So, it's been a while since I posted anything. I hope I haven't disappointed too many people, but heres something I decided to start after I read the Vampire Academy. It takes place towards the end of Spirit Bound and the first chapter is pretty much similar to what happens in the book: Dimitri has just been changed back and doesn't want to see Rose. I'm not sure how it'll turn out. I just started writing with no ideas but I'll conjure something up.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Academy or any of the characters. Only anything you don't recognize throughout.

Chapter 1

When you fall in love for the first time, it takes a hold of you. You never forget it, no matter who else comes into your life. Well, for me that's an understatement. Dimitri was my first love. I mean, sure I've seen other guys and kissed other guys in the past. But I never truly felt anything for them. Not like Dimitri. He made me feel something so warm and charitable, something I'd never felt before.

When Dimitri got turned – by force – into a Strigoi, my whole world was torn apart. I travelled the world for him, risked my life, left Lissa all for him. It was one of the hardest things I'd ever done, but I had to kill him. He'd once said that he would rather die than become a Strigoi and I'd promised that if it ever came to that, then I would save him. But despite my efforts, things didn't turn out so well. We'd been miraculously lucky enough to make the impossible, possible. After a difficult prison break to get Victor out of Tarasov, we'd discovered that his brother, Robert Doru, had somehow managed to turn a Strigoi back to their original state. Everyone knew, or thought, it was impossible, but apparently not. I was determined to get Dimitri back no matter the risk and I did: with complications.

See, to turn a Strigoi back you have to charm a silver stake with spirit, including the four other elements: wind, earth, fire and water. Then you have to drive it through the Strigoi's heart which, believe me, isn't easy. Strigoi are extremely fast, not to mention strong. Even highly trained guardians don't always succeed.

Lissa, being a spirit user, was able to charm a stake with heavy practice. But the stake had to be driven through the Strigoi's heart by a spirit user and Lissa had no idea how to do that. She couldn't possibly learn the skills it had taken me years to learn in such little time. And yet she managed. In some incredibly impossible way, she managed, and for that I will always be grateful. But that's where things get complicated.

When Lissa staked Dimitri, it was like she had healed his soul. Dimitri had said that he felt her healing him and bringing him back. They'd somehow formed some kind of protective connection. It wasn't romantic or anything like the bond that Lissa and I shared, but he had promised to protect her and stand by her side for ever as his debt.

Naturally, I was jealous of Lissa. But I also admired Dimitri's appreciation for her. He was so much like his old self again, like the Dimitri I knew and loved – and that's what made it all so much worse. Dimitri didn't want to see me. He felt guilty and depressed over everything he'd done to me as a Strigoi, and he'd told me that his love for me had faded and that he had given up on everything we had. Now, all that plagues me is anger and sadness and jealousy; pretty much everything I shouldn't feel. People keep telling me that he'll come round eventually, but I know Dimitri. Once he believes in something, he won't give up. And he believes that he doesn't – shouldn't – belong in my life anymore.

How can he possibly think that when he promised to stand by my best friends side forever? How can he regard her so highly and not me? It should be me who he pledged to protect. I was the one who travelled the world for him. I was the one who continually fought Strigoi to get him back. I was the one who discovered how to bring him back.

I did it all. Granted, I might not have staked him but that was merely because it wouldn't work without a spirit user. This thought made my anger burn. I couldn't sit around and mope anymore. I needed to distract myself. It didn't help that I could feel Lissa through the bond talking to Dimitri. She'd been visiting him regularly since he was brought back to the Royal Court and, although I knew she was only trying to help, I couldn't help but feel angry at her too. It was petty and stupid but it bothered me.

Heaving myself up from beneath my spot under a tree, I brushed the dirt off of my clothes and made my way back towards my room. Technically, it was early afternoon in Morio time but they ran on a nocturnal schedule which meant that the sun was down, covering the Royal Court in blanket of darkness. I kicked the ground lazily, trying to keep my thoughts contained. It didn't really matter though, because just as I'd reached the main buildings, they re-erupted when Lissa and Dimitri stepped outside.

It didn't surprise me when I saw them. They were on their way back from one of the cafe's here on the grounds. Although I'd avoided visiting Lissa through the bond, I'd been able to feel where they were.

As usual, Dimitri was flanked by three guardians. They were finally easing up on him.

"Rose," Lissa said when she noticed me. She felt uneasy about the situation, sad for me. But at the same time I could feel her protective nature towards Dimitri now that I was around. I didn't want to say anything but that realisation made my anger burst.

"You think he needs protecting from me?" I blurted. It wasn't specifically what she'd been thinking, but it was close enough.

"No! Why would you think -" Lissa paused, realising. "Of course, you read my thoughts."

"Actually, I didn't. You don't cover them up," I snapped, hating that she was mad at me for it. I knew it was an invasion of privacy but it's not like I meant to. When Lissa felt strongly about something it was very difficult not to feel it.

"I try," was all she said.

When neither of us said anything after that, Dimitri spoke up. I'd been so frustrated that I almost forgot he was there.

"Let's go," he said to Lissa, giving me a stony look. It was his way of warning me to stay away. I didn't think he meant to hurt me, but his expression said otherwise.

Lissa stared at me for a moment. She felt helpless between us, but it seemed to me like she was taking his side more than mine. When she started to turn away, another snarky remark forced its way out of me.

"Is this how it is now? My best friend and the guy I love?" I regretted saying it as soon as the words left my mouth. But the anger kept spiralling out. "Do I even exist between you anymore?"

Lissa spun around. Dimitri did too. Lissa was thinking how I could even think that about them, but Dimitri stopped her from saying it.

"Enough," he hissed. "I've told you, Rose. I don't want to see you anymore. Why can't you understand that?"

"Because I love you," I yelled back. "Because I saved you. Lissa only did it because she had to."

"That's not true," she intervened. "I wanted to help Dimitri."

"But you only did it because I couldn't." I turned back to Dimitri, unsure of how much sense I was actually making. "It was me who saved you, Dimitri."

He shook his head.

"It was me. I travelled the world to find you. I risked my life for you. I got the answer to bringing you back. Why isn't that enough?" I stared pleadingly at him. I wanted so desperately to get through to him, but he was so set on the belief that he didn't deserve to be near me. He would only be near Lissa.

"I can't face you after what I did, Rose. Those things...they were unforgivable." His expression shifted slightly, and his eyes softened. "I'm sorry."

As much as I tried to offer my forgiveness, nothing could change his mind. But then a thought occurred to me.

"If you can't be near me because of what you did," I said. "Then how can you be near Lissa?" They both gave me a puzzled look and I continued, "When you were a Strigoi, you didn't care that Nathan wanted to kill her. You said you didn't care what happened to her."

Lissa gasped, but I didn't look away. I could already feel her shock. Instead, my gaze was fixed solely on Dimitri, on how he tensed as I spoke the words. He knew I was right. He knew it was unfair.

"I don't deny it," he said slowly. "But at least I didn't physically harm her. I can face that."

"You just can't face me," I whispered, exasperated. My shoulders slumped and i tried to keep my emotions intact.

Dimitri didn't say anymore. He nudged Lissa gently in the direction they were heading before, leaving me hopeless and hurting over his rejection.

Like I said, this chapter pretty much echoes the book, but it's just the beginning. Please let me know what you think!