Hmmmm . . . Usually don't post twice in one day, but it's been boring. Anyway . . . R&R

Glancing around the suite that he had lived in for the past eight months, Adrian lifted the vodka bottle to his lips absentmindedly. At the moment he wasn't alone. Lissa and Christian had invaded his private rooms. Christian he could deal with, Lissa on the other hand . . .

"Come one Adrian . . . What's wrong?" Lissa's green eyes stared up at him. Adrian grinned down at her.

Everything . . .

"Why nothing. Nothing at all. Whatever made you think there was something wrong?"

Dropping her gaze from his, Lissa turned to look at Christian, who was sprawled out in the large, black leather chair that sat in the corner of Adrian's room. She glared when he did no more than shrug.

She looked back at Adrian and sighed. "Because . . . you're not . . . acting all right."

Because I'm not . . .

Adrian looked away from her face and took another long swig from the bottle.

"I'm fine." He muttered after a few moments. Lissa stood up and crossed her arms.

"You are NOT fine. You haven't been for about a week. All you do is sit around, mope, and drink yourself into oblivion."

Because it dulls the pain . . .

"Not much different than usual . . ." Christian grumbled, shifting his position on the chair.

"Yes it is!" Lissa almost hissed at her boyfriend. When Christian did no more than raise his eyebrow, Lissa turned back to Adrian. She watched as he took another drink from the bottle. Rolling her eyes, Lissa put her hand out.

"Adrian . . . Give me the bottle."

Her voice got softer as she reached out to take the bottle. Adrian handed it over easily enough, but as soon as she turned her back he reached behind him and grabbed another. Lissa walked over to put the bottle on the table near Christian's chair.

Christian cracked a smile and, when Lissa got close enough, grabbed her around the waist and lifted her onto his lap. She started to struggle, but Adrian whispered something that made her pause. She looked at Christian for a moment longer, stood up, gathered her things and left.

Finally . . .

Adrian finally let out a sigh of relief when his door clicked shut. It was silent in the room for a while. Eventually Christian groaned, sat up, and faced Adrian.

"Man, you have to let her go, she isn't healthy for you."

Wow. Insightful much?

Adrian blinked. "I have no idea who you're talking about."

Christian looked away to hid his smile. "You know damned well who I'm talking about. Just feel blessed that Lissa hasn't caught on yet. Although I don't know how she missed it, it's written all over your face."

Adrian took a cigarette out of his pocket. "You have no idea what you're talking about. Trust me."

"If it has anything to do with Rose, which you and I both know it does, then you're right. I never know what that psycho is thinking."

"She isn't a psycho."

"Sure, sure."

The room grew silent again and Adrian could feel Christian's gaze on his face.

"So are you ever gonna tell anyone what happened?"

Adrian finally looked at Christian. "You mean like you?"

"If that's what you want."

This is kind of getting awkward . . .

"I don't know. I don't think I want to just yet . . ."

Christian sighed, hung his head, and stood. "Well now that that awkward 'male bonding' that Lissa was trying to make happen is over, I'm going to visit the feeders." Grabbing his jacket, Christian walked out of the room.

What to do, what to do . . .

"Nothing, I'm not going to do anything. She made her choice."

But what choice did she make?

Adrian though about the possibility of her choosing him over Dimitri.

"Gah! I don't want to get my hopes up. It hurts enough as is."

Does it need to hurt?

"No. And that's why I'm going to Court next week. I need a new scene, someplace Rose free."

Do you think you can handle that?

Adrian groaned. "I don't know!"

…

"What to do, What to do?"