Hey guys! Good news! I have the next chapter planned out already, so in theory I could have it up by Monday :p But I dunno if I will. More good news! Chapter 13 is in a 3-way tie for first on my most reviewed chapter yet :p Thank you so much guys!

- Belle

The next time I became aware of my surroundings, it was morning.

I saw Akane picking some clothes out of her closet on the other side of the room, so I rubbed my eyes and looked at her.

"Ugh." I moaned. "What day is it?"

She tried not to laugh. "Friday."

"What?" I squeaked.

Akane giggled. "Do you remember when you first got sick?"

I sighed, slapping my hand to my forehead. "Wednesday."

She giggled again, walking out of our bedroom. "Yup. That means you've slept away your reprieve, my friend."

"Nooo!" I moaned. "You've gotta be kidding me."

She laughed from outside. "Nope! You're really mad, aren't you?"

"UGH!" I didn't answer her and I flopped backwards on my bed, so I was lying sideways across it. I turned my head and looked out the window, but something on my nightstand caught my eye.

It was glinting in the sun and it caught my eye. I stood and walked slowly over to the nightstand and gasped as I picked up what was there.

A frozen solid rose.

(AGAIN, THERE SHOULD BE A PAGE BREAK HERE.)

I don't know how I got to school, but I remember Akane poking me when class was over.

"Hey." She said softly. "You in there?"

I shook my head slowly, my eyes wide. She laughed.

"At least you still have your sense of humour."

"Uh huh."

She pinched one of the sides of the frozen rose that I had in my hands. It was starting to thaw. "You okay? You've been clutching that thing all day."

"No." I breathed out. "Nowhere even close to okay."

"I wonder who sent you that?" She wondered out loud. "It seems so romantic."

"No."

She looked confused. "No? You don't think so?"

"Not in this case."

She looked at me with concern. "Are you sure you're okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Not yet I haven't." I moaned.

Akane looked away and sighed. "I never know what you're talking about anymore…"

Rei was suddenly standing behind her. "What's wrong with Kisa?"

Akane sighed again. "I have no clue. She looks like she's about to pass out with fear."

Rei gasped. "What's wrong, Kisa?"

"Don't want to talk about it." I said, standing up. "I'm going to get home."

I was outside the classroom building before they caught up with me.

"Hey, Kisa! We'll go with—" They stopped dead when they saw why I had stopped.

The rose I was holding had dropped to the ground. My mouth was slightly open, as I was breathing through it. A wind ripped through and blew some of the dirt around, creating a light cloud in the air.

Aido's mouth was pulled up at one corner, and he was standing far enough away from me that I wasn't sure what his expression was. What side of him was I going to see today? The resentment flared through me as I remembered how he had bitten me without asking, and how it left me so dumbstruck I was out in the rain and caught a cold, wasting the two days he'd told me being bitten had "bought" me. I took a step back, and the back of my foot touched the bottom of the steps.

"Kisa…" Akane said from the top. "Are you okay? Let's go."

"I think he wants to talk to me." I whispered. "It's okay guys, just go on home."

"If you think we're doing that, you're crazy." Rei said. "We're not leaving you alone with him when you're obviously terrified of him!"

"Rei," I said, turning to face him. "It's okay. He probably just wants to make some snide remark to me or something… or something else just as trivial. No matter what it is, I might as well just hear it. It'll be more difficult for all of us if I avoid it."

This seemed to pacify him slightly. "… Are you sure?"

My mouth turned up at one corner. "Yeah." I smiled a bit more. "Take Akane home."

He relaxed a little. "Alright."

Akane waved. "See you, Kisa." They went down the stairs and past me toward the bridge. I watched them pass Aido, and I didn't miss Aido's eyes flash to Rei's face.

Once they were past him he walked quickly over to me. I held my breath.

"You dropped your rose." He commented, stooping to pick it up. "Did you like it?" He smiled, the rose refreezing in his hand instantly. He handed it back.

I took it carefully. A very large part of me still didn't want it, but a small part of me was flattered he was giving me a rose. The memories of my dream from the night before came rushing to my head. I turned red and I looked down, letting my bangs shadow my face.

"Did you enjoy your two days?" He asked bluntly, taking another half step toward me.

I took a step back. "No. I was sick."

He laughed softly. "Ha… now that's just too bad."

I looked up at him and glared.

"But I have no intention of going back on my claim. Your two days are up." He leaned in. "You are now back to having me pester you…" his voice dropped. "Every day…" His eyes narrowed slightly. I stopped breathing. "To make sure things are okay…" He smiled. "In order to please… Kaname-sama."

I inhaled through my nose and closed my eyes. "Iwantmoretime."

His eyes widened slightly. "Sorry?"

I breathed out through my mouth and opened my eyes, looking right into his. "I. Want. More. Time."

He leaned out slightly. "Really?"

I sighed, holding his gaze. "Yes." My gaze didn't falter.

He smiled. "Well. I don't know how you plan to acquire it."

My mind saw ahead what I was going to do. DON'T.

I have to… I answered it back.

"I'll do whatever you want." I breathed.

After one more mild display of shock from Aido, he closed the space between us as I heard the Night Class gate opening in the distance.

His breath was in my ear. "Meet me after class…" he whispered. "And bring an overnight bag."