CHAPTER: 7

Have you ever been frozen or paralyzed with shock? Have you ever in your wildest dream imagined that your teacher would come to your home?

If no, then you are lucky. If yes, then you'll understand what happened to me.

"You guys know each other?" He had a confused look on his face, like he didn't know what to say. It helped me to break out of my trance.

"Yes, miss Dawson is my student. We met today at school." He was staring right at me like he didn't expect this himself, but there was no surprise in his voice. His stare was very eerily creepy, and I couldn't shake off the weird feeling.

"Awesome dude! You never told me that teaching has so many perks! After all, you get to meet such pretty ladies." Ivan winked at me, which earned him a glare from my teacher and blush from me.

The silence that followed made the situation more awkward as I went mute and Mr. Dimitri was speaking in monosyllabic words when suddenly one of the windows in the living room burst open due to the raging storm outside. Small snowflakes entered the room and melted on the carpet. The night looked darker than before, with two lone cars of Ivan and Mr. Dimitri sitting outside, covered with snow. Driving in such a weather did not look possible at all.

The news channels did warn us about the storm, but I didn't think it was going to be so harsh. I couldn't let them leave in such a weather and get stuck somewhere where there's not a sign of life for miles. They seemed to have understood the situation they were stuck in as well, they didn't hesitate to say yes to my offer for staying over.

Yeah, kind is my middle name.

*****

"I am sure you guys are hungry. I made pasta, would you like some?"

"Oh hell yeah! Pasta is my favorite! My friend here makes the best pasta ever. You should tell him to cook for you someday." Ivan didn't seem to acknowledge the part where the Russian standing on the opposite side of the kitchen counter is my teacher as he in his least concerned and humorous manner said whatever first came to his head. 

"Thank you, Rose, for helping us. We owe you." It was the first time he spoke to me since he entered my house. First time he said anything to me at all.

With an awkward smile, I replied in a quiet voice "Happy to help you guys" 

****

I served dinner for them and expected the dinner table to be very quiet, but Ivan had other plans.

"Damn girl! I have to admit, your pasta is hotter than you. Where the hell did you learn to cook such food?" He said with a mouth full of pasta on his fork pointed in my direction.

I peeked a glance at my teacher, who was intently looking at his plate and trying to eat the pasta with his fork, inspecting and fiddling with the bits on his plate a little too attentively.

Was he trying to dig diamonds out of the pasta?

"If you want to thank someone for the pasta, thank Liza. She is my Guru. She taught me how to cook these amazing Italian dishes. She is a great cook. And before you ask me anything else about her, I'd like to tell you that she is already taken." I was surprised at myself and how comfortable I felt with Ivan. 

"Honey, that's not a problem. But what about you? Do you have a boyfriend?" Ivan asked with a smirk.

The prickling feeling of someone staring at me made me look at Mr. Dimitri, who was holding the fork with such pressure that his knuckles had turned white. His eyes had turned a shade darker and his jaw was hard.

I was scared, is an understatement.

I was chilled to the bone, and I am sure I had turned a shade paler.

The silence was broken by my phone's ringtone.