Hello everyone,
I have returned! Thank you for all of the reviews, I really appreciate them. I wanted to update sooner but considering I gave you guys 2 chapters in 2 days, my boyfriend suggested that I try to set a schedule and focus on not stock piling everything at once. So, I said I would give it a week before updating again. Anyway, I have already planned chapters in advance but haven't written them yet. I hope my story will meet you guys expectations.
Enough about my fears and stuff. On with the story.
I was sitting on the gym floor reading my western, when the gym door opened. Glancing up, I saw Rose walk in. Barely making eye contact with me, she dropped her bag and headed out to the track to do her warm up. Looking at the clock, I see that she is five minutes early, which has become the new normal for her.
Ever since the princess was kidnapped, Rose has made a complete 180. She's showed up to training early, as well as all her other classes. She doesn't talk back to her professors. No one has even caught her trying to sneak back into her room after curfew. In the guardian lounge the other day, even Guardian Alto, Rose proclaimed arch nemesis, approached me to ask about her. He thought she was unwell, saying her behavior has been "pleasant but peculiar".
Outside of the classroom, her behavior has changed as well. Gone was the wise cracking flirtatious novice. Rose doesn't spend nearly as much time as she used to with the princess or her other dhampir friends, Novice Ashford and Novice Castile. All that time spent socializing has been put into studying or even more training. I was shocked to catch her in the gym during one of her free periods lifting weights alone. When I asked her why would she want to spend her free time here, she simply shrugged saying that their was nothing better to do.
As much as I am satisfied with her new focus on her training and her studies, I am beginning to miss the woman I fell in love with. I grew fond of Rose's out going nature. Many would see her rebellious attitude as a result of her immaturity, but I knew that she was simply rebellious by nature. Now she walks around with a stern face. Yes, as guardians, we are trained to never outwardly show out emotions, but it was frustrating not knowing how she was feeling every day. The only hint that gave her away were her eyes. Her beautifully brown eyes would sometimes show that fire burning inside of her, that she refuses to outwardly display anymore.
I started lifting some weights while Rose was out doing her run, usually I would join her but I went for a jog a few minutes before she arrived already. Since, the night of the lust charm, I have been having frequent, but not really unwelcomed, dreams about that night, and often it had a different ending, if I didn't wake up before hand. Today was one of the days that I didn't finish my dream, so I decided to run in order to calm my passions.
When I first started having the dreams, I was incredibly frustrated with myself. I was trying to dissuade my attraction to Rose, but it was like my mind was refusing to let me. Seeing her sweaty everyday did not help the situation either. Sometimes in my dream she would appear in her workout clothes instead of the dress she wore.
However, after talking to Rose about the reasons we can be in a relationship, I've come to welcome the dreams with open arms. I love Roza, but since I can be with her, I will enjoy all the dreams of her that I can. The only downside is waking up painfully aroused, or with soiled underwear, but at least I get to be with the woman of my dreams for a few moments.
I was relieved that Rose understood my reasoning and didn't try to persuade me otherwise. My only hope, it that she will try to find happiness elsewhere. Any man would be lucky to have her. She deserves to be loved in a relationship. The cards just weren't set for us.
Feeling a pair of eyes staring at me I turned to see that Rose had finished her run, in record timing by the way. Dropping my weights, we moved over to the mats and began to spar. I love seeing the determination in her eyes as we spar. Since we have been training, Rose has taken me down a few time here and there, the occurrences have been increasing. She still fights with the passion that she refuses to show anymore, as she tries to calculate what my next move will be. Since we know each other's moves very well, it has been a great practice for me to come up with new moves and to think outside of the box.
"Dead" I declared once I got Rose pinned. This time it took her much longer to go down and she was trying to catch her breath. I was too. Looking down at her my eyes starting to roam her body. Curvy, even for a dhampir, Rose golden skin and toned muscles make her look ravishing. She could wear a potato sack and still be gorgeous. Roaming up back to her face, her eyes met mine. I quickly got up and turned towards the male locker room, silently telling her our session was done for today. I can feel my cheeks heating up as I hope that she didn't notice me starring at her. I really need to get a grip on this.
Watching Dimitri's back as he walks to the boy's locker room a can't help the small smile that came on my face. He was totally checking me out. Ever since the lust charm, we have done our best to pretend that nothing had happened. Finally, catching some hint that he found me attractive made me feel good. At least I know for sure that it wasn't just the spell that drew him to me.
Trying to distract my mind I got up, grabbed my bag and went to change in the female locker room. I decided to put on a basic red crew neck t shirt, some blue skinny jeans, black Nike sneakers, and a zip up black hoodie to go with. I took my hair out and brushed it and put on a light coating of cherry lip gloss. I first started to dress a bit different so I won't garnish to much attention, but I was surprised by how much more comfortable I felt wearing looser clothing, I could practically fall asleep in any class now.
It's not that taking being a guardian makes me want to dress more relaxed, but I just didn't feel like flirting with the guys around school anymore. Ever since Dimitri and I confessed to each other, it just doesn't feel right to get with someone else. Plus, after the lust charm, I don't want anyone to touch me the way Dimitri did, I don't even think that would compare.
Leaving the gym, I headed straight for the cafeteria. With all the extra studying and training, eating has become my favorite part of the day, outside of my training time with Dimitri. Grabbing a tray and stacking my plate, I was sure to only grab one donut, and a bowl of mixed fruits to go with it. I may still love donuts, but I understand I should be trying to eat a bit healthier if I want to be able to properly fuel my body for training.
Satisfied with the amount of food I piled on, I went to go sit at my usual spot with Lissa, Christian, Eddie, and Mason. Sitting down, I became to dig into my food immediately, I was starving.
Eddie, Christian, and I were talking about one of our latest exams in Moroi Culture when Rose abruptly dropped her stack tray, sat down and began stuffing her face.
"Hey Rose" I said, but she only gave me a grunt in return, not even lifting her eyes to look at me. I looked at Eddie and the Princess, but both seemed just about as clueless as I was. Christian didn't seem to care at all, still thinking about the exam.
Looking at her clothing, I remembered this new change to Roses attire. Granted, I still think she looked hot, no matter what she wore, but I did kind of miss the tight V-necks and tank tops she used to wear to school.
Knowing Rose since she was four, along with Eddie, I knew something was up. She was so, cold now. I've tried to invited her to do stuff but she always refuses. Eddie would do the same and get the same result. Even more shocking was the fact that she wasn't even spending more time with Lissa. I thought at first that she had a boyfriend, but I haven't heard anything around school. There were always rumors about rose amongst the Moroi, but I doubt half of them were really true. The other half, I hate to admit, could be true. I can only hope she would look my way. I would never talk about her the way these Moroi assholes did.
She generally, has become, I don't know, more guardian like. She wear her face in a neutral position most of the time now. Even when I try to make her laugh, she may smile, but it doesn't reach her eyes anymore.
"Geez, Hathaway, don't you think you may want to taste your food?" Christian teased
"Shut- up flame breathe" Rose grunted, barely looking up from her food.
As much as I used to hate watching my best friend and my boyfriend insulting each other, I was more disturbed that Rose wasn't falling to his bait. Ever since my kidnapping, nothing has been the same with Rose. She is so serious now, and barely want to hang out with any of us. Anytime I find out she is free, she is either studying, or training. I know she wants to become a better guardian and everything, but she has really become a shell of her former self.
Since coming back to the academy, I know Rose has been teased mercilessly by many Moroi. Most of them calling her a slut or a bloodwhore, but Rose never let it faze her. Now, she doesn't even respond to their insults. I hope they haven't gotten to her.
Rose are you ok? I asked through the bond.
She finally looked up, her plate now empty.
"I am fine, I'm just going to head to first period now." And she promptly grabbed her books and left. Looking at the clock, I can see that first period didn't start for about another 15 minutes.
Since when was she ever that early for anything?!
Ok everyone, that's it for now. I hope Rose is ok. Isolating oneself in the pursuit of greatness is not the best strategy to succeed.
What do you guys think? Be sure to review and leave your thoughts. Later guys.