Okay, guys. First off thanks for reading, but I just wanted to let you know that I own none of the characters except for Sarah (and I guess technically her baby lol). Just wanted to make sure you guys understood that:) Okay, hope you enjoy!
Christian and Dimitri left early in the morning because they had a summer tutoring session with this kid who failed miserably in his history class and was very desperate. The kid was lucky that the actual class was on the Middle Age-ish era. Christian had at least some clue about (with his girlfriend being a Queen that follows basically the same "rules" from then) and stepped in to help the kid out. Dimitri helped a little and the two made decent money.
So with the boys gone, me and Jill made our way to Lissa's room for our usual private breakfasts. Some people called it favoritism; I called it "you owe me for suggesting you be nominated in the first place." While technically that wasn't true, I wasn't going to let anyone know that I took advice from Victor Dashkov, a man who wasn't well-liked after he went on a crazy spree while Lissa and I were back in school. I'd killed him right before Lissa was voted Queen. It wasn't very pretty seeing as I was already on the run for the murder of the last queen, Tatiana. But that is in the past, I thought, trying to get my mind off it. I'd dealt with that and forgiven myself for it a long time ago, and there was no need to reopen the wound.
When we got to Lissa's room, Adrian was already there.
"Hey," I said jumping up on Lissa's bed. "Almost thought you were a dream last night, Ivashkov."
"I have been known to be in your dreams frequently, little dhampir," he smiled, remembering. "Seeing me just isn't enough. It's all in the dreams."
Lissa rolled her eyes. "Well, we at least know you're the right Adrian Ivashkov."
"Except that the real Adrian wouldn't have combed hair," Jill noted.
I nodded, noticing it again. "Ah, yes," I said, messing it up with my fingers. "Now that looks like the Adrian we all know and love." His hair, filled of hardcore gel, was sticking up in all directions now and he kind of looked like Alfalfa. Everyone burst into uncontrollable laughter.
All at once everything shifted, and we were all back at St. Vladimir's hanging out in the library or the quad, just being seventeen again. It felt so good. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed high school. Missed being late for guardian practice but it not being a big deal because we'd just start earlier next time. Missed fighting with Stan and getting detention then ditching to hang out with Lissa. Missed goofing off with Eddie. Even missed Karova, goddess of lectures.
But, as soon as the moment came, it left. The feeling of the good times was gone and we were back in the adult world with waves of homesickness.
Lissa sighed. "I really missed you, Adrian. Things, well...they haven't been the same."
"Yeah, we've missed our party boy," I agreed wholeheartedly. He laughed.
"Well, I don't about the partying, but I missed being here. It's another reason why I- I mean, we- came back here. Given a few more days, I would've been back. Pregnant or not," he added quietly.
We all grew quiet until Jill snapped. "How could you have been that stupid Adrian? Aren't you...careful?" I could tell she was grossed out by having to say it, and he was disgusted by having to hear it from her.
"Of course, I was careful. I'm twenty-three, for crying out loud. I'm way too young and way too irresponsible for a kid."
"Har har,"I said, trying to lighten things up. All I got was a glare from Adrian and Lissa which I shrugged off. Yep, it definitely reeked of old times.
"I don't what happened. I really don't. I don't even remember that night all that well."
"Well, we didn't want the details anyway, so you're okay," I said. This time I got a small smile. It was progress.
We didn't get to talk much afterwards because food came and then Lissa and Jill were supposed to meet with Ariana Selsky for some law they wanted to veto. Fun. So I passed and walked around with Adrian. We didn't really talk until we got back to my room. The last time Adrian had been here, he'd been heartbroken and ripped apart. I hesitated for a minute but dismissed my worry. It'd been two years, and he was back. He wouldn't still be mad about everything. Right?
Anyway, he went in and sat on the bed like he used to and I followed him.
He just stared at me and I stared back. It was beyond awkward.
"How are you doing, Rose? Really?" he asked.
"Good," I said. "Things are really good around here. You coming back has made it even better," I added, smiling.
He didn't smile back, though. "You and Belikov? It's good?"
"Yeah."
"Lissa and Christian, too?"
"Better than ever."
"What about Jill?" His eyes darkened a little. "Anyone steal her heart yet?"
I smiled. "There's one guy, but he's totally taken. She's pretty bummed out."
He sighed and pointed to himself with the question in his eyes. I sadly smiled and nodded. He flopped back on the bed and groaned.
"I thought she'd forget about her little crush when I left."
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder," I sighed.
"What idiot said that?"
"I don't know. I think it was a woman."
"Typical," he said. I shrugged.
"Why the Inquisition?" I asked.
"Just making sure my girls are okay," he said.
"Aw, he does care," I teased.
"Never stopped," he said seriously. I sighed and he sat up. "I guess we'll talk now."
"Guess we better now that you're back."
He sighed. "Rose, I'm so sor-"
"Don't, Adrian. You had more than every right to be ticked. I cheated, you found out, and you gave me a piece of your mind. Forgiven, forgotten."
"But, Rose-"
"No 'buts.' It's over with and we've both moved on with our lives. Besides, I don't think it's me you'll need to be worrying about while you're here."
"You mean Jill?" he asked.
"No, Sarah," I said as if to say "Duh!"
"Sarah?" he repeated dumbstruck.
I rolled my eyes. "Do you not pay attention to your girlfriend? She is so...jumpy. That can't be good for the baby."
"Huh, I haven't noticed."
I rolled my eyes. "Of course you haven't."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked defensively.
"Well, since you've gotten here it's like we've all gone back in time. Like we're back at St. Vlad's."
He smiled. "So I'm not the only crazy one?"
"Well, I don't know about that. You haven't died twice and come back twice."
"And how does that make you crazy?"
"Well, there's the fact that I actually believe it," I said.
"Yeah, but then that makes all of us crazy," he contradicted.
"We really weren't all that normal to begin with," I pointed out. He acknowledged this as truth, and we were about to go look for Lissa and Jill when Dimitri walked in, laughing hard, with Christian trailing behind, laughing equally hard.
"What's so funny?" Adrian asked, smiling like crazy.
"This kid, Dimitri and I are tutoring?" Christian said. "Well, we were just about done, and the kid has the nerve to ask us where the Middle Ages and all the stuff that goes with it was. And we'd just spent the past hour telling him that it was basically everywhere. Then he has to ask if we could still give a good report to the people who usually take care of kids like him. It was crazy!" Adrian started laughing, too, and I rolled my eyes. These boys would always be just that- boys.
"Alright, guys, leave the poor kid alone. And, you Mr. High-and-Mighty," I said turning to Adrian. "You weren't much better, you know."
Adrian mockingly looked hurt and got down on his knees while hugging my legs. "Must you go and...hurt my feelings, Rosie?"
I laughed just because there was no way I could've held it in. "You know, you're feelings won't be the only things hurting if you ever call me Rosie again," I said, completely serious.
He still just smiled and got off the floor. I was about to ask Dimitri if we were going to go out and train in the gym, but Adrian's phone began to buzz.
"Hello?"-pause. All at once his body tensed. "I'm on my way." He shut his phone was already at the door.
"Adrian? Everything okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, Sarah's just...having a freak-out. She gets them every once in a while. it's no big deal. I'll see you guys at dinner, okay?"
"Adrian?" I called again.
"Yeah?"
"Is there anything we can do?"
He smiled. "No, little dhampir. Not right now, at least." I nodded and he left.
ADRIAN
"What do you want?" I demanded as soon as I walked into the room. Sarah was sitting in the same spot where I'd left her before breakfast. She looked over at me with sharp eyes. That was the thing about Sarah. She could pretend to be a small, shy girl who was as innocent as kittens, but the thing about kittens? They grew up to use their claws. Sarah got up slowly. I glared at her. If she hadn't called, he'd be with the guys and Rose, hanging out like always. She came over and starting smoothing down my hair. I'd totally forgotten that Rose had messed it up. She sighed in frustration, which let me know that my hair did not want to obey her. I smirked on the inside.
Sarah was the type of girl my parents would approve of; a girl who would "keep me in check."
For over a year, she'd been succeeding. She'd gotten me to finish school and got me to focus on what to do with my life. And then she got pregnant. The day she told me I knew that I'd never reach the highest goal I'd ever set for myself: getting Rose back.
Of course I knew it wouldn't have mattered. She was always and would always be head over heels for Belikov, no matter what. I mean, she'd loved the guy when he was slaughtering people for fun just like she'd loved him when he was comforting her as they were walking away from the house in Spokane. Sarah's voice took me out of my pathetic wallowing.
"Where have you been?" Sarah asked, narrowing her eyes.
"I had breakfast with the girls and then me and Rose hung out until Belikov and Ozera got back," I shrugged. I felt her icy glare burning into my back. Another thing about Sarah: she got insanely jealous over anybody.
"You were alone with Rose?" she said through her teeth.
"Yeah. We needed to catch up. Alot's happened in the last few years."
"But you had to be alone with her?"
"Jill and Lissa had to take care of some Royal thing and besides, Rose and I needed to talk alone."
"About what?"
"The past. And my other girls." I should've kept my mouth shut. Her eyes blazed and her fingers started sparking. Yep, just my luck. I'd ticked off a pregnant, fire-wielding Moroi.
