Stepping to the side of the gym, Dimitri had gone and grabbed me some more water as I sat down. I chose sitting up against the wall over a few folding chairs that sat a few feet away. "Here, drink." I taken the plastic cup, greedily drinking the contents that was inside. Not knowing that I was this thirsty before. I watched Dimitri out of the corner of my eyes. Taking in his full appearance now. He was standing to the side of me, my guesses were him trying to figure out what had happened. I wasn't even sure. He ran a hand through his loose hair, clearing his throat. I was still drinking my water. He tried to start but kept on coming up short.
Within a few minutes of me waiting, I saw a mask go down like he had no emotions at all. "I saw you in here last night and now this morning." He began. Putting his hands behind his back and started pacing a short distance to my front and my side.
Before he could say anything, I spoke up, setting my cup to the side. "Before you say anything, Mr. Belikov – I don't have any excuse. The only one being that I enjoy running, it ah…" I tried to grip the words to explain. "Helps settle the wolf inside, lack for better terms." He arched an eyebrow. Damn him for being able to do that. "I understand if you have to give me detention for catching me both times." I straighten my shoulders, matching him. Not to show any weakness, that I am sure am feeling now.
He strokes his chin with his hand, and I could see the muscle structure that was there. As if he was in the weather – working out. I'm sure it was calloused, feeling myself drooling over that. I turned my head before grabbing my cup. Standing, heading over to the water cooler. I needed to busy myself before I do some impulse thing that was stupid. I quietly added, "St. Vlad's security is slacking very much." Trying to move the conversation along. Dimitri seemed deep in thought as I filled up my cup.
A deep rumbling voice spoke, and I froze, "I am security." Dammit. Spinning around, my face red as a beet.
"Oh gosh, I didn't... I mean," Cocking my head to the right, looking into his eyes. "Security?" Bring my cup to my lips. "Surely they don't pay you enough for all of this." Fanning my hand out around us for example of what I was saying. "Teaching English, Combat, guarding the gym and security?" Cocking my head to the side again. I saw a twinkle in his eyes.
With his hands still behind his back, he turned to look over both shoulders. When he looked back, he spoke, "I'm well compensated for my efforts. Besides, there's not much else to do on campus as a teacher." He sported a lopsided smile on his lips at the last sentences that sent chills down my spine.
"Must be lonely." I commented. Feeling my words wash over me.
"I can say that for yourself as well." Snapping my head back to his eyes, not realising that I started to search the room. Questioning him with my eyes, he cleared his throat again. "I'm only referring to your abilities, capabilities, supernational abilities." He seems to have a hard time naming it.
"Formal setting – supernational abilities. Unformal settings, abilities." I waved my hand towards him, helping him from struggling. "And not as much as you think." Setting my cup down on the cooler, waving to show I wanted to walk. "Wolves are normally in a pack, finding their mates and being the life of the party." I rolled my eyes at my explanation of the life of a wolf. "I mostly know legends and what I have experience. But I can party, be the life of the party – if I'm being honest but I think I prefer the joys of the track or turning to explore the woods." Looking up to Dimitri as I finished. We were halfway around the track as I finished. He seemed deep in thought as he taken that in.
"What was it like when you first turned?"
Without second thought, "Terrifying." I turned back to watch our feet, each step we both taken. For every step Dimitri taken, I taken two to keep up to him. He quirked his eyebrow again. Focusing on the track, "it was a year ago. I didn't know what was happening, I only heard of the stories from my mother side, but it was just that. Until activated my curse, that is. My mother was ashamed when it happened, she doesn't say it, but I know she is. I was in the back woods of our house in Vermont. I had just gotten into a fight with my parents, over something stupid. I didn't know it at the time." I looked back to Dimitri, he was going between watching his feet and looking towards me. "I thought I was dying in all honest. All I knew was my skin was hot like a pot of water in open fire." Scrunching my nose and shaking my head. "Not exactly like that but that's the closes thing. The feel of my bones breaking as I started shifting, there's no words for it." Looking back to him. "I don't remember much after that until I woke up in my bed, naked." I finished.
I could feel myself challenging him for a race. It crossed my mind that I would fail miserably. "Lap around? The one losses buy breakfast?" It was a stupid wager.
With as much confidence he straightened to his full height. "How about something better?" He spoke slowly. I tried the trick he done with his eyebrows and fail. "If you lose, you grade my papers for two weeks?" I cocked my head to him.
"And if I win? I want something more than just breakfast." He was a foot in front of me, he taken a half step towards me.
"Oh yeah," I could heat rise between us. "What's that?" I could feel his breath on my face, it was intoxicating as I tried to focus on our wager.
"If I win, you train me to be a guardian." Putting my hands on my hips making my decision final. He looked confused before stepping back.
"Since when do you want to be a guardian?" He looked as if I slapped him in the face.
"That's for you to find out for sure." I gave him my best man-eating grin to him, come on – it wouldn't be that bad. We could have loads of fun training together and I was already starting up a routine with coming to coming in the morning and evenings to run the track.
"There's not much time left to train to be a guardian." He brought his hands to his sides.
"Well then you have nothing to worry about then." I said sarcastically. With that, he agreed on our race, making it to be three laps around to make it a far race.
We lined up, side by side. Dimitri counted back from three as we set off.
I could feel Dimitri hold back as we were neck and neck. "Come on Comrade, don't hold back." I shouted for him to hear. He said something along the lines of not wanting me to feel bad for him to demolish her. I felt myself grin as I pressed my body to push forward. Ignoring the pain from doing my laps earlier. I didn't mind the burn, controlling my breathing to try to surpass Dimitri on the track. We were still close where we were at. Him being a bit further since he had longer legs.
The finish line was coming into view as I look towards Dimitri, I pushed forward. I wasn't giving up without a fight.
"Noo!" I growled. "I was so close!"
I heard a chuckle from in front of me as I put my hands to my knees. Catching my breathe. "That in dead is true." There was a lightness to it. "That's two weeks of grading papers Rose, I'll bring them by after school." He was bouncing, acting as if he was a teenager.
"Ah comrade, that sounds like the worse torture out there." I straighten up, "Oh for fuck's sake how many classes do you have?" I asked. His eyes widen at my curses. "Sorry." Hurrying to apologise for it. We walked towards the water cooler to get some water.
"English, I have four and the rest is combat class." Great, grand, four classes of grading papers. "If it helps you could swing by my class after school to do some grading. I'll help, don't worry." He smiled, "I can't have you giving F's to all the student board." I grabbed my bags that I brought, nodding to tell him that I would be there. I hadn't noticed when he came in that he had a bag as well. We both walked towards the girls' and boys' showers.
Before I could walk into the showers, I felt his hands on my shoulder. Tingling erupted all around the feeling. I turned back towards him. "Rose, if you were serious about the training. I won't stop you, again I'm not sure if there is enough time but if you're dedicated like I know you are, then I would be happy to train you." At that, an overwhelming amount of happiness washed over me as I started jumping up and down. Bringing my arms around the figure in front of me into an overly tight hug.
I heard a chuckle again before his hands wrap around my waist. I released all too soon and went to get ready for the day ahead of me.