Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy, nor it's characters. Just the story line.

Please R&R and enjoy this chapter.

xx

CHAPTER 5.

Dimitri's POV.

The next morning, I woke up feeling groggy and sort of weak. Probably just because I had spent so much time in the gym last night. Looking at the clock, I saw that I was late meeting Rose. I quickly jumped out of bed and dressed. I hurried to the gym, and got there just as Rose was starting her warm-up exercises.

"Well, well, well, never thought I'd see the day you were late, Comrade." Rose said, looking up as I entered the gym.

"Ha ha, it was my turn to be late, Rose," I said. "You're always the one who's late, so I thought you could wait for me this time." I joked.

Rose finished her stretches and walked over to where I stood. "What do you want me to do?" She asked. Honestly, I hadn't even thought of what I wanted her to do today, so I improvise.

"Laps," I told her. "And, I want you to beat your last times." Rose groaned and walked out of the gym to start running. I picked up a stopwatch and followed.

Standing at the finish line, I watched as Rose took off, running with style and grace. She was beautiful. These thoughts really need to stop! I scolded myself. Rose slowed slightly, and her face scrunched up like she was concentrating on something really hard. She crossed the finish line, but had added thirty seconds to her time.

"What happened out there Rose?" I asked her. She had sat down on the ground and was rubbing her temples with her fore-fingers.

"Um, just a headache." She said. I watched her closely for any signs that it was like what had happened yesterday.

"Just a headache?" I made sure that it was in fact, just a headache.

"Yeah, nothing like yesterdays. Just a little pain, but it's okay. I'll take some aspirin later."

"Well, okay, but make sure you get some rest and a drink of water." I ordered her.

"Mmmm." Was her reply.

I helped her up and we walked back to the gym. Lissa came up to us then, and saw the look on Rose's face.

"Rose... what happened?" Lissa looked worried. "Is everything okay? Do you have another migraine? Lissa reached out her palm to Rose and a look of deep concentration masked her face.

"I'm fine, Liss," Rose said, pulling away from Lissa. "I just need a drink, that's all." She lied to Lissa. Lissa looked shocked and a little hurt, but pulled her hand back from Rose. I furrowed my eyebrows. Why would Rose lie to Lissa? That wasn't something friends did. Rose shot me a look that plainly said; keep quiet and don't tell her. I nodded my head once in response. Message delivered.

"Well, get changed and we'll go down to the cabin," Lissa told Rose and I. "Christian, Eddie and Adrian are already there."

Rose looked back over her shoulder at Lissa. "You go on down, we'll meet you there soon." The way she said it wasn't mean exactly, but it was harsher than I had ever heard her speak to Lissa. Rose was usually extremely patient and kind hearted toward Lissa, not at the moment though.

Realising that she had been a bit harsh, Rose smiled warmly at Lissa, who visibly relaxed. "I'll be there soon, Liss." Smiling, Lissa turned away and walked off.

We both showered and changed, and headed out of the gym. We walked together toward the dorms. Rose wanted to drop her bag off in her room, and grab some aspirin. Rose and I walked in silence for most of the walk. We reached her room, and Rose went inside. I waited, leaning against the door frame. I looked around her room. Typical teenager's room. Lots of photos of her and Lissa. There was one where they were dressed up as fairies, a Halloween party I guessed. My eyes continued to roam her room, clothes on the floor, drawers left open and bed un-made.

"Like my room, Comrade?" Rose asked as she exited the room, closing the door behind her.

"It's messy," I stated the obvious.

She smirked. "Yeah, couldn't be bothered cleaning it up." She said as we descended the stairs and walked out into the cool morning.

We walked in silence until Rose gasped and dropped to her knees. "Rose!" I rushed over to her, bending down beside her and gripping her shoulders, shaking her slightly. "What's wrong?" She lifter her head up and I saw tears glistening in her brown eyes.

"Head, again." She whimpered. I pulled her forward and glancing around me to make sure no one was around, I pressed my lips gently to her fore head.

"It's okay Roza. Everything will be fine." I murmured to her.

"I just want it to stop." Her voice broke on the word stop. She looked defeated, so fragile and small. It was a heart breaking sight and it hurt to see her like this. She raised her head and looked me in the eyes. Rose rubbed at her wet eyes then sighed and stood up, offering her hand to me. She pulled me up and I looked at her again.

"Are you sure you are okay?" I was still really worried. These constant headaches could not be good. I wondered what they meant.

She nodded her head. "Yeah, I think so. It's mostly gone now." This was getting weird. She experienced extreme pain and then a minute later, it's gone? Something wasn't right.

"Do you notice any triggers to the pain?" I asked her. Maybe it was something particular that was causing this.

"No, just random pains." She shook her head and gave an exasperated sigh. "Let's just go. Lissa and the others will be wondering where we are." She started walking again and after a moment of hesitation, I followed.

As we neared the cabin which was located on the out skirts of the school grounds, we could see Lissa, Eddie, Christian and Adrian. I didn't like Adrian. He was always flirting with Rose and looked at her like she was something to eat. He was just another arrogant royal Moroi wanting to get with a cute dhampir like Rose. Wait! No, don't think about Rose like that. I sighed, these thoughts about Rose, my student had to stop. It was beyond inappropriate. It was just plain wrong.

We had reached the others by now. Lissa came up to us and pulled Rose over to the cabin. "Come on, what took you so long?" Ooh, dangerous question. I knew that Rose didn't want Lissa, her best friend to know about the headaches. Rose just shrugged, "Had to get changed and take my stuff back to my room." Way to dodge a question Rose. I thought. Lissa led us to the edge of the stream. It was a beautiful scene. Trees overhang on the water, casting a shadow and the cool breeze sifted through the leaves, rustling them. The cabin stood to the left of the water's edge. The cabin used to be an old watch post for the guardians, but the academy didn't have enough guardians to accommodate it anymore.

Lissa had set up a table laden with food and refreshments. Beside it stood a crystal bowl filled with white lilies, all prefect and white.

Everyone greeted Rose and I. It felt a little weird to be with a group of teenagers, but I supposed it was like being with my little sister, Viktoria who was sixteen, younger than this group. Thinking about Viktoria made my heart ache with longing. I missed her so much. I missed all my family very much. Paul, my nephew, Sonya and Katerina, my older sisters, my mum, and my grandmother. I missed them more than anything.

Lissa interrupted my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. "Okay everyone, we all know why we are here. A very important person was taken from our lives not long ago and today we are going to celebrate his eighteenth birthday, which was yesterday. Mason Ashford was a very close friend of most of us here." With the exception of myself and Adrian I thought to myself. Lissa continued. "And I know that I miss him very much, and I know that everyone else here does." A single tear slid down Lissa's pale cheek and a small sob went through her petite body. I felt Rose shudder beside me. I never realised how much Mason had meant to her, still means to her. He was very special to Rose, and although they never really had a relationship that was anything more than friendship, I knew that she loved him and missed him greatly.

Lissa concluded her speech and then led us to the bowl of lilies. "Everyone take one." She murmured so quietly, that it was almost impossible to hear her. We all picked up a small lily and followed Lissa over to the water's edge. One by one, everyone threw them into the water and said something about Mason.

Adrian went first. He tossed the flower lightly into the water. "Bye Mason... and happy birthday buddy." Adrian stepped back and I saw sorrow and sadness in his eyes. I had never seen this side of Adrian. He always seemed so carefree and immature. I never knew he could be understanding and mournful.

Next was Lissa. She cried silently, tears glistening on her cheeks. "I love you Mason... you would have made a great guardian and I miss you. You were always a special and important person in my life, and, at times, you were there for Rose when I wasn't. Happy birthday. She choked up and couldn't say anymore.

Eddie went after Lissa. I had never seen Eddie like this. He looked so vulnerable and defeated. I remembered that Mason had been Eddie's best friend, almost like a brother. "Mason... you were always there for me, when I needed a friend and someone to talk to. Especially when my brother died... you gave me the support I needed. Happy birthday Mase..." Eddie trailed off and looked away closing his eyes.

My turn. I felt a little awkward as I had never really gotten to know Mason. I threw the flower into the water and sighed. "Happy eighteenth birthday Mason. You should have been here to enjoy it. What happened to you was cruel and vial. A fantastic life tragically cut short. You would have been a great asset to the guardians." I stepped back from the water. I felt a lump form in my throat and I struggled to swallow. I held back the tears.

After Christian, it was finally Rose's turn. She found my hand and pulled me forward with her, lacing her fingers through mine. I knew the others would be watching. Rose began to speak. "Mason, I love you so much. I'm so sorry for everything I put you through... I wish I could have saved you, but I just... couldn't. I think about you every day, and each day I hope that it will get easier but I find that every day it gets harder and harder. I think about the future without you in my life and it hurts so much. I will always love you Mason. Happy birthday, Mase." Rose turned her head into my chest and started to shake. I pulled her close and wrapped my arms around her shaking form. "It's okay, Roza." I whispered so that only Rose would hear. I heard Lissa tell the others to come away and grab something to eat. Finally just Rose and I were left. I pulled her to the ground. She leaned up against me with her head buried into my chest.

Raising her head, she looked into my eyes. "I'm sorry." She muttered. I just held her tighter and let her cry. Finally, it seemed that she could cry no more. I lifted her to her feet, she swayed and I automatically steadied her. I wiped away the remaining tears on her beautiful face. The others had already left. I looked at my watch and realised that Rose needed to get back to her room before curfew. "Come on Roza, you need to get back to your room." She just nodded her head and began to walk. I followed her. We reached her room with a couple of minutes before curfew.

Gazing into my eyes, Rose asked, "Will you stay with me tonight?" I was lost for words. I was about to say no when she cut me off. "Please, Dimitri. I just need someone with me..." New tears began to well in her chocolate eyes.

I nodded and followed her into her room. "Um, I'll just go take a shower and get changed." She muttered, blushing.

"Sure," Was my reply. Rose went into the bathroom, pjs in hand. I heard the water of the shower being turned on. I tuned it all out. I thought that listening was an invasion of privacy. Instead, I looked around her room. I enjoyed looking at the photos. My favourite one was of Rose and Lissa, they looked about six maybe seven. Rose wore a mischievous smile while Lissa's smile was sweet and angelic.

Rose came out of the bathroom wearing shorts and a t-shirt that said "I kick ass." I smiled at it. Cute. "Hi." she murmured.

"Feel better?" I asked her. She nodded.

Rose walked over to me and took my hand in hers and took a deep breath. "You don't have to sit there all night, Comrade." She said, ducking her head and blushing deeply. My eyes widened as I realised what she wanted. Oh, what the hell. She would be eighteen soon anyway. I thought. I kicked off my shoes and took my shirt off, leaving me in a pair of black sweats. I felt Rose's eyes on me, but I refused to meet her gaze.

I slid into bed with Rose, and she snuggled up to me. I wrapped my arms around her. "Rose... we really shouldn't be doing this." I stated.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't care. I love you and I don't care about what other people think." Oh my gosh! She just said she loved me out loud! My heart rate picked up a little and I pulled her closer to me, crushing her body against my chest.

"You have no idea how good it is to hear you say that Roza." I whispered, my voice husky. "I love you too, my beautiful Roza." She raised her head. We were only inches apart and I could feel her quick breath wash across my face. I closed the distance between us and crushed my lips to hers.

"Dimitri... I want you."

Oooh, bit of a cliffie. Hahaha.

What will happen next?

REVIEW and find out (:

Tell me what you thought. I'm not really happy with this chapter and it was kinda rushed. So, let me know what you think.

Anyone think I need a beta?

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!