Chapter 6

     When we got back to the Tower I asked if Dimitri would not tell Tyler about what had happened.  My jaw was still sore but I could talk and eat but it would hurt.  When he questioned me about it, I said it was because I was scared of how Tyler would react, he started chuckling.

 

     "Wha-- What's so funny?!" I cried.

 

     He slowed to a snicker. "You just got attacked by three Extended, and your worried about being scolded by your brother?"

 

     "I'm not scared of him!" I huffed. "I'm just concerned about how he'll react towards you."

 

     All the humor disappeared from his face and was replaced with shock.

 

     "Me?  What do you mean?"

 

     "He's going to need someone to blame, someone to take his anger out on.  He won't take it out on me because I'm his sister and a first-year student.  He won't take it out on Roselia because she is also a first-year student and wasn't their at the time.  That leaves you for the blame."

 

     His eyebrows knit together and he was silent.  I had actually made a good point.  Damn it, I should've recorded that!  God knows when that will happen again.  I started to tease him about that while we were walking to the gym for practice when Roselia asked if she could talk to me in private.  I agreed and told Dimitri I would meet him in the gym.  He nodded and as soon as he rounded the corner, Roselia grasped my left arm roughly.  Her ability was activated and I felt a slight shock.  I winced in pain but otherwise remained calm.

 

     Fighting was against the rules and if you got caught you'd get suspended for a few days depending on the situation.  At a normal school it's not so bad.  But here, if you miss even one day, you are far behind everyone else.  Since I was already behind everyone, I knew I couldn't get in a fight.

 

     "Listen, since you're new here and you're Master Tyler's sister, I'll let you off with a warning.  Stop flirting with Dimitri." her voice had so much intensity it almost made me scared.  Almost.

 

     Instead, I stared at her, surprised. "What are you talking about?"

 

     "Cut the bullshit.  You know exactly what I'm talking about.  Today, for example.  You probably provoked those Extended to fight you so you could get your sorry a*s saved by Dimitri.  You don't even know him, so stop trying to."

 

     It took all of my willpower not to hit her. "Are you kidding me?!  Those guys were trying to kidnap me!  And, that Auel b*****d nearly broke my jaw and you think I did that on purpose!" Then it clicked in my head. "Oh, I get it.  You're jealous, aren't you?  Jealous that Dimitri is spending his time training me instead of hanging around with you.  Ha ha, that's cute, but he only thinks of you as a little sister.  He told me himself."

 

     In retrospect, that probably wasn't a smart thing for me to say since her hand was still on my arm.  More electricity flowed into my body and my arm was starting to go numb.  Her icy orbs bored into my apathetic ones.

 

     "I'm going to say this one more time.  Stop flirting with him.  You don't want to mess with me and if you do, you will regret it.  I won't show any mercy."

 

     I feigned being scared and shook her hand off. "Ooh, I'm terrified.  Bring it on, you little-"

 

     "Dialla," Dimitri called. "hurry up.  We have a lot to cover."

 

     I gave her a wry smile. "Coming Dimitri."

 

     I turned swiftly and sauntered down the hall.  I turned the corner too quickly and nearly smacked into him.  I did a spin around him and stumbled, momentarily dizzy.  He grabbed my closets arm and steadied me.

 

     "You weren't trying to pick a fight, were you?" he asked curiously.

 

     "No, of course not.  I wouldn't start a fight with teachers around it's suicide.  Like going into a police office with a gun and saying you were going to rob a bank."

 

     To my surprise, Dimitri laughed for the first time.  It was a deep laugh that was also warm and gentle at the same time.  My mouth fell open and I controlled myself before he noticed.

 

     "You laughed!" I blurted, unintentionally.

 

     He stopped laughing and looked at me bewildered. "What?"

 

     I tried to cover up what I said, but his eyes saw through me. "I... Well, I've never heard you laugh before....It's a nice laugh."

 

     I felt my face go hot and turned away from him.  I began to head towards the gym when I was jerked back.  His hand was still on mine and was sliding down to my own hand.  His eyes followed my gaze and he realized what he was doing and released my hand.  Then he strode past me and we entered the gym.  After practice I was a little tired and sweaty.  I took a quick shower and blow dried my hair then straightened it.  I had some time to kill before dinner so I extravagated around the Tower. 

 

     "Ah, Dialla," Ian's voice startled me as I turned a corner.

 

     I saw him leaning casually against a wall, like he had been expecting me.  I smiled and approached him.  He pushed himself off the wall and he kissed my hand.  He led me out into a garden and we strolled around there for a while.  His hand found mine and he played with my fingers.  Blood burned my cheeks and he pressed his hand against my cheek.

 

     "Hmm, that color goes lovely with your skin," My blush deepened and he chuckled. "Say, I don't suppose you would go to the Halloween Dance with someone like me, would you?"

 

     His question caught me off guard and I blinked several times, wondering if he was serious.  We had only known each other for a few weeks, but there was something about him, like he was emitting some force that was drawing me to him.

 

     "I'd love too," I said, "but in return, can I ask you something?"

 

     "Of course." he replied automatically.

 

     "Well... I heard a rumor and.... Is it true that you would kiss anyone?"

 

     "Yes.  I use a kiss as my greeting."

 

     "Would you kiss....me?" I struggled a little bit with that question.

 

     He turned so he faced me directly and I averted his gaze, embarrassed.  His hand left mine and stroked my cheek.

 

     "Yes, let's give that a try," Ian said seductively, his fingers brushing my chin and tilting my head upwards.

 

     His hazel eyes had a hint of gray and brown in them, but I felt like I was diving in them they were so deep.  I closed my eyes and simply waited.  I felt his other hand grip my left shoulder passionately and finally his lips pressed against mine.  His other hand slid from my chin and moved to my arm and pulled me closer to him.  Though it was my first time being kissed Ian didn't grab or demand.  He lured.

 

     With each subtle movement that occurred, it was in fact me who moved into him and kissed back.  One of Ian's hand went to the nape of my neck and became entangled in my hair; the other went directly to my waist, pulling me even closer so my body pressed up against his.  I was amazed at how well he kissed and didn't even realize how defenseless I was.  Ian angled his head and deepened the kiss, leaving me even more defenseless, but I didn't care.

 

     One hand slid up his muscular torso and draped across his broad shoulder while the other traced his lean cheek.  His arms closed around me, but they didn't crush me.  All of my thoughts about Roselia, Dimitri, and the Extended disappeared and were replaced with pure bliss and ecstasy.  Ian drew back and broke the kiss abruptly and I swayed into his chest.  It felt like we had been kissing for hours instead of just a few minutes.  His arms stayed at my waist as he embraced me and he kissed the top of my head.

 

     "Wow," I breathed.

 

     "That was your first kiss, wasn't it?" I nodded. "Are you glad it was with me?" Again I nodded.  It felt like that was all I could do.  My head was spinning but I didn't bother to control it.  I was just glad to have him hold me.  I snuggled into his chest, but his hands were placed on my hips and he pushed me away.  I blinked at him surprised.

 

     "Time for dinner," he said a second before the bell rang for dinner.

 

     "Nice timing," I commented and he laughed and draped his arm around my shoulders.

 

 

 

     I didn't talk at all during dinner.  My head was still spinning from Ian's kiss.  It didn't seem real, yet evern time I glanced over at him, he caught my gaze and winked.  I winked back then continued eating.  Lance didn't talk at all either, it was really weird.  His expression was unreadable.  Asalie questioned him about it, but he ignored her, got up abruptly and left the dining hall.