Hey guys (:

This is a story I've been wanting to do for a while now. And i finally got around to it. Yay! Um please read and review (: thanx

xo

I was late. Again.

Well I actually wasn't late yet. But by the time I got across to the gym I would be. And I knew what I would find. An annoyed Russian and five extra laps around an oval. The first one I could live with but I was dreading the second. It was freezing out and my hair was still wet from my super short shower. Not a good combination. Is it actually possible for your hair to snap freeze?

I was really hoping Dimitri was in a good mood and I guess karma wanted to thank me for something because just as I was about to open the gym door he jogged up behind me.

He was breathing heavily and I guessed I wasn't the only one to sleep through their alarm. I stepped into the warm room and held the door open with my foot for Dimitri. The door slammed shut behind him and I dumped my jacket and shoes on the floor in the closest corner. I watched Dimitri do the same and my god was he good looking today. His hair was wet with melting snow and you could see his muscles through his thin cotton T-shirt. He had brought a stuffed duffle bag with him today, but I decided not to ask.

"Late night?" I teased "You shouldn't be partying on a work night." Dimitri was possibly the most anti- social person I had ever met. I just couldn't fathom why he never did anything but read his old western paperbacks on the weekend.

"Har- Har." He shot me a sardonic look and continued to unlace his boots. "No. I had a meeting with headmistress Kirova about our training sessions."

"What? She's not cancelling them is she? I thought you had heaps more stuff to teach me." A small frown creased my forehead.

"I do. Stop jumping to conclusions Rose." He walked over and sat on the floor in front of me and started doing some warm up stretches. I followed him onto the floorboards. "She wanted to tell me that there's going to be a student transferring from Colorado's academy with her parents and that because their academies graduates finish four months after ours she's going to be a bit behind. So Kirova asked me if i'd mentor her for a while as well ." His eyes lifted to see my reaction. All traces of a frown had left my face by then and it was replaced by surprise. My mouth formed a small "o"

We were quiet for a while. I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Her being here meant less Dimitri and me time, resulting in my unhappiness. But I was also kind of excited. Everyone in this academy had known each other since we were in, like, prep. The concept of fresh meat was new. And she could end up being totally rad.

I decided I would look at this the optimistic way and let a small smile form on my face. Dimitri approved of my acceptance and gave me a half smile back. God he was gorgeous when he smiled, my breathing hitched for a second.

"When's she gonna get here?" Dimitri tucked a piece of hair behind his ear and it almost instantly flopped in front of his face again. He sighed and tied it back with an elastic band he had around his wrist, then changed stretch.

"She gets here late Thursday night and starts training on Friday. Rose?"

"Yeah?" He stood and offered me a hand. When i put mine in his tingles shot up my arm. When I was standing I had to force myself to let go.

"Be nice."

I found out what was in the duffle bag. Big black blankets. We spent ten minutes light proofing the room. Apparently I had to learn how to fight in the dark.

Dimitri played strigoi and I was the badass guardian. We spent the next hour sparring in pitch black. But I, being the awesome person that I am, used my ninja skills to find the light switch somewhere near the hour mark (well actually I ran into the door knob and found the switch from there.) turned on the lights and pounced on Dimitri. I ended up straddling him with my practice stake poised above my head. I was about to bring it down on his chest when he lifted his hand and trailed his thumb along the bare skin above the waistband of my tracksuit pants, just that small touch and I melted. His thumb – barely – slipped under the elastic. Only a centimetre. But it still sent a shudder through my body and made my go lightheaded. I almost passed out.

And then I was underneath him. And I realised that he'd just done it because I was about to win. Fuck. I shouldn't have let myself get distracted like that. I let out an annoyed huff and glared up at Dimitri. There was amusement in his eyes and his mouth twitched into a smile. He was so goddamn sexy in that moment, but I didn't let my glare slip.

"You cheated" I accused.

"So did you."

"How did I—oh." oh right. The lights. "So? There might be a light switch where I'm fighting." I tried to stand my ground.

"Mm hmm. Lights or no lights. I still beat you." To emphasise the point he leant down and brushed his lips against the soft skin of my neck. He nipped the spot just above my collarbone. His hands were trailing up and down my waist leaving paths of fire where they touched. "And now you're dead."

"Barely." I mumbled.

I hadn't breathed that whole time and I had to remind myself to when he stood. I lifted myself up onto my forearms and watched him as he gathered up all his stuff. Just as he was leaving he turned to me.

"You're going to be late for class. Just leave the sheets. No one else is using this room today and we'll continue this, this afternoon." He gave me a mischievous smile but I knew all we would be doing this afternoon is training. "Have a good day Roza."

Fucking tease.

The rest of my morning went like it usually did and I didn't see Lissa until lunchtime.

We were sitting around a table in the cafeteria with Christian, Eddie and a drunk Adrian.

"Were getting a new girl." I told them around a mouthful of donut. "She's starting on Friday."

"Really?" I felt Lissa's interest spike through the bond. Good to know someone was listening.

"Yeah. She's transferring from Colorado."

Lissa smiled. I knew she thought that she thought that this would help me take my mind off what had happened in Spokane little over a month ago. Thinking about it made my good mood plummet and I put down the rest of my donut. Suddenly losing my appetite.

"Do you know why she's moving here?" Christian had been listening after all. I stood up and hoisted my bag up onto my shoulder.

"I have no idea."

Sooo...? How'd you like it? Please review. Even if it's to tell me its shit (:

Xox

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