Days had gone by since Adrian and I had been together and I was yearning for him even more. That one night had made my stay in jail that much worse. Not having him was bad enough but to have him and then be cut off-unbearable! So my thoughts day and night were all Adrian. He felt the same way but neither of us regretted what we did. When he came to me in my dreams we would make love there and he would hold me in his arms for as long as possible. It was always a shame to see him go but as long as I could mentally feel and see him, I was OK with it.

Dimitri still came by to see me even though I told him I didn't want to see him. He figured that since he did me a favor-one I didn't ask for-that I owed him a conversation. So I obliged him the one time.

"I still don't see why you think I owe you. I didn't even ask for your help. You did that all on your own." I stated

"You may not have come right out to ask but you implied what you wanted me to do." Dimitri retorted

"How on earth did I do that?" I gave him a dumbfounded look

"By saying that you wished Adrian was here instead of I."

"Yeah well I wish he was here instead of you again. I don't know how many times I have to tell you that I don't want to see you."

"Yes. And what are you reasons for that again. Besides the fact of my telling you that once."

"Oh you told me more than once!" I exclaimed, "Besides I don't owe you any explanations."

"No…you don't." he sadly replied

We sat in silence but for only a moment. I don't think he could stand that I wasn't being like my normal Rose self. Usually I gave him a hard time and I was very much outspoken. Now I was quiet and I could tell that it was driving him crazy. "What happened to you?" he asked

"What do you mean what happened to me? I got arrested and put in jail! You were there. Remember?" I could feel the dark side of spirit horning its head in on me. Normally I didn't have to worry about it because nothing ever happened that would upset me enough. But Dimitri asking that question really pissed me off.

"Yeah I understand all that but I don't understand why its changed you. The normal Rose Hathaway wouldn't let this get her down. She would be cracking jokes or something. Not once since I have visited you have you called me comrade."

"Oh I am so sorry that you don't like that way I am now. If it bothers you so much then don't come back." I turned my back to him not wanting to see his face anymore. It was so weird how much Dimitri upset me now. In the old days he didn't upset me once-well not too much. Most of the time he just told the truth and in turn that upset me but we soon got over it. Now it felt like there was a road block between us. Our love life was nonexistent and now it seemed that our friendship was more than on the rocks. It was on the edge of a cliff.

Finally he responded with hesitancy, "I didn't mean to upset you. I just wanted to know why you let this bring you down so much. Do you know what all the guardians are doing for you on their time off? Its amazing to see them all risk their jobs for you."

It took me a moment to respond to that. I knew most of them were helping but Dimitri had said 'all.' "Listen…I know what they're doing and I am so grateful. But its been weeks since my hearing and nothing has happened. Don't get me wrong I'm glad the trial is taking a while but still…," I took a deep breath then continued, "I wish someone would find something that would get me off. Everyone knows I didn't do it but well its not like our opinions even mean anything the moroi."

"They mean something to Lissa."

"I know that, but they others are taking their sweet time deciding to let her on the council. You wanna know what I think about that?"

"I always want to know what you think." He smiled

I rolled my eyes while shaking my head, "I think that they don't want her on the council…at least not right now. My guess is that they think she is too close to this situation-which she is-to have an opened mind. They believe that she wouldn't be objective when it comes down to convicting me or not."

"You're probably right."

"But you know what…it doesn't matter whether or not I do or don't get convicted because now that this is on my record no one will ever want me as their guardian…besides Lissa or Christian or Adrian. Plus they're all going to be thinking in the back of their minds a whole bunch of 'what if' scenarios."

"I don't think that. I think there are a lot of moroi who will believe the truth when they see it. You underestimate them."

"Not sure about that." we were silent for a moment then I asked, "Have you seen Abe around lately. I haven't heard from him since the hearing. I figured he would be in here visiting more than anyone."

After I asked Dimitri got a strange look about his face that told me he knew exactly where Abe was and why he hasn't been to visit. His expression also told me that he was in on whatever Abe was doing. "Dimitri…do you know where he is or what he's doing?" I gave him my serious Rose look

At last he answered, "I do but he told me not to tell you."

"I knew it. What's he up to? Tell me!" I was almost shouting but none of the guards heard me.

"Fine I'll tell you. Well at least your patience hasn't changed at all or your need to know everything." I gave him a fuck you look, "He's trying to find out who really committed the crime and why they would frame you. He's also-" Dimitri lowered his voice just above a whisper, "he also is looking into alternative ways of getting you out of here."

"What does that mean exactly." now I was speaking just above a whisper

"It means what it means…I really get into it right now, especially here. But he informed me that you are under no circumstances going to prison or worse…" he drifted off at that last part. Dimitri couldn't say the word die. Especially if my name was involved. I doubt I could have said that word either. But I did finish it for him.

"Die." he looked at me with sad, guilty eyes. "Don't look at me like that. Its not your fault I'm in here. Its mine. Had I kept my mouth shut I might not be here. All my out bursts and all my behavior has led me to this point. No one wouldn't have wanted to pin me as the murderer if I was a good person with no marks on her record. Whoever did this knows all about me and why I would be the perfect target. So…" there wasn't much else for me to say. I tried my hardest to get him to let it go and not to blame himself but he's like me-stubborn and hard headed.

"Well its getting late. I better go." he announced

"Yeah you better go. Bye." and then he was gone. It kind of hurt to see him walk away. I guess the more I saw him as the old Dimitri-the one I used to know and love-the more I knew I needed him in my life. Friends-enemies-lovers it didn't matter what we were I just knew deep inside myself that he had to be in my life but the lover would never happen because my heart belongs to Adrian.