Thanks for reviewing! I know it was hard to see Adrian/Rose apart. But like I say so many times: It will get better and this is an Adrian/Rose story . . . why would I keep them apart for long? I am that cruel. Plus, I love writing about Adrian and Rose. I need to write faster so that I can get to chapter 28 which is my favorite . . . no wait. Chapter 29. Yeah. That chapter is the cutest in my opinion, so review and you'll see how awesome that chapter is. Anyways, enough of my rambling.

I don't own Vampire Academy, I really wished though.

Two years later . . .

Rose's POV

A lot had happened in two years. I had graduated from the academy with great guardian honors and lots of other crap. Lissa had been the smartest out of our senior class, which wasn't surprising because she was a total NERD—something I wished I could be, but hell, we can all dream. I hadn't been surprised when they had assigned me to her. The feeling that I got when I realized that I was going to be her guardian was one of pure pride.

The queen, which didn't like me and I had made it very clear that if she was going to be a bitch, her bitchiness was going to be returned. She got that message very clear. We hated each other. The queen, Tatiana, wanted Lissa to educated hear at the Royal court, where only the finest teachers of the Moroi world taught. Lissa was studying to be a makeup artist, a cosmetician. Jade and Lissa had gotten over their hatred because it was clear that Christian did not want anybody but Lissa.

Jade was dating someone, but she would not spill who! I made me mad! My best friend Eddie, got assigned to Mia Rinaldi, the huge bitch. She wasn't that much of a bitch anymore since we started to know her. She was actually kind of cool. She was only a bitch if you were a bitch to her first.

And oh my God! I discovered that Christian Ozera could actually smile! A real smile! It happened one night when we were both walking to Lissa's room and I asked him if he loved Lissa and there it was—the smile! Such an amazing thing. Christian's guardian, I was very surprised when I found out that Christian had received any guardian. His parents had turned themselves into the undead dead and that brought down a bad reputation on the Ozera's. Erick, Christian's guardian, was interested in me, and I admit, he was kind of cute, but he couldn't compare to the beautifulness of my Adrian.

Adrian. Sigh. I missed him terribly. I couldn't get over his tormented, tear streak face as he begged me not to leave me. I hadn't hear, seen from him ever since that horrid day. Well, the day I graduated, I bumped into him on the exact spot where we met. He and I just stared at each other. He tried reaching for me, but I was confused and stupid and left! That was the last time I heard of him and it hurt not see his pretty face each day like I would have loved to see.

Jade kept on bugging me about how I should date, that hot twenty year olds shouldn't be single, that they should be partying every night and having one night stands. I replied to her outburst with a simple "I'm not interested in anyone; my heart is still where it has to be." And she had just smiled like she had just won a bet. Wonder what was up with that?

There was nothing new in my life. I went out on a date with Erick here and there, but that was all. I had not touched a man ever since that night with Adrian. I knew there wouldn't, couldn't be a life without Adrian. Recently, I felt like there was someone following me. Perhaps I had gained a stalker. It all started one night when I was guarding Lissa. I saw a man dressed all in black, staring at me. I rushed Lissa to safety and came to investigate the area with a couple more guardians. There was no one there, except a note that didn't even make sense because it was in another language. Well, whatever was following me, I hoped it wasn't bad.

"What about this shirt?" Lissa asked, holding up a green blouse that matched her eyes very well. I was so focused on my thoughts that I had forgotten Lissa. Wow. What a wonderful guardian.

Even though I hadn't taken good care of myself because of me being a guardian, that didn't mean I wasn't still a girl with a passion for shopping. I gave her the advice a girl would give to another girl when it came to clothes. "I love it, Liss. Buy it!"

She threw it into the bag. "What about you, Rose? What do you like? I'm buying today. And plus, you need something new because of our triple date tonight with Jade, her man, me, my man, you and your . . . friend. And your dressing style has gotten so boring lately."

For that I didn't have anything to say because it was true. I had gotten so boring lately.

"Here, let's choose and outfit for you." She started going through racks and racks of clothes it was scary. Jade had come tagged along on the shopping trip and now was helping Lissa look for a whole new wardrobe for me. Lissa bought me shoes, shirts, and pants. Jade bought me the same things as Lissa just doubled in amount and Jade added accessories to the sale. They were pampering me. Since Jade had two guardians with her, they decided to put me off duty and we got a total makeover at the spa. A blonde lady cut all my unnecessary dead hair. Jade told the lady that I needed some color in my hair; I ended up getting highlights of two colors; one was a shade lighter than my natural hair and the other was a dark, dark blonde. I asked for an awesome white-tip manicure with flowers and diamonds and a pedicure that matched. Jade also suggested thinning out my eyebrows a little to add a little sexy. And that was it.

I stared at myself in the mirror, loving my highlights. "Jade . . . you are an angel. I love my hair."

"A little color here and there is never too much." She smiled. "I love your hair too." Both her and Lissa had gotten awesome haircuts that I would never rock. Jade had gotten an awesome Victoria Beckham bob. It was long in front and short in back. She also had gotten golden brown highlights and it made her look really pretty. Lissa got her hair in lots of layers. She decided not to add color to her hair.

"We all look hot. Now let's go get hotter for our not-so-hot dates tonight." Jade suggested.

"Well, except for Christian. He is so hot he can burn any building he is in." Lissa joked.

Since Lissa was my boss, I didn't have to ask for the day off like other guardian's would. That didn't mean I would stop being on the lookout for danger. Jade, Lissa, and I all gathered at Jade's penthouse here in the Royal Court. Her house it was awesome! I loved it! The three of us got ready together. I threw on what Jade and Lissa had picked out for me for tonight. Jade picked out an awesome pair of mid-rise, dark skinny jeans, a midnight blue corset shirt, black ankle boots, and a dark gray career jacket. Lissa accessorized me with a beaded corsage necklace, a set of bangles, and a weird, yet awesome black ring. I actually put some effort into my hair. I straightened my hair, made a bump in front, and a little poof in the back. Jade did my eyes in a weird, smoky eye way that I loved. She added natural lip gloss as a final touch. Jade and Lissa looked good as well. Jade black one should dress with open toe ankle boots. And Lissa wore a tunic with a gray pencil skirts and some black pumps.

We looked so good, that in fact, when we met up with the guys, they almost toppled over, starting at us. I wasn't really paying attention to that. I was paying attention to Jade' boyfriend. He was . . . human. We were not allowed to tell humans about our existence, much less date a human. What was Jade thinking? She would get in trouble for this.

Erick gave a little wave of his hand and came to stand next to me, appreciative at what he saw.

"Rose," Jade began with a smile filled with light as she pointed to her man, "this is my boyfriend Jonathon, the guy I used to make mud pies with." She chuckled and he chuckled as well.

"Hey, Jonathon." I didn't know what else to say as we shook hands.

"Lovely to meet you, Rose. Jade has told me a lot of wonderful things about you as well as Adrian." Adrian's name made me a little less joyful, but I made sure my smile stayed in place.

"Oh, that better not have been bad or else someone's kicking their ass kicked."

"Pumpkin, you know I would never talk bad about you." Jade teased.

"Don't worry, Rose. She told me of how a bad ass guardian you were." I could just hear this guy's voice all day. He had the loveliest accent. It had to be from Australia. He didn't have a high amount of accent where it got to the point of not understanding a word he was saying; he had the perfect balance—the accent was barely there and it made his voice sound sexy. He had the bluest eyes, dark as midnight. He had bronze hair and he had this weird shaped tattoo on his neck. "I wish you teach me your guardian moves. As an alchemist, they only teach you so much. I would like to learn the real guardian moves."

Oh, he was an alchemist. Adrian had said something about them, something like they cleaned serviced Moroi . . . or it was a long time ago and I couldn't remember. "I'll teach you one day. Let's have fun tonight."

Jade and her man and Lissa and Christian walked up ahead. I was left behind with Erick.

"Hey, good looking." I smiled at him as he said those words. "What made you finally agree to go out with your friends?"

"Lissa and Jade."

He laughed. "Those two together are unstoppable."

"That's an understatement."

He reached for my hand and intertwined mine with his. I felt weird. I hadn't held hands with anyone in a really long time.

"You should go out more. Get a boyfriend."

I sighed. "I don't know if anyone is interested in me." I said, trying to keep it light.

His brown eyes showed a little interest. "I'm interested." He became serious. "Rose, you are a beautiful person. . ." He struggled for a breath as he was nervous. "Here goes nothing," I heard him whisper. "I love you, Rose. You have been the greatest friend and you made me realize that there was more to life than one night stands. I. Love. You. Rose."

I shook my head. "I'm sorry."

"For?"

"I'm sorry I can't love you back. My love is still with the same person. I love him. I am sorry. And I do love, but I am not in love with you." My eyes closed I said this. Just when I was about to have fun, he came up with this. My words were true. I couldn't love anyone, well I could, but I couldn't be in love with anyone but Adrian. He was who I loved. He was the one I would give me life for. He was my life, my heart, my soul, my everything . . . my world.

Adrian's POV

I took a long drag of my cigarette as I stared down at the world below me. The balcony I was on was the perfect setting for the newest canvas I was going to paint. I took a huge interest in art over the past year. I painted many things under the name "Master Adrian." I had painted over thirty canvases that hung in the art museum two blocks away. The sky was dark, with a bright moonlight that would suit my painting well. The title of my newest painting would be "Love Wounds Bleeding." Well, the title said it all. I took the last drag of my cigarette and stopped at it with my foot. With nothing else to do, I thought of Rose, something I did so frequent. I thought about her beautiful smile, her gorgeous body, her wonderful browns. I thought about the first and last night we shared together. How we didn't even need words to express our love. I missed her terribly and I still did not believe her words about her not loving me. But, believe it not, they were probably true.

I thought about the latest txt message I had received from Jade. She had recommended a song for my depression. She just loved to torture me. I replayed the song because it was true. It was perfect for me. But it would have been much better if I had dedicated it to Rose because it fit what she did to me so perfectly.

Someday, I'm gonna run across your mind

But don't worry, I'll be fine

I'm gonna be alright

While you're sleeping with your pride

Wishing I could hold you tight

I'll be over you

And on with my life

The shuffling of feet made me come back to life. I was ready to paint and this had to be the best painting yet because I was going to send it to the love of my life. Hope she liked it.

I sat down on the stool and began to pain "Love Wounds Bleeding."

Hope you liked. Please tell me what you think.