Okay so I kind of left you on a bit of a cliff hanger there but don't fear, imam try to update more frequently now. I'm also looking into entering another story for Maximum Ride that I've been working on more recently along with a story that I will co-write with one of my favorite authors on this site. Very exciting stuff. Without further adieu, here is the next chapter.

Previously:

When I turned around, Dimitri was looking at me instead of Jean. He also had a very determined look on his face. Oh boy, this would be fun.

Chapter 26

"Listen, Rose…" he struggled to find words for a moment, and I used the time to brace myself against the words that were to come. "I know you heard my song the other day." I was careful to keep the emotions I felt from showing on my face. The confusion, sadness, anger, and regret that I'd been fighting the last week didn't appear on my face, but he made a strange expression anyways. I wondered if he had seen it in my eyes. Carefully, he said, "I just wanted to make sure you didn't get the wrong impression. The song was written by the drummer, not me. I was just rehearsing my part in it."

I nodded, feeling more than a little stupid at my reaction. Here I had been, having a moral battle about wanting and not wanting him, when he had never even been trying to get me back. I swallowed down the tears threatening to form in my eyes. "Of course you were. What else would I get from that? Is that all?" He made that face again, but I couldn't decipher it before he turned away, giving a small "Yep," before going through the door.

Did I miss something? I sat down in shock, trying to figure out what just happened. He never really wanted to get back together. He was just playing a song for his band. He didn't mean it. The realization wiped any conflicting thoughts away. I didn't want him. He could have Mia, or whoever the hell he wanted. His love life was no longer my concern. With that mind frame, I could allow myself to be civil with him. He hadn't been toying with me, and, after all, I was the one to break up with him. We could even be friends, if he still felt like it.

Something in the back of my mind was whispering, You can't be friends with him. You don't want to be just friends. He means more than that to you. This isn't going to work.

I squashed the thoughts quickly. You're wrong. I don't care about him like that anymore. He hurt me, and I don't need him anymore.

The voice scoffed. If you don't care about him like that, then why did you put up a fight after the song? And you need him more than you think.

On that eerie note, the voice was gone, and I was left alone in my head again. I went to bed more easily that night, with little conflicting thoughts and no major problems.

The next day, Lissa, Jean, Abby, Kylie, and I all got dressed in a hurry, wanting to get to the stores early. When we were past the security gates in the school, we started using our respective abilities to travel quickly through the forest on the side of the road. We didn't have a car at the ready, and this was more fun anyways. I ran, my Guardian skills allowing me faster speeds than any of them. Kylie road on Bowser's back, the huge dog keeping pace with me easily. Abby, Lissa, and Jean used their magic to fly along, slowing down to stay with us. The mall was only a few miles away, so we were there within ten minutes. I was breathing hard, panting almost as loudly as Bowser. "I feel you, buddy," I said as I sat down heavily on the bench at the door. Kylie, Lissa, and Abby all laughed at me. "Sick 'em," I said playfully, petting his shaggy back and scratching his oversized ears. This only made them laugh harder.

"We missed you, Rose," Lissa said with shining eyes. I smiled big and said sincerely, "I missed you guys." We walked into the mall with the moment of fuzziness surrounding us. All of the stores were fun, and by the end of the day, each of us was carrying at least three bags. We walked back, taking our time and enjoying the moment. I have to say, it was one of the best days I had all year. That is, until Mia ruined it.

We got back and decided to grab a bite at the cafeteria. Mia and some of her Pack members were sitting at their table, which was right next to ours. As soon as we enter, they giggle and glance over at us, clearly laughing at us. I tell the girls to ignore it and we take our seats. Determined to piss me off, Mia gets up and walks over.

"Rose, I was wondering if we could talk. See, I need advice." Her voice was mock-friendly.

"And what makes you think I would give it to you?" I asked in a bored voice, trying not to let my complete disgust with her general personality show through.

"Well, I figure since we've both gotten it in with Dimitri, we might as well be friends." There was a loud crash and my chair fell down as I jumped up and slapped her. Oops. So much for self control.

"How dare you, you little bitch. First of all, I would never do that, he's my second in command. Second of all, he would never, ever do something as disgusting as you." She just laughed and walked away, clearly happy with the reaction she got from me. When she was about to sit back down, she murmured a word, and my drink splashed itself on me. At this point Abby and Jean were keeping me from strangling her while Kylie and Lissa calmly walked over and knocked her lunch off the table, kicked her out of the chair, and then walked away. They dragged me out of the Cafeteria while I shouted profanity at her.

Happy mood shattered.

Two days later, our fourth battle of the month, was against Mia's team. Our objective was to capture their Genezers but kill the rest of the Pack, and blowing up the base was bonus; theirs was to infiltrate and destroy our base. They didn't have to kill all of us, but it was the usual bonus.

We had almost all of them killed, with one of the Genezers trapped by Matt and Abby in a special Magic bubble that stopped him from healing any of his own Pack. Their base was long gone. The last Genezer was guarded by Mia, the sole remaining target. Nick, Kylie, Jean, Sam, and Paul had already been taken out. Dimitri and I were walking with Lissa in between us, carefully listening and looking for any signs of them. Matt and Abby were hidden away safely at our base.

I heard a rustle in the bushes, and then suddenly a ball of fire was flying straight at me. I spun Psych in a flurry, dispersing any and all of the flames. Dimitri blocked a similar flame, but Lissa wasn't so lucky. She didn't get her shield up in time, and neither of us could get to her in time. We watched her 'die', but in 'killing' Lissa, Mia had given up her position. I let a knife fly, and narrowly missed her heart. It buried into her arm instead, and she let out a shriek of pain.

Dimitri followed my knife and had her pinned down before she could blink. "Get the Genezer," he said roughly while taking out his dagger. I immediately scanned the area surrounding us and found her hiding in a tree, scared out of her mind. An evil smile came across my face, I couldn't help it. I wrestled her out of the tree and had her arms tied and mouth shut within a minute.

I expected to find Mia dead when I came back, but instead the dagger was thrown to the ground. He was clearly having trouble subduing her. I was about to kill her when I heard her say, "Come on now, just let us win, baby. You guys win everything it's just not- " My knife in her throat cut her off. Dimitri looked up in shock.

I turned on my heel, marching the Genezer back to the camp and leaving him there with Mia. He could help her to the infirmary. I didn't care. At least, that's what I told myself. Over and over and over.

Just like that, all of my feelings about Dimitri, all my doubts and fears and hurt came back. My stress level jumped higher than it was before, and I was returned to my role as leader. My break was over.

Back to reality.