--->

“When this night is over, I’ll lose her...” Dimitri shook his head and scowled. “I never had her... C’mon Dimitri, you can’t let this get you down. She’ll be gone... and you will get the ten million rubles. That was what you were after... But... do I want it anymore?”

Shaking his head, he leaned against a streetlight. He looked at Anya. She was chatting happily with Sophie and another woman, who was unknown to him. She looked so joyful, her eyes sparkling with delight as she caught sight of an olive green dress. Rushing over to him, she pulled his arm with her as she entered the stylish shop.

“Anya... really... I have had enough shopping for one day,” Dimtri uttered, desperate to be alone so he could be with his own thoughts. Anya smiled, “But we only been shopping for three hours. Anyway, I haven’t decided on a dress to wear to the opera. And what about you? And we each need something when we are touring Paris. You know...” Dimitri threw his hands up in the air and grumbled as Anya took him to find a suitable tux.

“This! Now, this is the one!” Anya grinned, pulling an Armani tux from the stand. Placing the top hat on Dimitri, she directed him to the mirror. Dimitri couldn’t help but laugh. His hair stuck out from under the hat, covering his eyes. Blowing at the flyaways and putting his hands on his hips, he gave a mock frown, “Well, you know... This... this looks... interesting. What do you think? It’s very... instyle, isn’t it?” Pulling the hat lower on his head, he posed in front of the mirror for Anya.

Anya bursted into laughter. He strutted back and forth along the cushioned carpet with his nose in the air. Sliding off the couch she was sitting on, she clung to her sides. Her giggles were like silver bells, but they drove into Dimitri’s heart like icicles. He stopped. Gazing at Anya’s reflection, his smile disappered. He breathed, “I don’t want to lose you...”

Taking the hat off, he closed his eyes and leaned his head upon the mahogany frame. “Why did I have to fall in love with you? I never asked for it...” Staring at his shoes, he saw the scratches and tears from years of use. Sniffling, he thought of when he first met Vlad and the new shoes that he gave him. He had grown out of those, but Dimitri still had them kept hidden away. He remembered telling himself that he wanted to keep them so he would be able to sell the shoes for some money later on.

Shaking his head, he said, “After all these years, I know why I wanted to keep those shoes. I never had a new thing in my life. When Vlad first gave me those shoes, I never remembered feeling such joy as I did that moment. Here was someone who cared enough to present me with new shoes. A poor boy, whom he never met before! They meant so much to me! I felt like someone out there really cared... I wonder if he knows?”

“I think he does,” whispered Anya. Dimitri whirled around. A million thoughts crossed his mind. She looked embarrassed and astonished at the same time. A silence elapsed. Both of them stared at the floor, neither of them speaking. Dimitri started to say something, and Anya did the same.

“Oh, no. You go first.” They both cried at the same time. Those words quieted them again. Finally Dimitri broke the stillness. “Well,... I-”

“Yes?”

“The... the, the...”

“Yes?”

“The suit! I should try on the suit.”

Replying quickly, Anya uttered, “Oh... yeah, I need to find a dress.”

“Oh, okay. Well, I guess I’ll meet with you later when we’re both finish shopping...”

“Uh huh.”

Dimtri turned away and went to the men’s dressing room. All of a sudden, he spun around and called out, “Anya?”

“Yes?”

“I kinda-”

“Yes?”

“I need my tux.”

“Oh.” Handing it to him, their hands touched. Anya smiled and laced her fingers with his. Dimitri felt the warmness of her hand, and he wanted this moment to last forever. There was an eerie serenity between them. Bowing, Dimitri kissed Anya’s hand. In a barely audible murmur, Anya breathed, “I’m sure we will never forget tonight, Dimitri.”

“No, we will always remeber this night, Your Highness...” Letting go of Anya’s hand, Dimitri briskly walked away so that she could not see the tears in his eyes. He closed the dressing stall’s door part way. Looking passed the tears that blurred his eyes, he peered at Anya. She stood where he last left her. Her hand was still in mid-air. Then she shook her head and left.

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