Chapter 2

The next morning I accidentally slept through my alarm, I was officially busted. I was fifteen minutes late for practice and I knew Dimitri would skin me alive. No less then what must have been five minutes later I ran through the gym doors.

He was sitting in his usual spot reading his book and looked up when he heard me enter. I must've looked like a mess because he did the whole eyebrow raising thing that I wished I could do.

"You're usually pushing it for time Rose but this takes being late to a whole new level." He told me calmly.

I had a million excuses ready to shoot out, but the truth was I'd slept through my alarm. I'd had a restless sleep where darkness dreams plagued my mind. But how could I tell him I was late because I felt like shit and because I was having nightmares?

Guardians are tougher than that and so is Rose Hathaway.

"Sorry, it won't happen again." I reply.

He must've been expecting one of my snarky comebacks as he does a slight double take.

"Yes well, you'll have to make up for your laps this afternoon. For now just do your usual reps and pushups"

I nod and ease into my usual routine.

I'm used to doing my routine in silence while Dimitri reads, so today I decided to bring my music to take my mind off the nightmares and a persistent headache that I knew would stick with me all day.

With the music blaring through my ears I'd lost track of the time and if it wasn't for Dimitri yanking out my ear bud I wouldn't have noticed.

"You'll be late for breakfast if you don't hurry." Dimitri said while handing me back my earphone.

I picked up my bag and muttered a thanks. I didn't mean to seem rude, I just couldn't shake the feeling that made me feel like crap.

As it turns out I wasn't hungry much this morning either because not even a chocolate glazed doughnut could tempt me.

This also couldn't escape any of my friends notice.

"No doughnuts this morning? Are you sure you're feeling okay?" Lissa asked, concern lacing her delicate angel voice.

I simply nod and tell her that I'd eaten a whole box of doughnuts last night and felt sick.

She tsked and joked about how I skipped dinner to eat a whole box of doughnuts.

First period was with Stan, I knew this day wasn't going to be good.

I'd only closed my eyes for what felt like a couple of seconds before Stan cuts himself off mid lecture to throw an encyclopedia on my desk.

"I'm sorry Hathaway, are we keeping you awake?" Stan said with a nasty smirk.

He's always looking for some excuse to send me to detention.

But instead of doing the smart thing and replying with a "No sir, sorry sir."

I reply with;

"Sorry Stanny, I was just giving everyone a sneak preview of how your date went on Friday night."

Everyone burst into fits of laughter as his eyes twitched and his nostrils flared in rage.

A student had seen Stan leave the school on Friday night wearing some formal clothes and holding a bouquet of flowers. It was obvious where he was going, and I'd just thoroughly embarrassed him. Truth be told I wanted to use that piece of information at a better time, but the reaction I was receiving now made it worth it.

"GET OUT! I WILL NOT BE DISRESPECTED LIKE THIS IN MY CLASS!" He screamed.

I packed my bag and calmly walked out, I was too tired to draw even more attention to myself. I walked myself to Kirova's office and sat down while I waited.

After half an hour of a no-show I decided to just go back to my room until the next class started, unfortunately my path was blocked by my mentor.

I didn't have any time to run, he'd already seen me.

He gave me one look and it was enough for me to know that he was guarding in that class and that he'd witnessed a Rose that I wasn't always proud of.

"What?" I snapped.

"You're in no position to speak to a guardian like that, much less your mentor." He responded.

I crossed my arms and humphed, in all honesty I just wanted to go back to bed and sleep without worrying about nightmares or seeing Christian's penis by accident.

"Come with me." He said while walking away, not really giving me a choice I turned around and followed him.

We wound up in the gym and he unlocked one of the rooms I usually trained in with the exercise machines. He pulls up two chairs and tells me to sit, I obey.

"Wha –"I begin to say but he immediately cuts me off.

"Okay, so what's wrong?" He demands, and I can't think of a response.

I simply shake my head and he continues.

"This morning you arrive fifteen minutes late and then you're unusually quiet in training. Usually you go out of your way to make sure I don't even get passed a sentence before you start talking again. The Rose I saw in Stan's class is just a defense mechanism, so tell me what's going on." He demanded again.

My fists curled into balls of rage, how he dare demand to know. It's none of his business and he couldn't help anyway, no one can.

"You want the truth comrade? Well you can't handle the truth. In case you didn't notice, I'm not the type to go sharing my feelings with people." I say this as I pick up my bag to go but he blocks my path to the door. I don't dare look at him, one look and I'll crumble beneath the gaze of those chocolate brown eyes.

He moves out of the way and I quickly open the door to leave;

"You don't have to be alone in this Rose. Whatever it is, I, we, can help." His accent thicker than usual.

I shake off his hand from my shoulder and proceed out the door, my day has definitely not gone as planned.

That afternoon I'd contemplated not even going to training, I felt incredibly shit anyway. But I had to go, I'd already gotten in enough trouble for one day.

After a very quick and awkward training session I didn't even bother going to dinner. I collapsed on my bed and hoped that I'd be free of nightmares tonight.