I DONT OWN VAMPIRE ACADEMY!

CHAPTER 16: FRIENDSHIPS

Dimitri walked into the med lab to find a group of recruits gathered around Ivan cracking jokes. He almost envied Ivan's ability to make friends and let down his guard. Most of all, he was jealous of Ivan's ability to retain a sense of humor, to see the lightness in any situation. It was a welcome relief from the bleakness that permeated Section and echoed within him.

When he neared Ivan's bed, the others took their leave after a few friendly greetings and smiles. Some of the recruits had been on the botched mission, and there was a sense of camaraderie for having survived it.

Ivan looked healthy and in good humor. He had taken a shot in his upper chest that had broken a clavicle and nicked a lung. He had ended up getting an infection that prolonged his medical stay. None of his recent ordeal showed as he grinned at him: "Hey, Dimka."

He gave Ivan a warning glance: "You can call me Dimitri."

"Oh lighten up buddy. People might think you're friendlier if you go by your nickname."

He gritted through his teeth: "That is NOT my nickname."

"Okay, okay! I give up sheesh!"

"When are they releasing you?"

"Tomorrow, I can't wait to sleep in my own bed again. You know how hard it is to get some rest here? They never turn off the light. I'll miss meal time though."

"You like the food here?"

"Not the food. There's this hot nurse that serve the meals."

"Ah."

"I've been doing my best to charm her, but nothing seems to work."

"You're not asking my advice again are you?"

"No."

"Good. I don't want a repeat of the last time."

"I swear that date disaster was not my fault."

Dimitri just stared at Ivan.

"Okay partially. Oh alright completely my fault. I shoulda listened to you, but she was giving me all the right signals to move in. How was I supposed to know she'd get offended?"

He ignored the question and changed the subject: "Will your injury impact your final evaluation?"

"Oh man, why do you have to bring that up? It's a whole month away. I'll worry about it when they send me out."

Dimitri just shook his head at Ivan's head in the sand attitude. "I'll let you get some rest."

"Wait, Dimitri."

He turned around and noticed for once Ivan was completely serious.

"I never got a chance to thank you."

"Don't worry about it."

"No really, I wouldn't have made it out alive if you hadn't been there."

"Don't thank me. I was just trying to stay alive, that you guys benefitted from it is just a nice side effect."

"Don't down play it. What you did was extraordinary. I don't think I could have done it in a million year, taking out so many of them by yourself."

"You're welcome."

The solemn expression gave way to a mischievous grin: "Now that we got that out of the way, I need your help with that hot nurse."

"I'm leaving now."

"Oh come on Dimka! Don't be that way! Come back!"

Dimitri walked away, a smile tugging on his lips, grateful that there's someone who doesn't take him so seriously.

I KNOW ITS SHORT BUT I HOPE YOU LIKE IT!
I WILL TRY AND POST ANOTHER CHAPTER LATER TODAY ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU FOR THE REVEIWS:
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.READER

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