Okay…I know I haven't been posting lately but I swear I have a good excuse. I have sports and school and NO SOCIAL LIFE AT ALL! But oh well…you guys don't care about that. In fact, most of you won't even read this. But that's okay because I like to hear myself talk

Disclaimer: Don't own VA, wish I did

Chapter 24

I waited a long while before going in to bed. My tears had dried long ago, but I still hadn't been able to stand. The fact that he came out onto the balcony after a while finally made me stand. I ignored him, just wanting to get away. My bed was waiting with open arms, and I fell asleep quickly, despite the thoughts raging in my head.

The next day was tinged with awkward, everyone treading on thin ice around myself and Dimitri. Everyone except Kylie had heard Dimitri and my argument, and she had been filled in after our one sided conversation. She apparently felt really bad. Oh well, not like I had expected any different. I threw myself into my work, not caring about what they or anyone else thought. Andre left, but I didn't say goodbye. He had caused enough trouble as it was, and I didn't want Dimitri getting jealous over my talking to Andre. I hadn't been talking to Dimitri except when it was necessary, but our scores hadn't reflected it.

We still hadn't lost a battle, and had gained three more badges for the end of month tournaments. People were starting to talk about moving us to the Junior League, but Harks and I both knew we weren't ready as a Pack. He seemed to sense that something was wrong with me, and called me to his office.

The hallway was silent, as usual, but today it had an eerie effect. I felt like I was in a horror movie, like someone should be yelling at me not to go through the door. As I lifted my hand to open the door, I heard Harks talking. He was on the phone, and didn't seem happy, so I listened decided to listen in.

"I don't care what it takes, we can't give any hint that something's wrong…No, I don't want to have to tell you what to do! You should know! …Alright. I expect this to be sorted out by the next time we talk. Goodbye." His call ended abruptly, and then I heard him stand. Startled, I sprinted backwards and turned around just in time for him to open the door. I tried to look like I had been walking in.

He was straightening his tie, looking like he needed a glass of strong scotch. "Rose, just in time. Please, come in." He stepped aside, allowing me entrance. I sit down in the same seat as I did when he 'tested' me to become a Guardian, when he moved me to Sophomore League, and when I just about killed him for holding me late right before telling me we had a practice. I was waiting for the worst.

"So, how's your life going? I know you're doing well in studies, but how is life outside of school work, with your classes going? I trust you're getting along well with your Pack?" I knew this wasn't a usual meeting between a Guardian and Judge, so I figured something was up. I decided to play it cool.

Because honestly, what was I going to say? 'Well, I broke up with the boyfriend I wasn't allowed to have because the jerk that I used to like made him jealous and then I overreacted and even though I'm doing the best anyone has ever done at this school and have all the friends and am acing my classes, I'm unhappy and it's not even because I'm PMSing, I'm just like this permanently.' Yeah, that's going to go great.

"Ya, everything's great!" I said as brightly as I could without being sarcastically happy. You know what I mean. Anyways, Judge Harks sighed, and leaned forward, as if sharing a secret with a friend.

"Rose, you don't have to lie for him. We've been watching you, and know what he did." I did a double take. They knew? Crap! They were going to take Dimitri away again, something I didn't think I could handle, no matter how angry I was with him. I tried not to collapse, to lie it off.

"I don't know what you're talking about. He never did anything."

"Rose, it's okay. Andrei's gone now. He can't hurt you." Andrei? Oh, right. I resisted the urge to let out a huge sigh of relief and just put on a blank face.

"No really, I don't know what you're talking about. Can I go now?" Harks sighed, but nodded.

"If you ever want to talk, Rose, we're here." I nod and leave. The flood of emotions at the thought of Dimitri being gone confused me. So I did the only thing I knew how: tried to tuck my chin and bottle it up. To effectively block out the thoughts, I went to the on-campus movie theater. The film being played was some cheesy animation about an evil genius who adopts three little girls. It was supposed to be funny, but I wasn't really paying enough attention to get the jokes.

Halfway through the movie I walked out, tired of being startled out of thoughts by other people's laughter. I needed somewhere I could go alone, but they took my cliff. I ran through a list of possible places and finally settled on the Performing Arts Center. It was usually deserted, so I wouldn't have any trouble.

The first clue that something was happening came when I saw that the door was open. I didn't really notice, consumed by my own thoughts, and opened the door before I realized that there were also sounds coming from inside.

It was Dimitri, strumming his guitar and singing a song that just about broke my heart:

You whisper that you're getting tired,

Got a look in your eyes, looks a lot like goodbye

Hold onto your secrets tonight; don't want to know,

I'm okay with the silence. It's truth that I don't want to hear.

You're hiding regret in your smile,

There's a storm in your eyes I've seen coming for a while

Hang onto the past tense tonight,

Don't say a word, I'm okay with the quiet, the truth is gonna change everything

So lie to me and tell me that it's gonna be alright

Lie to me and tell me that we'll make it through the night

I don't mind if you wait before you tear me apart,

Just look me in the eye, and lie, lie, lie

His voice was beautiful, despite the hurt inscribed there. I gasped at the melody and the music cut off. He had heard. For a moment, everything was dead silent as our eyes met. Then, he got up, turned on his heel, and walked away. I could have sworn I saw a tear in his eye.

The jumbled thoughts in my mind swelled, but I refused to give them the stage in my mind. They would just have to deal with my subborness.