We started walking toward Baia. Which was the opposite was of Novosibirsk. I sighed and weighed our options. We could walk there and take the chance that the sun will burn us or we could find a bus, or a train. Or we could steal a car.
"Comrade?" I asked softly.
"Yes, Roza?" Yes Roza? He lifted an eyebrow and looked at me. I really am the only one who couldn't do that!
"What if we get a car?"
"How do you propose we do that?"
I looked at my feet that stepped on the crunchy leaves. "We could always steal one…"
He grinned. "That's illegal, Roza."
"So?"
"We are not stealing a car." He said.
"Pretty please with a chocolate covered cookie on top?" I begged.
"'Chocolate covered cookie?' I thought the term was cherry." He asked after chuckling.
"Well, I don't like cherries but I love chocolate and cookies so why not mix them together?" I asked with my Rose logic.
He full out laughed. It was like music to my ears. Sweet, wonderful music. "You amaze me, Rose." He looked toward me. "But we still aren't stealing a car."
I huffed and turned away. Then a new thought came to me. And this one truly scared me. "What if we don't get there before the sun comes up?" I asked him seriously.
He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it. I could tell he actually hadn't thought of that. He stopped and turned toward me. We were facing each other. "Fine."
I couldn't help the smug smile cross my lips. "Gotcha." I said triumphantly. I turned back the other way, toward Novosibirsk.
**VA**
"Come on, Comrade. If we are going to steal a car it might as well be a nice one." I stood next to an expensive looking sports car that was black.
He sighed and walked over to the car. "What if the owner reports it stolen?"
My mood dimmed. "You are always the one to think of the boring truths." I smiled up at him. "But I guess that's why I love you." I stood on my tippy toes to kiss him. He gladly kissed back. We pulled away and walked over to a silver, boring car. "I get to drive!" My hand was on the door handle when he stopped me.
"Do you know how to hot wire a car?" He asked, clearly amused.
"No. Would you teach me?" I asked excited not knowing what was coming.
"Yes."
"Yes!" I went to open the door again. He still help it shut.
"But later." He smiled. "For know, I get to drive."
"No fair!" I said and released the door handle. He chuckled and slipped inside the car. I walked over to the other side and got into the passenger's seat. He already had the car running when I buckled the seat belt. He pulled out of the dark parking lot, out on to the deserted street and out of Novosibirsk.
I turned on the radio to a station I liked. I didn't know the words because it was in Russian but I liked the beat. Then, without warning, the station changed to a station that only Dimitri would like. I looked at the radio seeing that it had changed stations without being touched. I looked at Dimitri and saw him try to contain a smile. I looked at his hands and saw the button on the steering wheel that changed that station. "Is this why you wanted this car?" I asked him with a smile of my own. "To be radio Nazi?"
"Partially." He admitted.
I threw my hands up. "You're impossible!"
He laughed again. "You are to. You learned how to fight from me and I learned how to be annoying from you."
"Using my own skill against me, huh?" I asked. "I'll let it slide for now, but beware," I told him in a low voice, "I will get back at you."
He chuckled and remained silent.
We arrived in Baia a few hours later, when the sun was about to come up. He drove through the dirt roads to find a deserted house. "I played in this house when I was younger," He told me, "It has a basement."
I nodded and got out. "What will we do with the car?"
"Leave it and get rid of it tomorrow." He said. I nodded and walked it to the old house.
We sat inside the house on the first story until the sun came up. "When the sun comes up, I am going to stick my hand out and see if I get burnt."
"Roza, no. Let me do it." Dimitri said concerned about me.
I tried to make him see reason. "Dimitri if we got into a fight, we are going to need your strength. You are stronger than me and can protect me."
He debated with himself and finally nodded. By now, the sun had risen but it want coming through the windows. HE backed up against the wall while I made my way towards the window. I backed up to the side of the window so I was facing Dimitri and waited for the sun to shine through. Five minutes later, like streams of golden light illuminated the dusty room. I stuck my hand in it and turned away waiting for it to burn. It never happened.
I looked toward my arm and saw it was completely bathed in sunlight. And it wasn't burning. But it was annoying. I guess we were more like Moroi when I came to sun. Dimitri walked over and slowly stepped into the light with me. When we were completely standing in the window, we looked at each other and kissed. "This is amazing." I said. "We can still see the sun!" I laughed.
"Yes, we can." Dimitri said and kissed me some more. We laid down in the room and waited until the town started to stir. About an hour after sunrise, there was a knock on the door. We jumped up prepared to fight.
"I'll answer it." I said. He nodded me. I knew he would have my back.
I walked slowly over to the door wondering who saw us come I here. I opened the door and a very angry Yeva pushed passed me. While still holding the door handle, I stared at her, mouth wide open. She stood in the middle of the room and looked back at me. "Are you two going to stand there all day or are you going to come and hug your Babushka?"