AUTHORS NOTE: Hi everyone! :3 Just a few things you need to note before starting to read this fanfic… This is set after Shadow Kiss, but the attack NEVER HAPPENED. I know this is done a lot, and I love the plotline of the books, but I think I'd have more to work with if that never happened xD This is my second fanfic, my other one was another VA one, but it was on another account that I can't remember the name for. This will be the only chapter for now, but I will probably continue the story sometime. I definitely won't be in the next week, because I'm going on holiday and it's my birthday and stuff. Please review and tell me what you think of the story and my writing!
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy or any of its characters.
"I'm so terribly sorry, your majesty. I hope you shall understand my reasons," Lissa simpered insincerely before pressing the red button on the phone. She let out a deep sigh, one that sounded as if she had been compressing it for some time now, and I swear I saw her eyes brim with tears of relief, although she cleared them quickly and shook her head at me. I just grinned at her. Lissa had been Tatiana's slave for over 4 months now, and the constant toing and froing from St Vladimirs to Court and then back again every week had finally began to take its toll on her. Although I still thought As were awesome grades, Lissa was not happy she had dropped from A*s, and who was I to argue with her?
I had been dropping hints to Lissa to call off her deal with the queen for about three of those four months. I hadn't thought it was a good idea to begin with, and finally Lissa had seen my side of the argument, and sent her a call. She cancelled her deal with Tatiana this way partly because she was a chicken and couldn't face her properly and also because she needed to do this as soon as possible, and it wasn't convenient for Liss and me to shoot off to Court on a Tuesday morning. I would be attending with her as her best friend and future guardian. Naturally.
I haven't been a very good friend recently though. I know I should tell her about Dimitri and I, but every time I try, she runs off to visit Court or see Christian or work with Adrian. Graduation is in 6 months, and although Dimitri and I have agreed to wait until I graduate, it's hard for both of us to deal. I am still receiving my private lessons with him, not because I am behind the class now (on the contrary, I am top of it), but because it's the only time we can spend together without looking suspicious. My heart still races every time I see him, and my mind stops working. When he touches me, my heart practically stops. I think he feels the same way.
Adrian hasn't ceased pestering me, however. He knows about me and Dimitri, he's pretty much the only person who does, with the exception of Dimitri and I, obviously. Adrian hasn't changed a bit from when I first met him at the ski lodge. He still annoys me just as much, but I've grown to think of him as a brother, rather like the way I feel about Lissa. I know Dimitri gets jealous, even though he knows our relationship is purely friendly, and I've told him not to worry about it. Nothing can compare to Dimitri, and both Adrian and Dimitri know I feel that way.
For the first few weeks after I revealed I was seeing ghosts, I was being given counselling sessions, however after it became obvious that I wasn't crazy at all and it was a side effect from being shadow-kissed, they were discontinued, and I was no longer treated like an invalid. It was a relief, to be perfectly honest. I hated being treated like I was weak and fragile. It did nothing for my usual badass demeanour, and I was sick of being teased and mocked by my peers. Dimitri heard a few of them and told them off, but he couldn't do much about them. I could deal with name calling anyway. It was simply just annoying to me, like an itch I couldn't scratch.
When I walked into the gym on that unusually cold September morning, I was surprised to see Dimitri relaxed over a chair, with no training equipment out. He noticed me and smiled as I sent him a confused look, wondering what we were going to be doing today. It didn't even look like we were going to be running, as he pretty much always ran with me these days, and he certainly wasn't dressed for it. Not that I was complaining. I sauntered over and sat in the chair opposite him, not breaking eye contact with him.
"I thought, rather than training this morning, we shouldtalk. About the things that we need to. Our future, the present…" He trailed off, seeing my horrified face. I knew this day was coming. This was the day when he would tell me he didn't want me, and that he was going off with Tasha to have the one thing I couldn't provide him with; a family. "What's wrong?" He asked me softly, reaching his hand towards me and cupping my chin softly. He usually wasn't this affectionate, but when he saw that I was really upset, he let his wild side loose. Compared to my wild side, he looked like a tame kitten, but that was just how I liked him.
"This is when you tell me you don't love me, right? That the night in the cabin was a big mistake? I was an infatuation, one that you can't continue with because it's wrong?" I muttered, not meeting his stare until I heard his sharp intake of breath. Dimitri's face was a look of outrage. He looked away from me for a few moments, and when he redirected his gaze back onto me, his guardian mask was on. I watched him, not sure whether to say anything or not. He looked over at me, scanning my whole body before resting his eyes on mine. His eyes softened, and he ran a hand through his hair before taking one of my hands that had previously been resting on my lap.
"You think, after all this time, I would tell you I didn't love you? You're my life, Rose. I wanted to speak to you about how we're going to work in the future, not to break up with you. I couldn't live a day without you. Now that you've been brought into my life, I'm never letting you go. I need you, as you need me," he whispered, barely audible. My heart swelled; he didn't usually let his emotions out like this. He must be in a really affectionate mood. Not that I was complaining.
"You know I love you too," was I could reply. I shuddered inside; I was getting too soppy! What had happened to the usual Rose Hathaway? "So, Comrade, what did you need to talk to me about?" I asked him, my voice perky again. He just shook his head and smiled softly. Surely he should know by now that I get distracted easily? I poked him in the arm, urging him on. Sometimes the most childish acts were the most effective. Not that I was immature or anything… I was simply in touch with my fun side!
"Well, I was thinking about what we were talking about after the cabin, about our future. Waiting until graduation is a good idea, although it rests on us being able to control our inner feelings, and not letting our affections show too much. Anything that implies we're more than student and teacher will attract attention, and we don't want attention. I know some people already have their suspicions, and we are going to do our best to make them forget said suspicions. Which means no… intimate actions, even when we're alone. Do you understand?" He asked me, searching my eyes for any unspoken answers.
"I don't understand why it has to be this way though! I don't want you to be fired, and I don't want to be expelled, but I love you, and I don't think we should have to hide it!" I said indignantly. Secretly, I knew that this was how we had to handle the situation, and I knew Dimitri knew I knew, but I am Rose Hathaway, and I had to put up a fight. One of the main things on my mind was Lissa. I felt terrible for not telling her about our relationship, and I knew she was going to be pissed that I didn't tell her, but if we were going to keep it a secret for another 6 months, would it help at all by telling her? I hated to continue the lie, but it might be easier just to tell her when the time came.
Dimitri and I conversed for a little while longer, but eventually the bell rang, and I had to leave for breakfast. I was running a little late, and I was hoping that Lissa, Christian or Adrian had saved me a doughnut. There would be hell to pay if they didn't, and seeing as though those three had been personally victimised by me before because of the lack of doughnuts, I had my fingers crossed that they had thought of me whilst getting breakfast. Luckily, they had, and I shot them thankful looks as I slid down into my seat next to Lissa and started munching on them. Although Dimitri and I hadn't done any training today, I was still hungry, and doughnuts were the only things that could fill that empty void of a morning. Some would say my feelings for doughnuts were boring on obsession, but I say screw them. Who are they to decide that my feelings for food are unhealthy? I'd like to see those jerks do hours of training every day! Stupid Moroi have it too easy. They should be stuck in a dhampir's position for a day just to see how much shit we do for them…
"Rose? You okay?" Adrian was asking me, making me drift into reality again. "Your aura just went really dark for a second," he informed me, and as I was unable to reply due to the fact I had a mountain of crumbs and chocolate icing in my mouth, I just nodded and gave him the thumbs up sign. I really needed to find a cure for that darkness, along with a solution for Dimitri and I's relationship, finding the right way to tell Lissa about our relationship, graduating with high enough marks to become Lissa's guardian, find my father, and make sure no Strigoi hurt anyone I love. The life of Rose Hathaway sucks. But I wouldn't have it any other way.
