The R.A.R (Red Army Resistance)

Part 3, Yuri's Birthday

**About a year later, Nov. 10th, 2090**

****Charlee's POV****

I pull on my coat, adjusting myself. I look at the necklace I'd gotten Yuri and then put it back in its box. I put it in my pocket and then hug my mom. She smiles and then I walk out of the house. As I walk down the street, I run my fingers through my hair, trying to get the knots out of it.

The last 10 months had been good. I'd taught Yuri to fight. She still couldn't beat me, but she could go 19 rounds with me and still leave me nursing a few bruises and whatnot. And with me teaching Johnny a lesson a few months back, I know for a fact he'll leave my mom alone.

I stop at Yuri's house and then knock at the door. It opens and Yuri's younger sister, Anastasiya, stares at me. "Hey, Charlee. Yuri's inside," she says as I enter. "Hey, Charlee!" Yuri exclaims as she hugs me, her chin resting on my shoulder. "Hey, Dix. Is it too early for gifts?" I ask as I draw the box out of my pocket. I give it to her and she opens it. She gasps and then hugs me. Seated on a bed of velvet lay a 10 karat gold scorpion pendant with ruby eyes. It was attached to a gold chain. I put it on Yuri and then watch as it falls to rest on her bosom. "Thank you, Charlee!" she says as I hug her. "How much did it cost?" Yuri asks as I shrug. "$100 dollars, one star chip, a keg of the finest brew I could find, and a couple pints of blood. I had an American order it for me," I say as she goes scarlet. "Hey, Charlee," I hear Dmitri say as I turn. "Hey, dumb ass," I say as he stares at his sister. "Don't worry, dick. Don't try to feel me up and I won't break your nose again," I say as he pales.

Three months ago, me and Yuri were boxing. I was getting in the shower when Dmitri cornered me in the bathroom. He confessed his love to me and then started to feel me up. I'd smacked him, but he'd continued to touch me. So, I hit him in the face and heard his nose break. He'd collasped, screaming, while blood mingled with the water from the shower. I'd had to rush him to his father and Mr. Mikhailov screamed at me, but once he found out why I'd broken his nose, he'd forgiven me a little bit.

"Stop right there, you two. Dmitri, leave her be," Mr. Mikhailov said as he came into the room. "Don't worry, Mr. Mikhailov. I'll leave 'em be if he'll leave me be," I say as I put an arm around Dmitri. He smiles, but then pulls away. "Can I have a word with you in private, Mr. Mikhailov?" I ask as he nods. I follow him out of the room.

****Yuri's POV****

I watch as Charlee exits the room and then touch the pendant she gave me. "It's Scorpio, right?" Dmitri asks as I stare at him. "You know, the astrological sign?" he asks as I raise my eyebrows. "I can read, you know. And besides, I know mine and Charlee's signs along with yours. Charlee's a Virgo and I'm a Leo," he says as I laugh. "Just because Charlee's a b-," he says as he suddenly pauses, seeing our younger brother in the room. "Just go and play. Okay, Konstantin?" I asks as he shrugs and then goes to his room. I see Charlee walk back in with my dad following her. "The second part of your gift's outside," Charlee said as she walked out. I follow her and then watch as she climbs onto the roof. She holds out her hand and I take it, pulling myself up. I follow her across the roof and then watch as she sits on a blanket. I sit by her and she hands me a beer. "Here," she says as I open it. "Take a small drink and tell me what you taste," she says as I look at her oddly and then take a drink. I try not to gag at the taste and swallow the beer. "What does it taste like?" she asks as I shrug. "It tastes real oily. Like someone poured oil down my throat," I say as she smiles. "Not surprised. Everyone's first beer tastes nasty. Even mine," she says as she looks at the horizon. "I was 12 when my stepdad gave me my first beer. He called it a right of adulthood. That I had to learn what the feeling of success was. So, welcome to adulthood," she says as she takes a long drink of a sweet smelling liquor." You're too little to have rum, Dixie. I'm too little, but don't deny an old fool her pleasures," she says as hiccups. She stands and then jumps off the roof. I see her land cat-like and then stare at her." You trust me, Dix?" she asks as I nod. "Then jump. If you truly trust me, then you'll jump. I swear I'll catch you," she says as I jump. She catches me and then sets me down. "Told you I'd catch you. Sometimes, a leap of faith'll help you remember to trust each other," Charlee says as we walk back to my house. We enter and my family jumps out, surprising me. "Happy birthday!" they exclaim as my mom brings out the cake she'd baked me. I hug her and she then sets the cake down. She cuts it and then passes it out. As we begin to eat, my dad pulls out a fiddle and then tunes it. He begins to play a tune and I hear Charlee stand and clear her throat. "I wish I was in the land of cotton, old times der are not forgotten. Look away, look away, look away, Dixieland! In Dixie's land where hic I was hic born in, early on hic one frosty mornin'. Look away, look away, look away Dixieland! Den I wish I was in Dixie! Hooray! Hooray! In Dixie's land, I'll take my stand, to live and die in Dixie! Away, away, away down south in Dixie! Away, away, away down south in Dixie! Oh hic Missus marry Wil-be-weaber, William hic was a gay deceiver! Look away! look away! Look away hic Dixieland! But hic when he hic put his hic arms' round her, hic he smiled as fierce as a forty pounder! Look away! Look away! Look away hic, Dixieland!" Charlee sang, drunkenly, as she looks at me. "Happy birthday, Dix," she says as she leans to me. She kisses me square on the lips, her warm breath mingling with mine. I open my mouth a bit and she slips her tongue in. We lock lips only for a moment before she realizes her mistake. She pulls away and then wipes her mouth on her sleeve. "I-I better go," she mutters as she walks out of my house. "Yuri, are you okay?" Dmitri asks as I nod. I lick my lips and taste Charlee's sweet taste. A warm feeling goes down my spine as I wrap my arms around myself...

***Next day, at the gym, Yuri's POV***

I enter the gym and then watch as Charlee walks out of the showers, wrapping her hair in a towel. "Oh, morning, Dix," she mutters as she stares at me. "Look, I'm sorry I kissed you. Really need to cut back on my drinking," she says as she takes the towel off her head and then braids her hair. "Don't worry. My mom and dad, they forgive you. So, are we gonna fight today?" I ask as she smiles.

****Charlee's POV****

I look at Yuri and just can't help but smile as she stares at me. A sudden flutter of warm goes down my spine as I stare at her. A feeling of, what's the word?, lust goes through me as I watch her take off her coat and pull on her gloves. She turns to the punching bag and then begins to punch it while I pull on my gloves. She then faces me and I get into my ready stance. She throws a blow at me and I duck. "So, when will I be able to beat you?" Yuri asks as I pause. "When you can beat me to a bloody pulp, Dix. That's when I'll say you beat me," I say as I throw a hard punch at her...

***Thank you all for reading! So, what is this feeling both Charlee and Yuri seem to share and how will it affect their friendship? Read on, dear friends!***