The Key to the Music Box

Eavesdropping

                Anastasia did not mean to eavesdrop. She was walking down the hall to Vlad's room to ask him what time they were planning to leave for the ballet, when she heard Dimitri speak inside Vlad's room. He said a name, a woman's name, "Christina." It was almost as if Dimitri had said her name in a loving sigh. Anaya told, no, demanded herself to turn around, knowing it was none of her business, however, she did not. Her feet stuck like glue outside the doorway.

"Ahhh yes. Christina... With the golden hair and hazel eyes. She is beautiful, isn't she?" Vlad responded to his sigh. Anaya heard Dimitri start to hum a melody.

"She is quite tantalizing, isn't she? It's hard to picture her face right now."

"Do you miss her?"

"Yeah... I miss her," Dimitri said wistfully.

"Will you go back to St. Petersburg, then, after Paris?" Vlad asked.

She heard Dimitri sigh. "I don't know yet, Vlad. I told her I'd come back, but with everything that has happened...." He trailed off. "I don't know if I can leave it all behind. Leave her behind."

"I know. It's not entirely your fault. You couldn't have predicted this. Although, I did," Vlad bragged a little. Anaya swore she could hear Dimitri roll his eyes.

"Princesses don't marry kitchen boys," Dimitri proclaimed. Anastasia could feel tears in her eyes. How could she, a poor orphan, compete with a princess?

"So you really do believe-?"

"I know she is Vlad. She is the real deal," she heard the sadness in Dimitri's voice. 'Why is he so sad if this Christina is the one for him?' Anaya didn't understand.

"You're going to at least write Christina a letter if you change your mind, right? She's a pretty young woman who doesn't deserve her heartbroken."

"I'm going to have to go to her no matter what Vlad," Dimitri said, defeated. "I have no future in Paris."

Anaya, with tears in her eyes and her heart breaking, ran back to her room. 'I have no future in Paris.' She should have known. He's a conman. A conman who is going to marry a beautiful princess, and there was nothing she could do about it. Unless... Anastasia ran to the closet in her room and grabbed the dress Sophie forced her to buy. Anaya felt uncomfortable wearing something so gorgeous on her when she tried it on earlier. Sophie thought she looked so amazing in it, Anaya knew she had to buy it. She knew Sophie was going to murder if she didn't. Anastasia pulled out the long, navy blue, floor length gown that fit her like a glove. 'I'll show him. He won't be thinking about Christina when he sees me in this.' She began taking off her clothes and preparing for the ballet.

A/N: I know it's really short. I have a headache and tons of homework to do also. Bleh.