Driving into Lee Vining, we discovered it was smaller than anticipated. Wondering whether we'd have to settle for some gas station food, Dimitri pulled over to the side, spotting a tiny little Italian restaurant along the main drag. Stepping around to open my car door, he took my hand in his. Walking to the restaurant door, he held it open.
It was almost clichéd. Small round tables with chequered tablecloths, a sprig of wildflowers in the center of each and the warm smell of garlic, basil, and pasta. Yet it was so perfect. Homely and without a hint of pretension, it seemed the ideal spot for Dimitri and I. We were slightly early for lunch, so there was only one other couple seated. In their sixties, and wearing matching leisurewear, ten bucks said they owned the RV parked out the front. The woman looked at us as we walked in, giving us an indulgent smile.
Showing us to a table at the front overlooking the lake, the server also gave us a kind smile as Dimitri held my chair out for me before seating himself - taking my hand in his and resting them entwined on the tabletop. He looked confident and relaxed, the smile he usually reserved just for me evident on his face for all to see.
I was feeling a little shy, which was ridiculous given what we'd been doing less than thirty minutes ago! I just wasn't used to Dimitri being so openly demonstrative, but I loved it. Holding his hand looking into his eyes, we sat there staring at one another until a disobliging gurgle from my stomach spoiled the moment.
"I think my lady needs to eat," Dimitri smiled, sliding across a menu with his free hand. Quickly scanning the list, I decided on garlic bread and venison soup, followed by lasagna. Checking the prices, I was reassured I had enough money on me to pay my way. I'd never been on a proper date before, so I wasn't sure what to expect.
"So tell me how you managed all this," I gestured around with my free hand after the server had taken our order.
Grinning in a most un-Dimitri like way, he started, "I heard about the change of format for this year a few days after we were together in the cabin. The Guardians were supposed to be allocated randomly, but after the cabin, I was determined to get a one-on-one session with you. I was going to put in a request, but your Mom and Stan got in first. Alberta thought they might have reason to be unjust, so she asked me if I'd be ok doing one of the longer shifts with you to try and balance things out a bit. Originally, it was going to be a couple of days, but you got through the Canada and Yomba Reserve legs more quickly than anticipated, and so here we are. So was your Mom ok?"
"Well, she had a reason for requesting me," I replied. "It turns out I have a Dad. One that wants to be involved, I mean. He's Moroi, obviously, and apparently rich as hell. I'm his only child, and Mom says he's really keen to meet me."
"That must have been a surprise?" Dimitri asked, stroking my hand softly. "How do you feel about it?"
"Well - it could be cool to meet my other parent," I mused. "I just don't know what to expect. Apparently, he and Mom were in love. It was ok seeing Mom. She's better than before. She seems to be really trying."
I didn't have to say it, but he understood I meant 'really trying since Mason died.' While it wasn't something I spoke about often, I was still struggling after his death.
My soup and garlic bread arrived, interrupting my reverie, along with a Pasta al Fungi for Dimitri. Both serves were large and smelled delectable. Tucking in with vigor, between mouthfuls I told him about meeting Guardian Asimov and the rabbit stew.
"I make a great rabbit stew!" he confirmed with a grin. "My Grandmother, Yeva, is unrivaled when it comes to setting traps. When I was young, money was scarce, so she'd supplement our food by trapping game. Her snares are genius, so we weren't often without fresh meat. She also had a massive vegetable and herb garden. She'd have us out there helping her planting and weeding every day, or in the kitchen pickling for winter, but it kept us fed. I've seen rabbits on the outer edge of campus. I'm not as good as Yeva, so it might take me a while to snare one, but how about when I trap one I'll cook it up for you?"
"I'd love that," I said looking at him tenderly. He looked back at me, also smiling. We were in our own little world.
"Want to try some?" he asked, gesturing towards his plate. "It's really good."
When I nodded, he rolled some pasta and sauce onto his fork, holding it out for me to eat. He was right - it was yummy. Reaching forward, he wiped a bit of sauce from my lip, putting the thumb into his mouth to lick it off. Such a gentle, sweet action it made my heart sing. Lifting a spoon full of my soup across to him, he also tried it.
"Delicious," he commented softly.
For the next half an hour, Dimitri regaled me with funny stories about the other Novices on the Yomba Valley leg of their field trip. It turns out him and five other Guardians had been deployed to that location from the aft, and he'd had to endure two days walking across the desert with a fellow Novice before I'd arrived. As I'd suspected, I was the only Novice to consider hitchhiking!
Our main courses arrived – lasagna and salad for me, a huge steak for Dimitri.
"Are you going to be able to eat all that?" I asked him incredulously. Even for a Dhampir, and a Guardian, his serve was massive.
"I'm sure I'll manage," he answered in amusement. "It could be a busy few days," he continued innocently. "A man needs to keep up his strength!" he concluded, raising one eyebrow suggestively. Was that Dimitri making a sex joke? I wasn't used to this more playful version of my man!
It's funny - since we started training together I could see him growing more lively and open, and I could feel myself becoming, well, maybe a bit more circumspect? When I was talking to Dimitri about my Mom and how things were better because she was trying harder, it occurred to me things were better because I'd also tried harder. Same with Stan. In the past, I would have continued teasing him unmercifully about seeing him all but nude. But this time, I could see how humiliating that would be for him, hence the white lie for his peace of mind. I guess Dimitri really did bring out the best in me!
As we ate our way through our main courses, my thoughts turned to the days ahead. Three days together alone would be incredible. I hoped there'd be more lovemaking – lots of it – but more than anything else, I wanted to wake up next to Dimitri. To date, all we'd had were stolen moments. The idea of sleeping beside him was divine.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked, seeing my smile.
"Just that I can't wait to fall asleep and wake up next to you," I said shyly.
"I've been longing for that too," he said softly.
Our meals complete, our server brought the cheque to Dimitri. He opened it and put a few bills inside.
"Can I help with that?"
"No," he said firmly, in a voice that brooked no argument. "Come on, there's somewhere I really want to go."
Guiding me back to the car, again opening and closing my door for me, Dimtiri seated himself in the driver's seat. Leaning over, I lightly kissed him.
"What's that for?" he asked, surprised but pleased.
"Thank you for the perfect first date."
Smiling happily, he pulled out of our parking spot, executing a perfect u-turn, heading back northbound.
"So where are we going now?"
"It's a place called Bodie. It's an abandoned ghost town. I've read about it and always wanted to see it. I thought we could spend the afternoon there? If you won't be too bored that is?"
A ghost town? Perfect for my cowboy!
"It sounds great!" I said enthusiastically.
When we arrived, the town was really cool. The buildings were well preserved, so it felt like the wild west of Dimitri's Western novels. We walked around hand in hand, checking out the various exhibits. Dimitri had his phone out, taking photos of the buildings, and some of me, too.
Towards the end of the town was a simple timber chapel. Stopping there, Dimitri asked another visitor if they could take some pictures of the two of us in front of it, handing them his phone. I wrapped my arms around his neck and we kissed gently – captured together forever. In the second photo, the two of us were cuddling, looking and smiling into the camera.
It was approaching dusk, and the sky was orange, purple and gold. Shivering, I cuddled into Dimitri.
"Cold, Roza?" he asked gently.
"Not cold. Just so so happy Comrade," I told him. "My day with you has been perfect. I love this place, and I especially love this church. I can't describe it, but something about its simplicity is appealing," I concluded, not even sure myself what I meant.
Dimitri looked at me, an inscrutable look on his face.
"I know exactly what you mean," he whispered, leaning in to kiss me.
Taking my hand in his, we slowly weaved our way through the township back to the park entrance. I could feel Dimitri tensing the closer we got to the car park. Approaching the car, he stopped to kiss me as the sun sunk below the horizon.
"I've had the best day of my life, Roza," he said, nuzzling my hair. "It's not over, yet, but we need to be Novice and Guardian again while we check in at camp. I'll make it as quick as I can, and then we can head to our cabin for the next few days."
"I understand, Comrade," I said, mentally flipping myself into 'pain in the ass student Rose.'
Opening the car door for me, Dimitri smiled, but it was closer to his polite Guardian façade. Knowing it was only for a little while helped. As he drove to the meeting point, I had more practical thoughts on my mind.
He'd said a cabin. I was hoping it had somewhere to bathe. It had been days unless you counted the dip in the stream. I felt tired, smelly, and I really needed a shower. I was hoping my lack of nightclothes would not be an issue, although I wondered what he liked to wear to bed? I usually wore a tank top and shorts, but I was more than happy to go commando if he was with me.
"We'll park here. Camp is just through the woods," he commented tersely after consulting a map. "It might be best if you act as though you'd slept most of the day," he added.
"I understand," I answered. Dimitri was obviously tense, and I didn't want to stress him out more by joking around.
Parking the car, he opened the trunk, and we pulled out our backpacks. Leading the way for me, Dimitri walked for two or three minutes until a familiar two tents were visible ahead. With a final nod and a look, he stepped out into the clearing.
"Belikov with Novice Hathaway," he called out loudly, approaching the closer tent.
There was no answer, at first, but after a moment I heard an unfamiliar deeply accented voice reply.
"Ah RozzMarree. We heard you were coming in earlier than scheduled." The voice came from beside the tent.
Looking over, I saw a Strigoi with red-ringed eyes regarding me. As my blood froze, and I reached for a stake I didn't have, I saw four other sets of red eyes appear beside his.