Rose's POV

It was dark outside. And all I could think about was Dimitri. Stupid Dimitri. Why couldn't he have been stronger. Why didn't he win? Because he was trying to protect you. . .you're the cause of his death Rose. . . you! The voice in the back of my head whispered. Shut up! I growled at it. I had enough problems on my mind without this stupid nagging voice in my head. If I wanted that I could have just gone to Christian. Ah, Christian. He is a good friend, and he's good for Lissa. Lissa! I was supposed to meet her for lunch! Oh, crap, I am officially going to be ignored for a while. Stupid. . . stupidity, the same thing that made you murder Dimitri. The voice said. Shut up! I don't need you harassing me! I shouted back at the voice, as I was racing towards the cafeteria.

"Lissa! I am so sorry! Brain jam again." I said breathlessly.

"No problem Rose, have a seat." Lissa said with a sweet smile, "At least you showed up!" she said sarcastically, throwing her hands up in the hair.

"Drama Queen." I said with a laugh. But I couldn't stop thinking about him. Dimitri. I sighed. Why God? Why let a amazing fighter like that be turned, I thought you, of all people, would have been able to stop this! Lissa was looking uneasy, as she kept glancing behind herself. Putting my own problems aside, I started worrying about Lissa.

"Hey, Liss, you know you can talk to me about ANYTHING. Seriously, anything at all. And look here, perfect timing, so what's bugging you?" I asked. Wishing I could mentally nudge her to talk to me.
"Oh nothing." she replied with a sigh, a big one at that.

"Still upset about Christian?" she nodded. Christian had accidentally broke up with Lissa. Well I should say he put his troubles aside by getting rid of a big one. Lissa. I loved Christian, like a brother, of course. But you would be mad to if your best friend was in love with someone and that someone broke up with your best friend. Wouldn't you? Well, I was. I still couldn't believe he would do that, after everything they went through for each other. By the time lunch was over I was ready to take a nap. To bad I couldn't. Stupid school. Getting in the way of beautiful sleep.

* * *

When school ended Kirova had called me to her office. What now? I thought.

"Ah, why hello Rosemarie, come in, come in. Have a seat." Kirova said as she looked up from her newspaper. "Rosemarie . . ." she started to say.

"My name is Rose." I said harshly.

"Of course, Rose . . . Since Belikov is dead I would like to let you know I have found a new mentor for you practices." she said, unaware of the tears building up in the back of my eyes. Damn tears! "Mr. Kirobica, please come in." Kirova said. I saw the door open to reveal a man. He looked just like Dimitri, but more buff, and taller, and he had blue eyes. Sharp blue eyes. Eyes that would make you bow down for him. But besides that. They were the same. Exactly the same.

"Hello Rosemarie." he said, even their voices sounded the same! No! The voice screamed. It is not Dimitri, remember, you're the one who murdered him, this isn't his replacement coming along for you. You don't deserve him! But I ignored the voice. Taking no note of it at all. In fact, I was more surprised when I didn't listen then when I did.

"It's Rose." I said softly.

"Right, uh, hello Headmistress Kirova. Is this the student you want me to mentor?" he asked. And the tears in the back of my ears started building up again. Boy did I really want that guy to be Dimitri, as Dimitri's voice filled the room. Except it was coming from that other dude. Whats his name, um, Kiro-something. I don't know! All I knew was that the new guy was just like Dimitri. I had to get to know him!

Lissa's POV

I was in my dorm doing homework, when I heard a knock.

"I'm coming!" i shouted. "Will you please stop knocking . . . Rose?" I said, stepping aside for Rose, as she stumbled in, tears in her eyes. "Rose. What's wrong?" I asked.

"I saw him Liss, another version of Dimitri. His name is like, Kirob-o-ic-a-ka something. Yeah, something like that." she said, rubbing some of the tears from her eyes.

"Rose, stop trying to replace him he's. . . " I started to say, and would have finished if it wasn't for her eyes. Her eyes pleated me, begging me not to say the words. "Hey, I know. Come on. I'll get Adrian to buy you some ice cream." I said, and she smiled, slightly.

"I'm not five anymore Lissa. But for once, that actually sounds nice. Thanks Lissa. Thanks a lot." and she sighed, looking off into the upcoming sunrise. "i just wish the attack never happened, then maybe, just maybe. . ." she paused, "then we could be together." It broke my heart to see her in pain, but all I could do was stare at her, Rose had gone through so much, including love, and it had all came crashing down on her, one little piece at a time. i knew I shouldn't have said what I said then, but it really did cheer her up.

"Hey, Rose."

"Yeah?"

"Your life is soooo messed up."

I know Liss, I know. And she sighed, again looking off into the sunrise.