Wow thanks for all the reviews you guys! I'm soooo sorry for not updating, we were somewhere else and this story is on my computer and I couldn't update, again so sorry you deserve the right to be mad. A little romance in this chapter, as promised. Thanks again, and enjoy!

Christian: dimitrisgirl18 does not own Vampire Academy or its characters. Wow, that was easy, I thought someone was going to-

Lissa: CHRISTIAN! HOW DARE YOU!

Christian: Uh-oh. (runs)

RPOV

Oh no. They were coming for me, they've found me again. No. No. I buried my face in Lissa's arm, letting out a muffled sob. How? Everyone seemed so nice. Maybe it was another jealous Moroi. But no, they would be dead by now if they had contact with a Strigoi. A novice or a guardian? No, not them either. A human. It has to be. Before I could speak my accusation, Dimitri smothered it.

"The Strigoi is dead now, but it said it was working with no one, just a Strigoi trying to find a stray Moroi. He was able to get through the wards because they just expired, and were supposed to be replaced today. A few guardians are on it now." His speech ended with a consoling look and a promise. "They will never get to you, Princess. I promise." Then he walked away.

I breathed out a sigh of relief; I hadn't noticed that I'd been holding my breath. In front of me, Lissa did too. She sat back down and put her arms around my shoulders, giving me a squeeze. Apparently, she was just as worried as I was, possibly more. Then again, she had my life in her hands. The field experience could have turned deadly real in just a moment. Hugging her back, I let out a small laugh. She looked at me like I was crazy.

Then again, maybe I was. "Your burger's cold." I said, still giggling, and she smiled, picking it up anyway.

"Oh, well. I'm starving. Worry can do that to you, you know." She said matter-of-factly.

"Lissa, I swear, you worry so much you're going to get wrinkle lines one of these days." She just rolled her eyes and took a big bite of her burger. "Eww, Lissa!" I got ignored, except for a small smile. Then, who else would appear but Christian. I shrank back a little in my seat.

Lissa's face hardened as she swallowed her burger. Whoa, she was done? "What do you want, fire boy?"

"Just wanted to say hello to my damsel."

I smacked his arm. "I'm not your damsel." I said with a smile.

"Watch it, Rose. You pack a lot of punch for a Moroi." He smiled back.

"Lissa's got me trained." I rolled my eyes at this. (Lissa and I roll our eyes a lot. Bad habit) Ever since the first Strigoi attack, she wanted me to be ready for anything. Lissa was very superstitious. She always told me that one day, guardians might not be around to help me and wanted me to have some defense ready just in case. I ran laps, lifted some weights, and did a lot of conditioning.

He raised his eyebrows at this. "Really?" he asked Lissa. "Have you ever considered teaching her offensive Strigoi magic as well?"

"What's that?" I asked.

"It's special magic that can only be used by one element. That said, there's different magic for each element. I use fire, so I focus on making bright lights and using fire on certain parts of the body, like the head." I jumped. Something about that made me scared of him.

Lissa and Christian continued to talk about offensive and defensive measures, magic or otherwise. I zoned out for a while (another bad habit of ours) and slowly ate my yogurt. That is, until Christian asked a (very) touchy question. "What element have you specialized in, Rose?"

"Uh, I haven't…I mean I just don't know…what I'm trying to say is…"

"She hasn't specialized yet." Said Lissa flatly, in her end of subject tone. Christian shrugged. The lunch bell rung, signaling the end of the lunch period.

Christian stopped us from leaving. "Lissa, did you want to talk later?" he asked.

"Sure, where?" she said.

"Uh…how about the courtyard? Rose can come, obviously, and Wade is definitely coming with me. That is, if he doesn't want to get a bad grade." He said with a smirk. Ugh, I did NOT like this guy. How come Lissa suddenly softened? Oh, wait just a second here. They were flirting weren't they? Double ugh.

Lissa walked to our next class half in a daze, probably thinking of the meeting that night. Which didn't really help the events that happened next.