Does Love Really Fade? {Vampire Academy}

The Fight

There are times when I'm ashamed at how animatedly I react to my favorite ships. Today has been one of those days. It's so bad and I don't know where it came from.

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I woke the next morning, and it took me a minute to remember my encounter with Dimitri hadn't been a dream. Looking back now, I don't know how I held up. As angry as I used to get with him, I could never manage completely shutting him down. But last night? Last night I had done just that and I still wasn't sure how I felt about the whole scenario.

For one, I really was happy in this new life of mine. I was surrounded by great people who didn't know I'd been raised to believe I had to serve someone for the rest of my life. They didn't know I'd left high school -twice- and still managed to graduate on time. They had no idea I've killed more members of the undead than I can count, or really want to. On the other hand, I missed Lissa more than I can say. This was easily the longest we've been apart since we became friends in Kindergarten, and it hurt.

But I couldn't go back, not yet. There was simply no way I could go back and explain why I had really left. She still thought I just needed some time to process everything that had happened in my life in such a short period of time. She had no clue Dimitri had broken my heart and I couldn't handle being around him.

I still didn't think I could, not for extended periods of time anyway. I could handle ten minutes, maybe even fifteen, but I knew I'd eventually break and want to fall into his arms. I couldn't let that happen to myself again. That particular flame had burned me too many times.

Lost in thought, I hadn't heard the knocking on the door. I got up with a loud groan and made my way to the door. It was Daniel again, and this time, he was carrying a huge basket.

"What's all this?" I asked, and he grinned.

"Go get dressed. We are going to the park and having a picnic. It's time you relaxed for a bit."

I grinned, "Fine. But you're waiting in the kitchen." I warned, and he just nodded, moving into the kitchen and putting the basket on my table.

Ten minutes later, I'd pulled my hair into a messy ponytail and had donned a tank top and shorts. Daniel grinned when he saw me and motioned towards the door with a sweeping gesture.

"To the park?"

I nodded, relieved to have a respite from drowning in my own thoughts.

When we got to the park, it was full of people, all of whom had decided to take advantage of the nice day as well. It took us fifteen minutes to find a spot where we wouldn't get overrun by kids with soccerballs, and when we did find somewhere, I had to leave Daniel to set it up.

"Nature calls." I told him, "Stay with the stuff, will you?"

Daniel rolled his eyes but nodded, "Leave me with all the work, why don't ya?"

It was my turn to roll my eyes as I left. By the time a returned, a large blanket full of food was laid out.

"You certainly know the way to a girls heart." I said, once I'd spotted the donuts he'd bought.

"Ah, ah. Lunch first, then dessert." He scolded teasingly.

"Nice try. I'm an adult who can do whatever she pleases." I said, reaching past the hand he used to block the donuts and plucking one out of the box. Daniel grinned at my antics and helped himself to the grapes he'd brought.

"What good is being an adult if you're going to make the boring choices?" I teased.

"Says the girl who won't go out after dark unless she's forced to." He shot back.