This Chapter's been sitting idle. So I uploaded it.

It's not complete. I know.

It's just that the Chapters are too long; not that I have something against it but my story together with Richelle must connect.

It's demanding my time and I'm getting busier with schoolworks.

I hope you understand.

Oh, I will complete the whole chapter. It will be separated though.

So this chapter will be labeled Chapter 5

Review and Rate. Thanks!

Oh, before I forget; http:/_twitter_.com/zanessaefgens01 -follow mee. :D

xoxo,

zanessaefgensfan

Disclaimer – All characters belong to Richelle Mead and no copyright infringement is intended.

The school's guardians calling together was rare. Guardians are to handle situations that no other "NORMAL" teenage novices will do that's not connected with disciplinary issues – maybe partly – but serious ones.

Once you get the Head Guardians' attention through the Principal; they will both decide what will happen to that novice.

And since Headmistress Kirova decided we need to get involved with the situation now more than ever since this is out of her hands waaaay beyond her jurisdiction,

And Guardian Alberta – getting piss-off these past few days – is also more than willing to discipline "troublemakers" -as they quote it—say like Rosemarie Hathaway who I heard got in the nerves of Guardian Alto today.

"For the last time, I didn't do it on purpose." Rose - who has been in here for like, I dunno, 2 & a half –3 hours – growled at them. Yep! Them not us. Apparently, the Guardians decided that I should be one of the "watchers" & not part of the "committee" because of my biased role in Rose's life.

I think they noticed the constant Rose-in-trouble and Guardian-Dimitri-save-Rose-because-she-might-get-kicked-out relationship of ours. Wow, relationship. It's really good to hear—or think.

The Issue here was: Rose allegedly failed to defend Christian & another Moroi from the acting Strigoi Guardian Alto. Why? I don't know. That's why we're here.

"Miss Hathaway," Guardian Alberta, - strict, face neutral – on a full Guardian mode now – said professionally. "you must know why we have a hard time believing that."

Celeste, & the some of the other Guardians nodded, "Guardian Alto saw you. You refused to protect two Moroi—including the one whose protection you were specifically assigned to." She pointed out.

"I didn't refuse!" Rose said, getting angrier by the second. "I … fumbled." Lie, I can see it in her eyes which I've been doing for the past 2 and a half hours, but no, I won't judge her, not now, not ever, I'll try to keep an open-mind since I'm not her.

"That wasn't fumble," Stan said from the watchers. They made him stay out of the committee as well since it's obvious his judgment was made & it will affect the overall decisions of the Guardians as well.

"May I?" glancing at Alberta, she gave a small nod & proceeded. "If you'd blocked or attacked me & then messed up, that would be a fumble. But you didn't block. You didn't attack. You didn't even try. You just stood there like a statue & did nothing."

Rose didn't fire back at one. I could see she's thinking.

"Why am I getting in trouble for messing up?" She asked. She's still playing with her cards, & here I am secretly praying for her to stop & tell the truth.

"I mean, I saw Ryan mess up earlier. He didn't get in trouble. Isn't that the point of this exercise? Practice? If we were perfect, you'd already have unleashed us upon the world!" she exclaimed, almost breathless.

"Weren't you listening?" Stan, almost furious, said to Rose. Everyone's silent … Poker face, Except him. He's starting to look old with all the stress he's enduring. "You didn't mess up, because 'messing up' implies that you have to actually do something."

"Okay, then. I froze. Does that count as messing up? I cracked under the pressure & blanked out. It turns out I wasn't prepared. The moment came, & I panicked. It happens to novices all the time." True, but not her … I don't know why. I just know. But I don't believe she'll leave Christian alone because she failed to get her way with the assignment of Morois.

No, she did not mess up or froze or anything, it's just not her. There's something going on here. She will never abandon a friend or frenemy, that's just not Rose. Besides when she's challenged –even if it's technically against her will—she'll take it with a few blabbering, the end.

"To a novice who has already killed a Strigoi?" asked Emil. I don't know if I should feel angry to the Guardians or to Rose or pity to Rose … "It seems unlikely."

"Oh I see," Rose giving everyone that look. That kind of look where she wants to send invisible daggers to us. If only it was possible. "After one incident, I'm now expected to be an expert Strigoi killer? I can't panic or be afraid or anything? Makes sense. Thanks, guys. Fair. Real fair."

She slumped back in her chair, arms crossed her arms crossed over her chest.

Alberta sighed. I bet she wasn't able to sleep making those lists she decided to do since it was more effective. She leaned forward. "We're arguing semantics. Technicalities are not the point here. What's important is that this morning, you made it very clear you did not want to guard Christian Ozera. In fact … I think you even said you wanted us to be sure we knew that you were doing it against your will & that we'd soon see what a horrible idea it was. And then your first test comes around, we find you completely & utterly unresponsive."

Christian Ozera. That name. He's a nice guy, although he can be a jerk sometimes. But after what happened in Spokane, in everything they've been through; surely she'll not do it to get our attention. Besides they have similarities. I know she likes him. In a friendly way.

She almost took off her chair. "That's what this is about? You think I didn't protect him because of some kind of weird revenge thing?"

All of them stared at her expectantly, waiting for another long explanation.

"You are not exactly known for calmly & gracefully accepting things you don't like." Alberta pointed out.

This time she did took off her seat, accusing even pointing her finger at her. "Not true. I have followed every rule Kirova lai down for me since coming back here. I've gone to every practice & obeyed every curfew." Funny. Not all curfew, but still at least she didn't do anything that could harm her or influence anybody else. "There's no reason I'd do this as some kind of revenge! What good would it do? Sta—Guardian Alto wasn't really going to hurt Christian, so it's not I'd get to see him punched or anything. The only thing I would accomplish is getting dragged into the middle of something like this & possibly facing removal from the field experience."

"You are facing removal from the field experience," Celeste pointed out.

Well that made her shut up, & when she shuts up someone's gotta save her.

"Oh." She sat down, suddenly put on hold. Okay so this is the part of the show where I step in & save the world. I can't let her be removed from the field experience. This is for her own good … okay fine, mine too. But still it'd be a waste for us to reduce another guardian-to-be since the number's getting low. Especially a girl. Here I come …

"She has a point," I said. Wooh! I have to pull back my personal feelings so that my save-Rose-speech would not be void. Forgot to ask permission … never mind.

"If she were going to protest or take revenge she'd do it in a different way." Say like punch someone, but not this serious.

"Yes but after the scene she made this morning …" Celeste said trying to reason out. They need to keep it calm & cool with Rose. I know she won't do this on purpose. Besides, they need to see even a little bit of her side & what she's trying to point out.

I stepped up & stood beside where she was. It's easier to hold her back when I'm actually near her without anyone getting suspicious.

"This is circumstantial, regardless of how suspicious you think it looks, there's no proof." I know she couldn't point that out to them. "Removing her from the experience-& essentially ruining her graduation—is a bit extreme without any certainties."

Well that got them. I made a point that nobody has ever given in the past 3 hours. They have no proof. I watched Alberta as she beckoned Celeste & Emil towards her. They huddled together & had a whispered conference. Alberta nodded back & a decision was made.

"Miss Hathaway, do you have anything you'd like to say before we tell you our conclusions?"

I secretly pray for her to zip her mouth & don't take advantage of her 'freewill' just this once.

"No, Guardian Petrov," she said trying to be … pitiful? And wow, she actually call her by her formal name. Okay I should stop being a jerk now. "Nothing more to add." Good.

"All right," she said wearily. "Here's what we've decided. You're lucky you have Guardian Belikov to advocate for you, or this decision might have been different. We're giving you the benefit of doubt. You'll go on with the field experience & continue to guard Mr. Ozera. You'll just be in probation of all sorts."

"That's okay. Thank You." What a sweet Rose. Why can't she be like this than her other wild side, but then again I fell in love more with the other side on.

"And because the suspicion isn't entirely removed," Alberta added. "you'll be spending your day off this week doing community service."

"What?" she exclaimed, jumping out of her chair. It's circumstances like this when being close to her is a benefit rather than the opposite.

I immediately grab hold of her wrist, avoiding her hand. "Sit down." I whispered in her ear, and damn she smells good in the midst of all of this. I tried very hard to keep in control as well as tugging her down in her chair. "Take what you can get."

"If that's a problem we can make than next week too," warned Celeste "and the next five weeks after that."

She shook her head and said in an angelic manner, "I'm sorry. Thank you."

The meeting was adjourned. Alberta immediately instructed her to find Christian, but I told her I still need to have some 'alone' time with her.

They say a way to a man's heart is through his stomach. I wonder if it also applies to women. So while she's expecting another major interrogation; I'll change the atmosphere first. So I approached the table where the hot water, water dispenser, pack of chocolate, coffees, cups & spoons are.

"You want some hot chocolate?" I asked.

I didn't look up to make sure I took her by surprise.

"Sure." She said as I pour four packs of chocolate in the two cups.

I always remember, when I was still a child, I always put two packs of chocolate in my cup. My mother always get upset that I'm the only one consuming all of them, but then again, I would reason out they don't even want it. Which is true.

Anyways back to Rose, I'll tell her this secret of mine:

"Doubling it is the secret." I said as I gave her her cup.

I , then walked to the slide door leading where there's a small courtyard with small patio tables. I heard Rose trying to catch up with me, she's better not spill that chocolate. This will be a comfy place …

Or not. I forgot. It's winter & it's freezing cold. So much for the scenery.

"Where are we—oh." Rose said as she stared. Well we're here already. It's better than the other rooms in this building.

I swept my hand over a chair to brush of the snow. She mimicked my gestures too & sat opposite of me.

Silence fell between us. I can see she's heating her hands with her cup. Then she'd blow her cup. I gulped mine immediately. This would be a distraction to my open mindedness for today if I follow her.

I could see she's looking at me again. Studying me. Of course she knew that I knew that she's looking at me. I kinda feel something different when she's looking at me. I feel conscious. I sound like a gay. Hahah! I wonder what she's thinking.

I wonder how I should start to ask her. To open a light conversation with her.

After a long and I mean long time of thinking & studying me she exhaled & drank her cocoa. I can't stand this silence anymore. There's no other way anyway. Better be straight to the point since this is where all of this would be leading.

"What happened out there?" I said looking into her eyes, at least I think; that'll make her crack up. "You didn't crack under pressure."

I tried & succeeded in sounding, feeling & treating her like a friend. That's where they draw the line. It'll be "below the belt" if I allow myself to feel so much more. I wish I'll succeed with this "quest" of mine.

"Of course it was," she said, not looking at me, "Unless you believe I really did let Stan 'attack' Christian." Of course I don't believe that.

"No," I said. "I don't believe that. I never did." I never did Rose, please trust me. "I knew you would be unhappy when you found out about the assignments, but I never once doubted that you'd do what you'd have to for this. I knew you wouldn't let your personal feelings get in the way of your duty."

She looked up at me with an intense gaze. It's like she's analyzing me. I tried to maintain my open-mindedness.

"I didn't. I was mad … Still I am a little. But once I said I'd do it, I meant it. After spending some time with him … well, I don't hate him. I actually think he's good for Lissa, & he cares about her, so I can't get upset about that." She's opening up to me. I realized. It feels so … good. We rarely have times like this. I like it … even though this happened for a reason that got her in a BIG trouble.

"He & I just clash sometimes, that's all … but we did really well together against the Strigoi. I remembered that while I was with him today, & arguing against this assignment just seemed stupid. So I decided to do the best job I could." She paused. I think she's finished. I don't want to criticize her. I just want to know the truth then maybe I could help her with what's troubling her & with the Guardians.

"What happened then? With Stan?" I asked. She averted her eyes and played with her cup again.

She's thinking … I guess. I keep on waiting … watching her.

"I don't know what happened out there. My intentions were good … I just …" she said. She's keeping the suspense up. "… I just messed up."

"Rose. You're a terrible liar." I said. I don't want to accuse of something she hasn't done. But I know she's lying. She can't even look at me straight in the eye. I don't want to make her think I'm pushing through her the answer. I just want her to tell the truth.

I do consider the fact that I offended her a little bit,' cause she got up & moved to the door. I know it's partly me & so much her. I mean I offended her a bit with my judgment but I also know she's trying to avoid this subject. Maybe she just not yet ready.

Zanessa Forever! Dimise (Dimitri and Rose) Forever! :DDD agree?