The Group

As always, I had to just stand by the wall and keep guard. Each guardian at court had a shift to watch, which makes it easier on everyone. I love being a guardian, who wouldn't, but to tell the truth, I think this is the most boring part of the job. We've never had a Strigoi attack here before, probably wouldn't either. And yeah, I know, better be safe than sorry. But there's like nothing to do but stand and look around, how boring. So I usually walk a bit, and do arm and leg stretches, but never taking me mind off my duty, to keep everyone save. Our motto is 'They come first' after all.

As usual, I pretty much just stare around until I think I see something move. And then after I make sure that it's not a threat, I stare around some more. Boring, I know, but it's my job, and to guard Lissa of course, she is my charge, along as my best friend.

Finally as another guardian relieved me, I meet Dimitri and headed to the cafeteria, meeting our group like always; Lissa, Christian, Eddie, Mia, Jill and Adrian, who still hardly looks, or even talks to me. As we take our seats with our dinner, I notice that Christian is smiling like a little dork, and realize that his hair is a little messed up.

"Christian," I say through a bite of my salad. "Didn't anyone ever teach you to brush your damn hair? I don't care if you like it messy, but you're in public, so at least look good if you can't act well." Christian smoothed his hair out as I notice him get all red. Lissa looks at me, also turning red, with a small grin and saying with her eyes that she wished I'd just shut up for once. Yeah right, never happening! Christian looks at Lissa grinning like a little boy that got a shit load of candy on Halloween. "Stop before I gag," I say, making gagging noises while grabbing for a napkin.

"Like you and Dimitri don't do it too," Eddie chimed in.

"Who asked you?" As I glared at him, he laughs real loud as Dimitri just shakes his head, actually getting a little pink, which makes him look even sexier. I grin at him and take another bite of my salad. I look up with a mouth full of lettuce as I see Adrian glaring at me sadly. I look away fast, trying to act like I didn't see him, but knowing that he knows that I did.

By the time dinner is over, I feel really uncomfortable, knowing that Adrian was looking at me for over half of the time. Dimitri grabs me by my waist and kissed me on my neck, always making me feel better, but knowing that Adrian's probably staring at me, again.

"Well, I gotta go," saying his first words all night, Adrian walks away, heading to his room. Feeling a little relieved that he's gone; I kiss Dimitri on the lips.

"He'll get over it soon," he said against my lips, reading my mind.

"I don't think he will, but I hope he does." I snuggled up to his neck, hugging him against me, wanting so badly for Adrian to forgive me and talk to me again. I miss him. He was always fun to hang around with, and always made me smile real easily.

Jill came up to Lissa asking when she wanted to meet up later tonight. Ever since Lissa became queen, she's had lessons, directed by Christian, some guardians and a few others, on how to fight and use magic while fighting. They actually got a pretty good size group wanting to learn. Which surprised me since a lot of people where against it when Tatiana was queen.

"Around seven tonight, like always," Lissa responded with a smile, knowing that Jill is getting real good at defending herself.

"Great, I just always like to make sure," Jill smile at her half-sister and then walked away with some of her friends that she's made at court.

Just as Dimitri and I started to leave to meet my parents, Mia steps in front of us, stopping us. "So when are you two going to teach us some moves?" she asks, since she's also training with Christian and the others.

"Maybe tomorrow," Dimitri replied. "Right now we have to meet Janine and Abe to discuss some guardian business or such."

"Okay, but it has to be soon, you two are the best fighters here, so you need to teach us all some of your moves. I'm dying to learn some." And with that she ran off behind Jill.

"Are we really going to teach them moves tomorrow?" I ask Dimitri.

"Sure, why not? Maybe you'll get the chance to kick Christian's ass!" He squeezed my hand, raising it to his lips, as I smiled at thinking about knocking Christian on his ass in front of his woman.

"Yeah, that does sound good," I say as I picture Lissa glaring at me for kicking her fiancé's ass. Oh yeah, Lissa and Christian are getting married in two months, they've been all over each other since Christian finally got up the nerve to ask her. But everyone's happy, they're the cutest couples ever, besides me and Dimitri of course, no one can beat us! I reach up and kiss Dimitri deeply as he wraps his arms around my waist.

"Ah hem.." I hear a familiar voice say. "Not in public young lady." Turning around, I smile at Abe with his hands on his hips.

"Gosh old man," I said, "What's your problem? Haven't you seen two people who are madly in love kiss before?"

"That's not the point Rose. Are you guys still coming by tonight?" he asks while changing the subject.

"We were just about to head over there," Dimitri says before I can say something smart back at him.

"I'm sure you were. Well I'll see you two in a little bit then I guess." As he walks away, I grab a hold of Dimitri and start kissing him again. He grabs my face in his hands and pulls away, but not before kissing me real hard.

"We better go before he tells your mom," he says, still holding my face in his gentle hands.

"Oh, are you scared of my mother?" I tease while trying to hold back my laughter.

"No.., okay, maybe a little," he admits. "Only 'cause she's strong, where do you think you got all your muscle? And we can continue this tonight!" He kisses me again before taking my hand and walking to my mom's room.