I don't own Vampire Academy, Ms Richelle Mead does.
I needed a hug.
Eddie was waiting for me in the lobby with worry etched upon his face.
I ran up to him and hugged him, burying my face in his shoulder, crying.
He hugged me tightly and patted my hair.
"Don't worry sis. You don't need another guy in your life to make you happy. You have me."
I half-giggled and half-cried as I hugged him more tightly.
"Drag me to class?" I whispered, trying to hide my wavering voice.
"I would but I have a meeting first period. You have history—"
"And so do I," interrupted Greg. "Cry on my shoulder?" he offered before sniggering.
I knew he was kidding but I was in big need of hugs. I waved goodbye to Eddie before walking over to Greg and I wrapping my arms around his abdominal area. He was shocked at my sudden embrace but he returned it; putting his arm around my waist. I felt him smell my hair, which smelled of strawberries of course, and he let out a sigh of approval.
When we were outside Ms Terwilliger's classroom, I gave Greg a tight hug which he returned back perfectly. His muscular arms seemed to squeeze a little sorrow out of me.
Apparently gossip at this school spread faster than I thought. Everyone assumed that Greg and I were dating and being in the state I was in, I remained silent.
The whole week went on like this, with hardly any action. Everyday, I wore my fake mask of happiness, resulting in me getting more friends.
On Sunday night, I woke up in a spirit dream.
Shit!
On the couch sat Adrian, inside the lounge of his house at the Royal Court.
He looked relieved to see me.
"Let me explain and apologise," he said, walking towards me.
"NO!" I said, using as much strength as I could to show that I was in control of this dream. "Let me."
Adrian nodded obediently.
"I'm sorry for the way I acted. I shouldn't have sworn at you. And congratulations," I said, obviously startling him with my change of words, "congratulations. My sister broke your heart. And it was only fair for you to break hers. But since she's happy, you couldn't do it. Next choice was me. So congratulations, the Rose you hurt has had her heart ripped out and stabbed." I began to cry. "Congratulations," I said once more in my trembling voice before I willed myself out of Adrian's dream and into the darkness of the dorm.
Over the next month, Adrian attempted to talk to me over and over again. I continued to ignore him. Night after night, I'd awaken into one of his spirit dreams.
Will power turned out to be my best friend.
I also avoided attending Jill's feedings.
As for Jill, she seemed more and more depressed as the days progressed. Of course, she wasn't the one who was depressed; it was Adrian.
Jill gave up trying to convince me to talk to him; she even gave up talking to me.
Greg. He made me forget about Adrian so I constantly hung out with him. I loved the attention he gave me. He made me feel loved by at least ONE person in the world. He'd walk me to my classes and he'd cheer me up whenever I felt down.
"Give me a chance?" he asked.
At first, I had no idea what he was talking about.
My mind registered. He wanted me to be his girlfriend.
I knew accepting this offer was low. I liked him, but not in the way he liked me.
My heart still ached for Adrian. I still loved him.
He started to look awkwardly at me.
"Never mind—"
I tiptoed and kissed his cheek.
"Is that a yes?" he said pulling me close.
"Maybe," I said as I bit my lip, pushing him away softly.
He grinned at me.
"See you after class, babe."
Once I was in my PE gear, I walked over to the basketball courts.
Dominic and Eddie sat on either side of me.
"Hey big brothers," I said warmly.
"Hey baby sis," replied Dominic giggling.
"Hey sis," said Eddie before he too, began giggling.
"What is it?" I asked, sounding curious.
Dominic zipped his lips.
"We heard you had a boyfriend," said Eddie after a moment.
Both boys were staring at me as if they were waiting for me to laugh.
I pulled my hair up into a messy ponytail.
"Dom, aren't you in Sydney's PE class?" I asked, trying to change the subject.
"I was. But now I'm in your—" he cut off. "AH HAH! You didn't deny it! Sis, do you go out with my roomie, Greg Slade?"
I remained quiet.
"Oh. My. Goodness. It is true," said Dominic, trying to sound like girl
Eddie looked as if he was about to cry.
"What's wrong?" I asked him.
"It's just that I kinda know what you're doing. I know you still love Adrian and you've only agreed to go out with Greg because he makes you forget about 'him'." Eddie stared at me, tears in his eyes.
He was right. And he knew it.
"How did you know?"
"My best friend was the 'Greg' in this situation. His name was Mason—"
"Ashford," I finished. I had heard about how he was killed by the Strigoi.
Eddie nodded. I gave him a big hug.
"I'm sorry. Really. I never thought of that. I was being selfish," I said, gently squeezing him.
"Sis, it's ok. Don't sweat it," he replied, squeezing me back, a little harder.
"Holey Moley!" exclaimed a voice behind us.
We all turned around to see Trey Juarez's fascinated expression.
He was in our history class and PE class. He and Sydney had a little chemistry between them.
"What is it?" asked Dominic.
"The tattoos on your necks. They are remarkable. What do they mean? And why do only you three have them and the others don't?" he asked in one breath.
Crap. We didn't have an answer for a question like that.
In the hopes he couldn't speak Russian, I turned to Dominic.
"What do we say? I have no reason!" I said.
Both Eddie and Trey looked at us confusedly. They couldn't understand.
"Just say it's a style from South Dakota?" Dominic replied.
"But all of our tattoos are different."
"How about something to do with being twins?" he suggested as he stroked his chin.
Our conversation returned to English.
"It was meant for all of us twins. Each tattoo had to be different. Same symbols, but different meanings. However, if the eldest twin is a girl, they could decide whether they wanted the tattoo or not. Sydney didn't want one, resulting in Dom, Eddie and I having them only." My voice was very convincing.
"Wow," said Trey, looking amazed, "I have got to visit South Dakota sometime," he mumbled before walking off.
"Was that Russian you were both just speaking?" asked Eddie as Trey left.
"Yup," both Dom and I replied together.
"Nice. Any other languages you two speak? Besides English of course."
"Um, well, there's Spanish, German, French and Romanian," Dominic said as he counted them off his fingers.
"That's incredible. Sadly, the only language I speak is English," he said before we all laughed.
"Hey babe," called Greg after PE. "Have lunch with me?"
I looked over at Eddie and Dominic. They both nodded.
"Play nice baby sis," whispered Dominic as he left.
Greg and I walked hand in hand towards the cafeteria. Whispers about Greg and I were hushed as we walked past jealous girls.
"Would you be willing to have dinner with me tonight?" he asked as we were seated with his friends at a table.
"Well, I would but my siblings would have to come. We stick together," I answered.
"Bring them along. We could have a group date," he suggested.
"Ok then," I said, knowing everyone was keen for a dinner out of these gates.
"Meet at my car by 8?"
"No. Meet at mine by 8. We have to make a little detour before dinner." Jill had to feed tonight.
"It's a date."
We had all dressed up for our dinner tonight. It was more of several dates with this family. Jill and Micah, Sydney and Trey, Me and Greg, Eddie with Jade; a girl from PE, and Dominic was with Krista; a girl from history. Angeline refused to get a date but she still wanted to come to dinner.
I wore a super tight pair of jeans and a top which clung to my skin and exposed my back. I knew I looked hot.
As for Angeline, she wore a pair of lose baby blue jeans and a baggy t-shirt. I tried not to complain about what she wore. Well, at least not out loud.
Jill and Sydney wore dresses. Sydney wore a black, leather dress and Jill wore a silver dress which complimented her Moroi complexion.
One thing all us girls wore was our sexy stilettos.
At 8, we were waiting in the car park, waiting for the guys.
"Well, we should at least try to get along tonight, Slade. For the girls' sake," suggested Trey.
"Deal Juarez," agreed Greg as they shook hands.
Micah followed closely behind the boys.
Sydney, Jill and I were greeted by a kiss on the cheek from our dates. Angeline stared enviously.
Soon after, Eddie and Dominic showed up arm in arm with their dates.
"Finally," I breathed out.
"Baby sis, perfection takes time," replied Dominic as he pretended to style his hair.
Eddie nodded. "It doesn't JUST take 5 minutes to look this good."
Sydney couldn't suppress a snort.
"Eddie, Dom and Angeline, one word please?" I asked.
We all walked behind Noir.
"Got your stakes?"
As if on cue, we all lifted up our shirts, revealing our shiny but deadly stakes which were tucked into the hem of our jeans. Maybe that was the reason why we all decided to wear jeans. Nice.
When we arrived at Clarence's, only Jill and Angeline went inside; the rest of us just stood outside the car, admiring the house and the stars.
"Rose," said a voice which I had tried to ignore for over a month.
Adrian. Just my luck.