Disclaimer: I do not in any way own Vampire Academy. Rights go to Richelle Mead.

As soon as my twenty-four hours were up, a dashed off to find Dimitri. Or rather, I tried to. It was a little bit hard when I was trying to finish up my pre-agreed shift guarding my best friend and moroi queen who tried to hold back her giggles as she continuously tried to hold me back longer.

It had started out with a simple "What do you think of my new shoes?" one minute before my shift ended. I'd told her they looked fine but she'd pouted and told me to elaborate because in her words "They're for my date with Christian! They need to be suuuuuper duuuuuuper nice!"

If it had been any other female guardian replacing me, I easily could've escaped. But of course not. Why? Because she'd rostered Eddie to take over and if you'd ever seen the ugly ass brown loafers he regularly wore, you'd know was completely inept and feet fashion choices.

So being the amazing best friend I was, I put repairing my relationship on hold and talked out her shoe issue. When I was done, I'd gotten up to leave when "I don't think my dress will match those heels, though," left her mouth. I'd sighed and sat back down.

An hour and a half later I finally had it. Her constant giggles each time she asked a question was a dead giveaway that she was doing this on purpose. I stood up midway through her sentence.

"Okay, Liss. Your shoes are fine, your hair is fine, your dress is fine, and your jewellery is fine. Your whole outfit is fine, you're the Queen for fucks sake!" I huffed. "Now, I know you've enjoyed having me to yourself for twenty-four hours, but I really need to save my relationship now."

Her eyes widened and it occurred to me that she hadn't realised I'd known her intention all along. She'd given me the dare because she having me completely to herself – I didn't begrudge her for it. I'd often felt the same when she'd dated Aaron and of course, Christian – especially when Dimitri and I were stuck in out stupid student-mentor roles and couldn't be together. It was a lonely feeling and I understood it. In fact, it was the reason I'd accepted her dare. I never wanted Lissa to feel the same way I once had. Well that was one reason, anyway. I'd also accepted because I'm Rose Hathaway and I don't refuse dares.

"I don't know what you mean," she denied. She was lying. I knew those every emotion that had ever played out in those jade eyes.

"I don't need a bond to know what you're thinking, Liss," I sighed. "And I'm not mad either. I just really need to go find Dimitri before he really believes he and I are done."

She nodded, her platinum blonde hair bouncing from the impact.

"Okay. Go."

I ran.

It didn't take long to find Dimitri.

Of course Christian had known about Lissa dare and had let him off at the same time as me. I headed over to the Royal Court's community centre where Christian taught free baking classes, only realising when I got there that he would probably be long gone. Dimitri already knew how to cook; he had absolutely no reason to hang around.

Without missing a beat I barged into kitchen Christian's class had been allocated and was met with a bunch of gaping moroi. I rolled my eyes and stormed up to Christian, hearing a glass shatter against the floor.

"Yo, Ozera. I need a location on my boyfriend."

He rolled his eyes and ran a hand through his messy black hair. "He finished up like, two hours ago. Man, you move slow. I thought you'd be here like five minutes after your shift ended. I even tried to hold him back for you."

I raised an eyebrow at that. Well, I tried to at least. Due to my lack of facial control, they both popped up, making me huff in frustration.

"You held him back?"

He nodded seriously. I sighed.

"Your girlfriend was holding me back. She just kept talking and asking questions," I told him. That was when I realised she wasn't doing it to hold me back. She was trying to hold onto her 'Rose time'. Was I really neglecting her that badly? I didn't think so. I mean, I did spend between eight and twelve hours a day with her.

Thanking Christian, I left his class, wondering where Dimitri would go. It was the busiest time for the gyms around Court and Dimitri hated crowds so that ruled the gym out. Our apartment was a no-no and he didn't exactly have any friends left after Tasha was put in prison. His only other friends were the cowboys he loved to read about.

That was it.

I ran to the library in record time. Actually, I didn't have a previous time. I'd never been to the library before and it had actually taken four guardians to point me in the right direction. I was beautiful old building with a trimmed lawn and stained glass windows. I found myself thinking that it looked a lot like a church.

Walking in, my eyes immediately fell on Dimitri. He stuck out like a sore thumb with his incredible height and ridiculous duster. It was hot enough that I'd removed my guardian blazer on the way here and rolled up the sleeves to my white button down.

His eyes met mine instantly before he diverted his gaze. I strode over to him and opened my mouth to apologise but before I could say anything, he got up and walked out. Closing my mouth, I followed him as he left the library and kept walking. He didn't say anything as I tried to catch up to him. Damn his long legs! It took me a good five minutes to realise he was heading back to our apartment. Once I did, I gave up trying to catch up with him and trailed behind him instead.

When we got to our apartment, he unlocked the door and stepped aside, letting me in first. Always such a gentleman. He hung his coat up before moving into the living room and sitting on the black leather armrest of our sofa, looking at me expectantly.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out. "I'm really, really sorry, Dimitri."

He raised an eyebrow at me.

"It was a dare, okay? I never wanted to break up with you but you know me, I can't refuse a dar-"

"-You let a dare take priority over our relationship?" his deep voice rumbled, laced with incredulity.

I froze, taking a minute to process his words before finding my grounding.

"It's not the only reason," I said slowly. "Lissa was feeling lonely. She dared me so that for twenty-four hours, she'd have me back. I'm sorry, Comrade. I really am. It was all just a stupid April fool's joke. A really bad one apparently," I muttered the last bit as an afterthought.

"Don't," he warned me as he ran a hand through his silky strands. Crap. He was using his no-nonsense voice.

"Don't call me 'Comrade' and don't try to justify what you did. You thought this was funny? You have no idea what it's like to have your heart broken by Rose Hathaway," he told me quietly. Dimitri was always at his quietest when at his angriest. "Do you honestly think that apologising for a joke is going to make things right?"

I wanted to yell at him and tell him that no, I didn't know what it was like to have my heart broken by Rose Hathaway, but I did know what it was like to have my heart broken by Dimitri Belikov and that hurt a hell of a lot more than any damage I could ever do. Instead I forced myself to calm down.

"Yes, I do think it's enough," I told him. "It was a joke, Dimitri. I was never serious. I know it was wrong but I'll make it up to you, I swear."

"That's not the point, Rose. The point is that you acted childishly. After everything we've been though, I really thought you grew up and then you go and pull a stunt like this? Here I am, wanting –waiting – to marry you and you're going around playing childish jokes on me with your best friend. I guess it goes to show what's important."

My eyes widened and my gut filled with dread. He was really, really mad about this. My desperation grew.

"Tell me," I told him. "Tell me how I can fix this? You said sorry isn't enough. Fine. What do you need, Dimitri? What do I need to do? I can't lose you," I told him on the verge of hysteria. I could feel my eyes getting glossy. How much could I possibly cry over this guy? Either he was really worth it, or I was trying to justify something broken. I went with the former theory.

His dark eyes narrowed at me, some the anger burning in their depths moving aside and letting thought take over.

"You really want to fix this, Rose?" The anger had left his voice - thank goodness – but weariness took over.

I nodded enthusiastically.

"Then I'll give you a choice. You can say yes to getting married. We can have a long engagement if you want but there needs to be a ring on your finger. Something to tell me that you're mine and that you'll never put me through something like this again."

Dread filled me. I was in no way ready to be wife.

"And the other option?"

"We're through."

"What?!" I shrieked. "I play one joke and you tell me that either have to marry you or you'll leave me? Isn't that kind of ultimatum meant to come from the woman?! Dimitri, you're being ridiculous!"

His face remained passive as he crossed him armed over his chest.

"Pick."