My heart raced as I peered around the corner of the building, into an empty hall.

"Come on guys! Let's go!" I said in a loud whisper. I motioned for them to follow me. Our small group of six ran hunched down the hall and threw ourselves against a cold stone wall panting. My pulse was in my ears and my heart in my throat. I looked to my right to see my friend Mason's unsure eyes.

"Are you sure you know what your doing?" she whispered to me.

"Yes mum! Have a little faith in me! Jeez!" I whispered back in mock disappointment. He gave me a look that said 'whatever but if we get caught I will kick your ass!' I waved them forward and opened the door across the hall from us. I scanned the aisles of filing cabinets and sprinted silently towards the one that had the letters 'H-K' written on iridescent purple paper. I pointed to a few other cabinets behind me and everyone sprinted noiselessly to them. I looked up out the window and saw a flashlight flash across the hall. I waved my hand down in a motion for everyone to hide. The security guard peered in through the window and I could have sworn that he could hear my heart pounding. Mason gave me a knowing look and once the security guard was gone we got up quickly and began searching the surrounding cabinets for the information we needed. I pulled out the file with my name on it and removed the latest incident file. All of a sudden the room erupted in light.

"Ms Hathaway! Mr Ashford! What do you think you are doing?" Kirova shouted. Her voice bounced off the walls and made it sound even louder than it was. Thankfully she hadn't seen everyone else and it gave them the opportunity to run. I tucked the piece of paper down the back of my shorts and smiled at her.

"Nothing principal Kirova. Just show Mr Ashford where the student files were." I replied quickly. She glared at me and then at Mason.

"Both of you! Detention for the rest of the week. Meet me in the maths block after school tomorrow!" she said storming out. Seconds later, guardians came in and towed us out of the room. I winked at Mason and he just rolled his eyes.

We walked back across the campus towards the dorms.

"That was amazing!" I exclaimed, jumping up onto a nearby bench. "It was so exciting! My heart was about to break out of my chest!" I said demonstrating an explosion with my hands.

"You, rose, are one disturbed woman." He said shoving me gently which made me loose my balance and fall off the bench. Mason and I had been best friends for ages. Ever since he arrived at St Vladimir's in Kindergarten. He was being picked on because of his red hair, so I pushed the kid who was teasing him into the sandbox. From that moment on we were inseparable. He is my best 'guy' friend. We ran the rest of the way to the dorms and I ran smack bang into the chest of my trainer, Dimitri. His Russian godness towered over me and I felt my heart pick up pace.

"Hello guardian Belikov." Mason said politely.

"Mr Ashford." He said nodding at him. "Ms Hathaway." He said nodding at me. My heart skipped a beat when he said my name.

"Dimitri." I nodded.

"Well you guys better get going." He said not taking his eyes off me. We nodded and kept walking quickly. I glanced over my shoulder and saw him looking at me too. Because I wasn't looking where I was going I tripped over a bump in the pavement. I looked down quickly so he wouldn't see my rapidly reddening face. I said goodbye to mason and quickly made my way up the stairs to my room, to get a few hours sleep before I had to get up and go to training. It was so long past curfew that was the sun was in the centre of sky. I flopped down on the bed still fully clothed and kicked my shoes off. I closed my eyes and felt immense relief as they were finally closed. It seemed only minutes later that my obnoxious beeping alarm went off. I groaned and rolled out of the bed, throwing on a pair of gray cut off sweats and a skin tight exercise singlet. I picked up my gym bag and slung it over my shoulder. Jogging in the mornings had double uses. The cold wind smashing into my face woke me up and it also warmed me up to be ready for my coming torture session. I walked into the gym to see Dimitri lying on the mat in the far corner of the room, his arms folded under his head. His eyes were closed and his soft snore came from his ajar mouth. I walked up next to him and the urge to push the hair out of his face was overwhelming. My hand twitched over his face and I turned and walked away. And he says I have no self control. He has no clue. One of my many weaknesses would have to be my feelings for Dimitri. I walked over to the rings and decided to do a few pull ups. I continued until my biceps felt as if they were going to fall off the bone. I went over to the mats to practice my form and when I was about halfway through my normal routine I heard some movement behind me. Dimitri had moved slightly on the mat and looked really comfortable. I silently strode to his side and peered down at him. Usually observant Dimitri looked so vulnerable in his sleep. His shoulder length hair splayed half over his face and the rest fanned out behind him. I gently swept the hair off his face and left my hand on his cheek smiling slightly. He rolled over pinning my hand underneath him. Oh my god! If he woke up and I had my hand on his face, I think he would be more than a little freaked out. I jumped when he murmured in his sleep.

"Rrzz." His whispered. I couldn't make out what he was trying to say.

"Rose." He murmured and I instantly thought he was awake. I gently slid my hand out from under his cheek and placed it on my lap. He must have felt the movement because he grabbed me around the waist and slammed me to the ground.

"OW!" I protested as my back slammed into the matt. His eyes obviously raked over my sweaty attire and his breathing quickened slightly from the instant exertion. Our faces were inches apart and his thick curtain of dark hair hung over my face, shielding my sight from the rest of the gym. Dimitri had his hands on my shoulders and he was pressing down really hard.

"Ah dimitri this kinda hurts." I said cautiously. As he looked down at me, I saw something flash in his eyes. Was it anger? Was it desire? A knock at the door startled us and Dimitri bolted up into a standing position.

"Come in." he said and in walked Guardian Yuri, one of the many male guardians on campus.

"Ah was I interrupting anything? He asked, eyes shifting between Dimitri and me.

"No, Rose and I were just finishing a soar that I won. Again." He said giving me a look that said, 'just go along with it.'

"I'm thirsty." I said quickly as I scuttled over to where my gym bag was. Yuri and Dimitri continued to discuss something I didn't quite hear.

"-And here is your money for food, petrol and hotel accommodation and also here are your keys for the Jeep." Yuri told Dimitri handing him a manila envelope.

"Hang on!" I said holding my hands up. "What's going on?" I added, shooting looks at both Dimitri and Yuri.

"Oh Dimitri, you naughty boy!" he said slapping him on the arm jokingly, "you should have told her this morning." He added with a loud laugh. "See ya later Belikov!" he yelled over his shoulder. I turned to Dimitri, my arms crossed over my chest and my eyebrows risen in expectation.

"Well, we are going to be participating in a special training we are going to be taught by Jackson Delaney."

"Why does that name sound so familiar? Hmm." I said scratching my chin.

"Well you would remember that he is one of the greatest guardians in history, if you actually listened in Guardian Altos class you would know that."

"Ahahaha! You're so funny!" I said lightly shoved shoulder and shaking my head.

"We're leaving in an hour. So go and pack." He said dismissing me. I gave him a sarcastic solute and walked away.

"Oh and Rose." He called and I spun around quickly. "I'm sorry about before." I smiled and walked away. When I got back to my room I threw my clothes into a bag along with my trainers and multiple pairs of socks. I met Dimitri outside the Dhamphir dorms after discussing at length what might happen with Mason. I tried to call Lissa but she was 'busy' with Christian. I was so glad that I was as focused as I was otherwise I might be watching Christian and Lissa get all hot and heavy. EW! Dimitri stood with his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against a black Jeep Wrangler. One of his rare smiles spread across his face but when he realised he was smiling, he snapped his guardian mask back on.

"Come on Rose! We have to get going!" He told me a little more enthusiastic then I have seen him in quite a while.

"So I guess I'm driving!" I said running over to the drivers side and jumping into the seat.

"Look who's the funny one now!" he laughed as he slid into the drivers side. I crossed my arms to sulk and I saw him give me a look.

"Fine. Since you aren't driving, you can choose the radio station." Hope built in my eyes and I smiled.

"Really?"

"No." He said with one of his rare laughs. This was going to be a long drive.