Dimitri's Point of View in Frostbite (Vampire Academy) (Book 2)

Part 6

“Where’s the best place a girl can go shopping around here?” She asked.

Lissa and Rose exchanged looks. “Missoula.” They said in unison.

Tasha sighed at this. “That’s a couple hours away, but if I leave soon, I can probably still get in some time before the stores close. I’m hopelessly behind in Christmas shopping.”

Rose groaned. “I’d kill to go shopping.”

“Me too.” Lissa chimed in.

“Maybe we could sneak along…” Rose gave me a hopeful look.

“No.” I said immediately. I wasn’t going to get in trouble for letting her go on some shopping spree. She gave a sigh.

Tasha Yawned again. “I’ll have to grab some coffee, so I don’t sleep on the drive in.”

“Can’t one of your guardians drive for you?”

She shook her head. “I don’t have any.”

“Don’t have any…” Rose frowned. “You don’t have any guardians?”

“Nope.”

Rose shot up. “But that’s not possible! You’re royal. You should have at least one. Two, really.”

Guardians were distributed among Moroi. Royals always got first pick, leaving the lower class Moroi, with one or no guardians at all.

“The Ozeras aren’t exactly first in line when guardians get assigned.” Said Christian bitterly. “Ever since… my parents died… there’s kind of been a shortage.”

I could see the grim set of Rose’s mouth, her hunched back and curling fists. Which were early warnings of a Rose-sudden-outburst. I braced myself. “But that’s not fair. They can’t punish you for what your parents did.”

“It’s not punishment Rose.” Tasha said. “It’s just… a rearranging of priorities.”

“They’re leaving you defenseless. You can’t go out there by yourself!”

“I’m not defenseless, Rose. I’ve told you that. And if I really wanted a guardian, I could make a nuisance of myself, but it’s a lot of hassle. I’m fine for now.”

And then it clicked. The problem—the reason—why I couldn’t forget Rose or my feelings for her was because I wasn’t trying hard enough. If I could actually try to date someone else, or even try to flirt with someone else, maybe… just maybe, I could forget Rose and find someone else.

I glanced over at Tasha. “Want me to go with you?”

“And keep you up all night?” Tasha shook her head, locking her blue gaze on mine. “I wouldn’t do that to you Dimka.”

“He doesn’t mind.” Rose said quickly and excitedly.

I was amused by how she had suddenly jumped in. I would have thought her to be jealous. If Rose continued to act this way around Tasha then I could definitely give my theory a try.

“I really don’t” I replied.

Tasha hesitated. “All right. But we should probably go soon.”

Our party dispersed shortly after that. The Moroi going one direction while Rose and I went the other. I had made plans with Tasha to meet up in a half an hour.

I needed to know what Rose truly thought of Tasha. I didn’t want to hurt her, I knew it had to be done, but as of right now I just couldn’t bring myself to.

“So what do you think of her?” I asked when we were alone.

“I like her. She’s cool.” She stopped, face thoughtful. “And I get what you mean about the marks.”

“Oh?”

Rose nodded. Watching her footing as we walked along the paths. They tended to sneak a patch of ice now and then. Even when shoveled and salted.

“She didn’t do what she did for glory. She did it because she had to. Just like… just like my mom did. The marks don’t matter. Molnijas or scars.”

“You’re a fast learner.” I said with approval.

“Why does she call you Dimka?”

I laughed softly. “It’s a nickname for Dimitri.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. It doesn’t sound anything like Dimitri. You should be called, I don’t know, Dimi or something.”

“That’s not how it works in Russain.” I said.

“Russian’s weird.”

“So is English.”

She gave me a sly look. “If you’d teach me to swear in Russian, I might have a new appreciation for it.”

“You swear too much already.”

“I just want to express myself.”

“Oh Roza…” I sighed. “You express yourself more than anyone else I know.”

She smiled as we walked on a bit without saying anything else.

We walked in silence for a few minutes longer before she said: “You know, there’s something funny about Tasha’s scars.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“The scars… they mess up her face.” She began slowly, as if to choose her words wisely. I was proud of her for trying. “I mean, it’s obvious she used to be really pretty. But even with the scars now… I don’t know. She’s pretty in a different way. It’s like… like they’re part of her. They complete her.”

I didn’t say anything, but gave her a sidelong glance. She returned it, and as our eyes met, I felt the briefest moment of the old attraction. I still wanted her, so badly that it hurt. I had never ever felt like this. She was the only girl to make my chest tighten, and my heart beat faster whenever I saw her. I put my guardian face back on, hoping to show her only pride and approval.

Trying to forget her was going to be the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life. And I knew, I would die a little everyday.

“You’re a fast learner, Roza.”

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Whew that took forever (: I hate Tasha so talking about how I love her and she's a kind loving person made me want to rip out my hair! lol anyways thanks for reading! comment and vote and all that good stuff!

<3 LittleDhampir18