Haha, I'm starting research paper soon. Crud. XD

RPOV now that she's conscious. :D


I Just Know

Dimitri didn't say much after that, but we both felt the strong connection between us. Our fingers laced together so smoothly, like they belonged together. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. I'm pretty sure he was thinking along the same lines as I was.

"So, what's going on in the outside world?" I asked, trying to stimulate a topic we could chat about. It worked, sort of. He smiled.

"Well, for starters, everyone knows you're back from the hands of strigoi," he said lightheartedly. For a moment, his smile wavered out of place before he could get a grasp on his expression. Too late.

"There's more, isn't there," I pressed. He sighed, knowing there was no way to avoid my question.

"Nothing. Just don't worry too much on it. Focus on your recovery for now," he said, motioning to my arm. They gave me anesthetics to make sure I wasn't in a lot of pain, which I was thankful for. He left shortly after that to report to Kirova, promising me that he'd be back soon.

I got up and stretched, popping the limbs I haven't used for twenty-four hours. God, that felt good. I walked outside, making sure that the lady at the desk knew where I was going, and inhaled the fresh air. To think that I'd actually miss this place I'd once considered a hell hole.

Walking farther away from the clinic, I found myself in front of four students. Novices, to be exact. They all stared at me with a ghostly expression, like I was some zombie about to chomp their heads off.

"Oh my God," one of them breathed out. They took a few steps back, confusing me.

"What?" I asked, putting my hand in my pocket, "Is it about the bandage because if it is, I'll make sure it becomes a fashion trend among you four." I grinned, still glad I was able to crack my style of jokes. But apparently they didn't find it funny. Rather, they ran off towards the middle school building in a rush. All I could do was stare dumbfounded at their retreating figures.

"Rose, time for your meds!" one of the nurses called from the window. I walked back, shrugging off my encounter with the kids. Dimitri came in just as the nurse injected my IV with more pain killing liquids. I wondered what it'd feel like without the medication.

He took a seat next to me, like he's always been doing, and I saw the back of his neck bandaged.

"How many did you kill this time?" I asked curiously, but slightly jealous. There was no way I was ever going to catch up to him.

"Three," he said, "But you have killed far more than I did." I shot him a look and he laughed. "I'm not joking," he said.

"Just how many, exactly?" I asked. He thought for a moment.

"I'm not sure, but Kirova is planning to have your ceremony when you're released," he said with a shrug. That eased my mood a bit. I honestly didn't remember that much.

There was a knock on the door and Kirova came in. What perfect timing.

"Belikov, if I may," she said, nodding at the door. He bowed and left the room. I had to try so hard from rolling my eyes. He doesn't have to bow to everyone every time. She took his spot next to me and smiled, and I could tell she sort of meant it. Sort of.

"What? Am I still going to have probation or something?" I mumbled.

"No, not anymore. That is, unless you start another fight," she said in a warning tone, obviously shooting down some ideas that'd already popped into my head. She just had to kill my fun.

"And anything else?" I asked, feeling the effects of the drug coming on. I can't even imagine how Adrian can stand being drunk for almost twenty-four seven.

"Graduation is in two weeks. And, of course, Christian Ozera is still your charge in the meantime," she added, and I nodded to show her I got the message. She left and Dimitri came back in.

"She's still an old hag," I groaned. He gave me a stern look and, indeed, I rolled my eyes and said, "Fine, fine. She's a nasty old hag. Happy?" He shook his head and put on a smile.

"I guess you've forgotten something," he said. I stared at him for a moment, confused. What the hell was he talking about now?

"I forgot a lot of things, comrade," I reminded him.

He laughed and placed a small bag on my lap. "Even your own eighteenth birthday?" he mused. I blinked several times. Had I really forgotten?

"Thanks. Is it lip gloss again because I'm still the using the one you gave me a few months ago," I said, opening the bag with the hand that was currently available for movement. My fingers felt a solid box with a velvet covering, and I turned to look at him, my hand still in the bag. He motioned for me to take it out, which I did slowly. Very slowly. He opened the box, revealing a white-gold band with no diamonds. He pulled it out of its place and slipped it on my index finger.

"This is a little piece of freedom that I can give you," he said, looking up at me with a hesitant expression. My mouth was hanging open and I immediately closed it and grabbed his hand.

I've never smiled as wide as I'm doing right now. "It's more than enough," I said, "And I would hug you, but this damn cast…" He laughed and wrapped his arms around my neck. We stayed in that position for a while, both of us remembering what it was like to be in each other's arms. He must've heard something because he pulled back quickly and sat back in his chair just as the door opened. Dr. Olendzki came in with a clipboard and examined my IV cord and all the plastic tubes they stuck all over me. I guess with all those monitors, they might as well be checking up on the pulse of my digestion rate as well.

"We'll unhook you in a few hours. And you can go back to your school life tomorrow," she said with a smile. I grinned and felt my eyes droop. She flicked the IV cord and said, "She should rest."

I faintly saw Dimitri nod. "I'll still be here, just in case she needs anything," he said and Dr. Olendzki looked fine with that. When she closed the door, I let out a sigh.

"You should go. What's the point of you staying here while I take a snooze?" I said groggily.

He stroked my hair. "I have plenty of time," he replied with a smile and with that I knocked out.


"Rose!" a voice cried when I was walking towards my first class. Turning around, I saw Lissa run over with Eddie and Christian. She slammed into me and I had to steady her.

"Hey, long time no see," I joked as she squeezed the life out of me. Eddie high-fived me and Christian just had a look of relief on his face. I patted Lissa's silky hair before she released me.

"I'm really glad you're back. We all really missed you," she said as tears leaked out of her eyes. I laughed and wiped them away.

"What? You thought I was gone for good? You should know I can't stay away from this place," I said with a laugh. Just then, the bell rang, meaning that if we didn't get to class soon, we're all screwed. I dragged Christian to his first period as Lissa and Eddie went to a different class.

The cafeteria was just the way it'd been the last time I was there. When I entered, all heads turned toward me and the yelling became whispers. This is pretty much like what had happened when I ran into the four novices yesterday.

"What's up with them?" I mumbled to Lissa. She shrugged, and she meant it. The rumor hadn't reached her yet, whatever it was.

As we ate, Jesse and Ralf approached our group, looking pretty smug. "Hey, Hathaway!" Ralf called and I turned around to glare at him.

"What?" I asked.

"I guess you became so obsessed with strigoi that it drove you nearly mental," he said, causing everyone to become as silent as death.

I narrowed my eyes. "What did you just say?" I growled through clenched teeth.

"The incident at Spokane wasn't enough for you, huh?" Ralf said with a smirk as I clenched my hands into fists, remembering a time I didn't want to remember. "You wanted more bloodlust that you yourself turned strigoi, didn't you? And you had Lissa come and save your precious soul from death," he said. Everyone's eyes widened as each one of them looked back from me to Lissa, the pieces in their heads clicking together.

I stood up and strided over there, fury burning in my eyes as I grabbed Ralf by the collar. "Say that again, you son of a bi-" I shouted.

"Oh, everyone, watch out! Rose is going to go strigoi on us! Someone grab a stake!" Ralf cried in mockery. I froze in my spot, letting my hand drop to my side. All the students held their breaths, waiting for me to explode. But the blow never came. Rather, Eddie came up from behind me and did the honor of punching Ralf square in the face, cracking his nose in the process. Blood spurted everywhere. Blood.

Turning, I ran as fast as I could out of the stuffy room and towards the forest. I ran till my legs could run no more. I collapsed on the ground, panting heavily as cold sweat formed on the back of my neck that sent chills down my spine. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the memories from the cave. But every imagine was so vivid. My struggle against the blond strigoi. The taste of strigoi blood.

I gritted my teeth together from letting out a sob and throwing up my lunch. The crunching of leaves caught my attention and I hastily wiped whatever tears leaked out.

"Rose? What're you doing here?" an all-too-familiar voice asked.

I turned around and smiled. "I just wanted to go out for a run. I hate cramped areas," I said. He regarded me cautiously, making sure I wasn't lying to him.

"And why don't I believe that?" he asked.

I threw my arms in the air. "No one believes anything I say, comrade," I said with a smirk. He laughed, making me feel relieved that he didn't ask any further.

"How do you always know where to find me? Did you put some sort of tracking device on my back or something when I was sleeping?" I said, jabbing my finger into his chest.

He smiled. "I can't really explain. I just know," he said, but, oh, there were a hell of a lot of things about me that he had no idea about.


Loved it? Liked it? Hated it? R&R!

-Delicate