Sorry its taken me so long to update; I have been swamped with h/w!

R&R

x

Chapter 4

RPOV

I went back to guarding Christian immediately. Field experience ends next week, so we have the rest of term to prepare for the trials. I was kind of hurt that no-one noticed I was gone, but I got over that. I already had half time because of my ghost problem, so I had to be really good. I had to get a good mark; this wasn't about me, it's about Lissa. I was just about to leave on Monday morning, when I noticed a note had been shoved under the door. I grasped the thin pieces of paper, and I carefully opened them.

Miss Hathaway,

All practices have been cancelled for this term, as Guardian Belikov refuses to teach you, claiming you have uncalled for affection for him, and therefore it is getting in the way of these sessions. If you have any queries, please contact the front desk.

Louise Jenkins, Office secretary.

I stared at the piece of paper, my face bright red in shame. All of the teachers knew. They all knew about my love for Dimitri. And of course, something will leak out and all the students will know too. But they won't know that once, Dimitri loved me back. They will think I'm weak, and that I fall for anyone. One solitary tear rolled down my face, and I wiped it away hastily. I had to get to Christian, I was already late.

CPOV – Christian's Point of view

Rose came running towards me, her hair flying behind her.

"Hey Sparky, sorry I'm late…I just got caught up in stuff and-" I cut her off,

"Hey man, it's cool; it's nice to know that you weren't leaving me to get ripped apart by the Strigoi." I smiled. My eyes widened as I took her in. I hadn't seen her for a while and she was really different. She was skinny, like really skinny. Skinnier than a Moroi. She had purple circles under her eyes, and bruises on her arms. Was she anorexic? "Let's get some food, I'm starving…"

"Don't you want some blood first?" Dammit. We come first. I needed to see her eating. This could really affect Lissa if she had anorexia. I sighed and walked towards the feeders. Feeding always made me uncomfortable, after what happened to Eddie in Spokane, no-one who had been there would be completely alright with feedings. We had Alice, who grinned and offered her neck. Before I sunk my teeth in, Rose turned away, and stared into the distance. She was affected by what happened to Eddie too. I sunk my teeth in, and pushed that memory out of my mind.

RPOV

At breakfast, Christian was watching me. It was really strange. I mean he kept staring at the food left on my plate. To be honest, I wasn't that hungry. Last night, after the food I had eaten in the clinic, I threw up in the toilet. I didn't feel like eating. Christian's face was grave when I pushed my food away, and I continued to chat to Lissa. Through the bond, I could feel her getting jealous that Christian was looking at me. That wasn't in her nature. I felt the darkness build up, so I pulled it away. I couldn't let her get depressed again, I just couldn't.

Just as we were walking to Christian's lesson, I asked if I could go to the toilet. I felt the bile rise in my throat and I knew I was going to throw up. Christian ran after me and waited outside the door. I prayed that he couldn't hear me.

CPOV

As I stood outside the toilet door, I could hear Rose throwing up. A sudden realisation came over me; Rose was bulimic. She didn't eat, and then after meals she would make herself throw up. I know Rose and I are not the best of friends, but I was worried. This would hit Lissa badly, and she might start cutting again. I could hear Rose crying as she threw up, and I couldn't even begin to understand how much pain she was in.

Rose walked out of the door like nothing was wrong. She smiled at me, and we walked off to class. Ahead of us I could see Lissa staring at us, waiting. I abruptly turned and pulled Rose along with me, avoiding Lissa. I had to talk to Rose.

"Christian? What the hell?" She exclaimed as I dragged her away, off to the chapel attic. It was the only place we would not be interrupted.

"Rose, I have to talk to you. In private." I didn't say any more than that. She was silent for the rest of the walk, like she was nervous. When we got up there, I walked to the window and placed a shaky hand on it.

"What the hell is this about Christian?" She folded her skinny, bruised arms, that used to be tanned, but now were pale.

"Look, Rose. I know. About your…" I searched for the right words, "Your condition. Your problem."

"What are you talking about?" Rose said, dropping her hands to her sides. Then I did something that I never would have thought of doing before. I hugged her. It wasn't romantic, it was reassurance, and it was friendly. I didn't want her to be alone.

"But Christian, you don't understand." Her voice was muffled against my shoulder. "It's not what you think-" Then Rose broke away abruptly. I recognised that look; she was in Lissa's head. I turned around to see Lissa's platinum blond hair fly behind her as she flounced out of the room.

"LISSA! Wait!" I shouted, making my way to the door.

"Don't bother. She's already gone, and trust me. She doesn't want to talk to us." A solitary tear rolled down Rose's face. " Let's just go, Christian. We have to get to class."

OPOV

The tests I have been waiting for returned that evening. I was terrified that there was something wrong with Rose, but deep down I knew that sooner or later I would have to open it.

I sat down in my chair, and slowly peeled the seal off. I took a deep breath and pulled out the stack of papers. The first piece of paper was the forms I had filled in. I shuffled that page to the back and began to read the results. My eyes widened and my heart sunk; not Rose. Please. Not Rose.