Ok. Here's the chapter with major angst. So BE WARNED. Thank you again for all of the support on this story. Ideas for an emma/hook OUAT story are still filtering through my head, so I may take a break from VA after this and DOTW is finished. With that being said, this story is no where near done. We've only seen one prep race ;)
This will be it for the week. I have yet another rodeo this weekend lol. So I apologize. But, here's to hoping my run is better than last weekends...
DISCLAIMER: I don't own VA only the plot of this story.
"Spill." Lissa's jade eyes were serious.
"Damn Lissa, let me atleast get in the hotel room." I stepped around the bubbly blonde. I needed a shower. I smiled faintly at the memory of waking up to Dimitri and his possessive behaviour in the lobby.
"Serious, Rose. I wasn't messing around when I said he was trouble! I've been around him longer than you, worked for him longer than you. He's not good for you Rose. He's not good for anyone. He doesn't underst-" That was enough.
"Liss, shut up. I know about him, okay? I get it. He's a bad, terrible person. We aren't a… couple or lovers. We're just-"
"You're just what? Bed warmers? Who the fuck settles for that Rose? Especially when you have Adrian fucking Ivashkov pining after you, sending you flowers and trying to earn your affections? Why settle to warm the bed of a monstrous, egregious, manwhore like Belikov?" By the end of her rant she was panting.
I turned my head, not wanting her to see the effect her words had. Tears threatened, not because I thought she was right, but because she honestly believed that. That he was irredeemable, unsavable. I took a shaky breath and walked towards the bathroom. Only pausing at her next words.
"Don't make the mistake you made with Ralf. You can't fix everyone."
When I exited the shower, Liss was already in bed, the lights dimmed. I sighed. Why did everyone have a distaste for Dimitri? Why couldn't other people see the slight warmth in the way he held himself when he thought no one was watching?
Rose Garlands
Anthony Jefferson, Amber's owner, hefted me upon her back as the groom began the journey from the paddock. The mare strolled casually along, so unlike Tiny, who normally tried his best to get some kind of reaction from you. I smiled at the thought of the large sorrel colt.
We entered the tunnel and the only sound was that of aluminum shoes against brick. We broke midway through the field of eleven, in gate number seven. A good position for this mare, seeing as she typically broke well and ran in the front.
We were handed off to the ponyman, where we were escorted across the dirt track and onto the turf. The walk around the track seemed to take forever, causing me to release a sigh of relief when we finally made it to the backside of the starting gates. At the sound of the gates closing on the first horses, Amber started throwing her head. Weird. I shrugged it off, sitting up as we were loaded.
The announcer called the race, the moment of silence between his voice and the bell was almost unbearable. Finally, the bells rang, the gates opened and out we went. Amber rushed to the front, just as I expected. I reined her in fractionally, realizing that the mile and 3/16 race would be tiring. at this pace. We charged in front of the pack for some time, easing around onto the back side of the track. I smiled. She had a chance at this.
That was when she took a wrong step. I pulled up slightly, thinking it was a simple stumble. She felt wrong, so I reined her to the outside, avoiding the others behind us as I pulled her to a stop. After a few more wrong steps while trying to pull her up, she collapsed. I hit the ground not far from the mare. I struggled to my feet and made my way towards her.
I glanced around frantically as I stroked the mare's head. Her injury was evident as she attempted to stand once more. As the ambulance arrived and the vets poured from the vehicle, she was sedated as they tried to get an understanding on how bad the injury was. I knew. I had seen the likes of it before. Her front right ankle was shattered.
I was soon replaced by Anthony, who squeezed my shoulder on his way by. I turned and was immediately engulfed in the arms of Bertie. I felt Liss' delicate hand on my shoulder as I simply stared at the scene in front of me. The vets nodded as they discussed with Anthony. A grief stricken look came across his face before he consented. She would be put down, the injury far too great to overcome.
I walked once more to the beautiful mare that reminded me so much of Pip. I placed my hand just underneath her ear, stroking the softness there. I bit the inside of my cheek as I moved to the saddle, unbuckling and sliding it from her back. My gaze met Anthony's and he nodded.
Standing, I walked to Bertie, pausing only for her and Liss to fall into step with me as we made our way towards the homestretch. The weight of the saddle was unregistrable as we trekked across the turf. I was faintly aware of the horde of people following us and the equine ambulance passing us on the way to the barns.
I pretended not to notice the stares we received by the entire grandstand, instead focusing my attention on the one person I could. Dimitri Belikov stood, Ivan beside him, at the entrance to the tunnel. He fell into step with us as we passed. Alberta took the saddle and cloth from my grasp, allowing Dimitri to lead me to a quiet hallway, sitting me on a bench. He squatted in front of me, a wary expression on his face.
"It's not your fault, Rose." I turned my gaze on him.
"Who knows? Maybe with a different jockey she would have been in a different position." He sighed.
"No. It happened, so it was fate." I barked out a laugh.
"You believe in fate now?" His gaze hardened. Before he could respond I dropped my gaze. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm not mad at you so I shouldn't take it out on you." He sighed, his eyes melting fractionally. He pulled me towards him, only slightly hesitant. I knew better than to try to touch him, but I needed it. I needed to feel flesh underneath my fingers, needed to be reminded that it would be okay.
So I made the biggest mistake yet. My fingers rose to his hardened chest. His response was immediate. He pushed away immediately, sending me into the wall and him across the hall. His steel brown eyes turned on me, furious.
"What in the fucking hell was that?!" His voice was somewhere in between a hiss and a roar. His face appeared right in front of mine, his cold eyes pinning me to my place against the wall.
"What part of "I don't do touching", don't you fucking understand Rose?!" My eyes burned from fear and embarrassment. He's not good for anyone. Lissa's words filtered through my mind. I watched with something close to detachment as he raked his hands through his hair, muttering curse words in russian.
"I understand, Mr. Belikov." His gaze whipped back to mine at the title. I was impressed at the neutral tone my voice took. His eyes narrowed as he stalked towards me. I flinched as he closed in on me.
"If your plan was to frighten me, you've succeeded." This time, my voice shook in tremors. He stilled, going completely stiff. He blinked, his fury ebbing away. Instead his brow furrowed in confusion as his gaze searched mine.
"I frighten you?" He sounded honestly surprised. I could only nod. He straightened immediately, his face morphing into his impassive mask. He nodded once.
"I apologize, Miss Hathaway. I will do well to remember my place in your presence. I want to offer my condolences to you in this time and will understand if you need several days rest before taking work back up. I am eager to see your progress with Tiny." Without another glance, Dimitri strode from the hall, leaving me staring at nothing.
Tears began to fall, unbidden and uninhibited. Sobs followed, ripping from my chest so strongly it was all I could do to breathe. Stupid, Rose. Plain stupid. You wanted more contact? Well look where it got you. No where. Except alone like always.The reality of it hit me harder than I realized. I was alone. I had gotten so used to his company, his chatting and texting, that the thought of not being in contact with him at all was excruciating.
"I'm so sorry." And in that moment, I wasn't sure if my whisper was directed towards Amber and her connections, Dimitri, or my parents.
So, we get to see the original asshole side in this chapter… Lemme know what you guys think. I promise more lemons and smut in a few chapters. (Hopefully Dimitri pulls his head from his rear)
