"Get Off My Dream" by Ekaterina Vasina and Anna Jane, summary Automatic translate

This book is a romantic story about two students, co-written in 2012 by Ekaterina Vasina and Anna Jane. The plot follows the two main characters simultaneously, exploring human ambitions on planet Earth. Each character has their own strengths and weaknesses. Some crumble under the weight of circumstances, others stubbornly move forward, and still others take a break to start anew. What unites all these people is a cherished dream, for which they take unpredictable actions.

The Birth of Rivalry within the University

Daria and Kristina attend the same university. The girls have completely different personalities, yet their thoughts are preoccupied with the same boy. They are both passionately in love with a popular student, Svyatoslav. Each considers him the ideal man and makes grandiose plans to win his attention. The students regularly patrol the university’s spacious hallways, scanning the horizon for the object of their affections. Daria usually perches on the windowsill, clutching the edge of the frame tightly with her fingers whenever Svyatoslav appears.

The girls’ attempts to attract the boy’s attention constantly collide, creating a multitude of comical and extremely awkward situations. Daria devises a cunning plan, intending to dramatically trip and fall a few meters away from Svyatoslav. This plan is thwarted by Kristina, who suddenly appears nearby. She perches on a high fence, reminding Daria of a graveyard crow. Daria is furious, clearly realizing the utter absurdity of the situation. She understands that with Kristina present, the fall maneuver will turn into a ridiculous situation, and her rival will surely make a fool of her.

Soon, Svyatoslav himself appears on the alley, accompanied by his friend Igor and a stunningly beautiful blonde. The young man’s new companion has thick, waist-length golden hair and resembles the Disney princess Rapunzel. Svyatoslav notices his constant pursuers and openly expresses his deep displeasure. He shakes his head disapprovingly and advises the girls to find something else to do. This abrupt refusal is a severe blow to both heroines’ egos. They spend a restless, cold, rainy night, analyzing their predicament.

Forming an unexpected alliance

Both characters are deeply affected by their public humiliation. Daria tries to distract herself with minor household chores. She’s preparing to transport her pet spider, Fyodor Ivanovich, to the dacha. The spider is confined to a cramped glass jar, and Daria sincerely sympathizes with its plight. During this difficult period, Artem begins to actively appear in her life. The young man constantly calls Daria at the most inopportune moments. He openly teases her, provokes conflicts, and upsets her.

Meanwhile, Kristina is dealing with stress on the playground. She sits on an old, creaky swing, clutching the cool iron handrails tightly. She feels incredibly angry and resentful of the world. Despite their mutual dislike, the students make a logical decision. They join forces against a common problem — Svyatoslav’s new blonde girlfriend. The temporary allies head to Molodezhny Boulevard, considered the city’s busiest recreation area. This area is paved with beautiful, milky-white tiles and filled with noisy people.

Loud music constantly plays on the boulevard, and the atmosphere sparkles with joy. Skaters, rollerbladers, cyclists, and ordinary couples gather here. Daria and Kristina conduct a veritable spy surveillance of the object of their affections and his companion. Spending time together turns the former rivals into true comrades in misfortune, forcing them to actively support each other in various difficult situations.

Facing dangers and meeting new people

The events unfold against the backdrop of rather disturbing urban rumors. Local residents are actively discussing the rumors that a real maniac is roaming the neighborhood. Because of these frightening rumors, the girls are terrified of walking the streets at night. Daria’s mother, Victoria Konstantinovna, is forced to personally drive the students to the university in her own car. The morning sunlight somewhat dulls the nighttime fears, forcing them to hide timidly in the depths of their minds. Their shared sense of danger brings the novel’s heroines even closer together.

At the same time, Kristina’s relationships with members of the local informal subcultures develop. She accidentally crosses paths with a group of Goths at a heavy metal concert. Among them, a man named Vidart stands out. He wears menacing makeup and frightens Kristina with his sinister demeanor. She even has to flee from him. Later, a rather unexpected truth about this frightening man is revealed. Behind Vidart lies Maxim — a charming, confident, and quite wealthy young man.

Developing sincere feelings

Maxim begins to openly show Kristina persistent attention. He patronizes her, sometimes exhibiting excessive and even authoritarian control. Maxim affectionately calls Kristina "snake" and directly demands her complete obedience. This behavior evokes a host of conflicting feelings in the freedom-loving girl. Maxim sports black trousers and a stylish shirt with a silver dragon on the back. He openly asserts his rights to Kristina, greatly surprising those around him with his impenetrable assertiveness. Kristina actively resists the pressure, but feels reliably supported.

Daria is constantly in contact with Artem. She’s completely uninclined to classic romance and doesn’t understand traditional long dates. Artem continues to behave extremely provocatively, often irritating Daria with his pointed and caustic remarks. Their constant communication strongly resembles a verbal duel, with each participant trying to hurt the other. Behind the endless arguments and mutual ribbing lies a rapidly burgeoning attraction. Daria gradually realizes the absolute emptiness of her past dreams.

The finale on the roof of a country cottage

The story’s denouement takes place outside the city, on the grounds of Vlad Tristanov’s spacious cottage. Kristina and Maxim are the first to arrive at the party. They sit peacefully on a wooden swing in the cozy courtyard, listening to music on a shared stereo. Soon, a taxi pulls up, and a tanned Artem and Daria quickly jump out.

Daria playfully punches Artem on his broad back. The students are happy to see each other and exchange funny faces. Daria openly calls Kristina her favorite crazy friend and affectionately squeezes her cheeks. The girls decide to give their suitors a little final test. They quietly sneak through the back door to the utility floor and then hide on the roof of the building. From there, Daria and Kristina begin actively sending mocking text messages to Artem and Maxim.

In their messages, the girls mock the guys, suggesting they find their hiding place. Artyom and Maxim read the text, start looking around, and become truly furious. The girls watch their boyfriends’ reactions from above with great amusement. The guys quickly figure out the hooligans’ escape route and resolutely climb the stairs. Daria declares that they will face the danger head-on, as if they were facing fantastical mutants with eight trunks.

The situation resolves peacefully and romantically. The four young people remain on the roof, enjoying the gentle breeze. They smile as they watch the slowly awakening sun rise majestically over the horizon. Their illusory, ethereal dream of Svyatoslav has crumbled, making way for true friendship and love with real people.