It had been a few days since the arrival of Adrian. Within that time, Adrian made it his duty to annoy and disrupt Dimitri's time with Rose. He'd burst in at awkward intervals and pop in unwanted. Adrian even went as far as locking Dimitri out of the house for half of the day. Dimitri was beginning to think Adrian was doing this not only to scare him away from Rose, but for Adrian's own shits and giggles. He was using Dimitri for his own amusement…
The next morning, Dimitri and Rose woke up to shouting coming from the kitchen. Rose scrambled up from the bed and darted to Adrian's aid while Dimitri moved sluggishly.
Sonya was shouting obscenities at Adrian with Rose attempting to get some distance between them. It didn't take long for the situation to go south. Sonya broke free from Rose's loose grasp and wrapped her hands around Adrian's throat. It had taken both Dimitri and Rose to pry Sonya's fingers from Adrian's neck. Dimitri would have happily watched Sonya squeeze the smugness out of Adrian.
After sitting Sonya down and diffusing the invisible bomb, Adrian squeaked out an explanation.
"I was eating the leftover pancakes you had made Rose and she walked in on me… She uh… she didn't look too happy with me and I may have said something a little inappropriate to her…"
"Try extremely inappropriate! This boy hasn't been here for years and suddenly he shows his smug face making cheap remarks? Who raised this little monster?" Rose cracked a small smile at that.
"I'm sorry Sonya… Adrian has always been an ass… you know that…" Sonya looked away from all of them, her face pinched into a tight, painful look. Instead of replying, Sonya stood up and thrusted out her hand to Rose. She took it, bewildered, and let Sonya pull her out of the kitchen.
"Great way to make friends, Ivashkov," Dimitri yawned. He made his way to the counter and started a fresh pot of black coffee.
The girls came back just as the machine beeped at Dimitri. Rose remained silent, brushing past Dimitri to go back to their room. He turned and looked at Sonya questioningly. Sonya still looked away from him, avoiding eye contact with all of the boys. When Rose came back, she wore a pair a white jeans, a navy blue camisole, and a grey cardigan. Her hair was still slightly rumpled from sleep, but she seemed ready to go somewhere.
"Boys, when Rose and I come back, you both need to be dressed. Oksana invited Rose, Dimitri, and I to breakfast at the diner. She'll surely be interested in your arrival Adrian. Try not to piss anyone off while we're gone, okay?" With that, Sonya and Rose left the house.
Dimitri refused to meet eyes with Adrian and headed back towards his room with Rose.
"Hey! I'm curious about something."
"Great, go bother someone else with your curiosity." Dimitri shut the door on Adrian's face. He made sure to lock the door behind him so Adrian couldn't barge in and badger him.
From outside the door he could hear Adrian sigh, "What kind of relationship do you have with Rose?" It was one of the few questions he had hoped Adrian would never ask. Mostly because Dimitri wasn't sure what he was supposed to call the relationship. They both admitted their love for each, had both blatantly showed their affection, but since that night at the lake neither had brought up the subject again.
Finishing getting changed, Dimitri debated whether or not to keep himself holed up inside their bedroom until Rose showed up or risk the question being re-asked.
Dimitri unlocked the door and pushed it open. Adrian was no longer in the hallway, and wasn't slugging around in the kitchen. He was sitting straight up on the couch in a new set of clothes. Adrian's eyes stared straight ahead, watching something unknown to Dimitri.
"I'm… I'm not too sure what I have with Rose. I love her and she's told me that she loves me as well… We share each other's affection. And I want you to stop messing around with her."
"You want to make her into an honest woman?" Dimitri looked at Adrian. He was still motionless and calm.
"Yes… in time, I would want to marry her… If that is what she wants…"
"She loves me too, you know. Ask her. She'll only confirm it…" Dimitri moved away from Adrian. He should have just stayed in the room and waited like he had originally wanted. Heading back to the bedroom, he heard Adrian move behind him.
"Love fades… I know she will always love me."
Dimitri slammed the door behind him, Adrian's words slowly sinking in…
-o.o-
Rose joined Sonya on the ride back towards the inn. Her heart fluttered softly in her chest when they passed her familiar home.
She had almost forgotten… she had almost let her memory slip away from her. With Dimitri by her side, Rose found it hard to dwell on any sadness.
The scenery turned dreary and misty under the cover of towering foliage. Vines crept up on the iron gates and the sun was blocked out by the graying clouds. Sonya parked her ancient sputtering truck outside of the fencing, near the big wooden sign.
"Golden Valley Cemetery"
Once a year, Sonya would take Rose to see her deceased parents and provide Rose with a shoulder to cry on. She knew deep in heart that Rose would never get over the sudden loss of her parents and that visiting them every year since then would only open old wounds. Still Sonya gave in.
Together the girls walked past the heavy gates and onto the field scattered with headstones and handfuls of decrepit mausoleums; mausoleums filled with lost loved ones, now blanketed by dust. Soon the girls were in front of a pair of all too familiar headstones…
Unwilling to admit her pain, Sonya held onto Rose, who cried over her parents final resting place. As much as she wanted to think only of her parents, Rose thought only of Dimitri.
"Mom… dad; I- I met someone I think you'd like to meet. His name is Dimitri… And he's the perfect gentleman. I know both of you would love him… Sonya, Oksana, and Mark do… And I love him too. I wish you two could see him properly. But I promise that you'll meet him!" Unlike previous trips, Sonya could see Rose start to accept her position. Those obvious wounds would heal and her heart would soon be free from her burdening pain… All of this is because she's with Dimitri… Janine, your little girl is growing up into such a magnificent young lady… and now she won't be alone…
The duo stayed for a short while after, saying their goodbyes and laughing at each other's tears…
-o.o-
"Dimitri! Are you ready? Adrian and Sonya already took off, so let's go you slow poke!" Dimitri peered out from behind the door to see Rose with bright eyes and flushed cheeks.
"We're going to Oksana's?"
"Yup! Now come on."
Oksana was still in the dark about Adrian's return to Golden Valley, so while she planned on three, Rose tried to figure out how to break the news to Oksana about their plus one. Sonya had mentioned how Mark had the entire day planned out for the group, so Rose was worried that their fun might not be so fun once Adrian showed his face…
Now, at Mark and Oksana's front door, Rose felt her stomach flip. The plane was to just let Oksana see Adrian instead of trying to tell her… Hopefully she wouldn't flip out like Sonya had…
The group walked into the house immediately smacked with the smell of bacon. Rose looked back at Adrian and abandoned him in favor of the bacon. Dimitri and Sonya walked into the kitchen like it was nothing, while Adrian hung in the back, hoping for a better reaction to his arrival.
Oksana turned around at the sight of Sonya slipping the plate of bacon her way.
"Well it seems you and Rose found your way straight to the jackpot." She grinned from ear to ear at the smiling girls. Her attention turned back towards Dimitri, wanting to offer him something. Instead of words, a gasp escaped Oksana's agape mouth. Her eyes widened greatly as she stared at Adrian.
"My… you're? Are you really home?" Adrian looked at Oksana shyly, before nodding slowly. He was more worried that she was going to fling the spatula at him than anything else.
She surged forward, knocking Dimitri aside gently. Oksana had dropped the spatula to free her hands up for the monstrous hug she gave him. Rose watched smugly knowing that this would be the most likely result.
"I'm so glad you came home Adrian! We've missed you! Why would you just up and leave like that? Do you know what that did to us?" Oksana's eyes began to tear, but she blinked them away before any could fall. "I know Mark will be glad to see you back,"
There was a clatter of things and the attention turned towards the noise. Amongst the fallen items, Mark stood there awkwardly.
He made no attempt to move towards Adrian. He just stood staring at him. "It's… It's good to see you again…" He managed to mumble under his breath. The sight of Adrian was difficult.
Rose moved food onto the table and pulled everyone together. "We're here for food and good times! Let's turn those frowns upside down," Everyone followed suit. Adrian and Mark grasped each other's hand before picking up plates and setting them down on the table. Dimitri poured juice and coffee into respective cups and sat down next to Rose.
Breakfast had gone by smoothly and transitioned into the afternoon nicely. Mark had planned to play soccer with everyone which worked nicely now that there was even numbers. Both teams, one team girls the other boys, positioned themselves accordingly in the backyard. Potted plants took the place of goals and the referee a tray of iced drinks for half time.
Rose made three goals, the fourth stopped by an overly smug Adrian and the fifth abandoned when Dimitri lifted Rose into his arms and carried her away from the ball. Minus the two members, the others held their own. Adrian and Sonya butted heads for every 'infraction' that occurred. Mark ended up pouring the ice cold water down Oksana's shirt. The game broke up just before half time, laughing at each other and arguing about who really won.
"I'm most definitely sure that we won, Dimitri cheated. He kidnapped Rose in the middle of our goal."
"I'm most definitely sure I don't know what you're talking about," Dimitri grinned at Mark who went back and forth with his wife.
"This was very fun Rose… I don't think I've ever been happier," Rose looked up at Dimitri and gave him a light peck on the cheek.
"I'm glad"
-o.o-
Lunch was served and the game was picked up again before falling apart soon after. Dimitri and Rose collapsed under a shady tree laughing at how tired everyone was. Hours passed like that, everyone messing round with each other and the moments seemed to blend together.
Mark sprayed everyone with the hose; Dimitri charged at Rose with a water gun, Oksana pelted Sonya and Adrian with water balloons; everyone soaking by the end of the day.
"Okay, okay! I give; don't shoot me again!" Mark and Oksana brought out towels to dry off and then herded everyone back inside.
"Now, for the best part of our night, Hide-and-Seek Tag with the Marshmallow-Rush!" Dimitri looked at the rest with concern.
"Everyone is given a marshmallow shooter and then everyone but one person hides. Then it becomes a game of tag; if you're found, run for your life and avoid the marshmallows. Even if you're not the seeker you're allowed to shoot others! It's one of the greatest things we ever did as kids," Rose smiled fondly at Sonya, Oksana, Mark, and Adrian.
If it made Rose happy, it was worth a try. Everyone grabbed their shooters and headed out into the neighborhood. The shadow of the night made the task of seeking all the more difficult, but Dimitri was willing to play the game until the end.
Once he finished counting down, Dimitri turned to start seeking. Immediately he was pelted in the face with marshmallows. He could hear several people laughing and 'shhhh'-ing one another. Dimitri recognized Rose instantly and darted over to her. She saw him coming and cried out, escaping his capture but not out of the woods yet. Rose kept Dimitri in hot pursuit of her as she gave away Sonya's hiding spot.
Rose grasped Sonya's wrist and tossed her towards Dimitri, pleading for her successful escape. Dimitri rushed past Sonya and chuckled when marshmallows whizzed past him and hit Rose in the back of the head.
"You jerk! Survival of the fittest!" Dimitri tackled Rose into the ground, cushioned her fall, and pecked her nose with a kiss claiming his victory.
-o.o-
The survivors walked home victoriously, laughing at Rose's misfortune. Adrian, however, eyed the couple angrily. It was only when Rose got back to the house with Adrian and Dimitri, did the tension finally erupted.
"Rose! You know this will never work! He's a city boy. He doesn't get you at all! He'll never really want you." Rose smacked Adrian open-palmed.
"He isn't like you Adrian. He isn't a pig… Go away!" He brushed past her and went inside.
Rose couldn't help but stare up at Dimitri. He was a city boy. A big time hunk with a nice job and a nice house… Rose couldn't compete with pampered Prada toting brats either, or at least she couldn't imagine she could.
"Rose, you have to know by now that you're the only one I love completely… but I have to ask… why do you put up with him? In just a few days, he's caused you so much pain. He isn't good for you."
"Shut up. You don't even know. He's important to me…."
"Do you love him, Rose?" Dimitri bit the inside of his cheek. Adrian had said that she would always love him… Could Adrian really be right?
"It isn't that simple Dimitri…"
"Just tell me… Do you love him?"
"Of course I do! How could I not?" That was all Dimitri needed to hear. He could feel the uncertainty in his chest multiply. He left Rose outside by herself.
She loved him… And even though Dimitri promised himself to not let Adrian wedge himself between the two, it had happened. Rose had just pushed Dimitri away without even realizing it.
-o.o-
"Good night Dimitri…" Rose stared at the back of Dimitri's head longingly. He had walked away from her and was now sitting in an armchair near Adrian, something that should never have happened.
I'm sorry…
-o.o-
Dimitri spent the night in the armchair by Adrian. He was angry, but slightly happy. Rose was happy with Adrian and that's what mattered. If anything were to happen, Sonya would handle it. It had seemed like that was always Sonya's job…
He stood up, watching Adrian snore softly into his pillow. The one man he disliked the most had won out… Dimitri would admit defeat.
He gathered his bags and did the one thing he never thought he would ever do… call Tasha. It was time to say good-bye…
Author's Note:
Okay… so don't get all confuzzled. I'll explain. Dimitri is stupid. Adrian is a monkey. And Rose should learn to keep her mouth shut. Honestly, if you're confused tell me in a review or pm and I'll explain. Or I'll explain as much as I can without ruining the plot.
So yeah... the calm before the goodbye, or the hello before the storm; or something to that effect :) I hope you enjoyed reading because I enjoyed writing :)
I have a twitter xD Never thought that would happen! Not that I really post anything useful though. I posted one picture and one statement... Not sure how to really utilize a twitter... Would someone mind explaining? Thank you!
Thank you to M, Kitty, Dimitri' .Shewolf, tbrett29, RozaRocks, Lesya17, Dru-girl, and Roza-Dimka-Reader! And to all of you who took the time to read, thank you as well!
Thanks again!
-Lolita
PS: This week (four days) hasn't been the best so I'm sorry :( But again, hopefully you enjoyed :)