Maybe Not That Bad

Chapter 3

Rose POV 

Dimitri sat down on the ground next to me without saying a word, which didn't really contributed to my growing anxiety. After the dance, I completely forgot to meet him again, as crazy as that sounds. The rush and excitement had been the only things in my mind and I couldn't help but feel a little guilty, I did forget the boy I was in love with after all.

He didn't seem to hold it against me, though.

"I'm so sorry I didn't come back to talk to you..." I whisper, looking at my feet.

"It's okay, I understand." He replies, with a reassuring smile.

But what if he doesn't understand? What if he thinks I didn't want to talk to him anymore? I can't let him think that.

"I just forgot, truly! I was so caught up on the dance and the rush that - " 

"You forgot everything else." He quietly interrupts.

My eyes widen with surprise and I look at him, really look at him. I'm astounded that he genuinely gets me, unlike most people. Any other person would think I was rude and would probably be offended at my lack of consideration.

Sensing my shock, he grins.

"Like I said, I understand."

A jolt of connection floats through me and I don't remember ever being happier than I am in this second.

"I watched you, dancing, I mean. You were amazing."

No matter how warm his words make me feel, he can't possibly feel the way I feel towards him, so I decide to laugh it off. I hate letting people see me hurt or affected by them in any way, it makes me feel weak and I've learned that I can't ever let someone see my weaknesses, it will only give them more power over me. Power to hurt me even more. So, despite my feelings for him, I can't let my guard down or he might crush me.

And I've been crushed enough times already.

"You're only saying that to be polite, per usual. Don't be afraid to hurt my feelings, you've probably seen way better dancers than me."

"No, never. And I'm not being polite either. Rose, watching you dance was one of the most captivating things I've ever seen. I couldn't take my eyes off you."

The seriousness and fierceness of Dimitri's statement leaves me with no other choice but to believe him. I look for an answer but I come up with nothing, my mind is blank.

What do I say to that?

Time to take a page from the Rose Hathaway manual guide.

"I take it you like it, then?" I tease.

"Very much." His grin is also teasing, making me blush.

We continue to talk like this for hours and it feels so natural and... easy. We tease each other again and again, but we also talk about serious subjects like family.

That's a touchy one. For both of us.

"All I have is my mom, at least as far as I know."

"Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen your dad around." He says.

"That's because he never was. When he found out my mother was pregnant, he bailed and left her and me. I've never met him and I can't really talk to dear old mom about him, it ends badly." I grimace, recalling all the times I wondered and questioned her about my biological father and his whereabouts, when I was younger.

While growing up, all the kids at school had two parents and it made me feel out of place, as if there was something wrong with me. I just wanted to be normal and have a normal, happy family.