Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy or anything surrounding it (but I do own this plot :D)
RPOV
"How did I let you talk me into this?!"
"I didn't! You volunteered, you idiot!"
"Then why didn't you talk me out of it then!?"
I sighed. 3000ft above the ground was a lot higher than I originally imagined. Everything seemed tiny, like I was looking through a microscope. On a more optimistic note, I really had time to appreciate what I was seeing. Living down on the ground, I never really considered what I had. But feeling the deafening torrent of cold winds and listening to how the cosmic roar of the helicopter's blades echoed against the swirling white clouds really made me think.
I could see more than I could have imagined and it was all worth the imminent fear of falling to my death. The stunning green of the fields mesmerised my eyes and the distant dim of city-life reminded me just how small my world was.
And then there was Adrian…
I wasn't planning on poking fun at him at this height, but as he clung to the side of the helicopter door with both his arms and his legs really made me reconsider his 'bravery'.
"Rose," he yelled over the thunderous noise, "this might not have been my brightest move…"
"Don't you dare pull out on me now, Ivashkov!" I responded, also yelling. Lissa had been wary to let Adrian do this, and downright refused to let him go up alone, so I had to go with him. I honestly felt like I was babysitting him. He was in a worse state than I was and I was seriously crushing on a God of a Russian that happened to be seven years my senior and probably didn't feel the same way.
At least Adrian's love-life was less dangerous…
"I wasn't thinking straight when I suggested this." He argued and I all but slapped him.
"Of course you weren't, you were drunk and high on Sydney!" I shouted and he scowled. "Listen, Ivashkov, we have raised a shit load of money with you doing this so if you don't jump, I will push you." I threatened but it seemed to have little effect.
"That is not helping Rose!" He cried out. "Quick, distract me, talk about Demyan or something."
"Dimitri!" I corrected in a yell.
"Are you really telling me off for forgetting his name as I stand before my doom?" He snapped.
"That is a little melodramatic, Adrian." I countered and he sighed.
Thankfully, for both Adrian's safety and my own sanity, Adrian's instructor emerged from the cockpit looking remarkably calm considering he was about to strap himself to Adrian Ivashkov. Well, he would have to pry said Ivashkov from when he had strapped himself to the side of the helicopter but that was a mere technicality.
"How are you doing Adrian?" He asked cheerfully whilst sticking his face in a balaclava.
"How do you think Mikhail?!" Adrian screamed again. I just rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. Mikhail seemed more tolerant than I would ever be and for that, I respected him, but I think you would need to have a diploma in patience to put up with a hollering Adrian Ivashkov.
"Okay, we are approaching out drop point…" I saw Adrian flinch. "…so we are going to have to suit up and…" then he went through a whole load of safety things and precautions that really just confused me. Soon after – and sooner than Adrian might have liked – Mikhail started clipping the equipment and himself to Adrian. I was glad that Adrian was in safe hands but that did mean if Adrian went down, Mikhail would too.
Mikhail didn't seem phased by this notion but Adrian on the other hand…
"Mikhail, if we die… know that I liked you." Adrian shouted and Mikhail laughed humorously.
"Thank you, I liked you too." He responded clipping the last of the equipment to them both.
"Really, cause I am straight, you know?" I rolled my eyes. Even in a time like this, Adrian couldn't help himself.
"That's okay, I have a wife." Mikhail informed us.
Adrian perked up at this. "Is she nice?" he queried.
"Adrian!?" I interrupted and he looked back at me.
"This is what I call a distraction Hathaway: learn from Mikhail." He said pointing at Mikhail and I scowled.
"Mikhail, do you mind if I push him off?" I growled but Adrian heard and scowled.
Mikhail decided to ignore me and pressed on with more safety. "Alright, Adrian?" He asked and Adrian stayed quiet and nodded. "Okay, let's do this then. On three: One… Two…. Three!" And with that, they plummeted. I watched as they fell out the helicopter and listened as Adrian's screams became more and more distant. It was like watching a bird dive into water; the clouds seemed to part for them as the Red Sea did for Moses but they also seemed to wrap themselves around the falling boys in a protective manner – keeping them safe from the unnoticeable dangers that could be around them.
The pilot told me we were going to the landing spot and would monitor them from the ground. I nodded and continued to search the sky for my falling friend. The helicopter landed as gracefully as a helicopter can and I hopped off to join my friends. Lissa attacked me as soon as it was safe to do so and pulled me into a surprisingly strong hug. Christian and Mia just gave me a curt nod whilst Mason and Eddie cheered like I had returned on a valiant quest. Only Sydney remained entirely focused on the skies above.
Ten minutes later, she had something to look at.
Floating down gracefully (I suspect Mikhail had something to do with that one) was a parachute harbouring two young men. The wind was of a gentle disposition back down on the ground so the parachute could easily glide to where it was meant to. Our whole group watched the event with a smile on our faces as the boys finally reached the touchdown.
Not as soon as he reached the ground did Sydney rush to the side of our brave jumper. We followed behind her but she was like a cheetah the way she moved. Mikhail stood up and stretched his back whilst Adrian was a collapsed heap on the floor. Sydney didn't care for the 'Wait Here' sign and pelted straight towards him in a fit of desperation.
"Oh my Lord, Adrian, are you okay!?" She cried running her hands all over his body, unbuckling him from the vast array of metal loops and clips that had held him to the safety of the parachute. Adrian was still in a little shock from the whole experience to respond verbally so he did what any rational person would do when the secret love of their life was frantically running their hands over their body.
He brought her down on top of him and sealed her worry with his lips.
Sydney responded instantly and I smirked. Just friends, huh? Watching Mia's mouth drop in the corner of my eye, I remembered that everyone was here and decided it would be best to usher them back. "Come on lads; give the newlyweds a little space. You can congratulate him later." I said shoving everyone back towards Mason's van.
"Where are our make-out sessions, Rose?" The owner of the van himself asked mischievously causing Eddie to snigger.
"Well if you are really that desperate, make-out with each other." I flashed a devious smile. Both boys looked at each other and shuddered.
Mikhail wandered over, pulling his legs out of a harness and I kinda felt bad for just leaving him to struggle out of the equipment by himself but I guess he was a professional and didn't need the help of a couple of Adrian's teenage cheerleading squad. Lissa all but jumped on him as she asked for the tape. Mikhail smiled whole-heartedly and gave it to her from where it had been place in his pocket. "Evidence!" she squealed and everyone cheered. "I'll ask Stan to put it on the old TV and we are good to go!" She informed as Adrian and Sydney walked –hand in hand might I add – towards us.
I cupped my hands round my lips so they acted as a makeshift megaphone "And here he is, the man who had to be threatened out the helicopter and screamed as he went out but we'll forgive him because he's Adrian." I said in one breath so paused to breathe at this moment before exclaiming: "Well done buddy!"
"Thanks, Little D." he said smiling.
"It's what I am here for." I winked.
"Well I don't know about you guys, but I am starving." Christian said as his stomach rumbled loudly evoking laughter from everyone – including Mikhail. "Pizza?"
"Seriously, how am I the only person who didn't know?" A baffled Mia asked the group. After promptly thanking Mikhail, Lissa filled us all into Mason's van. We were now all sitting on the floor of a deserted Shadow Kiss Inn. It was Sunday and whilst the pub desperately needed all the money it could get, Stan had some important meeting with Tatiana the Mother Bitch so we had closed up for he day.
We had pushed a couple of tables aside and were sitting in a neatly orchestrated circle eating pizza and bullying Adrian and Sydney as per the usual 'New Couple Initiation' that our group had. As it turns out, I wasn't the only one who didn't believe Adrian's 'just friends' bullocks. In fact, everyone knew that they were in love with each other. Well, except Mia…
We all just shrugged at her enquiry and Mia sighed and went back to nibbling on a margarita pizza. Lissa took this opportunity to explain what was happening next. "Right, we will play this in the pub as proof," she held up the tape, "and start collecting up on the sponsors but we will keep the tab open for more money. Totalling everything together we have..."
"Drum roll please…" I interjected and Lissa smiled. We all began drumming on the floor and then stopped to hear to result.
"$13,425.75!" she announced.
"You know, for one month, that ain't that bad." Christian nodded and everyone murmured their agreements. "Of course, it is still miles off." He said and everyone grumbled their agreements.
"Don't worry guys," Lissa said gently as Christian rested his head in her lap and began mumbling to her stomach where their baby lay in waiting. She smiled and ran her delicate hands through his messy black hair. "We still have the concert – I think we should start rehearsing for it tomorrow so we can have it as soon as possible."
"Hey Lis, did you ever find someone to replace Meredith?" I asked with a mouthful of pepperoni. I saw Adrian snigger and shot him a quick glare before returning back to Lissa.
"No." she said dejectedly, calming herself by continuing to stroke Christian's hair. "But we really need to. If anyone knows anyone who can play the piano, I think they may just be a miracle."
"I could probably take some lessons." Adrian suggested. "That way, if the worst comes to the worst, I could probably help."
Lissa smiled at him as Christian picked up a slice of pizza and held it up to her mouth. Group conversation broke down after that and we all separated off into our own separate conversations. Adrian and Sydney become completely lost in one another and considering they had been harbouring inner feelings for each other for the best part of – well, a long time, it wasn't surprising. Mason, Eddie and Mia had begun a heated debate on which pizza topping was best. Mason said it was pepperoni whilst Eddie argued a full out meat feast and Mia went with the boring margarita.
Naturally, they were all wrong: pineapple and ham, no questions asked.
Despite my mental contribution to the debate, it was Lissa and Christian who had caught my attention. As I watched the two interact with each other, it was obvious to the world how much they loved each other. A love as pure as theirs was rare and beautiful to witness, but it brought a thought to my mind: a dark, disallowed thought – one I should defiantly not be thinking – but it elated me nonetheless. I wanted what they had: what if I could have it?
What if, one day, I could be with someone like that? What if, I could love someone as they loved one another?
What if, I could find someone – that one person – that I could share the rest of my life with and give them my heart, soon?
These thoughts scared me stiff - I wasn't the type to dwell on finding love, but even still. These weren't my deepest fears, not even my darkest thoughts.
A single, lone, evil thought lingered in my head last and made me drop my pizza from where it rested precariously in my hand.
What if I had already met him?