Rose POV:
I was unpacking my stuff when I came across a picture of Alex, Maggie, and I at the carnival this past summer. I was in the middle of Alex and Maggie holding a pink teddy bear that Alex won for me. They each were kissing one of my cheeks and I had a big stupid Kool-Aid grin plastered on my face. I traced the smile unconsciously with my finger. If only we had known this would be the last picture Alex or Maggie would ever take I would've made them smile too. I didn't even realize I was crying until a tear dropped onto the picture. I placed the picture back in the box and picked up another one of Alex and I at Halloween last year. His arm was draped around my waist and he was looking at me lovingly. I made him dress up as Peter Pan while I was Tinkerbell. He wasn't too happy about that but he never complained. This year we were planning to dress up like Prince Charming and Cinderella but that's never gonna happen now. I picked up the next picture it was taken the same night as the previous one but it of Maggie and I. She dressed up as a witch. In the picture we were dancing on the bar at the Halloween party. We both were throwing candy into the crowd as we were dancing. Alex and I started dating when we were 12 but I've been best friends with Maggie since kindergarten. Alex and Maggie were twins and before Alex and I got together he would pick on me. My brother Adrian told me that when a boy picked on you it was because he likes you. At my 12th birthday Alex shoved my head into my cake. I was so upset and embarrassed that I ran off. Alex followed me…
FlashBack"Rose! Rose wait! I'm sorry," Alex yelled as he chased after me. I knew he was getting closer to me but I continued to run. Then I felt him grab my hand and turn me around. I began to struggle against his hold as I cried harder.
"Rose please let me explain," he pleaded with me. He raised his hand to wipe away the tears that was mixing with the frosting on my face, but I moved out of his reach. He sighed in return.
"I'm so sorry Rose. I didn't think you would get this mad. It was just a little joke," he said.
"Oh, you want to apologize now that I'm crying? Any other time you're mean to me you just shrug your shoulders and walk off. I've never done anything to you. I HATE YOU!" I screamed the last sentence. A look of hurt flashed in his eyes, which confused me.
"Don't say that Rose please," he basically whispered to me.
"Why not. You hate me too so…" I was cut off by Alex's soft lips against mine. I was shocked but I slowly began to kiss him back. After a moment we pulled away and Alex licked the frosting off of his lips.
"I don't hate you Rose. I like you a lot. That's why I'm always messing with you. It's the only way you actually talk to me," he said looking slightly embarrassed. I smiled and pulled him into another kiss.
End of FlashBack
That was both of our first kisses. When we got back to the party we told Maggie and she couldn't have been happier for us. After that day if I wasn't with Maggie then I was with Alex or we were all together. Now I was all by myself because of one stupid decision. I set the picture down and grabbed my new best friend. It's the only thing that makes my internal pain go away. I rolled up my sleeve and found a spot not near anything major on my arm. I pressed the cold blade to my skin and a mix of fear and anticipation filled my veins. Slowly I slide the metal across and watched as the warm red liquid slowly escaped from my body as if I was watching all the pain, sorrow, and regret I felt for what happened to them leave my body as well. Once I started to feel lightheaded I began to put pressure on my newest secret. I slowly walked into the bathroom and cleaned the cut. I heard a knock on my door so I quickly pulled my sleeve down and wipe my eyes before answering the door. In front of me stood one of the Guardians that escorted me here, Yuri I think that's his name.
"Princess, Headmistress Kivora wants to speak with you," he said. I sighed I hated being called Princess just as much as I hated being called Rosemarie. I nodded and closed my door behind me. I noticed 3 more guardians were waiting in the hallway for us. I walked with Yuri and another guardian a head of me while the other two flanking me. None of them spoke to me as we walked toward the exit of the guest building. Instead of staying in the dorms my Aunt pulled some strings so that I could stay in the guest dorms. Technically I am a guest, Im just going here for a little while to get over what happened to Maggie and Alex. Once my Aunt thinks Im better she will send for me to come back to Court with her and Adrian. But I doubt she'll send for me anytime soon, their funerals were just 2 weeks ago. As we stepped out of the building everyone's eyes seemed to find me. I heard a few people whispering about me but I'm used to it. It comes along with being in high school and being the Queen's niece. Sometimes I want to just change my last name and run away so no one knows who I am but more importantly they don't know about my past. The more people stared the more I was getting annoyed so I quickened my pace and the guardians followed suit. When we finally got to Mrs. Kivora's office I was a little winded.
"Are you all right, Princess? Do you need some water or to go to the feeders?" he asked me but I declined and assured him I was fine. I walk into her office without knocking. There were 2 girls sitting down. The shorter of the two looked to be about 10 with Porcelain Doll looks and blonde curls. The other looked about my age with an angelic face and blonde curls also.
"Princess, I would like you to meet Vasilisa and Mia they will be showing you around school tomorrow," Mrs. Kivora said. The two girls stood up and the one who looked like she should be in elementary school offered me her hand. After a brief hesitation I took it.
"Im Mia," she said as we shook hands. I nodded then the one Im guessing to be Vasilisa pulled me into a friendly hug but I didn't hug her back.
"Oh sorry, I'm more of a hugger. Im Vasilisa by the way but I prefer Lissa," she said while smiling brightly at me. I simply nodded again.
"There's about an hour before curfew do you want to go with us to meet our friends, Princess?" Mia asked me.
"Im not Princess or Rosemarie, Im just Rose, Okay?" I said kinda snappy. But Mia and Lissa just laughed and pulled me out of the room. We walked to the Moroi dorms and into Lissa's room where two guys were waiting. One I immediately recognized as Christian Ozera, the Ozera's were once a powerful Royal family but his parents willingly turned Strigoi so Christian has become shunned by the rest of the Royals. I didn't know him so Im not going to judge him. The other boy was a Dhampir but that's all I knew.
"Rose these are our boyfriends Christian is mine and Eddie is with Mia," Lissa explained.
"So nice to meet you, Princess," Eddie said. Before I could correct him Mia did.
"Baby, she doesn't like being called Princess," she explained to me. He nodded and gave me an apologetic smile. Christian scoffed.
"Why'd y'all get stuck with her?" he asked Lissa. She looked disappointed so I assume he acts like this often but that still didn't mean he could disrespect me.
"What the hell is that supposed to me?" I asked him breaking my silence. He looked at me with a stupid smirk on his face.
"It means nothing. Don't mind him he has a thing against all Royals," Lissa said quickly before Christian could.
"Clearly," I said while rolling my eyes. I stayed with them for about 5 more minutes until Christian pissed me off again. As I was storming down the hallway I was absorbed in my own thoughts.
"Oomph," I said as I made contact with something really hard like a brick wall or something. I could feel my body start to fall back but soon I felt strong hands wrap around my waist preventing me from falling over. I looked up and gasped slightly as I looked at the face of a God. He had tanned skin, chin length brown hair tied in a rubber band at the base of his neck, and deep brown eyes.
"Am I dead?" I asked in a whisper. But from the slight smile on his face I knew he heard me. He stood me up right and slowly unraveled his arms from around me. I looked up again and realized the guy was super tall and staring at me intently, which caused me to blush. We continued staring at each other until a girl walked up to us. She had the same shiny black hair and pale blue eyes as Christian. She stood next to the human roadblock a little closer than most would so I assume they were together. She completely ignored me and talked to the guy.
"Dimitri, I thought you were coming to help me?" she said whining like a little baby with her lip poked out slightly. Dimitri, that's his name. It fits him somehow. He finally looked away from me and glanced down at the girl.
"Yeah, I was just on my way when I bumped into Princess Rosemarie," he said. His words laced with a slight Russian accent. I didn't think he knew who I was but I guess he does. The girl glared at me.
"Im sorry for bumping into you," I told him then I started heading toward the exit but his voice stopped me.
"Do you need help finding your room?" he asked me. I turned back and saw the girl glaring at me even harder.
"But you're supposed to help me, Dimitri," the girl whined again but he just ignored her and continued to stare at me.
"Um yeah I guess you can help me," I said then I smiled at the girl.
"Tasha, I'll help you tomorrow," he said then we walked away leaving her dumbfounded. We walked in silence for a few hundred feet before I couldn't take it anymore.
"You didn't have to leave your girlfriend to help me. I could've found my room by myself," I told him. He glanced at me out the corner of his eye then looked straight ahead.
"She's not my girlfriend. Just an old family friend and she really didn't need my help," he said while shrugging his shoulders slightly. We walked into the guest building and up to my floor. When I got to my door there were 2 guardians posted one of which was Yuri.
"Princess, I've been looking all over for you. Thanks Dimitri for bringing her here," he said relieved when he saw us. Dimitri just nodded. Then he turned to me.
"Goodnight Princess," he said then he turned and started walking away.
"Dimitri," I called after him. He stopped and turned around.
"Yes, Princess?" he asked me.
"Rose," I said. He looked confused so I elaborated. "Not Princess or Rosemarie, just Rose," I said. I saw the corners of his mouth twitch like he was about to smile but forced himself not to.
"Goodnight, Rose," he said. Then he nodded his head politely showing me respect in another form.
"Goodnight, Dimitri," I replied back with a smile. This time when the corners twitched again he let a small smile appear. But just as quickly it was gone and so was he. I went into my room and got ready for bed. As I laid in my bed reflecting on today's events I was sure of 3 things.
1). I had some feelings toward Dimitri.
2). Tasha and Christian were going to be a royal pain.
3). The whole school was going to be talking about me tomorrow.
But I didn't know which one I was more upset with 1 or 2.