A/N: I know for a fact you will like this chapter...all you Tasha haters (which is probably everybody) are going to love it! And I can bet my movie tickets that you'll never see the ending coming!
To guest and everyone else: Just because Dimitri is seeing Tasha's parents doesn't mean it's done and over for Romitri...I mean he does think he's having a child with their daughter so the dinner is to tell them such...and about the whole Tasha having Dimitri's balls in her hands...yea I actually found a way to explain that in Ch 31 (so just wait!) It's not the world's greatest reason, but it's the best one I could come up with (if you come up with a good one let me know!)
Also, I don't know if I've said this or not, but I watch spanish telenovelas, meaning I have the handbook and how to get a guys, the correct way and the desperate evil way. So the Tasha storyline kinda comes from my life history with novelas. Just keep that in mind :)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything VA
We circled around the parking garage for the 3rd time, trying to find a spot. Luckily, Joshua noticed a car with their reverse lights on by the elevator. I stopped and put my blinker on, letting the whole world know it's mine.
"Ay Liss, we got one, we'll meet you guys downstairs," I heard Mia say into the phone. Since there were eleven of us, we borrowed two of my dad's Escalates and split up. I drove the car with Joshua, Vika, Niko, and Mia. Christian drove with Lissa, Adrian, Sydney, Jill, and Eddie. Christian, the sneaky bastard, took the first spot.
"Ok, so where do you guys want to meet for dinner?" I asked once we were down in the parking lot lobby, I'd say lunch but it was already close to 11.
"How about we go Cheesecake Factory say 6-ish?" Adrian suggested. We all nodded our heads and he called and made the reservations.
"Ok, see you guys later," I said, pulling Joshua with me.
"Where to first, my darling?" he said as he wrapped his arm around my waist.
I laughed and got out of his hold. "You can stop acting now," I said as we walked into one of the stores, it sold lotion and soaps and things like that. I roamed the shelves if there was anything I like. "Oh I got the best idea!"
"Yea what's that?" he asked.
"A swag bag! Like I put lotion, soap and stuff like that," I explained. "I mean I'm going to get them more, but look at these mini bottles! They're so cute!" So in the end I made six different sets and got them before moving onto the next store.
"Hey if there's any store you want to go to just tell me," I said to Joshua.
"It's fine," he said. "I end up finding stuff in the stores you got to, and a lot of them have a men section." I shrugged my shoulder and went into Hot Topic. Before I knew it, it was time to go to Cheesecake Factory.
"Hey, what if we put the bags in the car?" I suggested when we met up. Everyone nodded their head so we gave the guys the bags and I gave Joshua the keys.
"I never thought I'd be so tired from shopping!" Lissa said once we sat down. We all laughed and poked fun that the queen of shopping has reached her limit.
"Don't worry, Liss, once you get some food you'll be back in the game," I said.
"Yea, and we still have a ton of stores to go! I specifically made sure Syd and Adrian and I didn't go to some stores so we could go," Mia said.
"So I pretty much finished my shopping, and even got a few things for myself," I said. "I just need something for Josh, but I don't know what. There's nothing that really says 'Thank you for being break up buddy, my best guy friend, and for getting me back to myself.' Why is this so hard?"
"Well I know what you can get," Mia said casually. We all looked at her, waiting for her to continue. "Something from Victoria Secret, if you know what I mean." My jaw dropped, and I felt the color leaving my face, except for the red that bloomed across my cheek. "Oh come on, Rose, you're going to tell me you guys haven't gone all the way? I mean he's staying at your house! How can you keep your hands off him?"
"Uh…well…we…" I struggled to come up with a tangible lie. "He saw what happened and didn't want us to go to fast and take that step until we were sure."
"C'mon Rose it's just sex, you don't have to make it so emotional," Mia said.
"Or maybe you don't have to make it so emotionless," I bit back. "I'm not like you. I can be flirty and stuff, but when it comes to that, I want it to mean something and not just a fun past time like it is for you."
"Woah, ladies, retract the claws," Eddie said as the boys came back to join us. "No fights today please?"
"Fine," we grumbled. After Joshua sat down next to me, I rested my head on his shoulder. When the tension didn't leave and no one spoke, I took a deep breath and said, "I'm sorry Mia, I shouldn't have snapped. It's just a touchy subject."
"Are you sure touchy's the right word?" She said, smiling at me. I smiled back and we both laughed, everyone joined in. After that, dinner happened without any more drama and before long we girls headed off in the direction of Victoria Secret. The guys, conveniently, went to the game store next door.
"Aw c'mon, Rose, try something on. I'm trying something on," Jill, the innocent one in the group, said, trying to coax me.
"Nah, it's fine. Not like I have anyone special to show it off to," I said.
"I don't get it," Sydney said as we waited for the Lissa, Jill, and Mia to try on their stuff. "You and Josh act like perfect couple, like you turn to him for comfort and he looks at you with so much love, but you down play your relationship like it's just a casual thing. It would be one thing if you guys act casual but in reality there's more to your relationship. I'm just curious as to why."
"It's complicated," I tried to say as an excuse, but from the look she gave me she knew there was more to that. "It's just different. Our whole relationship started as a friendship. I got used to as a friend, like in LA I would act like I do with Lissa, and then when I went back in August something changed. He started taking me out, on the pretext that it was to help me get over Dimitri, and then it just seemed like the most natural thing to do, but I wasn't ready to give my heart up so we're keeping things casual."
"Uh huh. Sure," she said, clearly letting me know she thought something was up.
"Enough about me," I said, not so slyly changing topics. "Why are you out here with me and not in there trying stuff on for Adrian." I wiggled my eyebrows, both of us laughing.
"Because he already gets me this stuff, don't ask, so I don't need anything from here but maybe perfume."
"Well, ma'am, let's go check those out," I said. So we walked over to the perfume section and picked out a few perfumes and lotions for ourselves, and I got my favorite lip gloss that was starting to get scarce. After a while the other girls came out, their stuff ready to be bought and then after we bought everything, we walked out to the boys waiting for us.
"You know, the whole point of splitting up is so you guys can go to stores we don't want to go to and we girls can go to stores you don't want to go to," I said as we walked out.
"Yea, but who's going to protect you guys?" Adrian asked as he slung his arm around Sydney's shoulder. I just shook my head and we all walked down, looking for another store to visit. Lissa and I were in lead, talking about this and that, and so totally not paying attention, that we ran into a couple that was leaving a store.
"Ohmygod!" Lissa said as we stepped back. "I'm soooo so-" I elbowed her to shut up when I saw it was Dimitri and Tasha. "Oh."
"Oh hi," Tasha said. Dimitri and I looked down, finding our shoes the most interesting things ever. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Christmas shopping," Joshua said as he came up next to me and pulled me under his arms. "What about you two lovebirds?" I elbowed him, but he didn't even flinch.
"Baby shopping," she said with a giggle. I could see her stroke her belly. "We're almost at five months, can you believe it!"
Silence.
"Well, I guess we should be going," I said, lifting my head, but looking anywhere but at them.
"No, wait," she said, grabbing my arm. I quickly pulled back and stepped away. "We were going to the other baby store to look for clothes, why don't you join us?"
"Why should I?" I asked looking up at her.
"Because I'm making Christian the baby's godfather, and since you're his wife's best friend, I'd like the three of you to come with us."
"I don't think -"
"We'd rather do anything else," Lissa said as she pulled Christian and I with her. "I'm sure everyone else can go to another store close by."
"What are you doing?" I growled into her ear.
"Helping you move one," she whispered back. So that's how I found myself mindlessly looking through racks and racks of baby clothes for anything unisex. I got so bored I looked at stuffed animals, but even that was too boring. So then I left and sat on the bench outside and waited for them. When Tasha came out and joined, I stood up so she could take my seat, and because I didn't want to sit next to her.
"Oh thank you. You don't know how sore my feet get," she said. I nodded my head and was about to walk away when she spoke up again. "You know it wasn't that hard to get him to forget you." I froze in my spot, my back still to her, my fist clenched.
I know I should have walked away, not given her the satisfaction of a reaction, but a stronger part of me just wanted to slap the smirk I know she had on. So this is why she wanted us to join them, I thought. I heard her get up, she wasn't so quiet with her moaning, and could feel her behind as she continued, "Especially when I showed him the test results. It was like you never existed."
Unable to control myself, I turned around and slapped her across the cheek. Quickly getting over the initial shock, she glared at me and pushed me. I lost my footing and landed on my back, Tasha jumping on top of me.
"Get…off…of…me!" I grunted as she tried to slap me, but I had my arms up, keeping hers at bay. That didn't stop her for reaching for my hair. "OW!" I struggled to get her hands off me, but that just pulled my hair more.
"Guess…he…never…loved…you," she breathed out. I was getting really fed up with her shit, so I played dirty.
I slanted us a bit so I had some arm room, and pulled back one of my arms, my other arm guarding my face, lashing it out and punching her square in the boobs. Hard. Add to that, her breast were already tender, and that must of hurt her like a bitch. By the howl she let out, and the way she hunched over, I took that as a yes. I used this to my advantage and flipped us over. At this point, I saw Lissa and Christian as the door, both with their mouth opens. I'll give them something to watch.
I'll admit I forgot that Tasha was pregnant, and when I flipped us over I straddled her and started slapping her taking turns with my hands. With every hit, my anger increased. It got to the point that I was seeing red, and growling obscenities at her. At one point, I held her head still by her neck with one hand (I wasn't quite choking her, but it wasn't a loose hold either) and I was slapping her with the other hand, open palm and bitch slap. It wasn't until I felt a strong pair of arms wrap around me and pulled me away.
"Get off me," I growled, thrashing to get out of this his arms. I could tell they were taller than me because my feet were swinging wildly in the air.
"Calm down," he said, his voice low, deep, and gruff, which, to be honest, was turning me on. And that's not good. Anger + being turned on = taking Dimitri right her in the middle of the mall. It didn't help that his accent was very prominent right now. I tried to get of his hold but the more I tried to get out, the tighter his arms got. It got to the point that I was pressed hard against his back, and the only I could do was move my arms, but that didn't do much. "This isn't you. Come back to me." He kept saying calming words, half in English and half in Russia
I felt like telling him off, to turn my anger to him, but in that moment, I couldn't. The plead in his voice, the raw pain, it made me lose my fight. He was right, this wasn't me. I never hit a pregnant lady. That's why the more I listened to him, the more I felt the anger leaving me, until I sagged back in his arms. I felt them tighten, but this time it had a comforting feel. I slightly turned, so I rested my head on his neck, and he rested his on top of mine as he kept calming me down, stroking my hair. It felt as if it was just us.
Until we heard screaming.
Our heads snapped up and I saw Tasha on the floor clutching her stomach. Oh no, I thought, my face dropping in horror as I imagined the damages I did to the baby. I ducked out of Dimitri's hold and back up as I saw him rush over to her, asking her what's wrong. All she said was "the baby" and then he lifted her up and walked her away, but not before looking back at me with painful regret in his eyes.
Yea, that makes two of us.
Viktoria POV
"Let's go get some frozen yogurt," I suggested. Lissa had just dragged Rose and Christian to go with Tasha and Dimitri and across from the store they went to was a FroYo place. Everyone shrugged and headed that way.
After we grabbed what we wanted, we took over a few tables and waited for Rose and them to come back.
"So, what are we wearing for the show?" I asked as I ate another spoonful.
"Black," Mia suggested.
"No blue," Jill countered. "It's a winter wonderland theme right?"
"Yea," Sydney said. "I think blue would be a good color."
"I have the perfect dress then. But what about white?"
"I say we all wear different colors. Jill wears white, Sydney wears silver, you wear blue, and I'll wear black," Mia said in a tone that left no room for arguing.
"What about Rose and Lissa?" Joshua asked.
"Rose said Sonya already had a dress for her. And I'm sure Lissa will probably wear the same color. I thought she showed you the dress."
"Nope. She's really CIA about it." We all gave him a quizzical look, not getting the reference. "FBI. Secret Service." He let out a sigh when we still didn't get it. "She's been super tight-lipped, like she barely even speaks about the show, she's always on that tablet of hers. And she'll randomly be on the phone with Sonya or Alberta and it's all in hushed voices."
"Oh," we all said. "Why didn't-"
"AH!" we heard coming from outside in the hallway. We all hurried out and saw someone on top of something. As we rushed forward we saw that something was Rose, so not hard to figure out that someone was Tasha. I saw Joshua and Eddie start to head towards them, no doubt to break them up, but I grabbed their arms and pulled them back, shaking my head.
"No, let it play out. Have you not noticed the tension?" I pointed out and then started walking towards the side, getting a better view. Good timing too because we all saw Rose fist make contact with Tasha's chest, switching the tables around. I stared with my hand over my mouth as I saw Rose begin to start slapping Tasha. "Oh shit," I mumbled. I was about to send one of the guys in but then I saw Dimitri pull her away. I let out a low growl. How dare he? He can't just hold her like that! And she shouldn't let him! I felt Joshua stiffen at the sight, and his fist clenched when we saw Rose relax and snuggle into Dimitri's embrace. Honestly, I don't know how to react.
On the one hand, it infuriates me that he messes with her like that. He made his bed, so he better lay in it, and he needs to stop dragging Rose down with him. She might not say it, but I know Dimitri still has a hold on her heart, and being having him close is like an alcoholic having a fully stocked bar in the corner of their bedroom. However, I want nothing more than for them to get back together because I know that together things are good, I just don't like how much he's hurt her.
Still, I bit back and let them have their moment, hoping it'll help my brother see sense and leave that manipulating tramp. Honestly, I don't think the child's his. Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt he got drunk and went to bed with her. But whether or nothing anything went past getting undressed, I don't think the child's she holding is his. Actually, it wasn't until now that I remembered of her distasteful existence.
I searched around for her, and when I found her something seemed off. Christian was supporting her, but she didn't look like she was in pain. And her belly seemed a bit…slanted. Maybe it was the angle because as quickly as I noticed it, when I blinked it was normal. Either way, she look more frustrated than in hurt, and her eyes…Let's just say as much as I hate the bitch, I wouldn't want to be on the other end of that stare. Then, all of the sudden, the psychopath started grunting and screaming in pain. Inevitably, ruining the small moment of tranquility Rose had.
Shortly after Dimitri and Tasha left, we all decided we had bought enough and went back to Rose's house and then went our separate ways.
RPOV
"Come in," I said when there was a knock at the door, not bothering to put my shirt back on.
"Hey, Rose," Joshua said timidly as he came in. "Just wanted to check on you."
I gave him a small smile as I slipped out of my jeans. "I'm fine. Minor headache, but I'll get over it."
"I know you will," he said with a knowing smile. "But that's not what I was referring to."
I let out a frustrated sigh as I plopped down on my bed, curled up, and rested my head on his leg. "I'm trying. I really am. I told him to stay away. And yet he's everywhere I'm at. I don't know what to do anymore."
"Don't you think that's suspicious?" he asked, like he already knew the answer.
"Not really," I drew out as I drew mindless shapes on his knee. "I'm this town isn't that big. We have a tiny mall and anything else you have to go to the city for. So honestly, unless I stay holed up in this house or at Lissa's I'm bound to run into him, or her."
"Yea, but I mean. First the restaurant, then today at the mall...cus of all the places to grab dinner at that exact time. And of all the days to go holiday shopping...just seems planned," he reiterated.
"What are you getting at?" I asked, shifting myself so I was sitting up, legs crossed and facing him.
"I think your dear friend Viktoria spilled the beans."
"Ok...no. She wouldn't do that. I think she hates him more than I do." I got up and put a robe on and my hair up I searched for PJs to wear.
"Why you covering up?" he asked suddenly. "Afraid someone will walk in and get the wrong idea?" He wiggled his eyebrows for emphasis.
I let out a laugh that came out a bit harsher than I intended. "Hard for them to get the wrong idea with you being gay and all," I said as I slipped on some boy's boxer and a tank top.
"Yea, but they don't know that."
I groaned thinking about how I was lying to all my closest friends. "Thanks," I said when I returned back to my bed. He raised his eyebrow at me questionably. "For playing along. You didn't have to, you could have sold me out."
"Where's the fun in that?" he asked as he grabbed my feet to put on top of his lap. "Plus you did the same thing for me with my parents."
"Yea, but we all knew you were gay, and I was just your cover so you could go out."
"Still. I owed you one, and now we're even. Plus, this is only for like a month, and you did it for four months."
"I guess. So have you talked to him?"
"Why do you think I'm holed in my room so much," he said, wiggling his eyebrows again. I laughed and kicked his knee.
"Ok ew! Too fucking much, Joshua!" I squealed.
"Hey your mind went into the gutter, I just meant we talk on the phone and Skype."
"Just stopped," I laughed before I suddenly said, "Thanks."
"You know you're feeling mighty thankful. I think words aren't enough. A pizza is thought," he said jokingly before asking what I was thanking him for this time.
"For getting my mind off things. And getting me to laugh, even if I just found out too much about your sex life," I joked. "But you're right. We need pizza. But your buying as an apology for your loose lips." He laughed in response, but nodded his head.
With pizza and soda on the bed, we opened my laptop and spent the night pigging out and watching Netflix.
A/N: hehehe so um did you see that coming? What did you like better? The fight or the "truth" about Joshua? Why? Leave me a review and tell me :) see you next week :)
