Dear selairalynn, Ivan will be present in this story, but not as much. At least not for now. I am having some plans with him for later

And dear guest, my week was a bit hectic, but I am starting to get used to it. Good thing that I have writing as a coping mechanism :)

Hope you'll enjoy this chapter too and I guess you'll hear from me in the weekend. No promises tough

Lots of love!

She stole my heart away

DPOV

"What if you take her to mama? I am sure she'd be able to-"

Ivan doesn't get the chance to finish his idea because out of nowhere, we hear a woman scream. And from the way she sounds, she's in pain.

To my relief, I don't recognize that voice as being someone's important. It's familiar to me, I have heard it today as she was calling me a jerk, but it's not Rose's, thank God.

But I wonder what happened around here. This bar seemed a tranquil one. I bet it's just a touchy client or something.

But more importantly, where is Rose now?

I look for her and into the place she previously was, I see a lot of people gathering. Which doesn't count as good in my book. A lot of people bring trouble and if Rose is there, then it means that she might be in trouble.

Ivan and I get up at once and we head there too, and I'm pushing my way through the people, getting them out of my way with my elbows, wanting to get faster there, not knowing if she's fine. I hope she's fine.

But when we get close enough, I see before my eyes a scene I never imagined Rose would be a part of. It seems that Rose is not in trouble. She created it.

"Wow. She broke her nose," Ivan puts into words my surprise, and I even sense proudness fill his voice, along with some amusement.

And from the floor, that woman is squealing the same thing, starting to cry as she's desperately trying to wipe the blood running out of her nose.

Some people get closer to her, trying to help, but she pushes them away and gets up by herself, then starts calling Rose names, a gesture that I don't appreciate at all.

But before I get to say something into the attempt to settle things maybe, Rose gets speaking.

"Say thanks that I didn't do more to you, you little bitch!" she threatens full of anger and wants to get another shot at the waitress. "I will rip your head off!"

That's where I intervene and get a hold of her, before anyone else does, and I prevent her from doing more damage. She already did enough, I see.

Maybe I shouldn't have taught her how to lay such a good punch after all. She aimed perfectly and well, did the most damage to her opponent's face.

"Let go of me!"

She steps on my foot, pushes her elbow into my ribs just as I taught her and then wants to hit my nose with the back of her head, but I have already seen that coming and dodge it.

"You've got yourself a little fighter," I hear Ivan making a comment and in response, I throw him the ugliest glare I am capable of.

I so don't need his sarcasm now and he's not helping at all. He just sits there and watches us amused. And from the whole bar, he's the only one who sees this situation as funny.

When she again tries to take a shot at me, I stop her fist before it reaches my thigh and I wrap my palm around it. And call me crazy or not, I think she even pulled the waitress by her hair, and not just a little. Because I feel a lot of little hairs in between her fingers.

"Stop, Rose. Please." I whisper into the crook of her neck, thinking that this calmer approach would help.

But Rose doesn't give up on struggling, and I need to hold her tighter, my arm wrapped over her front body, pulling her so close to me that there's no space left in between her back and my front.

And what I did makes her growl in displease, but she still doesn't calm down.

"Stop struggling and I will let go of you, I promise."

She just starts squirming harder.

"Rose, listen to me."

"You go to hell too, okay? And let go of me! I am not done with her! I'll kill her!"

What got her so mad? This definitely isn't the Rose I know.

"Roza, you-"

"Stop calling me like that! Stop doing that to me!" She says and I feel hurting in her voice. "My name is Rose, goddamnit! And let go of me!" her last words end up with a sob and her body goes softer in my arms as she starts crying. "Let go of me. I don't want you to touch me anymore. You're a bastard and I don't want to be near you ever again!"

And I mindlessly listen to her request, letting go of her, and she doesn't try to do anything, as I feared. She just starts wiping her tears and looks down, all of her anger washing away with sobs.

I want to turn her and make her talk to me, to sort things out, but Ivan stops me.

"You'll only make things worse. Let me try."

I don't really want to, but I know he is right. From the things she just said to me, the last thing she wants is to sort things out with me.

So I let him do it.

"Hey, kiddo." he takes her face into his palms and makes her look at him.

She frowns and wants to pull away, but he keeps her in place.

"It's okay. I'm a friend, Rose." and she nods at him, not trying to get away anymore. "What happened? What did she do to you, huh?"

"I um…" she's trying so hard to suppress the tremble of her bottom lip by biting it, but it's not working. "She said that… I just… I didn't want her to… I couldn't let her tal-"

"Hey! Who do you think you are to pick on my girls?"

I hear a man ask that, being so close to us out of nowhere and he gets a hold of Rose's shoulder, wanting to pull her towards him.

But I stop him just in time, getting a hold of his forearm. To hell if I am letting anyone touch her.

"And what's the deal with you too? You're all looking for trouble in my bar?" the same man speaks angrily and this time, he tries to take a shot at me.

Which was, I may say, his worst decision tonight.

Because he has the same fate as the waitress. But just a little worse.

RPOV

This guy, his friend, was talking to me so nicely, and in the very next second, I am being pulled left by the Russian, him dragging me towards him and putting me behind him.

And I don't even get to protest because the next thing I know is that a man I have never seen, is now in front of us and he has a bleeding nose.

And just as fast, things get out of control. Some more men come, some of the people already here get acting in the favor of the ones with bleeding noses and the situation worsens. They are all mad. And they're wanting our asses. Mostly mine because I started this mess.

The blonde one grabs the collar of another man that wants to get his hands on and he pushes him backward, hitting his nose with his head, producing a lot of damage to it, as I hear the bone breaking in all this noise around us.

It seems that bleeding noses is the main theme tonight.

But the men keep on coming, wanting to give a hand. And I find myself put in between the Russians, not knowing what to do but stare at what's happening around me, as they're sharing firsts with anyone that dares come too close.

They're hitting anything they find around, eliciting growls and whelps left and right, them both working so perfectly together, like in a very dangerous dance, sharing only some short Russian words from time to time.

And these other guys don't know when to stop, they just keep on getting up even though their asses are being kicked big time.

Oh, God. What did I do?

But I don't get enough time to question my bad choices tonight. Because the Russian wearing a duster pushes me into a more safe corner, somewhere in between some tables, into a more difficult to reach spot, and he looks at me just for a second, enough for him to tell me four words.

"Just stay here. Please."

He goes back to punching men and knowing I already did enough bad tonight, I do as I have been told to, even though I feel so useless. But I know I would only be in their way there.

I hear some bottle being smashed and I instantly look that way. And I see that it wasn't just an accident. It's a guy that smashed it and he's now heading our, well, their way with a vicious face.

There's no one else to see him coming but me because my two protectors are having their backs turned to the one carrying the half of the bottle.

I try to announce them of what's coming, still sitting into my safe spot, but the bar is way too loud for them to hear me.

Plus, they're way too busy. One of them is hitting a guy's head on a table, sending him to sleep, and the other is dealing with two men at the time.

But this guy is still coming! And no one sees him, but me.

I can't let him cut any of them.

He won't.

Taking my chances of being scolded later, I take advantage of the dimmed lights in here and get around the tables, reaching the spot behind the man carrying that sharp, sharp object in his hand and…

And what can I do? I won't be able to take it from him. He'll cut me the second he sees me trying to.

But I still need to do something or else, they will get injured. And it would be my fault. He'd get hurt because of me. Which I can't accept.

I look around for a thing to protect me and find a dropped hoodie on the ground. Yeah. This will do. I take it fast and wrap it on my arm, hoping that it will be enough of a protection.

And with the thought that I don't have another choice but to do this, I take a fullswing and jump on his back, catching him unprepared.

As I predicted, the bottle comes my way, but I bring my hoodied arm up and hit his hand with it, managing to make him drop it.

And with my mission accomplished, I am still up on this guy, and he takes a hold of my legs. Uh-oh. Not good at all. I am in such deep shit.

The man holds me tight and not knowing what to do, I take a few swings at his face, one of my palms slapping him and the other dragging his head backwards, my fingers tightly holding onto his hair.

A gesture from me that only gets him madder and he takes a swing at my ribs with his elbow, which he plants very well, robbing me from my breath as I yell for help.

"Comrade?!"

DPOV

I told her not to move!

How the hell did she get on that guy anyway? What was she thinking?

"We need to get out of here now!" I yell at Ivan as I am making my way towards Rose.

And after he finishes with the one he was dealing with, he follows me, having my back as I am too worried about her to worry about myself.

I get to Rose just in time to catch her before she would hit the floor and I pull her up to her feet as Ivan takes care of the man she was previously on, leaving him unconscious.

"You're okay?" I ask her and not have the time to wait for an answer because we need to get moving.

I take her hand and rush her towards the exit, the nervous sounds of people following us as we're making our way out.

We run, taking advantage of our head start and we end up into the parking lot. But into the wrong one.

I research my surroundings and realize our car is way too far and stealing another would take too much time.

"Hey, you take my car," I tell Ivan and throw my keys to him. "It's a black Golf, into the front parking lot."

"What about you?"

"I'll manage."

I say to him my goodbye and after he goes away, I take Rose's hand, taking her somewhere close, where a bunch of motorcycles are.

It takes me less than a few seconds to take a look at all of them, and I can't believe how lucky I am to find some keys in one. Wow. How stupid of him. But at least I won't even have to waste time stealing it.

I get on it and urge Rose to do the same. But she doesn't move.

"Comrade… I can't. I haven't..."

"Rose, for the love of God, please just get on this goddamn motorcycle or we will both end up badly soon!"

Her eyes widen at my outburst, but she nods and gets up behind me, without any more restraints.

And I waste not another second and rev the engine and be on my way out of here, heading to a safer place.

And when I stop, I finally realize how tight Rose is holding me.

She is pressing her fists into my abdomen and she is shaking too, maybe from the cold. We didn't have the chance to take her coat. Or maybe she's crying. I can't tell now.

I turn my head backwards and all I can see is that she is having her forehead propped on my back and her eyes are closed tightly and well, as I supposed, she is crying silently, small sobs shaking her body.

"Roza?"

Her only response is to hold me a little tighter.

I put my palms over her fists and as her cold skin makes contact with mine, her hands stop shaking. I soothe her skin with my thumbs and gently work up to unclenching her fists, then take her hands into mine and continue to knead them.

"It's okay now. Everything is okay. We stopped."

She moves her hands out of mine and spreads her palms on my chest, still holding me tight and next, she moves her head to one side and lets out a long sigh as she lays her cheek on my back.

"Rose? How are you feeling?"

But still, she doesn't speak. She didn't even open her eyes.

"Roza, talk to me, please."

I turn some more, obliging her to lift her head and she lifts her eyes to meet mine. And for a second, she looks at me in a way I can't decipher. But I like what I find there. Besides the fact that her eyes are still filled with tears, of course.

I get her hair out of her face and when I want to walk my fingers on her cheek, she turns her head a little, coming halfway to meet me, and sighing, she closes her eyes for some seconds as I soother her skin.

"It's okay, love."

I want to say something more, but I don't get to because she growls a little as her eyes snap open and she pulls away from me getting off the motorcycle in a blink of an eye and turns her back to me.

I get off too and go behind her, resisting the urge to embrace her from this position.

"What's wrong?"

Again, she doesn't say anything to me, just wraps her arms around herself and looks away.

I take one second to get my coat off and put it on her shoulders, and for a second, she gets uptight under my touch, making me want to growl in frustration. I would like so much if she wouldn't still act like I would be seconds away from doing something terrible to her.

"Talk to me, Rose."

I still want an answer and I am still not getting it.

There is no Ivan here to deal with the situation now, so I have to do it.

I turn her to face me and she is watching me, seeming confused for a second, I would dare say.

"Gosh!" it's the only response I get as she turns around and passes her hand through her hair. "Don't."

"Hey, what's the matter?"

I place my hand on her elbow, trying to turn her to face me again, but she jerks her hand and pulls away.

"Don't touch me!"

"Did I do something?"

"What the hell do you want?" she bursts out, finally facing me, her eyes throwing flames at me, and I take half a step backward, her reaction startling me.

"I… I don't want anything."

"You don't? Then why the hell do you do all this?"

"Do what?"

She growls. "This! Why you're doing this?!"

"This what? Do you mean the driving?" I swear I have no idea what she is talking about. "I had to-"

"No! Not the stupid driving! Goddamnit!" She fists her palms and grits her teeth. "It… It's nothing," she says like disappointed I didn't get what she was talking about.

She takes some breaths in, getting calmer and avoids my eyes once again.

"No, you started. Finish it, Rose."

"It's not important."

"It obviously is. You are very upset about it and from what you say, I am the cause and I don't know what I did."

She laughs bitterly and looks at me for a second.

"Yeah. That's the point. You have no idea."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. It really means nothing at all."

"To hell it is, Rose. You-"

"Just drop it, goddamnit!" She bursts again, angrier this time, then takes in a deep breath, calming her features. "Just... Drop it, okay?" Her voice cracks with this question. "It doesn't matter. It shouldn't matter. It doesn't," She repeats faintly and mostly to herself now.

Then she is on the move again, heading back to the motorcycle and she props herself on it, wraps herself better in my duster and looks in the distance.

Not knowing what else to do, I join her and lean over the motorcycle next to her, close, but not that close to touch her even though only God knows how much I crave that, how much I want to feel her, to hold her, to soothe her.

And I wait. For what, I have no idea. But I wait.

And after some minutes of silence, she speaks.

"So what do we do now? Where do we go from here?"

I feel like whatever I might say, I am on a minefield. But still, I have to say something.

"Is there a place you want to go?" I ask, thinking that if we do something she wants, things will get better.

She puffs and rolls her eyes.

"I don't care. Let's just go already. You would anyway take me wherever you want, so what's the point?"

She wants to detach from the motorcycle, but, with the risk of her snapping at me again, I pull her to me, and she sits back down, a little closer to me, and looks at her feet, nervously biting her lip.

"Look at me." She doesn't move a muscle. "Rose, look at me."

Slowly, she lifts her head. And her gleaming eyes look back into mine and I can see there is something deep inside her that is consuming her, no matter how much she tries to hide it and all I want to do now is to cuddle her to my chest and tell her that everything is going to be alright. That I will not let anything happen to her. Even if I am the cause of it. I will fix it.

"What do you want?" she asks coldly, trying to seem detached, but the tears in her eyes give her away.

"I want you to tell me what happened back there." where I guess everything started.

"Nothing much," she mumbles avoiding my eyes.

"Well, I heard otherwise. Seen otherwise."

"And what did you see?" She asks sarcastically. Where does this attitude come from? What did I do this time?

"You know what I saw when I got there. You know what was happening. The question is, were you really fighting that waitress? Did you indeed hit her?"

"So what if I did?"

"Did you?"

"So what if I did?"

I can't help but smile. And on her face, I see anger appearing.

"Don't get me wrong, Rose. But this is quite unexpected. I didn't think that you-"

"That I would be able to do it?"

"No. Not that. I know that you can do it," I say and let some proudness fill my voice. She is quite a good and quick learner and she has lots of potential and when I showed her all the fighting techniques, she did a good job. "The only thing I don't know is what determined you to do it."

"It just happened," she says serenely.

"That's all? It just happened?"

"Yes."

"This is the only explanation you have? That it just happened? Your fist made contact with her nose and that's all?"

"This is the only explanation you get."

"Why are you acting like this?"

"Look, comrade. You don't tell me things. I am allowed as well not to tell you things either, okay? I don't have to give you a full report about why I do things. I don't need to explain myself to you. I just did it and that's all you need to know. Why is it so hard to understand?"

She seems really pissed off and I decide not to pursue this matter some more. Who knows? Maybe she will want to kick my ass too.

"Fine, Rose. This is the only explanation I'll get, I understand."

"Fine," she says sounding more upset than earlier.

And I get the vibes that I did something wrong again. But I don't know what! Maybe she wanted me to ask some more about it? Should I ask some more about it? She is kinda looking my way expectantly. But what if I mess things more? She said that she won't tell me why.

And if I would ask again…

She seems pissed enough already and I don't like that she is pissed at me. I would at least like to know what I did.

I sigh, completely defeated and I put my hands on her shoulders, making her give me all her attention.

"Look, Rose. I don't know what I did, I really don't have the slightest idea and if you are mad at me, which you are obviously are, please do tell me why. Maybe I can make things better somehow." I wish I can.

She starts calming down and she looks down again, rubbing the tips of her boots together, maybe considering things.

"Hey." I lift her chin. "Talk to me please."

But she just looks at me and the look in her eyes transmits me that she is on the verge of crying. Which would kill me if it would happen.

"Roza…"

I walk my thumb across her cheek and bring my other hand up too, getting some strands of hers behind her ear. I can't help it anymore. The urge to touch her is way too strong.

"Tell me what's the matter. Tell me how I upset you."

Staring at me and biting her bottom lip hard, trying to suppress it, it doesn't take long until she starts crying, tears falling silently down her cheeks.

"You need to stop doing this to me," she whines.

She turns her head and nuzzles her nose on the inside of my palm and I take the chance to wipe some of her tears away.

"Do what?"

She laughs bitterly as she pulls away from my touch.

"You don't have the slightest idea, don't you?"

I shake my head. I don't know what she is talking about.

"For a man who claims to know so many, there are plenty of things you miss, comrade."

"What is this supposed to mean?"

She sighs and looks away.

"Nothing. It is supposed to mean nothing. I am just talking shit. Don't mind me."

Sobbing lightly, she gets up and takes some steps away from me.

"Where are you going?"

"I just… I need to be alone a little. Just a couple of minutes, please."

But I am not letting things like this. I can't. I want too much to know.

So I go after her.

When she hears me following her, she stops and tilts her head backward, like exasperated. A thing I sense in her tone too.

"Go away."

"Not until you tell me what's wrong."

"I am not in the mood to talk to you."

"Too bad, then. Because I am not asking you to talk to me. I am telling you to. You have to, goddamnit! You opened the subject and I am not letting you go until you tell me." I let some of the frustration in me surface, but I swear I can't help it.

"Why do you even care? Don't you have more important stuff to do rather than care about my lame ass or my problems? Don't you have responsibilities to take care of?"

"You are one of my responsibilities."

I see her expression fade and get replaced with a harsh one.

"Yeah, your job," she says displeased. "I keep on forgetting that. But you don't have to feel responsible for me because of that, comrade. I can deal on my own."

"It's not like that."

"No? Come on. You just said it. I am one of the things you are obliged to look after. You need me so you're pretending to give a crap about my wellbeing. Stop it. I am not impressed. I don't need that."

It's my turn to sigh deeply. Is it so hard for her to think that I care, no hidden reason or intention?

"I am not asking you now if you are okay because I have to or because it's part of my job. I am asking you because I genuinely want to know."

"Why?"

Because I care!

"Because I want to know. I do care-"

"Well, I don't want you to know."

"You're so stubborn!"

"Thank you." now even her pose gets defensive, not only her tone.

"I didn't mean it in a good way."

My comment brings the littlest of smiles on her lips.

"I know that. But… really now. Let me be, please. I can't have this conversation with you. I won't."

And when I see there's no other way for me to get an answer from her, I let her be, just as she asked me.

And after she nods my way, a thankful look in her eyes, she goes and sits on the edge of a stone nearby, and looks at the sky.

And not having anything else to do but wait, I start looking around, until my eyes fall on a little shop nearby. And seeing that Rose doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon, I head that way, still keeping my eyes on her. You know, just in case.

But when I get back out, she is still there, the only difference being that she's looking down now.

I dare go closer to her.

When my shoes get into her eyesight, she lifts her head and looks at me upset.

"Really, comrade?"

"Hey. I come in peace. I am not going to say a single thing if you don't want me to."

"You promise?"

"Pinkie promise." I try to remind her of the night she got drunk and cute, but I soon remember that she doesn't have any knowledge of that conversation.

But still, my response brought a little smile to her lips.

"Fine."

"So, can I sit?"

She shrugs. "It is a public space after all and unless you want to stand…"

As soon as I take a seat, again, at a safe distance, I extend her a package wrapped in a little paper bag.

"What is this?"

"Can I speak?"

She sighs, but the look in her eyes is not as displeased. She looks rather amused.

"Tell me."

"The peace offer."

Next, she looks at me weirdly.

"What? You think that if you buy me something, everything is going to be fine?"

I shrug. "Maybe not everything. But at least something."

"Something like?"

"Like your stomach."

My response makes her chuckle lightly. It's still a sad one, but it's better than no chuckle at all. I'm heading the right way.

"You bought me food?"

"Why don't you see for yourself?"

She snatches the little thing from me and opens it. Then smiles faintly.

"I would waste my breath if I'd ask you how you knew I love Reese's too, right?"

"Kind of."

As she keeps on staring at the bright orange package, her eyes get teary again and she looks the other way for a second, wiping them away.

"You are doing that thing again, comrade."

"What?" What did I do again? What's that thing she keeps on talking about?

"You wouldn't get it."

"Try me."

She shakes her head. "It is pointless anyway."

"How can you be sure about it? Tell me an-"

"Hey. I thought you said you won't talk. And you are pretty much talking and trying to pump that thing out of me."

"And is it working?" I decide to approach a playful strategy.

A strategy she doesn't appreciate very much, her brows frowning.

"Really, comrade?"

"Well, you know, you started the talking thing."

She throws me a squinted glance, silently asking me the previous question again.

"Fine. I will shut up until further notice." even though only God knows how much I want to talk now.

"Good."

And seeing her happily munching on that piece of chocolate, I want to say something, but I consider things and decide not to open my mouth.

"Come on, say it if you can't keep it in. What else do you have to add?"

"I was wondering about something."

"About what?"

"Does it make anything better?"

She chuckles a little.

"Yeah, it kinda does. And not only my stomach."

I am really happy to hear this. I hoped that this chocolate would go to her heart too. Chocolate seems to have this effect on her. And things are good. Or at least better.

Until she turns her head and looks at me, a sad look in her eyes.

"And somehow it doesn't." she sighs. "Somehow it doesn't, comrade."

"In which way?" I see the chance to try again.

"In a way."

"In a way you're not going to tell me about, right?"

"Nope."

"Why?"

"Just because… I can't talk about it."

And the mystery about her only deepens.

"Are you… at least… okay? Just a little bit?"

"I am as okay as I can be in these circumstances,"

"So, not at all?"

"I don't know. Not really."

"Physically at least?"

Her eyes instantly get across her fists, on which I focus my attention too.

"Yes, nothing hurts."

"But you got a good shot at her nose."

"You think that?" she gets surprised and a little excited at the same time.

"From the results I have seen on her face, yes, love." my proud filled remark makes her smile a little. "On your knuckles too."

I take her hand in mine and trace the lines of her bones to see if she is hurt in any way, to see if there's anything broken or scratched. And to my relief, she is not. Her skin is as flawless as I remember and the blood on it doesn't come from her.

"Tell me why." I try once more.

"Why what?" she plays the fool.

"Why you did it, Rose. What determined you to do it?"

"That is not something you will find out in this life, comrade."

Well, I just have to try my chances one more time.

"Is it something I did?"

"It's not your fault she's a bitch," she sighs.

"What did she do?"

"Nothing important."

"It's important enough if it made you do…" I continue to walk my thumb across her knuckles. "...this."

Seemingly uneasy, she slips her hand out of mine.

"I told you I am good." she dodges the subject and I know there wouldn't be any point in me insisting.

"You're sure? Didn't any of those men touch you at all? Anywhere?"

"No. I am fine. You and your friend took care of them anyway."

"Yeah, but, you jumping on that guy?"

"Yeah?" she asks and if she's looking for another proud remark, it won't come.

Remembering her gesture, I shake my head, smiling.

"Pretty stupid action, love." and seeing her squint her eyes at me, I only smile wider. "Brave, I won't deny it, but still stupid. You could have gotten hurt." especially if I wouldn't have caught her while falling.

"But it helped."

"I didn't say it didn't, but… be more careful next time. I don't want to have to bandage you up again or something close to that." her body already wears too many bruises and wounds.

She smiles too.

"Next time? Do you think there will be a next time I get into a fight?"

"Honestly? From how angry you were at the bar, I thought I would be getting to be your next victim."

At this, she starts laughing, and for goods this time. It's loud and hearty and I love it.

"I can't even touch you, comrade. How do you expect me to kick your ass?"

"Eh…" I can't stop myself from ruffling her hair. "You're a determined woman. I bet you would have found a way from how angry you were."

And at this moment I realize I stepped out of the line with my gesture, so I pull my hand away.

Looking away, she passes a hand through her hair, putting it back in place.

"Um… don't we... have places to be?" she asks, words seeming to stop in her throat.

"Not now. We can stay here for as long as we want."

"You're sure about that?"

"Yeah. Very sure."

She looks like she would need a break from everything and I am giving it to her. Or something close to that. It's the best I can do.

She pulls her knees up to her chin and lays her cheek on them, her eyes pinned on me.

"Tell me something, comrade."

Oh, so now she feels like talking? But not about anything that happened?

"Tell you what?"

"I don't know. Anything you want."

"Be more specific."

She starts drawing circles on her calf and thinks for a second.

"Do… do you miss Russia? Like, you miss your home? Hometown?"

Why do I have the feeling that she's asking me this because she misses her home?

When she sees that I don't say anything, she feels the need to explain.

"You know, I mean, with the job you have and all the moving from one place to another…"

How do I tell her that I haven't had a home in so long? That I crave for one. That I miss having one.

"I don't get attached to places." and all this time I tried doing this, thinking it would be easier this way. But still, it never did get easier.

"Oh… I see."

And because I ended this subject so abruptly, all we have now is silence. Which she decides to break again.

"I'm sorry I ruined your night, comrade."

"What?"

"I mean your plans and all…"

"What plans?"

"What? Do you want me to say it out loud?" her tone gets angrier and her eyes dark, her lips pressed in a thin line.

"Say what?" again, I am not catching the meaning of what she's saying.

"Never mind." She gets upset again and tightens the grip around her knees.

"Rose, I don't know what you are talking about."

"Of course you don't," she puffs.

"No, really. I swear I don't understand a thing you have been talking about ever since we got here. Not a single one."

If she wants me to pick on to something, I am not getting it.

"Come on, don't pretend you weren't going to go with-" she stops and bites the inside of her cheek, and looks down, getting more upset with each passing second.

"Go with who?"

"No one."

"Rose. Come on. Do you think I was going to go away with Ivan?"

This is why she got upset? She thought I would leave her alone? I have made a promise I intend to keep no matter what, and it doesn't involve me leaving her side.

"No," she mumbles.

No?

"Then who?"

Could she have been thinking I was going away with the waitress? Could this be the reason she hit her too?

Sure. Just because she was so, so jealous. Get your shit together and stop seeing things where they aren't. She doesn't like you, and you think she got jealous?

"Nothing. No one."

Okay. This thing has gotten way too far.

I get my fingers under her chin and tilt her head so that she'd finally look at me.

"I have no idea what you are talking about. I swear I don't. What do you mean with everything you have been saying so far? What should I understand from all that? I wasn't going to leave you. What got you so upset? I don't understand a thing."

"You know what? That's good."

"Is it? What's good about it?"

"Yes. If that is true and you don't understand a thing, then you at least get how I always feel around you." she gets up and brushes some dirt off her jeans. "About you," she says so faintly I am not even sure she said it. "Let's go now."

She turns around and goes away, stopping next to the motorcycle.

Being more clueless than ever, I simply follow her.

And all she does is to watch it intensely, like considering things.

"What happened?"

"I um… can't we get a car?"

"Why?"

She shrugs as her fingers trace a line on the seat.

"Don't know… just like that. We should take a car."

Thinking of how scared she seemed when we arrived here, I am going to take a guess.

"You're afraid?"

"No, of course not. Why would I be? It's just that…" and when she looks at me, her faked braveness disappears. "A little. Yes. I'm a little afraid."

"Just a little?"

"I am not that into motorcycles, okay?" she gets a little snappy and sighs while crossing her arms.

"Why is that?"

"Just like that. Nothing important. Does there have to be a reason?"

"From the way you're reacting, I am sure there is one. Is it a secret?"

"No, it's not…"

"So?" I insist. Maybe I'll succeed to get one thing from her today.

She sighs again, a little more annoyed, but tells me either way.

"It's just that… one of my boyfriends had one…"

Hearing the word boyfriend get off her lips brings back those feelings that I got at the bar, and I don't even know why. I mean, she doesn't have anything to do with that guy anymore, right?

Sure, but when she did have something to do with that guy, what exactly did they do? How far did she let him go? Did she-

"...and he convinced me to get on it with him. And five minutes later, we almost ended up in a ditch."

"You're afraid I might be a bad driver?"

"Not really. I have seen you driving, and hell, driving while someone is chasing you comes so easily to you, but… I don't know. I guess I can't stop thinking about that event."

"Come on, love. Trust me with this." at least with this little thing, out of them all.

She squints her eyes at me and presses her lips together.

"Hey, didn't you say earlier that I am allowed to say no?"

I smile. Out of everybody, she told me no more than a thousand times. But she's right. She is allowed to say no how many times she wishes.

"Of course you are. If you don't want to do it, I won't force you. I am not going to force you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable."

"Then what were you doing a few seconds ago?"

"I was trying to convince you. I just want you to know that this can be enjoyable too."

I somehow think she'll might get to like it. I can make a motorcycle ride enjoyable. And different from the first one I took her on.

She thinks about it as she inspects the vehicle with a critic's eye.

"I have a condition."

I can't help it but smile, seeing that she gave in.

"So, is this a yes?"

"But only if you keep up to what I will ask you."

"I'll do it."

"But you don't even know what I wanted to tell you."

"I'll do it anyway."

Only the fact that she didn't refuse it makes me more excited than I should be.

A small, playful smile spreads on her lips.

"You know, now I could ask you to do anything I'd wish, just because you already agreed to it, comrade."

Oh, if she'd only knew how many things I'd do…

And this thought spinning in my head makes me take a step closer to her, making her have to tilt her head to look at me, a gesture that only exposes her beautiful face more to the light.

Her breath catches lightly when my fingers slide across the material of the seat, reaching hers.

"And what would you ask me to do, love?" I walk my thumb across her knuckles and her fingers tense under mine only for a second. "Come on, name it."

"I um…" she gulps and looks down, her cheeks already starting to blush. "Just don't drive fast," she whispers.

"Or else?" I can't stop my mouth from teasing. I like seeing her like this and my brain isn't thinking of anything else but that now.

She dares look at me again, and this time frowns.

"Or else… or else I'll, I'll… I'll do something, okay?" she tries to get a little threatening and I know she means it. Whatever that would be, I know she'd do it.

I smile and place my free palm over my heart as I promise her.

"I'll go as slow as a snail. Even slower if you wish, love."

My hand has already taken control over hers, turning it and I am now playing with the skin at the base of her fingers, massaging it lightly, her not pulling away, not even giving me a sign she wouldn't like it.

And I don't even care anymore that I shouldn't be doing this. I'll try better next time not to give in to my little urges. But not now.

"I'll go as slow as you'd want me to," I promise to her.

And I am far from still referring to the driving, and I guess that she is aware of that too because her cheeks get even redder and as she starts biting her lower lip, she again shifts her eyes down. Oh, I so love it when she gets like this.

"That's… um... good."

It would be good if she'd let me just-

"So, um… shall we..." she asks slowly sliding her palm from under mine. "...go?"

Again, she pulled away.

And isn't this a good thing?

I don't know anymore. I don't know what I want from her anymore.

"Yes, Rose. Let's go."

RPOV

He gets on the motorcycle first and looks at me expectantly, waiting to do the same.

And I do it. I get on it too, but I don't dare do more than this. I sit there, tense and straight and not touching him. Considering what happened earlier, I don't have the courage to do anything that involves making contact with him.

But he takes action and his hands move backwards, finding mine resting in my lap, gets my hands in his and drags them around his torso, spreading them and placing them onto his upper abdomen.

"Here, love. But promise you won't squeeze me to death this time." he tries to lighten up things and I am grateful for this.

I even find the courage to laugh a little.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

"Don't worry." he pats my thigh after he pulled it even closer to his. "I know," he ends as he did the same with my other thigh. "You're ready, love?"

"Yes."

"I don't think so."

"What?"

"Relax. I won't drive you into a pillar, I promise."

"I know…"

And to show him that I trust him with this too, I take in a deep, calming breath and I slowly lay my cheek on his back.

He revs the engine and I do not let panic creep inside me. I remain just the same. Calm.

"See, love? It's not that bad."

"Yeah…"

But as he starts driving a little faster to pass a car, my palms mindlessly clasp onto his T-shirt.

And maybe he tries to help and gets one hand over mine, starting to soothe it with his thumb, but his gesture only makes me panic more.

"Keep your damned hands on the wheel, comrade! What are you thinking about?"

Laughing lightly, he goes back to driving safely.

And after a little while, as he gets driving along some dark green pines, I get really comfortable and I even ask him for something.

"Can you drive faster?"

"Are you sure?"

Hey, we're on a straight road and what bad could happen? First, he's indeed a great driver and, second, why the hell not?

"Yes!" my voice gets excited.

"Then hold on, love," he says as he pushes the speed pedal.

And as I feel the wind rushing through my hair so fast, I squeal exited.

"Too fast?" and I see him wanting to slow down.

"No, no! It's awesome! Keep going like that."

This right here feels like finally being free. I am not thinking of anything else but how good the wind feels on my face, of how well it feels to be wrapped around him, his scent all over me.

I love this moment right here and right now, and if it would never end, I wouldn't mind.

DPOV

I was enjoying too much feeling her arms wrapped around me, hearing her excited squeals, her warm breath on my neck as she wanted to see the road ahead, but, unfortunately, that made me miss the police car that spotted me driving too fast.

I need to stop and do as the man that got out of the car has told us to, getting off the motorcycle.

When he tells us to get away from it, as we comply, Rose wraps her palm on my upper arm and looks at me pleadingly, then whispers.

"Please don't kill him, comrade."

Her request makes me smile.

"Don't worry. I won't."

"Promise?"

"I promise, love."

"You'll behave?" she asks surprised.

"Sure. I'll do that."

As long as he behaves too and doesn't ask too many questions.

The police officer approaches us and looks at us head to toe.

"So, what do we have here?" he eyes us again, inspecting us, and I do the same.

He's maybe in his fifties, his hair white all over, his uniform looking neat and almost with no crease, and I am almost sure he was enjoying a cigarette before he had to follow me.

He won't pose any problem for me to take out if I don't like what he'll say. But only if necessary.

"Give me your papers."

Keeping up to my promise, I get out my driving license and hand it to him.

"So? What were you doing? Trying to impress your girlfriend here?" he asks amused.

"Oh, sir but-"

I wrap my fingers along hers, stopping her from speaking.

"Guilty, sir."

She eyes me angrily for lying, but I give her a reassuring look. I know what I am doing. And he has just given me the perfect excuse.

The man nods as he takes my information.

"Look. I have been young too. A long, long time ago, but still. I still remember how I used to be when I was your age. But please, for the love of God, don't be stupid, son. If you want to surprise her or impress her, buy her some beautiful goddamn flowers. Take her to a beautiful place, take her dancing, go watch the stars or something. But don't drive recklessly. You won't be able to love her for too long if both of you end up in a hospital. And it would be such a pity for you to lose such a beautiful lady."

Yeah, I must agree with him with this.

"I give you my word, sir, that it won't happen ever again."

The man smiles.

"But you'll still get a ticket, I don't care how much you regret it now."

"I don't doubt that, sir. I deserve it." I keep on playing the perfect citizen.

As the man writes the fine, he asks us how we met.

And Rose's eyes look for mine, already getting panicked.

But I start speaking before she does. God only knows what she would have said and how red she would have gotten from lying. Or worse. If she would have said the truth.

"We met a few years back at a carnival in our town. And she was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

I dare say the truth into my fictional story, which makes her look at me surprised, her eyebrows frowning.

"She stole my heart away, from the first second I laid my eyes on her," I continue to speak as she watches me and she blushes as she's looking back at me.

When a small smile creeps on her lips, she looks down and mindlessly walks her thumb on my hand.

"She was out there with her friends and for one moment she was finally alone and she was trying to win herself a prize at those shooting games, but she wasn't doing the best job."

"You can say I sucked, you know?" she decides to contribute, trying to make my lie more believable and bringing another smile on that man's face. He likes what he's hearing. We're selling him the most beautiful lie.

"You did not suck, love." I ruffle her hair and put my hand around her middle, pulling her closer to me, her body stiffening for a second, then relaxing and even coming closer by her own will.

"But still, I needed you to win me the prize."

"Eh, love. That was just a reason for me to get closer to you." I keep on pretending we're these perfect lovers and I won't lie. I would like to have at least half of that with her. Maybe just for one day. It would be enough.

"But you didn't give it away for free," she continues the story perfectly, a tease present in her tone.

"How could I have? I had to make you go out with me somehow, right?"

"Right, comrade," she says patting my chest and I go as far as pulling her a little upward and resting my lips on her forehead for a second.

"And she said yes. So I took her to a cafe and from there, well, things have been good, and here we are."

I end my story as I see the man satisfied with what he has heard and already filling the fine. What would be the point in torturing myself with imagining things I cannot have with her?

As he hands me the piece of paper, he gives me one last piece of advice.

"Do yourself a big favor and wear your goddamn helmets and keep an eye on the speed the next time, okay?"

"Sure, sir."

"Have a good night, kids." oh, good. We got off easy.

As the man leaves, Rose is looking at me, arms crossed over her chest, an amused, angry mixed expression on her face.

"What?"

"So, that's how we met? In what life, exactly?"

In a different one, I hope. In a life that I am allowed to have you. At least then I could have you if in this one I cannot.

"Hey, at least I mentioned the cafe."

"Yeah. Good thing you let out all the other things that happened in there, comrade."

And we get riding again, at normal speed now, and my eyes are pinned on the buildings around us, looking for a place to spend the night into, but after half an hour of driving around, I didn't see anything I like.

"Comrade?"

"What, love?"

"I am kinda hungry."

"Then let's get you something to eat."

I change the thing I am looking for and now I am searching for a place that is still open.

But our search doesn't last for too long.

Because in less than five minutes since we started searching, a black car stops in front of us out of nowhere, obliging me to stop too, to avoid the harmful contact.

When the doors of the car open and I see who gets out, I realize we're not in a pleasant situation.

We need to get away from here fast.

"Rose, hold tight to me."

And I want to start driving again, but all that I remember lastly is feeling Rose's arms leaving my body, her whelp in pain and my own pain at the back of my head.

Then, it went all black.