Love Ever After

Ifinished the first water and saw Adrian and Eddie looking at me with wide eyes.

"What?" I asked quietly.

Chapter Four

Eddie was the one who answered. "Rose, you do realize that mean you had to do at least a hundred or so laps at once."

"We're you running as fast as you we're this morning?" That was Adrian.

"Starting out, I stopped when I felt like I was going to fall any second." I told them.

Again earning wide eyed stares from both of them but it was Eddie who broke the silence asking about Adrian's comment of this morning.

I shrugged it off. "Long story, I'll fill you in later. I'm hungry right now."

Adrian helped me stand up by taking my now not so sweaty hand.

"Why don't you go back to your dorm and get cleaned up, I'll bring you dinner." He said.

I couldn't argue with that. I felt gross and wanted to lie down. So Adrian and Eddie went off towards the commons as I went back to my room. Once there I showered and was wrapped in an over sized pink towel – it actually wrapped around me twice – I combed my hair and not even caring that I was only in a towel; I went to my bed and laid down on my side with my legs crossed and a blanket over me.

I woke up to the sound of a knock on my door and answered by shouting 'come in'. Adrian walked in and sat a tray down beside my bed. I smiled up at him but saw him staring at me with wide eyes again. Then I remember I was under my covers with nothing but a towel on.

I leaned up with the covers laid over my chest and my bare shoulders showing. "What Ivashkov, never seen a naked woman?" I teased with a smile on my face.

Yup I was relaxed and back to normal, thank god because I really had felt like crap after practice.

He swallowed and looked once over my body. "I didn't quit take you as the sleep nude type, Little Dhampir. Now this would be a site to wake up to every morning."

I smiled at him. "Only in your dreams," I teased.

"You have no clue how dead on your words are." He said.

"So are we still on for tonight?" I asked.

He brightened at my question. "I wouldn't pass it up for the world."

It was silent for a minute; he stood there with his hands in his pocket and looking anywhere but me. So me being me I couldn't help but put the womanizer himself to the test.

I sat up and turned on my side kicking my legs off the bed so they we're showing all the way up to high thigh. He had no clue I had on a towel so I slowly stood up watching his jaw drop. When I was fully uncovered by the covers and I was still in the short towel he seemed to overcome himself and recover slightly.

Until I walked right up to him and pulled his arms around my waist setting them on the small of my back. I heard him take in what he probably thought was a quit breath and tried not to laugh, which didn't work because I broke out in a fit of giggles, falling down and sitting on my bed.

"You should have seen your face!" I said in between small giggles.

He looked away – face turning a pinkish color – while he ran his hand through his already messy styled hair; gosh he was hot when he did that.

"You really shouldn't be such a tease, Little Dhampir, it's not really lady like." He said still looking anywhere but me – still blushing.

I gave him a smile. He came over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Eat, get dressed, call me and I will walk you." Then he left me there to do just so.

I finished my food, got dressed in a pair of black silk string bikini panties and a matching bra and then a simple black long sleeve sweater dress and pulled my hair up in a ponytail and through on some black flats. I grabbed my wristlet and trey and went down stairs.

Instead of calling Adrian I decided I would surprise him. So when I got downstairs it was already twenty minutes past curfew.

"Can I help you Miss. Hathaway?" The lady at the desk asked.

I gave her an innocent smile. "I was just returning this before bed; I don't want bugs or anything in my room from having food in there. I had to eat in my room because I got sick after my practice, they told me to return it, and so I just wanted to do that."

She didn't give me any questions about it because obviously the trey was proof. So she wrote me a pass and I left. I took the trey to the commons and gave it to one of the ladies working still.

When I left there I went straight to Adrian's place. When I got there I heard laughing and the sound of a TV or something like that. I knocked on the door and it immediately got quiet. A second Adrian opened the door.

He was about to say something but his face changed into a smile when he saw it was me. He let me in and closed the door.

"I thought I told you to call me." He said.

"Don't tell me you have something to hide from me, too, Ivashkov." I said back.

He gave me a smile "I have nothing to hide from you Little Dhampir."

He turned the volume back on the TV and we walked into the kitchen and joined the others at the table. Lissa was drinking a beer and the guys had their own glasses of whatever and coke. I smiled at her and took a seat next to Adrian across from Lissa and Christian.

"What do you want to drink Little Dhampir?"

I thought it over for a minute. Liquor before beer you're in the clear.

I gave Adrian one of my man eater smiles. "I'll have whatever you're having, Ivashkov."

He gave me a smile back. "Bourbon and coke it is then." Adrian then turned and left to make my drink.

When he was gone I felt Lissa trying to get my attention through the bond.

So are you going to tell me what is up with you? You're dressing like yourself, acting like yourself again. I don't know what to make of it. Does this have something to do with Adrian? Oh my gosh! Do you like him Rose! I knew—

"Whoa, Liss, slow down." I said with now a true smile on my face.

We got weird looks from Christian and Eddie just as Adrian came back with two small glasses of bourbon and coke on ice with stirrers.

I took mine smiling at him as he sat beside me and as if you could see a light bulb above Christians head go off, he brightened with a smile.

Before he can say anything I stood up. "Come on, Liss."

I felt happiness through the bond and realized that this was the first time in a while we would get to sit down and really bond without the guys. That made me happy too. We went into the living room and plopped down on the couch. She took one corner and I took the other. I kicked off my shoes and curled my legs underneath me.

"So what is going on? I love how you got your fashion sense back but this change was really abrupt."

I guess now was more a time to mention than any. "Don't get mad, okay?"

"Why would you think I would be mad?" She looked at me concerned.

"Just listen." I took a breath, this could either bring us closer (if even possible) or push us apart, let's hope for the first. "I almost had sex and come to find out it would have been with the biggest jerk in the world."

"Whoa! You what? When was this, why didn't you tell me? Who was it?"

"Hold on, Liss." I downed the rest of my drink. "See said 'jerk' decided it would be fine to sleep with me or in his case attempt and also have someone else. Well when I found out about him and her, I did a rain check on my life. I realized that my life will only be my own for the next few months and then I am going to be a real, full time guardian and that's it for me. All business. I won't get the option of looking hot in cute dresses and having reckless nights with my best friend, because I will be doing my job of protecting you. I mean sure I know we will still have good times but this, it won't be an option for me." I said shrugging my shoulders.

Through the bond I felt anger and sadness. She was thinking over what I said and again the anger spiked.

"Don't even think that, it's not your fault. This is my choice and I choose to live my life protecting you. You're my best friend, my sister. I don't trust your life in anyone else's hands. I am your guardian now and in a few months. The only thing stopping me is a damn tattoo."

And the next thing I know I was being tackled in a death grip by Lissa.

"Liss. Can't. Breath." She let me go and was smiling.

"I love you, Rose. And thank you for being honest with me." She stood up from the couch. "I need another drink."

I did too so I stood up with her. We we're walking down the long marble hall way to the back of the house where the kitchen was when Lissa asked the one question I didn't want to answer, but I wouldn't lie to her, I couldn't hurt her.

"So who was this jerk?"

"Dimitri." I said quietly, but apparently she still heard me. She stopped suddenly and accidentally dropped her bottle. I tried to catch it put it shattered on the ground.

"What the hell?" Adrian of course.

And right then the guys appeared at the end of the hall.

Rose, please tell me you're kidding. She said through the bond. Shocked ran through the bond and dominated her face at who I said.

Adrian sensing the tension asked "Christian, can you get the broom from the storage in the laundry. It's on a hook on the wall."

"Sure." With that he left to get the broom.

I shook my head at Lissa. "No, I'm not."

Adrian walked over to us and put a hand on my shoulder for comfort. I hadn't noticed until then I had unshed tears in my eyes. I turned around and quickly whipped them away.

"Did you know?" Lissa asked Adrian.

But I wasn't completely in control yet so I didn't turn around.

"I was the one who found him with her."

"Okay, I get who the he is but who was this 'her'?" They we're whisper yelling the whole conversation.

I turned around to face them again, almost completely in control of myself again. "It was Tasha."

Lissa gasped and I felt the shock of what I said, again run through the bond. That's when some puzzle pieces clicked into place.

That's why she got upset when she found out Dimitri took Tasha to court. She thought when that happened.

I nod to her and just then Christian came back down the hall. I gave Lissa a look as to not tell Christian and she nods her head back.

Our secret and she gave me a smile.

"What happened, Lissa?" Christian asked when he came back in with the broom.

"Well, we we're just coming to get more to drink but I, as you can see, had a clumsy moment and dropped my empty bottle." She reached for the broom. "Here I'll clean it up."

But I snatched the broom before she could take it. "A princess shouldn't be sweeping, Cinderella. I'll do it. Go get a drink." And I gave her a smile.

Christian noticing her bare feet picked her up bridal style. "I think Rose has a point princess."

He carried her off towards the kitchen with her giggling.

We're still not done talking about this.She sent in the bond.

I rolled my eyes.

"Little Dhampir—"

I stopped his protest of me doing it but seeing how I was barefoot and in the middle of it, I wasn't taking a step away until all the glass was clear.

"It's okay, I don't mind. Plus I don't want to cut my beautiful feet."

He gave me a smile. "No we wouldn't want that to happen would we?"

I smiled back. "Adrian would you make me another drink?"

I gave him a pouty face I knew he couldn't resist.

He groaned. "Stop it; you know what that does to me."

I laughed, this whole knew thing could turn out pretty nice in my favor. Adrian walked off to get a new drink for me and a few minutes later I caught up with the others in the kitchen.

"What are y'all getting ready to play?" I asked.

Lissa was shuffling a deck of cards. "Circle of death" She said smiling at me.

I was a champ at the game, well used to be and that was drinking beer, without a professional alcoholic.

"Count me in!" I smiled back; things seemed to be fine for now.

We went a few rounds then it was time to make a rule and boy was I good with the rules. I downed my drink finishing the last of it off and grabbed a beer from the fridge. This was going to be so good. I took my seat back at the table by Adrian.

"So are you ready for this?"

"Yes, stop being so slow." Eddie said with a smile.

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, rule is after everything you say, you have to say 'in the bed' and if you don't you drink. Simple." I gave a shrug of the shoulders.

Adrian busted out laughing. "That's it?"

I gave him a smile. "You'll see in the bed." And I gave him a wink.

His jaw hit the floor. I tried to hold in a laugh.

"Drink" Christian said. I only wanted to laugh harder. This was the beginning of one long night and fun night.

Things got extremely funny. We had our fair share of getting confused with whose turn was whose with everyone getting up and down for drinks and breaks.

"My turn in the bed" I shouted when I came back from the fridge and Lissa was actually coming back from using the rest room in Adrian's room because Eddie occupied the on in the hall.

Lissa and I laughed and almost fell to the floor until Adrian ruined it by saying "Meet you there".

I shot him a glare but couldn't hold it because I started laughing again.

The night went on. We played a few games, some charades, and then we decided on a movie and relaxing. When the movie was over I stood up with Lissa, Christian, and Eddie to go.

Lissa was falling asleep so she leaned on Christian. They said by and left. Eddie was waiting on me. I gave Adrian a hug and told him I will see him later. We smiled at each other and he squeezed my hand.

"In the bed?" he asked in a playful tone.

I smacked his arm smiling. "In your dreams, Ivashkov."

"You just don't know." He said for the second time tonight with a smile on his face.

Eddie and I left and made our way back to the dorms, trying to stay in the shadows as much as possible to not be noticed.

"So, what's up with you and Adrian?" He asked.

I didn't look at him. "Nothing we're just friends."

"Yeah, a little too friendly, if you ask me, don't you think?"

I stopped and looked at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He looked back at me. "What happened to Mason? He says you don't answer or call anymore and y'all seemed fine before you broke up."

You have got to be kidding me. How much did he drink? "Eddie, you know what happened to us. How am I supposed to be with him after that, clearly I'm a distraction for him. If not for me he wouldn't have been put in such a situation like that and he would be here right now – not somewhere else at some other school. He wouldn't have been traumatized and if you remember he broke up with me because he moved away. If I want to be interested in anyone, including Adrian, I can be. What is with you?"

"What is with me? What's with you? This change, sure it's hot and all, Rose, but do you really want those rumors going around again? People calling you things and saying things that are not true? Do you have any respect for yourself?"

Whoa! Really? "Are you calling me a dirty? Just because I have a bit more fashion sense and I looked really good doesn't make me one or less self respected. It wasn't like I was showing my ass, because everything was covered."

"You might as well have been for that dress."

I cannot believe he just said that, it reminded me of my mom back at the sky resort. So I put on my best confidant smile. "You know what Eddie if you don't like what you see then don't look any more."

With that I turned to walk away but only to run face first into a hard chest.

"Ouch." I looked up to see Dimitri.

"What are you doing out here? Students are supposed to be in there dorms and should be asleep at this hour." He said in an authority like voice.

"I was just going for a walk." I said not looking at him.

"I was doing the same." Eddie said.

"Sure you were. Castle back to your dorm now, I shouldn't have to tell you this you know the rules. If I see you again you will be taken to Alberta."

Eddie didn't need to hear another word he took off at a stumbling run. Wow, he did drink a lot.

"Rose, where were you and are you drunk?" I finely looked up at him.

He looked really pissed.

I didn't say anything to him instead I tried to walk past him to go to my room. I say tried because I didn't even move a foot before he had my left arm in a death grip.

"Answer me, you have ignored me all day and I am sick of it. I at least deserve an explanation."

This pissed me off. I snatch my arm out of his grip, not caring that he would leave a bruise or a cut on my arm from his nails. They were short but he held me really tight I would have probably had a bruise anyways.

"I owe you! No. I think you owe me." I didn't get in his face like I wanted because: (A) I was so much shorter than him. And (B) I didn't want him to smell the alcohol on my breath. I should have drunk vodka because then I wouldn't have to worry about that. (A/N: True fact Vodka is the only alcohol you can't smell on someone breath. And no I'm not an alcoholic; I just have my fair share of experience.)

"Why would I owe you anything?" He asked with a kind of confused look and kind of like you're kidding right.

"Well when summer time gets here and all your happiest dreams come true, I guess we will find out." I said with a very sarcastic imitation of him.

He was rendered speechless for a second and then his face turned to one of anger. Busted! He reached out for my arm again but I kicked him in the shin.

"Didn't expect that did you Comrade?" Then I took off running back to Adrian's.

I called Adrian as I ran. He picked up on the third ring.

"Didn't expect—"

"Open the door." I said breathless, I didn't think you could feel completely out of shape when running while drunk. Note to self: Remember why you don't drink and run.

"What's going on, Rose?" He asked in a serious tone but I hung up on him because Dimitri was hot on my tale.

We got into view of guest housing and I saw Adrian standing in the door way. He leaned up from leaning in the door way when he saw me and then his face lit up in anger when he saw why I was running.

I was almost to Adrian when Dimitri grabbed me by the hair and pulled me back making me fall and yell out in pain. Dimitri jerked me around making me face him.

"Roza, you should have minded your own business." He said in an angry tone and had me yet again in a death grip.

That was getting annoying and really started to hurt since it was the same spot as before.

"Let go Dimitri, you're really hurting me." I pleaded.

"You heard her let go of her. Now." Adrian said angry.

I tried to turn to look at him but Dimitri jerked my head back around. I screamed out in pain. Adrian wasn't taking this torment though. He quickly got between the small space of Dimitri and me.

Adrian pushed Dimitri away from me, which cause his hand to rip away from my arm. I wanted to scream out at the sudden pain but bit my lip instead. I could take kicks and punches but I could take the squeezing of my arm or jerk of a head. I felt like such a wimp.

I looked down at my arm to see it bleeding and bruised and then back to the guys. Adrian had locked eyes with Dimitri and with the last of his will, he compelled Dimitri to leave, to keep his mouth shut about where I was, and to excuse me from school and practice for tomorrow. He left with anger in his eyes but said and did nothing.

When He was out of eye sight, Adrian came back to me, grabbed my hand and took me inside. As soon as the door was shut I was wrapped in a gentle hug and the tears I held back finally fell.

Adrian picked me up and carried me to the couch saying soothing things and rubbing my hair. A few minutes later I calmed down enough and the tears went away. Adrian got up for a second and took my hand pulling me with him. I didn't protest even though he was leading the way to his room.

He sat me on the bed as he went to a drawer and threw me one of his tee shirts and then went to the bathroom.

He came back with a towel and some other products. He handed me the towel and put the other products down on a small table before heading for the door, opening it and stepping out. But before he closed it, he turned to face me to say. "You need to lose the dress so I can clean your arm. Your sleeve is in the way so I brought you a towel to wrap yourself in, just yell and I'll come in when you're ready."

Adrian then shut the door. I took off the dress and when I saw the sleeve I couldn't believe that over half of it was soaked in blood. I looked down at my arm to see the blood had stopped but it looked utterly horrible.

I couldn't stand the site of it anymore; I wrapped myself in the towel and called Adrian in. He didn't say anything about me in a towel; instead he was kind of quiet.

"We might need to go to the bathroom." He said.

I quietly followed him.

"Hold your arm over the sink."

I did as he said but for him to get to my arm he had to be basically stand right up against me. When I looked at my arm I couldn't even see how much was bruise or blood because it was that bad. But now looking at it through a mirror I could see it went around my whole arm. Looking away from my arm I focused on my face which was even a worse mistake to make.

I was tear streaked with mascara running down my cheeks. I had puffy eyes and swollen lips. Deciding looking at myself was a completely bad idea so I looked down at the tile while Adrian cleaned me up.

He whipped what he could with a wet rag, poured peroxide on it, and then covered it with Neosporin. When he was done he was debating on wrapping it with gauze to cover it or to let it air out.

"Wrap it, I don't want to feel all yucky from the texture of the medicine." I said and looked back down. I couldn't stand the feeling of the stuff but right now I also for some reason couldn't look at Adrian the way I looked or felt right now.

It was no wonder that he didn't say anything about me in the towel. I could understand after seeing me when I looked like this. I was so weak. When he finished he cleaned up the mess from the bathroom and then throw my dress in and the rag in the wash.

He came back and I was still in the bathroom looking down at the floor. I can't believe it. I really am a weak person. He tossed me around like a rag doll. I now noticed Eddie was right. I was stupid for thinking I could be who I used to be even if I could only have been that girl for a few more months. I am weak and unattractive.

I didn't even notice that I was crying again until Adrian brought a finger to my face to wipe the tears away and wrap me in a hug. He waited till I calmed down to let go and pull my chin up to look at him.

"You'll be okay Little Dhampir, I promise." And then he did the one thing I wasn't expecting him to ever do again at this moment. He kissed me cheek.

Completely shocked I didn't know what to do. It was silent for a second before I could regain my mind.

"Adrian, can I have a minute to clean up?"

He nods his head to me and left the bathroom shutting the door behind him. I washed my face and pulled my hair up in a messy ponytail. Just that little bit made me look that much better, minus the bruise that was on the side of my neck and chin from Dimitri jerking my head. That broke whatever confidence I had left in me. When I was done I walked out to the room and put the shirt on and then I realized I had no pants.

I walked to the door and opened it. Adrian wasn't in the hall so I walked down it tip toeing bare foot in his shirt. I peeked in the living room but he wasn't there so I went to the kitchen. He was sitting at the table with two drinks. He didn't know I was standing there so I leaned against the door frame and leaned my head to the side, which was a bad idea because it made me gasp in pain.

Adrian heard me and was at my side in an instant.

"What is it?" He asked worried.

I looked up at him and I probably would have melted right then and there from the concern and worry in his eyes but with my broken confidence and self esteem it wasn't happening.

"Nothing I'm fine, just my neck."

And then he saw the bruise too. He was angry again, and I honestly, I had my fill of angry men to last me a life time.

"Do you have any pajama pants or sweats?" I asked.

He looked down and back away from me with a blush on his face.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. Yeah, come on." He took my hand but instead of going to the room he went to the table he grabbed a drink and hand it to me and then grabbed his and went down the hall.

I didn't care what it was I downed it in a few swallows on the way to his room. He dropped my hand and opened a drawer, took out a pair of pants and handed them to me. In turn and gave him my empty glass to put them on, not caring if he saw my undies. He gave me a look and then looked at my drink but didn't say anything.

"Thanks." I said.

He nodded his head. We made our way back to the kitchen but he didn't take a seat. He went to the bar and made another two drinks. He hand me mine then we went to the living room and sat on the couch like Lissa and I had earlier.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked.

I shook my head but I really did. "What is wrong with me? Am I that weak that I couldn't take him down and get away? Is Eddie right, that I'm making a mistake trying to go back to my life as me before him? Am I even cut out to be a guardian if I can't take on another Dhampir?" And the tears fall again.

Adrian took my drink and sat it down pulling me into his arms. I gladly accepted it needing to feel comfort from a friend. I lay out with my face buried in his chest.

"I'm such a fool." I cried.

He pulled me back gently to look at him.

"No, no. You're not a fool. There is nothing at all wrong with you and you are most certainly not weak. Eddie was not right in the least because you being you. You are the best thing and the most beautiful thing in the world. If you weren't you, then there would be no beauty in the world to out shine the moon and stars. You will be the best guardian you can be, don't let what he has done affect that. He is the monster, he is weak. Your tough, you are so strong and amazing and so, so much more."

And before I could say anything Adrian had taken my face in both of his hands and gently kissed me. Then I started to kiss him back and the tears slowly stopped. He picked me up and carried me bridal style back to his room turning the lights off on the way and not breaking our kisses. He laid me down climbing in his bed with me and pulling the sheets back and getting under with me.

We spent the night in the comfort of being in each other's arms and gentle, loving kisses. We didn't have sex, I wasn't ready and I wasn't even sure what this is that we had. The farthest it went was me taking off the sweats because even with the fan on high and air on I was getting too hot in the thick sweats with the thick duvet on top and our body heat. It wasn't the best night's sleep dream why's but comfort why's it couldn't get any better than being in the comfort of his arms.