Chapter 9:

Waking up fresh from my sleep to my blaring alarm clock, I jumped out of bed with far too much energy then I was used to and got ready for my run, running was like an extra-curricular activity for me especially with my family, so I got into the habit of running on Saturdays and pretty much when I felt like it during the week. I started to run around the oval, I noticed someone running up behind me, always be aware of the surrounding area but considering I was at school I figured it was someone I knew, so while I was aware, I wasn't about to go all ninja on them.

"Good morning Lina." Alex? I slowed my run to a brisk jog and let Alex catch up to me.

"Hey Alex, do you mind if we jog and talk?" He laughed but carried on with his jog, Alex and I used to run together, he liked to keep fit. We jogged in silence for about a minute before he started talking.

"So I wanted to ask you something, considering we have only been broken up for like three days and all." Okay now my interest was piqued.

"Umm sure, what's up?" I tried to look at him but it was hard to jog straight without looking to the front.

"Would it be weird if I dated your best friend?" I stopped. How could I possibly answer that? Alex and I were no longer dating and it wasn't weird between us at all but was it okay for him to date Sarah? I couldn't answer that, I didn't know how to answer that, on one hand it wasn't any of my business but on the other it violated some sort of made up invisible rule that exists somewhere in the universe, but do I really mind? If I answered honestly, no I didn't mind but would that make me seem like I just didn't care about our relationship at all? I was so confused.

"More honesty?" He nodded but didn't say anything so I continued on. "I have no idea what protocol goes on with this type of stuff, but I don't mind, I don't really find anything weird in that and if that makes me weird then so be it, I honestly don't know how I feel about it at all." We looked at each other, this was the most awkward it had been since we broke up. "Is it okay if I think about it? Mull it over in my head and all that? I swear I won't leave you in suspense." He laughed.

"Yeah that's cool; I didn't expect you to answer me right away anyway I will let you get back to the jog, just so you know, I wouldn't do anything if it made you uncomfortable."

"I know Alex and I promise I will let you know as soon as I work out my weird brain."

Monday was back and it was back with a vengeance, I was so bored with my classes I honestly thought I was going to die; this was how it was going to end! I was literally going to die of boredom. At least the best part about the dhampir training was that I had stuff to do, but when it was mixed moroi and dhampir classes I just couldn't do it. Someone cleared their voice at the front of the class and I assumed it was the teacher, trying to get the class to pay attention.

"Excuse me Miss Hamilton; I was wondering if I could take Miss Belikov out of your hands, she is needed elsewhere by some guardian or other." I knew that voice, Adrian! I instantly perked up and began packing up my things, even before Miss Hamilton could give me permission.

"Mr. Ivashkov you are not a teacher here, nor are you of any importance in terms of school hierarchy, you do not have clearance to take a student out of class."

"Oh my dear, I beg to differ. I am of great importance in everything, including school hierarchy, not to mention I am a teacher of life and I have a note." I noticed him hand over a slip of paper to the teacher, he was also using compulsion and I knew it, I had seen him do it before; he was busting me out of jail! I knew I liked him.

"Miss Belikov, you can go." To say I ran is an understatement, I laughed with glee in the hallway as I grabbed Adrian around the neck and squeezed, and I planted a big sloppy kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you! Thank you! How did you know? Oh you are the best!" Adrian was laughing, he unwrapped my arms from around his neck only to take one of my hands and drag me along/

"Come on, lets drop off your books and then play hooky, I was getting bored and I knew that you would be too, so I decided to be the bad influence that I am and bust you out, let's hope we don't get caught by your parents though, because that would be bad." We walked to my dorm where I dropped off my books and then we went from there, all we really did was walk around the campus and talk about everything and nothing.

Dimitri POV

I was patrolling around the campus; this brought back memories, some good and bad but mostly the night that I found out that I would be a father to my precious Karolina, she truly was beautiful. I felt Rose tug at my hand and bring me back to reality.

"What are you thinking about Comrade?" I rolled my eyes, she still persists in calling me comrade, not that I mind so much anymore.

"Karolina." I stated plainly, Rose sometimes knew me too well, so most of the time I never had to say anything to detailed, she just knew.

"Are you worried about her?"

"A little bit, I see the way she looks at Adrian and I see what happens to Adrian when she isn't at home, she is good for him but Roza, she is my little girl and Adrian is older than her."

"So were you, we can't forget what we went through when we think about the two of them, yes he is older than her, but he is actually younger than what you were when you met me and we worked out, I get that she is you little girl and I know you want to protect her but Dimitri we raised her right, she is strong, stubborn and she knows how to kick butt, she has the best parts of both of us and she will make a good decision. I mean really what would be so wrong with them together?"

"You are right Roza, when did you get so wise?"

"I have always been wise; you just choose to ignore it." I laughed, same old Roza. As we continued our patrol, which honestly was just us walking around the campus I heard a laugh that I knew all too well, what was my daughter doing out of class? I watched as Karolina and Adrian turned around the corner of a building, walking almost directly in front of us.

"Karolina Belikov, what do you think you are doing?" I used my 'guardian voice' as Rose dubbed it and watched as Karolina literally went stone still, Adrian turned around and had the good move to look sheepish, my daughter still hadn't turned around and beside me, I heard Rose laughing.

"Dimitri, how's it going?" I just stared at Adrian, we may be friends but I wasn't going to take any of his excuses. I watched as Adrian swallowed and looked to Lina for help, she had finally turned around and was now looking at me with a grin that looked exactly like her mothers, and that was never good.

"Daddy, I wouldn't lie to you and because I want to tell you the truth I am going to tell you that it was all Adrian." Here we go.

"Traitor!" Adrian yelled, although anyone can see the humor in his eyes, he wasn't mad at her, I doubt he could ever be mad at her.

"My dad is Yoda, you can't lie to Yoda." Rose had cracked; she couldn't hold in the laugh anymore and was gripping her sides.

"Lina what are you doing out of class?"

"Dad I swear I was almost dying, I was so bored and I wasn't learning anything at all, so what was the point of me being in there? Plus you guys are leaving tomorrow and I won't see you until Christmas break."

"Which is only in three more weeks. Plus you wanted to spend more time with Adrian then with us? We are leaving tomorrow to?" I stated and then Lina pouted, I hated that pout, mainly because she knew I could never resist it.

"Dad I live with you, when I get home I can see you whenever I want." I lifted my eyebrow at her and sighed.

"Don't let it happen again." I stared at Adrian, making sure he knew I was talking to him, he nodded and grabbed Lina's hand, they practically ran away. "I changed my mind; he is a bad influence and doesn't deserve my precious angel."

"My poor Dimka, you just can't handle the fact that your little girl is growing up." This was going to be hard.