I know I haven't updated in what… a year? Sorry : ( I didn't mean to be away for so long. I have nothing to say but that I fell in love. But now I have a new view of how I want this story to go. I have a feeling that this story is going to be better because of my absence. Here is the long awaited chapter. I apologize again.

Haunted

Rose/Dimitri

Chapter 6

Laying there in my depressed slumber should have been comforting; I mean I was shut off from the world. But the nightmare never seemed to end. I knew Lissa would be somewhere in my room waiting for me to wake up, waiting to comfort me. I really didn't deserve her. MY mind was awake but my body didn't want to move, and I couldn't decide if that was what I wanted or not. I could hear Lissa shuffling around my messy room, probably attempting to clean up. I almost wanted to wake up just to stop her… almost.

As if I was recovering from a bout of amnesia, I remembered my promise not to cry over Dimitri anymore, Adrian deserved more. Obviously there was nothing there for Dimitri anymore; it was time for me to move on as well. Well as best as I could. It was senseless for me to put Adrian and Lissa through this, they at least deserved for me to move on. Dimitri. My brain ached at the thought of his name. Dimitri deserved this too.

I forced myself out of my self-induced coma and looked around. Sure enough, Lissa was picking up my room. I sat up and cleared my throat. She jumped, obviously startled.

"Oh! You're awake." She gave me a concerned look. "You alright?"

'I can do this' I told myself. Here was where I needed my acting skills.

"I'm fine, not great, but in time I will be" Thank god for the guardian mask.

"Rose… Don't put on a brave face for me-" I held up my hand to stop her.

"It is for you that I need a brave face, it's time for me to start acting like a guardian instead of a teenage girl" I stated firmly "now stop picking up my room. I'm going to go clean up and then we'll go get you some food, then if you would like, I will escort you to see Guardian Belikov" I hoped she didn't see me flinch when I said his name.

"Rose, you don't have to do that" she looked worried. I had to assure her that I would be fine, even if I wouldn't be.

I shook my head "It is my duty, I will do it"

I tried my best to keep my face blank as I walked to the bathroom. I looked in the mirror to see a stranger that looked like me except she had red, puffy eyes and a pale face. In her eyes you could see she was broken. In shock, I realized that it was me I was seeing.

I had to make myself look normal, for Lissa's sake if not for my own. I washed my face with cold water, hoping o take the red away from my eyes. The face… hmm nothing I could really do there except try to bring some of my natural color back. I applied some base on my face to try to help the process. It did little, but I had to admit it was better than nothing.

I looked in the mirror once again, praying I had accomplished a little of what I wanted. The girl in the glass wasn't one I recognized, but she would do. I quickly changed into some guardian clothes that were lying on the bathroom floor and walked out.

I looked at Lissa, who was laying on my untidy bed, inspecting the ceiling "Ready?" I asked. She turned her head to me and nodded. I could see the look in her eyes; she was debating if I was ready for this. But Rose Hathaway doesn't hide…. At least not anymore. I walked to my closet to grab my gear, and then I held the front door open for her as she walked out. I proceeded to walk behind her, determined to be the perfect guardian for one in my life.

H~H~H

We glided into the cafeteria, and as expected everyone went silent upon our entrance. Everyone was waiting for the now famous Rose Hathaway breakdown. Well they were going to continue to wait. I kept my eyes focused on Lissa and any danger that could show up. It's been known to happen, even in the Academy. I could feel several pairs of eyes on me but I paid no more attention to them than necessary.

When we neared the feeding room, I stopped outside "I'll be here waiting for you" I informed her. Her gaze flickered to my face with the look of worry that seemed to always be in her eyes when she looked at me now. She nodded and walked into the room, while I stood outside the door like the good little guardian I was trying to be. 'No more slip ups' I told myself. I took a glance around the room, grateful when I didn't see my tormentor. I was hungry, but I would wait to grab something to eat until after shift change. Curiously I wondered who would that shift change was with. It felt like ages before Lissa came back out, but I didn't show my impatience.

I lifted my chin and turned to Lissa "where to now?" She looked cautious, obviously trying to find a way to entertain me during my time. I shook my head trying to get her to see that from now on I was only another guardian while I was on duty.

"No Lissa, where do you WANT to go?"

"Well…" She said slowly "I have a regular visit with D-" she looked at me, worried that her slip up had caused me pain. Seeing nothing in my face to agree with her theory, she continued "Someone, if you don't wish to take me, I could go by myself" I shook my head at the absurd option "okay… Well Eddie could replace you for the time that I'm there" she offered instead.

"Eddie?" I questioned "is he you other guardian?" she nodded

"Only temporarily, until Belikov is ready to replace him" She used his surname to try to ease the hurt she thought was going to be there. I covered it quickly before she had a chance.

"No Lissa. I can take you. Don't worry about me, I'm here to take care of you, not for you to take care of me" I smiled at her and she laughed.

We had been standing outside the feeding room, blocking other Moroi's from entering. I gestured Lissa to go in front of me, as we walked to my now silent torture.

H~H~H

"Hello Dimitri" Lissa's musical voice seemed to tinkle over everything. Dimitri looked up and beamed at her, his face glowing with happiness and adoration. I felt another slice to my already shredded heart, but I hid it well 'Do your duty" I scolded myself. My guardian mask was firmly in place and it wasn't going to falter. Dimitri finally realized there was another person in the room, one wearing black. That one being me. His eyes held shock. In my mind several nasty retorts popped up but I pushed them back along with the declarations of love.

"Ro- Guardian Hathaway" He bowed his head for a fraction of a second, showing respect. I tried to look through as I returned the gesture.

"Lissa, you've never had a guardian join us, what changed?" He asked carefully

She mentally rolled her eyes at me "Rose is determined to be the perfect guardian, I told her she didn't have to join me but she insisted that it was her job to do so"

He looked me over. As he did so a familiar sense of déjà vu accompanied it. "Guardian Hathaway" He addressed me. I turned automatically to him "your presence isn't needed, you may leave if you wish" he said gently. I simply nodded and turned back to Lissa.

"I'll just be outside the door, let me know when you're ready to leave" She nodded and I moved to take my place outside the room with my emotions clearly in check.

I checked the hall for any presence besides my own. After finding none, I slid down the wall until I was seated on the floor. I bent my head and let my long hair slide down to cover my entire face as I finally let my emotions out. Tears pricked at my eyes but I firmly held them from spilling over. If they didn't fall, I wasn't really crying right?

I pulled out my phone to see several texts from Adrian

'Babe, you okay?' ~Adrian

They all basically said the same thing, so I only bothered to answer the one.

'I'm fine, just on duty. I'll see you when I'm off XOXO' ~Rose

I shut the tiny silver phone and stuffed it in my pocket and just sat on the dorm floor waiting for the ex love of my life and my best friend to end their visit.

H~H~H

It felt like several hours had passed when I was finally called into the tiny room; in fact it was only one.

"Ready?" I asked when I entered.

Lissa nodded and I turned my body to let her through.

"Rose-" My eyes snapped up to Dimitri's. I could feel them turn from dead to icy.

"It's Guardian Hathaway, Belikov" I snapped. He looked like he was going to fight but he simply nodded.

"See ya later Lissa" He spoke around me. He turned his glance on me "Hathaway" I turned and followed Lissa out the door, shutting it behind me.

Alright there ya go. I hope it was enough. I'm not exactly sure if it makes up for my prolonged absence but that absence helped me write this chapter so it can't be all that bad. Ya'll know the drill. Read and Review. Don't be afraid to give me CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.