Hey everyone!! Sorry this is kinda late but I got this nasty allergy and let's just say, I was in a lot of pain. Anyway, I want to thank all my reviewers because they are what make this story the way it is which is why I encourage all my readers to REVIEW! Oh and this chapter is short because originally, when I typed the full thing out, it was thirteen pages on word processor and that was too long so I cut it in half. The next chapter is a lot longer because I had to cut it in certain spots. Well, you don't care but just so you know, yeah, the next one is longer. I really hope that you like it because it took a lot of writing and editing to get it to where I thought would be good. Anyway, I'm going to let you read now. Good day! :)

The usual disclaimer applies yeah yeah whatever. Onward forth!! :))

Chapter Eleven

I didn't realize I was crying until one of the tears slid off my face and fell to the pavement. I stopped and wiped my eye, examining the wetness.

Why am I crying? I asked myself, filled with what felt like a chain of never ending confusion.

And just like that, I collapsed to the ground, my knees folding under me. Sobs felt natural now--now that I've been doing it so much--and the tears were rolling down my cheeks like a stream of salt and water.

Why do I hurt everyone I come in contact with? Why do I do this to people!? Can I be so heartless as to hurt everyone that I ever cared about?

"What's wrong with me?!" I called out loud.

I need to stop crying already! Crying doesn't help anything, it just makes me weaker.

It took all of my willpower to stand up and give up the tears--all I wanted to do was crumble to the ground and stay there until my time was up--but finally, I managed a wobbly stance and took one step at a time until I was able to run.

I smiled victoriously as the wind whistled through my hair and I felt free, for once, of all my problems. It was as if I was letting go of all my troubles and just running wherever my legs took me.

Unfortunately, my happiness was short-lived as a ball of fire hit my back and I fell to the ground. I growled, looking behind me as I crouched, readying myself to launch into a sprint if I had to, and also putting a hand on my stake just in case.

Of course, it was Christian and my gang of 'friends'. Some friends, throwing fire balls at me.

Eddie was in front, running the fastest to catch up to me. I growled and pushed my foot forward, setting into a sprint that only Dimitri could match. Well, when Dimitri was a Dhampir…

They were too far behind to catch up with me and Christian kept sending fireballs my way. I kept a serpentine route and dodged most of his hits. The only times he hit me was on my leg.

It was so painful and I was wondering why Lissa was allowing him to burn me. Was she that mad at me? And how did Lissa have the energy to come anyway? Feeders? Maybe.

"Why don't you just give it up?" I yelled back at them. "Why can't you just let me do this?! Why won't you leave me alone already!?"

"Because I can't let you kill him, Rose!" Lissa yelled from way back there. It was surprising how I could actually hear them.

I looked behind me quickly to see Christian, Lissa, and Adrian running far behind me with black umbrellas over their heads--to take cover from the sun.

Eddie however, had a determined look in his eye and was pretty damn close to me. I kicked it up a notch and watched as they fell hopelessly behind.

"Why?! Why can't you just let me do what I have to do. You know that I'll come back even if I do!" I yelled back at Lissa.

"Because, I told you, I can save him!" She yelled back.

"Enough of the lies!" I hissed running away from the scene, just running to wherever the roads led me.

I stopped when I hit a city, late at night. I didn't know where I was, but I knew that I was tired and I wanted to sleep. I looked around desperately for a hotel and, at last, I found one. It was a cheap looking hotel, but it would have to do.

I checked in shakily, still tired from the run. I used a lot of energy and just moving my hand was immensely tiring.

I thanked her breathlessly as I walked limply to the elevator. Thankfully it was empty and I collapsed to the ground as I waited for the elevator to arrive at my floor.

When the elevator 'dinged', I crawled out of the elevator, using the door to help pull myself up.

"Hey," A man's voice came from the right side of me and I warily pulled at my stake just in case. "are you okay?" He said as he approached. I couldn't clearly see him because my vision was blurring from the exhaustion.

"Yeah," I waved off his concern. "just need sleep, is all. I walked forward shakily and then I stumbled forward.

A set of strong arms caught hold of me as a moved. I struggled out of his grasp, but I was too weak to do anything so I gave up.

"Where's your room?" He asked and I handed him the card key--I couldn't read the number. "Two-o-eight." He read, leading me down a hall.

He stopped at the door, opening it and helping me in and setting me down on the bed. I saw him put the key card on top of the vanity and then he waved, closing the door behind him.

I watched after his receding form, and then fell back, too tired to move any more. I fell into a deep sleep and for the first time, it was uninterrupted by Adrian or any of the nightmares. It was, unfortunately, Lissa's head that I drifted into.

She was hanging out with the group and Adrian was currently speaking. "When I saw Rose before, she was sitting outside the wards crying. It was so weird because I always thought she was so strong. I never thought she'd cry about anything…" he whispered.

"Just because she comes off strong at first, doesn't necessarily mean that she doesn't cry whenever she's alone. I'm guessing she does that a lot. And even when she acts like everything's alright, maybe, just maybe she's really good at lying. Ever think of that?" Wow, Lissa actually sounded wise…

"Yeah…I guess not. So she really loves him that much, that she's willing to risk her life to help him?" I gasped internally, Lissa told them. How could she do that? Don't secrets mean anything to her at all?

"Well, you know her. She's always cared more about other's than she cared about herself. That's why she won't let us come with her. She doesn't want to risk our lives on something she feels is her fault--even if it's not. And if something did happen to us, she'd feel like she's the one to blame and wouldn't be able to let it go. But I'm willing to take that risk, guys, we have to help her and Dimitri."

"The billing company said that she just checked into a hotel in Hamilton." Adrian said. Hamilton? How'd I get that far?!

Lissa nodded, "Let's go." Oh crap.

* * *

I woke up sore, but awake nonetheless. Quickly, I grabbed my jeans from my duffel bag and a black tank top.

I packed all my things--my duffel bag, old dirty clothes, and my stake--and sped out the door. I went to the cafeteria to get a small breakfast before I left. As I waited in line, I peered at the clock behind the employees--eight thirty a.m.

Perfect, I had all day to get away from anywhere that they could find me.

When it was my turn to order, I asked simply for an egg and bacon sandwich and a water. They gave me my order a minute later and I said thank you, looking around the room for a table to sit at.

Then a sort of hot guy started waving at me and pointed to the chair in front of him. Okay… I walked towards the table, confused, and set my food down as I pulled out the chair.

"Um, do I know you?" I asked outright.

"Well, not personally. But I remember you. You were the one who I helped to your room last night." He said.

"Oh! Sorry, I guess I didn't recognize you. I didn't get a chance to thank you. I was just so tired last night that nothing really registered, you know?"

"Yeah, I get it. Why were you so tired anyway?" He asked and I quickly considered ditching him, but decided against it--he seemed okay.

"I was running a long way. Exercise. But I guess it was just too much running."

He nodded and I hoped he believed my humungo lie. I knew Dimitri wouldn't. No, don't think of him.

"How far did you run?" He asked, oblivious to my internal pain.

"I don't know; several miles. I wasn't really keeping track."

"Must've been a lot." He said, his voice offhand.

"Yup." I nodded, an awkward silence following the action.

Several minutes passed as he stared into space, clearly lost in his own mind. I checked the time. Crap! They'd be halfway here by now. I had to get away before they could get anywhere near me.

"Hey, I just realized that I have to go…it was nice meeting you, though." I smiled at him, getting up from my chair noisily.

"Oh, it's cool. I gotta go, too. Can I walk you to your car?" He requested, standing as well.

"Sure." I replied. It couldn't hurt, could it?

We walked in silence until we reached the center of the parking lot when he asked, "So where are you parked?"

I looked around in confusion, and then realization hit me as I smacked my hand to my forehead.

"Crap!" I yelled. "The accident!"

so how was that?? Good, crappy, okay? Come on, I need feedback so please please PLEASE REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!! More reviews means better/longer chapters. I definitely need constructive criticism. And as for the story line and my plot for it...there isn't one. I usually have an idea of what I'm going to do, but everything else just comes off the top of my head and adds up to what I think is a better story. For example, I was definitely not anticipating this 'Max' dude, but he just became part of the story and now I have a pretty good idea as to what he's going to be doing in the future. Anyway, I'll stop talking now so you can go on with your life. Happy whatever it is today!! :))

~Jess