The S.T.F. Files, Book 1: S.T.F.

Homebound

Dimitri's POV 

Where was I going to go anyway? I walk in the airport to see Cleo board a plane. I was about to call her, but I stopped myself. Cleo probably wouldn't answer back anyway. 

"Sir? Sir, where are you headed to?" the woman at the desk asks me. 

"Oh. Russia. A one way ticket please," I say. 

"Are you sure? You don't want to stay in Alaska? I could make you feel really comfortable," the woman stares me down. I felt chills on the back of my neck. 

"Can I have the ticket please?" I ask, my voice firm. She hands me the ticket and I pay. 

"By the way, how old are you? And your telephone number? Are you available?" the woman goes on and on, but I just walk away. 

"Flight 296 to Russia. Please board now. Flight 296 to Russia. Please board now," the speakers bellow. Well I guess this is it. 

"Aly..." I say quietly. I turn around and walk to the gate. 

"Boarding pass?" the man asks. 

"Here. And by the way, is this a one way flight?" I ask. 

"Yes sir. Please enjoy," the man gives me back the pass. I board on the plane and sit by the window. Cleo's flight just took off. 

"Umm, can I sit here?" a voice asks. 

"Oh, sure," I smile. 

"Thank you!" the girl says. She was flushed. 

"You're welcome," I look out the window. 

"My name is Karin. It's nice to meet you," the girl smiles. 

"Dimitri. My name is Dimitri," I grin back. 

"You're going to Russia? Are you a native?" Karin asks. 

"Uh huh. Just visiting, you know? Get some off that Russian air again?" I smile, but on the inside my heart was breaking. That promise we made. It was a dumb promise wasn't it. But I wasn't worried about that, it was Aly that I was worried about... 

Damien's POV 

"Yeah Mom, I'm at the airport. Yes, yes, I will get a taxi. I know. Bye," I say in the phone. My mom still doesn't love me, as usual, but I wasn't here to see her. I was here to see my cousins. 

"Taxi! Taxi!" I call. One stops near me. Geez, it felt like New York, but I was back home. Back in Barcelona, Spain. I sit in the taxi and give directions. I mean, sure I was happy to see mi familia (my family) again, but I still miss the STF. Those were fun days. Especially with Cleo... 

"Stop! Gracias (Thank you)!" I tell the driver. I fork over the money and get out the taxi. Once the man leaves, I face the house. It was a huge 3-story house with french doors and everything. I ring the doorbell and wait for someone to answer. Little Johnny peeks his head out the window. I wave.

"Abuela! Abuela! (grandmother) Damien is here! Damien is here!" I hear muffled voices. 

"Damien. My son! You have come home!" Grandma smiles. 

"Yes. I'm home," I grin. 

"Damien! Damien! Look what I got!" Johnny laughs. He holds out a turtle. 

"Cool. What's its name?" I ask. 

"Diego. His name is Diego," Johnny laughs. 

"Dora Dora Dora The Explorer..." the music blasts through the house. I knew who that was. 

"Alisa. Arisa. Aniya. Hi!" I say. The triplets turn their head. 

"Primo (cousin) Damien!" they shout at the same time. They run around me and smile, hugging me as they go. 

"Long time, no see Damien," a voice says. I turn around. It was my oldest cousin, Margarita. 

"Hey Mar," I say. Margarita is 14 years old. She is a sweet kid and is stunningly beautiful. She's like the female Alagretto. 

"Damien. You shouldn't run off like that. The family wants to see you for a moment," Mar leaves. 

"The family?" I ask. I walk down the corridor and enter the main family room. Everyone was seated inside. 

"Yes, mi abuela?" I ask. 

"Well, you know Margarita's birthday is coming up and this is her quinceañera (a Spanish celebration in which a girl turns 15 and it is her celebration of becoming a woman). You are to have the first dance with her after her dance with her father since you are her oldest cousin and most referred to as her brother," Grandma says. 

"What?" I ask. Is she crazy? I don't know how to dance? Aly said she would teach me. I wondered how Cleo was doing. The STF broke up and I never got to tell her how I truly felt. Or even why I kissed her...