A/N: hey hey hey! Thanks for all the reviews! I like your honesty.
To the guest reviewer: As a Romitri shipper, I loved your comment. As the author, I had an evil smile creeping on my face and I laughed because you were so brutaly honest with it and honestly you have me ideas of how to work this thing with Tasha, Dimitri, and Rose.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Vampire Academy
DPOV
"Dimka you don't know how happy I am you agreed to come!" Tasha said for the billionth time. Quite frankly it was getting annoying. I had to hold in the groan that wanted to come out, so I just nodded as we walked in. Thankfully, the elevator door opened and I quickly walked out and down the hall. We walked into the living room, where some were standing and chatting. A few servers were walking around, with hors d'oeuvre or with champagne glasses. I grabbed a glass and saw no one I knew. There weren't many people. A few older looking couples.
"Oh there you are!" Tasha called out to someone in the other room, the dining room I think. She called over whoever she was talking to as we walked into the other room, something caught my eyes.
She was in a black strapless floor length gown that lifted a bit because of her high heels. It hugged her chest and curves nicely before flowing down from her hip. Her chocolate brown hair was side swept perfectly. I could only see the side of her, but I could tell she was smiling at whatever the other person had said. God she looked beautiful, and her smile just made her that much more stunning. I wish I knew what was making her smile. I looked to see her talking to and saw that she was with a man and woman that looked older than her. The man had dark brown hair and the woman had fire red hair. Next to Rose was a guy with messy brown hair, I couldn't see him well because his back to me but I saw he had arm wrapped around her shoulder.
Anger flared up inside me. Anger because he touched her. Anger because she let him. Anger because it wasn't me. I smirked when I saw her sly elbow him, causing him to drop his arm.
I don't know how but the next thing I knew, she was looking towards me. When she saw me her eyes widen with surprise. A smile formed on her beautiful luscious lips. My mind went to earlier this week in the dojo when we almost kissed. She turned around and said something quickly to the people she was talking to and turned around a smile on her face still, but then it faltered and turned into a frown. Her eyes turned black with anger. At first I wondered what happened but then I felt a small hand slide into mine and intertwined our arms. My eyes widened with shock and I looked down to see Tasha next to me smiling up to me. Oh shit.
"Hello?" I said as I answered the phone while the nail salon lady worked on my toes. Since it was Lissa's engagement party tonight, her and I are spending the day pampering. We got facials and our eyebrows and lips waxed before having lunch. Now we were getting a nails and toes done. Since my dress and shoes were black I decided on getting my nails and gold color, glitter included.
"Hello, little temptress. I was just calling to see what time you wanted me to pick you up?"
"Oh about that…" I drew out before counting to three and just saying it. "I can't make it. I meant to call earlier."
"No! I hate those parties. Please don't make me go alone!" I couldn't help but laugh at his anguish. He sounded like a little boy.
"I would go if I could, but it's my best friend's engagement party."
"Oh so another party," he said, his tone and mood lifting. "Need a date?"
"Ha. No. I'm flying solo."
"Sure you are," he said with a playfulness in his tone.
"Your hiding something. What is it?" He laughed and then hung up.
"Shit," I said under my breath.
"What?" Lissa asked, turning her head to look at me.
"Adrian. I forgot to cancel and he said something before hanging up that sounded like he had something up his sleeve."
"Rose calm down. He's just messing with you." I nodded my head and took a deep breath and enjoyed the rest of the pampering day.
"Aoooo," Eddie howled. "You ladies look hot. H-a-w-t hot."
The four of us giggled. "Mia I think you make Eddie watch too many chick flicks," I commented. She just laughed and shrugged her shoulders.
Since Lissa wanted the engagement party in her place, we all agreed to come early. Viktoria and Mia came about an hour and a half ago to get ready. While the boys just came. Well, Christian, Eddie, Mason and his date Meredith just came. Nikolai, Viktoria's date, came with her. Since Mia and I were the only ones in Lissa's bridal party (well Sydney was too but that was if she made it) we decided to wear same color dresses.
My dress was a black strapless floor length gown that hugged my breast and waist, giving my boobs an extra lift, and the skirt flowed down with a chiffon overlay that originally hit the floor but thanks to my heels it lifted enough for my open toe heels to peek through, my golden nails sparkling even more. Lissa decided to curl my hair and pin it to the side to go with the elegant look of my dress.
Mia had on a short cocktail dress that was one shoulder and hugged her small upper body frame with a glittering black top and her skirt flared out with a ruffled tule underskirt that came up to mid-thigh and gave her curves. She wore it with silver pumps and her hair in it's usual ringlets, but half of it was pinned up.
Viktoria came with a coral strapless dress with a lace overlay on the top that made it sleeveless and her skirt that came down right above her knee and flared out mildly. The top hugged her nicely and accentuated her slim waist and developed chest. She had on nude heels and let her hair fall down loosely.
Lissa had on a sapphire blue halter sweetheart neckline cocktail dress with skirt that came up right to her knee. The top part of her dressed wrapped around her perfectly and the skirt poofed out from her waist but rounded in at the hem. She decided to wear it with her silver peep-toe heels and she put her hair up in a low bun with two strands out and curled, framing her face.
(A/N: links for pictures of dresses can be found on my page...believe me it's worth looking at!)
So I guess Eddie did have a point, we looked pretty hot.
"Rose you look like a goddess." I froze when I heard that voice and looked at Lissa with wide eyes. Her and Mia turned to me with a look of disbelief, using their eyes to tell me to turn around. How much I wish I hadn't.
Standing in front of me in a black suit and white button down but no tie and the first button undone was Adrian. How in the world did he get here.
"What. Are. You. Doing. Here?"
"Well I came to pick you up, but I learned that you don't live here. So I'm assuming the party's here," he said like it was common knowledge. This man was unbelievable!
"Rose," Mia said sweetly, very fakely sweetly. "Aren't you going to introduce to us your friend?" Like she didn't know who he was.
"Adrian these are my friends. Viktoria and her date, Nikolai, Mia and her boyfriend, Eddie, Mason and his date, Meredith, and my best friend Lissa and her fiancé, Christian. Everyone, Adrian. Ivashkov." I saw everyone's jaw drop. Well, except for Mia and Lissa. Lissa smiled and shook his hand, while Mia smirked like she knew about this all along. Before anyone could say anything the elevator opened and the servers Lissa contracted came. The ten of us went to the living room and started moving stuff around to make the space bigger. Well the guys moved while us girls stood to the side and directed.
"Mom? Dad? What are you guys doing?" People had been coming and I stood off to the side with Mia, Eddie, Viktoria, Nikolai, Mason, and Meredith while Christian and Lissa went and welcomed the guest and chatted with them. They didn't invite many people, us, Christian's aunt, his parents's closest friends and her parent's closest friends. And apparently my parents as well.
"Rose! So good to see you, kiz," my dad said as he came into give me a hug. "You know I can never miss a good party." My mom rolled her eyes, but didn't make a move towards me. Well I wasn't going to make the first step. She was wearing a silver dress that fell down to ground, part of me wondered if it was meant to fall mid calf but she was so short it turned into a floor length gown. She had a matching shawl wrapped around her shoulder and her red hair was put up in a bun. She even put on some make-up. Hell must have frozen over, I thought. My father, on the other hand, had thankfully underdressed. I mean he didn't have on a scarf. He was wearing a dark grey suit with a black dress shirt and an orange tie and handkerchief along with his usual jewelry.
"What good man doesn't?" Adrian asked as he come up next to me, wrapping his arm around my waist and extending his other hand to my father. "Good to see you again Mr. Mazur."
I looked from one to the other, not believing my eyes. "How do you guys know each other?"
My dad gave me a mischievous grin, and my mother just shook her head. "I went over to your parents house to drop off your invitation because I saw your car was there and ended up meeting you father. Actually I had invited them as well," Adrian said, sending my mind reeling with question
"How did you know where my parents lived? How did you know where I lived?"
"Well I can't tell you that. It ruins all the fun. And actually I don't know where you live, clearly."
"But you're here."
"And so are you. By the way, you look lovely."
I blushed and mumbled a thank you. My father cleared his throat, I kind of forgot he was here. "Wait, you invited my parents to your party?" He just shrugged his shoulders and I smiled at him and thanked him for doing that. I might not be on speaking terms with my mother but it helps to know someone here besides the son of the host. He pulled me closer and whispered into my ear, "Anything to make you smile, little—" I elbowed him to make him stop in case my parents could hear. He dropped his arm and massaged where I hit him. I smiled at him again. Before he could say anything, my mother spoke up.
"Rose, we—" she began before I cut her off, knowing what she was going for.
"Later, mom, I promise," I said politely before turning around, when someone familiar caught might eye. Dimitri. He was here, in a suit, with his shoulder length hair tied in the back, looking so handsome and sexy. A smile formed on my lips and I was about to go over to him. He came, even though he told me he wasn't, he did. When I felt Adrian grab my arm lightly and give me a questioning look, I turned and gave him a small smile and excused myself, telling him and my parents Lissa was calling me. I started to walk towards Dimitri but stopped in my tracks as I saw someone slide their hand into his. I looked and saw it was Tasha. My smile dropped and I could feel the anger coursing through me. Except it wasn't the usual anger I always get, it was different but I couldn't place it. I didn't know what to do because I know he saw me. I also know he knows I know he came with Tasha. Wait. If he's here with Tasha, how was he expecting to take me out tonight?
"Rose! Rose!" Lissa shouted as she ran across the hall. Christian trailing behind him. I vaguely notice Tasha looking at them in confusion and making her way towards. "You love me right? Like give your life for me love."
"Um, isn't that suppose to be Christian's department?" I joked, confused. I looked at him curiously and his just rolled his eyes. By now the whole gang had joined us.
"I'm serious, Rose!"
"Fine. Fine. Yes, Lissa, I love you so much I'd give my life for you. Why? What's wrong?"
She squealed and hugged me before turning around to face her guest and clearing her throat. "Well first off, I would like to thank all of you for coming today to celebrate my engagement with my boyfriend, Christian Ozera. Before dinner is served, I have a treat for you. As many of you know, I have a talented group of close friends. But the most talented is my best friend, and my maid of honor, Rose Hathaway, with her amazing voice. So please give a warm welcome as she sings something for us."
I nearly choked on air as I looked at her and the brilliant smile she was giving me. She knew how much I hated to sing in public. When she saw my grave face she gave me a pleading look. I took a deep breath and nodded and then she clapped her hand and hugged me.
Taking a deep breath, I calmed my nerves before I began.
"Ok so this song goes out to LIssa and Christian. I've known Lissa since we were in kindergarten and while I've gone to school with Christian the whole time, I didn't really get to know him until Lissa started dating him in high school. But over the last four or five years, I can say I know them both well enough to know this song is basically them. I hope you guys like it….
You know I'd fall apart without you
I don't know how you do what you do
'Cause everything that doesn't make sense about me
Makes sense when I'm with you.
—Adrian had started playing to the piano behind me—
Like everything that's green, boy, I need you
But it's more than one and one makes two
Put aside the math and the logic of it
You gotta know you're wanted too.
—When I looked up, I met Dimitri's eyes and get lost in them. When I sang it was like I was singing to him and I forgot about everyone else—
'Cause I wanna wrap you up
Wanna kiss your lips
I wanna make you feel wanted
And I wanna call you mine
Wanna hold your hand forever
And never let you forget it
Yeah, I wanna make you feel wanted.
Anyone can tell you you're pretty, oh yeah
And you get that all the time, I know you do
But your beauty's deeper than the make-up
And I wanna show you what I see tonight.
When I wrap you up
When I kiss your lips
I wanna make you feel wanted
And I wanna call you mine
Wanna hold your hand forever
And never let you forget it
'Cause, baby, I wanna make you feel wanted.
As good as you make me feel
I wanna make you feel better
Better than your fairy tales
Better than your best dreams
You're more than everything I need
You're all I every wanted
All I ever wanted.
And I just wanna wrap you up
Wanna kiss your lips
I wanna make you feel wanted
And I wanna call you mine
Wanna hold your hand forever
And never let you forget it
Yeah, I wanna make you feel wanted
Baby, I wanna make you feel wanted
You'll always be wanted."
Lissa had tears in her eyes and Christian had his arms wrapped around her from behind, his head resting on her shoulder and her head resting on his head. They both had a big smile on, and look in their eyes shone pure love. I couldn't help but smile along with them. She broke out of Christian's embrace and ran to give me a bear hug and we just held each other.
"Hate to ruin the moment, but mother always told me was a selfish boy," Adrian said jokingly as we broke apart laughing and wiping the few tears that slipped. I cleared my throat before talking.
"Servers, please make sure everyone has a glass. I would like to make a toast." I waited for everyone to have a glass before continuing. "I'll keep it short because I still have one to give at the reception. Lissa, Christian, I see you two and I know what you guys have is true. I don't know how and I don't know why but you guys work and you make me wish I was in love. So everyone please raise your glasses and let's toast to Listian!" Lissa laughed at the nickname I gave their relationship, as did the rest of our circle of friends. It was what I would call them in high school since they were inseparable.
"Dinner's ready," the chef called out from the kitchen.
"Finally!" I shouted as I lead the pack to the dining room.
"Rose, I don't think you've met Christian's aunt," Lissa said as she looked behind me. Slowly I turned around and froze in my spot. Right behind me was Tasha, holding onto Dimitri's hand, like she dragged him here. The anger I had subdued came back ten times worse, but I just kept my lips tight and took a step closer to Adrian. Two can play at this game. Dinner had just ended so Lissa put on some music to play on her surround system and a few people were dancing. I was too stuffed so I was chatting with Viktoria, Nikolai, and Adrian. Lissa and Christian had just joined us.
"Wait. She's your aunt?" I said bewildered as I made the connection between Tasha and Christian. When Christian nodded his head, I tried to stop myself from groaning but I think I failed because Adrian gave me a questioning look.
"Aunt Tasha, this is Rose, Lissa's best friend. She's who sang earlier," Christian said as I gave her a small smile and shook her hand. She was wearing a white floor length one-shoulder dress that fitted her body perfectly and brought out her blue eyes. Her black hair was up in a french bun and her bangs side swept and pinned up. She looked beautiful. Up close, I noticed she had a scar on left cheek that looked like it didn't heal correctly, however it didn't take away from her beauty. It made her more beautiful. Internally I groaned and felt pale in comparison.
"Oh that was you?" she asked like she didn't know. I just nodded. "Well you have a lovely voice. What's your name again?"
"Rose Hathaway."
"Nice to meet you, Rose. I'm Natasha Ozera, Christian's aunt. And this is my date, Dimitri Belikov," she said, looking at Dimitri. I just nodded, feeling his eyes on me, trying to get me to look at him. But if I did that I would lose all the anger and get lost in his eyes. I think my body went rigid when she mentioned Dimitri because I felt Adrian step closer and move his hands from my waist to my shoulders. I felt him put pressure there and slowly the tension went away. I guess Tasha noticed that because she put on another one of her sugar sweet smiles and asked who he was. Like she doesn't know, I thought.
"Adrian Ivashkov, ma'am. Pleasure to make your aquaintance," he said after he extended his hand to take her and kiss the top of it.
I gave him a look of disbelief and blurted, "Since when are you all proper and polite?"
He flashed me of of his lazy grins and replied, "There's lots you don't know about me. Falling in love with me yet?"
"You wish," I scoffed before continuing in a teasing tone. "You know, there's a reason I cancelled on you."
"Twice," Christian coughed. I nodded my head solemnly as Adrian shot both of us glares.
He pulled me towards him, making me face him and he gave me a threatening smile. "You didn't cancel on me the first time," he said gruffly.
I raised my eyebrows in challenge and said, "Yea well I was drunk." I saw Christian smirk from the corner of my eye and I rolled my eyes. But before I could say something, Adrian pulled me with him towards the dance floor.
"It was a pleasure meeting all of you, and I look forward to seeing you again, but now I must take my lady away and dance while the night's still young," Adrian said with a cheeky smile. I laughed at his proper tone and smacked his chest.
Once we got to the dance floor, Adrian twirled me and took the lead. The quartet was playing a slow, waltzy melody so I let Adrian be the leader and swing me this way and that and twirl me as many times as he wanted. While we dance, my mind drifted to my feelings. I looked up at Adrian and saw his emerald eyes twinkling and his lips curved into a heart-warming smilie, it would have been inhuman to not respond with a smile.
Dancing with Adrian was sort of therapeutic. It took away all the stress and anger I had building up inside me. For a few songs I felt myself put Dimitri and his lies inside a box and push it into the very back of my mind.
Adrian was sweet and a life-saver. He helped get rid of the tension that came over me when Dimitri joined our group by taking me away to go dance. But he also kept the mood light and joking. Maybe it was a mistake to not go on the date with Adrian. But with Adrian, nothing sparked. I feel like I'm with a male version of myself.
I can't even say it's because I met Dimitri first because I had met Adrian, spent the night his place, and agreed to go on a date with him before I met Dimitri. When I'm with Adrian, my body warms up with happiness, but when I'm with Dimitri my body heats up, enflames itself, with joy and lust. Right now, though, it was burning with anger. Actually, let's be honest here, I was green with envy and pissed about it. I'm never jealous of anyone, I'm the girl everyone' s jealous of and I hate being on the other side of it.
"You know I like you a whole lot more outside of my apartment then when you were in it. I gotta say, that's a first," Adrian said jokingly as he turned me. While turning me, I felt his hands change and become bigger and calloused. When I turned back, I realized I wasn't in his arms anymore. I was in Dimitri's. Adrian was standing next to him and gave me a small, apologetic smile before leaving back to the bar. Torn between doing what I wanted to do and dancing with Dimitri and doing what I should do and walk away, I risked at quick glance at his face and melted and decided to stay.
"Roza, look at me, please," he said, his accent thick like his emotions. I took a deep breathe before looking up at him. His eyes were boring down into mine and his mask was off. I could see the pain, guilt, sadness, and hope in them. And just like I knew was going to happen before, I got lost in them. But his voice shattered the hold his eyes had on me. "I'm so sorry, Roza. Please, just let me explain." Is he serious? I thought.
"Sorry doesn't fix anything," I replied, a little chill in my tone. "You can't think that all will be forgiven just because you say you're sorry."
"I know what this looks like, and it's not what it seems."
"Not what it seems?" I said incredulously, keeping my voice down. "Wow, Dimitri. You're really on a roll here. Anymore cliches you want to say?"
"Rose, I'm being honest here. So cut the sarcasm and just listen to me."
"No. I'm done listening to your bullshit. You said there was nothing between you and her, but your her date on the night you wanted to go to dinner with me. At the party I asked you to be my date to, might I add."
"You are such a hypocrite."
"Excuse me?" I said through gritted teeth, trying not to yell.
"You heard me. You're here reprimanding me thinking I lied about Tasha, when you never told me you about Ivashkov."
"That's rich, Dimitri. I never told you because there was nothing to say. I never stood you up for him. Yea he asked me out, but I turned it down. Twice. I could have called him and asked him to give me a ride the night I moved away from home, but instead I called you. I never talk to him, but I talk to you almost every day. I told you I couldn't go to dinner with you because I had this party. I asked you to come with me and you said no. Yet to agree to come with Tasha. Yea tell again nothing's going on."
"So that's why you bring Ivaskov as your date? And act the way you have all night."
"I. Didn't," I growled, but cut myself off. "You-" I said as I stabbed his chest with my finger "-have absolutely no fucking room to talk. And you know what, Dimitri, I don't owe you an explanation. I. Don't. Owe. You. Anything." I step away from his embrace and walk towards the elevator, but veer off and go out the side door.
A/N: Don't stake me! I know you guys don't want the Adrian/Rose fluff, and I didn't purposefully write it. And I'm sorry for having Rose and Dimitri fight but it's a means to an end. SO PLEASE OH PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!
On a lighter note...this chapter was 10 pages long (!_!) but the song Rose sang, "Wanted" by Hunter Hayes, took up like a page and a quarter. Also, sorry if I make Eddie seem a bit gay at times...not intentional at all I swear!
Lastly...DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A REVIEW! Tell me what you think about the dresses, the party, the singing/song sang, the outcome...
If I get enough persuasion I might update on Wednesday instead of next Sunday ;)