Chapter 23 True Friendship

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy. Everything is property of Richelle Mead.

Two updates in one day? I must be out of my mind. I just thought you deserved a double update for me being gone all week. Enjoy! This chapter is light and fluffy.

RPOV

Being back at the Academy after all that had happened was surreal. I took a shower, hopped into my cozy flannel pajamas and got under the covers. It felt so good to wear my own clothes and sleep in my own bed. I actually fell asleep right away despite the questions that were swirling around in my head.

I woke with a start. I didn't know why. I wasn't having a nightmare that I could remember and everything was quiet.

Then I heard Lissa in my head.

Rose can you hear me? she said.

Should I answer? Was something wrong? She didn't feel panicked or anything. Was she going to wake me up in the middle of the night now anytime she felt like it if I responded?

Rose? Please can you hear me? she asked again louder.

I sighed and sat up rubbing my tired eyes.

Yes I can hear you. What's wrong? I asked.

There was no answer. I wondered if she heard me.

Nothing I just can't sleep and wanted to know if you would come over and stay with me the rest of the night? she asked. I could feel underneath that she had missed me and just wanted to have me close by. I smiled at that. My close friendship with Lissa was one of the few constants in my life.

Sure I'll be over in a few. Hey this was better than having a cell phone. Now we wouldn't even have to pass notes in class. Eat that Stan!!!

I had learned how to escape my room quite well over the years. It was a piece of cake after what I'd been through this past week.

I climbed out the window, crossed the roof and leapt deftly to the ground. I landed quietly absorbing the impact with my legs.

I checked to see if the guardian on duty was paying attention. Lucky for me it was a new one and he wouldn't think to check to see if the infamous Rose Hathaway was sneaking out or not. You'd think they'd have a Guardian under my window by now for how often I used it to escape.

I quickly ran across the quad to the Moroi dorms and climbed the tree closest to Lissa's room. I swung myself onto the roof and tapped on her window. The light went on and she let me in.

She embraced me tightly as soon as my slippers hit the floor.

"Rose, I'm sorry to have woken you, but I just missed you so much." She cried holding me in a Moroi death grip. Which I easily could have gotten out of had I wanted to.

I hugged her back fiercely. I really had missed her. We hadn't had much time alone since we returned to the Academy last fall. What with my house arrest, extra trainings with Dimitri and Lissa spending twenty-four seven sucking face with Sparky in the Church attic it was a wonder we were still friends.

"So." I said flopping down on her bed and making myself at home. "You have any snacks?"

She laughed and pointed to the usual cabinet where she stashed candy bars and flaming hot Cheetos for me.

I broke open a bag and started munching.

"What do you want to know?" I asked

I could feel her skirting around how to ask me about the kidnapping.

"Everything of course." She said snuggling up next to me. I stroked her hair lightly.

I would tell her a glossed over version of the truth like usual. She was far too innocent to hear the gory details of battling Strigoi.

I launched into my story and told her everything except for the part about the blood being forced down my throat.

"So how do you feel about Abe Mazur?" she asked curiously.

"Well he explains my sparkling personality and disregard for authority don't you think." I snickered.

She laughed. "I agree. But how did Janine Hathaway fall for such a mobster?" she thought aloud.

"Still trying to figure that one out myself. He seems okay though. She says he's a good guy and I believe her."

"I still can't believe she didn't kill Dimitri." I said.

Her body stiffened. "You're lucky I don't kill you for not telling me." She said bitterly.

I sighed. "Liss I wanted to believe me, but I just couldn't. You have to understand. As controversial as it is for you to be hooking up with Sparky it's much worse for me and Dimitri. For one you are free to do what you want. You're a Moroi. We guardian's have rules about that kind of thing. It's completely frowned upon and for two guardian's to be together not even factoring in the age difference and the fact that he's my mentor.

I felt her guilt through the bond. Then sadness.

"Hey don't go there." I said knowing full well that she blamed herself for me not being able to have a life.

"No Rose it's my fault. If you weren't stuck taking care of me you could be together the right way." She said sniffling.

"I'm holding you back and you know it."

"Listen to me Liss." I said pulling her into a sitting positon so I could look her in the eye.

"You are not a job to me. You are my best friend and my sister. When I thought I was dying and my life flashed before my eyes there were bits and pieces of Mason, Eddie and Dimitri, regrets with my family and then all the happy memories. They were all with you. Every last one of them. I don't have any regrets about protecting you. You are so worth it. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have had a family, good friends and I'd literally be dead twice. You saved me in that accident, but I know it was you who refused to let go of me after I was taken. You're the only one up until I met Dimitri that ever loved me." I said tears rolling down my cheeks.

She smiled brightly. I could feel the love she had for me through the bond and that she was truly happy that I finally found love with Dimitri.

"Rose you know I feel the same way about you. You've been there every time I've needed you. You stuck by me through my awkward stage when everyone was teasing me about not specializing, you supported my decision to be with Christian even though you didn't like him, you put your life on the line for me every day when we were in Portland and you try to protect me from everything bad that happens most of the time at your own expense. You even take my spirit darkness and it makes you so sick. I'm so so sorry. I love you so much, you're the most important person in my life and I will stand by whatever decision you make." She said choking back a sob.

"What do you mean whatever choice I make?" I asked.

"I mean I release you from being my guardian Rose. If you want to go and have a real life I will find another guardian and follow you wherever you want to go. Just so long as you never stop being my best friend."

I was in shock. She was being so selfless. She would give up everything for me. I could feel the sincerity behind her offer. I knew I would never ask her to do that, but the fact that she would sacrifice her plans for me made me so happy.

"Liss I want nothing more than to be your guardian. That is why Dimitri is trying to get reassigned somewhere at court so we can stay together. I would never leave you NEVER do you hear me." I said.

She nodded and we embraced tightly.

"Now enough with the serious talk let's watch a movie." I said wiping the tears from my face and hers.

I didn't have a tv in my room so it was rare that I watched movies unless I was with Lissa.

"Can we watch Twilight?" she asked hopefully.

I groaned. "Again?" We'd watched this movie at least a dozen times.

"Please." She whined.

"You just want to ogle Robert Pattinson." I teased her and she blushed.

"He reminds me of Christian." She said with a giggle.

Oh Brother this was going to be a long night.

The Twilight Saga was one of the few books I'd been able to get through. To tell the truth I went through a phase where I was madly in love with Edward Cullen. Now that I had Dimitri though I didn't need to be in love with a fictional character anymore.

"Fine we can watch Twilight again." I acquiesced.

I fell asleep about halfway through the movie.

Thankfully my dreams were my own.

Review or Rose will leave Dimitri for Edward Cullen!!