."
"I wouldn't dream of it." I couldn't help but feel a little sad and disappointed he was leaving. I immediately bashed that needy feeling to death with an imaginary hammer.
He nodded once before closing the door shut behind him.
"So can I go now? I'm sick of being cooked up in this room." I asked while she flashed an annoying light in my eye.
Lissa laughed again, a sweet and kind laugh that made you drawn to her. I could already tell I was going to like her.
"Well since you're so anxious to leave," She wrote something down on her notepad. "There's no reason I should keep you here. You're free to leave Ms. Hathaway."
"Thank you, thank you!" I jumped off the bed and gave her a grateful hug. Lissa laughed again.
"You're welcome."
I ripped open the door.
"Hey!" Lissa called out.
"Hmm?" I spun around to face her.
"Don't forget your jacket." She smiled and handed over my red sweat shirt.
"Oh yeah," I said stupidly. "Thanks!"
And then I took off towards my dorm.
When I got there, I received the surprise of a lifetime.
"I thought you said that you'd see me tomorrow?" I asked.
Dimitri was knelt down, a screw driver in his hand. He shrugged. "I lied."
"Is that my door?" I squealed.
He nodded and flashed me a small smile. "I put it on my self."
"Why?"
"Why what?" He looked puzzled.
"Why did you put my door back on?"
"Because I believe you deserve it back," He stood up and walked over to me.
"Good night, Ms. Hathaway...enjoy your privacy back for a moment. Because you'll probably do something terrible tomorrow and I'll have to take it away again."
I laughed. "I will. Thank you, General Belikov."
He stared at me for a moment longer, before nodding and giving me one last smile and walking away.