VA isn't mine

Running late wasn't a new thing for me. Running late because I was avoiding other students was. The small way from my room to the gym had become a mine felt of younger students who 'accidentally' bumped into me and wanted to talk. The first day had been okay, I had even talked to the few and given a heroic retelling of the two kills. But word traveled fast and soon the entire school knew when I left to have early morning practice with Dimitri. I don't think there had ever been so many students awake at this hour as now. So I had to find cut troughs in order to get to class on time without talking to anyone. I'd say I had gotten pretty good at it. I would sneak out my window and then sneak through the bushes to the teachers housing. From there I could sneak in the backdoor where I had placed a gum in the lock so I wouldn't need a key. Then I could walk trough the teachers' hallways to the other end of the building that faced the back of the guardians' housing. Another lock defeated by gum and I could use their underground meeting facilities which ended out in a secret door to the outdoor grounds. Then I could walk casually to the gyms backdoor and avoid the last lingering students who had gone to the gym's front. Dimitri, who sat in the middle with his western open, lifted an eyebrow and I swear I saw a hint of a smile.

"Sorry I am late, the route from my room is longer than it used too." Okay now that was definitely a smile.

"What, you are trying to tell me the hoard of pre-teens is hard to get through?" I looked at him in shock, a smile and a joke? Had my birthday come early? He chuckled at my shock.

"You really think I haven't noticed that our lessons have become a happening?" I picked up my jaw and plastered on my signature smile.

"No I just figured most of them was there to ogle at you." His smiled faltered at my boldness then he shook his head.

"Come on." He called as he stood up and started walking towards the door.

"Where are we going?" I shouted as I tried to catch up. He shook his head, silently telling me I would find out. Then he approached the guardians main building and I felt the color drain from my face.

"You're taking me to Alberta? Come on comrade I was five minutes' late tops, that is actually early for me!" I swear that was a smile!

"Relax Roza, I am not taking you to Alberta because you were late." Roza, he only used that when he was affectionate towards me. We hadn't really talked since Spokane, but Christian had told me had turned Tasha's offer down. Lissa had been all about how they would have made such a great couple and I had to bite my lip not to say something mean about Tasha.

"Come in." Alberta called when Dimitri knocked on her door.

"Oh Guardian Belikov, Rose, what brings you here?" She greeted politely. Dimitri gave a small nod in greeting.

"Well actually we are here because Rose is late to class and it 'really' isn't her fault." Dimitri told her almost humorously, making fun of my teenage vocabulary, and she smiled a little.

"I assume it is about the small fan group then?" she asked. I couldn't believe it. They both knew yet they had done nothing to ease my struggles!

"Yes well I was thinking as her alternative route to make it to our morning sessions almost on time is a huge violation to the safety protocol, maybe we could do something to make it more legal?" they shared a look that told me this conversation was absolutely planned.

"Guardian Belikov what do you purpose?" Dimitri leaned back in his chair a little.

"I was thinking maybe we should grant Rose with an access card to the tunnel system so she doesn't have to break in trough the backdoor." Alberta turned to me.

"What do you think about that idea Rose? Would it work or do you particularly enjoy breaking five, probably more, school rules before breakfast?" Were they kidding me? They knew about my crazy route? Could you keep nothing from these guys?

"I think a keycard would definitely help me getting to practice on time." I tried to sound as pure and innocent as possible but Dimitri fake coughed beside me, making it clear to us all that I wouldn't be on time anyway.

"Yes well let's make one to you then." She turned to her computer and in five minutes she had set me up with an access card to the school's secret tunnels.

"Oh and Rose?" She called as we were about to leave, "Don't tell anyone about the tunnels." I gave her a short nod and then hurried after Dimitri.

"Did you really just give me a key card?" I asked, turning the card around in my hand in disbelief.

"Yes Rose we gave you a key card, now use it wisely and don't let the rest of the school know." If I didn't know better I'd say he was amused by my amazement. Something hit me then and I looked at him suspiciously and a bit cautious.

"This means I have to be on time doesn't it?" That earned me a little rumble that resembled a laugh.

"Yes it does but I don't expect you to change your personality just because you got a small piece of responsibility in your pocket." Was that a joke? Wow he was in a good mood today.

"Are you saying my personality is always late?" He shook his head.

"No but it is to check your reflection one more time to make sure you applied enough lip-gloss." I gasped and covered my lips with my hand. I had been using extra for our morning lessons in the hope that he would some day just say fuck it and kiss me. It hadn't happened yet, not that I expected it too, and I had started thinking he didn't even notice it, while it had caused a hell lot on inconvenience for me to train with, hair sticking everywhere.

"No one trains with two layers of lip-gloss Roza." He called out to me before leaving to go god knows where, having lead me directly to my next class without me even noticing. Not knowing what to make of it I went to class, completely stunned and unable to form a snarky comment even when Stan literally asked for it.

Okay that took me a while to finish, please review, give me your thoughts?