A/N: The author here! I hope this new updates doesn't make the old readers confused. I'll add the third (all new!) chapter tonight as well. And if you feel like it, I'd like to get comments on what you think about the characters. Have I made them credible? Do you get the right feeling from the dialogue?

I'm sorry this chapter is so short it just felt right to stop there. The next one is a bit longer!

Read and enjoy!

Bloody Valentine - Chapter 2

The knowledge of the ridicule I was putting my self up for by going as the Ester bunny to Saturday's party was making me nervous all week. The lump in my stomach grew each day. When Dimitri asked me about it during Mondays' training I had no good answer ready and was taken of guard.

"So," he said, while blocking one of my neatly aimed punches, "did you get what you wanted out of yesterday's trip?"

"Trip?" I asked, yanking my knee into his ribcage. It was a good hit but he kept his posture and didn't even blink. The bastard.

"You and Lissa were going to Missoula to shop for costumes? You talked about it all Friday."

The mention of costumes made my stomach turn up side down and I lost my focus for one tenth of a second. That tenth made all the difference as Dimitri made his move. I saw his foot before it hit but didn't have time to react. It made contact and I was sent flying. I landed a few feet away from where I had been standing but Dimitri was beside me in an instant.

"Rose!" he grasped my face, "I'm so sorry! What happened?"

My left ear was ringing and tried to sit up but he pushed me back down again. "Don't move!" his voice was on the edge of going frantic. "That was quite a kick. I have to check on you first!"

"Now you're just bragging."

He remained serious but I saw a flickering at the corner of his mouth as he studied where he'd hit my jaw. I felt my stomach flutter once more but for a totally different reason. With hair damp from sweating and a black t-shirt that clang to his chest like a second skin he looked as dreamy as ever. A sudden pang of sadness overtook me. Would we ever make it work?

It was all such a waste. If he hadn't actually loved me back I would just have gotten over it, or wanted to try at least. Sure, it would have taken me some time, especially if we'd continue training together like this, but I would have done it sooner or later. And I could have given Adrian a real chance. I didn't know if he was serious or just playing around half of the time but I would at least have had the intention of finding out. Now I was just trying to ignore something that didn't want to be ignored.

As Dimitri watched me intently, looking for any real damage, his eyes gave him away. The concern I saw told me that he had a hard time ignoring his feelings as well. He loved me as much as I loved him but our circumstances made it impossible for him to pursuit that love. I, on the other hand, was certain that we could make it somehow.

As if reading my thoughts his façade was put on once more and he leaned away from me. All the earlier emotions gone from his face. "There doesn't seem to be any serious damage, just some bruising. But maybe we should call it a day anyway?"

"Just some bruising?" I sat up. "There is a party four days from now and you planted your whole foot in my face. If I have a black eye tomorrow you better run, comrade."

"It's not my fault you have a lousy guard." He shrugged. "The theme is Bloody Valentine, you're supposed to look scary. A blue eye will only emphasize that."

"You don't even know what I'm dressing up as." I said but regretted the words as soon as they came out.

"What are you dressing up as?" he asked.

I felt the blood drain from my face. "Nothing."

"Nothing, really?" he snickered.

"Mhm."

He eyed me incredulously.

"I won't tell you."

"Yeah?" he smiled, a scheming look crossing his face. "What if I do this?" He put both of his hands on my stomach and begun tickling me like I was a little child. I screamed and struggled to get free but he was to strong. He had a good grip on me and the only thing I managed to do was to knock him to the floor and roll on top of him. Screaming with laugher all the while. But then the tickling stopped and I opened my eyes.

Our faces were just inches apart. His breathing was heavy from the struggle – or my weight – and I felt it brush against my face. We locked eyes for just a second before he jolted upright, making me roll hard on to the floor. He got to his feet quicker than I'd ever seen and headed for the door.

"Training is over, see you tomorrow!" he called over his shoulder as he walked out the door.