Want to know something random? In my world civ class, we listened to a song called "Ra Ra Rasputin" and it was about the Russian revolution. Some of the lyrics are "Ra Ra Rasputin, Russia's greatest love machine" and guess who it reminded me of? haha... I have no life. Oh, Dimka. lol

*** Dimitri ***

I felt very pathetic just standing there alone, but I honestly had nothing to do. I shoved my hands in my pockets and tried to read a book I've read a million times.

"Dimka." I jumped.

"Oh, Tasha. Hello." I gave her a friendly hug.

"So you're really back. You're so busy, I thought I'd never get a minute alone with you." Oh, I had forgotten about Tasha. We had not said two words to each other since I...returned.

I smiled at my old friend. "Well, here I am."

"It's really amazing you know, I still can't believe it."

"Yeah, me either." I gulped. I didn't want to talk about this.

"So, um, you're just going to get right back into guarding? You feel comfortable with that?" She seemed a little nervous to be around me than she normally did.

"Sure. Vas- Lissa needs me."

"Aren't there any other guardians?"

"Well there was just two massacres..."

"Yeah. There were."

"So, um, what about you? Where are your guardians?"

"I didn't get issued any." She looked up at me with a sad expression. "Obviously." She sighed and looked back down.

"Really?"

"Well... I guess with the shortage of guardians, they would never give one to someone like me. Just an Ozera..." She sighed dramatically again. Why was she acting so helpless? I'd never seen her like this before. It was almost comical to see such a strong woman get offended by something that she was beyond used to by now.

"Oh, well maybe if you...oh.." I suddenly understood. She wanted me to be her guardian.

"You could get away from the center of things, Dimka. You could get away from a girl who will always be followed by Strigoi. You could have a quiet life..." She gazed up at me and twirled her ponytail.

"Yeah, but I'm-" I bit my tongue. I'm falling in love? Hah..haha...no... no. Definitely not. "I don't know. She probably needs someone with more experience to protect her."

"She has Rose. She'll protect her." Tasha batted her eyes. "Besides, the old offer still stands."

Old offer? The one where I would guard her and have a family with her? My stomach turned. Suddenly the old offer sounded worse than being around a million Strigoi alone. "Look, Tahsa-"

"You don't have to decide right now. I was just throwing it out there.." She said wistfully.

"Thanks, but-"

She spun around and kissed me before I could finish my sentence. Damn it. Why do people keep catching me off guard like that? I suppressed the urge to yell "Yuck!"

"Maybe that will, um, help you in your decision." She bit her lip before walking away, swinging her hips. As soon as she was gone, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Gross. Her lips weren't even close- Stop thinking Dimitri! Just do us all a favor and shut the hell up.

...Us all?

Yeah.

I'm one person! And so are you.

We are the same, smart one.

Then why are you talking to me?

I'm not!

Yes you are.

"SHUT UP DAMNIT!" Several people that were passing by looked at me weirdly. Oh...Did I say that out loud? Um, yeah, you did, genius.

I hated my mind. It always argues with me. This didn't happen nearly as much when I was a dhampir the first time! I started speeding walking back to the room. Maybe I could sleep.. or obsessively clean the room until Rose and Lissa came back. You know, therapy is always an option.

Shut up!

You know I'm right.

You're wrong about everything. You aren't even real.

Or maybe you're the one who isn't real.

I am!

Hey, hey. Chill out.

I'm fine, you're crazy!

You're crazy, Dimitri. At least I'm not falling for Lissa.

"I am not falling for Lissa!" I yelled out loud again. I was next to the room now, and there was no one else in the hallway. Well, except for Lissa. Just my luck. She was hurrying away, into a supply closet right outside our room. If she heard me, she didn't show it. Whew.

I opened the door right when she closed it. "What are you doing in the closet?"

"Shhh! Get in before she sees!" She grabbed my arm and pulled me into the closet.

"Hey! What-"

She covered my mouth with her hand. She smelled so sweet.

"Don't say anything. Rose's mom is looking for her, so we split up to hide." She whispered. She was speaking so close to my ear. I could feel her breath on my cheek. I bit my lip.

"Why do you have to hide?" I whispered slowly, only mildly interested. I couldn't focus anymore.

"I can't tell you." She whispered so softly that it took me a second to register what she said. She slowly took her hand off of my mouth. She really needed to back up. Why won't she back up? I glanced around without turning my head. This closet was small.

I gulped and turned toward her. I tried not to focus on how small the space between us was. "Why not?"

"Because." She bit her lip.

"Okay." I said.

"Rose made you seem a lot more stubborn than that."

"I usually am."

Then the space between us was almost non-existent. She closed her eyes...

"ROSEMARIE!"

We both jumped, and i sprang so far back that i hit my head on some cleaning supplies. They all fell down on me with a huge clatter. Meanwhile, Lissa jumped toward me, trying to catch supplies as they toppled on me. Due to the small closet, she tried to move, but fell on top of me instead. I opened my mouth, but she put her finger on my lips. "Quiet." She whispered.

"How long did you think you could hide this!"

"You didn't need to know." Rose said defiantly. I could picture her stance. Head held high, arms crossed over her chest.

"I'm your mother!"

"You picked a funny time to start caring what I did in my free time."

"Don't even start, Rose. That's bullshit. I wasn't there when you were little, but it's time to move on. I'm not the one who is putting my entire future at stake here."

"Mom, it was a mistake!"

"One you can't undo. I thought you would be smarter than that."

"Well gee, it's not like I knew this would happen!"

"Yeah, but you of all people should know how to prevent it."

I wondered how Guardian Hathaway could speak so calmly and get such a reaction from Rose. Rose was yelling, and I bet everyone in the entire mansion heard.

"Me, of all people? Are you kidding me? What are you implying, that I'm a blood whore?"

"I'm implying that you are a child. I thought you had grown up, but I guess not."

"What are they talking about?" I asked. Lissa just glared at me.

"Shh! Your not supposed to be hearing this!" She hissed. I felt her breath on me again. Snap out of it, Dimitri!

"Yeah, but I bet when you got pregnant with me it was okay though. Am I right?" Oh, Rose. She was always good at turning the arguments on other people...mostly me.

"Rose, I'm done talking about this. I'm ashamed by your behavior."

"Okay. I bet you'll be even more ashamed when I'm walking around after eight months. Look at Janine Hathaway's daughter! She's pregnant!" Rose shouted.

PREGNANT? "WHOA! Rose is-" I forgot I was supposed to be quiet, and that was probably nothing less than a shout. Lissa swiftly pressed her lips to mine in a last attempt to get me to shut the hell up. Now I know why Rose wouldn't want me to hear this.

"I told you to be quiet!"

I gulped. "Sorry."

"No daughter of mine would make such a careless mistake." I could barely make out Janine's last phrase. I could tell she walked away after that though, because it was dead silent.

"Stay still until Rose leaves." She started to get up, but the door swung open.

"Liss, I-" Rose looked at us, and it probably seemed a lot worse than it was. "W-"

"Rose, no. This isn't what it looks like! I was hiding and then-"

"I'm going to Adrian's. Don't wait up." Rose stared blankly at us for what felt like an eternity before walking away slowly.

Okay, I know this chapter wasn't my best. I'm sorry if you didn't like it. I'm going to try to have another one on by Sunday or Monday. I promise that I have ideas for what's going to happen so I hope you guys stick around!