Drabble:62
POV:Third Person

Sometimes Alberta liked to roam around campus during early evenings, when all the hallways, the quad and even the church remained empty, devoid of the normal clamor. It peace and tranquility de-stressed her as she strolled across campus, only accompanied by the whooshing of the wind through the trees and the chirping of birds.
This evening, she was just wandering in a secluded path along the northern side of campus, a hundred or so feet from the running-tracks, and she reveled in the solitary walk, alone with her pensive thoughts.
As she walked, she became aware that the lights in the gym were on. She puzzled as to who would be working out during such early hours, and then the answer came naturally to her. Dimitri. And Rose.

Dimitri had been working her over from the day she returned, and Rose had yet not unleashed her hell-hath-no-fury-like-Hathaway-mode on him, which was surprising. Other teachers could definitely take tips from Dimitri about keeping Rose in line. Not that he'd volunteer any; he was taciturn through and through. Deciding to check up on the duo, Alberta walked towards the gym, but her steps halted as an unfamiliar sound assaulted her ears-a man's deep laughter. It took her seconds to realize that Dimitri was laughing. Dimitri! Alberta had never heard the boy laugh so happily since they'd met, although you couldn't be around Rose and not laugh….some instinct made her retrace her steps instead of going forward.
She got to the trees the moment Dimitri opened the gym doors. From her hiding-spot behind a pine tree, Alberta watched as Dimitri held the door open for his student. It was normal; Dimitri was chivalrous that way, always the picture of a gentleman. What didn't fit was that he was still smiling, albeit slightly, and that coming out of the building, Rose curtseyed him, a private smirk on her face. Rolling his eyes, Dimitri closed the door and walked towards the dhampir dorms with his protégé, eyes assessing the landscape as she babbled on beside him. Alberta watched, fascinated by this rare glimpse of a happy Dimitri. And Rose looked happy too.
But that was not all, her instincts. She observed how adoringly Rose looked at her mentor. It was pretty apparent that Rose was crushing on Dimitri. Alberta would have expected Dimitri to behave detached and professional, but she was surprised to see that he looked at Rose affectionately too. And unbeknownst to them, their bodies were unconsciously leaning towards each other, mirroring one another. With a jolt, Alberta realized that Dimitri had feelings for Rose. She shouldn't have been surprised; she'd been there when he'd taken her in his arms in Spokane, when he'd unconsciously called her Roza during the Victor-manhunt. She'd seen how Rose had become more responsible under his tutelage…Still, two dhampirs? A mentor and his pupil and soon-to-be-co-guardian? It was reckless and stupid! She'd just decided on chewing out the duo, when something else crossed her mind…..Dimitri and Rose…..they were perfect for one another. Their company had shaped each other better, made them stronger…and technically, they weren't breaking any laws. Still, what was Dimitri thinking?

Then another image crossed Alberta's mind. Few days back, Alberta had come across the duo during lunch, and she'd seen Dimitri laughing. The boy had very few reasons or chances to be truly happy in his life, and Rose's life was just a-series-of-unfortunate-events. Did she really have the right to take away this joy from them?
No, Alberta decided. She couldn't take this away, but she'd be keeping her eyes on them from now onwards. God forbid if anyone else found out. Sighing to herself, Alberta continued her stroll, her thoughts directed inwards this time.

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