The Russian Next Door

CHAPTER 12 - A kiss, a mouse

An hour later, I was meeting Adrian at a nice café, just a couple of blocks away from the college.

'I thought you would never call.'

'What can I say, I like making people wait. I like to play the inabordable role.' I said grinning.

After spending some time in that café (a really nice one I can say, cozy and warm, with wonderful personnel), I found out that he wasn't really such a bad guy. He was fun and things. He was all about parties and having fun, not really thinking about the future. He was the trust fund kind of guy. And in order to prove how much he cared about school, he told me that that was his third time doing the second year of art studies. Art. You get me? All he really had to do all day was to paint. But besides that, he was a nice guy. He seemed genuinely interested in me, and I thought about really giving him a chance.

So, we stayed out until midnight, walking around and talking about our families, friends, hopes for the future and so many other things. Speaking with him came so easy to me. The only thing that I disliked about him was his smoke habit. The clove scented smoke kept making my eyes water the whole time we were together.

I let him take me home. As we arrived in front of my building, I was ready to say goodbye and let him go home. But from the corner of my eyes I saw Dimitri approaching. Then, my mouth said, without another second of thinking: 'Kiss me, Adrian.' He didn't need another impulse. He leaned towards me, covering me with the smell of cloves, and our lips collided. I won't lie. It was pleasant. I guess I could get used with that. As we were kissing, I saw Dimitri going around us and heading for the door. I swear to God that I could hear him mumble something. I am not crazy.

When our kiss ended, I was smiling, satisfied with myself. I have proven what I said earlier to Dimitri. Adrian was smiling too, but from another reason. We said goodbye, he gave me a peck on my cheek and promised to call me the next day. As I was heading upstairs, I was wondering what I have gotten myself into.

About an hour later, I was all prepped for sleep. I turned off all the lights and headed for the bed. Then I heard it. A sound just like a scratch. That sound again! This was the third day in a row I was hearing it. Where was it coming from? I turned my lights back on and inspected every inch of my room. Nothing. Maybe it was just the furniture cracking from being quite old? I was looking for a logical explanation. But suddenly, the sound stopped. And without hearing anything anymore, I couldn't pinpoint the source. So I gave up, turned the lights off again and got into bed. As I was laying, I sensed something tickling my left leg. Ah, another strand of hair. I patted my way down to my leg and when I touched the thing that was tickling me, I was so surprised to find fur. It was a mouse! Instantly, I was out of the bed and out of the bedroom, closing the door behind, screaming.

Exactly five seconds later, there was someone pounding at my door. I went downstairs and opened the door. And there he was. Sleepy face, but with eyes wide open, a light bruise starting to form on the left side of his jaw (I didn't think I punched him that hard). Messy hazelnut hair barely touching his bare shoulders. And his bare chest, perfectly shaped and suntanned. This guy was only wearing long dark green pyjama bottoms. I instantly forgot what happened and had to restrain my ovaries from exploding. This man was sex-on-legs.

'Rose, are you alright?' he asked putting his palms on my shoulders, looking exactly into my eyes.

I gulped, suddenly feeling thirsty. 'Um..um...yes. I am fine'

His face seemed to relax. 'Then why were you screaming?'

I was feeling kind of stupid right now for reacting like that. 'You know, there is a mouse inside my room. In fact, it was in bed with me. It almost bit my leg.'

He smiled weakly. 'Is it still in there?'

'I don't know. I am not going back there to check'

'And what are you going to do then?'

'Dunno, bring some fuel and burn it down, I guess.'

At that, he really smiled. Not half a smile or a grin. It was a genuine, whole smile. And in that moment I decided that he needed to do that thing more.

'Wait here' he said and went to my bedroom.

About five minutes later, he was descending the stairs with the mouse in his hands, holding it by its tail. It was a really small and pimping fella. I would have been sorry for it if he hadn't nearly bit me. Or given me a half of a heart attack.

When he got close to me, he dangled the mouse in front of me and asked 'This one? You got scared by this little thing?'

'Well, it was really dark in there.'

'Oh, Rose' he said simply looking me in the eyes. But then, his gaze dropped from my face and slowly slid across my body. That was the moment I realized what I was wearing: a pair of very short shorts and a white thin tank top, with no bra. (what could have I been wearing? my apartment was so hot, even though outside was cold) In my feet I was wearing some light blue fluffy socks with little flying pigs on them. I instinctively draped my chest with my hands, to cover myself somehow. When he realized that he has been caught staring, he coughed and said: 'Nice socks.' and turned around. When he reached the door, he added: 'Make sure that the next time you scream like that, it's at least a rat.'

In response, I said under my breath: 'Next time I'm going to scream it's going to be because of you, pretty boy.'

'What?'

'Nothing, I was just saying thank you.'