Chapter 2

Training was awkward.

I spent the first hour explaining to Peter what Dimitri had taught me recently. We didn't even do any fighting! He just made me sit there and stretch and talk for an hour. I didn't even get to do my laps around the oval either. I told Peter this, and he said I can do it tomorrow. So I guess that rules out the idea of Dimitri being back soon. Where the hell was he?

I went to breakfast confused and unhappy.

Lissa seemed to sense this as I sat down next to her and Mia.

"What's up with you?" Mia asked.

"I met my new trainer today." I said. Mia instantly lost interest in the conversation and went back to reading a magazine.

"Oh! Peter Kurr?" Lissa asked.

"That's right," I said, now even more confused. "How do you know him?"

"I met him the other day in the infirmary. He's really, very charming; and did I mention a total hottie?"

"What happened to Christian?"

"I was only being polite." She scowled at me.

"Did he tell you he was going to be my trainer?"

"No."

"I'm confused." I rubbed my temples with my fingers. I could feel a headache coming on. The smell of greasy bacon and eggs didn't help either.

"Well, I just assumed that the new guardian Kirova hired was going to be your trainer; with Dimitri gone and all."

"What do you mean gone?" I frowned.

"Haven't you heard?"

"No I haven't heard anything!" Life was really testing my patience today. Lissa broke out into a smile. Something told me that I wasn't going to like this…
"Well, I heard that he agreed to be Tasha's Guardian!"

"W-wait-wh-"

"Isn't it romantic?" Mia jumped into the conversation once more, obviously interested in the topic. "Christian told us that she asked him before Christmas!"

"B-b-but…" I felt like I was going to be sick.

"Isn't it great Rose?" Lissa nudged my shoulder, oblivious to my broken words and scattered mind. What the hell was going on? Dimitri said he would stay. "They get along so well together; it really is the perfect match for her!" Mia nodded in agreement at Lissa's words.

I could have died then and there. But I miraculously remembered how to breathe.

"Are you okay Rose?" Mia looked at me concerned. No. No I'm not okay.

"Yeh, you look really pale." Lissa's hand found my shoulder. That's because I just found out Dimitri has run off with another woman! How would you feel if Christian ran off with Mia? Actually, I doubt that could even compare to what I feel right now. And I also doubt that would ever happen.

More silent words raced through my mind. But I couldn't say what I wanted to say. No matter how much I wanted Lissa to realise the pain I had and was in. I couldn't do it. I was too smart to do that. I wanted to be Lissa's guardian. I wanted to protect her. I wouldn't have myself blow that chance all away for a moment of weakness. Not for this moment of pure, utter, helplessness.

"I-I'm okay. The smell and the noise…" I could feel it. I really did feel like I was going to be sick. I wrapped my arms around my aching chest. "I-"

"Rose?!" I felt Lissa panic through the bond. She reached out for me but I intercepted her. I stood up and ran back to my dorm.

…

I spent an hour on the bathroom floor with my head in the toilet bowel. I really was having a bad day. I could hear Lissa desperately banging on my door outside. I could feel the worry pour out of her. I didn't exactly want her to see me like this. Plus it didn't help that my legs for bided me from moving. My head was spinning and my chest was aching. All I wanted to do was curl up into a ball and cry. Just like the time when my mother had first told me about Tasha.

I stopped thinking about it immediately. The last thing I wanted was a reminder of that last Christmas. Probably the worst Christmas I'd ever had.

I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to shut out the bad memories. It didn't help. My head felt like it was being slammed against a brick wall. The beating of my heart made it ache more. The fast, stressful beats thumped in my ears as if it was plugged into a stereo. It took me a while to realise I wasn't breathing. I gasped for air. But I did it too quickly, and dark spots began to blur my vision. The last thing I felt before I blacked out was a pair of smooth, cold hands brush against my exposed neck. I familiar scent lingered, one that I could have recognised anywhere…

…

When I woke up I found myself in my own bed. I sat up, to find my head was still throbbing.

"Feeling better?" a voice called from the shadows. I looked over to the dark figure in the corner.

"What are you doing here?" I didn't mean to sound so seething, but it was hard not to.

Adrian stepped out of the shadows.

"I was hoping for a warmer welcome." He only seemed mildly disappointed at my reaction, his trade mark smirk still plastered on his face.

"How did you get in here? I thought I'd locked the door." I pulled back the covers. In an instant he was at my side to stop me. With a gentle push my head found its way back to the pillows. I mentally cursed myself for my physical weakness.

"The window." He said simply, tucking me in.

"Did Lissa ask you to do this?" I was curious considering Lissa was no longer banging on my door.

"No." He picked up the glass of water on the bed side table and gave it to me. I waited for the rest of his response but none came.

I closed my eyes briefly, seeking Lissa out. She was in the Library…with Christian. For some reason they sat at the far end of the shelves, a place where no one really goes unless you're hiding from something. They were only talking though. They were contemplating the future. Their future. I couldn't really hear what they were saying over the endless pounding in my head. I opened my eyes again.

Adrian looked at me knowingly. He was obviously still fascinated by the connection between Lissa and me.

"You have beautiful eyes."

Or not.

I gave him a questioning look. He ignored it and continued to look at me. "I heard about your boyfriend." He said suddenly, almost consciously. As if he was waiting for my reaction.

"For a start, he wasn't my boyfriend." I said rather slowly.

"I'm sure you wanted him to be though." He got me there.

"Sure, but-"

"Then what do you define him as?" I continued glaring at him as he leaned in.

"More then friends." I said simply, unwilling to say much on the topic.

"Obviously." He leaned back and stood up.

"How did you even know about us in the first place?" He turned away, his hand digging into his pockets. I assume he was looking for a cigarette. "The first time we met you knew." I always wanted to know how he found out about Dimitri and I.

"What do you mean?"

"Remember our little chat about how I'm not into older men?" Even with his back to me I heard him chuckle and mumble something incoherent.

"My point exactly. I heard what you said as I walked away." Adrian remained silent as he stepped towards the window and opened it, bringing a cigarette to his mouth.

"I have my secrets, and you have yours," He lit the cigarette that hanged from his lips. "Let's keep it that way, shall we?" he turned his head and exhaled out the window. I had to admit that when he was smoking, he did look kind of cool. Even his deliberately messy hair looked cool in the dimmed light.

What the hell?

Only a few hours ago I was crushed by the disappearance of Dimitri, and now I'm already crushing on another guy! Seriously Rose. You have some serious issues to deal with.

I realised after my mental battle that Adrian was once more staring at me. More eloquently this time.

"What?" I asked, determined to break his stare.

"Nothing." He closed his eyes. I laid there confused. I noticed that the drumming in my head was diminishing. I felt tired and weak. Adrian must have noticed this.

"You should sleep some more." And with that he disappeared out the window. I gasped. What the hell was he thinking?!

I jumped out of bed and rushed to the open window. I looked down, around, and even up. But there was nothing. The throbbing in my head had returned, and once again my ethics were faster then my body. Wobbling slightly, I returned to my bed.

Was Adrian always this mysterious?