I tapped my fingers lightly on my desk, blocking out everything. I was too lost in my own train of thought.

When I'd come to the gym this morning I'd found a note from Dimitri. He'd cancelled this morning's training, though he said he'd be back for the afternoons. I was pretty sure I knew why he'd cancelled. There were really just two options; Emily or his fight with me. I was leaning a bit against his fight with me. Okay, a lot. I crossed a line, and he was pretty pissed.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop seeing his face. He'd been so angry. Never had I ever seen him so angry.

"Miss Hathaway!"

I barely blinked, taking in Mr Nagy's angry expression. Everyone seemed to be angry with me at the moment.

"As you clearly have no interest in paying attention you might as well leave the class. Now."

Giving what I hoped was a frustrated sigh, grabbed my books and walked out into the empty halls. I headed for my room to get rid of my books, trying to figure out what to do for the next hour.

After having changed into my work out clothes, I head for the gym. After having pissed Dimitri off I decided I wanted to make up for it. Yes, he'd been an absolute jerk about the whole thing but it is partly my fault. Partly.

"Rose! Aren't you supposed to be in class?"

Emily's voice snapped me out of my rain of thought and I barely managed to stop before walking into her. She gave me a warm smile, and I did my best to return it.

"I sort of got kicked out…"

Emily laughed, flashing me a wide grin. "Dimka told me you were quite the troublemaker."

I tried not to show my disliking of Emily referring to Dimitri by his nickname, though I could not hide my surprise. "You talked about me?"

"Of course! I hear the two of you have quite the history."

WHAT?

I frown, no sure how to respond to that. Dimitri couldn't possibly have told her anything, could he? Surely not after going at me for even bringing it up.

"Sorry?"

"He told me he hauled you and Vasilisa Dragomir back here. He also told me you put up quite the fight."

I scoffed. From my own memory of that day I might've put up a fight but it sure as hell wasn't a good one.

"I bet he also told you how much of a terrible fight it was that I put up."

Emily shook her head. "No, he didn't. He only said you were hanging behind, but that you've already outdone all of your classmates. From what he's told me you are going to be quite the Guardian when you grow up."

"He said that?"

Emily seemed puzzled at why I wouldn't believe, but nodded. "Absolutely. And getting a compliment like that from someone as talented as him… Well, let's just say you should be proud of yourself."

"Have you seen him?"

She shook her head, "not since yesterday. Why?"

So he did cancel because of me then. Weirdly enough there was comfort in knowing that.

"Just curious," I answered, my thoughts distracted. "It was nice talking to you, but I have some extra training to do, so…"

She just gave me a final smile before passing me and I hurried to the gym. When I arrived it was empty, but I expected as much. My training wasn't really supposed to start until another 45 minutes, so I headed out to the tracks and started to run. I still didn't quite get the whole running-thing, but Dimitri had insisted it was essential, and seeing as there wasn't much else I could do on my own, I decided to run non-stop until he would show up.

I'd completely lost track of time and was buried in my own mind to even notice when Dimitri joined me.

"You're early," he stated and I looked up at him, finally realising I wasn't alone.

"I got kicked out of class."

Dimitri shook his head, frustrated apparently.

"How many laps have you done?" he asked instead, keeping off the topic of my reckless behaviour. Smart of him.

"I don't know," I said, "but I've been running for 45 minutes."

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Then I think you're done."

We stopped and I started stretching as Dimitri disappeared back into the gym.

In a matter of minutes, was entering the gym, finding Dimitri setting up obstacles.

I frowned, "what are we doing?"

"You are going to learn staking," he said. My mood brightened immediately.

"I get a stake?"

He gave me an amused glance. "No."

"No?" I pouted.

"No. But you'll be getting this." He walked up to me and handed me a play-knife. I snorted, "Are you serious?"

"Yes."

I looked up at him through my lashes, his god-like features still intact. I pushed on the blade, and it disappeared into the handle. I rolled my eyes.

"This won't do any damage."

"No, it will not," answered Dimitri as he backed off. I frowned. "But it will help you learn how to stake without getting me killed."

My eyes shot up to him from the plastic knife. He was giving me an amused look.

"I get to attack you?" I grinned.

"Yes."

I wasted no time and launched myself at him. I'd been furious with him for so long, and I realised he was giving me the chance to get that anger out.

Dimitri dodged my attack and blocked my next.

"Think of me as a Strigoi," he said, "and focus."

And I did. It might've taken me half an hour, and he might've gone easy on me, but I managed to "stake" him in the end. At least by that time I'd gotten my anger out.

"Well done," said Dimitri as he got up, giving me half a smile. I rarely got a proper one.

"You went easy on me," I complained.

Dimitri shrugged as he started putting everything back in place.

"At least you got your anger out."

"Yeah," I muttered, "how did you know I was mad?"

He craned his neck to look at me, amusement flashing in his eyes. "I know you."

"Like you know Emily?" It was out before I could stop myself, and I bit my lower lip. I already regretted it.

Dimitri turned away, continuing his job. "Just about."

Curious as I am, I pursued, "what does that mean?"

Dimitri sighed as he turned around and leaned against the wall.

"I really don't want to have this discussion, Rose."

I shook my head, "but I do."

Well not really.

Dimitri pinned me down with his chocolate brown eyes, though they were serious.

"We need to talk," I push, and Dimitri's shoulders slump.

"Katarina told me you and Emily became friends when she came to Russia."

"You talked to Katarina?" His tone showed obvious disbelief.

I grimaced, knowing he didn't like that. And he didn't.

"Rose, you had no right to-"

"I was curious, okay? Give me a break…"

Dimitri pressed the bridge of his nose, trying to calm himself.

"Yes, I met Emily when she came to Russia."

"With an internship?"

"With an internship, yes."

"How did you grow so close?" I wasn't even sure if I wanted to know.

"The year she was in Russia was the year her parents turned Strigoi," he said simply, and I knew all colour had drained from my face.

"I helped her get through it."

I just gave a mere nod. Explains why Emily didn't have any scars defending her self like Tasha did. Tasha obviously wouldn't have been able to protect both of them.

"That could easily help someone get closer," I murmured, and Dimitri nodded briefly.

"Did you…" I stumbled over my words, having to take a deep breath. "Do you love her?"