Moving Objects

Chapter 5

I pushed back, wrapping my leg around his and flipping us over while I tried to fight him off. In a move I didn’t expect, Dimitri flipped me over his hand and I landed with a loud thud. I didn’t even have time to blink before his hand went down over my chest.

“Dead.”

I groaned and sat up, silently kicking myself. I was better than this! I had staked Strigoi and this giant was still kicking my ass!

“You know, I think I would do better if I wasn’t having my ass handed to me every day,” I grumbled as I got up, rubbing my face. Dimitri laughed and tossed a water bottle to me before raising his own to his lips.

“You would do better not to leave your left side open. You keep dropping your shoulder before you punch. You give too much of a tell,” he said between sips. I rolled my eyes at him and watched him walk toward his bag.

This is it! It’s my chance!

I set my water bottle down on the ground and moved quietly, but quickly towards him. I pounced and he turned around at the last second, both of us crashing to the ground. While Dimitri softened my landing, it still hurt to land on him and I yelped, rolling onto the ground with a whoop. I jumped up and did a little dance, laughing at Dimitri while he just laid on the floor with raised brows.

“I did it!” I shrieked. Dimitri chuckled as he got to his feet, a peculiar look crossing his face.

“Yes, Roza. You got me. But I’m going to get you!” he said before lunging towards me and I bolted in the other direction, sprinting across the gym toward the doors that lead to the field. I didn’t quite make it before his arms wrapped around my waist and he hoisted me off the ground. I kicked my feet and laughed uncontrollably as Dimitri carried me across the gym in a football hold, his laugh matching mine.

“Dimitri! Stop!” I squeaked but he only shifted positions and tossed me onto his shoulder like I was a sack of potatoes. He said nothing but swatted me on the ass and I squirmed in his grip. Not cool dude, not cool.

“Do I want to know?”

I tried to look around Dimitri’s side to find Alberta and my mom standing in the doorway of the gym. Dimitri stopped and set me back down on my feet, giving Alberta a nod. I adjusted my shirt and gave Mom a tentative smile to which she returned and stepped forward hesitantly. I met her halfway and wrapped my arms around her waist, tilting my head down to rest on her shoulder. Mom slowly wrapped her arms around me and gave me a small squeeze before pulling away. It was a start.

“We need both of you to come to my office. There are some things we need to discuss,” Alberta said, handing me my bag. I knitted my eyebrows together but Mom cut me off as I started to speak.

“It’s nothing bad. We just figured since Dimitri is aware of what you can do, it would be beneficial that he be there.”

I nodded and tilted my head for Dimitri to follow us. I pulled my hair out of the lopsided ponytail as we walked and sighed as I ran my fingers through it. Nothing was worse than a ponytail headache and I was on the cusp of one. Alberta and Mom talked as they walked while Dimitri and I hung behind, putting enough distance between us so we could talk.

“Do you think I should tell Lissa about this? The abilities, I mean?”

Dimitri seemed to ponder the thought before shrugging. “I honestly don’t know. You may be better off waiting until you talk to your father again, after he gives you more information on what we are dealing with. You know Lissa, she’s going to want more than the basics,” he explained. I nodded along with what he said.

He wasn’t wrong. Lissa was like a pitbull when she wanted something, and I knew she would hound me about it. To be honest, I was surprised she never said anything about it before.