Where Is Your Heart?

Graduation Awkwardness

RPOV

The next 2 weeks after Aleksandr was born were crazy as hell. Who knew that taking care of a baby would be so hard. Nothing at all what they said it would be in the books or stuff I read on the internet. Aleksandr was up at all times of the night and constantly needed his diaper changed and to be fed.

But today was most exciting. Today was graduation. I was excited to finally graduate to be Lissa's guardian, but nervous to be out there on my own with not one, but two lives to take care of. That scared me. I just hope that I would never have to see the day where I would have to choose between Aleksandr and Liss.

The gang and I were to meet outside the damphir dorms at 1:00 p.m (vamp time). It was currently 12:00 so I have an hour to get ready. I had already showered, blow dried, and curled my hair while Aleks slept. I gave Aleksandr a quick bath and dried him off. I dressed him up in the graduation outfit that Lissa and I had bought 3 months back. All it was was a black and red graduation gown. He wore tiny black dress pants and a white collared, button-up shirt to go with it.

I dressed in a strapless blood-red dress that flowed down to the ground, with my graduation gown over it. Normally, I would have gone with something shorter and much more sexy, but I hadn't lost my baby weight yet and was a bit self-concious. My nails had been painted black and I wore a simple necklace with a red pendent with matching earrings. I also had strappy black sandals to complete my look. I went with a simple look for make-up and just went with some red lipstick.

By the time I had finished it was five after 1. I hurried up and grabbed Aleksandr and his diaper bag. When I got outside the dorms everyone was already there.

"Finally! I thought I was going to have to come up there and drag you down here," said Lissa.

I laughed and said, "I'm only five minutes late. What could possibly happen in five minutes?"

"I can think of some things, Little D." Adrian smiled and winked at me.

"Dream on, Adrian." I honestly don't know why I put up with him sometimes.

"Come on, let's go." Lissa started to lead us to the ceremony when I noticed somebody was missing.

"Hey, where's Vicktoria?"

"She's comeing. She said she had something to take care of," said Eddie as Vicktoria came walking towards us. Speak of the devil and he'll appear. I was about to call to her when I noticed that someone was with her. A little boy who looked to be around 10.

"Hey guys. Sorry I'm late. I had some things I needed to take care off. By the way, this is my nephew Paul."

"Hi!" said Paul. I swear to god, he was the spitting image of Dimitri. Just looking at him tugged at my heart. Everyone said hi to Paul. We continued to walk and Vicktoria lagged behind with me to talk with me.

"I'm so sorry Rose," she said immediately. "I knew how much you don't want to see my brother-" I cut her off.

"It's okay Vick. There's no way to avoid the inevitable. He's your family, your brohter. He's here to support you along with the rest of your family. It's not your fault. So don't worry about it." We continued to walk along. Finally we made it to the stands. I didn't have to take my trials since it was decided I would have kicked everyone's ass no matter what. So we went to find seats in the stands. All the graduating damphirs wore guardian attire since they had to take their trials.

Vicktoria's family was waving at her so we ended up having to sit next to them. Eddie was currently holding Aleksandr and Adrian had offered to carry his diaper bag. We were all introduced to Vicktoria's family. HE was nowhere in sight though. Probably getting it on with that bitch Tasha. From left to right it went Karolina (the eldest) with her daughter Zoya on her lap, her son Paul next to her, Sonya with her three-month-old duaghter, their mother Olena, Vicktoria, me, Lissa, Christian, Eddie, and then Adrian. From the looks of it, Sonya was saving extra seats that must be for HIM and the bitch on her left side.

The Belikov family all shared similar traits. They all had the same chocolate-brown eyes and brown hair a few shades lighter than mine. After I sat down, Aleksandr started to get a bit fussy, so Eddie handed him to me. After he calmed down Vicktoria wanted to hold him. Vicktoria was now bouncing Aleks when her mother asked, "Who is this?"

I was about to respond when two men came running about the stands. One was a Moroi and the other was a damphir. After a closer look, I saw that the damphir was HIM. And he looked as gorgeous as I last saw him... I shook my head. Snap out of it Rose, I mentally chasitsed myself. "Where have you two been," asked Olena. "The trials are about to start soon. Speaking of," she turned to Vicktoria, "you need to get down there. You can't be late. Now hurry up and go." Vicktoria handed me Aleksandr and hurried down the stands to go line up for her trials. HE sat next to Sonya to hold his neice so Sonya could get a paci, while the other man sat on Olena's right.

"Hey Olena, who's this?" Olena looked at the mystery man and said, "This is Rose Hathaway. A friend of Vicktoria's." He extended his hand out and I did the same.

"Ah. Janine Hathaway's daughter. I knew you looked like trouble. Nice to meet you," he said. "The name's Ivan. Ivan Zeklos."

I snorted. "And you think I'm trouble. I know for a fact that your family is trouble."

"Oh, really? What makes you say that?"

"Your cousin Jesse and his friend, let's just say that the school threw a party when they left. And not a congradulations one."

"Ah. Well, you've made your point then. And you're right. I am trouble. Just not as much as you."

I laughed. "You're right. No matter what, trouble always manages to find me." I then saw that Dimitri was staring at Ivan and I's interaction.

"Hello, Roza," he said in his thick, warm accent.

I nodded my head. "Guardian Belikov." He had has is mask in place but I noticed the hurt shining in his eyes.

The trials flew by. Vicktoria passed her trials. She did amazing. After that, the ceremony was held where the guardians got their tatoos and then the ceremony for our diplomas. After that everyone talked to their families. My mom never showed up seeming as I was disgraced. Vicktoria begged me to hand out with her family. I only said yes, because she said she'd babysit Aleksandr for tonight while I took a nap later on.

Lissa went and had dinner with Christian and his aunt. Adrian was god knows where and Eddie and Mia were having dinner with their families as well. Vicktoria and I were currently in her dorm eating take out with the rest of the Belikovs. "So Rose," began Dimitri (I am deciding that he can't be avoided so I would be civil for Vicktoria's sake), "Where is your mom?"

I adjusted Aleksandr so I could balance my plate holding my pizza on my lap. I shrugged my shoulders. "Don't know and I honestly couldn't care less."

"What do you mean? Surely she'd want to see you at your graduation."

"When I told her I was pregnant, she specifically said that I was a terrible daughter and walked out. No shocker there. Not once has she sent a present let alone a card or email, so it honestly doesn't make a difference now." I picked up my pizza and took another bite. The Belikovs looked at me sympathetically. This was going to be a long night.