The next day, Rose got up earlier then normal, and walked down to the commons area outside. It was dusk, and people were just starting to get up for the day. Walking towards a large stone picnic table, she spotted Lissa eating some breakfast, and going over a notebook. Plopping down next to her, she smiled, "Hey, Liss. Whats that for?"
"Notes for the OMC.." Lissa said distractedly, writing something down before she closed the book, "Where's Adrian?"
"Fast asleep, I'd imagine. Doesn't have anything going on this morning," Rose said, taking a bite of Lissa's apple, "How about fire-boy?"
"Sleeping, too," Lissa laughed, "When was the last time we were completely alone, Rose?" Rose bit her lip thoughtfully, and said, "Forever, Lissa. It's been forever." Lissa grinned, and said, "Okay, nows your chance to tell me whats going on with you and Adrian." Rose raised an eyebrow, and said, "Nothing?"
"I can see the way he looks at you," Lissa carried on, ignoring Rose's feeble protest, "Oh, and we never did talk about Dimitri being back. Have you guys talked?" Relieved for the change in topic, Rose shook her head, "Not much. You should have told me, Liss." Lissa winced, and said, "We were waiting for-"
"The right time," Rose finished, echoing Adrian's earlier words, "Yeah, I know. Look, its not a big deal if I don't make it a big deal. I'm trying really hard to continue being the mature grown up I considered myself being, but no more roping me into dinner or anything, okay?" Lissa nodded, and said, "Your coming, though, right?"
"Yes. We're going, if I didn't it would look like I'm scared. I'm not. I'm over it, Liss. Really. Or, I'm really trying to be." Lissa nodded, studying her for a second, and then grinned, "Then we can get ready together?" Laughing, Rose said, "Yeah-"
"Hathaway! You were due in the gym ten minutes ago," Alex's voice carried through the courtyard. Wincing, Rose got up, "Sorry, Liss. We'll talk more later, okay?" She turned, and followed Alex inside. Eddie was already warming up, as well as the queen's guardians and two she had never met before - Priscilla's, she assumed.
"Alright. Since your all here now," Alex shot her a look, "I'd like you to meet your instructor. He's from the Acadamy in Russia - Alexei Gorbachov." Rose felt Eddie suck in a breath next to her - this guy really was a god. He'd had more kills then anyone they had learned about, and was a master of numerous fighting styles. What is it with Russian's being so great at everything?
"Hello," a thick, accented voice said from behind her, she turned, spying a muscled, handsome man standing with his hands on his hips, "May we begin, Guardian Castile?" Alex nodded, and said, "I'll leave you to it."
For the next two hours, Rose had her body worked harder then she could ever imagine. Alexei fought with ruthless precision - she wasn't even close to being about to take him down. This got her blood pumping in excitement - a real challenge. After she got slammed back to the mats for the fifth time in a row, Alexei signalled for them to stop, and said, "We have a lot of work to do. Go, shower, and be back here an hour earlier tomorrow." With that, he walked away. Rose exchanged an incredulous look with Eddie, who was nursing a broken arm, and said, "Jesus christ."
"You got that right," one of Priscilla's guardians breathed. Eddie grinned, "You nearly had him, Rose." Rose laughed, "Yeah, right. That guys a god."
"I wonder if Belikov could beat him," Eddie grinned, momentarily forgetting who he was talking to. Rose shivered, but fought the feelings down as she shrugged, "I don't think so. Did you see how fast Andrei was?" They walked towards the change rooms, and Rose kept mulling over the new techniques in her head. She wanted to be sure to get them, wanted to excell tomorrow morning. And she couldn't wait to tell Adrian about the new training.
Wait. Tell Adrian? Why would she want to tell him? She frowned, changing her clothes quickly as she pondered it over. It used to be Lissa she'd talk about training with, and then Dimitri. Abruptly, she stopped thinking about it, in case she crossed a line with her thoughts she didn't want to. Ignorance was bliss, she figured. Instead, she started going through her clothes in her head, trying to pick something out to knock everyone's socks off...
With an armful of clothes, Rose reached Lissa's room just in time to duck a hanger as it came soaring through the air at her. Lissa was digging in her closet, and grumbling to herself. Grinning, Rose said, "Try the pale blue one." Lissa jolted, then turned, glaring, "You could have coughed or something. Where's the blue one?" Rose pointed it out, and as Lissa took it to the bathroom, Rose slipped out of her guardian clothes and into a black dress. It came down snug against her body to her hips, where it slanted down at an angle with ruffles. Black, black and more black. She thought it made her dark skin stand out better, as well as make her legs look longer. When Lissa came back out, her eyes widened, and she said, "Wow, Rose. What a dress!"
"I don't know where we're going - is it too much?" Rose asked, peering at herself in the mirror. Lissa grinned, and shook her head, "Not if your trying to jump start anyone's hearts." Grinning wickedly, Rose nodded, "Then its perfect. Do my hair?"
A half hour later, the girls were ready to go, and they walked down to the garage together. They were the last ones to arrive, and Adrian grinned widely as he saw Rose's dress, nodding, "Excellent choice, Hathaway."
"Not too shabby yourself, Ivashkov," Rose grinned, straightening his tie. She was glad she decided on a dress, everyone else was dressed up very nicely. Her eyes flicked over to Dimitri, who had his eyes trained on her legs, and she felt a gleam of satisfaction. A sudden pain in her chest made her flinch and look back into Adrian's frowning face.
"What the hell did you do that for?" She hissed, rubbing the sore spot from yesterday. Adrian shook his head, "It should be healed by now. Why didn't you tell me I didn't do it right?"
"You did. They just.. they upped out training," Rose said evasivly, "Some new guy from R-Russia. I couldn't just sit out, but god, was he ever good. I didn't realize my chest hurt again until you poked it." She mentally cursed herself for stumbling over Alexei's country, and Tasha gasped, "Is that the new hunk I've heard about? He was all Priscilla could talk about at lunch today." At this Rose grinned at her, the first real smile she had given Tasha since they had gotten there, "You bet., God, Liss. Just wait til you see him. All muscle." Adrian grumbled something about how muscle was overrated, and their SUV pulled up, so they climbed in. Rose found herself in the center seat, with Adrian. The SUV was extended, so it fit them all comfortably. After awhile, Lissa turned around and said, "So whats his name, Rose?"
"Alexei Gorbachov," she supplied, and Adrian rolled his eyes, "What is it with girls and muscles? Overrated." Christian laughed, "Jealous, Ivashkov?"
"Naw, he couldn't be, Adrian's hiding a nice little chest under that sweater," Rose teased, and Adrian blatantly ignored her. Lissa raised an eyebrow at him, "Oh really?"
"Really," Rose confirmed, poking Adrian's side, and he rolled his eyes again "We're here." They got out and went inside, where Tasha led them to a private table in the back of a fancy, Greek restaurant. Seated beside Lissa and Adrian, Rose smiled, "This is nice, Tasha. Good choice."
"Dimitri found it, actually," Tasha smiled, and Dimitri nodded, "I'm glad you like it, Rose." She shot him a half hearted smile, and as the waiter asked for their drink order, Adrian ordered a bottle of some expensive, greek wine.
"Jesus, Adrian, that costs more then I make in a month," Eddie exclaimed. Adrian shrugged, brushing it off, and took a sip of the wine glass in front of him. He had quit smoking, and drastically reduced his liquor intake in the past year, but Roes still worried, and she eyed him with that same emotion. Catching her glance, Adrian shot her a winning smile, "Yes, ma'am, only a glass or two." Rose scowled, and Lissa giggled, "You make her sound like your mother."
"Lets see, she wakes up up every morning, lectures you on all the bad stuff you do... I'd say thats a pretty close anology," Christian quipped. Rose raised her eyebrows, but Adrian interrupted, "She's a good friend. And I appreciate it." He leaned over, and kissed her cheek, whispering, "If you were trying to get his attention, I think you've suceeded." She smiled, looking down, nodding.
"So Rose, I still can't believe how much you've changed," Tasha said conversationally. Rose shrugged, "I really don't think I have."
"You have, Roza," Dimitri said, his voice low, "You've grown up." Their eyes met, and Rose felt exposed, like he was trying to read her. She tossed her hair back, and shot him a killer smile, "It happens, you know, after a few years."
"Never thought it would happen to you," Christian muttered. Rose went to retort, but the waiter came to take their order. Under his breath, Adrian said, "Rose?"
"Hmm?"
"Why do you need to suddenly be trained by some scary Russian guy?" She winced - he knew something was up. She was hoping he would just drop it. Evasivly, she said, "What are you ordering, Ad-"
"Rose," he said, a bit louder, "Why?" She didn't realize everyone was listening, and she met his eyes weakly, "Just training, Adrian."
"I've been with you for over two years, you've never had to train that extensively. Especially with an injury," he frowned, watching her closely. Eddie offered, "I was there too, Adrian. A bunch of other guardians as well." Adrian considered this, and Lissa said, "Wait, what? Rose, Eddie, are you guys not telling us something?" Rose quickly shook her head while Eddie denied it verbally. Tasha smiled, "Why do you think theres something up?" Adrian gave Rose another hard look, then shrugged, "Must be my imagination. I just thought it might have to do with the meeting they had with Queen Naomi."
"Oh yeah!" Christian exclaimed, "Well, Rose? Is that why Gorbachov is here?"
"NO!" Rose exclaimed, surprising everyone. Dimitri intervened, "Gorbachov is just visiting, I believe. He's an old friend." Christian nodded, giving Rose an odd look. Dinner continued, but Adrian didn't say much to Rose after that. Any attempt to speak with him met a few word reply, then stony silence again. Defeated, Rose couldn't even enjoy the look on Dimitri's face when he saw her in the dress. As soon as they were back within the wards, Rose escaped the confines of the SUV quickly after tossing a few goodbyes over her shoulder. She felt Adrian fall into step beside her. They walked in silence, and as they hit the usual separating spot, Adrian kept going towards Rose's rooms.
"What are you doing?" She asked, surprised. Adrian shrugged, "Walking you home. Got a problem with that?" Rose shook her head, and as they reached her door, she pulled out her key. Unlocking the door, she turned to tell Adrian goodnight, but gasped instead as his hands found her hips, pulling her closer into a sweet kiss. It caught her off guard, and as he pulled away gently, he whispered, "I hope you'll trust me enough to tell me whats going on soon. Goodnight, Rose." Turning, he walked away, leaving Rose staring at him with wide, shocked eyes and a fast beating heart.
AN: I really hope your enjoying the story so far. I will update as much as humanly possible, but please keep in mind I have a 5 month old daugther, who keeps me pretty busy :) Also - reviews definitely help motivate! *Hehe*.. Thanks again for reading!