HII!!! It is me, Rose, with another story coming at you! This was got inspired by the Paramore song "Let The Flames Begin" which is featured in this chapter! Please read & review because I need all the help I can get when it comes to writing! Oh, and, if you like this, check out my other story "Walk On Water Or Drown" I don't think it is as good as this one, but still check it out! Okay so here it is!

-Rose

Summary: Rose meets a mysterious Russian man while at her best friend's birthday party. She knows he is hiding something dangerous in that accent, but what she doesn't know just might save her from getting burned. Can Rose touch the flames without it getting out of control or will she have to test everything she knows to keep from burning up? Whatever Rose's decision may be, let the flames begin!

Honestly, I don't even know why I was here. This place was stupid, filled with stupid hormonal children and stupid pop-techno music. This place was annoying me to death, and I was probably going to die of bad taste if Lissa takes her time with this damn party of hers.

At that exact moment I remembered why I was here: Lissa. Vasilisa Dragomir, to be exact. She was the stereotypical head cheerleader; peppy, friends with everyone, and Lissa even had the long flowing golden locks and green eyes to pull it all together.

I, Rose Hathaway, on the other hand was any but head cheerleader material. I was the bad-girl tomboy sort. I was the girl with the long brown hair and dark, dangerous eyes, with the glint of mystery in them. Yep. I took shit from no one and anyone who dared cross me got a foot up there ass (metaphorically, or in some cases literally). Lissa and I were really two opposite people, but we couldn't be any closer as best friends. Sometimes I even caught myself calling her my sister, which she practically was.

I sat in the corner of this annoyingly annoying club and waited patiently for the end of this night. I had to come out; it was Lissa's birthday and it would be completely insensitive of me not to go, but really, her cheerleading friends and popular squad made me want to punch someone. Hard. A silent sigh escaped my lips and I put my elbows on the little table in front of me. I could see Lissa dancing and smiling with all of her friends and I smiled too; I was always happy when Lissa was happy.

The pop-techno junk stopped playing and a song I remember hearing years ago came on. It was the song about the whore-girl who was jealous because the lead singer was with her ex. I chuckled at my summary, thinking about all the songs that were about whore-girls. I swayed my head to the beat and started to mumble the words.

"Whoa-o I never meant to brag," I mumbled to myself. I looked out on the dance floor to see Lissa spinning wildly and having an amazing time. I was glad that her birthday was going good for her, and also that some rock was final on in this damn place.

"Enjoying the music?" An accented voice said next to me. I turned my head only to see the hottest guy ever. And he was really hot, like godly hot. He had about chin length brown hair and dark brown eyes. He was sitting down in the chair next to me so I couldn't tell how tall he was, but the way he was sitting he looked to be pretty tall. He also looked to be about 24, and me being only 17 I don't think a relationship would work out.

But that doesn't mean I can't flirt a little, "Yeah, this is one of my favorite songs," I said with a seductive smile. He smiled at me and then looked at what I was wear; black skinny jeans with a deep purple tank top, nothing too flashy but still stood out. "What's your name and where did you get that delicious accent from?" I asked him.

He bowed his head and smiled again, then looked up into my eyes, "Dimitri, and this 'delicious accent' is from Russia."

Hmmmmmmm, I thought, they sure do make 'em well in Russia. "Well, Dimitri, what are you doing here in a club with a bunch of teenagers?" I asked him.

"I work here," He said casually, "And may I ask what is your name and what are you doing here?"

"The name is Rose and I am here because that girl over there," I pointed at Lissa, "Is having her birthday party here with all of her friends, and with me being her best friend I was forced to come and hang out with the crowd zombies," I replied while taking a deep breath.

Just as I took in the deep breath a man behind the drink counter looked over towards Dimitri and started to wave his hand at him in a get-up-before-I-fire-you way. "I better go," Dimitri said hesitantly, "I hope to see you soon, Rose," I only nodded my head towards him, and I guess he took that as a yes because he walked away after that. When he had reached the guy at the counter he had whispered something in Dimitri's ear. His face turned hard and he looked like he was getting his stuff to go home for the night, which made me sad, but at least I knew where he worked.

Leaning back in my chair I smiled up towards the ceiling; tonight wasn't that bad after all. I spoke too soon. "Rose," Lissa had ran up to my chair and was looking very excited.

"What?" I asked her trying to figure out what was up.

"You're going to sing for me! Karaoke! Come on, it is really fun and you can choose whatever song you want!" She said while almost hitting her head on the ceiling by jumping so high.

"Liss, you know I don't sing in front of people," I spoke to her in a calm voice waiting for her sorrow; that was what you had to do with Lissa sometimes.

"Um, no, you are going to sing because it is my birthday, and I want you too! Please!" she looked at me with pleading green eyes. It was really easy to ignore Lissa when she was like that, for others not so much though. I thought about it for a second and then spoke.

"Fine," I said in a hard voice, "But I choose the song."

While walking up onto the mini stage in the club I looked around me; all of these people here and all for Lissa. I would be lucky if I even had about nine people at one of my parties. I whispered into the DJ's ear what song I wanted to sing and he quickly put on the record.

I did that cliché cough/clear the throat thing before I started to sing for good luck I guess, but I am pretty sure nothing would save me from the humiliation I would get after this. I looked into the crowd again and saw Mia Rinaldi's icy eyes on me; she was a total bitch and was a poser, but Lissa always saw the good in people, explaining why that cold little skank was here. Mia was like a little plastic doll, the ones with the blue eyes and blonde hair that you just want to cut off. She was pretty short too, only about 5'5 or something like that. One of these days I had to teach Lissa one of these days how to be tough and not be so optimistic.

The beginning melody to my song started to play so instead of focusing on the doll's fake stupid little blah blah blah I started to sing:

"What a shame we all became such fragile, broken things.
A memory remains just a tiny spark.
I give it all my oxygen,
to let the flames begin.
To let the flames begin."

The crowd was cheering for me and out of the corner of my eyes I could see a Russian hottie starring at me, but with no emotional expression at all. I thought he had left. That disappointed me a little but I continued with the song:

"Oh, glory.
Oh, glory.
This is how we'll dance when,
When they try to take us down.
This is what we'll be.
Oh, glory."

I started to really get into the song now, walking up and down the stage and doing everything I thought a front man would do; and if I do say so myself, it was pretty damn fun.

"Somewhere weakness is our strength,
And I'll die searching for it.
I can't let myself regret such selfishness.
My pain and all the trouble caused,
No matter how long"

Lissa was beaming up at me, cheering and banging her head, trying to act like a rocker even though she was a pop princess. It made me laugh inside just at the thought of Lissa being a rocker chick; so not happening.

"I believe that there's hope
Buried beneath it all and
Hiding beneath it all, and
Growing beneath it all, and…"

The crowd was going wild now and I only glanced at the doll's face to see her scowling at me. Score one for Rose and her awesome singing abilities.

"This is how we'll dance when,
When they try to take us down
This is how we'll sing it.
This is how we'll stand when,
When they burn our houses down.
This is what will be.
Oh, glory."

"Reaching as I sink down into light.
Reaching as I sink down into light."

My song was coming to an end and I was feeling pretty good right now. Lissa was my heroine for the night, saving me from complete and utter boredom in this stupid club, which didn't seem as stupid after I had met the Russian god.

"This is how we'll dance when,
When they try to take us down
This is how we'll sing it.
This is how we'll stand when,
When they burn our houses down.
This is what we'll be.
Oh, glory."

Everyone was cheering my name and begging for more. All I did was bow and head off stage to give Lissa a hug. "You were great Rose," Lissa beamed at me, "Of course I knew you were going to be good, but that was mind blowing!"

"Thanks Lissa," I said searching around for my Russian buddy. He was no where to be found, probably out back or something. The party was bearable after I sang and I hadn't thought about the Russian at all after that. I was having a great time and wished that it could last forever. But like always, wishes never come true.

Alright so I hoped you enjoyed the first chapter! I will try to post more soon, but with all the stuff coming up it might take a while so hang tight! Please R&R and I will get Dimitri Belikov to get you teddy bears and chocolate bunnies!!!

-Rose