*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. THey were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much*
"So what do you have in mind today?" I ask Dean as we get into my car after sneaking out of my house through the guest bedroom balcony so my dad, my brother, my sister and Tara don't see him and know he's staying there. I've never really had to sneak out of my house but I like it. I like the feeling it gives me.
"I was thinking paint ball would you be down to do some paint ball?" he asks.
"In 20 degree weather? I don't think so," I say.
"Then what would you like to do?" he asks as I start the car. "I really don't have much money. I just have a few dollars and I don't want you to pay for anything. I want to treat you to something today."
"I don't know," I say. "I don't really do anything so I don't know."
"Do you roller skate or go ice skating what about bowling?"
"I like bowling," I say with a smile.
"All right," he says with a smile, "we'll go bowling."
"Cool," I say, "and besides I can't ice skate or roller skate. I'm scared I'm going to get hurt. I can't risk a broken bone. I've worked too hard and too long to blow my dance career away with an injury."
"You're pretty serious aren't you?" he asks as he takes my free hand into his intertwining our fingers. I look at him and smile.
"I like to have fun but not fun that's going to break a bone," I say. "Besides my ballet teacher may not like that."
"I see," he says with a smile. "I guess I understand that. Are you nervous for this ballet audition?"
"Very," I say as I drive down the road. "I mean this is EVERYTHING! Wouldn't you be nervous if you had to try out for Vince McMahon himself to get into WWE or one of their talent scouts? Wouldn't you be nervous?"
"Anastasia, I don't get nervous. The only time I ever got nervous in my life was when I asked you out and asked to give us a shot. That's the first time I ever asked a girl out or asked her for more."
"You've never had a girlfriend?" I ask.
"Never," he says. "I've been with girls but not in a relationship. I never did a date before."
"So you just had sex with girls?" I ask.
"In not so many words yes," he says, "look where I come from getting in a relationship is hard to do. It's always about the sex. The girls where I live are much different than you."
"I see," I say. "I'm not all about sex," I say.
"And I understand that," he says. "It's okay. I want something different and you're different," he says making me smile.
"So how long are you going to be staying at my house?"
"I'm not sure," he says, "whenever you tell me to get out," he says.
"What if I never tell you to get out?" I ask with a smile as I turn onto the street toward the bowling alley.
"Then I guess I won't get out," he says. "No I will probably only be there for a couple days. I have to go back home at some point to make sure my mom is all right. I didn't' exactly leave her at the best time and I have to make sure that asshole didn't come back."
"That must be tough. I couldn't handle seeing my dad beat up my mom. I know it happens but I could never handle that. I think men that beat up women are cowards."
"I do too," he says, "and that's why I jumped in it. He does it so much I couldn't sit back and watch anymore. My mom deserves better she feels that she doesn't though. She feels that living the way we do is the life for us. She keeps telling me I'm not going anywhere and that my life is out on the streets. I don't' want to be that drug dealer and fighting on the streets to survive. I don't want to live in run down houses and wondering if I have enough money for food to get me through the week or go hungry. I want something more. I know there is more out there. It is getting there that is the problem. I have no money to go to wrestling school and train to be a wrestler we barely have money for food."
"I see," I say. "Did you ever think about going to college?"
"College isn't for me," he says, "high school is barely for me. I get by but I am on the verge of failing 11th grade. I would never make it through college."
"So are you just going to drop out of school to go to train to be a wrestler?"
"Yeah if I have to," he says. "What about you? Did you ever think about college?"
"Yes," I say, "I want to go to NYU. I want to be a journalist or a writer of some sort if I am not a ballerina but I really want to be a writer. My dad wants me to go to college and study management. He wants me to be a business woman. You know that's not what I want."
"Just like I don't want a lifetime of being on the streets. I'm not smart enough for college though so wrestling is my only other option to get out of this town."
"Dean, I think you're very smart," I say. "You would do well in college. If you just apply yourself and actually give a shit you'll do wonderful. Look how well you've done in the last couple weeks in English class. It's because you gave a crap and you sat down and studied. If you did that with all your classes you would be an awesome student and college wouldn't be such a bad thought. You can't depend on wrestling forever but then again this is your life so you can do whatever you feel is right."
"Thanks, Anastasia," he says as I pull into the bowling alley parking lot.
"I care about you, Dean," I say as I turn the car off and look at him. Our eyes meeting as I say, "I know you have the ability to do anything and that's what I want to see. I think you're an awesome guy and I know you're smart. I've talked to you almost every day for the last two weeks and you had some amazing ideas for our project. You're smart, Dean, don't think that you're not. I know you have it in there to be the best you can be. Okay?"
"Okay," he says with a soft smile before he leans in and kisses my lips softly. "Let's go bowl," he says against my lips.
"Okay," I say with a smile as we share a passionate kiss before we get out of the car and walk hand in hand to the bowling alley.
Dean pays the money for our rental shoes and for the game we play but I pay for our food. "You have no idea how much I hate wearing rental shoes," I say as I put them on my feet as he sets up our game.
"I bet," he says with a smile. "I didn't choose you for the type of person to want to wear rental shoes."
"Yeah," I say with a smile. "I'm going to go get my ball a while," I say after I finish tying my rental shoes. I walk off to get my ball and when I come back there is some rough looking guy talking to Dean. I see Dean's face from where I stopped to stand not wanting to interrupt. His blue eyes meet mine and I see him look around before he places something into his hand and then the tall light skin guy hands Dean some money. I shake my head trying not to think the worst. I may be rich and may not know that kind of lifestyle but I know what it looks like to sell and deal drugs. I hope he's not into that kind of thing. I start to make my way over as they are still talking.
I place my ball down and walk over to Dean's side as he talks. He wraps his arm around my waist as he continues to talk to the guy. "Yeah, I'll see you on Friday night."
"6 pm, Ambrose," says the tall light skin man with beautiful green eyes and his dark hair braided back into cornrows as he looks at me.
"I'll be there at 6," says Dean as he tightens his grip on my waist. "Well, I have to get back to a bowling game with my girl. I will see you on Friday night."
"All right," he says, "don't be late," he says before he looks at me one more time before he walks away.
"What was that all about?" I ask Dean.
"He was just a friend," he says. "Let's not worry about him. Let's just enjoy our date okay?"
"Are you dealing drugs?" I ask.
"Anastasia," he says, "where I come from you have to do what you need to do to earn money."
"Dean," I say as I take a deep breath. "That's dangerous. Do you do drugs too?"
"Not the hard stuff," he says. "Just an occasional blunt here and there, I don't do heroin or coke. Just weed," he says.
"That's still bad enough," I say, "and dealing drugs is dangerous."
"Look, Anastasia, I have to do what I have to do to survive. If you don't like it we don't have to do this whole relationship thing."
"I like you, Dean," I say, "but I don't like the drugs so can you please at least try to find another way to make money."
"I'll do what I can okay?" he asks as he wraps me up in his arms.
"Okay," I say as I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head on his chest. He kisses the top of my head. "So can we bowl now?"
"Yeah," he says as I look up at him. "Let me go get my ball," he says before he leans down and kisses my lips softly. He breaks our embrace to go get his ball. I watch him walk away in his blue jeans and black t-shirt. He is so good looking but I wish he realized there was a lot more out there for him than just the streets. He's a smart guy and his heart is huge. I find myself falling in love with him more every day.
We end up playing three games because our competitive nature kicks in at the end of the first game when he beats me with at least 3 strikes and 2 spares. It's sickening how amazing he is at bowling. The second game I take the win so we decided to play one more game to see who wins that game. I have never had so much fun on a date in my life. Dean knows how to make anything fun. He's such an amazing guy. I'm up for my last turn and I feel Dean watching me. "Don't choke," he says as I get ready to bowl.
"Shut up," I say with a smile.
"What?" he asks. "You need a little bit of help?"
"I got this," I say with a smile.
"I don't think that you do," he says, "let me help you out," he says as I look back at him as he's making his way over to me. I roll my eyes and get ready to bowl as he comes up behind me wrapping his arms around my waist, his nose nuzzling in my hair, his lips on my ear. "You can do this, Babe," he whispers in my ear before his teeth nip at my ear. "You got this," he says. "Just concentrate."
"How am I supposed to concentrate with you being so sexy and sweet around me?" I ask.
"Try," he says as he kisses my temple and backs away. "You got this, Anastasia," he says with a smile as he watches me but it's too late I'm thrown off and as I let the ball go it heads straight for the gutter. "Oooh a gutter ball," he says.
"Shut up," I say, "it's your fault."
"My fault?" he asks. "How is it my fault?"
"Because you're over there being all sexy and cute. I can't concentrate like that," I say as I get my ball to take another turn but I get another gutter ball because he is so distracting.
"Don't you like it when I'm all sexy and cute?" he asks before he gets his ball.
"Of course I like it," I say with a smile, "but it's distracting."
"I'm sorry," he says as he kisses my lips softly before he gets ready to bowl. "I guess I'm going to need to win this game."
"You play dirty," I say.
"You have no idea how dirty I can be, Anastasia."
"Promising," I say with a smile as he gets ready to bowl and I start to stretch.
He gets ready to roll the ball and stops as he sees me with my leg up against the wall stretching. "What are you doing?"
"I'm just stretching," I say. "Don't let me distract you."
He shakes his head and turns his attention back to the pins. He lets the ball go and I smile as it goes down the gutter. "Damn it," he says.
"I'm sorry. What happened there?"
"You know what you're doing, Anastasia," he says.
"Me?" I ask as I stretch my leg another way. "I'm just stretching."
"Yeah being all hot and distracting," he says as he gets his ball.
"You don't like me being all hot?" I ask with a smile.
"Screw this game," he says as he throws the ball down the lane and gets another gutter ball. He comes toward me with a smile on his face and backs me up against the wall and his lips find mine and his hands rest on my hips as I place my hand into the back pockets of his jeans pulling him closer to me as we share a passionate kiss. "Damn it, Anastasia," he says as he pulls away breathless. "You do things to me that make me want to do more than just kiss you."
"I wouldn't be opposed to that," I say with a smile.
"I am," he says, "I want to do this right. I don't' want you to be like any other girl I've been with you. You deserve so much more than that. I'm sorry," he says.
"Okay," I say with a soft smile. "Let's go back to my house," I say, "and watch movies the rest of the day."
"Sounds like a plan to me," he says with a smile.
Later that night after we spend the day watching movies together and just enjoying being with one another we are lying in bed next to each other talking before we go to sleep. "So do you want to keep our relationship on the down low?" asks Dean as he is propped up on his elbow looking at me.
"Why would I want you to do that?" I ask as I look back at him as I am propped up on my elbow. "Do you want to keep it on the down low?"
"Of course not but I don't want your friends to think badly of you for being with me," he says.
"Dean, I'm not worried about what my friends think about me. If they shun me because I am with you then they were never really my friends to begin with. You make me happy and you make me smile. I had so much fun today and I enjoyed being with you. I am not going to let anyone take away that happiness."
"Are you sure? I mean a guy like me with a girl like you is going to cause some controversy."
"I'm sure," I say. "And there is nothing wrong with a guy like you with a girl like me. You make me happy and I like you a lot, Dean. I don't care what anyone thinks about us."
"Okay," he says. "You're so beautiful."
"Thank-you," I say with a smile as he smiles back at me. "You look pretty good yourself."
"Thank-you," he says with a smile before he kisses my nose softly. "Thank-you for letting me stay here."
"No problem," I say. "I like you here."
"I like being here," he says with a smile. "Your dad wouldn't like me being here would he?"
"My dad is complicated," I say. "He doesn't like much of anything. I love him but sometimes I just want him to back off and let me be happy. He is so upset that I broke up with Shawn. He was supposed to be my husband and we were supposed to have kids together. I don't even want kids. I don't even think I want to get married but my dad had everything laid down for me on his terms. He thinks my dreams are stupid. I think running a business is stupid."
"Same with my mom. She has me destined to knock up some chick and to live off the streets forever. I don't know how I feel about having kids but if I choose to or when I choose to have kids it won't be till I can give them the world. I never want my kids to grow up the way I did. I want to be secure and ready to be a father. It won't be till I'm 30 if I choose to have kids that is and as for marriage I don't know," he says, "If I were to find the right girl I would marry her but of course it wouldn't be till I can give her the world and it wouldn't be till I'm about 30 years old. So your relationship with Shawn was arranged?"
"Pretty much," I say, "and he was such a jerk. It was a wasted year of my life and I was never happy with him. He was always trying to get me to sleep with him but I wouldn't. I didn't want to."
"Shawn is a jerk," he says. "I thought arranged marriages went down the drain with the 1900's."
"It was all about money," I say. "It was stupid. There's too much emphasis on money than there should be. People think money makes you happy but love is what really makes you happy. I'll never understand it."
"But living this life has to be fun on some levels."
"It has its perks but I'm not truly happy."
"I see," he says as he wraps me up in his arms. "I hope I can make you happy."
"You already do," I say with a smile as he kisses the top of my head. "We should probably get some sleep. We have school in the morning."
"You're right," he says with a smile before he kisses my lips softly. "Goodnight, Beautiful."
"Goodnight, Babe," I say with a smile as I snuggle up into his arms and fall asleep on his chest listening to his beating heart.
THE NEXT DAY:
The school day passes quickly a lot quicker than usual and I have managed not to spend any time with my friends or with Shawn. At lunch instead of sitting with them Dean and I sat together at a lunch table by ourselves enjoying each other's company and during our study hall Dean and I went to the library to hang out and read "The Catcher in the Rye" together. I love that book and Dean loves it too almost as much as he liked The Great Gatsby. At the end of the day I'm standing at my locker getting out the books I need for the night and putting things away waiting for Dean to meet me. "You haven't talked to me all day," says Shawn as he comes up behind me just as I shut my locker door.
"I have nothing to say to you," I say. "And honestly I don't want to talk to you."
"Come on, Anastasia. Just talk to me," he says, "I'm sorry about the other day."
"I'm sorry too that you're such a jerk. What makes you think you're better than anyone, Shawn? Just because you have money doesn't make you better."
"Come on, Anastasia, you know that's not true. Rich people trump the poor people."
"Just because someone is poor doesn't' mean anything. It's what's on the inside that counts. I'm sorry, Shawn."
"Anastasia, I may have been a little rude to Dean the other day and I may have been a jerk and I'm sorry. I missed you all this weekend. I want to give us another try."
"I can't," I say.
"Why not? I'll apologize to Dean if that helps."
"No, Shawn, Dean doesn't want your fake insincere apology. And I can't give us another try because I'm with someone."
"What? All ready? WE just broke up. How could you seriously be with someone all ready?"
"It just happened, Shawn," I say as I see Dean walking over to us. He stops short and I nod at him giving him permission to keep coming. "Look, I'm sorry but you and I just weren't meant to be together."
"What we had, Anastasia," he says as Dean reaches me.
"What we had is over now, Shawn," I say. "I'm with someone else right now."
"Who are you with?" he asks. "Who are you with now, Anastasia?"
"Babe," says Dean wrapping his arm around my waist and giving me a soft kiss on the cheek. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes, Baby, I'm ready to go," I say with a smile. "See you later, Shawn," I say with a smile as Dean takes my bag to carry it for me and takes my hand into his, intertwining our fingers.
"You're with him?" asks Shawn with a laugh. "This is a joke right?"
"No," I say, "it's not a joke. Let's go, Baby," I say to Dean before we walk away. I smile to myself as I feel Shawn staring at us as we walk down the hallway hand in hand.
*A/N: Do you think that Dean and Anastasia are moving too fast in their relationship or do you believe they are just that attracted to each other? What did you think of their date? Did Dean make a good choice? What about him dealing drugs and doing drugs? Do you think Anastasia should stay away or do you think she could change him? What are your thoughts on Shawn asking Ana for another try? What do you think will happen now that Shawn knows about Dean and Ana? Please review and thank-you for reading.