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Rose POV

I tried to fade into the background, hoping I was far enough from the bar that I wouldn't stand out. A menu was on the table, I opened it and placed it in front of me so I could peek over it. Dimitri's suspicion of me almost ruined it all, but I got him there in the end.

A couple of women started messaging me within an hour of uploading Dimitri's profile. It was an experience sorting through them to find someone not just looking for a hookup. A lot of people wanted to ride the cowboy wannabe. Julie was the sixth person to message and seemed decent enough—at least she looked as pretty as her pictures.

She thought it was sweet that his sister was trying to find him a partner. Ivan said she sounded perfect—a preschool teacher looking to settle down and start a family. They would be sickly sweet together.

I watched her approach Dimitri and was grateful he didn't just turn away from the start. I could tell he was confused, but he continued to talk to Julie.

"Shit. I think it's actually working," Mason commented in disbelief, sitting in the booth beside me. Ivan stayed by Dimitri and was eagerly watching the interaction.

I was surprised it went so well as well. "Maybe Dimitri was really desperate to meet someone," I whispered.

Dimitri looked my way, and I quickly darted behind the menu, Mason doing the same even though he didn't need to.

"Crap. Is he still looking?"

Mason shrugged. "How would I know?"

"Go look."

"Why me?"

I glared at him. "Because he can't see you, Casper."

Mason grumbled, "You always have to bring up the dead part." He sat up. "He's not looking. Damn, he's holding her phone."

I glanced up in shock. They were already exchanging numbers?

Maybe I was a matchmaking genius.

Julie did have her phone out, showing Dimitri something. I started to smile. "Guess it's working."

Ivan suddenly appeared beside me. "It's not working."

Before I could ask, heavy steps stormed towards me, and my name was growled, "Rose. We are leaving. Now."

Dimitri's hand wrapped around my upper arm and lifted me from the booth, dragging me out of the bar and back towards the car. His grip didn't hurt, but I knew I wouldn't be able to break it. "What the hell, Dimitri?"

He didn't reply until we reached the car, opening the door and ushering me in. He leaned in and pointed a finger at me, his nostrils flaring and eyebrows drawn in anger. "You will delete that profile and delete the app from your phone."

I panicked. "What app?"

"I saw the profile. Delete it. Now!"

Fuck. He was more pissed than I anticipated. Dimitri didn't move, staring me down until I pulled out my phone, and he watched as I deleted the profile and app. "Look, it was harmless. You just seemed like you needed to loosen up."

"That is my business, not yours," he bit out and slammed the door. The car shook from the force, and I tensed.

I never thought he would get so mad. "You should have warned me, Ivan," I hissed before Dimitri climbed behind the wheel.

"I tried. I didn't think he would get so upset," Ivan replied honestly. "He has always been a private guy, I guess."

Dimitri's hands wrapped tightly around the wheel, jaw twitching in annoyance for the whole drive home. I didn't expect to hear much else from him until we pulled into the garage at home and he spoke again. "It was disrespectful and an invasion of my privacy making that profile."

He didn't look at me, and it made me feel worse. "It was harmless," I repeated lamely.

"No, it was just you pulling another childish prank to make me quit." Dimitri twisted in his seat to stare me down. "You don't like me and I don't care. I am hired by your father to keep you out of trouble, and until you grow up, I'm sticking around. So you can stop acting out like a child looking for attention!"

It felt like I had been slapped. His words hurt more than I thought they would. A lump formed in my throat, and I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. Acting out for attention? I wished I could have less attention. I wished my parents would leave me alone. I wished I wasn't treated like a child on the edge of breaking down all the time.

"You're right," I started; my fingers curled around the door handle, "I do hate you. I don't want you around me. I just want you to leave me the fuck alone!" I snapped. I pulled at the handle, growing more agitated that it still had the child lock on. "For the love of–!"

With a scream of anger, I grabbed my bag and climbed over the centre console, straight into Dimitri's lap. He exclaimed in surprise, calling my name, but I ignored him and pulled on his door handle. I managed to climb out, not being too careful where I put my knees.

Once I was out, I stared down at Dimitri. "Do us both a favour and quit!" I slammed the door and stormed off.

I dragged my hands through my hair, tugging at the knots that had formed, and grumbled to myself all the way up to my room. I don't know why I went along with Ivan's stupid idea. I should have just told him to fuck off from the start, rather than try to play nice.

Mason appeared in my room, standing two inches from my face as I paced. I had become so used to him doing it that I didn't jump. The corners of his eyes pinched. "Look, that didn't go well, but–"

"Shut up, Mason!" I spun and searched the pocket of my jacket until I found the bag from Caleb. I didn't think twice before taking a joint out and lighting it, I drew in a long breath. I pulled out my phone and scrolled my contacts until I found the right one. I wouldn't need to put much in the text, he would come over without question.

They would always act like I was an out-of-control idiot—no matter what I did, they would always look down on me. Might as well live up to their expectations.

xXx

Dimitri POV

The blue coffee mug warmed my fingers, but I didn't drink any. Just stared at the dark liquid.

I felt bad.

At the bar when Julie mentioned my sister putting me on a dating app, I knew right away it was Rose. And when she showed me the photo of me in the sunroom, it was confirmed. I lost control of my anger, irritated that she had set me up on a date.

Not only was it an invasion of my privacy, but I also couldn't believe she would go so far as to try to slip away from me. I needed this job, and Rose was testing my patience and fighting me constantly.

Yet, despite all of that, I felt bad for how I spoke to her. Clearly, I had hit a nerve if her reaction was anything to go by. There was so much hatred and pain in her eyes when she yelled at me. I squeezed the bridge of my nose as I tried to rid that look from my mind.

I never should have taken the job.

I knew nothing about looking after someone who was struggling as much as Rose was. She was dealt a terrible hand and had already experienced so much trauma—it was no wonder that she acted out. I understood that she didn't want me around, a shadow following her everywhere and taking her independence. I didn't know how to make her understand I was only there to keep her safe.

Regret churned in my stomach.

It had been a couple of hours since Rose disappeared to her room. Abe hadn't returned yet, and I noticed none of the staff who worked at the house interacted with her much. Rose must feel very lonely in the house.

I knew without a doubt, my mother would tell me to go check on Rose. Mama would tell me that she needed to know there was someone who wouldn't turn their back on her.

I swallowed my pride and ventured up the stairs to Rose's room. It didn't escape my notice how far her room was from the other occupants of the house; I wondered if that was Rose's choice. There was the soft thud of bass muffled by her doors, another thing I noticed about Rose—when she was upset, she blasted her music.

Maybe it was her way of drowning out the voices she heard.

I knocked, waiting for a response before knocking again. The song grew louder and drowned me out. Maybe I should wait until she calmed down a little more. Dinner worked well as an offering the night before, and it could work again.

I turned and was about to go back downstairs when I heard a whimper, and something clattered on the ground. My mind flashed back to the note in her file about attempted suicide, and I rushed back to her door and opened it.

"Rose is everything–" The words died on my lips.

Of all the possibilities that ran through my mind, seeing Rose lying on the edge of her bed with a man knelt between her thighs was not one of them. I turned my back to give her some privacy, grateful that she had a bra and a robe on, covering everything from view.

I heard the springs on her mattress squeak and the rustling of clothes.

"What the fuck, Dimitri!" Rose screamed, "You can't just barge in here!"

"I heard a noise and wanted to make sure you were okay," I explained. I risked a glance and was relieved to find her fully covered by her robe. Rose stood beside her bed with a cigarette between her fingers; when I inhaled I realised it was weed.

The man was now on his feet, leaning against her bed frame; he had blond hair, the ends dangling in front of his glazed eyes. I was glad he was at least wearing pants. He snorted, eyeing me from across the room, "Who's he? Your boyfriend?"

Rose shot him a look. "Shut the fuck up, Jesse."

I opened my mouth to apologise, and then I saw the bottle of vodka on the bed. I marched forward and snatched it up. "What is this?"

Jesse laughed, "Water."

"How did you even get in here?" I demanded. No one came in through the front or back door, I would have seen them. My eyes shifted to the open window, and I scowled. "Get out."

"You can't tell him what to do," Rose argued, though it seemed half-hearted, taking a drag from the joint.

I shook the bottle and replied, "Either he leaves or I tell your father you are sneaking in alcohol." It was a risky threat because if Mr Mazur knew Rose snuck someone in, he would also know that they got past me.

Rose pursed her lips together. "Fine. Get out, Jesse." She picked up his shirt from the bed and threw it at him. Jesse caught it with a frown and pulled it on, then stepped towards her and slipped an arm around her waist.

"You owe me," he declared. He was a few inches taller than Rose, gripping her chin to force her to look up at him; I didn't like the way he touched her.

I was across the room and grabbed the back of his shirt, yanking him away from her. "Get out," I ordered, placing my body between him and Rose. Jesse sized me up, and I was worried that he was intoxicated enough to think he would win in a fight.

"Call me when you're ready to stop playing hard to get, Rose." Jesse stalked out of the room, giving me one last glare before he started down the stairs.

I waited until I heard the front door open and close before I turned back to Rose. She was finishing off the joint, a slight smile on her lips as if it was all a joke. It irritated me. "Why are you doing this? Getting high and drunk?"

"Why do you care?" she shot back.

"You aren't even old enough to be drinking if you get caught–"

Rose scoffed, "I'm well aware, comrade. I get locked up and finally make my parents happy because I won't be their problem. And you know what? I don't care. Trade one prison for another."

"You're smarter than this, Rose."

"You don't know me," she snapped, pushing against my shoulder, but there was barely any force behind it. "You don't care why I have to do this."

I folded my arms, regarding her carefully. "Fine, tell me."

"What?"

I tilted my head, wondering if anyone had asked Rose why she drank so much. I softened my expression, nodding at her to continue, "Tell me why. I'm listening."

Rose swallowed, swaying on her feet slightly; she was thrown by my response. "It makes it quiet," she admitted in a soft voice, her hostility falling away and leaving her appearing small. Vulnerable. "When I get high or when I drink, it makes it easier to block them out, and for a couple of hours, I feel normal."

I glanced at the bottles of pills on her bedside table, then met her eyes again. "Does your medication not work?"

She looked behind her and laughed, dropping to the bed, "Those don't do anything to help me. I can't be helped."

"Have you told your doctor?"

Another laugh fell from her lips—it was hollow. "They don't believe me. No one does." Rose stared at her hands, shoulders dropped with dejection. "No one believes I can see ghosts, and this is the only way I can have some peace. When I can't hear them, then no one is looking at me like I'm crazy."

The note of sadness in her voice pulled at something in me, just as shame washed over me. I hadn't treated her any differently than anyone else. I knelt beside her so we were at eye level, peering at her until she looked at me. "I'm sorry that you have to experience that," I told her honestly, "I don't want to make your life any more difficult than it already is, Rose. I want to help."

"You think I'm crazy."

I shook my head, "It's like you said, it's none of my business. I'm not here to have any say on your mental well-being. I only care about your physical. If you are willing to give me a chance and work with me, I'm sure we can figure something out. How does that sound?"

She drew back and narrowed her eyes. "You want to make a deal?"

"An agreement. Let me do what I need to do and I'll let you do what you need to."

Rose didn't need a babysitter; she needed someone who wouldn't judge her. She needed a friend.

"I'll admit Rose I don't believe in ghosts, but what I believe doesn't matter. If you need someone who you can be around without worrying about what they think, I'll be that. In exchange, I need you to stop trying to get rid of me."

The corner of her lips twitched, and I saw a hint of clarity in her eyes.

"Think about it, and let me know when you've sobered up." I rose to my feet, doing a once-over of the room to search for any more alcohol. I was surprised when Rose reached under her pillow and pulled out a small bottle of rum; she handed it to me with a grumble.

"A peace offering."

I smiled, taking it without comment. "I'm going to make some food. If you're hungry, you are welcome to come down and have some. It'll be ready in an hour." I left after that, not wanting to overstay my welcome. I would have to have another conversation with her to apologise for barging into her room when she was indecent.

I really hoped Mr Mazur didn't find out.

I busied myself with cooking after I hid the bottles in my room, not wanting the empty bottles found in the rubbish and questions raised about Rose falling back into bad habits. I wanted to give her a chance to get better.

The food was almost ready when I heard footsteps venture into the kitchen, and a hesitant voice asked, "Can I still join you?"

I glanced over my shoulder at Rose and welcomed her in with a smile. "Of course. Grab a plate, it'll be ready soon."

Rose still had a slightly dazed look in her eyes as we ate, not talking as much as our previous meal together, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. She was hungry, easily eating two servings of meat and vegetables before retrieving a container of ice cream from the freezer.

With an uncertain look, she placed two bowls between us and opened the ice cream, pushing it towards me like an offering.

"I'm sorry for making a dating profile for you," she apologised softly.

I scooped the ice cream into a bowl and then pushed it back to her. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. And for entering your room earlier when you were… well…"

Rose laughed, smile growing larger by the second. "Careful comrade, with that blush, I'll think you saw something you liked."

My reaction made her laugh even louder.

It wasn't much, but at least it was a start.

This chapter is one of my favourites :3