Dimitri's Point of View
I didn't know how long Rose would be stuck entertaining the Queen, but I figured it would be long enough to get in a decent work out. However the second I stepped into the gym I immediately regretted my decision. The moment my eyes locked eyes with Tasha I was ready to turn tail and run.
Maybe I could pretend like I hadn't seen her.
"Dimitri…" she called out, setting down the pair of weights she'd been lifting and glided over.
Well at least she didn't call me Dimka.
"Natasha" I answered formally, trying not to get overly personal with her.
"Do you have a second; I was hoping we could talk…"
I wasn't really sure this was a great idea, but the way she was looking at me seemed so defeated, and once upon a time I had considered Tasha a friend.
"Sure" I replied, dropping my bad and stepping back out into the hall.
Tasha looked around nervously as if she wasn't quite sure what to say.
"Dimitri, I owe you an apology." She started, and I was immediately taken aback. "I've been doing a lot of thinking since the last time I saw you, and I as much as it kills me to say this, I was wrong. I was wrong about us, and about your feelings for Rose."
Was she serious?
"Look, I'm not going to pretend like I don't still have feelings for you, I probably always will. But I know how you feel about Rose now, and I'm not going to try and stand in the way of that. You know, I accused Rose of being a child but I'm the one that's been acting immature. I was being selfish and I'm sorry. I know you probably don't believe me given the way I behaved, but I really would like it if we could still be friends…" she concluded, looking at me hopefully.
I searched her face trying to find some sign of deception there, but I found none.
"Of course we can be friends Tasha." I told her smiling. Truth be told, I had missed my friend.
"Great!" she squealed, jumping up and wrapping her arms tightly around my neck. I chuckled a little at her exuberance and she seemed to realize the mistake she'd made. "Whoops, sorry." She apologized, releasing me from her death grip.
"Well, I should get back to my workout." I told her. "Rose will be back soon."
"Yeah of course." She smiled. "See you around Dimka."
I watched as she sauntered back over to the weights and was relieved at least one thing in my life had finally worked itself out.
When I got back from the gym later Rose was acting funny.
"Is everything alright Milaya, you've been quiet all night…" I didn't want to press her for information about the Queen, but something told me whatever was bothering her had something to do with that.
"I'm fine." She replied softly, climbing into her side of the bed. I knew she wasn't fine and if she said it one more time I thought I might strangle her.
"Rose, talk to me." I ordered, using my mentor voice. I knew how much she hated when I did that and she showed me just how much when her eyes narrowed a few seconds later.
"Dimitri there's nothing to talk about!" she sighed in exasperation. "I'm jet lagged and the Queen's a bitch okay! Can you drop it now?"
I wanted to press her further, but something told me to think better of it. She seemed a little too hostile right now to be reasonable, and I knew better than to poke the bear with a stick.
The next day I decided to seek out Sophia.
Rose was busy in the shower so I had a few minutes to sneak next door and find out what Sophia knew. She was in the meeting with the Queen; surely she had some idea what Rose's mood was all about.
"Hey Sophia, do you have a second?" I asked when she opened the door. She gave me a cold look that I didn't quite understand but she nodded.
"What's up she asked?" In the background I could hear Ivan singing loudly in the shower. I smiled at his antics before returning my attention to Sophia.
"Did something happen with Rose yesterday? She's been acting funny ever since we got back to court."
Sophia gave me that same cold look I didn't understand before she let out a ridiculously loud sigh.
"How was your work out yesterday Dimitri?"
I didn't miss the sarcasm that laced her tone.
"It was fine…" I answered cautiously, trying to understand where she was going with this.
"Really?" she asked snidely. "Nothing excited happened? You didn't run into anyone?"
Did I run into anyone….Damn it.
Tasha.
Sophia must have seen it the moment I understood because she scoffed.
"Rose saw you hugging Tasha, and after all the shit the Queen B was spitting yesterday, let's just say that didn't do you any favors."
"It wasn't what it looked like I told her." And she snorted.
"Yeah, it never is Dimitri…"
"Sophia I'm serious!" I nearly shouted.
I was vaguely aware Ivan's concert was over in the background.
"Well don't tell me, tell Rose!" she shouted back.
"What's going on in here?" Ivan asked, stepping out of the foggy bathroom. He was running a towel through his shoulder length blond hair and looking confused between the two of us.
"Rose saw Dimitri with Tasha yesterday." Sophia interjected, shooting me a death glare.
"Dude, seriously?" Ivan asked rolling his eyes.
"I ran into her at the gym and she apologized!' I shouted, trying to defend myself.
Did this people seriously have such little faith in me?
"And let me guess, she told you she just wants to be friends right?" Sophia asked pointedly.
"Yes!" I told her, still not understanding the look she was given me.
"Damnit D, and you fell for that?" Ivan asked, shaking his sopping wet hair. "The chicks been in love with you for years, and you think one well-rehearsed apology and you two can just go back to being best friends. Be serious dude."
Was it possible that Tasha had been playing me? I didn't want to believe that, but then I wouldn't put it past her.
"Look Dimitri, Rose is in a vulnerable place right now. She's scared, confused and just had her whole world shaken up. The only solid thing she has in her life right now is you, and right now she needs to know that. She needs to know you aren't going anywhere and the sooner you make her realize that the better."
Looking at Sophia now I knew she was right. Rose had been through so much lately and the last thing she needed was to be questioning my loyalty. I love Rose, and nothing in this world was going to change that. Now I just needed to figure out the right way to show her…
Rose's Point of View
"Roza!" Frankie cried, throwing her tiny little arms around my neck. I didn't realize just how much I'd missed her until I was holding her in my arms.
"Hey Squirt, how's the new school?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light.
I knew this whole thing must be so confusing for her and I was doing my best to make everything seem normal.
"It's weird." She told me wrinkling up her nose. "And small."
I laughed at her unusual comment and she smiled.
"Where's Dimka?" She asked, looking around for her favorite 6'7 Russian. I had been hoping that Dimitri would come along to see Frankie with us, but when I got out of the shower, he'd made up some lame excuse about something Ivan needed him to do. I was trying very hard not to let Tatianna get to me, but after the things she'd said yesterday and seeing Dimitri getting friendly with Tasha it was kind of hard not to be suspicious.
"He's spending the day with Ivan, but don't worry sweetie, I'm sure he'll see you soon." I told her, trying not to let my own discomfort show.
"Did Lissa and Christian come too?" She asked excitedly at the idea. I chuckled again before nodding.
"Yep. The gangs all here!"
"Yay!" She cheered, throwing her little arms back around my neck.
For the rest of the afternoon, I answered the 801 questions Frankie had about her sudden relocation, trying my hardest not to let her know anything was wrong. I knew Abe and Janine weren't thrilled I'd followed her here. They'd insisted that Victor could have spies everywhere and that if he found out we were back together, then moving Frankie half way across the world would have been for nothing. But Frankie was just a child, and the last thing she needed right now was to be alone. Maybe my parent's had never had any qualms about abandoning small children to the academy, but I wasn't about to do the same thing to my own sister.
"She seems okay." Sophia commented as we made our way back to guest housing.
"She does, thank God! The last thing we need right now is an agitated Frankie. According to Dimitri's research, stress makes her a little...unpredictable."
"Mhmmmm…." Was Sophia's only genius remark. I suppose that was normal. What do you really say to your best friend about her half-bred Strigoi sister's crappy temper?
When we got back to the room, I half expected to find Dimitri sitting on the bed reading a novel, but instead I was treated to a romantic surprise.
Scattered around the room was a couple vases of white lilies, something Dimitri knew was my favorite. On the bed was a garment bag and a note, and when I looked back at Sophia she had a shit eating grin on her face.
"What the hell is all this?" I asked accusingly. She knew how upset I'd been about Dimitri all day; the least she could have done was warn me.
"Turns out Dimitri's not as big a bastard as I thought." She told me with a wink. She walked over to the bed to retrieve the small note he'd left behind and handed it to me.
Roza my love,
I thought you deserved a special night out. Meet me in the lobby at 7.
Love Dimitri
"Did you know about?" I asked, shooting a hard glare at Sophia. She was just about to answer when I heard a sharp rap on the door. She quickly opened it to reveal an overly excited Lissa.
"The beauty ambulance has arrived!" she squealed, holding up her giant case of cosmetics.
"Seriously?" I asked looking between the two of them. "Did everyone know about this except for me?"
"Yup." Lissa announced, making sure to pop her P. I laughed out right at her obvious attempt to annoy me.
I didn't have the faintest clue as to what Dimitri was up to, but after the week I'd been having I think I was game for anything.