Blair
Dimitri came toward me with a restrained smile on his face. My hand was wrapped around his as I held it out to greet him. My own smile was more spontaneous in his presence, although I wasn't sure how to act now that we were finally face to face.
" Hey commander, I almost didn't recognize you without the stained clothes," I teased him.
" You're not carrying any cups, so I think my clothes will be safe. At least until we get to the restaurant," he assured him, "I'm staying at the Sheratom, do you want to go there?”
The Sheratom was one of three hotels within the airport complex, which also had a train station that would take us to the center of Amsterdam in about fifteen minutes." Are you kidding? We're not staying in a hotel with an incredible city to visit, Commander," I denied.
" I already know Amsterdam," he laughed.
" But you have never visited it in my company, I assure you it will be a completely new experience," I wrapped my hand around his, pulling him toward the train ticket sales terminal.
" Where are you going? I thought about renting a car.”
" And pay three times what we would have to pay for a train from the airport?
" With a car we can get around the city better," he warned.
" This is Amsterdam, Dimitri. Public transportation is great, and besides, we can walk, I love to walk.”
Okay, the last part was not exactly true.
He pondered for a moment before accepting, allowing me to take him to the terminal and soon we were sitting side by side on the train bench, watching the scenery outside.
" I didn't know you were coming to Europe this week," he commented.
" Actually I was supposed to be in Argentina, but a flight attendant came down with the flu, so here I am," I smiled at the man.
My mind was working on a way to question him about his disappearance. One that didn't seem like a charge, but in the end, I didn't need to use any artifice to find out what I wanted.
" I see. These last few days have been crazy. I participated in a staff training and didn't have much time to spare.”
So that was it! Those trainings suck, I hate it when they sign me up for one!
" What was the training about?
" Prevention of terrorist acts.”
" I had mine two months ago," I grimaced as I remembered how unpleasant and necessary the subject was.
I felt strange being so close to him, I was used to talking only at a distance and this was all new to both of us.
" So you understand well," he smiled minimally, "it's been a tiring couple of days, but now I'm getting back into the routine.”
I turned my face to the city that was beginning to appear around us, old buildings mixed with modern architecture, fascinating me.
" It's a good landscape, right? " he commented.
" Yes, it's very beautiful," I smiled.
" I really like these cities. Tomorrow I'm flying to Vienna.”
" I have never visited Vienna," I frowned, noticing that we would not have so much time together.
" The city is beautiful," he continued, "the architecture, the nature that surrounds it. Austria is a very beautiful country.”
I looked out the window again, feeling disappointed that I would have so little time with him, but an afternoon was still an afternoon, and I intended to make the most of it.
We finally arrived at our destination, and I hurried up, pulling him out of the station, feeling the icy wind hit my face as we left the building.Dimitri turned around, admiring the grand central station building from which we had just emerged.
" You really like old buildings, don't you, Commander," I teased him.
" And you like beaches," he returned.
" I'm an expert, Dimitri," I winked at him, crossing my arms in an attempt to warm myself when a chilly breeze hit us.
" You're cold, want my coat? " he frowned worriedly.
" That's not necessary. Let's walk and I'll warm up," I denied, dragging him through the city streets.
He laughed, following me easily, and I felt his gaze on me the whole time, appraising me.
" You don't like the cold.”
" I like to see new places, I'm not intimidated by the weather," I returned.
" I thought that you already knew Amsterdam.”
" It's always a new experience, Commander," I winked at him.
" So you intend to guide me through Amsterdam today, Blair?”
He stopped walking and held my hand to stop me from continuing. I turned, watching the man standing before me, his gaze locked on mine, looking as pleased to be there with me as I was.
" Come on, Dimitri, we have a lot to see.”
" Let's start with lunch," he returned, leading us to a restaurant.
We got a table, reminding me how hungry I was.
" I swear, attending an engagement dinner was enough," I reported later, as we ate, "now she expects me to come across the country to attend another dinner, and I can't refuse because I'm the maid of honor.
" What's the big deal? I thought you were excited about the wedding," he returned.
" It's not that I'm not excited. It makes her happy, and that's good enough for me," I began, "but when I think about all that work for a single day.”
He laughed, before taking a sip from the glass of juice he had ordered.
" I don't have much experience with weddings, but when I had a wedding in the family, the girls were happy to help with all the details," he challenged me.
" Maybe I'm not the type who gets excited easily.”
" Or maybe you're just jealous of your friend," he looked at me.
That statement, however, made a strange feeling come over me. What does he mean by jealousy? I'm not jealous of Abby, she and Noah have been together forever!
" That's not true, why should I be jealous of her?”
" I don't know, but the way you talk…”
" I'm not jealous. Abby is my neighbor, my best friend, she's getting married, and I'm happy for her!”
" And yet you are bothered by her being so busy with the wedding," he returned.
" I don't mind, I just consider it a waste of time! Why bother to travel more than three thousand miles to get a church? There are beautiful churches in New Jersey.”
I decided to state my real opinion about the whole situation. The best part was that he didn't know Abby, so there was no way she could find out anything I told her.
" Is there any reason why she would want a church so far away? " he pondered.
" She has this idea of getting married in the same church and on the same date as her parents.”
" Then she has a reason," he returned.
" But it's ridiculous, she will have just over four months to organize everything living so far away," I groaned, "it will be a nightmare, and I will have all the work.”
That statement provoked a spontaneous laugh from the man, attracting my immediate attention.
" You're not the least bit romantic, are you? " he laughed, surprising me.
What does he mean by that? Of course I'm romantic!
" Where did you get that from?”
" Your idea about marriage," he clarified.
" Oh, let me guess, are you one of those who dreams of a perfect wedding, commander? " I scoffed.
" I'm not.”
" It's not what it sounds like. You seem to have a clear definition of what a good way to get married would be.
" And do you? " he returned.
That question left me speechless for a few seconds, causing his smile to widen slightly, but I soon recovered.
" This is ridiculous, you really want to talk about marriage the first time we meet? I'm going to think you're some kind of maniac," I teased him.
" Why would I be a maniac? It's not like I'm asking you to marry me, Blair.”
" I'm going to pretend to believe you, but I understand all your interest in my opinion on marriage," I nudged him.
" I don't want to marry you, Blair. Don't even dream about it," he laughed.
" Someone's on the defensive," I crooned.
We finished eating, deciding to drop the subject.
BlairWe finished eating, deciding to leave that subject aside. After splitting the bill, we were soon back on the streets of Amsterdam." What I mean is that getting married in the same church as her parents is important for your friend," he resumed the initial subject as we walked side by side." Again? " I groaned " I shouldn't have told you.”" But you did," he teased me.To my relief, I spotted something that could distract us from the subject." A market! Let's go shopping, Dimitri." I ran ahead, leaving him behind.He shook his head with a half smile on his lips before following me. I passed all the stalls, scanning the products for anything of value.This was one of my favorite parts of every trip. I loved to find souvenirs that reminded me of the destinations I had already visited, and usually it was some decoration for my apartment. Which perhaps would eventually turn me into a sort of international hoarder." Look, Commander. I need those boots! " I exclaimed, picking up a
Dimitri I was making the payment with my credit card while watching Blair with the doll and the flowers I gave her in her hands.She was so beautiful it was almost unbelievable. More than that, she was funny, intelligent and witty. Everything that I had already realized in the past few days had been confirmed in these few hours we had spent together up to this point." Do you want me to wrap the bouquet or is your girlfriend going to carry it? " The lady who attended me indicated the flowers that I was still carrying." Here, you can wrap it. But she is not my girlfriend," I explained, handing the bouquet to the woman." No? You act like a couple, maybe you should think about the possibility," she smiled, picking up a long acetate box and placing the flowers there, "a pretty girl like that doesn't stay available for long.”I just smiled as I picked up the package. I knew she was right about Blair, and if the situation was more favorable, I might try something serious with her. But I
DimitriI came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist and went to the bed of the hotel room I occupied in Vienna. It was past seven in the evening and I felt exhausted from all the excitement of that day. First thing in the morning I flew back to St. Petersburg and after a few hours of rest, I boarded the plane for Vienna. I turned on my cell phone, leaving it on the bed before going to the window, looking at the bright street full of old buildings where countless people were walking, despite the bad weather. My mind wandered to memories of the previous day, when Blair's company had been so present. I walked back to the bed, picking up the cell phone that vibrated with the new messages that came in.I ignored Joe's messages threatening to move to St Petersburg for good and opened the message Blair had sent me in the morning."Commander, I don't think you understood that the flowers were for your mother."I had left the bouquet at the hotel reception in the morning t
DimitriI ended the call until I reached the gallery. Blair loved every detail I showed her and I was glad that I could distract her at that moment, the only way that situation would improve was if I was closer to her. " Look, I'm just saying that the last painting.... WAIT.”I stopped my steps immediately, not knowing what had happened." What?”" Can you turn the camera a little? " she asked " to the left.”" NO " I turned in the opposite direction as I understood what she had seen.How can she find places like this?" Please, Dimitri," she pleaded as I backed away and headed for the flea market she had somehow spotted." I'm only going to buy one thing," I warned." Then I'll have to choose well," she hummed.I couldn't help smiling as I walked between the stalls, showing her everything on display." Dimitri, look at those old photos," Blair indicated." They are people you don't know, Blair. Don't even think about it," I warned." You have no creativity," she complained." I'm no
Blair " And then? What did you think? " I whirled around in front of the cell phone camera, showing my mother my outfit. " You look great with your new haircut," she complimented from the other side of the screen, "it should be easier to pin up now.” " Mom, focus please," I groaned. " Sorry, but I don't understand what you want me to see," she returned. " Mom, I showed you three different outfits," I threw myself on the bed in the hotel room I occupied in Madrid, "I have fifteen minutes to finish getting ready.” " You look nice in all the clothes," she returned. " You're not helping," I muttered. " I don't even understand what you want help with! Shouldn't you be back today?” " I am, but I have two hours before I have to go to the airport, so I can have lunch with a friend at the hotel restaurant," I hurriedly explained, "and I need to meet him in ten minutes, so if you can help.” I went through the options I had sorted out, trying to make a decision. Why couldn't I just cho
Blair " Let me get this straight, the guy you say is just your friend spent the day introducing you to a city in another country on his cell phone and bought you an old music box? " Abby asked sitting next to me on the couch the next day. " I know what you are thinking and you are wrong. Dimitri and I just have a lot in common. Maybe she wasn't so wrong, but I would never admit it. " Like what?” " We work traveling the world, we know many countries, we speak many languages," I listed. " This is all obvious, you met at an airport," she rolled her eyes, "but what about personal tastes?” " Well…” At this point I had to admit that we didn't have much in common. In fact, it seemed to be the complete opposite. I loved beaches and he loved historic cities. I liked to find flea markets and unknown places while he opted for museums, famous sights and classic restaurants. But still I had loved to let him plan a full day for us. " Well? " Abby insisted. " He's helping me discover
DimitriI stared stunned at the image of Blair in her wedding dress. What's going on?" Oh this… you won't believe it," she seemed amused by the situation.Two girls sat down on either side of her, watching me expectantly. One was the same one who had accompanied Blair the day we met. " Hey Commander, this is Claire and Alison. The friends I told you about," Blair smiled, "We came with Abby to pick out her wedding dress.”" I'm no expert, but wasn't she supposed to wear the dress? " I decided to tease her.Surely this was some kind of joke between them, but I would never miss the opportunity to tease her." Ahh, Abby is getting dressed now. Blair chose this dress for you," Claire confided." Wha... No," Blair widened, pushing her friend away, "that's not what happened!”I knew I should leave her alone and not tease her about it." Blair, haven't we already talked about this? " I sighed, causing her to roll her eyes on the other side of the screen." Quiet.”" What did you talk abou
Dimitri"I'm done getting ready, are you ready?" I sent the message to Blair, it was a few minutes before the agreed time to the date and I felt the anxiety consuming me. It had been ten days since we had last seen each other and we would have this night together in Zurich. I would be boarding again in the morning so we decided to make the most of the time we had." Almost, did you get the restaurant reservation?" she replied."Confirmed for eight o'clock, it's one of the best restaurants in town. We were lucky"I put on my overcoat, getting ready to go to the hotel she was staying at, which luckily was on the same block as mine. "You're such a snob.”I frowned at that message."I love it.” She then added, making me smile before leaving the room."I'm on my way.”A few minutes later, when I was already on the street, she replied."I'm in the hotel lobby.”I didn't take long to spot her. Blair was tucked inside her overcoat, exposed to the 40 °F temperature that plagued the city in