A/N: So I realized I may have dragged this fight out longer than I meant to, but when I was writing it didn't feel like I was since it was during a period where I was busting out with a chapter or two a day, so I'm sorry! But I promise it by the end of the chapter after next Romitri is back on :):)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything VA related, and the idea belongs to DEE2389

I would like to dedicate this chapter to GG's sister...HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We're lik 4 days away from being birthday twins! But your Bday is the same as the actor who plays Damien in Mean Girls! Woo! Ok have a nice day :)

RPOV

"It's just a movie, so why am I having such a hard time picking an outfit?" I asked as I laid down on my bed.

"Maybe because you're trying too hard," Lissa said as she looked through my clothes. We've been in my room since school ended (I got Eddie to give me apass from practice so I could have enough time to get ready.) "Here." She tossed me something that hit my face. Grabbing it, I realized it was the perfect outfit.

Casual and cool, but sexy and so me. It was a coral crop top with fringes and gold chains and studded denim shorts, with black raspy platform ankle boots and leather bomber jacket. Once I had it set, I change and added on a black and gold multi-cord charm bracelet and wore my hair in a high pony tail, curling the ends, and kept my makeup minimal.

Having enough time, Lissa and I went downstairs and did my nails.

"So why Mason?" she asked while she painted them black.

"Why not? He's sweet in the months we've been here has yet to do anything to hurt me."

"Yea, but I mean you met him before Dimitri, don't you think you would have noticed him sooner?"

"Not if I didn't know what I was looking for. Lissa, I'm not saying I'm head over heals in love with him, but he's been there for me these last few days. When I'm with him I feel so easygoing and it's just been different. He doesn't try anything. I mean ok he tried to kiss me once, but when I shot him down he understood."

"Wait he kissed you? When!"

"Um Tuesday I think. I can't really remember, I just remember blurting out why I wasn't with Dimitri and then next thing I know he's leaning in and I turn my head in time to miss the kiss. I felt bad, but I just…wasn't feeling it."

"Uh huh. You know you're dragging the poor boy right?"

"Yea, I do," I said, hanging my head. "That's kind of why I agreed to go out tonight. I figured going on a date would help see if there's even a minuscule of potential. If not, then when he drops me off I'll tell him. I just hope he understands and stays friends."

"If Dimitri were to tell you he doesn't like you like that anymore but wants to be friends, what would you do?"

"Slap him," I said without any hesitation. "But it's different, Liss. What Dimitri and I had-"

"-Have," she corrected, making me glare at her.

"Had was just there. I mean sure I hated him when I met him, but when I actually talked to him it was like there was this attraction neither of us could ignore, no matter how hard either of us tried. With Mason, I just feel this heart warming gratitude and affection, but love comes in different ways, right?"

"Wait who's talking about love? Christian and I haven't said it to each other, and we've been going out since my parents died. You honestly think love's in the mix?"

"I don't know! But when Mason was about to kiss me, I turned around without a second thought, but when Dimitri kissed me yesterday it was like my heart and mind were in agreement to give in."

"Then I think you have your answer right there."

"But he hasn't even told me what Tasha was doing at his place!"

"Hasn't told you or hasn't been given the chance? Rose, at risk of ruining our friendship, you have been kind of a bitch to him. Tuesday you didn't want to talk to him and told him some things I rather not repeat. Yesterday you were still like that until he kissed you, then you flipped and ran out. Today you look like half of you wants to take him back, no matter what his explanation is, while the other half still wants to make him hurt. Now, we're waiting for a guy that's not him to come and take you out to the movies. Don't you think that's a bit confusing?"

"I just…what if he's not sorry he let things get out of hand but sorry I caught them?"

"You know that's not true. He told Viktoria, who told me, what happened, so I know for a fact you're making things worse than ever. I know he's not going to give up, but I think you're going on this date for the wrong reasons."

"Kinda too late to back out now don't you think? Plus, if you're right, then tonight's just going to drive home the fact that I need to talk to Dimitri and work things out."

Before she could say anything, there was a knock at the door. When I opened it, Mason was on the other side with a small bouquet of roses. Lissa took them, saying she'd put them in a vase and in my room while I left with Mason.

"Thanks," I said after Mason helped get on top of his trunk before sitting next to me. "Thanks for the movie too. I had fun."

"Anytime," he said before a smirk crept along his face. "As long as the popcorn stays in the bucket next time."

"I said I was sorry! You can't have something pop out when I have the bucket in my laps!" I said, laughing just like I did when I saw Mason's surprised face after the popcorn fell on him.

"So what I'm hearing is there will be a second time," he said, hopeful that I would go on another date with him. I had fun tonight, but my feelings towards him hasn't really changed. Looking at him, I wonder if a second date would make a difference. "It doesn't have to be now. I just meant you know that it wasn't epically horrible."

"It wasn't," I said, laughing. "I swear I had a good time. It felt nice to just you know go out without an entourage or with people knowing my life's shit. I'd invite you in but it's kinda late and we have school tomorrow. And…" I trailed off when I saw him leaning down, giving me enough time to back out. Biting my lips, I closed the space, hoping this would tell me whether he could be more than a friend.

Yea that didn't happen.

Feeling his lips against mine, that was all I felt. Lips against lips. I didn't feel any burning desire to keep it going, or some undying hunger to have more. Hell, my eyes were open and I had to force them to stay close. I tried giving into the kiss, to get lost in it, but my mind couldn't stop from comparing it. I felt bad that it felt mechanical feeling him grip my side while he deepened the kiss.

"I'm sorry," he said when we broke apart. "I just…"

"It's fine," I said. "I…Mason I like you. A lot. And I really wanted this to work."

"But…you don't like me the same way I like you," he said. I lowered my head and nodded, knowing sorry wasn't going to help much.

"Your friendship is too important for me to try and make it work and end up dragging you along. I look forward to watching Supernatural with you and joking with you, but I feel for you the same thing I feel for Andre and Eddie."

"It's fine," he said, getting off the car and helping me down. "I just hope Belikov knows how lucky he is and doesn't make the same mistake twice."

"I…he…I swear it has nothing to do with him. At least not like that. I knew if I went out with you it was going to be because I wanted to get back at Dimitri, or to make myself get over him, and I would never want to use you."

"I wouldn't have minded," he joked before cupping my cheek and kissing my forehead. "Rose, I'm not mad or anything, but I don't think I'd be able to see you for a couple days."

"I get it," I said, giving him a small smile before kissing his cheek and going inside, praying I didn't just ruin one of my best friendships.

DPOV

"Wallowing won't get you anywhere," Vika said as she threw herself on my bed.

"Yea well you're idea didn't help much either," I grumbled.

"Hey my idea was brilliant! Not my fault the execution sucked. Plus what do you mean it didn't get you anywhere? She wasn't avoiding you or killing you with her eyes."

"All it did was, and I quote, make her not hate me. What am I suppose to do with that?"

"Get close to her. Win her over. BE ROMANTIC!"

"You honestly think she'll take me back if I go to her place with roses and chocolate?"

"No. But go with a box of chocolate donuts and she won't slam the door on your face. Your problem, Dimka, is your expectation. you need to ground them a bit more. Like instead of expecting her to throw herself at you for the locker thing, you should have expected her to thank you and smile and like it, and been happy that she's past hating you because of the small gesture."

"Small gesture? Do you not realize how early I had to get to school to do that?"

"Um you sound like you get up at the time I get up. Either way! When are you going to go with the box of donuts?"

"Uh now?" I asked, guessing that was the wrong answer from the face my sister made. "What's wrong with tonight?"

"She's not home," she said evasively.

"What's that suppose to mean?" When she didn't say anything, I asked her again, this time my voice harder than before.

"She may or may not be out at the movies with Mason…"

"What! Why didn't you tell me this!"

"Because it doesn't mean anything! It's so fucking obvious she doesn't like him."

"Then why in fuck's sake is she going out with him?" I asked, standing up and pacing.

"He asked and she can't say no, it's rude, plus it's not like she has a boyfriend or anything." I couldn't help but growl at the jab, which made her laugh. "Aw come on Dimka don't be like that. If you leave know you might be able to get there before she goes." I nodded my head and turned to leave, but still heard her mumble, "Not like it'll do much." Cutting her a glare, I grabbed my keys and left.

"I'm sorry man but she's not here," Andre said. I hung my head and sighed. "The movie's suppose to end around midnight so she won't be back for at least another hour. Do you want to wait inside?"

"No it's fine, I'll wait in my car."

"Let me rephrase. Can you come inside so we can talk." For a moment, I forgot about Roza and my big brother attitude took over and I followed him inside. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I know it doesn't fix anything or take it back, but I need you to know I never meant for any of this to happen and I never meant to hurt your sister."

"Then what's your girlfriend doing here?"

"Ex-girlfriend," he corrected. "And she came to stir trouble probably. I don't know what Viktoria told you, but before the dance I got a call from Avery and it ended up being a misdial and I caught her sleeping with my former best friend."

"Didn't you get together with my sister during the dance?"

"Yea, but it's not what you think. When…when the accident happened, your sister was there for me. I didn't have to be strong and I didn't have to hold everything in when I was around her. She was a breathe of fresh air that never lost her smile and found any reason to laugh, and it rubbed off on me. I miss my parents every day and every morning I half expect my mom to come in and tell me breakfast is ready or at the end of the day for my dad to come in and ask if I want to see what he's working on. And then I remember they're gone. Forever. And it kills me. But then I think of Viktoria and I'm grateful something good came of their loss. From the funeral until the dance I was in constant battle with myself because I didn't want to hurt Avery and just leave her, we had history and I really wanted to make the distance thing work, but then there was Viktoria, who made me feel like someone else, someone I liked, and she was so simple and radiating. At the dance, I decided I wasn't going to waste time pitying myself over something that probably ended the moment I boarded the plane. Instead, I was going to move on to something better."

"That doesn't explain what Viktoria and I saw."

"I honestly don't know what went through Avery's mind, but she's always been a bit crazy."

"So why date her?"

"Have you never been with a crazy chick? The sex…it's amazing. I know I sound like a dick, but come on I was a freshman in high school and she was the girl to have and I had her, the sex was just a plus."

"Have you…?" I trailed off, not able to finish the phrase.

"Oh God no! I like your sister…I think I'm falling in love with her, but we're taking things slow. I mean I haven't even gone under her shirt or anything. I just…I want things with Viktoria to work and last as long as possible, and I'm not going to do anything she's not ready or willing to do."

"Good."

"On that note, what you did to Rose was really shitty. I'm not even talking about the incident with Tasha. I'm not even talking about the things you said to her. I get you were angry, but you were angry at me for making Viktoria cry, you should have taken it out on me, I can handle a beating. Hell I was looking forward to it! I hated myself for making that smile fall off her face. You shouldn't have taken it out on Rose."

"I know! And Tasha just made things worse!"

"Actually not standing up and facing Rose is what made things worse."

"And now she's out with another guy."

"Who Mason? Please. Even Mason knows this isn't going anywhere. He's just…well he's making the most of your mistake. He knows Rose isn't going to look at him the way she looks at you, even when she hates you. He knows she's never going to take him seriously."

"So why ask her out?"

"If you had the chance to go out with a model or actress, would you? Even if you knew that there would never be a second date?" When I didn't say anything, he had his answer. "Exactly. He knew a second date was improbable, but he hoped it would happen. Don't get me wrong, I'm on your side, but I think Rose needs this. She needs to see that what she had with you, she's never going to have with someone else. I know we're just in high school and maybe down the road we all learn more about ourselves and end up liking different things or looking for something different, but right now what Rose wants…what Rose is looking for…she's not going to get it from Mason, she's going to get from you. She had it with you, and she just needs to see that. So do me a favor, please."

"What's that?"

"Don't give up," he said before leaving. Nodding to no one in particular, I got up and left. Apparently, Andre's talk went on longer than we thought or the movie ended sooner than expected, because I barely had enough time to hide when Mason's car pulled up.

I couldn't really hear anything, but I saw Mason help Rose sit on the trunk of his car. I'm guessing the movies didn't go horribly since she didn't rush home. And then it happened. Mason kissed her. But that wasn't what broke me. No, what broke me was that Rose not once stopped him. Not when he kissed her. Not when he put his hands on her. No, what did she do? She wrapped her arms around her neck and let him kiss her. Clenching my fists, I waited until Mason's car drove away before before dumping the box at the door steps and going to my truck.

Just friends my ass, I thought as I drove away.

A/N: I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I know I probably just broke everyone's heart, but I swear it's so worth it! Like believe me, after the next chapter (or the chapter after) it's sooooooo worth it! Even though it's Friday, I'm still going to update on Sunday!