Chapter 1

Lissa. Lissa didn't know. Lissa didn't get it. But I couldn't tell her. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I just couldn't. So I went to the only other person on campus who new. Adrian. He opened the door just as the tears started to leak out of my eyes. He pulled the door open and ushered me inside. "So you heard the news." He said, and I nodded. I was sobbing now. And he held me while I cried. Love, I realized is like walking on a path that's covered in ice. If you have it, you can manage not to slip because you're holding someone's hand, but if you don't, you just land on your ass. He can't see this" He ""

* * *

"Rose are you ok?" He asked me again. I sat on his bed, curled into a little ball.

"Do I look like I'm ok Adrian?" I snapped.

"Well no. But you do look incredibly sexy sitting on my bed." I chucked his pillow at him.

"What the hell am I going to do? I'm a wreck! He can't see me like this."

"You make him jealous." He smiled an evil smile. "If you two were 'so in love'" he says this with heavy sarcasm. "It would bother him if you just moved on."

"Like it bother's me?"

He nod's "Exactly. You pretend you've moved on, and he won't be able to stand it."

"Adrian?"

"Yes."

"That's the best idea I've heard in a long time."

"So you're going through with this?"

"I guess."

"Well if your looking for a fake boyfriend…" He started.

"No, Adrian I couldn't let you do that for me. It would hurt you too much, because its not real."

"I'm fine with setting myself up for misery." He sat next to me and brushed hair out of my face. "Rose I love you enough to do this to help you. And who knows? Maybe you'll learn I'm not as bad as I seem."

"Thank you Adrian. Thank you so much." I kissed him quickly on the cheek, and he pulled me into a tight hug.

"But this is only a show remember?" I emphasize. "So don't try to get yourself hurt."

"I am perfectly able to do this." He pulled away from me. "Lets go tell our friends the good news." He grabbed my hand and pulled me up off the bed. He pulled me towards him as he wiped the mascara out from under my eyes, and fixed my hair. "Perfect." He kissed my forehead. We walked down the hallway, hand in hand, acting like the perfect couple he wanted us to be.

We crossed campus to Lissa's dorm, where she, Christian, Eddie, and a few other people sat in a lounge watching a movie. We walked into the room, and at first, none of them noticed me. Adrian sat down on the only free seat, and I sat in his lap. Lissa looked our way, and with a confused look, she waved "Hey Rose…" She looked at who was under me. "Adrian?" She sounded shocked. Good.

"Rose." She hissed. What's going on?

"Adrian and I are dating." I whispered to her.

What? When did this happen? WHEN?

"Ummmm….. like 10 minutes ago."

I thought you hated him.

"Nope. Totally in love." I inserted a slight amount of sarcasm. Which she didn't detect.

You're kidding.

"Nope."

I turned toward Adrian. Come on Rose, make it believeable. And I kissed his lips. He kissed me back. Aw come on Rose. You just had to do it.

"WHAT THE HELL?" Lissa practically screamed.

Oh great. Now everyone saw us practically making out. Lord, if you're up there, please have mercy on my soul.

"Woah! Rose and Adrian!" Christian whistled.

"Shut up fire boy." I said as I pulled away from Adrian. He was grinning.

* * *

I pulled up my covers and lay my head on the pillow, spreading my hair out around me.

I slipped quickly into one of Adrian's dreams.

"Hello Little Dhampir." He said. We were on a beach. I was laying on a red towel, wearing my navy bikini.

"Hey Adrian."

He was lying next to me on a white towel. "Quite a kiss." He commented.

"It wasn't anything."

He moved a little closer to me. "Adrian. I thought we talked about this." I knew this would happen.

"We did Rose. This is how I would act even without what happened today." He paused. "And might I add you look wonderful."

I smiled, shook my head, and changed the subject. "I wanted to thank you for your idea and what you're doing to help me."

"It's no big deal. But I can think of some ways you might want to thank me."

I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you Adrian. Thank you so much."