Chapter Thirteen

It had been five days since the confrontation between Dimitri and me. I grunted as I punched the guy in front of me, wishing I didn't have to wear these stupid protective gloves. What I wanted was teeth gritting, raw, bloody combat. I didn't want safe little practice with the rest of the guardians. The other guardians stood around the room, watching, occasionally booing or cheering.

Music pulsed through the room, but this was an anomaly. We weren't usually allowed to play music, for fear it would disturb the Moroi. I turned and kicked the guy, knocking his legs out from under him. He fell to the mat with a loud oof.

I stepped back and waited for him to get up, holding out a hand to help. He grabbed it and hoisted himself to his feet, smiling. "You still got it, Rose. I figured since you haven't been practicing lately, you would have lost your touch."

I shook my head and grinned. "Nah. I still got it."

The onlookers cheered, and then pushed forward another guy. The way we usually did this was, based on the guardian's wishes, we decided whether or not we wanted protective gloves, and when a guardian lost, another was pushed forward. The winner had to fight until either he couldn't fight anymore, or until they lost.

The guardian that was pushed forward was Nichols, and he smirked as he motioned for me to take off the gloves. I didn't know why he was smirking, he never had beat me. He'd come close a couple of times, but my training had apparently gotten through to me better. He was good, but he still couldn't beat me.

I laughed, throwing the gloves aside and swiping a sweaty strand of hair aside. Adjusting my sports bra and pulling my jacket off, I threw that aside too. The next song started just as he threw his first punch. I ducked.

-Dimitri's POV-

I leaned against the wall, watching with reserved eyes as Rose pulled off her jacket. This surprised me a little bit, because she was wearing only a cut off tank top and a sports bra underneath. The sheen of sweat on her stomach was clearly visible. Her black sweat pants were drawn tight around her hips.

As the first lyric of the song played, Nichols threw his first punch. Rose ducked it easily.

I still hear your voice, when you sleep next to me.

I still feel your touch in my dreams.

Forgive me my weakness, but I don't know why

Without you it's hard to survive

I closed my eyes, wishing this song would stop playing right now. Rose didn't seem to notice the lyrics of the song as she got more into the fight, her face becoming a perfect sign of concentration. Her eyes narrowed at Nichols.

'Cause everytime we touch, I get this feeling.

And everytime we kiss I swear I could fly.

Can't you feel my heart beat fast, I want this to last.

Need you by my side.

I bit my lip, crossing my arms tight over my chest. The guy next to me, who I vaguely recognized from my brief time at St. Vladmir's nudged my arm. He leaned closer to me, and said, "Hey, that's Rose Hathaway, right?"

I looked at him, surprised. "Um. Yeah. That's her. Why?"

"Aren't you Dimitri Belikov?"

I nodded, hardening my face, so he wouldn't see the pain at our names being said together. "Yes, I am. What about it?"

"Didn't you two have a thing?"

I looked away, back at the way she moved as she leapt, twisted, turned, kicked, and punched. She was beautiful. "Yes, we did."

"Why the hell did you let go of that?" His expression was awed as he watched her move, likely seeing how her slim body moved against Nichols'. He licked his lips slowly, moving to adjust his shirt.

I shrugged, and muttered, "She moved on to better things. She has another life now."

Can't you hear my heart beat so...

I can't let you go.

Want you in my life

"Dude…I wouldn't just let her go…." he told me, and then eyed her again like she was dessert. I resented that, but thought his advice was pretty good.

We had been so amazing together… I loved her like there was no tomorrow…how could I not? As smart, fast, fierce and gorgeous she was? And I knew she still loved me. She had all but admitted it. She had been in pain, I knew it. And it wasn't just from me being a dick, either.

I looked at the guy with an appreciative look, and then patted him on the back. "Thanks, man."

The song ended then, and Rose finally pinned Nichols to the ground. I pushed through the crowd, murmuring to the guy by the stereo that I wanted a specific song. Her face hardened when she saw me come onto the floor. Everyone nudged each other, and I could imagine what they were saying.

The song came on.