Inside My World
Thanks Eilis for the help grammar wise! I don't own anything!
Chapter 4.
Gleb had just texted Anya the address of the Café. He could barely believe he had finally been brave enough to ask her on a date and it was more amazing that she had said yes. He had not told a soul about it though, not even Dima, he would mess with him too much if he did. And yet the only person who had hinted at it was Linda, as always. "Don't you look nice?" It was now November and the cold was clear, so Gleb wore a sweater and jacket under his long sleeve shirt.
"I thought you weren't going to be home tonight." Gleb told her with a smile.
"Oh, I managed to get Frank to meet me here instead of the office, I did promise Yuri and Evie a movie night."
It was nice, to have Linda home, especially for his siblings, when Linda had first met Stephan, he had been a young man, widowed with three young boys and she had been even younger but she had always been there, even when she was taking on her undergrad and getting work done. She was home to tuck them all into bed, and then when Evie had been born, she had taken a little time away from work to focus on her new baby and the boys as much as she could. "It's good to have you kids home, that's the one thing I'm going to hate once all of you leave."
Gleb smiled. It was one of those strange weekends in which even David was home. He was out already with his girlfriend but they had all promised to spend Saturday morning together since Ivan had a week's leave and his father would be home also.
"Yuri and Leo still have a few years at home, and you don't have to send them if you don't' want to." Gleb said. He loved his school, his friends and the team he led, but sometimes he wondered what it would be like to come home after the day was over and just stay in his own room and then do that the next day, not have to sleep in a bunk bed and see less and less of his little brothers.
"I'm sorry honey; I get a bit sentimental over all of this." Linda admitted. "It makes the being a parent a little hard, to see you all grow up."
"Where are you going?" Evie asked, looking at her brother suspiciously as she came down to the kitchen where Linda and Gleb stood. "You smell like you have somewhere important to be."
"Well, it's important." He said with a grin.
"Did you finally ask her to go out with you?" Evie said, glancing at her mother. It seemed that the women in his life weren't oblivious over his feelings for Anya. Gleb blushed. "You did! So where are you going?" Gleb rolled his eyes at the inquiries. Lola's Café was a modest place close to home which he knew Anya was going to enjoy.
"Oh, I'm sure he'll tell us all about it when he comes back, off you go already or you'll be late." Linda smiled. "Do you have money?" She took a couple bills from her purse and handed them to him before he could protest. "Have a good time honey."
Anya had said she was going to go meet a couple of her new friends for a movie. She hated lying, but she was not ready to let anyone know she was going on a date with Gleb. She didn't know if they had been too obvious the entire week at school and honestly, she didn't care much what other people thought. Maybe except for her father, she knew he would probably approve of Gleb, he'd already met him and liked him, and he filled all the credentials his father seemed to want for a boy for his daughters, except Anya was a bit too young to be dating.
But this was the first boy who had made her feel like she could defy any odds and she was willing to take that chance.
She looked at herself in the mirror again, thankfully, Maria was not home as she had ballet practice late at school and she would spend the weekend there. "How do I look, huh Jimmy?" Anya turned to the dog; he looked at her and wiggled his tail. She grabbed her jacket and scarf and headed down the stairs.
Her father was on a diplomatic trip and the only people home were her Mama and Alexei. "Anya?" Her brother called, he was already wearing his pyjamas and was holding onto the wall by the side of the kitchen's door as he refused to use his crutches much when he was at home. Anya understood, she couldn't imagine being in her brother's place and not have enough freedom to do things and yet, Alexei was the bravest little boy she had ever met. "I thought you were staying home tonight."
"Oh, no, I'm going to go see a movie with some friends from school, Papa did say I should make some, so I'm trying."
"But." Alexei said. "I thought you already had a friend. Gleb?" Anya didn't want to make it too obvious that she was blushing.
"Right well, I could use some more friends, don't you think?" Alexei shrugged.
"Okay,have a good time then." He told her with a smile, he then called Joy and went back into the living room. Her mother was by the door when she reached the foyer.
"Are you all ready to go?"
"Yes." Anya smiled.
"Jeff is staying with you just in case. He'll just wait in the car." Alexandra said. Anya sighed and yet, she didn't argue, it was a miracle her father was not home and she was being allowed to go out. "Look at you, all grown up." Alexandra added with a bit of nostalgia in her voice. "Where have all my little girls gone?"
Anya hugged her mother. "Have a good time sweet girl." She hated having to lie to her and yet, she couldn't bring herself to let her know exactly where she was going.
She would have to, but not right now.
Anya thanked Jeff for the ride and then moved over to the Café, the driver had been with the family long enough to know what he should ask about and not. There was a cinema near the street where they were but the young girl hadn't gone in. Not that Jeff would admit to her he had noticed.
It was not his place to ask or scold the girl but he raised his eyebrow up until he saw young Gleb Vaganov meeting Anya by the door and all his worries faded, he pulled away and found a parking space not too far away and waited.
Anya didn't want to look at Gleb much, well, she didn't want to stare, but she couldn't help it. He had just trimmed down his hair and his smile was hard to avoid as he greeted some boy at the counter he clearly knew. The boy said hello to Anya and then turned to ask for their order. "You come here a lot?"
"Yes, as much as I can, it's quieter than at home with Evie and the boys. I come here to study sometimes."
"Right." Anya smiled. "It's cozy."
"And they have the best hot chocolate, wait until you taste it." Gleb told her with a grin. Anya mirrored it back. "Did you find it okay?"
She nodded as Gleb's friend brought up their drinks and a piece of chocolate cake and placed it on the small table. "Enjoy."
"It's homemade." Gleb said. "Sam's Mom makes it from scratch." Anya glanced down at the amazingly looking dessert. "Here." He handed her a small spoon. She had not tasted anything sweeter in her life. And Gleb was right; the hot chocolate was amazing as well. All in all, she was just glad to be there with him. They talked about everything and nothing. Anya had not had the chance to look at it closely but the amulet around Gleb's neck caught her attention.
"It was my mother's." Gleb began. "She had this necklace with small trinkets on it and when we were old enough; my father gave one to each of us to keep." He didn't talk much about his mother but that piece of information just made Anya like him even more. He'd already won her over for his care over Alexei.
"It's beautiful." Anya said.
"My father said he gave the necklace to her after I was born, so it just makes it more special that each of the figures represented each of us" He explained.
"Gleb?"
"Yeah?"
"Is it sad for you to talk about her? I don't mean to pry but I can't imagine what that would be like." He offered her a kind smile.
"No, I like talking about her, although I was too young when she died, I remember a few things. We lived in my grandfather's farm back in Yekaterinburg, I remember she used to take me out with her to do chores since I was a bit too young for school and we would just spend the whole morning together."
"That sounds lovely." Anya said with a smile. "She sounds amazing; I wish I could have met her."
"Me too." Gleb admitted. They remained quiet for a moment. It seemed like both of them were immersed in their own thoughts. "Umm... I wanted to show you another reason we came here." He said, offering her his hand once they were done with their hot chocolate and cake. Anya took it and she felt butterflies in her stomach as he led her to the back of the shop, to where there was a small room with a piano. "I hesitated over whether I wanted to embarrass myself in front of you or not."
"Why would you?"
"I don't know, you seem to make me a little nervous to be honest." Gleb said shyly.
"I think the feeling is mutual." Anya replied as he turned to face her. Their noses almost touching.
"Anya…"
"Yes?"
"Would it be okay if I played you something?" He pulled away a bit as she nodded; honestly a bit disappointed that was what he was asking. She sat beside him on the bench as his fingers moved over the keys slowly and skilfully.
Anya knew she'd heard that melody before, probably an old Russian lullaby. "I stopped taking classes a few years back after I became captain of the swimming team at school, but I come here sometimes to practice so I don't forget." He said to her as he finished the song.
"You are very talented."
"Thank you." He said, still shy a bit shy. "How about another one?" Anya nodded and her head rested on his shoulder as he played. He watched her, his pulse quickening. She was so close to him again and he couldn't help but wonder if she would be offended if he asked what he wanted to. "Anya?"
"Yes?"
"Would it be okay if I kissed you?" Anya blinked her eyes, those powerful pair of blues he could get lost in. He saw her nod and then lift her head so he was facing her as she held her breath.
Anya had kissed boys before, well, one, but it was just a silly crush, one that had lasted one summer and nothing more the year before, It had been her first kiss and although it had been special, nothing could have prepared her for what was to come.
Their lips were inches apart and soon brushed against one another. It was sweet and brief but it made Anya feel light headed. Gleb pulled back first, he was still being a gentleman, but it was her time to be bold as she moved her hand to the back of his head and pulled him back, their lips connecting once more parting a bit, the kiss, although still innocent enough was quite different.
Once it was over and both were breathless, she felt Gleb's hand move to her cheek as he smiled at her.
"That was…"
"I know…" He said, chuckling slightly as he leaned to kiss her once more, sweetly.
That date, those kisses and that smile were enough to make Anya want to defy her father a hundred more times.
The next couple of weeks were pretty perfect, it was as if Anya and Gleb were living in some kind of bubble, both of them hadn't gone home and it was weighing heavy on Anya, the idea of her father coming back from his trip that Friday. "Don't be nervous, I promise if it comes to it, I will talk to your father myself. Ask him for permission."
"Gleb, it's the 21st century and although my father might be a little antiquated, I can handle it." Anya said frustrated. She had of course admitted to him her father's rule of not being able to date boys until she was older, but Gleb was not just any boy and she would do anything to assure that they could still see each other.
"Alright, I'll let you do it then, but I just want you to know that I'm willing to talk to him if I have to." They were sitting on a bench by the dorms; it was an unusually warm afternoon for mid November. They had not been able to be affectionate enough since they knew they would get in trouble for it and yet, Gleb had found it hard not to want to lace her fingers with his and to place kisses on her forehead whenever he got the chance. He also had not been able to continue with Alexei's lessons since the team had had been practicing for their upcoming competition in January.
Alexei out of everyone was the more glad to have his sister and Gleb dating, he had called him the brother he'd never had and he would even help them when they wanted to steal some time alone.
Maria had scolded Anya for not telling her sooner. Her sister could tease her but she was always on her side too, and she was glad she had finally owned up to her feelings for Gleb, even if she was 17 and didn't have a boyfriend.
That Friday, Anya was meant to be going home and meet her father for a family dinner with her grandmama who was in town again, there was a part of her that was anxious and the other was excited to see her because her grandmother had always been her greatest confidant and she couldn't wait to let her know more about more Gleb.
"Have a good weekend Alexei." Evie said as they all met up with each other in the parking lot where Jeff was meant to be picking up the Romanov siblings.
"Are you sure you don't want us to take you?" Alexei asked. He turned to his sister and Gleb who were cuddled against each other for warmth, apparently.
"Oh, I guess, they wouldn't mind and it's cold. Mom would be glad we made it home early, Gleb, text her to let her know Anya is driving us again."
"Uh?" Gleb turned to his sister. "You don't mind?"
"Why would I mind?" She asked, but Gleb was proud and he hated having to depend on Anya for getting home. Yes, she had money and he could barely begin to save up for his own car but he had been raised right; he should be the one driving them home. "Gleb, it's alright..."
"Which part?" Gleb groaned but Anya was rolling her eyes at him but beaming, then put a hand to his chin and kissed him quickly just as Jeff was pulling over.
"Come on, stop fussing, it doesn't make you any less in my eyes for me to drive you home."
"No, I know, I just…"
"He's just proud; my Mom says that's his Russian blood talking." Evie said to Anya as she climbed to the back as Gleb helped Alexei from the other side.
"It must be." Anya said with a glint of mischief in her voice. "Come on or are you too proud not to sit next to me?" Gleb smiled as he climbed after her and closed the door. Soon enough they were dropping them at the flat and Gleb was kissing her again, wishing her luck with her father.
"You know that even if he doesn't approve of it, we're hardly going to stop seeing each other, right?" Anya said, grabbing his jacket's colla, pulling him closer.
"How could we? We have school."
"Gleb, I'm serious." Anya said. "I'm willing to not follow the rules, they are stupid anyway."
"Well, they are rules and are there for a reason." She pouted her lip at him. "But yes, I would do the same thing so that I would not stop spending time with you." He said to her, a hand to her cheek.
"Come on Gleb, or I'm going up without you!" Evie called which made both teens chuckle and pull apart reluctantly. Gleb turned and said goodbye to Alexei, and with another wave at Anya, followed his sister to the door.
Anya was still in a daze when they reached the house, she saw a familiar car parked by the side where the others were and she almost jumped off it when she realized her Nana was home.
She was in the living room, looking poised as always as they entered with their bags, her grandmama was not an old woman, since her Papa and Mama had married when they had been quite young but she was the wisest person Anya knew.
"My sweet ones, there you are. Where's Maria?"
"Oh, she had ballet, she'll come home later." Anya said with a smile as her grandmother made her way over to them so she could dot on Alexei who was already saying hello to his dog.
"Oh, alright, in time for dinner then, come on my sweet one, I want to know all about your day…" Maria said as she and Anya sat by a couch in the small sitting room by the foyer.
"If by her day you mean Gleb." Alexei said playfully as he came to join them.
"Oh, your young Russian boy?"
"Nana, do you have to call him that? His name is Gleb."
"Well, then, I am sorry, Gleb, how's everything going?" Anya didn't go into much detail since her brother was present but she couldn't help to smile as she talked about him. By that time, her Mother and sisters already knew about it and itdidn't take long for her grandmother to know too, in fact, it was then that she admitted to Anya to be there to work as a referee between her and her father if she needed her to.
Stephan was home when Gleb and Evie arrived, which was a nice surprise. "Children." He turned to them as soon as the elevator clicked open. "It seems your mother has some kind of playdate with your brothers I didn't know about, so how does ice cream sound, or is it too cold for it?"
Gleb loved having his father home, for when he was, he was not an Officer of Private service but a doting father and husband. He was not one to spoil them over too much as he wanted to teach them what real life was like, but there was one weakness in his life. Or two for that matter, and those were Evie and Linda, the women who had stolen his heart, he loved his boys all the same, but there was something special about them that he couldn't deny and Gleb often wondered if he had been that way with his mother too. He wished he could remember. "You are worried about something my boy?" His father asked as they sat inside the ice cream parlour, even in the cold, there were people going out for something sweet on a Friday afternoon. Gleb had not told his father much about Anya, very little in fact, and he would have told him even less if it weren't for his sister and Linda. "Is your mind wondering about that Romanov girl?"
Gleb turned to look at him. "I just wonder if I…"
"If you are good enough? Your mother told me about it, she said you are worried about what the social status between the two of you could mean."
"She's an ambassador's daughter and I'm…"
"You are a Vaganov, honorable enough for anyone, don't ever doubt it, I didn't raise you to doubt yourself or who you are, now you are sixteen and there are questions you might have about who you could turn out to be but not about who you are." Stephan said with a hand to his shoulder. "Is that clear Gleb?"
"Yes sir…"
"And well, your mother and I have been talking…" Stephan's tone lightened up a bit. "About how this moment would play out."
"What moment?"
"The moment you ask me for something for the first time in your life." Stephan said with a glint of nostalgia. "You were the one who was always giving and never asking my boy, so now it's time for you to tell me, what do you want?"
He had not asked for a brand new car, they couldn't afford to have one, but his father seemed adamant to do something about it. He had told him that he could use Ivan's since he wasn't home and he could share it with brother was in his last year at school and he had a girlfriend, he knew he would have to play his cards right to be entitled to borrow the car.
Gleb smiled to himself, it was too early to call Anya his girlfriend, they were still not at that point, especially if her father wouldn't approve of them dating but a part of Gleb was anxiously waiting for the moment he would be able to ask Anya to be his girlfriend properly, it was silly, yes but his father had called him honorable and that's what he would be, even if it meant to prove to Nicholas Romanov, he was worthy of his daughter.
"Anya, are you alright my love, you are awfully quiet." Nicholas asked her youngest daughter. Anya looked up from her lap; Alexei was next to her nudging her shoulder
"Yes Papa, fine." She mustered. Nicholas smiled as she turned back to his phone. They were in the car, on their way back from dinner. Anya had not risked telling him about Gleb at the restaurant; above all, her father was a public figure and couldn't afford to make a scene in public. She preferred to do it in private, away from the prying eyes of society and of his mother and sisters for that matter.
But she did know her father's night rituals and she would try to talk to him then. So, she waited for the lights to go dim at the house when she went down to the kitchen as soon as she heard him on the steps.
"Anya sweetheart?" She was proud of herself in knowing him too well, he'd come down to grab a glass of warm milk which helped him to sleep better. "Everything okay?"
"Papa, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something…"
"Of course my girl, anything. Come here sit. I'll get you a glass." Anya could not stand warm milk so her father grabbed a cold fresh one from the fridge and poured it. "How about some cookies? Mama doesn't have to know."
Anya smiled. If her mother had a weakness for Alexei, he certainly had one for her, she knew. "Is something wrong? How's St. Peters?"
St. Peters was yet to find out about her and Gleb. Only a handful of people knew about them as they had been careful around each other the last few weeks because the last thing she wanted was to have her father finding out about her and Gleb from school teachers or the headmaster. "It's fine. Alexei seems to have adjusted well and so have I, I suppose."
"Good, I'm glad; I have nothing but good memories with your uncles there when we were kids." Anya bit her lip. "So, whatever is bothering you, does it have to do with something else?"
"Someone more like it." Anya said, she looked down at her hands.
"Someone, Anya?"
"Yes, Gleb."
"Gleb?" Nicholas inquired. "What about him?"
"I...I like him Papa…"
"Of course you do, he's a nice young man, who has proved to be a good friend to you and Alexei."
"No, I know but Papa, I like him as more than friends." And then it hit Nicholas, like a bucket of iced water.
"Oh…" He began. "And does he like you the same?"
"Yes, he does." Anya said, a small smile playing on her lips. "And before you say anything, I know I'm young, but Papa, you said it yourself that you like Gleb and he's more than proved himself to be…" Nicholas's stare was frozen as he licked his lips, searching on what to say, his fingers gripping the glass of milk.
"Anya, we have rules in this family, I have an image to maintain, not to mention you are barely a child."
"I might be a child in your eyes Papa but I'm not a little girl anymore and Gleb, he's special to me." Her father's expression softened but before he could respond, they heard someone come into the kitchen.
"Why don't I hear shouting?" Alexandra asked. "She's told you, hasn't she?"
"You knew about her feelings for Gleb?"
"Yes, I think I've known about them before she did." Alexandra said tenderly, moving to put her hand on Anya's shoulder. Anya blushed, and then turned to her father.
"He did make quite the impression on all of us, that boy and he certainly is from a good family." Nicholas said, finally.
"He even said he'd ask for your permission if he had to." Anya admitted to her Papa shyly. A small smile appeared on his lips as Anya held her breath.
She didn't really want to defy her father in anyway, but if it came to it, she would.
Awww I hope this was adorable enough! I love writing Glenya so much! And yay for scenes with Nicholas en Stephan. Hope you liked it!
