1

In the life of every person there is an important date - the starting point for a new round of life.

We are mistaken in considering some major events as fateful: the choice of a faculty upon admission to study; Moving to another city; buying a long-awaited car.

Life will turn a trifle upside down.

Lily clearly remembered the day when her life began a new round.

And this was not due to the fact that she won the lottery or learned about the imminent death of a distant, but very rich relative, no.

I didn’t meet a broad-shouldered handsome man with a charming smile, a sparkling look, strong hands and sensual lips ... although, no, I met him, but a little later.

The downpour changed her life.

- Hi! The classmate pulled the girl out of her thoughts and stood next to her.

“Hello,” Lily replied indifferently. For three years, Eleonora Rokotova was in no hurry to make friends and, as far as Lilya knew, she did not communicate with any of her classmates, she kept herself apart. She greeted politely, answered questions in monosyllables, and was never interested in anyone's life from acquaintances outside the university.

“Come on, I’ll give you a lift,” Eleanor suggested.

They stood under the canopy of the building and watched as the rain poured like a wall. Stormy streams of water foamed, storm drains could not cope with the elements, and people moved ankle-deep in water. We hurried to the stop. And it's in March! Lily looked down at her suede boots.

- It's a pity, they are very beautiful. My offer still stands. The girl smiled and opened her umbrella. - We're on our way.

- How would you know? - Lily was surprised at the knowledge of her classmate.

“And I saw you several times getting on the bus. I live in the "Lake Valley", - the girl said the name of a very pretentious and expensive place, among the people: "The village for the poor." - Let's go. - Rokotova took her classmate by the arm and dragged her under the umbrella.

The girls ran down the stairs.

Opposite the entrance to the university, a gigantic white SUV stopped. A man the size of a car ran out of it and opened the door. Rokotova briskly darted inside the cabin, leaving the umbrella in the hands of the driver. And Lily was treading water; a narrow dress did not allow to take a step on a high footboard.

The driver chuckled at the girl's efforts.

- I'll help you now. He folded his umbrella and in a quick motion swept her under her hips.

“Thank you,” Lily grumbled, straightening her dress.

The man sat behind the wheel and shook his head, drops of moisture flew around the cabin.

- Well, Elka, will you introduce your friend? He shook his head again, ran his fingers through his hair, and turned to face his classmates. - Mmmm, pretty. Lily's impudent eyes scanned Lily shamelessly.

“Enough, Mitya,” the classmate barked and hit the man on the shoulder. Man? No boyfriend. Lily looked at the pretty face. Yes, he is younger than she thought. This is Lily, my classmate. My brother Dimitri, and he is a noble fool.

- Brother?! Lily exclaimed in surprise. It was very difficult to imagine that these two were related. Elya is tiny, with thin bones, incredibly graceful hands, and this one… more than two meters, with huge palms and overly smiling. Even against the backdrop of an SUV, the young man looked impressive.

“Elka didn’t eat up her porridge, so she didn’t grow up,” Dmitry responded to the remark. - For you - just Mitya. - And again a wide smile, showing perfect teeth.

Rokotova snorted and laughed:

- Oh well.

- Lily, - the girl had to introduce herself and shake the hand extended by the guy.

"Lilia," he repeated with his eyes closed, and drawing in air, he added: "Very tasty girl."

“Does that even mean?! And why did I get into a car with strangers?! To hell with it, with the rain, I’ll get there on foot! Lily panicked.

“Mitya,” Rokotova growled, “don’t scare your friend!” She will now run away because of you!

The girl's hand was finally released from the grip, and Lily cautiously moved closer to the door.

"That's a compliment..." Dmitri said.

- Keep them to yourself. You forget that not everyone understands them. Don't pay attention, my brother has no sense of tact, it's not natural. A rude and a rake, - Elya emphasized the last words with pressure.

"Rake" ... And who in our time uses such words? Lily thought.

“It's okay,” she smiled politely and watched in horror as the SUV pulled away.

There was still the opportunity to jump out on the move, while passing the checkpoint. Lily imagined how she would look from the outside. It is only in the films that the heroes land beautifully on their feet, but she would roll like a sausage through the puddles and, most likely, under the wheels of some car.

The click of locked doors pulled out of her thoughts, at which the girl nervously twitched.

- This is so that you, Flower, do not jump out on the go. - The guy was having fun, and she could only puff frightened and hope that in thirty minutes she would really be at home, and not dug in the nearest forest belt.

Elya laughed merrily, but seeing the fear in her friend's eyes, she pulled back the laughing guy.

Don't worry, we're normal. Elya burst out laughing again after her own words. - Honestly.

“Uh-huh,” drawled her brother. If he's a brother, of course.

- Hope. - Lilya turned to the window and, to her own joy, noted that they were going in the right direction.

Elya kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the seat with her feet.

"They say you're good at drawing," she said.

Buckle up, Elka! If the uncle finds out, he will tear off my head, - Dmitry asked.

To which the girl rolled her eyes, but still put on her seat belt.

“Uncle is turned on my safety,” Elya explained, wrinkling her nose.

- Is it bad? Lily asked doubtfully.

“Believe me…” Elya took a breath of air, wanted to continue the story, but glanced at the driver's seat and fell silent. Well, what about drawing?

“I’m drawing,” Lilya answered, and she herself became agitated with renewed vigor.

“How does this Mitya know where to take me? After all, they didn’t say a word.”

- Well, Flower, scared again? The girl was being watched in the rearview mirror.

“Are all my emotions so clearly reflected on my face?”

“I didn’t say where to take me…” she said.

— Don't worry, we see you almost every morning at the bus stop. Yes Elka? So I know you in absentia, - said Dmitry.

"Yes, Mitya," answered the sister.

“In general, there is only one road leading out of the city, and, by a happy coincidence, it coincides with our direction. The guy laughed and slammed his hands on the steering wheel a couple of times, obviously pleased with his joke.

“I told you, fool,” Elya waved her off. So what are you drawing?

- Everything. More often portraits, I like when the work is done realistically. But it takes a lot of time, so it takes a long time to finish the job. What the customer requires, then I draw, - not wanting to go into details, Lily managed with general phrases.

- And what do you like yourself?

- Nothing, when a hobby goes into the category of work, it does not always bring joy.

- Why? - the meticulous classmate did not let up.

For the tenth time, Lily assessed the view outside the window, made sure that they were going towards the house.

“Because it’s full of perverts and people with a complete lack of taste. And what do you do in your free time? she asked.

— Garden, I have a garden. Elya shrugged her shoulders melancholy. - I still do not give a quiet life to my brother, and not only to him. Can I come to visit you someday, I really want to see your work? The girls said they were incredible.

“Elka, you know…” Dmitry shook his head negatively.

“I know, I know,” Elya confirmed doomedly.

A feeling of resentment for a classmate and, probably, female solidarity, forced Lily to answer:

- Of course, come. Do you want tomorrow after class? I can't today, I need to finish the order.

- Want. Mitya, will you take us? Elya asked her brother with childlike joy in her eyes.

- Not! he answered.

“Please, I’ll just take a look and then we’ll go home.” Half an hour.

We'll talk at home.

“Strange dialogue… very strange. Why can't an adult go to visit someone? Lily thought.

To her delight, twenty minutes later the SUV parked at the entrance, and Lily breathed a sigh of relief. She opened the door; nasty little drops of rain flew into my face.

“Well, Flower, where are you going?” Wait, I'll help. - The guy in a couple of seconds was next to Lily and extended his arms to her like a small child. - Jump.

— I myself.

“It was not enough to be in the arms of others for the second time in the evening.”

“You yourself will only wring your neck in your boots,” Dmitry remarked.

Lily slid to the edge of the seat, lowered her leg, but the wet sole slipped off the metal footboard, and the girl collapsed into the man's hands with a limp carcass.

"Put me down," she protested.

- Yes please. It was a pleasure to meet you, Flower, - Dmitry said.

“Lily,” the girl corrected and waved goodbye to Ela. - Thanks for the ride. Call when you want to take a look. I'll be happy.