I take off after Lissa, but change my direction towards the church. Lissa needs time to cool off and think about the situation a bit longer. So no, I won't bother Lissa while she gets ahold of things. Instead, I keep my focus on the church, specifically the attic.

I jog up the stairs to the attic, throwing open the door. Christian immediately stands, probably wondering if its his one and only love, Lissa.

"You idiot!" I throw a punch at Christian, but he barely blocks me.

"I had to, Rose." Christian says. "You wouldn't have told her."

"Yes I would!" I cry out and try to swing again; he blocks it yet again.

Christian stares at me and says, "would you have really told her?"

"Yes," I tell him, "I would have, Christian. I would have had to."

"You were going to wait until last minute, weren't you?"

I take a step back and look at my surroundings, at anything but Christian Ozera. To think just a few seconds ago I was about to punch another Ozera in the face.

"That's none of your business." I say.

Christian scoffs. "You were going to wait until. . . Like, ten minutes before you left!"

"Not that late!" I shout at him. "Besides, I haven't even gotten the job."

"Yet." Christian points out.

"If." I say. "If I get the job."

"You know you will, Rose. There's no other option."

"There's plenty more options." I throw my hands up. "Like Eddie Castile."

Christian shakes his head and walks around the dusty old attic room, shoving his hands in his pockets. I keep my eyes on him as he turns and walks the other direction; pacing I think that's what he's doing. After a few minutes, Christian swivels on his heel and points directly at me.

"Have you even thought about Lissa through all of your decisions?" He asks.

I cross my arms over my chest. "Of course I have."

"Liar."

"Shut up, Ozera!" I yell. "You don't know what I've thought about! You've never been in my mind!"

"I don't have to!" Christian shouts back at me. "I know you're probably too selfish to think about Lissa in this sort of situation!"

"I'm not selfish!"

"Cut it out!" The voice doesn't come from Christian nor I. I turn to see Lissa standing in the doorway, staring at us with disbelief.

"Lissa," Christian clears his throat, "h-how long have you been standing there?"

Lissa walks closer to us. "Long enough."

I stare at Lissa, and then at Christian. All these fights and arguments, they're no good. The ones Dimitri and I had before he left, and the ones Christian, Lissa, and I are having now are no good. Nothing good ever really comes out of such a stupid argument.

"Christian," Lissa directs her gaze at him, "Rose would've told me; you shouldn't have." Lissa turns to me and gives me the longest stare. "Rose, do what you want. I'm not stopping you. If it boosts your chance of becoming my guardian, then I'm in. Whatever your decisions, I'll readily stick with you through them all."

This, all of this, is why Vasilisa Dragomir should rule one day. She's a leader, and she knows how to fix arguments and help everyone relax through bad situations. Lissa was born to be a leader; never a follower.

"Thanks, Liss." I say. "Let's take a walk, shall we?"

Lissa and I walk through one of the many courtyards at the academy. Baby's Breaths and Violets are in full bloom, so the entire campus is just a big, big garden of purple and white. The smell of freshly cut grass fills my nostrils. Lissa strolls beside me, our arms linked together. It's at times like these that I enjoy have a friend like Lissa. I look over at her and see her eyes shut as she inhales the many new scents.

"I'm nervous." I blurt out before I can stop the words from coming out of my mouth.

Lissa opens her eyes and looks over at me. "About what?"

I shrug as we pace each step with the others. "I don't know if I can leave St. Vladimir's, or you."

"You should go, Rose." Lissa tells me, patting my hand.

"I'm not so easy to get rid of." I point out.

"You know what I mean." She says. "It's an experience of a life-time; it'll help you become my guardian so that we're together."

"I don't think I can though." I admit. "Leaving, even temporarily, sort of scares me."

Lissa gazes off at the sky, and I follow her stare.

"I see a flower." Lissa points at one cloud.

I nod. "Liss?"

"Just listen, Rose." Lissa stops me and grabs my arms, turning me to face her. She looks into my eyes and smiles. "You should go; you need to go. Don't you see? This is going to be worth it all."

I nod quickly. "I guess you're right."

"Tomorrow morning is when they make the decision?"

"Yep."

"If it's you - I know it will be you - you accept it, Rose." Lissa tells me. "Don't hesitate."

"Yeah, I'll try."

"You will try."

I realize I've held my breath. I exhale deeply and look at Lissa, "I will try." She gives me a smile. "No doubt."

At seven 'o clock in the morning, someone knocks on my door. I quickly throw off my blankets and throw on a pair of jeans and run to the door. When I open it, Alberta stands tall at my door; her hand raised as if she were about to knock again.

"Rose," she announces, "Ms. Vivian Conta has chosen you as her temporary guardian."

"Oh wow." I breath. "So no goodbye balloons?"

"Be ready in thirty minutes, Miss Hathaway." Alberta tells me and begins to walk off.

"Wait!" I yell after her. She turns and waits for whatever I need to tell her. "Can you contact Lissa Dragomir, Christian Ozera, and Adrian Ivashkov that I'm leaving? I want to say goodbye."

Alberta nods and leaves.

Thirty minutes.

I shut the door and turn to my closet, grabbing black jeans, a white T-shirt, a wool sweater, and combat boots. My shower is quick, and I barely have enough time to wash my hair. I look in the mirror and see, well, me. But I look different somehow. I lean in closer to the mirror and stare at my face, my appearance. What's so difference?

I notice the glazed sort of look I have in my eyes.

I shrug it off and turn to leave. Once back in my room, I pack up the rest of my suitcase, the necessities and all the rest. The room is almost empty, but it still has that touch of Rose in it. I grab the handle of my suitcase and sling my duffel bag over my shoulder and turn to leave.

When I arrive at the front gates of the academy, Lissa, Christian, Adrian, and Eddie are all waiting for me. The pitch-black SUV sits just a few feet away, the engine sputtering to life. Vivian Conta must already be in the car, or so I hope.

I hug Lissa first. It's a great big hug that neither of us want to let go. Lissa finally releases me and I lean back. I notice that Lissa has a few tears dripping down her cheeks.

"Lissa," I say. "I'll be back, I promise."

"I know you will." She whispers and we hug again.

I turn to Christian and immediately things just become flat-out awkward. I don't know what to do. Hug him? Shake his hand? What am I supposed to do with the boy who's aunt I punched and who I had a fight with just yesterday night?

Before I can say anymore, Christian pulls me into a quick, but friendly, hug. I nod at him and lean towards his ear.

"Take care of Lissa for me," I whisper very low. When I start to move towards Eddie, I see the promise in Christian's eyes. I know he'll take care of Lissa with everything he has.

"Bye, Eddie," I hug him and before I have time to reject his offer, he takes my suitcase and slides it in the back of the SUV.

Last is Adrian, with his clove-scented cigarettes and strong cologne. His hug is about as long as Lissa's, long and soaking up every little piece of me before I leave.

"Goodbye, Adrian," I kiss him on the cheek, nothing romantic; just a friendly peck on the cheek. "Don't drink too much."

A smirk creeps up on his face. "Goodbye, little dhampir. You'll miss my inhumanly good looks, won't you?"

"I believe I will," I say sadly. "You have your ways of contacting me."

I see that familiar glint in Adrian's eyes. "I'll see you in your dreams, little dhampir."

"Goodbye," I say and with that, I pile into the car, tears in my eyes. I roll down the window and gaze at my friends. The car begins to take off, and I start waving, the tears flowing from my face.

"Goodbye," I say to no one in particular.