Mistake ♦ Romitri

Chapter 27

'Dimitri, are you ready!' I called out, my voice harsh in the small room. I heard a muffled 'yes' before a ruffled Dimitri came out of the bathroom. His hair was dripping wet and his clothes stuck to his body but we had no more time, we were going to be late.

'I don't believe I am doing this again, Rose. Can you not just stop and save me all this hassle.' He groaned and I smiled mischievously, a single moment of our old relationship peeking through, and shrugged before stalking out of the room, grabbing the keys on the way. We made our way down the many flights of stairs before jumping into the car and revving the engine.

I leant back in the leather seat, trying to relax. I felt that familiar anger push through being so close to Dimitri but I pushed it away and took deep breaths. I hated how he could do this to me. I hated how much he affected me.

Either way, it was like any other mundane day, nothing new. For Dimitri, it was becoming more and more dull talking to similar teachers who all lectured him on keeping me under control. He never listened. Despite being my guardian, he wasn't one to act as a father. He let me do what I wanted as long as it was within reason. But, as this went on, I found myself dragging him thin. He was wearing out and the money was starting thin with the amount of time off he was forced to take.

His self-defence class were often in the morning meaning that the meetings overran almost all his lessons. I still didn't feel a tad of remorse. I only even thought of myself back then. There was no need to think of another person- I had no responsibility for another person. Unlike Dimitri.

This would mark the first day, though, of me actually coming to the meeting along with him. It seemed that even the school was sick of lecturing a parent when it was clearly the student at fault. They were going to meet Vice Principal Ozera, an infamous name around school. Few had seen her and even fewer had talked to her- I would have the privilege of both.

The car rolled up at the school compound and they were let through the gates by the sandwich-eating guards who never seemed to put much care into their job. And then, we were in.

Dimitri got out first, holding the door open for me. I took it gratefully but didn't spare him a glance as I threw open the boot and grabbed my few school books out: I wasn't one for school supplies. We made our way to the office in record time, the route implanted in both our minds but rather than going to the usual first door, we went to the second, as instructed.

Dimitri knocked rather politely whilst I stood and waited, my arms folded and defensive, a scowl set on my face. No matter how much I like wreaking havoc, talking to teachers was definitely not my favourite part.

'Come in!' A voice called and the door was pushed open revealing a grand wooden office with a pompous gold trim around its edge. Rose could already tell the woman was a snob without even looking at her.

Her looks, they were far from snobbish. A jagged scar marred her rough skin like it was a fresh wound. Her blue eyes were dim a lifeless and her smile was so fake that I was ready to gag. 'Hello, Rose. Dimitri.' She gave us both a curt nod, sending a flashy smile to Dimitri in the process. She flinched when a practically growled her but just smothered her smile back on her makeup-plastered face.

She motioned for both of us to take a seat, both of us complying without a word. This woman was intimidating, that much was clear, and she even managed to strike some sort of discomfort into Dimitri which is almost impossible to do to the stoic man.

The meeting went on and I still hadn't said a word. Dimitri hadn't said much either, this Ozera woman sure liked to talk. She showed reports, charts even a few photographs- I would have to find out who took those- of me. It was ridiculous, Dimitri didn't need proof- he needed a solution. On the other hand, for me, it was heaven. I sat back and watched, observing each and every detail- planning how to avoid conviction like this again. No matter how much I like doing it, something within me was beginning to feel bad for Dimitri for having to listen to the hag sitting opposite us.

When the meeting ended, no new knowledge had been shared apart from Miss Ozera's very obvious crush on Dimitri. It seemed that she was now one of many throughout the teaching staff. Although, unlike before, Dimitri was responding. He responded just as he used to respond to me. He had shown her his true smile and the rage within me was unable to be hidden.

I left in a storm, Dimitri trailing behind me. He didn't understand and neither did I, really. I ignored Dimitri and then expected him to chase after me, what was I thinking? I was stupid; I was always stupid.

'What happened, Rose.' Dimitri asked, his accent having dulled over time. His accent wasn't anywhere near as Russian as it was before. Everything of him had faded. I almost felt as if he wasn't there anymore.

'Nothing.' I said no more and stormed off to my locker to get ready for school. Dimitri went the other way and went back to work.

I sighed and slammed my fist against the locker, venting my frustrations. I hated myself. I wanted to drink but I still wouldn't, I wouldn't break my promise to Dimitri. I don't think I could do that to him.

Dimitri was still my everything. No matter how much I ignored him, no matter how much I hated him, I would do whatever he asked. If that was not to drink, I would obey. For him. Always, for him.

word count: 1023

published: 27.03.17