Chapter 3

"Rose please wake up." I hear someone pleading.

I open my eyelids and Alex is leaning over me.

"Welcome back" he says. "What happened?"

I feel so stupid what do I tell him. You just happen to be from the same town as the man I love. No, I dont tell him that. So I blurt out the first thing that came to my mind.

"I didn't eat this morning."

"well let me grab you something out my bag, hang on" he says.

He walks to his bag and I can't help but notice how hot he looks.

"I am sorry but this is all I have." He hands me a granola bar. "Wish there was more I could give you" he says.

I smile. He seems to be flirting with me. "Thanks" I say.

"Your welcome Roza." he says.

I stare at him again. My mouth is wide open.

He just looks at me and says "you are strange, but I like strange."

We continue our training. He is an excellent fighter. He pinned me down four out of the five times we fought.

"You did a good job Rose. You have excellent skills, I can't wait to teach you a few more."

My face is red. I feel the blush on my cheeks.

"Thanks, see you later." I say. I ran out of the gym and thought to myself. Maybe lissa is right. Maybe I will be okay. I know that no one can replace Dimitri and I will always love him, but he left me with no guarentees of us being together. What else am I supposed to do. I ran to find Lissa.

I found her walking with Christian.

"Hey Christian I need to talk to Rose for a minute, I'll see you at lunch." Lisa said. Christian looked a little hurt.

"I still love you" she said as she pecked his cheek. That made him smile.

"See you girls at lunch" he said.

Lisa looked over at me, as Christian walked away. "Spill it."

"How do you know there is anything to spill!" I said

"I have been experimenting with our bond, I am starting to feel emotions from you. I could tell you were happy a little while ago." she says.

So i tell her all about Alex. She looks at me like I am sure I looked at him. She seems worried.

"Rose, please dont use Alex as the rebound guy. I know Dimitri hurt you, but he will come back. He cares for you." She says.

She must have been using spirit becuase I feel it coming out as I start to get louder.

"Lissa, Alex is not the rebound guy. I just met him. I dont know him. I am just flirting with him he is only one year older than me. He seems very nice and he has a lot to teach me, and on the other hand I dont know when Dimitri will come back or how he feels about me. But he left me with no promises. I need to start moving on. I can't let myself hope for a future that wont exist when he comes back." I am screaming at this point. "It will kill me, literally!"

"Rose, calm down. I am sorry." Lissa says. "I just want what best for you."

I feel myself calming down. "Lissa, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to. I am just so stressed out, and Alex made me forget Dimitiri for a minute and that is what I need right now."

"I understand, I can't wait to meet him." she says.

As soon as she says it he walks by. "How's my little student doing?" He says.

Lissa looks at him and back at me with a smile on her face.

"Hi Alex! I am great. Thinking about ways to pin you down later at practice. I have a few ideas. Alex, this is Lissa. Lissa this is Alex." I say

"Nice to meet you princess." he says.

"You too." she says.

"I have to go meet Alberta, but I'll see you later Rose." Alex says.

He walkes off and Lissa is still looking at him.

"He is gorgeous." she says.

"I know that." I say. "Didn't you just tell me not to use him for the rebound guy?"

"I want you to be happy Rose."

"I am getting there Lissa. I am taking it one day at a time."

I look at my watch, and tell Lissa I will see her after classes for lunch. I was so ecstatic for the rest of the day. I finally feel like I am breathing again. After lunch, we have to meet to get our assignments. We will guard our charges for six weeks. I walk into the gym with Lissa and Christian. I see Alberta getting ready to announce the pairs.

"Eddie" Alberta says. "will be paired with Adrian."

"Adrian," I ask, stunned. "He isn't even a student here. Why are we guarding him?"

"We do not have enough moroi seniors for our dhampir's, Adrian volunteered to have one." Alberta replys.

"Of course he did" I reply. I know how his mind works. He wants to stay here with us as long as he can.

I wait patiently for my name to be called.

"Princess Lissa will be guarded by Alexander Gorbachov."

"What? You can't be serious?" I yelled. Everyone looked at me. "Alberta, you know Lissa is supposed to be my charge. We have a special bond."

"Rose, you do have a bond with her. She is the only Dragomir left. Alex will be her charge. I am sorry but this was a mutual decision with the higher ups. We did however come up with another suitable charge for you." she says. "Christian Ozera."

"Christian. Christian. How is he suitable for me?" I ask whinning.

"Christian is with Lissa whenever he can be, you will work together with your mentor and protect them both during outings. This is really for the best Rose. I know you want what is best for Lissa, and I truly believe this is in her and your best interest." Alberta says.

I know Alberta is a great guardian and she wants to make me the best guardian there is. So I nod in her direction, and prepare myself for six weeks of Christian.

Christian walks up to me. "Don't worry Rose, I will get a futon put in my room for you. Only the best for the best." I punch him lightly in the arm.

"Ouch, Rose." he replys.

Alex walks up to me. "Rose, I think you are supposed to protect him not hurt him." He smiles at me.

"Alex, if you knew what I was about to endure you would fell sorry for me and not sparky here."

All i can do is walk out of the gym, hoping everything goes well for the next six weeks.