The Key to the Music Box

The Train

                Anastasia was looking out the train window with the two men to Paris. She couldn't believe it. She was finally going to Paris, and maybe find her family! This was what she was dreaming about since she was eight. Dimitri, one of the most irritating people on the planet, walked into their train compartment, putting his suitcase on the shelf above her. He tried to sit down across from her, but Pooka was occupying the spot and growled at him as he almost sat on top of him. "Hmmm... So, the mutt gets the window seat," he stated, almost complaining. He sat down next to Anaya. Bored, she pulled out her necklace and began playing with it.

"Stop fiddling with that thing," Dimitri demanded. "Sit up straight, remember you're Grand Duchess." As he said this, Anaya folded her arms stubbornly and sunk even lower.

"How do you know what Grand Duchesses do or don't do?" Anastasia asked annoyed.

"I make it my business to know," he smirked.

"Oh," Anaya said and rolled her eyes.

"Look, Anaya. I'm just trying to help, alright?" Dimitri said. He didn't sound helpful though, more like bossy. Vlad even looked up from the passport he was writing on to look at him irritably.

Anaya sat up and turned towards Dimitri. "Dimitri?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you really think I'm royalty?"

"You know I do," Dimitri replied, confidently, stating it as a fact.

"Then stop bossing me around," Anaya told him. She turned back to face the window, knowing he had no words to say back to that.

Vlad chuckled, "She certainly has a mind of her own." He gave Dimitri a knowing look.

"Yeah. I hate that in a woman," Dimitri retorted. Anaya turned back to him and stuck her tongue out. 'That ought to teach him.'

XXX

The train ride seemed to last forever. Dimitri and Vlad went walking around the train. Anaya figured she would pull out a book to read while there was some peace and quiet. When she was about thirty minutes into her reading, Dimitri walked back in the train compartment they were staying in. He sat down across from her. Anastasia decided to ignore him and keep reading her book.

"Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot," Dimitri started to say, apologetically.

Anaya lowered her book. "Well I think we did too."

"Okay-,"

"And I appreciate your apology," Anya cut him off in the middle of his sentence.

"Apology? Who said anything about an apology? I was just saying-,"

'Does he ever stop talking? Can't he see I'm trying to read?"

"Please. Don't talk anymore. Okay? It's only going to upset me," Anaya said, cutting him off once more. She put down the book she was trying to read about Paris. 'So much about learning where her family may live.'

"Fine. I'll be quiet. I'll be quiet if you will," Dimitri proposed stubbornly. 'He's such a child! Why does he have to be so infuriating?'

"Alright. Fine I'll be quiet," Anaya agreed. She crossed her arms.

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Fine," Anya argued, praying it was the last time. 'Doesn't this man ever give up?' Dimitri looked away from her. "Do you think you're going to miss it?" She was curious.