Hehe i know i said that i'd post this when i got 100 reviews but i figured that that was too much... so here it is!

:P I'll try and post more regularly now, let the reviews come in naturally... i guess... lol

DISCLAIMER: Characters etc. belong to Richelle Mead. Except for this little story here.

-Deni

I couldn't believe what I had just done. Hang on. It was Dimitri's fault. Why did he have to admit his true feelings right now? But I didn't pull away… maybe it was my fault after all?

"You two really can't keep your hands off each other can you?" Adrian scoffed and looked disgusted. For some reason, that hurt me, a lot.

If that wasn't bad enough, Adrian wasn't the only one who had walked in on us, Lissa did as well. However, she kept quiet and just gave me a death stare, like I betrayed her. I felt something tighten in my chest and I couldn't breathe. Lissa took the jade rose necklace off her neck and threw it, over the balcony. She then stormed off and slammed the door. I felt so ashamed; I had just been caught kissing my best friend's date, which I didn't want anymore anyway. I looked at the ground and stared at my feet for no apparent reason, I was just so confused, what was I going to do now? I heard the doors of the balcony open again and close. Adrian had left. I let out a huge sigh.

"This is your fault you know?" At least I hoped that it was.

"Excuse me?" He cocked an eyebrow and crossed his arms.

"You know what I said! How could you Dimitri, how could you fucking play Lissa like that?!?!" I shouted at him. He looked away and didn't say a word.

"I was wrong about you. You're exactly like every other jerk out there." I left it at that and opened the balcony door.

I didn't look back and I slammed the door behind me with Dimitri still outside. The Moroi had stopped dancing and were sitting at tables around the room ready for their dinner, and they were all staring at me.

"Nice of you to join us Miss Hathaway." Queen Tatiana said to me in a stern voice. Of course she was lying about it being nice, I knew she hated me, as I hated her.

I cleared my throat and walked to the wall to stand by Eddie who looked very curious. The attention was now on the Queen and she stood up on a small stage at the far end of the ballroom in front of a podium. If she ever looked terrifying, it was now; she stood up tall and looked down on us. Yes, looked down on us in every possible way.

"So how was your break?" Eddie looked very curious.

"Don't even ask." I tried to sound calm but it came out a bit bitter.

"Excuse me Miss Hathaway, if you would like to excuse yourself to continue that conversation please do so at once." Queen Tatiana called out which made everyone look back at me. I guess I spoke louder than I thought. I didn't bother apologizing to her or anything, she didn't deserve my apologies. The old hag just scoffed and cleared her throat, forgetting about me for the time being and focusing on the dozens of Moroi in the ballroom.

Adrian, Mia and a few other Moroi were sitting in the table that was a few feet from where Eddie and I were standing. Eddie had to look out for Mia after all and I had to look out for… wait, where was Lissa?

I scanned the room carefully, I couldn't see her anywhere.

I sensed someone next to my right while Eddie was on my left. I turned around and I didn't exactly welcome the person in front of me. Janine Hathaway, my mother, looked at me, and boy oh boy did she look angry…

"Rose. You should learn some manners."

"Have you seen Lissa?" I asked, not caring about what she just said.

"Did you even hear me? And no, I haven't seen her. Why don't you know? She is your charge."

"Yes… but she stormed off and she isn't here."

"You graduated at the top of your class Rose; you should know what to do... You've disappointed me; you shouldn't be coming to me for help."

"First off, why should I treat the Queen fairly when she doesn't give a shit? Second, I'm not asking for your help, I don't even want it. I simply just asked you a question, mother." I said through gritted teeth, I so did not want to get into an argument with my mother now, especially when my best friend or maybe even ex-best friend was nowhere to be found in the ballroom.

"She's probably in your room."

"Alright… I'll check." I turned and started walking away. Of course she was in our room! Well she had to be… right? Why didn't I think of that before?

"I'm sure your absence won't cause as much trouble as you already have." Oh no, she did not just say that…

I turned around to face her, ready to beat the living daylights out of my mother.

"Rose." Eddie said calmly while putting his hand on my shoulder. I immediately relaxed a bit and turned away from them again. I gave Eddie a nod, thanking him for stopping me from making a rash decision. When did I get so violent?

It was all too much. Dimitri changing his mind all the time, Lissa now probably hating me, Queen Hag already hating me… and that was only from the top of my head. There were many more complications in my life that just didn't make life easier.

I walked out of the ballroom and headed to the elevator. I pressed the button and waited anxiously for the elevator to reach my level. In a matter of minutes, Lissa was going to know the truth, the whole truth. I had to explain everything to her, even if we weren't friends anymore, she deserved to know.

The doors opened and I stepped inside. I really hoped that the elevator wouldn't jam again. I pressed the button and waited. The doors opened.

"Well here goes nothing." I muttered to myself quietly.

I walked to our room and took out my key. I opened the door and to my surprise Lissa wasn't there. I checked her bathroom, even my room, but she still wasn't there.

I was starting to panic; I ran out of our room, making sure to lock the door and took the stairs instead of the elevator. This was an emergency, Lissa never left this building and she never went outside into the rest of the Royal Court without a guardian. Sure, the Royal Court had wards just like St. Vladimir's, but after what happened at the academy, I didn't trust wards as much anymore.

I ran into the ballroom and searched for Dimitri. Even though I really didn't want to see him, he had to help, especially since Lissa's life could've been in danger.

"Dimitri!" I sounded freaked out, and frankly I was. I couldn't let anything happen to Lissa. No matter what had happened only moments before, she was still my best friend, still my charge.

"Where's Lissa?" He said, rushing to my side.

"I don't know. She isn't in our room, I think she's outside!" I started to turn but he grabbed me by the shoulder and spun me back around gently.

"Rose, about what happened… can we talk?"

"Not now! Can't you see Lissa could be in danger? Are you out of your freaking mind?!?" I couldn't believe that he could be so selfish.

"We're surrounded by wards. She's safe."

"Dimitri, you of all people should know that we can't always rely on the wards. They can fail." He was almost killed when the wards broke down at the academy. Right now, it was like he forgot about everything that happened during the Strigoi attack. His jaw tightened.

"Let's go already!" I was really frustrated with him right now. Damn Dimitri…

I took off, not really caring if he was coming or not. I ran out of the ballroom, then out of the huge main doors of the building and out into the cold night. There were street lamps lining the road, and other buildings surrounding me in the Royal Court. I looked left and right, Dimitri was behind me, I took off to my left. I ran, looking in between buildings, in dark alley ways… then I heard a muffled sound.

I crept into the alley way and took out my stake. Luckily, stealth was one of my strengths. Lissa was being dragged by, 2 Strigoi. I knew it, the wards were useless. Both Strigoi were trying to restrain her and one was covering her mouth with their hand.

I quickly took in my surroundings before they noticed me. They must've climbed over the brick wall that wasn't too high up, and that meant that the wards were destroyed. Who knew if there were more Strigoi around?

Dimitri ran up to one and punched it, flinging it towards the brick wall. The other Strigoi was a tall male and he finally noticed us and grabbed onto Lissa tightly causing her to yelp in pain.

"Don't you dare." I threatened him, standing still on the spot while Dimitri was busy killing the other one.

"What are you going to do?" He smirked at me.

"Don't you notice that your partner is dead?" Sometimes I couldn't believe how heartless these monsters were. Dimitri crept up behind him, but stayed still.

"Don't you see that the last Dragomir is going to be?" That did it. I ran up, ready to charge my stake through his heart.

Out of nowhere he took out a knife, took his hand off her mouth and stabbed Lissa. I saw the point of the knife coming out from her stomach, and she screamed. He pulled the knife out just as Dimitri tackled him.

"No!" I caught her as she fell to the ground. I laid her down on the ground gently and I held her up with my arms. She was coughing up blood and her eyes were getting heavy, while Dimitri was taking care of the bastard that stabbed her.

"Lissa… it's going to be ok. Stay with me." I felt a strange sensation in my throat as tears started to fall down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry Rose." She whispered weakly.

"No, I'm the one who should apologize. Please, don't leave me, not like this!" I pushed a bit of her hair behind her ear; she started to cry as well. She was coughing savagely and I sat her up.

"Please Lissa. Stay with me!" Her eyes were starting to close.

"Lissa!"

Lissa!!!! :O

I hope ya'll don't hate me... lol

REVIEW PLEASE!!! :D