Thank you guys so much for the reviews! Please keep it up and I'll keep it up, and possibly even write longer chapters… Oh yeah, kind of a warning. I have a hidden sadistic side.

Lady Teri – Thank you very much. I'm trying to continue and I hope I can finish this story.

Jamir – It should be kinda interesting…I'm trying to be some cliché but not cliché.

Belle – Here it is! I'm trying to post regularly, and these reviews are reeeeally helping. He's going to go away, but he'll be back one day!

Jenni NW – They're short, I know, sorry about that. It's just that's all I want to happen in this chapter because it's how the plot was kinda planned in my mind. I'll try writing them longer and more detailed…I know very quickly they will get longer. And the story isn't exactly rushed but I do kind of want it to be a short story. And thank you…I hope you keep reading.

Hematite – You know, you're the first e-mail review I have ever gotten…that made me really happy. : ) I hope you keep enjoying this story, because it won't be ordinary.

*I'm not a whore,* Rose thought, staring at the sunbeams that littered the pale red carpet in one of Janice's guest bedrooms. *I'm just…easy.*

Rose hugged the heavy comforter closer and gaze lifted to the closed door. Ashyr had left through that door minutes ago, explaining that one of his friends was going to skin him for being late to the before-sleep spar. Sun had just barely risen before he had left, placing a gentle kiss on her lips before smiling awkwardly.

But now…self-degrading thoughts drifted through her mind. She had been a virgin 12 hours ago, and then had given it to a male she had met that day. *You are so easy,* a voice inside of her poked her aching head and she curled up around the blanket tighter.

"Rose…?" a girl's voice asked. Gentle footsteps padded their way towards the door. A soft knock. After no response, Rose could define Dani saying, "I know you're in there—and alone."

Rose groaned and lifted the comforter over her face, the warm sheet beneath her pressing into her cheek. Maybe she could fool Dani, she decided. As the door creaked open and shut softly, she realized that her life didn't have that much luck.

"C'mon, you big girl," Dani said and a firm hand gripped Rose's ankle. She gave a small shake and heard a responsive growl from underneath the blanket.

Rose's clothes were thrown on top of the blanket a moment later and a commanding voice told her, "Make it out now before your parents wake up and wonder where their little girl went off to."

Green eyes peaked over the edge of the comforter as Rose informed Dani, "My parents won't care if I don't come home until next millennia. They're too busy fighting all the time."

"Hah, the dead has been awakened," Dani joked, pulling her hair into a sloppy bun. She studied Rose's smile that couldn't be erased and laughed. "Ok, tell me what happened after you too left." A small glance around the room and she added, "Not in detail, I just want to know why you threw yourself at him."

"Well…uh…sort of…" Rose stumbled, not sure on how to explain. Was Dani the trustful type? she wondered.

A small frown was the reply. "I'm not going to tell Janice or Ivy or anyone unless you want me to," she explained, as if she knew the cause of hesitation. "And I doubt I'd kill you myself, so I think you're safe telling me."

Rose accepted this and nodded slowly, closing her eyes and letting her had drop down into the pillow again. "We're soulmates. I don't know why I chose to do 'it', but it felt right at the time."

"Ah," Dani said knowingly and lifted her chin with mock-pride. "Soulmates, knew it all along," she huffed.

Rosianna's eyes widened with shock and asked, "You did?" in a sharp voice.

Dani gave her another frown. "Don't be so gullible, of course not." After a look from the other girl she laughed nervously. "Maybe I should take my own advice."

"Anyways. He's leaving tomorrow for six months, so I felt that if I didn't then, I would have to wait a long time when just right then felt like the right time."

She snickered, placing her hands on her hips. "I bet it felt right, I mean, it *was* sex…"

A blush covered Rose's cheeks and Dani let loose another snicker. "Will you please leave so I can get dressed?"

"Ashamed of your own body, what a shame," Dani mumbled but left Rose to her privacy.

Rose stared after the girl, shaking her head in disbelief. What odd friends Janice had.

@~`~~,~~

Rose shut the door to her house as quietly as she could, glancing around the entryway and sneaking her way towards the stairs. With the luck she had had that morning; her mom began walking down at the same time with a tanned hand smoothing the polished oak rail.

"Well, well, Rosianna," Sheryl Vespertillio drawled, stopping on the step above her daughter, "Good for you to humble the household with your presence."

Rose met her mothers blue eyes and said quietly, "I stayed at Janice's to help pick up." At an acceptance nod she added, "Surprised you noticed. Knocked Dad out cold this morning or something?"

"I wish," the older woman said immaturely. She shook out her short blonde hair and smiled. "I must be going now, if you don't mind. Please move aside."

As she began to descend the stairs she almost went face-first into Rose. Vampire reflexes stopped her and she snapped, "Get out of my way!"

Rose eyed the remaining three feet on her right and lifted an eyebrow at her mother. "What, too fat and need more than a yard to walk by?"

Red crept up the older woman's face as she slipped through the empty space, mumbling cusswords at her daughter. As she reached for the door handle, she spun back and said, "Oh yeah, there's a boy on the phone for you. It's a good thing I told him you were in the middle of sex or he would get suspicious of how long it had taken for you to get there." With this she opened the door and slammed it behind her, rattling the mirror that was on the wall next to it.

Rose stared stupefied at the door before rushing up the stairs and into her room. She threw the door shut and grabbed for her phone. "Hello?" she asked into the plastic, hoping it wasn't Ashyr while another part demanded it to be.

"Hey," Ashyr's voice purred. "How was the sex you just got out of?"

"With you or the mysterious boy hidden in my closet?" Rose joked lamely.

"Your mom is weird," he said instead.

Rose stared at the burgundy carpet strewn over her floor and sat on her queen-sized bed. "She's a complete bitch," she told him truthfully.

"Ah, she can't be as bad as you think," he said stubbornly.

An awkward silence fleeted between them before he said, "I'm leaving tomorrow. I have to be at the airport by noon or they send assassins after me."

"Oh," was all Rose said, the immediately bit her lip to punish herself for the lame remark and to fight the tears threatening her eyes.

"But tonight Jason, that guy I had to see this morning, is dragging me out to this club," he rushed. "Was wondering if you wanted to go and bring Janice or Dani or something."

"I'll bring both, sure," said Rose quietly.

"As long as you bring yourself."

"I will. So where is this club?" she asked, trying to think of happier things besides him leaving and being out of contact for six months. Half of a year, she thought darkly. 182 days.

Ashyr told her the name, address, and directions while Rose scribbled them down on a piece of torn paper.

"Be there at 8. You will be there, right?" he asked, and Rose caught an ounce of desperation dripping through his tones.

She promised she would be.

He joked, "If you're not I'll find out where you live and kidnap you while you sleep."

Rose paused. "How did you get my number, anyway?"

"The phone book. Amazing, huh? Everyone's number is in there," he stated, and she caught a smile in his voice. "All those tiny prints—I feel bad for whoever types them."

"Elves, I think."

"Santa's Elves?" Ashyr asked, voice perplexed.

Rose snickered, "Ever realize Santa is Satan, just a little mixed?"

"Have now," Ashyr stated.

Rose smiled.

@~`~~,~~

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