A shout-out goes to bboop12! I swear you have left a review for almost every chapter and that makes you super freakin' awesome!

jeka564 - I'M TRYING TO ADD MORE AS FAST AS I CAN! :) I'M GLAD YOU'RE LIKING MY STORY! I HEARD ABOUT THE MOVIES AND I'M BOTH EXCITED AND TERRIFIED AT THE SAME TIME. I HOPE THEY GET IT RIGHT!

Chapter Thirty-Eight: A Surprising Welcome

Tomorrow was the official date of the trial.

In an attempt to squelch my nervous energy, I decided I would run longer than usual in the morning. However, about five minutes or so into my run, rain started to pour down. Sighing in frustration, I quickly found cover near the building where the planes landed with those who were going to Victor's trial.

Mikhail saw me and smirked as he walked up toward me. "Why doesn't it surprise me that you would try to run in this weather?" He teased me. The awkwardness that was originally between us had disappeared completely as the weeks had passed by at Court. Now, I actually considered him to be a close friend.

"Why doesn't it surprise me that you were waiting here for me? I swear you're becoming my stalker," I joked back.

His smirk only grew bigger. "Why doesn't it surprise me you're waiting here for Dimitri?"

I glared at him. "Hey now. I think you're forgetting who you're aggravating."

"You mean the girl who I saved from Victor Dashkov?"

I playfully punched his arm, but our conversation stopped when a plane landed nearby. I stared at it, wondering if the man who I hadn't seen for so long was in there. I started to shiver as my wet clothes clung to my body. Mikhail was about to give me his jacket when Hans grabbed me and pulled me away, handing me one of the official guardian blazers.

"What's this for?" I asked, even though I threw it on before hearing an answer.

"You're going to help me greet them."

I stepped back, but Hans's grip kept me moving forward. "I don't think that's a good idea."

He didn't respond as he kept dragging me toward the plane. Sure enough, I immediately recognized Dimitri's tall frame walk off the plane, along with Adrian, Rose and Lissa. I stared at Rose, with her glossy hair and immaculate curves. "Dammit," I muttered. She really was prettier in person than she was in the pictures I had seen.

"That's no way to greet people," Hans muttered back, not realizing my profanity was due to jealousy.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. I suppose I would have to do it at some point in time, but I guess I'd rather do it now and get it over with. I was rather bold and walked until I was right beside Dimitri. "Long time no see," I casually told him.

He glanced down at me and I smirked when he didn't completely realize it was me. However, within a couple seconds he glanced down again. His eyes met mine and I silently cursed myself when my heart rate increased. "What are you doing here?" He whispered.

I shrugged. "Same thing you are. I'm here to see justice served. Although, I hate to tell you, it won't be in the same fashion as those westerns you so dearly love."

He gave me a small smirk, but it was obvious he didn't want to show everyone - especially Rose - how close we actually were. I glanced back behind me and Alberta nodded at me, smiling. Adrian didn't necessarily give me any recognition except a mischievous glint in his eye when he saw me walking with Dimitri. Rose and Lissa didn't even blink an eye at my presence. I was surprised because part of me thought Lissa might have sensed spirit in me; however, she was understandably more worried about Victor Dashkov getting freed.

After Alberta relayed the schedule for the night to the students and Dimitri convinced one of the students to relax and not worry about his guardian assignment while he was at Court, Dimitri came up to me. I couldn't quite distinguish the expression he gave me as he studied me. It seemed like he really couldn't believe I was here. "...Are you doing anything for the next, say, four hours?"

I smirked. "Depends on what you have planned."

"I have a feeling it's better not to plan when it comes to you," he responded.

I laughed. "You know me well, Dimka."

Just then, Adrian pushed between us. "You two lovebirds have fun now," he said as he tapped my cheeks like I was a child. However, I could see the urgency in his eyes. He leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Don't fuck this up, Schoenberg. I don't know if I can handle Rose and the Russian any longer."

I raised my eyebrow. "Do you have no trust in me and my womanly charms?" I whispered in reply.

Adrian pulled away from me and looked me up and down. "No, I trust you," he responded with a wink as he walked away. "Well, like I said, you two have fun now. Don't stay up too late."

"What are you? Our mom?" I yelled after him.

Dimitri stared after Adrian and I was confused by the fascinated expression in his eyes. "You got a crush on Adrian or something? Because I don't want this to be awkward if you'd rather be with him," I joked.

Dimitri turned toward me. "Doesn't he remind you of Ivan?"

The question caught me off guard. "...Well, if you want me to be completely honest, that's the reason why he and I...you know..that one night. I had just lost Ivan and all the sudden here comes some guy that reminds me of him and..." I didn't finish, mainly because there was no need to.

Dimitri looked around. "I think if we're going to be this deep in our conversation we need a more private place."

A more private place? My mind told me I shouldn't take this any farther, but my heart told me I would regret declining his offer.

"Alright," I finally replied.