An: Hey, this is my first Vampire Academy fanfiction. I'm not sure if it is possible but I had to write it anyway. Mason was my favorite character. Oh, well, enjoy.

Your Eyes Don't Lie

The feeling was like when your foot falls asleep; tingles run up and down it making you shiver but at the same time you feel like your leg is numb. That's what it was like when I came to my senses. It was like half of me was asleep; numb. But at the same time, I felt tugging; as if someone was pulling me from one side but I was weighted down so I would not go anywhere.

I looked around, wondering why all of these things were the way they were. Trees lined the small clearing where I was standing. The dark brown of the bark contrasted the slushy snow on the ground.

I wondered if they shared the same feeling as I did; the feeling of numbness. Did they feel like me? Did they feel the unpleasant pull from an invisible figure?

I put my hand on an old oak tree and realized that it was different than it usually was… or at least I thought it was different. Something inside told me that something was wrong. But I could not place it.

My hand seemed paler than usual. It mimicked the distinction between the dark bark of the trees against the snow. The pallid color was disturbingly unhealthy.

I could feel my head tilt to the side in curiosity.

At the same time, my hand was giving off an eerie glow. It was faint but bright enough for it to be noticed and make a difference.

I was a recognizable stranger.

Curiosity led me to my surroundings once more. The trees were swaying slightly in the wind but standing tall and strong, the darkness swallowing and filling in the holes of light between the buildings.

Buildings?

But there were buildings. Tall ones that were like the trees. Always powerful and they seemed to have been there for a long time. They had seen many things.

The sight of them sent off an alarm in my mind. Something I should remember. Something that was important. I tried my best to recall where I had seen the numerous colonies of structures but there was nothing there. No memories whatsoever. Nothing; only darkness; shadows.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the small alleys between the large establishments. I could feel the vibrations in my skull they were so loud.

Moments later, the reason behind the noise came into view. It was a girl; a teenage girl; a girl with beautiful hair that reflected the glow of the moon; skin that was flawless. She was perfection. There was no other way of describing her as she darted with graceful movements over to one of the buildings.

But she did have a blemish; an emotion that showed in her eyes. It was a strong feeling; one that reeked of grief. What was making this girl so miserable? She needed to find happiness, some sort of peace… I shook my head at her.

If only she would smile…

Then it hit me; a lone memory of a beam so bright, so stunning, so blissful… a grin free of sorrow.

It was the girl; the same one that I was watching now.

I moved toward her a step; I wanted to find out more about this girl. She had obviously been part of my life somehow before… before what?

That question I could not answer.

She must have seen me take the step because she whirled around, her wild hair fanning in a perfect arch around her head, and stopped, frozen to the spot. The girl looked at me. Her expression was a strange one. It included many emotions; depression; grief; confusion; curiosity; shock.

This last emotion puzzled me. Why was she feeling shock? She was only a girl? Just a normal girl that obviously had some sort of problems. Nothing that I should worry about. I should just let her go… the words rung in my head like church bells.

Seconds later my mind added a few more words.

"Let her go, or I'll kill you."

Why were these words so familiar?

I kept watching the girl. Then it hit me. Rose, Spokane and… death.

I had said those words. I had said those words to the Strigoi. It had been me this girl was grieving over. My death.

I rubbed the back of my neck subconsciously.

Everything was coming back; all the memories of that night, and the days of the torture of sitting in that small room with the others.

Rose had survived. She was strong, she was like the trees. She was not like me and neither were the trees. They were proud, and strong.

I was weak… and death had claimed me.

She had changed dramatically. The wild, untamable spirit had fled from her eyes. Rose was like me in that way. But we could never be the same. I was only a memory; a swift reminder of the past that brought guilt and fear and shadows. She was always going to be bright. She would get over me. Rose would move on, where I could not. She would leave me behind… and for the most part I wanted her to. Although a small, selfish part of me wanted her to remember me always. How I had been her friend, how I had loved her and how I had tried to save her.

We both had changed… and we would remain that way and I knew it. Especially for Rose; she would remain that way even through all of the smiles she gave, and all of the jokes she told and all of the musical laughs she had.

I looked and the sorrow-filled eyes told me I was right.

You can fool people with your striking smile and wildly kind personality but your eyes don't lie Rose.

An: I would appreciate it if you would review. I might keep going with this and do a few more of their meetings in Shadow Kissed, but this may stay as a one-shot. I would love it if you guys could tell me if you wanted more or not.

Thanks for reading!