Getting Out While You Can

A Spark

I was starting to grow concerned when Dimitri had been in the meeting for over an hour. I could understand forty-five minutes, but now it was almost an hour and a half. I twisted my hair around my finger as I stared out at the falling snow, falling into its memorizing pattern.

The downside of this whole situation was that as Christmas quickly approached, it became dawned on me that I would be spending another Christmas alone. It was two weeks and if things went the way we hoped, Dimitri would have a job.

I had spent the holidays alone before, but I had gotten used to having Dimitri around. There were things we still hadn't talked about that a part of me wanted to, but another part of me wanted to keep the comfortable bubble we had.

I jumped when the door opened across from me, making me yank on the strand of hair twisted around my finger.

"Hey, I was starting to worry that you got lost," I joked but my smirk faltered when I saw his face.

"Did it not go well?" I asked softly. Dimitri's expression was blank and mixed with bewilderment. I hope that they didn't waste almost two hours of his time only to not hire him.

"I got it," Dimitri whispered, shaking his head slightly.

"What did you say?" I asked leaning towards him.

Dimitri turned to look at me and a smile crossed his face, a smile that I once thought was reserved just for me.

"I got it, Roza! They hired me on the spot. The reason it took so long was because they wanted to get me set up to start next week," Dimitri exclaimed, leaning towards me and wrapping his arm around me. It was awkward because of the console between us, but I tried to wrap an arm around him.

"That's amazing," I whispered, sagging a bit in relief. I was thrilled that he got the job. He deserved better than being a Guardian. Hearing him calling me Roza made a feeling bubble inside me. The contentment and happiness I felt were familiar and comforting.

I pulled back and smiled at him as he pulled his seatbelt on. I did the same and started the car, letting it heat up.

"So, tell me about the interview," I encouraged, throwing him an excited look.

"Well, for starters, I wasn't expecting to be interviewing with the head of the local branch. I also wasn't expecting him to be a Moroi," Dimitri began.

"Really?"

"Yeah. An outcast Szelksy of all people. He said that when Abe Mazur told him he had to meet me, he was curious. He had me do a mock test of sorts to see where I was. He said that I passed the test. I will be working with another analyst for a few months, but he said I showed promise. He was also impressed that I got a bachelor's while being a full-time near guard," Dimitri explained. I could tell that he was trying to keep his excitement contained, and I thought it was sweet that he was that excited about this.

"That's really great, Dimitri. I'm so happy for you," I said smiling at him, "You deserve this."

I could see Dimitri smile at me. "Thank you."

I nodded at him as I pulled out of my parking spot, merging into the busy traffic downtown. The snow had stuck to the road and the ground, like someone had dumped white paint and fluff over everything.

"So, I'll only ask once. Is the pay good? Does it make the pay that you got with Lissa look like pennies?"

Dimitri laughed and rested his elbow against the door, turning to look at me.

"Yes. It makes the pay I got before look like pennies. With the starting salary I have, I don't need to worry about making enough to send over to Mama," Dimitri replied, "I'm hoping that I won't overstay longer than I need to though," Dimitri added afterwards.