From Russia, With Love

Over the next few months, she began to form a friendship with the otherwise shy cashier. She began to invite him into her group of friends, and though it took them awhile to accept him, they did eventually. He was invited along on weekend outings, though he usually clung steadfastly to her side while at the same time fitting in rather well with the group.

Vladimir always took great care to tend to her needs whenever he could. He would open doors for her, carry her things for her, help her up when she fell down, and give her money if she ran out of it. Soon, her friends began to notice, and tease her. Finally, her best friend Jeanine sat her down.

“Okay, it is totally obvious that he’s completely and totally into you. You can’t just let it go on. You either have to ask him out, or tell him you’re not interested. Because he like…worships you. I see it and everybody else sees it.”

“I don’t think so; he’s just friendly.”

“He follows you around like a puppy, waits on you hand and foot and answers to your beck and call. Happily, may I add. And like…around everybody else, he’s a complete bad ass.”

“Well, if you’re right…I’d rather take things slow. I like the friendship I have with him and I don’t want to fuck it up.” Jeanine rolled her eyes and got up.

Renae didn’t know what to make of Jeanine’s sudden “revelation” and did decide to take her advice in one way: she called up Vladimir that night.

“Vladimir,” he answered. She always found the European way of answering the phone to be completely and totally strange.

“Hello, Vladimir?”

“Well yes, you know it’s me,” he laughed a little.

“Would you like to come over tomorrow?” There was silence on the other end of the line for a second.

“Well….of course,” came the answer. “Who else will be there?”

“No one…it will just be us,” she said.

“Oh…well then of course I will be there,” he sounded a bit pleased at her answer.

“Good. We’ve never really hung out before, just the two of us, you know?”

“No, we have not. I look forward to it.”

She cleaned up her place the next day in preparation for her friend’s arrival. She had prepared herself to gauge his feelings by his reactions and even…his advances, should there be any. Jeanine’s words had haunted her since they had that talk. She felt like there was no way Vladimir could possibly be interested in her. He was only a friendly guy. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. She opened the door and Vladimir smiled at her.

“You live on your own?” He inquired.

“Oh, yeah.”

“Only twenty and you are by yourself? You are brave young woman…” Once again, his eyes seemed to burn a hole through hers. She could feel her cheeks reddening.

“Would you like anything?”

“No, not right now, but thank you.” He looked around her condo. “You keep very nice house here. I am impressed. You are good little housekeeper.” He smiled at her. She smiled back and could feel her cheeks heating up again. He sat down on her couch. “Come sit with me,” he beckoned.

“You think I have a nice house, but you haven’t seen my room,” she stated as she laughed mid-sentence, “my room is like, a wreck. You can’t see the floor.” She suddenly saw a kind of hunger in his eyes, as if he would really like to see her room.

“My room is mess, too.” She laughed a little. This was a lot more awkward than she had expected it to be.

“Vladimir, you’re a great friend to me,” she stated. She could see his face fall.

“Renae…I have never met woman like you before.” Chills ran up her spine.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that you are funny and smart and unique and caring and…a real woman. You need strong…not American…man to take care of you,” he mused. He kind of laughed nervously at the same time. His assumption that she needed anyone to care for her, even though it was true, made her slightly angry.

“You know, if you were not such a good friend, I might date you.” His eyes narrowed.

“I see…” It was now obvious to her that there was something much deeper inside him than feelings of platonic friendship. “You know, I should go home because there is things I would like to do before I sleep to get up for work in morning.” His accent got thicker as he got more nervous and frustrated.

“Vladimir…” He touched her arm gently.

“It is not you. Goodbye.” He walked out her door abruptly. She felt a bit shocked.