Here it is. A new story. I haven't written a full story in years. Try not to hate. Appreciate my attempt :) Story is still in progress. I have the first few chapters written. This will probably be less than/around 15-20 chapters. I will try to remember to update at least once a week...if not twice.

All characters owned by Richelle Mead. I merely tried to add my own flair. :) I have changed some ages to fit with the story line.

"Hurry up, Rose. We can't be late..." My best friend Lissa pulled on my arm as we stood by the lockers. A morning assembly to start the day and year, just what I loved.

"I don't see why we have to be there. How many of these have we sat through, Lis? At least once a week for the past 3 years…" I stopped to attempt the math. "It's a lot.""Gave up, huh?" Christian, Lissa's boyfriend, threw his arm around our shoulders. I shook it off."Lay off me, Christian. It's too early for this." The morning bell hadn't even rung and we were all being paged to the auditorium. "You'd skip with me, right Sparky? Join me on the hunt for the elusive donuts the teachers keep in the teachers' lounge?"

Lissa glanced quickly to Christian. Her jade-green eyes staring him down. "Don't even think about it, love." She moved her hand to grab his and started pulling him down the hall. "Don't keep us waiting, Rosemarie!" Lissa's angelic voice carried to me.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah Princess. I'm coming." Throwing my back pack over my shoulder, I ran to catch up with my friends.

"Good morning St. Vlademir's Academy! Welcome to the fall semester. Happy first day," The school's principal Stan Alto stood behind the podium, addressing the entire high school student body. "I trust you all had excellent summer vacations. I look forward to hearing about it over the next few days."

I leaned back in my seat, wishing this would be over soon. It was the beginning of my senior year. 9 more months and I'd be free from this place. Onto what, I didn't know. My parents wanted me to go to college. But I hadn't made up my mind yet. I was still in mid-thought when I felt an elbow in my side. I looked up to see my friend Eddie gesturing towards the stage. "Fresh meat, Rose."

He meant new teachers and staff. It wasn't unusual to have a new teacher or two at the beginning of the year. But there was one figure on stage among the few who stood there who caught my eye. Tall. Dark. Handsome was too light of a word to use on the man. His dark brown hair was pulled back behind his ears in a low ponytail. And underneath his long duster coat, he was dressed in black slacks and a black button down shirt and similarly colored boots.

"Students, welcome Mr. Belikov, our newest history teacher for the upper level classes." I wasn't sure if Alto was waiting for applause. None came. But the aforementioned Mr. Belikov stepped forward to the podium and spoke."Thank you, thank you. I look forward to getting to know you all this year in the classroom." I couldn't immediately place the accent. Not American. Russian? He stepped back in line and I stopped paying attention after that. I found myself more excited for history class than any time before."You got a little drool there, Rose." Eddie reached to my chin and jokingly wiped with his thumb. "I don't think he'll give you an A with how you are in class. ""Yeah, well maybe I've turned a new leaf. Maybe this year I'll finally be interested in history…"

I turned to face Eddie and we both laughed.

"Ms. Hathaway. Mr. Castille. I take it you find something amusing?" Alto's voice carried from the front of the room. We were sitting closer to the stage than I wanted but that's what happens when you're late and all of the other seats are taken.

Eddie and I leaned apart from each other and straightened in our seats. We shook our heads but smiled. I could feel everyone's eyes on me. But the only ones I cared about were Belikov's. And there they were. I melted under his gaze, not wanting to look away but also not wanting to draw too much attention to my mischievous ways.

The announcements continued for another 10 minutes and with a final wave from Alto, we were released from the assembly.

"On to English?" Mason Ashford joined me and Eddie on the walk back through our large campus.

"At least Karp takes it easy on us," I stated. And then acknowledged my red-haired friend of many years. "Hey buddy." Our arms wrapped around each other's mid-section as we continued on.

"Everyone take your seats!" Sonya Karp was young. Only a few years out of school. She was one of those teachers who got along well with the faculty and students. "Welcome to senior year English! I for one am excited to get started…so, let's get to it."

I counted down the hours till History class. I would even call myself antsy. As I walked into the classroom later in the day, Belikov sat on the edge of the desk, his ankles crossed over each other, arms crossed as he surveyed the students walking in. I nodded my head when his eyes met mine. But where to sit. The front? The back? The middle? The decision was made for me. Once again, my indecision chose for me. The last seat available was staring right at me. Right in the middle of the front row.

"Ms. Hathaway, is it?" Belikov held a clipboard in his hand and glanced down, I'm assuming to look for my full name. "Rosemarie."

"Rose," I corrected him. "Just Rose."

A small smile formed on his lips. "Rose." A shiver went down my spine. Good God, my name sounded amazing coming from his lips. "Please take a seat so we can start."

The first day of my senior year flashed in my eyes as I stood by the very lockers I passed on a daily basis. But my senior year was roughly 6 years ago. And I was no longer a student. I was starting my first year as a counselor at the very school I swore I'd never return to. But when Alto reached out to me, backed by Karp, I couldn't say no. I had no other prospects when they came to me.

"Rose," My roommate and close friend Sydney joined me in the hall. "I can't believe they hired both of us. You went here, is this going to be strange for you?" She brushed her dark blonde hair behind her ears. She was beginning as the newest science teacher. She majored in Chemistry before we both got our teaching degrees, and I finished my masters in school counseling. And now we were roommates and colleagues.

"I don't think it will be strange…." Little did I know. "But first...we have to face the dreaded early morning assembly. It's a rite of passage for new teachers."

She giggled as she followed me to the auditorium.

"Rose?" The familiar voice spoke from just behind me on the stage. I turned to see Sonya Karp beaming at me.

"Ms. Karp! Hi! Hello!" We hugged briefly.

"Oh, Rose. Call me Sonya. We are colleagues now. I'm so thrilled you were able to join us back at the academy. It's been quiet since you left town for college."

"No other students to cause trouble?"

"Oh, no there were." Another voice joined the conversation. "Just not anyone up to par with your antics." The familiar Russian voice held a tinge of amusement.

"Mr. Belikov, I mean...Dimitri? Would that be weird?"

He shook his head. His hair was still long and he held it back with a hair tie. "I insist, Rose."

His response caused me to smile. "And I see that your fashion hasn't changed much in the time it took me to finish my schooling…you know they make clothes that aren't black. And do you even own a pair of shoes other than those darn boots?" I playfully kicked at his foot. He took his hands out of the pockets in his duster and crossed his arms over his chest. A familiar stance I'd seen too many times, especially in my senior year of high school.

"Potential. Are you familiar with the word, Rose?" Ms. Karp stood in front of her desk and held a paper of mine which was recently graded. "Potential. Something you have but aren't inclined to delve into."

"I don't know what you mean." I sat in the front row, the only student in the room, surrounded by a few teachers, Belikov included, and Alto."Don't play dumb, Rosemarie." Alto shook his head.

You're one of the brightest students we have here. Yet you're skating by on what little effort you can." Belikov finally chimed in with his own thoughts.

"Am I in trouble?" I asked the adults. "Because if I'm not, I have other places to be."

"We don't want to get your parents involved, Rose." Karp, again. Not that they could. My father was always out of town, and when he was here, he and my mother were off on their own shenanigans. I spent most of my time at Lissa's house.

"Fat chance that would happen...you know…" I started. But Karp interrupted me.

"I'm aware. So let's handle this like adults and get you on your way. Shall we?"

"God, I caused you two so much grief, didn't I?" It wasn't an apology. They weren't expecting one. "Perhaps this is my redemption." I winked and turned my attention back to the assembly at hand. Alto was just about to announce the newest faculty and staff.

"This year, we have a real treat. A student who went off into the world has now returned as a counselor. Please welcome Ms. Hathaway…." He didn't wait for me to step up and say a few words. Smart man. He introduced Sydney last and sent us all back to work.

I found my way back to the main office and to where my desk was located. On it, I found a vase of roses. How cliche, I thought. But I took the card out to read it anyway.

Happy first day of work, darling little girl. Will call later. -Baba

"Beautiful," Dimitri's voice stirred me from my thoughts on my father. "Secret admirer? Boyfriend?"

"Of course…not." I joked. I handed him the card. "My father may not have always been present, but at least he tries."

"That counts for something, Rose." A hint of sadness appeared in his voice. But he shook it off, handed me the card back, and took a seat in one of the chairs in front of my desk. If he was slightly larger, he may have broken it.

"Been working out, Comrade?" I asked, hearkening back to a nickname I gave him in my senior year. It wasn't meant as flirtation, but rather an observation.

"Oh yeah, you've been gone for many years. You probably haven't heard that I opened up a gym for self-defense, karate, the like... "I swear I saw him flex his muscles under his button down shirt. He had removed his jacket some time between the assembly and now, probably dropping it off in his class room or the teachers' lounge.

"I'll have to check it out sometime," I insisted. "Always looking for new ways to stay in shape."

"The donuts getting to you in your old age?"

What was this banter happening between us right now? It was making me both uneasy and calm at the same time.

I ignored the donuts question by rolling my eyes. "And what brings you to my office?"

"Aw yes. That." He blinked a few times as if in a trance. Reaching down to his feet, he pulled a pile of folders from a messenger type bag. I hadn't seen it when he walked in, having been distracted by the flowers.

"Alto wanted us to gather the files of some students we thought could benefit from your...services? Advice? Here," He handed me the stack. I took it and placed it in another already growing pile.

"Yeah, Karp...Sonya, I mean, dropped hers off at some point too." I had found a note on my desk this morning alongside several folders. Mostly seniors. Some juniors. "Thanks, Comrade. I'll look into these as soon as I am able. I have a lot on my plate today…."

"I remember my first day here. It was my first year teaching…you all gave me so much flack for my accent…."

"Well, it was all in good fun. We wanted you to feel included and liked. Did we do a good job?"

He emitted a laugh. I had missed his laugh over the past several years. "Yes, you did…" He paused. I felt like he wanted to say something else. But he refrained. "I best get going, Roza." Picking up his bag, Dimitri stood from the chair and ducked out of my small office. Quite literally. The door frame was almost too short for his height.

"Bye…?" Roza, I thought to myself. Well it's not Rosemarie. I'll take it.

Well...Well? Remember to be nice. :) Constructive criticism obviously welcome. And I love reviews! Happy reading, y'all.

Rae