AH/AU

I grunted and shoved my book into my bag, rubbing my brow as I stared at the time. I was starting to think my new partner was never going to show up. It's not like this project was fifty percent of our grade and we were assigned partners.

It was officially forty minutes passed ten and I stood up, shouldering my bag. I was hungover as shit, and I still managed to get here on time. What everyone said about my partner, she was punctual, sweet, and a scholarship student, but my first impression of her was less than stellar.

"I'm sorry! I know I'm late!" I heard someone call out. I turned around to face the door and saw a tall blonde coming towards me, two coffees in her hand.

"I'm hungover and I still managed to show up on time," I grumbled.

"I know, I'm so sorry!" Lissa exclaimed with a s apologetic look, "Something came up and I didn't have your phone number. I tried sending you a message on Instagram, but you're private so I'm not sure if you got it."

I picked up my phone and opened my Instagram, finding a message request.

"I didn't get it until now," I stated and dropped my bag back on the floor. Lissa nodded and sat down as I did, pushing one of the cups toward me.

"How do you know I drink coffee?" I asked, no doubt sounding like a stuck-up bitch, but I was already salivating.

"Eddie told me," she said with a smile.

"Eddie?"

"Yeah. He was at the café when I went in and I wasn't sure what to get you. He recognized me and I guess he knew we were meeting so he told me what you drank," she explained tucking her hair behind her ear.

I sighed quietly and smiled at her.

"You're forgiven," I chuckled and took a sip of my coffee before my eyes widened and I ducked.

"What?" Lissa asked quietly.

"The guy I slept with last night just came in. I may or may not have left his place without a note or anything," I muttered. Lissa chuckled and turned her head before she laughed loudly, her voice almost like a chime.

"Wait, the really tall guy?" she asked jerking her thumb over her shoulder. I peeked up and glanced, nodding my head.

"I was super late. But like honestly, too much information, but the best sex of my life," I said with a groan.

Lissa pressed her lips together before she started laughing again, shaking as she did.

"So really, you're why I was late," she said and I knitted my brows together.

"What?"

"Dimitri is the head of my security. It was his day to be with me," Lissa said with a laugh, "But thank you for proving my curiosity. How good was he?"

I blanched and let my face thud onto the table. "Good God."

"Like toe curling good, or you've ruined me for other people good?" she pressed, a grin on her face.

"Both."

Lissa snorted a laugh and picked up her cup. I lifted my head and ran my fingers through my hair, trying to look marginally better than I did. Dimitri lingered a few feet away, sitting in a chair with a book. His shoulder-length hair was still damp, tucked behind his ears. He crossed his legs and rested his curled hand against his head.

"So, how did you manage to lay my very stoic head of security?" Lissa asked.

"Shouldn't we start working on this?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"I started the introduction last night. I got bored," Lissa said with a shrug, "So, spill. I would love to know the not-so-serious side of him."

I shook my head. "I barely know you."

"So? We'll be spending the rest of the semester together."

I rolled my eyes and sat up properly, taking a long drink of my coffee.

"I was somewhat tipsy and rocked Buck," I grumbled and Lissa looked at me confused.

"The mechanical bull at DJ's," I supplied and I saw it dawn on her, her mouth making a 'o' in understanding.

"Oh God," she said, "He is quite the cowboy fan."

"Yes, he was a big fan of the reverse cowgirl," I said into my cup before I realized what I said. Lissa sputtered into her cup and giggled, clutching her stomach as she laughed at me. I blushed and averted my eyes when Dimitri looked in our direction, a soft smile on his face.

"Anything else he a fan of? He seems like a tits guy to me," she snickered, no doubt joking but I shrugged and tsked.

Lissa cocked her head to the side for a moment and then nodded to herself.

"I can totally see it," she said and then leaned towards me, "Is he just as gorgeous underneath the clothes."

"Oh girl, you don't want to know," I said with a shiver, remembering licking the ridges of his abs last night. "Wait. Why do you have security?"

Lissa sighed quietly and toyed with her shirt. "My dad is paranoid. He's a politician."

I nodded. "I get it. I don't know what my dad actually does for a living, I just know that it wasn't safe for me to be around him as a kid. On my eighteenth birthday he taught me how to shoot a gun."

"And other people think their dads are intense," Lissa said with a smile. I chuckled and finished off the last of my coffee, already wishing I had another one.

"And Dimitri is what, blending in as a student?"

"Sort of. They all do," Lissa said, "To be honest, having security has kind of scared everyone off."

"I don't scare easily," I said, "Besides, you need crazy to deal with crazy."

Lissa raised her brows. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that you need someone who seems scarier than they actually are," I said, "I tend to really only have guy friends because girls annoy the shit out of me. But you, you haven't made me want to bolt yet."

"Thank you?" she asked and I smiled at her.

"Nice to meet you, Lissa Dragomir," I said extending my hand to her. Lissa looked at it and a genuine smile split across her face.

"Nice to meet you, Rose Hathaway," she said shaking my hand, both of us chuckling.

"Okay, since we have this newfound friendship, spill the details. I haven't had a girl friend to gossip with in months and I'm dying," Lissa groaned. I smirked and cast a glance behind her again, catching Dimitri's eye and smirk.

"What kind of details?"

"Not R-rated, but good ones."

I leaned back in the chair and thought about it. It seemed odd to be talking about it, but I figured I'd indulge her with one.

"He seriously knows what to do with himself," I said with a grin, "Seriously. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to walk properly today."

Lissa's eyes looked like they were going to bug out of her head and she turned to look at him, a smirk on her lips before she looked at me again.

"I can't believe you got him to loosen up! I've done everything I could think of, but I rarely get a smile out of him, and here you are, getting the whole man out of him."

I shrugged. "Apparently it's a gift," I said with a grin. Lissa laughed and tapped her fingers on the table.

"How about we ditch the books together and get something to eat and more coffee?" she said, "I really am not in the mood to do this stupid project this morning."

I stood up and shouldered my bag. "I will never say no to food," I said with a smirk, "But just so you know. If this friendship is going to work, I am easily swayed with chocolate glazed donuts and coffee."

"I'm easily swayed with coffee and starburst," Lissa said as she stood up, smiling at me.

"Can I just say that Professor Alto is a dick for making this half the grade?"

"I agree, but, I happen to have a perfect go-to for Russian history," Lissa said as she looped her arm through mine. I laughed before I realized what she meant.

"Right," I groaned and made awkward eye contact with Dimitri. His eyes moved to Lissa before he moved to me, something flared in his eyes that made my stomach clench.

"We're thinking of going to Angels," Lissa said to Dimitri with a smile.

"Sure thing," Dimitri said as he stood up, towering over both of us. I bit my lip and looked at Lissa, following her out of the library

"Rose."

I turned and looked at him. "Yeah?"

Dimitri stepped closer and pulled something out of his pocket.

"I know you were in a hurry this morning, but I think you might need this," he said handing my wallet to me. I bit my lip and took it, smiling a little.

"Thanks," I said quietly and tucked it into my backpack.

"Maybe next time, I can make you coffee before you bolt," he said with a wink and followed after Lissa. I gaped at him and chuckled to myself with a slight shake of my head. I waited next to Lissa for the elevator, not tempting the steep stairs this morning.

I flinched when I felt lips brush my ear.

"But you'll have to earn the panties back," Dimitri whispered and I blushed, shaking in silent laughter.

I sniffed and knocked on the door harder. My apartment wasn't mine anymore and I didn't have anywhere else to go, but I wasn't staying at my mom's place with her drunk boyfriend.

A man opened the door. "Can I help you?"

"Is Lissa here? She isn't answering her phone," I said with an uneasy rub at my face.

"She's out at the moment," he explained and I shifted on my feet uneasily.

"Can I wait for her here? Please?" I asked quietly. I heard another person approach and a voice I recognized.

"Who's at the door?" Dimitri asked before coming into view, his expression and demeanour changing.

"Rose," he said with a small smile before it dropped. "What's wrong?"

"She asked to wait for Miss. Dragomir here," the other man said but Dimitri shook his head and gestured for me to come in. I nodded and stepped inside, taking my hoodie off and wiping my shoes on the mat inside the door. Dimitri led me into the living room and set me down on the couch.

"What happened?"

I shrugged. "It's nothing. I just don't want to encourage," I whispered and pulled my hair out of the hair tie, fluffing my hair around my shoulders.

Dimitri sighed quietly and moved my hair out of my face enough to look at my eye, frowning to himself.

"I didn't even notice that," the other man said quietly from the entrance of the living room. Dimitri glanced at him and muttered under his breath about him not being observant, to begin with. I winced when Dimitri's finger touched under my eye and he frowned again.

"Nothing's broken, but you'll have a bruise. Want to tell me the truth now?"

I sighed and leaned back, crossing my arms and legs as I raised my brows at him.

"Does it really matter?"

"It does to me," he said.

I shook my head and licked my lip. "My mom's boyfriend is a bad drunk," I said with a shrug, "Nothing else really to it."

Dimitri raised his brow at me and glanced at the other guy and jerked his head to the side. The other guy nodded curtly at me and Dimitri before walking away. I sighed again and rested my head back on the couch. Dimitri got up and sat beside me on the couch, resting his arm on the back of the couch.

"Fine, if you don't want to tell me what happened, then you can tell me why you had snubbed every dinner invite I've extended?"

I chuckled dryly and rolled my head to look at him. "Really?"

Dimitri shrugged. "Dealer's choice. We talk about what happened or that."

I ran my teeth against my lip. "He got drunk, was pissed off that I was back home and punched me. No big deal. Nothing I can't handle," I said and cleared my throat.

Dimitri nodded and breathed slowly through his nose. "Who is he?"

I snorted. "Please. It's bad enough that he's going to be on my father's radar soon enough. And then I'll be in the middle of yet another screaming match between my difunctionally-perfect-for-each-other parents."

Dimitri didn't look pleased with my response but gently tucked my hair behind my ear.

"Can I get you anything? Something for the pain? Ice? Or a drink?"

I lifted my head and smiled gently at him. "Something strong?"

Dimitri nodded and got up and left the room. I toed my shoes off and set them on the wood next to the couch before I stood up, rolling my neck as I went towards the fireplace. Lissa's house was beautiful, complete with a formal sitting room. It looked like something out of a book, a stone fireplace with dark hardwood floors and cream-coloured couches to complement the sienna-coloured walls.

There were pictures on the mantel, ones of Lissa and her late brother Andre. Any time people would ask Lissa about her brother, she would clam up. But one night she opened up enough to tell me. She went out to a party one night and drank too much. Her brother came to get her, and while they were driving home, a drunk driver swerved into their lane. She harboured so much guilt over it, to the point where it was almost toxic.

There were pictures of her parents there too, one of her and I from a party we went to at Halloween. There was one of her and her boyfriend, Christian too. I would have done anything for a living room like this. Mom worked a lot when I was a kid, and when I met my dad, we weren't in the whole come stay over place.

Dimitri came back in with two glasses, handing one to me. I took a large drink and rubbed my forehead.

"Can I borrow a shirt? This one smells like bad beer," I said after a minute, grimacing as I pulled the shirt away from my chest. Dimitri nodded and gestured for me to come with him. I had been here a few times, but I tried to steer clear of Dimitri.

It wasn't that I wasn't interested in him, I was. I truly was, but I didn't want to infect his life with my baggage. He was such a good person and I hated to think that I could make things harder for him. I followed him into his room and blew a breath from my lips, watching him move around his room.

"So whatever happened to my panties?" I asked with a chuckle. Dimitri smirked and cocked a brow at me.

"Would I be creepy if I told you I kept them?" he asked with a laugh.

I laughed. "No. Those were my favourite and they were hella expensive," I said. Dimitri smirked and walked to his nightstand and opened the bottom drawer.

"You kept them in your nightstand?" I asked.

Dimitri grunted and pulled a fabric pouch. "It was better than one of the guys coming in here to borrow clothes and finds them in my stuff," he said handing me the pouch, "I washed them, by the way."

I smirked at him. "Thanks," I said and tucked them into my back pocket.

Dimitri went back to his dresser and pulled out a t-shirt and then a pair of sweatpants and then a pair of thick socks. I took them with a smile and he pointed to the bathroom. I went in a changed, appraising myself in the mirror. The swelling and bruising wasn't horrible, but it wasn't the worst it was going to get.

I went back out with a sigh and ran my hand through my hair. "Thanks."

Dimitri nodded and I took my drink back from him and finished the last of it.

"Where is Lissa?"

"She's out with Christian. She's with Ben tonight. She didn't want a heavy detail where they were going."

I nodded and glanced at the bed. I expected him to have a big bed, but it looked almost too soft.

"Are you on duty or whatever?"

Dimitri shook his head. "No. That's why I'm having a drink with you."

I nodded. "Then do you want to watch a movie or something? I need a distraction," I said with a small smile, "I don't want to think about the shitshow that's going to happen."

Dimitri nodded and started to walk out but I shook my head. "In here?"

He stopped and smirked at me. "I was going to get the movie binder," he said before stepping out. I snorted a laugh and sat on the bed, laying back with a sigh. It was very soft, but firm enough for good support.

After a few minutes, he came back and tossed the binder onto the bed, letting me flip through the pages. It was an extensive collection, one that impressed me and I finally landed on one. I pointed at it with a smirk and Dimitri took it and put it into the player.

I shifted when he lay beside me, rolling onto my side so I was closer but could still see the screen. He produced a bag of popcorn from the nightstand and I grinned at him, taking a handful and munching on it as we watched.

I glanced at him a few times during the movie, really appreciating him for who he was. He had asked me out on a few dates, but I had always brushed them off with a vague excuse. And the worst part was that I did want to go on those dates, but I was worried.

"I wasn't snubbing you when you asked me out. I just didn't want you to deal with my baggage," I said quietly.

Dimitri looked down at me and frowned.

"Why wouldn't I want your baggage?" he said with a smile.

"Cause it's heavy and crazy?"

Dimitri shook his head and smiled. "You know that I knew what your baggage was before I decided I wanted it. Occupational hazard."

I sat up and scoffed at him. "Did you run a background check on me?"

"Occupational hazard. Had to make sure you were safe to have around Lissa. I knew a lot more than I let on, because I wanted to know you regardless. That's why I kept asking. And I knew about Mason, so I knew that I needed to wait for you to know I was here until you were ready."

I pursed my lips and laid back down, resting my head on his shoulder.

"You know about that, huh?"

"It's public record," he reminded me.

I nodded. "Yeah, well I guess that's why I was so good at listening to Lissa pour her heart out about Andre. I knew what it felt like."

Dimitri ran his fingers over my arm. "I'm sorry."

I nodded. "Thanks. But it's in the past right? I mean, it wasn't anyone's fault except for Jesse's for drinking and driving. I was just smart enough not to get in the car with him and Mason."

We lapsed into silence, the two of us watching Leonardo DiCaprio realize the truth about the doctor while I let my hand reach for his other hand, tentatively letting my fingers brush the skin. I pecked up at him and found a soft smile on his lips. He slipped his fingers between mine and I looked back at the screen, smiling to myself.

"Dimitri? I think you need to come to deal with this."

I jolted awake with a quiet gasp. I felt something move under me and I blinked a few times, rolling off Dimitri's side so he could get up. He grunted quietly as he rubbed his face as he walked to the door.

"What is it?" he asked when he opened the door with a yawn.

"Her father is here," the guy said gesturing into the room. I blinked a few more times and stood up, rubbing my eye as I went.

"What did you say?" I asked.

Dimitri looked at me and opened the door a bit more. The guy that met me at the door last night looked nervous as his eyes flicked between us.

"Your father is downstairs," he said shifting on his feet.

I scoffed and shook my head, slipping past the two of them and down the stairs. When I came around the corner I heard his voice and followed it. When I walked into the formal living room I found Lissa sitting with Abe.

"Morning sleepy head," she said, "I didn't want to wake you. You looked so comfy."

"Morning," I said with a yawn, "Father."

"Rosemarie."

I clicked my tongue and placed my hands on my hips. "So did you track my phone this time?"

Abe smiled at me and crossed his leg over his knee. "And if I did?"

"That's creepy," I pointed out and he shrugged.

"I just wanted to know you were safe," he stated and I sighed.

"I am. I left and came here."

"You should have called me," he said pointedly, looking behind me as Dimitri came into the room.

"I'm an adult. I don't need to cry to my dad at every minor inconvenience."

Abe slammed his fist on the table and stood up, pointing his finger at me. "That man laying his hands on you for the tenth time is not a minor inconvenience!" I exclaimed and I flinched back, not able to stop the psychological reaction. I saw it on Abe's face the moment I flinched and his face softened, coming slowly towards me and cupping my cheeks.

"I hate seeing you get hurt, and I can't bare to watch it happen any further. You should have called me," he said softly. I pressed my lips together and glanced at Lissa, who looked at me sadly. She had asked about it in the past, but I had always denied it. But now I couldn't deny it any longer.

It felt strange having a place to myself. After what happened with Stan, Abe put his foot down. He all but demanded that I move out of that house, and instead let me move into one of the rental properties he had near campus.

It was nice and it was relieving to have a place where I felt safe.

"Is this the last box?" Lissa asked as she set the box on the kitchen counter. I looked up from the one I was unpacking and nodded.

"I think I have a few in my car still," I said but stopped when Dimitri came in juggling two boxes.

"Those are my clothes," I said. Dimitri smirked and sent me a quick wink before he went up the stairs. Lissa leaned back and watched for a moment before she spoke.

"So I didn't say anything then, but how are things between you and Dimitri? I noticed that you were asleep in his room when you were over," Lissa mused, pulling the plates out of the box she brought in. I blushed and shrugged.

"Okay, I think. We haven't really started anything, but I do like him. I just didn't want to inflict my baggage on him, but apparently, he already knew my history. You could have told me that your security would run background checks on me," I explained and raised a brow at her.

Lissa shrugged. "I kind of forgot, to be honest. They do it to everyone, so sometimes I don't think to say anything. They did an even more intense one on Christian. If Dimitri hadn't vouched for you, they would have done the same with how much time we spend together."

I nodded and started filling the sink with hot, soapy water and put the dishes into the sink. They were new and I wanted to wash all of the dishes first. Dimitri came back down after a moment and stopped in the kitchen.

"I put your mattress on the frame for you," he said with a smile.

"Thanks," I said and watched him walk back out to get the last of the boxes from my car. I watched the future truck show up and looked at Lissa.

"Thanks for supplying the muscle today," I said.

"Of course," she said and pulled something out of her purse, setting it in the living room on the mantle.

"There! Your first pictures," she said with a smile. I dried my hands and walked out of the kitchen to see what she put on the mantle. The first one was of us, heads pressed together at a Halloween party from the start of the year. We had just started our friendship, but we clicked. We went as fairies, much to my dismay, but we still rocked the costumes.

The second was of me and Abe on my nineteenth birthday. It was one of the few times I'd ever seen him genuinely smile, but it was one of my favourite pictures. It was the picture I had of him on my phone.

"Thanks," I said wrapping my arm around her shoulder. Lissa smiled and rested her head on my shoulder when Ben knocked on the front door, the delivery people standing behind him.

"Tell us where to go, boss."

Lissa took charge and directed everyone where to go, telling me to wash the dishes and relax a little. I had been overly stressed out, and Lissa had gotten to the point where she took my phone away and made me sleep for a few hours. I felt better when I woke up and was treated with all my favourite foods. Whether it was Dimitri's or Lissa's idea, they both knew food was the way to my heart.

But now, watching Lissa help direct everything, I felt a load of stress come off my shoulders. I jumped when a hand touched my waist, turning my head to find Dimitri standing behind me.

"Hi," I whispered. Dimitri smiled at him and glanced into the living room before leaning down and pecking my lips. I wasn't expecting it, but didn't disapprove of it.

"I can stay after Lissa's done and help you put things together," he offered.

"Like a stay-at-home date?" I asked with a smile.

Dimitri smiled. "That wasn't my intention."

"But I don't mind if it is," I said quietly, "You know, start small and simple?"

"We could order take-out from Morty's," Dimitri offered. I practically salivated at the idea. Morty's had the best wings in town.

"I'd like that," I whispered and tilted my head up again, stealing another kiss from him.