Hey guys. Tell me what you think. I hope you like it. And even if you don't well I'm glad you gave this story a chance.

You're a freak, a big huge freak. You basically have a big pulsing neon sign on top of your head that says, beware of the freak.

That's exactly how I felt when I arrived in the cramped cafeteria to find Christian's and my table empty. Where the hell was he? He always ambushes me after fourth period; it was weird when I walked out of class and was met by nothing.

So first no ambush and now he's not even in the lunch room. He actually left me to fend for myself. I was going to die; they were all going to eat me alive with their hard glares and critical words.

All the clicks were sitting in their tables so close to each other, each person was wedged between the next. I felt claustrophobic just looking at them.

I got in line for my food and got the only thing that looked decent from the choices, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Yum, bread filled in crunchy peanut butter. Right now I needed comfort food.

The cafeteria was stuffed with people. I had to whir around like a mini tornado to avoid them. I winced when I felt someone get to close. Their body heat radiated off of them like a million hot irons. I barely managed to not get burned.

The walk of shame to my table was a long one; where the hell was Christian? I needed him here; his moral support was what got me through this hell.

As soon as I got to my seat I rubbed my palms against the white table and traced the scratches of graffiti with my finger. I thought of maybe banging my forehead against the table hard enough to give myself a concussion. Anything would be better than all the yammer that the pathetic high school teenagers came up with.

I sagged in defeat and hid my face behind my hands.

Someone please kill me.

I heard a hard set of footsteps before I felt the weight of the bench sink down. Finally Christian came.

Only when I took my hands off my face I realized it wasn't Christian who I was staring at. I was face to face with Dimitri.

"What are you doing here?" The question came out sharper than I intended. He cocked his eyebrow in that infuriatingly sexy manner of his, seemingly amused.

"Is that how you talk to someone who's trying to be nice," He said it like if he was teaching a child manners.

"You were trying to be nice?" I asked. "Because all I see you doing is sitting there." I was annoyed at how he talked to me; he made me feel like a petulant child.

"If you noticed, I came to sit by you so you wouldn't be so alone. You looked a little lost. I came by to help you." His eyes were mesmerizing; he cupped his chin with his hand and looked me up and down. "Though there might have been another reason I wanted to come here," He grinned. Was he flirting with me?

I raised my chin up and glared, "Well you can't sit here, that's Christian's seat."

"Yes, where is Christian. I thought you two were inseparable; adjoined at the hip or something like that. I guess he's not coming." He leaned in towards me and skimmed my cheek with his finger. "Better for me." He winked.

I pulled away, contemplating on whether or not I should throw my plate at him like I'd seen in old movies. Instead I settled on scowling at him.

"Well you're not helping me out by staying here; you're actually annoying me so get lost."

"Ooh, Rose has fight in her," He grabbed his chest with his hand and sighed. "I'm honestly touched that you choose to fight with me. You know what they say, thin line between love and hate."

"It's not that thin." I sneered.

He looked at me from under his lashes and tilted his lips up in a crooked smile. I hated the fact that my heart beat quickened; how could this jerk still affect me?

"You're not like ordinary girls." He stated. I had already heard countless times how I wasn't normal but when he said it, it was different, it sounded like a complement.

"Did you barely realize that," I sassed. I always use attitude to hide my feelings; it was a defense mechanism.

"No; I always knew you were different, it's why I came here." He stated. But there was something about the way he said it, it made me think he wasn't just talking about coming to sit with me.

"Really, do you like that then; do you get some kick out of weird girls or something." I grumbled. I was beginning to think that I was some weird sort of experiment for him.

"I never said you were weird, just different. That's not a bad thing." He reached forward and brushed his fingertips against my temple. "You see things." He whispered.

"What?" I screeched.

"Rose," he gave me a pointed look. "Don't act dumb with me."

I tilted my chin up, defensive. "I don't understand what you're saying." He couldn't mean—

"Why don't you tell me what's really on your mind." He gazed at me intensely almost like he knew I was holding out on him.

"What are you talking about?" I whispered. Surely he couldn't know about the dreams.

"Nothing," he looked away but not before I heard him mumble, "It's better this way."

My curiosity peaked over his words until I couldn't help but ask.

"What's better this way?"

He whipped his head to face mine and cocked and eyebrow in question. He was playing dumb, pretty much pretending he never said those last few words. Something about that denial made me snap a little.

"You heard exactly what I said, Dimitri, and if you don't want to answer me fine, but don't try to make me feel stupid by pretending you said nothing." I growled under my breath. I felt my cheeks inflame this time from anger. I hated liars.

I watched his neutral expression fade for a second, replaced by genuine shock. His eyes were wide open. I a saw spark of surprise and something more, admiration maybe, swimming in his eyes before the shields went back up and he became stone once again.

I guess I wasn't going to get any more out of him.

I scowled at my peanut butter and jelly sandwich; my appetite was gone. I wanted nothing more than to pin Dimitri on the table and force him to tell me what he meant. But realistically I knew that was not going to happen.

"You're mad at me."

"Way to state the obvious. What are you doing here anyways other than trying to be chivalrous and your bad attempts at flirting."

"Bad attempts," He chuckled. "If I was flirting there wouldn't be any bad attempts."

He glanced around the cafeteria and stood up abruptly. He began to leave without saying a goodbye or an acknowledgement, like always. I was getting pretty fed up with his briskness, "So you're leaving; so much for being chivalrous, a gentleman would have at least said goodbye." I called after him.

He spun around in one quick motion and gave me a gallantly mocking bow. "So sorry, fair lady, I will now bid you farewell and good morrow." A giggle escaped me as he walked away. Big surprise, Dimitri was actually funny when he wanted to be.

Once Dimitri disappeared behind the cafeteria doors I realized how silent it had gotten. I had almost forgotten I was interacting with Dimitri in front of the whole school. But when I looked around I noticed that every person had their eye on me. I felt like I was being looked on from under a magnifying glass.

On the other side of the cafeteria I noticed Mia frozen in between a group of her friends. Her face was in complete shock, and it was only when her friend, Camille, nudged her that she snapped out of it.

I looked down, away from the stares, hoping to ignore them. I knew what they were thinking: Why would Dimitri, who could sit next to any girl, sit with her—and by her I mean me

I took a bite of my sandwich to distract myself. But as soon as the food hit my mouth I realized I was starving. I hadn't been eating well these past weeks, and it all seemed to come crashing down on me. I was so hungry I could eat a horse and still starve.

The bell rang while I was mid sandwich so I gobbled the rest of it down.

I got several curious looks from people as I made my way to class, and there were times when I swore someone was trying to approach me. Figures that when you're the topic for gossip everyone wants a piece of you.

I made it to my class unscathed but was cornered by Lissa before I could get in. Her blond hair was up in a sleek pony tail and her eye shadow emphasized the green of her eyes. We had this class together; she sat in front of me but never acknowledged my existence outside of calling me loser and freak.

Lissa made a show of putting her hands on her hips. "So how much did you pay Dimitri so he could sit with you?" She looked down at me; she was about four inches taller than I was but her heels made her grow an extra five inches, making her look like a model with her height and skinny figure.

"I didn't pay him anything." I raised my head high, determined to not be intimidated by big blond bimbos.

"Ha. What a bunch of bullshit. No one would sit by you willingly unless his name is Christian." She sniffed. I was actually shocked that she knew Christian's name considering she didn't have him for any classes.

"Whether you believe me or not doesn't matter. What does is that the bell is about to ring, so if you don't mind, MOVE." She didn't budge so I did the only thing I could think of. I stared at her, right in the eyes and watched her recoil away from me. I watched her eyes open wide in surprise before I went inside.

My strides were more awkward than usual because just about everyone was situated in their seats. I felt all my classmates eyes glued to my back as I made my way to my seat. This was going to be a long class.

High School, I hate you. Love Rose.

Where the hell is Christian? I thought as I rushed through the hallways. I had called him about a million times on his cell phone but he hasn't answered.

He wasn't even in any of his classes. I asked all the teachers and they said he was a no show.

Did he ditch: Impossible, Christian is such a pansy when it comes to ditching. He was always too scared that his mother would find out.

But there was no other alternative. He would have had to have ditched. He didn't even go to first period which rules out illness unless two seconds after we separated he got sick.

There was only one logical conclusion, robots have finally taken over the world and they made their mark by abducting Christian.

Or Christian ditched to read the book. I was tempted to cross off the latter but my robot theory started seeming a little crazy. I couldn't understand why though. Why couldn't he wait till after school to read the book. He only needed to read two pages, why did he have to be absent the whole day.

It stung a little to think that he left me with the sharks for a book. He could have at least told me. We could have ditched together. He knows that I've always wanted to ditch.

I walked out of school feeling dejected. I had spent the last twenty minutes of my afterschool time looking for Christian only to come to the conclusion that I was ditched.

Heat ensnared my heart once I circled the parking lot only to find the "cool" parking spot empty. This just wasn't my day. No, I tried to tell myself, Mia could not have left me. I was only like five minutes late. Maybe she was waiting for me by the curve, I thought.

But I knew it wasn't true. Mia would never park by some random curve to wait for me. She warned me once that if I wasn't in the car when she got in she wasn't going to wait around. I never had a reason to before, until now that is.

Damn it Mia.

The sun was pounding against my scull as I contemplated what had to be done. I had to walk eight miles in the sun to get to my house. Normally I wouldn't have a problem with walking but today was hotter than usual. The fabric of my shirt was sticking to my skin as I wiped the sweat off of the back of my neck.

Well here goes nothing.

I had walked at least a mile and already I could feel the red heat of my face. The hot rays of the sun doused me till I was sure my face resembled a tomato or a really bright radish.

The streets seemed endless like I could travel down them forever. The black tar of the street was like a reflector shining the rays of the hot sun directly at me, blinding me for moments on end.

Cars zoomed by leaving behind their thick smog for me to inhale, but from the corner of my eye I saw a black Mercedes slow down till it was level with me.

My heart started to beat faster. Crap; I was all alone. If they wanted to grab me and throw me in the car they could without a problem. Even in the broad daylight abduction wasn't unheard of.

I tightened my hands against my backpack ready to use it as a weapon. I had two thick textbooks and my binder in there. If I swung it hard enough I knew it would hurt.

I quickened my pace but I was conscious of the opening door and the sound of someone getting out of the car. Heavy footprints followed, heading in my direction.

I broke into a run but not before I heard my name called by a voice that sounded frighteningly familiar. I came to an abrupt stop and spun around.

His mouth was curved in a condescending smile; his brown eyes glowed with a certain mischief that was painfully attractive. Dimitri and all his glory was standing before me.

I didn't know if this was better or worse. I didn't exactly trust Dimitri.

"What are you doing here?" I tried to keep the panic out of my voice but a little seeped in towards the end.

"I should be asking you the same question, Rose. You don't usually walk home."

"Sure I do." I lied. "I walk home all the time."

His eyes turned thoughtful. "She left you, didn't she."

"No, I—"

"Big sister Mia left little Rose to walk by herself." He snorted. "Typical."

"Shut up."

"Why, it's the truth. Mia's got everyone wrapped around her fingers yet she treats you like crap, doesn't she."

"You don't know her."

"Don't delude yourself, Rose." He walked towards me. "Her actions speak for themselves." He stopped an arm's length away from me.

I took a step back. It felt too intimate. "Like you're any better. You ignore everyone; give girls the cold shoulder when all they want to do is talk to you. Does that really make you a better person?"

"You and I both know that those girls wanted more than just talk." He quirked an eyebrow, "plus, I don't ignore everyone, only the ones who deserve it."

"How do you know they deserve it?"

"Intuition; I know people, and it's not hard to see when someone's an asshole." I found myself nodding my head in agreement. It was true, people here really were ass hats disguised in pretty faces.

"Now, you really want to know what separates me from the assholes?" He continued. "It's because I'm not afraid."

"What?"

"Don't you see; it's all about fear." He closed the gap between us and gripped my wrist, forcing me to look at him. His mouth was set in a grim line and his eyes held nothing but the truth. "They're afraid that this outfit will make them look like a loser, they're afraid that saying the wrong thing will make them an outcast so they second guess everything they say. They're afraid of who they make friends with. But most of all, they're afraid of you"

"Why?" My voice cracked. "Why are they afraid of me?"

"You know why?" He used his thumb to smooth out the pucker between my eyebrows. "Because you see things."

He let me go and took a step back. Letting me absorb what he just said. Everything he was telling me suddenly made sense. I see things; he knows about my dreams. But how?

"So you want a ride or something." Dimitri asked, nodding his head in the direction of his car. Honestly I had already forgotten the predicament I was in, too engrossed by our conversation. I still didn't trust him but suddenly I wanted nothing more than to be alone with him. I needed to find out more of what he knew.

"Sure." My answer surprised him; shock covered his face before a cocky smile appeared.

"I knew you wouldn't be able to resist my charms." He grinned.

"You call it charms, I call it creepiness. Either way you seem like a freak, and that's not an insult in my case. If I would have known I would have invited you to join the club."

"The club?"

"Yep, CF: Club Freak."

He looked amused. "Oh, no need, I'm already the president."

"Since when was I impeached."

He leaned in and brushed his lips against my ear. "Since I out staged you." I shivered involuntarily, cursing myself for letting him get to me. "Let's go." I smelled a slight hint of aftershave as he whipped away making my knees shake with the mouthwatering smell of musk and man.

He walked towards the car and opened the door for me. I raised an eyebrow at him.

"What?" He shrugged. "I've got manners. I open doors when in the presence of a lady."

I rolled my eyes at him and slid onto the leather seats of his car. I noticed that every surface of the car was swiped clean, it shined a glossy black; not exactly what I expected. I thought there would at least be dirty cloths, maybe a girl's underwear lying around from the recent shag. It was too clean.

Dimitri got in—the engine was still running—and turned the car in the opposite direction, away from my house. Maybe getting into the car with Dimitri wasn't such a good idea.

"You know my house is in the other direction."

"I know." He replied calmly.

"Then where are we going?" I whisper shouted.

"Calm down, Rose, I am not going to do anything to you." I risked a glance towards him and saw him staring back at me.

"Keep your eyes on the road." What was he trying to do, get us killed?

"I will if you promise to not have a panic attack on me."

"I am not having a panic attack!"

"Then why are you punching holes into my seat." I was about to argue when I saw that my hands were, in fact, gripping the sides of the seat so hard, I nearly ripped off the leather.

"Sorry." I whispered unclenching my hands from the seat.

"It's alright, nothing but a seat after all."

"So are you going to answer?" He was avoiding my question. I hope he didn't think I was stupid enough to let it go.

"Persistent are you." He glanced at my face before a mocking smile appeared. "I'm going to kill you, Rose. Tie you to my bed and defile you."

"Shut up." I growled. And please be joking.

"Fine; I was lying. I'm going to defile you first and then kill you." He clenched his fist hard around the wheel making his knuckles turn white. "Or maybe I'm going to take you out to eat."

He gave me another smile but this one seemed forced. His chocolate brown eyes conveyed something different, a warning.

The look was gone in an instant but it chilled me to the core.

Dimitri drove excruciatingly slow to the local diner. I had a strange suspicion that he was just doing it to bug me. Either way he drove like a grandpa, getting several beeps from the cars behind him.

"Aren't you going to speed up?" He was making this 5 minute trip extend to a fifteen minute one.

"Why should I?"

"I don't know, maybe because you're driving 5 miles per hour. I do plan to get there before I get old."

"Well you must be ancient because there goes the diner." He pointed out with his finger.

The town plaza was a couple of clothing shops piled together in one corner and a movie theatre that took up the majority of the space. But cramped between the social limelight of our great town—heavy sarcasm—was the diner. The place was always crowded with teenagers when school let out, all looking to gossip while scarfing down food. I really didn't want to go there.

It must have shown on my face because Dimitri smirked down at me. "Don't tell me you're afraid." He was holding back a laugh, his eyes mocking. He pulled the car into a tight parking space and crossed his arms behind his head, expecting an answer. I didn't want to admit to Dimitri that he was right. I hardly knew him but I got the impression that he was one to tease.

"I'm not. It's just that there are better places to go eat." I lied. He didn't seem to buy it; his eyes narrowed.

"Really; like where?" Crap, I didn't think it through; especially when the only response I had was my house, and I couldn't take Dimitri there.

"Umm, that little chinese food place next to the school."

"You mean that abandoned restaurant that closed down years ago." Damn, I really need to go out more.

"Oh really it closed down, what a shame the food was good."

"I heard people would get food poisoning there." Damn, how does he know this; didn't he just arrive here two weeks ago.

"How do you know? It happened years before you came here." He looked away from me and stared out his window. The interstate was zooming with passing cars, but the parking lot looked empty.

"News travels fast."

"Apparently," I let it go afraid that I would make a bigger idiot of myself if I continued.

I skimmed my hands on top of his leather seats and waited for him to say something, anything. He was still looking out the window sitting so still he looked like a statue.

The car was quiet; I didn't even want to breathe to not destroy the silence. I gave a loud intake of breathe when I couldn't hold it anymore. It snapped him out of his slumber. He whipped around to face me and cocked an eyebrow in question.

"What?" I asked.

"Were you really going to let me sit there while we rot in the heat of my car?" He shook his head. "You really should learn how to say something."

"I didn't want to disturb you." I argued.

"That doesn't matter. You can't take everyone's crap and stay silent about it Rose, sometimes you've got to let loose, and tell them to fuck off." My jaw almost dropped at his brashness but I knew that was the reaction he was expecting.

Instead I shrugged and said, "I don't take people's crap, they fling it at me. Can you blame me for not wanting to grab it, even if it is to fling it back."

"I won't blame you, Rose, but you will." For some reason what he said made me mad. Who the hell did he think he was to tell me what I will or not feel? I mean it's me, I know who I am.

I was just about to argue when he got out of the car, probably seeing what I was about to do from the pissed off look on my face. Dimitri had a knack for running away. I followed him out until we were both at the front of his car.

His black Mercedes was gleaming brightly, the rays of the sun hitting it in a way that made it look recently waxed.

Dimitri turned his face toward mine and said. "You still too afraid to go inside."

I looked at him annoyed, placing my hands on my hips. This seemed to amuse him more.

"It's alright, Rose, not all of us are born brave." He gave me a mocking smile. Something about that smile made me want to kick him in the shin.

Instead, I grabbed his hand in a brash moment and pulled him to the diner. I felt his fingers intertwine with mine in a silent approval. His hands were big and they engulfed my tiny ones; his fingers and palms were rough, calloused. In that moment I wanted to prove him wrong, and wipe that smile off his face.

"So now we're holding hands." He smirked. He looked so tall next to me, my head barely made it to his chest.

"Don't take it the wrong way Dimitri." It was the first time his name had rolled out of my tongue. I usually only thought it in my head, he seemed to notice because he beamed down at me.

We made it to the front of diner but I wasn't sure if my new found bravery was going to make it with me inside.

"Rose, just go in, I'm right here." And suddenly I wasn't freaking out anymore. Dimitri was right beside me and that seemed to comfort me. I wouldn't feel as much like a freak when the kids from school stared at me.

I opened the door of the Diner and felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. There was no one in here except for an elderly couple and three girls in the back corner.

"See, that wasn't so bad." There was a mocking tone in his voice.

I clenched my teeth. "You knew that no one would be here." I accused.

"I am appalled. How could you think so little of me," He wiggled his eyebrows. "But it did make you hold my hand." He pointed down to our still adjoined hands.

I quickly dropped his hands and clenched my fists. "You, I. Ehh." I couldn't believe it. I had just been duked by Dimitri just so he could what, hold my hand?

"You got to admit, you liked it." He teased, wiggling his fingers in front of my face.

"Sure, sure. If thinking that makes you happy, Dimitri, then go ahead. Just make sure you know that you're living a lie."

"A very happy lie." He extended his hand out to me. "You want a repeat of our previous action."

I snorted. Who did he think he was, Mr. Smooth?

"What did I say about getting cocky, Rose. It doesn't suit you." He let his hand dropped, and it might have been a trick of the light, but for a second he looked dejected.

I felt like I needed to cheer him up. "So Dimitri, where are all your moves. Or did you lose those when you lost your dignity."

That caused his eyes to brighten up. His face transformed back into his flirty manner.

"You really want me to use the moves on you don't you."

I scoffed.

"Really, Rose, there's no shame in the truth. Besides, I'll let you in on a secret. You don't need any moves to get a girl's attention." He looked me up and down before grinning at me.

"I am really getting tired with your flirting one second, reprimanding me another strategy. If you think you can pick up chicks that way you're wrong."

"Are you sure about that." He glanced at me from under his eyelashes.

"Positive." I said, thankful that my voice didn't break.

"Well then what do you call this. Did I not pick you up, and am I not taking you out to eat. Something must obviously be working." He winked. I was almost too infuriated with his logic to not be affected by that wink, almost.

"This," I waved my hand around the diner, "is nothing more than two barely acquaintances having dinner. Unless you usually call picking up a stranded girl that has no choice but to get in a car with you then forcing her to diner a date."

"I do actually; how else do you think I get dates?"

"Uhh, never mind. Let's just eat." I glowered at him.

Dimitri led us to a secluded table in the corner. It was away from anyone's prying eyes, the seats look cushioned and very comfortable. I gave him a questioning look.

"This is my favorite table." He explained.

"You come here often?" I asked, surprised. It was hard to imagine Dimitri in our local diner, it was too normal. He always shied away from the public, preferring to be alone.

"How else do you think I knew it would be empty at this time." Of course, Dimitri, would know about a lonely place, it must be his life mission to find every secluded part in the world. It's probably where he hides when he's supposed to be in the cafeteria.

He would know a lot about empty places, I thought. An empty place like an abandoned room, one that has oozing gray walls. If there was a place here in our town, I was sure, Dimitri, would know of it.

"What are you thinking?" He asked. Umm, maybe about the fact that you could be the psychopathic murderer that haunts my dreams and killed Natalie.

"Just wondering what they serve here." He didn't seem to believe me, but let it drop.

A waitress appeared quickly with our menus. She had fiery red hair and blue eyes. She looked several inches taller than me, and I was panged to see how beautiful she was. Even in her uniform she was glowing.

As soon as she set our menus down she turned quickly towards Dimitri. "What are you going to have today, Dimitri, the usual?" She asked, fluttering her eyes to make herself seem alluring. I found myself bothered by the way she talked to him. It was a little too flirty. And even though I knew, Dimitri, and I weren't really on a date, for all she knew we could have been. She should at least have some respect.

Seeing how comfortably she talked to him, I came to the conclusion that she was his usual waitress. I mean, how else would she know his name. Maybe she figured she had dibs on him, or maybe she saw my appearance and pegged me in the friend category. I put less effort than usual in my wardrobe this morning. My jeans were worn out and baggy. And the black shirt I wore was two sizes too large. I didn't even want to think about the state of my hair. A mile walk in the heat doesn't do wonders to it.

"Of course Rachel." He smiled at her making her giggle. Of course now he acts like he interacts with human, when he's with Rachel.

"Right away Dimitri." She said sweetly. I saw her arrange—unnecessarily—her tight uniform, bringing more focus to her large chest.

Did I really have to wear this unappealing blouse? I thought. My chest looked practically nonexistent, hidden behind the hideously large shirt.

She stared at him for longer than necessary, when she finished, before turning reluctantly in my direction. I could see the tips of her ears glow red, matching her hair. She didn't like that I was here with Dimitri.

Her reaction made me exhale in relief. Dimitri didn't bring girls with him when he came here; she wouldn't be so bothered with me if he did.

"And for you." She asked between clenched teeth. Her eyes were focused on her note pad but as soon as she lifted them she recoiled back as if someone had burned her.

I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy her reaction. But my enjoyment was cut off when I realized Dimitri, could see everything. I turned to look at him and found him staring at me. Not in a weird gawking way, he looked at me with knowing eyes. He was expecting this to happen.

I was about to apologize when he silenced me with a look.

"She'll have the tilapia?" He said it like a question but I was nodding along to it. I liked fish.

"And some lemonade." I added. "Strawberry lemonade."

"Thanks for suggesting the plate." I said once Rachel left. "How did you know I liked it?"

"I didn't. But you looked like a fish person." He shrugged.

"Well I do like fish." I conceded.

He laughed warmly. "I knew it."

I laughed along until I remembered something."Back in school, when you said that you watched me, did you mean that you watch me when I'm outside of school too." I mumbled out. My cheeks were bright pink, but what other reaction could I have when asking a guy if he stalks me.

His eyebrows raised up in surprise. "Are you asking me if I stalk you?" He asked, incredulously. My cheeks only turned pinker.

"You are, aren't you. Do you really think I spent my time outside your window watching what you do Rose. Don't you think I have a life, one that doesn't revolve around you?"

I shrunk down in my chair, humiliated.

"Because if you really think that the highlight of my day is when I spy on you, then well…" He caught my eye before quickly looking away. "Then I'd say you're right."

I looked up, startled. "You should probably close your curtains. You don't know what kind of creep could be lurking about waiting for a peep show." He grinned. "Luckily you gave me mine yesterday."

I was pretty sure he was joking, but I wasn't sure if everything he said was a lie. Maybe only the last part about me giving him a peep show. I was actually really hoping that last part was a lie.

His face went back to being serious. I never really noticed till now, but when his face was serious he looked older, more mature.

"You done with your soft core sexual harassment." I asked.

He smiled cheekily at me. "You know, that's why I like you Rose. You're not afraid to tell me my shit. In your attitude you're completely unpredictable did you know that." He tipped his head sideways as if to get a better look at me. "Sometimes you can really pull the rug out of people's feet."

"Thank you." I said, taking it as a complement. I leaned in closer to him. "Tell me something." I asked.

"I was only joking." He grinned. " So what do you want to know?"

"When we were in school, what did you mean when you said that I see thing."

He covered my mouth with his hand. His eyes looked around, alarmed, as if someone would pop out any second. His reaction scared me. I normally would have swat his hand away, but I sensed the danger.

He seemed to calm down. His face took up the joking quality in it. "Don't be alarmed, darling. Your lips looked ripe for the taking." He took off his hand from my mouth, but he slid a finger along my lips. "So smooth and beautiful." He whispered and leaned in towards me. I started to lean back—away from him—but he reached out and grabbed my shoulders. I closed my eyes tightly but instead of feeling his lips on mine I felt them close to my cheeks. "Quiet." He whispered against my cheek. "You never know who could be listening."

I didn't quite get his comment but I felt the tension radiating off of him.

"Who?" I whispered back. To an outside we looked like we were kissing. My mouth was lingering on the corner of his.

He finally released me and settled back in his seat. "You don't know." He answered, tilting his head up, thoughtful. "You should know but you don't."

"Know what?" He looked at me like if I was missing something.

"Right, right, can't talk about it." I tapped my fingertips against the table hoping the lemonade came soon. I really needed something to do before I exploded with questions.

"So there's not one thing you can tell me, like a hint." I said desperately. I had tapped my fingers against the table four hundred times before I couldn't take it anymore.

His lips curved up in a half smile. "You don't listen do you? But there might be something I could tell you, but not now, wait till after."

"But that might take forever."

"Actually it might take a few minutes, the food is already here." I turned to the direction he was looking at and saw Rachel carrying two heavy plates. Her face still looked hesitant and this time when she set the plates on the table she didn't look at me. She didn't even speak, not even to give Dimitri one of her flirty smiles. I guess even he was off her list.

We ate quietly only bantering a couple of times. At one point I might have thrown a piece of my fish at his face but stopped once I received my own face full of mashed potatoes.

"I still have some potato in my ear." I argued as we walked out of the diner. "Did you have to throw so much. I only threw a tiny piece of fish."

"Yeah, but that smells more."

"Yes, it does smell, it smells good. Not unlike this potato." I tried rubbing some of the remaining potato off of my ear when I felt his fingers slide along it. I stared in shock as he brought his fingers to his mouth.

"Did you just eat the potato I had in my ear?" I asked.

"Mmm, not bad, actually added extra flavor." He licked his lips before grinning up at me. "We should do that again."

"I'm going to ignore the fact that you actually ate something that was in my ear. Seriously I wouldn't even do that, and it's my ear."

"What the hell is so disgusting about your ear, don't you clean it."

"Yes but—"

"See, no problem." I was going to argue about how it is a problem when I realized something. "Can you tell me now?" I whispered.

He looked at me for a long time, probably deciding if it was the right time, before nodding. "Ok, but in the car."

I didn't need to be told twice; I took the lead and headed to the car.

I was impatient, and he seemed to be taking his time opening the car. I couldn't get in their fast enough when he unlocked my door. Going as far as buckling up and closing the door before he even got in.

"So," I thrummed my fingers against my seat belt, "who could be listening?"

"You can't even wait till I turn on the car."

"What do you think I have, unlimited patience?" I grumbled. I had waited through the whole entire meal, I don't think I can handle more.

He turned on the car and reversed it out of the parking spot. I exhaled in frustration as he purposely ignored me.

"Dimitri!" I screamed.

"Okay, Okay. Don't get your panties in a twist." He said once we hit the street. "I'll tell you one hint." He fixed me with a hard gaze. "And it's the only thing I could tell you. You got that."

"Why can you only tell me one thing?"

He thought about it for a second. "I'm kind of forbidden to tell you."

"What?" Did I hear that right?

"I'm forbidden. I can't tell you anything. It's something you have to figure out on your own. Well, not entirely on your own, I just can't be the one to tell you."

"Then why are you giving me a hint?" I asked.

His gaze turned pensive. "Because it's the only thing I can give you without breaking the rules."

I stared at him shocked; there were so many questions I wanted to ask him. But I also knew that those questions would be unanswered; whoever was forbidding Dimitri must mean business, if he won't dare defy them.

"What is it? The hint."

He kept his gaze fixed on the streets. He was flying down the intersection no longer going in his grandpa pace. This must be a tough talk for Dimitri; he couldn't drive fast enough.

We made it to my house faster than I thought possible. I didn't even tell him my directions. I decided to ignore that part. He kept the engine on as we sat idle on the street.

He didn't look at me when he finally answered. "The book."

"What book?"

"You know which book." I did know; I just didn't want it to be that one.

"What about the book?"

He glanced at me. "What else are you going to do with a book? Read it of course." He exhaled annoyed.

"I already did." I huffed. I didn't like it when someone undermined me.

"Sorry that was rude." He said sincerely. A little twinge of a Russian accent was laced with his words. I didn't know if he noticed but I certainly did. "But if you read the book, then you must know."

"Know what? All I read was nonsense; nothing but old legions, witchcraft, and demons, all stuff that doesn't exist."

He tsked. "You shouldn't be so quick to discredit. Especially with what you've seen."

"And what about these people, do they have eyes peaking around that I should know of."

"Darling, you should know about a lot of things. Sadly I can't be the one to tell you."

He turned his head back out the window, towards my house. "You should go now; your family will be worried."

A thought occurred to me. "And what about your family, do they know about this."

"Family," He smiled halfheartedly, "that would be nice."

"What, a family? Don't you have one?"

It took him a while to answer. "I did…..once."

"Once? What about now, you have to have a family, at least step parents or something."

"Step parents." He said it like if it was a foreign word.

"Don't you have anyone?" A hint of sadness laced my words. How could he have no one?

"Well, I wouldn't say no one; just, not someone worth having."

"Oh." I didn't know what else to say. I wanted to tell him so much more, comfort him somehow. I almost pulled him into a hug but figured that would be stupid.

"Don't be sad. Not for me." He said, probably figuring from my face what I was feeling. He gave me a grim smile. "Just go inside." I quickly undid my belt and opened the door to get out, when I thought of something.

"Dimitri," I asked, "If I figure out what's in the book, then can you tell me more about it or will you still be forbidden."

He gave a heart stopping smile. "You catch on fast." I took that as a yes.

I slid out of the car in one swift motion and watched as he drove away.

I was more confused about Dimitri than ever. I shivered a little when I realized I was starting to trust him; I mean if he really was a murderer wouldn't he have killed me when I was with him. He could have easily drove me somewhere secluded and killed me. Nobody knew I was with him; it would be the perfect crime and no one would suspect him. It would be labeled as some random act of violence.

One thing was for sure; as soon as Dimitri turned the corner I reached into my jean's pocket and took out my cell phone. I needed to have a little chat with Christian concerning the book.