It's finally school holidays! I will finally be able to update more often, that is until I leave to go camping on Wednesday.

Sorry it took so long. I love you all for supporting me so far.


I got in an offensive crouch and we soon began circling each other.

Graduation is forty-eight hours away and I haven't spoken to Dimitri in days. He has made attempts to corner me but someone always comes to my rescue. Rumours about my pregnancy are circulating; some say that Jesse is the father whilst others say it is Adrian... the most hurtful of all is the bloodwhore rumours resurfacing. I've been distancing myself from everyone except Lissa and my pregnancy hormones are making me either overly upset or majorly pissed off. I guess the good thing is that I haven't broken down in public... yet.

I was currently walking through the swarms of students hurrying to lunch, it seemed like I was fighting the current, which I was. Everyone was heading in the opposite direction then me because I was trying to get to the library, where Lissa was. As I walked, somebody bumped into my shoulder, hard. I turned to see some Dhampir guy I've never seen before. He had dropped his books after running into me so I bent down and helped him out.

"Are you okay?" I asked him, studying his appearance. He had black stylishly messy hair, pale skin—rare for a Dhampir—and brown eyes hidden behind square glasses. They were the kind of glasses you saw nerds in the movies wear. Overall, he was really good looking.

"Yeah, I'm fine... Everyone around here is so rough." The guy hadn't looked at me yet but I detected a strange accent. I handed him his books, "Thanks." He finally looked up and his eyes widened when he saw me.

"I'm Rose, haven't seen you around here before," I introduced myself lamely.

"I-I transferred from Germany. My school wanted me to graduate here because they said my charge would be graduating from this school..." Well that explains the accent.

I smiled, "I didn't get your name."

By now, the halls were deserted and it was just us two talking. He seemed nervous and stuttered over his words, "Lewis... Helfosdorferr." [That is not a made up name! Some guy that goes to my school is from Germany and that is his name. I know it's weird...]

Okay so his last name was kind of hard to pronounce, so instead I extended my hand and repeated his first name. He clumsily shook my hand, shuffling his books around in his hands. "Do you need some help?" Despite Lewis' well built, muscular body and good looks, he was much uncoordinated. I wonder how he does in combat.

"I can't find the library..." He admitted sheepishly.

I laughed, "I'll show you." We walked in a slightly uneasy silence, which was until I noticed Dimitri. "Shit," I swore, hoping he hadn't noticed me yet.

"What?" Lewis asked, stunned.

"Uh... nothing—"

"Rose." The godly voice called, wrapping around me like a blanket of warmth and comfort rather than the uneasy vibe I receive from Lewis. I was a heartbeat away of running into his arms and crying my heart out. Avoiding him this past week hasn't exactly been healthy for me, or the baby.

I turned slowly to face Dimitri, seeing that he was walking toward us. "What?" I asked, not meaning for it to sound so harsh.

"Can I speak with you?" He asked and then eyed Lewis, "Alone."

I sighed, wanting closure more than anything right now. "Yeah okay," I turned to Lewis, "Just walk down that path and turn left, you won't miss the sign." Lewis nodded in thanks before giving Dimitri one last cautious glance and then leaving.

Dimitri looked around nervously. We were standing outside just outside the classroom buildings. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind some trees that were lined up against the wall. "I want to apologise—"

"Dimitri..."

"Rose, please. I'm sorry that I even said anything that day but some students already knew earlier that morning and I stupidly assumed that the news would have spread already."

"Dimitri—" He held up a finger to silence me.

"I am so stupid!" He exclaimed with a groan, throwing his hands up in exasperation, "I've hurt you, Roza. I never wanted to do that but I did."

I stared at him for a while, not sure what to do. Ignoring him came back to mind but there is also a part of me that yearns for his warm, firm but gentle touch, the feel of his lips across my skin...

God. I was getting myself all hot and bothered. My hormones were amplifying my sexual frustration which sucked because I haven't had sex in a while. Before Dimitri realised what happened, I had pushed him up against the well hidden wall. He was stunned but soon recovered. His hands found the edge of my baggy shirt and slipped underneath it, pulling me into an intense kiss.

I almost moaned at the pent up passion that was in me being released and I could practically feel his testosterone levels lowering. "Roza..." Dimitri sighed, pulling back from the kiss but tugging me into a tight hug.

I sighed in relief and contentment but nagging thoughts from the bond told me that Lissa was wondering where I was. "I need to go, Lissa wants me."

He pulled back a bit to look in my eyes, "Okay but, I want you to stay away from that guy."

I laughed but then noticed his dead-serious expression. I sobered up, "Why?"

"His record was... extraordinary, in a not-so-good way."

I frowned, "What? Did he murder someone?"

Dimitri shook his head, "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about but please be careful." I nodded and after a few minutes of talking, Dimitri had to return to his shift and I had to meet up with Lissa. It felt like the missing piece of my heart for the past week had returned and I smiled to myself before sitting beside Lissa.

"Looks like someone made-up," she stated, eyes never leaving her novel.

"Is it that obvious?" I asked, half heartedly, not really caring if she answered. Lissa shrugged and we sat in silence until Christian showed up.

"Let me guess, you finally got a chance to beat up on Ivashkov..." He smirked

"Don't I wish," I muttered, suddenly feeling uneasy. I checked the bond and knew it wasn't from Lissa, she was calm and serene which could only mean this feeling is from me.

"Hi Rose," said a new voice. I turned to see Lewis, knowing the feeling had come from his presence. It was just like before when I was walking with him, he made me uncomfortable and especially after Dimitri's warning, I really wanted to stay away from this guy. Dimitri didn't joke about things like—whatever Lewis did.

"Um, hi."

Aren't you going to introduce us? Lissa asked through the bond. Definitely not. If Dimitri thought I couldn't handle this guy then I really didn't want Lissa to have anything to do with him. Right now though, I guess there was no other choice.

"Lewis, this is Lissa and Christian. Guys, this is Lewis, he is a transfer student from Germany. His charge is graduating here," I elaborated.

Lissa turned on her royal charm, "Pleasure to meet you."

Christian just muttered a, "Hey."

Lissa stood and shoved some books into her bag, "Would you like to come and eat lunch with us?" Damn it! Please say no, please say no...

"Sure," Lewis said with a nervous smile. Damn it, again!

On the way to the cafeteria, I kind of just hung back and tried to stay away from Lewis. Eddie and Viktoria were already seated at our table and I sat between them, forcefully pushing Vika out of the way. "Hey, you right there?" She asked, jokingly. Lewis and Lissa went to grab some lunch.

"That new kid makes me uncomfortable," I explained.

"Oh," She sighed, pushing her spaghetti around on the plate.

"Hey, if you won't eat that then I will!" I exclaimed.

Viktoria laughed and slid me the dish, I dug in and Lissa returned to the table along with Lewis.

Rose, the ultra sound that I was supposed to have with Dr. Olendzki this week was re-scheduled until after graduation.

Oh, okay.

Just thought you might want to know, in case you want to come

Of course.

Lissa smiled and went back to eating her large meal before visiting the feeders with Christian. Tasha, Adrian and Dimitri entered the commons and I swore under my breath, sliding down in my chair a bit.

"Are you still fighting with my brother?" Viktoria asked. She knew about our relationship which made it fun for us to speak vaguely about it.

"No," I sent her a suggestive look that screamed: We made up! I think she got the idea because she giggled. Lewis and Eddie were talking about plans for after graduation, Lewis seemed uncomfortable and geeky. I was having a hard time believing that he was supposedly dangerous; he seemed to get along good with Lissa and Eddie.

"Hey guys!" Tasha greeted, cheerfully. "Where are Lissa and Christian?"

"Feeders," we all said at the same time. Tasha noticed Lewis and they greeted each other, suddenly Lewis turned on me. I shrunk into my seat a bit more, Adrian sat across from me and Vika moved so that Dimitri could sit beside me.

"So, what are your plans for after graduation?" He asked putting a strange and possessive emphasise on the word 'your'. Adrian studied him and then stiffened. Dimitri and Adrian both knew something they weren't sharing...

Dimitri shot me a look that told me to be vague, "I'll follow my charge."

"Do you have any idea who it will be yet?" The uneasy vibe I received from Lewis had dimmed the moment Dimitri sat beside me but it was starting to flare up again.

"No," I lied in a small voice.

"I thought you were going to get Liss—" I stood on Eddie's foot under the table and he bit his lip to stop from shouting in pain.

"I won't be a guardian for a while anyway," I tried distracting Lewis from Eddie's comment. It seemed to work.

"What do you mean?" Lewis asked.

Dimitri tapped my leg under the table in a warning gesture to shutup. I had gotten so used to people knowing about my pregnancy that I almost blurted it out. "I'm going to take some extra time off and leave America before my life is committed to slavery," My lie was smooth and everyone except Dimitri and Adrian looked confused but remained quiet.

"Oh," he said, an awkward silence fell over the table. "Well, I have to go. I'll see you all later." Lewis left the table and Dimitri, Adrian and I all let out a breath of relief.

"Okay, what was that about?" Tasha said, holding up her hands.

I crossed my arms and glared at Dimitri, "yeah, comrade. Care to enlighten us? Or maybe Adrian would be kind enough to grace us with the truth..." I turned my stony gaze to Adrian.

"Stupid pregnancy hormones..." Dimitri muttered under his breath. Eddie cracked up laughing, obviously hearing it. I gaped at Dimitri and he ran a hand through his hair, "You weren't supposed to hear that."

"Obviously," I growled.

He sighed, "Lewis has quite the record, as you know. He got expelled from a German school and transferred here—"

"Wait, you said he got expelled? Why?" I asked.

"There were multiple complaints from the female students that he was... harassing them." I cold shiver ran down my spine, "The school couldn't handle it any longer and expelled him."

"But, why would he move all the way from Germany just to attend St. Vladimir's, just two days before graduation?"

Dimitri thought about this for a moment and shrugged, he didn't know. I sagged in defeat but Adrian spoke up, "He wants everyone's trust," Adrian turned to me, "especially you, little Dhampir. In order to gain that trust, he must be a guardian."

"Why me in particular...?" I had so many questions about this creep.

"He has a... strange pull towards you. I can't explain it..." Adrian glared at the table in frustration.

"No, you're right." This is the first time I have ever seen Dimitri agree with Adrian. I stared in astonishment, "he targeted women with similar physical appearances as Rose. Lewis started to harass women in Germany not long after Rose returned from Spokane." I flinched from the mention of Spokane but also because this was creepily coincidental. Dimitri was frowning and also stared at the table in frustration.

For the first time in a while, I felt well and truly scared. Scared for me, scared for my child, scared for those I loved around me... "Rose?" Vika asked, "It's going to be okay. Eddie and I will look out for you and no doubt so will Dimka and Adrian."

I nodded slowly, not able to really comprehend what was going on right now. "Come on, Rose. I don't think you should attend the rest of classes, you look a little pale," I nodded again, not even able to figure out who was speaking. Dimitri's worried face came into view eventually and he tried to tug me up but I couldn't move.

"Rose," he said softly. I was vaguely aware that the cafeteria was almost empty and only us remained. Thoughts of Lewis torturing me, filled my mind. His chilling laugh, evil smile and deathly black eyes...

"Rose!" I heard an alarmed voice yell before I blacked out.