Dimitri POV
I walked away from Rose and the group that was clustered around her. Boy did I wish our embrace would have lasted longer. But if it did, then it would start rumors up for Rose, and I really didn't need that right now. I needed her whole, alive, not broken.
I ran into Tasha on my way to the dorms. Crap, did I really have to face her now?
"Dimka! How was your ride home?" She asked.
"Good," I told her.
She threw her arms around me, and I did the same, wrapping them around her awkwardly. The only person that I had every truly embraced was my Roza.
"What is it that you wanted to ask me?" I asked her, remembering out earlier conversation.
She opened her mouth to speak, when I heard Alberta walking towards us.
We pulled apart just as she rounded the corner, and I put that Guardian mask back on my face.
"Guardian Petrov," I nodded in greeting.
"Guardian Belikov, I trust that you got back safely?" She asked me.
I nodded again, "Yes, the roads were perfectly fine and Rose is doing very well."
"Good, good, but I need your opinion on something," She said, spotting Tasha behind me, "Privately, if you don't mind, Miss Ozera.
Tasha nodded and turned away and went downstairs.
"Guardian Belikov, about the accident with Arthur, we have decided to send the students and the Guardians to Washington for Christmas. Since you weren't here during out vote on the subject, I would like to know your opinion," Alberta said.
I considered the thought. They were all on edge from the attack that was expected. Arthur had killed many Strigoi and was never once even injured! It was a pretty good idea to send the Academy to Washington for a little fun.
"I think that would be an excellent idea, Guardian Petrov," I answered.
She nodded, "Great, thank you for your opinion Guardian Belikov."
She turned away and walked downstairs as well, leaving me to my thoughts. I went into my room and dropped my bag on the floor, closing and locking the door behind me.
I couldn't think straight, the only thought that I was capable of was thinking about Rose, about our last embrace. Now that we were back at the Academy, we had to act professional again. We can't steal hugs and kisses from each other because the risk of being seen is too great. I sighed, why couldn't there be a snow storm that would last for weeks on end? Why couldn't we stay in our cozy room together, forever? Why? Because, you idiot, you're her mentor and she's your student! That voice told me, and I nodded. I vowed to never again forget that.
Rose POV
When I woke up the next morning, I headed off to practice in a pink sports bra and shorts. I ran into Mason, and he immediately came to my side.
"Hey, Hathaway, don't run away!" He called to me, catching up.
I laughed, "Nice, you came up with yet another stupid phrase," I mumbled.
He laughed too, "Yup, so where you headed this early?"
"Practice, and shouldn't you be on your bed dreaming about me instead of talking to me?" I asked.
He smiled, "Maybe this is my dream, and if it is, this is the best fucking dream yet! But, no I'm headed to take a math test."
Talking with Mason was so easy, we both liked to flirt, which was what made everyone say that we were the perfect couple. Although I failed to see their logic, I still kept on flirting with Mason. It was fun, and he would flirt back.
"So, you excited to get on the slopes?" He asked, abruptly changing subjects.
"What slopes?" I asked him, stopping.
He stopped too, "What, you didn't hear? They're taking us to Washington, to a Ski Lodge, to get away from things."
I nodded, my mood going down. That meant that the Academy just wanted us to forget about the incident. The one with the little boy, the gruesome murders. It was impossible to forget though, if you saw it.
"I'm gonna kick your butt, then," I joked.
"Hey, be nice or I'm taking away your Christmas present."
I hadn't expected that. "You, you got me something?"
He nodded, "Yup, but if you're gonna be a jerk I'm gonna give it to someone else."
I laughed, like he would ever! He was head over heels for me.
We walked into the gym. Mason opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, then cursed under his breath.
"What?" I asked him.
"Mentor," He whispered in my ear.
"Catch you later Hathaway!" He told me, sweeping me a gallant bow.
"If you can," I mumbled, smiling at him as his image faded. His shoulders were shaking with laughter.
I turned towards Dimitri, seeing that he had stopped on the other side of the gym. I sucked my breath in, the gym was filled with practice dummies, each one looked like it represented an actual person.
Dimitri flipped the sliver stake out and threw it in the air, caught it, and put it back into it's sheath.
"Oh my god, please tell me I get to learn to do that today," I said, my eyes filled with awe.
He laughed, "You'll be lucky if I let you touch it today."
I groaned, it was just like him to let me see what I wanted to see, then snatch it away from me.
"First, tell me where the heart is," He told me, his voice calm as he walked towards where I was standing.
"Are you serious?" I asked in exasperation.
He merely shrugged.
I kicked the center of the dummies chest. "There."
He shook his head, "No."
"Of course it's there! People put their hand over their hearts when they say the pledge or sing the national anthem!" I cried.
"Try again," He told me.
I flicked the other part of the dummies chest.
"Here?" I asked.
"I don't know, is it?"
"That's what I'm asking you!"
"Next time we have practice, I want you to tell me where the heart is," He told me, walking out the door. I groaned and found my jacket lying on a bench. I wondered how that got there. I shook it on, not bothering to zip it all the way up.
When I was in my first period class, Mason took one look at me and said, "Whoa, who pissed you off?"
"Belikov, who cares where the stupid heart is!" I hissed.
He laughed, "You don't know where the heart is?"
I glared at him, and he immediately sobered up. "I mean, Belikov should be thrown in hell for the great sin he committed against you."
I nodded, "Better."
Suddenly, I saw the woman standing before our class.
Holy crap, god could this day get any fucking worse?!