"This is going to be pretty bad isn't it. Especially without Victoria's help?"

Dimitri runs both of his hands over his face tiredly. He looks about as exhausted as I feel. I think the worst part about all of this is that it doesn't just affect the victims but everyone closest to us. If I wasn't dealing with so much of my own pain I wish I could take all of theirs away.

"We'll figure something out. My mother is still up there trying to get through to her."

We're sitting on his back porch and he's pushing the swing back and forth. My feet barely brush the floor.

We sit in silence letting the weight of everything settle. It all feels more real now that other people are involved. I wait a moment before bringing up a suggestion Yeva mentioned before she went to help Dimitri's niece and nephew who just came home from school.

"Yeva thought that maybe I could try and talk to Lissa, see if she'll speak up. I doubt it though."

"She's gone this long without saying anything," Dimitri agrees, a little less hope in his voice.

The thought saddens me.

"I went a while without saying anything but eventually, I told you what happened. Maybe if I talk to Lissa..."

I can't stand the thought of the only person between the two of us losing hope even if I have none.

"Maybe...it'd be better if my sister would come around though."

"It's just like you told me earlier. She just needs time."

He smiles at me handing back his own advice.

"It's great that you're considering trying to get Lissa to help with all of this but I think Lissa and my sister need to come around on their own and fight this battle when they're ready. You on the other hand, sound more than ready now," he says proudly. "What did my grandmother say to you?" he asks curious.

"She just gave me a few words of the Belikov wisdom," I smile gently.

He nods knowingly and we swing in silence for a while. This is one of those moments I wish I could freeze and live in forever. Staring out at a beautiful backyard with nothing but the sound of the wind rustling the trees and someone I feel comfortable being near beside me.

"School should be out by now. Is your mother expecting you at a specific time?"

I shake my head. "No. I'm sure she thinks I'm at my self defense class. I should probably get home though," I sigh regrettably standing. "I'm a little...worn after todays adventures," I say dryly.

He stands with me. "I don't blame you. I'm just about ready to crash."

"Don't you have a class to teach today?"

"I own the place, it's open when I want it to be. Besides, the other trainers have it covered. I'll take you home."

I leave the Belikov house feeling both better than when I walked in and guilty. Victoria is left to deal with whether or not to come clean to her mother and it's my fault. I feel a little bit of weight lifted off my shoulders though and enjoy the drive back to my house with the window down and the wind blowing my hair every which way. Halfway down my street Dimitri speaks for the first time since we've left his house, breaking the comfortable silence.

"You don't have a cell phone do you?"

The randomness of his question throws me off for a bit and it takes me a moment to answer.

"Umm...no. Why?"

He pulls his car in front of my house. I notice my mother's car in the drive way but focus on Dimitri as he leans to open his glove compartment and hands me a small silver flip phone.

"It's one of my old ones but it's still active. My mother and I thought it might be a good idea for you to have one...just in case."

He's still holding the phone out to me. I slowly reach out to take it and look at it gratefully and hesitantly.

"Dimitri, I can't..."

"Your pride should be the least of your worries," he interrupts giving me a lopsided smile that makes me smile in return.

"Do you do this for all of your students?" I ask jokingly.

"Only the ones that really need me...and so far you've been the first."

I turn the phone on and Dimitri took it to put his phone number in.

"I'm not just saying this to be nice. I really mean it when I tell you to call me anytime. I'm here, Rose," he said firmly.

I nod gratefully, too overwhelmed to speak.

"My mother's number is in there too but she isn't a morning person so I wouldn't call her in the mornings but other than that," he smiled.

I let out a small laugh and he seemed surprised by the sound and his smile grew.

I climb out of the car and walked into my house, turning to wave as he drove away.

My mother was standing in the living room peeking out one of the windows. She looked as if she'd just gotten in.

"Who was that?"

I hesitated, feeling like I'd been caught doing something wrong before recovering. "That was Dimitri, the self defense instructor you signed me up for."

"Your class ended kind of early," she noted skeptically.

"I...I didn't go to the class. I went to..." I struggled for an excuse to explain where I was. "I went into town for a bit after school. My ankle was bothering me. His mother wrapped my foot again and called Dimitri to take me home."

It's not a completely lie.

She nods as if she believes me. "That was nice of them. I don't think you should be out alone though, Rose. Not with everything going on."

If my mother really knew what happened, she'd probably keep me on lock down.

"I know."

She glances at the cell phone in my hand. "Where did you..."

"A gift. It's just for emergencies," I assure her.

"I saw the new shoes in your room. Are those-"

"They were just a gift to help with running and my ankle," I rush to answer.

She pulls at one of her unruly curls and lets out a slow breath. I can tell today is one of the days where it's been too long and too hard and she just wants to sleep.

"I just...I just want you to be safe, Rose. Okay?"

She says this as if to explain why I'm suddenly being interrogated but I know she means it. She extends her arms out to me and gives me one of her quick but reassuring hugs. She smells like cleaning products and like she's been in the city all day.

"I am. I promise. I'm okay. I promise," I repeat.