A/N: Good morning/afternoon/evening! Here's the big "date" that's not really a date ;) Leave me a review telling me if I should write a Dimitri POV of this day or not. Have a good week!

"I can't believe it!," Lissa squealed after I told about yesterday. Neither can I, I thought. After thinking for a moment, she added, "Actually, I can."

"Really Lissa?"

"Yes. Now what are you wearing to this mysterious date?" she asked, sporting a humor-filled smile that shone through her eyes too as she got off the bed and went to the closet, looking to see what she had to work with. I protested, tried to use the wedding as motive to drop the subject, but Lissa wouldn't hear it. Finally, I gave up and stayed on my bed as Lissa brought some dark wash blue jean cutoff shorts and a pink tank top, that was loose but at my boobs tightened just right, making them look a bit bigger. It wasn't until I saw the nude pumps that I protested again.

"Why my heels?"

"Didn't you say he was a foot taller?" When I nodded, she continued. "Now you'll be almost half a foot taller, and so he won't have to look down at you...as much." I glared at her pass at my height. One more thing to blame my mother for. Noting my glare, she quickly added, "Plus, it makes your legs look more defined, and you'll be sitting a lot I'm assuming."

Responding with a shrug, I changed, grabbed my laptop and the magazines Lissa brought and went downstairs to my dad's office.

"So," I began as she plopped down in the chair behind the desk, putting the magazines on one neat stack to my right and the laptop in the front of her. "When do you want to get married?"

"August 10th"

"Oh…kay. August 17, 2014"

"No…2013."

"Oh my bad," Rose absentmindedly said, making the correction. "Wait...that's like 12 weeks away! Lissa how are we going to plan a wedding in 3 months?!"

"Easy," she said handing rose a wedding countdown checklist. "Everywhere you see month replace it with week."

Rose groaned as she looked down at the list. "Why the rush? Are you…?" she asked while stealing a glance down at Lissa's abdomen.

"NO! I wish," she said, mumbling the last part hoping Rose didn't notice. But she did. She gave a pointed look, knowing that her friend wasn't ready to be a mother yet. Letting out a sigh, she said, "I just...i don't know Rose...i just can't wait to be Mrs. Ozera, ya know? Plus, what if I wait too long and he gets frustrated and leaves?"

"Believe me, he's not that stupid. He knows you're the best he's ever gonna get, and he wouldn't throw it away just because you won't get hitched."

"Yea, but why propose so soon?"

"Because he loves you. Do you know what Friday was?" She thinks for a minute before shaking her head. "Your parents 25th anniversary. Look at your ring."

Lissa looked down at her ring, nothing popping out, until she slipped it off her finger and looked inside. It was her mother's engagement ring. Except, Christian had the year of her parents engagement crossed out and this year placed on top. She felt the tears almost getting to the brim as she admired it.

"At least we got something old checked off," I said with a smile, earning myself a chuckle and teary smile from Lissa as she nodded. The tear storm came after.

"Hey," I said softly, as I stood up and wrapped her into an embrace. "We don't have to do this now. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring them up, but I thought you should have known how incredibly mental you sounded thinking that Pyro would leave you. Plus, if he did I'd set his ass on fire."

"Rose," she said sternly, but the gratitude in her smile told another story. "And I'm fine. I just always dreamed of walking down the aisle with my dad next to me, and Andre being the best man, and my mom in the front pew trying not to cry but her eyes full of tears. And now all I'll have is you, Uncle Victor, and Natalie...and that's if they come cus my uncle's gotten worse."

"Oh, I'm not enough? You know a lot of people would beg to differ. Some would even say I'm more than enough," I said in mock hurt, winking at her.

"You mean a lot of men," she retorted with laughter as I gasped and joined her in laughing. Giving her a hug as she said, "And you are enough. I just don't know who's walking me down the aisle."

"You don't have to have someone you know. Maybe we can slip a picture of you dad under the ribbon that binds you bouquet together, that way he's still walking down with you. It can even be one with both your parents."

Before Lissa could give her input on the idea, another voice rang in. We turned to the door, and saw no other than Abe Mazur strutting into his office. We tried not to laugh at this outfit, a black suit, a bright green tie and pocket square, and a royal purple scarf.

"Is it Hulk day or something, old man?"

"No. And you are in my seat, little girl."

"First come, first serve. What can we help you with?" I asked as I straightened up and put my hands on top of the desk, intertwining them together, looking very much in control of the place.

"Oh nothing. Just wanted to congratulate the bride-to-be," he said with a cheeky grin, which I knew meant he had more. "And of course, offer my assistance."

"We barely have the date figured out."

"Oh good! Then I'll have you know, the wedding expenses will run by my account."

"WHAT?!" Lissa and I said unanimously, surprise covering our face. Abe gave that cheeky grin again, happy with the reaction.

"Yes. It is the bride's father that pays for everything but the engagement party and rehearsal dinner. And you, young lady, have become as much my daughter as Rose is, which is why I will also be walking you down the aisle."

Lissa walked around the desk and hugged the man, thanking him for his generosity and that it would be her honor to have him walk her down the aisle. I stayed back, with a smile on her face, as I started copying down the to-do list as Lissa came back and flipped through the magazines. Abe left shortly after and we started discussing guest list, color schemes, and started looking at dresses in the magazine and online. Before we knew it, it was an hour before I had to leave, but I wanted to decide on the venue. When I suggested a church and ballroom/reception, Lissa said she wanted to have it outdoors since it would be the prime summer time, so she suggested a garden.

"Well what garden is going to be available in August?" I asked, knowing the few beautiful gardens were always booked for two year years at least.

"Yours. It's officially part of your maid of honor duty to let me do it here," she said, smiling in content with herself. When she saw my hesitation, she gave a pleading look and said, "Your backyard garden is beautiful. Please, Rose, let me have it there."

"If you want a beautiful garden, there's The Estate," I said cautiously, gauging her reaction. Lissa's eyes widen. "I know you haven't gone back, but your uncle, my dad, and even christian's aunt have been pitching in to maintain it. I think it would be wonderful to have it there, that way you have more than a picture of your parents. We can have the rehearsal dinner here in the garden if you want."

"I didn't even think about The Estate," she whispered. "Rose can we go see it please?"

"Sure," I said with a smile. "We can go tomorrow. I'll the call the bridal store and ask them if they can come over in the afternoon with the dresses we picked." Lissa nodded and hugged me. Then, she proceeded to kicking me out of my own house so I would get to the coffee shop on time.

"What. Is. This?" I asked as I opened the passenger door of Dimitri's truck, my face twisting in confusion as I used my thumb, index and middle finger to pick up an oversized jacket as if It was covered in mud.

"My jacket," Dimitri said as he watched me fling it into the back seat. When I gave him a pointed look that said "no shit" he sighed and said, "It's a duster."

"No. way," I said, trying to stifle a laugh but not able to hide the humorous glimmer in my eyes. My face soften when I saw the small hint of a blush creeping over his face.

A silence falls over as he started the car and pulled out of parking lot. It wasn't comfortable, but it wasn't awkward either, it was just there. Not knowing what to say that doesn't start with a long and awkward "So…", I turns on the radio, wishing I didn't.

"80's music?" I said with a groan

"It's what I grew up to listening to. And it's not bad music," he said, his eyes never leaving the road.

"Clearly," I said sarcastically.

"Don't judge. You obviously listen to it since you knew it was 80's music. At least these songs say something, not like those songs that repeat a bunch of nothing."

"Hey! I only know it's 80's cus my dad plays it from time to time in his office, but that's cus it's music from is quote golden days. And don't go bashing all songs, some still have a message with a good beat." To prove my point I plugged in my phone and played my Jamming Mx. The first song that came on was not a song that help my case, but did spark a debate. The whole car ride we were going back and forth about music, playing everything and anything to prove our case. The more heated our argument got, the more fun it got, both our eyes filled with joy and a ghost of a smile always present. It went from proving our case of which music was better, to sharing our favorite songs.

When the car stopped, i looked around, wondering why we stopped here, but still, I got out when I saw Dimitri turning the car off and getting out.

"McDonald's?" I said incredulously.

"Yea," he said, holding the door open for me. "Since you're so impatient, I thought here would be a good place to have lunch."

Part of me was mad. Who wouldn't be? McDonald's was not some place you take someone out for a first date…ok so it's not a date, but it's not some place you take someone you just met. It would be one thing if my friends and I came here, or if I've been dating him for a while and we were on the go. I know I said I didn't like sit-down restaurants, but I didn't say I never went there. Of course I go there, and I prefer it to McDonald's I just wish they served faster. Actually there's a lot of sit-downs that serve in a timely manner. If he wanted to do fast food, at least do something like Sonics or In-and-Out.

Another part of it was kinda surprised in a good that he payed attention to what I said, and took that into consideration. And thinks I should give him a chance. Actually, it's not that bad of an idea, it's really casual, right? So it's easier to talk and eat without feeling all compromised that comes with a sit-down. Yea...casual...I like the sound of that.

Deciding to not write him off so early, I order a double quarter pounder and a large drink and fries, while he ordered a Big Mac and medium drinks and fries. Once we placed the orders and got our drinks, we found a table and sat across from each other.

There has never been a silence so awkward as the one that enveloped Dimitri and I. I didn't know what to say. I would get an idea, open my mouth, realize how stupid it sounded, and then take a giant sip of my soda. He would look down at his drink, look up at me with a happy glimmer in his eyes like he found the perfect way to break the ice, then the glimmer would leave and he would at something over my head. Quite obviously this ice wasn't breaking any time soon.

When I had come to the end of my first cup of soda, we still hadn't said anything, it was at the point that I really didn't want to be the one to start the conversation. Luckily, either he got over his shyness (because that was one thing I realized about him…he was super shy, well quiet really, and I could tell he preferred to keep to himself….so I wonder, why did he ask me to see him today if he didn't really like to entertain company?) or he noticed for the first time, nonetheless, it got him to speak.

"You look nice," he said hesitantly, like a mother forcing her child to speak to company, as he looked me over. It wasn't a lustful, I-wonder-how-she-looks-under-me look over, it was a honest-to-God what-is-she-wearing? look over. The only people that give me that look are my parents...my friends - even Mason on occasion...and gay guys (that's how I know they're gay). Aw fuck! He's gay...just my luck to find the sexiest man to ever walk into my life and he's gay.

"Uh thanks," I said with a smile, looking down as I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. When I looked back up, I could have sworn I saw a ghost of a smile, but I couldn't be sure because they called out number and I went to get the tray and refill my drink.

When I got back to our table, I handed him his order and put my order down and then put the tray on the shelf on top the trash. I had just taken a bite of burger and ate some fries when he asked me, "What do you do?"

"Um I go to school in Southern California."

"You're in college?"

"Yup! Just finished my second year," I said, smiling broadly. As much as I miss my friends, I love the sun and beach too much to give it up. Plus, they visit me from time to time.

"So your home for the summer…" I nod my head, wondering if this was heading somewhere, but he just nod his head.

"So what do you do?" Might as well keep the line of question going right?

"I teach at the dojo downtown," he said nonchalantly.

"Mojo Dojo?" I said excitedly.

"Yea. I started a year ago. Have you been there before?"

"Nope," I said popping my "p" and shaking my head. "My mom wouldn't let me, said if I wanted to learn so bad then she could teach me."

He nodded his head like he understood. "Well you should come down one day, I could give a few quick tips."

"Really," I said, looking up into his eyes and saw the earnest joy in them as he nodded his head again. And like that we fell into an easy conversation, talking about family, friends, and where we came from.

Sure enough, he was a really private person, he had only one friend (Ivan), but he was surrounded by women. He had three sisters, two older and one younger who he said she was about my age, his mom, grandma, and his eldest sister's son and daughter. So Paul and Ivan were his only real male companions, he wasn't really close with his co-workers except for his boss/mentor. He's basically the opposite of me, the socialite - a lot of friends (but 5 close friends) and no siblings or little cousins. And also, unlike me, he wasn't from here. I already figured his parents (well mom, since he didn't give any hints of having a father) weren't from here from his Russian last name and accent. What I didn't expect was that he spent all his life in a small town called Baia in Russia, all except this past year that he's been here. I think it's cool that he grew up somewhere that wasn't here, and I wonder what he thinks of here compared to back home.

"So, comrade, what made you leave the idyllic Siberia and come to the metropolitan California?" I asked leaning into him a bit, not hiding my humor and playful sarcasm, which earned him one of those rare smiles and chuckles. Actually, when he was talking about his family and home he was happier, like I cracked a piece of his wall and sunshine bursted through the cracks. I don't know why, but something about that light makes me want to break the whole wall so I can get enveloped in that light.

"To see the sun," he whispered jokingly as he leaned too, laughing at my shocked expression - clearly seeing that I believe him - and before I could ask him if he was serious he continued, his voice turning husky. "I'm just joking, Roza." His eyes drifted towards my lips for a second, leaning in somewhere, before looking back into my eyes. I leaned in some more too, my eyes starting to close as he titled his head slightly and started closing his eyes too. Feeling his breath, I knew his lips were close to mine, so close I could almost take the sweet Dr. Pepper taste lingering on them. Just as the space was about to be closed, a shrilling voice rang through the whole place, making us jump back into our seats.

At the sound of the voice, Dimitri's whole demeanor changed quicker than the sky turned from day to night. His guard came up like before. His eyes grew like they wanted to pop out of their eyes sockets, but didn't because he was so damn good at hiding his reactions. The voice said one word. One word and my whole mood sank down. One word and the butterflies of anticipation flied away and left my stomach empty with disappoint.

One word...and my day was ruined.

A/N: DUN DUN DUN! Who was so heartless to ruin Rose's day?! And what was that word? Tune in next week to find out!
P.S: I won't be posting a new chapter for this story on wednesday...I'll post a new chapter for Runaway Love tho so if you haven't checking it out...DO IT! (Yes I just self promoted myself) haha