Hey, I'm not sorry how long it's taken because of how great the chapter after this will be! I sound vain don't I? I'm not. I just really love the next chapter, objectively.

This chapter is for meant4ivashkov because she said the story was fantabulous. XD (and because she reviews when I'm bored). Bet you didn't expect and update this soon!

Reviewing is good! It makes me update and everybody loves updates!

Chapter 14

Eddie's POV

I walked to fourth period training in the gym, rumours were like wild fire here and one was burning through the school with rapid destruction. Rose was back. Adrian Ivashkov walked up beside me with his usual, lazy smirk, like the royal he was but his eyes were dark – The only give way that he wasn't as arrogant as he seemed.

"Hey." I said in acknowledgement.

He waved a hand in response but didn't bother with greetings, "A little birdie told me something. Our Rose is taking her classes again."

I looked at him nodding, "Yeah, I heard the same thing but I didn't see her at break. I also heard a few other things which aren't going to make her very happy. She had an abortion because you got her pregnant. She's not friends with Lissa anymore. She's not dangerous. That one I don't believe but basically that is the popular group's way of telling everyone to eat her alive, social murder."

He laughed, "Homicidal teenagers..." then in a more serious tone, "I just... I don't know. I miss her, I worry about her." He shook his head, gazing at the sky then looked back at me with a bright smile and started jogging backwards, "I'll see you at lunch!" He yelled happily, turning and running into the dorms. I could see why people thought he was shallow, one moment he had look to be in despair and then he collected himself and put a mask of contentment on, blocking his emotions.

I smiled slightly as I opened the doors to the gym and walked in, shouting hellos to friends and receiving some high fives. We stood around talking; the teacher was getting equipment ready. Everyone stopped talking and stared in the direction of the door. I couldn't see through the crowd but I heard the door drift closed.

Rose was making her way through the crowd and people were gaping. She looked terrible. She put her bag down and tied her sneakers as if she were somewhere else, alone. I saw her gaze drift to the punching bag and then her hands and a tear slid down her cheek. This was where she had trained every morning. With Guardian Belikov.

She looked around at the people's faces staring at her and her lip trembled, just for a second. She covered it by turning her face hard and defiant. It was the first sign.

The teacher called for attention and told us to pair up, explaining the techniques and how we were to practice them. In slow motion. Ah, the joys of being a novice.

I remembered Mason and I laughing as we practiced in slow motion, before Spokane and suddenly felt a protectiveness over Rose. She was like a sister in some ways and I owed it to Mason to look out for her.

When the teacher dismissed us, I jogged over and stood in front of Rose. She looked worse up close, dark circles under her eyes, her cheeks were shallow, her skin pale. Rose wasn't really back.

"Hey, so did you get what the teacher was saying?" I asked to make sure she was listening, she looked detached.

She nodded.

"Okay, then I'll start?" I asked wishing she would talk but her only response was to get into position to block.

I started going through the steps mechanically, extending my arm half way, moving my weight to my left foot, bring my right foot forward and balancing my weight on the ball of my foot as I kicked. All in slow motion with careful, refined movements.

"Rose..." I said, trailing off, lost for words.

She placed her hand under my foot as I raised it and pushed up, effectively blocking me and – if done at normal speed – making me lose my balance. She didn't reply and showed no signs of having heard.

"I ..." I started again, moving into a defensive position and nodding for her to take her turn at attacking.

She changed position and copied my earlier movements and I blocked her. She blocked my next attack which was a round house kick and I moved into defence again.

I sighed as she looked around again at the students, who were practicing,

"I.." am sorry, I thought without saying it, "I hope you feel better soon." Was what I ended up saying.

Rose's lack of response earlier threw me off guard and I looked out the window as if the sky held the answers.

Rose wasn't distracted and did the round house kick, only not in slow motion and not aimed at my hand as the teacher had instructed. That was the second sign.

She hit my chest and I stumbled back, trying to catch my balance but I was knocked back farther by a hard punch to my jaw. I grabbed my jaw and saw Rose stare at her hands, wincing as she watched me fall, a look of horror mixed with hate in her eyes. She seemed confused.

Everything seemed to stop at the same time, I hit the ground, the noise stopped, people stopped.

Until Rose started to run, grabbed her bag and bolted out of the gym. The third sign. Her footsteps echoed and the noise started again,

"What the hell?" One of my friends yelled, running over.

"What happened?" The teacher asked calmly, watching the door swing closed.

"Nothing, it's fine." I stated and stood up.

People were whispering, but the teacher nodded and pulled out a phone, I could hear her as she walked away,

"Alberta? Yes. We had an incident, mmhmm, The boy says he's fine. Rosemarie left after apparently kicking and punching him. Yes, Hathaway. No, no. Eddie seems fine." She continued talking as she disappeared into the locker room.

Class continued until the bell rang and we hurried to lunch.

Rose didn't sit with us, she didn't eat. She walked into the cafeteria, glanced around then exited through the other side. The look in her eyes as if she were lost until she saw Lissa and her eyes sparkled with love that turned into fury and then agony. That was the final sign.