Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy or anything surrounding it (but I do own this plot :D)
DPOV
I stood frozen in shock as the words left Ivan's mouth. All anger faded within a blink and my heart all but stopped.
"Who is she D?" he repeated and I lost all ability to speak.
"I don't-" My attempt at English linguistics was cut off by a mercilessly dry laugh.
"You are seriously going there!?" Ivan continued, shaking his head at the thought. "I never thought I would see the day where cold-hearted Belikov would be so stumped for an explanation. Oh how wrong I have been!"
"Ivan, please-"
"What Dimitri?" he interrupted again. "What could you possibly have to say to me? You are reluctant to spend time hanging out with your 'best' pal; you recoil at the notion of your old life; you have completely ignored the fact that your abusive father has strolled back onto your couch with a psychopath for a sidekick. And for what? A girl who is remaining more of a mystery than what is going on in that head of yours?" I flinched at his words and he just sighed. "You know what? I think…I just…" he stuttered and shook his head in disbelief. "I'm just going to go; have fun with your 'girl'." And with that, he turned his back and wandered away. I am not usually one so worked up, but watching your best friend walk away from you – and not knowing whether they'll come back – really hits hard.
I swallowed back my sorrow and looked around the darken alley with empty bottles and small bags that once harboured things children our supposed to stay away from lining the darker still edges. I sighed. As soon as one thing goes right in my life, something else comes crashing down in a blazing inferno.
God must really hate me.
RPOV
"Rose." My mother called, waving me over to the table she sat at. Taking a deep breath, I wandered over and took the seat next to her. "I am so glad you called." She said in all sincerity, looking at me softly.
I sighed. "Well don't get too hyped up too soon." I warned but she seemed indifferent.
"I really do want to be part of your life; I'm so glad you have given me a chance." She continued and I nodded. "Okay, I'm assuming you have an agenda."
I smiled a little. "Well you know about the financial situation of this place so we need to raise funds for it and we-I," I corrected myself per Lissa's instructions, "was wondering if you would be able to help." I imparted to which she responded instantly.
"Of course. I can put a word in at work and ask some people I know to aid the cause." She said, not wasting a moment with writing down a 'to do' list.
Well this was fun…
"So…" she looked up from her frantic note taking as the word left my mouth. "The weather is nice." I said trying to think of conversational topics.
"Yes, I suppose it is." She said looking out of the window and then back at her notebook.
"I personally prefer the cold to the sun, what do you think?" I tried again.
"I haven't given it much thought." She said taking a sip of her tea before resuming her activity.
"No I wouldn't have thought so…" Let's just say the conversation didn't really kick-off. A few awkward exchanges were all that was passed between us. I suppose you can't really fix eighteen years in one conversation.
She left after her work demanded her back. I sighed and went back to the bar where Mason and Eddie were cleaning up.
"That looked fun." Eddie grinned and I rolled my eyes.
"Give me a break, I am trying!" I exclaimed.
"We weren't saying you weren't," Mason said tossing a cloth to Eddie.
"But it wasn't your greatest effort…" Eddie finished sliding a bucket over the Mason. I sighed again, knowing they were both right, and slumped onto the stool. I groaned and face-planted the bar.
"Hey!" Mason yelped causing me to lift my head slowly. "I just cleaned that." He gestured to the bar and I scowled at him.
"Oh well I am sorry." I said sarcastically and sat up properly.
"Thanking you." Mason said as Eddie scrubbed the tiny spot where my head had been.
"Oh that is a little bit over the top, Eddie." I said as he pulled the disinfectant.
"Hey, some of us want to do out job properly!" He defended and a dark thought crossed my mind. Mason noticed my evil grin and widened his eyes.
"Don't do it…" he said and I gave him my man-eater smile before running my finger over the wet surface of the bar.
"No!" Eddie cried and tried to cover the train that my finger had left.
"That's it!" Mason exclaimed, "You are banned from the bar until we are done." He said definitely and I chuckled.
I stood up and made to walk away, but not before I dragged my entire hand along the entire length of the bar causing them to all but scream in mock protest. "Bye boys." I smiled triumphantly before I saw him.
Dimitri.
When did he come in? How did I not notice? Well it didn't matter. He was here and he was reading a book, a western I concluded upon closer inspection. It was late in the evening and the moonlight spilled into the Shadow Kiss Inn like milk on cereal. Figuring it was too late for coffee; I quickly made him a hot chocolate and had to stop myself skipping over to him.
"I know you don't have many friends comrade, but you don't need to make it obvious." I grinned gesturing his book. I saw him wince a little and I retracted. "Oh, Dimitri, I was only joking… are you okay?" I asked as he put his book down but did not remove his mask.
"I'm fine, honestly, its nothing." He said not looking me in the eye. I let it go and decided it would be best to change the subject.
"So…" I said sliding into the seat opposite him, "How'd it go?" I asked but his only response was to widen his eyes in shock.
"Wha-"
"Oh come comrade; I brought hot chocolate," I pushed the glass over to him, "with whipped cream and marshmallows, because I know today was the day of the pitch and I don't care if the other guy comes out on top, we are celebrating this moment, right now." his eyes softened and his mask slipped a little which gave me a warm feeling inside. "So, how'd it go?"
We spent goodness knows how long just talking to each other. Conversation was light and easy, there were no awkward moments, and it just felt so natural. I found out quite a bit about him. He was twenty-four, had three sisters and was born in Siberia which apparently was not an arctic wasteland where criminals were sent to pay penance for their crimes.
Who knew?
"Wait they made you do what?"
"They made me dress up and marry their dolls." No I had heard right. I burst out laughing. "It was not funny; it was mortifying." He said sternly but the smile on his face gave him a way.
"No, your right; it's not funny, it's hilarious!" I continued to laugh before I noticed the empty pub. "Hey comrade what's the time?" I asked and he frowned a little.
"Ten thirty, why?"
I burst out laughing again. "We shut an hour and a half ago." This time he joined in too.
"I'm so sorry." He apologised and I shook my head.
"No don't be sorry." I reassured him, "We were having fun, but you do realise that this makes you, officially, our most loyal customer."
He raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yup." I said popping the 'p'. "We should get you a badge." This caused him to laugh again. "Hey, now that you are our most loyal customer, would you be interested in doing the pub a favour?"
"And what, pray tell, would I be doing?" he said leaning forward and clasping his hands on the table.
"My friend," I said mimicking his action "is doing a parachute jump to raise money for the pub. Would you like to sponsor him?"
"Are they quite mad?" Dimitri asked maintaining a straight face.
"Yes." I replied with a curt nod. I could see the amusement in his eyes but he wasn't about to break.
"Well then, that explains it." He said leaning back.
"Will you do it?" I queried leaning back also, a little uneasy but not letting it show. Dimitri seemed to pick up on it though and crossed his strong arms over his chest.
"Maybe." He shrugged and I resisted a scowl. This only amused him further. "Might I enquire the name of this mentally deranged individual?"
I folded my arms over my chest. "His name is Adrian Ivashkov." Dimitri's act abruptly shattered and he did a double take.
"I'm did you say Adrian Ivashkov?" he asked suddenly.
"Yeah, why?" I frowned.
"Son of…"
"Nathan." I finished and I watched as his eyes go wide. "What's the matter Dimitri?"
"Nothi-"
"Dimitri Belikov don't you dare say nothing." I warned. Him saying 'nothing' was like Adrian saying 'just friends' and I was having no more of that.
He sighed and reluctantly explained. "Nathan Ivashkov is the guy I am up against in my company-"
"You work for Moroi Enterprises?" I cut him off.
"Yes." He said almost timidly then I realised my tone had been a little unkind. "Why?"
"Sorry, you just didn't seem like the type. Kinda like Adrian really." Dimitri's frown deepened and it became my turn to explain. "Adrian and his father don't really get along so if you're worried about my being upset that you may put Nathan out of a job, the bastard deserves it." I said without remorse. "Adrian hated the world of business and finances; he wants to be an artist but his father won't allow it. He wants him as his 'heir' as such, so Adrian tries to defy him any way possible. That's why he turns to the alcohol and nicotine." I said and Dimitri looks apologetically at me.
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to offend-"
"Don't worry Dimitri. It isn't your fault, and I am kinda glad that you get to be the one to kick Nathan off his high horse." I smiled and he returned it lightly. There was a moment of comfortable silence that passed before I decided to break it. "So back to the original question…"
"You really want me to sponsor him." He chuckled.
"I bet Christian ten bucks that I could get the first sponsor." I shrugged and Dimitri let out the most beautiful laugh I had ever heard.
"Well in that case, of course I will." He said and I beamed at him.
"You will?" I said, wanting to clarify,
"Yes." He responded definitely, "How much should I give?"
"Well, that is really up to you…" I said, not wanting to push him any further. He nodded and asked for the sponsor sheet. I watched him write his name, address and phone number before hesitating over the amount. "You really don't have to give that much." I said before thinking.
He looked up with a look of softness that I had never witnessed before. "I want to Roza." He murmured and signed the piece of paper before making to leave. I watched him leave in awe and as soon as he left the building, I jumped from my seat and looked at the sponsor sheet.
And just like that, we had $578.75…