Chapter Two: A New Student

Anastasia solemnly opened her box. Most of her possessions were at her dorm, so she didn't have much to unpack. She removed some sweaters and hung them in the closet. She returned and was about to pull out her grandmother's quilt when suddenly her cat jumped on top of the faded blue silk. Anastasia sighed and allowed herself a smile. She picked up the cat and set him near the window. The cat was stubborn and ran back to where it had been sitting. Her smile vanished. "Mr. Jingles, get off!" she scolded as she yanked the quilt out from under the cat.

Mr. Jingles screeched and hissed before curling up in a defensive pose. She pushed him aside, ignoring the defiant feline.

"Anastasia, what was that?" her aunt called up the stairs.

"What was what? I didn't hear anything," she replied.

There was no answer. Fearful her aunt was coming up the stairs, she shoved Mr. Jingles back in the box and closed the lid. She waited for a few moments, but her aunt did not appear. She breathed a sigh of relief before reopening the box. Mr. Jingles immediately jumped out and scampered under the bed.

As a result of her aunt's intolerance for cats, Anastasia told her aunt that she had given Mr. Jingles to a friend. Anastasia had lied, of course.

Anastasia refolded her grandmother's old quilt and placed it in her dresser. She wandered back to her box and glanced inside. Staring up at her was her family. She lifted the photo and studied it. Her father and mother looked so happy. She looked so happy. She placed the photograph on her bed stand. Peering back inside the box she pulled out an old letter addressed to her. Anastasia slowly opened it and read the cursive writing:

My dear Anastasia, your father and I just want you to know that we wish you the very best! How is college? We hope you are making many new friends and that you are learning much. Remember, no matter how far away your dreams take you, we will always have each other. Love you,

Mom and Dad

Anastasia read the letter again and studied the family photograph once more, as if staring at it would somehow give her a miracle. She sighed and collapsed on her bed, but there was no give. "Oww!"

"And then I was like, 'We could totally work something out.' And he was like, 'Of course.' So, we are going to the movies this Saturday! Ana, can you believe it!? Ana?"

Anastasia snapped out of her reverie. "Oh, I'm sorry. What?"

Cassie came to a halt in front of her friend and stared her straight in the face. "Ana, you need to seriously take some time off and go on a vacation."

Anastasia sighed. "Cassie, I already discussed this with you." She picked up her gait again. "I can't take a vacation with my courses."

Her friend was about to retort, but Anastasia stopped her. "And besides, even if I could go, I can't leave my aunt. She needs me, Cassie."

Cassie scoffed. "Pshaw! Yeah right! She doesn't need you, Ana. She's a controlling freak! Girl, you need to take some serious downtime and move in with my family."

Anastasia shot a skeptical glance at her friend.

"Okay, so I didn't ask my parents if that is OK with them, but my parents are cool. I'm sure they'd be fine with it."

"Cassie, she needs me."

"Ahhh. You know what the problem with you is? You're too stubborn."

Anastasia managed to smile. "Yeah, that's true. I get that from my dad."

Cassie kept talking. "So stubborn, in fact, that that is the reason why you don't have a boyfriend."

Anastasia blushed and picked up her pace.

"Ana? Ana! Where are you going?"

She turned around. "Come on, we're going to be late for class!"

Both girls trotted into the classroom and took their seats side-by-side. Anastasia, not wanting to talk about the previous topic, hastily opened her biology textbook and studiously examined the page. Cassie took the signal and went on with her business. That is, she started up a conversation with Crystal, known to the seniors as the "Gossip Empress." Anastasia ignored them.... She didn't care for useless knowledge.

". . . and Eric said there is a new kid in school."

"Um, what's so great about that?"

"Supposedly a foreign exchange student is coming...." She lowered her voice. "from the Soviet Union."

Anastasia tried to suppress a laugh; she couldn't ignore the slip. Cassie smiled, pretending to understand the whole ordeal. She then shot a glance at Anastasia and rolled her eyes. Anastasia caught the glance out of her peripheral vision and grinned.

Crystal was definitely not in college for her smarts. She got a scholarship for her acting skills. The college needed a leading actress in the field of drama, and Crystal fit the part perfectly.

Cassie turned back to face Crystal. "So, what grade is the new kid in?"

Crystal twirled a strand of her curly black hair. She popped her gum before responding, "The new girl is supposed to be in this class, so...she's a senior."

The door swung open and Professor Castillo entered. Cassie and Crystal flipped around and faced the professor. He swept the room with his eyes and seemed to momentarily consider something. He hurried back out of the classroom and disappeared. Cassie and Crystal stared questioningly at the open door. He quickly poked his head back in and smiled.

"Students, we have a new pupil joining us today."

Crystal smiled slyly, giving Cassie an "I-told-you-so" glance.

"Dimitri, you can come in...."

Dimitri swaggered into the classroom and smiled at the class.

Cassie felt as if she lost her breath. Anastasia was absorbed in her reading and didn't pick up on what her friend was experiencing. Crystal's smile was quickly replaced with a scowl.

"Dimitri," Professor Castillo pronounced, "please tell the class where you are from."

"Hello, everyone. I am a foreign exchange student from Russia."

All the girls swooned over his accent. All the girls, that is, except for Anastasia and Crystal. Anastasia was finishing up her lesson and honestly could have cared less. Crystal, on the other hand, cared very much so. "Wait a minute, that can't be right!"

Dimitri stared at her quizzically. "What do you mean?"

"You're supposed to be a girl from the Soviet Union!"

Some of the students snickered viciously. Dimitri, puzzled, looked at the professor, who in turn shrugged. Crystal, defeated, slumped in her chair and ignored the stares she was receiving.

"Okay people, let's get started."

"Um, sir, where shall I sit?"

"Hum?"

"Where shall I sit?" Dimitri politely asked again.

The Professor had been distracted by Crystal's blunder. He suddenly turned his attention back to the new student standing beside him. "Oh, yes. Dimitri, you shall sit right behind Miss Anastasia. She is the one with her nose in a book."

Hearing her name spoken, Anastasia raised her eyes and smiled. "Yes, Professor Castillo?" A few of her classmates snickered and giggled, leaving Anastasia with a confused look on her face.

"Dimitri, please take the seat behind her."

Dimitri did as told and Biology class was begun.

After the bell rang, class ended and Anastasia and Cassie placed their books in their packs.

"Well, I guess I'll see you later on in Spanish class, Ana."

"Yep, same as always." Anastasia smiled as she bid a farewell to her friend, "Hasta luego!"

Cassie laughed out loud as she left the classroom. Anastasia left shortly afterwards, followed by Dimitri.

* * *

About two hours later, Anastasia and Cassie left their Spanish classroom together. It was hard to hear each other over the chattering of the squirrelly sounding classmates trailing behind them.

"Finally, lunch!" Cassie exclaimed as they walked to the cafeteria. Anastasia did not reply. She seemed lost in thought. "Ana, what do you think of that new guy Dimitri?"

"Well, Biology went well, all except for the times when he had to show off his knowledge."

Cassie's eyes widened. "Sounds to me like you have a prejudice against him."

"I wouldn't mind if he didn't talk so much. But I seriously did not know who was teaching that class; the professor or him? He seems like a show-off to me."

"Wow.... Every girl in that class thinks he is absolutely the best!"

"Well, that's what separates me from the rest of the female population in the school. I am not easily swayed. You should know that by now."

Cassie chuckled. "That's what I like about you, Ana. You make up for all the things I lack."

Anastasia laughed in unison. "Yeah, we do make a great pair."

They reached the cafeteria and ordered their meals. Their trays were soon filled and they found a table to sit at. They sat down and began eating, talking between bites.

Cassie looked up and saw Dimitri looking around for a place to sit. "Hum, seems like the new guy needs a place to sit."

"I'm sure he can find one; you know, with the mobs of girls and whatnot, it won't take long."

"Perhaps we should invite him over here."

"Oh, Cassie, please, no..."

"Hey, Dimitri, over here!" Cassie called.

He grinned and walked over to the table. Anastasia swore that his stride seemed overly confident. Upset, Anastasia's eyes filled with daggers. She aimed them at Cassie, who smiled innocently back. Dimitri sat across from the girls. "Thank you."

"Oh, it isn't a problem, Dimitri," Cassie answered in her sweetest tone.

Anastasia rolled her eyes at her friend.

Not wanting to hang around, Anastasia ate the rest of her lunch as fast as she could and left the table.

"Ana? Ana! Where you going?"

Anastasia continued walking, ignoring the calls from her friend whom she was leaving behind.

Cassie stood abruptly. "Bye, Dimitri! I'll see you later!" He nodded to her and she ran to catch up with Anastasia.

"Ana, what's the matter with you?" she huffed.

"Did you hear him? During the entire lunch break, all he talked about were the many trophies that he's won ever since he left the cradle."

"Yeah...." Cassie sighed in a dreamy voice.

"Hey! Hey, wait!" The girls turned to the voice. It belonged to none other than Dimitri. He stopped his sprinting and ran his hand through his thick, brown hair, pushing it out of his eyes. Whereas Anastasia seemed to stare right through him, Cassie bit her lip. Dimitri smiled at Anastasia. "Does Biology have any upcoming projects?"

"Yes, one's coming up in a week or so."

"Excellent. See you there, Anya!" He then ran off to his next class, humming lightly to himself.

"Argh!" Anastasia moaned after he disappeared in the crowd.

Cassie stared at Anastasia with a gaping mouth.

Anastasia noticed her friend's dramatic gawk. "What now?"

"Oooh, Anya...."

"What are you getting at?"

"I think the new guy likes you, Anya."

"Well, I don't believe so. Besides, even if he does, he's got another thing coming. He doesn't understand that I'm not like the others. He's going to have to do more than talk about his personal success to win me over."

"Or perhaps he does understand you and he's like me...he likes that quality in you." Cassie thought for a moment. "Ha ha, you two make an excellent pair!"

"Please, Cassie, let's get off this stupid topic," Anastasia pleaded with her friend as they entered the World History classroom.

For this chapter, Yuna and I would like to know what you think about the characters. Feel free to make any other comments as well. Thanks!